Expression profiling suggested a regulatory role of liver-enriched transcription factors in human hepatocellular carcinoma

By using a cDNA array representing 14,000 cDNA clusters, we studied the expression profiles in paired clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and the distal nontumorous liver tissues from the same patients. Despite the significant heterogeneity among the clinical samples, 72 genes (including 30 novel genes) were down-regulated and 84 genes (including 48 novel genes) were up-regulated in >50% of the cancer samples that were identified. The alterations in gene expression levels were confirmed by Northern blot and reverse-transcription PCR in all of 4 randomly selected genes. It was conspicuous that 21 of 38 hepatocarcinoma (HCC) down-regulated genes studied previously were reportedly regulated by a group of liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs), and 12 of 36 HCC up-regulated genes studied previously were involved in protein translation. Reexamination of the cDNA array data further revealed that most of the genes known to be regulated by LETFs were down-regulated in at least a portion of the HCC samples. Among the LETFs, the expression level of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) alpha was down-regulated in cancer, whereas hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1), HNF-3beta, HNF-4alpha, and HNF-4gamma were up-regulated. The expression profiling thus suggested multiple regulatory pathways involved in HCC, especially that related to LETFs.

Preliminary study of associations between objective parameters of facial electromyography and subjective estimates of taste palatability

20 subjects' palatability reports and facial electromyographic (EMG) activities at the zygomaticus major, corrugator supercilli, and levator labii (superioris/alaeque nasi) regions were recorded while they were tasting water or pickle juice. The results showed that subjects reported significantly higher ratings of palatability to water than to pickle juice. The EMG activities at the levator labii region generated significantly higher power than those at the corrugator supercilli region while tasting water. The EMG activities at the levator labii region generated significantly higher power than those at the corrugator supercilli region and those at the zygomaticus major region while tasting pickle juice. It was concluded that the facial EMG activity at the levator labii region was the most sensitive indicator of palatability.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, severe, necrotizing form of renal infection characterized by the presence of gas within the renal parenchyma or perinephric space. In patients suspected of emphysematous pyelonephritis, computed tomography scan should be done promptly. Based on the available data and this case, surgical intervention appears to be the preferred treatment.

[The study of facial neurapraxia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical characteristics and mechanism of facial neurapraxia.

METHOD

Patients were tested with nerve excitability method and judged the degree of facial paralysis. Animal mode of neurapraxia was made and threshold of evoked electromyographic potential was tested. The fibers of facial nerve were observed under transmission electromicroscope.

RESULT

Average restoration time of evoked electromyographic potential was 52.5 min. The lamellar separation of myelin sheath of facial nerve was found under electromicroscope. Patients with facial neurapraxia was judged as denervation negative and residual function of facial muscles was above 65%.

CONCLUSION

Facial neurapraxia is mild reversible facial paralysis and relevant to the lamellar separation.

Dexamethasone use in adult meningococcal meningitis

The use of dexamethasone in the management of bacterial meningitis in adults remains controversial. This report illustrates the case of a 27-year-old male with severe meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia who completely recovered after receiving antibiotics and dexamethasone. In adults with suspected bacterial meningitis, especially in high risk cases, the adjunctive use of dexamethasone may be beneficial.

[Male contraception of triptonide and its function mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

The male contraceptive mechanism in rats of triptonide, isolated from Multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW), was investigated.

METHODS

The dosage of triptonide was 200 micrograms/(kg.d), fed for 8 weeks via gastric intubation. Sperm counts, sperm motility, and sperm silver staining were used to test the antispermatogenic effect of triptonide; the study of morphology was learned from paraffin sections of testis and visceras of triptonide-treated rats; protamine was abstracted from testis by electrophoresis; using antisense mRNA of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 as prodes, we examined the expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 through hybridization in situ.

RESULTS

Sperm counts (26.43 +/- 3.90) x 10(6)/g and sperm motility(66.0 +/- 6.8)% of triptonide-treated rats were substantially different from those of control, (41.15 +/- 5.51) x 10(6)/g (P < 0.01) and (88.0 +/- 2.0)% (P < 0.001). Paraffin sections of testis of triptonide-treated rats stained by PAS showed that the number of spermatids per 100 sertoli cells (9.15 +/- 0.33) was remarkably decreased compared with control's (10.73 +/- 0.38) (P < 0.001). At the same time, delaying sperm-released process was observed, which affects the nature course of sperm. And the extended vacuoles of vary sizes, the segregation of cells in lumens were also found in the cross-section of testis of rats treated with triptonide. In addition, the contents of protamine (4.6 +/- 2.2)% was extremely decreased, compared with the control's (40.6 +/- 7.2)% (P < 0.001). By using antisense mRNA of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 as prodes, we detected that the expression of the genes was notably increased in spermatids.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the antispermatogenic effect of triptonide is very well and it mainly plays its role on spermatids by increasing the expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4, meanwhile, decreasing the biosynthesis of protamine. The appropriate target region of triptonide makes itself most potency to be a suitable male antifertility drug.

Ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) in metastatic and refractory breast cancer

Twenty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with ICE after failure of previous chemotherapy. Their median age was 50 years (range 36-73). All but 1 patient had multiple sites of metastases. Nineteen (76%) patients had undergone two or more chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease prior to ICE. The performance status (PS) of the patients was Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0:6; 1:12; 2:5; 3:2. Ifosfamide 1.25 g/m(2) over 3 h D1-3 along with mesna, etoposide 80 mg/m(2) D1-3 and carboplatin 300 mg/m(2) D1 were given every 3 weeks. We observed a partial response in 10 patients (40%, 95% confidence interval 21-62%). The response duration ranged from 1 to 15 months with a median duration of 4.5 months. The survival of all 25 patients ranged from 10 days to 25 months, with a median of 9 months. All 25 patients were evaluable for toxicity. Thirteen patients (52%) experienced grade 4 hematological toxicity, which improved after growth factor support. Four patients had leukopenic fever, 1 had gram-negative sepsis, while 2 had Clostridium difficile enterocolitis and another had herpes zoster reactivation. Four patients (16%) experienced grade 3-4 gastrointestinal (G-I) toxicity. No hepatic or renal toxicity was observed (1 patient had microscopic hematuria). One patient died of G-I bleed, and another patient died at home of undetermined cause. We conclude that ICE is an effective salvage regimen in metastatic and refractory breast cancer, even in heavily pretreated patients, and is a tolerable treatment when used with growth factor.

Human genome anatomy: BACs integrating the genetic and cytogenetic maps for bridging genome and biomedicine

Human genome sequencing is accelerating rapidly. Multiple genome maps link this sequence to problems in biology and clinical medicine. Because each map represents a different aspect of the structure, content, and behavior of human chromosomes, these fundamental properties must be integrated with the genome to understand disease genes, cancer instability, and human evolution. Cytogenetic maps use 400-850 visible band landmarks and are the primary means for defining prenatal defects and novel cancer breakpoints, thereby providing simultaneous examination of the entire genome. Recent genetic, physical, and transcript maps use PCR-based landmarks called sequence-tagged sites (STSs). We have integrated these genome maps by anchoring the human cytogenetic to the STS-based genetic and physical maps with 1021 STS-BAC pairs at an average spacing of approximately 1 per 3 Mb. These integration points are represented by 872 unique STSs, including 642 polymorphic markers and 957 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs), each of which was localized on high resolution fluorescent banded chromosomes. These BACs constitute a resource that bridges map levels and provides the tools to seamlessly translate questions raised by genomic change seen at the chromosomal level into answers based at the molecular level. We show how the BACs provide molecular links for understanding human genomic duplications, meiosis, and evolution, as well as reagents for conducting genome-wide prenatal diagnosis at the molecular level and for detecting gene candidates associated with novel cancer breakpoints.

Clinical and experimental studies of large amplitude action potential of the suffered facial muscles in intratemporal facial nerve paralysis

OBJECTIVE

To testify the phenomenon that large amplitude action potential appears at the early stage of facial paralysis, and to search for the mechanism through clinical and experimental studies. PATIENTS (ANIMALS) AND METHODS: The action potentials of the orbicular ocular and oral muscles were recorded in 34 normal persons by electromyogram instruments. The normal range of amplitude percentage was found out according to the normal distribution. One hundred patients with facial paralysis were also studied. The action potentials of facial muscles were recorded in 17 guinea pigs before and after the facial nerve was compressed and the facial nerve was examined under electromicroscope before and after the compression.

RESULTS

The amplitude percentage of the suffered side to the healthy side was more than 153 percent in 6 of the 100 patients. Large amplitude action potential occured in 35 per cent guinea pigs which were performed the experiment of facial nerve compression. Electromicroscopic examination revealed separation of the lammae of the facial nerve's myelin sheath in the guinea pigs which exhibited large amplitude action potential.

CONCLUSION

The facial nerve exhibited a temporary over-excitability at the early stage of facial nerve injury in some patients and guinea pigs. If the injury was limited in the myelin sheath, the prognosis was relatively good.

Detection of gene deletions in Chinese patients with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy using CDNA probes and the polymerase chain reaction method

One hundred thirty-eight patients with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) were screened with complete cDNA probes and the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) amplification of 18 pairs of oligonucleotide primers. Eighty-six deletions and 4 duplications were detected, the deletion frequency being 62.3%. Eighty-two deletions were detected with the two sets of primers described by Chamberlain et al. and Beggs et al, which was 95.4% of deletions detected by complete cDNA probes. Consistent with the deletion locations described previously, the deletions of dystrophin gene in Chinese individuals are clustered mainly in two high-frequency deletion regions of exons 44-52 (68.6%) of 3' side of the gene central regions and exons 1-19 (26.7%) in the 5' side. The distribution of deletions in dystrophin gene is associated with the phenotype of DMD/BMD. In the 25 cases with in-frame deletions, 15 deletions located in the region of exons 2-47 were milder BMD and intermediate patients, as the location of deletions was not the important region of the dystrophin gene.

Enhancement of the cytolytic effect of anti-bacterial cecropin by the microvilli of cancer cells

A comparison between IC50s of cecropin B on tumor cells such as KG-1 leukemia and Ags stomach carcinoma and non-tumor cells like fibroblasts and red blood cells was conducted. The IC50s of cecropin B for KG-1 leukemia and Ags carcinoma cells were 20.8 +/- 2.3 microM (MTT) and 18.9 +/- 3.3 microM (trypan blue) and 16.0 +/- 3.5 microM (MTT) & 15.3 +/- 3.7 microM (trypan blue), respectively. The IC50 of cecropin B for 3T6 fibroblast cells was 92.0 +/- 9.1 microM by MTT assay and the HE50 of cecropin B for human red blood cells was 180.0 +/- 20.1 microM at OD414nm. The cytolysis induced by cecropin peptides was more effective for the cancer cells than for the normal cells. Based on the observations from scanning electron microscopy, this may mainly due to the cancer cells having a high population of the irregular microvilli on the cell surface. Since peptides bound to the cell membrane are non-specific, the attraction of peptides by microvilli may be one of the main driving forces before the lysis in membrane bilayers can be efficiently initiated.

A physical map of 30,000 human genes

A map of 30,181 human gene-based markers was assembled and integrated with the current genetic map by radiation hybrid mapping. The new gene map contains nearly twice as many genes as the previous release, includes most genes that encode proteins of known function, and is twofold to threefold more accurate than the previous version. A redesigned, more informative and functional World Wide Web site (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genemap) provides the mapping information and associated data and annotations. This resource constitutes an important infrastructure and tool for the study of complex genetic traits, the positional cloning of disease genes, the cross-referencing of mammalian genomes, and validated human transcribed sequences for large-scale studies of gene expression.

Dose-escalation study of weekly 1-hour paclitaxel administration in patients with refractory cancer

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly low-dose paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) in patients with refractory cancer, participating subjects received standard prophylactic medication followed by intravenous paclitaxel once a week for 3 weeks every 4 weeks. The 50-mg/m2 starting dose was increased by 10 mg/m2 for every five patients, as long as no dose-limiting toxicity had occurred in more than two of five patients treated at the preceding level. Eligibility criteria included metastatic and refractory malignant disease; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, 1, or 2; and adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal functions. Of 30 patients treated and evaluable for toxicity, 25 were evaluable for response. The majority of patients tolerated the treatment very well. In a total of 114 cycles, the worst toxicities observed were leukopenia (one grade 4, two grade 3), granulocytopenia (one grade 3, one grade 4), anemia (one grade 3, two grade 2), and infection (one grade 5, one grade 3). Three patients had grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicity and three had grade 1 peripheral neuropathy. Only one dose-limiting toxicity, at 100 mg/m2, has occurred. This patient died of bilateral pneumonia with neutropenia. We have observed partial responses in seven of 12 patients with breast cancer and three of eight with non-small cell lung cancer. The study remains open at the current dose level of 100 mg/m2/wk. Weekly low-dose paclitaxel is well tolerated and efficacious. Further phase II studies are warranted, to continue evaluation of this schedule of paclitaxel either alone or in combination with other drugs active in paclitaxel-responsive diseases.

Characterization of short tandem repeats from thirty-one human telomeres

Completion of genetic and physical maps requires markers from the ends (telomeres) of every human chromosome. We have searched for short tandem repeats (microsatellites) in cosmid and P1 clones and generated 661 sequence-tagged sites (STS) from the terminal 300 kb of 31 human chromosome ends. PCR assays were successfully designed for 58 microsatellites and mapped both genetically and on radiation hybrids (RHs) to confirm their telomeric location. Sequence analysis revealed marked variation in sequence composition, consistent with the hypothesis that even very highly GC-rich chromosome bands (the T bands) are not homogenous. The STSs that we have generated will be a necessary resource for the construction of physical maps of these complex regions of the genome.