Automation of the synthesis of highly concentrated 188Re-MAG3 for intracoronary radiation therapy

We have developed an efficient method and an automated synthetic system for the preparation of highly concentrated 188Re-MAG3. Routine production of 188Re-MAG3 for use in intracoronary radiation therapy was performed by compressed air driven semi-automated shielded system. 188Re-MAG3 was prepared with a commercial kit and reducing agents, purified and concentrated by C18 Sep-Pak cartridges to desired radioactivity and volume. Using this automated system, reproducible radiolabeling yields of 80-85% were obtained.

Enhanced gene expression of renin-angiotensin system, TGF-beta1, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide synthase in right-ventricular hypertrophy

It has been suggested that various vasoactive substances and growth factors are involved in left-ventricular myocardial hypertrophy and failure. However, limited data are available on the role of humoral factors involved in right-ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. To examine implications of humoral factors involved in the development of RV hypertrophy, altered mRNA expressions of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), transforming growth factor (TGF)- beta1, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were investigated in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with MCT (60 mg x kg(-1), s.c.) to induce a selective RV hypertrophy. Three or 6 weeks later, the heart was removed to determine the tissue gene expressions in the right and left ventricles (LV) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction due to the relatively low mRNA expression levels of the RAS components in the ventricle (n= 6 in each group). MCT-treated rats showed a selective RV hypertrophy at weeks 3 and 6 of MCT treatment (the ratios of RV/body weight were 1.5- and 2.2-fold higher than the controls, respectively). Levels of renin and angiotensinogen mRNAs in the hypertrophied RV were significantly increased at both weeks 3 and 6 of MCT treatment. The angiotensin-converting enzyme mRNA level also increased approximately 2-fold at week 3. In contrast, RAS component mRNAs in the LV were not significantly altered by MCT treatment, except for a 1.8-fold increase of angiotensinogen mRNA at week 3. The expression of Ang II receptors, either AT1A or AT1B, was not significantly altered by MCT treatment. Furthermore, MCT treatment significantly increased TGF- beta1 mRNA levels in the RV at weeks 3 and 6, while it did not significantly affect them in the LV. Endothelin-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the RV at week 3, but was normalized at week 6 of MCT treatment. The gene expression of the endothelial constitutive isoform of NOS was increased in the RV at weeks 3 and 6, but not in the LV. Elevated gene expression of local RAS, along with TGF- beta1 and endothelin-1 in the present study may contribute to the development of RV hypertrophy. On the contrary, an enhanced ecNOS expression may be a mechanism counteracting the hypertrophy.

Pre-transplant corticosteroid use and outcome in lung transplantation

BACKGROUND

The early experience of lung transplantation was plagued with airway anastomotic complications. The use of corticosteroids in the pre-transplant period has been implicated as a major contributing factor in bronchial dehiscence, and many patients have been denied transplantation on the basis of corticosteroid use. We conducted the current study to assess the risks associated with pre-transplant corticosteroid use.

METHODS

We analyzed records of 73 single- and bilateral-single lung transplant recipients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency as their underlying disease from 1986 to 1996. Twenty-six patients (steroid group) received daily corticosteroid therapy (prednisone, 1.5 to 40 mg/day) up to the time of transplantation, whereas 47 patients did not receive chronic corticosteroids and had no corticosteroid therapy within 3 months of transplantation (non-steroid group).

RESULTS

The demographic profiles of the 2 groups were comparable. We noted no statistical significances in length of hospital stay, duration of intensive care, and post-operative pulmonary function. The rates of cytomegalovirus infection, acute rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, and survival were also similar. The non-steroid group seemed to have a higher rate of bronchial stenosis at 3 years (29% vs 6%, p = 0.03). Bronchial dehiscence did not occur in either study group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-transplant use of corticosteroids does not adversely affect outcome following lung transplantation.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type I is regulated through phosphorylation response by extracellular stimuli

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPK) catalyzes a final step in the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), a lipid signaling molecule. Strict regulation of PIPK activity is thought to be essential in intact cells. Here we show that type I enzymes of PIPK (PIPKI) are phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and phosphorylation of PIPKI suppresses its activity. Serine 214 was found to be a major phosphorylation site of PIPK type Ialpha (PIPKIalpha) that is catalyzed by PKA. In contrast, lysophosphatidic acid-induced protein kinase C activation increased PIPKIalpha activity. Activation of PIPKIalpha was induced by dephosphorylation, which was catalyzed by an okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatase, protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). In vitro dephosphorylation of PIPKIalpha with PP1 increased PIPK activity, indicating that PP1 plays a role in lysophosphatidic acid-induced dephosphorylation of PIPKIalpha. These results strongly suggest that activity of PIPKIalpha in NIH 3T3 cells is regulated by the reversible balance between PKA-dependent phosphorylation and PP1-dependent dephosphorylation.

Predicting the reactivity of proteins from their sequence alone: Kazal family of protein inhibitors of serine proteinases

An additivity-based sequence to reactivity algorithm for the interaction of members of the Kazal family of protein inhibitors with six selected serine proteinases is described. Ten consensus variable contact positions in the inhibitor were identified, and the 19 possible variants at each of these positions were expressed. The free energies of interaction of these variants and the wild type were measured. For an additive system, this data set allows for the calculation of all possible sequences, subject to some restrictions. The algorithm was extensively tested. It is exceptionally fast so that all possible sequences can be predicted. The strongest, the most specific possible, and the least specific inhibitors were designed, and an evolutionary problem was solved.

Quantum confinement in amorphous silicon quantum dots embedded in silicon nitride

Amorphous silicon quantum dots (a-Si QDs) were grown in a silicon nitride film by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Transmission electron micrographs clearly demonstrated that a-Si QDs were formed in the silicon nitride. Photoluminescence and optical absorption energy measurement of a-Si QDs with various sizes revealed that tuning of the photoluminescence emission from 2.0 to 2.76 eV is possible by controlling the size of the a-Si QD. Analysis also showed that the photoluminescence peak energy E was related to the size of the a-Si QD, a (nm) by E(eV) = 1.56+2.40/a(2), which is a clear evidence for the quantum confinement effect in a-Si QDs.

Efficient expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene in vitro and in vivo, using an adeno-associated virus vector

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has proven to be one of the most effective growth factors for therapeutic angiogenesis. The biological efficacy of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has recently been demonstrated in muscle tissues, including the heart. Apart from these promising insights into VEGF and the AAV vector, studies on VEGF gene transfer using the AAV vector have been limited. Here, we evaluate AAV-mediated VEGF gene transfer, both in vitro and in vivo, using the AAV-mVEGF vector that contains cDNA for murine VEGF(120) within an HCMV-driven expression cassette. Transient transfection of AAV-mVEGF plasmid significantly increased mVEGF expression in 293T cells. The secreted VEGF in the conditioned medium had strong biological activity, as confirmed by the Miles' vascular permeability assay. Transduction of 293T and HeLa cells with AAV-mVEGF stock of high titer, that is essentially adenovirus-free, showed significantly increased mVEGF expression above that of AAV-eGFP-transduced cells. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells were transduced, a higher level of mVEGF expression, together with higher cell counts, was observed compared to AAV-eGFP-transduced cells. In vivo transduction of mouse tibialis anterior muscle resulted in an increased level of mVEGF expression, and higher capillary-to-myofibre ratio, 8 weeks post-transduction. In a rat hindlimb ischemia model, regional blood flow, as well as the capillary-to-myofibre ratio, was significantly increased at 4 weeks post-transduction. These findings demonstrate the efficient delivery of the VEGF gene using an AAV vector, which has implications for angiogenic gene therapy in ischemic diseases.

Effect of hypercholesterolemia on macrophage infiltration after balloon injury to rabbit iliac artery

Both hypercholesterolemia and vascular injury have been reported to induce macrophage infiltration, but their combined effect and the mechanism by which hypercholesterolemia enhances the infiltration remain to be clarified in vivo. To evaluate the effect of hypercholesterolemia on macrophage infiltration after vascular injury, the iliac arteries of hypercholesterolemic (HC) and normocholesterolemic (NC) rabbits were examined 2h, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days after balloon injury using immunohistochemical staining for macrophages, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1. Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) activation was also evaluated in fresh frozen iliac arteries using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay method. The fundamental difference between HC and NC was the amount of macrophage infiltration seen in HC from 7 days after balloon injury. Two out of 4 HC iliac arteries on the 7th day, and 3 out of 4 HC iliac arteries on the 14th day were positively stained with ICAM-1 in regenerated endothelium and neointima, whereas there were no positively stained NC iliac arteries. Neither HC nor NC tissues showed positive staining with VCAM-1. NF-kappaB was activated in HC 7 and 14 days after balloon injury, but not in NC. In conclusion, in vivo hypercholesterolemia induces macrophage infiltration after balloon injury and it is mediated by increased NF-kappaB activation promoting ICAM-1 expression.

Evaluation of porous ceramic as microbial carrier of biofilter to remove toluene vapor

Three kinds of porous ceramic microbe media are fabricated from fly ash, diatomite and a mixture of fly ash and diatomite powders. Water holding capacity, density, porosity, pore size and distribution, compressive strength and micro-structure of each of the fabricated media are measured and compared. The fly ash and diatomite mixture ceramic is evaluated as the best biofilter medium among the three media because of its high compressive strength. It is selected as an experimental biofilter medium inoculated with thickened activated sludge. The laboratory scale biofilter was operated for 42 days under various experimental conditions varying in inlet toluene concentration and flow rate of contaminated air stream. The experimental result shows that the removal efficiency reaches up to 96.6% after 4 days from the start-up. Nutrient limitation is considered as a major factor limiting biofilter efficiency. Biofilter efficiency decreases substantially at the build-up of backpressure, which is largely due to the accumulation of excess VSS within the media. Periodic backwashing of the biofilter is necessary to remove excess biomass and attain stable long-term high removal efficiency. The bed needs to be backwashed when the overall pressure drop becomes greater than 460.6 Pa at space velocity of 100 h-1. A maximum flow rate of 444.85 g m-3hr-1 of toluene elimination by the mixture ceramic biofilter, which is higher than the previously reported values. This indicates that the fly ash and diatomite mixture ceramic biofilter can be effectively applied for removing toluene vapor.

Evaluation of lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggest positron emission tomography (PET) may improve staging accuracy of esophageal cancer compared with conventional methods, especially in detecting occult distant metastases. We evaluated the accuracy of PET in the detection of lymph node metastasis prospectively with pathologic findings.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma underwent whole-body PET scan and chest computed tomography (CT). The findings of PET and chest CT of 50 patients who underwent curative esophagectomy with radical lymph node dissection were compared with the pathologic findings.

RESULTS

Among 53 primary esophageal tumors, PET detected 51 (96.2%) and CT detected 49 (92.5%) tumors correctly. Nodal metastases were present in 108 of 436 dissected lymph node groups. PET detected 56 metastatic node groups (51.9% sensitivity, 94.2% specificity, 83.7% accuracy), compared with CT, which detected 16 (14.8% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity, 76.6% accuracy; sensitivity: p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

PET was more sensitive than CT in the detection of nodal metastases and may improve staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Removal of odor emitted from composting facilities using a porous ceramic biofilter

A field experiment was conducted using a full-scale ceramic biofilter (approximately 150 m3/min) in order to determine the potential for biofiltration to remove malodorous gases from composting facilities. The main compounds found in malodorous gases were NH3 and H2S. These compounds were analyzed by a UV-spectrophotometer and gas chromatograph. The microbial carrier was a porous ceramic consisting of diatomite and fly ash. About 12 m3 of ceramic media inoculated with waste activated sludge were filled in the biofilter. The experimental conditions were space velocity of 500 hr(-1), empty bed residence time of 7.2 s, and linear velocity of 0.2 m/s. About 90 L/d of water were sprayed for the operation. The NH3 concentration in inlet gases ranged from 8 to 90 ppmv. The concentration of H2S ranged from 3.2-5.5 ppmv. The acclimation of the biofilter was slow, but more than 95% of removal efficiency was achieved after one month of operation. No nutrients were supplied to the biofilter. The pressure drop in the biofilter varied from 20-40 mmAq during the operation. The energy consumption of this biofilter was about 200 kW/d. It was estimated that the deodorization using this ceramic biofilter was successfully carried out to remove the odor emitted from composting facilities.

Investigation of sulfhydryl groups in cabbage phospholipase D by combination of derivatization methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

All eight cysteine residues in 92 kDa cabbage phospholipase D (PLD), deduced from the cDNA sequence, were shown to have free sulfhydryl groups by analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) of tryptic peptides of PLD derivatized with p-chloromercurybenzoate, iodoacetic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide, as well as of underivatized PLD. Assignment of sulfhydryl groups by any one method was not conclusive. However, complementary information derived from tryptic peptides derivatized with different reagents made full assignment of sulfhydryl groups possible.

Effects of stent design on side branch occlusion after coronary stent placement

This study was performed to assess the immediate and long-term patency of stent-associated side branches (SB) according to the types of stent. A total of 314 patients with 332 lesions (CrossFlex stent 86, NIR 100, GFX 146) had 365 SB (>1 mm) covered by coronary stents. Side branch occlusion (SBO) occurred in 7.7% of CrossFlex stent, in 10.5% of NIR stent and in 8.8% of GFX stent (P = NS). SBO primarily occurred in SB with ostial disease, and the presence of SB ostial disease was the only independent predictors of SBO after stenting (OR 22.1, 95% CI 9.47-51.49, P < 0.001). At 6 months follow-up, 11 of 31 SBO regained the patency, but the remaining SB had persistent SBO. Delayed SBO occurred in 8 SB, being associated with the presence of SB ostial disease and in-stent restenosis. In conclusions, SBO was not associated with the types of stent design, but with the SB lesion morphology.

Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) by metabolically engineeredEscherichia coli strains

The recombinant Escherichia coli strain, equipped with the newly cloned Aeromonas PHA biosynthesis genes, could produce a terpolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) [P(3HB-co-3HV-co-3HHx)] from dodecanoic acid plus odd carbon number fatty acid. In addition, the orf1 gene of Aeromonas hydrophila was found to play a critical role in assimilating the 3HV monomer and in regulating the monomer fraction in the terpolymer.

Role of Chemically Modified Carbon Black Surfaces in Enhancing Interfacial Adhesion between Carbon Black and Rubber in a Composite System

The surface and adsorption characteristics of carbon blacks treated with H(3)PO(4), KOH, and C(6)H(6) were investigated. The equilibrium spreading pressure (pi(e)), surface energy (gamma(s)), and specific surface area (S(BET)) were studied by the BET method with N(2) adsorption. In this work, an interpretation based on the nitrogen amount adsorbed for filling a monolayer (a(0)) was proposed for the determination of the Gibbs free energy of nitrogen adsorption, allowing evaluation of the equilibrium spreading pressure or London dispersive component of the surface free energy of the carbon blacks studied. Also, the microstructures of the carbon blacks treated were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Acidic treatment led to significant decreases in adsorption amount, S(BET), and surface free energy of the carbon blacks, due to aggregation of the microstructures and increasing weight of the swollen specimen in an equilibrium state. Polar basic and nonpolar chemical treatments resulted in an increase of the equilibrium spreading pressure or London dispersive component of surface free energy of the carbon blacks without significantly changing the surface and adsorption properties and microstructures. Results from the surface energetics and parameter of polymer-filler interaction (chi) showed that the tearing energy of the composites is greatly dependent on the carbon blacks studied in the treatment. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Determinants of coronary blood flow following primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to evaluate determinants of coronary blood flow following primary angioplasty (PA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The corrected TIMI (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction) frame count and the TIMI flow grade were used as indexes of coronary blood flow, and its determinants were examined in 115 consecutive AMI patients who underwent PA (pain onset </= 12 hr). The following were validated as univariate predictors of slower corrected TIMI frame count: a lower pressure-derived farctional collateral flow (PDCF) index (P < 0.01), poor angiographic collaterals (P < 0.01), TIMI flow 0, 1 before PA (P < 0.05), and the presence of heavy thrombi (P < 0.01). The PDCF index and the presence of heavy thrombi were independent predictors of the corrected TIMI frame count. Likewise, the PDCF index (chi(2) = 12.9; P < 0.01) and the presence of heavy thombi (chi(2) = 11.4; P < 0.01) were independent predictors of TIMI 3 flow. In conclusion, collateral flow and the presence of thrombi are major determinants of coronary blood flow after PA in AMI.

Effects of mixed chimerism and immune modulation on GVHD, disease recurrence and survival after HLA-identical marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies

BACKGROUND

The success of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation(allo-BMT) is affected by underlying disease relapse. Although mixed chimerism(MC) is not necessarily a poor prognostic factor, several groups have suggested that MC is associated with an increased risk of disease relapse. There is evidence that patients with MC benefit from additional immunotherapy if the treatment is started in minimal residual disease status(mixed chimerism status), not in frank hematological relapse. The purposes of this study are to evaluate 1) the risk for relapse or graft rejection in correlation to persistent MC status after allo-BMT, and 2) the possibility of preventing relapse by immune modulation treatments (withdrawal or rapid taper-off of post-transplant immuno-suppression, additional interferon treatment, or the administration of donor lymphocytes) in hematologic malignancies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 337 allogeneic donor-recipient pairs between March 1996 and August 1998, 12 patients who showed persistent or progressive MC and who received immune modulation treatments were evaluated. Twelve patients, median age 31 years(range 9 to 39 years), received an allo-BMT for: acute myelogenous leukemia(AML, n = 5), chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML, n = 4), acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL, n = 3). Serial polymerase chain reaction(PCR) analysis of YNZ 22-, 33.6-minisatellites or Y chromosome-specific PCR analysis at short term intervals(pre- and post-transplant 1, 3, 6, 9, ... months) was performed. Once MC was detected, immune modulation treatments on the basis of increasing MC in an early phase of recurrence of underlying disease were started.

RESULTS

Nine of 12 patients converted to complete chimerism(CC) (AML 5/5, CML 3/4, ALL 1/3). Four of 9 CC patients developed graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) grade < or = 2 during immune modulation. All were treated successfully with steroids. Three patients who were not converted to CC showed relapse of underlying diseases or graft failure.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that, in patients with hematologic malignancies after allo-BMT, persistent MC is associated with relapse of underlying diseases or graft failure. Furthermore, when patients receive early immune modulation treatment, MC can be changed to complete donor pattern chimerism and ultimately prevent relapse.

Serodiagnosis of amoebiasis using a recombinant protein fragment of the 29 kDa surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica

To develop an improved serodiagnostic test for amoebiasis, we performed a detailed analysis of the immunodominant epitopes of the 29 kDa surface antigen and evaluated its sensitivity and specificity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the fragment containing the immunodominant epitope was evaluated further and compared with full-length recombinant 29 kDa protein. Specificity and sensitivity of the two ELISAs were assessed using 55 human sera of parasitic protozoa infection cases (25 amoebiasis, 20 giardiasis and 10 toxoplasmosis sera) and 10 healthy control sera. The immunodominant epitope of the 29 kDa antigen is localised only in the N-terminus 14-54 amino acid residues. The sensitivities of the two ELISAs were very high, 92 and 96%, respectively. The specificity of the fragment was 100%, whereas the specificity of the full-length 29 kDa protein was 86.6%. These results indicate that the fragment containing the immunodominant epitope of the 29 kDa protein can be used to accurately serodiagnose amoebiasis without cross-reactivity from other parasites.

Background nonselective cationic current and the resting membrane potential in rabbit aorta endothelial cells

The ion channel conductances that regulate the membrane potential was investigated by using a perforated patch-clamp technique in rabbit aorta endothelial cells (RAECs). The whole-cell current/voltage (I-V) relation showed a slight outward rectification under physiological ionic conditions. The resting membrane potential was -23.3 +/- 1.1 mV (mean +/- SEM, n = 19). The slope conductances at the potentials of -80 and 50 mV were 31.0 +/- 4.0 and 62.8 +/- 7.1 pS pF(-1), respectively (n = 15). Changes in the extracellular and intracellular Cl(-) concentrations did not affect the reversal potential on I-V curves. The background nonselective cationic (NSC) current was isolated after the K(+) current was suppressed. The relative permeabilities calculated from the changes in reversal potentials using the constant-field theory were P(K):P(Cs):P(Na):P(Li) = 1:0.87:0.40:0.27 and P(Cs):P(Ca) = 1:0.21. Increases in the external Ca(2+) decreased the background NSC current in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration for half block by Ca(2+) was 1.1 +/- 0.3 mM (n = 7). Through the continuous recording of the membrane potential in a current-clamp mode, it was found that the background NSC conductance is the major determinant of resting membrane potential. Taken together, it could be concluded that the background NSC channels function as the major determinant for the resting membrane potential and can be responsible for the background Ca(2+) entry pathway in freshly isolated RAECs.

Increased ferric iron content and iron-induced oxidative stress in the brains of scrapie-infected mice

Scrapie is a transmissible neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats. The neuropathological changes include vacuolation, astrocytosis, the development of amyloid plaques in some instances, and neuronal loss. The mechanisms involved in neuronal cell death in scrapie are not known. Recently, we reported the presence of oxidative stress in the brains of scrapie-infected animals and suggested that this is the main mechanism that induces neuronal cell loss. It is known that oxidative stress induced by free radicals is associated with iron accumulation; this association led to an examination of the levels of iron (total iron, Fe(2+) and Fe(3+)) in the brains of control and scrapie-infected mice by biochemical methods. In the scrapie-infected group, both the level of total iron and the Fe(3+) level were significantly increased in cerebral cortex, striatum, and brainstem as compared to the values in the control group. A shift in the ratio of Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) was observed in the same regions of infected mice. Additionally, in this scrapie model, we confirmed the presence of oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increase of free malondialdehyde. These results suggest that iron metabolism is changed and that iron-induced oxidative stress partly contributes to neurodegeneration in scrapie infection.

Observation of low molecular weight poly(methylsilsesquioxane)s by graphite plate laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Mass spectra of polystyrene and poly(methylsilsesquioxane)(PMSSQ) derived from methyltriethoxysilane(MTES) were obtained in the 100-1,000 Da range by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a graphite plate without a matrix. Clean mass spectra were obtained without interference from carbon clusters or other low molecular weight compounds. Initial reaction products derived from condensation of partially hydrolyzed MTES were observed. Upon 30 min of heating at 30 degrees C, the ethoxy groups were fully hydrolyzed to hydroxy groups. Many PMSSQ species consistent with predictable polymerization reaction pathways involving intermolecular condensation and intramolecular dehydration were observed. Thus, laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a graphite plate, without added matrix materials, is shown to provide valuable information on low molecular weight polymer not available by MALDI-TOF-MS.

Integration of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers into a molecular linkage map of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers have been successfully used for genomic mapping, DNA fingerprinting, and marker-assisted selection in many plant species. Here we report the first successful assignment of 15 SSR markers to the Phaseolus vulgaris molecular linkage map. A total of 37 SSR primer pairs were developed and tested for amplification and product-length polymorphism with BAT93 and Jalo EEP558, the parental lines of an F7 recombinant inbred (RI) population previously used for the construction of a common bean molecular linkage map. Sixteen of the SSRs polymorphic to the parental lines were analyzed for segregation and 15 of them were assigned to seven different linkage groups, indicating a widespread distribution throughout the bean genome. Map positions for genes coding for DNAJ-like protein, pathogenesis-related protein 3, plastid-located glutamine synthetase, endochitinase, sn-glycerol-3 phosphate acyltransferase, NADP-dependent malic enzyme, and protein kinase were determined for the first time. Addition of three SSR loci to linkage group B4 brought two separated smaller linkage groups together to form a larger linkage group. Analysis of allele segregation in the F7 RI population revealed that all 16 SSRs segregated in the expected 1:1 ratio. These SSR markers were stable and easy to assay by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They should be useful markers for genetic mapping, genotype identification, and marker-assisted selection of common beans.

Randomized comparison of coronary stenting with optimal balloon angioplasty for treatment of lesions in small coronary arteries

AIMS

Angioplasty of lesions in small coronary arteries remains a significant problem because of the increased risk of restenosis. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of elective coronary stent placement and optimal balloon angioplasty in small vessel disease.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty patients with lesions in small coronary arteries (de novo, non-ostial lesion and reference diameter <3 mm) were randomly assigned to either balloon angioplasty or elective stent placement (7-cell NIR stent). The primary end-point was restenosis at 6 months follow-up. Optimal balloon angioplasty was defined as diameter stenosis less than or = 30% and the absence of major dissection after the angioplasty, and crossover to stenting was allowed.

RESULTS

Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. Procedure was successful in all patients, and in-hospital events did not occur in any patient. However, 12 patients in the angioplasty group were stented because of suboptimal results or major dissection. Postprocedural lumen diameter was significantly larger in the stent group than in the angioplasty group (2.44 +/- 0.36 mm vs 2.14 +/- 0.36, P<0.05, respectively), but late loss was greater in the stent group (1.12 +/- 0.67 mm vs 0.63 +/- 0.48, P<0.01, respectively). The angiographic restenosis rate was 30.9% in the angioplasty group, and 35.7% in the stent group (P = ns). Clinical follow-up was available in all patients (15.9 +/- 5.7 months) and clinical events during the follow-up were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that optimal balloon angioplasty with provisional stenting may be a reasonable approach for treatment of lesions in small coronary arteries.