Liquid chromatography-electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry for on-line accurate mass determination and identification of cyclodepsipeptides in a crude extract of the fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae

Electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) has been used for the detection and identification of destruxins (cyclodepsipeptides) in a crude extract of the fungus Metarrhizium anisopliae. HPLC-MS analyses were performed with a post-column addition of erythromycin as a reference compound (lock mass procedure). Seven destruxin derivatives could be identified on-line from their accurate masses (deviation from calculated values <5.5 ppm) through elemental composition calculations. As a highly sensitive and accurate method, ESI-TOF-MS proved to be very powerful for the analysis and dereplication of natural products in complex mixtures.

Characterization of a novel 21-kb deletion, CFTRdele2,3(21 kb), in the CFTR gene: a cystic fibrosis mutation of Slavic origin common in Central and East Europe

We report a large genomic deletion of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, viz., a deletion that is frequently observed in Central and Eastern Europe. The mutation, termed CFTRdele2,3(21 kb), deletes 21,080 bp spanning introns 1-3 of the CFTR gene. Transcript analyses have revealed that this deletion results in the loss of exons 2 and 3 in epithelial CFTR mRNA, thereby producing a premature termination signal within exon 4. In order to develop a simple polymerase chain reaction assay for this allele, we defined the end-points of the deletion at the DNA sequence level. We next screened for this mutation in a representative set of European and European-derived populations. Some 197 CF patients, including seven homozygotes, bearing this mutation have been identified during the course of our study. Clinical evaluation of CFTRdele2,3(21 kb) homozygotes and a comparison of compound heterozygotes for deltaF508/CFTRdele2,3(21 kb) with pairwise-matched deltaF508 homozygotes indicate that this deletion represents a severe mutation associated with pancreatic insufficiency and early age at diagnosis. Current data show that the mutation is particularly common in Czech (6.4% of all CF chromosomes), Russian (5.2%), Belorussian (3.3%), Austrian (2.6%), German (1.5%), Polish (1.5%), Slovenian (1.5%), Ukrainian (1.2%), and Slovak patients (1.1%). It has also been found in Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia and Greece and has sporadically been observed in Canada, USA, France, Spain, Turkey, and UK, but not in CF patients from Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania or Serbia. Haplotype analysis has identified the same extragenic CF-haplotype XV-2c/KM. 19 "A" and the same infrequent intragenic microsatellite haplotype 16-33-13 (IVS8CA-IVS 17bTA-IVS 17bCA) in all examined CFTRdele2,3(21 kb) chromosomes, suggesting a common origin for this deletion. We conclude that the 21-kb deletion is a frequent and severe CF mutation in populations of Eastern- and Western-Slavic descent.

Effects of metoprolol and ramipril on action potentials after myocardial infarction in rats

The effects of chronic treatment with the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril, their combination, or placebo on action potential configuration 6 weeks after myocardial infarction in rats were studied. Action potentials were measured in isolated left ventricular posterior papillary muscles and compared with action potentials from a sham operated group without infarction. After infarction, the action potential amplitude was reduced and this phenomenon was partially reversed by metoprolol- and ramipril-treatment. Prolonged repolarisation after infarction compared to sham operated animals was additionally delayed after metoprolol treatment. Thus, metoprolol extends the refractory period, which may counteract tachyarrhythmia.

Ulcero-mutilating neuropathy in an Austrian kinship without linkage to hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy IIB and hereditary sensory neuropathy I loci

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate genetic heterogeneity in ulcero-mutilating neuropathy.

BACKGROUND

Ulcero-mutilating features and sensory loss have been observed in hereditary sensory neuropathy (HSN) and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN). HSN is characterized by marked distal sensory loss, frequent toe and foot ulcerations, osteomyelitis, and necrosis, which may be complicated by toe or limb amputations. Motor and autonomic nerve involvement can also occur to a variable degree. Recently, autosomal-dominant HSN type I was mapped to chromosome 9q22 in four families. In two other families with ulcero-mutilating neuropathy, a gene locus was assigned to chromosome 3q13-q22. Because motor symptoms were prominent in these latter two kinships, the disease was designated HMSN type IIB or Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2B (CMT2B) neuropathy.

METHODS

We report detailed clinical, electrophysiologic, and genetic data on a large Austrian family with ulcero-mutilating neuropathy, sensory loss, and amputations.

RESULTS

Linkage analysis with chromosomal markers representing the HSN I and HMSN IIB loci excluded these gene loci in our family.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings therefore indicate the existence of a third gene locus in autosomal-dominant inherited ulcero-mutilating neuropathies, showing that these neuropathies are genetically highly heterogeneous.

Optical BEAMTAP beam-forming and jammer-nulling system for broadband phased-array antennas

We present an approach to receive-mode broadband beam forming and jammer nulling for large adaptive antenna arrays as well as its efficient and compact optical implementation. This broadband efficient adaptive method for true-time-delay array processing (BEAMTAP) algorithm decreases the number of tapped delay lines required for processing an N-element phased-array antenna from N to only 2, producing an enormous savings in delay-line hardware (especially for large broadband arrays) while still providing the full NM degrees of freedom of a conventional N-element time-delay-and-sum beam former that requires N tapped delay lines with M taps each. This allows the system to adapt fully and optimally to an arbitrarily complex spatiotemporal signal environment that can contain broadband signals of interest, as well as interference sources and narrow-band and broadband jammers--all of which can arrive from arbitrary angles onto an arbitrarily shaped array--thus enabling a variety of applications in radar, sonar, and communication. This algorithm is an excellent match with the capabilities of radio frequency (rf) photonic systems, as it uses a coherent optically modulated fiber-optic feed network, gratings in a photorefractive crystal as adaptive weights, a traveling-wave detector for generating time delay, and an acousto-optic device to control weight adaptation. Because the number of available adaptive coefficients in a photorefractive crystal is as large as 10(9), these photonic systems can adaptively control arbitrarily large one- or two-dimensional antenna arrays that are well beyond the capabilities of conventional rf and real-time digital signal processing techniques or alternative photonic techniques.

Characterization of a de novo partial trisomy 22q13-qter in a patient by microFISH

Chromosomal microdissection and subsequent application of the generated probe for FISH (microFISH) allowed the characterization of a small extra band found by routine cytogenetic analysis on the short arm of chromosome 19 in a mentally retarded boy with various dysmorphic features. There is no cytogenetically visible loss of chromosome 19 material as verified by hybridization results using a subtelomeric probe for this region and therefore all anomalies found in the patient are most likely due to the partial trisomy of 22q13-qter. The approach used in this study should be generally applicable in comparable cases and allows a fast and straightforward identification of the origin of extra chromosomal material, which otherwise is very laborious or difficult to characterize. Clinical features of this 9-year-old patient such as mental and motor retardation, microcephaly, microphthalmia and hypogenitalism are compared with other cases showing this rare chromosomal aberration.

Cooperative strategies and the evolution of communication

Using communication is not the only cooperative strategy that can evolve when organisms need to solve a problem together. This article describes a model that extends MacLennan and Burghardt's [37] synthetic ethology simulation to show that using a spatial world in a simulation allows a wider range of strategies to evolve in response to environmental demands. The model specifically explores the interaction between population density and resource abundance and their effect on the kinds of cooperative strategies that evolve. Signaling strategies evolve except when population density is high or resource abundance is low.

Effect of interferon-beta1b on magnetic resonance imaging outcomes in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: results of a European multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. European Study Group on Interferon-beta1b in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of interferon-beta1b was performed on 718 patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis with follow-up of up to 3 years. In addition to clinical variables, serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were performed to determine the effect of treatment on the pathological evolution of the disease. All patients eligible for MRI had annual proton density/T2-weighted brain scans from which total lesion volume was measured and the number of new and enlarging lesions noted. A subgroup of 125 patients also underwent monthly gadolinium-enhanced and proton density/T2-weighted brain MRI from months 0 to 6 and 18 to 24 to determine the effect of treatment on the frequency of new lesion activity, defined as new enhancing lesions and new/enlarging T2 lesions not enhancing with gadolinium. The difference in total lesion volume between treatment groups was highly significant. In the placebo group, there was an increase of 15% from baseline to last scan, whereas in the interferon-beta1b group, a reduction of 2% was seen. Within the placebo group, there was a significant year-on-year increase in total lesion volume, with a mean increase of 16% at year 3 compared with baseline. In the treated group, there was a significant reduction at year 1 (4%) and year 2 (5%) compared with baseline; the 2% decrease at year 3 was not significant. The number of new or enlarging proton density/T2 lesions was also significantly reduced by treatment. In the frequent MRI subgroup, treatment was associated with a significant 65% reduction in new lesion activity between months 1 and 6, and 78% reduction from months 19 to 24. Interferon-beta1b has a substantial and sustained effect on reducing the accumulation of new inflammatory disease foci in secondary progressive MS. This therapeutic mechanism may contribute to the positive clinical benefits of treatment on the progression of sustained neurological disability and relapse activity that were also identified in this trial.

[Hereditary motor-sensory neuropathies (Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome) and related neuropathies. Current classification and genotype-phenotype correlation]

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system with an incidence of 40:100,000. Clinically, it is characterized by distal muscle weakness and wasting, primarily of the legs and later of the arms, foot deformity, diminished or absent tendon reflexes, and mild-to-moderate sensory loss. Molecular genetic studies over the past 2 decades have revealed the genetic heterogeneity of this disorder and the identification of different genes or gene loci, respectively. Therefore, a current CMT classification though constantly changing due to ongoing detection of further genetic defects must take into consideration both phenotypic and genotypic criteria. Since certain clinical features appear to be associated with specific genetic subtypes, we provide a detailed description of characteristic phenotypic variants to facilitate differential diagnosis and allow more precise referral to subsequent genetic investigations.

Functional analysis of a single chain chimeric alpha/beta-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor. Importance of a glutamate residue in the transmembrane region

To analyze the function of each subunit of the receptor for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), GMR, we previously generated a single-chain chimeric receptor by fusion of the extracellular and transmembrane domain from the alpha-subunit (alpha-GMR) to the intracellular part of the beta-subunit (beta-GMR) introducing an additional glutamate residue at the fusion site (alpha/beta-GMR). We demonstrated the capacity of alpha/beta-GMR to bind GM-CSF with low affinity and to induce GM-CSF-dependent activation of tyrosine kinase activity and proliferation in transfected Ba/F3 cells. To further compare the functions of wild type and chimeric receptors, we now report that this alpha/beta-GMR is sufficient to mediate morphological changes, expression of alpha(4)- and beta(1)-integrin receptor subunits, and serine-phosphorylation of Akt kinase. To analyze the function of the glutamate residue at the fusion region of alpha/beta-GMR various point mutants changing this amino acid and its position were expressed in Ba/F3 cells. None of these mutants was capable of supporting GM-CSF-dependent proliferation; however, when beta-GMR was coexpressed, GM-CSF mediated short and long term proliferation. Interestingly, some mutants but not alpha/beta-GMR can induce proliferation in the presence of an anti-alpha-GMR antibody. These data demonstrate the significance of a glutamate residue in the transmembrane region of alpha/beta-GMR for ligand-induced receptor activation.

Spatial soliton angular deflection logic gates

A generalized interaction geometry between orthogonally polarized optical spatial solitons is presented in which a weak signal soliton induces a small angular deflection of a stronger power supply, or pump, soliton, resulting in a spatially resolved shift of the pump at the gate output. This geometry allows for the all-optical realization of true three-terminal, inverting and restoring logic devices with gain, which can serve as building blocks for more complex logic operations. In addition, the effects of linear and nonlinear material absorption, which degrades the performance of the angular deflection gates, are considered. Even in the presence of realistic absorption, the angular deflection logic gates can still produce large-signal gain (>2) sufficient for general logic. Finally, by use of a modified gate transfer function approach, these optical logic gates are shown to possess large noise margins for robust operation.

Effect of nitrendipine on renal function in renal-transplant patients treated with cyclosporin: a randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Calcium antagonists such as nitrendipine reduce the effects of cyclosporin on renal haemodynamics, however, their long-term efficacy has not been established. We did a randomised trial to investigate the effects of nitrendipine on renal function in renal-transplant patients treated with cyclosporin.

METHODS

253 renal-transplant patients were recruited: 52 normotensive patients (diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) were assigned placebo and 57 nitrendipine 5 mg twice daily; 71 hypertensive patients (diastolic blood pressure >90 to <115 mm Hg) were assigned placebo and 73 nitrendipine 10 mg twice daily. Nitrendipine was increased to 20 mg twice daily if the target diastolic blood pressure (<90 mm Hg) was not achieved. The patients were seen once a month for 24 months; blood pressure and serum creatinine concentration were recorded at each visit. Analysis was by intention to treat.

FINDINGS

63 patients were withdrawn (35 nitrendipine, 28 placebo). The mean serum creatinine concentration at baseline was slightly higher in the nitrendipine group (146.7 micromol/L [SE 4.42]) than in the placebo group (137.0 micromol/L [3.54]. At the 24-month endpoint or at dropout, serum creatinine concentration was significantly higher in the 123 patients in the placebo group than the 130 patients in the nitrendipine group (160.8 [7.1] vs 148.5 [5.3], p for effect of treatment=0.025, analysis of covariance in a two-way classification; 95% CI for difference -1.77 to -22.98). At study entry, the blood pressures of the placebo and the nitrendipine groups were almost identical. At 24 months, blood pressure was higher in the normotensive patients given a placebo than in those patients given nitrendipine. By contrast, blood-pressure values were similar in those hypertensive patients given a placebo and those given nitrendipine at the end of treatment.

INTERPRETATION

The calcium antagonist nitrendipine has no adverse effects on kidney function in renal-transplant patients with cyclosporin. The drug has a small but significant nephroprotective effect, that is independent of the drug's antihypertensive action.

Urinary excretion of urodilatin is increased during pressure natriuresis in the isolated perfused rat kidney

The findings about mechanisms regulating production and excretion of urodilatin [ANP-(95-126)], a member of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) family, are controversial. To elucidate a possible relationship between arterial blood pressure and renal urodilatin excretion, we studied the effects of different perfusion pressures on urine flow (UV), urinary sodium (U(Na)V), urinary potassium (U(K)V), and urodilatin excretion (U(URO)V), and the concentration of urodilatin in the perfusate (P(URO)) of isolated perfused rat kidneys. Kidneys were perfused for 180 min with constant perfusion pressures (80 and 120 mmHg, respectively; each, n = 4) in a closed circuit system. Samples of urine and perfusate were taken every 30 min. Mean UV, U(Na)V, U(K)V, and U(URO)V values were significantly higher with a perfusion pressure of 120 mmHg than with 80 mmHg, whereas P(URO) did not change significantly. Serial measurements revealed no direct relation of U(URO)V with either U(Na)V or UV. This suggests that renal perfusion pressure is a determinant of U(URO)V and that urinary and venous effluent concentrations of urodilatin (probably production) are not coupled directly and that U(URO)V and U(Na)V may dissociate during acute variations of sodium excretion and UV.

Urokinase induces activation and formation of Stat4 and Stat1-Stat2 complexes in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its specific receptor (uPAR) act in concert to stimulate cytoplasmic signaling machinery and transcription factors responsible for cell migration and proliferation. Recently we demonstrated that uPA activates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat1) signaling in human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. However, the important question whether other transcription factors of the Stat family, in addition to Stat1, are involved in the uPAR-related signaling has not been addressed. In this study, we demonstrate that Stat4 and Stat2, but not Stat3, Stat5, or Stat6, are rapidly activated in response to uPA. We demonstrate further that Stat4 and Stat2 rapidly and transiently translocate to the cell nucleus where they bind specifically to the regulatory DNA elements. Analysis of Stat complexes formed in response to uPA revealed a Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer, which lacks p48, a DNA-binding protein known to combine with Stat1-Stat2. This new uPA-induced Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer binds to GAS (the interferon-gamma activation site) distinct from the interferon-stimulated response element to which the p48 protein containing complexes generally bind. We conclude that uPA activates a specific and unusual subset of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors in human vascular smooth muscle cells that suggests a critical role of uPA in these cells.

Safe biotechnology 9: values in risk assessment for the environmental application of microorganisms. The Safety in Biotechnology Working Party of the European Federation of Biotechnology

Risk assessment for the deliberate release of microorganisms into the environment is traditionally carried out on a case-by-case basis. In a similar approach to that used when assessing human pathogenicity, we propose an alternative approach by introducing risk classes to facilitate or complement this type of risk assessment. These consider several sets of scenarios that address the different values that need to be protected. Examples of this approach include risk-class definitions for soil fertility and biodiversity.

Secondary grating formation by readout at Bragg-null incidence

We show that when a dynamic hologram is read out by illumination at the Bragg nulls of a previously recorded grating the diffracted beam inside the medium can result in the recording of two secondary gratings that alter the final selectivity curve. This is confirmed experimentally. This effect can cause cross talk in hologram multiplexing that is stronger than interpage cross talk when a small number of holograms with high diffraction efficiencies are multiplexed.

Adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy with epirubicin and ifosfamide in nodal positive breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Morbidity and mortality, disease-free- and overall survival were analysed in an adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) study with ifosfamide and epirubicin for high-risk (> or = 10 positive lymph nodes) breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 21 patients (pts) were treated with 4 cycles of ViEC (vindesine, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) as standard chemotherapy. After the second cycle, CD34+ stem cells were mobilised with G-CSF. HDCT consisted of epirubicin 100 mg/m2 on days (-5)-(-4) before stem-cell rescue and ifosfamide 5000 mg/m2 on days (-5)-(-2).

RESULTS

No therapy-related deaths occurred. Mucositis WHO grade III/IV in 52% and neutropenic fever in 81% were the most relevant toxicities. Nausea and vomiting WHO grades III/IV were found in 62.2%. The median duration of leucopenia grade IV was 7 days (range: 4-11) with a median time to platelet recovery > 50,000/microliter of 6 days (range: 4-11). After a median follow-up time of 21 months (range: 12-49 months), six of 21 pts (28.6%) relapsed. Two patients died 12 and 18 months after initial diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant HDCT with epirubicin and ifosfamide is safe and shows good tolerability for high-risk breast cancer.

Mosaicism in a fragile X male including a de novo deletion in the FMR1 gene

In most cases the fragile X syndrome is caused by an amplification of the CGG trinucleotide repeat in the 5' untranslated region of the FMR1 gene, in combination with the hypermethylation of the proximal CpG island. Recently, also a few cases with deletions or a mosaic of a deletion and a full mutation in the FMR1 gene, leading to the same phenotype, have been described. Here we report the molecular analysis of a patient with typical fragile X phenotype and mosaicism of the FMR1 genomic region consisting of a premutation, a full mutation of the CGG repeats, and a 215 bp deletion, diagnosed by Southern blot hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequence analysis of the deletion demonstrated that the 5' breakpoint of the deletion is located within a putative hotspot region 75-53 bp proximal to the CGG repeat.

Enhancement of human IL-4 activity by soluble IL-4 receptors in vitro

The recombinant form of the extracellular domain of the IL-4 receptor (sIL-4R) is a potential candidate to neutralize IL-4; however, murine sIL-4R displayed both antagonistic and agonistic activity in vivo. Here we show that human recombinant sIL-4R induced the formation of complexed IL-4 in supernatants of activated T cells in a dose-dependent manner as measured by newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These IL-4/sIL-4R complexes liberated free IL-4 even after prolonged culturing. In contrast, in the absence of exogenously added sIL-4R, free IL-4 was rapidly consumed or proteolytically degraded in cultures of activated T cells. Thus, no IL-4 bioactivity could be determined in supernatants of T cells activated in the presence of IL-4 for 6 days. In contrast, the same cultures carried out in the presence of sIL-4R showed marked IL-4 bioactivity. While low concentrations of sIL-4R enhanced IL-4-driven inhibiton of IFN-gamma production by activated T cells, higher concentrations neutralized IL-4. Together, human sIL-4R, besides its activity as an antagonist to IL-4, also possesses protective and agonistic functions for IL-4, which may be relevant for clinical studies aiming to neutralize IL-4 in vivo.