Bis-S-acyl-2-thioethyl (SATE)-bearing monophosphate prodrug of beta-L-FD4C as potent anti-HBV agent

The S-acyl-2-thioethyl (SATE)-bearing 5'-monophosphate prodrug of beta-L-FD4C (8) was synthesized and evaluated for its activity against HBV in the 2.2.15 cell line. This pronucleotide (8) exhibited an excellent inhibitory effect against HBV with an EC50 value that is more than eight fold lower than that of the parent nucleoside (4) under some assay conditions. It is also important to note that pronucleotide (8) was capable of inhibiting HBV replication by 90%; whereas its parent, beta-L-FD4C (4), could only inhibit virus replication no greater than 70% in the same assay. When evaluated in the standard cytotoxicity assay in CEM cell line, pronucleotide (8) exhibited an IC50 value of 52 microM, which was four times less toxic than parent beta-L-FD4C (4) (IC50 = 13 microM).

Management of lactose maldigestion by consuming milk containing lactobacilli

The influence of nonfermented milk containing L. acidophilus or L. bulgaricus on lactose utilization by lactose maldigesters was investigated. Nonfermented milks containing L. acidophilus or L. bulgaricus at 10(8) and 10(9) CFU/ml were prepared using 2% low-fat milk. Lactose maldigestion was monitored by measuring breath hydrogen at hourly intervals for 8 hr following consumption of 400 ml of each diet. Nonfermented milk containing L. acidophilus B at 10(8) CFU/ml were not effective in reducing breath hydrogen and symptoms. Nonfermented milk containing L. acidophilus B at 10(9) CFU/ml only slightly decreased breath hydrogen production; however, the symptoms were significantly improved. Nonfermented milks containing L. bulgaricus 449 at 10(8) and 10(9) CFU/ml were effective in reducing breath hydrogen and symptoms. The results for bulgaricus milk were all significant. In this study, L. acidophilus B and L. bulgaricus 449 were chosen because of their similar beta-galactosidase activity and bile sensitivity. L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus are both thermophilic lactobacilli and an active transport (permease) system is found in both species for lactose transport. The major factor affecting in vivo lactose digestion in this study appears to be the bacterial cell wall/membrane structures. That the cell wall/membrane structures of L. acidophilus are different from those of L. bulgaricus can be indirectly proven by the results of sonication time for maximum beta-galactosidase activity measurement. The results of this study indicate that L. bulgaricus is usually a better choice than L. acidophilus for manufacturing nonfermented milks for lactose maldigesters.

SH3 domain of Bruton's tyrosine kinase can bind to proline-rich peptides of TH domain of the kinase and p120cbl

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), an inherited disease, is caused by mutations in the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). The absence of functional BTK leads to failure of B-cell differentiation; this incapacitates antibody production in XLA patients, who suffer from recurrent, sometimes lethal, bacterial infections. BTK plays an important role in B-cell development; it interacts with several proteins in the context of signal transduction. Point mutation in the BTK gene that leads to deletion of C-terminal 14 aa residues of BTK SH3 domain was found in a patient family. To understand the role of BTK, we studied binding of BTK SH3 domain (aa 216-273, 58 residues) and truncated SH3 domain (216-259, 44 residues) with proline-rich peptides; the first peptide constitutes the SH3 domain of BTK, while the latter peptide lacks 14 amino acid residues of the C terminal. Proline-rich peptides selected from TH domain of BTK and p120cbl were studied. It is known that BTK TH domain binds to SH3 domains of various proteins. We found that BTK SH3 domain binds to peptides of BTK TH domain. This suggests that BTK SH3 and TH domains may associate in inter- or intramolecular fashion, which raises the possibility that the kinase may be regulating its own activity by restricting the availability of both its ligand-binding modules. We also found that truncated SH3 domain binds to BTK TH domain peptide less avidly than does normal SH3 domain. Also, we show that the SH3 and truncated SH3 domains bind to peptide of p120cbl, but the latter domain binds weakly. It is likely that the truncated SH3 domain fails to present to the ligand the crucial residues in the correct context, hence the weaker binding. These results delineate the importance of C-terminal in binding of SH3 domains and indicate also that improper folding and the altered binding behavior of mutant BTK SH3 domain likely leads to XLA.

Combination therapy with suicide and cytokine genes for hepatic metastases of lung cancer

Metastases of lung cancer are a major cause of treatment failure. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of gene therapy in metastatic lung cancer, we used adenoviral (ADV) mediated transfer of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene and the cytokine gene interleukin-2 (IL-2) to treat a murine model of metastatic lung cancer in the liver. Hepatic metastases were established by intrahepatic implantation of LL2 cells in syngeneic recipient mice. One week after tumor implantation, various replication defective ADV vectors were injected intratumorally. Treatment with a vector expressing the HSV-tk followed by ganciclovir administration with ADV.tk resulted in significant regression of tumor (p<0.01) as well as prolongation of survival (p<0.001). While a vector expressing mouse IL-2 ADV.IL-2 alone was ineffective, combination therapy with HSV-tk resulted in further tumor regression and improvement of animal survival (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that suicide and cytokine genes can be utilized in combination to treat metastatic lung cancer in vivo.

Macrodactyly of the feet and hands

We reviewed the records of 16 patients with true macrodactyly and analyzed the typical clinical features and methods of treatment. Fourteen feet were involved in 13 patients (one was bilaterally affected). Three hands were involved in three patients. Clinically, all lesions in the hands and lesions in 11 of 14 feet involved the preaxial side. There was multiple digit involvement in two hands and 11 feet. Progressive macrodactyly (10 feet and two hands) was more common than the static type (four feet and one hand). Proximal involvement of the sole or palm occurred in seven feet and one hand; all cases were of progressive macrodactyly. Enlargement of the metatarsals or the metacarpals was frequent (11 feet and two hands). The growth behavior and extent of bony involvement were similar in patients with hand involvement and those with foot involvement. Fourteen patients had additional clinodactyly, either medial or lateral. The toes of eight feet had angular deformities in the sagittal plane; most were angulated dorsally. Nine patients underwent surgery and two had repeated surgery. The reduction procedures included debulking, ray resection, toe resection, phalangeal resection, and phalangeal epiphysiodesis; the corrective procedures included wedge osteotomy, interdigitalization, and split thickness skin graft. Of the nine patients surgically treated, five had good results and four had fair results. Of the seven patients without surgical repair, three had fair results and four had poor results. Surgical debulking, phalangeal resection, ray resection, and phalangeal epiphysiodesis produced significant improvement in macrodactyly of the feet and hands. Toe resection was not as beneficial.

[Effect of jiangtangkang on blood glucose, sensitivity of insulin and blood viscosity in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus]

OBJECTIVE

To study the hypoglycemic effect of Jiangtangkang (JTK), a Chrysanthemum product and its influence on sensitivity of insulin in non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

METHODS

Newly discovered (71 cases) and poorly controlled (117 cases) NIDDM were divided to JTK, 8 g each time, 3 times per day, and the control (Glibenclazide in newly discovered, no treatment in poorly controlled) group respectively.

RESULTS

After 2 months of treatment, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), glucosylated hemoglobin (GHb) improved remarkably and insulin of plasma remained unchanged in JTK group, their blood viscosity and triglyceride decreased after 6-month reatment, the FBG, PBG lowered in the control group while their viscosity and lipids were unaffected. Insulin tolerance test on newly discovered NIDDMs showed an increased sensitivity to insulin, their serum chromium elevated, and the urinary albumin in poorly controlled persons lowered significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

JTK might improve the sensitivity to insulin and decrease the blood viscosity in NIDDM.

Morphometric study of glycine-immunoreactive neurons and terminals in the rat cuneate nucleus

The distribution of glycine-immunoreactive (glycine-IR) neurons and their associated axon terminals in the rat cuneate nucleus was studied using antiglycine postembedding immunoperoxidase labelling and immunogold staining, respectively. The immunoperoxidase-labelled glycine-IR neurons were widely distributed in the entire rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus. They made up 30.8% (9671/31368) of the neurons surveyed. Quantitative evaluation showed that the percentage of glycine-IR neurons in the caudal level was significantly higher than that in the middle and rostral levels. The glycine-IR neurons were small cells (mean area = 198+/-1.9 microm2, n = 2862) with ovoid or spindle-shaped somata. Statistical analysis showed that the size of the glycine-IR neurons in the rostral level was significantly smaller than that in the middle and caudal levels. Immunogold labelled glycine-IR terminals which contained predominantly pleomorphic synaptic vesicles were mostly small (mean area = 1.24+/-0.03 microm2, n = 286) and they constituted 24.7% (286/1158) of the total terminals surveyed. They formed axodendritic, axosomatic and axoaxonic synapses with unlabelled elements. It is suggested from this study that glycine is one of the major neurotransmitters involved in the depression of synaptic transmission in the cuneate nucleus.

Granulopoiesis in newly diagnosed childhood solid tumors

Granulopoiesis at the diagnosis of solid tumors has not been previously reported. The purpose of this study is to detect the changes of granulopoiesis of patients with solid tumors in different clinical stages. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) assays and liquid suspension cultures of bone marrow and peripheral blood were studied in 90 children with newly diagnosed solid tumors, including 5 benign tumors and 85 malignant tumors. The malignant tumors were categorized into nonadvanced, advanced, or marrow-invaded ones. Bone marrow from children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and peripheral blood from adult volunteers were used as controls. Granulocyte-macrophage colony formation from bone marrow in benign or nonadvanced malignant tumor was not significantly different from that of controls. However, granulocyte macrophage colony formation from bone marrow in advanced or marrow-invaded malignant tumor was significantly less than that of controls or nonadvanced malignant tumor. Furthermore, the bone marrow of patients with advanced malignant tumor occasionally had a defective proliferation pattern and the bone marrow of those with marrow-invaded malignant tumor often had a defective proliferation pattern. Peripheral blood in marrow-invaded malignant tumor had colony and cluster formations in very wide ranges. As a malignant tumor progresses into advanced stages, irrespective of marrow infiltration, bone marrow CFU-GM levels may decline and defective granulopoiesis may occur.

Toe-to-hand transfer for traumatic digital amputations in children and adolescents

In the period from July of 1990 to August of 1994, 45 toe or toe tissue transfers were performed in 28 children and adolescents with traumatic amputation of digits. The average age at the time of transfer was 12 years (range, 3 to 16 years), and the median age was 10 years. The methods of reconstruction included transfer of 6 trimmed great toes, 2 great toe pulps, 24 second toes, 1 vascularized metatarsophalangeal joint from the second toe, 2 third toes, 4 combined second and third toes. and 1 combined third and fourth toes. All of the transferred toes, except one second toe, ultimately survived. Exploration and reanastomosis were required in three cases owing to arterial insufficiency. Partial pulp loss occurred in two digits. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 5 years (average, 3 years). Bony union occurred uneventfully in all patients. Two-point discrimination averaged 5 mm (static) and 6 mm (moving). Active range of the motion averaged 69, 38, and 13 degrees at the metaphalangeal proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints of the reconstructed fingers, respectively, and 15 degrees at the interphalangeal joint of the reconstructed thumbs. None of the children required subsequent tenolysis. Pulp plasty was performed in nine digits in seven patients. Radiologically, the transferred phalanges showed the some growth as the non-transferred ones. Trimming the great toe before transfer did not result in premature physeal closure or growth retardation. The donor foot maintained a satisfactory appearance. None of the patients complained of difficulty in running or jumping. Toe-to-hand transfer in children, performed meticulously, can provide a valuable option for reconstruction of traumatic digit loss.

A viral function represses accumulation of transcripts from productive-cycle genes in mouse ganglia latently infected with herpes simplex virus

Latent infections of neurons by herpes simplex virus form reservoirs of recurrent viral infections that resist cure. In latently infected neurons, viral gene expression is severely repressed; only the latency-associated transcripts (LATs) are expressed abundantly. Using sensitive reverse transcriptase PCR assays, we analyzed the effects of a deletion mutation in the LAT locus on viral gene expression in latently infected mouse trigeminal ganglia. The deletion mutation, which reduced expression of the major LATs 10(5)-fold, resulted in a approximately 5-fold increase in accumulation of transcripts from the immediate-early gene encoding ICP4, an essential transactivator of viral gene expression. The LAT deletion also resulted in a >10-fold increase in the accumulation of transcripts from the early gene encoding thymidine kinase, whose expression during productive infection stringently depends on ICP4, and positively affected the correlation of the levels of these transcripts with the levels of ICP4 transcripts. We also detected transcripts antisense to ICP4 RNA, which were in substantial excess to ICP4 transcripts in ganglia latently infected with wild-type virus. In contrast to its effects on productive-cycle transcripts, the LAT deletion reduced the accumulation of these antisense transcripts approximately 15-fold. Thus, a viral function associated with the LAT locus represses the accumulation of transcripts from at least two productive-cycle genes in latently infected mouse ganglia. We discuss possible mechanisms and consequences of this repression.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of a DNA-methyltransferase antisense (MT-AS) oligonucleotide and its catabolites in tumor-bearing nude mice

The pharmacokinetics of a 20-mer phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide was investigated in nude mice bearing a s.c. human lung carcinoma. The oligodeoxynucleotide, referred to as DNA-methyltransferase antisense (MT-AS) was designed to bind to the mRNA that coded for DNA-methyltransferase, an enzyme that controls the extent of methylation of 5'-cytosine. MT-AS was administered at four different doses (10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) as an i.v. bolus in a composite study design. A maximum of four blood samples were collected from any single animal, followed by sacrifice to obtain tissues. The plasma and tissue samples were collected from 5 min to 48 h after dosing and were processed by anion-exchange HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) and by capillary gel electrophoresis. On the basis of total (i.e., 15-mer to 20-mer species) MT-AS plasma concentrations as determined by HPLC, total clearance ranged from 7.9 ml/min/kg at the 30-mg/kg dose level to 15.2 ml/min/kg at 10 mg/kg; however, there were no definitive dose-dependent changes in clearance. The volume of distribution at steady state increased from a low value of 379 ml/kg at 30 mg/kg to a high of 1983.0 ml/kg at 300 mg/kg, a result that suggests saturable protein binding. In vitro plasma protein binding data supported this possibility, because the percentage of MT-AS bound decreased at high MT-AS concentrations. MT-AS distributed into most tissues, with a general rank order of kidney > liver > tumor > lung > muscle > brain. Analysis of plasma samples by capillary gel electrophoresis from 2 h to 8 h revealed that about 50% of the total oligodeoxynucleotides were due to the parent 20-mer MT-AS; the remainder consisted of 15-mer to 19-mer catabolites. Of particular interest was the relatively high tumor uptake of MT-AS. These results will support future studies designed to characterize the pharmacological action of MT-AS and its efficacy in preclinical models.

Long-term outcome after ileocecal resection for Crohn's disease

The decision to operate on ileocecal Crohn's disease is usually tempered by concern for early recurrence and the potential for multiple small bowel resections that will render the patients a gastroenterological cripple. However, delays in surgical management may unnecessarily prolong the patient's disease state and risk complications from both medications and unchecked disease. The aim of this study was to report the long-term clinical outcome of patients undergoing ileocecal resection for Crohn's disease between 1970 and 1993. One hundred eighty-one patients underwent ileocecal resection for Crohn's disease during the study period, with a median follow-up of 14.3 years. The mean age at the first resection was 32.7 +/- 0.9 years, and the male female ratio was 79:102. The indications for the initial resection were intractability in 119 (68.4%), obstruction in 45 (25.9%), enteric fistula in 27 (15.5%), perforation in 16 (9.2%), intra-abdominal abscess in 7 (4.0%), and hemorrhage in 5 (2.9%). Postoperative complications included prolonged ileus in 13 (7.5%), pneumonia/atelectasis in 15 (8.6%), wound infection in 11 (6.3%), urinary tract infection in 10 (5.7%), intra-abdominal abscess in 7 (4.0%), and wound dehiscence in 1 (0.6%). There were no operative mortalities. Fifty-six (30.9%) developed a recurrence requiring further surgery, with the mean time interval between initial ileocecal resection and operation for recurrence being 72.3 +/- 7.6 months. A second recurrence developed in 19 patients (10.5%) with a mean time interval of 52.3 +/- 8.3 months. The most frequent sites of first recurrence were the preanastomotic ileum in 49 (87.3%), the postanastomotic colon in 10 (17.9%), other colonic sites in 16 (28.6%), and other small bowel sites in 2 (3.6%) and other sites in 4 (7.1%). The types of resection for first recurrence were ileal resection in 28 (50%), right hemicolectomy in 17 (30.4%), segmental colectomy in 6 (10.7%), total proctocolectomy in 3 (5.4%), and proximal small bowel resection in 2 (3.6%). The long-term follow-up of this patient cohort indicated that 125 (69.1%) had only one resection, 37 (20.4%) required two resections, 15 (8.3%) required three resections, 4 (2.2%) required four resections. The results indicate that ileocecal resection of Crohn's disease had a high rate of disease control obtained with low morbidity, and a low frequency of three or more bowel resections (2.2%). Therefore, surgical resection of ileocecal Crohn's disease should not be unduly delayed for fear of risking short bowel syndrome. This approach should minimize overall disease-related patient morbidity by avoiding long periods of chronic illness.

Adenoviral-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transfer: regression of hepatic metastasis of pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Most patients have obvious metastases or locally advanced disease at the time of presentation. Surgical resection does not significantly change the clinical outcome. Combination chemotherapy induces a partial response but overall survival remains low. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of adenovirus-mediated suicide gene transduction as a therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer. A cell line was established from a murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and intrahepatic tumors were generated by inoculation of pancreatic cancer cells into the left lateral liver lobe. Transduction efficiency was characterized in vitro and in vivo. Intrahepatic tumors were treated by intratumoral adenovirus injection in combination with intraperitoneal administration of ganciclovir. Adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus (HSV)-thymidine kinase (tk) gene expression followed by ganciclovir treatment was highly efficient in inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in vitro. The proliferation of nontransduced cells was significantly reduced in the presence of HSV-tk expressing cells. Intrahepatic inoculation of pancreatic cancer cells leads to successful formation of solid adenocarcinomas in syngeneic recipients. Ad.RSV-tk injection of the tumor followed by intraperitoneal ganciclovir application caused highly significant tumor volume reduction and necrosis. These results indicate that transduction of the HSV-tk gene followed by ganciclovir is highly efficient for growth inhibition of hepatic metastases of pancreatic carcinoma.

Clinical and perinatal sonographic features of congenital adrenal cystic neuroblastoma: a case report with review of the literature

Cystic formation in association with adrenal neuroblastoma may be related to hemorrhage and necrosis of the tumor. We present an unusual case of congenital cystic fetal neuroblastoma of the right adrenal gland detected at 37 weeks' gestation which evolved into a complex echogenic mass 6 weeks after birth. Surgical exploration revealed a 3.5 x 3 x 3 cm right complex adrenal tumor which was resected. The infant did well 10 weeks after tumor resection. Typically adrenal hemorrhage may appear sonographically to be entirely echogenic, of mixed echogenicity, or anechoic when first imaged. Gradually, the texture of the hematoma will evolve and become more cystic and echolucent on follow-up ultrasound examinations. In contrast, our case of congenital adrenal cystic neuroblastoma became more complex after resolution of the hemorrhagic cyst. This case suggests that adrenal hemorrhagic and adrenal cystic neuroblastoma with a hemorrhagic cyst have different sonographic appearances. We suggest that additional imaging and surgical intervention should be considered whenever a cystic suprarenal mass becomes more complex after resolution and demonstrates no significant decrease in size in postnatal examinations.

The identification of a (CGG)6AGG insertion within the CGG repeat of the FMR1 gene in Asians

We have evaluated the structure of the CGG repeat within the FMR1 gene of an Asian population and found the most common size of the repeat to be 29 and 30 with a minor population of 36 repeats. We have isolated and sequenced DNA containing the 36 repeats and found the basis sequence to be (CGG)9AGG(CGG)9AGG-(CGG)6AGG(CGG)9; with a (CGG)6)AGG insertion, designated as 9A9A6A9. Of 144 Asian chromosomes, 11 (8%) had sequences with this insertion. Six different variations of the basic sequence were observed in the population: 9A9A6A2A9, 9A9A6A11, 9A9A16, 9A9A15, 8A9A6A6A9, and 11A6A6A9. All but one of the chromosomes with the insertion had the haplotype of DXS548/ FRAXAC1: 194/D suggesting that the sequences with the 6A insertion arose from a single ancestral allele. We have not observed the insertion in the FMR1 gene of Caucasians or Native Americans. The (CGG)6AGG insertion may be unique to Asians.

DNA binding of Escherichia coli arginine repressor mutants altered in oligomeric state

The Escherichia coli arginine repressor (ArgR) controls expression of the arginine biosynthetic genes and acts as an accessory protein in Xer site-specific recombination at cer and related plasmid recombination sites. The hexameric wild-type protein shows L-arginine-dependent DNA binding. In this work, ArgR mutants that are defective in trimer-trimer interactions and bind DNA as trimers in an L-arginine-independent manner are isolated and characterized. Whereas the wild-type ArgR hexamer exhibits high-affinity binding to two repeated ARG boxes separated by 3 bp (each ARG box containing two identical dyad symmetrical 9 bp half-sites), the trimeric mutants bind to and footprint three adjacent half-sites of this 'idealized' substrate. Trimeric ArgR is impaired in its ability to repress the arginine biosynthetic genes and in Xer site-specific recombination. In the absence of L-arginine, residual wild-type ArgR-binding occurs as trimers. The binding of an N-terminal 77-amino-acid DNA-binding domain to idealized ARG boxes is also characterized.

The role of interleukin-2 in combination adenovirus gene therapy for head and neck cancer

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene therapy alone and in combination with the herpes thymidine kinase gene (tk) was used to evaluate immunological responses and antitumor effects in head and neck cancer. Established floor of mouth squamous cell carcinomas in C3H/HeJ mice were directly injected with recombinant adenoviral vectors carrying both therapeutic and control genes. One week after adenoviral gene transfer, only the animals treated with combination IL-2+tk or tk alone demonstrated significant tumor regression. Residual tumors were harvested for microscopic evaluation and immunohistochemistry staining, which revealed a predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes in the tumor beds of the animals treated with IL-2. To evaluate the systemic immune effects of IL-2, animals treated with single or combination gene therapy received a second site challenge with parental tumor cells or a heterologous but syngeneic sarcoma cell line. Mice treated with combination IL-2 and tk demonstrated a protective systemic immunity specific to the parental tumor cell line, whereas no systemic immune response was evident in mice receiving IL-2 alone. In a separate experiment, a range of concentrations of the adenovirus IL-2 vector were used to treat established tumors. Even with the maximal single-dose adenovirus concentration, IL-2 alone was ineffective as a single therapy. These results support the use of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of IL-2 as an effective immunotherapy when used adjuvantly with the tk "suicide gene".

Determination of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides and catabolites in biological fluids and tissue extracts using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary gel electrophoresis

Chemically modified phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) have become critical tools for research in the fields of gene expression and experimental therapeutics. Bioanalytical assays were developed that utilized fast anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) for the determination of 20-mer ODNs in biological fluids (plasma and urine) and tissues. A 20 mer ODN in the antisense orientation directed against DNA methyltransferase (denoted as MT-AS) was studied as the model ODN. The anion-exchange HPLC method employed a short column packed with non-porous polymer support and a ternary gradient elution with 2 M lithium bromide containing 30% formamide. Analysis of the MT-AS is accomplished within 5 min with a detection limit of approximately 3 ng on-column at 267 nm. For plasma and urine, samples were diluted with Nonidet P-40 in 0.9% NaCl and directly injected onto the column, resulting in 100% recovery. For tissue homogenates, a protein kinase K digestion and phenol-chloroform extraction were used, with an average recovery of about 50%. Since the HPLC assay cannot provide one-base separation, biological samples were also processed by an anion-exchange solid-phase extraction and a CGE method to characterize MT-AS and its catabolites of 15-20-mer, species most relevant to biological activity. One base separation, under an electric field of 400 V/cm at room temperature, was achieved for a mixture of 15-20-mer with about 50 pg injected. Assay validation studies revealed that the combined HPLC-CGE methods are accurate, reproducible and specific for the determination of MT-AS and its catabolites in biological fluids and tissue homogenates, and can be used for the pharmacokinetic characterization of MT-AS.

Antibody reactivities to tumor-suppressor protein p53 and HTLV-I Tof, Rex and Tax in HTLV-I-infected people with differing clinical status

Since the presence of anti-p53 antibody has been correlated with the mutation and accumulation of p53, the aim of this study was to detect anti-p53 antibody and understand its correlations with anti-Tof, -Rex, or -Tax antibody reactivity in HTLV-I infected people differing in their clinical status. A plasmid (pGEX-Tof) was constructed to express Tof recombinant protein (RP) in Escherichia coli. Serum samples from 50 asymptomatic carriers (ACs), 50 adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and 50 HTLV-I-associated myelopathyltropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients were assayed for reactivity with different RPs by Western immunoblotting. The results showed that 2% of ACs, 4% of ATL patients and 6% of HAM/TSP patients had anti-p53 antibody. Therefore, anti-p53 antibody is not a useful serological marker for clinical management of HTLV-I infected people. Only 1 HAM/TSP patient had anti-Tof antibody whose specificity was further confirmed by antibody competition enzyme immunoassay. This study demonstrates that Tof protein is immunogenic in vivo, suggesting that it plays a role in the life cycle and pathogenesis of HTLV-I. The rate of anti-Rex antibody among HAM/TSP patients was significantly higher than that of ACs or ATL patients. In addition, 50% of ACs, 42% of ATL and 98% of HAM/TSP patients had anti-Tax antibody. McNemar's test showed that the presence of anti-p53 antibody did not have any correlation with the anti-Tax antibody in HTLV-I-infected people, while the correlation between anti-p53 and anti-Rex antibodies or anti-p53 and anti-Tof antibodies cannot be ruled out in this study.

[Clinical study on jianfei pill in preventing and treating recurrence of infantile asthma]

OBJECTIVE

Further explore on preventing and treating recurrence of infantile asthma with TCM method and its mechanism.

METHODS

Using Jianfei Pill (JFP) which was prepared according to the therapeutic principle of strengthening the body resistance to consolidate the constitution and promoting blood circulation to remove obstruction in the channels in treating 56 patients suffering from asthma. Their pulmonary functions were observed.

RESULTS

A total effective rate of 91.1% was shown in JFP group, which was higher than that of the control group (60%), P < 0.01. In comparison with the control group, the level of serum IgA, IgG and E-rosette ascend significantly (P < 0.01). The wave amplitude of pulmonary impedance rheogram and right heart index (HI) also increased significantly (P < 0.01), while pulmonary arterial pressure (PPA) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) dropped markedly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

JFP might work by means of enhancing the immune function and improving the pulmonary microcirculation to control chronic bronchial inflammation and reduce its reactivity to prevent the relapse of asthma.

Population genetics of the D4S139, D10S28, D17S74 and D17S79 VNTR loci among Asian, black, Caucasian, Hispanic and Native American populations from Seattle

We studied four variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci (D4S139, D10S28, D17S74, and D17S79) in five ethnic populations from the Seattle metropolitan area. DNA samples purified from randomly chosen individuals were digested with Hae III or Hinf I and probed with pH30, for D4S139; TBQ7 for D10S28; pCMM86 for D17S74 and pAC256 for D17S79. The allele frequencies, expected Hardy-Weinberg values, observed heterozygosities and genetic distances among the populations were obtained for all these loci. D4S139 restriction fragment lengths (RFLs) varied in size from 1.4 to 22 kilobase pairs (kbp). The observed heterozygosities (H) varied from 84% in Native American populations to 94% among Blacks. D10S28 RFLs varied in size from 650 base pairs (bp) to 10.1 kbp. H varied from 90% in Native Americans to 96% in Caucasians and Hispanics. D17S74 RFLs varied in size from 782 bp to 9.3 kbp. H varied from 87% in Asians to 92% among Blacks. D17S79 RFLs varied in size from 400 bp to 3 kbp. H varied from 87% in Hispanics to 95% in the Black population. The frequencies of genotypes of the loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with the exception of the D17S79 in Hispanics and Native Americans. The genetic distances between the populations were also determined.

Measurement of coherent Debye-Waller factor in in vivo deuterated C-phycocyanin by inelastic neutron scattering

Quasielastic neutron scattering measurements of dry and 35% D2O hydrated amorphous protein powder of C-phycocyanin were made as a function of temperature ranging from 313K down to 100K. The protein is grown from blue-green algae cultured in D2O and is deuterated up to 99%. The scattering is thus dominated by coherent scattering. Within the best energy resolution of the time-of-flight instrument, which is 28 mueV FWHM, the scattering appears entirely elastic. For this reason we are able to extract a coherent Debye-Waller factor by making an independent measurement of the static structure factor. We observe a considerable difference in the q dependence of the Debye-Waller factor between the dry and hydrated proteins; furthermore, there is an interesting temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller factor that is quite different from that predicted for dense hard-sphere liquids.