Expression of Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60v-src in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

The Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) pp60v-src protein was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells either from a plasmid vector carrying the v-src gene or in yeast cells containing a single-copy v-src gene chromosomally integrated. In both yeast strains, v-src gene transcription is regulated by the galactose-inducible GAL10 promoter. Growth in galactose-containing medium resulted in constitutive expression of pp60v-src in the integrated strain and transient expression of higher levels of pp60v-src in the plasmid-bearing strain. The concentration of pp60v-src in the plasmid-bearing strain at its peak of expression was approximately threefold lower than that found in RSV-transformed mammalian cells. pp60v-src synthesized in yeast cells was phosphorylated in vivo on sites within the amino and carboxyl halves of the molecule. In immune complex kinase assays, the yeast pp60v-src was autophosphorylated on tyrosine and was able to phosphorylate exogenous substrates such as casein and enolase. The specific activity of pp60v-src synthesized in yeast cells was approximately 5- to 10-fold higher than that made in mammalian cells. Induction of pp60v-src caused the death of the plasmid-bearing yeast strain and transient inhibition of growth of the single-copy strain. Concomitantly, this induction resulted in high levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of yeast cell proteins. This indicates that pp60v-src functions as a tyrosine-specific phosphotransferase in yeast cells and suggests that hyperphosphorylation of yeast proteins is inimical to cell growth.

Corneal transplantation using 4-week banked donor material. Long-term results

Thirty-six corneal transplantations employing banked donor material maintained during prolonged storage (mean: 29.5 days) in organ culture at 31 degrees C were followed for 5 years. The overall graft survival was 80% , and graft failures were almost exclusively found in a pre-operatively defined risk group where the survival rate was 49.6% compared with 95.5% in the non-risk group. Five years after transplantation the mean central thickness of surviving grafts was 0.52 mm and the mean endothelial cell density 862 cells/mm2. All grafts were optically clear judged by slit-lamp appearance even though a higher degree of light-scatter was demonstrated compared with controls. The functional results were satisfactory with an over-all mean visual acuity of 0.67 cc. Excluding cases where low visual performance had non-corneal causes, 88% of patients obtained 0.5 cc or better. The median spherical equivalent of corneal curvature was 8.23 mm and the median astigmatism 4 diopters. Intraocular pressure was normal, and all grafts had obtained some degree of sensibility, although reduced compared with controls. The study demonstrates that banked donor material can be successfully employed for corneal transplantation achieving favourable long-term results.

In situ carcinomas of the breast. Types, growth pattern, diagnosis, and treatment

The paper presents a prospective study comprising 40 consecutive patients with in situ carcinomas of the breast and two with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) who underwent operation during a 2-year period at a single hospital. Out of the 40 in situ carcinomas 13 were of the lobular type (LCIS) and 27 of the ductal type (DCIS). They made up about 9% of all newly diagnosed breast cancers. Histologically a distinction could be made between three different growth patterns: microfocal, tumour-forming, and a diffuse form. With the exception of one case, the 26 microfocal growths (2 ADH, 13 LCIS, 11 DCIS) were accidental findings in otherwise benign breast biopsies, whereas the tumour-forming and diffuse forms (16 DCIS) were diagnosed in the great majority clinically and/or by mammography. Of the tumour-forming and diffuse DCIS 25% were demonstrated solely by mammography. The surgical treatment in the 26 patients showing microfocal changes was exclusively biopsy in 23, while three had mastectomy, because of a papillary focus in two and patient preference in one. Of six patients with tumour-forming DCIS three had segmental resection and three mastectomy, the latter because of papillary foci, while all 10 with diffuse growth had mastectomy. On the basis of their experience of types and growth patterns, the authors set up a surgical strategy which might add new aspects to our knowledge about the biological nature of in situ lesions.

Direct vision internal urethrotomy. A prospective study of 81 primary strictures treated with a single urethrotomy

The post-operative treatment of urethral strictures as well as the criteria of success have varied considerably. In order to find a solution to this problem, we undertook a prospective evaluation of 81 men treated for their first urethral stricture with a single urethrotomy. Fifty-one patients with a stricture 5 mm or less in length were catheterised post-operatively for 3 days. Patients with strictures longer than 5 mm were catheterised for 3 weeks (14 patients) or 6 weeks (16 patients). All were followed up for a minimum of 24 months. The stricture recurred in 33 patients (41%). We found that 3 days' catheter drainage was sufficient for patients with short strictures. Whether strictures measuring more than 5 mm might be treated similarly needs further investigation.

The isolation and characterization of RNA coded by the micF gene in Escherichia coli

A new species of micF RNA, which contains 93 nucleotides (a 4.5S size), was isolated from Escherichia coli. The sequence of the 4.5S micF RNA corresponds to positions G82 through U174 of the micF gene. The 5' terminal end of this smaller micF RNA is triphosphorylated signifying that it is a primary transcript. Its promoter region, which is situated within the greater micF structural gene, has been identified and characterized by lacZ fusion analysis. A 6S micF RNA species, which has a base composition predicted for a transcript from the full length gene has also been detected; however, the 4.5S micF RNA is the predominant species. The work clearly shows by biochemical identification the presence of chromosomally encoded micF RNA.

The significance of the frequency and occurrence of breast cancer for treatment. Essential aspects of new Danish studies of the natural history of breast cancer

The natural history of breast cancer (BC) has been evaluated by two entirely different types of consecutive and unselected materials: The general female population. Females with the breast cancer disease. The frequency of in situ carcinoma in the general female population is about 25 per cent. The growth pattern of the in situ carcinomas is predominantly microfocal contrary to findings in mammography selected surgical materials where tumor forming and/or diffuse types contribute to more than 30 per cent. Evidence is established of three different stages of the development of invasive breast carcinoma: The benign epithelial hyperplastic stage, the microfocal in situ carcinoma stage and the cancer stage. Among females with the BC-disease the residual breast glandular tissue in the contralateral breast develops a new primary invasive carcinoma in 33 per cent and furthermore in situ carcinoma in another 35 per cent. Death of disseminated metastases and axillary lymphnode metastases is significantly related to these new primaries. Residual breast glandular tissue left behind after total mastectomy contributes to new primary invasive carcinoma. Thus among clinical chest-wall recurrences not less than 20 per cent were primary invasive cancers. Our investigations have considerable impact on treatment: As concern microfocal in situ lesions they support a conservative attitude as regard treatment, providing the females are included in prospective follow-up studies including mammography. As concern the contralateral breast they support a more active attitude, but more studies are needed. Meanwhile a close follow-up program is an inevitable consequence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radial scars in women with breast cancer

In 84 consecutive autopsies of women with a clinical diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, radial scars were found in the contralateral breast in 35 cases (42%) by an extensive histopathologic method. Four women had radial scars on the ipsilateral side in the breast tissue available from the primary surgical procedure or at autopsy. One woman had an invasive breast cancer with morphologic features compatible with but not diagnostic of transition from a radial scar. Of the six radial scars with carcinoma in situ occurring in three women, three were of ductal and three of lobular type. In the remaining cases only radial scars with a benign appearance were found except for two with atypical hyperplasia. The frequency of radial scars was significantly higher in women with fibrocystic disease (55%) compared to women without (24%). Contralateral primary invasive and in situ breast cancer occurred in 68%. No difference in the frequency of radial scars in women with and without breast cancer was found and radial scars were not associated with any specific type of breast cancer. Our findings do not indicate a higher malignant potential of radial scars than of fibrocystic disease. It is suggested that only radial scars containing high-risk epithelial changes such as atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ are associated with an increased risk of subsequent breast cancer development.

Retrograde urethrography in the postoperative control of urethral strictures treated with visual internal urethrotomy

Urinary flow measurement and often retrograde urethrography are used in the postoperative control of urethral strictures treated with urethrotomy. In the present study we have evaluated the usefulness of retrograde urethrography and find that the postoperative control should consist of a history and uroflowmetry.

Venous muscle pump function in patients with primary lymphoedema: assessment by ambulatory strain gauge plethysmography

The musculovenous pump function was assessed by ambulatory strain gauge plethysmography in 11 patients with primary lymphoedema. The venous function was within the normal range regarding both venous reflux and expelled volume. The values were compared with ten patients with chronic venous insufficiency and oedema. The values for venous function were clearly abnormal for the patients with venous insufficiency and different from those with primary lymphoedema. Ambulatory strain gauge plethysmography may be a useful non-invasive method in distinguishing between oedema of lymphatic or venous origin.

High-dose combination alkylating agent chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow support for metastatic breast cancer

Seventeen patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with a high-dose combination chemotherapy regimen and autologous bone marrow support. Thirteen patients had prior combination chemotherapy. Fifteen patients were treated with a phase II regimen of cyclophosphamide (5.625 g/m2), cisplatin (165 mg/m2), and BCNU (600 mg/m2). Bone marrow harvest and reconstitution were uncomplicated. All patients became profoundly myelosuppressed. Fourteen of 16 evaluable patients (88%) responded, including six complete responses (CRs) (38%). The median time to tumor progression was 5 months. The median survival was 8 months. CRs occurred more frequently in patients with no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease, inflammatory breast cancer; and patients treated within 3 months of first recurrence. The rate of tumor regression was rapid, with a median of 11 days to partial response (PR) and 12 days to CR. Those patients achieving a PR by day 7 had a greater likelihood (P = .03) of attaining a CR than those patients whose PR occurred later. Three deaths (18%) occurred, all in women with inflammatory breast cancer treated with prior chemotherapy. High-dose combined alkylating agent therapy produced high PR and CR rates in metastatic breast cancer patients, most of whom had failed prior chemotherapy. The rate of tumor regression was rapid. Current efforts are directed at developing a regimen using drugs specifically active in breast cancer, with an intent of combining an effective high-dose regimen with additional modalities of therapy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Radiation dose in investigations of the large bowel. Comparison of radiation doses in examinations of the colon with double-contrast barium enema with the Welin modification and colonoscopy

Because of the increasing and repeated application of colonoscopy and double-contrast barium enema with the Welin modification in connection with the checking of patients who have been treated for neoplastic polyps, we have found it valuable to examine the amount of radiation that the patients are exposed to in the two kinds of examinations. The radiation dose in the examination of the colon with the Welin modification (35 examinations) and at colonoscopy (114 examinations) was, on an average, 387 and 10 mSv, respectively. Since colonoscopy gives a possibility not only of diagnosis but also of treatment and also exposes the patients to 40 times less radiation than X-ray examination with the Welin modification, we recommend colonoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of neoplastic colonic polyps.

Semiquantitative oestrogen receptor assay in formalin-fixed paraffin sections of human breast cancer tissue using monoclonal antibodies

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Pharmacokinetics of dibromodulcitol in humans: a phase I study

A combined clinical and pharmacokinetic phase I study of the substituted hexitol dibromodulcitol (DBD), administered as a single oral monthly dose, has been performed. Twenty-three patients with advanced neoplasms received DBD doses ranging from 600 to 1,800 mg/m2 body surface area (BSA). The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, with both significant granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia occurring at dose levels of 1,500 to 1,800 mg/m2. The average pharmacokinetic parameters for DBD, calculated on the basis of a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination, include the elimination constant, .005 +/- .002/min; absorption constant, .012 +/- .009/min; and an apparent volume of distribution, 1.03 +/- .4 L/kg. The area under the drug concentration curve (AUC) and the peak drug level (Cmax) were linearly related to the dose administered (P less than .001). The mean AUC was 18.7 +/- 6.1 mmol/L min, and the mean Cmax was 47.1 +/- 16.8 mumol/L when normalized to a DBD dose of 1 gm/m2. The elimination constant was significantly reduced in patients with abnormal hepatic function (P less than .01). The elimination constant was not correlated with renal function. The half-life of DBD in plasma (158 minutes) was considerably shorter than the four-to eight-hour half-life of total radioactivity in plasma measured by previous investigators following the administration of radiolabeled DBD.

Contralateral cancerous breast lesions in women with clinical invasive breast carcinoma

Eighty-four consecutive autopsies of women with a clinical diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma (BC) were examined by extensive histopathologic methods for malignant changes of the contralateral breast. Sixty-eight percent of the women were found to have primary contralateral BC, of which 33% were invasive and 35% in situ lesions. Another 16% had metastases to the breast. Only two women had had treatment for their contralateral BC. In eight cases a malignant lesion was diagnosed or suspected clinically, but in the remaining cases, the malignancies were identified only by histopathologic examination. No clinical data or histologic characteristics of the first BC had any predictive value for the risk of contralateral BC. In the contralateral breast, a significant coincidence was found between fibrocystic disease and the occurrence of primary malignant BC. The majority of the BC on both sides were of ductal type. Seventy-nine percent of the invasive contralateral BC were tumefacient, and 71% had axillary lymph node metastases. The mean survival time was comparable for women with and without contralateral primaries, but a significantly higher proportion of women with contralateral invasive BC died of disseminated BC. The frequency of contralateral malignancies is thus much higher than previously reported. The consequence of these findings may implicate a reevaluation of the treatment and control schedule regarding the contralateral breast in women with invasive BC.

Characterization of RNA-protein interactions in 7 S ribonucleoprotein particles from Xenopus laevis oocytes

5 S RNA interactions with transcription factor protein A (TFIIIA) in 7 S particles from Xenopus laevis oocytes (Xlo) have been characterized by the use of an in vitro RNA exchange assay. 32P-labeled Xlo 5 S RNA can rapidly be incorporated into 7 S particles by simple incubation of the RNA with intact particles. Incorporation of the labeled RNA during exchange reaches an equilibrium within 20 min at 20 degrees C. Labeled Xlo 5 S RNA already incorporated in 7 S particles can be chased out by an excess of unlabeled 5 S RNA. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis of 7 S particle samples segregates several ribonucleoprotein particles containing TFIIIA and 5 S RNA. Time course experiments reveal incorporation of 32P-labeled 5 S RNA first in a higher molecular weight ribonucleoprotein particle before incorporation into the 7 S particle. In the exchange process, the integrity of the higher order structure of the RNA is essential for a recognition of the 5 S RNA by TFIIIA. Denatured Xlo 5 S RNA exchanges poorly in the presence of EDTA, but can exchange into the particle at a high level if sufficient divalent cations are present to allow the higher order structure of the RNA to reform. Xlo 5 S RNA fragments that have the 5' or 3' ends deleted past helix I markedly lose their ability to exchange. Heterologous eukaryotic and eubacterial 5 S RNAs can exchange into 7 S particles, although the eubacterial 5 S RNAs exchange at a low level.

Corneal transplantation using long-term cultured donor material

Twenty-seven corneal transplantations with a mean duration of donor incubation of 14.3 days (group 1) and 36 transplantations with a mean duration of incubation of 29.8 days (group 2) were followed for 18 months. No significant difference was found in graft survival between the two groups (81 versus 80%). Almost all graft failures were found among pre-operatively defined high-risk cases, i.e. previously transplanted and/or vascularized recipient cornea. The profile of the corneal thickness curve was almost identical in the two groups, and normal values were reached in both. Visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 23% of the cases in group 1, and 35% in group 2. These figures were highly influenced by co-existing and complicating eye disease i.e. amblyopia, cataract, macular degeneration and glaucoma. The results show that 2 weeks and 4 weeks cultured cornea do not differ with respect to graft survival and thickness. The over all results indicate that long-term cultured donor material is suitable for corneal transplantation and fully comparable to material stored by other methods.