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.

Neurotoxicity of intracerebral injection of a replication-defective adenoviral vector in a semipermissive species (cotton rat)

The neurotoxicity of an adenoviral vector (Adv.RSVtk) carrying the gene for herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) was tested in the cotton rat, a semipermissive host. Adv.RSVtk was injected intracerebrally in cotton rats at a dose of 5.0 x 10(6) or 7.5 x 10(7) p.f.u. No signs of illness were observed. Histological inspection at 12 and 28 days after injection showed inflammation of the ependyma and choroid plexus and at the injection site. No demyelination, viral inclusions, cerebral edema, necrosis, cavities or vascular necrosis were seen in the brains. There was no significant difference between animals injected with 5.0 x 10(6) or 7.5 x 10(7) p.f.u., nor was there a difference between animals analyzed at 12 or 28 days after vector injection. This inflammation was similar in animals that had been preimmunized with wild-type virus and in animals that had been treated with ganciclovir. No histopathology, was observed in the lungs of the animals and no replication-competent virus was detected. These experiments indicate that Adv.RSVtk has limited neurotoxicity which would not prohibit its use in a limited phase I clinical trial in humans that have malignant tumors of the central nervous system.

The effectiveness of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation for persons with traumatic brain injury

This study examined the efficacy of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (CACR) in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Twenty persons with TBI who received hierarchically based CACR following inpatient neurorehabilitation were compared to a group of 20 persons with TBI matched for age, education, days in coma and time between testing. The comparison group received various other therapies including speech therapy and occupational therapy. The difference between pre- and post-treatment neuropsychological test scores was used to measure improvements in the domains of attention, visual spatial ability, memory and problem-solving. CACR and the comparison group showed significant post-treatment gains on the neuropsychological test scores, with CACR making significant gains on 15 measures and the comparison group on seven measures. However, we found no significant differences between the groups on their post-treatment gains. Results from this preliminary study found that, though significant cognitive gains were obtained after CACR, the extent and nature of these gains remains to be shown in controlled, prospective group studies.

Molar enthalpy and molar volume of methylene and benzene homologues in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

In this study, thermodynamic properties are measured for methylene and benzene homologues in reversed-phase liquid chromatography using octadecylsilica stationary phases and methanol mobile phase. The change in molar enthalpy (delta H degree) is determined from graphs of the logarithm of the capacity factor versus the inverse temperature (15 to 60 degrees C), whereas the change in molar volume (delta V degrees) is determined from graphs of the logarithm of the capacity factor versus pressure (830 to 5000 p.s.i.). For octadecylsilica phases with low bonding density (2.7 mumol m-2), delta H degree and delta V degree are small and are relatively unaffected by temperature and pressure. These thermodynamic parameters are linearly related to the homologue number for the methylene homologues, but not for the benzene homologues. For the ethylene group, delta delta H degree and delta delta V degree are in the order of -0.41 kcal mol-1 and -1.0 cm3 mol-1, respectively, at 30 degrees C. As the bonding density increases (5.4 mumol m-2), the molar volume and molar enthalpy decrease in a significant and nonlinear manner with the homologue number. Moreover, these thermodynamic parameters are markedly affected by temperature and pressure. For the ethylene group, delta delta H degree and delta delta V degree are in the order of -3.65 kcal mol-1 and -14.1 cm3 mol-1, respectively, at 30 degrees C. The theoretical and practical implications of these measurements are discussed with respect to the retention mechanism in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy for experimental bladder cancer

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of suicide gene therapy using adenoviral-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) and the prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) in a murine model of human transitional cell carcinoma.

METHODS

We used a replication-defective adenoviral construct containing the beta-galactosidase gene (ADV/Rous sarcoma virus [RSV]-beta-gal) as a control or ADV/RSV-tk as the therapeutic vector under the transcriptional control of the RSV long-terminal repeat promoter. Transduction efficiency was assessed in vitro by infection of MBT-2 cells with ADV/RSV-beta-gal at various multiplicities of infection (MOI) utilizing 5-bromo-4-chlor-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside (X-gal) staining. Sensitivity of MBT-2 cells to the therapeutic vector was determined after infection with ADV/RSV-tk with or without GCV. Subcutaneous tumors were established in syngeneic C3H/He female mice with 5 x 10(5) MBT-2 cells. Optimal dosing of ADV/RSV-tk was determined by direct percutaneous tumor injection with increasing viral doses and treatment with GCV. Treatment efficacy, long-term survival, and toxicity were determined in separate, similar, controlled experiments.

RESULTS

In vitro studies indicated greater than 95% transduction 96 hours after inoculation at an MOI of 3000 and a greater than 95% cell death rate with RSV-tk + GCV at an MOI of 61 or greater. In vivo experiments demonstrated an optimal viral dose of 3 x 10(8) plaque-forming units (pfu) and a greater than fourfold reduction in tumor growth for the animals treated with ADV/RSV-tk compared with control animals (P = 0.0013). Toxicity was limited to histologic evidence of hepatitis with ADV/RSV-tk doses greater than 3 x 10(8) pfu + GCV. Long-term survival of treatment animals was significantly increased over that of control animals (59%, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

ADV/RSV-tk with GCV treatment results in efficient gene transfer in vitro and provides effective therapy in experimental murine bladder cancer by significantly inhibiting tumor growth and improving host survival.

The role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and estradiol in rabbit corpus luteum progesterone production

To determine whether insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays a role in rabbit corpus luteum (CL) physiology the authors examined: IGF-I expression, the effect of IGF-I on progesterone (P) production in vitro, and the interaction of IGF-I with estradiol, the primary luteotropin in the rabbit. Northern blot analysis revealed that IGF-I mRNA is present in the rabbit CL throughout pseudopregnanacy. An intact ovarian in vitro perfusion model and dispersed luteal cell culture were used to determine effects of IGF-I on P production and interactions with estradiol. IGF-I significantly stimulated P production compared to control medium by the isolated, intact perfused rabbit ovary and by dispersed, cultured luteal cells. Estradiol alone did not stimulate P production in vitro. Estradiol did augment IGF-I stimulated P production in the intact perfused ovary and in luteal cell culture. These findings support a role for IGF-I in rabbit CL P production.

[Different susceptibilities to desensitization of three alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes induced by sustained norepinephrine stimulation]

cDNAs for the bovine alpha 1A-, hamster alpha 1B- and rat alpha 1D-adrenoceptors (AR) were transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells by calcium phosphate precipitation and stably expressed at high levels. The inositol phosphates (InsPs) accumulation was measured by the method of 3H-inositol incorporation and column chromatography. Susceptibilities to the desensitization of alpha 1-AR subtypes-mediated InsPs accumulation were determined in HEK 293 cells stimulated sustainedly by norepinephrine (NE). The NE-induced InsPs accumulation showed progressive decrease by NE pretreatment with increasing time of preincubation and concentration of NE in the cells transfected with all the alpha 1-AR subtypes. However, susceptibilities to the desensitization were different among the three subtypes. The desensitization of alpha 1A-AR took place earliest and needed lowest concentration of NE. The desensitization of alpha 1D-AR appeared to be the latest and needed hightest concentration of NE, while alpha 1B-AR stood in between.

Adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene and ganciclovir therapy leads to systemic activity against spontaneous and induced metastasis in an orthotopic mouse model of prostate cancer

It is critical to develop new therapies, such as gene therapy, which can impact on both local and metastatic prostate cancer progression. We have developed an orthotopic mouse model of metastatic prostate cancer using a cell line (RM-1) derived from the mouse prostate reconstitution (MPR) model system. This mouse model closely simulates the anatomical and biological milieu of the prostate and allows for realistic testing of experimental gene therapy protocols. Adenovirus (ADV)-mediated transduction of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in conjunction with ganciclovir (GCV) in this model led to significant suppression of growth and of spontaneous metastasis at 14 days post-tumor inoculation. Longer-term studies produced a significant survival advantage and a continued suppression of metastatic activity for treatment animals despite regrowth of the primary tumor. Challenge by injection of tumor cells into the tail vein following excision of treated and control s.c. primary tumors resulted in 40% reduction in lung colonization in the treatment group, indicating the possible production of systemic anti-metastatic activity following a single in situ treatment with ADV/HSV-tk + GCV in this model system.

Organization of the human beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I gene (MGAT1), which controls complex and hybrid N-glycan synthesis

UDP-GlcNAc: alpha-3-D-mannoside beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (EC 2.4.1.101; GlcNAc-T I) is a medial-Golgi enzyme which catalyses the first step in the conversion of oligomannose-type to N-acetyl-lactosamine- and hybrid-type N-glycans and is essential for normal embryogenesis in the mouse. Previous work indicated the presence of at least two exons in the human GlcNAc-T I gene MGAT1, exon 2 containing part of the 5' untranslated region and the complete coding and 3' untranslated regions, and exon 1 with the remainder of the 5' untranslated region. We now report the cloning and sequencing of a human genomic DNA fragment containing exon 1, which is between 5.6 and 15 kb upstream of exon 2. Transient transfection, ribonuclease protection and reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR indicated the absence of transcription start sites in intron 1 between exons 1 and 2. Northern analysis, ribonuclease protection, primer extension analysis and rapid amplification of 5'-cDNA ends showed that there are multiple transcription start sites for exon 1 compatible with the expression by several human cell lines and tissues of two transcripts, a broad band ranging in size from 2.7 to 3.0 kb and a sharper band at 3.1 kb. The 5' flanking region of exon 1 has a GC content of 81% and has no canonical TATA or CCAAT boxes but contains potential binding sites for transcription factors Sp1, GC-binding factor and epidermal growth factor receptor-specific transcription factor. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression was observed on transient transfection into HeLa cells of a fusion construct containing the gene for CAT and a genomic DNA fragment from the 5' flanking region of exon 1. It is concluded that MGAT1 is a typical housekeeping gene although there is, in addition, tissue-specific expression of the larger 3.1 kb transcript.

Metacarpal hand: classification and guidelines for microsurgical reconstruction with toe transfers

Metacarpal hand refers to the hand that has lost its prehensile ability through amputation of all fingers with or without amputation of the thumb. Functional restoration can be achieved by a wide variety of microvascular toe transfer techniques. When deciding which procedure should be used, careful consideration must be given to the level of amputation of the fingers as well as the functional status of the remaining thumb. In this article we propose a classification for the various patterns of the metacarpal hand along with guidelines for selection of the proper toe transfer procedure.

CD8+ T-cell-mediated suppression of HIV replication in the first year of life: association with lower viral load and favorable early survival

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

To study the role and development of non-cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell-mediated suppression of HIV replication in early perinatal HIV infection in a prospective study of vertically infected infants. CD8 T-cell-mediated HIV suppression was measured several times during the first year of life and correlated with viral load, cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) activity, in vitro antibody production (IVAP) and clinical outcome.

METHODS

CD8+ T-cell-mediated HIV suppression was measured by comparing the amount of p24 antigen produced by endogenously infected lymphocytes with cultures of the same number of autologous CD4+ T cells from which CD8+ cells were removed immunomagnetically. CD8 viral suppressive activity (VSA) was defined as a > or = 50% reduction in p24 antigen in the cultures containing CD8+ cells.

RESULTS

CD8+ T-cell-mediated HIV VSA was detected in 11/16 infants in the first year of life, including six/nine infants studied before 6 months and as early as 3 weeks of age. Infants who demonstrated CD8 VSA had a lower early peak and 6-month 'setpoint' plasma HIV RNA concentration than infants who lacked CD8 VSA [1.51 versus 4.94 and 0.094 versus 0.639 x 10(6) copies/ml, respectively, and higher CD4 percentage at 1 year of age. Survival of infants lacking CD8 VSA (four/six were rapid progressors) was shorter than for infants who demonstrated CD8 VSA (none out of 10 were rapid progressors). CD8 VSA was present before CTL and before or at the same time as IVAP in two of two and 11 of 14 infants studied, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CD8+ T-cell-mediated VSA can be demonstrated in a large proportion of HIV-infected infants early in the course of infection. This non-cytolytic HIV-suppressive immune response appears to play an important protective role in the early control of perinatal HIV infection at a time when other immune responses are either absent or deficient.

Out-patient surgery for the correction of penile curvature

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate an outpatient anaesthetic and surgical procedure for the correction of curvature of the penis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From February 1993 to December 1995, 128 patients (mean age 31 years, range 14-67) with penile curvature (120 with congenital curvature and eight with penile deformity from Peyronie's disease) were treated as out-patients at our institution using a proximal dorsal nerve block and ventral infiltration of the penis as the method of anaesthesia. The degree of deformity, pain and sexual activity were assessed before and after surgery and all patients were followed post-operatively using a questionnaire to determine the outcome and their satisfaction.

RESULTS

All the patients were able to leave the hospital shortly after surgery. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 35 months (mean 17.3); 112 patients (87.5%) reported a satisfactory cosmetic and functional result, while the other 16 patients reported an improvement but had inadequate correction. There were no significant short- or long-term complications; three patients with diabetes developed a hard lump over the operated tunica.

CONCLUSIONS

This unique operative method provided excellent correction of the deformities, was safe, cost-efficient and durable and could be performed as an out-patient procedure.