Imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, as evidence of organotin contamination in the marine environment of Korea

Imposex was measured in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, from the coast of the Korean peninsula. Frequency of imposex was 0% at two reference sites, but at 47 out of 61 sites, frequency of imposex was recorded as 100%. The degree of imposex was relatively high at the sites near a harbor and a shipyard. Tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) concentrations in T. clavigera ranged from 5 to 508 ng/g and from 3 to 2460 ng/g, respectively. A significant positive relationship was found between degree of imposex and organotin concentration, whereas a significant negative relationship was obtained between female-to-male sex ratio and the degree of imposex. During a field transplantation of T. clavigera from a pristine area to a port, TBT and TPT were accumulated in T. clavigera, and imposex was induced. T. clavigera shows considerable potential as a bioindicator species of the adverse effects of TBT and TPT contamination.

Pediatric intractable epilepsy: the role of presurgical evaluation and seizure outcome

Surgical experience with long-term follow-up is limited in childhood intractable epilepsy, compared with adult epilepsy. To assess the role of each presurgical evaluation modality and to identify prognostic factors for favorable seizure control after epilepsy surgery, 38 children with intractable epilepsy who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Among the available preoperative evaluation modalities, PET and neuropsychological testing showed the highest rates of positive results, whereas MRI was the most concordant with EEG findings. During a follow-up period of at least 12 months, 26 of the 38 patients showed favorable seizure control (Engel classifications I and II). The best seizure control was achieved in patients with a temporal resection and discrete lesion on magnetic resonance imaging. In spite of the invasive study, the less satisfactory results followed an extratemporal resection. We conclude that epilepsy surgery benefits children with intractable epilepsy and that the role of invasive study should be reestablished according to the area of resection and presence of discrete lesion on MRI.

The prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome using low unconjugated estriol in the second trimester of pregnancy without risk of Down's syndrome

To investigate the relationship between low unconjugated estriol (uE3) levels in the second trimester and adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies without increased risk for Down's syndrome, 1,096 women under 35 years of age underwent a mid-trimester AFP-hCG-uE3 screening test between January 1995 and June 1998. Multiple pregnancies, maternal diabetes, smoking and elevation of AFP and hCG levels more than 2.0 multiple of median (MoM) were excluded from our study population. The results were divided into a low-uE3 group with uE3 levels at or below 0.75 MoM and a normal uE3 group with uE3 levels above 0.75 MoM. The risk for adverse pregnancy outcome was compared between the two groups and the role of low uE3 as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome was determined. The data were assessed using chi 2 or Fisher exact test and then logistic regression was used for the final analysis. The odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. Unconjugated E3 levels at or below 0.75 MoM was significantly associated with fetal growth restriction after adjustment for maternal age, weight, sampling weeks, AFP and hCG levels (OR 0.413, 95% CI 0.174-0.900; P = 0.035). Low uE3 levels in the second-trimester could help in the detection of fetal growth restriction by a low risk group in Down's syndrome. Careful gestational dating and serial clinical and sonographic assessment of fetal growth may be required for the clinician to manage these parturients.

Change of telomerase activity in rectal cancer with chemoradiation therapy

Telomerase, an enzyme associated with cellular immortality, is expressed by most malignant cells and is inactive in most normal somatic cells, with the exception of proliferative stem cells, germ cells and activated lymphocytes. Measuring telomerase activity clinically may provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in telomerase activity following chemoradiation in rectal cancer, which almost always produces positive enzymatic activity. A total of 24 tumor tissue samples were used in this study, consisting of 12 paired specimens before and 4 weeks after chemoradiation. Telomerase activity was determined by PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. The telomerase activity was positive in 10 out of 12 patients (83%) in pre-irradiated and post-irradiated states. The levels of telomerase activity was decreased in 8 out of 10 patients after chemoradiation (80%) and two cases showed no change in enzymatic activity. One case showed no activity in either sample. The other case showed no enzymatic activity in the pre-irradiated sample, but showed weak activity in the post-irradiated sample. These data indicate that telomerase activity in rectal cancer is reduced after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, possibly suggesting a mechanism of downstaging following chemoradiation therapy in cancer.

Prenatal genetic diagnosis from maternal blood: simultaneous immunophenotyping and FISH of fetal nucleated erythrocytes isolated by negative and positive magnetic activated cell sorting

Fetal nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) are rare in maternal circulation, but their presence constitutes a potential source of non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis. This study was undertaken to establish a non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis method using isolated fetal nRBCs. A multi-step method including triple density gradient and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) using CD45 and CD71, cytospin centrifugation, K-B staining, and glycophorin A-immuno fluorescence in situ hybridization (GPA-immuno FISH) was performed. The study population included 65 patients from 8 to 41 weeks of gestation, and fetal nRBC was separated from all cases. The number of fetal nRBCs retrieved was 12.8 +/- 2.7 in 8 to 11 gestational weeks, 15.2 +/- 6.5 in 12 to 18 gestational weeks, 16.4 +/- 6.5 in 19 to 23 gestational weeks, 10.6 +/- 3.2 in 24 to 28 gestational weeks, and 5.5 +/- 1.9 in 35 to 41 gestational weeks: the mean number of nRBCs collected from 20 ml of maternal peripheral blood was 13.7 +/- 6.2. The highest value of yield was 45.6% from 12 to 18 weeks gestation. The fetal sex determination confirmed by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling showed 100% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity for males; 91.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity for females. We showed that fetal cells can be reliably enriched from maternal blood and that they can be used for detecting specific chromosomes by FISH with a specificity superior to current non-invasive methods.

Localization of epileptogenic zones in F-18 FDG brain PET of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy using artificial neural network

For an objective interpretation of cerebral metabolic pattern to find epileptogenic zones in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), we developed a computer-aided classifier using an artificial neural network (ANN). We studied 261 epilepsy patients diagnosed as no abnormal findings (NA, n = 64), left TLE (n = 116), or right TLE (n = 81) on interictal brain F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) by the consensus of two expert physicians. Seventeen asymmetry indexes between the mean counts of the 34 mirrored regions were extracted from the spatially normalized images and used as input parameters. The three diagnoses of NA, left TLE, and right TLE were used as outputs of the ANN. The structure of the ANN was optimized with variable error goals and the number of hidden units. On the criteria of agreement of diagnoses with those of expert viewers, the best classifier was chosen, which yielded a maximum average agreement of 85% for the test set when we used an error goal of 20 (sum of squared error) and ten hidden units. We could devise an ANN that performed as well in diagnosing left or right TLE on FDG PET as human experts and could be used as a clinical decision support tool.

The Caenorhabditis elegans APC-related gene apr-1 is required for epithelial cell migration and Hox gene expression

Inactivation of the Caenorhabditis elegans APC-related gene (apr-1) has pointed at two separate functions of apr-1. First, apr-1 is required for the migration of epithelial cells during morphogenesis of the embryo. In this process, APR-1 may act in a Cadherin/alpha-Catenin/beta-Catenin complex as a component of adherens junctions. Second, apr-1 is required for Hox gene expression, most likely by positively regulating the activity of the Wingless signaling pathway. During embryogenesis, apr-1 is required for the expression of ceh-13 labial in anterior seam and muscle cells and during larval development, apr-1 is necessary for the expression of lin-39 deformed in the vulval precursor cells. Thus, APR-1 may positively regulate the activity of the beta-Catenin/Armadillo-related proteins HMP-2 in migrating epithelial cells and BAR-1 in the vulval precursor cells.

Effect of helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with Helicobacter pylori infection

We investigated the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with H. pylori-associated antral gastritis without evidence of haemorrhage or clinical symptoms other than sideropenic anaemia. We conducted an open therapeutic trial in 21 adolescent girls aged 15-17 y with sideropenic refractory anaemia, which was defined as iron-deficiency anaemia refractory to oral iron therapy for 3 mo. All subjects underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy. Thirteen patients with confirmed H. pylori infection were given a 2-wk course of triple therapy and 6 wk of oral ferrous sulfate. We compared the mean levels of haemoglobin and serum ferritin among the "initial sample" (the time when the sampling was done before treatment with oral iron), "before eradication" (the time prior to triple therapy for eradication after subjects had been given oral iron for 3 mo) and "after eradication" (the time when the follow-up endoscopy was performed) data in 11 subjects in whom H. pylori infection was eradicated. Haemoglobin levels (g/dl) were 8.6+/-1.9, 8.6+/-1.4 and 11.3+/-2.3, respectively. Serum ferritin levels (microg/l) were 4.6+/-2.4, 4.2+/-2.3 and 17.5+/-6.7, respectively. After eradication of H. pylori, mean levels of haemoglobin (p = 0.0002) and serum ferritin (p = 0.0002) showed a prominent increase between "before eradication" and "after eradication". In conclusion, adolescent girls with sideropenic refractory anaemia should be evaluated for H. pylori infection. If H. pylori infection is coexistent, its eradication along with iron supplementation could correct the anaemia.

A deficiency of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein reduces apolipoprotein B secretion

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) transfers lipids to apolipoprotein B (apoB) within the endoplasmic reticulum, a process that involves direct interactions between apoB and the large subunit of MTP. Recent studies with heterozygous MTP knockout mice have suggested that half-normal levels of MTP in the liver reduce apoB secretion. We hypothesized that reduced apoB secretion in the setting of half-normal MTP levels might be caused by a reduced MTP:apoB ratio in the endoplasmic reticulum, which would reduce the number of apoB-MTP interactions. If this hypothesis were true, half-normal levels of MTP might have little impact on lipoprotein secretion in the setting of half-normal levels of apoB synthesis (since the ratio of MTP to apoB would not be abnormally low) and might cause an exaggerated reduction in lipoprotein secretion in the setting of apoB overexpression (since the MTP:apoB ratio would be even lower). To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of heterozygous MTP deficiency on apoB metabolism in the setting of normal levels of apoB synthesis, half-normal levels of apoB synthesis (heterozygous Apob deficiency), and increased levels of apoB synthesis (transgenic overexpression of human apoB). Contrary to our expectations, half-normal levels of MTP reduced the plasma apoB100 levels to the same extent ( approximately 25-35%) at each level of apoB synthesis. In addition, apoB secretion from primary hepatocytes was reduced to a comparable extent at each level of apoB synthesis. Thus, these results indicate that the concentration of MTP within the endoplasmic reticulum rather than the MTP:apoB ratio is the critical determinant of lipoprotein secretion. Finally, we found that heterozygosity for an apoB knockout mutation lowered plasma apoB100 levels more than heterozygosity for an MTP knockout allele. Consistent with that result, hepatic triglyceride accumulation was greater in heterozygous apoB knockout mice than in heterozygous MTP knockout mice.

Cloning and characterization of the UDP-sugar hydrolase gene (ushA) of Enterobacter aerogenes IFO 12010

A bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP, the phoA gene product) is primarily responsible for the hydrolysis of the substrates 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate-p-toluidine (XP) and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). Using these substrates and an E. coli phoA mutant, we have cloned Enterobacter aerogenes genes conferring an XP(+) phenotype. Two types of clones were identified based on phenotypic tests and DNA sequences. One of them is a E. aerogenes phoA gene (XP(+), pNPP(+)) as expected; surprisingly the other one was found to be a ushA gene (XP(+), pNPP(-)), which encodes an UDP (uridine 5'-diphosphate)-sugar hydrolase. The E. aerogenes ushA gene shares high sequence identity with ushA of E. coli and the mutationally silent ushA0 gene of Salmonella typhimurium at both the nucleotide (over 79%) and amino acid (over 93%) levels. Expression of the E. aerogenes ushA gene in E. coli produced high level of UDP-sugar hydrolase, as confirmed by TLC (thin layer chromatography) analysis together with a presence of a strong band due to a XP hydrolysis on a polyacrylamide gel.

Focal cortical dysplasia: comparison of MRI and FDG-PET

PURPOSE

The purpose of this work was to compare the use of MRI and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in the diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).

METHOD

Nineteen patients with surgically proven FCD were analyzed retrospectively. MRI was performed in all patients, and FDG-PET was performed in 17 patients. We compared the MR and FDG-PET findings of FCD according to the histologic findings that were classified into three grades.

RESULTS

Four cases were classified as Grade I, 4 cases as Grade II, and 11 cases as Grade III FCD. The lesions were detected on MRI in 9 (82%) of the 11 patients with Grade III FCD and in only 1 (13%) of the 8 patients with Grade I and II FCD. Cortical hypometabolism of the lesion was revealed on FDG-PET in 6 (86%) of the 7 patients with Grade I and II FCD and in 9 (90%) of the 10 patients with Grade III FCD. The extent of the cortical abnormality was larger on FDG-PET than on MRI in 11 (65%) of the 17 patients.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET is more useful in delineating the cortical abnormality in patients with mild degrees of FCD. The extent of the lesion was larger or similar on FDG-PET compared with that of the MRI.

T-cell epitopes in variable segments of Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein elicit serovar-specific immune responses in infected humans

We previously identified 18 stimulatory Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) peptides containing at least 23 epitopes presented with various HLA class II allotypes. Only one peptide contained an epitope localized in a variable segment (VS2). Continued studies reported here identified a total of five VS peptides containing T-cell epitopes that are distributed among MOMPs VS1, VS2, and VS4. Only MOMP-primed T-cell cultures from subjects infected with serovar E responded to the serovar E VS peptides, while the response of such cultures to constant-segment peptides was independent of the infecting serovar. Furthermore, MOMP-primed T cells proliferated in response only to the VS peptides encoded in serovar E but not to the corresponding peptides derived from serovar F, I, or J, confirming that these responses were serovar specific.

Surgical outcome of pediatric hydrocephalus treated by endoscopic III ventriculostomy: prognostic factors and interpretation of postoperative neuroimaging

In order to analyze the surgical outcome according to clinical characteristics and to evaluate the correlation between clinical improvement and neuroimaging changes, we retrospectively reviewed 32 children who had undergone endoscopic III ventriculostomy (ETV) from February 1994 to May 1998. There were 15 boys and 17 girls, with a mean age of 5.2 years (range: 1 month to 13 years). The etiology of the hydrocephalus was primary aqueductal stenosis in 18 patients, secondary aqueductal stenosis caused by tumors in 5, IV ventricle outlet obstruction in 5, and hydrocephalus associated with meningomyelocele in 4. The mean duration of follow-up was 19.4 months (range 1-50 months). Overall, surgical outcome was regarded as good in 21 of 29 patients. Surgical outcome was poor in patients younger than 1 year (P<0.05). Neuroimaging 1 month after ETV showed a decrease in ventricular size in 11 of the 16 patients with good surgical outcomes. Five showed minimal changes only. In patients with good outcomes, ventricular size tended to decrease as time passed. Resolution of periventricular edema, flow void in the III ventricle on T2-weighted axial images, and cine-MR imaging were sensitive indicators of good outcome. We suggest that ETV be considered as a primary treatment option in patients older than 1 year of age with noncommunicating hydrocephalus. In addition, time factors should be taken into consideration when surgical outcome is judged. Changes in ventricular size could not predict surgical outcome completely in themselves. Therefore, a comprehensive postoperative assessment should be made with the help of T2-weighted MRI and cine-MRI.

Effect of helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with Helicobacter pylori infection

We investigated the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on sideropenic refractory anaemia in adolescent girls with H. pylori-associated antral gastritis without evidence of haemorrhage or clinical symptoms other than sideropenic anaemia. We conducted an open therapeutic trial in 21 adolescent girls aged 15-17 y with sideropenic refractory anaemia, which was defined as iron-deficiency anaemia refractory to oral iron therapy for 3 mo. All subjects underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy. Thirteen patients with confirmed H. pylori infection were given a 2-wk course of triple therapy and 6 wk of oral ferrous sulfate. We compared the mean levels of haemoglobin and serum ferritin among the "initial sample" (the time when the sampling was done before treatment with oral iron), "before eradication" (the time prior to triple therapy for eradication after subjects had been given oral iron for 3 mo) and "after eradication" (the time when the follow-up endoscopy was performed) data in 11 subjects in whom H. pylori infection was eradicated. Haemoglobin levels (g/dl) were 8.6+/-1.9, 8.6+/-1.4 and 11.3+/-2.3, respectively. Serum ferritin levels (microg/l) were 4.6+/-2.4, 4.2+/-2.3 and 17.5+/-6.7, respectively. After eradication of H. pylori, mean levels of haemoglobin (p = 0.0002) and serum ferritin (p = 0.0002) showed a prominent increase between "before eradication" and "after eradication". In conclusion, adolescent girls with sideropenic refractory anaemia should be evaluated for H. pylori infection. If H. pylori infection is coexistent, its eradication along with iron supplementation could correct the anaemia.

The EICP22 protein of equine herpesvirus 1 physically interacts with the immediate-early protein and with itself to form dimers and higher-order complexes

The EICP22 protein (EICP22P) of Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is an early protein that functions synergistically with other EHV-1 regulatory proteins to transactivate the expression of early and late viral genes. We have previously identified EICP22P as an accessory regulatory protein that has the ability to enhance the transactivating properties and the sequence-specific DNA-binding activity of the EHV-1 immediate-early protein (IEP). In the present study, we identify EICP22P as a self-associating protein able to form dimers and higher-order complexes during infection. Studies with the yeast two-hybrid system also indicate that physical interactions occur between EICP22P and IEP and that EICP22P self-aggregates. Results from in vitro and in vivo coimmunoprecipitation experiments and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down studies confirmed a direct protein-protein interaction between EICP22P and IEP as well as self-interactions of EICP22P. Analyses of infected cells by laser-scanning confocal microscopy with antibodies specific for IEP and EICP22P revealed that these viral regulatory proteins colocalize in the nucleus at early times postinfection and form aggregates of dense nuclear structures within the nucleoplasm. Mutational analyses with a battery of EICP22P deletion mutants in both yeast two-hybrid and GST pull-down experiments implicated amino acids between positions 124 and 143 as the critical domain mediating the EICP22P self-interactions. Additional in vitro protein-binding assays with a library of GST-EICP22P deletion mutants identified amino acids mapping within region 2 (amino acids [aa] 65 to 196) and region 3 (aa 197 to 268) of EICP22P as residues that mediate its interaction with IEP.

Helicobacter pylori infection with iron deficiency anaemia and subnormal growth at puberty

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection can contribute to growth deficit, especially in pubescent children who need large amounts of iron for growth. A structured questionnaire was sent to the parents of 532 healthy children aged 10 to 15 years (mean 12.9) to obtain demographic information on the parents and the environment. Of the 532 questionnaires sent out, 375 (70.5%; 170 girls and 205 boys) were returned. After collecting blood samples from participants, haemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, and serum IgG antibodies to H pylori were measured. The effects of risk factors such as H pylori infection, iron deficiency anaemia, sex, socioeconomic status, type of house, and crowding index on growth were analysed using multiple regression analysis. Of 63 H pylori positive children, 18 (28.6%) were below the 25th centile values for height, compared with 63 of 312 (20.2%) H pylori negative children. The prevalence rate of H pylori infection was 15.5% (53 of 343) in children without iron deficiency anaemia and 31.3% (10 of 32) in those affected. The relative risk of short stature was 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0 to 4.8) for iron deficiency anaemia, and 1.4 (95% CI, 0.8 to 2.4) for H pylori infection. The mean height was significantly lower in the group having both H pylori infection and iron deficiency anaemia. Therefore, H pylori infection accompanied by iron deficiency anaemia, rather than H pylori infection per se, might delay pubertal growth.

Limited performance of quantitative assessment of myocardial function by thallium-201 gated myocardial single-photon emission tomography

We investigated the reproducibility between thallium-201 and technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) gated single-photon emission tomography (SPET) for the assessment of indices of myocardial function such as end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (EDV, ESV), ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion. Rest 201Tl (111 MBq) gated SPET was sequentially performed twice in 20 patients. Rest 201Tl gated SPET and rest 99mTc-MIBI (370 MBq) gated SPET were performed 24 h apart in 40 patients. Wall motion was graded using the surface display of the Cedars quantitative gated SPET (QGS) software. EDV, ESV and EF were also measured using the QGS software. The reproducibility of functional assessment on rest 201Tl gated SPET was compared with that on 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET, and also with that between 201Tl gated SPET and 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET performed on the next day. The two standard deviation (2 SD) values for EDV, ESV and EF on the Bland-Altman plot were 29 ml, 19 ml and 12%, respectively, on repeated 201Tl gated SPET, compared with 14 ml, 11 ml and 5.3% on repeated 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET. The correlations were good (r=0.96, 0.97 and 0.87) between the two measurements of EDV, ESV and EF on repeated rest studies with 201Tl and 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET. However, Bland-Altman analysis revealed that the 2 SD values between the two measurements were 31 ml, 23 ml and 12%. We were able to score the wall motion in all cases using the 3D surface display of the QGS on 201Tl gated SPET. The kappa value of the wall motion grade on the repeated 201Tl study was 0.35, while that of the wall motion grade on the repeated 99mTc-MIBI study was 0.76. The kappa value was 0.49 for grading of wall motion on repeated rest studies with 201Tl and 99mTc-MIBI. In conclusion, QGS helped determine EDV, ESV, EF and wall motion on 201Tl gated SPET. Because the EDV, ESV and EF were less reproducible on repeated 201Tl gated SPET or on 201Tl gated SPET and 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET on the next day than on repeated 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET, functional measurement on 201Tl gated SPET did not seem to be interchangeable with that on 99mTc-MIBI gated SPET.

Characterization of the trans-activation properties of equine herpesvirus 1 EICP0 protein

The EICP0 protein of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is an early, viral regulatory protein that independently trans-activates EHV-1 immediate-early (IE), early, gamma1 late, and gamma2 late promoters. To assess whether this powerful trans-activator functions in conjunction with three other EHV-1 regulatory proteins to activate expression of the various classes of viral promoters, transient cotransfection assays were performed in which effector plasmids expressing the EICP22, EICP27, and IE proteins were used either singly or in combination with an EICP0 effector construct. These analyses revealed that (i) independently, the EICP0 and IE proteins are powerful trans-activators but do not function synergistically, (ii) the IE protein inhibits the ability of the EICP0 protein to trans-activate the IE, gamma1 late, and gamma2 late promoters, (iii) the EICP22 and EICP0 proteins do not function together to significantly trans-activate any EHV-1 promoter, and (iv) the EICP27 and EICP0 proteins function synergistically to trans-activate the early and gamma1 late promoters. A panel of EICP0 truncation and deletion mutant plasmids was generated and used in experiments to define the domains of the 419-amino-acid (aa) EICP0 protein that are important for the trans-activation of each class of EHV-1 promoters. These studies revealed that (i) carboxy-terminal truncation mutants of the EICP0 protein exhibited a progressive loss of trans-activating ability as increasing portions of the carboxy terminus were removed, (ii) the amino terminus of the EICP0 protein containing the RING finger (aa 8 to 46) and the acidic region (aa 71 to 84) was necessary but not sufficient for activation of all classes of EHV-1 promoters, (iii) the RING finger was absolutely essential for activation of EHV-1 promoters, since deletion of the entire RING finger motif (aa 8 to 46) or a portion of it (aa 19 to 30) completely abrogated the ability of these mutants to activate any promoter tested, (iv) the acidic region contributed to the ability of the EICP0 protein to activate the early and gamma1 late promoters, and deletion of the acidic region enhanced the ability of this mutant to activate the IE promoter, (v) the carboxy terminus (aa 325 to 419), which is rich in glutamine residues, was dispensable for the EICP0 trans-activation function, (vi) a motif resembling a nuclear localization signal (aa 289 to 293) was unnecessary for the EICP0 protein to trans-activate promoters of any temporal class, and (vii) the EICP0 protein was phosphorylated during infection, and deletion of the serine-rich region (aa 210 to 217), a potential site for phosphorylation, reduced by more than 70% the ability of the EICP0 protein to activate the gamma2 late class of promoters.

Murine bone marrow-derived mast cells exhibit evidence of both apoptosis and oncosis after IL-3 deprivation

IL-3 deprivation has been reported to induce apoptosis of bone marrow-derived mast cells. In order to evaluate this type of cell death further, we employed trypan blue and propidium iodide stainings, photometric enzyme immunoassay, fluorescence measurement of caspase-3, DNA electrophoresis, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. In this experiment, although several evidences supporting apoptosis were demonstrated some findings were not consistent with typical apoptosis. On the other hand, electron microscopical observation demonstrated that most cells from all the time phases after IL-3 deprivation showed the morphology of typical oncosis, i.e. cell swelling, disintegration of ultrastructure and subsequent karyolysis. Only a small number of cells from the later time phases showed apoptotic morphology. We here suggest that BMMCs undergo both apoptosis and oncosis after IL-3 deprivation and that the dominant type of prelethal change is oncosis in all time phases, although apoptosis also plays a partial role in the late time phases.

Expression of neuropeptide Y by glutamatergic stimulation in rat C6 glioma cells

We have investigated the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in C6 glioma cells after the glutamatergic stimulation by the in situ RT-PCR and immunocytochemical techniques. The expression of NPY mRNA correlated well with immunocytological findings in each series of experiments. NPY protein expression was enhanced by glutamate (1, 10, 50, 100 microM, and 1 mM) dose-dependently, and its expression was slightly increased by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 1, 10, 100, 500 microM, and 1 mM) and kainic acid (1, 10, 100, 300 microM, and 1 mM). We pretreated the cells with dopamine, haloperidol, pentylenetetrazol, and muscimol before each stimulation. The pentylenetetrazol and muscimol did not significantly alter the patterns of NPY expression induced by the glutamatergic stimulation. On the other hand, the dopamine and haloperidol pretreatment significantly elevated the levels of NPY expression that were induced by NMDA and kainic acid. Our results indicate that NPY release is closely related to glutamatergic stimulation, and it could be dynamically mediated by GABAergic and dopaminergic costimulation.

Dosimetry of rhenium-188 diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid for endovascular intra-balloon brachytherapy after coronary angioplasty

To examine the possibility of using rhenium-188 diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) for endovascular intra-balloon brachytherapy after angioplasty, dose distribution around the balloon was calculated and validated by film dosimetry. Medical internal radiation dosimetry (MIRD) was calculated assuming that the balloon had ruptured and that the contents had been released into the systemic circulation. 188Re-perrhenate eluate from the 188W/188Re generator was concentrated using an ion column and used to label DTPA. The dose distribution around the angioplasty balloon (20 mm length, 3 mm diameter cylinder) was estimated by Monte Carlo simulation using the EGS4 code. The time required for 17.6 Gy to be absorbed at 1 mm from the balloon's surface following application of 3700 MBq/ml of 188Re was found to be 278 s. Fifty percent of the energy was deposited in the first millimetre of the vessel wall from the balloon's surface. The calculated radiation absorbed dose agreed with that measured by film dosimetry, which was performed using a water phantom, with errors ranging from 9.4% to 17%. Upon balloon rupture the total amount of 188Re-DTPA was presumed to enter the systemic circulation. The resulting radiation absorbed dose was calculated using the MIRDOSE3 program and residence times obtained from dogs and amounted to 0.0056 mGy/MBq to the whole body and 4.56 mGy/MBq to the urinary bladder. The absorbed dose of 188Re-DTPA to the whole body was one-tenth of that of 188Re-perrhenate. A window-based program was developed to calculate the exposure time and the radiation dose absorbed as a function of the 188Re concentration and the arbitrary distance from the balloon to the surrounding tissues. We conclude that 188Re-DTPA is easy to prepare, safe to use and suitable for intra-balloon brachytherapy after coronary angioplasty.

Brenner tumor of the ovary: CT and MR findings

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the CT and MR characteristics of Brenner tumors, rare epithelial neoplasms of the ovary.

METHOD

CT and MR scans of eight pathologically proven Brenner tumors of the ovary (seven benign, one malignant, and one associated with mucinous cystadenoma) were retrospectively reviewed. The masses were analyzed for location, size, external configuration, internal architecture, enhancement pattern, presence of calcification, and metastatic spread.

RESULTS

The patients' median age was 63 years (range 39-79 years), and the mean size of the tumors was 11.4 cm (7.5-17 cm). All tumors were unilateral and had a well-defined margin. The mass was mostly solid in three, mostly cystic in one, and "mixed" solid and cystic in four cases. The tumors with cystic components (n = 5) were mostly multilocular in appearance (n = 4). All the solid components showed mild homogeneous enhancement on postcontrast CT and MRI. Extensive amorphous calcification within the solid component on CT was seen in five of six cases (83%). No characteristic findings discriminating malignancy from benign Brenner tumor could be found.

CONCLUSION

Extensive amorphous calcification in a solid mass or solid component in a multilocular cystic mass is a characteristic finding of Brenner tumor of the ovary on CT and MRI.

Characterization of the transactivation domain of the equine herpesvirus type 1 immediate-early protein

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) possesses a sole diploid immediate early gene (IE) that encodes a major regulatory protein of 1487 amino acids capable of modulating gene expression from both early and late promoters and also of trans-repressing its own promoter. Using a series of GAL-4-IE fusion constructs, we previously demonstrated that the minimal transactivation domain (TAD) of the IE protein maps within amino acids 3-89. Additional studies revealed that that the carboxyl terminus of the IE protein may be required for full transactivation activity in vitro. Analyses of the minimal TAD revealed the presence of 13 acidic amino acids and six basic residues giving the TAD region a net negative charge of -7. In addition, there are conserved hydrophobic residues (Leu(12) and Phe(15)) that may be critical for transactivation function. To identify residues essential for IE transactivation and to ascertain if the overall net negative charge of the TAD or the position of specific hydrophobic residues within the IE TAD are critical for the transactivation function, plasmids expressing mutant forms of the TAD were generated using specifically designed mutagenic oligonucleotides and PCR mutagenesis. Mutagenized TADs in which the acidic and hydrophobic amino acid residues were replaced, singly and in combination, with polar, uncharged amino acids were cloned into a GAL-4/CAT reporter expression system and assayed in transient transfection assays. To determine if the carboxyl terminus is necessary for full transactivation activity, a series of constructs that express forms of the IE protein-containing deletions within this region were generated and assayed for transactivation function in transient transfection assays. These assays demonstrated that mutation of any acidic residue, either singly or in combination, or deletion of the carboxyl terminus of the IE protein resulted in a severe impairment of transactivation activity. These results show that both acidic and hydrophobic residues within the IE TAD are critical for transactivation function and that the carboxyl terminus of the IE protein is required for full transactivation activity.

Outcomes of medical treatment of neurocysticercosis: a study of 65 cases in Cheju Island, Korea

BACKGROUND

Although cysticidal drugs hasten the death and disappearance of the parasite, the long-term prognosis of NCC is still not satisfactory.

METHODS

In this study, 65 patients with active neurocysticercosis (NCC) treated with praziquantel or albendazole were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate radiological and clinical outcome. According to worm location, patients were divided into two groups: parenchymal (n = 42) and extraparenchymal NCC (n = 23). The average duration of follow-up was 23 months.

RESULTS

In terms of cysticidal effectiveness (73% vs. 50%), seizure control (60% vs. 43%) and symptomatic improvement of non-seizure patients (64% vs. 44%), the outcome of treatment was better in the parenchymal NCC than in the extraparenchymal. Repeated cysticidal treatment was needed in 26% of parenchymal and 39% of extraparenchymal NCC. After treatment, 38% of parenchymal NCC complained of seizure and 35% suffered from headache. Likewise, 27% and 36% of extraparenchymal NCC complained of seizure and headache, respectively. During the follow-up, 7 of 30 patients without initial seizure developed new seizures after medical treatment.

CONCLUSION

Despite the development of cysticidal drugs, a considerable number of patients suffer from late neurologic sequelae such as seizure and headache. Therefore continuous attention should be given to the patients after cysticidal treatment. Prevention by health education is emphasized.