An inversion polymorphism of a DA/DAPI-positive chromosome pair in <i>Anas platyrhyncho</i><i>s</i> (Aves)

A specific type of heterochromatin (DA/DAPI-posi tive heterochromatin) was detected in the genome of <i>Anas platyrhynchos f</i>. <i>domestica</i> L. (domestic duck). The DA/DAPI-positive autosome pair was polymorphic with respect to its occurrenceand size and was also involved in an inversion polymorphism

N-ras mutation in a canine lymphoma: short communication

Lymphomas of dogs were investigated by molecular genetic methods. Regions of exon 1 and 2 of the N-ras gene, which harbours the mutation hot spots (codons 12, 13 and 61) were screened. A GGT [symbol: see text] GAT (glycine [symbol: see text] aspartic acid) mutation in codon 13 was present in a multicentric-type lymphoma of a 1-year-old male dog.

Successful jejunal nutrition therapy in a pregnant patient with apallic syndrome

A 41-year-old woman was admitted in the 8th pregnancy week as a consequence of a left-sided media infarction. After alloprothetic aortic valve replacement, she had discontinued deliberately the mandatory anticoagulation treatment. Following an initial clinical stabilisation, a second insult with right-sided media total infarction occurred 3 weeks after admission. In the further course, she developed an apallic syndrome and required respirator therapy. The initial enteral nutrition therapy via naso-gastric tube, was continued via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Due to recurrent vomiting from the 24th pregnancy week, the PEG was changed into a PEG with jejunal position of the tube (JET-PEG). Via this access and simultaneous body impedance analysis (BIA) control, the further nutrition therapy could be continued uneventfully. In the 27th pregnancy week, the patient gave birth to a female newborn (birth weight: 820 g) by Caesarean section in pre-eclampsia. The foetal development was in accordance with the gestational period and uncomplicated in the further course. The mother could be released into ambulatory care where the above nutrition therapy was continued. Reports on a successful nutrition therapy of pregnant comatose patients are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case where JET-PEG and monitoring by repeated BIA measurement were used for the control of the enteral nutrition.

Tumour suppressor gene p53 mutation in a case of haemangiosarcoma of a dog

Haemangiosarcomas of dogs were analysed by molecular genetic techniques. Regions of the tumour suppressor gene p53, including the well-known tumour hot spots (codons 175, 245, 248, 249, 273 and 282) were screened. A 24 bp deletion was detected in exon 5 of the gene.

Secretion of free and protein-bound leptin from subcutaneous adipose tissue of lean and obese women

Leptin circulates as a free (FL) and a protein-bound (BL) form, with the soluble leptin receptor (LR) as an important binding compound. Here we measured these components of leptin in serum and in the incubation medium of sc adipose tissue in healthy lean (n = 10) and obese (n = 13) female subjects using recently developed specific RIA systems. In addition, immunostaining for FL, BL, and LR in adipose tissue was performed. Serum FL levels were increased in the obese subjects (P < 0.0001), whereas BL and LR concentrations in serum of lean and obese subjects were similar. Both FL and BL were secreted from human preadipocytes and increased in parallel to the differentiation of the cells. In sc fat cell explants LR antibodies predominantly stained the fat cell membrane, whereas FL and BL antibodies revealed intracytoplasmatic adipocyte staining. The release of FL, BL, and LR from adipose tissue was increased in obese compared with lean subjects (P < 0.005 for FL; P < 0.02 for BL, and P < 0.01 for LR). In summary, fat cells are capable of releasing not only FL, but also BL and LR.

Canine tumour suppressor gene p53 mutation in a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the intestine

Tumours localised in the large bowel of dogs were subjected to molecular genetic studies. Highly conserved regions of the tumour suppressor gene p53, including typical tumour hot spots (codons 175, 245, 248, 249, 273 and 282), were analysed. A mutation CGG-->TGG (arginine-->tryptophan) was present in codon 249 in an anaplastic carcinoma in the caecum.

Gender-specific differences of serum leptin in obese and normal-weight adolescents: studies in type-I diabetes and Turner syndrome

The influence of exogenous insulin and estrogen substitution on serum leptin-like immunoreactivity was studied longitudinally in patients with type-I diabetes and Turner syndrome using a specific radioimmunoassay. Prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal samples of 17 patients (9 girls, 8 boys) with type-I diabetes mellitus developing obesity were compared to those of 17 normal-weight controls matched for gender, age and diabetes duration. Six obese and six normal-weight girls with Turner syndrome were studied without hormone substitution, with ethinylestradiol alone, and with cyclic estradiol/gestagen substitution. The mean leptin levels of the girls with diabetes were two times higher than boys at all times, while insulin doses and glycemic control had no influence. In Turner syndrome estrogen substitution led to increased leptin levels only in the obese group. This study revealed that both body weight above normal and female sex steroids seem to be necessary to elevate leptin concentrations, while exogenous insulin has no effect.

Identification of novel CBFA1/RUNX2 mutations causing cleidocranial dysplasia

Core binding factor A1 (CBFA1/RUNX2) is a runt-like transcription factor essential for osteoblast differentiation. Haplotype insufficiency causes cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a syndrome featuring supernumerary tooth buds, delayed tooth eruption, patent fontanels, Wormian bones, short stature, dysplasia of the clavicles, growth retardation and hypoplasia of the distal phalanges. We identified novel CBFAI/RUNX2 mutations after PCR and direct sequencing of patient leukocyte DNA. In family 1 mother and son are affected by CCD. Both carry the missense mutation R190W (CGG > TGG). This nucleotide change introduced a BsmI restriction site, which was used to independently confirm the mutation. It was absent in healthy members of the family. Family 2, in which father and daughter are affected by CCD, shows a deletion of nucleotide C821. This deletion causes a frameshift mutation with premature stop after the insertion of 18 aberrant amino acids. Healthy family members did not have this mutation. The clavicular dysplasia was more pronounced with the R19OW mutation, while the bone density was markedly reduced in individuals with either mutation, suggesting a previously underemphasized increased risk for osteoporosis in CCD.

Metathesis-based monoliths: influence of polymerization conditions on the separation of biomolecules

Monolithic materials were prepared by transition metal-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis copolymerization of norborn-2-ene and 1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-1,4,5,8-exo,endo-dimethanonaphthalene within the confines of surface-derivatized borosilicate columns in the presence of the porogenic solvents toluene and 2-propanol using Cl2(PCy3)2Ru(=CHPh) (1) as initiator. Relevant physicochemical data of the porous structure (specific surface area (sigma), pore volume (Vp), volume fraction of pores (epsilon(p)), and intermicroglobule volume (epsilon(z))) of the monolithic columns were determined by inverse size exclusion chromatography in tetrahydrofuran. Mean particle diameters were determined via electron microscopy. The influence of variations in polymerization conditions in terms of stoichiometry of the monomers and porogenic solvents on the chromatographic separation of the oligodeoxynucleotides dT12-dT18 and eight model proteins (ribonuclease A, insulin, cytochrome c, lysocyme, alpha-lactalbumin, alpha-chymotrypsinogen, beta-lactoglobulin B, catalase) were studied. Also, the role of additional phosphine on the entire polymerization setup and the associated chromatographic separations was elucidated. Relevant chromatographic data as well as differences between the separation of oligodeoxynucleotides and proteins may directly be attributed to the above-mentioned physicochemical properties of the metathesis-based monoliths. Finally, DSC-TGA-MS investigations on various monoliths of different composition and age were carried out in order to provide information on stability and oxidation behavior.

Lack of sequence variation in sporadic bovine leucosis in regions of tumour suppressor genes p53 and p16

Regions of the promoter and exons 5-8 of the tumour suppressor gene p53 were analysed in 25 cases of sporadic bovine leucosis. The study included 17 cases of juvenile leucosis, five cases of adult leucosis and three cases of skin leucosis. Exon 2 of tumour suppressor gene p16 was also investigated in the same samples. No sequence variations were present in the analysed areas of the genes. In p53, this fact represents a clear difference in comparison with enzootic bovine leucosis. In p16, no comparative data are available.