Substituting Coomassie Brilliant Blue for bromophenol blue in two-dimensional electrophoresis buffers improves the resolution of focusing patterns

In a new area of postgenomics challenges, the optimization of protein identification has become a central goal in microbiochemistry. In this work, we demonstrate that the substitution of Coomassie Brilliant Blue for bromophenol blue in two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) buffers improves the focusing of whole proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This improvement of focusing concerns more particularly basic proteins. This enhancement may be attributed to a better transfer from the first to the second dimension, which probably highlights an increase in the solubility of proteins in the IPG strips. Hence, the use of an efficient tracking dye in the 2-DE buffers may enlarge protein recovery on proteome maps.

The effects of tegaserod (HTF 919) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of digoxin in healthy subjects

Tegaserod (HTF 919) is a highly specific 5-HT4 receptor partial agonist that exhibits promotile activity throughout the gastrointestinal tract and is under development for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal motility disorders. The present study was designed to assess the effect of multiple doses of tegaserod on the single-dose pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of digoxin, a commonly prescribed agent for congestive heart failure. The study was an open-label, randomized, two-period crossover design of 12 healthy subjects. One treatment included digoxin treatment alone; the other treatment included a combined digoxin and tegaserod treatment. On day 1 of the digoxin treatment period, subjects received a single 1 mg oral dose of digoxin. In the combined tegaserod/digoxin treatment period, subjects received a single oral dose of 1 mg digoxin after 3 days of tegaserod (6 mg bid). After coadministration of tegaserod, systemic exposure to digoxin was decreased; mean AUC decreased by 11.9% (p < 0.05) relative to digoxin alone. Cmax was decreased by about 15% (p < 0.05). The 0.5-hour difference in the median tmax between the two treatments was not statistically significant. Because the steady-state trough concentration of digoxin (C(SS,min)) correlates with pharmacological effects, C(SS,min) for digoxin alone and in combination with tegaserod was simulated based on both parametric compartmental modeling and nonparametric superpositioning approaches. The predicted arithmetic mean C(SS,min) for combination therapy is 86% to 89% of that following digoxin alone. Likewise, the predicted arithmetic mean steady-state peak concentration (C(SS,min)) and AUC at steady state during a dosing interval (AUC(SS,tau)) have a similar decrease. This extent of decrease in systemic exposure of digoxin at steady state is unlikely to be clinically relevant. Administration of tegaserod (6 mg bid) was well tolerated, both alone and in combination with a single dose of digoxin. There were no pharmacodynamic changes in ventricular rate and QT interval following coadministration of tegaserod with digoxin. The 1.5-hour and 2-hour postdose plasma concentrations of tegaserod on days 3 and 4 confirmed adequate exposure. In conclusion, dose adjustment for digoxin is unlikely to be needed when tegaserod is coadministered.

[Comparison between arteriography and magnetic resonance angiography in patients with leg peripheral arterial disease ]

PURPOSE

The anatomic information before surgical therapy must be precise. Contrast angiography fails to opacify distal vessels in a large number of cases. We have evaluated the capability of magnetic resonance angiography to depict peripheral arteries. Materials and methods. We examined fourty-eight patients. CA was performed from a femoral or humeral approach, with or without subtraction. MRA were obtained using a 1.5 T magnet. Ankles and feet were placed in a head coil; three sequences were performed: Reconstructions and axial source images were reviewed.

RESULTS

MRA is superior to CA to demonstrate patent arterial segments in a majority of cases.

CONCLUSION

MRA is an effective method to identify distal lower extremity arteries.

Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (FGF-10) promotes healing of experimental small intestinal ulceration in rats

Keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2, repifermin) is a homolog of KGF-1 with epithelial mitogenic activities. We investigated the therapeutic role of KGF-2 in intestinal ulceration and its mechanisms of protection. KGF-2 (0.3-5 mg/kg) was administered before or after induction of small intestinal ulceration by indomethacin (Indo) in prevention and treatment protocols. In acute studies, KGF-2 was injected for up to 7 days before or daily for 5 days after Indo. In a 15-day chronic study, KGF-2 was injected intravenously daily beginning before or 7 days after Indo. Injury was evaluated by blinded macroscopic and microscopic inflammatory scores, epithelial BrdU staining, tissue IL-1beta, PGE(2), and hydroxyproline concentrations, and collagen type I RNA expression. In vitro effects of KGF-2 were evaluated by epithelial cellular proliferation, restitution of wounded monolayers, PGE(2) secretion, and expression of COX-2 and collagen mRNA. Intravenous KGF-2 significantly decreased acute intestinal injury by all parameters and significantly decreased chronic ulceration. Pretreatment, daily infusion, and delayed treatment were effective. KGF-2 promoted in vitro epithelial restitution with only modest effects on epithelial cell proliferation, stimulated COX-2 expression in cultured epithelial cells, and upregulated in vitro and in vivo PGE(2) production. KGF-2 did not affect in vivo fibrosis, although it induced collagen expression in cultured intestinal myofibroblasts. These results suggest that KGF-2 inhibits intestinal inflammation by stimulating epithelial restitution and protective PGs.

Determination of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl chloride and the dimethylaziridinium ion at sub-ppm levels in diltiazem hydrochloride by LC-MS with electrospray ionisation

An LC-MS method is described for the determination of the synthetic reagent N,N-dimethylaminoethyl chloride (DMC) in the drug substance diltiazem hydrochloride, for which the permissible limit is not more than 1 ppm (microgram g-1). The N,N-dimethylaziridinium ion (DMA), the reactive intermediate formed by cyclisation of DMC, is also detected. A column switching arrangement is used: diltiazem hydrochloride is trapped on a reversed-phase HPLC column, and the polar analytes are separated by ion exchange chromatography. Ionisation is effected by positive-ion electrospray, and the quadrupole filter mass spectrometer is operated in the selected ion recording mode. The detection limit (peak height-to-baseline noise ratio = 3) for DMC varies from day to day in the range < 0.05 to 0.1 ppm. The response for DMC is linear (r > 0.999) over the concentration range 0.2-10 ppm, and the repeatability is better than 7% (relative standard deviation) at 1.0 ppm. Concentrations of DMC in diltiazem hydrochloride from the manufacturing facility under study ranged from undetectable to about 0.07 ppm. An indirect TLC method has been published for the determination of DMC in mepyramine maleate, but it lacks the necessary sensitivity and specificity. The LC-MS method presented is direct, straightforward and suitable for routine use.

Revisiting the concept of 'vulnerability'

The terms 'vulnerable' and 'vulnerability' are used more and more frequently in the areas of both social science research into and prevention of HIV/AIDS, but certain difficulties arise when it comes to applying this concept to actual situations at the heart of which individuals or groups are more exposed to HIV. The concept of vulnerability must thus be clarified to reinforce its heuristic capacity and political and practical relevancy. The first part of this paper is devoted to presenting a heuristic matrix of vulnerability, used in previous research among people living with HIV/AIDS (PWHAs) and to extracting three levels of intelligibility, that is to say, first the social trajectory level, then the level on which two or more trajectories intersect, and finally that of the social context. Each of the elements belonging to these three levels must be described both objectively and subjectively. The identity construction processes are then proposed as particular observation and 'gelling' points for these various levels taken as a whole. In the second part of the paper, we have reviewed how the concept of 'vulnerability' has been defined and used in other fields, notably disaster, famine, and mental health, paying special attention to the crucial points in the debates that are raging in these fields. We have also shed light on a few concepts that are frequently associated with vulnerability, such as victimization, insecurity, and risk. In the third part, we have summarized our approach to vulnerability as a relevant concept for elucidating risk-taking processes and designing intervention programmes. The importance of analysing the inter-individual differences, the variability in time and the relational dimension of all social vulnerability has been stressed.

Efficacy of keratinocyte growth factor-2 in dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine colitis

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a novel human protein, keratinocyte growth factor-2 (KGF-2), in a model of murine colitis induced by ad libitum exposure to a 4% solution of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water. Initial evaluation of KGF-2 was based on its ability to reduce weight loss, stool score, and histological score in mice exposed to DSS for 7 days. When KGF-2 (0.1-10.0 mg/kg i.p. or s.c.) was injected daily into DSS-treated mice from day 0 to 7, it significantly reduced all three parameters in a dose-response fashion, with a minimum effective dose of between 1 and 3 mg/kg. When KGF-2 was given therapeutically, starting 4 days after initiation of the 7-day DSS treatment, the 3- but not the 0.5-mg/kg dose significantly enhanced weight recovery after discontinuation of DSS treatment. When DSS treatment was prolonged beyond the normal 7 days, therapeutic intervention on day 2 or 4 also significantly reduced mortality, weight loss, and stool score at the 1- and 3-mg/kg dose. Therapeutic treatment also resulted in reduction of colon myloperoxidase levels by more than 50%. These experiments suggest that KGF-2 may be clinically useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Integrated modelling of the clinical pharmacokinetics of SDZ HTF 919, a novel selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist, following oral and intravenous administration

AIMS

The purpose of the present study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of the novel selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist SDZ HTF 919 (HTF) including food effect, absolute bioavailability, interoccasion and intersubject variabilities.

METHODS

In the randomized, open-label, three treatment, four period crossover study, HTF was administered to 12 young healthy male subjects as a 12 mg tablet (twice under fasted and once under fed conditions) and a 3 mg intravenous (i.v.) infusion over 40 min (fasted). Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by noncompartmental methods. A more comprehensive pharmacokinetic characterization was achieved by integrated modelling of oral (p.o.) and i.v. data. To describe the absorption phase a Weibull function and a classical first order input function were compared.

RESULTS

Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a rapid absorption (tmax 1.3 h, fasted), an absolute bioavailability of 11+/-3%, a biphasic disposition phase with a terminal half-life of 11+/-5 h, a clearance of 77+/-15 l h-1, and a volume of distribution at steady state of 368+/-223 l. The coefficients of interoccasion and interindividual variability in Cmax and AUC ranged between 17 and 28%. Food intake caused a delay (tmax 2.0 h) and decrease in absorption with consequently lower systemic exposure ( approximately 5% absolute bioavailability). Integrated p.o./i.v. pharmacokinetic modelling with a Weibull input function allowed accurate description of individual profiles. Modelling of the data from the p.o. dosing improved the description of the terminal phase by inclusion of the i. v. data and additionally provided quantitative characterization of the absorption phase.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacokinetics of HTF could be well described by an integrated modelling approach for both p.o. and i.v. data. The derived model will provide guidance in the design of future studies.

Differences in sexual risk behaviour between young men and women travelling abroad from the UK

BACKGROUND

Identification of people who most frequently engage in sexual risk behaviour while travelling abroad would be useful for the design and targeting of health education and promotion campaigns.

METHODS

Eligible participants were people living in the UK aged 18-34 years who had travelled abroad without a partner in the previous 2 years. Respondents were first screened for eligibility as part of representative face-to-face and telephone surveys by a market research company. Eligible individuals who agreed to take part then underwent a computer-assisted telephone interview. Reinterviewing continued until 400 eligible people had been contacted. We also interviewed a control group of 568 young people who had travelled abroad without a partner in the previous 2 years but who did not report a new sexual relationship during their travels.

FINDINGS

One in ten of the eligible participants reported sexual intercourse with a new partner. Travellers who reported a new sexual relationship abroad were also likely to report large numbers of sexual partners at home. Of the 400 people who had a new sexual partner abroad, 300 (75%) used condoms on all occasions with the new partner. Logistic regression modelling showed differences between men and women in those factors linked to the practice of unsafe or safer sex while travelling. For men, patterns of condom use abroad with casual partners (p<.0001) reflected patterns of use at home (p<0.001), whereas for women, patterns of condom use varied according to their partners' backgrounds (p<.0001).

INTERPRETATION

Condoms are widely used among young travellers, but patterns of use vary by sex. Campaigns about sexual health targeted at international travellers should continue, not least because young people who meet new sexual partners abroad may be a convenient proxy group for that minority of the population who report most sexual partners at home. Such campaigns should be designed differently for men and women.

Evaluation of effects of terbinafine on single oral dose pharmacokinetics and anticoagulant actions of warfarin in healthy volunteers

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential effects of oral terbinafine, a new synthetic antifungal agent of the allylamine class, on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of racemic warfarin.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

SUBJECTS

Sixteen healthy men.

INTERVENTIONS

Placebo or terbinafine 250 mg was administered once/day for 14 consecutive days, separated by a washout period lasting at least 2 weeks. A single oral dose of racemic warfarin 30 mg was coadministered with placebo or terbinafine on day 8 of each treatment period. Blood samples were collected for 168 hours after administration of warfarin to determine the drug's pharmacokinetics and anticoagulant effects.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

No major differences were seen in the plasma concentration-time profiles of a single dose of warfarin administered with terbinafine or with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the lack of clinically significant interactions between terbinafine and warfarin during multiple-dose administration of terbinafine, no adjustment of warfarin dosage during concomitant therapy appears to be necessary.

First pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic study in humans with a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor agonist

This report describes the first study in humans with SDZ HTF 919 (HTF), a novel, selective 5-hydroxytryptamine4 (5-HT4) receptor partial agonist and investigates its tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Three cohorts of 12 men, of whom 8 were treated with active drug and 4 with placebo, participated in the double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, ascending-dose study. A single dose and subsequently twice-daily multiple doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg were given for 14 days. Adverse events, clinical laboratory variables, electrocardiogram, vital signs, and psychometric effects were recorded. Basic pharmacokinetic characteristics of HTF were derived. Loose stool and total colonic transit time were assessed. Mild to moderate adverse gastrointestinal events, predominantly loose stools, occurred at all dose levels and reflect the pharmacologic properties of HTF. The incidence of headache increased with dose. Dose-normalized (to 25 mg) systemic exposures were 25 +/- 12, 19 +/- 11, and 26 +/- 10 hr.ng/mL in single doses and 26 +/- 12, 23 +/- 12, and 33 +/- 12 hr.ng/mL in multiple doses for the three doses. Steady-state concentrations of HTF were reached after 8 days of daily administration and moderate accumulation was observed. Loose stool occurred on average between 2 and 4 hours after drug administration. The overall HTF-mediated median decrease from baseline (26 and 38 hours) in total colonic transit time was 4.8 hours, versus 1.8 hours with placebo. In conclusion, the novel 5-HT4 receptor agonist HTF was tolerated at oral doses of 25 mg to 100 mg administered twice daily. Pharmacokinetics in both single and multiple doses indicate no deviation from dose proportionality. The applicability of the total colonic transit time as a measurement of surrogate prokinetic effect warrants further investigation in patient populations.

Similarities and differences in mechanisms of cardiotoxins, melittin and other myotoxins

Myonecrosis induced in vivo by cardiotoxin, melittin, and Asp49 and Lys49 phospholipase A2 (PLA2) myotoxins involves rapid lysis of the sarcolemma, myofibril clumping, and hypercontraction of sarcomeres. In contrast, skeletal muscle necrosis induced by crotamine and myotoxin a is much slower, consisting of mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum swelling, myofibril degeneration, and lack of sarcolemma or transverse tubule damage. The mechanisms contributing to the myonecrosis induced by these peptides were evaluated. Two cardiotoxins and two Lys49 PLA2 myotoxins lysed primary cultures of human skeletal muscle within 24 hr at a concentration of 0.25 microM, while melittin, crotamine, and myotoxin a, and an Asp49 PLA2 myotoxin were non-cytolytic at concentrations up to 5.0 microM, suggesting that cytolysis is not a good measure of myotoxicity. Crotamine and the Lys49 PLA2 myotoxin altered Ca2+ ion flux in human heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum by opening the ryanocine receptor. Whole-cell patch-clamp studies demonstrated that administrating crotamine intracellularly increased Na+ currents. Free fatty acids, liberated by activation of tissue phospholipase C or by the PLA2 activity of the myotoxins, were monitored for crotamine, myotoxin a and a Lys49 PLA2 myotoxin in cell cultures in which the lipids had been radiolabeled. Only the Lys49 myotoxin produced significant amounts of fatty acid in cell cultures, supporting a potential role for fatty acid production only in the mechanism of sarcolemma-destroying myotoxins. These findings, coupled with those in the literature, support a hypothesis in which the myotoxins and/or products of lipase activity (e.g. fatty acids) are acting at a site existing on both the Na+ channel and a protein involved in Ca2+ release and probably serving a modulatory function for ion regulation. Based on the similarities in mechanisms between the toxins and fatty acids, the most likely site would be a fatty acid binding site on the protein (either similar to that on fatty acid binding proteins, or an acylated cysteine residue) or in the membrane.

Structural and functional characterization of tenascin-R (restrictin), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein of glial cells and neurons

Tenascin-R (TN-R) is an extracellular matrix protein associated with the surface of neurons and glial cells. Immunohistological studies reveal that TN-R shows a restricted expression pattern in the developing nervous system. TN-R is the smallest member of the tenascin family and is composed of four structural motifs: a cysteine-rich segment at the N-terminus is followed by 4.5 EGF-like repeats. This region is followed by 9 consecutive fibronectin type III (FNIII)-like domains and at the C-terminus TN-R is related to the beta- and gamma- chains of fibrinogen. TN-R forms oligomeric structures as revealed by rotary shadowing electron microscopy of immunoaffinity-purified TN-R. TN-R interacts with the axon-associated F11 protein which results in an enhancement of F11 mediated neurite extension in in vitro assays. In short-term adhesion assays it was found that neural but not fibroblastic cells attach effectively on immobilized TN-R. The cell attachment site within TN-R was allocated to FNIII domain 8 while the site interacting with the F11 protein could be mapped to FNIII domain 2-3.

Intranuclear distribution of galectin-3 in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts: comparative analyses by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy

The intracellular distribution of carbohydrate binding protein 35 (CBP35), recently named galectin-3, was studied in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, using immunofluorescence at the light microscope level and immunogold labeling at the ultrastructural level. In general, serum-stimulated, proliferating cells showed higher levels of labeling than quiescent cultures of the same cells. In the proliferating cells, the labeling intensity was higher in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm. Treatment of permeabilized cells or thin sections with ribonuclease A decreased the immunolabeling intensity, whereas parallel control treatments with deoxyribonuclease I failed to yield the same effect. While there appears to be general agreement between the immunofluorescence and the ultrastructural results regarding the level of CBP35 and its association with nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes, there was one striking difference in terms of labeling of specific subnuclear structures. Immunofluorescence results indicate diffuse distribution of CBP35 within the nucleus, but the label appears to be excluded from certain "black holes," which most probably correspond to nucleoli. On the other hand, immunogold particles were observed in electron microscopy, mainly in interchromatin spaces, except for interchromatin granule clusters, at the border of condensed chromatin, on the dense fibrillar component, and at the periphery of the fibrillar centers of nucleoli.

Genotype and phenotype relationships for mutations in the ryanodine receptor in patients referred for diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia

Anaesthesia-induced malignant hyperthermia (MH) may be caused by specific gene defects in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor. We have studied the frequency of occurrence of the C1840T mutation, analogous to the porcine mutation, and three mutations associated both with MH and central core disease (G7301A, C487T and C1209G). We investigated skeletal muscle specimens from up to 137 patients testing negative and 101 patients testing positive for MH susceptibility by the North American MH Group protocol. The presence or absence of the mutations was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. The frequencies of occurrence of the C1840T and C487T mutations were 2% and 1%, respectively, in MH-positive subjects and were the only two mutations identified. One subject with central core disease did not have any of the three mutations examined associated with this disorder. Therefore, the porcine and central core disease-associated mutations examined in the ryanodine receptor account for a small proportion (approximately 3%) of MH-positive diagnoses. The mutations examined did not occur in any of the MH-negative patients, supporting an association between defects in the ryanodine receptor and a positive diagnosis for MH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of functional domains of the tenascin-R (restrictin) polypeptide: cell attachment site, binding with F11, and enhancement of F11-mediated neurite outgrowth by tenascin-R

The extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin-R (TN-R) is a multidomain protein implicated in neural cell adhesion. To analyze the structure-function relationship of the different domains of TN-R, several recombinant TN-R fragments were expressed in bacterial cells. Two distinct binding regions were localized on the TN-R polypeptide: a region binding the axon-associated immunoglobulin (Ig)-like F11 protein and a cell attachment site. The binding region of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored F11 was allocated to the second and third fibronectin type III (FNIII)-like domain within TN-R. By using a mutant polypeptide of F11 containing only Ig-like domains, a direct interaction between the Ig-like domains of F11 and FNIII-like domains 2-3 of TN-R was demonstrated. The interaction of TN-R with F11 in in vitro cultures enhanced F11-mediated neurite outgrowth, suggesting that the combined action of F11 and TN-R might be of regulatory influence on axon extension. A cell attachment region was identified in the FNIII-like domain eight of TN-R by domain-specific antibodies and fusion constructs. This site is distinct from the F11 binding site within TN-R.

Study of muscular effects of short-term pyridostigmine treatment in resting and exercising rats

1. Pyridostigmine (PYR) pretreatment is used by the military to obtain 20-30% whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition in order to enhance the effectiveness of the standard therapeutic regimen for poisoning by an organophosphate anticholinesterase agent. The present study was undertaken to investigate in a rat model the potential muscle damage produced by this pretreatment when given alone or combined with physical exercise. 2. Grip strength and biochemical measurements, i.e. serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity and creatine urinary excretion rate, together with histological studies, were performed in resting animals during a period of 14 days of PYR administration in a dose producing 20-30% whole blood acetylcholinesterase inhibition. No evidence was found of a deleterious effect of this treatment on the skeletal muscle. 3. In contrast, following physical exercise, the same treatment significantly exacerbated the biochemical changes reflecting a loss of integrity in skeletal muscles, namely, increased CPK and urinary creatine excretion rate. The significance of this observation remains to be clarified.

[Modification and optimization of tap water iontophoresis]

Tap water iontophoresis is the therapy of choice in hyperhidrosis palmoplantaris. Therapeutic regimens, however, vary greatly. The aim of the present study was to develop an optimized therapeutic scheme. The main methodologic parameters subjected to systematic experimental study included the effects of current polarity, the duration of a single treatment session, the addition of electrolytes to the tap water and the treatment interval during maintenance therapy. The following procedure is proposed. During the initial phase, treatments are carried out three times weekly for 10 min each time. The anode is kept on one extremity until normhidrosis is reached on this extremity. Then, polarity is changed until sweating is reduced to normal on the other extremity (constant polarity). In the subsequent maintenance phase, patients are treated at intervals of 6-8 days for 10 min each time. Polarity is switched from treatment to treatment (alternating polarity). Plain tap water is used without additives.

Induction of axonal growth by heterophilic interactions between the cell surface recognition proteins F11 and Nr-CAM/Bravo

F11 and Nr-CAM/Bravo are two axon-associated glycoproteins belonging to different subgroups of the immunoglobulin superfamily. In this report we have investigated the interaction of both proteins using neurite outgrowth and binding assays. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrate that neurite extension of tectal cells on immobilized F11 is mediated by Nr-CAM/Bravo. Binding studies further reveal a direct heterophilic interaction between F11 and Nr-CAM/Bravo. This activity can be mapped to the amino-terminal second or third immunoglobulin-like domain within F11 with domain-specific monoclonal antibodies and deletion mutant proteins expressed on COS cells. Furthermore, perturbation experiments with domain-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrate that this region is required for adhesion and neurite extension.

Cognitive function and spirometry performance in the elderly

A total of 65 ambulatory subjects over the age of 65 yr were studied to determine if mild impairment in cognitive function precludes reliable spirometric measures in the aged. Standardized questionnaires were used to obtain information on demographics, cigarette smoking, respiratory symptoms, and physician-diagnosed lung disease. Each subject performed several simple standardized tasks of cognitive function and underwent spirometric testing. A total of 36 women and 29 men participated. The mean age for the group was 74.9 +/- 5.6 yr; most were nonsmokers (never smokers, n = 28; former smokers, n = 29; and current smokers, n = 8). Of the 65 participants, 8 (12.3%) individuals were unable to perform at least three ATS-acceptable FVC maneuvers after suitable demonstration. These subjects were similar to the 57 subjects able to perform three acceptable maneuvers, except for worse scores on both the symbol-digit modalities test (23.3 +/- 3.6 versus 31.6 +/- 10.5, p < 0.001) and the trail-making test, Part B (244.3 +/- 87.1 versus 160.4 +/- 71.8, p < 0.01). Of the 57 subjects able to perform spirometry, 18 (31.6%) failed to meet ATS reproducibility criteria for FEV1, FVC, or both. Cognitive impairment was not associated with the ability to achieve reproducible measures. These results suggest that the vast majority of older subjects can perform reliable spirometry; those elderly unable to perform spirometry may have impairment in cognitive function requiring further evaluation.

The axonal recognition molecule F11 is a multifunctional protein: specific domains mediate interactions with Ng-CAM and restrictin

F11 is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored axonal surface glycoprotein belonging to a neural subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily. In this report, we demonstrate that the F11 protein displays three distinguishable activities: binding to the cell recognition molecule Ng-CAM, interaction with the extracellular matrix glycoprotein restrictin (RN), and a neurite outgrowth-promoting activity. By analyzing deletion mutants expressed in transfected COS cells, epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies, and neurite outgrowth assays, we reveal that these activities can be localized to distinct regions within the F11 protein. The Ng-CAM-binding site resides in the first two immunoglobulin-like domains of F11, whereas the RN-binding site resides in the second or third domain. A neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of F11 characterized by in vitro culture of tectal cells is independent of F11-Ng-CAM and F11-RN binding.

Tandem translation of Bacillus subtilis initiation factor IF2 in E. coli. Over-expression of infBB.su in E. coli and purification of alpha- and beta-forms of IF2B.su

The protein synthesis initiation factor, IF2, in Bacillus subtilis has previously been characterized as being present in two forms, alpha and beta, of molecular mass 79 and 68 kDa, respectively, on the basis of their cross-reaction with anti-E. coli IF2 antibodies and by the DNA sequence of the gene for IF2, infBB.su. In this work we have cloned infBB.su in E. coli cells. Two proteins of molecular mass identical to the B. subtilis IF2 alpha and -beta were over-expressed and purified using a new three-step ion-exchange chromatography procedure. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the two proteins was determined and the results confirmed that the two forms were IF2 alpha and -beta, both encoded by the infB gene. The N-terminal amino acid sequence determined for IF2 beta is Met94-Gln-Asn-Asn-Gln-Phe. The presence of methionine at position 94 shows that this form is, in fact, the result of a second translational initiation in infBB.su mRNA, since the codon at amino acid position 94 is GUG, which is the normal codon for valine, but also known to be an initiator codon. This is a new example of the unusual tandem translation in E. coli of an open mRNA reading frame.

Evidence for the presence of complex high-molecular mass N-linked oligosaccharides in intranuclear glycoproteins from HeLa cells

Nonhistone proteins were extracted in 0.4 M NaCl from membrane-depleted nuclei of HeLa cells grown in the presence or the absence of [5,6-3H]fucose. Control experiments strongly suggest that most extracted proteins were indeed nuclear components. Several proteins, present in the 0.4 M NaCl nuclear extract, with M(r) ranging from 35,000 to 115,000 were identified on Western blots as fucosylated glycoproteins owing to their binding to the fucose-specific lectin, Ulex europeus agglutinin I. Results of experiments involving mild alkaline treatment and peptide N-glycosidase F digestion showed that the carbohydrate moieties of these fucosylated nuclear glycoproteins were N-linked to the polypeptide backbone. Analysis of the N-glycans revealed the presence of two populations of sialylated oligosaccharides on the basis of their relative molecular masses. The sensitivity of the high-M(r) oligosaccharides to endo-beta-galactosidase and their incorporation of [3H]glucosamine suggest that they could contain repeating N-acetyllactosamine units. [3H]Fucose incorporated into nuclei was confined to the nucleoli, as judged by autoradiography of sections cut through cells grown in the presence of [3H]fucose. Electron microscopy autoradiography showed that the fibrillar centers were never labeled, while silver grains were observed on the dense and the granular components of nucleoli. Taking into account of these data most nuclear fucosylated glycoproteins extracted in 0.4 M NaCl might be nucleolar ribonucleoproteins.

Analysis of nuclear sugar-binding components in undifferentiated and in vitro differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL60)

The nuclear sugar-binding components (i.e., lectin-like molecules) were analyzed using isolated and membrane-depleted nuclei after incubation in the presence of fluorescein-labeled neoglycoproteins. This analysis was performed before and during the in vitro differentiation of HL60 cells into monocytes by PMA treatment and into granulocytes by DMSO treatment. The nucleoli of undifferentiated and differentiated HL60 cells were not labeled, unlike the nucleoli of other mammalian cells studied so far. This peculiarity allowed us to quantitatively analyze by flow cytometry the changes in the lectin activity associated with the extranucleolar territories enriched in ribonucleoprotein complexes. The neoglycoprotein binding was found to be significantly lower in differentiated than in undifferentiated cells. The decrease in neoglycoprotein binding was observed within the first 24 h of DMSO or PMA treatment, just before the arrest of DNA synthesis. Taking into account that the granulocytic differentiation required 72 h of chemical treatment, the extra-nucleolar lectins might be involved in modulation of the DNA synthesis rather than in phenotypic differentiation. These data are discussed in an attempt to reconcile the association of lectins with RNP complexes and their possible involvement in modulation of HL60 cell proliferation.

Stimulated production of ATP by H2O2 disproportionation in extracts from normal and xeroderma pigmentosum skins, and from normal, xeroderma pigmentosum, ataxia telangiectasia and simian virus 40 transformed cell lines

It has been previously shown that xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) skin biopsies and their established cell lines exhibit a decrease in catalase activity and enhanced formation of photo-produced H2O2. Several in vivo and in vitro thermodynamic results suggest that the energy of H2O2 disproportionation produced by catalase could be sufficient to synthesize ATP with or without the help of intact mitochondria. In this paper, we first studied the properties of H2O2-stimulated ATP production in extracts of normal and pathological XP skin biopsies and cell lines. In acellular extracts of normal skin biopsies and/or cell lines, ATP production can be increased 2- to 3-fold, but only with a narrow range of H2O2 concentration. In contrast, in extracts of pathological skins or cells, ATP production was only observed when using 10- to 1000-fold less H2O2 concentration as defined for normal extracts. Similar results were noted with two cell lines derived from patients afflicted with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), and with simian virus 40 (SV40) transformed lines of normal, XP and AT cells, Although we have no proof that such a process may exist in vivo, we would like to suggest that both H2O2-stimulated ATP production and catalase activity are good indicators of the degree of normality or abnormality of skin biopsies and/or cell lines.

Simultaneous study of the pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral nicardipine using a stable isotope

The systemic elimination of nicardipine has been studied by an initial oral administration of nicardipine followed 1.25 h later by intravenous injection of the deuterium-labelled molecule (D3 nicardipine). To check that intravenous kinetics was not modified by the oral administration, an i.v. injection of unlabelled nicardipine (D0 nicardipine) was also given. The study was carried out in six healthy male volunteers, aged between 24 and 27 years, according to a Latin square cross-over design. Similar values were found for each kinetic parameter after i.v. administration regardless of whether it was administered alone by that route or with an oral dose. The plasma level-time curves of nicardipine were described by a three open compartment model. The total plasma clearance was about 800 ml/min, the volume of distribution was of the order of 1 l/kg and the half-life of beta-elimination ranged from 4 to 5 h. The elimination rate constant beta was independent of the route of administration.

The effect of acute hemiplegia on intercostal muscle activity

We recorded the EMG of parasternal intercostal muscles in 25 patients with flaccid hemiplegia during quiet spontaneous breathing, voluntary hyperventilation, and CO2-induced hyperventilation. The respiratory drive was abnormal on the hemiplegic side and the function of the intercostal muscles was affected specifically during voluntary hyperventilation.

Study on the external fixator in the treatment of the fractures of the inferior end of the two bones of the adult's forearm. Report of fifty-five cases

The authors report 55 cases of fracture with significant displacement of the distal end of the radius. In 30 cases, there were, moreover, lesions of adjacent bones and in 18 cases, lesions of the soft tissues. The fractures were treated by Hoffmann external fixator placed either immediately or later on, after the failure of conservative treatment. Thirty-four cases, reexamined within a period of at least six months, were used to show the results according to the criteria of Castaing. The overall results show 3 perfect results, 23 satisfactory ones and 8 quite satisfactory. The main complication of this series is frequent algodystrophy in the first cases. This has practically disappeared since much less traction is applied to the fracture site.

Deficiency in the catalase activity of xeroderma pigmentosum cell and simian virus 40-transformed human cell extracts

It has been previously shown that skin biopsies isolated from various xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients present a permanent decline in catalase activity from the onset of the disease to the tumor formation. We report here that cultured XP cell strains are also markedly deficient in the catalase activity with about only 25% of the activity measured in normal human cells. No direct correlation between catalatic activity and excision repair ability has been found, since a XP variant line is as deficient as an XP-C strain. The exact cause of the catalase deficiency is still unknown but could be due to the synthesis of a modified enzyme or to an abnormal regulation leading to a limited enzyme synthesis. Furthermore, simian virus 40 transformation of normal and radiosensitive cells (XP, ataxia telangiectasia) provokes a decrease in catalase activity of about 80% compared to the control derivatives. Mathematical analysis performed on our data shows a clearcut distinction between XP and normal cells while some of the XP heterozygote cells exhibit an intermediate behavior. Although most of the XP syndrome could be explained by the impairment in the excision repair ability, the decrease in catalase activity leading to a probable increase in intracellular H2O2 concentration and/or to a higher sensitivity to any oxygen-activated species could represent an additive effect in inducing the carcinogenic process.

Changes in nuclear proteins induced by heat shock in Drosophila culture cells

Nuclear proteins of normal and heat-shocked Drosophila cells were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The computerized processing of the gels allowed us to detect 6 proteins strongly induced by the heat treatment, but which were different from the usually described heat-shock proteins. The possible role of these proteins in genetic regulation is discussed, as is the value of this type of approach for the study of other genetic regulation phenomena.

Large-scale isolation of the two major polypeptides of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by gel filtration in 6 M guanidinium chloride

Purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of subtype ay was solubilized in guanidinium chloride and submitted to chromatography on Sepharose 4B in the presence of guanidinium chloride. The polypeptides P1 (Mr = 24,000) and P2 (Mr = 29,000) were eluted in the same fraction with a minor contaminant (Mr = 40,000). Large amounts of these two polypeptides were obtained in a single step. This technique which constitutes a method for large-scale purification of the P1 and P2 polypeptides should permit more complete characterization of the P1 and P2 polypeptides and of their antigenic determinants.

[Scanning electron microscopic study of keratohyaline granules in the oral epithelium of rats]

Scanning electron microscopy of rat buccal epithelium on deparaffinized or epon-etched sections provided observations of intracellular structures especially of keratohyaline granules. Cell-walls and nuclei were easily observable and the two types of keratohyaline granules already seen in transmission electron microscopy were identified namely intracytoplasmic or intranuclear single granules and composite granules with a heterogeneous structure which appeared clearly in the scanning method. Tridimensional information from scanning electron microscopy adds significantly to knowledge of keratohyaline granules morphology, so far studied with the transmission method only.

Hepatitis A diagnosis in man: radioimmunoassay for hepatitis A antigen detection in faeces

A new radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure using a double-sandwich technique was developed for the detection of hepatitis A antigen (HAV) in crude faecal extracts for patients involved in three outbreaks of type A hepatitis. Stools were obtained from 24 residents suffering from acute hepatitis A and from six children who remained asymptomatic throughout the epidemic. In addition, the HAV detection was performed in sera from 13 patients with hepatitis. HAV was detected in stools as early as five days before and as late as five days after the onset of jaundice. In this procedure, positive activity was only found in stools from patients with type A hepatitis, but not in negative controls. HAV was not detected in acute-phase sera. The double-sandwich RIA test used appears to be a reliable test for the large-scale screening of HAV in stool samples from patients suffering from type A hepatitis.

[Hepatitis B vaccine: characterization of the polypeptides of hepatitis B surface antigen (author's transl)]

In order to realize a new kind of hepatitis B vaccine, the polypeptide components of the outer-coat of the hepatitis B virus have been studied. The characterization of the polypeptides of purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was performed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Seven polypeptides were observed, designated P1 to P7, according to their increasing molecular weight: P1 (MW = 24,000), P2 (MW = 32,500) and P6 (MW = 78,000) represented the major components. When the reducing action was increased and followed by alkylation and citraconylation, a single polypeptide of low MW (5,000 less than MW less than 10,000) was isolated from HBsAg.

[Congenital arteriovenous fistula of the broad ligament. 1 case]

Following a case report of a congenital arterio-venous fistula of the broad ligament, the authors set out the different types of vascular malformation seen in the pelvic region and they attempt to define the place of treatment. The treatment of these lesions involves embolisation of the vascular pedicle and an attempt at surgical excision, alone or one after another.