p53-mediated germ cell quality control in spermatogenesis

Spontaneous germ cell death is a common cellular process in the mammalian testis, although the function of this process during spermatogenesis is unclear. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether p53 serves as a mechanism in germ cell quality control by causing spontaneous germ cell death. Using an annexin V assay, lower levels of spontaneous apoptosis were found in the testes of p53-/- mice compared to p53+/+ mice. Propidium iodine staining revealed that the greatest reduction in apoptosis and the largest increase in cell numbers occurred in the tetraploid germ cell population of p53-/- mice. Microscopic examination of sperm morphology showed an increased percentage of abnormal forms in p53-/- mice. Furthermore, p53-/- mice sired fewer offspring than p53+/+ mice did when both groups were mated with p53+/+ females. These results suggest that p53 mediates spontaneous testicular germ cell apoptosis and failure to remove defective germ cells by this mechanism results in increased percentages of abnormal sperm and reduced fertility. p53-mediated apoptosis may be an effector of cellular proofreading that acts to maintain the cellular integrity of germ cells during spermatogenesis.

[Low temperature FTIR study of the structure of ruthenium polyhydrides]

A novel compound of Ru2H4 (CO) (PPh3)4 (A) is synthesized under hydrogen atmosphere. An in situ infrared apparatus which can be operated at liquid nitrogen temperarure is established. The structural conversion of RuH4 (PPh3)3 between dihydrogen and dihydride is observed firstly at room temperature. It is suggested that a fluxional molecule between terminal and bridged hydrogen appears in (A) with temperature changes. H2 molecule coordinated in ruthenium complex is rather easy to be substituted by CO, N2 and small organic molecule, this property is very important for activing molecular hydrogen and using in hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds.

Stereoselective pharmacokinetics of chlorpheniramine and the effect of ranitidine

This single-dose, randomized, crossover study was carried out to investigate the potential effect of ranitidine on the pharmacokinetics of chlorpheniramine. The study also afforded an opportunity to add to the limited data currently available on the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of chlorpheniramine. Healthy subjects received a single oral 4 mg dose of racemic chlorpheniramine on two separate occasions: alone, and on day 6 of dosing with ranitidine 75 mg b.i.d. for 8 days. Serum concentrations and urinary recovery of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-chlorpheniramine were unaffected by administration of ranitidine, indicating no pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction. The observed chlorpheniramine pharmacokinetic data were consistent with previous data and indicated approximately 2.5-fold higher serum concentrations of the (S)-(+) enantiomer. Previously reported high variability in chlorpheniramine pharmacokinetics was greatly reduced by well-controlled food and fluid intake.

[Correlation between accumulation of (99m)Tc-MIBI in breast cancer or benign lesion, cell proliferation and angiogenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the accumulation of (99m)Tc-MIBI in breast cancer or benign lesions and the correlation between cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

METHOD

(99m)Tc-MIBI positive imaging was performed on 38 patients with palpable breast mass. A ratio of radioactivity value of mass to normal tissue was assessed 10 minutes after injection of (99m)Tc-MIBI in posterior oblique view. Cell proliferation and angiogenesis were assessed by immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ulex europaeus I lectin (UEA- I). Data were analyzed by T-test, correlation and regression analysis.

RESULT

We studied 17 true-positive, 5 false-negative, 15 true-negative, and 1 false positive patients (chi(2) = 18.74, P < 0.001). In patients with positive (99m)Tc-MIBI scans, the diameter of mass (4.00 +/- 1.95 cm) was larger and the percentage of PCNA positive cell (74.13% +/- 13.84%) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative scans (2.14 +/- 1.00 cm, 43.76% +/- 20.78%, P < 0.01). No significant evidence of difference between the number of angiogenic vessels of the two groups (181.3 +/- 71.7, 138.3 +/- 103.0, P = 0.141). The accumulation of (99m)Tc-MIBI was most strongly correlated with the percentage of PCNA positive cell (r = 0.56, P = 0.000), but was not related to the number of vessels (r = 0.31, P = 0.056). In stepwise regression analysis, the variance number of vessels was not included in the model.

CONCLUSION

The accumulation of (99m)Tc-MIBI in breast cancer is an indicator of cell proliferation, and no evident relationship with angiogenesis has been found.

[Design of an amplifier and data aquisition system for multi ion-selective electrods]

A kind of amplifier and data aquisition method is introduced in this paper. In this method, signals of various kinds of ions in different specimen are converted skillfully. The experiment results showed that the virtues of this circuit are high in impendance, simple in structure and accurate in surveying, etc.

Childhood incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and exposure to broadcast radiation in Sydney--a second look

INTRODUCTION

Recent findings of an apparent association between incidence of childhood leukaemia and radio frequency radiation (RFR) from television transmission antennas in Sydney, NSW, are examined.

METHODS

Incidence of childhood (0-14 years) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the local government area (LGA) level is related to estimated exposure levels of RFR from television transmission antennas, using Poisson regression techniques.

RESULTS

Most of the association between ALL incidence and television transmission RFR is shown to be the result of an influential observation: one of the highly exposed LGAs contributes all the excess, while in a similarly exposed LGA childhood ALL incidence was found to be no higher than the rate expected for NSW. With the influential observation excluded from the analysis, no positive correlation between exposure to RFR and leukaemia is evident. Conversely, under the assumption of an association with RFR, the low probability of the observed incident cases in LGAs under conditions of relatively high exposure to RFR conflicts with the assumption of an effect.

CONCLUSION

The apparent association between childhood ALL incidence and RFR radiation from television towers is weaker when an LGA-level analysis is conducted.

[Study of HDV infection in Shandong province]

To understand the situation of HDV infection in Shandong province and to explore the relationship between HDV and HBV infections, 2681 samples infected with HBV were tested for serum anti-HDV with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, in Shandong. Among them, 207 (7.72%) were found to be anti-HDV positive. Anti-HDV positive rates in HBsAg carriers and in hepatitis B patients were 3.16% and 13.15%, respectively. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was noticed between the two groups. In the second group, anti-HDV positive rates in patients with chronic active hepatitis and severe hepatitis were both higher than those in patients with acute hepatitis and chronic persistent hepatitis and the difference was significant (P < 0.001). The longer the history and the more severe the condition the higher of the anti-HDV positive rate was seen. The results indicated that the combined and over-lapping HDV infections were both responsible for the chronic status of hepatitis B and its deterioration.

Involvement of p85 in p53-dependent apoptotic response to oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species have damaging effects on cellular components and so trigger defensive responses by the cell and even programmed cell death, although the mechanisms by which mammalian cells transmit signals in response to oxidative damage are unknown. We report here that the protein p85, a regulator of the signalling protein phosphatidyl-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K), participates in the cell death process that is induced in response to oxidative stress and that this role of p85 in apoptosis does not involve PI(3)K. We show that disruption of p85 by homologous recombination impairs the cellular apoptotic response to oxidative stress. Because the protein p53 is required for cell death induced by oxidative damage, we examined the relation between p85 and p53. Using a chimaeric p53 fusion protein with the oestrogen receptor (p53ER) to supply p53 (p53 is induced upon binding of p53ER to oestradiol) in a p53-deficient cell line, we found that p85 is upregulated by p53 and that its involvement in p53-mediated apoptosis is independent of PI(3)K. We propose that p85 acts as a signal transducer in the cellular response to oxidative stress, mediating cell death regulated by p53.

Experimental cryptorchidism induces testicular germ cell apoptosis by p53-dependent and -independent pathways in mice

Cryptorchidism is associated with male infertility: germ cell loss occurs by apoptosis in response to elevated temperature. Since the tumor suppressor p53 is highly expressed in the testis and is known to induce apoptosis, an investigation was undertaken to establish whether heat stress causes p53-mediated germ cell apoptosis. Using a mouse model of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism, it was observed that testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss, and DNA fragmentation all began in the cryptorchid testes on Day 6-7 in wild-type mice. In contrast, these changes were delayed by 3 days in p53-/- mice. These results suggest that abdominal heat stress induces germ cell loss through two apoptotic pathways: a p53-dependent pathway responsible for the initial phase of germ cell apoptosis, and a p53-independent pathway that accounts for subsequent apoptosis.

Mapping and characterization of a novel cochlear gene in human and in mouse: a positional candidate gene for a deafness disorder, DFNA9

Previously we identified a partial human cDNA for a novel cochlear transcript, hCoch-5B2 (HGMW-approved symbol D14S564E), using subtractive hybridization techniques. Herein we report isolation and characterization of both human and mouse (D12H14S564E) cDNAs for Coch-5B2. Full-length Coch5B2 deduced amino acid sequences reveal a very high degree of conservation in the coding region (89% nucleotide and 94% amino acid identity and a potential signal peptide and two regions of extensive homology to the collagen-binding type A domains of von Willebrand factor, also present in other secreted proteins, including extracellular matrix components. High levels of hCoch-5B2 expression are seen only in human fetal inner ear structures, cochlea, and vestibule, among a large panel of human fetal and adult tissues. Coch-5B2 expression in the mouse is more widespread than in the human, with message detected in mouse adult spleen, cerebrum, cerebellum/medulla, and thymus. In both species very low level expression is detected in total eye. More specifically, mouse retina shows a higher level of mCoch-5B2 message than sclera and choroid. We have mapped hCoch-5B2 to human 14q11.2-q13 by somatic cell hybrid analysis and FISH and, more precisely, using radiation hybrids to a region of markers linked to DFNA9, a nonsyndromic autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing loss with vestibular defects. Furthermore, we detect hCoch-5B2 on three overlapping YACs, two of which also contain one of the markers linked to DFNA9. mCoch-5B2 was genetically mapped in the mouse to chromosome 12, in a region of homologous synteny with human 14q11.2-q13, which contains the asp1 (audiogenic seizure prone) locus in the mouse.

An ancient conserved gene expressed in the human inner ear: identification, expression analysis, and chromosomal mapping of human and mouse antiquitin (ATQ1)

We constructed and screened a human fetal cochlear cDNA library to identify genes involved in hearing and deafness. From this library we isolated a cDNA corresponding to the highly conserved ancient gene antiquitin (ATQ1). The plant homolog of ATQ1 is thought to be involved in regulating turgor pressure, a function that also would be essential for cells of the mammalian cochlea. Northern blots of 13 human fetal tissues show antiquitin to be highly expressed in cochlea, ovary, eye, heart, and kidney. Using RT-PCR of rat cochlear hair cell-specific cDNA libraries, we detect antiquitin expression in outer hair cells, but not in inner or vestibular type 1 hair cells, suggesting that antiquitin is not expressed ubiquitously in the cochlea. Human ATQ1 was mapped to human chromosome region 5q31 using fluorescence in situ hybridization, and mouse ATQ1 was mapped to mouse chromosome 18 by single-strand conformation polymorphism mapping of interspecific backcross progeny DNAs. Four human antiquitin-like sequences, possibly pseudogenes, were also identified and mapped.

Promoter elements required for phloem-specific gene expression from the RTBV promoter in rice

Previous studies indicated that a DNA fragment comprising nucleotides (nt) -164 to +45 of the RTBV promoter is sufficient to drive phloem-specific expression of a reporter gene in transgenic rice plants. In addition, two potential cis elements, Box I (nt -3 to +5) and Box II (nt -53 to -39) were identified by DNA-protein interaction assays. In this study, the results of further in vivo studies involving mutagenesis of selected DNA sequences and analysis of expression of a reporter gene in transgenic rice plants revealed that, in addition to Box I and Box II, other elements are required for phloem-specific gene expression, among which are a direct repeat (ASL Box, nt -98 to -79) and a GATA motif (nt -143 to -135). All the these elements bind rice nuclear factors specifically, and mutations of the elements were identified that resulted in loss-of-competition in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. A DNA fragment comprising nt -164 to -32, which contains Box II, the ASL Box and the GATA motif, conferred phloem-specific reporter gene expression independent of Box I when fused to a heterologous CaMV 35S minimal promoter and introduced to transgenic rice plants. Studies that introduced point mutations suggested that in the context of the -103 to +45 promoter fragment, Box II and the ASL Box act synergistically to confer tissue-specific gene expression. Similar studies in the -164 to +45 promoter fragment indicated that the -164 to -103 region, which includes the GATA motif, contains sequences that are functionally redundant with those in the -103 to -32 region, including the ASL Box and Box II. It is concluded that these regions act additively to direct phloem-specific gene expression.

Imaging of the hand and wrist

This article reviews many of the most commonly used modalities for imaging the hand and wrist. Particular attention is paid to proper radiographic positioning, with emphasis on the four-view wrist series. Standard wrist measurements are detailed, and wrist arthrography is also discussed. Techniques for cross-sectional imaging, computed tomography, and MR imaging are reviewed, and several examples are presented as to where MR imaging is diagnostically valuable.

RF2a, a bZIP transcriptional activator of the phloem-specific rice tungro bacilliform virus promoter, functions in vascular development

Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) replicates only in phloem cells in infected rice plants and its promoter drives strong phloem-specific reporter gene expression in transgenic rice plants. We isolated a cDNA encoding a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein, RF2a, which binds to the Box II cis element that is important for expression from the promoter. RF2a, which stimulates Box II-dependent transcription in a homologous in vitro transcription system, accumulates in nuclei of phloem and certain other cell types in shoots, but is found at only very low levels in roots. Transgenic antisense plants in which RF2a accumulation was suppressed had normal roots but stunted, twisted leaves with small, disorganized vascular bundles, an enlarged sclerenchyma and large air spaces. We propose that the RTBV promoter exploits a host transcription factor that is critical for leaf tissue differentiation and vascular development for its expression.

Ligamentous instabilities of the wrist

Carpal ligament instabilities are conditions in which the individual carpal bones have become unstable due to abnormal ligament support. Early diagnosis of ligamentous wrist instabilities is important because late diagnosis or failed diagnosis may lead to severe complications such as osteoarthritis. This article reviews the most common ligamentous instability patterns of the wrist and focuses on how to perform and obtain radiograms which will allow reliable diagnosis of wrist instabilities.

TLS (FUS) binds RNA in vivo and engages in nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling

TLS, the product of a gene commonly translocated in liposarcomas (TLS), is prototypical of a newly identified class of nuclear proteins that contain a C-terminal domain with a distinct RNA recognition motif (RRM) surrounded by Arg-Gly-Gly (RGG) repeats. Its unique N terminus serves as an essential transforming domain for a number of fusion oncoproteins in human sarcomas and leukemias. In this study we use an in vivo UV crosslinking procedure to probe the interactions of TLS with RNA. TLS is found to bind RNA in vivo and the association of TLS with RNA is rapidly diminished by treating cells with transcriptional inhibitors. This suggests that the species bound by TLS turns over rapidly. Surprisingly, the RRM was found to be dispensable for RNA binding by TLS in vivo, suggesting that at any one time most of the interactions between TLS and RNA in the cell are not sequence specific. Analysis of inter specific heterokaryons formed between human and mouse or Xenopus cells revealed that TLS engages in rapid nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, a finding confirmed by the ability of anti-TLS antibodies to trap TLS when injected into the cytoplasm of HeLa cells. Cellular fractionation experiments suggest that TLS binds to RNA in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and support the hypothesis that TLS functions as a heterogeneous ribonuclear protein (hnRNP)-like chaperone of RNA. These findings are discussed in the context of the role altered forms of TLS play in cellular transformation.

p53 is associated with the nuclear envelope in mouse testis

p53 has been postulated to play a role in meiosis as well as in the regulation of germ cell numbers by apoptosis. This study investigated the subcellular localization of p53 in the testis, including conditions known to induce germ cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that p53 was enriched in the nuclear envelope fraction, and confocal microscopy confirmed that p53 was associated with the nuclear envelope of germ cells. Exposure of the testis to heat stress induced translocation of p53 into the nucleus. Nuclear envelope binding provides an optimal site for rapid entry of p53 into the nucleus, where it may act as a DNA-binding protein to induce apoptosis or cell cycle arrest in response to appropriate stimuli. The nuclear envelope sequestration of p53 also provides a framework to understand how mitosis and meiosis in the testis may proceed despite high intracellular concentration of p53.

Temperature-mediated germ cell loss in the testis is associated with altered expression of the cell-cycle regulator p53

The dependence of spermatogenesis on the relatively cool environment of the scrotum is well known, and recent work has shown that germ cells undergo apoptosis upon exposure to abdominal temperature. p53 is a potent inducer of apoptosis and regulator of cell growth, and is found in high concentrations in the testis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether exposure of the testes to suprascrotal temperature was associated with alterations in testicular p53 expression. Male adult CD-1 mice were rendered unilaterally cryptorchid by surgically fixing one testis to the anterior abdominal wall while leaving the contralateral tests in the scrotum to serve as the euthermic control. p53 expression was evaluated in the cytoplasmic, soluble nuclear, and insoluble fractions by Western blot analysis with the monoclonal p53 antibody pAb240. The weights of the scrotal testes were unchanged over the 15 day study period. The weights of the cryptorchid testes remained stable for 7 days and then decreased by approximately 40% over the next two days. Histological evidence of germ cell loss was evident only after day 7. Altered expression of p53 protein in the cryptorchid testis was noted beginning on day 7, and consisted of the expression of a new 47 kD isoform of p53 in the cytosolic form and a 30 kD isoform in the soluble nuclear fraction. Scrotal testes showed no changes at any time point. These results demonstrate altered expression of the regulatory protein p53 beginning 1-2 days prior to the onset of germ cell loss following experimental unilateral cryptorchidism. Given the known function of p53 as an inducer of apoptotic cell death, these observations suggest a significant role for p53 in temperature-mediated germ cell loss.

Heat stress causes testicular germ cell apoptosis in adult mice

An investigation was undertaken to determine whether the germ-cell loss associated with exposure of the testis to abdominal temperature occurs by apoptosis. Using an adult-mouse model of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism, it was observed that DNA fragmentation, consistent with apoptosis, was observed on day 6 in the cryptorchid testis, with subsequent loss of testicular weight, histologic evidence of germ-cell loss, and histochemical staining of apoptotic germ cells observed on day 7. Vacuolization of the germinal epithelium and the appearance of multinucleated giant cells was noted synchronously with the onset of germ-cell loss. Histochemical staining for apoptosis was noted most frequently among the primary spermatocytes and round spermatids. These results indicate that the testicular germ-cell loss observed with exposure to abdominal heat stress occurs by apoptosis. Further investigation of the biochemical mechanisms involved in testicular apoptosis may provide strategies to address a variety of male reproductive issues such as contraception and infertility.

Parallel optical negabinary arithmetic based on logic operations

On the basis of signed-digit negabinary representation, parallel two-step addition and one-step subtraction can be performed for arbitrary-length negabinary operands. The arithmetic is realized by signed logic operations and optically implemented by spatial encoding and decoding techniques. The proposed algorithm and optical system are simple, reliable, and practicable, and they have the property of parallel processing of two-dimensional data. This leads to an efficient design for the optical arithmetic and logic unit.

A model for the initiation and growth of extracellular lipid liposomes in arterial intima

There is considerable evidence that lipoprotein cholesterol, after crossing the arterial endothelium and entering the intima from the vascular lumen, lodges in extracellular lipid packets (labeled "liposomes") bound to the extracellular matrix. These liposomes appear to form by occasional attachment of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to the intimal matrix and to grow in place mainly by appending available free LDL. The liposome size distributions observed in chronically hypercholesteremic (WHHL) and in short-term cholesterol-fed rabbits are quite different. We propose a hierarchy of simple nucleation-polymerization models to describe liposome formation and growth. Even the simplest of these (with only one adjustable parameter) agrees extremely well with the WHHL data. In contrast, the cholesterol-fed rabbit data seem to result from the short-term nonuniform intimal history of LDL supply, which is a consequence of the focal nature of the transendothelial LDL flow through isolated transient leakyjunctions. The same models used for the WHHL data, together with this intimal nonuniformity, superimposed on a slow uniform transendothelial seepage also account very well for this cholesterol-fed rabbit data.

A topogenic role for the oncogenic N-terminus of TLS: nucleolar localization when transcription is inhibited

TLS (FUS) and the related gene EWS encode the N-terminal portion of many fusion oncoproteins involved in human sarcomas and leukemia. TLS is an RNA-binding nuclear protein that is identical to hnRNP P2 and may be implicated in mRNA metabolism. When RNA polymerase II is inhibited, TLS immunostaining in the nucleus is dramatically altered, from its normal diffuse nucleoplasmic pattern to accumulation in dense nuclease-resistant aggregates. Co-immunostaining with antibodies to fibrillarin or p80 coilin and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the TLS aggregates are associated with the nucleolus and are distinct from other known structures such as the coiled body or the interchromatin granule. Injection of cells with an oligodeoxynucleotide that disrupts splicing does not result in redistribution of TLS, indicating that the event is specific to inhibition of transcription. Oncoproteins that contain the N-terminal domain from either TLS, EWS or their Drosophila homologue, SARFH (CAZ), are also targeted to the same structure. These findings suggest a correlation between the topogenic and transforming activities of TLS and EWS N-termini and imply the existence of cellular targets that are shared by the germ-line encoded proteins and their oncogenic derivatives.