Association of genetic polymorphisms in CYP19 and CYP1A1 with the oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer risk

Since tamoxifen has been shown to reduce the risk of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancers in a chemoprevention trial (P-1), it is important to develop assays to assess risk factors for ER-positive breast cancer in order to appropriately select candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen. Thus, the significance of genetic polymorphisms of genes involved in oestrogen biosynthesis (CYP19) and metabolism (CYP1A1) as a risk factor for ER-positive breast cancers was evaluated. A case-control study was conducted with 257 breast cancer patients and 191 healthy female controls. Two polymorphisms, CYP19 (TTTA repeats) in intron 4 and CYP1A1 6235C/T in the 3' non-coding region, and their association with the breast cancer risk after adjustment for the other epidemiological risk factors were examined. CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) allele carriers showed a significantly (P<0.05) increased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.72, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10-2.69), but not ER-negative breast cancers. CYP1A1 6235C allele carriers showed a non-significant (P=0.06) trend towards a decreased risk of ER-positive breast cancers (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.42-1.02), but not ER-negative breast cancers. The combination of these two polymorphisms was found to be more useful in the assessment of the ER-positive breast cancer risk (OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.56-5.74) than the CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) polymorphism alone. The combination of CYP19 (TTTA)7(-3bp) and CYP1A1 6235C/T polymorphisms is associated with an ER-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer risk, and, thus, would be useful in the selection of candidates for chemoprevention with tamoxifen.

Combined study with FDG PET and Tl SPECT in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

This study aimed to determine whether combined examinations of myocardial 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and stress-redistribution 201Tl single-photon emission computed tomography (Tl SPECT) were useful in clarifying myocardial ischaemia and evaluating the prognosis in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Twenty-two patients with IDCM underwent echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, FDG PET, and Tl SPECT. In scintigraphic analysis, the total defect score (TDS) was semiquantitatively determined as the sum of scores of the 17 left ventricular (LV) segments with a 5-point scale (0 as normal to 4 as absent). Patients were classified according to the scintigraphic findings as follows: eight patients with small defects on Tl and FDG (TDS < or = 20) (group I), eight patients with small defects on FDG (TDS < or = 20) with FDG uptake increased relative to Tl or 'mismatch' (group II), and six patients with large defects on FDG and Tl (TDS >20) (group III). Eleven patients (50%) showed reversible defects on Tl and all showed preserved FDG uptake. The patients in group III had significantly lower LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.05, respectively) and a poorer prognosis as shown by the Kaplan-Meier event-free curve compared with those in groups I and II (P<0.01, respectively). Although patients in group II had significantly greater TDS on Tl compared with those in group I (P<0.01), no significant differences in LVEF and prognosis were found between patients in groups I and II. In multivariate analysis, a TDS on FDG revealed an independent predictor of subsequent cardiac events. In conclusion, such mismatched areas can be assumed to consist of impaired but viable myocardium, and may be associated with ischaemia of the microvasculature. Impaired myocardial glucose metabolism is a more powerful predictor of future cardiac events than perfusion abnormality in patients with IDCM.

Evaluation of left ventricular function using electrocardiographically gated myocardial SPECT with (123)I-labeled fatty acid analog

Electrocardiographically (ECG) gated myocardial SPECT with (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin has been used widely to assess left ventricular (LV) function. However, the accuracy of variables using ECG gated myocardial SPECT with beta-methyl-p-(123)I-iodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) has not been well defined.

METHODS

Thirty-six patients (29 men, 7 women; mean age, 61.6 +/- 15.6 y) with ischemic heart disease underwent ECG gated myocardial SPECT with (123)I-BMIPP and with (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin and left ventriculography (LVG) within 1 wk. LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) were determined on gated SPECT using commercially available software for automatic data analysis. These volume-related items on LVG were calculated with an area-length method and were estimated by 2 independent observers to evaluate interobserver validity. The regional wall motion with these methods was assessed visually.

RESULTS

LVEF was 41.1% +/- 12.5% on gated SPECT with (123)I-BMIPP, 44.5% +/- 13.1% on gated SPECT with (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin, and 46.0% +/- 12.7% on LVG. Global LV function and regional wall motion between both gated SPECT procedures had excellent correlation (LVEF, r = 0.943; LVEDV, r = 0.934; LVESV, r = 0.952; regional wall motion, kappa = 0.92). However, the correlations of global LV function and regional wall motion between each gated SPECT and LVG were significantly lower. Gated SPECT with (123)I-BMIPP showed the same interobserver validity as gated SPECT with (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin.

CONCLUSION

Gated SPECT with (123)I-BMIPP provides high accuracy with regard to LV function and is sufficiently applicable for use in clinical SPECT. This technique can simultaneously reveal myocardial fatty acid metabolism and LV function, which may be useful to evaluate various cardiac diseases.

Involvement of up-regulation of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in maintenance of intratumoral high estradiol levels in postmenopausal breast cancers

Estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) levels as well as mRNA expression levels of aromatase, sulfatase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17beta-HSD1) in breast cancer tissues were studied to elucidate the mechanism involved in the maintenance of the intratumoral high E2 levels in postmenopausal patients with very low serum E2 levels. Intratumoral E2 levels of postmenopausal patients (127.2 +/- 17.5 pg/g) (mean +/- SE) were not significantly different from those of premenopausal patients (110.1 +/- 10.1 pg/g) (p = 0.36). The mRNA expression levels of aromatase and sulfatase, determined by a quantitative real-time PCR, were not significantly different between premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancers, but 17beta-HSD1 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal than premenopausal breast cancers (p < 0.05). Intratumoral E2/E1 ratios were significantly higher in postmenopausal than premenopausal breast cancers (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that the increased conversion from E1 to E2 catalyzed by 17beta-HSD1 may play an important role in the maintenance of the intratumoral high E2 levels in postmenopausal patients.

Experimental study of oversized grafts in a canine living-donor lobar lung transplantation model

BACKGROUND

For infants and small children, organ transplantation is limited by the size discrepancy between donor and recipient. To address this problem, the use of over-sized grafts from living-relative donors could potentially expand the donor pool. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of oversized grafts on early pulmonary function and to identify an indicator for acceptable size discrepancy.

METHODS

Fourteen bilateral lobar lung allotransplant operations were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass in weight mismatched pairs of dogs. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Group I (n = 7), donor/recipient lung volume ratio < 2.85; Group II (n = 7), donor/recipient lung volume ratio >2.85. Pulmonary function of the recipient was measured before chest closure, after chest closure, and after the ventilator was removed.

RESULTS

Pulmonary vascular resistance and airway pressure significantly increased in Group II after chest closure (1493 +/- 195 dynes sec cm(-5) and 14.4 +/- 0.9 mm Hg vs 2784 +/- 140 dynes sec cm(-5) and 23.4 +/- 1.2 mm Hg, p < 0.001). After the ventilator was removed, all recipients in Group I showed PaO2 > 239 mm Hg and PaCO2 < 76 mm Hg, whereas, all recipients in Group II showed PaO2 < 116 mm Hg and PaCO2 > 169 mm Hg. The donor/recipient chest circumference ratio was less than 1.3 in all but 1 dog in Group I.

CONCLUSIONS

Acceptable, oversized grafts provide adequate pulmonary function, although excessively oversized grafts cause significant impairment in pulmonary function after chest closure. Chest circumference provides useful size-match criteria when oversized grafts are used in this canine experimental model.

Effects of hostility and lifestyle on coronary heart disease among middle-aged urban Japanese

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between multi-dimensional aspects of hostility and coronary heart disease among middle-aged urban Japanese.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We conducted a case-control study. Cases were consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to a hospital in Japan. Fifty-three patients (45 men and 8 women) aged 35 to 65 were enrolled. For each case, two sex and age (+/-2 years) matched controls were recruited from among participants in a health check-up program at a health promotion center located in the same area as the hospital. Two questionnaires, both with four components, were used to measure hostility and coping with anger: the one was for anger, hostility, physical aggression and verbal aggression, and the other for aggression, social inhibition, guilt, and controlled affect.

RESULTS

The scores of all components from two questionnaires were higher for cases than controls, but the differences were not significant. Multivariate analysis showed that anger, fat intake, alcohol consumption and house size were significantly associated with the etiology of acute coronary syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Anger, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status play important roles for the etiology of coronary heart disease in middle-aged urban Japanese.

Expression of cytokines and transcription factors in photocoagulated human retinal pigment epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that scatter photocoagulation induces regression of retinal neovascularization, but the mechanism for this effect is not completely understood. The main focus of our research is to determine the mechanism for the beneficial effects of photocoagulation. In the present study, we quantified the expression of growth factors and transcription factors that inhibit or induce angiogenesis in photocoagulated human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro.

METHODS

RPE cells were grown to confluence, and RNA was isolated from the RPE cells with or without photocoagulation. The following growth factors, their receptors and transcription factors were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR): transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR/flk-1), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, ETS-1, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), interleukin-8 (IL-8).

RESULTS

Laser photocoagulation increased the expression of TGF-beta 1. Expression of angiogenic factors bFGF, VEGF, IL-8 and their transcription factor, ETS1, was also increased. However, the up-regulation of these factors was observed early (6 h) after photocoagulation. Seventy-two hours after photocoagulation, when RPE cells were repaired, the expression of VEGF, IL-8, ETS-1, and NF-kappa B was decreased to the levels before photocoagulation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that TGF-beta produced by photocoagulated RPE cells and the down-regulation of angiogenic factors in repaired RPE cells, in all likelihood, play an important role in the processes that occur after laser photocoagulation.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 decreases hyperoxia-induced photoreceptor cell death in mice

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) has neurotrophic effects in vitro and in vivo. It has been demonstrated to decrease photoreceptor cell death in rats exposed to constant light and in rats with an inherited defect in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) phagocytosis, but the effects of intravitreous injections of FGF2 in mice are equivocal. In this study, we used transgenic mice with increased expression of FGF2 in photoreceptors (rhodopsin promoter/FGF2 transgenics) to investigate the effects of sustained increased expression of FGF2 in mice with various types of photoreceptor degeneration, including rd mice that are homozygous for mutated phosphodiesterase beta subunit, Q344ter mice that undergo photoreceptor degeneration because of expression of mutated rhodopsin, and mice exposed to 75% oxygen for 1 or 2 weeks. At P21, the outer nuclear layer was markedly reduced in rd mice or Q344ter mice regardless of whether they inherited the rhodopsin promoter/FGF2 transgene. However, after 2 weeks of exposure to 75% oxygen, outer nuclear layer thickness was significantly reduced in littermate control mice compared to FGF2 transgenic mice (P = 0.0001). These data indicate that increased expression of FGF2 in photoreceptors protects them from hyperoxia-induced damage, but does not decrease cell death related to expression of mutated proteins involved in the phototransduction pathway. This suggests that FGF2 protects photoreceptors from oxidative damage, which may play a role in complex genetic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.

Fluvastatin suppresses oxidative stress and fibrosis in the interstitium of mouse kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction

BACKGROUND

Recently, we demonstrated increased oxidative stress in the interstitium of ureteral obstructed kidneys based on the increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 and immunohistochemical detection of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in the interstitium. Antioxidant therapy may have a therapeutic potential toward interstitial fibrosis of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) kidneys. Fluvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and has been demonstrated to have an antioxidant activity in vitro.

METHODS

The effects of fluvastatin on UUO kidneys from the viewpoints of antioxidant action in vivo and antifibrosis action were studied. To investigate the antioxidant action and its therapeutic efficacy of fluvastatin in UUO kidneys, AGE accumulation and fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys was compared among vehicle-, pravastatin-, or fluvastatin-treated (10 or 40 mg/kg/day) groups.

RESULTS

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis was significantly attenuated in fluvastatin-treated animals. Fluvastatin significantly suppressed the degree of immunostaining of AGE in UUO kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence for the antioxidant action of fluvastatin in vivo. The decreased interstitial fibrosis along with a decreased oxidative stress marker in the interstitial lesion strongly suggests the existence of a causal relationship between them. Fluvastatin may have therapeutic value in slowing or preventing interstitial fibrosis in progressive renal disease.

Normalization of retinal vascular permeability in experimental diabetes with genistein

PURPOSE

To study the effects of genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on retinal vascular permeability in an experimental diabetic rat model.

METHODS

Seventy-two rats were equally divided into four groups: (1) nondiabetic control group, (2) diabetic control group, (3) diabetic rats receiving 150 mg genistein/kg food, and (4) diabetic rats receiving 300 mg genistein/kg food. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection in the three diabetic groups. Rats were fed diets with or without genistein and followed for 6 months. Retinal vascular permeability was assessed by measuring radiolabeled sucrose leakage into the retina and by Western blot analysis for total retinal albumin. Retinal phosphotyrosine levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were also evaluated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Diabetic control rats had markedly increased retinal vascular leakage of radiolabeled sucrose compared with nondiabetic control rats. Diabetic rats receiving oral genistein had significantly less retinal vascular leakage of radiolabeled sucrose than diabetic control rats in a dose-response fashion. Diabetic control rats had increased levels of phosphotyrosine, retinal albumin, and PCNA by Western blot analysis compared with nondiabetic control rats. Rats receiving 300 mg of genistein had decreased retinal albumin by Western blot analysis. Western blot analysis demonstrated a dose-response decrease in retinal phosphotyrosine levels and PCNA in genistein-treated diabetic rats compared with diabetic control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term oral administration of genistein significantly inhibits retinal vascular leakage in experimentally induced diabetic rats. Tyrosine kinase inhibition may be a useful pharmacological approach for the treatment of diabetic-induced retinal vascular leakage.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits retinal and choroidal neovascularization

In this study, we investigated whether overexpression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) by gene transfer can inhibit neovascularization by testing its effect in three different models of ocular neovascularization. Intravitreous injection of an adenoviral vector encoding PEDF resulted in expression of PEDF mRNA in the eye measured by RT-PCR and increased immunohistochemical staining for PEDF protein throughout the retina. In mice with laser-induced rupture of Bruch's membrane, choroidal neovascularization was significantly reduced after intravitreous injection of PEDF vector compared to injection of null vector or no injection. Subretinal injection of the PEDF vector resulted in prominent staining for PEDF in retinal pigmented epithelial cells and strong inhibition of choroidal neovascularization. In two models of retinal neovascularization (transgenic mice with increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in photoreceptors and mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy), intravitreous injection of null vector resulted in decreased neovascularization compared to no injection, but intravitreous injection of PEDF vector resulted in further inhibition of neovascularization that was statistically significant. These data suggest that sustained increased intraocular expression of PEDF by gene therapy might provide a promising approach for treatment of ocular neovascularization.

Spontaneous arterial baroreflex control of the heart rate during head-down tilt in heat-stressed humans

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of raised body temperature per se during acute heat stress on the spontaneous arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (fc) in humans. To investigate whether unloading of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors during whole-body heating would alter the arterial baroreflex control of fc, we controlled loading of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors by head-down tilt (HDT) at angles of 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees during heat stress produced by hot-water-perfused suits. The sensitivity of the arterial baroreceptor-cardiac reflex was calculated from the spontaneous changes in beat-to-beat arterial pressure and fc. As an index of cardiopulmonary baroreceptor loading, the left atrial diameter (LAD) was measured by echocardiography. During whole-body heating, the LAD decreased with the rising body core temperature and increased with the HDT. The decreased LAD during heating almost recovered to the normothermic control level by 10 degrees HDT. In the supine position, cardiac baroreflex sensitivity remained unchanged during heating. Arterial pressure, fc and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity were not changed by HDT ranging from 5 degrees to 30 degrees during heating. These results suggest that cardiac baroreflex sensitivity remain unchanged during graded loading of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors in heat-stressed humans. Also, we conclude that the sensitivity of the spontaneous arterial baroreflex controlling the fc is not influenced by raised body temperature per se during acute heat stress.

Inhibition of choroidal neovascularization by intravenous injection of adenoviral vectors expressing secretable endostatin

Endostatin is a cleavage product of collagen XVIII that inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth. Interferon alpha2a blocks tumor angiogenesis and causes regression of hemangiomas, but has no effect on choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Therefore, inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis do not necessarily inhibit ocular neovascularization. In this study, we used an intravenous injection of adenoviral vectors containing a sig-mEndo transgene consisting of murine immunoglobulin kappa-chain leader sequence coupled to sequence coding for murine endostatin to investigate the effect of high serum levels of endostatin on CNV in mice. Mice injected with a construct in which sig-mEndo expression was driven by the Rous sarcoma virus promoter had moderately high serum levels of endostatin and significantly smaller CNV lesions at sites of laser-induced rupture of Bruch's membrane than mice injected with null vector. Mice injected with a construct in which sig-mEndo was driven by the simian cytomegalovirus promoter had approximately 10-fold higher endostatin serum levels and had nearly complete prevention of CNV. There was a strong inverse correlation between endostatin serum level and area of CNV. This study provides proof of principle that gene therapy to increase levels of endostatin can prevent the development of CNV and may provide a new treatment for the leading cause of severe loss of vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Fluvastatin suppresses oxidative stress and fibrosis in the interstitium of mouse kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction

BACKGROUND

Recently, we demonstrated increased oxidative stress in the interstitium of ureteral obstructed kidneys based on the increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 and immunohistochemical detection of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in the interstitium. Antioxidant therapy may have a therapeutic potential toward interstitial fibrosis of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) kidneys. Fluvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and has been demonstrated to have an antioxidant activity in vitro.

METHODS

The effects of fluvastatin on UUO kidneys from the viewpoints of antioxidant action in vivo and antifibrosis action were studied. To investigate the antioxidant action and its therapeutic efficacy of fluvastatin in UUO kidneys, AGE accumulation and fibrosis in the obstructed kidneys was compared among vehicle-, pravastatin-, or fluvastatin-treated (10 or 40 mg/kg/day) groups.

RESULTS

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis was significantly attenuated in fluvastatin-treated animals. Fluvastatin significantly suppressed the degree of immunostaining of AGE in UUO kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide evidence for the antioxidant action of fluvastatin in vivo. The decreased interstitial fibrosis along with a decreased oxidative stress marker in the interstitial lesion strongly suggests the existence of a causal relationship between them. Fluvastatin may have therapeutic value in slowing or preventing interstitial fibrosis in progressive renal disease.

A gene encoding a hydrophobin, fvh1, is specifically expressed after the induction of fruiting in the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes

A cDNA clone of the gene fvh1 was previously isolated from a preprimordial cDNA library made from the basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes. Sequence analysis showed that fvh1 encoded for a hydrophobin, a small fungal protein usually secreted by filamentous fungi. FVH1 had a highly conserved arrangement of eight cysteine residues, a putative N-terminal signal sequence and a hydropathy pattern characteristics of class I hydrophobin. A genomic fvh1 clone was isolated from a F. velutipes genomic DNA library and sequenced. Several putative promoter elements and three small introns of fvh1 were identified in this clone. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA showed that fvh1 was a single copy gene. Northern analysis indicated that fvh1 was specifically and abundantly expressed in mycelia after the induction of fruiting and during fruit body initiation. It was not expressed in mycelia before the induction of fruiting or in mature fruit bodies.

cDNA cloning and genetic polymorphism of the swine major histocompatibility complex (SLA) class II DMA gene

cDNA clones corresponding to the swine histocompatibility complex (SLA: swine leucocyte antigen)-DM alpha chain were isolated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from the third exon in the human HLA-DMA gene as a probe. Amino acid comparative analysis revealed that these clones were more closely related to the bovine and human DMA genes than to the other swine class II genes alpha chain genes, DRA, DQA and DOA. These results suggest that the SLA-DMA gene is expressed and may function, like HLA-DM, as an important modulator in class II restricted antigen processing in swine. Furthermore, based on the sequences and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) patterns in the SLA-DMA gene, no allelic variation was recognized in the second exon, but five allelic variations were recognized in the third exon in five different breeds of swine. These DMA alleles were defined by variation at four nucleotide positions. Two of these alleles resulted in an amino acid substitution. These results suggest that SLA-DMA has little polymorphism as observed in HLA-DMA and mouse H2-Ma.

A lectin from an ascomycete mushroom, Melastiza chateri: no synthesis of the lectin in mycelial isolate

Using an affinity adsorbent prepared from L-fucose and starch, a lectin was isolated from fruit bodies of an ascomycete mushroom, Melastiza chateri. The lectin was found to cross-react with antiserum against Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL), that had been obtained from another ascomycete mushroom. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzed, and among 20 residues 12 were the same as AAL. The molecular mass of the lectin estimated by SDS-PAGE was approximately 40 kDa, which is larger than that of AAL. Mycelial isolate was obtained from M. chateri by germinating ascospores, and identified by analyzing restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of DNA. The isolate from M. chateri did not synthesize the lectin, although the isolate from A. aurantia had been known to synthesize AAL as much as the fruit body.

Domain construction of cherry-tomato lectin: relation to newly found 42-kDa protein

In the early stage of ripening of cherry-tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cherry), the lectin activity increased logarithmically and reached a plateau at day 10 after flowering. During purification of lectin from ripe and unripe fruits, a 42-kDa protein was found abundantly in unripe fruits. The protein cross-reacted with anti-cherry-tomato-lectin serum, retained chitin-binding ability, but showed no lectin activity. Comparative studies between the structure of the lectin and the 42-kDa protein were done. N-Terminal amino acid sequences of the lectin, peptides derived from the S-pyridylethylated lectin, and fragments generated by limited proteolysis of the native lectin showed that the lectin was comprised of three domains, Hyp-rich, Cys-rich, and Gln-rich, and the alignment of them was as this order from the N-terminus. Studies on the 42-kDa protein showed that it contained two of the three domains, Cys-rich and Gln-rich, but the amino acid sequence analysis showed that the protein should be a product of another gene.

Sequential evaluation of left ventricular myocardial performance in children after anthracycline therapy

This study prospectively assessed subclinical cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy by using the Tei index combining systolic and diastolic time intervals. A significant difference in the Tei index was observed between patients who received a low dose and those who received a moderate to high dose of anthracycline antibiotic drugs. The Tei index is a sensitive, accurate, and easy approach for detecting subclinical anthracycline cardiotoxicity.