The type I Lanyu pig has a maternal genetic lineage distinct from Asian and European pigs

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous breed from Lanyu Islet, located south-east of Taiwan, with phenotypic characteristics distinctive from other pig breeds in Asia and Europe. Based on geographic considerations, the Lanyu pig may have originated from mainland China, Austronesia or the Ryukyu Islands. In the present study, polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence was used to clarify phylogenetic relationships among two herds of Lanyu pigs imported before 1980 from Lanyu Islet into Taiwan and reared in isolation on two different farms. Two distinct mitochondrial control region haplotypes were found. The type I Lanyu sequence appeared independently as a unique clade different from Asian and European pig sequences, while the type II Lanyu sequence was clustered within the major Asian clade. The pairwise distances between the major Asian clade vs. the type I Lanyu and European clades were 0.01726 +/- 0.00275 and 0.01975 +/- 0.00212 changes per site respectively. Estimates of divergence time suggest that the type I Lanyu sequence split from the major Asian pig clade in prehistoric times. The type II Lanyu mtDNA shares a close genetic lineage with Japanese Satsuma and New Zealand Kune Kune mtDNA with pairwise distances of 0.00095 +/- 0.00000 and 0.00192 +/- 0.00000 respectively, indicating gene flow between Lanyu Islet, Japan and Oceania in recent times. Together these results indicate that the type I Lanyu pig has a genetic lineage separate from Asian-type pigs, while the type II Lanyu sequence may represent a more recent introgression of modern Asian pigs.

Observation of locomotor functional recovery in adult complete spinal rats with BWSTT using semiquantitative and qualitative methods

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental rat model of spinal cord transection .

SETTING

China rehabilitation research center.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate locomotor functional recovery in spinal rats with BWSTT using semiquantitative and qualitative methods.

METHODS

Five-day postoperative (dpo), adult female complete spinal rats (at T(8) level) received 40 days of body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT). Signs of functional recovery were examined with average combined scores (ACOS) and Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scales at different time points.

RESULTS

At 1-dpo, none of the spinal rats exhibited hindlimb movements. The spinal rats displayed functional progress with time, but the rare could recover to full weight-bearing hindlimb at 45-dpo. BBB and ACOS scores in the BWSTT group obtained better scores than those in the spinal cord injury (SCI) group at 30- and 45-dpo. Furthermore, all BBB and ACOS scores of spinal rats reached statistical significance between 7- and 30-dpo, and between 15- and 30-dpo. However, only ACOS but not BBB scores in the SCI and BWSTT groups showed statistics differences between 15- and 45-dpo, and between 30- and 45-dpo. The Spearman correlation coefficients of BBB and ACOS scores were 0.913 and 0.972 for the SCI and BWSTT groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirmed the existence of partial spontaneous hindlimb functional recovery in adult chronically spinal cord-transected rats, and that BWSTT can improve motor performance. In addition, our study suggests that qualitative and semiquantiative methods are strongly correlated with locomotor recovery in spinal rats, and the latter may be more sensitive in reflecting minor variance at different time points.

Expression of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase in the amoeboid microglial cells in the developing rat brain

Expression of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) in amoeboid microglial cells (AMC) in developing rat brain from prenatal day 18 (E18) to postnatal day 10 (P10) was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy both in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Furthermore, real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine the expression of CNPase at mRNA level in cultured microglial cells in control conditions and following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. CNPase immunoreactive amoeboid microglia occurred in large numbers in the corpus callosum, subventricular zone and cavum septum pellucidum at P0 but were progressively reduced with age and were undetectable at P14. By immunoelectron microscopy, immunoreaction product was associated primarily with the plasma membrane, filopodial projections and mitochondria in AMC. Real time-PCR analysis revealed that CNPase mRNA was expressed by cultured amoeboid microglia and was significantly up-regulated in microglial activation induced in vitro by lipopolysaccharide. The functional role of CNPase in AMC remains speculative. Given its expression in AMC transiently occurring in the perinatal brain and that it is markedly elevated in activated microglia, it is suggested that the enzyme may be linked to the major functions of the cell type such as release of chemokines and cytokines. In relation to this, CNPase may play a key role associated with transportation of cytoplasmic materials.

Orbital susceptibilities of PbSe quantum dots

Different sizes of three-dimensional PbSe quantum dots have been synthesized for the study of orbital magnetic susceptibilities. Two types of orbital susceptibilities have been found, including the Curie susceptibility and finite-size corrections to the Landau susceptibility. The Curie term of a quantum dot manifests itself in the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures, while the field dependence of differential susceptibility at high temperatures shows finite-size corrections to the Landau susceptibility. Both of the two kinds of orbital susceptibility, estimated per quantum dot, show linear dependence on the size.

Breakdown of K selection in 178Hf

Coulomb activation of the four quasiparticle Kpi=16+ 178Hf isomer (t1/2=31 y) has led to the measurement of a set of Elamda matrix elements coupling the isomer band to the ground band. The present data combined with earlier 178 Hf Coulomb excitation data have probed the components in the wave functions and revealed the onset and saturation of K mixing in low-K bands, whereas the mixing is negligible in the high-K bands. The implications can be applied to other quadrupole-deformed nuclei.

Boosting nitrification by membrane-attached biofilm

Nitrification is a key step for reliable biological nitrogen removal. In order to enhance nitrification in the activated sludge (AS) process, membrane-attached biofilm (MAB) was incorporated in a conventional activated sludge tank. Simultaneous organic carbon removal and nitrification of the MAB incorporated activated sludge (AS + MAB) process was investigated with continuous wastewater treatment. The effluent TOC concentration of AS and the AS + MAB processes were about 6.3 mg/L and 7.9 mg/L, respectively. The TOC removal efficiency of both AS and AS + MAB were above 95% during the wastewater treatment, indicating excellent organic carbon removal performance in both processes. Little nitrification occurred in the AS process. On the contrary, successful nitrification was obtained with the AS + MAB process with nitrification efficiency of about 90%. The volumetric and surface nitrification rates were about 0.14 g/Ld and 6.5 g/m2d, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that nitrification in the conventional AS process was boosted by MAB. Furthermore, the microfaunal population in the AS + MAB process was different from that in the AS process. The high concentration of rotifers in the AS + MAB process was expected to decrease the generation of excess sludge in the process.

Prolonged fever and pyuria: a urinary tract infection presentation of incomplete Kawasaki disease

We report two patients with incomplete Kawasaki disease that presented as apparent urinary tract infection. Persistent fever and pyuria were the initial presentation without concomitant signs suggestive of Kawasaki disease; thus the patients were treated as urinary tract infection. Fever persisted despite antibiotic treatment. Diagnostic criteria of Kawasaki disease were not fulfilled for these two patients, yet aneurysmal dilatation of the coronary artery was noted 10 and 18 d, respectively, after the onset of fever. The diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease was assigned when the coronary artery abnormality was detected. Fever subsided within 24 h of administration of intravenous immunoglobulin.

CONCLUSION

This report highlights the potentially misleading presentation of fever and pyuria as the sole initial manifestation of incomplete Kawasaki disease. Echocardiography is indicated to detect coronary artery abnormality when fever persists in such patients after adequate antibiotic treatment and thorough urological evaluation.

Unmasking the dynamic interplay between efflux transporters and metabolic enzymes

Drug efflux by intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is known to decrease the bioavailability of many CYP3A4 substrates. We have demonstrated that the interplay between P-gp and CYP3A4 at the apical intestinal membrane can increase the opportunity for drug metabolism by determining bidirectional extraction ratios across CYP3A4-transfected Caco-2 cells for two dual P-gp/CYP3A4 substrates, K77 (an experimental cysteine protease inhibitor) and sirolimus, as well as two negative control, CYP3A4 only substrates, midazolam and felodipine. Studies were carried out under control conditions, with a P-gp inhibitor (GG918) and with a dual inhibitor (cyclosporine). Measurement of intracellular concentration changes is an important component in calculating the extraction ratios. We hypothesize that the inverse orientation of P-gp and CYP3A4 in the liver will result in an opposite interactive effect in that organ. In vivo rat intestinal perfusion studies with K77 and rat liver perfusion studies with tacrolimus under control conditions and with inhibitors of CYP3A4 (troleandomycin), P-gp (GG918) and both CYP3A4/P-gp (cyclosporine) lend support to our hypotheses. These results serve as a template for predicting enzyme-transporter (both absorptive and efflux) interactions in the intestine and the liver.

Transporter-Enzyme Interactions: Implications for Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions from In Vitro Data

As discussed in earlier articles, predictions of in vivo drug-drug interactions from in vitro studies is a subject of high interest with obvious therapeutic as well as economic benefits. Up until now little attention has been given to the potential interplay between metabolic enzymes and transporters that could confound the in vivo-in vitro relationships. Drug efflux by intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is known to decrease the bioavailability of many CYP3A4 substrates. We have demonstrated that the interplay between P-gp and CYP3A4 at the apical intestinal membrane can increase the opportunity for drug metabolism by determining bidirectional extraction ratios across CYP3A4 transfected Caco-2 cells for two dual P-gp/CYP3A4 substrates, K77 (an experimental cysteine protease inhibitor) and sirolimus, as well as two negative control, CYP3A4 only substrates, midazolam and felodipine. Studies were carried out under control conditions, with a P-gp inhibitor (GG918) and with a dual inhibitor (cyclosporine). Measurement of intracellular concentration changes is an important component in calculating the extraction ratios. We hypothesize that the inverse orientation of P-gp and CYP3A4 in the liver will result in an opposite interactive effect in that organ. In vivo rat intestinal perfusion studies with K77 and rat liver perfusion studies with tacrolimus under control conditions and with inhibitors of CYP3A4 (troleandomycin), P-gp (GG918) and both CYP3A4/P-gp (cyclosporine) lend support to our hypotheses. These results serve as a template for predicting enzyme- transporter (both absorptive and efflux) interactions in the intestine and the liver.

Different enzyme activities of sialyltransferases in gynecological cancer cell lines

PURPOSE

Due to rarity of a relationship between sialyltransferase enzyme activities and gynecological cancers, we arranged the study to evaluate sialyltransferase enzyme activity in the various kinds of gynecological cancer cell lines.

METHODS

Ten cell lines from various kinds of gynecological cancers and two cell lines from normal tissue were enrolled in this study. The activities of each subtype of sialyltransferases were detected using Gal beta1,3GalNAc-acetyl-lactosamine)-Obz1 (acceptor for ST2,3Gal I), Gal beta1,3GlcNAc beta1,3Gal beta1,4GlcNAc (acceptor for ST2,3Gal III), Gal beta1,4GlcNAc (acceptor for ST2,3Gal IV), asialo-bovine submaxillary mucin (acceptor for ST2,6GalNAc I), asialo-fetuin (acceptor for STalpha2,6GalNAc II), and fetuin (acceptor for ST2,6GalNAc III), respectively. The amounts of sialic acids were measured using fluorescein-conjugated Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) specific for alpha2,6-sialic acids and fluorescein-conjugated Maackia Amurensis agglutinin (MAA) specific for alpha2,3-sialic acids.

RESULTS

The activities of two sialyltransferase subtypes, ST3Gal I & ST6GalNAc II, were significantly higher in nearly all cell lines. More specifically, cervical cancer cell line-ME 180, ovarian cancer cell line-ES-2, and choriocarcinoma cell line-BeWo showed high levels of ST3Gal I enzyme activity; all gynecological cancer cell lines except endometrial cancer cell line-RL95-2 had high levels of ST6GalNAc II enzyme activity when compared with a normal control cell line--fibroblast cell line (CCD-966Sk). Cell lines tested in this study have diverse levels of surface alpha2,6-sialic acid sugar chains (enhanced SNA binding) when compared with alpha2,3-sialic acid sugar chains (enhanced MAA binding) but we found that some cell lines such as Ca Ski (cervical cancer cell line), CC7T (cervical cancer cell line), PA-I (ovarian cancer cell line), and BeWo showed significantly altered cell surface alpha2,6-sialic acid sugar chains.

CONCLUSION

Increasing enzyme activity of ST3Gal I and ST6GalNAc II might be important in various kinds of gynecological cancers. More specifically, enhanced activity of sialyltransferases involving alpha2,6-sialic acid sugar chains might be more important in cancer development. Future studies will investigate whether the enzyme activity of these sialyltransferases can be helpful for clinical practice.

Coulomb excitation paths of high-K isomer bands in 178Hf

Three distinctly different mechanisms are shown to populate the K(pi)=6(+) (t(1/2)=77 ns), 16(+) (31 yr), and 8(-) (4 s) isomer bands of 178Hf by Coulomb excitation. High spin states of the three isomer bands were populated by Coulomb excitation of a hafnium target with a 650 MeV 136Xe beam. Although direct population of high-K bands is highly K-forbidden, isomer bands in 178Hf were populated up to spins 13(+)(K=6), 20(+)(K=16), and 14(-)(K=8) with in-band gamma yields of approximately 10(-4) of the ground state band. The data are consistent with a rapid increase in K mixing with increasing spin in the isomer bands.

Severe pulmonary hemorrhage as the initial manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus with active nephritis

Pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) is an uncommon clinical manifestation of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this report, we describe a 14-year-old male with PH as the sole clinical manifestation of his SLE. Kidney biopsy was performed and the report revealed lupus nephritis class IVb. He demonstrated a rapid clinical response to the therapy of intravenous pulse methylprednisolone. Awareness of the possibility of PH as a sole clinical presentation of SLE may aid in the diagnosis and early aggressive management of this condition.

Effect of electrical stimulation on acupuncture points in diabetic patients with gastric dysrhythmia: a pilot study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Abnormal gastric slow-wave frequencies have been observed in diabetic gastroparesis and are associated with impaired antral motor activity. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the effect of acupuncture on gastric slow waves in diabetic patients with symptoms suggesting gastric motor dysfunction.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with type II diabetes who had had dyspeptic symptoms for more than 3 months were enrolled. Two acupuncture needles were inserted into the subjects' legs at the Zusanli points, and electrical stimulation (2-Hz pulses) was delivered for 30 min. Cutaneous electrogastrography was performed for 30 min at baseline, for 30 min during acupuncture, and for an additional 30 min after acupuncture. Serum gastrin, motilin, and human pancreatic polypeptide levels were also measured.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in the percentages of normal frequency during and after acupuncture (baseline vs. acupuncture and after acupuncture 21.99 +/- 19.38% vs. 45.93 +/- 19.72 and 48.92 +/- 19.56%; p < 0.01). In addition, the percentage of tachygastric frequency was decreased significantly during and after acupuncture. The dominant frequency was also changed significantly. There was an increase of serum human pancreatic polypeptide during acupuncture (baseline vs. acupuncture 56.96 +/- 27.64 vs. 73.11 +/- 22.37 pmol/l; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study revealed that electrical stimulation at the Zusanli points could increase the percentage of normal electrogastrography frequency and decrease the percentage of tachygastric frequency in diabetic patients. The data indicate that acupuncture may enhance the regularity of gastric myoelectrical activity in diabetic patients.

Fish allergy in atopic children

The prevalence of fish allergy among 11 atopic children with elevated levels of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E for cod was determined. None of the children had a history of fish allergy. All of the children had asthma and allergic rhinitis and 5 of them had also atopic dermatitis. The children underwent allergy skin tests (codfish, tuna, catfish, salmon, flounder, and bass), specific IgE tests (salmon, trout, tuna, eel, and mackerel), and food challenge tests. Skin tests in cod-specific IgE-positive children were positive for codfish in 4 children, tuna in 2, catfish in 2, salmon in 6, flounder in one, and bass in 2. Three children had elevated specific IgE for salmon, 5 for trout, 8 for tuna, 4 for eel, and 4 for mackerel. Oral fish challenge with 10 g of fish did not result in positive reaction in any of the children. In conclusion, a positive food challenge test provided the only definitive confirmation of fish allergy, whereas positive allergy skin tests or positive specific IgE tests were less reliable. Skin tests and in vitro specific IgE assays were not correlated with clinical symptoms of fish allergy, and the results of these 2 tests did not correlate with each other in this study.

Anesthetic management of a patient with relapsing polychondritis--a case report

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystem disorder of uncertain etiology. It is characterized by recurrent and progressive destruction of both elastic and hyaline cartilages as well as connective tissue. Respiratory tract involvement is associated with high mortality and morbidity. General anesthesia may be required in these patients for tracheostomy, bronchoscopy, nasal reconstruction, aortic valve replacement, and recent tracheobronchial stenting which they usually sustain. Tracheostomy was once the most likely surgical procedure in relapsing polychondritis. However, this procedure is only effective in patients with upper subglottic involvement. In cases of extensive tracheobronchial involvement, tracheostomy is ineffective because the distant tracheal collapse below the tracheostomy is still unresolved. We would like to report a case of relapsing polychondritis with tracheobronchial involvement, who underwent an emergent tracheostomy. Tracheostomy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively improved her airway collapse. Herein, we also discuss the anesthetic management after review of the current literature.

Desorption of dye from activated carbon beds: effects of temperature, pH, and alcohol

The adsorption isotherms of yellow and red dye solutions onto granular activated carbon at varying solution pHs (2-8). temperatures (15-50 degrees C), and alcohol concentrations (0-20%) were experimentally determined by batch tests and the Tóth model was found to best fit the adsorption isotherm data for varying solution pHs. temperatures, and alcohol concentrations. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to decrease with increasing solution pH and alcohol concentration and could be predicted by the correlation equations obtained in this study. A correlation equation was also obtained to account for the effects of solution temperature on the adsorption equilibrium constant. The 25 degrees C water was found to be a very poor regenerant for the carbon bed presaturated with the yellow dye compared with 20% alcohol solution. A simple equation was derived, based on non-linear wave propagation theory, to predict the desorption curves of activated carbon bed. Given presaturation concentration, bed density and void fraction, and adsorption isotherm, the wave propagation theory predicted the desorption curves quite satisfactorily.

Preparing a human membrane and secreted protein-enriched cDNA library using PCR primers derived from a genomic database

We describe here a strategy for preparing a human membrane and secreted protein (MSP)-enriched cDNA library based on human MSP- and non-MSP-encoding cDNA sequences in the databases. The signal peptide parts of the MSP-encoding cDNA sequences, which currently comprise about half of the estimated total number in humans, were analyzed for common patterns. These patterns form a 'minimal' set of polymerase chain reaction primer candidates of length varying from 9 to 21 nt. The products stemming from each primer candidate were determined and the results allowed us to obtain an 'optimal' mixed-length primer set. Ninety-six percent of the primers in this set were predicted to yield </=10% undesired products, and the desired MSP-cDNA products could be easily separated by gel electrophoresis. The present analysis establishes a methodology for preparing a cDNA library that enables the analysis of individual MSPs. This methodology may also help identify new MSPs. As many cell regulatory processes are mediated by secreted proteins and their membrane-bound receptors, the preparation of a MSP-enriched cDNA library should benefit research on MSPs.

Inadvertent hypothermia causes pulseless electrical activity in a patient during cervical spine surgery--a case report

Recent studies have shown that hypothermia triples the incidence of major cardiac events. We present a happening in which a 71-year-old patient developed pulseless electrical activity (PEA) while he was undergoing cervical laminectomy for spinal stenosis in the sitting position. Thromboembolism or venous air embolism and acute myocardial infarction were respectively excluded by transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac enzymes analysis to be the causes of the cardiac event. The abnormal finding that stood out was low nasopharyngeal temperature (31 degrees C) during the procedure, which was thought to contribute to the development of the PEA episode.

Non-Hodgkin's orbital lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are a group of neoplasms characterized by proliferation of malignant lymphocytes. Patients with NHL have a wide variety of presenting signs and symptoms, depending largely on the site of involvement and aggressiveness of the disease. Many organs in the body may be affected, including the eye and orbit.

CASE REPORT

A 47-year-old male with a 3-year history of stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who had undergone recent monoclonal antibody therapy presented with a complaint of blur in the left eye with occasional diplopia. Significant ocular findings of the left eye included ptosis, mild proptosis, increased intraocular pressure, and choroidal folds. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit revealed an orbital lymphoma that completely resolved after 2400 rads of external beam irradiation therapy. Eight months later, the patient developed a secondary radiation retinopathy.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of NHL is on the rise, and orbital involvement may occur at any time during the course of the disease. The standard treatment for non-Hodgkin's orbital lymphoma is external beam irradiation therapy, although the optimal dose for obtaining local tumor control without complications remains to be determined. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, orbital lymphoma, and various treatment options are discussed.

Childhood serum sickness: a case report

Childhood serum sickness is a rare allergic disease that follows the administration of a foreign antigenic material, most commonly caused by injecting a protein or haptenic drug. The disease is a type III hypersensitivity reaction mediated by deposits of circulating immune complexes in small vessels, which leads to complement activation and subsequent inflammation. The clinical features are fever, cutaneous eruptions, lymphadenopathy, arthralgias, albuminuria, and nephritis. Serum sickness is an acute self-limited disease. We report a 3-year-old child who presented with fever and a rash; an invasive bacterial infection was strongly suspected. He was therefore given penicillin and gentamicin and responded well. At day 4 after admission, he developed a serum sickness reaction and showed symptoms of arthralgias, generalized edema, purpura, and gross hematuria. The white blood cell count was 12 190/mm3 with 7% eosinophils. Urinalysis revealed red blood cell above 100 per high power field, white blood cell 10 to 15 per high power field, and proteinuria. The antibiotics were discontinued and hydrocortisone (20 mg/kg/d), diphenhydramine HCl (4 mg/kg/d), aspirin (66 mg/kg/d) was administered, plus 1 dose of epinephrine (0.01 mL/kg) administered intramuscularly. On day 7, the 3rd day after withholding antibiotics, his condition dramatically improved. The clinical symptoms resolved progressively and his urinalysis returned to normal.

Analysis of air toxics emission inventory: inhalation toxicity-based ranking

Air toxics emission inventories play an important role in air quality regulatory activities. Recently, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff compiled a comprehensive air toxics emission inventory for 1996. While acquiring data on the mass of emissions is a necessary first step, equally important is developing information on the potential toxicity of the emitted pollutants. To account for the toxicity of the pollutants in the emission inventory, inhalation health benchmarks for acute effects, chronic effects, and cancer were used to weight the mass of emissions. The 1996 Minnesota emissions inventory results were ranked by mass of emissions and by an index comprised of emissions divided by health benchmarks. The results show that six of eight pollutants ranked highest by toxicity were also the pollutants of concern indicated in environmental monitoring data and modeling data. Monitoring data and modeling results did not show high impacts of the other two pollutants that were identified by the toxicity-based emission ranking method. The biggest limitation in this method is the lack of health benchmark values for many pollutants. Despite uncertainties and limited information, this analysis provides useful information for further targeting pollutants and source categories for control.

Structure-function analysis of BfpB, a secretin-like protein encoded by the bundle-forming-pilus operon of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Production of type IV bundle-forming pili by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) requires BfpB, an outer-membrane lipoprotein and member of the secretin protein superfamily. BfpB was found to compose a ring-shaped, high-molecular-weight outer-membrane complex that is stable in 4% sodium dodecyl sulfate at temperatures of < or = 65 degrees C. Chemical cross-linking and immunoprecipitation experiments disclosed that the BfpB multimeric complex interacts with BfpG, and mutational studies showed that BfpG is required for the formation and/or stability of the multimer but not for the outer-membrane localization of BfpB. Formation of the BfpB multimer also does not require BfpA, the repeating subunit of the pilus filament. Functional studies of the BfpB-BfpG complex revealed that its presence confers vancomycin sensitivity, indicating that it may form an incompletely gated channel through the outer membrane. BfpB expression is also associated with accumulation of EPEC proteins in growth medium, suggesting that it may support both pilus biogenesis and protein secretion.

The correlation of depression and gastric dysrhythmia in functional dyspepsia

Psychologic factors in functional dyspepsia have been discussed in many previous articles. However, the relationship between depression and functional dyspepsia is still obscure. We investigated the impact of depression on clinical symptoms and gastric dysrhythmia in functional dyspepsia. Thirty-nine patients with functional dyspepsia and 18 healthy subjects were included. Patients were investigated with clinical symptoms assessment, Zung's self-rating depression scale, and electrogastrography. Patients with functional dyspepsia were divided into two groups: 21 patients with depression and 18 patients without depression. The depressed patients had similar total gastrointestinal symptom severity scores compared with the nondepressed patients, but with higher total symptom frequency scores (p < 0.05). With regards to symptoms, the depressed patients had higher abdominal fullness severity and frequency scores and nausea frequency scores. The patients with functional dyspepsia had a lower percentage of normal slow wave in both the fasting and fed states and a higher percentage of bradygastria in the fasting state and tachygastria in the postprandial state (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the percentage of bradygastria or tachygastria between the depressed and nondepressed patients. There was no correlation between the specific type of electrogastrographic abnormality and the presence or absence of depression in functional dyspepsia patients.

Synthesis of novel acetal thia-cage compounds

The synthesis of novel acetal thia-cage compounds has been accomplished by the direct substitution for the oxygen atom by the sulfur atom in the reaction of the acetal groups of oxa-cages with Lawesson reagent (LR). Reaction of the tetraoxa-cage compound 2 with LR in dichloromethane at 25 degrees C sequentially gave the monothia-, dithia-, trithia-, and tetrathia-cage compounds 3, 6, 7, and 9. The reaction mechanism for the conversion from oxa-cages into thia-cages was proposed. The diacetal trioxa-cages 18-20 and 24-26 were also transformed into the thia-cages 21-23 and 27-29, respectively. Reaction of the trioxa-cages 34 and 35 with LR under the same reaction conditions gave the thia-cages 36 and 37 with the carbonyl group intact. Treatment of the pentaoxa[5]peristylane 40 with LR in chloroform under supersonic shaking at refluxing temperature gave the monothia[5]peristylane 41 and the dithia[5]peristylane 42. Attempts to synthesize the thia[5]peristylanes from the tetraoxa-cage 51 and the transformation from the parent (unsubstituted) pentaoxa[5]peristylane 46 to the thia-cages have been made. Reaction of the pentaoxa[5]-peristylane 40 with P(2)S(5) in refluxing toluene gave 41, 42, and a rearrangement product 47. The synthesis of new heterocyclic cage compounds 59 and 60, which contain oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms in the same molecule, was also accomplished.

Soyasaponin I, a potent and specific sialyltransferase inhibitor

A growing number of reports demonstrate that hypersialylation, which is observed in certain pathological processes, such as oncogenic transformation, tumor metastasis, and invasion, is associated with enhanced sialyltransferase (ST) activity. There is therefore a need for the development of ST inhibitors to modulate ST activity and thus alleviate the disease processes caused by STs. In the present study, soyasaponin I had been discovered to be a potent and specific ST inhibitor by screening strategy from 7500 samples including micribial extracts and natural products. Kinetic analysis shows that it is a CMP-Neu5Ac competitive inhibitor with for ST3Gal I with an inhibition constant (K(i)) of 2.1 microM. In addition, it is only active against ST, but not against the other tested glycosyltransferases and glycosidases. Our study is the first report to discover ST inhibitor by screening method and also to provide the new chemical structure information that should be useful in the development of other novel ST inhibitors.

Suprasellar squamous papillary craniopharyngioma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Craniopharyngiomas are benign neoplasms that are usually suprasellar in origin. They are considered a type of pituitary tumor that can cause hyposecretion of anterior pituitary hormones or hypopituitarism. Clinically, they may cause visual and endocrine deficiencies similar to pituitary adenoma. Histopathologically, they are distinct from pituitary adenoma and are generally classified as either adamantinomatous or squamous papillary. Adamantinomatous tumors are more common in children, whereas the squamous papillary type is found almost exclusively in adults.

CASE REPORT

A 45-year-old white man came to our clinic with a history of decreased vision in his left eye for the previous five months that fluctuated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a suprasellar multilobular mass, which was distinguishable from the pituitary gland. The patient underwent a right frontotemporal craniotomy for resection of the tumor. Histopathological analysis showed a benign squamous epithelial-lined mass consistent with squamous papillary craniopharyngioma.

CONCLUSION

Craniopharyngiomas are generally considered to be adamantinomatous or squamous papillary in origin. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging has been used to distinguish between these two types of tumors, although clinically no significant difference has been found with respect to resectability. Clinical presentation, treatment options, recurrence, and differential diagnosis of craniopharyngiomas are discussed.

A rice functional transcriptional activator, RISBZ1, responsible for endosperm-specific expression of storage protein genes through GCN4 motif

The GCN4 motif, a cis-element that is highly conserved in the promoters of cereal seed storage protein genes, plays a central role in controlling endosperm-specific expression. This motif is the recognition site for a basic leucine zipper transcriptional factor that belongs to the group of maize Opaque-2 (O2)-like proteins. Five different basic leucine zipper cDNA clones, designated RISBZ1-5, have been isolated from a rice seed cDNA library. The predicted gene products can be divided into two groups based on their amino acid sequences. Although all the RISBZ proteins are able to interact with the GCN4 motif, only RISBZ1 is capable of activating (more than 100-fold expression) the expression of a reporter gene under a minimal promoter fused to a pentamer of the GCN4 motif. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments using the yeast GAL4 DNA binding domain revealed that the proline-rich N-terminal domain (27 amino acids in length) is responsible for transactivation. The RISBZ1 protein is capable of forming homodimers as well as heterodimers with other RISBZ subunit proteins. RISBZ1 gene expression is restricted to the seed, where it precedes the expression of storage protein genes. When the RISBZ1 promoter was transcriptionally fused to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene and the chimeric gene was introduced into rice, the beta-glucuronidase gene is specifically expressed in aleurone and subaleurone layer of the developing endosperm. These findings suggest that the specific expression of transcriptional activator RISBZ1 gene may determine the endosperm specificity of the storage protein genes.

Predicting factors of malignancy in dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

An association between dermatomyositis (DM)/polymyositis (PM) and malignancies has been widely reported in the literature. The validity of extensive evaluation for malignancies in those patients has also been questioned for decades. Only limited papers regarding the signs of malignancy and the prognostic factors in DM/PM have been reported.

OBJECTIVES

To define the potential risk factors of concomitant neoplastic diseases in patients diagnosed as having DM/PM.

METHODS

From 1 April 1983 to 30 June 1999, 147 patients were diagnosed as having probable or definite DM/PM at the Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. We excluded four patients who had preceding neoplastic diseases diagnosed before DM/PM, then retrospectively reviewed the data of the remaining 143 patients and subgrouped the cases as four main types: primary idiopathic DM, primary idiopathic PM, juvenile DM/PM and amyopathic DM (ADM). We next performed univariate analysis using logistic regression to evaluate the possible predictive factors for malignancies, such as mean age at onset, gender, manifestations at onset, association with other connective tissue diseases, initial skin presentations, complications and laboratory data. Then we chose the significant factors for multivariate analysis by logistic regression, to determine the independent risk factors of malignancies in DM/PM patients.

RESULTS

Among the 143 patients, DM was the most common type (64%), followed by ADM (14%), juvenile DM/PM (13%) and PM (10%). The mean age at onset overall was 42.4 years. Other connective tissue diseases were present in 22% of all patients, especially PM (50%) and juvenile DM/PM patients (28%). Internal malignancies were present in 13% of patients, and most were associated with DM. Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) were the most common tumours. Patients with primary idiopathic DM, with an older age at onset, higher serum creatine phosphokinase levels and male gender, had more chance of developing concomitant malignancies. Those associated with complications, especially interstitial lung diseases, had a lower risk of associated neoplasia. In multivariate analysis, an older age at onset (odds ratio 9.10) and male gender (odds ratio 4.06) were associated with greater risk of developing malignancies.

CONCLUSIONS

The two independent predictive factors for malignancy (P < 0.05) in patients with DM/PM were an older age at onset (> 45 years) and male gender. The primary idiopathic DM group was shown to have higher risk of developing internal malignancies, especially NPC. However, this was not identified as an independent predictive factor for concomitant neoplastic diseases in multivariate analysis. In addition, patients who had the complication of interstitial lung disease had a significantly lower frequency of malignancies (P < 0.001).

Left multicystic dysplastic kidney with contralateral ectopic kidney and ureterovesicle junction obstruction

Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) represents the most common cause of abdominal mass in the neonatal period. It is usually combined with contralateral genitourinary tract anomaly. Because the multicystic dysplastic kidney is usually dysfunctional, it is important to evaluate and monitor the remaining preserved function of the contralateral kidney regularly. The presence of severe obstructive lesion over contralateral kidney is often life-threatening. Prompt treatment should therefore be given as early as possible to preserve the remaining renal function. We here report one rare case of left MCDK with contralateral ectopic kidney and ureterovesicle junction (UVJ) obstruction. As the best as we know, this report is the first case report of MCDK with contralateral ectopic kidney and UVJ obstruction.

Effects of task goal and personal preference on seated reaching kinematics after stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current theories of motor control in rehabilitation focus on how the nervous system responds to many types of external and internal constraints to execute motor behavior to accomplish a task. However, the dynamic interplay between these 2 constraints remains unclear. This study examined the impact of some aspects of internal and external constraints on motor performance in persons with stroke.

METHODS

Twenty-seven persons with stroke used the uninvolved arms to perform an upper-extremity reaching task under 4 experimental conditions, formed by the crossing of functional goals and personal preferences. For the higher level of a functional goal, subjects took a drink from a can of beverage. For the lower level of a functional goal, subjects brought the can to the mouth without drinking. The level of personal preferences was determined, by interview, by the degree of predilection for particular beverages.

RESULTS

Significant and large effects of functional goals and personal preference were found in the variables of movement time and reaction time. However, the data trend of the 4 testing conditions varied according to presence of visuospatial neglect and side of lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Offering choices for the treatment activities and incorporating functional goals to therapeutic tasks might enhance response rate or movement efficiency, depending on the side of the lesion and presence of visuospatial neglect. The findings suggest that the consideration of the neglect phenomenon is a necessity when rehabilitative treatment planning incorporates constraint factors.

Energetic, structural, and antimicrobial analyses of beta-lactam side chain recognition by beta-lactamases

BACKGROUND

Penicillins and cephalosporins are among the most widely used and successful antibiotics. The emergence of resistance to these beta-lactams, most often through bacterial expression of beta-lactamases, threatens public health. To understand how beta-lactamases recognize their substrates, it would be helpful to know their binding energies. Unfortunately, these have been difficult to measure because beta-lactams form covalent adducts with beta-lactamases. This has complicated functional analyses and inhibitor design.

RESULTS

To investigate the contribution to interaction energy of the key amide (R1) side chain of beta-lactam antibiotics, eight acylglycineboronic acids that bear the side chains of characteristic penicillins and cephalosporins, as well as four other analogs, were synthesized. These transition-state analogs form reversible adducts with serine beta-lactamases. Therefore, binding energies can be calculated directly from K(i) values. The K(i) values measured span four orders of magnitude against the Group I beta-lactamase AmpC and three orders of magnitude against the Group II beta-lactamase TEM-1. The acylglycineboronic acids have K(i) values as low as 20 nM against AmpC and as low as 390 nM against TEM-1. The inhibitors showed little activity against serine proteases, such as chymotrypsin. R1 side chains characteristic of beta-lactam inhibitors did not have better affinity for AmpC than did side chains characteristic of beta-lactam substrates. Two of the inhibitors reversed the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to beta-lactams in cell culture. Structures of two inhibitors in their complexes with AmpC were determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.90 A and 1.75 A resolution; these structures suggest interactions that are important to the affinity of the inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

Acylglycineboronic acids allow us to begin to dissect interaction energies between beta-lactam side chains and beta-lactamases. Surprisingly, there is little correlation between the affinity contributed by R1 side chains and their occurrence in beta-lactam inhibitors or beta-lactam substrates of serine beta-lactamases. Nevertheless, presented in acylglycineboronic acids, these side chains can lead to inhibitors with high affinities and specificities. The structures of their complexes with AmpC give a molecular context to their affinities and may guide the design of anti-resistance compounds in this series.

Combination chemotherapy of cisplatin, methotrexate, vinblastine, and high-dose tamoxifen for transitional cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that tamoxifen enhanced the chemosensitivity of bladder cancer cells in vitro. In this pilot study, we tested the modulating effect of high-dose tamoxifen to conventional cisplatin, methotrexate, and vinblastine combination chemotherapy (CMV-T) for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between Nov. 1994 and Mar. 1999, 30 TCC patients were enrolled. Nine patients had muscle-invasive bladder TCC; 21 patients had either unresectable locally advanced diseases or distant metastases. CMV-T consisted of cisplatin 50 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 2; methotrexate 30 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 8; vinblastine 3 mg/m2/day, day 1 & 8; and tamoxifen 200 mg/m2/day, days 1 through 4.

RESULTS

A total of 98 courses had been given with an average of 3.27 courses per patient (range: 1-7). Grade III/IV leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 18% and 21% of total courses, respectively. There were 7 episodes of neutropenic fever, and 3 patients died of sepsis. Non-haematologic toxicities were generally mild. There was no venous thrombosis. Out of 26 patients eligible for evaluation of response, 1 complete and 14 partial responses with an overall response rate of 58% (95% confidence interval: 38-75%) were observed. The mean survival of all patients was 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The toxicity of CMV-T chemotherapy is moderate, but generally manageable. The response rate of CMV-T for patients with advanced TCC seems to be only comparable to most conventional cisplatin-based combinations. The possible benefit of tamoxifen to enhance chemosensitivity of TCC needs further investigation.

Cerebral vasculitis in Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a case report with sequential magnetic resonance imaging changes and treated with plasmapheresis alone

Neurological complications are rare during the course of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). We report a 7-year-old girl with HSP who presented with seizures, loss of vision and disturbance of consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high signal intensity in the gray and white matter over the left parietal and both occipital lobes, compatible with MRI findings of cerebral vasculitis. The eye fundi revealed multiple branches of retinal artery occlusion. Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone (MTP) followed by oral steroid therapy was initially administered for HSP nephritis. Cerebral vasculitis developed 10 days post-MTP treatment, with progressive worsening of consciousness. Oral steroid was discontinued and plasmapheresis was performed alone. Her level of consciousness dramatically improved after plasmapheresis. The brain MRI and eye fundi findings were consistent with her clinical improvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of MRI abnormalities and multiple retinal artery branch occlusion of cerebral vasculitis in a patient with HSP that was successfully treated by plasmapheresis alone. In conclusion, we propose that plasmapheresis may be used as a first-line therapy or rescue therapy for cerebral vasculitis in HSP.

[Determination of phthalic diesters in water by solid phase microextraction-capillary gas chromatography]

The solid phase microextraction (SPME) has the advantages of high efficiency, high sensitivity, simple operation and solvent free operation for analyzing environmental samples. An optical fiber coated with mixed stationary phase of polysiloxane and polymeric fullerene (in ratio of 4:1) was used to extract 5 phthalic diesters by HS-SPME-GC. The operating conditions of SPME such as the extraction temperature, ionic strength of solution, adsorption time and desorption time have been studied. It was compared with commercial polymer coating PDMS fiber through headspace SPME combined with GC. The results indicated that OV-1/PSO-C60 was better than PDMS in extracting high boiling point and semi-volatile phthalic diesters. For phthalic diesters, the detection limits were in the range of 0.331 ng/L-12.5 micrograms/L, and relative standard deviations were below 12% except for dinonyl phthalate.

An assessment of air toxics in Minnesota

We used monitoring and modeling to assess the concentrations of air toxics in the state of Minnesota. Model-predicted concentrations for 148 hazardous air pollutants were from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cumulative Exposure Project (1990 data). Monitoring data consisted of samples of volatile organic compounds, carbonyls, and particulate matter [Less than and equal to] 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter collected at 25 sites throughout the state for varying periods of time (up to 8 years; 1991-1998). Ten pollutants exceeded health benchmark values at one or more sites by modeling, monitoring, or both (including acrolein, arsenic, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon tetrachloride, chromium, chloroform, ethylene dibromide, formaldehyde, and nickel). Polycyclic organic matter also exceeded the benzo[a]pyrene health benchmark value assumed to represent this class of pollutants. The highest modeled and monitored concentrations of most pollutants were near the center of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area; however, many smaller cities throughout the state also had elevated concentrations. Where direct comparisons were possible, monitored values often tended to exceed model estimates. Upper-bound excess lifetime inhalation cancer risks were estimated to range from 2.7 [times] 10(-5) to 140. 9 [times] 10(-5) (modeling) and 4.7 [times] 10(-5) to 11.0 [times] 10(-5) (using a smaller set of monitored carcinogens). Screening noncancer hazard indices summed over all end points ranged from 0.2 to 58.1 (modeling) and 0.6 to 2.0 (with a smaller set of monitored pollutants). For common sets of pollutants, the concentrations, cancer risks, and noncancer hazard indices were comparable between model-based estimates and monitored values. The inhalation cancer risk was apportioned to mobile sources (54%), area sources (22%), point sources (12%), and background (12%). This study provides evidence that air toxics are a public health concern in Minnesota.

The suppressive effect of TGF-beta on IL-12-mediated immune modulation specific to a peptide Ac1-11 of myelin basic protein (MBP): a mechanism involved in inhibition of both IL-12 receptor beta1 and beta2

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta exerts a counter-regulatory effect on interleukin (IL)-12-mediated immune modulation. The underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that the expression of IL-12Rbeta1 and IL-12Rbeta2 in MBP peptide Ac1-11-primed splenocytes is upregulated upon antigen stimulation. TGF-beta induces an unresponsiveness of these primed splenocytes to IL-12 signaling through a mechanism involved in inhibition of both IL-12Rbeta1 and beta2. The modulation of IL-12Rbeta1 and beta2 expression by Ac1-11 stimulation and TGF-beta is mainly involved in CD4+ population. These data indicate that both IL-12Rbeta1 and IL-12Rbeta2 expression are crucial during T cell activation. TGF-beta-induced inhibition of IL-12R expression will reduce cellular immune responses during IL-12-mediated autoimmune disease.

BRCA1 mutations in Taiwanese with epithelial ovarian carcinoma and sporadic primary serous peritoneal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Germline BRCA1 mutations of sporadic ovarian cancers are presumed to be rare events, except among specific populations. To date, the status of germline BRCA1 mutations in Taiwanese with primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma (PEOC) is still unknown. In this study, we tried to answer part of this question.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients documented with PEOC, four patients with family history of breast and/or ovary cancer syndrome and five patients with sporadic primary serous peritoneal carcinoma (PSPC) were enrolled in this retrospective study from January 1994 through June 1999. At the same time, 50 normal healthy Taiwanese without family history were enrolled in this study. Germline DNA from these patients was screened for mutations in the BRCA1 gene using polymerase chain reaction-based single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP). Shifting DNA bands were sequenced.

RESULTS

One of the 64 patients with PEOC (1.6%) exhibited germline BRCA1 heterozygous mutation which was exon11 single-base substitution at nucleotide1047 (CAG to TAG). One of the five patients with PSPC (20%) exhibited an exon11 single-base substitution at nucleotide 914 (TCT to TCC) with resultant silent mutation. One of the normal healthy Taiwanese (2%) was found to have an exon 2 single-base substitution at nucleotide 152 (A-->C) which was also a silent mutation. No mutations of BRCA1 were detected in four patients with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this study, it was very difficult to obtain precise data to prove the value of applying genetic testing of BRCA1 mutations in Taiwanese patients with sporadic epithelial ovarian cancers or sporadic PSPC and even with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer because of its rare event and because of the too small number of cases available in this study.

DNA vaccines: a key for inducing long-term cellular immunity

Over the past few years, major advances in several areas of immunology have provided a foundation for the rational design of vaccines against diseases requiring cellular immunity. Among these advances are the cellular mechanisms by which DNA vaccines can sustain long-term humoral and cellular immunity.

Endoscopic treatment of bleeding gastric varices by N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) injection: long-term efficacy and safety

BACKGROUND

The long-term efficacy and safety of the endoscopic injection of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) were evaluated to define its role as the initial treatment for bleeding gastric varices.

METHODS

Ninety patients with bleeding gastric varices underwent endoscopic injections of Histoacryl for hemostasis within a 6-year period. Histoacryl was injected intravariceally as a 1:1 mixture with Lipiodol. Among the 90 patients, 5 had active bleeding and 85 had recent bleeding. Most of the varices were large (F2 or F3, 85 cases). The most common locations were the fundus and the posterior wall of the proximal body (94.4%). After Histoacryl injection, patients were followed endoscopically with retreatment as necessary.

RESULTS

The rate of hemostasis at 1 week was 94.4%. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 23.3% of the patients from 3 days to 16 months after the initial injection. Recurrent bleeding was stopped with reinjections of Histoacryl in 16.7% of the patients. The rate of definitive hemostasis was 93.3% (84 of 90). The treatment failure-related mortality rate was 2.2% (2 of 90). To date, 35 patients have died, mostly as a result of malignancy or liver failure, and 55 are still alive. The determining factor for long-term survival was the underlying disease leading to portal hypertension. There were few long-term complications except for Histoacryl cast extrusion-related mucosal defects.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic injection of Histoacryl is highly effective for the treatment of bleeding gastric varices, with rare complications both acutely and long term. This treatment modality is appropriate as the first choice for bleeding gastric varices.

The role of antigen and IL-12 in sustaining Th1 memory cells in vivo: IL-12 is required to maintain memory/effector Th1 cells sufficient to mediate protection to an infectious parasite challenge

IL-12 plays a central role in both the induction and magnitude of a primary Th1 response. A critical question in designing vaccines for diseases requiring Th1 immunity such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Leishmania major is the requirements to sustain memory/effector Th1 cells in vivo. This report examines the role of IL-12 and antigen in sustaining Th1 responses sufficient for protective immunity to L. major after vaccination with LACK protein (LP) plus rIL-12 and LACK DNA. It shows that, after initial vaccination with LP plus rIL-12, supplemental boosting with either LP or rIL-12 is necessary but not sufficient to fully sustain long-term Th1 immunity. Moreover, endogenous IL-12 is also shown to be required for the induction, maintenance, and effector phase of the Th1 response after LACK DNA vaccination. Finally, IL-12 is required to sustain Th1 cells and control parasite growth in susceptible and resistant strains of mice during primary and secondary infection. Taken together, these data show that IL-12 is essential to sustain a sufficient number of memory/effector Th1 cells generated in vivo to mediate long-term protection to an intracellular pathogen.

Requirements for the maintenance of Th1 immunity in vivo following DNA vaccination: a potential immunoregulatory role for CD8+ T cells

Protective immunity against Leishmania major generated by DNA encoding the LACK (Leishmania homologue of receptor for activated C kinase) Ag has been shown to be more durable than vaccination with LACK protein plus IL-12. One mechanism to account for this may be the selective ability of DNA vaccination to induce CD8+ IFN-gamma-producing T cells. In this regard, we previously reported that depletion of CD8+ T cells in LACK DNA-vaccinated mice abrogated protection when infectious challenge was done 2 wk postvaccination. In this study, we extend these findings to study the mechanism by which CD8+ T cells induced by LACK DNA vaccination mediate both short- and long-term protective immunity against L. major. Mice vaccinated with LACK DNA and depleted of CD8+ T cells at the time of vaccination or infection were unable to control infection when challenge was done 2 or 12 wk postvaccination. Remarkably, it was noted that depletion of CD8+ T cells in LACK DNA-vaccinated mice was associated with a striking decrease in the frequency of LACK-specific CD4+ IFN-gamma-producing T cells both before and after infection. Moreover, data are presented to suggest a mechanism by which CD8+ T cells exert this regulatory role. Taken together, these data provide additional insight into how Th1 cells are generated and sustained in vivo and suggest a potentially novel immunoregulatory role for CD8+ T cells following DNA vaccination.

[Determination of residues of 20 kinds of organochlorinated pesticides in oils, fruits and vegetables by wide-bore capillary gas chromatographic column]

A rapid and high performance gas chromatographic method for the determination of 20 organchlorinated pesticides in oils, fruits and vegetables has been developed. The samples of fruits and vegetables were extracted with petroleum ether-acetone, while those of oils were extracted with acetonitrile-hexane. The extract was purified by Florisil column with ethyl ether-hexane(15:85, V/V) or ethyl ether-petroleum ether(15:85, V/V) as eluent. Chromatographic analysis was performed on wide-bore capillary column with ECD detector. Satisfactory separation and detection of these organchlorinated pesticides are presented with the proposed method. The detection limits of this method were 1.0 ng/g-20.0 ng/g(S/N = 5), the recoveries 83.2%-106.8% and the relative standard deviations 2.0%-9.5%.

Age related testosterone level changes and male andropause syndrome

BACKGROUND

Much like the menopause syndrome occurring among older women, a similar condition has been defined among men. Testosterone production increases rapidly at the onset of puberty, then dwindles quickly after age 50 to become 20 to 50% of the peak level by age 80. Many men older than age 50 have experienced frailty syndrome, which includes decrease of libido, easy fatigue, mood disturbance, accelerated osteoporosis, and decreased muscle strength. We investigated serum total testosterone levels and andropause syndrome in men.

METHODS

Serum total testosterone levels were measured in 53 symptomatic men older than age 50 and in 48 men younger than age 40 for a control group. We also analyzed andropause symptoms among the 53 men older than age 50.

RESULTS

The mean serum total testosterone level in the symptomatic men older than age 50 (mean: 2.68 +/- 0.51 ng/ml, range: 1.21 to 4.13 ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in the control group (mean: 7.01 +/- 0.82 ng/ml, range: 5.53 ng/ml to 8.14 ng/ml). Male frailty syndrome in these men older than 50 included: decreased libido (91%), lack of energy (89%), erection problems (79%), falling asleep after dinner (77%), memory impairment (77%), loss of pubic hair (70%), sad or grumpy mood changes (68%), decrease in endurance (66%), loss of axillary hair (55%), and deterioration in work performance (51%).

CONCLUSION

The serum total testosterone level showed a decline with aging, especially in the men older than age 50. Low serum testosterone levels were also associated with the symptoms of male andropause syndrome.

Relationship between autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, thyroglobulin/thyroid microsome and DNA topoisomerase II in the clinical manifestation of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

In a preliminary cross-sectional study, we discovered that DNA topoisomerase II autoantibodies (anti-TopII) were detected in 49.2% of 195 Chinese type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) patients with a mean age of 14.5 years and a mean duration of disease of 4.6 years. In order to demonstrate the relationship between anti-TopII and other immunological characteristics in Chinese type 1 DM patients, and to evaluate its putative prediction efficacy in Chinese patients, we simultaneously examined the frequency of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (anti-GAD), anti-TopII, antithyroglobulin/antimicrosomal autoantibodies (ATA/AMiA) and C-peptide concentrations in our patients in the present study.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The frequency of anti-GAD and C-peptide levels, anti-TopII, and ATA/AMiA were examined in our patients by radioimmunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and hemagglutination respectively. Univariate comparisons were performed using Student's t-test for normal distributed data and Chi-square test for diclomatous data. Multivariate analysis was used for interpreting the independent risk factors which increased the incidence of anti-TopII.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The positivities for anti-GAD, anti-TopII, ATA/AMiA and C-peptide were 45.8%, 50.2%, 13.4% and 11.4% respectively. Anti-GAD and anti-TopII frequencies in our patients were similar when we stratified the patients by age, age at onset and duration. These observations imply that anti-GAD and anti-TopII remain persistent in Chinese patients with long-term type 1 DM duration. The most interesting finding is that anti-TopII frequency is more persistent than anti-GAD in our patients, especially when the diabetic duration is longer than 11 years. This indicates that anti-TopII, rather than anti-GAD, might act as a better indicator for monitoring the pathogenesis of Chinese type 1 DM patients especially in patients with a long-standing duration of disease. The late age of onset (>18 years) is a risk factor which increased the incidence of anti-TopII according to multivariate analysis. We further analyzed different manifestations between the youth- and adult-onset type 1 DM and found that adult-onset type 1 DM is characterized by better preservation of residual beta-cell function and higher frequencies of autoantibodies.

Point mutation associated with X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease impairs the P2 promoter activity of human connexin-32 gene

Many lines of evidence suggest that connexin-32 gap junction is involved in the exchange of information and metabolites in the peripheral nervous system. It has been shown that connexin-32 protein and mRNA are expressed in Schwann cells that function as myelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system. The physiological importance of connexin-32 gap junctions in regulating the normal function of myelinating Schwann cell is indicated by recent findings that X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary peripheral neuropathy, is associated with the mutations of connexin-32 gene. Recently, we encountered a Taiwanese family affected with X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. Therefore, we investigated the possible mutation in the coding and noncoding regions of the connexin-32 gene of affected members of this family. Our results suggest that a G-to-A transition at the position -215 (in relation to the transcription initiation site) of the nerve-specific P2 promoter region is associated with the pathogenesis of X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Further experiments using the promoter assay indicate that G-to-A mutation at the position -215 greatly impairs the transcriptional activity of connexin-32 P2 promoter. These findings propose that a reduced expression of connexin-32 mRNA and protein in the myelin sheath could be responsible for the development of X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy.

Stat4 is expressed in activated peripheral blood monocytes, dendritic cells, and macrophages at sites of Th1-mediated inflammation

Stat4 is a key transcription factor involved in promoting cell-mediated immunity, whose expression in mature cells has been reported to be restricted to T and NK cells. We demonstrate here, however, that Stat4 expression is not restricted to lymphoid cells. In their basal state, monocytes do not express Stat4. Upon activation, however, IFN-gamma- and LPS-treated monocytes and dendritic cells express high levels of Stat4. Monocyte-expressed Stat4 in humans is phosphorylated in response to IFN-alpha, but not IL-12. In contrast, the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, specifically down-regulate Stat4 expression in activated monocytes, while having little effect on Stat6 expression. Moreover, macrophages in synovial tissue obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis express Stat4 in vivo, suggesting a potential role in a prototypical Th1-mediated human disease. IFN-alpha-induced Stat4 activation in human monocytes represents a previously unrecognized signaling pathway at sites of Th1 inflammation.

A proteomic analysis of secreted proteins from xylan-induced Bacillus sp. strain K-1

The expression level of extracellular proteins in an alkaliphilic bacterium, Bacillus sp. strain K-1, grown in a xylan-containing medium, is significantly increased when compared with that grown in the nonxylan culture medium. A proteomic approach has been efficiently applied to separate and characterize these differentially expressed secretory proteins. Eight prominent protein spots were identified and subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The results show that three spots share considerable similarity with the xylanolytic enzymes and that two spots share considerable similarity with the GltC regulatory protein and 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase, respectively. In addition, the three other proteins show little similarity with the known proteins in the database. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the proteomic approach is a highly efficient method to rapidly study the differential expression of the secreted proteins by Bacillus sp. strain K-1 grown under xylan-induced condition.