Immunochemical localization of the Batten disease (CLN3) protein in retina

PURPOSE

Batten disease, also known as juvenile ceroid-lipofuscinosis and CLN3, is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder that results in blindness due to retinal degeneration. The CLN3 gene has been identified, but the function of the protein that this gene encodes is unknown. Experiments were conducted to determine where the CLN3 protein is localized in the mouse retina. Localization should provide a clue in evaluating potential functions of this protein.

METHODS

Using oligonucleotide primers based on the reported human CLN3 cDNA sequence, the mouse cDNA nucleotide sequence was determined from products of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends. A synthetic 20-amino-acid peptide corresponding to an internal hydrophilic region of the predicted amino acid sequence of the mouse CLN3 protein was used to immunize rabbits. The resulting antiserum was used in immunoblot analysis of mouse retina homogenates and in electron microscopic immunocytochemical labeling of mouse retina sections.

RESULTS

The peptide antibody labeled a single protein band of approximately 50 kDa on immunoblots of mouse retina homogenates. No labeling was detected with homogenates from human retinas. The antibody specifically labeled mitochondria of Müller cells and inner retinal neurons. Little labeling was observed in mitochondria of the photoreceptor cells. Mitochondria of other cell types, including the retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal cells, were not labeled.

CONCLUSIONS

The retinal CLN3 protein appears to be localized almost exclusively in the mitochondria, but was detected only in certain cell types. Batten disease is characterized by massive lysosomal accumulations of a small inner mitochondrial membrane protein (subunit c of ATP synthase). The mitochondrial localization of the CLN3 protein suggests that it may play a role in the normal processing of subunit c.

Effects of extracellular products of Vibrio alginolyticus on penaeid prawn plasma components

The effects of both crude extracellular products (ECP) and a partially purified protease of Vibrio alginolyticus on the plasma components of kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus) and tiger prawn (P. monodon) were studied using crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). A component of the plasma, tentatively identified as coagulogen, apparently disappeared after incubation with the ECP, while the amount of a component tentatively identified as haemocyanin decreased. The coagulogen and an unknown component (component 1) in the penaeid plasma showed an increased migration rate after incubation with a partially purified 33 kDa protease of the bacterium. In contrast, incubation with protease had no detectable effect on the amount of haemocyanin. These events may significantly contribute to the pathogenicity of Vibrio alginolyticus in penaeids.

Passive immunization of the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon, using rabbit antisera to Vibrio harveyi

Passive immunization, toxicity neutralization and the persistence of passive protection in the tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) were investigated using rabbit antisera to the formalinized extracellular products (ECP) (R alpha ECP) and/or formalinized bacterial cells (R alpha BC) of luminescent Vibrio harveyi strain 820514 originally isolated from diseased tiger prawns. Rabbit antiserum to bovine serum albumin (R alpha BSA) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2) both served as controls. The toxicity of ECP to prawns was neutralized by pre-incubation with R alpha ECP. Passive immunization by pre-injection of R alpha BC or R alpha ECP into prawns 3 d in advance protected against a lethal dose challenge of bacteria. To determine the persistence of passive protection by rabbit antiserum in tiger prawns, the R alpha BC, R alpha ECP, R alpha BSA or PBS were injected into prawns. At 10, 17 or 24 d post-immunization, groups of prawns were given a lethal dose challenge of bacteria. The prawns in the two control groups were all killed within the first 2 d following challenge at all three challenge dates. Pre-injection with R alpha BC and R alpha ECP provided total protection for 10 and 17 d, respectively, with all treated prawns surviving for at least 2 weeks post-challenge. This is the first study using mammalian antisera to investigate toxicity neutralization, passive immunization and persistence of passive protection by rabbit antisera in prawns. The results could be useful in future studies on virulence mechanisms and disease control of vibriosis in cultured prawns.

Purification and characterization of a cysteine protease produced by pathogenic luminous Vibrio harveyi

The purification and characterization of an extracellular protease produced by pathogenic luminous Vibrio harveyi strain 820514, originally isolated from diseased tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), was presented in this paper. The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation, with columns of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange on fast protein liquid chromatography. The protease is an alkaline cysteine protease, heat labile, inhibited by iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and p-chloromercuribenzene-sulfonic acid, and showed maximal activities at pH 8 and 50 degrees C, having a molecular mass of 38 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration column. In addition, the protease was also completely inhibited by CuCl2 and HgCl2, but not or only partially inhibited by other inhibitors tested. Furthermore, 2-mercaptoethanol was the most effective reducing agent in the activation of the enzyme. The present protease is the first cysteine protease found in Vibrio species.

Right atrial thrombi: percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy

The current therapeutic options for right atrial thrombi-surgical embolectomy and thrombolysis-are associated with high mortality and such patients often have contraindications to these therapeutic options. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endovascular right atrial embolectomy. Two patients with contraindications to thrombolysis and surgery were treated by a femoral approach. A catheter was placed in the right atrium, under fluoroscopic control, and a basket device was used to trap the thrombus. The location and extent of the thrombus was established before the procedure by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the procedure was performed with TEE and fluoroscopy. Thrombi were withdrawn in the basket into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and a filter was inserted by a jugular approach and positioned in the IVC, just above the thrombi. The basket was removed leaving the thrombus below the filter. One patient died immediately after the procedure. In conclusion, endovascular extraction of right atrial thrombi may represent a potential therapeutic alternative, particularly in patients with contraindications to thrombolysis and surgery.

Deletion mapping of two potential chromosome 14 tumor suppressor gene loci in ovarian carcinoma

Previous allelotyping studies of epithelial ovarian carcinoma suggest that loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 14q may be a common genetic alteration in this tumor type. The purpose of this study was to determine a precise frequency of chromosome 14q allelic loss in ovarian carcinomas and to define a minimal region(s) of deletion. Seventy-six ovarian carcinomas representative of the complete spectrum of grade, stage, and histological subtype were selected for PCR-based deletion mapping analysis using 15 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers spanning the length of this chromosome arm. Loss of heterozygosity was observed in 49% of the tumors studied, placing 14q among the most frequently affected chromosomal regions in ovarian cancer. Deletions were observed in all tumor grades and stages and in all histological subtypes except tumors of low malignant potential. Deletion of the entire chromosome arm was rare; the majority of tumors displayed partial losses, providing an informative basis for detailed deletion mapping. Two distinct minimal regions of deletion were delineated. One region was defined by markers D14S80 and D14S75 at 14q12-13, and the other region was defined by markers D14S65 and D14S267 at 14q32. These data implicate the involvement of two tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 14q in a substantial fraction of ovarian carcinomas.

Alkaline serine protease is an exotoxin of Vibrio alginolyticus in kuruma prawn, Penaeus japonicus

An extracellular lethal toxin produced by Vibrio alginolyticus strain Swy originally isolated from diseased kuruma prawn(Penaeus japonicus) was partially purified by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography with hydrophobic interaction (Phenyl Sepharose Hig hPerformance) chromatography and gel filtration columns. The toxin is an alkaline serine protease, inhibited by phenyl-methylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF),and showed maximal activity at pH 10, having a molecular weight of about 33kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. In addition, the toxin was also completely inhibited by FeCl2 but partially inhibited by CaCl2, CuCl2, CoCl2,MnCl2, and ZnCl2, and not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol-bis(beta-amino-ethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), iodoacetamide, pepstatin A, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), and N-tosyl-l-phenyl-alanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK). Both the crude extracellular products (ECP) and the partially purified toxin are lethal for kuruma prawn at LD50 values of 0.30 and 0.27 microg protein/g body weight, respectively. The addition of PMSF completely inhibited the lethal toxicity of both the ECP and the partially purified toxin, indicating that this serine protease is a lethal factor produced by the bacterium. The 33-kDa protease is, therefore, suggested to be a new toxic protease produced by V. alginolyticus strain Swy.

Effect of surgical debulking on survival in stage IV ovarian cancer

In order to determine whether optimal surgical debulking in Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer impacts survival, a retrospective review of patients treated at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center (UPCC) from 1984 to 1995 diagnosed with Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer was performed. Data were collected regarding grade, histology, reason for allocation to Stage IV, extent of surgery performed and residual disease at initial staging procedure, major perioperative complications, first-line chemotherapy regimen, length of inpatient hospital stay, outcome at second-look laparotomy, follow-up, and survival. For the purposes of this study, optimal cytoreduction was defined as a residual disease of 2 cm or less. Forty-seven patients with Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer identified in the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) Database at UPCC are included. Fourteen of 47 (30%) were optimally cytoreduced at the time of their staging procedure. Twenty-six of 47 (55%) were deemed Stage IV by virtue of positive pleural effusion cytology only. Twenty-one of 47 (45%) had intraparenchymal liver involvement or metastatic disease outside of the abdomen. The median survival of the suboptimally debulked group was 17 months, while median survival in the optimal group was 37 months (P = 0.0295). These data suggest that Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer patients with less than 2 cm residual disease have a survival advantage over patients with greater than 2 cm residual.

Isolation of Vibrio harveyi from diseased kuruma prawns Penaeus japonicus

Outbreaks of high mortality among the cultured kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus without overt gross signs occurred during August and December of 1994 in I-Lan, Taiwan. Eleven luminous bacterial strains were isolated from the hepatopancreas of moribund prawns from five different farms by use of tryptic soy agar (TSA, supplemented with 2% NaCl) and/or thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar. These strains, together with our two previously unpublished isolates, were characterized and identified to be Vibrio harveyi in comparison with two ATCC Type strains and one strain previously isolated from the tiger prawn, P. monodon.

Mutations of the BRCA2 gene in ovarian carcinomas

Inherited mutations in the recently discovered BRCA2 gene are believed to be responsible for a significant fraction of early-onset hereditary breast cancers. Unlike BRCA1, however, which confers a high risk to both breast and ovarian cancer, the incidence of ovarian cancer appears to be much lower In BRCA2-linked families, causing uncertainty as to the relevance of BRCA2 to hereditary ovarian cancer. Numerous allelotype studies indicate that allelic deletions Including the BRCA2 locus on chromosome 13q are common in ovarian cancers in general, suggesting that somatic mutations of this gene may be involved in sporadic ovarian tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that germline or somatic mutations of BRCA2 are associated with hereditary and/or sporadic ovarian cancers, respectively. The entire 10.2-kb coding region of BRCA2 was screened for mutations in 130 consecutive ovarian tumors, the only selection criterion being a pathological diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Loss of heterozygosity at markers flanking BRCA2 was observed in 56% of the tumors. Four germline mutations and two somatic mutations were identified; two of the germline mutations are recurrent, having been previously described. Remarkably, the patients with germline mutations were late-onset cases with no medical or family histories suggestive of hereditary cancer. These data suggest that mutations of BRCA2 are rare in sporadic ovarian cancers, and that the proportion of ovarian cancers resulting from hereditary predisposition may be higher than previously suspected based on estimates derived from studies of highly penetrant genetic loci.

Alteration by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein correlates with suppression of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds elicit multiple effects on the function of adipose tissue and adipogenic cell lines, including the suppression of adipocyte differentiation. We began to examine the mechanism by which TCDD inhibits differentiation of the established preadipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. Examination of the expression of several early marker genes of preadipocyte differentiation through Northern blot analysis and of differentiation-dependent mitosis showed that TCDD did not interfere with the earliest known responses of preadipocytes to inducers of differentiation. Analysis of mRNA for three isoforms of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) revealed that TCDD (5 nM) selectively inhibited the induction of C/EBP alpha mRNA but did not block the induction of C/EBP beta and C/EBP delta in response to differentiation inducers. The differentiation-dependent induction of PPAR gamma mRNA was also blocked by TCDD. Immunoblot analysis with specific antibodies to each C/EBP isoform demonstrated that the levels of C/EBP delta and C/EBP beta protein were rapidly induced (by day 1) and then abrogated by day 4 and 8, respectively, in solvent-treated (control) cells. In TCDD-treated cells, however, the levels of C/EBP beta and C/EBP delta protein persisted at these time points. In contrast, C/EBP alpha protein was markedly suppressed by TCDD in concordance with its level of RNA. Both translational products of C/EBP alpha, p30 and p42, were dose-dependently decreased by TCDD. Gel shift analysis of nuclear extract binding to an oligonucleotide containing a C/EBP DNA recognition sequence revealed no difference between extracts from control and TCDD-treated cells in the binding pattern at day 2 of differentiation. At days 4 and 8, the band corresponding to the C/EBP alpha/DNA complex (as determined with supershift assays) was dramatically decreased in the treated extracts in comparison to control extracts. In contrast, a band corresponding to a C/EBP beta/DNA complex was found to be enriched in the treated samples. These data indicate that suppression of differentiation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line by TCDD occurs at a short but defined period, during the differentiation program, and involves altered regulation of C/EBP, including the inhibition of C/EBP alpha.

Virulence of Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from diseased tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon

Outbreaks of mass mortality among cultured tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) with white spotted syndrome (WSS) in the carapace occurred in the summer of 1994 in I-Lan, Taiwan. A swarming strain Val was isolated from hemolymph of the moribund prawns with tryptic soy agar (TSA, supplemented with 1% NaCl, Oxoid) and/or thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS, Difco) agar. This strain was characterized and identified to be Vibrio alginolyticus. The strain was susceptible to antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline hydrochloride, nalidixic acid, oxolic acid, and oxytetracycline while resistant to ampicillin, novobiocin, penicillin G, sulfisoxazole, and sulfonamide. The bacteria and their extracellular products (ECP) were lethal to both tiger prawns (P. monodon) and kuruma prawns (P. japonicus) with LD50 values of 1.13 x 10(5), 2.46 x 10(5) CFU/g, and 0.23, 0.63 micrograms protein/g prawn body weight, respectively.

Isolation and characterization of Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from diseased kuruma prawn, Penaeus japonicus

Outbreaks of serious mortality among cultured kuruma prawns (Penaeus japonicus) with white spotted syndrome in the carapace occurred in the summer of 1993 in I-Lan, Taiwan. A swarming bacterium, strain Swy, was isolated from the hepatopancreas of the moribund prawns using tryptic soy agar supplemented with 1% NaCl and/or thiosulphate citrate bile salt sucrose agar. This strain was characterized and identified as Vibrio alginolyticus on the basis of a number of biochemical tests. The Swy strain was virulent to both kuruma prawns (P. japonicus) and tiger prawns (P. monodon) with LD50 values of 4.43 x 10(4) and 1.57 x 10(5) cfu g body weight-1, respectively.

Portal vein embolization with lipiodol for treatment of HCC--an experimental study

A suspension of iodized oil and anticancer agent was injected into the portal veins of 20 rats with hepatic carcinoma. Oil drops were seen in tumor cell lines, small blood vessels inside the cancer nest, the sinusoid, and the central veins. After injection of oil suspension through the portal vein the distal small vessels were embolized and necrotic changes of tumor cells and their subordinate normal liver cells were observed. The results obtained in this experiment provided a good anatomical and pathological basis for treating liver cancers with the portal vein embolization with chemotherapeutic agents.

Differential effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the "adipose- type" and "brain-type" glucose transporters in mice

One prominent symptom of acute toxicity from 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p- dioxin (TCDD) is a loss of adipose tissue and body weight, a phenomenon known as the wasting syndrome. In the current study, we examined the effect of TCDD on glucose transport in mice. A single intraperitoneal dose of TCDD (116 micrograms/kg) resulted in a time-dependent decrease in transport activity in adipose tissue and brains of C57BL/6 mice. Reduction of transport occurred within 24 hr in both tissues. In adipose tissue a slight recovery was observed by 30 days, but in the brains of treated animals glucose transport was significantly decreased even at the latest time. A comparison of dose-response relationships for several tissues between C57BL/6 (TCDD-responsive) and DBA/2J (TCDD-nonresponsive) mice showed parallel curves, with the C57BL/6 animals showing a 10-20-fold greater sensitivity. The estimated ED50 values for reduction of transport in adipose tissue were 50 micrograms/kg and 800 micrograms/kg for the C57BL/6 and DBA/2J strains, respectively. Treatment of isolated adipose tissue in culture with TCDD and two biphenyl congeners produced a decrease in transport activity that matched the rank order of aryl hydrocarbon receptor affinity for the compounds. Immunoblotting for the adipose-type (type 4) glucose transporter (GLUT) showed a 40% decrease in the membrane fraction of adipose tissue from C57BL/6 mice treated with 116 micrograms/kg TCDD for 40 hr. A similar decrease in the brain-type GLUT1 was observed in the plasma membrane fraction of brain tissues isolated from the same animals. Analysis of RNA for the corresponding GLUT4 and GLUT1 genes showed a dramatic decrease in GLUT4 mRNA as early as 24 hr after treatment. In contrast, the level of GLUT1 mRNA increased slightly in the brains of treated mice. We conclude that regulation by TCDD of glucose transport activity in mice is an aryl, hydrocarbon receptor-dependent process and that the adipose-type GLUT4 appears to be regulated at the mRNA level, whereas the brain-type GLUT1 is affected mainly at the protein level.

Inhibition of 3T3-L1 adipose differentiation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicity is particularly striking in adipose tissue, where it causes severe wasting. This phenomenon suggests that TCDD could have effects on adipocyte differentiation, now demonstrated using 3T3-L1 cells as a model system. When cells were treated with 10 nM TCDD before differentiation or during the first two days of induction in the presence of dexamethasone (dex) and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), a reduction occurred in the number of fat cell colonies measured 7–10 days later by Oil Red O staining. Northern blotting showed an accompanying reduction in amounts of mRNA encoding several adipocyte markers. In contrast, when TCDD was added after differentiation, it had no effect on the maintenance of the adipose phenotype. Dose-response and structure-activity relationships were consistent with a process mediated by interaction of TCDD with the Ah receptor. The possibility that TCDD acts by inhibiting the signaling pathways activated by dex and IBMX was investigated. TCDD did not interfere with glucocorticoid-inducible transcription as judged by the unimpaired responsiveness of a transfected reporter construct. Treatment of cells with TCDD augmented the increase in protein kinase A (PKA) activity elicited by either IBMX or forskolin; therefore, if TCDD disrupts the cAMP signaling pathway, it must do so at a step after activation of PKA.

Linear growth response to recombinant human growth hormone in children with growth hormone deficiency

BACKGROUND

This study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

METHODS

We selected 15 children with GHD for a 12-month clinical trial and separated them into three groups with each 5 patients receiving one of the 3 tested rhGH (Saizen by Serono, Aubonne, Switzerland; Genotropin by KabiVitrum, Stockholm, Sweden and Humatrope by Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, USA).

RESULTS

In Saizen group, 3 boys and 2 girls with a mean chronological age (CA) of 10.6 +/- 1.7 yrs and bone age (BA) of 6.7 +/- 1.2 yrs, at dose of 0.2 IU/kg sc tiw, gained an average BA of 2.1 +/- 1.3 yrs. The mean height velocity (HV) increased from 3.7 +/- 1.2 to 11.1 +/- 3.3 cm/yr. The height standard deviation score (SDS) increased from -4.2 +/- 3.1 to -3.1 +/- 2.9. In Genotropin group, 2 boys and 3 girls with a mean CA of 9.2 +/- 2.3 yrs and BA of 5.6 +/- 2.1 yrs, at dose of 0.1 IU/kg sc qd, gained an average BA of 0.8 +/- 0.2 yr. The mean HV increased from 3.4 +/- 0.7 to 11.3 +/- 2.0 cm/yr. The height SDS increased from -4.0 +/- 0.5 to -2.7 +/- 0.7. In Humatrope group, 4 boys and 1 girl with a mean CA of 10.3 +/- 3.5 yrs and BA of 5.8 +/- 2.9 yrs, at dose of 0.1 IU/kg sc qd, gained at average BA of 0.8 +/- 0.7 yr. The mean HV increased from 4.0 +/- 1.3 to 9.4 +/- 1.9 cm2yr, and the height SDS increased from -2.9 +/- 0.7 to -2.2 +/- 1.0. Very low titers of anti-rhGH antibodies were noted only in two patients, one in Saizen group (titer = 1:10) and the other in Genotropin group (titer = 1:6). Their HV was not affected (Saizen: 13.3 cm/yr, Genotropin: 11.2 cm/yr). One patient evolved subclinical hypothyroidism whereas no side effect at all was noted in the rest of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Three tested GH (Saizen, Genotropin, Humatrope) produced by recombinant DNA technology appear to make no significant difference in this clinical trial, and rhGH therapy is an effective and safe treatment for prepubertal GHD children.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin causes reduction of glucose transporting activities in the plasma membranes of adipose tissue and pancreas from the guinea pig

Toxicity from 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure results in severe metabolic imbalances leading to a loss of fat stores in many animal species, a phenomenon known as the wasting syndrome. In this paper, we report that TCDD treatment at very low doses (0.03-1 micrograms/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) causes a profound reduction of glucose uptake by guinea pig adipose tissue, pancreas and brain. This effect of TCDD is dose-dependent, with a dose as small as 0.03 micrograms/kg resulting in a significant decrease. In adipose tissue, the decrease begins within 6 h of treatment and persists at least 28 days. The Vmax of glucose transport was decreased by TCDD treatment, whereas the Km was unchanged. Liver behaves oppositely to adipose tissue. At early stages of treatment (6-12 h) glucose uptake was depressed, while at later stages (24-96 h) it was increased. In situ (explant tissue culture) treatment with TCDD yields similar trends as in vivo studies for glucose uptake in all three tissues. In adipose tissue culture TCDD starts reducing glucose uptake after 30 minutes. The inhibitory potencies of three dioxin congeners on adipose glucose transporting activities follows the same order of their toxicities in vivo. TCDD's effect on glucose transport is sensitive to cytochalasin B, a specific inhibitor of glucose transporter proteins. Based on these observations and the importance of glucose transporters to cellular energy maintenance, we conclude that at least in guinea pigs the reduction of glucose transporters in various tissues is one of the major causes for TCDD-induced wasting syndrome, which is so prominent in this species.

Infradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration

The authors describe two patients with intra-abdominal pulmonary sequestration presenting as a suprarenal mass in antenatal ultrasonography (US) images. In both cases the suprarenal mass was echogenic, and in one the mass also contained small hypoechoic areas. US and computed tomography performed after birth demonstrated feeding vessels in the suprarenal mass of one neonate; colour-flow Doppler US demonstrated the smaller feeding vessels to greater advantage.

The Taiwanese hepatitis C virus genome: sequence determination and mapping the 5' termini of viral genomic and antigenomic RNA

The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) cloned from the liver tissue of a Taiwanese patient with post-transfusion type C hepatitis was determined. The 5' end of HCV genomic RNA was located 341 nucleotides upstream from the initiation codon for the viral polyprotein open reading frame. The 5' end of the viral antigenomic RNA was shown to have 13 consecutive As. Thus the 3' terminus of the viral genome is a stretch of U which ends about 50 nucleotides downstream from the stop codon of the large open reading frame. The nucleotide sequence homology between this HCV strain and two Japanese isolates was 90.5 and 90.7%, respectively. Homology with the United States strain, however, was only 77.8%. Accordingly, the indigenous Taiwanese HCV strain is of the same subtype as the Japanese isolates. Novel features of the viral genome termini are possibly relevant to HCV genome replication.

Diurnal variation of insulin sensitivity in NIDDM patients and normal subjects

A modified insulin suppression test was adopted to assess the diurnal variation in insulin sensitivity and insulin clearance in 14 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients and eight age-, sex- and weight-matched normal subjects. The modified insulin suppression test was combined with an infusion of regular insulin, 30 mU/min x m2; glucose, 6 mg/kg x min; and somatostatin, 500 micrograms/h, for 120 minutes followed by only a somatostatin infusion for 60 minutes. Blood samplings were performed at appropriate times to obtain data on steady-state plasma insulin (SSPI), steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG as an index of insulin sensitivity), metabolic clearance and the half disappearance time (T1/2) of insulin. Blood specimens were also obtained during SSPI for measurement of erythrocyte insulin receptor binding. Each subject took the insulin suppression test twice. One test was started at 8 am and the other at 4 pm; each test was preceded by 16 hours of fasting. The order of the insulin suppression tests in each subject was randomized and balanced. In normal subjects, the SSPG level was lower in the morning than in the afternoon (118.0 +/- 43.6 vs 150.3 +/- 34.2 mg/dL, p less than 0.05). The NIDDM patients had a higher SSPG in the morning (217.7 +/- 51.4 vs 188.3 +/- 40.6 mg/dL, p less than 0.01). There was no diurnal difference in insulin clearance or the T1/2 in either normal subjects or NIDDM patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Recombinant human growth hormone (Genotropin) in treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency: the first year observation

Five prepubertal children with previously untreated growth hormone deficiency were enrolled in this trial and treated with authentic recombinant human growth hormone hGH, 0.1 IU/Kg/day, subcutaneously, for one year. All of the children markedly increased their growth rate; the height velocity increased from 3.4 +/- 0.7 cm/yr to 11.3 +/- 2.0 cm/yr during one year's treatment. The height-standard deviation score for chronological age increased from -4.03 +/- 0.52 to -2.70 +/- 0.68. The bone age increased from 5.6 +/- 1.5 year before treatment to 6.4 +/- 1.6 years after one-year treatment. Only one child acquired low titer anti-hGH antibodies during the course of treatment (1:2 to 1:6). No untoward symptoms were complained of by these children and no biochemical abnormalities occurred except transient subclinical hypothyroidism in one child during the treatment course.

Hepatic carcinoma. The possibility of transcatheter chemoembolization through the portal vein

A suspension of iodized oil and anticancer agent was injected into the portal veins of 20 rats with hepatic carcinoma and of 20 normal rats to observe its distribution in the liver and the effect on cancer tissue and normal cells. Microscopic and transmission electron microscopic examinations were carried out. Oil drops were seen in tumor cell lines, small blood vessels inside the cancer nest, the sinusoids, and the central veins. More oil drops were found in the peripheral parts of the tumor than in the central part. The distal small vessels were embolized with necrotic change of tumor cells and their subordinate normal liver cells. We conclude that portal vein part takes in the blood supply of liver cancer and tumor cell necrosis can be achieved after administration of iodized oil and anticancer agent mixture through the portal vein. Hence transcatheter treatment through the portal vein may be helpful as a supplement to intraarterial treatment of primary liver cancer and transcatheter embolization via the portal vein to reinforce the intraarterial therapy may be recommended. This procedure may cause necrosis of normal liver cells and care must be taken in clinical application.

Recombinant DNA produced somatropin in the treatment of prepubertal growth hormone deficient children

The safety and efficacy of recombinant DNA produced human growth hormone in the treatment of growth failure in prepubertal children with idiopathic or organic deficiency of pituitary GH has been assessed. Five patients entered this clinical trial. They had never been treated with hGH, anabolic steroids or any medicine that affected GH and all of them were healthy without any chronic disease; except patient 1, who took a surgical operation for cerebellar astrocytoma at the age of 3. Each patient was treated with subcutaneous injection of recombinant somatropin (SAIZEN) at a dosage of 0.2 IU/Kg +/- 10% three times per week in the evening for 1 year. Typical catch up growth was observed. The height increased by between 6.3 and 15.1 cm and their mean growth velocity of 3.7 cm/yr prior to therapy increased to 11.1 cm/yr during one year of treatment. The annual change in bone age during the treatment with SAIZEN was 2.0 +/- 0.6 years in four patients, except patient 2 who showed different bone age (right hand 3.5 years, left hand 6.0 years). Anti-hGH antibodies were observed in patient 1, but the binding capacity was low (1:10), and no clinical symptoms or growth attenuation occurred. No side effects or laboratory abnormalities were noted throughout the clinical trial. In conclusion, recombinant somatropin has a growth promoting effect and low immunogenicity, and it is shown to be safe and effective during the first year of therapy in children with GH deficiency.