Clinical implications of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody test in lupus nephritis

To elucidate the prevalence and clinical implications of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in lupus nephritis (LN), we examined ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence and by ELISA against antilactoferrin (anti-LF) and antimyeloperoxidase (anti-MPO) antibody. To discriminate perinuclear ANCA (pANCA) with antinuclear antibody (ANA), all the ANCA-positive sera were tested again after incubating patients' sera with single-stranded (SS) and double-stranded (ds) DNA. These results were compared with clinicopathologic manifestations and clinical courses of LN. ANCA was positive in 19 (37.3%) of 51 LN patients. Among these LN patients, 3 had cytoplasmic ANCA (cANCA) and 16 had pANCA. ANCA was not found in 8 SLE patients without nephritis and 30 normal controls. The presence of ANCA, particularly pANCA, was associated with the presence of nephritis (18/51 cases vs. 0/8 cases, p < 0.05), especially with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis, WHO class IV (17/18 cases vs. 21/31 cases, p < 0.05) as well as the presence of anti-dsDNA antibody (17/19 cases vs. 18/30 cases, p < 0.05). Patients with ANCA frequently had deterioration of renal function (3/16 vs. 0/26 cases). Anti-LF antibody was positive in 13 patients. Among those, 12 patients had nephritis. Five patients with anti-LF antibody did not have ANCA, but 7 had pANCA, and 1 had cANCA. Patients with anti-LF antibody had lower initial creatinine levels than those without it [serum creatinine (mg/dl): 0.78 (0.6-1.0) vs. 1.43 (0.5-5.0), p < 0.05]. Anti-MPO antibody was positive in only 1 patient, suggesting that MPO is a rare antigen for ANCA in LN.

B-cell lymphoma of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT): CT features in 10 patients

PURPOSE

The purpose of this work was to describe the CT findings of pathologically confirmed bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma in 10 patients.

METHOD

The CT examinations of 10 patients with pathologically proven BALT lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively by two radiologists. Evaluated findings included number and distribution of lesions. We also assessed other CT findings such as presence of airspace consolidation, nodules, ground-glass attenuation, bubble-like radiolucencies, air bronchogram, bronchial dilatation, and lymphadenopathy.

RESULTS

Pulmonary lesions were revealed as airspace consolidation in six patients (60%) and nodule(s) in six (60%). Multiplicity of disease was seen in seven patients (70%) and bilateral lung lesions in six (60%). Areas of ground-glass attenuation were seen in seven patients (70%). Bubble-like radiolucencies were present in five patients (50%) and air bronchogram in nine (90%). Findings of bronchial dilatation and lymphadenopathy were seen in three patients (30%).

CONCLUSION

BALT lymphomas usually appear as airspace consolidation or nodules with air bronchogram or adjacent ground-glass attenuation at CT. These findings are similar to previous descriptions of pseudolymphomas. Multiple bilateral lesions are common in BALT lymphoma. Bubble-like radiolucencies have not been described previously and can be an additional finding of BALT lymphoma.

Restriction primers as short as 6-mers for PCR amplification of bacterial and plant genomic DNA and plant viral RNA

Amplification of DNA or RNA sequences using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) requires primers of an appropriate length to be designed. Two hexamer restriction primers, denoted as E101 and H301, which correspond to sequences of EcoRI and HindIII recognition sites, respectively, were selected and used as primers in PCR and RT-PCR. We first applied the restriction primers to the plasmid DNA and bacterial (Pseudomonas) and plant (Cymbidium) genomic DNAs. We observed positive DNA amplifications with the recombinant plasmid DNA and bacterial and plant genomic DNAs. Purified viral RNA was used for template in the RT-PCR with the primers and successful DNA amplification was obtained. These results suggest that the 6-mer restriction primers can be useful for new applications in PCR.

Myocardial injury-induced fibroblast proliferation facilitates retroviral-mediated gene transfer to the rat heart in vivo

BACKGROUND

Efficient and stable transfer of therapeutic DNA into injured myocardium would be an initial step towards a genetic treatment aimed at myocardial repair after myocardial infarction. Proliferating cardiac fibroblasts in the healing myocardium could be a compelling target for retroviral infection. We evaluated the feasibility of direct in vivo gene transfer into injured myocardium using a high-titer, stable retroviral vector.

METHODS

Using the TE-FLY-A-based MFG retroviral vector harboring nlsLacZ reporter, the gene transfer efficiency was assessed first in vitro in rat cardiac fibroblasts, followed by in vivo evaluation in healing rat myocardium after local freeze-thaw injury. A total of 2.5 x 10(7) infectious units of retrovirus were injected into the injured region of a beating rat heart. The transduced cells were identified by X-gal staining and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Highly efficient transduction of cardiac fibroblasts was observed in vitro with 98% of the cells transduced with single infection. The cell proliferation index in the cardiac granulation tissue appeared maximal 3 days after cryoinjury. Retroviral injection into the injured beating heart induced gene expression localized to the wound repair region. One week after retrovirus injection, 14% of the cells in the reparative tissue were beta-gal-positive, while 4% were beta-gal-positive after 4 weeks. The transduced cells were mostly myofibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Local gene transfer to the healing rat heart is feasible by retrovirus in vivo. This observation may serve as a useful guide for the development of gene therapy aimed at myocardial repair after myocardial infarction.

1998 Distinguished Lecture: biomechanics of the microcirculation, an integrative and therapeutic perspective

The microcirculation, integratively speaking, is distensible and contains 40%-50% of the total blood volume. Other than the mission of mass transport, the microcirculation and its endothelial cells have the role of regulation, signal transduction, proliferation, and repair. In this article, the emphasis is on the integrative role of the microcirculation on circulatory control and its therapeutic role on blood volume compensation. To introduce this topic, I first summarize the morphometry data on the blood volume distribution in the coronary, pulmonary, and mesentery circulation and then review the methodology developed in my laboratory to assess the microvascular volume change or shift of blood volume from microcirculation to macrocirculation. Evidence obtained through these studies indicates that the microcirculation can play a more important role as a reservoir to compensate for blood volume loss than the venous system. Reanalysis of published data also indicates that microvascular pooling, not hypovolemia, is the likely factor causing endotoxin shock or hypotension for hemodialysis patients. Understanding of the role of the microcirculation could lead to more effective diagnosis of cardiovascular deficiency and therapy for hypotension or low cardiac output with intervention through the microcirculation.

Nmethyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) induces papillary thyroid tumours which lack ras gene mutations in the hermaphroditic fish Rivulus marmoratus

To investigate the patterns of alkylating agent-induced tumour formation, 40 fish (Rivulus marmoratus) were exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) at 50 ppm in 10 mM Hepes-buffered synthetic seawater for 2 h. Tumour incidence 4 months after exposure was approximately 95%, and mainly papillary thyroid tumours were induced. For elucidating the molecular event in Rivulus papillary thyroid carcinogenesis, we first analysed for ras gene mutations based on the known ability of MNU to induce point mutations. The amplified R. Marmoratus Ha-and Ki-ras gene exon 1 and 2 regions were checked along with confirming the presence and expression patterns of the DNA repair gene O(6)-methylguanine alkyltransferase (O(6)-MT) and other oncogenes (c-src, c-fos, and c-myc). Ha- and Ki-ras genes from 38 tumour samples were tested for point mutations with direct sequencing but were not found to contain mutations. In this report, based on the lack of Ha- and Ki-ras gene mutations in papillary thyroid tumour induction in R. Marmoratus, we suggest that Ha- and Ki-ras gene-independent pathways such as ret/PTC rearrangements and other activations are involved in Rivulus papillary thyroid carcinogenesis. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 20:1-9, 2000.

Molecular genetic relationships between Bombycidae and Saturniidae based on the mitochondria DNA encoding of large and small rRNA

The phylogenetic relationships between Bombycidae (Bombyx mori and Bombyx mandarina) and Saturniidae (Antheraea yamamai and Antheraea pernyi) were investigated based on large and small mitochondiral rRNA genes. About 430 bp of four kinds of PCR-amplified fragments were sequenced and aligned. For the 16S rRNA gene, B. mori shared a 98, 87 and 86% sequence homology with B. mandarina, A. yamamai and A. pernyi, and for the 12S rRNA gene, B. mori shared a 99, 89 and 88% sequence homology with B. mandarina, A. yamamai and A. pernyi, respectively. DNA sequence data were also used for a phylogenetic analysis. All of the trees showed monophyly for both Bombycidae and Saturniidae. The monophyly confidence limits of these trees were estimated using bootstrapping tests and measured more than 99% for all trees for both Bombycidae and Saturniidae.

Orbitocranial injury caused by wood

A rare case of a patient with orbitocranial injury by a wooden foreign body is reported. Penetrating periorbital wound by a wooden stick with entry site at the right upper eyelid was related to the invasion into the temporal lobe. Fortunately, the anterior and posterior segments of eye were unharmed, but right ocular motility was markedly restricted mechanically in all directions. Forced duction test was strong positive, especially the dextroversion of the right eye. Computed tomography scan showed a well-delineated low density from the orbital wall into the temporal lobe. The wooden foreign body was subsequently removed from the orbit and the temporal lobe, through the neurosurgical frontotemporal approach. After the wooden foreign body was removed, the ocular movement of the right eye fully recovered without any intracranial or ocular complications.

Relative stabilities of dinucleotide and tetranucleotide repeats in cultured mammalian cells

The differences in rates of frameshift mutations between a dinucleotide repeat sequence [(CA)(17)] and a tetranucleotide repeat sequence [(GAAA)(17)] have been determined in immortalized, non-tumorigenic, mismatch repair-proficient mouse cells and in mismatch repair-defective human colorectal cancer cells. Clones with mutations were selected on the basis of restoration of activity of a bacterial neomycin resistance gene whose reading frame was disrupted by insertion of the microsatellite upstream of the translation initiation codon. This gene was introduced into the cells on a plasmid, which integrated into the genome of the host cells. Mutation rates of the tetra-nucleotide repeat were much lower than those of the dinucleotide repeat in both cell types. In addition, independent subclones of the colorectal cancer cell line were assayed by PCR for instability of endo-gen-ous tetranucleotide and dinucleotide repeat sequen-ces. In all cases, the mutation frequencies of the dinucleotide repeats were higher than those of the tetranucleotide repeats.

Spectrum of opportunistic infections and malignancies in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in South Korea

To determine the frequency and types of major opportunistic diseases in patients with HIV infection in South Korea, we reviewed the medical records of 173 HIV-infected patients. The patients were seen from 1985 to 1998 at a referral hospital for AIDS in South Korea. Most patients (85%) were male, and 107 (62%) were infected by heterosexual contacts. CD4+ lymphocyte counts at presentation were <200/microL in 27% of the patients. Tuberculosis was the most frequent opportunistic infection (25% of patients), followed by candidiasis (21%), herpes zoster (20%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (10%), cytomegalovirus disease (9.8%). There were no cases of toxoplasmosis. Kaposi's sarcoma developed in 3 patients (1.7%), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in 2 (1.2%). Eleven patients (6.4%) developed peripheral neuropathy, and 8 (4.6%) had HIV encephalopathy. Tuberculosis was the single most important HIV-related infection in South Korean patients.

The benefit of treatment intensification is age and histology-dependent in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a quality-adjusted survival analysis of radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) chemoradiation studies

PURPOSE

Currently, chemoradiation treatment strategies in locally advanced NSCLC are essentially the same irrespective of tumor histology or patient age. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of age, histology, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and specific toxicities on the median survival time (MST) and quality-adjusted survival (QTime) for each treatment strategy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Nine hundred seventy-nine patients with Stage II-IIIB inoperable NSCLC were enrolled on 6 prospective Phase II and III studies from 1983 to 1995. Treatment regimens ranged from standard RT (SRT) to 60 Gy, hyperfractionated RT (HRT) to 69.6 Gy, induction chemotherapy (ICT) of cisplatin (CIS) and vinblastine (VBL) followed by SRT, ICT + concurrent CT (CCT) + SRT, and CCT + HRT; CCT consisted of etoposide or VBL + CIS. Toxicities assessed were skin, mucous membrane, lung, esophagus, neurologic, hematologic, and upper GI. QTime was calculated by weighting the time spent with a specific toxicity, as well as local or distant tumor progression. Each toxicity was weighted with increasing severity as the toxicity increased in grade.

RESULTS

As expected, patients with the worst KPS (50-70) had the lowest MST (7.8 months) and QTime (6.7 months). Patients <70 years had improved survival with more aggressive therapy (i.e., ICT + SRT or CCT + HRT), while patients > 70 years achieved the best QTime with standard RT (SRT) alone. In patients with squamous cell carcinoma, those treated with ICT + CCT + SRT had dramatically improved MST (25.7 months) and QTime (21.8 months) compared to the other treatment regimens (11.7-12.8 and 10.7-12 months, respectively). Patients with adenocarcinoma, however, generally manifested incrementally better MST and QTime as the therapies intensified. Within the concurrent chemoradiation arms, the upper GI and lung toxicities had the greatest impact on QTime.

CONCLUSION

This quality-adjusted survival analysis suggests that there is a critical relationship between the type of histology and its optimal treatment, age and the ability to tolerate intensive therapy, and the need to reduce lung and upper GI toxicities.

Evaluation of the dose to the bladder wall using a dynamic balloon-bladder phantom and TLD measurements in 18F-FDG PET studies

[18F]-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is one of the most useful radiopharmaceuticals in clinical positron emission tomographic imaging. Its final metabolic destination is the bladder, which accumulates the highest absorbed dose in the body during imaging. The aims of this study were to develop a dynamic bladder phantom to emulate the dynamic response of the bladder and to evaluate changes in the dose to the bladder wall during the imaging procedure. 18F-FDG of various concentrations can be drip-fed intravenously to the balloon-bladder at different uptake phases or extracted from the phantom during voiding. A dose evaluation model, introducing the concept of photon energy flux conversion into the dose calculation, is thus developed for clinical evaluation. The dose to the bladder wall using the proposed model is comparable to that measured using a thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD), with a less than 5% discrepancy. The main advantages of the model are the use of the dose conversion factor, phi TLD, which is determined from real TLD measurements, and the ability to consider the dynamic characteristics of the bladder. To overcome the problems of diverse dose distributions among subjects, time-activity information provided by clinical bladder imaging is required, so that the method can be applied to other radiopharmaceuticals.

Two new genotypes of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein found in the Republic of Korea

The gene encoding Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP) exhibits polymorphism in many geographical isolates. The present study was designed to investigate polymorphism in PvCSP gene of P. vivax isolates in Korea. Thirty isolates, obtained from indigenous cases in Yonchon-gun, Kyonggi-do in 1997, were subjected for sequencing and RFLP analysis of the repeat and post-repeat regions of PvCSP gene and two genotypes (SK-A and SK-B) were identified. The genotype of 19 isolates was SK-A and that of 11 isolates was SK-B. Although the number of 12-base repeats present in SK-A was three while two were found in a Chinese strain CH-5, the repeat sequence of SK-A was identical to that of CH-5 except for one base substitution. Compared with known data there was no identical isolates with SK-B, but the sequence of SK-B was similar to that of a North Korean (NK) isolate. These results indicate that two genotypes of PvCSP coexist in the present epidemic area of Korea and the present parasite may originate from East Asia. RFLP would be useful to classify genotypes of P. vivax population instead of gene sequencing.

Changes of splenocyte IFN-gamma mRNA synthesis in rats infected with Paragonimus westermani

Changes in the expression level of splenocyte IFN-gamma mRNA of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats infected with Paragonimus westermani were analyzed by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by southern blot. The template RNA was extracted from the splenocytes of rats infected with 20 metacercariae of P. westermani. The products of competitive RT-PCR were subjected to southern blot and enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL), and analyzed with a densitometer. In comparison with that of uninfected control rat splenocytes (value of 1), the levels of mRNA expression of IFN-gamma had changed to 0.747 at 1 week post infection (PI), 0.00175 at 2 week PI, 0.0217 at 3 week PI, 0.194 at 4 week PI and then to 0.537 at 5 week PI. The level at 7 week PI had returned to 1.25, comparable with that of uninfected rats. These results show that, when infected with P. westermani, the levels of IFN-gamma mRNA of SD rat splenocytes were remarkably reduced by more than 500 times at 2 week PI and restored to normal level at 7 week PI.

M-DNA: A complex between divalent metal ions and DNA which behaves as a molecular wire

M-DNA is a complex of DNA with divalent metal ions (Zn(2+), Co(2+), or Ni(2+)) which forms at pH conditions above 8. Upon addition of these metal ions to B-DNA at pH 8.5, the pH decreases such that one proton is released per base-pair per metal ion. Together with previous NMR data, this result demonstrated that the imino proton in each base-pair of the duplex was substituted by a metal ion and that M-DNA might possess unusual conductive properties. Duplexes of 20 base-pairs were constructed with fluorescein (donor) at one end and rhodamine (acceptor) at the other. Upon formation of M-DNA (with Zn(2+)) the fluorescence of the donor was 95 % quenched. Fluorescence lifetime measurements showed the presence of a very fast component in the decay kinetics with tau</=10 ps. The fast component was absent in B-DNA and in M-DNA lacking an acceptor chromophore; a result which is only consistent with electron transfer. Efficient signal transduction was also observed between the two fluorophores separated by 54 base-pairs (over 150 A) in an M-DNA duplex. The addition of a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein prevented the flow of electrons and this was reversed by protease digestion. Therefore, M-DNA behaves as a molecular wire and could be manipulated to prepare self-assembling electronic circuits.

Videostrobokymography: a new method for the quantitative analysis of vocal fold vibration

OBJECTIVES

To develop a new analysis method for the quantitative assessment of vibration of the vocal folds, using conventional videostroboscopic image data.

METHODS

We used prerecorded videostroboscopic images to evaluate quantitatively the vibration of the vocal folds. Successive images were converted as digital images by means of an image-grabbing board, processed for analysis, and reconstructed as kymograms by rearranging the same lines of all processed images along the time axis.

RESULTS

We developed a new technique for evaluating the vibration of the vocal folds. The vibrations of multiple vocal fold regions were easily and objectively evaluated by this technique. The objective parameters, such as open quotient and asymmetry index, could be obtained easily using this technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Videostrobokymography demonstrated objectively the vibrations of several vocal fold regions at the same time. This technique has the potential to be a new tool to analyze and monitor the pathological changes and treatment results of vocal fold movement in a more refined quantitative fashion, using videostroboscopic images.

Auxin and brassinosteroid differentially regulate the expression of three members of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene family in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.)

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) markedly increased ethylene production by inducing the expression of three 1aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase cDNAs (pVR-ACS1, pVR-ACS6 and pVR-ACS7) in mung bean hypocotyls. Results from nuclear run-on transcription assay and RNA gel blot studies revealed that all three genes were transcriptionally active displaying unique patterns of induction by IAA and various hormones in etiolated hypocotyls. Particularly, 24-epibrassinolide (BR), an active brassinosteroid, specifically enhanced the expression of VR-ACS7 by a distinct temporal induction mechanism compared to that of IAA. In addition, BR synergistically increased the IAA-induced VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 transcript levels, while it effectively abolished both the IAA- and kinetin-induced accumulation of VR-ACS1 mRNA. In light-grown plants, VR-ACS1 was induced by IAA in roots, and VR-ACS6 in epicotyls. IAA- and BR-treatments were not able to increase the VR-ACS7 transcript in the light-grown tissues. These results indicate that the expression of ACC synthase multigene family is regulated by complex hormonal and developmental networks in a gene- and tissue-specific manner in mung bean plants. The VR-ACS7 gene was isolated, and chimeric fusion between the 2.4 kb 5'-upstream region and the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was constructed and introduced into Nicotiana tabacum. Analysis of transgenic tobacco plants revealed the VR-ACS7 promoter-driven GUS activity at a highly localized region of the hypocotyl-root junction of control seedlings, while a marked induction of GUS activity was detected only in the hypocotyl region of the IAA-treated transgenic seedlings where rapid cell elongation occurs. Although there was a modest synergistic effect of BR on the IAA-induced GUS activity, BR alone failed to increase the GUS activity, suggesting that induction of VR-ACS7 occurs via separate signaling pathways in response to IAA and BR. A scheme of the multiple regulatory pathways for the expression of ACC synthase multigene family by auxin and BR is presented.

Development of a non-transformed human liver cell line with differentiated-hepatocyte and urea-synthetic functions: applicable for bioartificial liver

There is a need to develop human hepatocyte cell lines which retain both replicating capacity and highly differentiated functions to facilitate the development of an efficient bioartificial liver. The present study was undertaken to differentiate, using sodium butyrate, the actively replicating immortalized human liver cell line. The effects of butyrate on cell growth and cell cycle were analyzed, and the albumin synthesis, cytochrome P450 and ammonia-detoxifying activity of the butyrate-treated cells were measured. Butyrate treatment resulted in G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and polygonal changes in the cell morphology. Neither the control nor the butyrate-treated cells showed transformed characteristics. Butyrate treatment increased the amount of albumin secretion, cytochrome P450 activity, and the urea production rate of the cells. The present study provides non-transformed human hepatocytes, which can replicate unlimitedly and then restore differentiated hepatocyte-specific functions by butyrate, and therefore, have applications for the development of an efficient bioartificial liver.

Mini-detachable snare ligation for the treatment of esophageal varices

BACKGROUND

We manufactured and studied the usefulness of a newly designed mini-detachable snare in the treatment of esophageal varices. The use of a multiple rubber band ligator, although generally effective and well tolerated, has certain limitations, including high cost, reduced visual field, and inadvertent band release.

METHODS

We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial of the use of mini-detachable snare ligation vs. multiple band ligation in patients with recent or active esophageal variceal bleeding. The outcomes assessed were immediate hemostasis and rates of recurrent bleeding, eradication, and recurrence.

RESULTS

From March 1997 to October 1998, 103 patients were entered into this trial; 46 underwent mini-detachable snare ligations and 57 multiple band ligations. Among patients with active bleeding, hemostasis was achieved in 6 of 7 (86%) in the mini-detachable snare ligation group and 11 of 13 (85%) in multiple band ligation group. Recurrent bleeding after initial treatment occurred in 2 of 46 (5.5%) in the mini-detachable snare ligation group and 3 of 57 (5.3%) in the multiple band ligation group. Esophageal varices were eradicated or reduced to grade I in 4.8 +/- 2.1 and 4.5 +/- 1.9 sessions in the mini-detachable snare ligation group and multiple band ligation group, respectively. The recurrence rate was 5 of 46 (11%) and 6 of 57 (11%) in the mini-detachable snare ligation group and multiple band ligation group during a follow-up period of 6 and 16 months, respectively. No serious complication occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION

The mini-detachable snare is a new device that provides safe and effective treatment for esophageal varices that is comparable to multiple band ligation.

Targeting a SWI/SNF-related chromatin remodeling complex to the beta-globin promoter in erythroid cells

Chromatin remodeling complexes such as the SWI/SNF complex make DNA accessible to transcription factors by disrupting nucleosomes. However, it is not known how such complexes are targeted to the promoter. For example, a SWI/SNF1-like chromatin remodeling complex erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF) coactivator-remodeling complex 1 (E-RC1) disrupts the nucleosomes over the human beta-globin promoter in an EKLF-dependent manner. However, it is not known whether E-RC1 is targeted specifically to the beta-globin promoter or whether E-RC1 is randomly targeted, but its activity is evident only at the beta-globin promoter. Because E-RC1 cannot remodel chromatin over the beta-globin promoter without EKLF in vitro, it has been proposed that SWI/SNF1-like complexes such as E-RC1 are targeted specifically to the promoter by selectively interacting with promoter-associated transcription factors such as EKLF. In this report, we test this hypothesis in the cellular context by using the ProteIN POsition Identification with Nuclease Tail (PIN*POINT) assay. We find that the Brahma-related gene (BRG) 1 and BRG1-associated factor (BAF) 170 subunits of E-RC1 are both recruited near the transcription initiation site of the beta-globin promoter. On transiently transfected templates, both the locus control region and the EKLF-binding site are important for their recruitment to the beta-globin promoter in mouse erythroleukemia cells. When the beta-globin promoter was linked to the cytomegalovirus enhancer, the E-RC1 complex was not recruited, suggesting that recruitment of the E-RC1 complex is not a general property of enhancers.

Bacterial production of D-erythroascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid through functional expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase in Escherichia coli

D-Arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase, which catalyzes the terminal step in the biosynthesis of D-erythroascorbic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli inherently lacking the enzyme. The recombinant E. coli strain expressing the enzyme could overproduce D-erythroascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid when supplied with D-arabinono-1,4-lactone and L-galactono-1,4-lactone, respectively.

Stability, blood partition and plasma protein binding of ipriflavone, an isoflavone derivative

It is generally recognized that the partition between plasma and blood cells, the immediate centrifugation of blood samples after collection for the measurement of 'true' in vivo concentrations and free drug concentrations in plasma are important determinants of the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of drugs. Therefore, the stability, blood partition between plasma and blood cells, and factors influencing the binding of ipriflavone to 4% human serum albumin (HSA) using an equilibrium dialysis technique were evaluated. Ipriflavone was unstable in rat liver homogenate and various pH solutions ranging from 1 to 13, except pH 8, rat blood and plasma and human plasma when incubated in a water-bath shaker for 24 h kept at 37 degrees C and at a rate of 50 oscillations/min. The recoveries of spiked amounts of ipriflavone at 24 h pH solutions ranging from 1 to 12 were 67.0, 78.1, 87.9, 89.6, 84.2, 87.4, 85.5, 99.3, 88.0, 76. 6, 79.4 and 81.5%, respectively. Ipriflavone was very unstable in pH 13 solution; only 0.814% of ipriflavone was recovered after 30 min incubation. Ipriflavone was stable for up to 3 h incubation in human gastric juices. Ipriflavone reached equilibrium fast (within 30 s of being mixed manually) between plasma and blood cells and the equilibrium plasma/blood cells partition ratios were independent of the initial rabbit blood concentrations of ipriflavone: 0.2, 2, and 10 microg/mL; the values were in the range of 0.900-2.45. The binding of ipriflavone to 4% HSA was 96.6+/-0.407% at ipriflavone concentrations ranging from 2 to 100 microg/mL, but it was dependent on HSA concentrations (0.5-6%), incubation temperature (4, 22 and 37 degrees C), 'the buffer' pHs (5.8, 6.4, 7.0, 7.4 and 8.0), and addition of salicylic acid (150-300 microg/mL) and sulphisoxazole (100-300 microg/mL). However, the binding was independent of buffers containing various concentrations of chloride ion (0-0.546%), glucose (0 and 5%), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (0-0.32%) and heparin (0-40 U/mL), and addition of its metabolites (M1 and M5, 5 microg/mL).

Phase II trial of a novel platinum analog, SKI 2053R, in patients with previously untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

A phase II trial of a novel platinum analog, SKI 2053R, was performed in patients with previously untreated extensive-stage disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). SKI 2053R was administered at the dose of 400 mg/m2 every 3 to 4 weeks as a 1-h infusion. After the first cycle, the dose was escalated to 440 mg/m2 based on toxicity. Thirty-eight patients (31 male) were enrolled between June 1995 and August 1997. The median age was 61 years (range, 36-70 years). Six of 37 evaluable patients achieved a partial response (16.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4-28.0%). The durations of response were 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 3.4, and 4.6 months. The estimated median survival time was 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.1-9.7 months). Grade 3 or 4 toxicities were not observed. Grade 1 to 2 leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were seen in 5 of 68 cycles, 16 of 68, and 2 of 68, respectively. Nonhematologic toxicities included grade 1 to 2 nausea or vomiting (30 of 68 cycles), nephrotoxicity (27 of 68), and hepatotoxicity (13 of 68). SKI 2053R showed a modest antitumor activity with limited toxicities in patients with ED SCLC. Further clinical trials are warranted in SCLC with a higher dose of SKI 2053R.

Loss of Fhit is frequent in stage I non-small cell lung cancer and in the lungs of chronic smokers

Abnormalities of FHIT, a candidate tumor suppressor gene at 3p14.2, have been found frequently in multiple tumor types including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To investigate whether FHIT inactivation plays a role in early lung tumorigenesis, Fhit levels were determined by immunohistochemistry in tumors from 87 patients with stage I NSCLC and in 372 bronchial biopsy specimens from 86 chronic smokers without evidence of malignancy. We found that 49% of NSCLC specimens demonstrated significantly decreased staining or lack of staining for Fhit. However, Fhit expression status was not significantly associated with disease-free survival or overall survival. Analysis of a subset of 76 specimens on which microsatellite analysis at the FHIT locus was performed did not show a strong association between loss of heterozygosity at FHIT and Fhit expression, suggesting the presence of complex mechanisms of Fhit inactivation. Of 372 bronchial biopsies from chronic smokers, 86 biopsies (23%) exhibited decreased Fhit expression or lack of Fhit expression. In 37 of 86 (43%) subjects, decreased Fhit expression or lack of expression was observed in at least one biopsy site. Loss of Fhit expression was significantly higher in bronchial metaplastic lesions (23 of 49 lesions, 47%) than in histologically normal bronchial epithelium (63 of 323 specimens, 20%; P < 0.001). Smokers with a metaplasia index of > 15% had a higher frequency of loss of Fhit expression than those with a metaplasia index of < or = 15% (P = 0.015). Interestingly, current smokers had a higher rate of loss of Fhit expression than former smokers (P = 0.02). Our data indicate that Fhit expression is significantly reduced in a substantial number of early-stage NSCLC and preneoplastic lesions in chronic smokers. The association between cigarette smoking and Fhit expression suggests a role for FHIT in the initiation of smoking-related lung tumorigenesis.

Tailoring of surfaces with ultrathin polymer films for survival and growth of neurons in culture

We have studied the adhesion, growth, and survival of dissociated cells of rat cerebellum onto glass surfaces derivatized with covalently bound ultrathin polymer layers. The surface coatings were prepared by growing polymer chains directly at the surfaces of solid substrates by using self-assembled monolayers of radical chain initiators. Methacrylate and acrylamide polymers with different polarities were covalently attached to the surfaces and the adhesion behaviour of the neuronal cells to these surfaces was studied. Best adhesion and neurite outgrowth properties were found using a positively charged polymer (poly(methacryloyl oxypropyl (trimethyl ammonium) bromide)). This 'grafting from' method for the generation of surface modifications can be used for tailoring the composition of the surface of the substrates. Our experiments demonstrate the potential of these layers for the design of polymeric surface coatings for long term stability of neuronal culture.