Epitope mapping by a method that requires no amino acid sequence information

A simple, rapid method of epitope mapping has been developed that avoids the often cumbersome requirement of obtaining amino acid sequence information. The protein antigen is digested with various concentrations of carboxypeptidase into a nearly continuous series of polypeptides of different molecular weights, all containing a common N-terminus. The peptides are separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then transferred to nitrocellulose paper. After developing the blot with the antibody to be mapped, a nearly continuous stain is observed extending from the position of the intact antigen to the molecular weight of the smallest N-terminal fragment still containing the antibody's epitope. By noting the molecular weight where the stain terminates, the position of the epitope relative to the N-terminus can be determined. Using this methodology, and taking special precautions to inhibit all endoproteinases in the carboxypeptidase preparation, the previously mapped epitopes of six nonoverlapping antibodies to the erythrocyte anion transporter were confirmed.

NTP technical report on the toxicity studies of para-Chloro-alpha,alpha,alpha Trifluorotoluene (CAS NO: 98-56-6) Administered in Corn Oil and alpha-Cyclodextrin to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice in 14-Day Comparative Gavage Studies

p-Chloro-alpha,alpha,alpha trifluorotoluene (CTFT) is a volatile, aromatic liquid used as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of dinitroaniline herbicides. To evaluate the toxicity of CTFT, groups of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice of each sex were administered CTFT by gavage once a day for 14 consecutive days in either corn oil or in an experimental molecular complex vehicle, a-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD). Dose levels selected for CTFT with the alpha-CD vehicle were 10, 50, and 400 mg/kg; dose levels used with the corn oil vehicle were 10, 50, 400, and 1000 mg/kg. The toxicokinetics of CTFT also were compared by gavage with the different vehicles and by i.v. administration. In genetic toxicity studies, CTFT was not mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium. The elimination of an intravenous dose of CTFT from blood is best described by a triexponential equation. The data best fit a 3-compartment kinetic model with a very rapid distribution phase. A biexponential equation was found to best fit the elimination of CTFT from blood following a gavage dose in either corn oil or an aqueous molecular complex suspension, alpha-CD. However, the biological half-life (t 1/2) was the same in both routes, approximately 20 hours. Absorption of CTFT from the alpha-CD vehicle was found to be much faster than from corn oil. The average t 1/2 of the absorption phase for a 10 mg/kg dose of CTFT in the alpha-CD and corn oil vehicles was 7 and 150 minutes, respectively. Despite the differences in absorption, no statistical difference was observed in the calculated area under blood concentration versus time curves (AUC) obtained from rats dosed with CTFT in either vehicle. Blood concentrations of CTFT were proportional to dose, at levels as high as 400 mg/kg in both vehicles. The bioavailability of CTFT was shown to be complete in both vehicles, through comparing the AUC following oral and i.v. dosing. In 14-day toxicity studies, 1 of 10 female rats given the top dose of 1000 mg/kg CTFT in corn oil died on day 8; no deaths of male rats or of mice of either sex were attributable to the administration of CTFT. Body weight gains in all groups of rats and mice were similar with the exception of the top dose (1000 mg/kg) groups of male and female rats, which lost weight during the first week and resumed weight gain during the second. CTFT was found to accumulate in the kidneys of male rats, and there was a linear relationship between the kidney CTFT concentrations and the kidney levels of a2u-globulin, as determined by an ELISA assay. Microscopic changes in male rats included a dose-related toxic nephropathy consistent with that previously described as "hyaline droplet nephropathy." Dosed male and female rats also had hepatocyte hypertrophy and cytoplasmic vacuolization of the adrenal cortex. Clinical pathology findings suggested a mild anemia and cholestasis in rats. In contrast to rats, mice did not show appreciable CTFT concentrations in any tissue evaluated, suggesting a more rapid elimination of the chemical. However, hepatocellular hypertrophy, and clinical pathology findings consistent with cholestasis and mild liver injury, were noted in mice in the 400 and 1000 mg/kg dose groups. These studies demonstrated that oral doses of CTFT of 400 mg/kg or higher caused liver hypertrophy in rats and mice and adrenal changes in rats. Doses of 50 mg/kg or higher caused "hyaline droplet nephropathy" in male rats. The results were similar with CTFT administered either in corn oil or in alpha-CD (although absorption of CTFT was somewhat more rapid with alpha-CD), suggesting that alpha-CD may be an appropriate vehicle for toxicity studies with other chemicals. Synonyms: CTFT; p-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzene; (p-chlorophenyl) trifluoromethane; 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride; Benzene, 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-; p-(trifluoromethyl) chloro-benzene; p-chlorobenzotrifluoride; p-chlorotri-fluoromethylbenzene; p-trifluoromethylphenyl chloride; parachloro-alpha,alpha,alpha trifluorotoluene; parachlorobenzotrifluoride; parachlorotrifluoro-methylbenzene.

Effect of gemfibrozil on composition of lipoproteins and distribution of LDL subspecies

We studied the effect of gemfibrozil on the compositions of VLDL, LDL and distribution of LDL subspecies in type II hyperlipidemic patients. Gemfibrozil significantly lowered serum triglyceride levels in this group of patients who had normal to moderately elevated triglyceride prior to therapy. Gemfibrozil also changed the composition of VLDL by lowering its free cholesterol, cholesterol ester and raising the protein content. In contrast, no measurable changes in LDL chemical composition were found following gemfibrozil therapy. Changes in LDL, however, can be detected using ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic methods. Peak densities of LDL were lowered and LDL subspecies shifted to larger, slower-moving bands on gradient gel electrophoresis in patients receiving gemfibrozil treatment. These results suggest that gemfibrozil treatment resulted in qualitative changes in both VLDL and LDL even in patients with moderately elevated baseline serum triglyceride levels.

[The research and analysis on the fused primary teeth regarding to the permantent dental dentition-10 years follow up]

36 cases with unilateral mandibular fused primary teeth have been followed up and analysed for 10 years.The result showed that the fused primary teeth obviously affect the secondary permanent teeth and permanent dental dentition.In this series,there was one secondary permanent tooth lost in all of 19 cases.The secondary permanent tooth was also fused tooth in 3 cases.The length of permanent dental dentition and the width of dentition in front of the second cuspids in the cases with one secondary permanent tooth lost were extremely shorter than that in the cases with secondary permanent teeth.In addition,the mandibular dental dentitions were towards the fused teeth side.Comparing to the synonymic teeth,the mesial and distal steps and the height of secondary permanent teeth of fused primary teeth were no difference from normal side.

Isolation, characterization, and immunoprecipitation studies of immune complexes from membranes of beta-thalassemic erythrocytes

beta-Thalassemia, a hemoglobinopathy that results in the precipitation of denatured alpha-globin chains on the membrane, is characterized by erythrocytes with significantly reduced lifespans. We have demonstrated previously that hemoglobin denaturation on the membrane can promote clustering of integral membrane proteins, and that this clustering in turn leads to autologous antibody binding, complement fixation, and rapid removal of the cell by macrophages. To evaluate whether this pathway also occurs in beta-thalassemic cells, we have isolated and characterized the immune complexes from the membranes of these cells. We observe that autologous IgG-containing complexes obtained by either immunoprecipitation or simple centrifugation of nondenaturing detergent extracts of beta-thalassemic cell membranes contain globin, band 3, IgG, and complement as major components. Absorption spectra of these complexes demonstrate that the globin is, indeed, mainly in the form of hemichromes. Immunoblotting studies further show that much of the band 3 protein in the aggregates is covalently cross-linked to a dimeric or tetrameric form, consistent with the preference of the autologous IgG for clustered band 3. Although the insoluble aggregates constitute only approximately 1.6% of the total membrane protein, they still contain 27% of the total IgG and 35% of the total complement C3 on the thalassemic cell surface. Because cell surface IgG and complement component C3 are thought to trigger removal of erythrocytes from circulation, the hemichrome-induced clustering of band 3 may contribute to the beta-thalassemic cell's shortened lifespan.

Predicting outcome for patients with node negative breast cancer: a comparative study of the value of flow cytometry and cell image analysis for determination of DNA ploidy

This study was aimed at determining whether tumour DNA content measured by cell image analysis could provide additional prognostic information when compared to that provided by flow cytometry. Sections cut from paraffin blocks of tumours from 101 patients with node negative breast cancer were analysed by both methods and the results related to other prognostic variables and to patient relapse and overall survival. DNA ploidy measured by flow cytometry classified 46 tumours as diploid and 55 as aneuploid, whereas by cell image analysis 30 were diploid and 71 aneuploid (P less than 0.002). There were 20 tumours with discrepancies between the two methods; 18 of these were tumours with only one peak in flow analysis, but determined to be aneuploid with image analysis. DNA content as measured by both methods was significant for predicting relapse and survival by log-rank test, as were tumour histological grade, c-erbB-2 expression and tumour size. Multivariate analysis showed DNA ploidy measured by flow cytometry to be the only variable of independent significance (P less than 0.02) for both relapse and overall survival. Compared with cell image analysis, flow cytometry demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of diploid tumours, which may be related to differences in the internal standards applied to each method. We suggest that cell image analysis techniques can provide more sensitive information on the DNA content of tumour cells by direct measurement of nuclear DNA density of both normal lymphocytes and tumour cells in the same section. However, although image analysis appears to be more sensitive than flow cytometry in detecting DNA aneuploidy, the image technique appears to lack the specificity of flow cytometry in correlation with clinical outcome.

Application of molecular encapsulation for toxicology studies: comparative toxicity of p-Chloro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluorotoluene in alpha-cyclodextrin vehicle versus corn oil vehicle in male and female Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice

The application of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) as an alternative vehicle for water insoluble and volatile chemicals was investigated in toxicity studies of p-chloro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluorotoluene (CTFT). Groups of F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice of each sex were administered CTFT (97% pure) by gavage in either corn oil or alpha-CD aqueous formulations daily for 14 consecutive days. The dose levels used were 10 (mice only), 50, 400, and 1000 mg/kg for corn oil vehicle and 10, 50, and 400 mg/kg (maximum achievable dose at gavage volume of 5 ml/kg) for alpha-CD vehicle. With both vehicles CTFT and alpha 2u-globulin were found to accumulate in the male rat kidney after 14 days of exposure and a dose-related toxic nephropathy was observed at dose of 50 mg/kg or higher. The hepatocellular hypertrophy and cytoplasmic vacuolation of the adrenal cortex which appeared in dosed male and female rats were also found to be independent of vehicle. Clinical pathology findings suggested a mild anemia and cholestasis in rats. With both vehicles no tissue bioaccumulation of CTFT was found in male or female mice. Vehicle-independent hepatocellular hypertrophy and cholestasis were also observed in mice at doses of 400 and 1000 mg/kg. In conclusion, the alpha-CD vehicle does not affect the toxic responses of CTFT in both sexes of both species. The results of the studies suggest that alpha-CD may be an appropriate alternative vehicle for toxicity studies.

Morbidity due to schistosomiasis japonica in the People's Republic of China

Transmission and morbidity induced by Schistosoma japonicum were evaluated in 825 individuals undergoing periodic treatment with praziquantel on Jishan island, Jiangxi Providence, in the People's Republic of China. Eggs of S. japonicum were found in the stools of 39.4% of the population; 70% of those infected were less than 20 years of age. Hepatomegaly greater than 3 cm in the midsternal line was detected by physical examination and ultrasonography in 75% and 90% of individuals, respectively, regardless of infection status. Symmer's clay pipe-stem fibrosis of the liver was detected by ultrasonography in 20% of all individuals. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis C were found in 11% and less than 1% of the population, respectively. Our study suggests that, despite intermittent chemotherapy, morbidity due to S. japonicum is still a significant problem in China.

Glycerophosphorylcholine phosphocholine phosphodiesterase activity in cultured oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and central nervous tissue of dysmyelinating rodent mutants

The levels of GPC phosphocholine phosphodiesterase, pNP phosphocholine phosphodiesterase, CNPase, and UDP galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase activities were estimated with pure cultures of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes; mixed primary glial cells cultures; C-6 cells; and CNS tissue of the dysmyelinating md rat, the jimpy mouse, and the quaking mouse. The highest activity of GPC and pNP phosphocholine phosphodiesterases as with CNPase and C gal T was found in the pure cultured oligodendrocytes. C-6 cells had very low or undetectable activities for these two phosphodiesterases but possessed very high CNPase activity. The activity of GPC phosphocholine phosphodiesterase was significantly decreased in the CNS tissue of the md rat and the jimpy and the quaking mouse. Similar reductions were observed for the pNP phosphocholine phosphodiesterase, CNPase, and C gal T activities. The selective cellular enrichment in oligodendrocytes of the GPC phosphocholine phosphodiesterase activity and decreases of its activity in three dysmyelinating mutants in the same ratio as for CNPase and C gal T suggest that GPC phosphocholine phosphodiesterase is a myelin marker enzyme and it may reflect the quantity of myelin and oligodendrocyte present.

Clustering of integral membrane proteins of the human erythrocyte membrane stimulates autologous IgG binding, complement deposition, and phagocytosis

Damaged or old erythrocytes are cleared rapidly from circulation. Because several common biochemical lesions can induce the clustering of integral membrane proteins, we have proposed that formation of microscopic protein aggregates in the membrane might constitute a cell surface marker that promotes removal of the defective/senescent cells. We demonstrate here that treatments that cluster integral membrane proteins in erythrocytes (1 mM ZnCl2, 1 mM acridine orange, and 0.35 microM melittin) induce autologous IgG binding, complement fixation, and phagocytosis by human monocytes in vitro. Removal of the clustering agents prior to incubation in autologous serum or cross-linking of cell surface proteins before addition of clustering agents prohibited the above response, while cross-linking after treatment with the clustering agents preserved the response even if the clustering agents were later removed. Furthermore, subsequent reversal of the chemical cross-link maintaining the clustered distribution also reversed the induction of IgG binding, complement deposition, and phagocytosis. Finally, by deleting or inactivating different steps in the phagocytosis pathway, the chronology of steps was shown to be: (i) integral protein clustering, (ii) IgG binding, (iii) complement deposition, and (iv) phagocytosis.

[Demyelinating elements of demyelinated encephalopathy]

The myelin basic protein (MBPi) accounts for the main encephalitogenic antigen of the demyelinating encephalopathy, but other myelin elements also be noted by some articles. We tried to determine the relationship between W1 protein and the demyelinating encephalopathies. The 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phospho-diesterase(CNPase, a gift from Dr. Yasuzo Tuskada) monoclonal antibody was used as a probe to study the W1 protein level in 5 different demyelinating encephalopathies and 2 normal adult brains with immunocytochemical technique. Two different demyelinating types of W1 protein level were found out. Type 1 showed the W1 protein level parallel with demyelinated feature in general pathology whereas the type 2 showed demyelinated in the general pathology but the W1 protein level was normal in the immunocytochemical study. Multiple system degeneration, Binswanger's disease and postvaccinal encephalopathy of type B encephalitis belong to type 1 and multiple sclerosis and Balo's concentric sclerosis belong to type 2. These results might indicate the different pathogenesis of demyelinating encephalopathies.

Isolation and partial characterization of antibody- and globin-enriched complexes from membranes of dense human erythrocytes

In previous studies we have described a process whereby an erythrocyte in biochemical distress can initiate its own removal by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. This process involves the clustering of the integral membrane protein band 3 by denatured haemoglobin and the subsequent recognition of the exofacial poles of clustered band 3 and associated proteins by autologous antibodies. To determine whether this clearance pathway might mediate normal cell turnover, the fraction of normal erythrocytes containing the 0.5% densest cells, which are known to be destined for immediate removal, was isolated and characterized biochemically. This densest fraction was found to contain 6 times more membrane-bound globin (haemichromes) and 10 times more surface-bound autologous IgG than the other fractions containing cells of lower density. To determine whether the autologous IgG was physically associated with the haemichrome-stabilized membrane protein clusters, a procedure was developed for isolation and characterization of the microscopic aggregates. The isolated aggregates were found to contain a disulphide-cross-linked mixture of several membrane proteins, predominantly haemichromes, spectrin and band 3. Although the aggregates constituted only 0.09% of the total membrane protein, they still contained approximately 55% of the total cell-surface IgG. Since in control studies anti-(blood group A) antibodies, which are distributed randomly over the surface of type A cells, could not be recovered in the aggregate, we conclude that the autologous cell-surface IgGs were physically associated with the membrane protein clusters when they were co-isolated with them in our procedure. Thus the 640-fold enrichment of autologous IgG in the aggregates compared with regions of the membrane devoid of tightly clustered protein suggests that sites of integral protein clustering either are non-specifically sticky to IgG or are viewed as foreign or 'non-self' by the immune system and aggressively opsonized with IgG.

Educating and orienting nurses for home healthcare

Orientation to the specialty of home healthcare nursing in a Medicare-certified agency is not easy. In addition to clinical competency, the nurse must be able to document for and communicate with the fiscal intermediary. Documentation must be completed to meet the requirements of the site visitors from the site certifying agency as well as accrediting agencies. More recently, quality of care issues are of interest to the peer review organizations. Administrators, supervisors, and staff must be involved in this important process to attract and retain new as well as experienced nurses. A comprehensive orientation program that addresses the expectations of the agency as well as the external reviewing organizations and prepares the staff to meet these expectations is essential for providing quality home healthcare services.

Node negative breast cancer: the prognostic value of DNA ploidy for long-term survival

The DNA content of breast tumours from 170 patients who presented between 1978 and 1980 was measured by flow cytometry. The relationship between tumour ploidy and disease outcome was assessed and its association with other prognostic factors evaluated. Compared with those with diploid tumours, patients with aneuploid tumours had significantly earlier relapse and shorter survival (P less than 0.0001). Tumour ploidy was strongly related to grade (P less than 0.001), but there was no significant association between DNA ploidy and c-erb-B-2 expression, lymph node status or tumour size. In lymph node negative and c-erb-B-2 negative patients, aneuploid tumours were associated with a poorer prognosis (P less than 0.001) than diploid tumours. Multivariate analysis showed that tumour ploidy gave independent information on disease free and overall survival. Tumour ploidy may be used as an independent prognostic variable in patients with breast cancer and it may be helpful in defining patients within the node negative or c-erb-B-2 negative groups likely to have a poor outcome who might benefit from adjuvant treatment.

Binding of lamin A to polynucleosomes

Morphological observations suggest a close association between heterochromatin and the nuclear lamina. To investigate the molecular aspects of this association, we have established a simple sedimentation assay employing purified lamin proteins, or their 125I-labeled derivatives, and polynucleosomal particles isolated from avian erythrocytes. We report here that purified, unlabeled lamin A and 125I-lamin A, but not 125I-lamin B or 125I-bovine serum albumin, bind to polynucleosomes in a saturable and specific fashion. The specific binding of 125I-lamin A is of high affinity (Kd = approximately 1 x 10(-9) M) and is distinctly temperature-dependent. This interaction is not affected by exogenous polyionic agents such as polylysine and DNA, but it can be abolished by protease digestion of the polynucleosomes. These data suggest that nuclear lamin A maintains a direct association with a proteinaceous constituent of interphase chromatin.

Cryopreservation of chloroplasts and thylakoids for studies of protein import and integration

A method is presented for preservation of isolated intact chloroplasts and isolated thylakoids for use in chloroplast protein import and thylakoid protein integration studies. Chloroplasts of pea (Pisum sativum) were preserved by storage in liquid nitrogen in the presence of a cryoprotective agent. Dimethyl sulfoxide was the most effective of several cryoprotectants examined. Approximately 65 to 70% of chloroplasts stored in liquid nitrogen in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide remained intact upon thawing and were fully functional for the import of precursor proteins. Imported proteins were correctly localized within these chloroplasts, a process that for two of the proteins tested involved transport into the thylakoids. Lysate obtained from preserved chloroplasts was functional for protein integration assays. Preserved chloroplasts retained import and localization capability for up to 6 months of storage. Thylakoids were preserved by a modification of a method previously described (Farkas DL, Malkin S [1979] Plant Physiol 64: 942-947) for preservation of photosynthetic competence. Preserved thylakoids were nearly as active for protein integration studies as freshly prepared thylakoids. The ability to store chloroplasts and subfractions for extended periods will facilitate investigations of plastid protein biogenesis.

[Experimental studies on the decoction siwu tang]

Using many kinds of modern instruments, we have measured the content of ferulic acid, eight trace elements, seventeen amino acids and water-soluble substances in various single drug decoctions, group-drug decoctions, and mixtures of various single drug decoctions of radix Angelicae sinensis, radix Rehmanniae, radix Paeoniae alba and Rhizoma chuanxiong that make up the decoction siwu tang. Absorption peaks in ultraviolet spectra have also been measured.

Long-term survival in breast cancer related to overexpression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibody NCL-CB11

In a previous series we have shown poor short-term (3-5 years) survival for patients with tumours overexpressing the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. In this study we employed archival paraffin-embedded tissue from patients who underwent mastectomy 10-12 years prior to assessment (n = 187). Immunohistochemical staining was carried out by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using the novel monoclonal antibody NCL-CB11. Tumours were scored according to intensity of membrane staining. Patient and tumour information was obtained by scrutiny of clinical records. Survival analysis was carried out for both time to relapse and time to death, using the log rank test. Patients with tumours demonstrating intense membrane staining had a poor prognosis compared with the rest, with a steeply sloped survival curve over the first 4 years; the survival difference was still evident at 12 years follow-up (P less than 0.001). The survival advantage for c-erbB-2 negative patients was maintained in lymph node negative patients (P less than 0.001). However, c-erbB-2 status did not influence survival in the node positive group, where all patients had a uniformly poor outlook. These results applied to both time to relapse and time to death. In conclusion, c-erbB-2 status, determined using NCL-CB11, is a powerful prognostic indicator, defining in particular node negative patients with a particularly poor prognosis, and for whom alternative therapeutic strategies may be appropriate.