On the analysis of spatial binary images

This paper deals with the analysis of spatial images taken from microscopically heterogeneous but macroscopically homogeneous microstructures. A new method is presented, which is strictly based on integral-geometric formulae such as Crofton's intersection formulae and Hadwiger's recursive definition of the Euler number. By means of this approach the quermassdensities can be expressed as the inner products of two vectors where the first vector carries the 'integrated local knowledge' about the microstructure and the second vector depends on the lateral resolution of the image as well as the quadrature rules used in the discretization of the integral-geometric formulae. As an example of application we consider the analysis of spatial microtomographic images obtained from natural sandstones.

Sudden death due to pituitary apoplexy

A case of sudden, unexpected death due to hemorrhage into a large, previously undiagnosed pituitary adenoma (pituitary apoplexy) in a 41-year-old man is presented. Pituitary adenomas are frequent intracranial tumors with usually benign prognosis. Acute hemorrhage into the tumor is a severe and potentially fatal complication, if not diagnosed and treated early, and occurs in up to 10% of cases. Sudden tumor enlargement due to the hemorrhage with compression of vessels and neural tissue at the skull base may result in coma and death without preceding symptoms leading to forensic investigations as demonstrated by this case report.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of single-dose intravenous secretin as treatment for children with autism

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a single injection of intravenous secretin results in measurable improvements in socialization and/or communication skills in children with autism.

STUDY DESIGN

Sixty subjects with autism were randomly selected and assigned to either treatment or placebo group. Subjects in the treatment group received 2.0 clinical units of secretin per kilogram of body weight as a single intravenous dose. Subjects in the placebo group received normal saline solution. Neurodevelopmental and behavioral assessments were performed for all subjects before injection and at 3 and 6 weeks after injection.

RESULTS

Assessment of language skills and parents' behavioral assessments revealed no significant differences between the treatment and placebo groups. Raters' assessments of severity of autistic symptoms did not differ for the 2 groups at 6 weeks after injection. A marginally statistically significant improvement in autistic behaviors was seen in the treatment group at 3 weeks after injection (P =.051).

CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of intravenous secretin does not appear to have significant effects on either parents' perception of autistic behaviors or language skills at 6 weeks after injection. Transient, marginally significant improvements in autistic behaviors may occur in some children.

[Interesting case no. 44. Osteoma]

We report on a 30-year-old man who was treated in the outpatient clinic for bifrontal headache for four weeks. Computed tomography showed sinusitis maxillaris, a large osteoma in the ethmoid sinus on the right side and a pneumocephalus. The surgical procedure included removal of the focus (sinusitis), extirpation of the osteoma and reconstruction of the skull base from an external approach.

Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) mucosal antimicrobial peptides are close homologues of human molecules

One component of host defense at mucosal surfaces appears to be epithelium-derived antimicrobial peptides. Molecules of the defensin and cathelicidin families have been studied in several species, including human and mouse. We describe in this report the identification and characterization of rhesus monkey homologues of human mucosal antimicrobial peptides. Using reverse transcriptase PCR methodology, we cloned the cDNAs of rhesus monkey beta-defensin 1 and 2 (rhBD-1 and rhBD-2) and rhesus monkey LL-37/CAP-18 (rhLL-37/rhCAP-18). The predicted amino acid sequences showed a high degree of homology to the human molecules. The expression of the monkey antimicrobial peptides was analyzed using immunohistochemistry with three polyclonal antibodies to the human molecules. As in humans, rhesus monkey antimicrobial peptides are expressed in epithelia of various organs. The present study demonstrates that beta-defensins and cathelicidins of rhesus monkeys are close homologues to the human molecules and indicate that nonhuman primates represent valid model organisms to study innate immune functions.

Correlation of coronary calcification and angiographically documented stenoses in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: results of 1,764 patients

OBJECTIVES

This study correlated the electron beam computed tomographic (EBCT) calcium scores with the results of coronary angiography in symptomatic patients in order to assess its value to predict or exclude significant coronary artery disease (CAD).

BACKGROUND

Electron beam computed tomography is a sensitive method to detect coronary calcium. However, it is unclear whether it may play a role as a filter before invasive procedures in symptomatic patients.

METHODS

A total of 1,764 patients (1,225 men and 539 women) with suspected CAD from a single center were included in our study. All patients underwent calcium screening with EBCT (C150XP Imatron) and conventional coronary angiography.

RESULTS

Fifty-six percent of men and 47% of women revealed significant coronary stenoses (> or =50%). Total exclusion of coronary calcium (14% of the study group) was associated with an extremely low probability of stenosis (<1%). With calcium scores > or =20th, > or =100th or > or =75th percentile of age groups, the sensitivity to detect stenoses decreased to 97%, 93% and 81%, respectively, in men and to 98%, 82% and 76%, respectively, in women. At the same time, the specificity increased up to 77% in men and women. There was a significant difference in coronary calcium between men and women in all age groups; however, receiver-operating characteristic curves indicated that the test can be performed with equal accuracy in all of these subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Calcium screening with EBCT is a highly sensitive and moderately specific test to predict stenotic disease. Exclusion of coronary calcium defines a substantial subgroup of patients, albeit symptomatic, with a very low probability of significant stenoses.

Impaired hepatic fatty acid oxidation in rats with short-term cholestasis: characterization and mechanism

Rats with long-term cholestasis have reduced ketosis during starvation. Because it is unclear whether this is also the case in short-term cholestasis, we investigated hepatic fatty acid metabolism in rats with bile duct ligation for 5 days (BDL5, n = 11) or 10 days (BDL10, n = 11) and compared the findings with those made with pair-fed control rats (CON5 and CON10, n = 11). The plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was reduced in BDL rats (0.54 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.83 +/- 0.30 mM at 5 days and 0.59 +/- 0.24 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.09 mM at 10 days in BDL and control rats, respectively). In isolated liver mitochondria, state 3 oxidation rates for various substrates were not different between BDL and control rats. Production of ketone bodies from [(14)C]palmitate was reduced by 40% in mitochondria from BDL rats at both time points, whereas production of (14)CO(2) was maintained. These findings indicated intact function of the respiratory chain, Krebs cycle, and beta-oxidation and suggested impaired ketogenesis (HMG-CoA pathway). Accordingly, the formation of acetoacetate from acetyl-CoA by disrupted mitochondria was reduced in BDL rats at 5 days (2.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 4.8 +/- 1.9 nmol/min per mg protein) and at 10 days (1.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 6.2 +/- 1.9 nmol/min per mg protein). The principal defect could be localized at the rate-limiting enzyme of the HMG-CoA pathway, HMG-CoA synthase, which revealed decreased activity, and reduced hepatic mRNA and protein levels. We conclude that short-term cholestasis in rats leads to impaired hepatic fatty acid metabolism due to impaired ketogenesis. Ketogenesis is impaired because of decreased mRNA levels of HMG-CoA synthase, leading to reduced hepatic protein levels and to decreased activity of this key enzyme of ketogenesis. - Lang, C., M. Schäfer, D. Serra, F. G. Hegardt, L. Krähenbühl, and S. Krähenbühl. Impaired hepatic fatty acid oxidation in rats with short-term cholestasis: characterization and mechanism. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 22;-30.

[Exclusion of coronary calcium with electron beam tomography: an effective filter before invasive diagnosis in symptomatic patients?]

Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) is the most sensitive and accurate method of measuring coronary calcium which indicates coronary atherosclerosis. We performed a prospective study in 1764 symptomatic patients who were referred to our hospital for coronary angiography because of suspected coronary artery disease. In all of these patients cardiac catheterization and coronary calcium scanning was performed within 3.2 +/- 4 days. 454/1225 men (37.0%) and 165/539 women (30.6%) had significant coronary stenoses > or = 75%. Only two men (0.4%) and no single woman (0.0%) with stenoses > or = 75% and only 3/323 patients (0.9%) with moderate stenoses (50-75%) did not exhibit coronary calcium. Coronary angiography excluded stenoses in 822 patients. Of these patients 261 (29.4%) did not reveal coronary calcium. In younger patients (< 60 years) without stenosis exclusion of coronary calcium was a frequent finding: 31% of men and 55.8% of women were free of coronary calcium. Thus, exclusion of coronary calcium with electron beam tomography defines a substantial subgroup of patients who have an extremely low risk of significant coronary stenosis despite suspected coronary artery disease in history and non-invasive testing. Determination of coronary calcium might, therefore, be an effective filter before invasive angiography in selected groups of symptomatic patients.

[Manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 30 years after corneal transplantation]

BACKGROUND

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, currently viewed as one of the prionic diseases, occurs in by far the majority of cases sporadically, sometimes in families, and in rare instances as a transmissible disease with every conceivable interval of latency.

HISTORY AND SIGNS

This report of a 45-year-old female concerns a spongiform encephalopathy which appeared almost 30 years after penetrating keratoplasty. The corneal material came from a 63-year-old donor with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; the keratoplasty was performed at a time when the transmissibility of certain diseases was still unknown.

CONCLUSION

The risk of transmission of the disease is very low but cannot be ruled out.

Tenoxicam i.v. in major gynaecological surgery--pharmacokinetic, pain relief and haematological effects

This study compared postoperative analgesic dispensation and measures relating to haemostasis following intravenous administration, in a randomized double-blinded manner, of either placebo or tenoxicam 20 mg to 30 women presenting for major gynaecological oncology surgery under a standardized, combined epidural/general anaesthetic technique. Pharmacokinetic disposition of tenoxicam in this patient cohort was also described. There was no objective or subjective alteration in haemostatic function or increase in blood loss, nor any deviation from the normal range of values. Postoperative analgesia during the first 48 hours was delivered to achieve a VAS endpoint of less than five on leg-raising, by a combination of a nurse-controlled low-dose background epidural infusion and patient-administered epidural bolus. Greater VAS variability was observed during the first four postoperative hours (P = 0.08). The tenoxicam group self-administered significantly fewer epidural bolus doses to maintain satisfactory analgesia compared with the placebo group during the first 24 hours (P = 0.004) and 48 hours (P = 0.01) postoperatively. Similar differences between the groups in the total dose of the epidural bupivacaine/fentanyl mixture delivered were described (4 h: P = 0.148; 24 h: P = 0.033; 48 h: P = 0.001) (Figure 2). Despite surgery, transfusion and the use of a renal protective fluid administration strategy, tenoxicam disposition was not greatly different from that widely described for healthy volunteers. There were no significant side-effects and no adverse events attributable to tenoxicam. In this small study we have shown that tenoxicam administered preoperatively reduced the epidural analgesic requirements during the first 48 hours following major gynaecological surgery. There was no clinical or pathological evidence of haematological impairment following a single i.v. administration of tenoxicam 20 mg.

[The Susac syndrome--a retinocochleocerebral angiopathy]

INTRODUCTION

There has been a series of case reports of otherwise healthy patients suffering from microangiopathy of the brain, retina and cochlea. Most patients were young women presenting clinically with a subacute encephalopathy, branch retina artery occlusions, and hearing loss. In 1994 the name "Susac syndrome" has been proposed for this disease entity.

METHOD

Case report and review of 64 published cases, identified through MEDLINE are given.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 32-year-old otherwise healthy woman presenting with a subacute encephalopathy, multiple branch retinal artery occlusions and bilateral hearing loss. MRI of the brain revealed multiple small white and grey matter lesions without contrast enhancement. CSF protein was elevated, oligoclonal bands were negative. Immunological laboratory parameters, microbiology, virology, coagulation studies, SEP, AEP, VEP and cerebral DSA were normal.

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Of 64 identified patients 58 were women. The mean age of the patients was 30 years. 60 patients (94%) had arterial occlusions, which were bilateral in 39%. 48 patients reported hearing loss, 37 patients (58%) had a global encephalopathy, but other neurologic manifestations were common.

CONCLUSION

This rare syndrome has a strong young female preponderance. MRI of the brain often shows lesions suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Fluorescein angiography may show arteriolar wall hyperfluorescence. Patients can be identified at an early stage with a careful history and physical examination. Early treatment with corticosteroids is often associated with a good prognosis. Cyclophosphamide and antiplatelet drugs may be added in complicated cases.

Relationship between hepatic mitochondrial functions in vivo and in vitro in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The metabolic capacity of liver mitochondria is impaired in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis. These studies were performed to find out whether benzoate and/or palmitate are suitable substrates for assessing hepatic mitochondrial function in vivo.

METHODS

In vivo metabolism of benzoate and 1-14C-palmitate was assessed by monitoring urinary excretion of hippurate and exhalation of 14CO2, respectively, in cirrhotic and control rats (n=8 for each group). Isolation of liver mitochondria, and in vitro benzoate and palmitate metabolism were performed by methods published previously. The hepatic content of mitochondria was assessed by stereological analysis of the volume of hepatocytes and by biochemical determination, using the activity of citrate synthase.

RESULTS

Renal excretion of hippurate following i.p. administration of benzoate was reduced in cirrhotic rats (64+/-15 vs. 85+/-14% of administered dose over 24 h), and showed a linear correlation with hippurate formation by isolated mitochondria. The activities of benzoyl-CoA synthase and benzoyl-CoA:glycine N-acyltransferase were reduced by approximately 60%, and the coenzyme A content by 50% in hepatic mitochondria from cirrhotic rats, explaining impaired hippurate formation. Peak exhalation of 14CO2 after i.p. administration of 1-14C-palmitate was reduced by 44% and the area under the 14CO2 exhalation-time curve by 34% in cirrhotic rats. Peak 14CO2 exhalation revealed a linear correlation with oxidative metabolism of palmitoylcarnitine in isolated mitochondria. Both in vivo benzoate and palmitate metabolism showed a linear correlation with the volume fraction of hepatocytes. The mitochondrial protein content was reduced in cirrhotic rats per g liver and per liver but equal to control rats per volume of hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

In vivo metabolism of both palmitate and benzoate reflects hepatic mitochondrial function in rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis. Hepatic mitochondrial function is impaired in rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis due to both reduced mitochondrial volume per liver and impaired metabolism of the remaining mitochondria. In contrast to rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis, rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis showed no hepatic mitochondrial proliferation to counteract reduced mitochondrial function.

Conformations in solution and bound to bacterial ribosomes of ketolides, HMR 3647 (telithromycin) and RU 72366: a new class of highly potent antibacterials

The new class of antibiotics called ketolides is endowed with remarkable antibacterial activity against macrolide-resistant strains. Further modifications of the 3 keto-macrolactone backbone led to 11,12-hydrazonocarbamate ketolides with an imidazolyl pyridine chain: the file-leader of ketolide class, HMR 3647 (telithromycin), and its N-bis-demethyl-derivative, RU 72366. The potency of HMR 3647 is higher than that of RU 72366. Stereospecific 1H and 13C resonance assignments of HMR 3647 and RU 72366 have been determined and have allowed a detailed quantitative conformational analysis of the uncomplexed form of the molecules. The comparative conformation of HMR 3647 in solution and its N-bis-demethyl-derivative in D2O has been carried out using different heteronuclear correlation experiments in conjunction with nuclear Overhauser effect experiments and in particular long-range 3J(CH) coupling constants and using molecular dynamics (MD) methods. The study of ketolide ribosome interaction has been investigated using two-dimensional transferred nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TRNOESY). The database of ribosome-bound ketolide structures has been used to compare the structure(s) of ketolide in ribosome-ketolide complexes with the conformational preferences of free ketolides and to highlight the significant differences between HMR 3647 and RU 72366. A comparison of the conformations bound to ribosome was made with those of other previously studied ketolide (RU 004) and macrolides and would explain the remarkable potencies of HMR 3647 in inhibiting protein synthesis.

Epidural ropivacaine with fentanyl following major gynaecological surgery: the effect of volume and concentration on pain relief and motor impairment

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 40 patients undergoing gynaecological oncology surgery received either 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 1 microgram ml-1 or 0.2% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 micrograms ml-1. A PCEA pump was set to deliver ropivacaine 8 mg with fentanyl 8 micrograms with each successful demand and a lockout period of 15 min without background infusion. Patients were observed for rest and activity pain VAS, side effect incidence, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), leg strength, sensory block to cold and pinprick, and PCEA usage into the second postoperative day. Passive and active pain scores for both groups were both satisfactory and comparable for the duration of the study. There were no differences between groups with regard to side effects. There was a 24% increase in total drug used in the high-concentration/low-volume group (P < 0.05). The study demonstrated that PCEA ropivacaine with fentanyl is an effective means of postoperative analgesia for this patient population. Reduced drug consumption with high-volume/low-concentration solution confirms similar findings by other investigators using alternate local anaesthetic agents, and suggests that the therapeutic ratio of ropivacaine is widened if a low-concentration/high-volume solution is used.

Perspectives in the biological function and the technological application of polygalacturonases

Polygalacturonases (PG) have evolved in the past years from a pectinase "simply" being used for food processing to an important parameter in plant-fungal interaction. PG-inhibiting proteins (PGIP) that are synthesised in plants as a specific response to PGs of pathogenic fungi, have become a focus as a possible target in resistance breeding, and PGIPs are also a concern as an inhibiting factor in food processing. Plant PGs have been identified as a major factor in fruit ripening, and PG-deficient transgenic plants have been bred. Mainly fungal PGs are used in industrial processes for juice clarification and the range of enzymes is being extended through new recombinant and non-recombinant fungal strains. Finally, novel fields of application can be envisaged for PGs in the production of oligogalacturonides as functional food components. Here we aim to highlight the various fields where PGs are encountered and where they are of biological or technological importance.

The influence of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril on the glomerular metabolism of proteolytic enzymes in diabetic rats

Clinical studies indicate a nephro-protective effect in conjunction with the use of ACE inhibitors. This study's aim was to determine whether ACE inhibitors influence the metabolism of glomerular cells in addition to their known hemodynamic effects. Streptozotocin diabetic rats were treated with lisinopril (DLis 1.5 mg/l water), or hydralazine (Dhyd, 50 mg/l water) over 4 weeks. Untreated diabetic rats (DC) and non-diabetic rats (C) served as controls. After four weeks of treatment, urinary excretion of albumin, blood pressure and metabolic control (Glyc-Hb) were measured. After treatment glomeruli were isolated and homogenized, and beta-NAG and total proteolytic activity against azocasein were measured. Glycated hemoglobin levels were similar in all diabetic groups (DC, 12%, Dhyd, 10%; DLis 11%). Blood pressure of DLis rats (79 +/- 3 mmHg) and DHyd rats (46 +/- 2 mmHg) was lower than that of DC rats (111 +/- 3 mmHg). Urinary albumin excretion of diabetic groups was lowest in DLis. Diabetic rats showed a decrease in glomerular beta-NAG (10 vs. 60.5 U/g protein) and total proteolytic activity against azocasein (148 vs. 170 U/mg protein hour) compared to non-diabetic rats. Lisinopril increased beta-NAG (30 vs. 14 U/g protein) and total proteolytic activity (160.5 vs. 141.5 U/mg protein hour) compared with hydralazine. Our study confirms that the nephro-protective effect of ACE inhibitors is partially due to modulatory effects on the metabolism of basement membrane proteins.

Enhanced sterol-acyl transferase activity promotes sterol accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The sterol-acyl transferase encoded by the gene ARE2 was transcriptionally deregulated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to understand its role in sterol storage and sterol enrichment. Our results show that sterols can indeed be enriched in yeast by enhancing the capacity of the cells to esterify sterols. ARE2 overexpression had no impact on the accumulation of the early sterols such as lanosterol, but influenced the later intermediates and the end product ergosterol. Thus an enhanced conversion of free sterols to their esterified counterparts may provide a tool to increase the overall sterol content of the yeast cell. We have previously shown that the overexpression of a truncated version of the key enzyme of the early sterol pathway, HMG-CoA reductase (HMG1), leads to an increase in the early sterols such as lanosterol and zymosterol. The simultaneous deregulation of both genes in one strain produces a cumulative effect in that both early and late sterols are enhanced. Karmellae-like structures can be detected when Are2p is overexpressed. Are2p therefore constitutes a new member of the karmellae-inducing protein family.

Interspecies complementation in Saccharopolyspora erythraea : elucidation of the function of oleP1, oleG1 and oleG2 from the oleandomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces antibioticus and generation of new erythromycin derivatives

Two glycosyltransferase genes, oleG1 and oleG2, and a putative isomerase gene, oleP1, have previously been identified in the oleandomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces antibioticus. In order to identify which of these two glycosyltransferases encodes the desosaminyltransferase and which the oleandrosyltransferase, interspecies complementation has been carried out, using two mutant strains of Saccharopolyspora erythraea, one strain carrying an internal deletion in the eryCIII (desosaminyltransferase) gene and the other an internal deletion in the eryBV (mycarosyltransferase) gene. Expression of the oleG1 gene in the eryCIII deletion mutant restored the production of erythromycin A (although at a low level), demonstrating that oleG1 encodes the desosaminyltransferase required for the biosynthesis of oleandomycin and indicating that, as in erythromycin biosynthesis, the neutral sugar is transferred before the aminosugar onto the macrocyclic ring. Significantly, when an intact oleG2 gene (presumed to encode the oleandrosyltransferase) was expressed in the eryBV deletion mutant, antibiotic activity was also restored and, in addition to erythromycin A, new bioactive compounds were produced with a good yield. The neutral sugar residue present in these compounds was identified as L-rhamnose attached at position C-3 of an erythronolide B or a 6-deoxyerythronolide B lactone ring, thus indicating a relaxed specificity of the oleandrosyltransferase, OleG2, for both the activated sugar and the macrolactone substrate. The oleP1 gene located immediately upstream of oleG1 was likewise introduced into an eryCII deletion mutant of Sac. erythraea, and production of erythromycin A was again restored, demonstrating that the function of OleP1 is identical to that of EryCII in the biosynthesis of dTDP-D-desosamine, which we have previously proposed to be a dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose 3, 4-isomerase.

16 degrees C rapid temperature variation in central greenland 70,000 years Ago

Variations in the (29)N(2)/(28)N(2) ratio of air bubbles trapped in polar ice cores and their relation to variations of the (18)O/(16)O of the ice allow past surface temperature variations and ice age-gas age differences to be determined. High-resolution measurements of (29)N(2)/(28)N(2) in Dansgaard-Oeschger event 19 (around 70,000 years before the present) in ice from Central Greenland show that at the beginning of the event, the ice age-gas age difference was 1090 +/- 100 years. With the use of a combined firn densification, temperature, and gas diffusion model, the delta(18)O(ice)-temperature coefficient alpha was determined to be 0. 42 +/- 0.05 per mil per kelvin. This coefficient implies a mean surface temperature change of 16.0 kelvin (between 14.3 and 18.1 kelvin), which differs substantially from values derived from borehole temperatures and modern spatial delta(18)O(ice)-surface temperature correlations.

Formation of a carcinogenic aromatic amine from an azo dye by human skin bacteria in vitro

Azo dyes represent the major class of dyestuffs. They are metabolised to the corresponding amines by liver enzymes and the intestinal microflora following incorporation by both experimental animals and humans. For safety evaluation of the dermal exposure of consumers to azo dyes from wearing coloured textiles, a possible cleavage of azo dyes by the skin microflora should be considered since, in contrast to many dyes, aromatic amines are easily absorbed by the skin. A method for measuring the ability of human skin flora to reduce azo dyes was established. In a standard experiment, 3x10(11) cells of a culture of Staphylococcus aureus were incubated in synthetic sweat (pH 6.8, final volume 20 mL) at 28 degrees C for 24 h with Direct Blue 14 (C.I. 23850, DB 14). The reaction products were extracted and analysed using HPLC. The reduction product o-tolidine (3,3'-dimethylbenzidine, OT) could indeed be detected showing that the strain used was able to metabolise DB 14 to the corresponding aromatic amine. In addition to OT, two further metabolites of DB 14 were detected. Using mass spectrometry they were identified as 3,3'-dimethyl-4-amino-4'-hydroxybiphenyl and 3, 3'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl. The ability to cleave azo dyes seems to be widely distributed among human skin bacteria, as, under these in vitro conditions, bacteria isolated from healthy human skin and human skin bacteria from strain collections also exhibited azo reductase activity. Further studies are in progress in order to include additional azo dyes and coloured textiles. At the moment, the meaning of the results with regard to consumer health cannot be finally assessed.

Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The use of sunscreens on the skin can prevent sunburn but whether long-term use can prevent skin cancer is not known. Also, there is evidence that oral betacarotene supplementation lowers skin-cancer rates in animals, but there is limited evidence of its effect in human beings.

METHODS

In a community-based randomised trial with a 2 by 2 factorial design, individuals were assigned to four treatment groups: daily application of a sun protection factor 15-plus sunscreen to the head, neck, arms, and hands, and betacarotene supplementation (30 mg per day); sunscreen plus placebo tablets; betacarotene only; or placebo only. Participants were 1621 residents of Nambour in southeast Queensland, Australia. The endpoints after 4.5 years of follow-up were the incidence of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas both in terms of people treated for newly diagnosed disease and in terms of the numbers of tumours that occurred. Analysis of the effect of sunscreen was based only on skin cancers that developed on sites of daily application. All analyses were by intention to treat.

FINDINGS

1383 participants underwent full skin examination by a dermatologist in the follow-up period. 250 of them developed 758 new skin cancers during the follow-up period. There were no significant differences in the incidence of first new skin cancers between groups randomly assigned daily sunscreen and no daily sunscreen (basal-cell carcinoma 2588 vs 2509 per 100,000; rate ratio 1.03 [95% CI 0.73-1.46]; squamous-cell carcinoma 876 vs 996 per 100,000; rate ratio 0.88 [0.50-1.56]). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the betacarotene and placebo groups in incidence of either cancer (basal-cell carcinoma 3954 vs 3806 per 100,000; 1.04 [0.73-1.27]; squamous-cell carcinoma 1508 vs 1146 per 100,000; 1.35 [0.84-2.19]). In terms of the number of tumours, there was no effect on incidence of basal-cell carcinoma by sunscreen use or by betacarotene but the incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma was significantly lower in the sunscreen group than in the no daily sunscreen group (1115 vs 1832 per 100,000; 0.61 [0.46-0.81]).

INTERPRETATION

There was no harmful effect of daily use of sunscreen in this medium-term study. Cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, but not basal-cell carcinoma seems to be amenable to prevention through the routine use of sunscreen by adults for 4.5 years. There was no beneficial or harmful effect on the rates of either type of skin cancer, as a result of betacarotene supplementation.

A quantitative immunohistochemical study on the time-dependent course of acute inflammatory cellular response to human brain injury

The time-dependent inflammatory cell reaction in human cortical contusions has been investigated during the first 30 weeks after blunt head injury. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using CD 15 for granulocytes and LCA, CD 3 and UCHL-1 for mononuclear leucocytes. In order to provide reliable data for a forensic wound age estimation, the intensity of the cellular reaction was evaluated with a quantitative image analysis system. CD 15-labelled granulocytes were detectable earliest 10 min after brain injury, whereas significantly increased numbers of mononuclear leucocytes occurred in cortical contusions after a postinfliction interval of at least 1.1 days (LCA), 2 days (CD 3) or 3.7 days (UCHL-1), respectively.

[Sports injuries of the nervous system]

Almost 1% of all Germans suffer sports injuries each year, almost 5% of all peripheral nerve lesions are due to sports. A review is given on various activities detailing the specific risks for traumata of the central and peripheral nervous system. Specifically these are volleyball, handball, basketball, American football, soccer, bowling, hockey, baseball, tennis, golf, javelin, fencing, wrestling, judo, boxing, running, jumping, dancing, mountain climbing, weight lifting, gymnastics, horse-back riding, swimming, rowing, skiing, skating, shooting, (motor) biking, car racing, flying, and sports for the disabled. The knowledge of typical traumata should enable the neurologist to rapidly and reliably recognize related lesions and to contribute to their prevention or improvement.

Propofol-thiopentone admixture-hypnotic dose, pain on injection and effect on blood pressure

This study examined some pharmacodynamic characteristics of two admixtures of propofol and thiopentone. Ninety unpremedicated ASA 1 or 2 patients were group-randomized to receive, in a double-blinded manner, one of the following mixtures for induction of anaesthesia: Group P50: propofol 1% 10 ml/thiopentone 2.5% 10 ml; Group P75: propofol 1% 15 ml/thiopentone 2.5% 5 ml; Group P100: propofol 1% 20 ml/lignocaine 1% 4 ml. An additional 30 randomized but unblinded patients from the same patient cohort received thiopentone 2.5% to provide predictive dose data for groups P50 and P75. Haemodynamic data were collected pre- and post-induction. The required induction dose of both mixtures of propofol and thiopentone found an additive rather than a synergistic interaction with no significant difference between predicted and observed dose. Thiopentone resulted in significantly more rapid induction of anaesthesia than propofol/lignocaine or propofol/thiopentone. The addition of thiopentone to propofol was found to be as efficacious as the mixing of lignocaine with propofol in reducing pain on injection. The fall in systolic blood pressure was significantly less in group P50 compared with groups P75 or P100. Admixture of thiopentone with propofol results in an additive hypnotic effect, a reduction in pain of injection (comparable with addition of lignocaine) and a reduced hypotensive response compared to propofol injection alone during induction.

Rapid transbilayer movement of fluorescent phospholipid analogues in the plasma membrane of endocytosis-deficient yeast cells does not require the Drs2 protein

Evidence is presented that endocytosis-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae end4 yeast cells rapidly internalize the fluorescent phospholipid analogues 1-palmitoyl-2-{6-[7-nitro-2,1, 3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl(NBD)amino] caproyl}phosphatidylcholine (P-C6-NBD-PtdCho) and P-C6-NBD-phosphatidylserine (P-C6-NBD-PtdSer). Both analogues redistributed between the exoplasmic and cytoplasmic leaflet with a half-time of < 15 min at 0 degrees C. The plateau of internalized analogues was about 70%. Transbilayer movement is probably protein-mediated, as the flip-flop of both analogues was very slow in liposomes composed of plasma-membrane lipids. Rapid analogue internalization was not abolished on depletion of intracellular ATP by about 90%. For P-C6-NBD-PtdCho only was a moderate decrease in the plateau of internalized analogues of about 20% observed, while that of P-C6-NBD-PtdSer was not affected. The Drs2 protein plays only a minor role, if any, in the rapid transbilayer movement of analogues in S. cerevisiae end4 cells. In S. cerevisiae end4 Deltadrs2 cells harbouring both an end4 allele and a drs2 null allele, about 60% and 50% of P-C6-NBD-PtdCho and P-C6-NBD-PtdSer, respectively, became internalized within 15 min at 0 degrees C. The preferential orientation of P-C6-NBD-PtdSer to the cytoplasmic leaflet is in qualitative agreement with the sequestering of endogenous phosphatidylserine to the cytoplasmic leaflet, as assessed by binding of annexin V. Virtually no binding of annexin V to spheroplasts of the parent wild-type strain or the mutant strains was observed. Likewise, no difference in the exposure of endogenous aminophospholipids to the exoplasmic leaflet between these strains was found by labelling with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Thus, lipid asymmetry, at least of aminophospholipids, was preserved in S. cerevisiae end4 cells independently of the presence of the Drs2 protein.

High rates of appendicectomy in a developing country: an attempt to contribute to a more rational use of surgical resources

OBJECTIVE

In view of the high appendicectomy rate in a university teaching hospital in a developing country, we investigated the regional epidemiology of appendicitis.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical and pathological study.

SETTING

Teaching hospital, Madagascar.

SUBJECTS

165 patients who underwent appendicectomy during a two month period.

INTERVENTIONS

Clinical investigation and histopathological examination of removed appendixes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Appendicitis score, local incidence of appendicectomy, appendicitis, perforation, and negative appendicectomy.

RESULTS

There was a high incidence of primary appendicectomy (51.1/10,000 population/year) in relation to the incidence of histologically confirmed appendicitis (7.7/10,000), resulting in a negative appendicectomy rate of 85% (43/10,000). There were considerable sex related differences in the incidence of primary appendicectomy (81/10,000 women/year; 22/10,000 men), appendicectomy for appendicitis (12/10,000 women/year; 4/10,000 men) and non-perforating appendicitis (8/10,000 women/year; 2/10,000 men), but much less in that of perforating appendicitis (4/10,000 women/year; 2/10,000 men).

CONCLUSION

There is potential for more economic use of medical resources by reducing the rate of negative appendicectomy. The incidence of non-perforating appendicitis depends on the number of appendicectomies done, which may explain the differences observed in the incidence of appendicitis between industrialised and developing countries.

Molecular characterization and developmentally regulated expression of Xenopus lamina-associated polypeptide 2 (XLAP2)

Lamina-associated polypeptides 2 (LAP2alpha, beta, gamma)/thymopoietins (TPalpha, beta, gamma) are a family of proteins that are generated by alternative splicing from a single gene. These proteins have been primarily characterized in mammals. One member of this protein family, the integral membrane protein LAP2beta/TPbeta, has been localized to the inner nuclear membrane of somatic cells where it binds to chromatin and B-type lamins. By cDNA cloning we have characterized XLAP2, a Xenopus homologue of the mammalian LAP2beta. Using LAP2-specific antibodies, the Mr 68,000 XLAP2 was found to be the only member of the LAP2/TP family expressed in somatic cells and adult tissues. XLAP2 was not detected in oocytes, eggs and in early embryos up to the gastrula stage at the mRNA and protein level demonstrating that it is not synthesized from maternal mRNA. In counterpart oocytes, eggs, and embryos contained one LAP2-related integral membrane proteins of Mr 84,000. Northern blot analysis with the XLAP2 cDNA showed that a single hybridizing mRNA band of 1.8-2.0 kb was present in Xenopus somatic cells whereas two other hybridizing mRNA species of 2.8-3.0 and 0. 9–1.1 kb were present in oocytes, eggs and early embryos. All together, these results indicated that at least three distinct LAP2-related proteins might be expressed in Xenopus. The LAP2/TP protein of Mr 84,000 is present in the early embryos but its amount decreases during embryogenesis concomitant with the increase of XLAP2 in the embryo. Our results are the first description of the developmentally regulated expression of integral nuclear envelope proteins during early embryogenesis.

p53 autoantibodies in patients with urological tumours

OBJECTIVE

To determine the presence of p53 serum antibodies in patients with clinically well-defined urological cancer using a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 73 patients with prostatic cancer, 72 with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract, 37 with renal cell cancer and 16 controls with a benign disease, all of whom were tested using the ELISA for p53 autoantibodies. The specific reaction of the ELISA (positive p53 antibody titre) was confirmed by Western Blot analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients with cancer and one control patient (7.6% overall) were positive for p53 autoantibodies. The sensitivity of the test was low, whereas the specificity was remarkably high. Surprisingly, 9 of the 13 p53-positive patients died within a median of 3.7 months (range 2-6) and the one positive control patient died of undetected lung cancer. There was no significant correlation of p53 antibody positivity with clinical stage or tumour-specific differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of p53 autoantibody seems to be a very late but significant event in urological tumour development, with the worst outcome (tumour-specific death) within a few weeks of developing positivity. In histopathologically heterogeneous tumour entities, p53 autoantibodies might be independent prognostic factors in patients with urological cancers.

Conformational analysis of ketolide, conformations of RU 004 in solution and bound to bacterial ribosomes

A new structurally distinct class of 14-membered-ring macrolides is characterized by a keto-function instead of the cladinose sugar, well-known for its fragility even in weakly acidic media. This new class called ketolides is endowed with remarkable antibacterial activity against macrolide-resistant strains. A complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of RU 004 in deuteriochloroform, methanol-d4 and D2O has been made using different two-dimensional (2D) chemical-shift correlation methods. The study of ketolide-ribosome interaction has been investigated using 2D transferred nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (TRNOESY). A comparison of the conformations in solution and bound to ribosomes was made with those of previous macrolides. This study can highlight some of the significant differences between RU 004 and other antibiotics.

Comparison of hyper- and microgravity on rat muscle, organ weights and selected plasma constituents

BACKGROUND

Centrifugation has been proposed to be one possible countermeasure for the skeletal muscle, organ, hormonal, and plasma chemistry adaptations associated with chronic unloading (e.g., during spaceflight).

HYPOTHESIS

Our hypothesis was that there would be a continuum of physiological and morphological responses from zero gravity to hypergravity.

METHODS

Adult male rats were centrifuged continuously at 2G for 14 d and the weights of limb muscles and organs, and the levels of plasma constituents were compared with the same measurements from rats flown on a 14-d spaceflight (Cosmos 2044).

RESULTS

Mean body weights of centrifuge rats did not change, whereas age-matched controls grew 21%. There was a sparing of muscle protein in the centrifuge rats; the absolute weights of predominantly slow muscles in the hindlimb were maintained and the relative weights (expressed relative to body weight and as a percent difference from control) of almost all muscles studied were larger than control. In contrast, spaceflight resulted in a decrease in the relative weights of most extensor, but not flexor, hindlimb muscles studied. Relative organ weights, in general, were elevated in centrifuge rats compared with control rats. Relative organ weights in flight rats were similar to control, except for a decrease in testes weight. Plasma thyroxine and testosterone levels were significantly reduced following flight, whereas only thyroxine was decreased after centrifugation. Centrifugation resulted in a decrease in most other plasma chemistry measurements, whereas flight rats showed no change or an elevation in these measures.

DISCUSSION

These data indicate that the physiological responses to micro- and hypergravity are often in the opposite direction, suggesting that in general there is a continuum of physiological and morphological effects from microgravity to 1G to hypergravity. These data further suggest that the imposition of hypergravity conditions on animals that are in a microgravity environment may have a beneficial effect in maintaining some physiological systems at or near control levels.

Differential alteration of adenylyl cyclase subtypes I, II, and V/VI in postmortem human brains of heroin addicts

In animal and culture cell experiments, the upregulation of cAMP-related signal transduction after chronic opioid administration has been hypothesized to be an adaptive change of the molecular mechanism to maintain homeostasis in intracellular signals downstream from opioid receptors. Herein, we have examined the quantitative changes of three adenylyl cyclase (AC) subtypes (I, II, and V/VI) in temporal cortex membranes from brains of heroin addicts and age-matched controls by immunoblotting. The immunoreactivity of AC-I decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in heroin addicts, compared with controls; whereas those of AC-II and AC-V/VI were not changed. The present findings indicate that differential regulation of AC subtypes occurs and that AC-I may play an important role in the signal transduction for opiate-induced tolerance and dependence mechanisms in human brain cortex.

Hyperemesis gravidarum associated with Helicobacter pylori seropositivity

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with hyperemesis gravidarum.

METHODS

From January 1995 to November 1996 we enrolled 105 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum in a prospective study. The Helicobacter serum Immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentrations in these patients were compared with those in asymptomatic gravidas matched for week of gestation.

RESULTS

Positive serum IgG concentrations were found in 95 of the 105 hyperemesis patients (90.5%) compared with 60 of 129 controls (46.5%). A chi2 test showed statistical significance (P < .001). The mean (+/-standard deviation) index percentages of the IgG titers were 74.2+/-23.6% in the hyperemesis group and 24.3+/-4.4% in the control group (P < .01, Student t test).

CONCLUSION

Infection with H pylori may cause hyperemesis gravidarum.

Influence of the renal endothelin A system on the autoregulation of renal hemodynamics in SHRs and WKY rats

In this study, we investigated the influence of a short-term blockade of the renal endothelin A system on the autoregulation of total renal blood flow, cortical renal blood flow, and pressure-dependent plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive controls [Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats]. In anesthetized rats, renal blood flow was measured by a transit-time flow probe and cortical blood flow by a laser flow probe. Blood samples were taken for measurement of plasma renin activity. Renal perfusion pressure was reduced in 5-mm Hg steps by means of a servocontrolled electropneumatic device by an inflatable suprarenal cuff. During the experiments, the rats (n = 6, each group) received an intrarenal infusion of either the selective endothelin A-receptor antagonist BQ123 (3 mg/kg/h) or vehicle. We observed an improvement of total and cortical blood flow autoregulation as indicated by a shift of lower limits of autoregulation to lower threshold pressures [103 +/- 2 vs. 132 +/- 4 mm Hg compared with 98 +/- 3 vs. 120 +/- 4 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM); p < 0.01 resp. p < 0.05] in BQ123-treated SHRs, whereas BQ123 had no influence on breakpoints of autoregulation in WKY rats (p > 0.05). Pressure-dependent plasma renin activity in SHRs was not influenced by BQ123. Renal blood flow autoregulation is improved in SHRs after short-term blockade of the renal endothelin A system. This effect is independent of the renin-angiotensin system. The endothelin A system does not seem to play an important role in the autoregulation of renal blood flow in normotensive WKY rats.

Membrane thickness and PROM--high-frequency ultrasound measurements

Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) is still an unsolved problem in obstetrics. Neither prevention nor diagnosis nor therapy is readily available. The amniotic sac is stabilized mechanically by a dense network of collagenous fibres; in the event of PROM, the collagenous mesh is dissolved and the thickness of the amniotic sac is reduced. In a prospective study involving 32 patients, we measured the thickness of the membranes in vitro by high-frequency ultrasound and by light microscopy of histological sections, between gestational weeks 28 and 32. We compared 18 patients with premature rupture of the amnio-chorionic membrane with 14 patients following induction of labour, with intact membranes at the same gestational age in vitro. We were able to show that the membrane in the PROM group (0.54 +/- 0.9 mm) was markedly thinner with fewer collagenous fibres than in the control group (0.74 +/- 1.01 mm). The application of high-frequency ultrasound in vivo in PROM may become helpful for the prediction of PROM; further studies are therefore desirable.

Human transferrin receptor is active and plasma membrane-targeted in yeast

The human transferrin receptor, a type II plasma membrane protein which mediates iron transport in human cells, was expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The transferrin receptor synthesized by yeast cells was posttranslationally modified comparable to the native receptor with respect to glycosylation and dimer formation. The location of the expressed receptor in the yeast plasma membrane indicates that the targeting of this type II membrane protein shares similar mechanisms in yeast and mammalian cells. The yeast-expressed transferrin receptor showed binding activity towards its natural ligand, transferrin in an ELISA binding assay.

Overexpression of a cytosolic hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase leads to squalene accumulation in yeast

The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-co-enzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase is known as the rate limiting enzyme in early sterol biosynthesis in eukaryotic cells. To eliminate this regulation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a truncated HMG1 gene, producing a form of the enzyme that lacks the membrane-binding region (i.e. amino acids 1-552), was constructed and overexpressed in this yeast. The transformed strains accumulated large amounts of the sterol precursor squalene, while the levels of ergosterol and a number of other sterol compounds were only slightly elevated. These findings suggest that HMG-CoA reductase is not the only rate-limiting step in sterol synthesis and its overexpression cannot significantly influence this pathway beyond the sterol precursor squalene.

Successful treatment of a high-risk choriocarcinoma in Figo stage IV (WHO score 12)

In the present report, a case of high-risk choriocarcinoma (Figo stage IV, WHO score 12) with persisting vaginal and urethral bleedings is described. In addition to a course of multiagent chemotherapy, arterial embolization of both iliac vessels using Gianturco coils was carried out. This caused a dramatic improvement of the patient's general condition. A subsequently performed laparatomy with extirpation of the uterus and both adnexa finally led to remission.