[Fluorescence diagnosis in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: results of a metaanalysis]

PURPOSE

Heterogeneous results of single studies with photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) in bladder cancer have been reported. A metaanalysis of prospective studies has now been performed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The effect of PDD in addition to WLC on a) the diagnosis and b) the therapeutic outcome of primary or recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) investigated by cystoscopy or transurethral resection was analysed. An electronic database search was performed. Trials were included if they prospectively compared WLC with PDD in bladder cancer. Primary endpoints were additional detection rate, residual tumour at second resection and recurrence-free survival.

RESULTS

Significantly more tumour-positive patients were detected with PDD in all patients with non-muscle invasive tumours (= 20 %) [95 % confidence interval (CI): 8 to 35 %] and in CIS patients (= 39 %) (CI: 23 to 57 %). Residual tumour was significantly less often found after PDD (odds ratio 0.28, CI: 0.15 to 0.52, p < 0.0001). Recurrence-free survival was significantly higher at 12 and 24 months in the PDD groups than in WLC only groups.

CONCLUSIONS

More bladder tumour-positive patients are detected by PDD. Best results were found in CIS patients. Diagnosis with PDD results in a more complete resection and a longer recurrence-free survival.

Plasmodesmal targeting and intercellular movement of potato mop-top pomovirus is mediated by a membrane anchored tyrosine-based motif on the lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum and the C-terminal transmembrane domain in the TGB3 movement protein

Live-cell fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the third triple gene block protein (TGB3) of potato mop-top pomovirus and its role in assisted targeting of TGB2 to plasmodesmata (PD). Wild-type and mutant TGB3 proteins were expressed under the control of the 35S promoter or from a virus reporter clone. Assisted targeting of TGB2 to PD was optimal when the proteins were expressed from a bicistronic plasmid in the relative ratios expected in a virus infection, suggesting that excess TGB3 inhibited PD localisation. Contrary to the generally accepted view, bimolecular fluorescence complementation showed that the TGB3 N terminus is located in the cytosol. Mutational analysis to dissect TGB3 sub domain functions showed that PD targeting was mediated by a composite signal comprising an ER-lumenal tyrosine-based motif and the C-terminal transmembrane domain. Mutation of either of these domains also abolished cell-to-cell movement of the virus. The results are discussed in the context of TGB3 membrane topology.

An extensive comparison of quantitative trait Loci mapping methods

BACKGROUND

The choices of study design and statistical approach for mapping a quantitative trait (QT) are of great importance. Larger sibships and a study design based upon phenotypically extreme siblings can be expected to have a greater statistical power. On the other hand, selected samples and/or deviation from normality can influence the robustness and power. Unfortunately, the effects of violation of multivariate normality assumptions and/or selected samples are only known for a limited number of methods. Some recommendations are available in the literature, but an extensive comparison of robustness and power under several different conditions is lacking.

METHODS

We compared eight freely available and commonly applied QT mapping methods in a Monte-Carlo simulation study under 36 different models and study designs (three genetic models, three selection schemes, two family structures and the possible effect of deviation from normality).

RESULTS

Empirical type I error fractions and empirical power are presented and explained as a whole and for each method separately, followed by a thorough discussion.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this extensive comparison could serve as a valuable source for the choice of the study design and the statistical approach for mapping a QT.

Monoclonal antibodies against antigens expressed by human sperm

The production and characterization of 21 mouse monoclonal antibodies (TüS1-TüS21) with specificity predominantly for human spermatozoa antigens is described. Reactivity of cells from human ejaculates, peripheral blood and several organs was determined using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP)-technique as well as the indirect immunofluorescence test. 15 of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with various regions of human sperm and often also with their precursor cells in the testis. Cross-reactivity with animal spermatozoa was frequently observed.

Immunoelectron microscopy of human spermatozoa

A number of immunocytochemical methods using various markers for electron microscopy have been developed in recent years. The immunogold technique has been especially effective in histotopochemical studies. The value of this technique for demonstrating sperm antigens results from the high electron density of gold, which makes it easily detectable under the electron microscope. The high resolution of the electron microscope permits precise localization of immunologic reactions in the sperm cell. Light microscopy findings can thus be elucidated. We tested a number of monoclonal antibodies that react with sperm antigens. Of three techniques for preparing the spermatozoa, the pre-embedding method and marking of cryoultra-microtome sections proved best.

Infrared nanoscopy of strained semiconductors

Knowledge about strain at the nanometre scale is essential for tailoring the mechanical and electronic properties of materials. Flaws, cracks and their local strain fields can be detrimental to the structural integrity of many solids. Conversely, the controlled straining of silicon can be used to improve the performance of electronic devices. Here, we demonstrate that infrared near-field microscopy allows direct, non-invasive mapping and a semiquantitative analysis of residual strain fields in polar semiconductor crystals with nanometre-scale resolution. Our experiments with silicon carbide crystals yield optical images of nanoindents showing strain features as small as 50 nm and the evolution of nanocracks. In addition, by imaging nanoindents in doped silicon, we provide experimental evidence for plasmon-assisted near-field imaging of free-carrier properties in nanoscale strain fields. Near-field infrared strain mapping provides possibilities for nanoscale material and device characterization, and could become a tool for nanoscale mapping of the local free-carrier mobility in strain-engineered semiconductors.

Aberration-corrected microscopy for structural biology applications

This study explores the potential of a C(s)-corrected transmission electron microscope for structural studies of biological samples, in particular isolated macromolecular complexes. A 300-kV transmission electron microscope, equipped with a C(s) corrector was employed to record sets of images at different defocus and C(s) settings. The experiments were designed to determine whether imaging with large defocus benefits from C(s) correction. Defocus contrast in biological imaging has a stronger influence on image resolution than any other parameter. We find the results are in good agreement with theoretical framework, verifying that the typical imaging conditions required for biological investigations are not affected by C(s) correction.

Mating in parents of type 1 diabetes families as a function of the HLA DR-DQ haplotype

AIM

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6p21 (IDDM1) contributes about half of the familial clustering of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Several studies have revealed that highly polymorphic genes within the MHC may associate with the mating choice. Our study should determine whether a specific mating effect is detectable in T1D families as a function of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DR-DQ, which could contribute to disease susceptibility.

METHODS

We analysed the parental HLA-DR genotypes in 829 diabetic families. The families derive from the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC) in addition to those of our own centre and the original UK, US and SCAND diabetic families.

RESULTS

A total of 307 of 829 parental couples (37.0%) were matched for at least one known T1D risk haplotype (DR3 or DR4), which is significantly less than the expected 374.9 (45.2%), derived from population genotype frequencies (p < 0.0009). Parents share less susceptibility haplotypes and rather complement each other as both carry one different risk haplotype (DR3 or DR4). The number of such parental couples was significantly higher than expected (293 vs. 223.4; p < 0.0003). All non-transmitted DR haplotype pairs were also analysed. More often than expected, both parents did not transmit DR1 (94 vs. 59.1; p < 0.003) and DRy (y: not DR1, not DR3, not DR4; 63 vs. 30.3; p < 0.0005). In contrast, the parental non-transmitted pair of haplotypes DR1-DRy was observed to a far lesser extent than expected (26 vs. 84.7; p < 10(-8)). These observations were only made in multiplex families, whereas in simplex families, no deviation from the expected frequencies was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data are consistent with the conclusion that genes in the HLA region may influence the mating choice in parents of T1D patients, thus contributing to familial clustering of T1D in multiplex families. This may indicate a different parental background of multiplex compared with simplex T1D families.