Molecular evolution and intragenic recombination of the merozoite surface protein MSP-3alpha from the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax in Thailand

The merozoite surface antigens of malaria parasites are prime anti-morbidity/mortality vaccine candidates. However, their highly polymorphic nature requires extensive surveys of parasite populations to validate vaccine designs. Previous studies have found 3 molecular types (A, B and C) of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 3a (PvMSP-3alpha) among parasite field populations. Here we analysed complete PvMSP-3alpha sequences from 17 clinical P. vivax isolates from Thailand and found that the nucleotide diversity was as high as that from samples widely separated by time and space. The polymorphic sites were not randomly distributed but concentrated in the N-terminal Ala-rich domain (block 2A), which is partially deleted in type B and C sequences. The size variations among type A sequences were due to small indels occurring in block 2A, whereas type B and C sequences were uniform in length with each type having a different large deletion. Analysis of synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions suggested that different selection forces were operating on different regions of the molecule. The numerous recombination sites detected within the Ala-rich domain suggested that intragenic recombination was at least partially responsible for the observed genetic diversity of the PvMSP-3alpha gene. Phylogenetic analysis failed to link any alleles to a specific geographical origin, even when different domains of PvMSP-3alpha were used for analysis. The highly polymorphic nature and lack of geographical clustering of isolates suggest that more systematic investigations of the PvMSP-3alpha gene are needed to explore its evolution and vaccine potential.

RAMP based fingerprinting and assessment of relationships among Australian narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) cultivars

Narrow-leafed lupin is a major winter grain legume crop in the Australian farming system and a number of commercial cultivars are currently available to growers. A significant level of polymorphism was detected in narrow-leafed lupin cultivars by the randomly amplified microsatellite polymorphism (RAMP) approach, suggesting that cultivars harbour considerable DNA variation. Seventy-seven cultivar-specific markers were found among the 23 lupin cultivars examined and a dichotomous fingerprinting key was developed for the molecular identification of lupin cultivars. Cluster analysis of pairwise distance matrix computed from RAMP profiles grouped the 23 cultivars into 4–5 clusters, which generally agreed with their pedigree relationships.

Geographical patterns of genetic variation in the world collections of wild annual Cicer characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphisms

Cicer reticulatum, C. echinospermum, C. bijugum, C. judaicum, C. pinnatifidum, C. cuneatum and C. yamashitae are wild annual Cicer species and potential donors of valuable traits to improve chickpea (C. arietinum). As part of a large project to characterize and evaluate wild annual Cicer collections held in the world gene banks, AFLP markers were used to study genetic variation in these species. The main aim of this study was to characterize geographical patterns of genetic variation in wild annual Cicer germplasm. Phylogenetic analysis of 146 wild annual Cicer accessions (including two accessions in the perennial C. anatolicum and six cultivars of chickpea) revealed four distinct groups corresponding well to primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools of chickpea. Some possible misidentified or mislabelled accessions were identified, and ILWC 242 is proposed as a hybrid between C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum. The extent of genetic diversity varied considerably and was unbalanced between species with greatest genetic diversity found in C. judaicum. For the first time geographic patterns of genetic variation in C. reticulatum, C. echinospermum, C. bijugum, C. judaicum and C. pinnatifidum were established using AFLP markers. Based on the current collections the maximum genetic diversity of C. reticulatum, C. echinospermum, C. bijugum and C. pinnatifidum was found in southeastern Turkey, while Palestine was the centre of maximum genetic variation for C. judaicum. This information provides a solid basis for the design of future collections and in situ conservation programs for wild annual Cicer.

Chloroplast DNA inheritance and variation in Leucadendron species (Proteaceae) as revealed by PCR-RFLP

The inheritance of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) in Leucadendron species was studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. A total of 100 progeny from five interspecific crosses involving seven parental species were tested, and all progeny exhibited the cpDNA restriction fragment pattern of the female parent, indicating that cpDNA in Leucadendron is maternally inherited. PCR-RFLP was also employed to study cpDNA variation among 21 Leucadendron species. Parsimony analysis using a heuristic search resulted in a phylogenetic tree that showed limited agreement to the taxonomic classification of Leucadendron species, based on morphological characteristics. The incongruence between cpDNA phylogenetic and taxonomic groupings in Leucadendron may be due to reticulate evolution involving a combination of hybridization and introgression, convergent evolution and/or lineage sorting at the interspecific, intersubsectional and intersectional levels.

Habitat characteristics of Anopheles gambiae s.s. larvae in a Kenyan highland

Anopheline larval habitats associated with a swamp, were examined in a highland area (1910 m elevation) of western Kenya. A significant association was found between occurrence of Anopheles gambiae Giles s.s. (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae and two factors, habitat size and vegetation type. Over 80% of An. gambiae s.s. larvae were found in small isolated pools, characterized by short plants, occurring in both swamp margins and roadside ditches. However, Anopheles gambiae s.s. was not found in habitats marked by papyrus and floating plants. The larval habitat of An. gambiae s.s. was characterized by warmer daytime temperatures of water, which were significantly affected by habitat size and plant size. The density of indoor resting An. gambiae s.s. was 0.22 per house and negatively associated with distance from the swamp. These results indicate that the practice of swamp cultivation, in populated areas of the African highlands, increases availability and enhances habitat conditions for the malaria vector.

Population genetic structure of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes in Ethiopia and Eritrea

This study examined the population genetic structure of the major malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopia and Eritrea have great geographical diversity, with high mountains, rugged plateaus, deep gorges, and rolling plains. The plateau is bisected diagonally by the Great Rift Valley into the Northwestern Highlands and the Southeastern Highlands. Five A. arabiensis populations from the Northwestern Highlands region and two populations from high-altitude sites in the Great Rift Valley were genotyped using six microsatellite markers to estimate the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of A. arabiensis. We found that A. arabiensis populations from the Northwestern Highlands and the Great Rift Valley region showed a similar level of genetic diversity. The genetic differentiation (F(ST)) of the five mosquito populations within the Northwestern Highlands region was 0.038 (P <.001), while the two populations within the Great Rift Valley showed little genetic differentiation (F(ST) = 0.007, P <.01). The degree of genetic differentiation between the Northwestern Highlands region and the Great Rift Valley region was small but statistically significant (F(ST) = 0.017, P <.001). The population genetic structure of A. arabiensis in the study area did not follow the isolation-by-distance model (r(2) = 0.014, P >.05). The low F(ST) estimates for A. arabiensis populations in Ethiopia and Eritrea are consistent with the general population genetic structure of this species in East Africa based on other molecular markers.

AFLP-based genetic linkage map for the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)

The red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) is a major pest of stored grain and grain products and a popular model species for a variety of ecological, evolutionary, and developmental biology studies. Development of a linkage map based on reproducible and highly polymorphic molecular markers would greatly facilitate research in these disciplines. We have developed a genetic linkage map using 269 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Ten previously known random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used as anchor markers for linkage group assignment. The linkage map was constructed through genotyping two independent F(2) segregating populations with 48 AFLP primer combinations. Each primer combination generated an average of 4.6 AFLP markers eligible for linkage mapping. The length of the integrated map is 573 cM, giving an average marker resolution of 2.0 cM and an average physical distance per genetic distance of 350 kb/cM. A cluster of loci on linkage group 3 exhibited significant segregation distortion. We have also identified six X-linked and two Y-linked markers. Five mapped AFLP fragments were sequenced and converted to sequence-tagged site (STS) markers.

A microsatellite map of the African human malaria vector Anopheles funestus

Microsatellite markers and chromosomal inversion polymorphisms are useful genetic markers for determining population structure in Anopheline mosquitoes. In Anopheles funestus (2N = 6), only chromosome arms 2R, 3R, and 3L are known to carry polymorphic inversions. The physical location of microsatellite markers with respect to polymorphic inversions is potentially important information for interpreting population genetic structure, yet none of the available marker sets have been physically mapped in this species. Accordingly, we mapped 32 polymorphic A. funestus microsatellite markers to the polytene chromosomes using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and identified 16 markers outside of known polymorphic inversions. Here we provide an integrated polytene chromosome map for A. funestus that includes the breakpoints of all known polymorphic inversions as well as the physical locations of microsatellite loci developed to date. Based on this map, we suggest a standard set of 16 polymorphic microsatellite markers that are distributed evenly across the chromosome complement, occur predominantly outside of inversions, and amplify reliably. Adoption of this set by researchers working in different regions of Africa will facilitate metapopulation analyses of this primary malaria vector.

Infectivity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in patients attending rural health centres in western Kenya

BACKGROUND

Experimentally studying the transmission of the malaria parasite and its regulating factors requires availability of human blood donors carrying infectious gametocytes. The difficulty of identifying gametocyte carriers from the community is often limited due to financial and human resources constraints. The available alternative is rural health centres where malaria patients go for treatment. In this study, the potential of recruiting volunteers and acquiring infectious blood for experimental infections from rural health centers in malaria endemic area was examined through routine patient diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the patients presenting at rural health centers for the potential to carry sexual stage malaria parasite and test their infectivity to Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.

SETTING

Mbita Health Centre, Mbita Town Ship, Suba District, western Kenya.

METHODOLOGY

Routine survey of all patients attending Mbita Health Centre with suspected malaria. Patients were examined for Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites and gametocytes. Gametocyte-positive volunteers were recruited for their potential to infect Anopheles mosquitoes via membrane feeding.

RESULTS

Three thousand nine hundred and eighty seven patients were screened between May 2000 and April 2001. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant parasite species and P. malariae being the only minor species, accounting for 0.9% of malaria cases. Clinical malaria varied with age and prevailed throughout the year with a slight seasonality. Gametocyte prevalence was low (0.9-6.6%), and gametocyte densities were generally very low with a geometric mean of 39 gametocytes per microl blood. Children aged > 5 years constituted 67% of all gametocyte carriers. Only 22 volunteers with mean gametocytes density of 39.62 per microl blood (range: 16-112) were recruited for study of parasite infectiousness to laboratory-reared mosquitoes. Only two patients infected 1% of 1099 mosquitoes with one or two oocysts.

CONCLUSION

The low gametocyte densities or other possible host and vector related factors regulating infectivity of gametocyte carriers to mosquitoes may have caused the poor infections of mosquitoes. This study indicates that rural health centers in malaria-endemic areas may not be suitable for recruiting infectious gametocyte donors for studies of vector competence. They are suitable for passive clinical case surveillance and for evaluation of the effects of control measures.

Plasmodium falciparummalaria disease manifestations in humans and transmission toAnopheles gambiae: a field study in Western Kenya

Transmission of the malaria parasitePlasmodiumis influenced by many different host, vector and parasite factors. Here we conducted a field study at Mbita, an area of endemic malaria in Western Kenya, to test whether parasite transmission to mosquitoes is influenced by the severity of malaria infection in its human host at the time when gametocytes, the transmission forms, are present in the peripheral blood. We examined the infectivity of 81Plasmodium falciparumgametocyte carriers to mosquitoes. Of these, 21 were patients with fever and other malaria-related symptoms, and 60 were recruited among apparently healthy volunteers. Laboratory-rearedAnopheles gambiaes.s. (local strain) were experimentally infected with blood from these gametocyte carriers by membrane-feeding. The severity of the clinical symptoms was greater in febrile patients. These symptomatic patients had higher asexual parasitaemia and lower gametocyte densities (P=0·05) than healthy volunteers. Ookinete development occurred in only 6 out of the 21 symptomatic patients, of which only 33·3% successfully yielded oocysts. The oocyst prevalence was only 0·6% in the 546 mosquitoes that were fed on blood from this symptomatic group, with mean oocyst intensity of 0·2 (range 0–2) oocysts per mosquito. In contrast, a higher proportion (76·7%) of healthy gametocyte carriers yielded ookinetes, generating an oocyst rate of 12% in the 1332 mosquitoes that fed on them (mean intensity of 6·3, range: 1–105 oocysts per mosquito). Statistical analysis indicated that the increased infectivity of asymptomatic gametocyte carriers was not simply due to their greater gametocyte abundance, but also to the higher level of infectivity of their gametocytes, possibly due to lower parasite mortality within mosquitoes fed on blood from healthy hosts. These results suggest that blood factors and/or conditions correlated with illness reduceP. falciparumgametocyte infectivity.

Development of DNA fingerprinting keys for the identification of radish cultivars

Identification of cultivars is extremely important both for cultivation and breeding of crop plants. Cultivar identification based on morphological characteristics can be difficult and complicated. Polymerase chain reaction technologies, such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, can readily and quickly identify cultivars using seeds and young leaves. Sixty individuals representing 7 radish cultivars were examined for RAPD marker polymorphism. Based on the polymorphism generated, 5 primers were selected, out of the 14��examined, to fingerprint the cultivars. The 5 primers produced a total of 52 fragments, 6 monomorphic and 46�polymorphic fragments, ranging in size from 206 to 2258 base pairs. A total and mean character difference matrix was calculated based on the RAPD data and a dendrogram was constructed using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA). Three DNA fingerprinting keys were developed for the 7 cultivars and 5 markers derived from 3 primers was the minimum required to distinguish cultivars. Results demonstrated that RAPD markers could be effectively used for the identification of radish cultivars.

Behavioural determinants of gene flow in malaria vector populations: Anopheles gambiae males select large females as mates

BACKGROUND

Plasmodium-refractory mosquitoes are being rapidly developed for malaria control but will only succeed if they can successfully compete for mates when released into the wild. Pre-copulatory behavioural traits maintain genetic population structure in wild mosquito populations and mating barriers have foiled previous attempts to control malaria vectors through sterile male release.

METHODS

Varying numbers of virgin male and female Anopheles gambiae Giles, from two strains of different innate sizes, were allowed to mate under standardized conditions in laboratory cages, following which, the insemination status, oviposition success and egg batch size of each female was assessed. The influence of male and female numbers, strain combination and female size were determined using logistic regression, correlation analysis and a simple mechanistic model of male competition for females.

RESULTS

Male An. gambiae select females on the basis of size because of much greater fecundity among large females. Even under conditions where large numbers of males must compete for a smaller number of females, the largest females are more likely to become inseminated, to successfully oviposit and to produce large egg batches.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual selection, on the basis of size, could either promote or limit the spread of malaria-refractory genes into wild populations and needs to be considered in the continued development and eventual release of transgenic vectors. Fundamental studies of behavioural ecology in malaria vectors such as An. gambiae can have important implications for malaria control and should be prioritised for more extensive investigation in the future.

Generation of three selenium-containing catalytic antibodies with high catalytic efficiency using a novel hapten design method

A novel strategy for design of haptens that were used to produce catalytic antibodies was developed and three monoclonal antibodies, 3G5, 2F3, and 5C9, were generated using this strategy. These monoclonal antibodies were converted into selenium-containing abzymes by chemically modifying the hydroxyl group of serines followed by sodium hydrogen selenide displacement. These selenium-containing abzymes exhibited remarkable glutathione peroxidase activity, which surpasses the activity of some native glutathione peroxidases. The activities of the selenium-containing abzymes Se-3G5, Se-2F3, and Se-5C9 which catalyzed reduction of hydroperoxides by glutathione were 2.23, 4.20, and 3.79 times that of rabbit liver glutathione peroxidase, respectively. Detailed steady-state kinetics study on Se-2F3 was carried out and the value of k(cat)/K(m) (H(2)O(2)) was found to be 2.11 x 10(7) M(-1) min(-1) which was supposed to be one of the highest among the known catalytic antibodies. The data of association constants and glutathione peroxidase activities of these catalytic antibodies and the steady-state kinetics of Se-2F3 showed that the method might be a remarkably efficient one for generating catalytic antibodies with glutathione peroxidase activity.

Cloning and expression of a single-chain catalytic antibody that acts as a glutathione peroxidase mimic with high catalytic efficiency

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) has a powerful role in scavenging reactive oxygen species. In previous papers we have developed a new strategy for generating abzymes: the monoclonal antibody with a substrate-binding site is first prepared, then a catalytic group is incorporated into the monoclonal antibody's binding site by using chemical mutation [Luo, Zhu, Ding, Gao, Sun, Liu, Yang and Shen (1994) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 198, 1240-1247; Ding, Liu, Zhu, Luo, Zhao and Ni (1998) Biochem. J. 332, 251-255]. Since then we have established a series of catalytic antibodies capable of catalysing the decomposition of hydroperoxides by GSH. The monoclonal antibody 2F3 was raised against GSH-S-2,4-dinitrophenyl t-butyl ester and exhibited high catalytic efficiency, exceeding that of rabbit liver GPX, after chemical mutation. To produce pharmaceutical proteins and to study the reason why it exhibits high catalytic efficiency, we sequenced, cloned and expressed the variable regions of 2F3 antibody as a single-chain Fv fragment (2F3-scFv) in different bacterial strains. The amounts of 2F3-scFv proteins expressed from JM109 (DE3), BL21 (DE3), and BL21 (coden plus) were 5-10%, 15-20% and 25-30% of total bacterial proteins respectively. The 2F3-scFv was expressed as inclusion bodies, purified in the presence of 8 M urea by Co(2+)-immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC) and renatured to the active form in vitro by gel filtration. The binding constants of the active 2F3-scFv for GSH and GSSG were 2.46 x 10(5) M(-1) and 1.03 x 10(5) M(-1) respectively, which were less by one order of magnitude than that of the intact 2F3 antibody. The active 2F3-scFv was converted into selenium-containing 2F3-scFv (Se-2F3-scFv) by chemical modification of the reactive serine; the GPX activity of the Se-2F3-scFv was 3394 units/micromol, which approaches the activity of rabbit liver GPX.

Comorbidity assessment using the Index of Coexistent Diseases in a multicenter clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study is a multicenter trial designed to determine whether hemodialysis dose and membrane flux affect survival. Comorbid conditions are also important determinants of survival, and thus, an accurate and reliable method to assess comorbidity was required. Comorbidity was being assessed at baseline and annually in the HEMO Study using the Index of Coexistent Disease (ICED). We describe the instrument, its implementation in the HEMO Study, and the results of comorbidity assessment in the first 1000 randomized patients in the trial.

METHODS

The ICED aggregated the presence and severity of 19 medical conditions and 11 physical impairments within two scales: the Index of Disease Severity (IDS) and the Index of Physical Impairment (IPI). The final ICED score was determined by an algorithm combining the peak scores for the IDS and IPI. The range of the ICED was from 0 to 3, reflecting increasing severity.

RESULTS

Study personnel at 15 clinical centers were trained to update and abstract data from the dialysis medical records. Availability of data, measures of construct validity, and measures of reliability were adequate; 99.8% and 60.6% of patients had comorbid conditions in at least one IDS or IPI category, respectively. The distribution of patients by ICED level was 0 (0.2%), 1 (34.9%), 2 (31.2%), and 3 (33.7%). In multivariable analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with more severe comorbidity: older age, diabetes and other causes of renal disease, a lower level of education, employment status (unemployed and retired), longer duration of dialysis, and lower serum creatinine. There was a significant variation in the severity of comorbidity among clinical centers after adjustment for other factors. The R2 of the model was 25.3%, indicating that a substantial proportion of the variation in the ICED was not explained by these factors.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that comorbidity assessment using the ICED is feasible in multicenter clinical trials of dialysis patients. There is a large burden of comorbidity in dialysis patients, which is not well explained by the cause of renal disease, demographic, and socioeconomic factors and common clinical and laboratory measurements. These variables should not be considered substitutes for comorbid conditions in case-mix adjustment. Comorbidity assessment is useful to describe the sample population, to improve the precision of the treatment effect, and to use possibly as an outcome measurement.

Linear and spatial organization of polytene chromosomes of the African malaria mosquito Anopheles funestus

Anopheles funestus Giles is one of the major malaria vectors in Africa, but little is known about its genetics. Lack of a cytogenetic map characterized by regions has hindered the progress of genetic research with this important species. This study developed a cytogenetic map of An. funestus using ovarian nurse cell polytene chromosomes. We demonstrate an important application with the cytogenetic map for characterizing various chromosomal inversions for specimens collected from coastal Kenya. The linear and spatial organization of An. funestus polytene chromosomes was compared with the best-studied malaria mosquito, An. gambiae Giles. Comparisons of chromosome morphology between the two species have revealed that the most extensive chromosomal rearrangement occurs in pericentromeric heterochromatin of autosomes. Differences in pericentromeric heterochromatin types correlate with nuclear organization differences between An. funestus and An. gambiae. Attachments of chromosomes to the nuclear envelope strongly depend on the presence of diffusive beta-heterochromatin. Thus, An. funestus and An. gambiae exhibit species-specific characteristics in chromosome-linear and -spatial organizations.

Kinetics study of a selenium-containing ScFv catalytic antibody that mimics glutathione peroxidase

The steady-state kinetics study and some enzymatic characterization of a selenium-containing scFv catalytic antibody (Se-scFv2F3) were carried out. A novel reaction formula of this abzyme-catalyzed reaction was proposed and a rate equation was obtained according to the formula. The constants in the equation were compared with Dalziel's parameters and the exact meanings of these constants were analyzed. The obtained kinetics parameters from the kinetics study of Se-scFv2F3 were analyzed and compared with those of native glutathione peroxidase.

Kinetics study of a selenium-containing ScFv catalytic antibody that mimics glutathione peroxidase

The steady state kinetic study and some enzymic characterization of a selenium-containing scFv catalytic antibody (Se-scFv2F3) was carried out. A novel reaction formula of this abzyme-catalyzed reaction was proposed and a rate equation was gotten according to the formula. The constants in the equation were compared with Dalziel's parameters and the exact meanings of these constants were analyzed. The gotten kinetics parameters from the kinetics study of Se-scFv2F3 were analyzed and compared with that of native glutathione peroxidase.

Plasmodium gallinaceum: ookinete formation and proteolytic enzyme dynamics in highly refractory Aedes aegypti populations

Despite significant progress in the identification of the genetic basis of the refractory phenotype, little is known about the physiological mechanism of refractoriness. This study therefore examined the physiological basis of mosquito refractoriness in the Aedes aegypti/P. gallinaceum system, in which a selected refractory strain does not permit Plasmodium oocyst formation. We examined the kinetics of two major proteolytic enzymes involved in blood meal digestion and the dynamics of ookinete formation for two refractory populations (strains Moyo-R and Formosus) and one susceptible population (strain Red). Healthy ookinetes were observed in both the susceptible and the refractory populations, although the susceptible population generally exhibited higher enzymatic activity for trypsin and aminopeptidase than the refractory populations. Parasite numbers in the susceptible Red population showed a 4- to 7-fold decrease in abundance during the transition from the ookinete stage to the oocyst stage, far less than the refractory populations (30- to 92-fold reduction). Due to its smaller body size, Moyo-R individuals generally ingest a smaller blood meal and thus intake fewer gametocytes than Red individuals. Thus, the possibility that refractoriness in the Moyo-R population results from fewer gametocytes being ingested is examined. We found that the Red population remained highly susceptible and the Moyo-R population stayed refractory when those individuals with similar blood meal size were compared. We conclude that failure of oocyst development in the refractory mosquitoes is not due to ookinete damage by proteolytic enzymes or to fewer gametocytes being ingested, but rather is due to a midgut barrier or to some other mechanism.

Risk factors for hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients: baseline data from the HEMO study

A cross-sectional analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with hypertension in 1,238 chronic hemodialysis patients upon enrollment into the HEMO Study. The mean pre- and post-dialysis systolic blood pressure were 152.4 +/- 25.0 (mean +/- SD) and 137.8 +/- 24.6 mm Hg, respectively. The mean pre- and post-dialysis diastolic blood pressures were 82.1 +/- 14.8 and 74.7 +/- 13.8 mm Hg, respectively. Less than 30% of the study cohort had blood pressures that were normotensive by JNC VI guidelines. Risk factors associated with higher pre- and post-dialysis systolic blood pressures included the presence of diabetes mellitus, older age, increased number of prescribed antihypertensive medications, lower hematocrit, and absence of arrhythmias. Variables associated with higher pre- and post-dialysis diastolic blood pressures included younger age, increased number of prescribed anti-hypertensive medications and absence of arrhythmias. There was also a nonlinear relationship between blood pressure and prescribed total ultrafiltration volume. A total ultrafiltration volume of >2.5 kg was associated with an elevation in pre-dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressures. A total ultrafiltration volume of < or =2.5 kg was associated with an elevation in post-dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressures. These data on ultrafiltration volume suggest that higher pre-dialysis blood pressures may be associated with excessive interdialytic weight gains due to patient noncompliance with fluid restriction and that higher post-dialysis blood pressures may be associated with a prescribed dry weight that is higher than the patient's true dry weight. Better management of these parameters may improve the prevalence and severity of hypertension in this population.

Heavy metal removal in a biosorption column by immobilized M. rouxii biomass

Mucor rouxii biomass was immobilized in a polysulfone matrix. The spherical immobilized biomass beads were packed in a column. The biosorption column was able to remove metal ions such as Pb, Cd, Ni and Zn not only from single-component metal solutions but also from multi-component metal solutions. Column kinetics for metal removal were described by the Thomas model. For single-component metal solutions, the metal removal capacities of the beads for Pb, Cd, Ni and Zn were 4.06, 3.76, 0.36 and 1.36 mg/g, respectively. For a multi-component metal solution containing Cd, Ni and Zn, the capacities were 0.36, 0.31 and 0.40 mg/g for Cd, Ni and Zn, respectively. The adsorbed metal ions were easily desorbed from the beads with 0.05N HNO3 solution. After acid desorption and regeneration with deionized water, the beads could be reused to adsorb metal ions at a comparable capacity.

Anopheline mosquito survival strategies during the dry period in western Kenya

The dry season survival mechanism of Anopheles gambiae Giles is one of the most vexing deficiencies in our understanding of the biology of the major malaria vectors. In this study, we examined the dynamics of anopheline adult mosquitoes, their larval habitats, and egg survival potential during the dry season in the basin region of Lake Victoria, western Kenya. Through field surveys, we demonstrated two survival strategies of An. gambiae sensu stricto during the dry season: continuous reproduction throughout the year and embryo dormancy in moist soil for at least several days. We further demonstrated that An. gambiae shows a strong preference for moist soil as an oviposition substrate rather than dry soil substrate under the insectary conditions. The observation that anopheline eggs remain a dormant stage to resist desiccation clearly contrasts the conventional wisdom that anopheline eggs hatch shortly after they are laid. Our results from western Kenya are consistent with the suggestion that anopheline mosquitoes do not necessarily suffer a severe population bottleneck during the dry season and thus maintain a large effective population size.

A Novel Glutathione Peroxidase Mimic with Antioxidant Activity

Many diseases are associated with the overproduction of hydroperoxides that inflict cell damage. A novel cyclodextrin derivative, 6A,6B-diseleninic acid-6A',6B'-selenium bridged beta-cyclodextrin (6-diSeCD), was synthesized to be a functional mimic of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) that normally removes these hydroperoxides. The mimic had high catalytic GPX activity of 13.5 U/micromol, which is 13.6-fold higher than ebselen (PZ51), and was chemically and biologically stable in vitro. Antioxidant activity was studied by ferrous sulfate/ascorbate-induced mitochondria damage model system. These data show that the mimic has great antioxidant activity. Such mimics may result in better clinical therapies for diseases mediated by hydroperoxides.

Analysis of expression of the binary toxin genes from Bacillus sphaericus in Anabaena and the potential in mosquito control

Anabaena strains expressing the binary toxin genes of Bacillus sphaericus produce high larvicidal activity with living cells. Western blot analysis showed that the 51-kDa and 42-kDa toxin proteins were stable in Anabaena. When a DNA fragment upstream of the 51-kDa protein gene was deleted, the toxicity was reduced by over a hundred-fold, whereas deletions at the coding regions showed that the cooperation of the two proteins expressed in Anabaena is essential for the larvicidal activity. Outdoor tests showed that the genetically altered Anabaena could keep containers with natural water from being inhabited by Culex larvae for over 2 months.

GFP-tagged expression and immunohistochemical studies to determine the subcellular localization of the tubby gene family members

The tubby gene family consists of four members, TUB, TULP1, TULP2 and TULP3, with unknown function. However, a splice junction mutation within the mouse tub gene leads to retinal and cochlear degeneration, as well as maturity onset obesity and insulin resistance. Mutations within human TULP1 have also been shown to co-segregate in several cases of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and TULP1 deficiency in mice leads to retinal degeneration. The primary amino acid sequences of the tubby family members do not predict a likely biochemical function. As a first step in defining their function, we present a detailed characterization of the cellular and subcellular localization of the human (TUB) and mouse (tub) homologous gene products. We report the isolation of TUB splice variants which have different subcellular localizations (nuclear versus cytoplasmic) and which define a nuclear localization signal. In addition, using green fluorescent protein (GFP) tags, we observe a nuclear localization for TULP1, similar to TUB splicing forms TUB 561 and TUB 506. Finally, we report tubby expression in mouse brain by in situ hybridization and by immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies. Protein was found in both the hypothalamic satiety centers and in a variety of other CNS structures including the cortex, cerebellum, olfactory bulb and hippocampus. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic signals were detected with a series of independently generated polyclonal antibodies, consistent with the presence of multiple alternatively spliced isoforms within the CNS.

Density functional theory studies on tautomeric stability and infrared spectra of 2-chloroadenine

The tautomeric stability and vibrational IR spectrum of 2-chloroadenine were studied using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G* level. The amino N(9)H tautomer of 2-chloroadenine was predicted to be most stable. A scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field approach was used to calculate the vibrational frequencies of amino N(9)H form of 2-chloroadenine. The force constant scale factors were transferred from those of purine. The mean deviation between the predicted vibrational frequencies and the observed ones is 8.0 cm(-1). The results made it possible to give complete assignments of the IR spectrum of this molecule.

A novel selenocystine-beta-cyclodextrin conjugate that acts as a glutathione peroxidase mimic

A novel artificial glutathione peroxidase mimic consisting of a selenocystine-di-beta-cyclodextrin conjugate (selenium-bridged-6, 6'-amino-selenocystine-6,6'-deoxy-di-beta-cyclodextrin), in which selenocystine is bound to the primary side of beta-cyclodextrin through the two amino nitrogen groups of selenocystine, was synthesized. The glutathione peroxidase activities of the mimic-catalyzed reduction of H(2)O(2), tert-butylhydroperoxide, and cumene hydroperoxide by glutathione are 4.1, 2.11, and 5.82 units/micromol, respectively. The first activity was 82 and 4.2 times as much as that of selenocysteine and ebselen, respectively. Studies on the effect of substrate binding on the glutathione peroxidase activity suggest that it is important to consider substrate binding in designing glutathione peroxidase mimics. The detailed steady-state kinetic studies showed that the mimic-catalyzed reduction of H(2)O(2) by glutathione followed a ping-pong mechanism, which was similar to that of the native glutathione peroxidase.

Mutational analyses of dinucleotide and tetranucleotide microsatellites in Escherichia coli: influence of sequence on expansion mutagenesis

Mutagenesis at [GT/CA](10), [TC/AG](11) and [TTCC/AAGG](9) microsatellite sequences inserted in the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene was analyzed in isogenic mutL(+) and mutL(-) Escherichia coli. In both strains, significantly more expansion than deletion mutations were observed at the [TTCC/AAGG](9) motif relative to either dinucleotide motif. As the HSV-tk coding sequence contains an endogenous [G/C](7) mononucleotide repeat and approximately 1000 bp of unique sequence, we were able to compare mutagenesis among various sequence motifs. We observed that the relative risk of mutation in E.COLI: is: [TTCC/AAGG](9) > [GT/CA](10) approximately [TC/AG](11) > unique approximately [G/C](7). The mutation frequency varied 1400-fold in mutL(+) cells between the tetranucleotide motif and the mononucleotide motif, but only 50-fold in mutL(-) cells. The [G/C](7) sequence was destabilized the greatest and the tetranucleotide motif the least by loss of mismatch repair. These results demonstrate that the quantitative risk of mutation at various microsatellites greatly depends on the DNA sequence composition. We suggest alternative models for the production of expansion mutations during lagging strand replication of the [TTCC/AAGG](9) microsatellite.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risks in chronic hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of death among chronic hemodialysis patients, yet the risk factors for these events have not been well established.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between several traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors and the presence or history of cardiovascular events in 936 hemodialysis patients enrolled in the baseline phase of the Hemodialysis Study sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The adjusted odds ratios for each of the selected risk factors were estimated using a multivariable logistic regression model, controlling for the remaining risk factors, clinical center, and years on dialysis.

RESULTS

Forty percent of the patients had coronary heart disease. Nineteen percent had cerebrovascular disease, and 23% had peripheral vascular disease. As expected, diabetes and smoking were strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases. Increasing age was also an important contributor, especially in the group less than 55 years and in nondiabetic patients. Black race was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases than non-blacks. Interestingly, neither serum total cholesterol nor predialysis systolic blood pressure was associated with coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral vascular disease. Further estimation of the coronary risks in our cohort using the Framingham coronary point score suggests that traditional risk factors are inadequate predictors of coronary heart disease in hemodialysis patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Some of the traditional coronary risk factors in the general population appear to be also applicable to the hemodialysis population, while other factors did not correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in this cross-sectional study. Nontraditional risk factors, including the uremic milieu and perhaps the hemodialysis procedure itself, are likely to be contributory. Further studies are necessary to define the cardiovascular risk factors in order to devise preventive and interventional strategies for the chronic hemodialysis population.

Preparation and evaluation of a sustained-release formulation of nifedipine HPMC tablets

A nifedipine (NF) polyethylene glycol (PEG) solid dispersion was prepared. Using this solid dispersion, NF hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix tablets were prepared. Both the high-viscosity grade HPMC (Methocel K15M) and low-viscosity grade HPMC (Methocel K100) were applied in the tablets to form the matrix. The dissolution and absorption of NF from the tablet were evaluated as a formulation that had a sustained release over 24 hr. The Hixson-Crowell equation and Higuchi equation were used to investigate the dissolution mechanism, and the erosion and diffusion codependent mechanism was established. Adalat GITS 30 was used as a reference dosage form. Each beagle dog was also administered an intravenous injection to obtain the pharmacokinetics parameters. The Loo-Riegelman method was applied to study the in vitro/in vivo correlation of the tested tablets and Adalat GITS 30, and significant correlation was proved. Absolute bioavailability and comparative bioavailability of the tested tablet were studied. The results indicated that the NF HPMC tablet could be an ideal 24-hr sustained-release formulation.

Identification of premature ovarian failure patients with underlying autoimmunity

Although known causes of premature ovarian failure (POF) include X chromosome deletions, radiation and chemotherapy, and genetic defects of the gonadotropin hormones or receptors, at least one third to one half of cases remain idiopathic. A significant proportion of patients with apparently idiopathic POF have some evidence for an autoimmune etiology. However, the only gold standard for detecting autoimmune causes of immune ovarian destruction has been invasive ovarian biopsy. Serum antibodies to ovarian and other self-tissue have been described in up to one third of women with POF, but the tests are not well standardized, not well correlated with ovarian histology, and highly variable. Recently, specific defects of expression of cell surface markers on peripheral blood lymphocytes have been shown to identify, in population-based studies, individuals destined to develop autoimmune pancreatic destruction and type I diabetes mellitus, even before any other evidence of autoimmunity. We, therefore, sought to test the ability of cell surface marker expression in women with POF to identify autoimmune defects. Seventeen women with POF, 11 of whom had positive antibody titers to ovary, thyroid, or antinuclear antibody, were studied on at least two occasions and compared in blinded fashion with normal controls and patients with autoimmune type I diabetes mellitus. The most useful marker for identifying autoimmunity was the surface density of conformationally correct HLA class I molecules on macrophages, a structure essential for T cell education. Using this marker, 7 of the 9 patients with autoantibodies and 3 of the 8 patients without autoantibodies were identified as having evidence of a defect in self-antigen presentation similar to that of type I diabetics (chi-square, p = 0.03). Subsequent testing identified antismooth muscle antibodies in 1 of the women with a defect of HLA class I molecules but no previously identified autoimmunity. In addition, there were increased numbers of CD8 T cells in both autoimmune POF and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. Exclusive to POF patients was a statistically significant increase in CD8 density on T cells. This was most prominent in POF patients with an underlying autoimmune etiology. These data further support a role for autoimmunity in POF patients and suggest that the further development of cell surface markers in combination with other diagnostic tests could result in diagnosis before the development of complete ovarian failure. The possibility for disease-specific therapy to prevent further autoimmune ovarian damage in selected POF patients is also envisioned.

Somatic mutation rates and specificities at TC/AG and GT/CA microsatellite sequences in nontumorigenic human lymphoblastoid cells

We have examined mutational events at TC/AG microsatellites, the second most abundant dinucleotide repetitive motif in the human genome. Mutational targets were constructed containing TC/AG alleles up to 20 units in-frame within the coding region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene. These targets were incorporated into oriP shuttle vectors, which replicate episomally in human lymphoblastoid cells. The overall HSV-tk mutant frequencies measured after 10 population doublings in cells derived from a clinically normal donor were slightly increased over the background of mutations recovered in Escherichia coli. DNA sequence analyses revealed that replication of TC/AG vectors in human cells increased the mutation frequencies at the microsatellite motif up to 3-fold, relative to background. Additionally, the median HSV-tk mutation rate of single-cell clones carrying the [TC/AG]17 vector was significantly different from that of clones harboring the control vector. The median rate of allele length alterations within the [TC/AG]11 tract was 2 x 10(-6) mutations/cell generation, with an equivalent rate of deletion and expansion mutations. In contrast, a [GT/CA]10 vector showed no increase in microsatellite mutation frequency after replication in human cells, and mutation rates of clones carrying a [GT/CA]16 vector were not significantly different from controls. Intriguingly, replication in human cells of all microsatellite-containing vectors resulted in elevated mutation frequencies at the downstream HSV-tk coding sequence of up to 20-fold, an effect not observed for the control vector. These results demonstrate that the frequency of mutational events at TC/AG motifs is slightly greater than at GT/CA motifs of similar allele length. This is the first report to our knowledge of the mutation rates at TC/AG microsatellite alleles in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells.

[Exploration of the mechanism of skin expansion]

OBJECTIVE

In order to explore the mechanism of skin expansion technique (SET).

METHODS

Domestic dogs were used in this experiment. The epidermal mitotic activity, capillary blood flow change of the expanded flap were observed with microspectrophotometer and radioactive microsphere technique.

RESULTS

1. The epidermis of expanded skin was significantly thicker than that of other groups (P < 0.05). 2. The epidermal mitotic activity was elevated significantly(P < 0.01). 3. The capillary blood flow of expanded flaps increased significantly (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

1. The surplus skin produced by SET is the result of replication, not compensation. 2. SET increases skin blood flow, therefore enlarges the survival area of an expanded flap.

Density functional theory study on fundamental vibrational spectra of disilyl iodide and its isotopomer

Density function theory calculations using B3' exchange functional and LYP' correlation functionals (B3LYP) with the 3-21G** basis set were carried out to study the molecular structure and fundamental vibrational frequencies of Si2H5Br, Si2H5I and their isotopomers. One scale factor used to scale Si-H(D) force constants for Si2H5Br is transferred from Si2H5Br to Si2H5I. Other scale factors of force constants for Si2H5I and Si2D5I are determined by a least-squares fitting to experimental vibrational frequencies. The predictions of fundamental vibrational frequencies for Si2H5I and its isotopomer are given. The scaled DFT force fields using B3LYP/3-21G** reproduced the observed fundamental vibrational frequencies of Si2H5I and its deuterium isotopomer with a mean absolute deviation of 6 cm(-1). Reassignment of some fundamental vibrational modes of Si2H5I and its isotopomer is discussed.

Retinal degeneration but not obesity is observed in null mutants of the tubby-like protein 1 gene

The tub gene is a member of a small, well conserved neuronal gene family of unknown function. Mutations within this gene lead to early-onset blindness and deafness, as well as late-onset obesity and insulin resistance. To test the hypothesis that mutations within other members of this gene family would lead to similar phenotypes as observed in tubby mice, and hence have similar functional properties, we have generated null mutants of the tubby-like protein ( Tulp ) 1 gene by homologous recombination. Similarly to tubby mice, Tulp1 (-/-)mice exhibit an early-onset retinal degeneration with a progressive, rapid loss of photoreceptors, further supporting the notion that previously identified mutations within the human TULP1 gene are indeed causative of retinitis pigmentosa. However, in contrast to tubby mice, Tulp1 (-/-)mice exhibited normal hearing ability and, surprisingly, normal body weight despite the fact that both TUB and TULP1 are expressed in the same neurons within the hypothalamus in areas known to be involved in feeding behavior and energy homeo stasis. However, TUB and TULP1 show a distinctly different staining pattern in the nucleus of these neurons, perhaps explaining the difference in body weight between the Tulp1 (-/-)and tubby mutant mice.

Spatial distribution and habitat characterization of anopheline mosquito larvae in Western Kenya

Studies were conducted to characterize larval habitats of anopheline mosquitoes and to analyze spatial heterogeneity of mosquito species in the Suba District of western Kenya. A total of 128 aquatic habitats containing mosquito larvae were sampled, and 2,209 anopheline and 10,538 culicine larvae were collected. The habitats were characterized based on size, pH, distance to the nearest house and to the shore of Lake Victoria, coverage of canopy, surface debris, algae and emergent plants, turbidity, substrate, and habitat types. Microscopic identification of third- and fourth-instar anopheline larvae did not yield any Anopheles funestus or other anophelines. A total of 829 An. gambiae s.l. larvae from all habitats were analyzed further by rDNA-polymerase chain reaction to identify individual species within the An. gambiae species complex. Overall, An. arabiensis was the predominant species (63.4%), and An. gambiae was less common (31.4%). The species composition of An. gambiae s.l. varied significantly among the sampling sites throughout Suba District. The larval habitats in the southern area of the district had a higher proportion of An. gambiae than in the northern area. Multiple logistic analysis did not detect any significant association between the occurrence of anopheline larvae and habitat variables, and principal component analysis did not identify key environmental factors associated with the abundance of An. gambiae. However, significant spatial heterogeneity in the relative abundance of An. gambiae within the Suba district was detected. When the effect of larval habitat locality was considered in the analysis, we found that the distance to the nearest house and substrate type were significantly associated with the relative abundance of An. gambiae. Future studies integrating detailed water chemistry analysis, remote sensing technology, and the ecology of predators may be required to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed spatial variation of anopheline larval distribution.

[Research on applications of micromachine technology in medical engineering]

This paper presents the basic concept of micromachines. The development aim and Key technology of medical micromachine Research are discussed here too. Besides, this Paper introduces some typical application research of micromachines, which may have actual reference Value for the future development of medical engineering.

Association of acidosis and nutritional parameters in hemodialysis patients

There is extensive literature supporting an important role for acidosis in inducing net protein breakdown, both in experimental animals and humans. However, the clinical importance of the moderate intermittent metabolic acidosis frequently observed in hemodialysis patients has not been determined. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline laboratory data in the first 1,000 patients recruited to the Hemodialysis Study, looking for correlations between predialysis serum total carbon dioxide levels and parameters related to dietary intake and nutritional status. We found the mean predialysis serum total carbon dioxide level was moderately low (21.6 +/- 3.4 mmol/L; mean +/- SD) despite the use of bicarbonate dialysate and an average single-pool Kt/V of 1.54. Predialysis serum total carbon dioxide level correlated negatively with normalized protein catabolic rate (P < 0.001), suggesting patients with lower serum total carbon dioxide levels have a greater protein intake. The degree of acidosis observed in our patients does not seem to have a deleterious effect on the nutritional status of these patients because correlation of serum total carbon dioxide level with nutritional parameters, such as serum creatinine and serum albumin levels, was either negative or not statistically significant. Further investigation of the effect of modifying serum bicarbonate concentration on nutritional markers is needed to test these hypotheses.

Population genetics of the yellow fever mosquito in Trinidad: comparisons of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers

Recent development of DNA markers provides powerful tools for population genetic analyses. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA fingerprinting technique that can detect multiple restriction fragments in a single polyacrylamide gel, and thus are potentially useful for population genetic studies. Because AFLP markers have to be analysed as dominant loci in order to estimate population genetic diversity and genetic structure parameters, one must assume that dominant (amplified) alleles are identical in state, recessive (unamplified) alleles are identical in state, AFLP fragments segregate according to Mendelian expectations and that the genotypes of an AFLP locus are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The HWE assumption is untestable for natural populations using dominant markers. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers segregate as codominant alleles, and can therefore be used to test the HWE assumption that is critical for analysing AFLP data. This study examined whether the dominant AFLP markers could provide accurate estimates of genetic variability for the Aedes aegypti mosquito populations of Trinidad, West Indies, by comparing genetic structure parameters using AFLP and RFLP markers. For AFLP markers, we tested a total of five primer combinations and scored 137 putative loci. For RFLP, we examined a total of eight mapped markers that provide a broad coverage of mosquito genome. The estimated average heterozygosity with AFLP markers was similar among the populations (0.39), and the observed average heterozygosity with RFLP markers varied from 0.44 to 0.58. The average FST (standardized among-population genetic variance) estimates were 0.033 for AFLP and 0.063 for RFLP markers. The genotypes at several RFLP loci were not in HWE, suggesting that the assumption critical for analysing AFLP data was invalid for some loci of the mosquito populations in Trinidad. Therefore, the results suggest that, compared with dominant molecular markers, codominant DNA markers provide better estimates of population genetic variability, and offer more statistical power for detecting population genetic structure.

[Effects of extract from Pegasus laternarius on the weight of immune organs and the antistress in mice]

Extract from Pegasus laternarius Cuvier (PLE) could increase the splenic and thymic weight in immunity-suppressed mice induced by hydrocortisone or cyclophosphamide and could increase the thymic weight in senile mice. PLE could prolonged the survival time of anoxic mice under normal pressure or chemically anoxic mice poisoned by potassium cyanide. It could also prolong the survival time of mice swimming in ice-water and enhance the tolerance of mice without food to eat and water to drink.

Technical and clinical comparison of two fully automated methods for the immunoassay of CA 125 in serum

The sensitivity and precision of two fully automated enzyme immunoassays, a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the determination of the ovarian carcinoma antigen CA 125 were evaluated by comparison with an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Sera were obtained from patients with ovarian carcinoma (N = 28 before treatment and N = 24 after treatment), digestive system cancer (N = 21 before treatment) and from healthy women (N = 90). The CLEIA showed a good agreement with the IRMA in terms of the positivity rate, accuracy and assay linearity, whereas the ELISA gave some false positive results. The mean value of CA 125 in the sera of healthy women was 14, 16 and 20 U/ml determined using the CLEIA, IRMA and ELISA procedures with standard deviations (SD) of 6.9, 7.3 and 8.8 U/ml, respectively. Both the reproducibility and precision of the CLEIA with coefficients of variation (CV) of 4.6% intra-assay and 7.6% inter-assay were better than those of the ELISA with CV of 6.2% intra-assay and 15.2% inter-assay (N = 16). We conclude that the CLEIA is the preferable method for CA 125 determinations and the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma.

[Extraction and purification of acidic mucopolysaccharide from Holothuria atra]

Mucopolyaccharide with molecular weight of 10253 Da was extracted and purified from fresh Holothuria atra Jaeger by means of enzymic and alkaline hydrolysis, potassium acetate and ethanol fractional precipitation. It was tested to be purified ingredient with agarose electrophoresis. The percentage content of galactosamine, glucuronic acid, fucose and sulfate in the mucopolysaccharide was 16.12%, 17.88%, 11.66% and 23.52% respectively.

[The study on edge detection method of medical color image]

Considering the specificity of the medical color image, in this paper a medical color image is decomposed as three color orthogonal feature: I1, I2 and I3 in K-L transformation method, and Kirsch algorithm is used to detect the edge of the monochrome image I1 including rich information. Finally, both clarity edge and rich detail of color backdisplay image are gained, if we adopt I2 and I3 to compensate I1.

[Bilirubin induced apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity from cellular and molecular level.

METHODS

Bilirubin was exposed to primary cultured rat cerebellar granule and cortical neurons and its neurotoxicity was observed DNA staining and agars gel electrophores were used to identify the biochemical and morphological features of bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity in cultured cerebellar granule and cortical neurons.

RESULTS

Bilirubin selectively induced death of cerebellar granule neurons in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Neuronal death displayed biochemical and morphological features of apoptotic nuclei: condensation of nuclear chromatin and DNA fragmentation. RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors blocked the neurotoxicity induced by bilirubin. However, the cortical neurons displayed a relative insensitivity to bilirubin.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilirubin induced neuron death is an active process, requiring de novo synthesis of RNA and protein. Bilirubin may selectively induce apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons.

Novel splicing of the human MHC-encoded peptide transporter confers unique properties

Presentation of intracellularly derived antigenic peptides to T cells requires their assembly together with MHC class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Such peptides are delivered to the ER by an MHC-encoded transporter composed of TAP1 and TAP2 protein delivery. Here, the first alternative splicing of Tap2 is described. The human splice variant, termed Tap2iso, lacks exon 11 and original 3' untranslated region and contains a newly identified exon 12 and 3' untranslated region. The full-length Tap2iso cDNA (2496 bp) predicts a protein of 653 amino acids. Tap2iso mRNA was normally coexpressed with Tap2 mRNA in all human lymphocyte cell lines examined. Function of TAP2iso was evaluated at multilevel in TAP1/2iso and TAP1/2 cotransfected T2 cells, a mutant cell line deplete of endogenous Tap gene products. The TAP1-TAP2iso transporter facilitated the maturation of MHC class I molecules in the ER and restored surface expression of class I. Importantly, TAP1-TAP2iso transporters expressed in T2 cells exhibited distinct and opposing influences on peptide selectivities, at times exceeding 30-fold differences in competition experiments and attributable to diversity in the 3'-COOH tail. The common coexpression of an alternative splice product of the Tap2 gene may contribute to broaden immune diversity, a mechanism previously described to occur predominantly at the level of the TCR and MHC class I gene products.

[Completion pneumonectomy combined with graft replacement of thoracic aortic aneurysm by simple clamping]

A 59-years-old male patient who had left upper lobe partial resection 30 years ago. He was seen at the family physician because of cough. A chest X-ray was showing an abnormal mass shadow measuring 3 x 4 cm in left lower lobe like honey comb. And squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was detected in his sputum. He was diagnosed as primary lung cancer and introduced to our department to have operation. Chest CT-scan was showing lung tumor suspected SCC measuring 4.3 x 2.6 cm in segment 8 faced chest wall. At the same time, we detected thoracic aortic aneurysm and subcarinal lymph node, but could not see where the boundary is, so it was hard to distinguish between parietal thrombus with thoracic aortic aneurysm and swelling subcarinal lymph node. We decided it swelling subcarinal lymph node by three-dimensional treated CT-scan. Aortic angiography was showing proximal descending aortic aneurysm measuring diameter was 4.5 cm. Abdominal CT-scan was showing infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring diameter was 5.5 cm. He was diagnosed as primary lung cancer (It. S8, SCC) (cT2N2M0, Stage IIIB), thoracic aortic aneurysm, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and had completion pneumonectomy (R 2 b) for primary lung cancer and graft replacement with aneurysm dissection for thoracic aortic aneurysm without extracorporeal circulation. In this operation, we could find swelling subcarinal lymph node measuring 5 x 3 cm instead of parietal thrombus with thoracic aortic aneurysm. Pathological examination diagnosed middle differential SCC and no metastasis from dissected lymph node (PT2N0M0, Stage I A).