Fatty acids, inhibitors for the DNA binding of c-Myc/Max dimer, suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of differentiated HL-60 human leukemia cell

c-Myc is instrumental in the progression of Burkitt's lymphoma including HL-60 human leukemia cells. We tested fatty acids for their inhibitory effect on the DNA binding of c-Myc/Max dimeric proteins of human origin, prepared as recombinant proteins encompassing DNA binding (basic) and dimerization (HLHZip) domain, and found that those suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells. The analyzed IC50 values of myristic acid, stearic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid by EMSA were 97(+/-3), 2.2(+/-1.2), 55(+/-5), 32(+/-2), 62(+/-12), 22(+/-2)microM for DNA binding of recombinant c-Myc/Max, respectively. According to the results shown by XTT assay, their influence on proliferation was quite different from the rank order of IC50. Whereas the degree of influence of the unsaturated fatty acids on the proliferation of DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells was similar, the influence of saturated fatty acids, stearic acid in particular, was very weak at same concentrations. In addition, we confirmed that these fatty acids have no influence on the expression of c-Myc in DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells. Our experiments demonstrated that the inhibitors for the DNA binding of c-Myc/Max contribute to the downregulation of Myc-dependent proliferation and to the inducement of apoptosis, and serve as an exploration of potent new inhibitors.

Chilaiditi syndrome caused by Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: multidetector CT findings

Chilaiditi syndrome is a condition in which the colon or small intestine is interposed temporarily or permanently between the liver and the diaphragm. Usually, it is an asymptomatic and incidental radiographic finding, but it may be a potential source of abdominal problems, ranging from intermittent mild abdominal pain to acute intestinal obstruction. We report multidetector computed tomographic findings of a case of Chilaiditi syndrome presenting as small bowel obstruction due to hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the ileal loop, which was entrapped by adhesive bands caused by Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.

Endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation technique for treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

It is difficult to achieve complete endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoid tumors without any procedure-related complications. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation (ESMR-DL) for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eleven rectal carcinoid tumors (in 11 patients) were resected by ESMR-DL between November 2001 and April 2004, using a conventional single-channel endoscope with an attached band-ligator device. The lesion was aspirated into the ligator device and an elastic band was placed around the base; a detachable snare was then used to ligate the stalk below the elastic band; and snare resection was performed above the elastic band. The resected specimens were examined with respect to size, histological atypia, depth of invasion, and the histological appearance of the resection margins.

RESULTS

All the lesions were excised completely without any complications. There was no tumor invasion beyond the submucosal layer and there was no evidence of atypia in any of the specimens. Tumor diameter varied from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm (average 6.2 mm). None of the 11 specimens showed histopathological evidence of tumor involvement at the resection margins. There were no immediate or late complications (bleeding or perforation) after ESMR-DL. There was no local recurrence and there were no distant metastases in any patients during the mean follow-up period of 18 months.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation is a useful and safe method for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors.

Intracellular domains of amyloid precursor-like protein 2 interact with CP2 transcription factor in the nucleus and induce glycogen synthase kinase-3β expression

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a member of a gene family that includes two APP-like proteins, APLP1 and 2. Recently, it has been reported that APLP1 and 2 undergo presenilin-dependent gamma-secretase cleavage, as does APP, resulting in the release of an approximately 6 kDa intracellular C-terminal domain (ICD), which can translocate into the nucleus. In this study, we demonstrate that the APLP2-ICDs interact with CP2/LSF/LBP1 (CP2) transcription factor in the nucleus and induce the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), which has broad-ranged substrates such as tau- and beta-catenin. The significance of this finding is substantiated by the in vivo evidence of the increase in the immunoreactivities for the nuclear C-terminal fragments of APLP2, and for GSK-3beta in the AD patients' brain. Taken together, these results suggest that APLP2-ICDs contribute to the AD pathogenesis, by inducing GSK-3beta expression through the interaction with CP2 transcription factor in the nucleus.

Pyridobenzodiazepines: A novel class of orally active, vasopressin V2 receptor selective agonists

Our efforts in seeking low molecular weight agonists of the antidiuretic peptide hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) have led to the identification of the clinical candidate WAY-151932 (VNA-932). Further exploration of the structural requirements for agonist activity has provided another class of potent, orally active, non-peptidic vasopressin V2 receptor selective agonists exemplified by the 5,11-dihydro-pyrido[2,3-b][1,5]benzodiazepine as a candidate for further development.

Pretreatment of sludge with microwaves for pathogen destruction and improved anaerobic digestion performance

A new way of generating Class A sludge using microwaves was evaluated through a series of laboratory-scale experiments. Microwaves provide rapid and uniform heating throughout the material. Other benefits of microwave treatment include instant and accurate control and selective and concentrated heating on materials, such as sludge, that have a high dielectric loss factor. Sludge was irradiated with 2450-MHz microwaves, and fecal coliforms were counted. Fecal coliforms were not detected at 65 degrees C for primary sludge and anaerobic digester sludge and at 85 degrees C for waste activated sludge when sludge was irradiated with 2450-MHz microwaves. During the bench-scale anaerobic digester operation, the highest average log reduction of fecal coliforms was achieved by the anaerobic digester fed with microwave-pretreated sludge (> or = 2.66 log removal). The anaerobic digester fed with microwave-irradiated sludge was more efficient in inactivation of fecal coliforms than the other two digesters fed with raw sludge and externally heated sludge, respectively. It took more than three hydraulic retention times for a bench-scale mesophilic anaerobic digester to meet Class A sludge requirements after feeding microwave-irradiated sludge. Class A sludge can be produced consistently with a continuously fed mesophilic anaerobic digester if sludge is pretreated with microwaves to reach 65 degrees C.

Feasibility study of nitrogen removal with the mecellulose wasted liquor as an external carbon source in the two-stage denitrification process

The utilization of mecellulose wasted liquor (MWL) as an external carbon source was investigated to find an alternative for methanol in the two-stage denitrification pilot process. The pilot plant was supplied with the raw water from the J-Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant (J-MSTP) in Korea. The raw water of J-Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant contains low and high concentration of biodegradable organics and nitrogen source, respectively, due to the inflow of industrial wastewater and landfill leachate. Methanol was fed to provide external carbon source for high concentration of nitrogen source removal by denitrification in this J-Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant, and thus this study was performed to test effects to the effluent quality and efficiencies of nitrogen source removal with an alternative carbon source for the cost reduction. The 6.5mg 1(-1) and 5.7mg l(-1) of total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the effluent were achieved with mecellulose and methanol, whereas mecellulose and methanol were fed to give the same ratio of gCODgNO,-N(-1), respectively. The 60% of COD in mecellulose wasted liquor was used as a carbon source for denitrification and the stable denitrification rate was earned when one half of the required total carbon source for denitrification was fed to pre-anoxic tank in the pilot plant. The required gCODgNO,-N(-1) ratio with mecellulose wasted liquor was 1.4 times higher than with methanol. Mecellulose wasted liquor is feasible to be used as external carbon source for organic loading, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. If mecellulose wasted liquor is considered as an alternative external carbon source to substitute methanol 26-28m3 mecellulose wasted liquor per 1 m3 methanol will be required. However, to meet with the effluent standard (10 mg BOD l(-1)) for J-Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant, the feed concentration of mecellulose wasted liquor should be recommended to be lower than 200 mgl(-1).

Hydrogen-mediated spin-spin interaction in ZnCoO

The effect of hydrogen impurities on the electronic and magnetic properties of ZnO-based diluted magnetic semiconductors is examined through first-principles pseudopotential calculations. We suggest that interstitial H can mediate a strong short-ranged ferromagnetic spin-spin interaction between neighboring magnetic impurities through the formation of a bridge bond. Results based on first-principles total-energy calculations and Monte Carlo simulations indicate that such H-mediated spin-spin interactions can lead to high temperature ferromagnetism.

Direct measurements of Ab and Ac using vertex and kaon charge tags at the SLAC detector

Exploiting the manipulation of the SLAC Linear Collider electron-beam polarization, we present precise direct measurements of the parity-violation parameters A(c) and A(b) in the Z-boson-c-quark and Z-boson-b-quark coupling. Quark-antiquark discrimination is accomplished via a unique algorithm that takes advantage of the precise SLAC Large Detector charge coupled device vertex detector, employing the net charge of displaced vertices as well as the charge of kaons that emanate from those vertices. From the 1996-1998 sample of 400 000 Z decays, produced with an average beam polarization of 73.4%, we find A(c)=0.673+/-0.029(stat)+/-0.023(syst) and A(b)=0.919+/-0.018(stat)+/-0.017(syst).

Application of remote monitoring and automatic control system using neural network for small wastewater treatment plants in Korea

For this study, an automatic control system has been developed by using a neural network and internet-based remote monitoring system for efficient operation of plants that have a serious variance of influent loading and have difficulties in appropriate maintenance, just like small wastewater treatment plants in Korea. In the control algorithm, ORP was used as the main sensor for control. At the point where the ORP value was judged to reach the "nitrate knee" of denitrification and phosphorus release, ORP indicated the state of lower saturation read by the neural network and then changed the operating condition from the reduction state to the oxidation state. For example, if ORP indicates the state of higher saturation at the point of "nitrogen breakpoint" or "ammonia valley" of nitrification, the neural network reads it and cuts off the oxygen supply and mixing. The dORP data have been used as one of the main input for the neural network. After the operation of lab-scale cyclic aeration process using an automatic control system, it has been found that regardless of loading variance, more than 95% of organic matters and more than 60% of nitrogen and phosphorus have been removed. Assuming that an internet-connected computer and a basic web browser are available, this study has developed a remote monitoring system that can monitor the operating status of small plants or any troubles with them.

Hemodynamic changes in limb shaking TIA associated with anterior cerebral artery stenosis

Limb shaking TIA is a rare but well-known feature of severe carotid artery stenosis. The authors report a patient who developed recurrent shaking movements of a leg. An angiogram showed the focal stenosis of the anterior cerebral artery. Ictal and postacetazolamide SPECT scans suggested a local hyperfunction of cortical neurons and an impaired hemodynamic reserve in the vicinity of the ischemic area.

Patterns of failure in gastric carcinoma after D2 gastrectomy and chemoradiotherapy: a radiation oncologist's view

The risk of locoregional recurrence in resected gastric adenocarcinoma is high, but the benefit of adjuvant treatment remains controversial. In particular, after extended lymph node dissection, the role of radiotherapy is questionable. Since 1995, we started a clinical protocol of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after D2 gastrectomy and analysed the patterns of failure for 291 patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of five cycles of fluorouracil and leucovorin, and concurrent radiotherapy was given with 4500 cGy from the second cycle of chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 48 months, 114 patients (39%) showed any type of failure, and the local and regional failures were seen in 7% (20 out of 291) and 12% (35 out of 291), respectively. When the recurrent site was analysed with respect to the radiation field, in-field recurrence was 16% and represented 35% of all recurrences. Our results suggest that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has a potential effect on reducing locoregional recurrence. Moreover, low locoregional recurrence rates could give a clue as to which subset of patients could be helped by radiotherapy after D2 gastrectomy. However, in order to draw a conclusion on the role of adjuvant radiotherapy, a randomised study is needed.

A prospective, randomized trial of endoscopic band ligation versus endoscopic hemoclip placement for bleeding gastric Dieulafoy's lesions

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Dieulafoy's lesion is a rare cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, most commonly in the proximal stomach. Mechanical endoscopic methods have recently become the standard therapeutic approach. However, there have been few studies comparing the efficacy of different mechanical endoscopic methods in treating gastric Dieulafoy's lesions. This study was therefore carried out to compare the hemostatic efficacy and safety of endoscopic band ligation (EBL) and endoscopic hemoclip placement (EHP) in the treatment of bleeding gastric Dieulafoy's lesions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2002 and October 2003, 26 consecutive patients with bleeding gastric Dieulafoy's lesions were prospectively enrolled and were randomly assigned to undergo EBL (13 patients) or EHP (13 patients). Demographic characteristics, endoscopic variables, and outcome parameters, including rates of hemostasis and recurrent bleeding, were analyzed.

RESULTS

One O-ring was applied in each case in the EBL group, and the median number of hemoclips applied was one (range one to four) in the EHP group. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to age, sex, presence of shock, initial hemoglobin level, coagulopathy, concurrent diseases, location of the lesion, type of bleeding stigmata, blood transfusion requirements, or hospitalization periods. Primary hemostasis was achieved in all 26 patients. There was one case of recurrent bleeding in each group; secondary hemostasis was achieved with EBL in one of these patients and by endoscopic epinephrine injection in the other. There were no second episodes of recurrent bleeding, no procedure-related complications, no cases in which surgery was needed, and no bleeding-related deaths in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small study, no differences were detected in the efficacy or the safety of EBL vs. EHP in the management of bleeding gastric Dieulafoy's lesions.

Chromate-reducing properties of soluble flavoproteins from Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli

Cr(VI) (chromate) is a toxic, soluble environmental contaminant. Bacteria can reduce chromate to the insoluble and less toxic Cr(III), and thus chromate bioremediation is of interest. Genetic and protein engineering of suitable enzymes can improve bacterial bioremediation. Many bacterial enzymes catalyze one-electron reduction of chromate, generating Cr(V), which redox cycles, generating excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Such enzymes are not appropriate for bioremediation, as they harm the bacteria and their primary end product is not Cr(III). In this work, the chromate reductase activities of two electrophoretically pure soluble bacterial flavoproteins--ChrR (from Pseudomonas putida) and YieF (from Escherichia coli)-were examined. Both are dimers and reduce chromate efficiently to Cr(III) (kcat/Km = approximately 2 x 10(4) M(-1) x s(-1)). The ChrR dimer generated a flavin semiquinone during chromate reduction and transferred >25% of the NADH electrons to ROS. However, the semiquinone was formed transiently and ROS diminished with time. Thus, ChrR probably generates Cr(V), but only transiently. Studies with mutants showed that ChrR protects against chromate toxicity; this is possibly because it preempts chromate reduction by the cellular one-electron reducers, thereby minimizing ROS generation. ChrR is thus a suitable enzyme for further studies. During chromate reduction by YieF, no flavin semiquinone was generated and only 25% of the NADH electrons were transferred to ROS. The YieF dimer may therefore be an obligatory four-electron chromate reducer which in one step transfers three electrons to chromate and one to molecular oxygen. As a mutant lacking this enzyme could not be obtained, the role of YieF in chromate protection could not be directly explored. The results nevertheless suggest that YieF may be an even more suitable candidate for further studies than ChrR.

The vagus nerve is one route of transneural invasion for intranasally inoculated influenza a virus in mice

Intranasally inoculated neurotropic influenza viruses in mice infect not only the respiratory tract but also the central nervous system (CNS), mainly the brain stem. Previous studies suggested that the route of invasion of virus into the CNS was via the peripheral nervous system, especially the vagus nerve. To evaluate the transvagal transmission of the virus, we intranasally inoculated unilaterally vagectomized mice with a virulent influenza virus (strain 24a5b) and examined the distribution of the viral protein and genome by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization over time. An asymmetric distribution of viral antigens was observed between vagal (nodose) ganglia: viral antigen was detected in the vagal ganglion of the vagectomized side 2 days later than in the vagal ganglion of the intact side. The virus was apparently transported from the respiratory mucosa to the CNS directly and decussately via the vagus nerve and centrifugally to the vagal ganglion of the vagectomized side. The results of this study, thus, demonstrate that neurotropic influenza virus travels to the CNS mainly via the vagus nerve.

Doping by large-size-mismatched impurities: the microscopic origin of arsenic- or antimony-doped p-type zinc oxide

Based on first-principles calculations, a model for large-size-mismatched group-V dopants in ZnO is proposed. The dopants do not occupy the O sites as is widely perceived, but rather the Zn sites: each forms a complex with two spontaneously induced Zn vacancies in a process that involves fivefold As coordination. Moreover, an As(Zn)-2V(Zn) complex may have lower formation energy than any of the parent defects. Our model agrees with the recent observations that both As and Sb have low acceptor-ionization energies and that to obtain p-type ZnO requires O-rich growth or annealing conditions.