Profiling penciclovir susceptibility and prevalence of resistance of herpes simplex virus isolates across eleven clinical trials

Asusceptibility testing program was established to determine the prevalence of resistance to penciclovir among herpes simplex virus isolates collected from patients participating in 11 world-wide clinical trials involving penciclovir (topical or intravenous formulations) or famciclovir, the oral prodrug of penciclovir. These trials represented nine randomised double blind, placebo or aciclovir-controlled studies and two open-label studies. Groups surveyed included immunocompetent or immunocompromised patients receiving 2 to 12 months chronic suppressive therapy for genital herpes, immunocompetent patients with recurrent herpes labialis treated for four days, and immunocompromised patients with mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV). Another subset of patients had been identified as non-responders to aciclovir or to valaciclovir. This program assessed the susceptibility profile for a total of 2145 herpes simplex virus isolates from 913 immunocompetent and 288 immunocompromised patients treated with penciclovir, famciclovir, aciclovir or placebo (depending on trial design). HSV isolates were tested for susceptibility to penciclovir using the plaque reduction assay (PRA) in MRC-5 cells. Resistance was defined as an IC(50)>or=2.0 microg/ml or an IC(50)> 10-fold above the wild type control virus IC(50) within that particular assay. Penciclovir-resistant HSV was isolated from 0.22% immunocompetent patients, and 2.1% of immunocompromised patients overall and therefore the frequency of penciclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus in the immunocompetent population approximates that of aciclovir-resistant herpesvirus reported previously. Penciclovir-resistant HSV isolates were more common in isolates from immunocompromised patients, consistent with aciclovir clinical experience. Treatment with penciclovir (intravenous formulation) was associated with the development of resistant HSV in only one severely immunocompromised patient (day 7 isolate IC(50) = 2.01 microg/ml), although treatment was effective and resulted in the complete clearance of the lesion by day 8. No patients receiving topical penciclovir developed treatment-associated penciclovir-resistant HSV, and a single immunocompromised patient developed resistant HSV upon treatment with oral famiciclovir.

Interleukin-10 expression: is there a neglected contribution of CD8+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis joints?

OBJECTIVE

To search for RA specific processes among T cell accumulation, T cell activation, or cytokine expression in CD4+ and CD8+ synovial fluid (SF) T cells.

METHODS

Flow cytometry of CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+, CD45RO+, CD69 double or triple stained peripheral blood (PB) and SF T cells. IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-gamma expression was determined in PMA + ionomycin stimulated T cells on the single cell level. Concentrations of secreted IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma were quantified in the sera and synovial fluids by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

A preferential recruitment of CD45RO+ memory T cells was found for CD4+ helper T cells, and in similar also for CD8+ suppressor T cells. An elevated CD69 expression was detected in memory, but also in CD45RA+ naive CD4+ and CD8+ SF T cells, whilst IL-2 expression was only demonstrable in a minor proportion of T cells populations. Preferential recruitment of memory T cells, but incomplete activation of naive and memory, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were in similar found in RA and control patients. In RA but not in the control patients, a relevant proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ PB and SF T cells expressed IL-10 and IFN-gamma. High concentrations of IL-10, that were correlated with the amounts of secreted TNF-alpha, were only detected in RA joints.

CONCLUSION

Memory and naive T cell state of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell accumulates in the joints, and early T cell activation occur in similar patterns in RA and control patients. High IL-10 SF concentrations in contrast, and elevated percentages of IFN-gamma and IL-10 expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the PB and SF were characteristic for RA. Here, CD8+ T cells may contribute to high IL-10 concentrations in RA joints.

Central venous catheter-related bacteremia due to Tsukamurella species in the immunocompromised host: a case series and review of the literature

We report 6 cases of bacteremia due to Tsukamurella species, all of which were in immunosuppressed patients with indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs). Fewer than 20 cases of serious illness due to these gram-positive bacilli have been reported in the medical literature; these cases have mostly been ascribed to the species Tsukamurella paurometabola. Tsukamurella species are frequently misidentified as Rhodococcus or Corynebacterium species. We used high-performance liquid chromatography to identify these organisms to the genus level and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA dot blots for species identification. Three of our isolates were identified as Tsukamurella pulmonis, 1 was identified as Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvans, and 1 was identified as a unique species. One isolate was not maintained long enough for species identification. All patients were successfully treated with antimicrobial therapy and CVC removal. Infection with this organism should be considered in the immunosuppressed patient with an indwelling CVC and gram-positive bacilli in the blood.

Persistence length of a polyelectrolyte in salty water: Monte Carlo study

We address the long standing problem of the dependence of the electrostatic persistence length l(e) of a flexible polyelectrolyte (PE) on the screening length r(s) of the solution within the linear Debye-Hückel theory. The standard Odijk, Skolnick, and Fixman (OSF) theory suggests l(e) proportional, variant r(2)s, while some variational theories and some computer simulations suggest l(e) proportional, variant r(s). In this paper, we use Monte Carlo simulations to study the conformation of a simple polyelectrolyte. Using four times longer PEs than in previous simulations and refined methods for the treatment of the simulation data, we show that the results are consistent with the OSF dependence l(e) proportional, variant r(2)s. The linear charge density of the PE, which enters in the coefficient of this dependence is properly renormalized to take into account local fluctuations.

Chronic caffeine treatment causes changes in cardiac adenosine receptor function in rats

Caffeine exerts a number of cardiovascular effects via antagonism of adenosine A1 and A2a receptors, and chronic caffeine intake has been suggested to be a preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We attempted, therefore, to determine the effects of chronic caffeine treatment on adenosine receptor function and the heart rate and blood pressure of anaesthetized rats. Rats were given two weeks of drinking water containing either caffeine (0.2%) or tap water alone. Rats were then anaesthetized and blood pressure and heart rate was assessed, as well as cardiovascular responses to adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists. Following 2 weeks caffeine treatment, both the resting blood pressure and heart rate of the treated rats were significantly increased compared to the non-caffeine treated (147 +/- 5 compared to 161 +/- 3 mm Hg). Negative chronotropic responses to A1 receptor agonist N6 cyclopentyladenosine occurred at lower concentrations in caffeine-treated rats than control (2.5-fold decrease in the ED50 of bradycardic responses to N6 cyclopentyladenosine), whilst vasodilator and reflex tachycardic responses to A2a receptor agonist CGS 21680 were unchanged. A shorter duration of caffeine- treatment resulted in moderate increases in heart rate and bradycardic responses to N6 cyclopentyladenosine. In summary, we found changes in resting heart rate and blood pressure in caffeine-treated rats which were concurrent with changes in adenosine receptor function.

Model of inversion of DNA charge by a positive polymer: fractionalization of the polymer charge

We model one strand of DNA by a one-dimensional lattice (ODL) of negative charges and consider the problem of inversion of its charge by a positive polyelectrolyte (PE). In the neutral state of the ODL-PE complex, each of the ODL charges is locally compensated by a PE charge. When an additional PE molecule is adsorbed by ODL, its charge gets fractionalized into monomer charges of defects (tails and arches) on the background of the perfectly neutralized ODL. Defects spread all over the ODL, eliminating the self-energy of PE. For DNA this fractionalization mechanism leads to a substantial inversion of charge, a phenomenon which is widely used for gene delivery.

Kinetics of macroion coagulation induced by multivalent counterions

Due to the strong correlations between multivalent counterions condensed on a macroion, the net macroion charge changes sign at some critical counterion concentration. This effect is known as the charge inversion. Near this critical concentration the macroion net charge is small. Therefore, short range attractive forces between macroions dominate Coulomb repulsion and lead to their coagulation. The kinetics of macroion coagulation in this range of counterion concentrations is studied. We calculate the Coulomb barrier between two approaching like charged macroions at a given counterion concentration. Two different macroion shapes (spherical and rodlike) are considered. A new "self-regulated" regime of coagulation is found. As the size of aggregates increases, their charge and Coulomb barrier also grow and diminish the sticking probability of aggregates. This leads to a slow, logarithmic increase of the aggregate size with time.

Biochemical characterization of a virus isolate, recovered from a patient with herpes keratitis, that was clinically resistant to acyclovir

In vitro susceptibility assays of herpes simplex virus (HSV) do not necessarily correlate with treatment outcome. An HSV type 1 (HSV-1) isolate, N4, recovered from a patient who presented with herpes keratitis with localized immunosuppression, was characterized for susceptibility. Although the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) for this isolate was less than the accepted breakpoint for defining resistance to acyclovir (>2.0 microg/mL), the following lines of evidence suggest that the isolate was acyclovir resistant: (1) the clinical history confirmed that the infection was nonresponsive to acyclovir; (2) the in vitro susceptibility was similar to that of a thymidine kinase (TK)-negative, acyclovir-resistant virus SLU360; (3) the IC(50) of acyclovir was more than 10 times the IC(50) for an acyclovir-susceptible control strain; (4) plaque-purified clonal isolates were resistant to acyclovir (IC(50)s, >2.0 microg/mL); and (5) biochemical studies indicated that the HSV-1 N4 TK was partially impaired for acyclovir phosphorylation. Although residue changes were found in both the viral tk and pol coding regions of HSV-1 N4, characterization of a recombinant virus expressing the HSV-1 N4 polymerase suggested that the TK and Pol together conferred the acyclovir-resistance phenotype.

Inhibition of placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 by catecholamines via alpha-adrenergic signaling

The placenta expresses high levels of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11betaHSD2) that converts cortisol into inactive 11-keto metabolites and effectively protects the developing fetus from maternal cortisol during pregnancy. Impairment of this glucocorticoid barrier has adverse effects on fetal outcomes. A similar spectrum of adverse fetal effects is induced by antenatal stress during pregnancy. To examine the hypothesis that physiological stress may regulate placental 11betaHSD2 gene expression, we examined the effects of the catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) on 11betaHSD2 expression in human trophoblastic cells. With the use of Northern blotting and semiquantitative RT-PCR, we determined that NE and E rapidly downregulate 11betaHSD2 steady-state mRNA levels in early- and late-gestation human trophoblasts and BeWo trophoblastic cells. Experiments using different adrenoceptor subtype-selective agonists and antagonists demonstrated that this catecholamine suppression of 11betaHSD2 mRNA expression is mediated via both alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and is independent of beta-adrenergic stimulation. To examine transcriptional regulation, BeWo cells were transiently transfected with a reporter construct in which an 11betaHSD2 human promoter sequence was inserted upstream of the luciferase gene. Treatment with 10(-7) M NE decreased luciferase activity by ~60% (n = 3, P < 0.01). These results suggest the NE/E-mediated decrease in placental 11betaHSD2 gene expression is an instance of alpha-adrenoceptor-specific rapid transcriptional inhibition of an adrenergic target gene. This molecular mechanism may be involved in the deleterious effects of antenatal physiological stress on fetoplacental growth and development.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL)

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) had evidence of increased homocysteine levels compared with non-CADASIL patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We compared fasting plasma homocysteine levels and levels 6 hours after oral loading with methionine, 100 mg/kg, in non-CADASIL patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and in patients with CADASIL. Prechallenge, postchallenge, and change in homocysteine levels between the 2 groups were compared with use of the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

RESULTS

CADASIL and non-CADASIL groups were similar in age (mean, 48.8 vs. 46.5 years, respectively; 2-tailed t test, P=.56) and sex (men, 86% vs 59%; Fisher exact test, P=.12). The 59 patients in the CADASIL group had higher median plasma homocysteine levels compared with the 14 patients in the non-CADASIL group, both in the fasting state (12.0 vs 9.0 micromol/L; P=.03) and after methionine challenge (51.0 vs 34.0 micromol/L; P=.007). Median difference between homocysteine levels before and after methionine challenge was greater in the CADASIL group than in the non-CADASIL group (34.5 vs. 24.0 micromol/ L; P = .02).

CONCLUSION

Our findings raise the possibility that increased homocysteine levels or abnormalities of homocysteine metabolism may have a role in the pathogenesis of CADASIL.

Susceptibility of nonpromoter CpG islands to de novo methylation in normal and neoplastic cells

BACKGROUND

Many cancers display alterations in methylation patterns of CpG islands--stretches of DNA rich in CpG dinucleotides often associated with gene promoters that are involved in initiation of gene transcription. This methylation may perturb expression of genes critical to the regulation of cell proliferation. Aberrant methylation is not limited to a few genes or to promoter regions but has been found on a genome-wide scale in a variety of neoplasias, including colorectal cancer and acute myelogenous leukemia. Our goal was to characterize, in a quantitative manner, the profiles of abnormally methylated genes that may be specific for different cancers.

METHODS

Using a quantitative assay, methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension (MS-SNuPE), we have analyzed the methylation levels of promoter and exonic (coding region) CpG islands of two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors [p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A)] and the PAX6 gene, which encodes a transcriptional factor involved in neuronal proliferation, in DNA samples taken from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

De novo methylation of all three exonic loci in tumors--relative to baseline levels found in nontumor tissue or blood--was observed in hematologic neoplasias and in solid tumors as well as in normal colonic tissue. However, methylation of promoter regions was more limited. Moreover, two different patterns of promoter methylation distinguished the leukemias from colorectal cancer: p15 promoter hypermethylation was found only in the leukemias, and p16 promoter hypermethylation occurred only in colon tumors. However, we did not address this issue prospectively; therefore, such an observation is only hypothesis generating.

CONCLUSIONS

The methylation patterns that we observed suggest that exonic CpG islands are more susceptible to de novo methylation than promoter islands and that methylation may be seeded in exonic regions, from which it can spread to other islands, including promoter regions. Subsequent selection of cells with a growth advantage conferred by spread of methylation into and inactivation of a particular promoter might then contribute to the genesis of a specific type of cancer.

Adsorption of charged particles on an oppositely charged surface: oscillating inversion of charge

Adsorption of multivalent counterions on the charged surface of a macroion is known to lead to inversion of the macroion charge due to the strong lateral correlations of counterions. We consider a nontrivial role of the excluded volume of counterions on this effect. It is shown analytically that when the bare charge of the macroion increases, its net charge including the adsorbed counterions oscillates with the number of their layers. Charge inversion vanishes every time the top layer of counterions is completely full and becomes incompressible. These oscillations of charge inversion are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. Another version of this phenomenon is studied for a metallic electrode screened by multivalent counterions when the potential of the electrode is controlled instead of its charge. In this case, oscillations of the compressibility and charge inversion lead to oscillations of capacitance of this electrode with the number of adsorbed layers of multivalent counterions.

Contrast microbubbles improve diagnostic yield in ICU patients with poor echocardiographic windows

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of contrast echocardiographic studies in patients admitted to ICUs who have poor echocardiographic windows secondary to COPD, ventilator use, or inability to obtain optimal positioning for the echocardiogram.

DESIGN

A prospective comparison study of technically difficult patients in the ICU.

OUTCOME MEASURE

The total scores for the left ventricle (LV) in the two-chamber and four-chamber views were calculated at baseline and following injection of 1 to 2 mL of a contrast agent. The mean numbers of segments visualized in all patients at baseline and after injection of contrast agent were compared to assess the effect on improved visualization.

RESULTS

Forty consecutive patients underwent echocardiography in the ICU for evaluation of LV function. Of these, 25 patients (63%) had poor visualization of the endocardium and required IV contrast agent. In these 25 patients, the average baseline segmental score was 4.5, compared to 11.6 in patients who received an IV contrast agent. Nineteen patients had an average baseline segmental score of 3.9 and were deemed to have a nondiagnostic study. After administration of IV contrast, all patients converted to a diagnostic study, with an average score of 11.6 segments visualized.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of echocardiographic contrast agents in selected patients with poor baseline echocardiographic windows in the ICU setting significantly enhances segmental LV visualization and yielded 100% conversion from nondiagnostic to diagnostic studies.

Beta-adrenergic receptors (betaAR) regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation during early postnatal life

Cardiomyocyte development switches from hyperplasmic to hypertrophic growth between postnatal days 3 and 4 in rats. The mechanisms responsible for this transition have been controversial. beta-Adrenergic receptor (betaAR) activation of mitogenic responses in vitro has been reported. We hypothesized that tonic activation of the betaAR signaling regulates cell division in neonatal cardiomyocytes via effects on signaling kinases known to be important in cell cycle regulation. The purpose of the current study was to elucidate the roles of betaAR in rat cardiomyocyte growth in vivo. We demonstrated that betaAR blockade induced a significant reduction in cardiomyocyte proliferation as measured by the BrdU labeling index. Blockade of betaAR did not affect p38 or p44/42 MAPK activities. We further demonstrated that betaAR blockade induced a prompt deactivation of the p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70 S6K). To confirm these results, we measured p70 S6K activity directly. Basal activity of p70 S6K in neonatal cardiomyocytes was fourfold higher than that of insulin-treated adult rat liver. The activity of p70 S6K was reduced by 60% within 1 min after betaAR blockade. We conclude that the betaAR are involved in regulation of neonatal cardiomyocyte proliferation and that this mitogenic control may be mediated via the p70 S6K pathway.

Immunocytochemical characterization of viruses and antigenic macromolecules in viral vaccines

Gold immunolabeling combined with negative staining (GINS) provides a valuable immunocytochemical approach that allows a direct ultrastructural definition of all viral vaccine constituents that share common antigenic features with pathogenic viral particles. These results have implications for the development of viral vaccines since it has been demonstrated that incomplete viral particles such as natural empty capsides and Rotavirus-like particles lacking the infective genome are potential candidates for the production of neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore comparative results of the application of GINS to either inactivated vaccines or unfixed samples provide direct evidence that even after inactivation specific antigenic sites are still available for gold immunolabeling.

Comparison of quality of care by specialist and generalist physicians as usual source of asthma care for children

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether care for children was more consistent with national asthma guidelines when a specialist rather than a generalist was the usual source of asthma care.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Two large managed care organizations in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 260 parents of children with asthma.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Parent reports of the physician primarily responsible for asthma care (specialist, generalist, or both equally) and whom they would call (specialist or generalist) for questions about asthma care were used to define usual source of care. We assessed consistency of care with 1997 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines using 11 indicators in 4 domains of asthma care: patient education, control of factors contributing to asthma symptoms, periodic physiologic assessment and monitoring, and proper use of medications.

RESULTS

In all 4 domains, care was more likely to be consistent with guidelines when specialists were the usual source of care. These differences remained after adjustment for symptom severity, recent care encounters, and parent demographics. Greatest differences for specialist versus generalist management were for use of controller medications (odds ratio [OR] 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-30.4), ever having a pulmonary function test (OR 6.5; 95% CI: 2.4-18.1), and having been told about asthma triggers and how to avoid them (OR 5.9; 95% CI: 1.3-26.2).

CONCLUSIONS

In these managed care organizations, asthma care in children was more likely to be consistent with national guidelines when a specialist was the primary provider. Greater use of specialists or altering generalist physicians' care may improve the degree to which the care of children with asthma is consistent with national guidelines.

A novel glucocorticoid regulatory unit mediates the hormone responsiveness of the beta1-adrenergic receptor gene

The effects of glucocorticoids on expression of the beta1-adrenergic receptor (beta1AR) gene have been varied. To study the mechanism underling hormonal regulation of the beta1AR, transient transfection of progressively deleted ovine beta1AR promoter fragments was used to identify a 43-bp region (-1274 to -1232 from the translation start site) that contains a novel glucocorticoid regulatory unit (GRU) and confers glucocorticoid responsiveness. Using DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), we demonstrated the GRU was composed of a palindrome, 5'-TAATTA-3', which is a core binding motif for the homeodomain proteins, an E-box (5'-CACGTG-3'), binding site for the Myc/Max family proteins, and an overlapping glucocorticoid response element (GRE) half-site (5'-TGTTCT-3'). EMSA demonstrated that the GRE half-site is critical for GRU-protein interactions, which also require binding of proteins to the E-box and the homeodomain region. Co-transfection of a plasmid expressing a c-myc antisense construct significantly reduced glucocorticoid responsiveness of the ovine beta1AR promoter. Furthermore, expression of proteins binding to the GRU was shown to be developmentally regulated, being high in embryonic, reduced in newborn and not detectable in adult heart. We conclude that the ovine beta1AR promoter contains a novel, functional GRU and that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the Myc/Max family proteins are involved in the cell-specific nuclear factor binding and transactivation via this element. The results suggest an alternative pathway through which glucocorticoids may exert their effects on genes lacking a full consensus GRE.

Predictors of macrovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To assess the importance of classic and nonclassic risk factors in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this community-based, prospective cohort study, quantitative measurements for cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), glucose, and lipoprotein(a) detected as a sinking pre-beta-lipoprotein band on electrophoresis were obtained from 1968 through 1982 from 449 patients who were free of CAD and CVD but had type 2 DM. Demographic data and covariables obtained were age, body mass index, duration of diabetes, sex, smoking, and hypertension. The relationship of individual continuous factors to the development of CAD and CVD as well as multivariate models were evaluated with use of the Cox proportional hazards model. The primary outcome was to determine which risk factors are associated with development of CAD or CVD in patients with type 2 DM.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 13 years, 216 CAD and 115 CVD events had developed. The hazard ratio estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CAD after multivariate analysis were significant for age, 1.45 (95% CI, 1.27-1.67); fasting glucose levels at enrollment, 1.63 (95% CI, 1.17-2.25); smoking, 1.45 (95% CI, 1.10-1.91); and TGs, 1.49 (95% CI, 1.15-1.92). The hazard ratio estimates for CVD were significant for age, 1.95 (95% CI, 1.59-2.38); hypertension, 1.89 (95% CI, 1.30-2.74); fasting glucose levels at enrollment, 1.69 (95% CI, 1.06-2.70); and smoking, 1.57 (95% CI, 1.07-2.30).

CONCLUSION

In diabetic patients, age, fasting glucose levels, smoking, and TG levels are independent risk factors for development of CAD events. Age, hypertension, glucose, and smoking predicted development of CVD events.

Induction of apoptosis in mammary gland by a pure anti-estrogen ICI 182780

The antiestrogen, ICI 182780 (ICI) proves to be clinically useful for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast tumours. We report the assessment of the in vivo and in vitro effects of ICI on apoptosis of breast epithelial cells. In vivo, administration of rats with ICI for 3 weeks resulted in a reduction in the size of the lobular structures with the rate of mammary epithelial apoptosis equivalent to 10, 35 and 45% on treatment with 1, 1.5 and 2 mg ICI per kg body weight, respectively. Concomitantly, these treatment led to a 2.0-, 2.2- and 2.5-fold increase in Bax. Similar elevations were also observed in Bad levels which increased 1.7-, 2.6- and 2.7-fold respectively in the ICI treatment as compared to controls. This also resulted in a dose dependent decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein expressions. Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis were also observed in the MCF-7 cells following in vitro treatment with ICI. This is closely associated with [1] the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins and [2] upregulation of Bax and Bad, whose gene products are known to be involved the regulation of apoptosis in mammalian cells. Stable over-expression of Bcl-2 resulted in protection of MCF-7 cells from apoptosis and growth inhibitory effects of ICI. Conversely, reduction of Bcl-2 by antisense transfection make MCF-7 cells more sensitive to ICI-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. These findings suggest that modulation of Bax, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and Bad proteins by ICI may be, in part, responsible for the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of ICI seen clinically and in animal models.

Effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on the synthesis and accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine and S-adenosylmethionine in rat tissues

The effect of vitamin B6-deficiency on the B6-vitamer concentrations, level of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) were studied in rat tissues. The plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and, pyridoxal (PL) levels were lower in the B6-deficient group compared to the control group. After 5 weeks of feeding the experimental diets, tissue PLP, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP) and PL concentrations were significantly lower in the B6-deficient group compared to the control and the pair-fed control groups. Thymus PLP and PL levels were lower in the B6-deficient group. The concentration of SAM in the B6-deficient group decreased to approximately 50% and 25% in liver and thymus, respectively. However SAH concentration was 3.5 and 2 fold higher compared to the control and the pair-fed control groups. Thus, the ratio of SAM/SAH was significantly decreased in the B6-deficient group compared to the control or the pair fed-control group. In addition, the S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1) activity increased by 45% and 15% in liver and thymus, respectively, in the B6-deficient group compared to the pair-fed control and the control groups. However, the activity of L-methionine S-adenosyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.6) was also unaffected. Concentrations of SAH and SAM, SAM/SAH ratio and activities of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and L-methionine S-adenosyltrasferase in rat brain were not affected by the B6-deficiency. We infer that the alteration of B6 metabolism, especially the reduction of PLP contents in liver and thymus, caused by the B6 deficiency, resulted in accumulation of SAH as well as reduction of SAM and the SAM/SAH ratio. The reduction of the SAM/SAH ratio was due to a block in the catabolism of methionine via the trans-sulfuration pathway. These may lead to inhibition of transmethylation reaction of DNA, RNA and protein, the synthesis and function of thymic lymphocyte and result in damage to tissues.

Relation of acanthosis nigricans to hyperinsulinemia and insulin sensitivity in overweight African American and white children

OBJECTIVES

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) has been proposed as a reliable marker of hyperinsulinemia, but its utility for predicting hyperinsulinism has not been systematically evaluated in overweight children. We examined the relationship of AN to hyperinsulinemia and body adiposity.

STUDY DESIGN

One hundred thirty-nine children underwent physical examination for AN, body composition studies, an oral glucose tolerance test, and a hyperglycemic clamp.

RESULTS

Thirty-five children (25%) had AN. AN was more prevalent in African Americans (50.1%) than in white subjects (8.2%, P < .001). Independent of race, children with AN had greater body weight and body fat mass (P < .001); greater basal and glucose-stimulated insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test (P < .001); greater first-phase, second-phase, and steady-state insulin levels (P < .001); and lower insulin sensitivity (P < .001) during the hyperglycemic clamp. After adjusting for body fat mass and age, none of these differences remained significant. When categorized by fasting insulin, 35% with fasting insulin levels > 20 microU/mL and 50% with fasting insulin levels > 15 microU/mL did not have AN. Eighty-eight percent of children with fasting insulin levels > or = 15 microU/mL had a body mass index SD score > or = 3.0.

CONCLUSIONS

AN is not a reliable marker for hyperinsulinemia in overweight children. Children with a race-, sex-, and age-specific body mass index SD scores > or = 3.0 should be screened for hyperinsulinemia, whether or not they have AN.

Tsukamurella strandjordae sp. nov., a proposed new species causing sepsis

We have isolated a gram-positive, weakly acid-alcohol-fast, irregular rod-shaped bacterium from cultures of blood from a 5-year-old girl with acute myelogenous leukemia. This isolate was compared with 14 other strains including reference strains of Tsukamurella species by a polyphasic approach based on physiological and biochemical properties, whole-cell short-chain fatty acid and mycolic acid analyses, DNA-DNA hybridization, and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. This isolate represents a new taxon within the genus Tsukamurella for which we propose the name Tsukamurella strandjordae sp. nov. Our study also revealed that Tsukamurella paurometabola ATCC 25938 represents a misnamed Tsukamurella inchonensis isolate and confirms that Tsukamurella wratislaviensis belongs to the genus Rhodococcus.

Characterization of herpes simplex viruses selected in culture for resistance to penciclovir or acyclovir

Penciclovir (PCV), an antiherpesvirus agent in the same class as acyclovir (ACV), is phosphorylated in herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells by the viral thymidine kinase (TK). Resistance to ACV has been mapped to mutations within either the TK or the DNA polymerase gene. An identical activation pathway, the similarity in mode of action, and the invariant cross-resistance of TK-negative mutants argue that the mechanisms of resistance to PCV and ACV are likely to be analogous. A total of 48 HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 isolates were selected after passage in the presence of increasing concentrations of PCV or ACV in MRC-5 cells. Phenotypic analysis suggested these isolates were deficient in TK activity. Moreover, sequencing of the TK genes from ACV-selected mutants identified two homopolymeric G-C nucleotide stretches as putative hot spots, thereby confirming previous reports examining Acv(r) clinical isolates. Surprisingly, mutations identified in PCV-selected mutants were generally not in these regions but distributed throughout the TK gene and at similar frequencies of occurrence within A-T or G-C nucleotides, regardless of virus type. Furthermore, HSV-1 isolates selected in the presence of ACV commonly included frameshift mutations, while PCV-selected HSV-1 mutants contained mostly nonconservative amino acid changes. Data from this panel of laboratory isolates show that Pcv(r) mutants share cross-resistance and only limited sequence similarity with HSV mutants identified following ACV selection. Subtle differences between PCV and ACV in the interaction with viral TK or polymerase may account for the different spectra of genotypes observed for the two sets of mutants.