Genetic identification of a locus, Mot1, that affects renal tumor size in the rat

Prognosis and treatment of solid tumors are directly dependent on the stage of disease. For any type of cancer, tumor characteristics such as size, multiplicity, and metastatic potential are highly heterogeneous among patients. Our understanding of the genetic determinants of tumor burden is rudimentary. Here, rats carrying a germline mutation of the gene Tsc2 were found to develop variable size and number of renal tumors. We hypothesize that "modifier" genes unlinked to Tsc2 affect its expressivity. Using a backcross (BC) analysis between the two strains that showed the greatest difference in tumor size (Fischer344 and Brown Norway), we mapped a quantitative trait locus based on tumor volume to rat chromosome 3q, lying in the interval between D3Mit3 and D3Rat17, with a maximum lod score of 4.4. This locus, Mot1 (modifier of Tsc2 1), accounts for approximately 35% of the genetic variation in tumor size between the two strains. No significant difference in tumor multiplicity was noted between Brown Norway and Fischer344 rats. This suggests that Mot1 modulates the rate of disease progression and not tumor initiation. Candidate genes on rat chromosome 3 included Tsc1, whose product interacts biochemically with the TSC2 protein, but it was excluded on the basis of linkage analysis (LOD=0.01). Comparative genomics suggest that the Mot1 region is represented by human chromosomes 15q and 20pq. Our results provide the first evidence of a modifier gene affecting the Tsc2 pathway in the progression of renal tumorigenesis.

Mapping transient, randomly occurring neuropsychological events using independent component analysis

The feasibility of mapping transient, randomly occurring neuropsychological events using independent component analysis (ICA) was evaluated in an auditory sentence-monitoring fMRI experiment, in which prerecorded short sentences of random content were presented in varying temporal patterns. The efficacy of ICA on fMRI data with such temporal characteristics was assessed by a series of simulation studies, as well as by human activation studies. The effects of contrast-to-noise ratio level, spatially varied hemodynamic response within a brain region, time lags of the responses among brain regions, and different simulated activation locations on the ICA were investigated in the simulations. Component maps obtained from the auditory sentence-monitoring experiments in each subject using ICA showed distinct activation in bilateral auditory and language cortices, as well as in superior sensorimotor cortices, consistent with previous PET studies. The associated time courses in the activated brain regions matched well to the timing of the sentence presentation, as evidenced by the recorded button-press response signals. Methods for ICA component ordering that may rank highly the components of primary interest in such experiments were developed. The simulation results characterized the performance of ICA under various conditions and may provide useful information for experimental design and data interpretation.

A 3.1-kb genomic fragment of Bacillus subtilis encodes the protein inhibiting growth of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

AIMS

To clone genes of Bacillus subtilis encoding peptides that inhibit the growth of Xanthomonas orzae pv. oryzae (Xoo).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 3.1-kb DNA fragment from B. subtilis SO113 encoding peptides that inhibit the growth of Xoo (anti-Xoo, showing an inhibition zone) was isolated from a plasmid library of B. subtilis 6 GM15. Sequence analysis revealed that it contained three complete open reading frames (ORFs): ybcO, ybcS and a novel ORF designated ybcPQ. Deleting the last 96 bp of ybcS from the plasmid eliminated the anti-Xoo activity, suggesting that ybcS is required for producing the anti-Xoo activity. However, no anti-Xoo activity could be detected for the plasmid with ybcS alone. Further analysis showed that ybcO, at least, was also required to obtain the anti-Xoo activity.

CONCLUSIONS

A fragment of B. subtilis has been cloned that expresses an anti-Xoo activity that requires ybcS and ybcO.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

These genes could be useful for the genetic engineering of resistance to rice bacterial diseases and for the design of new anti-Xoo biocontrol agents.

[Mapping the interaction site of Rpb2 and Rpb3 subunit of fission yeast RNA polymerase II]

To map the interacting site of subunit Rpb2 to subunit Rpb3 of RNA polymerase II in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the yeast two-hybrid system was employed in this paper to screen the interacting clones between Rpb2 and Rpb3.4 fragments of Rpb2 cDNA were cloned into the Ga14 BD vector pAS2. The 4 clones were named as pAS2 Rpb2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 2-4, respectively. The complete cDNA of Rpb3 was cloned into the Gal 4 AD vector pGADGH. The clone was named as pGADGH Rpb3. The two-hybrid plasmids pGADGH Rpb3 and pAS2Rpb2-1, 2-2, 2-3 or 2-4 respectively were cotransformed into host cell yeast Y190. The interaction positive cotransformants were identified by beta-gal activity assay. The beta-gal positive cotransformants were selected from pGADGH Rpb3 and pAS2Rpb2-4 two-hybrid system. DNA sequencing and alignment results showed that the interacting site of Rpb2 to Rpb3 located within the fragment from base 2701 to 2966 of Rpb2 cDNA, or within the C-termini polypeptide from amino acid 902 to 989 of Rpb2 protein.

A novel water-soluble fluorescent probe for the determination of methylamine

A novel water-soluble fluorescent probe, monosodium 7-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazinylamino)-1,3-naphthalenedisulfonic acid (DTND), was synthesized by reacting cyanuric chloride with 7-amino-1,3-naphthalenedisulfonic acid monopotassium salt at 0-5 degrees C. This new reagent was used for the determination of methylamine. The linear range is 3x10(-6)-2x10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 7.2x10(-8) mol L(-1), and the relative S.D. is 1.3% for ten replicate determinations of 1x10(-5) mol L(-1) CH3NH2. Common species in the aqueous environment have no or only slight influence on the determination. The method can be used to determine methylamine in real water samples.

Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis: validity of the criteria of Williams et al. in a hospital-based setting

BACKGROUND

Surveys of the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) have been carried out world-wide, but the results vary widely. The differences probably result from the use of different diagnostic criteria. Williams et al. proposed minimum, simplified, diagnostic criteria that require no invasive test and are easy to use. Pilot studies in European countries showed their suitability for implementation both in hospitals and in the community, and their high sensitivity and specificity.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the potential practical value of the criteria of Williams et al. in the Chinese population.

METHODS

The criteria of Hanifin and Rajka (gold standard), Williams et al. and Kang and Tian were applied and compared in 111 patients with AD and 121 control subjects with other skin diseases in three out-patient centres in China.

RESULTS

The criteria of Williams et al. showed a similar diagnostic efficiency to that of the gold standard, with the sensitivity, specificity and kappa value reaching 95.50%, 97.52% and 0.93, respectively. No significant difference was found between the criteria of Williams et al. and those of Kang and Tian (chi2 = 0.69, P > 0.05). 'Onset under the age of 2 years', a criterion of Williams et al. could be used in subjects of any age.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic efficiency of the criteria of Williams et al. was basically similar to those of Hanifin and Rajka and of Kang and Tian in our out-patient settings. However, those of Williams et al. were easier to apply and required no invasive tests.

A positive regulatory role for Cbl family proteins in tumor necrosis factor-related activation-induced cytokine (trance) and CD40L-mediated Akt activation

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE) is a TNF family member essential for osteoclast differentiation, and it induces the activation and survival of osteoclasts and mature dendritic cells. We recently demonstrated that TRANCE activates Akt via a mechanism involving TRANCE receptor (TRANCE-R)/RANK, TRAF6, and c-Src. Here, we show that TRANCE-R and CD40 recruit TRAF6, Cbl family-scaffolding proteins, and the phospholipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in a ligand-dependent manner. The recruitment of Cbl-b and c-Cbl to TRANCE-R is dependent upon the activity of Src-family kinases. TRANCE and CD40L-mediated Akt activation is defective in Cbl-b -/- dendritic cells, and CD40L-mediated Akt activation is defective in c-Cbl -/- B cells. These findings implicate Cbl family proteins as not only negative regulators of signaling but as positive modulators of TNF receptor superfamily signaling as well.

Gab2 is phosphorylated on tyrosine upon interleukin-2/interleukin-15 stimulation in mycosis-fungoides-derived tumor T cells and associates inducibly with SHP-2 and Stat5a

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) often show abnormal interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor signaling. In this study, we investigated the role of Gab2, a recently identified adaptor molecule involved in IL-2 receptor signaling in CTCLs. We show that Gab2 was transiently phosphorylated by tyrosine in human mycosis fungoides (MF) tumor T cells upon IL-2 stimulation and that SHP2 as well as Stat5a associated inducibly with Gab2. IL-15, but not IL-4, also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gab2, suggesting that the IL-2 receptor beta-chain is important for IL-2-induced Gab2 phosphorylation. Preincubation of cells with the Src family kinase inhibitor, PP1, surprisingly increased the IL-2- and IL-15-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gab2, indicating that an Src family kinase member negatively regulates IL-2 receptor signaling in MF T cells. Thus, although Gab2 seems to function normally in MF T cells compared to normal T cells, Gab2 itself might be abnormally regulated by an Src family kinase.

Different classifications of UPOs in the parametrically different chaotic ISI series of a neural pacemaker

Various interspike intervals (ISIs) in a series of spontaneous discharges of experimental neural pacemakers were identified as chaotic and as lying between stable period 2 and stable period 3. The method of So et al. for detection of unstable periodic orbits (UPOs) was applied to analyze two chaotic ISI series generated under the action of [Ca2+]o in different concentrations. In the chaotic ISI series near the stable period 2, an unstable period 2 orbit was detected. In the chaotic ISI series near the stable period 3, both an unstable period 2 orbit and an unstable period 3 orbit were detected. The location of the unstable period 2 orbit was close to that of the stable period 2 in the return map, while the location of the unstable period 3 orbit was close to that of the stable period 3. The results not only revealed the structures of various chaotic ISI series, but also indicated that the classification of UPOs could reflect the experimental control parameters at which the chaotic ISI series were generated. The previously discovered period adding bifurcation in the ISI series generated by experimental neural pacemakers [12] was further described in terms of the evolution of the period orbits.

Essential role for Gab2 in the allergic response

Dos/Gab family scaffolding adapters (Dos, Gab1, Gab2) bind several signal relay molecules, including the protein-tyrosine phosphatase Shp-2 and phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K); they are also implicated in growth factor, cytokine and antigen receptor signal transduction. Mice lacking Gab1 die during embryogenesis and show defective responses to several stimuli. Here we report that Gab2-/- mice are viable and generally healthy; however, the response (for example, degranulation and cytokine gene expression) of Gab2-/- mast cells to stimulation of the high affinity immunoglobulin-epsilon (IgE) receptor Fc(epsilon)RI is defective. Accordingly, allergic reactions such as passive cutaneous and systemic anaphylaxis are markedly impaired in Gab2-/- mice. Biochemical analyses reveal that signalling pathways dependent on PI(3)K, a critical component of Fc(epsilon)RI signalling, are defective in Gab2-/- mast cells. Our data identify Gab2 as the principal activator of PI(3)K in response to Fc(epsilon)RI activation, thereby providing genetic evidence that Dos/Gab family scaffolds regulate the PI(3)K pathway in vivo. Gab2 and/or its associated signalling molecules may be new targets for developing drugs to treat allergy.

[A gene study on multidrug resistance of retinoblastoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) and multidrug associated protein (MRP) gene in the retinoblastoma (Rb) cell line HXO-RB(44), and study the mechanism of multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype occurring in retinoblastoma.

METHODS

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the transcription of MDR1 and MRP gene in the HXO-RB(44) cell line, and immunohistochemical technique was used to detect their protein products P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance associated protein (P190).

RESULT

Both MDR1 and MRP genes were expressed in HXO-RB(44) cell line, as well as P-glycoprotein and P190 were over-expressed (96% - 97%) in this cell line.

CONCLUSION

Over-expression of MDR1 and MRP genes is significantly involved in the mechanism of MDR phenotype in retinoblastoma.

Position and sequence requirements for poly(A) length regulation by the poly(A) limiting element

The poly(A)-limiting element (PLE) is a cis-acting sequence that acts to limit poly(A) tail length on pre-mRNA to <20 nt. Functional PLEs are present in a number of genes, underscoring the generality of this control mechanism. The current study sought to define further the position requirements for poly(A) length regulation and the core sequence that comprises a PLE. Increasing the spacing between the PLE and the upstream 3' splice site or between the PLE and the downstream AAUAAA had no effect on poly(A) length control. However, moving the PLE from the terminal exon to either an upstream exon or intron eliminated poly(A) length control. Poly(A) length control was further evaluated using a battery of constructs in which the PLE was maintained in the terminal exon, but where upstream introns were either deleted, modified, or replaced with a polypyrimidine tract. Poly(A) length control was retained in all cases, indicating that the key feature is the presence of the PLE in the terminal exon. A battery of mutations demonstrated the importance of the 5' pyrimidine-rich portion of the element. Finally, UV crosslinking experiments identified an approximately 62-kDa protein in Hela nuclear extract that binds to a wild-type 23-nt PLE RNA oligonucleotides but not to a mutated nonfunctional form of the element.

[Increase of EGFR expression by Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of LMP1 on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in HNE2-LMP1 cells.

METHODS

Stable transfectant HNE2 cell line expressing LMP1 (HNE2-LMP1) or its mutants (HNE2 del 187-351, HNE2 1-231, HNE2 1-187) were used as cell models. The expression of EGFR was detected by Western blot method. The characteristics of EGFR expression were analyzed when HNE2-LMP1 LMP1 cells were transiently transfected with TRAF1, 2, 3 or TRAF1, 2, 3 dominant negative mutants (DN-TRAF1, 2, 3). The growth characteristics of HNE2-LMP1 and vector controls were analyzed on serum-free media supplemented with EGF.

RESULTS

Stable expression of LMP1 in HNE2 cells increased the expression of EGFR. LMP1 CTAR1 domain, being identical to the TRAF interaction domain, was essential to the induction of EGFR. The CTAR2 domain did not induce expression of EGFR. Overexpression of either TRAF1, 3 or an dominant negative mutant of TRAF1, 3 inhibited the expression of EGFR, while TRAF2 or negative mutants of TRAF2 did slightly so. In HNE2-LMP1 cells, LMP1 expression increased the proliferative response to EGF while the vector control cells exhibited very low level of viability and did not proliferate.

CONCLUSION

The induction of EGFR by LMP1 CTAR1 may be an important component of EBV infection via an TRAF1, 2, 3 mechanism in the epithelial cells and may contribute to the development of epithelial malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Partitioning an object-oriented terminology schema

Controlled medical terminologies are increasingly becoming strategic components of various healthcare enterprises. However, the typical medical terminology can be difficult to exploit due to its extensive size and high density. The schema of a medical terminology offered by an object-oriented representation is a valuable tool in providing an abstract view of the terminology, enhancing comprehensibility and making it more usable. However, schemas themselves can be large and unwieldy. We present a methodology for partitioning a medical terminology schema into manageably sized fragments that promote increased comprehension. Our methodology has a refinement process for the subclass hierarchy of the terminology schema. The methodology is carried out by a medical domain expert in conjunction with a computer. The expert is guided by a set of three modeling rules, which guarantee that the resulting partitioned schema consists of a forest of trees. This makes it easier to understand and consequently use the medical terminology. The application of our methodology to the schema of the Medical Entities Dictionary (MED) is presented.

LMP1 activates NF-kappa B via degradation of I kappa B alpha in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the mechanisms by which Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 activates NF-kappa B in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

METHODS

A tetracycline-regulated LMP1-expressing nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line, Tet-on-LMP1-HNE2, was used as the cell model. The kinetics of the expression of proteins, including LMP1, I kappa B alpha and I kappa B beta, was analyzed by Western blotting. The subcellular localization of NF-kappa B (p65) was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The NF-kappa B transactivity was studied by transient transfection and reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

I kappa B alpha was phosphorylated and degraded after the inducible expression of LMP1, although the total protein levels remained stable. The steady-state level of total I kappa B beta protein may have resulted from the initiation of an autoregulation loop after the activation of NF-kappa B. No change in the I kappa B beta level was detected. NF-kappa B (p65) was translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus following degradation of I kappa B alpha. After the introduction of the dominant-negative mutant of I kappa B alpha (Del 71) into Tet-on-LMP1-HNE2 cells, both nuclear translocation and transactivation of NF-kappa B induced by LMP1 was significantly inhibited.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, LMP1 activated NF-kappa B via phosphorylation and degradation of I kappa B alpha, but not I kappa B beta. The dominant-negative mutant of I kappa B alpha (Del 71) could completely inhibit both the nuclear translocation and transactivation of NF-kappa B induced by LMP1.

Characterization of iodonium salts differing in the anion

The properties and reactivity of a series of iodonium salts with different anions were compared. The nucleophilicity of the anions in such compounds can be characterized by their melting points and NMR spectra. When using Quinaldine Red as indicator and CH3CN as solvent, the acid release rate of the iodonium salts correlated very well with their polymerization results in acid-sensitive epoxides.

The carboxyl terminal domain regulates the unitary conductance and voltage dependence of connexin40 gap junction channels

Chemical regulation of connexin (Cx) 40 and Cx43 follows a ball-and-chain model, in which the carboxyl terminal (CT) domain acts as a gating particle that binds to a receptor affiliated with the pore. Moreover, Cx40 channels can be closed by a heterodomain interaction with the CT domain of Cx43 and vice versa. Here, we report similar interactions in the establishment of the unitary conductance and voltage-dependent profile of Cx40 in N2A cells. Two mean unitary conductance values ("lower conductance" and "main") were detected in wild-type Cx40. Truncation of the CT domain at amino acid 248 (Cx40tr248) caused the disappearance of the lower-conductance state. Coexpression of Cx40tr248 with the CT fragment of either Cx40 (homodomain interactions) or Cx43 (heterodomain interactions) rescued the unitary conductance profile of Cx40. In the N2A cells, the time course of macroscopic junctional current relaxation was best described by a biexponential function in the wild-type Cx40 channels, but it was reduced to a single-exponential function after truncation. However, macroscopic junctional currents recorded in the oocyte expression system were not significantly different between the wild-type and mutant channels. Concatenation of the CT domain of Cx43 to amino acids 1 to 248 of Cx40 yielded a chimeric channel with unitary conductance and voltage-gating profile indistinguishable from that of wild-type Cx40. We conclude that residence of Cx40 channels in the lower-conductance state involves a ball-and-chain type of interaction between the CT domain and the pore-forming region. This interaction can be either homologous (Cx40 truncation with Cx40CT) or heterologous (with the Cx43CT).

Expression pattern and functional analysis of a MADS-box gene M79 from rice

Using a degenerated primer and a T-primer, a MADS-box gene, M79, was amplified by RT-PCR from rice fluorescence at meiosis stage and then cloned. Sequence analysis shows that M79 shares 98.2% homology with OsMADS7 at DNA level while only 92% at the amino acid level. The transcript of M79 possesses five different polyadenylation sites. Only a single copy of M79 gene has been found in rice genome, which is located on chromosome 8. M79 is expressed specifically in flower organs, from pre-meiosis stage through pollen maturation. Ectopic expression of M79 in T(0) and T(1) transgenic rice results in early-flowering, implying that M79 is involved in controlling the flowering time. In the same time, M79 may be involved in controlling the branching process to make more flower buds.

Divergent roles of SHP-2 in ERK activation by leptin receptors

The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 has been proposed to serve as a regulator of leptin signaling, but its specific roles are not fully examined. To directly investigate the role of SHP-2, we employed dominant negative strategies in transfected cells. We show that a catalytically inactive mutant of SHP-2 blocks leptin-stimulated ERK phosphorylation by the long leptin receptor, ObRb. SHP-2, lacking two C-terminal tyrosine residues, partially inhibits ERK phosphorylation. We find similar effects of the SHP-2 mutants after examining stimulation of an ERK-dependent egr-1 promoter-construct by leptin. We also demonstrate ERK phosphorylation and egr-1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus by leptin. Analysis of signaling by ObRb lacking intracellular tyrosine residues or by the short leptin receptor, ObRa, enabled us to conclude that two pathways are critical for ERK activation. One pathway does not require the intracellular domain of ObRb, whereas the other pathway requires tyrosine residue 985 of ObRb. The phosphatase activity of SHP-2 is required for both pathways, whereas activation of ERK via Tyr-985 of ObRb also requires tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2. SHP-2 is thus a positive regulator of ERK by leptin receptors, and both the adaptor function and the phosphatase activity of SHP-2 are critical for this regulation.

Regulation of expression of IL-4 alleles: analysis using a chimeric GFP/IL-4 gene

CD4 cells from mice heterozygous for an IL-4 and a GFP/IL-4 gene frequently express a single allele. Analysis of IL-4 or GFP production by cells from recently primed Th2 cells indicates that essentially all are competent to transcribe either allele but have a low probability of doing so. By contrast, long-term Th2 clones show distinct and heritable ratios in the proportion of cells that express IL-4 or GFP. We conclude that in the course of Th2 priming an early efficient event renders both alleles capable of being inefficiently transcribed; a second, less frequent event occurs that renders one allele more competent, accounting for the differential expression of IL-4 and GFP in different clones.

Targeted disruption of the Kvlqt1 gene causes deafness and gastric hyperplasia in mice

The KvLQT1 gene encodes a voltage-gated potassium channel. Mutations in KvLQT1 underlie the dominantly transmitted Ward-Romano long QT syndrome, which causes cardiac arrhythmia, and the recessively transmitted Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, which causes both cardiac arrhythmia and congenital deafness. KvLQT1 is also disrupted by balanced germline chromosomal rearrangements in patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), which causes prenatal overgrowth and cancer. Because of the diverse human disorders and organ systems affected by this gene, we developed an animal model by inactivating the murine Kvlqt1. No electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed. However, homozygous mice exhibited complete deafness, as well as circular movement and repetitive falling, suggesting imbalance. Histochemical study revealed severe anatomic disruption of the cochlear and vestibular end organs, suggesting that Kvlqt1 is essential for normal development of the inner ear. Surprisingly, homozygous mice also displayed threefold enlargement by weight of the stomach resulting from mucous neck cell hyperplasia. Finally, there were no features of BWS, suggesting that Kvlqt1 is not responsible for BWS.

[Safety and immunogenicity of inactivated bivalent EHF vaccine in humans]

OBJECTIVE

Safety and immunogenicity of inactivated bivalent EHF vaccine in humans were evaluated in the epidemic area of Zhejiang province, China.

METHODS

Susceptible persons with negative anti-EHF were selected in Jiande county, Zhejiang province to receive 3 doses of inactivated bivalent EHF vaccine at 0, 7, 28 days. A booster injection was given one year after the primary immunization. Antibody responses were measured in human volunteers by IFA and MCPENT. Local and general reactions were recorded within 72 hours after each vaccination by physicians.

RESULTS

Two weeks after the primary vaccination, 99.04% of the subjects developed significant hantavirus antibody titre measured by IFA which had a 37.34% drop one year after the primary vaccination. Seroconversion rate increased to 100% two weeks after the booster dose. Neutralising antibody titres paralleled this trend with 100% of vaccine recipients producing neutralising antibody two weeks after the primary doses. However, it dropped to 80% one year after the primary vaccination. One hundred percent of the vaccine recipients started to respond two weeks after boosting. The geometric mean titre (GMT) of neutralising antibody against 76 - 118 and UR were 18.27 +/- 2.21 and 12.47 +/- 2.16 respectively after the primary injections, but it increased to 37.09 +/- 2.24 and 32.61 +/- 2.05 respectively after the secondary immunization. General and local reaction rates were 0.46% and 1.98%, with no severe side effects observed in the vaccinees.

CONCLUSION

The vaccine was well tolerated and could induce good humoral immune response.

[The expression of CD15 mRNA CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA in breast cancer and their clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship of the expression of CD15 mRNA and its protein, CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA with the clinical pathology parameter and prognosis of breast cancer, and to investigate the correlation of the expression of CD15 mRNA with CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA.

METHODS

Catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) method of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of CD15 mRNA and its protein, CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA in 94 cases of breast cancer.

RESULTS

The overexpression of CD15 mRNA and its protein and CD44v6 mRNA and the low expression nm23H1 mRNA were correlated with the grading, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, recurrence and prognosis of breast cancer. Patients who had overexpression of CD15 mRNA and CD44v6 mRNA and low expression of nm23H1 mRNA had a higher lymph node metastatic rate and a lower survival rate.

CONCLUSION

The expression of CD15 mRNA has a synergistic action in positive and negative regulation with that of CD44v6 mRNA and nm23H1 mRNA. Combining detection of the expression of these three mRNA is a reliable index to evaluate the metastasis, recurrence and prognosis of breast cancer.

Transit time, trailing time, and cerebral blood flow during brain activation: measurement using multislice, pulsed spin-labeling perfusion imaging

Transit time and trailing time in pulsed spin-labeling perfusion imaging are likely to be modulated by local blood flow changes, such as those accompanying brain activation. The majority of transit/trailing time is due to the passage of the tagged blood bolus through the arteriole/capillary regions, because of lower blood flow velocity in these regions. Changes of transit/trailing time during activation could affect the quantification of CBF in functional neuroimaging studies, and are therefore important to characterize. In this work, the measurement of transit and trailing times and CBF during sensorimotor activation using multislice perfusion imaging with pulsed arterial spin-labeling is described. While CBF elevated dramatically ( thick similar80.7%) during the sensorimotor activation, sizable reductions of transit time ( thick similar0.11 sec) and trailing time ( thick similar0.26 sec) were observed. Transit and trailing times were dependent on the distances from the leading and trailing edges of the tagged blood bolus to the location of the imaging slices. The effects of transit/trailing time changes on CBF quantification during brain activation were analyzed by simulation studies. Significant errors can be caused in the estimation of CBF if such changes of transit/trailing time are not taken into account.