A BamHI repeat element is predominantly associated with the degenerating neo-Y chromosome of Drosophila miranda but absent in the Drosophila melanogaster genome

In Drosophila miranda, females have two X1 and two evolving X2 chromosomes, and males have one of each of these two X chromosomes and a Y chromosome. In males, the homologue of the X2 chromosome, the neo-Y chromosome, is attached to the Y chromosome and is under the process of degenerative evolution. We have examined a developmentally regulated X2/neo-Y chromosome-linked gene, 549mr, of D. miranda and found that the neo-Y chromosome-linked copy of this gene (549mr-NY) contains an insertional DNA. We discovered that sequences similar to those in the insertional DNA are present in multiple copies in the genome of both sexes of D. miranda but are more abundant in the males. The insertional DNA also identified a 1.1-kilobase BamHI repeat that is present in at least 6-fold excess in the male genome as compared to the female. This BamHI repeat and similar DNA sequences are predominantly concentrated on the evolving neo-Y chromosome, but very few are found on the homologous X2 and other chromosomes. The BamHI repeat also hybridizes with 2.0- and 1.8-kb RNAs and many other RNA species, which together are also approximately 6-fold greater in males. No sequences similar to the BamHI repeat are found in Drosophila melanogaster. Moreover, the BamHI repeat is not homologous to P, copia, or other D. melanogaster transposable elements. This repeat, named the NY element, may be involved in gene disruption and the process of degenerative evolution of the neo-Y chromosome.

Elastofibroma: disturbed elastic fibrillogenesis by periosteal-derived cells? An immunoelectron microscopic and in situ hybridization study

Monospecific antibodies to elastic tissue components have been used for immunoelectron microscopy of two examples of elastofibroma. The elastic-staining fibers typically seen in these lesions exhibited a variety of morphologies with differing ratios of the amorphous and microfibrillar components usually seen in elastic fibers. The amorphous elastic material in these fibers had variable affinity for ionic stains and exhibited several substructural morphologies. Despite this, each form reacted specifically with anti-elastin antibodies. Most of the elastic fibers were associated with relatively large numbers of 12-nm diameter microfibrils that were typical of those associated with normal elastic fibers, and were specifically reactive with monospecific antibodies to microfibril-associated glycoprotein. In situ hybridization studies with a cRNA probe for human elastin confirmed that active elastin biosynthesis was occurring patchily within the lesions. The appearances and staining characteristics of the elastic tissue elements, the morphology of the cells, and the structure of the collagen fibers in these lesions were shown to have many features in common with those of normal periosteum. It is proposed that elastofibromas arise from the periosteum as a result of chronic irritation and that the different elastic fiber morphologies represent disturbances of elastic fibrillogenesis by periosteal-derived cells.

The identification of 14 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one monohydrate and 14 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one monohydrate, metabolites of androstenedione in Mucor piriformis

The microorganism Mucor piriformis transforms androst-4-ene-3,17-dione into a major and several minor metabolites. X-ray crystallographic analysis of two of these metabolites was undertaken to determine unambiguously their composition and chirality. Crystals belong to the orthorhombic space-group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 7.199(4) A and a = 6.023(3) A, b = 11.719(3) A and b = 13.455(4) A, c = 20.409(3) A and c = 20.702(4) A for the two title compounds, respectively. The structures have been refined to final R values of 0.060 and 0.040, respectively.

Study of the seminal vesicles in acute epididymitis

Although it has been suggested that seminal vesiculitis is present in patients with epididymitis, it has not been proven. We performed rectal ultrasound assessment of the seminal vesicles in 18 consecutive patients with epididymitis. The seminal vesicles on the same side as the epididymitis was significantly enlarged in 75% of cases; 92% of these enlarged vesicles returned to normal size in 12 weeks. A persistently enlarged seminal vesicle was associated with unresolved epididymitis, and further bacteriological studies in these cases demonstrated continued Chlamydia infection in some patients over 35 years of age.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Improving prognosis through therapy and drug treatment

An estimated three to seven million Americans suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder at some time in their lives. Until recently, obsessive compulsive disorder was considered refractory to most treatments. However, recent studies indicate a better prognosis with behavioral therapy, antidepressant medications, or both. Behavioral treatment is generally more effective for compulsions than for obsessions.

Dosage compensation of a retina-specific gene in Drosophila miranda

The X1R chromosome of Drosophila miranda and the 3L autosome of Drosophila melanogaster are thought to have originated from the ancestral D chromosomal element and therefore may contain the same set of genes. It is expected that these genes will be dosage compensated in D. miranda because of their X linkage. To test these possibilities and to study evolution of the dosage compensation mechanism, we used the 3L-linked autosomal head-specific gene 507 ml of D. melanogaster to isolate the homologous gene (507mr) from a D. miranda genomic library. In situ hybridization showed that gene 507 is located at the 12A region of the X1R chromosome of D. miranda, indicating that the chromosomal homology deduced by cytogenetic means is correct. Restriction analysis and cross-specific DNA and RNA blot hybridization revealed the presence of extensive restriction pattern polymorphism and lack of sequence similarity in some areas of the 507mr and 507 ml DNA, including the 3' portion of the transcribed region. However, the 5' portion of the transcribed region and the DNA sequences, located approximately 0.8 kb upstream and 3 kb downstream from the 507 ml gene showed a high degree of similarity with the DNA sequences of comparable regions of the 507mr gene. In both species gene 507 codes for a highly abundant 1.8 kb RNA which is expressed in the retina of the compound eye. Although in D. miranda the males have one and the females have two copies of the 507 gene, the steady-state levels of the 507 mRNA in both sexes were found to be similar, indicating that gene 507 is dosage compensated in D. miranda.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elastin gene expression in elastotic human breast cancers and epithelial cell lines

Elastosis is a prominent feature of the desmoplastic reaction in many invasive breast cancers. It is widely held that the elastic tissue is produced by fibroblastic cells of the breast stroma, but several studies have suggested that it derives from breast cancer epithelium. In studies directed to examining the mechanisms regulating desmoplasia in breast cancers, cell lines of human breast cancer derivation have been shown to synthesize immunoreactive tropoelastin in cell culture. Stromal fibroblasts, grown out from breast cancers, produced as much elastin as did nuchal ligament fibroblasts at similar passages. The human breast cancer cell lines, grown under similar conditions, produced elastin in culture at rates equivalent to 1.6-15% of those of the control fibroblastic cells. These included two estrogen receptor positive and one estrogen receptor negative cell types. Northern blot analysis of total RNA showed the presence, under high stringency conditions, of a 3.5-kilobase elastin mRNA band in both the fibroblastic cells and the cancer cell lines. In situ hybridization, with an elastin complementary RNA probe (prepared from a short segment of the translated region of human elastin mRNA), has been carried out on a selection of 21 invasive ductal breast cancers and 9 normal breast samples. It has been found that, while fibroblastic cells of the stroma and of the periductal region are responsible for elastin synthesis in most breast cancers, the malignant epithelium is a source of the elastin in the desmoplastic tissue of a significant proportion of such neoplasms. Vascular endothelium also expresses the elastin gene in some breast cancers. The elastotic elastin may have different cellular origins in different portions of a single ductal breast cancer. The results indicate that elastosis in breast cancers is very likely to be a complex process with multifactorial regulatory mechanisms. Subclassifying cancers according to the cellular source of the desmoplastic elastin, on the basis of in situ hybridization of elastin mRNA, may provide insights into the prognostic significance of elastosis in breast cancers.

Quantitative assessment and reduction of long-term autoradiographic background

Quantitative autoradiography can measure distribution patterns in an animal exposed to radiolabeled compounds. A comparison of autoradiographs of rat brain containing low levels of 14C showed that a highly variable background signal had been produced. This resulted in several overexposed autoradiographs which could not be quantitatively compared. The background, believed to be produced by light emanating from the phosphor coating in the X-ray cassette, was a major impediment because it hindered correct analysis of the specimen. This article details our experiments demonstrating the sources of variance contributing to background and offers methods for its reduction. We found that placement of black polyethylene plastic between the slides and phosphor in the X-ray film cassette minimized autoradiographic background and effectively eliminated the effects caused by inherently different levels of radioactivity in the glass slides.

Repair of prostatomembranous urethral strictures by a bulboprostatic intussusception technique

The repair of post-traumatic strictures of the prostatomembranous urethra in 22 patients by a bulboprostatic intussusception technique is described. Minor wound infection occurred in 12 patients. No other complications were encountered in up to 5 years of follow-up. This operation is a useful and relatively easy technique for dealing with all but the very long strictures of this region.

Synthesis and in vitro antibacterial activity of some 1-(difluoromethoxyphenyl)quinolone-3-carboxylic acids

We report on the synthesis of N-1-phenylquinolones in which the difluoromethoxy moiety is utilized as a halogen replacement. The antibacterial activity is discussed with reference to N-1-halophenylquinolones.

Post-embedding methods for immunolocalization of elastin and related components in tissues

Elastic tissue is composed of amorphous-appearing elastin and 12-nm diameter microfibrils, one component of which has recently been isolated and characterized as the 31 KD microfibril-associated glycoprotein MAGP. Monospecific antibodies to each of these components have been developed in this laboratory. The parameters that determine optimal localization of colloidal gold probes for post-embedding immunolabeling of elastic tissue components have been systematically studied in a variety of normal and developing tissues in mammals and birds. Protein A-gold probes stabilized with dextran have been shown to provide complexes that remain stable after more than 2 years. Conditions have been defined that permit precise localization within the extracellular matrix of antibodies to MAGP and to elastin, singly and together. Best results were obtained with acrylic resins (Lowicryl K4M or LR White). Fixation in glutaraldehyde or other aldehydic fixatives, with or without osmium, did not affect the immunostaining of elastic tissue with affinity-purified antibodies to tropoelastin, or to anti-[alpha-elastin] or anti-[alkali-insoluble elastin]. Immunostaining with the anti-MAGP antibody was less robust and was possible in tissues which had been fixed only lightly before embedding in Lowicryl K4M or LR White. This staining was enhanced by metaperiodate oxidation of the sections as well as by reduction of the tissues with sodium borohydride en bloc, followed by hyaluronidase digestion of the sections. The effects on immunostaining of a range of enzyme digestions have also been examined. Conditions have thus been defined that make possible detailed study of the relationship between elastic tissue, elastin-associated microfibrils, and other microfibrillar structures in normal and abnormal tissues during development and aging.

Bacterial flora of ulcers treated by three types of dressings

Effect of three types of dressings on bacterial flora in ulcers is presented. Debrisan seemed to be more effective than Zinc tape and collagen sheet in reducing the number of bacterial pathogens.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 6-difluoromethoxy-7-piperazinyl-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid derivatives

A series of novel 3-quinolinecarboxylic acid derivatives has been prepared and their antibacterial activity evaluated. These derivatives were characterized by a difluoromethoxy group attached to the 6-position and substituted piperazinyl groups attached to the 7-position.

A study of depressive typologies using grade of membership analysis

Grade of Membership (GOM) analysis, a multivariate technique for studying disease, was used to explore depressive typology and relationships between depression and anxiety. One hundred and ninety patients with RDC diagnoses of major or minor depression were assessed by the Hamilton and SCL-90 symptom rating scales, the Newcastle diagnostic indices for endogenous depression and for anxiety and depression. Demographic, family and treatment response information were used as external validators. Five pure types provided the most satisfactory solution to these data. One group corresponded to classical melancholia, occurring in older, stable, in-patients, who lacked panic-phobic symptoms. All patients with agoraphobia fell into two distinct in-patient and out-patient groups, which differed from each other in several ways. In one group, a link was found between panic attacks, agitated melancholia and familial pure depression. The second group was less symptomatic and had more atypical vegetative symptoms. Two more groups comprised mildly symptomatic, hypochondriacal, depression, and a highly neurotic, obsessive, anxious, non-phobic depression, which was commonly related to a physical stressor.

Effects of gamma-interferon on the endocrine system: results from a phase I study

Interferon causes profound biological changes when given to patients with cancer and many of these could not be predicted from in vitro or animal model systems. We documented significant changes in hormonal levels for a group of 18 patients who were participants in a Phase I gamma-interferon trial. Adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, and growth hormone were all significantly elevated 2 h after treatment with gamma-interferon, with cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone returning to base line by 24 h. A placebo group failed to show this change, suggesting a specific interferon effect. Possible mechanisms for these findings and implications for the use of interferons are discussed.