miRNA-mRNA Network in PBMCs of PCOS Women Identifies Overactivated Stress-Activated Kinases

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Earlier studies have revealed the miRNAs and mRNAs involved in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), but little is known about their regulatory networks.

METHODS

To address this issue, we applied a comprehensive miRNA, mRNA profiling approach in peripheral blood of PCOS patients. We identified 30 differential miRNAs and 3310 differential transcripts. A robust computational framework was created to integrate matched miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in PCOS using feed-forward loops.

RESULTS

The network consisted of differential miRNAs, transcription factors (TFs), and their common predicted target genes. The key network consisted of 14 non-orphan network clusters with 50 TF-gene pairs, 8 TF-TF pairs, 6 miRNA-TF pairs and 36 miRNA- gene pairs which were later dissected into 16 subclusters. Gene ontology annotations revealed that a host of signals (hormone, growth factors -EGF/ PDGF, thrombopoietin, oxidative stress and vitamin/nutrition) regulate MAPK signaling altering angiogenesis, JAK-STAT signaling, apoptosis, inflammatory and immune response and steroidogenesis in PCOS women.

CONCLUSION

MAPK signaling is identified as the syndrome´s major dysregulated pathway. Our data imparts a robust foundation to expand the work and pave the way to focus efforts on p38MAPK targeted therapeutic strategies in PCOS.

Autoimmune regulator (AIRE): Takes a hypoxia-inducing factor 1A (HIF1A) route to regulate FOXP3 expression in PCOS

PROBLEM

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis- ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) pathology due to autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene mutations leads to loss of central tolerance triggering immune attack, a factor causing infertility. One of the targets of autoimmune attack is ovary and its repercussion results in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Although reduced Tregs have been reported in PCOS, a lacunae exists on the status of AIRE gene expression and its role in treg insufficiency via HIF1A-FOXP3 axis in PCOS.

METHOD OF STUDY

This is a case-control cohort study recruiting 40 normal and 40 PCOS volunteers for peripheral blood sample collection and PCOS diagnoses were based on Rotterdam Consensus criteria. AIRE and HIF1A expression status was analysed by qRT PCR and western blot. FACS analyses was conducted on AIRE silenced peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after Treg induction.

RESULTS

Our results indicate a reduced AIRE (fold change log2 (RQ) = -2.6, P < .01) and increased HIF1A (fold change log2 (RQ) = 3.6, P < .02) in PBMCs of PCOS subjects compared to age-matched controls. Western blot of AIRE and HIF1A corroborates with qRT PCR data. Our CHIP data demonstrate AIRE mediated HIF1A promoter regulation. Silencing of AIRE in PBMCs contributes to the upregulation of HIF1A transcripts by two-fold (P < .0015) and downregulation in FOXP3 expression by three-fold (P < .0017). FACS analyses revealed that silencing of AIRE reduces Tcell to Treg conversion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our consolidated results derive a new connection among AIRE-HIF1A-FOXP3 with AIRE reduction enabling increased HIF1A resulting in reduced FOXP3 in PBMCs of PCOS patients leading to Treg insufficiency.

Derailed peripheral circadian genes in polycystic ovary syndrome patients alters peripheral conversion of androgens synthesis

STUDY QUESTION

Do circadian genes exhibit an altered profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and do they have a potential role in androgen excess?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Our findings revealed that an impaired circadian clock could hamper the regulation of peripheral steroid metabolism in PCOS women.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

PCOS patients exhibit features of metabolic syndrome. Circadian rhythm disruption is involved in the development of metabolic diseases and subfertility. An association between shift work and the incidence of PCOS in females was recently reported.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This is a retrospective case-referent study in which peripheral blood samples were obtained from 101 control and 101 PCOS subjects. PCOS diagnoses were based on Rotterdam Consensus criteria.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

This study comprised 101 women with PCOS and 101 control volunteers, as well as Swiss albino mice treated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to induce PCOS development. Gene expression analyses of circadian and steroidogenesis genes in human PBMC and mice ovaries and blood were executed by quantitative real-time PCR.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

We observed aberrant expression of peripheral circadian clock genes in PCOS, with a significant reduction in the core clock genes, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) (P ≤ 0.00001), brain and muscle ARNT-like 1 (BMAL1) (P ≤ 0.00001) and NPAS2 (P ≤ 0.001), and upregulation of their negative feedback loop genes, CRY1 (P ≤ 0.00003), CRY2 (P ≤ 0.00006), PER1 (P ≤ 0.003), PER2 (P ≤ 0.002), DEC1 (P ≤ 0.0001) and DEC2 (P ≤ 0.00005). Transcript levels of an additional feedback loop regulating BMAL1 showed varied expression, with reduced RORA (P ≤ 0.008) and increased NR1D1 (P ≤ 0.02) in PCOS patients in comparison with the control group. We also demonstrated the expression pattern of clock genes in PBMCs of PCOS women at three different time points. PCOS patients also exhibited increased mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes like StAR (P ≤ 0.0005), CYP17A1 (P ≤ 0.005), SRD5A1 (P ≤ 0.00006) and SRD5A2 (P ≤ 0.009). Knockdown of CLOCK/BMAL1 in PBMCs resulted in a significant reduction in estradiol production, by reducing CYP19A1 and a significant increase in dihydrotestosterone production, by upregulating SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 in PBMCs. Our data also showed that CYP17A1 as a direct CLOCK-BMAL1 target in PBMCs. Phenotypic classification of PCOS subgroups showed a higher variation in expression of clock genes and steroidogenesis genes with phenotype A of PCOS. In alignment with the above results, altered expression of ovarian core clock genes (Clock, Bmal1 and Per2) was found in DHEA-treated PCOS mice. The expression of peripheral blood core clock genes in DHEA-induced PCOS mice was less robust and showed a loss of periodicity in comparison with that of control mice.

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

We could not evaluate the circadian oscillation of clock genes and clock-controlled genes over a 24-h period in the peripheral blood of control versus PCOS subjects. Additionally, circadian genes in the ovaries of PCOS women could not be evaluated due to limitations in sample availability, hence we employed the androgen excess mouse model of PCOS for ovarian circadian assessment. Clock genes were assessed in the whole ovary of the androgen excess mouse model of PCOS rather than in granulosa cells, which is another limitation of the present work.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Our observations suggest that the biological clock is one of the contributing factors in androgen excess in PCOS, owing to its potential role in modulating peripheral androgen metabolism. Considering the increasing prevalence of PCOS and the rising frequency of delayed circadian rhythms and insufficient sleep among women, our study emphasizes the potential in modulating circadian rhythm as an important strategy in PCOS management, and further research on this aspect is highly warranted.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was supported by the RGCB-DBT Core Funds and a grant (#BT/PR29996/MED/97/472/2020) from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India, to M.L. B.S.J. was supported by a DST/INSPIRE Fellowship/2015/IF150361 and M.B.K. was supported by the Research Fellowship from Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) (10.2(5)/2007(ii).E.U.II). The authors declare no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

A cytokine super cyclone in COVID-19 patients with risk factors: the therapeutic potential of BCG immunization

The seventh human coronavirus SARS-CoV2 belongs to the cluster of extremely pathogenic coronaviruses including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which can cause fatal lower respiratory tract infection. Likewise, SARS-CoV2 infection can be fatal as the disease advances to pneumonia, followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The development of lethal clinical symptons is associated with an exaggerated production of inflammatory cytokines, referred to as the cytokine storm, is a consequence of a hyperactivated immune response aginst the infection. In this article, we discuss the pathogenic consequences of the cytokine storm and its relationship with COVID-19 associated risk factors. The increased pro-inflammatory immune status in patients with risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, COPD) exacerbates the Cytokine-storm of COVID-19 into a 'Cytokine Super Cyclone'. We also evaluate the antiviral immune responses provided by BCG vaccination and the potential role of 'trained immunity' in early protection against SARS-CoV2.

Transcriptional Regulation of Nos2 via STAT5B Binding to Nos2 Gene Promoter Mediates Nitric Oxide Production: Relevance in β-Cell Maintenance

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) involves autoimmune attack due to reduced regulatory T cells as an effect of mutant Stat5b(C1462A) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a T1D model resulting in pancreatic β-cell destruction. Although reactive oxygen species are considered to orchestrate the immune attack, the role of nitric oxide (·NO) still remains debatable. Since JAK-STAT pathway is known to induce Nos2, we investigated the role of STAT5B in nitric oxide generation and oxidative stress.

METHODS

In this study, we have used chromatin immunoprecipitation with STAT5B antibody to explore whether STAT5B binds Nos2 promoter. Using Stat5b gene silencing and overexpression models in MIN6 mouse pancreatic β-cell line we have assayed nitric oxide and its end products, superoxide levels, H₂O₂ levels, and expression of genes related to redox pathway by immunocytochemistry, biochemical assays, quantitative real time PCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

Our results prove that STAT5B binds to the candidate gamma-interferon-activated (GAS) element in Nos2 promoter thereby inducing Nos2 mRNA transcription resulting in NOS2 protein expression in MIN6, a mouse pancreatic β-cell line. Our findings are substantiated by reduced ·NO as well as nitric oxide end products (nitrate and nitrite), and increased superoxide production in Stat5b silenced MIN6 cells. Our results indicate that C1462A mutant STAT5B shows lack of ·NO generation ability. To detoxify excess superoxide as a consequence of lowered Nos2, an overexpressed SOD2 in Stat5b silenced cells results in increased H₂O₂ production. H₂O₂ metabolizing enzymes do not show upregulation upon Stat5b silencing, and thus oxidative stress is brought about by amassed H₂O₂. Stat5b silencing finally reduces AKT expression, a prosurvival signal.

CONCLUSION

Our study enables us to conclude that β-cell stress is aggravated by the incapability of STAT5B to induce Nos2 resulting in H₂O₂ accumulation and the ensuing oxidative stress enhances β-cell damage.

Tolerability of lapatinib given concurrently with paclitaxel and trastuzumab as part of adjuvant therapy in patients with resected HER2+ breast cancer: initial safety data from the Mayo Clinic cancer research consortium trial RC0639

Abstract #2109

Background: Despite the impressive results of the recently released trastuzumab adjuvant therapy trials, 15% of patients with HER2 overexpressing or amplified breast cancer developed tumor relapse at 4 years. Lapatinib is a small molecule reversible TKI that inhibits both ErbB1 and ErbB2. The current study was developed to assess the cardiac safety and feasibility of adding lapatinib to paclitaxel and trastuzumab following as part of adjuvant therapy.&#x2028; Methods: A single-arm phase II study of doxorubicin (A, 60 mg/m2 day 1) and cyclophosphamide (C, 600 mg/m2 day 1) [q2w or q3w for 4 cycles]; followed by paclitaxel (P, 80 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15), trastuzumab (T, 4 mg/kg loading dose then 2 mg/kg days 1, 8, 15), and lapatinib (L, 1000 mg days 1-21) [12 weeks]; followed by T (6 mg/kg day 1) and L (1000 mg days 1-21) [40 weeks] was conducted. The primary endpoint was the incidence of congestive heart failure. The current unplanned safety analysis was undertaken due to the observance of a high rate of G3/4 diarrhea.&#x2028; Results: From April 2007 to June 2008, 98 pts were enrolled and initiated study treatment. Median age was 51 (range 32-72). Among 83 pts with adverse event (AE) data available, 50 (60%) pts have experienced a G3/4 non-hematologic AE. During post-AC treatment, among 53 pts with AE data available, 31 (58.5%) patients have experienced a G3/4 non-hematologic AE with 24 (45%) patients reporting G3/4 diarrhea. Median cycle of onset of G3/4 diarrhea was cycle 5 (first cycle of PTL) with 16 (64%) cases first reported during cycle 5 and 5 (20%) cases first reported during cycle 6. Among 57, 46, 38, and 32 pts receiving treatment with PTL during cycles 5-8, 65%, 57%, 61%, and 72% of patients received the full L dose, respectively. 31 patients have ended active treatment with 10 due to patient refusal and 8 due to adverse events.&#x2028; Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that L given concurrently with P and T at a dose of 1000 mg per day induces an unacceptable rate of moderate to severe diarrhea. Careful monitoring of diarrhea as well as L dose reduction and initiation of loperamide at first occurrence of diarrhea are recommended. The dose of L when given concurrently with P and T has been amended to 750 mg per day in the current study and safety data for the 1000 mg and 750 mg per day cohorts will be presented. Implications for the ongoing ALTTO study will also be presented.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 2109.

Mothers' perceptions of parenting children with disabilities

PURPOSE

To describe how mothers of children with physical disabilities identified their parenting strengths and weaknesses, encouraged their child's social skills and learning, nurtured and disciplined their child, and perceived their parenting successes and problems.

DESIGN

Grounded theory.

METHODS

Focused telephone interviews were conducted with mothers of preschool to elementary schoolage children with mild to moderate physical disabilities. The mothers were asked what they were doing well and "not well" in parenting their disabled child, their difficulties, their child's preparation for other children's questions/teasing, their encouragement of social skills and learning, and their discipline and nurturance.

RESULTS

The theory that emerged from the data was parental straddling, which occurred on three levels. Parents were living in the past and the present, striving to view their child as "normal" when, in fact, the child was disabled, and were simultaneously dealing with their own and their child's issues and feelings.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Nurses need to understand the complexity of the parents' straddling their roles and tasks. They can provide needed emotional support by allowing parents to express their fears and feelings in an atmosphere of nonjudgmental acceptance. Nurses can prepare parents for anticipated grief work, reassure them that their experiences are expected and normal, reinforce their use of normalization strategies, and help them separate their own from their child's issues and feelings.

Principles and practice of antibiotic therapy

The oral cavity and surrounding structures harbor an extremely complex array of microorganisms. As a result, when structures become acutely or chronically infected, diseases can present very differently. Surgical and pharmacologic management decisions become equally complex, depending on the source site of the infection and the areas to which it spreads. This article first reviews the various domains of the oral and maxillofacial structures, and then reviews each class of antibiotics, describing how the antibiotics are likely to be used.

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist-induced activation of dominant-negative RXR-retinoic acid receptor alpha403 heterodimers is developmentally regulated during myeloid differentiation

The multiple biologic activities of retinoic acid (RA) are mediated through RAR and retinoid X receptor (RXR) nuclear receptors that interact with specific DNA target sequences as heterodimers (RXR-RAR) or homodimers (RXR-RXR). RA receptor activation appears critical to regulating important aspects of hematopoiesis, since transducing a COOH-terminally truncated RARalpha exhibiting dominant-negative activity (RARalpha403) into normal mouse bone marrow generates hematopoietic growth factor-dependent cell lines frozen at the multipotent progenitor (EML) or committed promyelocyte (MPRO) stages. Nevertheless, relatively high, pharmacological concentrations of RA (1 to 10 microM) overcome these differentiation blocks and induce terminal granulocytic differentiation of the MPRO promyelocytes while potentiating interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced commitment of EML cells to the granulocyte/monocyte lineage. In the present study, we utilized RXR- and RAR-specific agonists and antagonists to determine how RA overcomes the dominant-negative activity of the truncated RARalpha in these different myeloid developmental stages. Unexpectedly, we observed that an RXR-specific, rather than an RAR-specific, agonist induces terminal granulocytic differentiation of MPRO promyelocytes, and this differentiation is associated with activation of DNA response elements corresponding to RAR-RXR heterodimers rather than RXR-RXR homodimers. This RXR agonist activity is blocked by RAR-specific antagonists, suggesting extensive cross-talk between the partners of the RXR-RARalpha403 heterodimer. In contrast, in the more immature, multipotent EML cells we observed that this RXR-specific agonist is inactive either in potentiating IL-3-mediated commitment of EML cells to the granulocyte lineage or in transactivating RAR-RXR response elements. RA-triggered GALdbd-RARalpha hybrid activity in these cells indicates that the multipotent EML cells harbor substantial nuclear hormone receptor coactivator activity. However, the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A readily activates an RXR-RAR reporter construct in the multipotent EML cells but not in the committed MPRO promyelocytes, indicating that differences in HDAC-containing repressor complexes in these two closely related but distinct hematopoietic lineages might account for the differential activation of the RXR-RARalpha403 heterodimers that we observed at these different stages of myeloid development.

Retinoic acid-mediated G1-S-phase arrest of normal human mammary epithelial cells is independent of the level of p53 protein expression

Retinoids mediate the normal growth of a variety of epithelial cells and may play an important role in the chemoprevention of breast cancer. Despite the widespread clinical use of retinoids, specific target genes that are regulated by retinoids are relatively poorly characterized. We reported previously that all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) mediates G1-S-phase arrest in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). The tumor suppressor gene p53 is thought to be a critical regulator of G1-S-phase arrest mediated by DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapy and radiation. The role of p53 protein expression in G1-S-phase arrest mediated by the differentiating agent ATRA is unknown. Increased expression of p53 protein is observed in ATRA-treated HMECs at 72 h; however, initiation of G1-S-phase arrest starts at 24 h, suggesting that this observed induction of p53 is a secondary event. Using retroviral-mediated gene transfer, we expressed the E6 protein of the human papillomavirus strain 16 (HPV-16) in HMECs. The HPV-16 E6 protein binds to p53 and targets it for degradation. Western analysis confirmed that HPV-16 E6-transduced HMECs had markedly decreased levels of p53 protein expression. Suppression of cellular p53 levels in HMECs did not alter the sensitivity of HMECs to ATRA-mediated growth arrest. Our studies suggest that ATRA-mediated G1-S-phase arrest is independent of the level of p53 protein expression. We also tested the ability of estrogen and antiestrogens to induce growth arrest in HMECs lacking p53 expression and found no decrease in the sensitivity of these cells to these agents. Our results emphasize the chemotherapeutic potential of ATRA and antiestrogens, particularly for suppressing the growth of tumors lacking functional p53.

The 5 R's of Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: Rationale, Readying, Roles, Rules, and Reality

1. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who deliver primary mental health and psychiatric care to clients and families. 2. Psychiatric NP curricula include advanced health assessment, pathology, pharmacology, NP role development, and psychiatric-mental health content, such as diagnosing and managing mental illnesses, providing therapies, and promoting mental health. 3. The degree of prescriptive autonomy of psychiatric NPs is determined by each state's Nurse Practice Act.

Optimizing recoveries of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites and 11 pesticides from aqueous samples using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method was developed for solid-phase extraction of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites, deethylatrazine (DEA) and deisopropylatrazine (DIA), from aqueous samples. Two C18 phases in cartridge format were compared and recoveries were found to be highly sensitive to sorbent amount, sample volume and presence of parent compounds. Recoveries were significantly improved using a partially non-endcapped C18 phase compared to the normal C18 phase, particularly for DIA, apparently due to polar interactions. Combinations of sample volume and sorbent amount were tested using deionized water to determine an optimal combination of 200 ml and 1.0 g, respectively. Recoveries from a variety of river, stream, runoff and ground waters averaged 105-116% and 109-117% at concentrations of 0.5-1.0 ng/ml for DIA and DEA, respectively, with minimum detection limits of 0.05 ng/ml. Other pesticides tested also have acceptable recoveries using this method.

Inhibition of retinoic acid receptor function in normal human mammary epithelial cells results in increased cellular proliferation and inhibits the formation of a polarized epithelium in vitro

The expression of retinoic acid receptor-beta (RAR beta) mRNA is absent or down-regulated in a majority of breast cancers, suggesting that loss of retinoic acid receptor function may be a critical event in breast cancer carcinogenesis. We developed an in vitro system to investigate whether the loss of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) function might affect the proliferation and structural differentiation of normal cultured human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). Utilizing a truncated retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha construct exhibiting dominant-negative activity against retinoic acid receptor isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma (DNRAR), we inhibited normal retinoic acid receptor function in HMECs. Suppression of RAR function in HMECs resulted in reduced growth inhibition mediated by all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Moreover, the doubling time of HMECs expressing the DNRAR was significantly shortened, associated with a decrease in the percentage of cells in G1 and an increase in the percentage of cells in S-phase relative to controls. In addition, HMECs expressing the DNRAR cultured in prepared extracellular matrix exhibited a loss of extracellular matrix-induced growth arrest and formation of a polarized ductal epthelium. Our results suggest that ATRA and RARs may play an important role in regulating the proliferation of HMECs and in promoting differentiation.

All-trans-retinoic acid mediates G1 arrest but not apoptosis of normal human mammary epithelial cells

Retinoids mediate the normal growth of a variety of epithelial cells and may play an important role in the chemoprevention of certain malignancies. Loss of retinoic acid (RA) receptor-beta function may be an important event in mammary carcinogenesis, because the majority of breast cancers, in contrast to normal mammary epithelial cells, fail to express this receptor. We previously reported that all-trans-RA mediates G1 arrest as well as apoptosis in certain RAR beta-transduced breast cancer cell lines. We now report the effect of RA on normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), which express functionally active retinoid receptors. We observe that RA induces growth suppression and G1 arrest of these HMECs but find no evidence that RA mediates apoptosis in these normal cell strains. This RA-induced G1 arrest is temporally associated with decreased levels of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein without any significant changes in c-myc, p53, p21, or p27 expression. Expression of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and cyclin E proteins, however, decreased in association with RA-mediated G1 arrest. Our studies suggest that growth inhibition, rather than apoptosis, may be a mechanism by which RA and RA receptors act to prevent the malignant transformation of normal mammary epithelial cells. The molecular target(s) of the activated RA receptors that mediate this G1 arrest in HMECs appear to be associated with a retinoblastoma-dependent pathway.

Altered hemostasis: considerations for dental care

Patients with altered hemostatic ability present unique challenges for the provision of dental treatment. In this article, a review of normal hemostatic mechanisms is presented, as well as the pathophysiological processes underlying the more common abnormalities associated with altered hemostasis. The products available for managing these problems are reviewed, with a focus on how dental professionals can interact with their medical colleagues to prepare the patient for safe provision of all phases of dental therapy.

Expression of retinoic acid receptor beta mediates retinoic acid-induced growth arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells

The expression of the retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) mRNA is absent or down-regulated in most human breast cancer cell lines. To investigate the role RAR beta may have in regulating the proliferation of breast cancer cells, we used retroviral vector-mediated gene transduction to introduce the human RAR beta gene into two RAR beta-negative breast tumor cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. RAR beta-transduced clones underwent growth inhibition associated with G1 arrest when treated with 1 microM all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). Moreover, the MCF7-RAR beta transduced clones also underwent apoptosis after 4 to 6 days of RA treatment. The RA-induced growth arrest in MDA231-RAR beta transduced cells is associated with c-myc mRNA down-regulation, whereas the RA-mediated apoptosis of MCF7-RAR beta transduced cells is not associated with c-myc down-regulation. These observations suggest a critical role for RAR beta in mediating growth arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Changing Populations in the Public Sector: Responding to the Needs of Texas Youth

Treatment of sexually abused and abusing youth requires careful program planning and implementation. Led by its Quality Improvement Council and with considerable staff involvement, Waco Center for Youth in Waco, Texas developed a dual-track approach to treatment of this underserved, often misunderstood, adolescent client population. The sexual abuse survivors' program focuses on the issues of trust, safety, self-esteem, assertiveness, and education. The sex offender program is built on the concepts of self-responsibility; diminishing cognitive distortions; identification of stressors, and their relationship to the offending cycle; and relapse prevention. The staff of Waco Center for Youth are engaged in ongoing analysis of behavioral indicators for successful treatment of sexually abused and abusing adolescents.

Genetic and molecular analysis of the Ah receptor and of Cyp1a1 gene expression

The Ah receptor is a soluble protein complex that mediates carcinogenesis by a wide range of environmental pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic amines, and polychlorinated aromatic compounds. The best understood activity of the receptor concerns its role in the induction of cytochrome P450IA1. We undertook a somatic cell genetic analysis of P450IA1 induction using the mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1. Clones of Hepa-1 were isolated that are defective in induction of P450IA1. Evidence was obtained that the clones are mutational in origin. Cell fusion experiments demonstrated that a few of the mutants are dominant, while the majority are recessive. The dominant mutants were shown to synthesize a repressor of P450IA1 transcription. The recessive mutants were assigned to 4 complementation groups (probably corresponding to 4 different genes). Complementation group A corresponds to the P450IA1 structural gene. Mutations in the B, C and D genes all affect functioning of the Ah receptor. A 'reverse selection procedure', whereby cells that express P450IA1 inducibility can be selected from a majority population of cells lacking inducibility, was developed. The reverse selection procedure was used to isolate transfectants of representative recessive mutants in which the mutational defects are complemented by exogenously applied genomic DNA. A human DNA-derived transfectant of a C- mutant was used to clone the human C gene. The C gene is not the ligand-binding subunit of the Ah receptor but is a protein that is required for translocation of Ah receptor-ligand complexes from cytoplasm to nucleus. In analogous experiments the dominant gene from one of the dominant mutants was transfected into wild-type Hepa-1 cells. Success in transfecting the dominant gene should provide the means for cloning it.

DNA fingerprinting with 35S nucleotides

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Characterization of the mycoflora from oral mucosal surfaces of some HIV-infected patients

Oral mucosal surfaces from 54 patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were assayed for the presence of cultivable yeasts. Oral colonization with Candida albicans, represented by 6 biotypes, was evident in 35 persons. The closely related variant, Candida stellatoidea, was found in 3 patients. Single isolates of Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida paratropicalis were also identified. One patient harbored a population of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The susceptibilities of these 43 isolates to clotrimazole and nystatin were compared by the disk diffusion technique.

The antimicrobial activities of carbonyl and thiocarbamoyl disulfides

Thirteen unsymmetrical disulfides of the structure —C(=X)SS—, where X is O or S, were evaluated for bactericidal and fungistatic activity under conditions simulating an industrial environment. Some carbonyl disulfides, RC(O)SSR′, were active fungistatic agents and promising bactericides. Some of the thiocarbamoyl disulfides, R2NC(S)SSR′, were found to be promising fungistatic agents and also showed significant bactericidal activity. Correlations of biological activity with chemical properties are discussed.