An attempt to describe the swelling of U3Si 2 fuel by a simple formula

Fuel swelling is a key parameter to be studied in the process of qualifying a fuel for use in reactors. Generally, test irradiations are performed to quantify the swelling. However, all reactor conditions can often not be simulated in tests. This situation occurs, for example, when a fuel shall be used in a new reactor where the fission rate is higher than in existing reactors available for the qualification tests. The swelling under the conditions of the new reactor must be predicted based on the data found under these test conditions. For this prediction a formula is required. Such a formula is derived for one of the most popular fuels for high flux reactors: U3Si2.

Autoradiographische Untersuchungen über das Verhalten der Desoxyribonucleinsäure in Herpesvirus-infizierten Zellen

Herpes-simplex-Virus- (Herpes virus humanus) infizierte HeLa-Zellen wurden autoradiographisch untersucht. In Kernen, die vor der Infektion 3H-Thymidin in ihre DNS eingebaut hatten, findet sich die Markierung nach der Infektion in der Peripherie, im sog. Randchromatin wieder. Bei 3H-Thymidin-Zugabe nach der Infektion wird dieses nur noch in den Kerninnenbereich aufgenommen. Das Randchromatin bleibt frei. Daraus geht hervor, daß der zelleigene DNS-Stoffwechsel unterbrochen wurde und nur noch im Kerninnenbereich ein DNS-Stoffwechsel für die Virus-Neubildung abläuft.

Foveolar gastric metaplasia of the duodenum: a frequent, so far neglected type of duodenal polyp

Foveolar gastric metaplasia of the duodenum (FGM) is considered as imperfect mucosal healing in the context of H. pylori gastritis and intake of NSAIDs or ASS.  Typical endoscopic findings are redness of the mucosa, erosion/ulcer and loss of mucosal folds. During diagnostic histological examinations we observed a frequent so far not described association of FGM with endoscopically observed duodenal polyps. The archives of two institutes of pathology with high gastroenterological workload (approximately 100 000 patients per year) were investigated for an association between "duodenal polyp" and "foveolar gastric metaplasia". In Institute 1, of 481 duodenal polyps 41 % were classified as FGM, 9 % as adenoma and 2 % as heterotopic gastric mucosa. In 48 % no histological correlate was present. In Institute 2, 217 cases of FGM were diagnosed. Of these, in 69 cases the endoscopic finding was "polyp" (32 %). In the other cases, the endoscopic findings were mucosal defect (18 %), redness/inflammation (16 %), suspicion for gastric heterotopia (5 %) and scar (3 %). In 26 % of cases no pathologic endoscopic finding was reported. Both groups of patients with FGM showed a similar distribution of age ranges (24 - 83 years and 16 - 88 years), median age (62 years and 61 years, respectively) and a dominance of male sex (both 1.5:1). In conclusion, foveolar gastric metaplasia is a frequent, so far neglected correlate of endoscopically detected duodenal polyps.

Can mechanical stresses noticeably influence the diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy?

The diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy under the influence of mechanical stresses is investigated. The governing equations are derived from the chemical potential of hydrogen including the contribution due to hydrostatic stresses. The obtained differential equation is converted to a system of algebraic equations by applying the finite element method and the weighted residual procedure. The equations are used to study the hydrogen diffusion in a fuel rod cladding tube with an axial crack and in a strip plate. It is demonstrated that the hydrogen tends to flow towards the areas of positive hydrostatic stress gradients where it precipitates in hydrides when the solubility limit is exceeded. The precipitation is itself a mechanism enhancing the transport to these areas by weakening the effect of the diffusion driven by concentration differences. The presented method can readily be applied to the diffusion of other species in metals.

A trimeric lipoprotein assists in trimeric autotransporter biogenesis in enterobacteria

Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs) are important virulence factors of many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. TAAs form fibrous, adhesive structures on the bacterial cell surface. Their N-terminal extracellular domains are exported through a C-terminal membrane pore; the insertion of the pore domain into the bacterial outer membrane follows the rules of β-barrel transmembrane protein biogenesis and is dependent on the essential Bam complex. We have recently described the full fiber structure of SadA, a TAA of unknown function in Salmonella and other enterobacteria. In this work, we describe the structure and function of SadB, a small inner membrane lipoprotein. The sadB gene is located in an operon with sadA; orthologous operons are only found in enterobacteria, whereas other TAAs are not typically associated with lipoproteins. Strikingly, SadB is also a trimer, and its co-expression with SadA has a direct influence on SadA structural integrity. This is the first report of a specific export factor of a TAA, suggesting that at least in some cases TAA autotransport is assisted by additional periplasmic proteins.

Semi-statistical mechanical fuel rod design

A technique to combine statistical and deterministic approaches in mechanical fuel rod analysis is described. The impact of different fuel rod input parameters on the fuel rod design parameter under consideration is identified by statistical means. It is expressed through rank correlation coefficients. These coefficients are then employed to calculate corresponding quantiles for the input parameters allowing the selection of appropriate input values from the parameter probability distributions. The quantiles are computed with the provision that the fuel rod reactions obtained with the associated input parameter combination cover the reactions in a subset of the analysed fuel rod totality. The described procedure reduces the computational costs in comparison to some pure statistical methods of fuel rod design.

Reflection on the ductility of irradiated zircaloy-4 fuel rod cladding

An approach is presented that allows the computational determination of the ductility of irradiated zircaloy-4 cladding by transferring experimental results yielded under conditions atypical for normal power operation to typical loadings encountered in an usual pressurized water reactor. The transfer bases on a damage function that describes the gradual development of material separations during the cladding creep in the reactor. The numerical values of the needed equation parameters are derived from experimental results. Creep and damage evolutions are coupled leading to a simultaneous computation of both processes. The calculations indicate that the minimum strains that irradiated cladding material can accommodate are greater than 5% under pure pressure loading up to hoop stresses of 100 MPa and greater 7% when fuel swelling corresponding to a linear rod power of maximum 400 W/cm dictates the creep.

Simple formulas for conservatively calculating the fuel rod cladding strains due to RIA

A set of formulas for conservatively computing the fuel rod cladding strains caused by short and intense energy pulses is presented. Such pulses may be the consequence of a RIA. The formulas are based on the theory of stresses and deformations of tubes loaded by internal pressure and stressed beyond the elastic limit. The known solutions of this theory are applied to compute the cladding strains due to the intense interaction between fuel and cladding during a RIA. Simple and easy to evaluate expressions for the strains are obtained. They enable to quickly assess the impact of any energy pulse for any burn-up state. The actual burn-up state of the fuel rod at the moment in which the occurrence of a RIA shall be simulated is described by only three data. These data can be calculated in an enveloping sense in advance and then be used to study energy pulses of any intensity. Besides the cladding strains induced by the fuel-cladding interaction the significance of the gas pressure in the rod and of gas swelling for the cladding strains is also addressed.

A novel SUMO1-specific interacting motif in dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9) that is important for enzymatic regulation

Sumoylation affects many cellular processes by regulating the interactions of modified targets with downstream effectors. Here we identified the cytosolic dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9) as a SUMO1 interacting protein. Surprisingly, DPP9 binds to SUMO1 independent of the well known SUMO interacting motif, but instead interacts with a loop involving Glu(67) of SUMO1. Intriguingly, DPP9 selectively associates with SUMO1 and not SUMO2, due to a more positive charge in the SUMO1-loop. We mapped the SUMO-binding site of DPP9 to an extended arm structure, predicted to directly flank the substrate entry site. Importantly, whereas mutants in the SUMO1-binding arm are less active compared with wild-type DPP9, SUMO1 stimulates DPP9 activity. Consistent with this, silencing of SUMO1 leads to a reduced cytosolic prolyl-peptidase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that SUMO1, or more likely, a sumoylated protein, acts as an allosteric regulator of DPP9.

Serum-derived plasminogen is activated by apoptotic cells and promotes their phagocytic clearance

The elimination of apoptotic cells, called efferocytosis, is fundamentally important for tissue homeostasis and prevents the onset of inflammation and autoimmunity. Serum proteins are known to assist in this complex process. In the current study, we performed a multistep chromatographic fractionation of human serum and identified plasminogen, a protein involved in fibrinolysis, wound healing, and tissue remodeling, as a novel serum-derived factor promoting apoptotic cell removal. Even at levels significantly lower than its serum concentration, purified plasminogen strongly enhanced apoptotic prey cell internalization by macrophages. Plasminogen acted mainly on prey cells, whereas on macrophages no enhancement of the engulfment process was observed. We further demonstrate that the efferocytosis-promoting activity essentially required the proteolytic activation of plasminogen and was completely abrogated by the urokinase plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and serine protease inhibitor aprotinin. Thus, our study assigns a new function to plasminogen and plasmin in apoptotic cell clearance.

Value of ultrasound in preoperative local staging in early breast cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the precision of breast ultrasound for the measurement of breast lesions compared to the histological measurement. A number of other dependent variables were also analyzed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

460 patients with 445 malignant lesions were examined using breast ultrasound and the lesions were measured and compared to the histologically measured size. The data was further analyzed according to histology, tumor stage, age, grading and therapy.

RESULTS

Metric comparison showed good correlation between sonography and the pathologically measured size of breast lesions, especially in tumor stage T 1 and T 2 and within ductal invasive carcinomas. Higher tumor stages lead to imprecise measurements and the histological type of lobular invasive carcinoma also results in imprecise measurements. Age and grading do not influence measurement precision.

CONCLUSION

Breast ultrasound allows precise measurement of breast lesions especially at lower tumor stages. The higher the tumor stage, the more imprecise the measurement becomes. Multivariate analysis shows no cross impact between tumor stage and histological type with respect to the quality of measurement.

Changed genome heterochromatinization upon prolonged activation of the Raf/ERK signaling pathway

The Raf/ERK (Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase) signal transduction pathway controls numerous cellular processes, including growth, differentiation, cellular transformation and senescence. ERK activation is thought to involve complex spatial and temporal regulation, to achieve a high degree of specificity, though precisely how this is achieved remains to be confirmed. We report here that prolonged activation of a conditional form of c-Raf-1 (BXB-ER) leads to profound changes in the level and distribution of a heterochromatic histone mark. In mouse fibroblasts, the heterochromatic trimethylation of lysine 9 in histone H3 (H3K9Me3) is normally confined to pericentromeric regions. However, following ERK activation a genome-wide redistribution of H3K9Me3 correlates with loss of the histone modification from chromocentres and the appearance of numerous punctuate sites throughout the interphase nucleus. These epigenetic changes during interphase correlate with altered chromosome structure during mitosis, where robust H3K9Me3 signals appear within telomeric heterochromatin. This pattern of heterochromatinization is distinct from previously described oncogene induced senescence associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), which are excluded from telomeres. The H3K9Me3 histone mark is known to bind the major heterochromatin protein HP1 and we show that the alterations in the distribution of this histone epistate correlate with redistribution of HP1β throughout the nucleus. Interestingly while ERK activation is fully reversible, the observed chromatin changes induced by epigenetic modifications are not reversible once established. We describe for the first time a link from prolonged ERK activation to stable changes in genome organization through redistribution of heterochromatic domains involving the telomeres. These epigenetic changes provide a possible mechanism through which prolonged activation of Raf/ERK can lead to growth arrest or the induction of differentiation, senescence and cancer.

Algorithmic determination of fuel rod cladding burst time at elevated temperatures

The integrity of fuel rod claddings during a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) is usually assessed by comparing calculated stresses or strains with the corresponding failure thresholds. Alternatively, the cladding integrity could also be evaluated on the basis of the time elapsed since the LOCA onset. To apply this assessment criterion the relationship between failure time and cladding loading must be available. The relationship can be established computationally by monitoring the evaluation of cladding inner and outer radius during the high temperature creep process. The cladding is classified as defective when the predicted inner radius equals or exceeds the anticipated outer radius. Using a suitable creep rate correlation it is shown which results are yielded by this procedure.

Protease-resistant human GAD-derived altered peptide ligands decrease TNF-alpha and IL-17 production in peripheral blood cells from patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD) and proinsulin are major diabetes-associated autoantigens that drive autoreactive T cells. Altered peptide ligands (APL) have been proposed as reagents for the modification of autoimmune reactions. Here, we have prepared GAD-derived protease-resistant APL (prAPL) by cleavage site-directed modification. The resulting prAPL are resistant to lysosomal and serum proteases, bind with high-affinity to HLA-DRB1(*)0401 and have a prolonged half-life in the serum. GAD-derived prAPL significantly decreased the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by a GAD-specific human T cell clone. Likewise, the production of IL-17, TNF-alpha, and secretion of IL-6 by peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) was reduced, when stimulated with both GAD and GAD-derived prAPL. Thus, prAPL with high affinity for HLA-DRB1(*)0401 mitigate the response of GAD-reactive human Th17 cells. The strategy of designing specific immunomodulatory protease-resistant altered peptide ligands provides the basis for novel avenues of therapeutic intervention.

Impact of study participation on survival of early-stage breast cancer patients: Results from the BRENDA study, a multicenter clinical cohort on quality of breast cancer care

521

Background: Over the past two decades significant progress in treatment of early breast cancer has been accomplished through well designed, clinical trials (CTs). It has been hypothesized that trial participation could also be beneficial for the individual breast cancer patient. The BRENDA study group has been analysing quality of care provided by one university based and 16 regional breast cancer centers in south germany. In this study we investigated the impact of study participation on survival in an unselected clinical cohort of early stage breast cancer patients. Methods: The study population includes 5,966 patients who received primary therapy for early breast cancer between 1992 and 2005. Influence on survival by study participation was calculated by Cox proportional hazard analyses. Model adjustments include prognostic factors, type of treatment, age, risk group and time period. Guideline compliant treatment was assessed based on the St Gallen expert consensus recommendations and the German national S3 Guidelines. Results: A total of 738 patients (12%) received adjuvant (n = 552) or neoadjuvant (n = 186) systemic therapy within one out of 42 registered prospective multicenter phase II or III clinical trials. For patients not receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy trial participation was associated with improved overall and disease free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57–0.99, HR = 0.78, CI 0.63 - 0.97, respectively). The calculated effect was of similar magnitude after additional adjustment for co-existing morbidity of patients. Descriptional analysis revealed that guideline violations for locoregional or systemic treatment were more frequently found in patients receiving adjuvant treatment outside CTs. No significant effect on survival was calculated for 183 patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy within CT protocols. Conclusions: In our study population participation in prospective clinical trials for adjuvant systemic therapy was associated with improved survival irrespective of treatment actually given. Intrinsic mechanisms within the framework of clinical trials can improve quality of breast cancer patient care.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Cross-talk between type three secretion system and metabolism in Yersinia

Pathogenic yersiniae utilize a type three secretion system (T3SS) to inject Yop proteins into host cells in order to undermine their immune response. YscM1 and YscM2 proteins have been reported to be functionally equivalent regulators of the T3SS in Yersinia enterocolitica. Here, we show by affinity purification, native gel electrophoresis and small angle x-ray scattering that both YscM1 and YscM2 bind to phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) of Y. enterocolitica. Under in vitro conditions, YscM1, but not YscM2, was found to inhibit PEPC with an apparent IC(50) of 4 mum (K(i) = 1 mum). To analyze the functional roles of PEPC, YscM1, and YscM2 in Yop-producing bacteria, cultures of Y. enterocolitica wild type and mutants defective in the formation of PEPC, YscM1, or YscM2, respectively, were grown under low calcium conditions in the presence of [U-(13)C(6)]glucose. The isotope compositions of secreted Yop proteins and nine amino acids from cellular proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The data indicate that a considerable fraction of oxaloacetate used as precursor for amino acids was derived from [(13)C(3)]phosphoenolpyruvate by the catalytic action of PEPC in the wild-type strain but not in the PEPC(-) mutant. The data imply that PEPC is critically involved in replenishing the oxaloacetate pool in the citrate cycle under virulence conditions. In the YscM1(-) and YscM2(-) mutants, increased rates of pyruvate formation via glycolysis or the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, of oxaloacetate formation via the citrate cycle, and of amino acid biosynthesis suggest that both regulators trigger the central metabolism of Y. enterocolitica. We propose a "load-and-shoot cycle" model to account for the cross-talk between T3SS and metabolism in pathogenic yersiniae.

[Predicting response to therapy in breast cancer]

Molecular staging of breast cancer with microarray technologies leads to different gene expression profiles distinguishing 4 special groups: luminal A and B subtype, HER2 subtype and basal subtype. These 4 groups show a different prognosis as well as different behaviours and responses to adjuvant therapy. The development of gene expression profiles to classify breast cancer may contribute to the targeted institution of adjuvant therapies. Especially the 21-gene recurrence score (Oncotype DX) and the 70-gene profile (Mamma-print) have become intensively examined prognostic and predictive tools. As chemotherapy is an integral component of adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer but estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer is the most common type, patient selection for adjuvant chemotherapy is of particular interest. In instances when the benefit from chemotherapy seems modest, there is a decision making tool beside traditional histopathological parameters that might provide additional objective prognostic and predictive information. Those genomic decision making approaches may yield more rational treatment choices and may keep patients from systemic treatment modalities of lower value.

A CTP-dependent archaeal riboflavin kinase forms a bridge in the evolution of cradle-loop barrels

Proteins of the cradle-loop barrel metafold are formed by duplication of a conserved betaalphabeta-element, suggesting a common evolutionary origin from an ancestral group of nucleic acid-binding proteins. The basal fold within this metafold, the RIFT barrel, is also found in a wide range of enzymes, whose homologous relationship with the nucleic acid-binding group is unclear. We have characterized a protein family that is intermediate in sequence and structure between the basal group of cradle-loop barrels and one family of RIFT-barrel enzymes, the riboflavin kinases. We report the structure, substrate-binding mode, and catalytic activity for one of these proteins, Methanocaldococcus jannaschii Mj0056, which is an archaeal riboflavin kinase. Mj0056 is unusual in utilizing CTP rather than ATP as the donor nucleotide, and sequence conservation in the relevant residues suggests that this is a general feature of archaeal riboflavin kinases.

[Pathophysiology of bone metastases in urologic carcinomas]

The skeletal system is the most frequent metastatic site of hematogenous spread of urologic carcinomas. Osseus metastases are classified as osteoneutral, osteolytic, osteoblastic and combinations thereof. Osteolytic metastases lead to bone resorption by activating osteoclasts, while osteoblastic metastases stimulate osteoblasts by paracrine mechanisms. The local osteoblastic effect is associated with secondary systemic bone resorption. The use of bisphosphonates is now an established supportive therapy and newer treatment strategies including targeted intervention in the pathophysiology of bone metastases and radioimmunotherapy are being applied or will be coming soon.

Non-oncogenic deletion mutants of adenoviral E1A enhance paclitaxel induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells

14102

Background: The phenotypical characteristics and spread of ovarian cancer cells, suggest intraperitoneal gene therapy of this disease. Phase I trials have been conducted to investigate the potential clinical benefits of adenoviral E1A-based gene therapy. Further gene therapeutic approaches which aim to enhance the efficacy of E1A-induced apoptosis in a multimodal approach including conventional chemotherapy are planned. However, besides tumor-suppressive effects, E1A is also known to transform rodent cells in conjunction with other factors, e.g. an activated ras oncogene. In an effort to eliminate elements favouring malignant conversion, the potential therapeutic effect of the E1AdelCR2 deletion mutant on ovarian cancer cells was studied. Methods: To avoid any selection bias, a doxycyclin-regulated system was used to express E1A wildtype protein and the mutant E1AdelCR2 lacking the p105RB-binding motif. The effects of the E1A proteins on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell lines was studied with a WST-1 assay and fluorcytometric analysis of FITC labelled AnnexinV. Results: As confirmed by Western blot analyses, expression of the mutant proteins was almost completely suppressed in the presence of doxycyclin. Substantial reduction in proliferation was achieved by expression of both wildtype E1A and E1AdelCR2. Expression of E1AdelCR2 was sufficient by itself to induce apoptosis in 8,7% of ovarian carcinoma cells as shown by an increase of the fraction of Annexin binding OVMZ-8 cells. A strong synergistic effect with an increase of the fraction of apoptotoc cells by 16.7% was found when the cells were treated with paclitaxel. Conclusion: Deletion of the CR2 sequence should increase the safety of therapeutic applications of E1A without affecting tumor suppression. A doxycyclin-regulated expression system was established allowing the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of E1A in ovarian cancer cells in the future by means of expression profiling and quantification of activated components of signal transduction pathways.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[5th Report of the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) on Quality Assurance in Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Intervention 2003-2005]

On behalf of the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) the Steering Committee of the QuIK Registry reports on the results of the voluntary quality assurance in invasive cardiology in 2003-2005 and compares it to other data collections. In 2005 more than 70% of diagnostic (LHK) and 78% of therapeutic (PCI) cardiac catheterization procedures in private practice were entered into the registry. Altogether 229,462 LHK and 64,818 PCI were documented over the 3 years. In the reported period age of patients, percentage of acute coronary syndromes and three-vessel coronary artery disease increased in LHK as well as in PCI while consumption of contrast media and fluoroscopy time decreased. By implemented possibility of follow-up, a high rate of external auditing (monitoring) and certification QuIK remains a worldwide unique quality assurance project in cardiology. On a stable data basis over 10 years the QuIK Registry enables the implementation of quality indicators for future quality assurance purposes.

[Surgical management of ovarian ectopic pregnancy]

Ovarian pregnancies represent a small fraction of ectopic gestations. They are especially feared due to their life-threatening intraabdominal hemorrhage. Pre- and intraoperative diagnosis is difficult. Pathogenetically ovarian pregnancy arises from the retention of a fertilized ovum in the ovary. General guidelines for the medical management are missing. In this case report, we diagnosed a subacute ruptured ovarian pregnancy during surgery and performed a partial ovarectomy via operative laparoscopy. Other therapeutic options in managing ovarian ectopic pregnancy will be discussed.

Long-term results of a three-week intensive cardiac out-patient rehabilitation program in motivated patients with low social status

The short-term benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are well established. In contrast, well-documented long-term results are rare. The objective of this longitudinal multi-centre observational study was to examine the effects of intensive out-patient CR in a larger patient cohort, especially for patients with low social status. We present the final results 24 months after CR.

METHODS

The study group of 327 patients (288 men, 39 women, aged 56.0+/-10.8 years, coronary artery disease in 295, other cardiac diseases in 32) participated in a 3- week CR programme followed by clinical re-evaluations 6 (III), 12 (IV) an 24 (V) months later.

RESULTS

The improvement in mean maximal performance of 100.5+/-31.4 to 123.1+/-36.2 W (p<0.01) achieved during CR was further improved to 128.7+/-40.9 W (p < 0,01) after 24 months. Of the patients, 61.2% reported regular physical activity during the 24 months of the study. The lipid management achieved by CR was maintained over 24 month. At I 65%, at II 84.4% and at V 82.4% of the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were undergoing lipid lowering therapy. BMI increased from 26.8+/-3.0 to 27.6+/-3.6 kg/m2 (p < 0.01) during follow-up. Of the patients, 23.2% were active smokers at V. Cardiovascular diagnosis remained unaltered in 74.3% of patients. The obtained results are interesting with respect to the social status of the patients since 68% were general laborers. The results confirm the long-term effectiveness of an intensive 3-week out-patient CR programme. Most of the benefits achieved by CR appear to be sustainable in this population for at least 2 years.

Protein multiplex sandwich immunoassay: A reliable and objective method for complete molecular characterization of breast cancer from core needle biopsies

20025

Background: Within the last years, protein microarrays have been developed to quantify a large number of parameters present in a given sample simultaneously. Such miniaturised and parallelised sandwich immunoassays are of general interest for all proteomic and diagnostic approaches in which several parameters have to be determined from small samples. We describe the development of a bead-based flow cytometry that represents a convenient approach for rapid multiplex detection of functional target molecules from breast cancer biopsies. Methods: Briefly, sonographically guided core needle biopsies (CNB) were performed from 120 breast cancer masses from different patients. All biopsies were carried out with an automated core biopsy device fitted with 14-gauge (22 mm excursion) needles. Tumor samples were frozen on at −70 Celsius and pulverized. Proteins were extracted, allowing the simultaneous quantification of more than hundred proteins by a bead-based multiplex sandwich immunoassay. Results: The total amount of extracted protein from tumor tissues (mean weight of 20 mg) ranged from 300 to 1000 μg. We demonstrate appropriate sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness for this protein microarray technology to characterize clinical samples and generate reliable data sets. A set of multiplexed sandwich immunoassays based on Luminex beads were developed that identify marker proteins indicative of prognosis or response to therapeutic options. Up to almost hundred parameters were identified and quantified simultaneously of which estrogen, progesterone and HER2 status in the multiplex assay was highly significant correlated to results obtained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that this new bead-based protein microarray technology rapidly and reliably characterizes tissue samples to generate data sets of molecular marker. Therefore, this technology may once replace traditional IHC in determining marker proteins indicative of prognosis or response to therapeutic options.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phosphoproteome analysis of the human mitotic spindle

During cell division, the mitotic spindle segregates the sister chromatids into two nascent cells, such that each daughter cell inherits one complete set of chromosomes. Errors in spindle formation can result in both chromosome missegregation and cytokinesis defects and hence lead to genomic instability. To ensure the correct function of the spindle, the activity and localization of spindle associated proteins has to be tightly regulated in time and space. Reversible phosphorylation has been shown to be one of the key regulatory mechanisms for the organization of the mitotic spindle. The relatively low number of identified in vivo phosphorylation sites of spindle components, however, has hampered functional analysis of regulatory spindle networks. A more complete inventory of the phosphorylation sites of spindle-associated proteins would therefore constitute an important advance. Here, we describe the mass spectrometry-based identification of in vivo phosphorylation sites from purified human mitotic spindles. In total, 736 phosphorylation sites were identified, of which 312 could be attributed to known spindle proteins. Among these are phosphorylation sites that were previously shown to be important for the regulation of spindle-associated proteins. Importantly, this data set also comprises 279 novel phosphorylation sites of known spindle proteins for future functional studies. This inventory of spindle phosphorylation sites should thus make an important contribution to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation, function, and integrity of the mitotic spindle.

[Prevention of arteriosclerosis. Importance of the treatment of arterial hypertension]

In most European countries and Northern America, cardiovascular diseases induced by atherosclerosis are the most common cause of death in older people. People surviving acute myocardial infarction or stroke suffer often by disabilities or handicaps. The lifelong care of such patients is expensive and plays a major role for increment of costs in public health systems. Prevention of atherosclerosis will reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, enhance quality of life and prolong lifetime of patients. Therefore the worldwide accepted risk factors of atherosclerosis have to be treated consequently and early enough within the meaning of primary prevention. Hypertension is one of the six major cardiovascular risk factors and is defined as elevated blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg. In case of hypertension, diagnostic efforts has to be focussed on detection of additional cardiovascular risk factors, secondary forms of hypertension, end organ damage or associated diseases. All therapeutic strategies are based on life style changes, which cover weight reduction, sodium restriction, controlled alcohol consumption and increment in physical activity. Pharmacotherapy will be added in regard to the global risk of the patient and the success of the life style changes. Selection of antihypertensives and their optimal combination will be determined by associated diseases (compelling indication), side effects and individual response in blood pressure. Goal of treatment is the normalization of blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg independent of age or sex. In diabetics and in case of nephropathy the goal is set lower (below 130/80 mmHg).There is strong evidence that reduction in blood pressure is followed by a decrease in the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, nephropathy, and even in cardiovascular mortality. The success of antihypertensive therapy is greater in high risk patients like older people, patients with isolated systolic hypertension or diabetics. Risk reduction correlates well with the degree in blood pressure reduction. However, to minimize cardiovascular risk in hypertensives all additional risk factors have to be treated too.