Pharmacokinetics of gallic acid and its relative bioavailability from tea in healthy humans

Gallic acid (GA), a food component that is especially abundant in tea, is an antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory agent. We conducted a study using acidum gallicum tablets that contained 10% GA and 90% glucose and a black tea brew that contained 93% of its GA in free form to determine the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of GA in healthy humans. After the administration of a single oral dose of acidum gallicum tablets or tea (each containing 0.3 mmol GA) to 10 volunteers, plasma and urine samples were collected over various time intervals. Concentrations of GA and its metabolite, 4-O-methylgallic acid (4OMGA), were determined, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. GA from both the tablets and tea was rapidly absorbed and eliminated with mean half-lives of 1.19 +/- 0.07 and 1.06 +/- 0.06 h and mean maximum concentrations of 1.83 +/- 0.16 and 2.09 +/- 0.22 micromol/L (plasma), respectively. After oral administration of the tablets and black tea, 36.4 +/- 4.5 and 39.6 +/- 5.1% of the GA dose were extracted in urine as GA and 4OMGA, respectively. The relative bioavailability of GA from tea compared with that from the tablets was 1.06 +/- 0.26, showing that GA is as available from drinking tea as it is from swallowing tablets of GA.

BODIPY-derived photoremovable protecting groups unmasked with green light

Photoremovable protecting groups derived from meso-substituted BODIPY dyes release acetic acid with green wavelengths >500 nm. Photorelease is demonstrated in cultured S2 cells. The photocaging structures were identified by our previously proposed strategy of computationally searching for carbocations with low-energy diradical states as a possible indicator of a nearby productive conical intersection. The superior optical properties of these photocages make them promising alternatives to the popular o-nitrobenzyl photocage systems.

Family of BODIPY Photocages Cleaved by Single Photons of Visible/Near-Infrared Light

Photocages are light-sensitive chemical protecting groups that provide external control over when, where, and how much of a biological substrate is activated in cells using targeted light irradiation. Regrettably, most popular photocages (e.g., o-nitrobenzyl groups) absorb cell-damaging ultraviolet wavelengths. A challenge with achieving longer wavelength bond-breaking photochemistry is that long-wavelength-absorbing chromophores have shorter excited-state lifetimes and diminished excited-state energies. However, here we report the synthesis of a family of BODIPY-derived photocages with tunable absorptions across the visible/near-infrared that release chemical cargo under irradiation. Derivatives with appended styryl groups feature absorptions above 700 nm, yielding photocages cleaved with the highest known wavelengths of light via a direct single-photon-release mechanism. Photorelease with red light is demonstrated in living HeLa cells, Drosophila S2 cells, and bovine GM07373 cells upon ∼5 min irradiation. No cytotoxicity is observed at 20 μM photocage concentration using the trypan blue exclusion assay. Improved B-alkylated derivatives feature improved quantum efficiencies of photorelease ∼20-fold larger, on par with the popular o-nitrobenzyl photocages (εΦ = 50-100 M^-1 cm^-1), but absorbing red/near-IR light in the biological window instead of UV light.

In Search of the Perfect Photocage: Structure-Reactivity Relationships in meso-Methyl BODIPY Photoremovable Protecting Groups

A detailed investigation of the photophysical parameters and photochemical reactivity of meso-methyl BODIPY photoremovable protecting groups was accomplished through systematic variation of the leaving group (LG) and core substituents as well as substitutions at boron. Efficiencies of the LG release were evaluated using both steady-state and transient absorption spectroscopies as well as computational analyses to identify the optimal structural features. We find that the quantum yields for photorelease with this photocage are highly sensitive to substituent effects. In particular, we find that the quantum yields of photorelease are improved with derivatives with higher intersystem crossing quantum yields, which can be promoted by core heavy atoms. Moreover, release quantum yields are dramatically improved by boron alkylation, whereas alkylation in the meso-methyl position has no effect. Better LGs are released considerably more efficiently than poorer LGs. We find that these substituent effects are additive, for example, a 2,6-diiodo-B-dimethyl BODIPY photocage features quantum yields of 28% for the mediocre LG acetate and a 95% quantum yield of release for chloride. The high chemical and quantum yields combined with the outstanding absorption properties of BODIPY dyes lead to photocages with uncaging cross sections over 10 000 M^-1 cm^-1, values that surpass cross sections of related photocages absorbing visible light. These new photocages, which absorb strongly near the second harmonic of an Nd:YAG laser (532 nm), hold promise for manipulating and interrogating biological and material systems with the high spatiotemporal control provided by pulsed laser irradiation, while avoiding the phototoxicity problems encountered with many UV-absorbing photocages. More generally, the insights gained from this structure-reactivity relationship may aid in the development of new highly efficient photoreactions.

DGAT1, a new positional and functional candidate gene for intramuscular fat deposition in cattle

Intramuscular fat content, also assessed as marbling of meat, represents an important beef quality trait. Recent work has mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) with an effect on marbling to the centromeric region of bovine chromosome 14, with the gene encoding thyroglobulin (TG) being proposed as a positional and functional candidate gene for this QTL. Recently, the gene encoding diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1), which also has been mapped within the region of the marbling QTL, has been demonstrated to affect the fat content of milk. In the present study, the effects of a 5'-polymorphism of TG and of a lysine/alanine polymorphism of DGAT1 on the fat content of musculus (m.) semitendinosus and m. longissimus dorsi in 55 bovine animals (28 German Holstein and 27 Charolais) has been investigated. Significant effects were found for both candidate genes in both the breeds. These effects seem to be independent of one another because the alleles of the two polymorphisms showed no statistically significant disequilibrium. The DGAT1 effect is mainly on the m. semitendinosus. The TG polymorphism only affects m. longissimus dorsi. However, both intramuscular fat enhancing effects seem to be recessive. The possibility of two linked loci, acting recessively on intramuscular fat content, will require special strategies when selecting for higher marbling scores.

Effects of DGAT1 variants on milk production traits in German cattle breeds

Various QTL mapping experiments led to the detection of a QTL in the centromeric region of cattle chromosome 14 that had a major effect on the fat content of milk. Recently, the gene encoding diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT1) was proposed to be a positional and functional candidate for this trait. This study investigated the effects of a nonconservative lysine to alanine (K232A) substitution in DGAT1, which very likely represents the causal mutation, on milk production traits. Existing granddaughter designs for Fleckvieh and German Holstein, the two major dairy/dual-purpose breeds in Germany, were used to estimate allele frequencies and gene substitution effects for milk, fat, and protein yield, as well as fat and protein content. A restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was applied to diagnose the K232A substitution in DGAT1. Estimates of the allele frequencies for the lysine-encoding variant were based on maternally inherited alleles in sons and amounted to 0.072 for Fleckvieh and 0.548 for German Holstein. Effects of DGAT1 variants on content traits were pronounced; estimates of the gene substitution effect for the lysine-encoding variant were 0.35 and 0.28% for fat content and 0.10 and 0.06% for protein content in Fleckvieh and German Holstein, respectively. Conversely, negative effects of the lysine variant of -242 to -180 kg for Fleckvieh and -260 to -320 kg for German Holstein were revealed for milk yield from first to third lactation, resulting in enhanced fat yield of 7.5 to 14.8 kg in Fleckvieh and 7.6 to 10.7 kg in German Holstein. For protein yield, however, mainly negative effects of -3.6 to 0.2 kg in Fleckvieh and -4.8 to -5.2 kg in German Holstein were observed. Pearson correlations between residuals of milk yield and content traits were decreased when omitting DGAT1 effects in the analysis, thereby indicating that DGAT1 contributes to negative correlations between these traits. Molecular tests allow for the direct selection among variants; however, the benefits of the alternative alleles depend on economic weights given to the different milk production traits in the breeding goal.

Targeted inhibition of transcription elongation in cells mediated by triplex-forming oligonucleotides

Triple-helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) bind in the major groove of double-stranded DNA at oligopyrimidine small middle dotoligopurine sequences and therefore are candidate molecules for artificial gene regulation, in vitro and in vivo. We recently have described oligonucleotide analogues containing N3'-P5' phosphoramidate (np) linkages that exhibited efficient inhibition of transcription elongation in vitro. In the present work we provide conclusive evidence that np-modified TFOs targeted to the HIV-1 polypurine tract (PPT) sequence can inhibit transcriptional elongation in cells, either in transient or stable expression systems. The same constructs were used in transient expression assays (target sequence on transfected plasmid) and in the generation of stable cell lines (target sequence integrated into cellular chromosomes). In both cases the only distinguishable feature between the cellular systems is the presence of an insert containing the wild-type PPT/HIV-1 sequence, a mutated version with two mismatches, or the absence of the insert altogether. The inhibitory action induced by np-TFOs was restricted to the cellular systems containing the complementary wild-type PPT/HIV-1 target, and consequently can be attributed only to a triple-helix-mediated mechanism. As a part of this study we also have applied an imaging technique to quantitatively investigate the dynamics of TFO-mediated specific gene silencing in single cells.

Water-Soluble BODIPY Photocages with Tunable Cellular Localization

Photoactivation of bioactive molecules allows manipulation of cellular processes with high spatiotemporal precision. The recent emergence of visible-light excitable photoprotecting groups has the potential to further expand the established utility of the photoactivation strategy in biological applications by offering higher tissue penetration, diminished phototoxicity, and compatibility with other light-dependent techniques. Nevertheless, a critical barrier to such applications remains the significant hydrophobicity of most visible-light excitable photocaging groups. Here, we find that applying the conventional 2,6-sulfonation to meso-methyl BODIPY photocages is incompatible with their photoreaction due to an increase in the excited state barrier for photorelease. We present a simple, remote sulfonation solution to BODIPY photocages that imparts water solubility and provides control over cellular permeability while retaining their favorable spectroscopic and photoreaction properties. Peripherally disulfonated BODIPY photocages are cell impermeable, making them useful for modulation of cell-surface receptors, while monosulfonated BODIPY retains the ability to cross the cellular membrane and can modulate intracellular targets. This new approach is generalizable for controlling BODIPY localization and was validated by sensitization of mammalian cells and neurons by visible-light photoactivation of signaling molecules.

Handwashing and cohorting in prevention of hospital acquired infections with respiratory syncytial virus

Hospital acquired infections with respiratory syncytial virus are a major problem. The virus is spread predominantly by infected nasal secretions and we investigated whether we could reduce its incidence by cohorting babies on each ward into designated areas and encouraging staff and parents to wash their hands. We examined the incidence of hospital acquired infection due to respiratory syncytial virus in all children less than 2 years old and in those with congenital heart disease. In 1986-7, before any intervention, 18 (4.2%) of 425 hospitalised children less than 2 years old developed hospital acquired infection due to respiratory syncytial virus. In 1987-8, after intervention, five (0.6%) of 840 children developed hospital acquired infection but there were fewer ward admissions with community acquired infections due to the virus. In 1988-9, when there were more community acquired infections than 1986-7, six (1.1%) of 552 children developed hospital acquired infection. In 1986-7, eight (34.8%) of 23 children less than 2 years old with congenital heart disease developed hospital acquired infection due to respiratory syncytial virus; all eight were among 11 children with congenital heart disease hospitalised for more than 14 days. In 1987-8, one (3.3%) of 30 children with congenital heart disease developed hospital acquired infection due to respiratory syncytial virus and in 1988-9 there was one (2.1%) case out of 47 children with congenital heart disease. Handwashing and cohorting significantly reduce the incidence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Heterogeneity of mutant versus wild-type Ki-ras in primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas, and association of codon-12 valine with early mortality

The point mutations occurring in codons 12 and 13 of Ki-ras in 78 patients with colorectal carcinoma (31 Dukes' A and B, 21 Dukes' C, and 26 Dukes' D) have been determined by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and sequencing. Duplicate samples of invasive primary carcinoma, adjacent normal tissue, and available lymph node and liver metastases from the same patients were microdissected from paraffin sections. There were no differences in the mutation rate between primary carcinomas and secondary deposits: 26 of 78 (33 per cent) primary carcinomas, 10 of 32 (31 per cent) lymph node metastases, and 10 of 26 (38 per cent) liver metastases. Multiple sampling revealed frequent heterogeneity within carcinomas: 9 of 26 primaries with Ki-ras mutations also contained areas of carcinoma with only the wild-type gene, implying that Ki-ras mutation, even when present in a colonic carcinoma, may not have been necessary for establishing the malignant phenotype. Also, 2 of 26 (8 per cent) Dukes' D patients had a mutation in their primary carcinoma but none in liver metastases and 6 of 47 (13 per cent) Dukes' C and D patients had mutations in liver or lymph node metastases but none in the primary carcinoma. Such heterogeneity may modify the effectiveness of novel therapies targeting mutant Ki-ras function, such as farnesyltransferase inhibition. Mutation of codon 12 from GGT (glycine) to GTT (valine) was more prevalent in primary and metastatic deposits of Dukes' C/D carcinomas (P = 0.01) than in primary carcinomas from Dukes' A/B patients. Mutations of codon 12 to GAT, AGT, GCT and codon 13 GGC to GAC were also found, but no correlation with carcinoma aggressiveness was apparent. Follow-up of 71/78 patients (up to 12 years) revealed decreased overall survival (P = 0.001) in patients with the GGT to GTT transversion in codon 12, even when the analysis was restricted to Dukes' D cases, supporting the suggestion that this mutation may confer a more aggressive phenotype in colorectal carcinoma.

Efficient Far-Red/Near-IR Absorbing BODIPY Photocages by Blocking Unproductive Conical Intersections

Photocages are light-sensitive chemical protecting groups that give investigators control over activation of biomolecules using targeted light irradiation. A compelling application of far-red/near-IR absorbing photocages is their potential for deep tissue activation of biomolecules and phototherapeutics. Toward this goal, we recently reported BODIPY photocages that absorb near-IR light. However, these photocages have reduced photorelease efficiencies compared to shorter-wavelength absorbing photocages, which has hindered their application. Because photochemistry is a zero-sum competition of rates, improvement of the quantum yield of a photoreaction can be achieved either by making the desired photoreaction more efficient or by hobbling competitive decay channels. This latter strategy of inhibiting unproductive decay channels was pursued to improve the release efficiency of long-wavelength absorbing BODIPY photocages by synthesizing structures that block access to unproductive singlet internal conversion conical intersections, which have recently been located for simple BODIPY structures from excited state dynamic simulations. This strategy led to the synthesis of new conformationally restrained boron-methylated BODIPY photocages that absorb light strongly around 700 nm. In the best case, a photocage was identified with an extinction coefficient of 124000 M^-1 cm^-1, a quantum yield of photorelease of 3.8%, and an overall quantum efficiency of 4650 M^-1 cm^-1 at 680 nm. This derivative has a quantum efficiency that is 50-fold higher than the best known BODIPY photocages absorbing >600 nm, validating the effectiveness of a strategy for designing efficient photoreactions by thwarting competitive excited state decay channels. Furthermore, 1,7-diaryl substitutions were found to improve the quantum yields of photorelease by excited state participation and blocking ion pair recombination by internal nucleophilic trapping. No cellular toxicity (trypan blue exclusion) was observed at 20 μM, and photoactivation was demonstrated in HeLa cells using red light.

Health-related quality of life of pediatric patients receiving allogeneic stem cell or bone marrow transplantation: results of a longitudinal, multi-center study

The results of a 5-year longitudinal prospective study about the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of pediatric patients receiving allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplantation (BMT) are described. The patients' HRQL was assessed twice before, and five times after BMT, the end point being 1 year after BMT. For the measurement of HRQL, standardized questionnaires were completed by patients, parents and physicians. The final sample consisted of 68 patients aged 4-18 years, of which 19 were lost in the course of the study owing to relapse, transplant rejection and/or death. The worst HRQL was seen shortly after transplant and HRQL thereafter improved steadily, although the improvement was not always linear and not all patients drew benefit from this average positive evolution. Compromised emotional functioning, a high level of worry and reduced communication during the acute phase of treatment had a negative impact on HRQL 1 year after BMT. Nausea and pain during the acute phase of treatment did not have an effect on later HRQL. The interobserver agreement of HRQL reports between parents and their children was moderate to good, and generally better than child-physician and parent-physician agreement.

A Photoactivatable BODIPY Probe for Localization-Based Super-Resolution Cellular Imaging

The synthesis and application of a photoactivatable boron-alkylated BODIPY probe for localization-based super-resolution microscopy is reported. Photoactivation and excitation of the probe is achieved by a previously unknown boron-photodealkylation reaction with a single low-power visible laser and without requiring the addition of reducing agents or oxygen scavengers in the imaging buffer. These features lead to a versatile probe for localization-based microscopy of biological systems. The probe can be easily linked to nucleophile-containing molecules to target specific cellular organelles. By attaching paclitaxel to the photoactivatable BODIPY, in vitro and in vivo super-resolution imaging of microtubules is demonstrated. This is the first example of single-molecule localization-based super-resolution microscopy using a visible-light-activated BODIPY compound as a fluorescent probe.

Microwave hyperthermia for brain tumors

Twelve patients with malignant brain tumors who had failed to respond to conventional therapies were treated with thermotherapy. Hyperthermic temperatures (approximately 43 degrees C) were induced in the tumors using microwaves at a frequency of 2450 MHz that were guided into the tumors by one or more semirigid coaxial applicators. These applicators fit into 16 gauge tubes or needles and can be inserted into the brain with minimal damage to healthy tissues. During each treatment, the tumors were maintained at hyperthermic temperatures for 1 hour. Several treatments spaced a few days apart were usually administered. The procedure used for producing hyperthermia in brain tumors with microwaves proved to be safe and could be repeated several times without producing toxic effects. Objective tumor responses were obtained in 75% of the patients (decrease in tumor size, 3 patients; slowing of tumor growth, 2 patients; necrosis of tumor tissues verified by pathological examination, 4 patients). Favorable clinical responses were observed in 75% of the patients (rapid decrease in intractable headaches, 5 patients; improvements in clinical deficits, 4 patients). Also, in all patients, the microwave power required to heat for a given time or a given volume decreased during most of the thermotherapy sessions, possibly because of heat damage to the tumor vasculature. Our results, taken together with the results of other investigators, indicate that thermotherapy is a promising modality for treating malignant brain tumors, either as the sole therapy or in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The next logical steps would be Phase I/II type trials of subjects whose disease is less advanced than the disease of patients treated in the current series of investigations.

Photoaffinity labeling via nitrenium ion chemistry: protonation of the nitrene derived from 4-amino-3-nitrophenyl azide to afford reactive nitrenium ion pairs

Phenyl azides with powerful electron-donating substituents are known to deviate from the usual photochemical behavior of other phenyl azides. They do not undergo ring expansion but form basic nitrenes that protonate to form nitrenium ions. The photochemistry of the widely used photoaffinity labeling system 4-amino-3-nitrophenyl azide, 5, has been studied by transient absorption spectroscopy from femtosecond to microsecond time domains and from a theoretical perspective. The nitrene generation from azide 5 occurs on the S(2) surface, in violation of Kasha's rule. The resulting nitrene is a powerful base and abstracts protons extremely rapidly from a variety of sources to form a nitrenium ion. In methanol, this protonation occurs in about 5 ps, which is the fastest intermolecular protonation observed to date. Suitable proton sources include alcohols, amine salts, and even acidic C-H bonds such as acetonitrile. The resulting nitrenium ion is stabilized by the electron-donating 4-amino group to afford a diiminoquinone-like species that collapses relatively slowly to form the ultimate cross-linked product. In some cases in which the anion is a good hydride donor, cross-linking is replaced by reduction of the nitrenium ion to the corresponding amine.

meso-Methyl BODIPY Photocages: Mechanisms, Photochemical Properties, and Applications

meso-methyl BODIPY photocages have recently emerged as an exciting new class of photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) that release leaving groups upon absorption of visible to near-infrared light. In this Perspective, we summarize the development of these PPGs and highlight their critical photochemical properties and applications. We discuss the absorption properties of the BODIPY PPGs, structure-photoreactivity studies, insights into the photoreaction mechanism, the scope of functional groups that can be caged, the chemical synthesis of these structures, and how substituents can alter the water solubility of the PPG and direct the PPG into specific subcellular compartments. Applications that exploit the unique optical and photochemical properties of BODIPY PPGs are also discussed, from wavelength-selective photoactivation to biological studies to photoresponsive organic materials and photomedicine.

Different apoptotic mechanisms are involved in the antiproliferative effects of 7beta-hydroxysitosterol and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol in human colon cancer cells

Plant sterols are found in fruits and vegetables. Their cholesterol-lowering effect is well documented. Our study aimed at comparing antiproliferative effects of 7beta-hydroxysitosterol (7beta-OHsito) versus 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7beta-OHchol) on the human colon cancer cell line Caco-2. When cells were exposed for 32 h to 60 microM 7beta-OHsito or to 30 microM 7beta-OHchol, both compounds caused 50% growth inhibition. Cells treated with 7beta-OHsito showed enhanced caspase-9 and -3 activities followed by DNA fragmentation. In contrast, 7beta-OHchol did not activate caspase-3 and activation of caspase-9 and DNA fragmentation were delayed. The treatment of cells with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk retarded the 7beta-OHsito-induced apoptotic process but not that triggered by 7beta-OHchol. Our data suggest that the two compounds in spite of their structural similarities target different cellular pathways, which lead to cell death.

Dynamics of Oxygen-Independent Photocleavage of Blebbistatin as a One-Photon Blue or Two-Photon Near-Infrared Light-Gated Hydroxyl Radical Photocage

Development of versatile, chemically tunable photocages for photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) represents an excellent opportunity to address the technical drawbacks of conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) whose oxygen-dependent nature renders it inadequate in certain therapy contexts such as hypoxic tumors. As an alternative to PDT, oxygen free mechanisms to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by visible light cleavable photocages are in demand. Here, we report the detailed mechanisms by which the small molecule blebbistatin acts as a one-photon blue light-gated or two-photon near-infrared light-gated photocage to directly release a hydroxyl radical (^•OH) in the absence of oxygen. By using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and chemoselective ROS fluorescent probes, we analyze the dynamics and fate of blebbistatin during photolysis under blue light. Water-dependent photochemistry reveals a critical process of water-assisted protonation and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) that drives the formation of short-lived intermediates, which surprisingly culminates in the release of ^•OH but not superoxide or singlet oxygen from blebbistatin. CASPT2//CASSCF calculations confirm that hydrogen bonding between water and blebbistatin underpins this process. We further determine that blue light enables blebbistatin to induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, an attribute conducive to PACT development. Our work demonstrates blebbistatin as a controllable photocage for ^•OH generation and provides insight into the potential development of novel PACT agents.

A highly virulent variant of HIV-1 circulating in the Netherlands

We discovered a highly virulent variant of subtype-B HIV-1 in the Netherlands. One hundred nine individuals with this variant had a 0.54 to 0.74 log₁₀ increase (i.e., a ~3.5-fold to 5.5-fold increase) in viral load compared with, and exhibited CD4 cell decline twice as fast as, 6604 individuals with other subtype-B strains. Without treatment, advanced HIV-CD4 cell counts below 350 cells per cubic millimeter, with long-term clinical consequences-is expected to be reached, on average, 9 months after diagnosis for individuals in their thirties with this variant. Age, sex, suspected mode of transmission, and place of birth for the aforementioned 109 individuals were typical for HIV-positive people in the Netherlands, which suggests that the increased virulence is attributable to the viral strain. Genetic sequence analysis suggests that this variant arose in the 1990s from de novo mutation, not recombination, with increased transmissibility and an unfamiliar molecular mechanism of virulence.

Further studies on the efficacy of a live vaccine against mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis

Three groups of dairy cows were immunized by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of a preparation of live Streptococcus uberis (strain 0140J) and an intramammary infusion of a soluble surface extract derived from same the bacteria. Animals in Groups 1 and 2 received two s.c. vaccinations plus an intramammary inoculation. Animals in Group 3 received two s.c. vaccinations but did not receive the intramammary infusion. In addition to the vaccinated animals, each group also contained two non-vaccinated (control) animals. All animals were challenged experimentally by intramammary infusion (in two quarters per animal) of ca 100 c.f.u. of S. uberis (strain 0140J or C221) and monitored for clinical signs of disease, bacterial numbers in milk, somatic cell count in milk, and daily milk yield for the following 10 days. Animals in Group I were challenged with strain 0140J. Only one out of six challenged quarters of three vaccinated cows developed clinical disease compared to all (four out of four) quarters of non-vaccinated cows. Animals in Group 2 were challenged with strain C221. All challenged quarters of three vaccinated (six out of six) and two non-vaccinated (four out of four) cows developed clinical mastitis. Animals in Group 3 were challenged with strain 0140J. Five out of eight quarters on four vaccinated cows developed clinical mastitis but the onset was delayed in comparison with that in both non-vaccinated cows in which four out of four challenged quarters developed clinical mastitis. These results indicated that vaccination with live S. uberis protects against challenge with the homologous strain but was less effective against a heterologous strain. Reduced protection was also seen when the intramammary booster was omitted.

NCAM, vimentin and neonatal myosin heavy chain expression in human muscle diseases

The intermediate filament protein vimentin, the neonatal isoform of the myosin heavy chain gene (MHCn), and the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) are developmentally and/or neurally regulated molecules that reappear transiently after the induction of necrosis, or denervation. Immunostaining using antibodies against these molecules helps to identify regenerating and/or denervated muscle fibres even if they are not recognized by conventional staining procedures. This study examined the expression of vimentin, MHCn, and NCAM using immunohistochemistry in 82 biopsy specimens from muscular dystrophies, inflammatory myopathies, and neurogenic atrophies. Anti-vimentin labelled significantly more fibres than anti-MHCn staining in the inflammatory myopathies (P<0.03) but not in the muscular dystrophies (P=0.58) and neurogenic atrophies (P=0. 58). The fraction of NCAM+ fibres was always more elevated than vimentin+ or MHCn+ fibres. In the necrotizing myopathies, most NCAM+ fibres were regenerating ones (co-expressing vimentin). In neurogenic atrophies, half the NCAM+ fibres were regenerating and half of them were NCAM+/vimentin- and thus were considered to be denervated. Taken together, anti-vimentin staining detects a broader spectrum of regenerating fibres than anti-MHCn, at least in the inflammatory myopathies. The number of anti-NCAM labelled fibres in the necrotizing myopathies is similar, but not identical, to the number of regenerating fibres. Co-staining with anti-vimentin (or anti-MHCn) and anti-NCAM identifies a subset of fibres that is considered to be denervated.

Strategic information management plans: the basis for systematic information management in hospitals

Information management in hospitals is a complex task. In order to reduce complexity, we distinguish strategic, tactical, and operational information management. This is essential, because each of these information management levels views hospital information systems from different perspectives, and therefore uses other methods and tools. Since all these management activities deal only in part with computers, but mainly with human beings and their social behavior, we define a hospital information system as a sociotechnical subsystem of a hospital. Without proper strategic planning it would be a matter of chance, if a hospital information system would fulfil the information strategies goals. In order to support strategic planning and to reduce efforts for creating strategic plans, we propose a practicable structure.

Processing of prodynorphin-derived peptides in striatal extracts. Identification by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry linked to size-exclusion chromatography

Proteolytic processing of prodynorphin-derived peptides in rat brain was studied with the help of high performance size exclusion chromatography (SEC) connected to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Extracts from rat striatum were incubated with individual synthetic dynorphin peptides. Dynorphin A was the most resistant to proteolytic cleavage, converting slowly to Leu-enkephalin (0.3 pmol/min), whereas dynorphin B was processed to this pentapeptide at a 10(4)-fold higher rate. Minor cleavage was also observed between Arg6-Arg7. Alphaneoendorphin was also rapidly metabolized to Leu-enkephalin (6 nmol/min) and, to a lesser extent, to Leu-enkephalinArg6. This new strategy for studying peptidases can easily be adapted to identification of components present in body fluids.