Deep muscle-proteomic analysis of freeze-dried human muscle biopsies reveals fiber type-specific adaptations to exercise training

Skeletal muscle conveys several of the health-promoting effects of exercise; yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Studying skeletal muscle is challenging due to its different fiber types and the presence of non-muscle cells. This can be circumvented by isolation of single muscle fibers. Here, we develop a workflow enabling proteomics analysis of pools of isolated muscle fibers from freeze-dried human muscle biopsies. We identify more than 4000 proteins in slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. Exercise training alters expression of 237 and 172 proteins in slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers, respectively. Interestingly, expression levels of secreted proteins and proteins involved in transcription, mitochondrial metabolism, Ca2+ signaling, and fat and glucose metabolism adapts to training in a fiber type-specific manner. Our data provide a resource to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying muscle function and health, and our workflow allows fiber type-specific proteomic analyses of snap-frozen non-embedded human muscle biopsies.

Psychopathology measured by established self-rating scales and correlated to serotonin measures in patients with fibromyalgia

The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of psychopathology in fibromyalgia patients compared to a control group of rheumatic patients with pain. Forty-nine fibromyalgia patients and 33 controls were evaluated using established self-rating scales. Serotonin was determined using a radioenzymatic method. Fibromyalgia patients scored significantly higher than the controls on the majority of the subscales on the SCL-90, the two subscales on the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, the GHQ 12 scale and on a visual analogue pain scale. In a multivariate analysis the somatization dimension followed by the state anxiety accounted for the highest difference. Platelet-poor plasma serotonin, platelet serotonin and platelet uptake index were not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, fibromyalgia patients presented quantitatively more psychopathology than the control group on a wide range of psychopathologic axes, and this cannot solely be accounted for by their higher level of pain.

The predictive validity of atypical neurovegetative depressive symptoms identified by the first principal component in the DUAG trial of moclobemide versus clomipramine

OBJECTIVE

To investigate to what extent the primary depression subtype atypical depression can predict differential outcome of the mono-amino-oxidase inhibitor (MAO-I) moclobemide and the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine in the Danish University Antidepressant Group Study (DUAG).

METHODS

In a randomised, double blind trial, a total of 117 patients with major depression were treated over 6 weeks with either 400 mg moclobemide or 150 mg clomipramine. A baseline principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify atypical symptoms on the combined depression scales (Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D(17)) and the Quantitative Scale for Atypical Depression (QSAD)). The primary outcome scale was the subscale HAM-D(6) which contains the pure items of depression.

RESULTS

PCA identified two items with loadings opposite to the other depression items within HAM-D(17) and QSAD, namely increased duration of sleep and increased appetite (atypical neurovegetative symptoms). Patients with a positive score at baseline on these items were classified as having atypical depression. In total 13 patients were classified as having atypical depression. Within this group of patients 8 received clomipramine and 5 patients received moclobemide. At endpoint the moclobemide treated patients had a significantly better response than the clomipramine treated (P=0.036), effect size 1.42, when using HAM-D(6) as outcome. However, in the 104 patients classified as having typical depression clomipramine was superior to moclobemide (P=0.034), effect size 0.47.

LIMITATIONS

The number of patients with atypical neurovegetative symptoms was very small and no placebo arm was included.

CONCLUSIONS

It is very important to screen for atypical depression (increased duration of sleep/increased appetite) in the acute therapy of patients with major depression. Our results add to the body of evidence that monoamine oxidase inhibitors are superior to tricyclic antidepressants in this sub-group of patients.

Proliferation of germ cells and somatic cells in first trimester human embryonic gonads as indicated by S and S+G2+M phase fractions

OBJECTIVES

The number of germ cells and somatic cells in human embryonic and foetal gonads has previously been estimated by stereological methods, which are time- and labour-consuming with little information concerning cell proliferation. Here, we studied whether flow cytometry could be applied as an easier method, also enabling estimation of the fraction of cells in S or S+G(2)+M (SG(2) M) cell-cycle phases as indicators of cell proliferation.

METHODS

Cell suspensions from 35 human embryonic gonads at days 37 to 68 post-conception (pc) were immunomagnetically sorted into C-KIT positive (germ) cells and negative (somatic) cells. They were stained for DNA content and analysed by flow cytometry. S and SG(2) M fractions could be measured for 13 of the female and 20 of the male gonads. The number of cells was estimated using fluorescent reference beads.

RESULTS

During the period from 37 to 68 days pc, female germ and somatic cells had a stable S and SG(2) M fractions indicating steady growth of both subpopulations, whereas they decreased in both male germ and somatic cells. The number of germ and somatic cells estimated by flow cytometry was significantly lower than in stereological estimates, suggesting loss of cells during preparation.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell proliferation as indicated by S and SG(2) M fractions could be estimated specifically for primordial germ and somatic cells. Estimation of total number of germ and somatic cells was not feasible.

Increased cellular hypoxia and reduced proliferation of both normal and leukaemic cells during progression of acute myeloid leukaemia in rats

The microenvironmental changes in the bone marrow, spleen and liver during progression of the transplantable promyelocytic leukaemia in the Brown Norwegian rat (BNML) have been studied. We used flow cytometry to estimate cellular hypoxia and proliferation based on in vivo pulse-labelling with a mixture of 2-nitroimidazole linked to theophylline (NITP) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). The leukaemic cells were identified with the RM124 antibody. In rats inoculated with leukaemic cells the fraction of RM124+ cells was significantly increased from day 20 onwards in the spleen and from day 27 in the bone marrow and liver, reaching a level of 65-87% in these organs at day 32. At day 32, the NITP+ fraction of RM124+ cells had increased significantly in the bone marrow and spleen to 88% and 90%, respectively. The corresponding fractions of NITP+ normal cells reached 63% and 65%, respectively. From day 13 to day 32, the DNA-synthesizing (BrdUrd+) fraction of RM124+ cells in the bone marrow decreased significantly from 52% to 25%, and of normal cells from about 20% to 6%. In the bone marrow and spleen at day 27 and 32, the S-phase and G2/M-phase fractions according to DNA content were higher for the NITP+ than for the NITP- cells. This could partly be explained by an impaired cell cycle progression due to hypoxia. Nevertheless, we found indications of leukaemic cells that were simultaneously labelled with NITP and BrdUrd, in the bone marrow and spleen. These latter findings suggest that in contrast to normal cells some of the leukaemic cells can proliferate even during hypoxia, and this subpopulation may consequently renew and expand the leukaemic cell load.

Do we agree about when patients are psychotic?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate into the use of the term 'psychotic' as defined by ICD-10 or by the concept of impaired reality testing, among psychiatric staff members.

METHOD

Questionnaire investigation using 11 short case vignettes.

RESULTS

Responses were received from 266 psychiatric staff members: psychiatrists, nursing staff and psychologists. When using ICD-10, patients were identified as psychotic with a sensitivity ranging from 90% to 55%. Specificity ranged from 60% to 75%. According to the concept of impaired reality testing, all three groups showed a sensitivity of about 60%, whereas specificity ranged from 65% to 50%. The combined use of the terms correlated significantly with responses regarding indication for legal detention for psychiatrists and nursing staff.

CONCLUSION

In identifying a patient as 'psychotic' a broad concept of impaired reality testing was widely used particularly in cases with legal issues. Psychotic symptoms, however, were identified with high sensitivity and specificity.

Flow cytometric analysis of RNA synthesis by detection of bromouridine incorporation

RNA synthesis has traditionally been investigated by a laborious and time-consuming radiographic method involving incorporation of tritiated uridine. Now a faster non-radioactive alternative has emerged, based on immunocytochemical detection. This method utilizes the brominated RNA precursor bromouridine, which is taken into a cell, phosphorylated, and incorporated into nascent RNA. The BrU-substituted RNA is detected by permeabilizing the cells and staining with certain anti-BrdU antibodies. This dynamic approach yields information complementing that provided by cellular RNA content analysis at a given time and may be of value in studies of cellular activation and gene expression.

MAO inhibitors: pharmacodynamic aspects and clinical implications

Many recent studies have stressed the importance of maintaining the MAO inhibitors in the therapeutic arsenal for depressive patients. In most cases MAO inhibitors are generally safe and as well tolerated as the cyclic antidepressants. It has been suggested that MAO inhibitors are more likely to benefit depressed patients with atypical vegetative symptoms like gain in weight, sleep or libido. However, they may be therapeutic for a wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders ranging from depression with generalized anxiety or phobia, hysteroid dysphoria and endogenous affective illness refractory to conventional therapies. Because of the hazards: drug-drug and drug-food interactions, the irreversible and unspecific MAO inhibitors are only to be recommended on the condition that a good patient compliance can be obtained.

TIMP-1 gene deficiency increases tumour cell sensitivity to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) is one of four inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases, which are capable of degrading most components of the extracellular matrix. However, in recent years, TIMP-1 has been recognised as a multifunctional protein, playing a complex role in cancer. In this regard, several studies have demonstrated an antiapoptotic effect of TIMP-1 in a number of different cell types. Since chemotherapy works by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, we raised the hypothesis that TIMP-1 promotes resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we have established TIMP-1 gene-deficient and TIMP-1 wild-type fibrosarcoma cells from mouse lung tissue. We have characterised these cells with regard to TIMP-1 genotype, TIMP-1 expression, malignant transformation and sensitivity to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. We show that TIMP-1 gene deficiency increases the response to chemotherapy considerably, confirming that TIMP-1 protects the cells from apoptosis. This is to our knowledge the first study investigating TIMP-1 and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis employing a powerful model system comprising TIMP-1 gene-deficient cells and their genetically identical wild-type controls. For future studies, this cell system can be used to uncover the mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in the TIMP-1-mediated inhibition of apoptosis as well as to investigate the possibility of using TIMP-1 inhibitors to optimise the effect of conventional chemotherapy.

Calcium channel ? subunits are unique modulators of low voltage-activated (Cav3.1) calcium current

The calcium channel gamma (gamma) subunit family consists of eight members whose functions include modulation of high voltage-activated (HVA) calcium currents in skeletal muscle and neurons, and regulation of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propanoic acid (AMPA) receptor targeting. Cardiac myocytes express at least three gamma subunits, gamma(4), gamma(6) and gamma(7), whose function(s) in the heart are unknown. Here we compare the effects of the previously uncharacterized gamma(6) subunit with that of gamma(4) and gamma(7) on a low voltage-activated calcium channel (Cav3.1) that is expressed in cardiac myocytes. Co-expression of both the long and short gamma(6) subunit isoforms, gamma(6L) and gamma(6S), with Cav3.1 in HEK-293 cells significantly decreases current density by 49% and 69%, respectively. Two other gamma subunits expressed in cardiac myocytes, gamma(4) and gamma(7), have no significant effect on Cav3.1 current. Neither gamma(6L), gamma(6S), gamma(4) nor gamma(7) significantly affect the voltage dependency of activation or inactivation or the kinetics of Cav3.1 current. Transient expression of gamma(6L) in an immortalized atrial cell line (HL-1) significantly reduces the endogenous low voltage-activated current in these cells by 63%. Green fluorescent protein tagged gamma(6L) is localized primarily in HEK-293 cell surface membranes where it is evenly distributed. Expression of gamma(6L) does not affect the level of Cav3.1 mRNA or the amount of total Cav3.1 protein in transfected HEK-293 cells. These results demonstrate that the gamma(6) subunit has a unique ability to inhibit Cav3.1 dependent calcium current that is not shared with the gamma(4) and gamma(7) isoforms and is thus a potential regulator of cardiac low voltage-activated calcium current.

Disruption of growth hormone secretion alters Ca2+ current density and expression of Ca2+ channel and insulin-like growth factor genes in rat atria

The influence of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis on expression of low-voltage-activated (LVA) Ca2+ current in atrial tissue was investigated using spontaneous dwarf (SpDwf) rats, a mutant strain that lacks GH. Atrial myocytes from SpDwf rats express LVA and high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ currents and the Ca2+ channel alpha1-subunit genes CaV1.2, CaV2.3, CaV3.1, and CaV3.2. LVA current density decreases significantly beginning at, or shortly after, birth in normal animals; however, its density is maintained in SpDwf rats at 1 pA/pF for > or =12 wk after birth. The abundance of mRNAs encoding CaV2.3 and CaV3.2 declines with advancing age in normal atrial development, yet expression of CaV2.3 mRNA remains significantly elevated in older SpDwf animals. Quantitation of local transcript levels for mRNAs encoding IGF-I and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) also reveals significant differences in expression of these transcripts in atrial tissue of SpDwf animals compared with controls. In SpDwf rats, the abundance of IGF-IR mRNA remains elevated at many postnatal ages, whereas mRNA encoding IGF-I is maintained only in older animals. Physiological concentrations of IGF-I cause two- to threefold increases in LVA current density in primary cultures of atrial myocytes, and this effect is blocked by an antisense oligonucleotide targeting the IGF-IR. Thus disruption of GH production in SpDwf animals alters expression of atrial LVA Ca2+ channel and IGF genes as well as postnatal regulation of LVA Ca2+ current density, most likely acting through compensatory mechanisms via the local IGF-IR.

Relationship between mood and TSH response to TRH stimulation in bipolar affective disorder

Moderate to severe depression and mania are associated with a reduced thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response to TSH releasing hormone (TRH). Continued reduction of this response after clinical recovery seems indicative of early relapse. The aim of the present study was to test the relationship between mild changes in mood and the TSH response to TRH stimulation in patients with bipolar affective disorder. Nineteen outpatients with bipolar affective disorder were followed prospectively for three years. Every third month, mood symptoms were rated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS). A TRH test was performed in connection with each rating session (IV injection of 200 microg TRH), and serum TSH was measured at 0, 20, and 60 min. The maximum TSH response (D-max TSH) and the temporal change in D-max TSH between succeeding rating sessions (DD-max TSH) were determined. Psychometric rating and TRH data were obtained for a total of 198 examinations. The temporal change in mood symptom rating score was negatively correlated with the temporal change in D-max TSH, thus suggesting that increasing severity of mood symptoms was related to a reduced TSH response to TRH stimulation. The temporal change in TSH response to TRH stimulation correlated with the actual score on an overall index of symptom severity. In conclusion, milder fluctuations in mood in bipolar affective disorder seem to correlate with the TSH response to TRH stimulation: Increasing severity of mood symptoms seems to be associated with reduced TSH response.

Psychopharmacological treatment with lithium and antiepileptic drugs: suggested guidelines from the Danish Psychiatric Association and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Association in Denmark

A subcommittee under the Danish Psychiatric Association and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Association in Denmark have recently developed national guidelines for the psychopharmacological treatment with lithium and antiepileptic drugs, and the present translation aims at contributing to the international discussion on the development of proper guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Among the antiepileptic drugs, the report deals with valproate, carbamazepine and lamotrigine and to a lesser extent with oxcarbazepine, gabapentin and topiramate. The various drugs will be reviewed, outlining the scientific evidence for mood-stabilizing properties and discussing major side effects, the most important interactions with other drugs and practical use. Special considerations during pregnancy and lactation, during treatment of children and adolescents and during treatment of the elderly will also be presented. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are beyond the scope of the report, but due to the mood-stabilizing properties of at least some of the atypical antipsychotics, these agents will be brought into some focus in connection with the overall treatment guidelines for the different phases of bipolar disorder given at the end of this report.

Distribution and relative expression levels of calcium channel β subunits within the chambers of the rat heart

Calcium channel beta subunits expressed in rat atria and atrial myocytes are identified and their expression quantified and compared to beta subunit expression in the ventricle. mRNAs encoding all four know beta subunits are expressed in atrial myocytes including the following splice variants: beta1a, beta2b, beta2c, beta2e and beta4d. The specific beta2 splice variants expressed in the atria (beta2b, beta2c, beta2e) differ from those previously reported from rat ventricle. Beta2 isoform is the most abundant beta mRNA expressed in the heart and the amount of both beta2 subunit mRNA and beta2 subunit protein is significantly greater in the ventricles than in the atria. The expression of individual beta2 splice variants varies with age and within different chambers of the heart. The beta2b splice variant appears in both atria and ventricle in both young (4.5 week) and old (16 week) animals, the beta2c isoform is more highly expressed in young as compared to old animals and the beta2e splice variant is robustly expressed only in 4.5 week ventricle. Beta4 mRNA expression is higher in atrial tissue than in ventricles and its expression decreases in older animals. In contrast, the abundance of the beta3 mRNA does not significantly change as a function of postnatal age. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting sequence common to all the beta isoforms as well as that specific for beta2 significantly reduced HVA calcium current density in isolated atrial cells confirming that the beta2 subunits contribute to the regulation of HVA calcium current expression in the rat atria. The complexity of beta isoform expression within the heart may provide a mechanism for functional fine-tuning of the cardiac HVA current.

Immediate bromodeoxyuridine labelling of unseparated human bone marrow cells ex vivo is superior to labelling after routine laboratory processing

It is important to evaluate the proliferation of bone marrow cells in several disease conditions and during treatment of patients with for example cytokines. Labelling with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd), immunocytochemical staining with anti-BrdUrd antibody and analysis by flow cytometry provides a reliable and reproducible technique for estimation of the fraction of cells that incorporated BrdUrd into DNA during S-phase. We have compared immediate BrdUrd labelling of unseparated bone marrow cells with the previously used labelling in the laboratory after routine separation of the mononuclear cells. Bone marrow aspirates from seven lymphoma patients without bone marrow involvement were studied with these two methods. We found higher BrdUrd labelling indices (LI) in the mononuclear cells, when cells were labelled immediately. A large variation in LI was found between patients. Our results suggest that ex vivo BrdUrd labelling of bone marrow cells should be performed immediately after aspiration and before separation, because these data are closer to values reported from in vivo labelling with BrdUrd.

Identification of the calcium channel alpha 1E (Ca(v)2.3) isoform expressed in atrial myocytes

Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the calcium channel alpha 1E (Ca(v)2.3) subunit significantly inhibit the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-stimulated increase in low voltage-activated (LVA) (T-type) calcium current in cultured rat atrial myocytes [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94(1997) 14936]. As part of a continuing effort to understand the regulation of LVA current expression in the heart, we have identified the specific alpha 1E isoform that is expressed in atrial tissue. Through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nine overlapping partial clones spanning the entire coding region of the cardiac alpha 1E mRNA were obtained. The predominate isoform in atrial tissue was identified and found to be highly homologous to the alpha 1E isoform previously isolated from kidney and the islets of Langerhans [Eur. J. Biochem. 257(1998) 274]. The expression of alpha 1E in the heart occurs specifically in cardiac myocytes and not in smooth muscle or fibroblasts as demonstrated by RT-PCR performed on isolated atrial myocytes and by in situ hybridization.

Quantitative analysis of the expression and distribution of calcium channel alpha 1 subunit mRNA in the atria and ventricles of the rat heart

Two distinct calcium currents are present in mammalian cardiac myocytes. Utilizing quantitative RT-PCR methods, we have analysed the expression patterns and abundance of four calcium channel alpha 1 subunit mRNAs in different regions of the rat heart and compared them to the known density of calcium currents recorded from rat atria. Our results show that Ca(V)1.2 is the most abundant of the four alpha 1 subunit transcripts in the rat heart. The Ca(V)1.2 message is more abundant in ventricle than in atria and does not vary in expression as a function of developmental age. Ca(V)2.3, Ca(V)3.1 and Ca(V)3.2 mRNAs are 10-100 times less abundant than Ca(V)1.2. Interestingly, Ca(V)2.3, Ca(V)3.1 and Ca(V)3.2 are expressed in both atria and ventricle. The abundance of atrial Ca(V)3.1 mRNA does not change significantly during development and remains high in older animals. In contrast, levels of atrial Ca(V)3.2 mRNA are high in embryonic tissue and at 3- and 4-weeks postnatal but become undetectable at 5 weeks. Expression of atrial Ca(V)2.3 mRNA is highest at 4-weeks postnatal and then declines gradually. We have previously documented that the LVA calcium current density is highest within 4-5 weeks after birth and then declines gradually reaching less than 30% of its maximal value at 12-14 weeks. The complex relationship between atrial LVA current density and the abundance of Ca(V)2.3, Ca(V)3.1 and Ca(V)3.2 mRNA suggests that their contribution to the cardiac LVA current may vary as a function of postnatal age.

Optimization of DOP-PCR amplification of DNA for high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization analysis

BACKGROUND

Whole-genome amplification of minute samples of DNA for the use in comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis has found widespread use, but the method has not been well validated.

METHODS

Four protocols for degenerate oligonucleotide primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR) and fluorescence labeling were applied to test DNA from normal and K-562 cells. The DNA products were used for CGH analysis.

RESULTS

The DOP-PCR-amplified DNA from each protocol produced hybridizations with different qualities. These could be seen primarily as differences in background staining and signal-to-noise ratios, but also as characteristic deviations of normal/normal hybridizations. One DOP-PCR-protocol was further investigated. We observed concordance between CGH results using unamplified and DOP-PCR-amplified DNA. An example of an analysis of an invasive carcinoma of the breast supports the practical value of this approach.

CONCLUSIONS

DOP-PCR-amplified DNA is applicable for high- resolution CGH, the results being similar to those of CGH using unamplified DNA.

High resolution comparative genomic hybridization detects 7-8 megabasepair deletion in PCR amplified DNA

We investigated if any change in spatial resolution of comparative genomic hybridization analysis could be detected when using DNA amplified by degenerate oligonucleotide primed PCR (DOP-PCR) as opposed to the use of unamplified DNA. Five DNA samples from B-cell leukemias with small 11q deletions were amplified by DOP-PCR and analysed by means of high resolution comparative genomic hybridization (HR-CGH) for the evaluation of aberration size detection limit. By means of HR-CGH, we found the detection limit of DOP-PCR CGH for deletions to be between 3 Mbp and 7-8 Mbp.

Soluble CD40 ligand induces selective proliferation of lymphoma cells in primary mantle cell lymphoma cell cultures

Interaction between CD40 and the CD40 ligand (CD40L) is critical for the survival and proliferation of B cells during immunopoiesis. However, the role of CD40L in the pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas is ambiguous. Primary mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells were cultured in the presence of recombinant human CD40L trimer (huCD40LT), and a significant time- and dose-dependent induction of DNA synthesis was observed in thymidine incorporation assays (n = 7, P <.04). The maximal rate of DNA synthesis was reached at huCD40LT doses of 100 ng/mL and above after 4 days of culture, but a significant increase of DNA synthesis was detected already at doses of 1 ng/mL (P =.03). HuCD40LT never inhibited the basal level of DNA synthesis. These findings established 400 ng/mL of huCD40LT for 4 days as standard conditions in the system. Under these conditions, huCD40LT significantly increased the proportion of cells in the S/G(2)/M phases of the cell cycle in 4 of 7 studied cases, while the fraction of apoptotic cells remained unchanged (n = 7). HuCD40LT also induced expression of CD80/B7-1, CD86/B7-2, and CD95/Fas and up-regulated the expression of HLA-DR (n = 6). With the use of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in triple-color flow cytometric analysis, it was found that huCD40LT induced cell-cycle progression in light chain-restricted cells only, of which a median of 14% (range, 0.5% to 29%; n = 4) returned to G(0/1) phase DNA content after bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, demonstrating completion of at least one cell cycle in the presence of huCD40LT. Thus, primary clonal MCL cells are activated and can proliferate in the presence of huCD40LT as a single agent.

Carcinoma in situ of the breast: correlation of histopathology to immunohistochemical markers and DNA ploidy

In a consecutive and unselected series of 178 cases of carcinoma in situ of the breast (CIS), comprising both ductal (DCIS) and lobular type (LCIS), and a series of 48 cases of invasive carcinoma (IC) with predominance of DCIS, the association between histopathology, immunohistochemical markers (ER, PgR, MIB-1, c-erbB-2, and p53), and DNA ploidy was investigated, in order to discriminate biologically different groups. In DCIS, significant correlation was shown between large nuclear size and comedonecrosis, both of which showed also strong association to DNA aneuploidy, high proliferation activity, low steroid receptor content, and overexpression of c-erbB-2 and p53 factors that may indicate an aggressive behavior. Small nuclear CIS, whether LCIS or DCIS, on the contrary, were DNA diploid with low proliferation, and no cases showed overexpression of c-erbB-2 and p53. Heterogeneity with respect to the investigated parameters was also a frequent finding that may reflect a development complexity. In IC, comparison of the DCIS and the invasive component showed similar patterns. No significant differences were shown between DCIS without and with invasion. This may indicate that none of the investigated parameters on its own are essential for the event of invasion.

DNA ploidy in colorectal cancer, heterogeneity within and between tumors and relation to survival

Flow cytometry was used to study the incidence of aneuploidy and to determine the significance of multiple sampling from colorectal tumors. DNA ploidy pattern has been proposed as a supplementary prognostic marker, but discrepancies in findings are major. DNA clonal heterogeneity, defined as two or more DNA aneuploid stemlines in the same tumor, is well established. However, most studies have been based on only one biopsy from each tumor. In our study multiple biopsies were taken from 163 patients (88 males and 75 females) electively operated for colorectal cancer. Tumor cells were harvested by fine needle aspiration from fresh frozen biopsies sampled at different sites of each tumor. DNA aneuploidy was detected in tumors from 145 patients (89%), and 18 patients (11%) had a solitary DNA diploid cell population. In a 79 month follow-up period 105 patients had died. Statistical analysis showed that distinction between diploidy and aneuploidy did not predict survival. However, grouping subpopulations into DNA diploid plus near diploid (DNA index (DI) 0. 97-1.15), DNA aneuploid with all aneuploid subpopulations in the interval 1.15-2.06, and DNA aneuploid with subpopulations with DI < 0.97 and/or DI > 2.06, showed a significant difference in survival in a Cox multivariate analysis including Dukes' stage P = 0.049 comparing the second group to the first and P = 0.01 comparing the third group to the first. In 21 (13%) patients only one subpopulation was found, 57 (35%) had two, 44 (27%) had three, and 41 (25%) had four or more different subpopulations. The association of DNA ploidy to survival is shown to be dependent on the number of biopsies analysed.

Neurological abnormalities in schizophrenic patients: a prospective follow-up study 5 years after first admission

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the temporal stability of neurological abnormalities in first-episode schizophrenic patients, and to clarify the relationships between such abnormalities and psychopathology.

METHOD

A total of 18 schizophrenic patients, 11 non-schizophrenic patients and 10 healthy volunteers were examined neurologically at first admission and 5 years later.

RESULTS

A significant increase in the number of neurological abnormalities was seen in schizophrenic patients with genetic predisposition and in patients with a non-remitting course of disease. Birth complications had an impact on the occurrence of neurological abnormalities at first admission.

CONCLUSION

The association between a deteriorating course of disease and neurological impairment supports the theory that any possible impairment of the brain in schizophrenia is aggravated during the first 5 years of disease.

Improved sensitivity in comparative genomic hybridization analysis of DNA heteroploid cell mixtures after pre-enrichment of subpopulations by fluorescence activated cell sorting

Cytogenetic analysis of solid tumors with comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is hampered by the dilution of DNA from individual tumor subpopulations with DNA from other cells. We investigated to what extent this dilution effect can be alleviated using fluorescence activated cell sorting (flow sorting) of experimental DNA heteroploid cell mixtures prior to CGH. From mixtures of normal lymphocytes with triploid K-562 cells the individual components were sorted according to stemline DNA content and processed by CGH in comparison with pure K-562 samples and the original mixtures. Compared with 30 autosome copy number imbalances found in pure K-562 samples, a mixture with 32% K-562 cells showed 16 imbalances, and none were detected in mixtures with 13% or 5% K-562 cells. In contrast, 29, 22 and 23 imbalances were detected in K-562 nuclei sorted from the 32%, 13% and 5% mixtures, respectively. This indicate that CGH analysis of flow sorted DNA aneuploid subpopulations enables a specific cytogenetic analysis of the individual subclones in a DNA heteroploid cell population.

Calcipotriol inhibits the proliferation of hyperproliferative CD29 positive keratinocytes in psoriatic epidermis in the absence of an effect on the function and number of antigen-presenting cells

The aim of this study was to elucidate some of the possible mechanisms of action of the vitamin D analogue calcipotriol in vivo. Calcipotriol is finding increasing use in the treatment of psoriasis, but the primary target cell in vivo has not yet been identified. We treated psoriatic patients and healthy volunteers with calcipotriol and placebo ointment for 4 and 7 days, and obtained epidermal cell suspensions from treated areas. Epidermal cells were cocultured with autologous T cells, isolated from peripheral blood, in the absence or the presence of a classical antigen or a superantigen. In both psoriatic and normal skin, calcipotriol treatment did not alter the capacity of epidermal antigen-presenting cells to stimulate the proliferation of autologous T cells, either in the absence or in the presence of exogenous antigen. Epidermal cell suspensions were analysed further by staining for infiltrating leucocytes (CD45+) and Langerhans cells (CD1a+). Flow cytometric analysis showed that calcipotriol did not alter the number of CD45+ cells or Langerhans cells in psoriatic skin. These results indicate that calcipotriol does not alter either the number of the function of epidermal antigen-presenting cells in psoriatic epidermis. In contrast, we found that calcipotriol significantly inhibited the proliferation of epidermal cells isolated from psoriatic skin after in vivo treatment, as determined by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. More specifically, we stained for CD29+ keratinocytes and found an even more significant reduction in proliferative capacity. This cell type contains the population of hyperproliferative keratinocytes in psoriatic epidermis. In conclusion, calcipotriol seems to act via an inhibitory effect on hyperproliferative basal keratinocytes of psoriatic epidermis, rather than via an effect on infiltrating leucocytes, including antigen-presenting cells.

[Bipolar affective disorder. A retrospective study of 158 patients in a well-defined geographical region]

A cohort of 158 patients was identified from 723 patients admitted in 1990 or treated as outpatients in 1991 for affective disorders in three university hospitals in Copenhagen, covering a well-defined catchment area. The cohort was subclassified for seasonal pattern according to DSM-III-R. Meteorological data of temperature, hours of sunshine, rainfall and wind-velocity expressed as mean values/month were obtained from the Institute of Meteorology in Copenhagen. There was no relationship between the annual dis- tribution of affective episodes and meteorological data, neither in the total cohort nor in the subgroup of patients with seasonal patterns The present study does not support the hypothesis that a relation exists between start of a new episode and the season or climatic condition.

Changing bone marrow micro-environment during development of acute myeloid leukaemia in rats

The Brown Norwegian rat transplanted with promyelocytic leukaemic cells (BNML) has been used as a model for human acute myeloid leukaemia. We have previously shown that both the blood supply to the bone marrow and the metabolic rate decrease in relation to the leukaemic development in these rats. Here we have investigated how the development and progression of this leukaemia affect oxygenation, pH and proliferation of normal and leukaemic cells in vivo. Bone marrow pH was measured by a needle electrode. Nitroimidazol-theophylline (NITP) was used to identify hypoxic cells, and we applied bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) to identify DNA replicating cells. The leukaemia progressed slowly until day 27 after which a rapid deterioration could be observed leading to severe changes over the following 5 d. In whole blood there was evidence of progressing metabolic acidosis. In bone marrow the fraction of leukaemic cells increased to > 90% and the pH dropped to about 6.5. The fraction of NITP+ cells increased to > 80% in bone marrow and to about 40% in blood. The fraction of BrdUrd+ cells was unchanged in blood, but decreased in bone marrow both for normal cells (from about 20% to 5%), and for leukaemic cells (from about 45% to 25%), evidently as a result of the severely changed microenvironment. In this study we have demonstrated in vivo the development of an acidic and hypoxic bone marrow hampering normal haemopoiesis during leukaemic growth. Our data support the notion of BNML as a valuable tool for studying leukaemogenesis.

Low-level resistance to camptothecin in a human small-cell lung cancer cell line without reduction in DNA topoisomerase I or drug-induced cleavable complex formation

To study the evolution of camptothecin (CPT) resistance, we have established two small-cell lung cancer cell lines with low (3.2-fold, NYH/CAM15) and high (18-fold, NYH/CAM50) resistance to CPT by stepwise drug exposure. NYH/CAM50 cells had reduced topoisomerase I (topo I) content and activity, and consequently CPT-induced DNA single strand breaks (SSBs) were reduced, as measured by alkaline elution. In contrast, NYH/CAM15 cells had identical topo I content and activity as compared with wild-type (wt) cells. CPT-mediated SSBs and the rate of their reversal after drug removal were also equal in wt and NYH/CAM15 cells, as were doubling time, the fraction of cells in S-phase and DNA synthesis rate in response to CPT. As the conversion of DNA SSBs to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is thought to represent a critical event leading to cell death, we measured DNA DSBs by neutral elution. In contrast to DNA SSBs, CPT induced fewer DNA DSBs in NYH/CAM15 than in wt cells. DNA flow cytometry showed that, in CPT-treated cells, the G1 phase was emptied as cells accumulated in late S- and G2M phase. A Spearman rank correlation showed that depletion of G1 and accumulation in late S and G2M correlated to CPT sensitivity in these three cell lines. In conclusion, acquired resistance to CPT can occur without a reduction in either topo I enzyme or CPT-induced cleavable complex formation, while a decrease in the level of CPT-induced DNA DSBs may be of major importance in the early stages of CPT resistance.

In B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia chromosome 17 abnormalities and not trisomy 12 are the single most important cytogenetic abnormalities for the prognosis: a cytogenetic and immunophenotypic study of 480 unselected newly diagnosed patients

Of 560 consecutive, newly diagnosed untreated patients with B CLL submitted for chromosome study, G-banded karyotypes could be obtained in 480 cases (86%). Of these, 345 (72%) had normal karyotypes and 135 (28%) had clonal chromosome abnormalities: trisomy 12 (+12) was found in 40 cases, 20 as +12 alone (+12single), 20 as +12 with additional abnormalities (+12complex). Other frequent findings included abnormalities of 14q, chromosome 17, 13q and 6q. The immunophenotype was typical for CLL in 358 patients (CD5+, Slg(weak), mainly FMC7-) and atypical for CLL in 122 patients (25%) (CD5-, or Slg(strong) or FMC7+). Chromosome abnormalities were found significantly more often in patients with atypical (48%) than in patients with typical CLL phenotype (22%) (P < 0.00005). Also +12complex, 14q+, del6q, and abnormalities of chromosome 17 were significantly more frequent in patients with atypical CLL phenotype, whereas +12single was found equally often in patients with typical and atypical CLL phenotype. The cytomorphology of most of the +12 patients was that of classical CLL irrespective of phenotype. In univariate survival analysis the following cytogenetic findings were significantly correlated to a poor prognosis: chromosome 17 abnormalities, 14q+, an abnormal karyotype, +12complex, more than one cytogenetic event, and the relative number of abnormal mitoses. In multivariate survival analysis chromosome 17 abnormalities were the only cytogenetic findings with independent prognostic value irrespective of immunophenotype. We conclude that in patients with typical CLL immunophenotype, chromosome abnormalities are somewhat less frequent at the time of diagnosis than hitherto believed. +12single is compatible with classical CLL, and has no prognostic influence whereas chromosome 17 abnormalities signify a poor prognosis. In patients with an atypical CLL immunophenotype, chromosome abnormalities including +12complex, 14q+, del 6q and chromosome 17 are found in about 50% of the patients, and in particular chromosome 17 abnormalities suggest a poor prognosis.

Phosphorylation of the 27-kDa heat shock protein via p38 MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase in smooth muscle

The 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) is expressed in a variety of tissues in the absence of stress and is thought to regulate actin filament dynamics, possibly by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. HSP27 has also been suggested to be involved in contraction of intestinal smooth muscle. We have investigated phosphorylation of HSP27 in airway smooth muscle in response to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Carbachol increased 32P incorporation into canine tracheal HSP27 and induced a shift in the distribution of charge isoforms on two-dimensional gels to more acidic, phosphorylated forms. The canine HSP27 amino acid sequence includes three serine residues corresponding to sites in human HSP27 known to be phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-2. To determine whether muscarinic receptors are coupled to a "stress response" pathway in smooth muscle culminating in phosphorylation of HSP27, we assayed MAPKAP kinase-2 activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, the enzyme thought to activate MAPKAP kinase-2. Recombinant canine HSP27 expressed in Escherichia coli was a substrate for MAPKAP kinase-2 in vitro as well as a substrate for endogenous smooth muscle HSP27 kinase, which was activated by carbachol. Carbachol also increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinases, reduced activation of endogenous HSP27 kinase activity and blocked the shift in HSP27 charge isoforms to acidic forms. We suggest that HSP27 in airway smooth muscle, in addition to being a stress response protein, is phosphorylated by a receptor-initiated signaling cascade involving muscarinic receptors, tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, and activation of MAPKAP kinase-2.

DNA ploidy analysis in breast carcinoma. Comparison of unfixed and fixed tissue analyzed by image and flow cytometry

OBJECTIVE

To form a methodologic basis for DNA analysis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma (IC) of the breast, including very small lesions, by comparison of flow cytometric (FCM) and image cytometric (ICM) methods for DNA quantitation.

STUDY DESIGN

The material consisted of 41 DCIS lesions and 26 ICs. FCM DNA analysis of unfixed, frozen samples were compared to (1) FCM of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue; (2) ICM of imprints; and (3) ICM of paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

RESULTS

FCM of unfixed tissue showed higher DNA measurement precision and a higher number of DNA nondiploid clones as compared to the other three methods. For the classification of DNA diploid/nondiploid cases, high concordance rates were found between the methods. Discordant cases were predominantly DNA neardiploid by FCM of unfixed tissue but DNA diploid by the other methods. The reproducibility of the DNA index (DI) was best in the interval 1.2 < DI < or = 2.2; it was 74% for FCM of fixed tissue and 79% for ICM of imprints. Clones with DI > 3 were found almost exclusively by ICM of imprints. For ICM of tissue sections, DI could not be reliably estimated. By ICM, contrary to FCM, a combined DNA diploid and nondiploid pattern was found frequently.

CONCLUSION

Each of the methods has its own advantages and limitations. If possible, FCM should be combined with ICM. FCM of unfixed tissue is superior to the other methods with respect to precise DI estimation. Alternatively, FCM of fixed tissue and ICM of imprints may both give a reliable estimate of DI. ICM of tissue sections can discriminate DNA diploid from nondiploid clones, except for neardiploid subpopulations, and permits the analysis of very small lesions.

Lesional psoriatic T cells contain the capacity to induce a T cell activation molecule CDw60 on normal keratinocytes

In this report we demonstrate, that in psoriatic skin, basal and suprabasal keratinocytes express CDw60. The CDw60-specific monoclonal antibody, UM4D4, has recently been shown to recognize the 9-O-acetylated disialosyl group on ganglioside GD3. The CDw60 antigen on cultured keratinocytes also seems to be identical with the 9-O-acetylated disialosyl group, because the anti-UM4D4 binding was markedly reduced after neuraminidase treatment of keratinocytes. To examine whether factors from T cells in psoriatic lesions are responsible for the overexpression of CDw60 on keratinocytes, T cell lines obtained from lesional skin were initiated and cloned by limiting dilution. Factors released from 19 of 19 activated T cell clones up-regulated CDw60 expression on cultured normal keratinocytes. T-cell-secreted cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, transforming growth factor-beta, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma were tested for their capacity to modulate keratinocyte CDw60 expression. IL-4 and IL-13 strongly up-regulated the expression of CDw60; by contrast, interferon-gamma down-regulated keratinocyte CDw60 expression. Interestingly, IL-13 may in part be responsible for the T-cell-induced up-regulation of CDw60, because anti-IL-13 partly neutralized this effect of the T cell supernatant. In conclusion, CDw60 expression on psoriatic epidermal keratinocytes is likely induced by intralesionally activated T cells and may in part be due to IL-13. These findings would represent a novel mechanism by which T cells participate in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

The Major Depression Rating Scale (MDS). Inter-rater reliability and validity across different settings in randomized moclobemide trials. Danish University Antidepressant Group

The Major Depression Rating Scale (MDS) has been derived from the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Melancholia Scale. The MDS contains the nine DSM-IV items for major depression which all have anchoring scores from 0 to 4; hence, the theoretical score range is up to 36. The Major Depression Rating Scale has in this study been psychometrically analysed in randomized moclobemide trials. The results showed that the MDS had higher internal validity than the Hamilton Depression Scale. Thus, the homogeneity of the items was higher; factor analysis identified only one general depression factor (after 4 weeks of treatment explaining more than 50% of the variance). The inter-rater reliability of the two scales was of the same high level. The ability to measure changes (external validity) was tested in randomized clinical trials with moclobemide versus tricyclics (clomipramine and notriptyline) performed in Denmark in the psychiatric setting as well as in the general practice. The results showed that in the psychiatric setting tricyclics were superior to moclobemide with effect sizes ranging between 0.43 and 0.53. The highest effect size was obtained with the Melancholia Scale and the Major Depression Rating Scale, while the Hamilton Depression Scale was below 0.50. In the general practice setting no difference was found between moclobemide and clomipramine. In conclusion, the Major Depression Rating Scale has been found to have a more homogeneous factor structure than the Hamilton Depression Scale, but still with the same level of reliability and external validity. However, studies are needed to standardize the scale, especially in the general practice setting.

[Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and anesthesia]

The increasing usage of ACE-inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension and chronic heart failure may increase the incidence of adverse anaesthetic occurrences. Four such cases are described. In two of these cases, the patient reacted with severe hypotension when general anaesthesia was supplemented with epidural bupivacaine. Another patient suffered a heart fatality after severe hypotension in conjunction with the administration of a spinal anaesthetic. Finally, one patient suffered sudden fatal pulmonary oedema after completion of uneventful general anaesthesia, possibly due to late resumption of ACEI-treatment. The cases are discussed in detail, with particular reference to the possible underlying mechanisms. Preoperative discontinuation of ACEI-treatment is controversial. We present some of the issues involved. Most authors lean towards continuing ongoing treatment, even though there is firm evidence that this increases the risk of hypotensive episodes due to hypovolaemia, arguing that such events may be predicted and antagonized with fluid therapy.

The bone-marrow infiltration pattern in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not an important prognostic factor. Danish CLL Study Group

In a multicentre study of 635 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with B-CLL, the histological bone marrow (BM) specimens were reviewed independently by each of 3 pathologists and found evaluable for BM infiltration pattern in 575 patients, 404 of whom had a CD5+, mainly FMC7-, faint surface-membrane immunoglobulin (SIg) fluorescence-intensity ppenotype. In these 404 patients the following BM infiltration patterns were found: mixed nodular-interstitial (30%), moderate interstitial (44%), heavy interstitial (20%) and diffuse packed (6%). In univariate survival analysis, significant differences were found according to BM pattern (p < 0.05), the presence of nodules being a favorable prognostic sign. In multivariate survival analysis in a model including age, clinical stage, BM pattern, BM lymphocytosis, WBC and sex, only age and stage but not BM pattern or BM lymphocytosis had independent prognostic significance. In stage A, progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients with nodular than in patients with non-nodular bone-marrow pattern. The overall survival of these patients, however, did not differ, possibly owing to the prompt and prolonged treatment given to most patients at the time of progression to stage B or C. We conclude that in CD5+, SIg(faint), mainly FMC7-B-CLL, bone-marrow histology may predict unstable disease in early clinical stage but is not important for treatment decisions, when these are based on clinical stage.

Tissue disaggregation for flow cytometric DNA analysis: comparison of fine-needle aspiration and an automated mechanical procedure

Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed on unfixed frozen samples from 56 breast cancer patients. From each patient, two samples were analyzed. The only difference in the handling of the paired samples was the mechanical disaggregation of one sample by fine-needle aspiration compared to an automated mechanical disaggregation method (Medimachine) of the other sample. With the two methods for tissue disaggregation, the same resolution of the DNA histograms was obtained, indicated by median coefficients of variation (CV) of 1.5% for the DNA diploid G1 peaks. Also, the frequencies of DNA diploid and aneuploid cases as well as the fractions of DNA aneuploid cells were comparable. This indicates that the two methods did not differ in ability to detect DNA aneuploid tumor clones. Automated mechanical disaggregation resulted in DNA histograms with significantly less debris and with lower S-phase fractions. In practice, the procedure of automated mechanical disaggregation was rapid, easy, and safer because of minimal handling of the unfixed tissue compared to the fine-needle aspiration.

[Abnormal neurological findings at first admission in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorders. Results of computer tomography and measurement of regional cerebral blood flow]

Forty-five patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder admitted to hospital for the first time had a neurological examination, including integrative sensory and complex motor acts, by a trained neurologist. The patients were studied by CT and regional cerebral blood flow as well. A control group of 24 healthy volunteers was included. The patients had significantly more neurological abnormalities (NA) than the healthy volunteers. Medication did not explain the discrepancy. The NA were associated with sulcal enlargement and smaller brains as visualized by CT but not with ventricular enlargement. There was no association between the regional flow values and NA.

Circadian variation of DNA replication in hamster cheek pouch epithelium analysed by tritiated thymidine labelling, flow sorting and autoradiography: no resting S phase cells in the normal epithelium

In the normal hamster cheek pouch epithelium, cell proliferation takes place with a pronounced circadian rhythm. We tested our previous hypothesis that all cells having S phase DNA content are actively synthesizing DNA and thus participating in the daily cohort of proliferating cells. We found no evidence of resting S phase cells in the normal epithelium. Using labelling with tritiated thymidine followed by fluorescence activated cell sorting according to DNA content and by autoradiography of the sorted nuclei, it was demonstrated that during the 24 h period almost all cells with mid S phase DNA content were active in DNA synthesis.

DNA aneuploidy in early breast cancer

High-resolution flow cytometric (FCM) DNA analysis was performed on 148 unfixed, frozen tissue samples from four groups of early breast cancers: invasive carcinomas (ICs) with predominance of carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (group I), small clinical cancers < or = 15 mm (group II), node-negative, clinical cancers (group III) and small screening-detected cancers < or = 15 mm (group IV). The median tumour size was 12 mm. The aim of the study was to support, with a larger sample, our recent findings with respect to DNA ploidy pattern in the selected group of ICs with predominance of DCIS (group I). Similar results to this group were found for both the small clinical cancers and the node-negative cancers, with respect to frequency of DNA aneuploidy (79% and 90%), DNA index (DI) distribution, intratumoral DNA heterogeneity and S-phase fraction. A high frequency of DNA hyperdiploid clones was found, in particular related to highly differentiated tumours. A significant difference was found compared with the screening-detected cancers, which were characterised by a much lower frequency of DNA aneuploid samples (49%) and may represent a biologically specific group of low-malignant, slowly growing tumours. Associations were shown between histological grade and DI subclasses, and between lymph node status and DNA diploidy/aneuploidy, whereas DI was not correlated with tumour size. The DNA ploidy findings in this series of early cancers are concordant to our own results from preinvasive lesions as well as those reported from series of more advanced cancers.

DNA analysis of in situ ductal carcinoma of the breast via flow cytometry

Flow cytometric (FCM) DNA analysis of 41 clinical cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast was performed on fine-needle aspirates of unfixed, frozen tissue. Based on analysis of a single tissue sample, abnormal DNA content was found in 35 (85%) of the cases, and 15 (37%) disclosed heterogeneity. If five or more samples were analyzed, then heterogeneity was found in eight of ten cases. No conclusive correlation could be found between DNA index (DI) and histopathology. Our results on DCIS demonstrate a very high concordance with invasive breast cancer with respect to the frequency of DNA nondiploid cases, distribution of DI, occurrence of multiple clones, and S-phase fraction. This indicates that major genetic alterations and DNA heterogeneity are early events in carcinogenesis that are already established at the preinvasive stage.

Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the canine HSP27 protein

The nucleotide (nt) sequence encoding a 27-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP27) was determined from cDNAs cloned from a canine smooth muscle library. The primary structure deduced from the nt sequence reveals a 209-amino-acid protein having 86-89% identity with human, mouse, rat and hamster small HSP. Similar to human HSP27, the canine protein contains three Ser residues that are potential MAPKAP kinase II substrates.