Abstract P3-08-01: Characteristics, outcomes and prognostic factors of luminal androgen receptor (LAR) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Background: The LAR subtype is a genomically distinct subset of TNBC. Using a large cohort of non-metastatic TNBC patients (pts) with long term follow-up, we sought to further characterize the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of LAR vs non-LAR TNBC.

Methods: From a cohort of 9982 women with surgically-treated non-metastatic breast cancer, 605 met criteria for TNBC (ER/PR<1% and HER2-negative) by central pathology. RNA extracted from 304 FFPE tumor specimens using the HighPure RNA extraction kit was subjected to TruSeq RNA Access library preparation and sequencing on a HiSeq2500. Adequate RNA was available for 283 pts. Tumors were classified as LAR or non-LAR using a shrunken centroid model, CABAL (Clustering Among BAsal and Luminal androgen receptor). In addition to previously described analyses [Leon-Ferre et al, Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017], immunohistochemical (IHC) androgen receptor (AR) staining was performed and the impact of various parameters on invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: 58 (20%) tumors were classified as LAR and 225 (80%) as non-LAR. Compared to non-LAR, LAR pts were older (mean age 65 vs 54) and more often postmenopausal (79%vs53%), both p=0.01. Apocrine histology was more common among LAR tumors (21%vs0%), which were also lower grade (grade3: 69%vs95%) and had lower Ki-67 (Ki-67>15%: 64%vs82%), all p<0.01. Additionally, LAR tumors had lower median stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs, 20%vs25%) and were less frequently lymphocyte-predominant [≥50% stromal or intratumoral TILs (19%vs32%)], although neither reached statistical significance. AR IHC was available for 223 of 283 tumors. Median AR IHC score in LAR was 65% (range 0-100%) vs 0% (range 0-90%) in non-LAR. T/N stage, surgery type, and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCT) or radiotherapy were similar between LAR and non-LAR. LAR pts had shorter IDFS and OS compared to non-LAR (5.6 vs 11.8 yrs and 10.8 vs 20.8 yrs, respectively), although this did not reach statistical significance. Test of proportional hazard assumption was not significant for IDFS or OS (p = 0.30 and 0.09). IDFS estimates were numerically higher in LAR vs non-LAR (80.2%vs70.5%,p = 0.92) at 3yrs post-diagnosis; whereas the opposite was true (40.9%vs55.6%,p = 0.07) after 10yrs. OS estimates at 3 and 5yrs were similar between LAR and non-LAR, but at 10yrs OS was inferior in LAR (40.9%vs66.4%,p = 0.24). In a univariate analysis including both LAR and non-LAR, older age, higher N stage, lower TILs and absence of AdjCT were associated with poorer IDFS and OS. In a multivariate analysis, higher N stage and absence of AdjCT remained associated with both poorer IDFS and OS; while lower stromal TILs were associated with poorer IDFS (p=0.01), and with a trend towards poorer OS (p=0.07).

Conclusions: LAR TNBCs occurred in older women, were lower grade, and had lower TIL density than nonLAR tumors. While significant differences in IDFS or OS were not demonstrated, LAR pts exhibited a numerically lower risk of a disease event at 3yrs, but higher risk by 10yrs compared to nonLAR pts. In the entire cohort, higher N stage, absence of AdjCT and lower TILs were independently associated with poorer outcomes.

Citation Format: Leon-Ferre RA, Polley M-Y, Liu H, Kalari KR, Boughey JC, Liu MC, Cafourek V, Negron V, Ingle JN, Thompson KJ, Tang X, Barman P, Carlson E, Visscher DW, Carter JC, Couch FJ, Goetz MP. Characteristics, outcomes and prognostic factors of luminal androgen receptor (LAR) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-08-01.

Abstract P1-03-04: Molecular subtyping of androgen receptor-positive patients using gene expression profiles

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and unsupervised clustering approaches using gene expression data have identified 3-6 distinct subtypes of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). A genomically and clinically distinct subtype of TNBC is referred to as LAR (Luminal Androgen Receptor). Tumors with this subtype typically express high levels of the AR and exhibit alterations within genes involved in the PI3K pathway (e.g. PIK3CA mutations). Prospective studies are underway using drugs that target the AR alone or in combination with PI3K and CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Given the importance of accurately identifying this subtype, we sought to develop an online tool that uses submitted gene expression data to confidently characterize LAR samples by corroborating the classification with previously published clustering approaches.

Methods: We have investigated TNBC RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer study (N=123 samples) by cluster analysis. Analysis of the average silhouette width in both biased and unbiased K-means clustering approaches demonstrated LAR and basal as two distinct and significant clusters. A shrunken centroid model of 426 differentially expressed genes, named as CABAL (Clustering Among BAsal and Luminal androgen receptor), was constructed by comparing LAR and basal subtypes.

Results: We applied the CABAL model to classify the four TNBC microarray datasets that were previously used in clustering experiments as well as an independent RNA-Seq data cohort. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and fuzzy clustering were applied to the samples (N=1046). Clustering similarity among the methods was assessed with the adjusted rand index, and CABAL demonstrated significant similarity with both fuzzy and NMF clustering methods. Similarly, hierarchical clustering analysis performed on the pooled cohort of 1046 samples recapitulated the CABAL classification with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.91.

Conclusions: Confident and robust identification of samples with the LAR phenotype is paramount in the assessment of clinical associations and therapeutic efficacy. To facilitate LAR identification, we have provided a web-based prediction tool of the CABAL classification, integrated with the NMF and fuzzy clustering results to identify candidate LAR samples. The end user is provided with the pair-wise adjusted rand indexes, thus reinforcing in the clustering characterizations. Further, our online LAR depiction tool provides a set of graphical and tabular summaries, which will be illustrated, while providing additional molecular characterizations of the PAM50 and Metabric classifications. The availability of this tool could advance the genomic research and treatment of TNBC patients.

Citation Format: Thompson KJ, Alaparthi T, Sinnwell JP, Carlson EE, Tang X, Bockol M, Vedell PT, Ingle JN, Suman V, Weinshilboum RM, Wang L, Boughey JC, Kalari KR, Goetz MP. Molecular subtyping of androgen receptor-positive patients using gene expression profiles [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-03-04.

Abstract P3-06-10: Multiscale modeling of omics data for precision breast cancer treatment

Introduction: The vast majority of cancer patients continue to receive treatments that are minimally informed by omics data. In the case of breast cancer, only ER and HER2 are routinely used for treatment selection. There is a particular need for personalized treatment in individuals with primary and secondary drug resistance or aggressive breast cancers. Emerging bioinformatics and statistical methods have made a fundamental impact on cancer research. However, challenges remains with regard to patient-centric data analysis and providing genomic data guidance to oncologists. There exists a large number of FDA approved anti-neoplastic drugs used to treat cancers other than breast and the development of innovative informatics methods and algorithms to repurpose those drugs should benefit breast cancer patients.

Methods and Results: We have developed precision care systems (such as PANOPLY and CORPUS) to identify personalized therapies for an individual patient and to deliver genomic reports in a standard, searchable format so that a researcher or an oncologist can quickly navigate through molecular data and obtain prioritized drugs and targets.The PANOPLY (Precision cancer genomics report: single sample inventory) algorithm applies machine learning and topology-based network analysis methods to integrate multi-omics profiles and clinical data; individual-specific molecular alterations are identified and compared with a set of matched-controls having similar clinical data. Since there is a lack of a “gold standard” dataset to test such algorithms, we simulated 500 case-control sets and evaluated drug predictions across multiple simulation scenarios. We applied the PANOPLY algorithm to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer cohort, which consists of multi-omics data and clinical data. In addition, PANOPLY was also applied to an in-house neoadjuvant breast cancer study (BEAUTY) that consists of multi-omics data, clinical data, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). In the TCGA breast cancer study we obtained survival data to determine the cases and matched-controls; and in the BEAUTY, we used pathologic complete response (pCR) as an outcome to determine responders and non-responders. Recurrent targetable alterations were not enriched in patients without pCR in the BEAUTY study. We have applied the PANOPLY to non-responder patients to identify individual specific alterations, dysregulated networks, drug targets, and drugs for each patient and stored them as case reports in CORPUS (Computational Oncology Reports and Precision therapeUticS), a web-based repository that allows clinicians to review genomic reports. Using comprehensive “omic” data derived from a triple negative breast cancer patient who had pre and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy PDXs, PANOPLY prioritized the PARP inhibitors as the top class of drug. Using the PDX models available from this patient, we tested olaparib and confirmed the in vivo antitumor activity (more effective than vehicle with a p-value < 0.05 in the PDXs). Further studies to confirm PANOPLY findings are currently underway.

Conclusions: In summary, the PANOPLY and CORPUS systems incorporate molecular data together with clinical data to provide genomic reports with proposed drug targets to advance or enable precision breast cancer care.

Citation Format: Kalari KR, Sinnwell JP, Thompson KJ, Tang X, Carlson EE, Alaparthi T, Yu J, Vedell PT, Kalmbach MT, Bockol MA, Hossain A, Weinshilboum RM, Boughey JC, Wang L, Suman VJ, Goetz MP. Multiscale modeling of omics data for precision breast cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-10.

Abstract P3-07-51: Regulation of DNA methyltransferases via TRAF6 determines breast cancer response to decitabine

Background: Tumorigenesis involves both genetic and epigenetic changes. Epigenetic alterations are reversible and are promising cancer therapeutic targets. Decitabine (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, is FDA approved for hematological malignancies. However, the effect of decitabine in breast cancer is not completely understood. Previous reports indicated that one decitabine mechanism involves regulation of protein levels for DNMT1, the major DNA methyltransferase that methylates hemimethylated CpG di-nucleotides in DNA. However, the E3 ligase involved in this process has not been identified. Whether decitabine also regulates DNMT3A and 3B in a similar fashion remains unclear. Therefore, our goals were to 1) understand mechanisms underlying decitabine action, 2) test the antitumor activity of decitabine in breast cancer models and 3) identify biomarkers associated with response to decitabine.

Methods and Results: Western blots of breast cancer cell lines showed that DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B protein levels decreased following decitabine treatment without a reduction in mRNA levels. Bioinformatic analysis of DNA methyltransferase sequences revealed a potential TRAF6 binding motif, and the interaction with TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6) was confirmed by IP. TRAF6 functions as an E3 ligase. To determine whether TRAF6 might be the E3 ligase responsible for the degradation of DNMTs after decitabine treatment, we knocked down TRAF6 by RNA interference or knocked out the TRAF6 gene by CRISPR/Cas9. Down regulation of TRAF6 attenuated DNMT ubiquitination and increased DNMT protein levels, suggesting that TRAF6 might mediate proteasome-dependent degradation of all three DNMTs. This was further confirmed by reconstituting the knockout cells with WT and a TRAF6-C70A mutant, followed by assessing DNMT protein levels. Global DNA methylation was also increased after TRAF6 depletion and was confirmed in TRAF6 knock out cells in which DNMT levels were unaffected by decitabine. Cell cytotoxicity and colony forming assays showed that TRAF6 knockout cells were resistant to decitabine, suggesting that a major decitabine mechanism of action is through the regulation of TRAF6 which, in turn, degrades DNMTs, leading to decreased global methylation. Finally, decitabine significantly induced TRAF6 at both mRNA and protein levels, a process that might create positive feedback leading to increased degradation of DNMT proteins upon decitabine treatment. Based on these results, we further hypothesized that levels of the three DNMTs might influence decitabine response. Using 18 breast cancer patient derived xenograft (PDX) models, we found a wide range of DNMT protein levels regardless of ER/HER2 status. DNMT levels in the PDX models were directly associated with sensitivity to decitabine treatment, confirming our hypothesis.

Conclusion: Our data showed that decitabine might be an effective agent for treating breast cancer and revealed a novel mechanism underlying decitabine treatment. Baseline DNMT protein levels may serve as a biomarker for predicting decitabine drug response.

Citation Format: Yu J, Qin B, Boughey JC, Moyer AM, Visscher DW, Sinnwell JP, Yin P, Thompson KJ, Docter TJ, Kalari KR, Suman VJ, Wieben ED, Felten SJ, Conners AL, Jones KN, McLaughlin SA, Copland JA III, Moreno Aspitia A, Northfelt DW, Gray RJ, Ingle JN, Lou Z, Weinshilboum R, Goetz MP, Wang L. Regulation of DNA methyltransferases via TRAF6 determines breast cancer response to decitabine. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-51.

Toxicity thresholds for juvenile freshwater mussels Echyridella menziesii and crayfish Paranephrops planifrons, after acute or chronic exposure to Microcystis sp

Survival of juvenile freshwater mussels (Echyridella menziesii (Gray, 1843) formerly known as Hyridella menziesi) and crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons, White, 1842) decreased after four days exposure to microcystin-containing cell-free extracts (MCFE) of Microcystis sp. at concentrations typical of severe cyanobacterial blooms. Crayfish survival was 100, 80, and 50% in microcystin concentrations of 1339, 2426, and 11146 μg L(-1) respectively, and shade- and shelter-seeking behavior was negatively affected when concentrations were ≥2426 μg L(-1) . Mussel survival decreased to 92% and reburial rates decreased to 16% after exposure for 96 h to MCFE containing microcystins at concentrations of 5300 μg L(-1) . Crayfish survival was 100% when fed freeze-dried Microcystis sp. incorporated into an artificial diet (6-100 μg microcystin kg(-1) ww) at dietary doses from 0.03 to 0.55 μg g(-1) body weight d(-1) for 27 days. Specific growth rate was significantly lower in crayfish fed ≥0.15 μg g(-1) body weight day(-1) compared with controls, but not compared with a diet incorporating nontoxic cyanobacteria. Microcystins accumulated preferentially in crayfish hepatopancreas and mussel digesta as MCFE or dietary concentrations increased. These laboratory data indicate that, assuming dissolved oxygen concentrations remain adequate, and no simultaneous exposure to live Microcystis sp. cells, cell-free microcystins will only be a significant stressor to juvenile crayfish and mussels in severe Microcystis sp. blooms. In contrast, crayfish were negatively affected by relatively low concentrations of microcystins in artificial diets compared with those measured locally in benthic cyanobacterial mats.

Socio-economic gradients in self-reported health in Ireland and Northern Ireland

BACKGROUND

Research and policy related to reducing health inequalities has progressed separately within Ireland and Northern Ireland. This paper describes the first exploration of the socio-economic influences on health on the island of Ireland since 1922.

METHODS

Postal survey.

RESULTS

The response rate was 52%; 11,870 respondents. Men reported more long-standing illness (LLTI) or poor general health (PGH); depression was more common amongst women. Socio-economic gradients in health were evident in both jurisdictions, with the effects of household income being particularly marked. Overall, morbidity levels were significantly better in Ireland than in Northern Ireland: adjusted odds ratio of 0.79 (95% CI 0.71 - 0.88) for LLTI; 0.64 (0.57 - 0.72) for PGH; 0.90 (0.82 - 0.99) for depression.

CONCLUSIONS

There is evidence of strong and similar socio-economic gradients in health throughout the island of Ireland. This would suggest joint policy approaches or at least further comparative evaluation of the initiatives in each jurisdiction.

The symptomatic Pulfrich phenomenon can be successfully managed with a coloured lens in front of the good eye--a long-term follow-up study

PURPOSE

Many visual symptoms originating from a spontaneous Pulfrich phenomenon can be alleviated by the provision of a tinted lens worn in front of the least affected eye. Here, we report on the long-term outcome of four patients who have been provided with a uniocular tinted spectacle or contact lens.

METHODS

The case notes of four cases were reviewed. The review period was at least 5 years in all four cases.

RESULTS

In all cases, visual symptoms and perceptual difficulties occurring from the spontaneous Pulfrich effect were completely eliminated over a period of many years. In one case, the relief has been sustained over a 20-year period.

CONCLUSIONS

A uniocular tinted lens, or contact lens, provides immediate and lasting relief from the visual difficulties caused by the visual delay underlying the spontaneous Pulfrich effect.

The changing face of leprosy

Still a cause of preventable blindness

Gene expression associated with in vivo induction of early phase-long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal mossy fiber-Cornus Ammonis (CA)3 pathway

Affymetrix microarray technology was used to characterize whole-hippocampus gene expression associated with in vivo N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-R-independent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mossy fiber (MF)-Cornus Ammonis (CA)3 pathway of adult male F344 rats. Acute MF responses were evoked by stimulation of the MF bundle and recorded in stratum lucidum of CA3. Following recording of baseline responses at 0.05 Hz, animals received either CPP (NMDA-R antagonist, 10 mg/kg) or naloxone (opioid-R antagonist, 10 mg/kg). LTP was induced by two 100 Hz 1-sec trains at the intensity sufficient to evoke 50% of the maximal response. Responses were collected for an additional hour. In controls, MF responses were collected at 0.05 Hz for 1 hr, but 100 Hz trains were not delivered. Hippocampi were harvested prior to total RNA isolation. Fragmented cRNA was hybridized to a rat U34 neurobiology array. F344 rats exhibited characteristic LTP in the presence of CPP and LTP blockade in the presence of naloxone. As a result, genes associated with both NMDA-independent LTP and naloxone-induced blockade were identified. These include genes involved in transmitter transport, intracellular messengers, growth factors and ion channels. Up-regulated include NMDA-R2D, neuropeptide Y (NPY), proenkephalin, BDNF and NGFR. Down-regulated genes include IGF-1 and GABA-B.

The maize Brown midrib1 locus affects cell wall composition and plant development in a dose-dependent manner

The four brown midrib (bm) mutants of maize have a reduced content and altered subunit composition of the cell wall polymer lignin. The bm mutations have traditionally been considered completely recessive, because the brown midrib phenotype is only apparent in plants homozygous for the mutation. In addition to an effect on cell wall composition, some bm mutations have been shown to affect flowering time. We had preliminary evidence for a dosage effect of the Bm1 locus on flowering time, which prompted this detailed study on the Bm1 locus. In this study, near-isogenic lines (in an A619 background) with zero, one or two bm1 mutant alleles were compared. The bm1 heterozygotes flowered significantly earlier than both the wild-type plants and bm1 mutants. This difference can at least be partly attributed to an accelerated growth rate in the later stages of plant development. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the cell wall composition of the bm1 heterozygous plants is distinct from both the bm1 and wild-type homozygotes. The combination of the data on flowering time and the data on cell wall composition provide evidence for a dosage effect at the Bm1 locus.

Localization of protein Ser/Thr phosphatase 5 in rat brain

Protein phosphatase 5 is a recently discovered Ser/Thr phosphatase that is structurally related to calcineurin and protein phosphatases 1 and 2. Northern blot and in situ hybridization studies have shown that protein phosphatase 5 mRNA is present at high levels in brain and is localized to discrete regions. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry and immunoblot analyses to examine the regional and subcellular distribution of this enzyme in brain. Our work demonstrates that protein phosphatase 5 is widely expressed throughout brain, but is not uniformly distributed. The most intense staining occurred in neurons of the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Other areas also contained immunoreactive cell bodies, including the globus pallidus, hippocampus, thalamus, lateral preoptic area of the hypothalamus, substantia nigra and other brainstem nuclei. Staining in these cells was observed primarily in perikarya and proximal processes.

Iron and neurodegenerative disorders

The brain shares with other organs the need for a constant and readily available supply of iron and has a similar array of proteins available to it for iron transport, storage, and regulation. However, unlike other organs, the brain places demands on iron availability that are regional, cellular, and age sensitive. Failure to meet these demands for iron with an adequate supply in a timely manner can result in persistent neurological and cognitive dysfunction. Consequently, the brain has developed mechanisms to maintain a continuous supply of iron. However, in a number of common neurodegenerative disorders, there appears to be an excess accumulation of iron in the brain that suggests a loss of the homeostatic mechanisms responsible for regulating iron in the brain. These systems are reviewed in this article. As a result of a loss in iron homeostasis, the brain becomes vulnerable to iron-induced oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a confounding variable in understanding the cell death that may result directly from a specific disease and is a contributing factor to the disease process. The underlying pathogenic event in oxidative stress is cellular iron mismanagement.

Application of multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization for enhanced characterization of chromosomal abnormalities in congenital disorders

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization (M-FISH), which paints each chromosome in a unique color, for identification of congenital derivative and marker chromosomes. MATERIAL, METHODS AND CASES: Commercially available M-FISH probes were used to label each chromosome in a specific fluorescent color. Six representative cases involving derivative chromosomes, markers, and subtle anomalies were analyzed by M-FISH.

RESULTS

Three familial, rather subtle derivative chromosomes were identified by M-FISH with relative ease. A small ring that was unidentifiable by banded-chromosome analysis was identified by M-FISH. A case of a subtle telomeric anomaly could not be resolved without the use of telomeric-specific probes. The M-FISH results were confirmed by individual chromosome-specific painting probes.

CONCLUSION

M-FISH was helpful for identifying a wide range of congenital chromosomal anomalies. However, for subtle chromosomal abnormalities, use of locus-specific probes may be necessary.

The failure of some rats to acquire intravenous cocaine self-administration is attributable to conditioned place aversion

Although cocaine administration in humans includes euphoric and anxiogenic effects, the latter are less well understood. Acute cocaine administration produces aversive effects including anxiogenic effects as well as appetitive effects in rats and mice. In the present study the self-administration and conditioned place preference paradigms were used to determine whether the failure of some rats to acquire intravenous cocaine self-administration is attributable to either an interference with learning or an aversion to cocaine. Rats were classified as self-administrators or non-self-administrators based on the mean number of cocaine self-infusions per session and whether or not rats exhibited either a stable high level of responding or a stable low level of responding. Intravenously administered cocaine produced place preference for the self-administrators, while intravenously administered cocaine produced place aversion for the non-self-administrators. The fact that the non-self-administrators showed place aversion is inconsistent with the interpretation that the failure of these rats to readily self-administer is attributable to cocaine-mediated interference of learning. This is the first study in which both the self-administration and the conditioned place preference paradigms have been used in the same animals to demonstrate that the effects of cocaine are appetitive for some rats and aversive for others, and are not an artifact of cocaine's interference with learning.

Efferent neurons and specialization of abdominal segments in grasshoppers

A specialized behavior, oviposition, is produced by the eighth and ninth abdominal segments of female grasshoppers. To begin to understand how these segments produce the behavior, which is not displayed by males or pregenital regions of the abdomen in females, the structure and function of efferent neurons in abdominal ganglia of both sexes were examined. In females, the eighth and ninth segments are specialized differently for oviposition: 20 ovipositor motor neurons were found in the eighth segment, and 26 were found in the ninth segment. Males had fewer motor neurons in their eighth segment, but the same number in the ninth segment, which is the only genital segment in males. However, the axons of several of the ninth segmental male motor neurons traveled to the periphery in the genital nerve, which is only found in males. In both sexes, pregenital ganglia had the most motor neurons, but these neurons, for the most part, had morphologies that strongly resembled those of genital segments. Efferent modulatory neuron numbers were not sexually dimorphic in the segments examined, except that males had a greater number in their ninth segment. Experimental methods that activate oviposition were found to also activate a rhythmical motor pattern in pregenital abdominal segments of both sexes. In females, the pattern was phase-coupled to oviposition, but persisted after the connections with the terminal abdominal ganglion were severed. The preponderance of similarities among efferent neurons and elicited motor activity suggests a common pattern of neural circuitry in the behaviorally diverse abdominal segments of grasshoppers.

The effects of amperozide on cocaine-induced social withdrawal in rats

Cocaine decreases social interactions in both humans and animals, but it is not known whether the drugged animal withdraws from an undrugged conspecific, the undrugged conspecific avoids the drugged animal, or a combination of these two factors occurs. In the first experiment, the source of cocaine-induced social withdrawal was determined using a tether paradigm, in which the movement of one of the rats was restricted to one half of the observation chamber, such that the freely moving rat had the option of escaping social interactions. There were decreases in social interactions in the condition in which both rats were freely moving, and in the condition in which the undrugged rat was tethered, but not when the drugged rat was tethered and could not escape social contact. A second experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of the potent serotonin receptor antagonist, amperozide, in attenuating cocaine-induced social withdrawal using the condition in which the drugged rat was freely moving. Either amperozide (1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg/kg) or saline vehicle was injected into rats 1 h before receiving a 30.0 mg/kg cocaine dose. Cocaine decreased social interactions. Amperozide restored social interactions to near control levels and elevated social interactions in the animals treated with saline vehicle.

Renal tubular dysgenesis, absent nipples, and multiple malformations in three brothers: a new, lethal syndrome

We report on three brothers with renal tubular dysgenesis and absent nipples, each also had other malformations including pre-auricular pits and a preauricular tag, branchial clefts, choanal atresia, pulmonary lobation anomaly, ventricular septal defect, type IIB interrupted aortic arch, absent gallbladder, absent thymus, parathyroid gland, accessory spleen, imperforate anus, clinodactyly, and broad digits and small nails. All three infants died neonatally. This pattern of clinical malformations appears to be a previously unreported syndrome.

Comparison of neural elements in sexually dimorphic segments of the grasshopper, Schistocerca americana

A uniquely female behavior in grasshoppers, oviposition, is driven by neural circuitry in the terminal abdominal segments of the female's central nervous system. Because it is known that the embryonic pattern of neuroblasts is sexually monomorphic in these animals, we were interested to know how the central nervous system of adults is organized to support the obvious behavioral dimorphism. Here, we compare three classes of identifiable adult neurons: ovipositor motor neurons, efferent dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons, and DUM interneurons in the eighth abdominal neuromere. Cobalt backfills of the eighth tergal nerves revealed identical complements of motor neurons in males and females. Included among these neurons in the male were putative homologues of two sets of ovipositor muscle motor neurons. Whereas these motor neurons supply two ovipositor muscles in the female, they are divided to supply three muscles in males. The eighth abdominal neuromere of both sexes contained seven efferent DUM neurons, but peripheral axon projections varied between males and females in accordance with gender-specific targets. In the eighth neuromere of females, some 22 small cell bodies of DUM interneurons were stained with Toluidine blue, whereas only three male DUM interneurons were found. Male muscle homologues were induced to express a rhythmical motor pattern by experimental methods that activate the oviposition pattern in females. The induced pattern in males is of unknown behavioral significance. Although oviposition normally occurs only after sexual maturity, the motor pattern could be activated at all life stages in females, including embryos, as early as 90% of embryonic development.

Influence of boot-sock systems on frequency and severity of foot blisters

This study examined the infleunce of three types of boot-sock systems on incidence and severity of foot blisters. Participants were 357 men undergoing U.S. Marine recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Each participant was assigned to one of three treatment groups. The first group wore the standard military boot sock consisting of a wool-cotton-nylon-Spandex combination. The second group wore the standard military boot sock with a thin inner or liner sock consisting of polyester. The third group wore a very thick, dense, prototype outer sock consisting of a wool-polypropylene combination over the same liner sock as the second group. Foot blister incidence was lower among participants who wore the the prototype boot sock and liner than among those wearing the standard military sock (40 vs. 69%, p < 0.001) or among subjects wearing the standard military sock with liner (40 vs. 77%, p < 0.001). Foot blisters and cellulitis severe enough to require medical attention occurred with greater frequency in the standard military sock group compared to both the prototype boot-sock group (24 vs. 11%, p = 0.02) and the standard military sock with liner group (24 vs. 9%, p < 0.01); there was no difference between the latter two groups. Blister reduction was most apparent in the early weeks of recruit training. The standard military sock with a polyester liner reduced the incidence of severe blisters, but the dense sock with the polyester liner reduced the overall incidence of blisters as well as the incidence of severe blisters.

Neurons of the median neuroblast lineage of the grasshopper: a population study of the efferent DUM neurons

A group of lineally related neurons in the grasshopper was studied to determine the number of efferent neurons in the group and their morphological types. The neurons arise from the median neuroblast of the third thoracic neuromere and comprise what is commonly known as the DUM or dorsal unpaired median group. Of some 92 neurons in the group, about 20 are efferent neurons, the remainder being local or intersegmental interneurons. As part of our continuing developmental studies, we wished to identify the efferent neurons within the lineage and to determine their number. Ten efferent DUM neurons had been described in earlier studies, where neurons were stained individually through microelectrodes. The remaining unidentified neurons might be novel types, multiples of known types, or both, possibilities that would not be readily distinguished through further staining of neurons individually. Rather, we used methods of retrograde staining and axon tracing that allowed us to examine the entire group of efferent DUM neurons. Nineteen efferent neurons were identified, comprising two DUM1s, five DUM3s, six DUM3,4s, three DUM3,4,5s, and three DUM5s; neurons were named according to the lateral nerves containing their axons. The efferent neurons were further divided by type according to the distribution of axonal branches in lateral nerves, the course of the primary neurite within the deep or superficial DUM tract, and the diameter of the cell body.

Long-term genome stability and minimal genotypic and phenotypic alterations in HPV16 E7-, but not E6-, immortalized human uroepithelial cells

Parameters of genome instability and morphological alterations associated with cell transformation were studied in an isogeneic set of clonal human uroepithelial cell (HUC) lines immortalized by the human papilloma virus 16 (HPV16) E6 and/or E7 gene(s). HPV16 E6 binds p53, leading to rapid degradation of p53, whereas E7 binds and alters pRb and other proteins. We report that two independent E7-immortalized HUC lines showed minimal phenotypic or genotypic alterations, except that both lines contained amplification of 20q DNA sequences and a greater polyploidization at an early passage. The E7-immortalized HUC line resembled normal HUC lines, except that they failed to senesce. In contrast, the E6-immortalized HUC lines were morphologically altered, contained numerous random chromosome aberrations, and showed unstable evolving karyotypes with passage in culture. No amplified DNA sequences were detected in E6-immortalized HUC lines. Instead, clonal losses of chromosome regions (i.e., -3p, -6q, -9p), putatively containing tumor suppressor or senescence genes, accompanied the E6-HUC immortalization event. E6-immortalized HUC lines showed transformed phenotypes similar to E6/E7-HUC lines. The difference in genome stability between E6- and E7-immortalized HUC was highly significant statistically (p-value < 10(-6). Thus, the HPV16 E7 gene led to HUC immortalization by a pathway that blocked cellular senescence, but did not disrupt genome stability. These results implicate p53 loss, but not pRb alteration, in genome destabilization.

Development of segment specificity in identified lineages of the grasshopper CNS

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors underlying differences in population size and composition between segmentally homologous neuronal lineages. The segmental median neuroblasts (MNBs) of grasshoppers are identified stem cells that each produce a midline group of neurons. We traced the embryonic development of the group in two disparate segments, counting MNB progeny and profiles of dying cells in fixed and stained preparations of staged embryos. In the metathoracic segment (T3), about 95 MNB progeny survive embryonic development, whereas in the next posterior segment, the first abdominal (A1), only about 60 survive. In T3, the MNB arises at 29% of embryogenesis and dies at 78%, whereas in A1 the MNB arises at 30% and dies at 73%. In T3, the number of MNB progeny initially increases at a steady rate, 10 cells being added per 5% of embryogenesis. Between 70% and 78% growth tapers off; although the T3 MNB continues to divide, cells die at the same time, specifically removing last-born progeny. By contrast, in A1 the MNB progeny increase in two phases, one from 30% to 45% and the other from 60% to 73%, again at the rate of 10 cells per 5%. Between the two phases, the number of A1 progeny is stable. The A1 MNB continues to divide, but cells die at the same time, specifically removing earlier-born progeny. The episodes of cell death in A1 and T3 coincide with embryonic molts, and thus may be hormonally triggered. Cell death is greater in A1 than T3, accounting for most of the difference in population size. The difference in MNB longevity makes a lesser contribution. The present data, together with corollary anatomical data (Thompson and Siegler, 1991), support the hypothesis that progeny fated to become certain neuronal types are selectively removed from the two MNB lineages: intersegmental interneurons from T3 and efferent neurons and local interneurons from A1.

FMRFamide effects on membrane properties of heart cells isolated from the leech, Hirudo medicinalis

1. The effects of the cardioactive peptide FMRFamide were tested on enzymatically dissociated muscle cells isolated from hearts of the leech. These cells were normally quiescent, with resting potentials near -60 mV. 2. Superfusion of FMRFamide induced a strong depolarization in isolated heart cells (e.g., greater than 40 mV with 10(-6) M FMRFamide). The depolarization was maintained in the continued presence of peptide and persisted long after its removal. Less frequently, FMRFamide superfusion elicited an episodic polarization rhythm. 3. The response of isolated heart cells to bath-applied FMRFamide showed a 1- to 2-min latency. The latency decreased with repeated applications of FMRFamide. 4. The FMRFamide response was diminished by Na+ replacement but persisted with Ca2+ channel blockade. 5. In voltage-clamped heart cells (-60 mv), superfusion of FMRFamide elicited a slow inward current with a transient and a sustained component. 6. Current-voltage (I-V) curves during FMRFamide superfusion in normal leech saline showed that FMRFamide also enhanced voltage-dependent outward currents activated at depolarized levels. 7. Under conditions in which K+ currents were substantially blocked, the FMRFamide-dependent I-V curve was net inward from -90 to +50 mV. A voltage-dependent component was blocked by Co2+ and a linear component by Na+ replacement. 8. We conclude that FMRFamide elicits a persistent inward current with a Na+ component and in addition modulates both voltage-dependent Ca2+ and K+ currents that may contribute to the normal myogenic activity of leech heart muscle cells.

Absence of predictable phenotypic expression in proximal 15q duplications

We describe ten individuals with an insertional duplication 15q12----q13. Phenotypic analysis of these individuals and 15 previously reported cases of proximal 15q duplications fails to show any consistent clinical manifestations. It appears that a duplication of this region is phenotypically silent.

Anatomy and physiology of spiking local and intersegmental interneurons in the median neuroblast lineage of the grasshopper

The range of anatomical and physiological properties in the adult progeny of an identified neuroblast was investigated. Some 80-90 adult neurons constitute the dorsal unpaired median (DUM) group of the grasshopper metathoracic ganglion. Within the group are efferent, octopaminergic neurons with large cell bodies and overshooting action potentials. Our objective was to determine the properties of the neurons with small cell bodies that make up the majority of the clone, some 60-70 neurons, about which scant information was available. The small DUM neurons have cell body diameters of 10-20 microns and stain with antibodies to GABA (Thompson and Siegler, '89: Proc. Soc. Neurosci. 15:1296 (abstr.); Witten and Truman, '89: Proc. Soc. Neurosci. 15:365 (abstr.)). By employing intracellular electrophysiological and morphological techniques, we have established that the small DUM neurons are spiking interneurons, expressing passively conducted action potentials in the cell body. They fall into two basic classes: local interneurons with bilateral branches in the auditory neuropiles, and intersegmental interneurons with bilateral branches widespread in the methathoracic ganglion and axons traveling in both anterior connectives. The local interneurons typically respond to sound, whereas the intersegmental interneurons selectively respond to wind on the head or to generalized movements by the animal. Primary neurites of small and large DUM neurons enter the neuropil in a bundle, but the neurites of DUM interneurons are more posterior and have a separate trajectory from those of the efferent DUM neurons once in the ganglion core. A model is presented for the sequential development of efferent, local, and intersegmental DUM neurons from the median neuroblast.

Control of respiratory motor pattern by sensory neurons in spinal cord of lamprey

Extracellular stimulation over the dorsal funiculus in the spinal cord of lampreys was found to selectively activate prolonged episodes of fictive arousal respiration. The induced episodes showed comparable increases in cycle frequency and motoneuron burst duration to the spontaneous arousal pattern observed in isolated brain preparations. Intracellular stimulation of primary sensory neurons with axons in the dorsal funiculus, called 'dorsal cells', also elicited the arousal pattern. Mechanoreceptive dorsal cells respond to cutaneous stimulation. When mechanical stimuli were applied to the skin of intact lampreys or to lampreys with ipsilateral vagotomy, arousal respiration was induced. Bilateral, but not unilateral, trigeminal lesion blocked dorsal cell induction of the arousal response. Spontaneous arousal respiration was recorded from intact, unrestrained lampreys. These results suggest that fictive arousal respiration is the in vitro correlate of natural arousal respiration in lampreys, and that one mechanism leading to arousal respiration may be the activity of sensory dorsal cells. A model for respiratory motor pattern switching in lamprey is proposed. The model suggests that the normal and arousal patterns are produced by separately engaging rostral or caudal pattern generators in the medulla, rather than by modifying one pattern generator.

Oviposition digging in the grasshopper. II. Descending neural control

Transection of the ventral nerve cord of female grasshoppers activates the rhythmical motor programme for oviposition digging. Electrical stimulation of the cut nerve cord had the following effects on elicited oviposition motor activity: short- and long-lasting inhibition of activity, phase resetting and modulation of burst frequency. Cold saline applied to the nerve cord reversibly elicited the oviposition motor programme. The effects of transection and stimulation at different levels of the nerve cord indicate that the higher neural control of the motor pattern is not confined to the head ganglia, but includes a thoracic component. In intracellular recordings of ventral opener motoneurones, stimulus-related IPSPs were observed in response to stimulation of the cut nerve cord. Stimulation also abolished slow wave synaptic input to the motoneurones during inhibition of the oviposition motor programme. It is suggested that oviposition digging behaviour is initiated and maintained by a mechanism of ‘release’ from descending neural inhibition.

Oviposition digging in the grasshopper. I. Functional anatomy and the motor programme

The ovipositor appendages of acridid insects (grasshoppers and locusts) consist of two pairs of shovel-shaped valves that are used to dig a deep chamber in the ground for egg burial, to manipulate the eggs, and to assist in capping the egg-pod with froth. During oviposition the valves undergo cyclical opening, closing, retraction and protraction movements. These movements are produced by the contractions of ten pairs of muscles. The eighth and ninth segmental nerves of the terminal abdominal ganglion supply the ovipositor muscles. Rhythmical ovipositor movements are produced by the severed abdomen of sexually mature female grasshoppers. By comparing this activity to the activity underlying the natural behaviour, it was determined that the isolated abdomen produced the digging portion of the oviposition motor programme. Electrical recordings from the ovipositor nerves in the isolated nervous system showed spontaneous rhythmical bursting activity. This activity corresponds to the neural correlate of digging behaviour and indicates the presence of a central pattern generator for oviposition digging in the terminal abdominal ganglion of females.

Monoclonal antibodies to human beta-interferon produced by adoptive transfer in irradiated mice

Three murine anti-human beta-interferon (IFN-beta) monoclonal antibodies have been isolated following adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells. Adoptive transfer was used to increase the specific efficiency of the fusion. These antibodies have been used to define two epitopes on IFN-beta; the antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory effects of IFN-beta are associated with one of these epitopes.

Organization of inputs to motoneurons during fictive respiration in the isolated lamprey brain

The intracellular activity of motoneurons during 'fictive' respiration in the isolated lamprey brain was investigated. In association with each respiratory cycle three distinct PSP phases were observed: an early, low amplitude EPSP phase; a large, brief EPSP phase that drove action potentials; and a subsequent IPSP phase. Selective midline and trigeminal lesions, and trigeminal stimulation, demonstrated that the large excitatory and inhibitory phases were generated by a previously described pair of central pattern generators located in the trigeminal region of the medulla. Lesion studies further showed that the low amplitude excitatory input could be produced independently of the trigeminal pacemakers, near the region of the medulla that contains the respiratory motoneurons. In addition to 'normal' fictive respiration, the isolated brain was found to produce several variations of the respiratory pattern. These motor programs, 'coughs', 'arousal breathing', and 'weak breathing', were distinguished from the normal respiratory pattern by their much longer burst durations, distinctive underlying synaptic input, and separate coordinating mechanism. Activity similar to these motor programs could be independently produced by the caudal medulla after both trigeminal central pattern generators had been removed. Lesion studies, and the observation that respiratory-related neural activity ceased in the trigeminal region during the production of these long-duration programs, suggest that the caudal medulla also contains paired central pattern generators involved in lamprey respiration.

Single-step monoclonal antibody affinity purification of human urogastrone from urine

The use of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) affinity column to purify epidermal growth factor/urogastrone from human urine in a single-step process is described. The MAb was raised against purified recombinant human urogastrone derived from the expression of a cloned synthetic urogastrone gene. The MAb was characterised and shown to cross-react fully with recombinant and native human urogastrones. The material eluted from the column was shown to have retained biological activity. When the eluted material was run on SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions an apparently homogeneous species of 5400 Da apparent molecular weight was seen. When examined on acid PAGE, 2 molecular species corresponding to beta and gamma urogastrone were observed.

Biplanar angiography through Swan-Ganz catheters

Twenty-eight patients had biplanar angiography performed through wedged Swan-Ganz Catheters. In only five cases were the catheter tips symmetrically placed within the vessels in both AP and lateral views. The value of performing angiography immediately after placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter is discussed.