Interventions for enhancing medication adherence

BACKGROUND

People who are prescribed self-administered medications typically take less than half the prescribed doses. Efforts to assist patients with adherence to medications might improve the benefits of prescribed medications, but also might increase their adverse effects.

OBJECTIVES

To update a review summarizing the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to help patients follow prescriptions for medications for medical problems, including mental disorders but not addictions.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We updated searches of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PsycINFO (all via OVID) and Sociological Abstracts (via CSA) in January 2007 with no language restriction. We also reviewed bibliographies in articles on patient adherence and articles in our personal collections, and contacted authors of relevant original and review articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Articles were selected if they reported an unconfounded RCT of an intervention to improve adherence with prescribed medications, measuring both medication adherence and treatment outcome, with at least 80% follow-up of each group studied and, for long-term treatments, at least six months follow-up for studies with positive initial findings.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Study design features, interventions and controls, and results were extracted by one review author and confirmed by at least one other review author. We extracted adherence rates and their measures of variance for all methods of measuring adherence in each study, and all outcome rates and their measures of variance for each study group, as well as levels of statistical significance for differences between study groups, consulting authors and verifying or correcting analyses as needed. The studies differed widely according to medical condition, patient population, intervention, measures of adherence, and clinical outcomes. Therefore, we did not feel that quantitative analysis was scientifically justified; rather, we conducted a qualitative analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

For short-term treatments, four of ten interventions reported in nine RCTs showed an effect on both adherence and at least one clinical outcome, while one intervention reported in one RCT significantly improved patient adherence, but did not enhance the clinical outcome. For long-term treatments, 36 of 81 interventions reported in 69 RCTs were associated with improvements in adherence, but only 25 interventions led to improvement in at least one treatment outcome. Almost all of the interventions that were effective for long-term care were complex, including combinations of more convenient care, information, reminders, self-monitoring, reinforcement, counseling, family therapy, psychological therapy, crisis intervention, manual telephone follow-up, and supportive care. Even the most effective interventions did not lead to large improvements in adherence and treatment outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

For short-term treatments several quite simple interventions increased adherence and improved patient outcomes, but the effects were inconsistent from study to study with less than half of studies showing benefits. Current methods of improving adherence for chronic health problems are mostly complex and not very effective, so that the full benefits of treatment cannot be realized. High priority should be given to fundamental and applied research concerning innovations to assist patients to follow medication prescriptions for long-term medical disorders.

Proteolytic 18O labeling for comparative proteomics: model studies with two serotypes of adenovirus

A new method for proteolytic stable isotope labeling is introduced to provide quantitative and concurrent comparisons between individual proteins from two entire proteome pools or their subfractions. Two 18O atoms are incorporated universally into the carboxyl termini of all tryptic peptides during the proteolytic cleavage of all proteins in the first pool. Proteins in the second pool are cleaved analogously with the carboxyl termini of the resulting peptides containing two 16O atoms (i.e., no labeling). The two peptide mixtures are pooled for fractionation and separation, and the masses and isotope ratios of each peptide pair (differing by 4 Da) are measured by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Short sequences and/or accurate mass measurements combined with proteomics software tools allow the peptides to be related to the precursor proteins from which they are derived. Relative signal intensities of paired peptides quantify the expression levels of their precursor proteins from proteome pools to be compared, using an equation described in the paper. Observation of individual (unpaired) peptides is mainly interpreted as differential modification or sequence variation for the protein from the respective proteome pool. The method is evaluated here in a comparison of virion proteins for two serotypes (Ad5 and Ad2) of adenovirus, taking advantage of information already available about protein sequences and concentrations. In general, proteolytic 18O labeling enables a shotgun approach for proteomic studies with quantitation capability and is proposed as a useful tool for comparative proteomic studies of very complex protein mixtures.

Involvement of mouse Mlh1 in DNA mismatch repair and meiotic crossing over

Mice that are deficient in either the Pms2 or Msh2 DNA mismatch repair genes have microsatellite instability and a predisposition to tumours. Interestingly, Pms2-deficient males display sterility associated with abnormal chromosome pairing in meiosis. Here mice deficient in another mismatch repair gene, Mlh1, possess not only microsatellite instability but are also infertile (both males and females). Mlh1-deficient spermatocytes exhibit high levels of prematurely separated chromosomes and arrest in first division meiosis. We also show that Mlh1 appears to localize to sites of crossing over on meiotic chromosomes. Together these findings suggest that Mlh1 is involved in DNA mismatch repair and meiotic crossing over.

Inherited human Caspase 10 mutations underlie defective lymphocyte and dendritic cell apoptosis in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type II

Caspases are cysteine proteases that mediate programmed cell death in phylogenetically diverse multicellular organisms. We report here two kindreds with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) type II, characterized by abnormal lymphocyte and dendritic cell homeostasis and immune regulatory defects, that harbor independent missense mutations in Caspase 10. These encode amino acid substitutions that decrease caspase activity and interfere with death receptor-induced apoptosis, particularly that stimulated by Fas ligand and TRAIL. These results provide evidence that inherited nonlethal caspase abnormalities cause pleiotropic apoptosis defects underlying autoimmunity in ALPS type II.

Polyglutamine-expanded human huntingtin transgenes induce degeneration of Drosophila photoreceptor neurons

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. Disease alleles contain a trinucleotide repeat expansion of variable length, which encodes polyglutamine tracts near the amino terminus of the HD protein, huntingtin. Polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin, but not normal huntingtin, forms nuclear inclusions. We describe a Drosophila model for HD. Amino-terminal fragments of human huntingtin containing tracts of 2, 75, and 120 glutamine residues were expressed in photoreceptor neurons in the compound eye. As in human neurons, polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin induced neuronal degeneration. The age of onset and severity of neuronal degeneration correlated with repeat length, and nuclear localization of huntingtin presaged neuronal degeneration. In contrast to other cell death paradigms in Drosophila, coexpression of the viral antiapoptotic protein, P35, did not rescue the cell death phenotype induced by polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin.

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in osteoarthritis: a narrative review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complicated degenerative disease that affects whole joint tissue. Currently, apart from surgical approaches to treat late stage OA, effective treatments to reverse OA are not available. Thus, the mechanisms leading to OA, and more effective approaches to treat OA should be investigated. According to available evidence, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is essential for normal metabolism of joint tissues, but is also involved in development of OA. To provide a wide viewpoint to roles of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in osteoarthritis, a comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed terms 'PI3K OR AKT OR mTOR' and 'osteoarthritis'. This review highlights the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cartilage degradation, subchondral bone dysfunction, and synovial inflammation, and discusses how this signaling pathway affects development of the disease. We also summarize recent evidences of therapeutic approaches to treat OA by targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and discuss potential challenges in developing these strategies for clinical treatment of OA.

CENP-E forms a link between attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores and the mitotic checkpoint

Here we show that suppression of synthesis of the microtubule motor CENP-E (centromere-associated protein E), a component of the kinetochore corona fibres of mammalian centromeres, yields chromosomes that are chronically mono-orientated, with spindles that are flattened along the plane of the substrate. Despite apparently normal microtubule numbers and the continued presence at kinetochores of other microtubule motors, spindle poles fragment in the absence of CENP-E, which implicates this protein in delivery of components from kinetochores to poles. CENP-E represents a link between attachment of spindle microtubules and the mitotic checkpoint signalling cascade, as depletion of this motor leads to profound checkpoint activation, whereas immunoprecipitation reveals a nearly stoichiometric association of CENP-E with the checkpoint kinase BubR1 during mitosis.

Tumour susceptibility and spontaneous mutation in mice deficient in Mlh1, Pms1 and Pms2 DNA mismatch repair

Germline mutations in the human MSH2, MLH1, PMS2 and PMS1 DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene homologues appear to be responsible for most cases of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; refs 1-5). An important role for DNA replication errors in colorectal tumorigenesis has been suggested by the finding of frequent alterations in the length of specific mononucleotide tracts within genes controlling cell growth, including TGF-beta receptor type II (ref. 6), BAX (ref. 7) and APC (ref. 8). A broader role for MMR deficiency in human tumorigenesis is implicated by microsatellite instability in a fraction of sporadic tumours, including gastric, endometrial and colorectal malignancies. To better define the role of individual MMR genes in cancer susceptibility and MMR functions, we have generated mice deficient for the murine homologues of the human genes MLH1, PMS1 and PMS2. Surprisingly, we find that these mice show different tumour susceptibilities, most notably, to intestinal adenomas and adenocarcinomas, and different mutational spectra. Our results suggest that a general increase in replication errors may not be sufficient for intestinal tumour formation and that these genes share overlapping, but not identical functions.

Thickness and elasticity of gram-negative murein sacculi measured by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the thickness of air-dried, collapsed murein sacculi from Escherichia coli K-12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Air-dried sacculi from E. coli had a thickness of 3.0 nm, whereas those from P. aeruginosa were 1.5 nm thick. When rehydrated, the sacculi of both bacteria swelled to double their anhydrous thickness. Computer simulation of a section of a model single-layer peptidoglycan network in an aqueous solution with a Debye shielding length of 0.3 nm gave a mass distribution full width at half height of 2.4 nm, in essential agreement with these results. When E. coli sacculi were suspended over a narrow groove that had been etched into a silicon surface and the tip of the atomic force microscope used to depress and stretch the peptidoglycan, an elastic modulus of 2.5 x 10(7) N/m(2) was determined for hydrated sacculi; they were perfectly elastic, springing back to their original position when the tip was removed. Dried sacculi were more rigid with a modulus of 3 x 10(8) to 4 x 10(8) N/m(2) and at times could be broken by the atomic force microscope tip. Sacculi aligned over the groove with their long axis at right angles to the channel axis were more deformable than those with their long axis parallel to the groove axis, as would be expected if the peptidoglycan strands in the sacculus were oriented at right angles to the long cell axis of this gram-negative rod. Polar caps were not found to be more rigid structures but collapsed to the same thickness as the cylindrical portions of the sacculi. The elasticity of intact E. coli sacculi is such that, if the peptidoglycan strands are aligned in unison, the interstrand spacing should increase by 12% with every 1 atm increase in (turgor) pressure. Assuming an unstressed hydrated interstrand spacing of 1.3 nm (R. E. Burge, A. G. Fowler, and D. A. Reaveley, J. Mol. Biol. 117:927-953, 1977) and an internal turgor pressure of 3 to 5 atm (or 304 to 507 kPa) (A. L. Koch, Adv. Microbial Physiol. 24:301-366, 1983), the natural interstrand spacing in cells would be 1.6 to 2.0 nm. Clearly, if large macromolecules of a diameter greater than these spacings are secreted through this layer, the local ordering of the peptidoglycan must somehow be disrupted.

Interventions to enhance medication adherence

BACKGROUND

People who are prescribed self-administered medications typically take less than half the prescribed doses. Efforts to assist patients with adherence to medications might improve the benefits of prescribed medications, but also might increase their adverse effects.

OBJECTIVES

To update a review summarizing the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to help patients follow prescriptions for medications for medical problems, including mental disorders but not addictions.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Computerized searches were updated to September 2004 without language restriction in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PsycINFO and SOCIOFILE. We also reviewed bibliographies in articles on patient adherence and articles in our personal collections, and contacted authors of original and review articles on the topic.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Articles were selected if they reported an unconfounded RCT of an intervention to improve adherence with prescribed medications, measuring both medication adherence and treatment outcome, with at least 80% follow-up of each group studied and, for long-term treatments, at least six months follow-up for studies with positive initial findings.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Study design features, interventions and controls, and results were extracted by one reviewer and confirmed by at least one other reviewer. We extracted adherence rates and their measures of variance for all methods of measuring adherence in each study, and all outcome rates and their measures of variance for each study group, as well as levels of statistical significance for differences between study groups, consulting authors and verifying or correcting analyses as needed.

MAIN RESULTS

For short-term treatments, four of nine interventions reported in eight RCTs showed an effect on both adherence and at least one clinical outcome, while one intervention reported in one RCT significantly improved patient compliance, but did not enhance the clinical outcome. For long-term treatments, 26 of 58 interventions reported in 49 RCTs were associated with improvements in adherence, but only 18 interventions led to improvement in at least one treatment outcome. Almost all of the interventions that were effective for long-term care were complex, including combinations of more convenient care, information, reminders, self-monitoring, reinforcement, counseling, family therapy, psychological therapy, crisis intervention, manual telephone follow-up, and supportive care. Even the most effective interventions did not lead to large improvements in adherence and treatment outcomes. Six studies showed that telling patients about adverse effects of treatment did not affect their adherence.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Improving short-term adherence is relatively successful with a variety of simple interventions. Current methods of improving adherence for chronic health problems are mostly complex and not very effective, so that the full benefits of treatment cannot be realized. High priority should be given to fundamental and applied research concerning innovations to assist patients to follow medication prescriptions for long-term medical disorders.

The microtubule-dependent motor centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) is an integral component of kinetochore corona fibers that link centromeres to spindle microtubules

Centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein that is essential for chromosome congression during mitosis. Using immunoelectron microscopy, CENP-E is shown to be an integral component of the kinetochore corona fibers that tether centromeres to the spindle. Immediately upon nuclear envelope fragmentation, an associated plus end motor trafficks cytoplasmic CENP-E toward chromosomes along astral microtubules that enter the nuclear volume. Before or concurrently with initial lateral attachment of spindle microtubules, CENP-E targets to the outermost region of the developing kinetochores. After stable attachment, throughout chromosome congression, at metaphase, and throughout anaphase A, CENP-E is a constituent of the corona fibers, extending at least 50 nm away from the kinetochore outer plate and intertwining with spindle microtubules. In congressing chromosomes, CENP-E is preferentially associated with (or accessible at) the stretched, leading kinetochore known to provide the primary power for chromosome movement. Taken together, this evidence strongly supports a model in which CENP-E functions in congression to tether kinetochores to the disassembling microtubule plus ends.

Evolutionary artificial neural networks

Evolutionary artificial neural networks (EANNs) can be considered as a combination of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and evolutionary search procedures such as genetic algorithms (GAs). This paper distinguishes among three levels of evolution in EANNs, i.e. the evolution of connection weights, architectures and learning rules. It first reviews each kind of evolution in detail and then analyses major issues related to each kind of evolution. It is shown in the paper that although there is a lot of work on the evolution of connection weights and architectures, research on the evolution of learning rules is still in its early stages. Interactions among different levels of evolution are far from being understood. It is argued in the paper that the evolution of learning rules and its interactions with other levels of evolution play a vital role in EANNs.

Ensemble learning via negative correlation

This paper presents a learning approach, i.e. negative correlation learning, for neural network ensembles. Unlike previous learning approaches for neural network ensembles, negative correlation learning attempts to train individual networks in an ensemble and combines them in the same learning process. In negative correlation learning, all the individual networks in the ensemble are trained simultaneously and interactively through the correlation penalty terms in their error functions. Rather than producing unbiased individual networks whose errors are uncorrelated, negative correlation learning can create negatively correlated networks to encourage specialisation and cooperation among the individual networks. Empirical studies have been carried out to show why and how negative correlation learning works. The experimental results show that negative correlation learning can produce neural network ensembles with good generalisation ability.

Effect sizes can be calculated for studies reporting ranges for outcome variables in systematic reviews

OBJECTIVE

To develop a method by which studies reporting the ranges (or maxima and minima) of observed outcomes can be included in systematic reviews, along with other studies reporting in the more usual way by using standard deviations (SDs).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

An approach is proposed to allow a numerical conversion of a reported range from a continuous outcome into an equivalent SD.

RESULTS

The SD is estimated from the observed range times an appropriate conversion factor. Two examples (the first concerning a patient education program on adherence to drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and the second investigating if cognitive behavior therapy could improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy and then lead to suppression of human immunodeficiency virus replication) demonstrate the calculations.

CONCLUSION

This note provides a simple method to allow studies that report outcome variability in terms of ranges to be included in systematic reviews by conversion to equivalent SDs. The method is entirely valid if the outcome variable is normally distributed, but for nonnormal data, some caution may be needed.

Biochemical characterization of ezrin-actin interaction

The highly related actin isoforms are thought to have different functions. We recently demonstrated a polarized distribution of actin isoforms in gastric parietal cells and association of gastric ezrin with the cytoplasmic beta-actin isoform (Yao, X., Chaponnier, C., Gabbiani, G., and Forte, J. G. (1995) Mol. Biol. Cell. 6, 541-557). Here we used ultrastructural immunocytochemistry to verify that beta-actin is located within canalicular microvilli and the apical cortex of parietal cells, similar to the localization reported for ezrin. Furthermore, we tested whether ezrin binds preferentially to cytoplasmic beta-actin compared with the skeletal muscle alpha-actin isoform. Purified cytoplasmic beta-actin (from erythrocytes) and skeletal alpha-actin were assembled with gastric ezrin. Co-sedimentation experiments showed that gastric ezrin selectively co-pelleted with the beta-actin isoform and only very poorly with alpha-actin. Binding of erythrocytic beta-actin to ezrin is saturable with a molar ratio of approximately 1:10 (ezrin:actin) and a dissociation constant approximately 4.6 x 10(-8) M. In addition, ezrin promoted pyrene-labeled actin assembly, with predominant effects on filament elongation and a distinct preference for beta-actin compared with alpha-actin. Given these isoform-selective associations, we speculate that actin isoforms might segregate into different functional domains and exert specificity by interacting with isoform-orientated binding proteins.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma with aberrant expression of CD79a and CD20: a diagnostic pitfall

Immunohistochemical studies are increasingly used for the routine diagnosis of lymphomas as it is widely accepted that lymphomas of different cell lineages vary in their prognosis and response to therapy. A case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with aberrant expression of B-cell-associated antigens L-26 (CD20) and mb-1 (CD 79a) is described. The disease pursued an aggressive clinical course, and the patient died of disease 6 weeks after presentation. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated expression of both T- and B-cell-associated antigens, including CD3, CD8, CD43, TIA-1, CD20, and CD79a. Other markers expressed by the tumor cells included CD56 and S-100. Of interest, betaF-1 staining for the beta chain of T-cell receptor (TCR) complex was positive in the small admixed T lymphocytes but was negative in the tumor cells, raising the possibility of a gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma. Molecular studies by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated clonal TCR-gamma chain gene rearrangement without evidence for a clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. PCR for HHV-8 related sequences was negative. Mb-1 is an IgM-associated protein that was thought to be restricted to normal and neoplastic B cells. Although its coexpression has been reported in up to 10% cases of precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, the coexpression of both CD20 and CD79a has not been described in mature T-cell malignancies. Biphenotypic lymphomas associated with HHV-8 have been reported in immunodeficiency, but no evidence of immune deficiency was identified, and studies for EBV and HHV-8 were negative. This case illustrates that no marker has absolute lineage specificity and that immunophenotypic studies should always be performed with panels of monoclonal antibodies. Moreover, cases with ambiguous phenotypes may require genotypic studies for precise lineage assignment.

Different mutator phenotypes in Mlh1- versus Pms2-deficient mice

Deficiencies in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) result in increased mutation rates and cancer risk in both humans and mice. Mouse strains homozygous for knockouts of either the Pms2 or Mlh1 MMR gene develop cancer but exhibit very different tumor spectra; only Mlh1(-/-) animals develop intestinal tumors. We carried out a detailed study of the microsatellite mutation spectra in each knockout strain. Five mononucleotide repeat tracts at four different chromosomal locations were studied by using single-molecule PCR or an in vivo forward mutation assay. Three dinucleotide repeat loci also were examined. Surprisingly, the mononucleotide repeat mutation frequency in Mlh1(-/-) mice was 2- to 3-fold higher than in Pms2(-/-) animals. The higher mutation frequency in Mlh1(-/-) mice may be a consequence of some residual DNA repair capacity in the Pms2(-/-) animals. Relevant to this idea, we observed that Pms2(-/-) mice exhibit almost normal levels of Mlh1p, whereas Mlh1(-/-) animals lack both Mlh1p and Pms2p. Comparison between Mlh1(-/-) animals and Mlh1(-/-) and Pms2(-/-) double knockout mice revealed little difference in mutator phenotype, suggesting that Mlh1 nullizygosity is sufficient to inactivate MMR completely. The findings may provide a basis for understanding the greater predisposition to intestinal cancer of Mlh1(-/-) mice. Small differences (2- to 3-fold) in mononucleotide repeat mutation rates may have dramatic effects on tumor development, requiring multiple genetic alterations in coding regions. Alternatively, this strain difference in tumor spectra also may be related to the consequences of the absence of Pms2p compared with the absence of both Pms2p and Mlh1p on as yet little understood cellular processes.

The membrane-recruitment-and-recycling hypothesis of gastric HCl secretion

In the unstimulated oxyntic (or parietal) cell, the primary pump for gastric HCl secretion, the H+/K+-ATPase, is retained within the cytoplasm in a membranous compartment of tubulovesicles. Neural or hormonal stimulation of acid secretion induces extensive membrane transformations consistent with a fusion and recruitment of tubulovesicles to the apical plasma membrane. The consequent placement of H+/K+-ATPase in parallel with K(+) and Cl(-) channels provides the necessary ionic flow and ATP-driven exchange for net HCl secretion. Current evidence is consistent with a recruitment and recycling of membrane transporters, such as H+/K+-ATPase, through docking/fusion machinery analogous to that in many other systems.

Polarized distribution of actin isoforms in gastric parietal cells

The actin genes encode several structurally similar, but perhaps functionally different, protein isoforms that mediate contractile function in muscle cells and determine the morphology and motility in nonmuscle cells. To reveal the isoform profile in the gastric monomeric actin pool, we purified actin from the cytosol of gastric epithelial cells by DNase I affinity chromatography followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Actin isoforms were identified by Western blotting with a monoclonal antibody against all actin isoforms and two isoform-specific antibodies against cytoplasmic beta-actin and gamma-actin. Densitometry revealed a ratio for beta-actin/gamma-actin that equaled 0.73 +/- 0.09 in the cytosol. To assess the distribution of actin isoforms in gastric glandular cells in relation to ezrin, a putative membrane-cytoskeleton linker, we carried out double immunofluorescence using actin-isoform-specific antibodies and ezrin antibody. Immunostaining confirmed that ezrin resides mainly in canaliculi and apical plasma membrane of parietal cells. Staining for the beta-actin isoform was intense along the entire gland lumen and within the canaliculi of parietal cells, thus predominantly near the apical membrane of all gastric epithelial cells, although lower levels of beta-actin were also identified near the basolateral membrane. The gamma-actin isoform was distributed heavily near the basolateral membrane of parietal cells, with much less intense staining of parietal cell canaliculi and no staining of apical membranes. Within parietal cells, the cellular localization of beta-actin, but not gamma-actin, isoform superimposed onto that of ezrin. In a search for a possible selective interaction between actin isoforms and ezrin, we carried out immunoprecipitation experiments on gastric membrane extracts in which substantial amounts of actin were co-eluted with ezrin from an anti-ezrin affinity column. The ratio of beta-actin/gamma-actin in the immunoprecipitate (beta/gamma = 2.14 +/- 0.32) was significantly greater than that found in the cytosolic fraction. In summary, we have shown that beta- and gamma-actin isoforms are differentially distributed in gastric parietal cells. Furthermore, our data suggest a preferential, but not exclusive, interaction between beta-actin and ezrin in gastric parietal cells. Finally, our results suggest that the beta- and gamma-actin-based cytoskeleton networks might function separately in response to the stimulation of acid secretion.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy versus core-needle biopsy in diagnosing lung cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer leads cancer-related mortality in the world. The objective of the present systematic review was to compare fine-needle aspiration biopsy (fnab) with core-needle biopsy (cnb) for diagnostic characteristics and yields for diagnosing lung cancer in patients with lung lesions.

METHODS

The medline and embase databases (from January 1, 1990, to September 14, 2009), the Cochrane Library (to Issue 4, 2009), and selected guideline Web sites were searched for relevant articles.

RESULTS

For overall diagnostic characteristics (benign vs. malignant) of fnab and cnb, the ranges of sensitivity were 81.3%-90.8% and 85.7-97.4% respectively; of specificity, 75.4%-100.0% and 88.6%-100.0%; and of accuracy, 79.7%-91.8% and 89.0%-96.9%. For specific diagnostic characteristics of fnab and cnb (identifying the histologic subtype of malignancies or the specific benign diagnoses), the ranges of sensitivity were 56.3%-86.5% and 56.5-88.7% respectively; of specificity, 6.7%-57.1% and 52.4%-100.0%; and of accuracy, 40.4%-81.2% and 66.7%-93.2%. Compared with fnab, cnb did not result in a higher complication rate (pneumothorax or hemoptysis). No study has yet compared the diagnostic yields of fnab and of cnb for molecular predictive-marker studies in patients with lung lesions.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The evidence is currently insufficient to support a difference between fnab and cnb in identifying lung malignancies in patients with lung lesions. Compared with fnab, cnb might have a higher specificity to diagnose specific benign lesions. Well-designed, good-quality studies comparing fnab with cnb for diagnostic characteristics and yields in diagnosing lung cancer should be encouraged.

Primary structure and functional expression of a cGMP-gated potassium channel

Cyclic nucleotides modulate potassium (K) channel activity in many cells and are thought to act indirectly by inducing channel protein phosphorylation. Herein we report the isolation from rabbit of a gene encoding a K channel (Kcn1) that is specifically activated by cGMP and not by cAMP. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence (725 amino acids) indicates that, in addition to a core region that is highly homologous to Shaker K channels, Kcn1 also contains a cysteine-rich region similar to that of ligand-gated ion channels and a cyclic nucleotide-binding region. Northern blot analysis detects gene expression in kidney, aorta, and brain. Kcn1 represents a class of K channels that may be specifically regulated by cGMP and could play an important role in mediating the effects of substances, such as nitric oxide, that increase intracellular cGMP.