Characterization of the microtubule binding domain of microtubule actin crosslinking factor (MACF): identification of a novel group of microtubule associated proteins

MACF (microtubule actin cross-linking factor) is a large, 608-kDa protein that can associate with both actin microfilaments and microtubules (MTs). Structurally, MACF can be divided into 3 domains: an N-terminal domain that contains both a calponin type actin-binding domain and a plakin domain; a rod domain that is composed of 23 dystrophin-like spectrin repeats; and a C-terminal domain that includes two EF-hand calcium-binding motifs, as well as a region that is homologous to two related proteins, GAR22 and Gas2. We have previously demonstrated that the C-terminal domain of MACF binds to MTs, although no homology was observed between this domain and other known microtubule-binding proteins. In this report, we describe the characterization of this microtubule-binding domain of MACF by transient transfection studies and in vitro binding assays. We found that the C-terminus of MACF contains at least two microtubule-binding regions, a GAR domain and a domain containing glycine-serine-arginine (GSR) repeats. In transfected cells, the GAR domain bound to and partially stabilized MTs to depolymerization by nocodazole. The GSR-containing domain caused MTs to form bundles that are still sensitive to nocodazole-induced depolymerization. When present together, these two domains acted in concert to bundle MTs and render them stable to nocodazole treatment. Recently, a study has shown that the N-terminal half of the plakin domain (called the M1 domain) of MACF also binds MTs. We therefore examined the microtubule binding ability of the M1 domain in the context of the entire plakin domain with and without the remaining N-terminal regions of two different MACF isoforms. Interestingly, in the presence of the surrounding sequences, the M1 domain did not bind MTs. In addition to MACF, cDNA sequences encoding the GAR and GSR-containing domains are also found in the partial human EST clone KIAA0728, which has high sequence homology to the 3′ end of the MACF cDNA; hence, we refer to it as MACF2. The C-terminal domain of mouse MACF2 was cloned and characterized. The microtubule-binding properties of MACF2 C-terminal domain are similar to that of MACF. The GAR domain was originally found in Gas 2 protein and here we show that it can associate with MTs in transfected cells. Plectin and desmoplakin have GSR-containing domains at their C-termini and we further demonstrate that the GSR-containing domain of plectin, but not desmoplakin, can bind to MTs in vivo.

Apical heterotrimeric g-proteins activate CFTR in the native sweat duct

Other than the fact that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel can be activated by cAMP dependent kinase (PKA), little is known about the signal transduction pathways regulating CFTR. Since G-proteins play a principal role in signal transduction regulating several ion channels [4, 5, 9], we sought to test whether G-proteins control CFTR Cl- conductance (CFTR G(Cl)) in the native sweat duct (SD). We permeabilized the basolateral membrane with alpha-toxin so as to manipulate cytosolic nucleotides. We activated G-proteins and monitored CFTR G(Cl) activity as described earlier [20, 23, 25]. We now show that activating G-proteins with GTP-gamma-S (100 microm) also activates CFTR G(Cl) in the presence of 5 mm ATP alone (without exogenous cAMP). GTP-gamma-S increased CFTR G(Cl) by 44 +/- 20 mS/cm(2) (mean +/- se; n = 7). GDP (10 mm) inhibited G-protein activation of CFTR G(Cl) even in the presence of GTP-gamma-S. The heterotrimeric G-protein activator (AlF(4-) in the cytoplasmic bath activated CFTR G(Cl) (increased by 51.5 +/- 9.4 mS/cm(2) in the presence of 5 mm ATP without cAMP, n = 6), the magnitude of which was similar to that induced by GTP-gamma-S. Employing immunocytochemical-labeling techniques, we localized Galphas, Galphai, Galphaq, and Gbeta at the apical membranes of the sweat duct. Further, we showed that the mutant CFTR G(Cl) in ducts from cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects could be partially activated by G-proteins. The magnitude of mutant CFTR G(Cl) activation by G-proteins was smaller as compared to non-CF ducts but comparable to that induced by cAMP in CF ducts. We conclude that heterotrimeric G-proteins are present in the apical membrane of the native human sweat duct which may help regulate salt absorption by controlling CFTR G(Cl) activity.

Requirement for math5 in the development of retinal ganglion cells

math5 is a murine orthologue of atonal, a bHLH proneural gene essential for the formation of photoreceptors and chordotonal organs in Drosophila. The expression of math5 coincides with the onset of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation. Targeted deletion of math5 blocks the initial differentiation of 80% of RGCs and results in an increase in differentiated amacrine cells. Furthermore, the absence of math5 abolishes the retinal expression of brn-3b and the formation of virtually all brn-3b-expressing RGCs. These results imply that math5 is a proneural gene essential for RGC differentiation and that math5 acts upstream to activate brn-3b-dependent differentiation processes in RGCs.

Expression of the p53 homologue p63 in early cervical neoplasia

BACKGROUND

p63, a homologue of the tumor suppressor gene p53, is expressed in embryonic, adult murine, and human basal squamous epithelium and encodes both transactivating and dominant negative transcript isoforms. Mouse embryos functionally deficient in p63 fail to replenish basal squamous epithelial cells, resulting in multiple defects that include absent genital squamous epithelium. This study investigated the expression of p63 in the human cervical transformation zone and early cervical neoplasia.

METHODS

Tissue localization of p63 was determined by immunohistochemistry in a wide range of epithelia. A correlation was also made between p63 expression and squamous basal cell (keratin 14), endocervical columnar cell (mucicarmine), and cell-cycle specific (Ki-67) markers.

RESULTS

p63 expression by immunostaining delineated basal and parabasal cells of maturing ectocervical squamous mucosa, squamous metaplasia in the cervix, and basal and subcolumnar cells of the cervical transformation zone. In atrophic epithelia immunostaining for p63 was present in all cell strata. In early cervical neoplasia, p63 expression was inversely correlated with both squamous cell maturation and nonsquamous differentiation in CIN. This biomarker also identified basal cells in a subset of preinvasive cervical neoplasms with endocervical cell differentiation that were bcl-2 and keratin 14 negative.

CONCLUSIONS

In the lower female genital tract, p63 is preferentially expressed in immature cells of squamous lineage and is not linked to cell proliferation. The broader range of p63 expression relevant to keratin 14 and bcl-2 indicates that p63 may identify additional subsets of benign and neoplastic epithelial basal cells in the cervical transformation zone and may be useful in studying cell differentiation in the early stages of neoplastic change in this region.

Identification of a basal/reserve cell immunophenotype in benign and neoplastic endometrium: a study with the p53 homologue p63

BACKGROUND

Metaplastic differentiation, including squamous, mucinous, and tubal (ciliated), is common in both benign and neoplastic endometrium, and the cell of origin for this pathway is poorly understood. In this study, expression of a marker for basal and reserve cells in cervical squamous mucosa, designated p63, was investigated in a spectrum of endometrial alterations.

METHODS

One hundred ninety different endometria from 132 patients were examined, including fetal (6), premenarchal (3), benign cyclic (29) and noncyclic (54), hyperplastic (14), and neoplastic (93) endometrial glandular epithelia. The latter included conventional endometrioid carcinomas with and without mucinous, ciliated, and squamous metaplasia, and uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

RESULTS

p63 expression was identified in basal/subcolumnar cells in the fetal endometrium in a distribution similar to that in basal/reserve cells of the cervix. Staining was confined to individual scattered basal and suprabasal cells in cycling endometrium. In polyps and postmenopausal endometria, focal clusters of p63-positive cells were identified in inactive glands or surface epithelium. Metaplastic (squamous or mucinous) epithelia, either alone or in conjunction with hyperplasias or carcinomas, exhibited the most intense staining, primarily in basal or subcolumnar cells. In some cases, immediately adjacent nonmetaplastic columnar epithelium also stained positive. UPSCs contained only rare scattered p63-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Cells with a basal or reserve cell phenotype exist in the endometrium during fetal life, are not conspicuous during the reproductive years, but may emerge during shifts in differentiation. Whether these cells signify specialized multipotential endometrial cells is not clear, but the similarity of these cells to basal/reserve cells of the cervix and their association with neoplasia merit further study.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation is the mechanism for fusion of the craniofacial primordia involved in morphogenesis of the chicken lip

We have previously demonstrated that epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) brings about TGF beta 3-induced confluence of craniofacial primordia that derive from the maxillary processes and give rise to the avian palate. The upper lip of the chick embryo forms by confluence of primordia also derived from the maxillary processes, but in this case, they fuse with the intermaxillary segment of the nasofrontal process. Here, we ask whether the bilateral epithelial seams formed when these primordia contact each other in vivo are removed by apoptosis (as formerly was believed to occur in developing palate) or by EMT. We found that, as is the case in the palate, the periderm of the two-layered embryonic epithelium begins to slough shortly before these primordia fuse, bringing the basal epithelial cells into close contact. We show by TUNEL staining and confirm by TEM that apoptosis occurs only in periderm. TEM reveals that basal epithelial cells contacting each other to form the midline seam produce numerous desmosomes with each other. Then, basement membrane begins to disappear, numerous filopodia extend from the basal surfaces of epithelial cells, the space between them enlarges, and the seam breaks apart, leaving mesenchymal cells in its wake. Transformation of the carboxyfluorescein (CCFSE)-labeled epithelial seam is demonstrated in vivo by detection of CCFSE bodies in mesenchymal cells that replace it. This demonstration of EMT in avian lip development lays important groundwork for understanding the causes of human cleft lip and analyzing the mechanism of action of growth factors, such as SHH and BMPs, that have been shown (J. A. Helms et al., 1997, Dev. Biol. 187, 25-35) to be involved in avian lip confluence.

Complications in laparoscopic gynecologic surgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate retrospectively the complications and associated factors of gynecolgical laparoscopies.

METHODS

1 769 laparoscopic surgeries were carried out from January 1994 to October 1999 at our department. The procedures included 1421 surgeries of ovary and tube, 52 myomectomies and 296 cases of laproscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). A total of 312 patients had a history of prior laparotomy (17.6%).

RESULTS

Complications occured in 34 cases, the overall complication rate was 1.92%. Unintended laparotomies occured in 6 cases (0.34%). 12 complications were associated with insertion of Veresse needle or trocar and creation of pneumoperitoneum, including 5 severe emphysema and 7 vascular injuries, this figure represents 35.3% of all complications of this series. Five intraoperative complications (14.7%) occured during the laparoscopic surgery (3 severe bleedings, one bladder injury and one skin burn of leg caused by damaged electrode plate), laparotomy was required in four of these cases. Seventeen complications occured during postoperative stage: 2 intraperitoneal hemorrhages needing laparotomy, 2 bowel injuries, 4 nerve paresis and 9 febrile morbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Operative gynecologic laparoscopy is associated with acceptable morbidity rate, but can not be overlooked. Complication rate seems to be higher in advanced procedures such as LAVH.

Regulation of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter in primary astrocytes by dibutyryl cAMP and high [K(+)](o)

In this study, we examined the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter activity and expression in rat cortical astrocyte differentiation. Astrocyte differentiation was induced by dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP, 0. 25 mM) for 7 days, and cells changed from a polygonal to process-bearing morphology. Basal activity of the cotransporter was significantly increased in DBcAMP-treated astrocytes (P < 0.05). Expression of an approximately 161-kDa cotransporter protein was increased by 91% in the DBcAMP-treated astrocytes. Moreover, the specific [(3)H]bumetanide binding was increased by 67% in the DBcAMP-treated astrocytes. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cyclohexamide (2-3 microgram/ml) significantly attenuated the DBcAMP-mediated upregulation of the cotransporter activity and expression. The Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter in astrocytes has been suggested to play a role in K(+) uptake. In 75 mM extracellular K(+) concentration, the cotransporter-mediated K(+) influx was stimulated by 147% in nontreated cells and 79% in DBcAMP-treated cells (P < 0.05). To study whether this high K(+)-induced stimulation of the cotransporter is attributed to membrane depolarization and Ca(2+) influx, the role of the L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel was investigated. The high-K(+)-mediated stimulation of the cotransporter activity was abolished in the presence of either 0.5 or 1.0 microM of the L-type channel blocker nifedipine or Ca(2+)-free HEPES buffer. A rise in intracellular free Ca(2+) in astrocytes was observed in high K(+). These results provide the first evidence that the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter protein expression can be regulated selectively when intracellular cAMP is elevated. The study also demonstrates that the cotransporter in astrocytes is stimulated by high K(+) in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.

Role of chemokines, neuronal projections, and the blood-brain barrier in the enhancement of cerebral EAE following focal brain damage

The role of focal brain damage as a trigger for autoimmune inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. In this study we examine mechanisms by which experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is enhanced by focal brain damage. EAE was produced in Lewis rats by footpad inoculation; focal brain damage, in the form of a cortical cryolesion (cryolesion-EAE), was induced 8 days post-inoculation (d.p.i.). The distribution of inflammation and chemokine production in cryolesion-EAE and EAE-only were compared. Inflammation in the brain, measured by immunocytochemistry for T lymphocytes (W3/13) and microglial activation (MHC class II -OX6), was significantly enhanced in cryolesion-EAE 11-15 d.p.i. (p < 0.01-0.05) but by 20-40 d.p.i., equated with EAE-only. Inflammation in cryolesion-EAE related to breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) at the site of the cryolesion and also to the corticospinal tracts and thalamus, reflecting the afferent and efferent neuronal connections with the cryolesioned cortex. Semiquantitative RT/PCR dot-blot hybridization assay showed a 6-fold increase in mRNA for specific chemokines in the brain in cryolesion-EAE at 9 d.p.i. (MCP-1) and 11 d.p.i. (MCP-1 and MCP-5) with no significant increase in RANTES, GRO-alpha, or MIP-1alpha. By 14 d.p.i., the levels of MCP-1 and MCP-5 mRNA equated with EAE-only animals. These results suggest that enhancement and location of autoimmune inflammation in the brain following focal cortical injury initially involve chemokines such as the macrophage chemoattractants MCP-1 and MCP-5, and the activities of afferent and efferent neuronal connections with the site of damage. By analogy, similar factors may modulate or reactivate autoimmune inflammation in MS.

Stratified mucin-producing intraepithelial lesions of the cervix: adenosquamous or columnar cell neoplasia?

BACKGROUND

Squamous (CIN) and glandular (ACIS) intraepithelial lesions often coexist in the same cervical specimen. However, a less common and little studied variant consists of a stratified epithelium resembling CIN in which conspicuous mucin production is present (Stratified Mucin-producing Intraepithelial LEsions (SMILE). This report describes the phenotypic characteristics of the SMILE, its associated lesions, and its immunophenotype.

METHODS

Eighteen SMILEs were identified by the presence of conspicuous cytoplasmic clearing or vacuoles in lesions otherwise resembling CIN. The morphologic spectrum of SMILEs was detailed; including associated intraepithelial and invasive cervical neoplasms. In addition, selected cases were stained for mucicarmine, markers of squamous cell/reserve cell differentiation (keratin-14 and p63), and proliferative activity (Mib-1).

RESULTS

Stratified neoplastic epithelial cells with a high Mib-1 index and a rounded or lobular contour at the epithelialstromal interface characterized SMILEs. In contrast to CIN, in which mucin droplets are confined to surface cells, mucin was present throughout the epithelium, varying from indistinct cytoplasmic clearing to discrete vacuoles. SMILEs were distinguished from benign metaplasia by nuclear hyperchromasia and a high Mib-1 index. All but three coexisted with either a squamous (CIN) or glandular (ACIS) precursor lesion. Nine of nine coexisting invasive carcinomas contained glandular, adenosquamous differentiation, or both. SMILEs stained negative for keratin-14 and variably for p63. When present, staining with p63 was confined to basal areas of SMILEs and was absent in areas of columnar differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

SMILEs are unusual cervical intraepithelial lesions best classified as variants of endocervical columnar cell neoplasia based on immunophenotype. The distribution and immunophenotype of SMILEs are consistent with a neoplasm arising in reserve cells in the transformation zone. The coexistence of a wide spectrum of intraepithelial and invasive cell phenotypes suggests that SMILEs are a marker for phenotypic instability, emphasizing the importance of identifying SMILEs and ensuring a complete examination of specimens containing this unusual precursor lesion.

Conversion of methylamine dehydrogenase to a long-chain amine dehydrogenase by mutagenesis of a single residue

Methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH) is a tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of primary amines. Amino acid residues of both the TTQ-bearing beta subunit and the noncatalytic alpha subunit line a substrate channel that leads from the protein surface to the enzyme active site. Phe55 of the alpha subunit is located at the opening of the active site. Conversion of alphaPhe55 to alanine dramatically alters the substrate preference of MADH. The K(m) for methylamine increases from 9 microM to 15 mM. The preferred substrates are now primary amines with chain lengths of at least seven carbons. The K(m) for 1, 10-diaminodecane is 11 microM, compared to 1.2 mM for wild-type MADH. Despite the large variation in K(m) values, k(cat) values are relatively unaffected by the mutation. Molecular modeling of substrates into the crystal structure of the enzyme active site and substrate channel provides an explanation for the dramatic changes in substrate specificity caused by this mutation of a single amino acid residue.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a rat biliverdin reductase

Biliverdin reductase (BVR) catalyzes the final step of haem degradation and converts biliverdin to bilirubin using NAD(P)H as an electron donor. This paper deals with the first crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of recombinant rat BVR expressed in Escherichia coli. Crystals of BVR were obtained by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Using synchrotron radiation at station BL44B2 of SPring-8, Japan, BVR diffraction data were collected to 1.6 A resolution. Crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 58.89, b = 70.41, c = 87.76 A. The complete determination of the crystallographic structure is currently in progress using MAD (multiwavelength anomalous diffraction) data from an Ir-derivative crystal.

[An experimental study of rat infected with human cytomegalovirus AD169 strain]

OBJECTIVE

To study the sensitivity of rat to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and to establish a stable animal model.

METHODS

Two kinds of rat experiments were carried out: 1) 30 SD rats were divided into three groups randomly, they were virus inoculated group, inactivated virus inoculated group and the normal rat group respectively; 2) 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, they were the virus inoculated group and the inactivated virus inoculated group. All the rats were inoculated through tail vein. 90 d later, the rat's tissue lesions were observed by pathological techniques, HCMV antigen was detected by immunohistochemical method and the HCMV DNA was analyzed by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

The extensive pathological damages in tissues of HCMV infected rats were observed. Meanwhile, the viral antigen and viral DNA were also demonstrated in many tissues of HCMV infected rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Rat is sensitive to infection of HCMV strain, but, as an animal model study, we still have a lot of works to do.

Intrinsic priors for model selection using an encompassing model with applications to censored failure time data

In Bayesian model selection or testing problems one cannot utilize standard or default noninformative priors, since these priors are typically improper and are defined only up to arbitrary constants. Therefore, Bayes factors and posterior probabilities are not well defined under these noninformative priors, making Bayesian model selection and testing problems impossible. We derive the intrinsic Bayes factor (IBF) of Berger and Pericchi (1996a, 1996b) for the commonly used models in reliability and survival analysis using an encompassing model. We also derive proper intrinsic priors for these models, whose Bayes factors are asymptotically equivalent to the respective IBFs. We demonstrate our results in three examples.

Cloning of a human "epidermal-type" 12-lipoxygenase-related gene and chromosomal localization to 17p13

A human "epidermal-type" 12-lipoxygenase (e-12LO) pseudogene was cloned using a murine e-12LO cDNA probe. Similar to other lipoxygenase genes, the genomic sequence revealed 14 exons and 13 introns covering 6.7 kb of DNA. cDNA corresponding to this gene was amplified from RNA of human skin and hair follicles by RACE-PCR and displayed 65-80% identity to the three murine 12-lipoxygenase cDNAs. Based on several criteria, humans appear to lack a functional e-12LO gene but instead have acquired an expressed pseudogene. The pseudogene designated ALOX12P2 was localized to chromosome 17p13 by analysis of somatic hybrid DNA panels.

Spatio-temporal interaction with disease mapping

Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are used to estimate mortality rates under a Bayesian hierarchical model. Spatial correlations are introduced to examine spatial effects relative to both regional and regional changes over time by groups. A special feature of the models is the inclusion of longitudinal variables which will describe temporal trends in mortality or incidences for different population groups. Disease maps are used to illustrate the role of different parameters in the model and pinpointing areas of interesting patterns. The methods are demonstrated by male cancer mortality data from the state of Missouri during 1973-1992. Of special interest will be the geographic variations in the trend of lung cancer mortality over the recent past. Marginal posterior distributions are used to examine effects due to spatial correlations and age difference in temporal trends. Numerical results from the Missouri data show that although spatial correlations exist, they do not have a large effect on the estimated mortality rates.

Inhibition of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat by paclitaxel

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS), is useful for preclinical testing for agents to be considered for treatment for this human demyelinating disease. Microtubules in lymphocytes play an important role in the cascade of human T cell activation, and paclitaxel (PTX), a microtubule stabilizer, can inhibit T cell function. A new formulation of micellar PTX, free of Cremophor and ethanol, was tested for its effect on the induction of EAE in Lewis rats. Adoptive EAE was induced with an encephalitogenic T cell line activated with guinea pig myelin basic protein (GP MBP) peptide 68-88. PTX (10 mg/kg) was administered 24 and 72 h after cell transfer. The clinical signs, fulminating in controls, were completely blocked by PTX, but mild CNS inflammation remained unaltered. A similar dose of PTX, given on days 6 and 8 to animals developing active EAE after immunization with GP MBP peptide 68-88 in complete Freund's adjuvant, greatly reduced the severity of paralysis and delayed the onset of disease by 8-9 days. Marked weight loss and severe toxicity were noted with higher and more prolonged administration. In vitro micellar PTX inhibited activation of encephalitogenic T cells by both specific antigen and mitogen. Lower doses and longer treatment programs may provide effective treatment with acceptable adverse effects with this agent in the treatment of inflammatory demyelinating disease.

Histidine 20, the crucial proximal axial heme ligand of bacterial heme oxygenase Hmu O from Corynebacterium diphtheriae

The hemin complex of Hmu O, a 24-kDa soluble heme degradation enzyme in Corynebacterium diphtheriae, is coordinated axially to a neutral imidazole of a proximal histidine residue in Hmu O. To identify which of the eight histidines in Hmu O is the proximal heme ligand, we have constructed and expressed the plasmids for eight His --> Ala Hmu O mutants. Reconstituted with hemin, the active site structures and enzymatic activity of these mutants have been examined by EPR, resonance Raman, and optical absorption spectroscopy. EPR of the NO-bound ferrous heme-Hmu O mutant complexes reveals His(20) as the proximal heme ligand in Hmu O, and this is confirmed by resonance Raman results from the ligand-free ferrous heme-H20A. All eight His --> Ala mutants bind hemin stoichiometrically, proving that none of the histidines is essential for hemin-Hmu O formation. However, His(20) is crucial to Hmu O catalysis. Its absence by point mutation has inhibited the conversion of hemin to biliverdin. The ferric heme-H20A complex is pentacoordinate. Resonance Raman of the CO-bound ferrous heme-H20A corroborates this and reveals an Fe-C-O bending mode, delta(Fe-C-O), the first reported for a pentacoordinate CO-bound hemeprotein. The appearance of delta(Fe-C-O) in C. diphtheriae Hmu O H20A but not mammalian HO-1 mutant H25A indicates that the heme environment between the two heme oxygenases is different.

Endocervical intraepithelial glandular atypia (dysplasia): a histopathologic, human papillomavirus, and MIB-1 analysis of 25 cases

The purpose of this study was to determine the likelihood that intraepithelial endocervical glandular atypias that are less severe than adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) are precursors to AIS and, if so, whether they can be recognized by morphological or other means. We first assessed the frequency of atypias found in association with either AIS or invasive adenocarcinoma (ACA) and then tested these cases and additional randomly encountered cases for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and for their proliferative (Ki-67) index. Lesions not fulfilling the classic criteria for AIS were subdivided into high-grade (HGGA) and low-grade glandular atypias (LGGA). Atypias and controls were microdissected and tested for HPV by the polymerase chain reaction. Serial sections were labeled for Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry with the MIB-1 antibody. Eight cases (6.8%) containing glandular atypia were found in a search of 117 consecutive cone biopsy or hysterectomy specimens that also had either AIS, ACA, or both. An additional 17 cases were either randomly encountered or were received in consultation. In 3 cases, both HGGA and LGGA were present, yielding a total of 28 lesions for study. Of the 9 HGGA cases that were associated with either AIS, ACA, or CIN II/III, 6 were positive for HPV; MIB-1 reactivity in all 6 was present in greater than 25% of the nuclei. Of the 3 HPV-negative HGGA cases in this group, the 2 that were tested showed low MIB-1 reactivity. All 3 cases of HGGA that were not associated with a diagnostic lesion were HPV-negative and had low MIB-1 reactivity. Of the 6 LGGAs associated with either AIS, ACA, or CIN II/III, 1 was positive for HPV; MIB-1 was nonreactive in this case and was low in all of the HPV-negative cases in this group that were tested. Of 10 LGGAs not associated with a diagnostic lesion, or with a low-grade squamous lesion as the only other abnormality, 2 were positive for HPV. Of these 2, one had an MIB-1 reactivity of greater than 25% and also had intestinal differentiation. MIB-1 reactivity was elevated in 2 of the 8 HPV-negative LGGAs from this group. All 10 ciliated atypias (3 HGGA, 7 LGGA) were HPV-negative and had low MIB-1 reactivity. One HPV-positive AIS control case was focally ciliated. Six of 7 foci with apoptotic bodies (5 HGGA, 2 LGGA) were HPV-positive. The infrequent occurrence of glandular atypias with AIS and ACA and the low rate of HPV DNA positivity when they are found in isolation are evidence that most AIS lesions do not evolve through morphologically identifiable antecedents and that most isolated atypias are not AIS precursors. HGGAs associated with AIS or CIN II/III maybe either precursors to or subtle variants of AIS. However, LGGAs similarly encountered are unlikely to be either. Elevated MIB-1 reactivity may be helpful diagnostically in selected cases, but it is not reliable as an independent criterion. The presence of cilia in isolated glandular atypias favors a nonneoplastic process, whereas intestinal differentiation and apoptotic bodies each suggest neoplasia.

μ-Terephthalato-bis[bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I)] diperchlorate

The title compound, [Cu(2)(C(8)H(4)O(4))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(4)](ClO(4))(2), was prepared from the hydrothermal reaction of CuCl(2), 1,4-dicyanobenzene, 1,10-phenanthroline and water at 443 K. The compound is a dimer in which the cation lies about an inversion center. The terephthalate moiety acts as a bridging ligand and the phenanthrolines as terminal ligands. The unique Cu atom is coordinated by two O and four N atoms in a distorted octahedral geometry, with Cu-O distances of 1.955 (2) and 2.815 (2) A, and Cu-N distances of 2.008 (2) to 2.216 (2) A.

Hierarchical Bayes estimation of hunting success rates with spatial correlations

A Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear model is used to estimate hunting success rates at the subarea level for postseason harvest surveys. The model includes fixed week effects, random geographic effects, and spatial correlations between neighboring subareas. The computation is done by Gibbs sampling and adaptive rejection sampling techniques. The method is illustrated using data from the Missouri Turkey Hunting Survey in the spring of 1996. Bayesian model selection methods are used to demonstrate that there are significant week differences and spatial correlations of hunting success rates among counties. The Bayesian estimates are also shown to be quite robust in terms of changes of hyperparameters.

Chloroaluminate ionic liquids as reagents for isolating soluble hexanuclear zirconium halide cluster compounds

Ambient-temperature chloroaluminate molten salts, mixtures of aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (ImCl), have been used as solvents to excise and isolate centered hexanuclear zirconium halide clusters from their solid-state precursors. Cluster compounds synthesized via high-temperature reactions, KZr6CCl15 and Li2Zr6MnCl15, were dissolved into basic molten salts at 100-110 degrees C. The C-centered cluster compound, Im4Zr6CCl18, was isolated in 70% yield, and the Mn-centered cluster compound, Im5Zr6MnCl18.C7H(8).2CH3CN, was isolated in 54% yield. Im5Zr6BCl18 is efficiently oxidized by ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate, and one-electron-oxidized B-centered cluster, [(Zr6B)Cl18]4-, was isolated in 90% yield as the salt Im4Zr6BCl18.

Relationship between the renin-angiotensin system genes and diabetic nephropathy in the Chinese

OBJECTIVE

To clarify whether genetic variants of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the Chinese.

METHODS

Totally 173 Chinese subjects of Han nationality from Shanghai were classified into! control, DN (-) and DN (+) groups. The latter was subdivided according to diabetic duration at the onset of DN and the stage of DN. Genotyping of five polymorphic sites in four key genes of the RAS: the AGT-T174M, AGT-M235T and AGTR1 genotypes were determined by PCR/restriction enzyme digestion. The insertion/deletion (I/D) and [ACAC] n-STR microsatellite polymorphic markers were used for ACE and REN genotyping, respectively. Statistical analysis showed comparisons of gene frequencies between any two groups were made with Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of DN.

RESULTS

The frequencies of ACE-DD genotype and ACE-D allele were much higher in DN(+) group than in DN (-) group (0.25 vs 0.05, 0.47 vs 0.29, respectively), so were the frequencies of TT genotype and T allele in AGT-M235T (0.73 vs 0.54, 0.85 vs 0.68, respectively). DN (+) DUR < 5 years group had greatly increased frequencies of AGT-M235T allele and ACE-DD genotype in comparison with DN(-) group (0.92 vs 0.68 and 0.28 vs 0.05, respectively). Logistic regression analysis further identified these two genes as contributing factors to DN. Although AGTR1 and AGT-T174M genotyping analysis revealed differences in frequency distribution between DN (+) and DN (-) or control groups, logistic regression analysis failed to implicate them in the development of DN.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed RAS genes, ACE and AGT-M235T but not AGT-T174M, AGTR1 or REN genotypes, as contributing factors for DN in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese.