Association analysis of the 5-HT6 receptor polymorphism C267T with depression in patients with Alzheimer's disease

A significant increase of 267C allele of the 5-HT(6) receptor gene has been reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because a deficit in serotonergic neurotransmission is involved in major depression, we tried to find out whether 267C allele is associated with depressive disorders in AD. A psychiatrist interviewed all AD patients and their caregivers for evidence of depression using a Chinese version of the Standard Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. The difference in the 5-HT(6) genotype or allele distributions between the AD patients with depressive disorders (n = 25) and those without (n = 120) was not significant.

Osteogenic evaluation of glutaraldehyde crosslinked gelatin composite with fetal rat calvarial culture model

The cytotoxicity of the synthetic bone substitute composed of tricalcium phosphate and glutaraldehyde crosslinked gelatin (GTG) were evaluated by osteoblast cell culture. In a previous study, the GTG composites were soaked in distilled water for 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days, and then the solutions (or extracts) were cocultured with osteoblasts to evaluate the cytotoxicity of GTG composites by alive cell counting. In this study, the extracts were cocultured with the osteoblasts; thereafter, the concentration of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the medium was analyzed to strictly reflect the biological effects of GTG composites on the growth of osteoblasts. In order to investigate the osteoconductive potential of the GTG composites on new bone formation in a relative short term, a model of neonatal rat calvarial organ culture was designed prior to animal experiments. Three experimental materials of 4, 8, and 12% GTG composites were evaluated by fetal rat calvarial organ culture for their ability for bone regeneration. Deproteinized bovine and porcine cancellous bone matrixes were used as the controlled materials. All the organ culture units were maintained in cultured medium for 5 weeks. Following the culture period, the morphology of tissue was observed under an optical microscope, and the quantitative evaluation of the new generation bone was determined by using a semiautomatic histomorphometeric method. Except in the initial 4 days, the concentration of TGF-beta1 of 4% and 8% GTG composites was higher than that of the blank group for all the other experimental time periods. The PGE2 concentration for 4% and 8% GTG composites was lower than that of the blank group. It revealed that the 4% and 8% GTG composites would not lead to inflammation and would promote osteoblast growth. The morphology and activity of the osteoblasts were not transformed or changed by the 2 GTG composites. For the 12% GTG composite, the performance of the in vitro condition was inferior to the blank group and the other 2 GTG composites. Although the concentration of TGF-beta1 and PGE2 was gradually back to normal after 14 days, the morphology of the osteoblasts was abnormal with features such as contracted cytoplast structures. The osteoblast was damaged perhaps in the initial stage. We suggested that the 4% and 8% GTG composites should be soaked in distilled water at least for 4 days before medical applications. The 12% GTG composite and the composites with a concentration of glutaraldehyde solution higher than 12% were not recommended as a medical prostheses in any condition. The fetal rat calvaria culture also showed the same results with the analysis of TGF-beta1 and PGE2. From the study, we could predict the results of animal experiments in the future.

Growth hormone interacts with the Marek's disease virus SORF2 protein and is associated with disease resistance in chicken

Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease of chickens induced by a herpesvirus, the MD virus (MDV). Because MD is a significant economic problem to the poultry industry, there is great interest in enhancing genetic resistance, which is controlled by multiple genes. The influence of the MHC has been clearly demonstrated, and several relevant quantitative trait loci have been mapped; however, no single gene influencing MD resistance has been identified. Transcription of SORF2 is perturbed in the MDV recombinant clone RM1 due to a solo insertion of the reticuloendotheliosis virus long terminal repeat, which may explain the loss of oncogenicity for this strain. Hypothesizing that SORF2-interacting host proteins are involved in MD resistance, we screened a chicken splenic cDNA library by the yeast two-hybrid assay using SORF2 as bait. The chicken growth hormone (GH) structural peptide was identified, and the specific interaction was verified by coimmunoprecipitation. Immunohistochemical staining and indirect immunofluorescence assay indicated that GH and SORF2 can be coexpressed in MDV-infected cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, polymorphism in the GH gene (GH1) is associated with the number of tissues with tumors in commercial White Leghorn chickens with the MHC B*2/B*15 genotype. We conclude that GH1 may well be a MD resistance gene.

Genetic association analysis of alpha-1-antichymotrypsin polymorphism in Parkinson's disease

alpha(1)-Antichymotrypsin (ACT) gene has been suggested as a susceptibility factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and might be related to the onset of PD. We replicated these findings in a Chinese population. The results demonstrated that the ACT genotypic and allelic distributions showed no significant differences between the PD patient and the control groups. The age at onset was younger in the heterozygotes than in the homozygotes (p = 0.042). We suggest that the ACT polymorphism might play some role in the pathogenesis of PD, especially in the onset.

Phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase-independent insulin action pathway(s) in the human ovary

Hyperandrogenism observed in women with a variety of insulin-resistant states is thought to be due to a stimulatory effect of insulin on ovarian steroid hormone production. However, it is not known what mechanisms could allow the ovary to remain sensitive to insulin while classical target organs for insulin action (liver, fat, and muscle) exhibit insulin resistance. One hypothesis proposed to explain this paradox suggests that a postbinding divergence of insulin receptor signaling occurs in the ovary and that signaling pathways for steroid hormone synthesis and other ovarian effects of insulin may be distinct from classical glucose signaling pathways. We now report that activation of phosphatidyl-inositol-3 (PI-3) kinase, which is crucial for glucose transport, is not necessary for the insulin-induced stimulation of progesterone production or for the insulin-induced inhibition of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) production in cultured human ovarian cells. Human granulosa cells obtained during in vitro fertilization procedures were cultured with 10, 10(2), 10(3), or 10(4) ng/mL insulin with or without preincubation with 100 nM wortmannin, a specific irreversible inhibitor of PI-3 kinase. IGFBP-1 concentration in the conditioned medium was measured using immunoradiometric assay or by Western blot analysis. Progesterone concentration was measured using RIA. Additional studies were carried out in cultures of human ovarian cells prepared from homogenized whole ovarian tissue of a woman with a family history of breast cancer and a mutation of BRCA-1 gene who underwent bilateral oophorectomy. These cells were cultured with 10(3) ng/mL insulin with or without preincubation with 100 nM wortmannin. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare mean values of IGFBP-1 and progesterone according to insulin dose and the use of wortmannin. In cultured granulosa cell medium, progesterone production was stimulated by insulin in a dose-related manner up to 175% of control (P < 0.0001). In tissue culture medium from ovarian cells obtained from a patient with BRCA-gene mutation, concentration of progesterone in the tissue culture medium increased from 2.5 +/- 0.2 ng/mL for control to 5.4 +/- 0.3 ng/mL for cells incubated with insulin (P < 0.001). IGFBP-1 production in tissue culture medium from human granulosa cells was inhibited by insulin to the nadir of 45% of control (P < 0.0001). Preincubation with wortmannin, despite complete inhibition of PI-3 kinase in both cell systems confirmed by Western blot analysis, failed to significantly alter these results. We conclude that inhibition of PI-3 kinase by wortmannin fails to abolish stimulatory effect of insulin on progesterone production or inhibitory effect of insulin on IGFBP-1 production in cultured human ovarian cells. These findings suggest that activation of PI-3 kinase, an enzyme crucial for insulin-stimulated glucose transport, is not necessary for the above effects of insulin in the ovary. These data provide evidence for the presence of PI-3 kinase-independent insulin signaling pathway(s) in human ovarian cells.

Genomic analysis of the Hsp70 superfamily in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis genome contains at least 18 genes encoding members of the 70-kilodalton heat shock protein (Hsp70) family, 14 in the DnaK subfamily and 4 in the Hsp110/SSE subfamily. While the Hsp70s are highly conserved, a phylogenetic analysis including all members of this family in Arabidopsis and in yeast indicates the homology of Hsp70s in the subgroups, such as those predicted to localize in the same subcellular compartment and those similar to the mammalian Hsp110 and Grp170. Gene structure and genome organization suggest duplication in the origin of some genes. The Arabidopsis hsp70s exhibit distinct expression profiles; representative genes of the subgroups are expressed at relatively high levels during specific developmental stages and under thermal stress.

Cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of the water extract of the traditional Chinese herb gusuibu (Drynaria fortunei) on rat osteoblasts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Gusuibu (Drynaria fortunei) is a traditional Chinese herb that has been claimed to have therapeutic effects on bone healing; however, a clinical mechanism responsible for this effect has not been identified. This study evaluated the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of the water extract of gusuibu (WEGSB) on rat osteoblasts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Osteoblasts were prepared from neonatal Wistar rat calvarias and treated with WEGSB. Cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined. Intracellular reactive oxygen species were detected using the dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin, and mitochondrial membrane potential was detected using the dye 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

WEGSB at 1 and 10 micrograms/mL was not cytotoxic to rat osteoblasts, but WEGSB at 100 micrograms/mL reduced cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity in a time-dependent manner. Although WEGSB and hydrogen peroxide did not affect the mitochondrial membrane potential of rat osteoblasts, combined treatment with WEGSB (100 micrograms/mL) and hydrogen peroxide lowered the membrane potential of mitochondria and resulted in cell death. The basal level of intracellular reactive oxygen species in rat osteoblasts was significantly suppressed by WEGSB at 10 to 100 micrograms/mL. WEGSB (10 micrograms/mL) specifically inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress without an effect on nitric oxide-induced stress. Hydrogen peroxide caused concentration-dependent death of rat osteoblasts, but WEGSB significantly protected cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that WEGSB at 10 micrograms/mL is not cytotoxic to rat osteoblasts in vitro, and also that the extract at 10 micrograms/microL has an antioxidant effect on these cells. The antioxidant activity of WEGSB can protect rat osteoblasts from hydrogen peroxide-induced death and may promote bone recovery under similar pathologic conditions.

Application of complementary DNA microarray (DNA chip) technology in the study of gene expression profiles during folliculogenesis

OBJECTIVE

Using oligonucleotide microarray (DNA chip)-based hybridization analysis to gain a comprehensive view of gene expression and regulation involved in folliculogenesis.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized study.

SETTING

Academic institution.

ANIMAL(S)

B6D2F1 female mice.

INTERVENTION(S)

Superovulation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Preantral follicles isolated from day 14 B6D2F-1 mice were stimulated in vitro to form Graafian follicles. Total RNA extracted from the mouse preantral and Graafian follicles were reverse transcribed, labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP, and then hybridized with Clontech Atlas mouse cDNA expression arrays for comparison.

RESULT(S)

Of 588 known studied genes, 39 and 61 were detected in preantral follicles and in Graafian follicles, respectively, and 17 were highly expressed consistently in both preantral and Graafian follicles. Performing clustering analysis, we found that 15 detected genes were down-regulated and 46 were up-regulated as the follicles advanced to mature stages.

CONCLUSION(S)

We have successfully developed a sensitive DNA chip technology that is able to simultaneously and quantitatively study gene expression profiles in a small number of follicles (1.5-15 follicles). Several folliculogenesis-related genes have been identified. Some of these genes were expressed, indicating that they may be essential for follicle growth and maturation, whereas others were up-regulated only during late follicular development, indicating stage-specific roles.

Isolated fetal and neonatal ascites: report of two cases

Neonatal ascites is an uncommon problem that may be caused by a number of etiologies including diseases of genitourinary system and gastrointestinal system, cardiac disease, hepatic disease, systemic infection such as TORCH or parvovirus, chylous, ovarian cause, inborn error of metabolism and idiopathic. We reported two cases of neonatal ascites, one was caused by cytomegalovirus and no obvious causes could be detected in the second one. The ascites were diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound at the gestational age of 25 weeks and 37 weeks respectively and were resolved spontaneously after birth. One-year follow-up of both cases revealed normal growth and development. No recurrent ascites could be detected by abdominal sonography except for evidence of mild hepatomegaly that was noted in case 1. Thus, isolated fetal and neonatal ascites without other concomitant abnormalities were diagnosed, a separate entity from non-immune hydrops fetalis with excellent prognosis.

Pharmacokinetics of enantiomers of trans-tramadol and its active metabolite, trans-O-demethyltramadol, in human subjects

AIM

To study the stereoselectivity in pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of trans-tramadol (trans-T) and its active metabolite, trans-O-demethyltramadol (M1) in human subjects.

METHODS

Trans-T hydrochloride sustained-release tablets were taken orally by 12 healthy male volunteers. After a multiple dosage schedule, the serum concentrations of (+)-trans-T, (-)-trans-T, (+)-M1, and (-)-M1 were determined in serum by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE).

RESULTS

(+)-Trans-T, (-)-trans-T, (+)-M1 and (-)-M1 in human serum were separated by HPCE. The linear range was 2.5-320 microg/L for the enantiomers of trans-T, and 2.5-50 microg/L for the enantiomers of M1. For the enantiomers of trans-T and M1, the intra-day and inter-day RSD were less than 15 % and 20 %, and the relative recoveries were 94.3 %-106.2 % and 90.4 %-107.8 %, respectively; the limit of quantitation was 1.25 microg/L. The serum concentrations of the enantiomers of trans-T reached a steady state in 12 subjects on d 4 after the initial administration. The steady state serum concentrations of (+)-trans-T were higher than that of (-)-trans-T at every sampling points in the subjects. The differences were significant in the main pharmacokinetic parameters between (+)-trans-T and (-)-trans-T except Tmax. The serum concentrations of (-)-M1 were higher than that of (+)-M1 in most subjects and at most sampling time points. There were significant differences in Cmax and Cmin between the enantiomers of M1.

CONCLUSION

The pharmacokinetics of trans-T and M1 was found to be stereoselective. (+)-Trans-T was shown to be absorbed completely, but eliminated more slowly. The pharmacokinetic stereoselectivity of M1 was different among human subjects.

No association between tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease

Serotonergic dysfunction is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) on the basis of studies of serotonin and its metabolite in postmortem specimens and CSF. There were also reports on association of a tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) intron 7 variant and CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations. These suggested TPH might be a candidate to study for possible involvement in AD. Using a case-control association approach, we studied the TPH polymorphism in 150 subjects with AD and 100 controls. There were no significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies between controls and AD patients. The negative findings suggested that this TPH polymorphism has no major effect on the development of AD. However, the genetic variation of the TPH gene related to the symptomatology of AD deserves further investigation.

Effect of anti-inflammatory medication on monocyte response to titanium particles

Cytokines produced by macrophages in the periprosthetic membranes surrounding joint replacements have been implicated as causal agents in osteolysis and prosthetic loosening. The present study characterizes the response of human peripheral blood monocytes to titanium particles. Monocytes were obtained from donated blood and were cultured in the presence of different-sized titanium particles. Exposure to titanium-aluminum-vanadium particles significantly changed the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 (IL-1), whereas there was no significant effect on the release of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). When monocytes were cultured with particles, the titanium alloy particles induced significantly more release of TNF-alpha and less IL-1 secretion. Ciprofloxacin inhibited production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1, and PGE(2) in human monocytes exposed to titanium particles. In contrast to ciprofloxacin, indomethacin was not a potent inhibitor of TNF-alpha production but potentiated IL-6 production in titanium-stimulated monocytes. Indomethacin had no effect on the production of IL-1 and was a potent inhibitor of PGE(2) production in titanium-stimulated monocytes. Pentoxifylline had an inhibitor effect on TNF-alpha production in titanium-stimulated monocytes. Pentoxifylline potentiated IL-6 and IL-1 production in monocytes exposed to titanium particles and had a biphasic effect on the PGE(2) production. The results of this study support our hypothesis that human monocytes release bone resorption mediators after in vitro exposure to TiAlV alloy particles. The results also demonstrate the differences of bone-resorbing mediators in response to different wear particle size. The pharmacologic agents (ciprofloxacin, pentoxifylline, and indomethacin) that can modulate the release of bone resorbing mediators such as PGE(2), TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 release from human monocytes. The results help to elucidate the differences in cellular response to wear particles but may not be directly transposed to the human situation.

A model to study antioxidant regulation of endotoxemia-modulated neonatal granulopoiesis and granulocyte apoptosis

Neonates with septicemia tend to develop granulocytopenia, which may, in part, be due to septic mediators such as oxygen free radicals and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Granulocytopenia may be caused by a decrease in granulocyte growth and/or an increase in granulocyte destruction. In the present study, we investigated antioxidant regulation of endotoxin-modulated neonatal granulopoiesis and granulocyte apoptosis. Using human umbilical cord blood (HUCB), we found that simulating endotoxemia in vitro elicited significant superoxide production within a few minutes. Endotoxin exposure suppressed colony-forming unit-granulocyte and monocyte formation in a dose-dependent fashion. Addition of antioxidants such as N-acetyl-cysteine could reverse the endotoxin suppression of colony-forming unit-granulocyte and monocyte formation (13 +/- 5 versus 75 +/- 5 colony-forming units/mL). Spontaneous in vitro granulocyte apoptosis in 6 h, as reflected by phosphatidylserine expression on the cell surface, was higher in granulocytes from HUCB than in those from adult blood (10.8 +/- 1.0% versus 5.6 +/- 1.2%). The addition of endotoxin or IL-8 to the cells in the in vitro model did not promote granulocyte apoptosis, but TNF-alpha, a major mediator of the effects of endotoxin, significantly induced granulocyte apoptosis in HUCB (control versus TNF-alpha: 8.9 +/- 1.2% versus 35.9 +/- 2.9%). Addition of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine effectively blocked TNF-alpha-induced granulocyte apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation. Results from these studies indicate that oxygen radicals are directly involved in endotoxin suppression of granulopoiesis, and indirectly promote granulocyte apoptosis, presumably through TNF-alpha-mediated action. Thus, under certain conditions, modulation of oxygen radical production in the blood may benefit neonates with granulocytopenia.

Self-mode-locking of quantum cascade lasers with giant ultrafast optical nonlinearities

We report on the generation of picosecond self-mode-locked pulses from midinfrared quantum cascade lasers, at wavelengths within the important molecular fingerprint region. These devices are based on intersubband electron transitions in semiconductor nanostructures, which are characterized by some of the largest optical nonlinearities observed in nature and by picosecond relaxation lifetimes. Our results are interpreted with a model in which one of these nonlinearities, the intensity-dependent refractive index of the lasing transition, creates a nonlinear waveguide where the optical losses decrease with increasing intensity. This favors the generation of ultrashort pulses, because of their larger instantaneous intensity relative to continuous-wave emission.

Genetic risk factors of sporadic Alzheimer's disease among Chinese in Taiwan

To evaluate the genetic factors for AD among a Chinese population in Taiwan, we studied the polymorphisms of six candidate genes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the regulatory region of apolipoprotein E (Apo-E, G-186T), the promoter of apolipoprotein E (Apo-E, A-491T), the bleomycin hydrolase gene (BH, A1450G), a mutation of alpha(2)-macroglobulin gene (A2M G2998A), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein gene (LRP, C766T), and alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin gene (ACT, -15Ala/Thr) in AD patients and non-affected elder individuals among Taiwanese Chinese. Eighty-two AD patients and 110 non-affected individuals were recruited for this study. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion to identify their genotypes. The statistical examination was performed by combining the results of our previous reports - apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (ApoE-4), presenilin-1 intronic polymorphism (PS-1, allele 1/2), and the five-nucleotide deletion of alpha(2)-macroglobulin gene (A2M). Among these nine candidate genes of AD, the ApoE-4 allele is the only independent genetic risk factor for AD. The other candidate genes in this study were not associated with the occurrence of AD. In addition, there are no gene-gene interactions.

Polymorphisms of the parkin gene in sporadic Parkinson's disease among Chinese in Taiwan

The role of genetics in Parkinson's disease (PD), previously controversial, is now documented by several studies. A major breakthrough has been the discovery of two single-gene defects in familial PD. A single base pair change at position 209 from G to A (G209A) in the fourth exon of the alpha-synuclein gene has been identified in cases of autosomal dominant familial PD. Mutations in the Parkin gene can induce autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism. A polymorphism of R/W366 in the Parkin gene was found to be associated with a protective factor for sporadic PD. We surveyed the polymorphisms of the Parkin gene, including S/N167, R/W366 and V/L380, in 92 cases of sporadic PD and 98 nonaffected individuals in Taiwanese Chinese. The allele frequencies of these polymorphisms are not significantly different between PD and nonaffected controls. We conclude that polymorphisms of the Parkin gene, S/N167, R/W366, V/L380, are not genetic factors for sporadic PD among Chinese in Taiwan.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming-unit assay and liquid suspension culture of bone marrow and peripheral blood in newly diagnosed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming-unit (CFU-GM)-assays and/or liquid suspension cultures of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB), using human placental conditioned medium as a source of colony-stimulating activity, were performed in 125 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Unlike the previous small series which invariably showed poor BM granulocyte-macrophage colony and cluster formations, we found 3 growth patterns. A poor-growth pattern was seen in 101 patients. A low-growth pattern with BM colony and cluster formations in the lower range of the normal limits was observed in 6 patients. All 6 patients had low-risk ALL, and the in vitro growth may reflect the residual normal CFU-GM in BM. Thirdly an over-growth pattern was noted in one patient with refractory ALL. In 49 cases where liquid suspension cultures of BM were performed, 4 had a normal-growth pattern and 42 had apoptotic cells and/or few residual granulocytic/monocytic cells after 7 days of culture. However, in both B cell ALL cases and in 1 refractory T cell ALL case with hyperleukocytosis, repetitive liquid suspension cultures of BM and PB consistently revealed an extensive growth of lymphoblasts. Thus, an over-growth pattern in either the BM CFU-GM assay or liquid suspension culture of BM or PB in children with ALL at diagnosis may indicate a refractory or aggressive disease. A low-growth pattern in the BM CFU-GM assay in children with ALL at diagnosis probably predicts a favorable outcome.

Expression of apoptosis-related genes in human oocytes and embryos

PURPOSE

The objective was to study whether apoptosis occurs in human embryogenesis.

METHODS

Human viable, arrested, and nonviable embryos and immature, and nonfertilized oocytes donated by our patients were used to detect apoptosis by Tunel labeling, annexin staining, and single-cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

DNA fragmentation and phosphotidylserine translocation, the two markers for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented human embryos derived from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Using RT-PCR, apoptotic genes also were detected in these embryos. The frequencies of gene expression in viable embryos, arrested embryos, nonviable embryos, immature oocytes, and non-fertilized oocytes were: 7/8, 5/5, 5/6, 0/6, 0/3, for Bax; 8/8, 5/5, 7/7, 0/4, 0/5 for Fas; 2/8, 0/2, 0/3, 0/5, 0/3 for BCL-2; 0/8, 1/3, 0/2, 0/3, 0/2 for Fas-ligand; and 8/8, 17/17, 21/21, 24/24, 15/15 for actin, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary data did not show a significant difference in the expression frequency of all studied genes between viable embryos and nonviable or arrested embryos. However, the expression of Bax and Fas was noticeably higher in nonviable embryos than in viable embryos as judged by the intensities of amplicons visualized after ethidium bromide staining. In addition, BCL-2 was only detected in viable embryos. Whether embryos quality is related to the regulation of BCL-2, Bax, and Fas expressions requires further study.

Disposition of olanzapine in Chinese schizophrenic patients

The disposition of olanzapine was evaluated in 21 male chronic schizophrenic patients. A single 10 mg dose of olanzapine was administered and blood sampling performed over the following 120 hours. The mean (+/- SD) oral clearance and elimination half-life of olanzapine were 51.5+/-61.6 l/h and 30.9+/-4.3 hours, respectively. A wide interpatient variability was found. Compared to the population norms, no significant differences were observed between different populations and Chinese patients in olanzapine disposition.

Alveolar mononuclear cells can develop into multinucleated osteoclasts: an in vitro cell culture model

Previous studies have shown that osteoclasts are derived from mononuclear cells of hemopoietic bone marrow and peripheral blood. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the presence of multinucleated osteoclasts after adding alveolar mononuclear cells to new-born rat calvaria osteoblasts in vitro. To utilize osteoclast-free bone, fetal calvariae were obtained from newborn Wistar-rats and cultured in DMEM medium for 14 days. On the day of osteoblast culture, alveolar mononuclear cells were isolated from newborn Wistar rats with a serial washing method and then co-cultured with the calvarial osteoblasts. Bone resorption characteristics were observed both with light and scanning electron microscopy. When alveolar mononuclear cells were cultured for 14 days on the calvarial osteoblasts in response to 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, they formed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive mononuclear and multinucleated cells. Resorption pits were seen in the 7-14 days long-term cultures. These results indicate that osteoclasts can be derived from alveolar mononuclear cells in vitro when a suitable microenvironment is provided by calvarial osteoblasts and vitamin D(3).

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 with parkinsonism in ethnic Chinese

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and molecular genetic analysis of a large family of northern Chinese descent with a mutation at the SCA2 locus causing carbidopa-levodopa-responsive parkinsonism.

BACKGROUND

Most causes of parkinsonism remain unknown. However, molecular genetic analysis of families with parkinsonism has recently identified five distinct loci and pathogenic mutations in four of those. Additionally, some of the spinocerebellar ataxia syndromes (SCA), particularly Machado-Joseph syndrome (SCA3), are known to cause parkinsonism. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) has not previously been described as causing a typical dopamine-responsive asymmetric PD phenotype.

METHODS

A large family was evaluated clinically and molecularly for apparent autosomal dominant parkinsonism.

RESULTS

The phenotype includes presentation consistent with typical dopamine-responsive parkinsonism. Other presentations in this family include a parkinsonism/ataxia phenotype, which is classic for SCA2 and parkinsonism, resembling progressive supranuclear palsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with a family history of parkinsonism, including familial progressive supranuclear palsy and PD, should be tested for the spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 expansion.

Incidence of stroke on Kinmen, Taiwan

This study aims to assess the incidence, case-fatality rate and risk factors of stroke on Kinmen Island, Taiwan, from 1993 to 1996. A population-based stroke survey was carried out in 1993 and 1996 to collect data on all subjects in the population aged 50 years and older residing on Kinmen. There were 63 stroke events (53 first ever and 10 recurrent) identified in this period. The average annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke for people aged 50 years or older was 527 per 100,000 population (95% confidence interval, CI, 297-757). The 28-day case-fatality rate was 24.5% (95% CI 12.9-36. 1%) for first-ever stroke and 60% (95% CI 29.6-90.4%) for recurrent stroke. Multivariate analyses performed with the Cox proportional hazard model revealed the following risk factors to be independent predictors of stroke: hypertension, diabetes and alcohol use. The incidence and case- fatality rate of stroke on Kinmen is similar to that of several other countries. Hypertension is the most common risk factor in this population. Due to a relatively small number of outcome events, these findings require confirmation.

Cloning and promoter analysis of the cotton lipid transfer protein gene Ltp3(1)

A cotton Ltp3 gene and its 5' and 3' flanking regions have been cloned with a PCR-based genomic DNA walking method. The amplified 2.6 kb DNA fragment contains sequences corresponding to GH3 cDNA which has been shown to encode a lipid transfer protein (LTP3). The gene has an intron of 80 bp which is located in the region corresponding to the C-terminus of LTP3. The Ltp3 promoter was systematically analyzed in transgenic tobacco plants by employing the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene (GUS) as a reporter. The results of histochemical and fluorogenic GUS assays indicate that the 5' flanking region of the Ltp3 gene contains cis-elements conferring the trichome specific activity of Ltp3 promoter.