TK1 expression influences pathogenicity by cell cycle progression, cellular migration, and cellular survival in HCC 1806 breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis worldwide accounting for 1 out of every 8 cancer diagnoses. The elevated expression of Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is associated with more aggressive tumor grades, including breast cancer. Recent studies indicate that TK1 may be involved in cancer pathogenesis; however, its direct involvement in breast cancer has not been identified. Here, we evaluate potential pathogenic effects of elevated TK1 expression by comparing HCC 1806 to HCC 1806 TK1-knockdown cancer cells (L133). Transcriptomic profiles of HCC 1806 and L133 cells showed cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and invasion as potential pathogenic pathways affected by TK1 expression. Subsequent in-vitro studies confirmed differences between HCC 1806 and L133 cells in cell cycle phase progression, cell survival, and cell migration. Expression comparison of several factors involved in these pathogenic pathways between HCC 1806 and L133 cells identified p21 and AKT3 transcripts were significantly affected by TK1 expression. Creation of a protein-protein interaction map of TK1 and the pathogenic factors we evaluated predict that the majority of factors evaluated either directly or indirectly interact with TK1. Our findings argue that TK1 elevation directly increases HCC 1806 cell pathogenicity and is likely occurring by p21- and AKT3-mediated mechanisms to promote cell cycle arrest, cellular migration, and cellular survival.

The effect of an intervention programme on interactions on a continuing care ward for older people

This study describes a project designed to enhance the quality of life of older people on a continuing care ward. The aim of the interventions used was to increase staff/resident interaction levels. The programme interventions focused on staff education and extra ward activities. Interaction levels were measured using a previously published observation schedule which was adapted for use with this client group. Inter-rater reliability measures indicated that the adapted measure was still reliable. The patients on the ward were also assessed to establish their level of dependency. The findings indicated that, for the majority of observational categories, there were no significant differences, but those that were found were in the opposite direction to that predicted and indicated a reduction in interaction levels. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed.

A comparison of practices, attitudes and interactions in two established units for people with a psychiatric disability

This study evaluates and compares aspects of residential care in a community hostel setting and a hospital setting for people with a psychiatric disability. The clients were assessed to establish their level of general functioning, the comparison indicating there was no significant difference between the two groups on the measure used. A previously published protocol was used as a method of comparing the units. The findings indicated that the hospital unit was more individually orientated both in practices and staff attitudes, and had staff who were more optimistic about clients' potential accomplishments. No differences were found between perceived involvement of staff in decision making, or staff resident interactions. These findings have implications for the 'Care in the Community' movement, as they indicate that the nature of a service is as important as its location. They suggest that the relocation of services to the community in itself will not automatically overcome some of the difficulties associated with institutional care.

Sulfone analogues of taurine as modifiers of calcium uptake and protein phosphorylation in rat retina

The syntheses of five sulfone analogues of taurine are described: 2-aminoethylmethyl sulfone (AEMS), thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (TMS), N-methylthiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (M-TMS), (+/-)3-aminotetrahydrothiopyran-1,1-dioxide (APS), and (+/-)3-aminotetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide (ATS). When these compounds were evaluated in the rat retina as modulators of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake at low calcium ion concentrations (10 microM), AEMS, ATS, and APS were found to be more potent stimulators of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake than taurine. TMS and M-TMS had no effect. At high concentrations of calcium ions (1.44 mM), taurine, AEMS, ATS, APS, and TMS inhibited ATP-independent calcium ion uptake; AEMS, ATS, and APS were more potent inhibitors than taurine. ATS was the only compound tested (including taurine) that inhibited ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake at high calcium ion concentrations. The effects of the sulfone analogues of taurine on the incorporation of phosphate into retinal proteins were also studied. Taurine, AEMS, ATS, APS, and TMS were equipotent inhibitors of phosphate incorporation (30-45%). M-TMS had no effect.

T-cell-defined DR4 subtypes as markers for type 1 diabetes

In most populations studied, HLA-DR4, a DRB1 (formerly DR beta I) allele, is increased in frequency among patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Using T-cells, one can distinguish five subtypes of DR4 (Dw4, Dw10, Dw13, Dw14, and Dw15). Two of these (Dw4 and Dw10) are IDDM-associated in the populations studied here. Therefore, Dw4 and Dw10 could be causative or merely markers for a linked diabetes allele. If they are causative, one might expect them to share some unique structural element or at least to associate consistently with IDDM in different populations. Published sequence data show no structural element unique to Dw4 and Dw10; moreover, the associations of these DR4-Dw subtypes with diabetes vary considerably in different populations. Thus the DRB1 locus probably cannot account for the DR4 association in IDDM. The strong linkage disequilibrium between IDDM and Dw4 and Dw10 suggests that the diabetes susceptibility locus should be in the vicinity of the DR region or the DQ region of the HLA complex. Alternative hypotheses are discussed, relating DR- and DQ-region alleles to IDDM. We further postulate that the evolutionary event that produced the Dw10 allele occurred on a Dw4 haplotype that happened to carry a diabetes susceptibility allele at another locus.

Effects of aminocycloalkanesulfonic acid analogs of taurine on ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake and protein phosphorylation

A cyclopentane analog of taurine [(+/-)cis-2-aminocyclopentanesulfonic acid] (CAPS) was synthesized, and its effects on ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake and protein phosphorylation in rat retina were investigated along with other cyclic analogs of taurine, (+/-)trans-2-Aminocyclopentanesulfonic acid (TAPS) is the most potent aminocycloalkanesulfonic acid inhibitor of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake in retinal homogenates [S.M. Leibowitz, J.B. Lombardini and P.S. Salva, Biochem. Pharmac. 36, 2109 (1987)], eliciting its effects in the micromolar range (I50 = 39 +/- 5 microM). CAPS was found to be a less potent aminocycloalkanesulfonic acid inhibitor (I50 = 1780 +/- 400 microM) of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake in retinal homogenates. Taurine inhibited phosphate incorporation into rat retinal proteins, whereas TAPS, TAHS and CAPS stimulated incorporation.

2-Aminoethylmethyl-sulfone (AEMS): a potent stimulator of ATP-dependent calcium uptake

Retinal ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake is stimulated by a number of agents, but none are previously reported to be as potent as taurine. We have evaluated the effects of 2-aminoethylmethyl-sulfone (AEMS), thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (TMS), and N-methyl-thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (M-TMS) on calcium ion uptake. AEMS is twice as potent a stimulator of calcium ion uptake compared to taurine. TMS and M-TMS did not stimulate calcium ion uptake at concentrations up to 20 mM. These data demonstrate that the sulfonic acid moiety can be replaced by a methyl sulfone moiety for stimulation of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake.

A study of the proportions of swimmers among well controls and children with enterovirus-like illness shedding or not shedding an enterovirus

CHildren between the ages of less than 1 year and 15 years who visited a pediatric clinic in Madison, Wisconsin, from June 13 through September 1, 1977, were surveyed for the frequency and location of swimming they had done in the two weeks prior to the clinic visit. The study population consisted of 679 well controls, and 296 children with enteroviral-like syndromes. Throat and rectal swab specimens were collected from 241 of the ill patients and from 27 well children. Non-polio enteroviruses were recovered from 119 ill and two well individuals. Other viruses were recovered from an additional 13 ill patients. The majority of viral-like syndromes were respiratory, with or without fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. Exclusive beach swimmers had significantly (p less than 0.0005) increased relative risk (odds ratio estimate 3.41) of enterovirus illness. The highest relative risk (10.63) of enterovirus illness occurred in children less than 4 years old who were exclusive beach swimmers. Swimming in pools exclusively carried no significantly increased risk of enterovirus illness. Children with apparent viral illnesses based on clinical findings, who had no virus isolated, did not differ from well controls in the type of swimming exposure (either beaches or pools) in the two weeks prior to their clinic visit.

Human infective dose determinations for oral poliovirus type 1 vaccine in infants

The 50, 10, and 1% human infective doses of poliovirus type 1 vaccine administered orally to 32 infants were estimated to be 72, 39, and 20 tissue culture infective doses, respectively.

Primary Carcinoma of the Lung, with a Report of a Case Treated by Operation

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