Simultaneous substrate and ubiquitin modification recognition by bispecific antibodies enables detection of ubiquitinated RIP1 and RIP2

Ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification that is crucial for the dynamic regulation of diverse signaling pathways. To enhance our understanding of ubiquitination-mediated signaling, we generated a new class of bispecific antibodies that combine recognition of ubiquitination substrates and specific polyubiquitin linkages. RIP1-K63 and RIP1-linear (Lin) linkage polyubiquitin bispecific antibodies detected linkage-specific ubiquitination of the proinflammatory kinase RIP1 in cells and in tissues and revealed RIP1 ubiquitination by immunofluorescence. Similarly, ubiquitination of the RIP1-related kinase RIP2 with K63 or linear linkages was specifically detected with the RIP2-K63 and RIP2-Lin bispecific antibodies, respectively. Furthermore, using the RIP2-K63 and RIP2-Lin bispecific antibodies, we found prominent K63-linked and linear RIP2 ubiquitination in samples from patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. We also developed a bispecific antibody (K63-Lin) that simultaneously recognizes K63-linked and linear ubiquitination of components of various signaling pathways. Together, these bispecific antibodies represent a new class of reagents with the potential to be developed for the detection of inflammatory biomarkers.

XIAP deletion sensitizes mice to TNF-induced and RIP1-mediated death

XIAP is a caspase-inhibitory protein that blocks several cell death pathways, and mediates proper activation of inflammatory NOD2-RIP2 signaling. XIAP deficiency in patients with inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, or those needing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, is associated with a worse prognosis. In this study, we show that XIAP absence sensitizes cells and mice to LPS- and TNF-mediated cell death without affecting LPS- or TNF-induced NF-κB and MAPK signaling. In XIAP deficient mice, RIP1 inhibition effectively blocks TNF-stimulated cell death, hypothermia, lethality, cytokine/chemokine release, intestinal tissue damage and granulocyte migration. By contrast, inhibition of the related kinase RIP2 does not affect TNF-stimulated events, suggesting a lack of involvement for the RIP2-NOD2 signaling pathway. Overall, our data indicate that in XIAP's absence RIP1 is a critical component of TNF-mediated inflammation, suggesting that RIP1 inhibition could be an attractive option for patients with XIAP deficiency.

Extreme wave excitation from localized phase-shift perturbations

The modulation instability is a focusing mechanism responsible for the formation of strong wave localizations not only on the water surface, but also in a variety of nonlinear dispersive media. Such dynamics is initiated from the injection of sidebands, which translate into an amplitude modulation of the wave field. The nonlinear stage of unstable wave evolution can be described by exact solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). In that case, the amplitude modulation of such coherent extreme wave structures is connected to a particular phase-shift seed in the carrier wave. In this Letter, we show that phase-shift localization applied to the background, excluding any amplitude modulation excitation, can indeed trigger extreme events. Such rogue waves can be for instance generated by considering the parametrization of fundamental breathers, and thus by seeding only the local phase-shift information to the regular carrier wave. Our wave tank experiments show an excellent agreement with the expected NLSE hydrodynamics and confirm that even though delayed in their evolution, breather-type extreme waves can be generated from a purely regular wave train. Such a focusing mechanism awaits experimental confirmation in other nonlinear media, such optics, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensates.

Conductance heterogeneities induced by multistability in the dynamics of coupled cardiac gap junctions

In this paper, we study the propagation of the cardiac action potential in a one-dimensional fiber, where cells are electrically coupled through gap junctions (GJs). We consider gap junctional gate dynamics that depend on the intercellular potential. We find that different GJs in the tissue can end up in two different states: a low conducting state and a high conducting state. We first present evidence of the dynamical multistability that occurs by setting specific parameters of the GJ dynamics. Subsequently, we explain how the multistability is a direct consequence of the GJ stability problem by reducing the dynamical system's dimensions. The conductance dispersion usually occurs on a large time scale, i.e., thousands of heartbeats. The full cardiac model simulations are computationally demanding, and we derive a simplified model that allows for a reduction in the computational cost of four orders of magnitude. This simplified model reproduces nearly quantitatively the results provided by the original full model. We explain the discrepancies between the two models due to the simplified model's lack of spatial correlations. This simplified model provides a valuable tool to explore cardiac dynamics over very long time scales. That is highly relevant in studying diseases that develop on a large time scale compared to the basic heartbeat. As in the brain, plasticity and tissue remodeling are crucial parameters in determining the action potential wave propagation's stability.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), übersetzbar als disruptive Störung der Stimmungsregulation, findet sich als neues eigenständiges Krankheitsbild im DSM-5. Im Gegensatz zu anderen disruptiven Störungsbildern wurde DMDD in den Bereich der depressiven Störungen gelegt. Der vorliegende Beitrag soll sich mit den diagnostischen Kriterien, der Prävalenz sowie den Behandlungsoptionen dieses neuen Störungsbildes, basierend auf einer selektiven Literaturübersicht auseinandersetzen. Aus Deutschland liegen keine Studien vor, die aufbauend auf den neuen diagnostischen Kriterien erstellt wurden; eine Prävalenzschätzung ist daher schwierig. Aus den USA wurden Prävalenzraten von ca. 1% aus nicht klinischen Stichproben berichtet. Die spezifischen therapeutischen Optionen zur Behandlung dieses neu geschaffenen Störungsbildes sind in ihrer Evidenz kaum überprüft. Essenziell scheinen die Trennung des Störungsbildes von bipolaren Störungen und die Beachtung von DMDD als möglicher Vorläufer einer depressiven Entwicklung.

Psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Children and adolescents are a vulnerable group to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms after natural or man-made disasters. In the light of increasing numbers of refugees under the age of 18 years worldwide, there is a significant need for effective treatments. This meta-analytic review investigates specific psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents after man-made and natural disasters. In a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO, as well as hand-searching existing reviews and contacting professional associations, 36 studies were identified. Random- and mixed-effects models were applied to test for average effect sizes and moderating variables. Overall, treatments showed high effect sizes in pre-post comparisons (Hedges' g = 1.34) and medium effect sizes as compared with control conditions (Hedges' g = 0.43). Treatments investigated by at least two studies were cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), narrative exposure therapy for children (KIDNET) and classroom-based interventions, which showed similar effect sizes. However, studies were very heterogenic with regard to their outcomes. Effects were moderated by type of profession (higher level of training leading to higher effect sizes). A number of effective psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent survivors of disasters exist. CBT, EMDR, KIDNET and classroom-based interventions can be equally recommended. Although disasters require immediate reactions and improvisation, future studies with larger sample sizes and rigorous methodology are needed.

Diverse ubiquitin linkages regulate RIP kinases-mediated inflammatory and cell death signaling

Members of the RIP kinase family are key regulators of inflammation and cell death signaling implicated in maintaining immune responses and proper tissue homeostasis. Increasing evidence points to post-translational modifications of RIP1, RIP2 and RIP3 as being critical for regulating their function. Ubiquitination and the E3 ligases, such as inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) proteins and LUBAC, that direct substrate selectivity as well as the deubiquitinating enzymes, such as A20 and OTULIN, that reverse these modifications dictate the outcome of RIP kinase signaling. Perturbation of the tightly regulated RIP1, RIP2 and RIP3 ubiquitination can lead to signaling disbalance in TNF, TLR and NOD1/2-controlled pathways and result in severe human pathologies. In this review, we focus on the biological function of ubiquitin-modifying enzymes in the context of RIP1, RIP2 and RIP3 signaling. We also discuss the impact of deregulated ubiquitin networks in RIP1, RIP2 and RIP3 signaling pathways on human health.

IAP antagonization promotes inflammatory destruction of vascular endothelium

In this study, we show for the first time that the therapeutic antagonization of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) inhibits B16 melanoma growth by disrupting tumor vasculature. Specifically, the treatment of mice bearing B16 melanoma with an IAP antagonist compound A (Comp A) inhibits tumor growth not by inducing direct cytotoxicity against B16 cells but rather by a hitherto unrecognized antiangiogenic activity against tumor vessels. Our detailed analysis showed that Comp A treatment induces NF-κB activity in B16 tumor cells and facilitates the production of TNF. In the presence of Comp A, endothelial cells (ECs) become highly susceptible to TNF and undergo apoptotic cell death. Accordingly, the antiangiogenic and growth-attenuating effects of Comp A treatment were completely abolished in TNF-R knockout mice. This novel targeting approach could be of clinical value in controlling pathological neoangiogenesis under inflammatory condition while sparing blood vessels under normal condition.

Embelin inhibits endothelial mitochondrial respiration and impairs neoangiogenesis during tumor growth and wound healing

In the normal quiescent vasculature, only 0.01% of endothelial cells (ECs) are proliferating. However, this proportion increases dramatically following the angiogenic switch during tumor growth or wound healing. Recent evidence suggests that this angiogenic switch is accompanied by a metabolic switch. Here, we show that proliferating ECs increasingly depend on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) for their increased energy demand. Under growth conditions, ECs consume three times more oxygen than quiescent ECs and work close to their respiratory limit. The increased utilization of the proton motif force leads to a reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in proliferating ECs and sensitizes to mitochondrial uncoupling. The benzoquinone embelin is a weak mitochondrial uncoupler that prevents neoangiogenesis during tumor growth and wound healing by exhausting the low respiratory reserve of proliferating ECs without adversely affecting quiescent ECs. We demonstrate that this can be exploited therapeutically by attenuating tumor growth in syngenic and xenograft mouse models. This novel metabolic targeting approach might be clinically valuable in controlling pathological neoangiogenesis while sparing normal vasculature and complementing cytostatic drugs in cancer treatment.

BID-dependent release of mitochondrial SMAC dampens XIAP-mediated immunity against Shigella

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent caspase inhibitor, best known for its anti-apoptotic function in cancer. During apoptosis, XIAP is antagonized by SMAC, which is released from the mitochondria upon caspase-mediated activation of BID. Recent studies suggest that XIAP is involved in immune signaling. Here, we explore XIAP as an important mediator of an immune response against the enteroinvasive bacterium Shigella flexneri, both in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrate for the first time that Shigella evades the XIAP-mediated immune response by inducing the BID-dependent release of SMAC from the mitochondria. Unlike apoptotic stimuli, Shigella activates the calpain-dependent cleavage of BID to trigger the release of SMAC, which antagonizes the inflammatory action of XIAP without inducing apoptosis. Our results demonstrate how the cellular death machinery can be subverted by an invasive pathogen to ensure bacterial colonization.

Factors predicting deviation from an enhanced recovery programme and delayed discharge after laparoscopic colorectal surgery

AIM

The study aimed to identify factors that predict postoperative deviation from an enhanced recovery programme (ERP) and/or delayed discharge following colorectal surgery.

METHOD

Data were prospectively collected from all patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection between January 2006 and December 2009. They included Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) variables, body mass index (BMI), sex, preoperative serum albumin, pathology, conversion from a laparoscopic to an open approach and postoperative length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

There were 176 patients (90 women) of mean age 68 years. Fifteen (9%) operations were converted from laparoscopic to open. The remainder were completed laparoscopically. Fifty-five (31%) deviated from the ERP, with most failing multiple elements. The most common reason was failure to mobilize, which often occurred in conjunction with paralytic ileus or analgesic failure. Factors independently predicting ERP deviation on multivariate analysis were pathology and intra-operative complications. The median length of stay was 5 days. Sixty-four (36%) patients had a prolonged length of stay that was predicted by age, number of procedures and ERP deviation.

CONCLUSION

Pathology and intra-operative complications are independent predictors of ERP deviation. Prolonged length of stay can be predicted by age, multiple procedures and ERP deviation. Failure to mobilize should be considered as a red flag sign prompting further investigation following colorectal resection.

Monthly itraconazole versus classic homeopathy for the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a randomised trial

OBJECTIVE

Antimycotics effectively treat sporadic and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Classic homeopathy (CH) is also used to treat this condition. We compared the efficacy of CH and itraconazole in reducing the frequency of RVVC episodes.

DESIGN

Single-centre, prospective, randomised trial.

SAMPLE

One hundred-and-fifty patients with a history of RVVC and an acute episode of VVC.

METHODS

Women were randomised into 3 groups: itraconazole with lactobacilli (group 1), itraconazole without lactobacilli (group 2) and CH (group 3). Itraconazole treatment of acute infection was followed by a 6-month maintenance regimen with monthly single-day itraconazole (200 mg bid). Women in group 1 were given additional vaginal lactobacilli for 6 days per month throughout the maintenance regimen Thereafter, patients were followed without treatment for 6 months. CH treatment was performed for 12 months.

RESULTS

Women in groups 1 and 2 reached a culture-free status significantly earlier than women in group 3 (log-rank test; P < 0.0001). Specifically, before the start of the maintenance regimen, 44 of 49 women (89.8%) in group 1 and 40 of 47 women (85%) in group 2 were free of Candida detectable by culture, 22 of 46 (47%) women in group 3 reached a culture-free status after the first visit, but had a recurrence significantly earlier compared with women in groups 1 and 2 (log-rank test; P = 0.002). After 12 months, 19 of 25 (76%) women in group 1, 18 of 23 (78%) women in group 2 and 9 of 23 (39%) women in group 3 were free of culture-detectable Candida. Assessment of RVVC-associated complaints by VAS score showed that women in group 3 had a significantly higher level of discomfort (36.8, 25.1 and 27.7 respectively; P < 0.001) and were significantly less satisfied (59.2, 68.2 and 71.7 respectively; P < 0.001) than patients in groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Monthly cycle-dependent itraconazole is more effective than CH in the treatment of RVVC. Lactobacilli do not confer an added benefit.

The role of Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus Lcr35 in restoring the normal vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment of bacterial vaginosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of additional topical Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus (Lcr35) subsequent to antibiotic treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) to restore the normal vaginal flora.

STUDY DESIGN

Single-centre, randomised, observerblinded study.

SETTING

Population-based study in Vienna over 1 year.

SAMPLE

190 women were enrolled in the study.

METHODS

Women with Nugent scores between 7 and 10 on initial vaginal swab were randomised to the one of two groups. All women were treated with standard antibiotic therapy for 7 days. Only women in the intervention group received vaginal capsules containing 10(9) colony-forming units of live Lcr35 for 7 days after antibiotic treatment. Final vaginal swabs for Nugent scoring were taken 4 weeks after the last administration of the study medication.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary efficacy variable was a change in the Nugent score between the baseline and the end of the study of at least 5 grades in each individual woman.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine of the 83 women (83%) in the intervention group and 31 of the 88 women (35%) in the control group showed a reduction of the Nugent score by at least 5 grades. The difference in the number of women with improvement was highly significant (P < 0.001). The median difference in Nugent scores between initial and final swabs was 6.61 in the intervention group and 4.13 in the control group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our data show that the restoration of the vaginal flora after antibiotic treatment of BV can be significantly enhanced by exogenously applied lactobacilli.

Impaired absorption of marked oligopeptide Glycine-I Tyrosine-Glycine after successful autologous-allotopic ileal mucosa transplantation in beagles

PURPOSE

After establishing a method for ileal mucosa transplantation in an animal model, the authors investigated the absorptive capacity for oligopeptides of the transplanted mucosa.

METHODS

In 14 beagle dogs the authors transplanted ileal mucosa in a vascularized demucosed segment of the transverse colon. The colonic wall-ileal mucosa complex then was integrated in the ileal continuity. Six animals were lost owing to operative complications. Absorptive capacity for oligopeptides was measured in the remaining 8 animals with the iodine 131 (131I)-marked tripeptide glycine-tyrosine-glycine before and 4 weeks after transplantation. The results were compared and analyzed with the Student's t test for matched pairs. Blood concentrations of the marked tripeptide with P value less than .05 were considered as a significant reduction in the absorptive capacity of the transplanted ileal mucosa. After fixation with glutaraldehyd graft, uptake of the colonic wall-ileal mucosa complex was evaluated histologically in 8 animals.

RESULTS

In all 8 animals, a 100% graft uptake was verified in all sections. Fifteen minutes after application of 15 MBc Glycine-131I-Tyrosine-Glycine there was no significant difference in the absorption between normal and transplanted ileal mucosa. After 30 minutes, the absorption of the transplanted ileal mucosa showed a tendency (P < .1) for an impaired uptake of the marked tripeptide. However, 60 minutes after application the difference in the absorptive capacity of the transplanted ileal mucosa was significant (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Autologous allotopic ileal mucosa transplantation is feasible; however, an impaired absorption of oligopeptides of the transplanted mucosa 4 weeks after transplantation could be observed.

Absorption of D(+)-xylose, cobalamin, and folic acid after autologic-allotopic ileum mucosa transplantation in beagles

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Ileum mucosa transplantation in a demucosed colon coat was developed as a new method for small bowel elongation. In an animal model, the authors investigated the absorptive capacity of the transplanted mucosa for D(+)-xylose, cobalamin (vitamin B12), and folic acid.

METHODS

Ileum mucosa was transplanted in a vascularized demucosed segment of transverse colon in 18 beagle dogs. The colon coat-ileum mucosa complex then was integrated in the ileal continuity. Absorptive capacity for D(+)-xylose, cobalamin, and folic acid was measured before and 4 weeks after transplantation. The results were compared and analyzed with the Students' t test for matched pairs. All determined blood values with P values less than.05 were considered to show a significant reduction in the absorptive capacity of the transplanted ileum mucosa.

RESULTS

Fifteen minutes after application there was no significant difference in the absorption of D(+)-Xylose and cobalamin between normal and transplanted ileum mucosa (P >.1). Absorption of folic acid in the transplanted segment was lower but not significant (P <.1). After 30 minutes D(+)-xylose and cobalamin again showed no difference between the absorptive capacity of normal and transplanted ileum mucosa (P >.1), whereas folic acid continued with the tendency toward an impaired absorption (P <.1). However, after 60 minutes, the difference of the absorptive capacity of the transplanted ileum mucosa was significant (P <.05) for folic acid. D(+)-xylose showed a tendency for an impaired uptake (P <.1), whereas absorption of cobalamin did not differ significantly after transplantation (P >.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Experimental autologic-allotopic ileum mucosa transplantation is a feasible new method for small bowel elongation in an animal model. Examination of the absorptive capacity of the transplanted ileum mucosa showed a normal uptake for cobalamin, while there was an impaired absorption of D(+)-xylose and folic acid.

Dynamo effect in a driven helical flow

The Roberts flow, a helical flow in the form of convectionlike rolls, is known to be capable of both kinematic and nonlinear dynamo action. We study the Roberts dynamo with particular attention being paid to the spatial structure of the generated magnetic field and its back-reaction on the flow. The dynamo bifurcation is decisively determined by the symmetry group of the problem, which is given by a subgroup of discrete transformations and a continuous translational invariance of the flow. In the bifurcation the continuous symmetry is broken while the discrete subgroup symmetry completely survives. Its actions help in understanding the spatial structures of the magnetic field and of the modified flow. In accordance with experimental observations, the magnetic field component perpendicular to the originally invariant direction is much stronger than the component in this direction. Furthermore, the magnetic field is largely concentrated in layers separating the convectionlike rolls of the flow and containing, in particular, its stagnation points, which are isolated for the modified flow while they are line filling for the original Roberts flow. The magnetic field is strongest near beta-type stagnation points, with a two-dimensional unstable and a one-dimensional stable manifold, and is weak near alpha-type stagnation points, with a two-dimensional stable and a one-dimensional unstable manifold. This contrasts with the usual picture that dynamo action is promoted at the alpha points and impeded at the beta points. Both the creation of isolated stagnation points and the concentration of strong fields at the beta points may be understood as a result of the way in which the Roberts dynamo saturates. It is also found that, while the original Roberts flow is regular, the modified flow is chaotic in the layers between the convectionlike rolls where the magnetic field is concentrated. This chaoticity, which results from the back-reaction of the magnetic field on the flow, appears to merely enhance magnetic diffusion rather than to strengthen the dynamo effect.

The detection of HPV DNA improves the recognition of cervical intraepithelial lesions

Reasons that influence the efficacy of cervical cancer screening are failure to screen all women at risk, as well as inherent technical limitations of the conventional cervical smear. HPV DNA testing is a supplementary, objective test less independent on sampling failure. The aim of this study was to compare results of HPV DNA screening to cytological smears (CS) and histological diagnosis. From January 1995 to January 1999, cytological smears, cells for HPV DNA analysis and cervical biopsies were obtained from 280 women included in this study.

STATISTICAL METHODS

Fisher's exact test (2x2 contingency tables, P<0.01), Pearson Chi-square, P< 0.05, Spearman's rank correlation R. Sixty patients (21.4%) tested positive for low-risk (LR-HPV), 227 (81.1%) positive for high-risk HPV (HR-HPV). The CS proved to be a strong predictor for the histological diagnosis, reaching a sensitivity of 93.4%, a specificity of 65.8% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 77.4%. By combining cytology and HPV DNA testing, the sensitivity could be considerably enhanced (99.0%), though at a price of loss in specificity (30.1%). HPV DNA testing, available as a commercially standardized product, leads to a significant rise in sensitivity when used as an additional diagnostic tool to cytological screening methods and thus contributes to reduce the incidence of cervical carcinomas.

Circulating breast cancer cells are frequently apoptotic

Automatic search for cytokeratin/mucin-1 double immunofluorescence was performed to detect and characterize circulating epithelial tumor cells in patients with advanced breast cancer. The peripheral blood samples in 8 of 19 patients (42.1%) presented with cytokeratin-positive and epithelial-type mucin-positive (CK(+)/MUC1(+)) tumor cells. Detailed microscopic analysis, however, suggested that the majority of the double immunopositive cells was apoptotic according to an "inclusion type" cytokeratin staining pattern and nuclear condensation. Furthermore, apoptosis-related DNA strand breaks could be demonstrated by applying the TdT-uridine nick end labeling assay in these cells. In 3 of 8 positive samples all of the CK(+)/MUC1(+) cells displayed apoptotic features. We conclude that apoptotic cells significantly contribute to the circulating tumor cell fraction in breast cancer patients. As the predictive value of such cells for the outcome of the disease is unclear, they should be considered separately when analyzing tumor cell dissemination.

Oriented Schwann cell growth on micropatterned biodegradable polymer substrates

This paper investigates the influence of substrate-mediated chemical and physical guidance on the growth and alignment of Schwann cells in vitro. Novel techniques were developed to fabricate microgrooves with adsorbed proteins on biodegradable polymer substrates made of poly(D,L-lactic acid). Compression molding and solvent-casting were used to transfer micropatterns from quartz and silicon substrates onto biodegradable polymer films. Laminin was selectively adsorbed onto the grooves and rat sciatic Schwann cells were seeded on the substrates. Laminin was found to improve adhesion of Schwann cells on the substrates. The microgrooves were found to cause the Schwann cells to align along the direction of the grooves. The groove width influenced Schwann cell alignment the most, while groove depth did not seem to play a significant role. The degradation of the grooves in the solvent cast films was much slower than those in the compression-molded films, making them the preferred substrates for Schwann cell culture.

Total syntheses of the benzodiazepine alkaloids circumdatin F and circumdatin C

Total syntheses of circumdatin F and circumdatin C, which both possess a 3H-quinazolin-4-one as well as a 1,4-benzodiazepin-5-one moiety, are described. A tripeptide derivative was synthesized as a key intermediate and dehydrated to a benzoxazine by reaction with triphenylphosphine, iodine, and a tertiary amine. The natural products were attained via rearrangements to an amidine intermediate, deprotection with 45% HBr in acetic acid, and cyclization on silica gel.

Pharmacokinetics of the 8-methoxyquinolone, moxifloxacin: tissue distribution in male rats

BAY 12-8039 (moxifloxacin-HCl) and 14C-labelled BAY 12-8039 were administered to male rats as single i.v. and oral doses of 4.6 and 5.0 mg/kg bodyweight respectively. The distribution of substance-associated radioactivity in the body was investigated by whole-body autoradiography. The concentrations of the unchanged compound in plasma, skin suction blister fluid and lung tissue were determined by HPLC. Whole-body autoradiography revealed distinctly higher concentrations of radioactivity in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder and in most organs and tissues (e.g. kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, various glands, cartilaginous tissues and in melanin-containing structures located in the eye, meninges and hair follicles of pigmented skin) than in blood. Radioactivity crossed the blood-brain barrier only to a small extent. The results show a high tissue affinity and a rapid and homogeneous distribution of radioactivity from blood to organs or tissues. No relevant difference in the distribution of radioactivity was found following i.v. and oral administration. After i.v. and oral dosing similar concentrations of the unchanged compound were determined in skin suction blister fluid and plasma. The concentrations of the unchanged compound in lung tissue were about three times higher than those in plasma following both i.v. and oral administration. The concentration-time courses for moxifloxacin in plasma and lung tissue were parallel.

Surrogates for finding unstable periodic orbits in noisy data sets

Recently, searches for unstable periodic orbits in biological and medical applications have become of interest. The motivations for this research range, in order of ascending complexity, from efforts to understand the dynamics of simple sensory neurons, through speculations regarding neural coding, to the hopeful development of new diagnostic and/or control techniques for cardiac and epileptic pathologies. Biological and medical data are, however, noisy and nonstationary. Findings of unstable periodic orbits in such data thus require convincing assessments of their statistical significance. Such tests are accomplished by comparison with surrogate data files designed to test an appropriate null hypothesis. In this paper we test surrogates generated by three different algorithms against correlated noise as well as stable periodic orbits. One of the surrogates is new, and has been specifically designed to preserve the shape of the attractor. We discuss the suitability of these surrogates and argue that the simple shuffled one correctly tests the appropriate null hypothesis.

Type 2 diabetes: evidence for linkage on chromosome 20 in 716 Finnish affected sib pairs

We are conducting a genome scan at an average resolution of 10 centimorgans (cM) for type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes in 716 affected sib pairs from 477 Finnish families. To date, our best evidence for linkage is on chromosome 20 with potentially separable peaks located on both the long and short arms. The unweighted multipoint maximum logarithm of odds score (MLS) was 3.08 on 20p (location, chi = 19.5 cM) under an additive model, whereas the weighted MLS was 2.06 on 20q (chi = 57 cM, recurrence risk,lambda(s) = 1. 25, P = 0.009). Weighted logarithm of odds scores of 2.00 (chi = 69.5 cM, P = 0.010) and 1.92 (chi = 18.5 cM, P = 0.013) were also observed. Ordered subset analyses based on sibships with extreme mean values of diabetes-related quantitative traits yielded sets of families who contributed disproportionately to the peaks. Two-hour glucose levels in offspring of diabetic individuals gave a MLS of 2. 12 (P = 0.0018) at 9.5 cM. Evidence from this and other studies suggests at least two diabetes-susceptibility genes on chromosome 20. We have also screened the gene for maturity-onset diabetes of the young 1, hepatic nuclear factor 4-a (HNF-4alpha) in 64 affected sibships with evidence for high chromosomal sharing at its location on chromosome 20q. We found no evidence that sequence changes in this gene accounted for the linkage results we observed.

A large sample of finnish diabetic sib-pairs reveals no evidence for a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus susceptibility locus at 2qter

In the first reported positive result from a genome scan for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), Hanis et al. found significant evidence of linkage for NIDDM on chromosome 2q37 and named the putative disease locus NIDDM1 (Hanis et al. 1996. Nat. Genet. 13:161-166). Their total sample was comprised of 440 Mexican-American affected sib-pairs from 246 sibships. The strongest evidence for linkage was at marker D2S125 and best estimates of lambdas (risk to siblings of probands/population prevalence) using this marker were 1.37 under an additive model and 1.36 under a multiplicative model. We examined this chromosomal region using linkage analysis in a Finnish sample comprised of 709 affected sib-pairs from 472 sibships. We excluded this region in our sample (multipoint logarithm of odds score </= -2) for lambdas >/= 1.37. We discuss possible reasons why linkage to 2q37 was not found and conclude that this region is unlikely to be playing a major role in NIDDM susceptibility in the Finnish Caucasian population.

The legal and scientific basis for FDA's assertion of jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco

On August 28, 1996, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asserted jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Under this Act, a product is a "drug" or "device" subject to FDA jurisdiction if it is "intended to affect the structure or any function of the body." The FDA determined that nicotine in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco does "affect the structure or any function of the body" because nicotine causes addiction and other pharmacological effects. The FDA then determined that these pharmacological effects are "intended" because (1) a scientific consensus has emerged that nicotine is addictive; (2) recent studies have shown that most consumers use cigarettes and smokeless tobacco for pharmacological purposes, including satisfying their addiction to nicotine; and (3) newly disclosed evidence from the tobacco manufacturers has revealed that the manufacturers know that nicotine causes pharmacological effects, including addiction, and design their products to provide pharmacologically active doses of nicotine. The FDA thus concluded that cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are subject to FDA jurisdiction because they contain a "drug," nicotine, and a "device" for delivering this drug to the body.

High-resolution CT of the temporal bone in dysplasia of the auricle and external auditory canal

PURPOSE

To determine CT findings in the external, middle, and inner ear of patients with microtia and external auditory canal dysplasia.

METHODS

We used high-resolution CT, with multiplanar or axial 1-mm continuous sections, coronal or sagittal reformations, or low-dose spiral acquisitions, to examine 184 temporal bones of children with microtia.

RESULTS

In cases of minor microtia, auditory canal stenosis was the most common associated abnormality; in those with major microtia, atresia was predominant. Middle ear malformations depended on the severity of the auricular anomalies. Inner ear changes could also be noted. Ossicle dysplasias occurred in 98% of patients (stapes, 72%), absence of the oval window in 36%, labyrinthine malformations in 13%, closed round window in 6%, facial canal displacement in up to 75%, and aberrations of the vascular canal in 38% of patients with third-grade auricular deformity.

CONCLUSION

A variety of external, middle, and, less frequently, inner ear changes were detected in connection with microtia.

EGFR and steroid receptors in ovarian carcinoma: comparison with prognostic parameters and outcome of patients

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER) status were analyzed in 108 primary ovarian epithelial carcinoma specimens. Receptor concentration was determined with radioligand binding assays. 61% of the carcinomas investigated were positive for EGFR, 29% for PR and 57% for ER. EGFR status was not correlated with histological grading of tumors and no difference in EGFR positivity was found between subgroups of ovarian carcinomas. On the other hand, 50% of the tumors with FIGO stage III and IV and tumors which could not be operated to be free of residual tumor mass were EGFR positive, whereas only 30% were positive within the group of tumors with FIGO stage I and II and no residual tumor mass. The outcome of the carcinoma patients was followed up for a maximum of 100 months. A significant correlation between EGFR positivity and a shorter progressive-free period as well as shorter overall survival was found. For PR and ER status no relation to patient survival became evident. The response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated to EGFR status. After 5 years 63% of the patients with negative versus 25% with positive EGFR were still alive indicating the impaired response of EGFR positive carcinomas to chemotherapy containing platinum compounds.