Elevated plasma osteopontin in metastatic breast cancer associated with increased tumor burden and decreased survival

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted, integrin-binding phosphoprotein that has been implicated in both normal and pathological processes; qualitative increases in OPN blood levels have been reported in a small number of patients with metastatic tumors of various kinds. We measured plasma OPN levels in 70 women with known metastatic breast carcinoma, 44 patient controls who were on follow-up after completion of adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer, and 35 normal volunteers. The median plasma OPN of patients with metastatic disease was 142 microgram/liter (range, 38-1312 microgram/liter) and was significantly different (P < 0.0001, Mann Whitney U test) from both control groups (medians, 60 and 47 microgram/liter; ranges, 15-117 and 22-122 microgram/liter). Furthermore, we found that increasing plasma OPN is associated with shorter survival (P < 0.001) when patients were grouped in terciles for plasma OPN. This was also demonstrated when using a Cox proportional hazards model. Median plasma OPN levels were significantly increased for three or more sites of involvement (median, 232 microgram/liter; n = 13) versus 1 or 2 metastatic sites (medians, 129 and 130 microgram/liter; n = 29 and 28, respectively). Plasma OPN levels were correlated with other biochemical markers related to the extent of disease, such as serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate succinate aminotransaminase, and albumin (r = 0.81, 0.62, and -0.56, respectively; all P < 0.001). This study demonstrates a statistically significant elevation in plasma OPN in the majority ( approximately 70%) of a large series of patients with metastatic breast cancer when compared (95th percentile) to healthy women or patients who had completed adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Furthermore, this is the first study to demonstrate that higher OPN levels in patients with metastatic breast cancer may be associated with an increased number of involved sites and decreased survival.     

Fewer pigmented locus coeruleus neurons in suicide victims: preliminary results

Chronic toxicity studies were conducted with an algae (Nannochloris oculata), a rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus), and a cladoceran (Daphnia magna) to determine their relative sensitivities to the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion. The cladoceran D. magna was the most sensitive of the three species. The no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) for the study with the algae (1.0 mg/liter) and for the rotifer (1.0 mg/liter) were higher than the NOEC (0.009 microgram/liter) and the LC50 of 24 hr (0.067 microgram/liter) for D. magna. Most of the algal populations were not initially affected by exposure to fenitrothion. Pesticide concentrations higher than 1.0 mg/liter significantly reduced algal densities after 72 hr exposure. The effects of chronic exposure of the rotifer B. calyciflorus to fenitrothion were evaluated using some demographic parameters: intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), generation time, net reproductive rate, and life expectancy. All the parameters studied decreased with increasing toxicant concentrations. The parameters used to determine the effect of the pesticide on D. magna reproduction were mean total young per female, mean brood size, mean time to first reproduction, and r. The r and the rest of the studied parameters were affected at 0.011-microgram/liter and higher fenitrothion concentrations. Growth, as measured by body length, was only depressed significantly at 0.011 microgram/liter pesticide.     

Correlation between serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and ferritin in male blood donors with antibody to hepatitis C virus

Chronic hepatitis C has been demonstrated to be associated with hepatic iron overload, and the hypothesis that the disease activity of hepatitis C is associated with iron cytotoxicity was tested in male volunteer blood donors. Sera with either antibody to hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B surface antigen were selected for determination of ferritin concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity. A correlation between serum ferritin concentration (Y; microgram/l) and alanine aminotransferase activity (X; IU/l) was found in donors with antibody to hepatitis C (log Y = 0.65 x log X + 0.98, r = 0.53, and P < 0.01). The correlation was lower in donors with hepatitis B surface antigen (r = 0.37; P < 0.01). Hepatitis C virus infection probably induces time-dependent iron accumulation associated with the progression of disease activity, while hepatitis B virus infection results in a variety of iron loads with different clinical features. The high disease activity related to hyperferritinemia suggests the presence of iron-induced liver damage in donors with hepatitis C.     

Development of a displacement immunoassay by exploiting cross-reactivity of a monoclonal antibody

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based displacement assay was developed for the determination of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Advantage was taken of the cross-reactivity of a monoclonal anti-2,4-D antibody toward 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). MCPA was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA), immobilized on the surface of a microtiter plate, and saturated with the anti-2,4-D antibody. Due to the low affinity of the antibody toward MCPA (cross-reactivity of approximately 30%), the addition of 2,4-D resulted in a displacement of the antibody. Remaining antibodies were subsequently detected using a peroxidase-labeled goat anti-mouse antibody. The detection limit was as low as 0.1 microgram/liter for 2,4-D, which complies with the European Union Drinking Water Directives. When 2,4-D-BSA was used instead of MCPA-BSA conjugates, no significant displacement of bound antibody was observed.     

Determination of morphine by electron capture gas-liquid chromatography

We describe a micromethod for determining as little as 0.1 microgram of morphine per liter of human urine. The procedure is about 20-fold more sensitive than are currently used gas-liquid chromatographic methods. It is particularly suitable for use as a confirmatory method for large-scale radioimmunoassay screening tests. The procedure involves extraction of morphine from urine and analysis of its heptafluorobutyryl derivative by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection. Morphine can be determined by this procedure over a range of 0.1-200 microgram/liter of urine, 2 pg of the pure derivative being the lowest amount detectable. Urine samples from patients receiving methadone were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and our procedure. The results by our procedure agreed well with those obtained by radioimmunoassay.     

Influenza virus neutralizing antibodies and IgG isotype profiles after immunization of mice with influenza A subunit vaccine using various adjuvants

The influence of various adjuvants on the development of influenza virus neutralizing antibodies and distribution of anti-influenza virus IgG isotypes after immunization of mice with influenza A (H3N2) subunit vaccine was investigated. Serum titres of influenza virus neutralizing antibodies and titres of influenza specific IgG isotypes were determined by a neutralization enzyme immunoassay (N-EIA) and a cell-associated antigen enzyme immunoassay (CA-EIA), respectively. Serum antibody titres as measured by the two tests correlated highly (r = 0.82; P < 0.001). N-EIA titres were enhanced by 38- and 34-fold, when L180.5/RaLPS and FCA, respectively, were administered with 1 microgram of vaccine. The adjuvants Q-VAC, L180.5 [W/O/W], L180.5 alone and Montanide ISA 740 were only moderately or not effective in enhancing the immune response to the 1 microgram dose of vaccine. The Q-VAC and L180.5/RaLPS adjuvants favoured IgG2a and IgG2b isotype responses to influenza compared to the other adjuvants. We suggest that N-EIA and CA-EIA may be valuable tools to monitor the effects of adjuvants on the neutralizing antibody and antibody isotype responses after influenza vaccination.     

Prognostic evaluation of cardiogenic shock by the severity

The aim of this study was to assess the total IgE levels in the supernatants and cellular components of colostrum from atopic and nonatopic mothers. Immunoglobulin E protein was detected in 34/39 milk samples, with a median level of 0.3 microgram/l. In 13 mothers, IgE protein was also detected in the cellular fraction of colostrum, with a median level of 0.13 microgram/l. Of the total IgE content in breast milk, 5-12% was transported intracellularly. The total IgE antibody levels were similar in both milk supernatants and cells from atopic and nonatopic mothers. There was a strong relationship between total IgE antibody levels in serum and in breast milk (r = 1.0, P < 0.001), suggesting that IgE antibodies were passively transported from blood into breast milk. The levels of total IgE in human milk are probably too low to have a significant effect on the regulation of the IgE antibody levels in the neonate.     

Purification and characterization of a cell growth factor from a human leukemia cell line: immunological identity with ferritin

We have succeeded in long-term cultivation of a human erythroleukemia cell line, K-562-T1 (T. Okabe, M. Fujisawa, and F. Takaku, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81: 453-455, 1984). The cells grown in a protein-free chemically defined medium have been shown to produce cell growth factors (A. Mihara et al., In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 23: 317-322, 1987). In this study, we have purified a cell growth factor from the conditioned medium that stimulates the proliferation of human leukemia cells, HL-60. In the purified factor, two major protein bands of 24 kDa and 22 kDa were identified on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. The 22 kDa protein was stained with a monoclonal antibody to the light chain of ferritin. The growth-promoting activity of the purified factor was coprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody to the light chain or heavy chain of human ferritin. These results suggest that K-562-T1 cells produce a cell growth factor that is related to ferritin.     

Evaluation of two commercial kits for serum gastrin assay, and comparison with a conventional radioimmunoassay procedure

We compared two gastrin radioimmunoassay kits ("Immutope" kit, Squibb & Co.; "Gastrin R.I.A." kit, Schwarz/Mann) to the conventional gastrin radioimmunoassay of Yalow and Berson [Gastroenterology 58, 1 (1970)] as run by us and by a second reference laboratory. Although both kits were found to effectively discriminate above-normal and normal values for serum gastrin, they significantly underestimated very high values (greater than 1500 ng/liter). The Schwarz/Mann kit clearly had a superior quality label (lower nonspecific binding and higher specific activity) and a shorter incubation time. However, the 90-min incubation period cited for their kit caused overestimation of gastrin values in the lower range (5-300 ng/liter), which could be corrected by prolonging the incubation to 24 h. The Squibb antibody had fairly good cross reactivity to all gastrin species tested; the Schwarz/Mann antibody had poor affinity for natural human gastrin G34-II. Good correspondence was found for sera run by both reference laboratories (y = 0.96x + 10, r = 0.997), and values obtained with the Schwarz/Mann kit correlated best (+ 0.815) with those from the conventional radioimmunoassay procedure.     

Distribution of normal and abnormal fluid collections in the glenohumeral joint: implications for MR arthrography

OBJECTIVE: This study determined levels of cathepsin D activity in tissue components of normal human ovary to establish a basis for comparison with human ovarian adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Cathepsin D activity per mg tissue, per microgram protein, and per microgram DNA was determined in human ovarian tissues (cortex, follicle, corpus luteum, corpus albicans) from patients of various ages and during the menstrual cycle. Levels of cathepsin D activity were also determined in ovarian adenocarcinomas and other pathologic tissues. RESULTS: Cathepsin D levels (per mg tissue) were significantly greater (P < .001) in ovarian follicle and corpus luteum compared with cortex. Although there was not a clear correlation between enzyme activity in the cortex and day of the menstrual cycle or patient age, levels of enzyme activity appeared to decrease with each parameter. Cathepsin D levels per mg tissue in ovarian adenocarcinoma were 40% higher than in postmenopausal ovarian cortex, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The diversity of cathepsin D levels in normal ovarian tissue compartments indicates that specific tissues must be used in comparisons with ovarian tumors.     

Pathways of intracellular trafficking and release of ferritin by the liver in vivo: the effect of chloroquine and cytochalasin D

We have previously shown that the clearance of exogenous ferritin and the release of endogenous ferritin into both serum and bile are altered by the microtubular inhibitor colchicine. In this study we further examined the role of the lysosome-endosome pathway in ferritin metabolism. We examined the effect of the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine and the microtubular inhibitor cytochalasin D on the uptake and release of ferritin by normal and iron-loaded rats under basal conditions and in the presence of an exogenous tissue ferritin load. Either chloroquine (50 mg/kg body wt) or cytochalasin D (0.9 microgram/100 gm body wt/min) was administered to normal and iron-loaded rats at zero time. Rats were also infused with either saline solution or rat liver ferritin containing a trace amount of 125I-ferritin. The clearance of 125I-ferritin from the circulation was not affected by chloroquine or cytochalasin D either in normal or in iron-loaded rats; however, both chloroquine and cytochalasin D decreased the serum ferritin concentration in normal rats to 39% +/- 9% and 22% +/- 7% of the baseline serum ferritin levels, respectively, implying that both drugs inhibited the release of endogenous ferritin in normal rats. In iron-loaded rats both chloroquine and cytochalasin D decreased the biliary ferritin concentration to 11% +/- 1% and 37% +/- 4% of the baseline ferritin levels, respectively, and the 125I protein-bound counts per minute in the bile to 50% of the control result. This finding is consistent with an inhibitory effect of both drugs on the biliary excretion of endogenous ferritin and the intracellular transport of exogenous ferritin, respectively. In the presence of an exogenous tissue ferritin load, there was no detectable inhibitory effect of either drug on the biliary excretion of either endogenous or exogenous ferritin. These results provide the following evidence: (a) the receptor-mediated endocytosis of ferritin is not dependent on functioning lysosomes or microfilaments; (b) the release of endogenous ferritin into the serum of normal rats and the bile of iron-loaded rats is a chloroquine-sensitive, microfilament-dependent process; (c) the biliary excretion of trace amounts of exogenous ferritin is dependent on both chloroquine-sensitive vesicles and microfilaments; and (d) increased levels of exogenous ferritin are excreted directly into the bile by way of a second microfilament-independent, chloroquine-insensitive pathway. This study provides support for a physiological mechanism for the release of ferritin from the liver.     

Neurovascular compression syndrome of the eighth cranial nerve. What are the most reliable diagnostic signs?

A direct piezoelectric flow injection analysis immunoassay for the detection of African Swine Fever virus and antibodies is presented. The peptide-specific monoclonal antibody 18BG3 and the virus protein 73 were used for detection with a quartz crystal microbalance. Accumulation of the analyte on the surface of this mass-sensitive biosensor resulted in a shift of the resonant frequency. Highly selective receptor layers were applied on the sensing electrode of the quartz crystal for detection of the complementary analyte. Different immobilization methods proved to be appropriate for coating of the monoclonal antibody 18BG3. A quartz crystal covalently coated with the antibody 18BG3 detected virus protein VP73 samples more than 20 times and was stable for more than 30 days. The coating of virus protein was performed by physisorption. A sensor with a virus protein receptor layer detected antibody 18BG3 samples 10 times within one day. The sensor device was able to perform one measurement cycle including blocking and regeneration within 30 min. With the help of a suitable carrier liquid, measurements with serum samples were performed. The calibration curves for measurements in buffer and in serum could be determined and the detection limits for virus protein detection were 0.31 and 1 microgram/ml, and for antibody detection 0.1 and 0.2 microgram/ml, respectively.     

Heterologous radioimmunoassay for llama and alpaca luteinizing hormone with a monoclonal antibody, an equine standard and a human tracer

A radioimmunoassay for llama and alpaca LH was developed using a human I125LH tracer from a commercial kit, equine LH diluted in human LH free serum as standard, and a monoclonal antibody (518B7) specific for LH but with low species specificity. A 60-min delay in the addition of the tracer and overnight incubation gave a sensitivity of 0.8 microgram L-1. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was 37% at 1 microgram L-1, declined to 15% at 4 micrograms L-1 and was below 6% for concentrations up to 32 micrograms L-1. The inter-assay coefficients of variation for 3 control samples were 20% (2.8 micrograms L-1), 16% (7.1 micrograms L-1) and 9.8% (19 micrograms L-1). In an attempt to increase sensitivity, all tubes were preincubated for 4 h at room temperature before adding the tracer, and the sample volume was increased from 50 microL to 100 microL (in the standard curve the increased volume was compensated for by human LH free serum). With this protocol, the assay sensitivity was 0.5 microgram L-1. The assay was validated clinically and demonstrated increased concentrations of LH after mating in llamas and alpacas. Furthermore, the assay was used to monitor LH responses to a single dose of GnRH in llamas (adult males and females at different ages).     

X-Prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity, with X-proline p-nitroanilides as substrates, in normal and pathological human sera

X-Prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (no EC no. assigned) activity in normal and pathological human sera was assayed with several newly synthesized X-proline p-nitroanilides as chromogenic substrates. Normal values for 88 healthy subjects (15 to 81 years old), with glycylproline p-nitroanilide as substrate at pH 8.7, were 54.9 +/- 1.5 (SE) (range, 25.7 - 96.0) mumol/min per liter of serum at 37 degrees C. The results suggest that the enzyme activities with all X-proline p-nitroanilides were increased in patients with hepatitis and decreased in patients with gastric cancer. On Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, normal human sera showed a single peak of enzyme activity with glycylproline p-nitroanilide as the substrate, which coincided with the peak with glycylproline beta-naphthylamide but was different from the peaks with leucine beta-naphthylamide. Sera from patients with hepatitis or liver cirrhosis showed an increase in the normal peak and the appearance of another new peak with glycylproline p-nitroanilide as substrate.     

In vivo activities of amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate against Streptococcus pneumoniae: application to breakpoint determinations

The in vivo activities of amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate against 17 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae with penicillin MICs of 0.12-8.0 mg/liter were assessed in a cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Renal impairment was produced by administration of uranyl nitrate to prolong the amoxicillin half-life in the mice from 21 to 65 min, simulating human pharmacokinetics. Two hours after thigh infection with 10(5) to 10(6) CFU, groups of mice were treated with 7 mg of amoxicillin per kg of body weight alone or combined with clavulanate (ratio, 4:1) every 8 h for 1 and 4 days. There was an excellent correlation between the MIC of amoxicillin (0.03 to 5.6 mg/liter) and (i) the change in log10 CFU/thigh at 24 h and (ii) survival after 4 days of therapy. Organisms for which MICs were 2 mg/liter or less were killed at 1.4 to 4.2 and 1.6 to 4.1 log10 CFU/thigh at 24 h by amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. The four strains for which MICs were >4 mg/liter grew 0.2 to 2.6 and 0.6 to 2. 3 logs at 24 h despite therapy with amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate, respectively. Infection was uniformly fatal by 72 h in untreated mice. Amoxicillin therapy resulted in no mortality with organisms for which MICs were 1 mg/liter or less, 20 to 40% mortality with organisms for which MICs were 2 mg/liter, and 80 to 100% mortality with organisms for which MICs were 4.0-5.6 mg/liter. Lower and higher doses (0.5, 2, and 20 mg/kg) of amoxicillin were studied against organisms for which MICs were near the breakpoint. These studies demonstrate that a reduction of 1 log10 or greater in CFU/thigh at 24 h is consistently observed when amoxicillin levels exceed the MIC for 25 to 30% of the dosing interval. These studies would support amoxicillin (and amoxicillin-clavulanate) MIC breakpoints of 1 mg/liter for susceptible, 2 mg/liter for intermediate, and 4 mg/liter for resistant strains of S. pneumoniae.     

Contribution of pancreatic scintiscanning to the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis

1. Ferritin has been isolated from the serum of four patients with iron overload by using two methods. 2. In method A, the serum was adjusted to pH 4.8 and heated to 70 degrees C. After removal of denatured protein, ferritin was concentrated and further purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. In most cases, only a partial purification was achieved. 3. In method B, ferritin was extracted from the serum with a column of immuno-adsorbent [anti-(human ferritin)] and released from the column with 3M-KSCN. Further purification was achieved by anion-exchange chromatography followed by the removal of remaining contaminating serum proteins by means of a second immunoadsorbent. Purifications of up to 31 000-fold were achieved, and the homogeneity of the final preparations was demonstrated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 4. Serum ferritin purified by either method has the same elution volume as human spleen ferritin on gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Serum ferritin has a relatively low iron content and iron/protein ratios of 0.023 and 0.067 (mug of Fe/mug of protein) were found in two pure preparations. On anion-exchange chromatography serum ferritin has a low affinity for the column when compared with various tissue ferritins. Isoelectric focusing has demonstrated the presence of a high proportion of isoferritins of relatively high pI. 5. Possible mechanisms for the release of ferritin into the circulation are briefly discussed.     

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in children with chronic renal disease: a prospective study of antibody response and duration

We studied the antibody response to pneumococcal serotypes 3 and 14 after pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine was administered to 41 children with renal disease. One month after vaccination, 76% and 61% of patients achieved at least a twofold titer rise to serotypes 3 and 14, respectively; this finding was comparable to historic control values. One year after vaccination, the majority of patients retained protective antibody levels. Achieving a titer > or = 1.0 microgram/ml IgG at 1 month was highly predictive of retaining a protective antibody level > or = 0.15 microgram/ml at 1 year.     

Measurement of free-circulating cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) in plasma

Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) is an anti-neoplastic agent that is currently undergoing clinical evaluation. We describe an analytical method for monitoring the free drug (or its breakdown products) in plasma. The method is able to distinguish between free and protein-bound drug. Plasma samples are deproteinized by centrifugal ultrafiltration. The platinum in the ultrafiltrate is converted to a cationic species by reaction with ethylenediamine and then collected on paper impregnated with cation-exchange resin. This process concentrates the samples, increases the stability of the platinum compounds (by removing the compound from solution), and places the sample in a uniform matrix of minimum thickness, which maximizes detection capabilities. Platinum was measured directly on the ion-exchange disks by X-ray fluorescence. The detection limit for free drug is 240 microgram/liter of plasma at the 3s level and fluorescence intensity is linearly related to drug concentration in the range from 570 to 5700 microgram/liter.     

Molecular cloning, heterologous expression, and characterization of human glyoxalase II

A clone encoding glyoxalase II has been isolated from a human adult liver cDNA library. The sequence of 1011 base pairs consists of a full-length coding region of 780 base pairs, corresponding to a protein with a calculated molecular mass of 28,861 daltons. Identities (50-60%) were found to partial 5' and 3' cDNA sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana as well as within a limited region of glutathione transferase I cDNA from corn. A vector was constructed for heterologous expression of glyoxalase II in Escherichia coli. For optimal yield of enzyme, silent random mutations were introduced in the 5' coding region of the cDNA. A yield of 25 mg of glyoxalase II per liter of culture medium was obtained after affinity purification with immobilized glutathione. The recombinant enzyme had full catalytic activity and kinetic parameters indistinguishable from those of the native enzyme purified from human erythrocytes.