A case of de novo interstitial deletion of chromosome 5(q33q34)

Regional intrahepatic chemotherapy of inoperable primary and secondary liver tumours can achieve, as compared with the little effective systemic chemotherapy, a higher percentage of therapeutic responses. The objective of regional chemoimmunotherapy, i.e. the use of cytokines, in particular interferon alpha (IFN-a) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the therapeutic regimens is to improve the survival of patients with malignant liver tumours. One of the main prerequisites of the effect of locally administered cytokines is activation of hepatic lymphocytes (LAL)-liver associated lymphocytes, effectors with specific phenotype and potential anti-tumourous effect directly in the target area. Although in regional monotherapy the effectiveness of cytokines is low, regimens combining the administration of cytostatics with IL-2 achieve a 50-70% therapeutic response. The authors summarize basic data on the regional administration of cytokines and present an review of combined regimens of regional chemoimmunotherapy, including their own protocol of the Masaryk Oncological Institute in Brno.     

Assignment of the gene encoding the limbic system-associated membrane protein (LAMP) to mouse chromosome 16B5 and human chromosome 3q13.2-q21

Both insulin and muscle contraction stimulate glucose transport activity. However, contraction stimulation does not involve the insulin signalling intermediate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Protein kinase B (PKB) has recently been identified as a direct downstream target of PI 3-kinase in the insulin signalling pathway. We have examined here whether the two stimuli share PKB as a convergent step in separate signalling pathways. Insulin stimulates both glucose transport, GLUT4 cell-surface content and PKB activity (by 4-6-fold above basal) in a wortmannin-sensitive manner in in vitro incubated rat soleus muscles. By contrast, muscle contraction, which stimulates glucose transport and the cell surface content of GLUT4 by 3-fold above basal levels, had no effect on PKB activity. These data demonstrate that PKB is not a mediator of contraction-induced glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation.     

Malaria in humans: Plasmodium falciparum blood infection levels are linked to chromosome 5q31-q33

Blood serum concentration of IGF-I was analyzed to determine its relationship with individual postweaning feed efficiency (gain/feed) of 36 crossbred steer calves fed at three levels of feed intake (n = 12 at each level). Diets consisted of a corn silage-based growing diet for 84 d followed by a 91% concentrate finishing diet for 56 d. Dietary intake levels were at 80, 90, or 100% of ad libitum. Diets were formulated to ensure equal daily intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals across intake treatment levels. Intake was measured daily; ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency were calculated at 28-d intervals, through d 140. Individual weights and serum samples were collected at the beginning of the study and at 28-d intervals thereafter. The IGF-I concentrations were determined with a RIA. Data were analyzed as a multivariate split-plot in time. Imposed dietary intake restrictions did not affect serum IGF-I concentration (P = .90) or individual feed efficiency (P = .36), even though the least squares means for IGF-I concentration tended to decrease and the feed efficiency means tended to increase under the restricted intake levels. Serum IGF-I concentration, ADG, and feed efficiency were affected (P < .001) by collection date. Residual correlations between IGF-I concentrations at adjacent 28-d sampling times averaged .72. Diet intake level x sampling time interactions existed for ADG (P = .02) and feed efficiency (P < .001). Positive residual correlations of .28 (P < .001) and .16 (P = .07) existed between IGF-I and ADG and between IGF-I and feed efficiency, respectively. Regression analysis indicated that a 1 ng/mL increase in serum IGF-I concentration was associated with a .00135 kg/d increase in ADG (P < .001) and a .0001 kg gain/kg feed increase in feed efficiency (P = .04). These results support the hypothesis that serum IGF-I plays a role in growth and in efficiency of feed utilization in beef cattle.     

Assignment of the norepinephrine transporter protein (NET1) locus to chromosome 16

The norepinephrine transporter protein (NET) is the presynaptic reuptake site for norepinephrine and a site of action for several drugs with CNS effects, some of which are therapeutically useful and some of which are drugs of abuse. We used PCR with a somatic cell hybrid panel to obtain a provisional assignment to chromosome 16. We then typed a genetic polymorphism at the NET1 locus in three large multigenerational families and used linkage analysis to confirm the preliminary assignment and to refine the localization to 16q, near the HP locus. Finally, we typed the NET1 RFLP on the CEPH families and the additional linkage data localized NET1 to 16q13-q21, flanked by D16S71 (centromerically) and HP (telomerically).     

Assignment1 of human putative tumor suppressor genes ST13 (alias SNC6) and ST14 (alias SNC19) to human chromosome bands 22q13 and 11q24-->q25 by in situ hybridization

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe the indications of repeat caesarean delivery and to determine modifiable practice patterns that might lead to fewer repeat caesarean deliveries. METHOD: Hospital records of all women with previous caesarean sections who delivered between 15 April, 1994-31 December, 1994 at the Princess Badeea Teaching Hospital in North Jordan were reviewed. Three groups were identified: 1) elective repeat caesarean 2) vaginal birth after caesarean 3) failed vaginal birth after caesarean. RESULTS: In this study there were 388 patients. Of these, 208 had a repeat caesarean delivery for the following reasons: failed vaginal birth after caesarean (39, 10.1%) and repeat elective caesarean section (169, 43.5%). The remaining (180, 46.4%) patients had a vaginal birth after caesarean. CONCLUSIONS: Our vaginal birth rate after one previous caesarean section was 82.2%. If this rate can be maintained in patients with 2 or 3 previous caesarean deliveries, we can reduce repeat caesarean rates by at least 14% by allowing more patients with 2 or even 3 previous caesarean deliveries to have a trial of labour under appropriate conditions and also proper management of dystocia.