Modular PPM telemetry system with radio, infra-red and inductive loop transmission

Functional studies have shown that the murine macrophage resistance gene Lsh/Ity/Bcg (candidate Nramp) regulates macrophage priming/activation for antimicrobial activity via the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-dependent production of reactive nitrogen intermediates. Since Toxoplasma gondii also parasitizes macrophages, is a stimulator of endogenous TNF-alpha release, and is sensitive to nitric oxide-mediated killing in activated macrophages, studies were carried out using chromosome 1 congenic mouse strains to determine whether Lsh influences T. gondii infection. Two interesting observations were made: (i) contrary to expectation, mice carrying the Lsh-resistant allele died earlier over the acute phase of infection than Lsh-susceptible mice; and (ii) Lsh-resistant mice which survived this acute phase of infection showed lower brain cyst numbers than the Lsh-susceptible mice. Whilst the latter occurred independently of route of inoculation (oral, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous), the former was influenced both by the route of inoculation and the genetic background on which the Lsh-resistant allele had been isolated. Hence, following oral administration of 20 brain cysts of the RRA strain of T. gondii, mice carrying the Lsh-resistant allele on a B10 genetic background showed a significantly enhanced rate of mortality over the acute (first 8-12 days) phase of infection than B10 Lsh-susceptible mice. Although this acute phase of infection in B10 background mice was accompanied by an increase in serum TNF-alpha levels in both Lsh-resistant and -susceptible mouse strains, early mortality preceded the TNF-alpha peak, and administration of neutralizing rabbit anti-TNF-alpha did not significantly enhance survival. Hence, inflammatory mediators other than TNF-alpha appear to be responsible for the increased rate of acute mortality observed in resistant mice. Infection intraperitoneally led to delayed mortality in B10 mice, with the mean time to 50% mortality now being significantly longer in Lsh-resistant than in Lsh-susceptible mice. On a BALB genetic background, it was the i.p. route of infection which led to acute mortality and more rapid death in the Lsh-resistant strain. When a less virulent inoculum was used and mortality delayed, Lsh-susceptible mice died more rapidly, and i.p. administration of rabbit anti-TNF-alpha led to 100% mortality between days 8 and 10 of infection in both susceptible and resistant mouse strains, consistent with a crucial protective role for TNF-alpha during this phase of infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Participation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cgamma1 and STAT1 protein in the formation of latent complexes of signal proteins

It is known that the growth factor activates appropriate membrane receptors which become starting points of cascades of protein-protein interactions leading to cellular response. Recent data suggest that different signalling pathways may cross-talk during the cellular response. Here we show that phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C gamma 1, one of the key elements in phosphoinositide pathway of signal transduction, is physically associated with members of the STAT pathway. The precipitation of phospholipase C gamma 1, using polyclonal antibody in A-431 cells, leads to co-immunoprecipitation of STAT1 alpha and STAT1 beta, as well as STAT3. The formation of such complexes was observed in both unstimulated and EGF stimulated cells. The participation of SH3-domains in the formation of such complexes is discussed.     

Mapping of a yeast G protein betagamma signaling interaction

The mating pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is widely used as a model system for G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signal transduction. Following receptor activation by the binding of mating pheromones, G protein betagamma subunits transmit the signal to a MAP kinase cascade, which involves interaction of Gbeta (Ste4p) with the MAP kinase scaffold protein Ste5p. Here, we identify residues in Ste4p required for the interaction with Ste5p. These residues define a new signaling interface close to the Ste20p binding site within the Gbetagamma coiled-coil. Ste4p mutants defective in the Ste5p interaction interact efficiently with Gpa1p (Galpha) and Ste18p (Ggamma) but cannot function in signal transduction because cells expressing these mutants are sterile. Ste4 L65S is temperature-sensitive for its interaction with Ste5p, and also for signaling. We have identified a Ste5p mutant (L196A) that displays a synthetic interaction defect with Ste4 L65S, providing strong evidence that Ste4p and Ste5p interact directly in vivo through an interface that involves hydrophobic residues. The correlation between disruption of the Ste4p-Ste5p interaction and sterility confirms the importance of this interaction in signal transduction. Identification of the Gbetagamma coiled-coil in Ste5p binding may set a precedent for Gbetagamma-effector interactions in more complex organisms.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new flosulide analogues, synthesized from natural safrole

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy after curative hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: During a 54-month period, 142 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent hepatic resection at 1 institution. Sixty-six patients who survived the operation and had no demonstrable evidence of residual disease on ultrasonographic examination and hepatic angiographic testing at 1 month after surgery agreed to participate in the study. The median follow-up time was 28.3 months. INTERVENTION: Thirty patients received a combination of intravenous epirubicin hydrochloride (8 doses of 40 mg/m2 each at 6-week intervals) and transarterial chemotherapy using an emulsion of iodized oil and cisplatin (3 courses with a maximum dose of 20 mL each at 2-month intervals). Thirty-six patients had no adjuvant treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrence rate and disease-free survival. RESULTS: A total of 138 courses of intravenous epirubicin was given to the 30 patients. Sixty-one courses of transarterial chemotherapy were given to only 29 of the 30 patients assigned to the treatment group, because the hepatic artery in 1 patient was thrombosed. Six patients (20%) had chemotherapy-related complications with no mortality. Twenty-three of 30 patients in the treatment group and 17 of 36 patients in the control group had recurrences (P=.01). Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a higher incidence of extrahepatic metastases (11 patients vs 5 patients; P=.03). The respective disease-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 50%,36%, and 18% for the treatment group and 69%, 53%, and 48% for the control group (P=.04). CONCLUSION: In a group of patients who underwent curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using the present regimen was associated with more frequent extrahepatic recurrences and a worse outcome.     

Berylliosis as an auto-immune disorder

Four random samples representing populations at low (volunteer blood donors), intermediate, (VD clinic patients), high (family contacts of chronic antigen carriers) and very high (male homosexuals) risk of exposure to HBV were surveyed. Among HBsAg and anti-HBs negative individuals an average of 3.3% were found to be anti-HBc positive, and among those with anti-HBs, 19.4% were anti-HBc positive. Anti-HBc, with concurrent anti-HBs and without, was detected more frequently in the high risk samples than in the low risk. Individuals was a past history of acute viral hepatitis were more frequently anti-HBc positive than those without such a history, and anti-HBc positivity was frequently accompanied by serum transaminase elevation. Anti-HBc may persist for many years after an episode of acute hepatitis. In households of carriers, the highest frequency of anti-HBc was observed among spouses, which would argue for the possibility of sexual transmission. A significant excess of females with both types of antibody was observed in families of carriers. Anti-HBc determinations in conjunction with other HBV markers, provide a useful new tool for epidemiologic studies.