Characterization and screening for mutations of the growth arrest-specific 11 (GAS11) and C16orf3 genes at 16q24.3 in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Both fibroblast-mediated cytokine gene therapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have proven to be efficient protocols for the recovery of bone marrow depression. In this report, the effects of fibroblast-mediated interleukin (IL)-6 gene therapy, in combination with BMT, on the recovery of irradiation-induced bone marrow depression were investigated. METHODS: NIH3T3 fibroblast cells engineered to secrete IL-6 (NIH3T3-IL-6) or NIH3T3 cells transduced with the neomycin gene (NIH3T3-Neo), in combination with 10(7), 10(6), or 10(5) syngeneic bone marrow cells, were implanted into irradiated mice. RESULTS: The platelets and white blood cells in the peripheral blood of the irradiated mice increased greatly 12 days after implantation of NIH3T3-IL-6 cells and BMT, the white blood cell counts were restored to a normal level 32 days after the combined therapy, and the platelet number was obviously higher than that in mice implanted with NIH3T3-Neo and BMT. Twenty and 25 days after the combined therapy, the mice showed accelerated recovery of colony-forming unit (CFU)-granulocyte/macrophages and CFU-megakaryocytes when compared with the mice implanted with NIH3T3-Neo cells and BMT. Ten days after lethal irradiation with gamma rays, the spleens formed more CFU-spleen in mice implanted with NIH3T3-IL-6 cells and BMT than in mice injected with phosphate-buffered saline or NIH3T3-Neo cells. Combined therapy with NIH3T3-IL-6 cell implantation and BMT delayed the survival period of the hematopoietic-depressed mice significantly when compared with therapy with NIH3T3-Neo cell implantation and BMT. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that the combined therapy of fibroblast-mediated IL-6 gene therapy and BMT could significantly promote the recovery of irradiation-induced hematopoietic depression.     

Clinical and health care cost consequences of infective endocarditis in mitral valve prolapse

In 1990-1991, a national survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella species among Canadian commercial turkey flocks. Two hundred and seventy flocks were randomly selected across Canada. The proportion sampled from each province was selected according to each province's share of the national turkey market. Samples, consisting of 12 pooled litter and four pooled dust samples, were used to determine the Salmonella status of the environment of each flock. Additionally, a one kilogram sample of feed was taken from each flock premise. Salmonella was recovered from environmental samples in 234/270 (86.7%) of flocks and from feed samples in 26/266 (9.8%) of flocks. Forty-eight different Salmonella serovars were isolated from flock environmental samples. The most prevalent serovars were S. anatum, S. hadar, S. agona, S. heidelberg and S. saintpaul which were isolated from 53/270 (19.6%), 49/270 (18.1%), 49/270 (18.1%), 42/270 (15.6%) and 34/270 (12.6%) flocks, respectively.     

Microsurgical anatomy of the human ophthalmic artery: a mesoscopic study of its origin, course and collateral branches

In the present paper we have studied the gross (mesoscopic) anatomy of the ophthalmic a. in humans, using magnification by microsurgical systems to obtain data on the origin and course of this artery and its main collateral branches. Comparison of our results with previous reports indicates that, although the anatomical variations of the vascular system are well known, some patterns of frequency may be emphasised. Thus, the ophthalmic a. was usually found as a collateral branch of the internal carotid a., although other origins were also found. The ophthalmic a., once inside the orbit, followed a course above the optic nerve in most cases. All the collateral branches of the ophthalmic a., with the exception of the muscular branches, showed great constancy.     

The value of the D-xylose test compared with the differential sugar absorption test in recognizing coeliac disease

Absorbable stapling devices have been described by several groups for the creation of continent urinary diversions. Experience with these devices in the creation of the LeBag ileocecal orthotopic pouch is described. Use of the staplers simplifies pouch construction and yields functional results similar to hand-sewn reservoirs.     

Far-field analysis of coupled bulk and boundary layer diffusion toward an ion channel entrance

We present a far-field analysis of ion diffusion toward a channel embedded in a membrane with a fixed charge density. The Smoluchowski equation, which represents the 3D problem, is approximated by a system of coupled three- and two-dimensional diffusions. The 2D diffusion models the quasi-two-dimensional diffusion of ions in a boundary layer in which the electrical potential interaction with the membrane surface charge is important. The 3D diffusion models ion transport in the bulk region outside the boundary layer. Analytical expressions for concentration and flux are developed that are accurate far from the channel entrance. These provide boundary conditions for a numerical solution of the problem. Our results are used to calculate far-field ion flows corresponding to experiments of Bell and Miller (Biophys. J. 45:279, 1984).     

Isolation of translactone-containing triterpenes with thrombin inhibitory activities from the leaves of Lantana camara

Methanolic extracts prepared from the leaves of Lantana camara have been found to inhibit human thrombin. An assay, in which thrombin activity is measured as a function of clot formation from fibrinogen, was used to guide the fractionation and purification of five principal active constituents (1-5), which were all characterized as 5,5-trans-fused cyclic lactone-containing euphane triterpenes.     

Breed group effects on milk production of Brazilian crossbred dairy cows

Lactation records (n = 2362) of 1402 crossbred cows in 22 cooperating dairy herds in southeastern Brazil were evaluated. Cows were mixtures of Zebu (Gir, Guzera, and unknown) and European breeding (mostly Holstein). Lactation milk yields were expressed as total, 3050-d, or deviated 305-d yields, either adjusted or unadjusted for days in milk (DIM). Mean DIM was 280. Arithmetic means unadjusted for DIM were 1942, 1666, and 5 kg per record. Milk yields of daughters from sires of 6/8 and 7/8 European breeds were higher than yields of daughters from sires of 5/8 European breeds when data were either adjusted or unadjusted for DIM. The differences associated with breed group of sire were only slightly reduced when records were adjusted for DIM. There was no evidence of a decline in milk yield as the fraction of European breeding of the sire increased from 6/8 to 7/8. For a given breed group of sire, whether the grandsire was purebred or crossbred had no detectable effect. These results should be useful in determining strategies for crossbreeding of dairy cows in tropical areas, particularly when crossbred sires are used.     

Differential time course of angiotensin-induced AP-1 and Krox proteins in the rat lamina terminalis and hypothalamus

Binding to olfactory receptors is the first step in odorant and pheromonal recognition and discrimination. These receptors constitute one of the most important, although poorly known, families of neuronal receptors. In this study we used degenerated oligonucleotides and a RT-PCR approach to selectively amplify olfactory receptors in the nasal epithelium of the domestic pig Sus scrofa. Several combinations of oligonucleotide were tested and allowed the isolation of eleven different partial sequences belonging to the seven transmembrane olfactory receptor family. These receptors formed a separate family within the seven transmembrane receptor superfamily in pigs. Using the criteria of Ben Arie et al. [Ben-Arie N., Lancet D., Taylor C., Khen M., Walker N., Ledbetter DH., Carrozzo R., Patel K., Sheer D., Lehrah H. and North M., Hum. Mol. Genet., 3 (1994) 229-235], the 11 receptors described here can be classified into three known families and seven subfamilies (one known and six new).