An antigenic polysaccharide from Campylobacter coli serotype O:30. Structure of a teichoic acid-like antigenic polysaccharide associated with the lipopolysaccharide

A water-soluble antigenic polysaccharide of high M(r) associated with the lipopolysaccharide has been isolated from phenol-water extraction of cells of Campylobacter coli serotype O:30. The polysaccharide and oligosaccharide degradation products formed on O-dephosphorylation and by periodate oxidation followed by reduction have been investigated by one- and two-dimensional 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR. It is concluded that the antigenic polysaccharide has a teichoic acid-like structure with a poly-Ribitol phosphate, [5-Ribitol-1-P]n, backbone with side chains at O-2 of O-(6-deoxy-beta-D-talo-heptopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-(2-acetylamino-2-deoxy-beta-D- glucopyranosyl) units. The structure is unusual in Gram-negative bacteria and is unique in possessing 6-deoxy-D-talo-heptose as a constituent sugar. Evidence for the relationship of the antigenic polysaccharide to the lipopolysaccharide of low M(r) is discussed.     

Effects of anxiety arousal and mental stress on the vestibulo-ocular reflex

Although the subjective reports of patients suggest that anxiety may aggravate vertigo and imbalance, there has been little research into how anxiety might directly affect balance system functioning. We conducted two studies to examine the effect of anxiety and arousal on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). In the first study, pre-lest fear ratings were obtained from 20 normal subjects and 36 anxious subjects immediately prior to rotation and caloric testing. Fear ratings were significantly correlated with the maximum slow-phase velocity (SPV) of nystagmus induced by caloric testing. In the second study, we assessed the VOR response to rotation of 36 normal subjects under 3 task conditions: a) minimal alerting (counting backwards during rotation), b) physical arousal (induced by exertion prior to rotation); c) mental arousal (induced by performance of stressful mental tasks during rotation). Both the physical and mental tasks induced a significant increase in heart rate compared with the alerting condition. The maximum SPV of the nystagmus induced by rotation was significantly greater during performance of the mental task than in the other two conditions. These combined results indicate that anxiety may influence the gain of the VOR.     

The percutaneous endoscopic treatment of staghorn nephrolithiasis

Hyperferremia is shown to affect antioxidant system of the body, oxidation-reduction reactions in the cells seen as shifts in lymphocyte chemiluminescence. Dynamic changes in lymphocyte chemiluminescence reflect the level of hyperferremia.     

Sweet-tasting protein monellin is related to the cystatin family of thiol proteinase inhibitors

The structure of the intensely sweet protein monellin, isolated from an African berry, and the structures of two thiol proteinase inhibitors, cystatin and stefin B, are found to be very similar. An alignment of sequences of monellin and the inhibitors, deduced from the structural comparisons, has been extended to include other members of the cystatin superfamily. There is a significant homology (up to 23% identical residues) with oryzacystatins, the only well defined plant cystatins. These results clearly indicate that monellin is a close relative of cystatins. Monellin and cystatins do not have the same sequence in the regions homologous to the cystatin active site. It is suggested here, however, that this region in monellin may be essential for a function in situ, because one of the loops comprising this part of the structure is found to be cleaved.     

Does histology influence outcome in childhood Hodgkin's disease? Results from the United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE: Histology has been identified as an important prognostic factor in Hodgkin's disease (HD) in adults. Information regarding the impact of histology on outcome in childhood HD is scarce. This study determines the effect of histology on the overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in a national series of children treated in a standardized manner. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The results of treatment of 331 assessable patients, treated between January 1, 1982 and June 30, 1992, in the United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) Hodgkin's study I were reviewed to evaluate OS, PFS, and deaths according to stage and histology. Treatment was either involved-field radiation alone (stage IA) or chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine, and prednisolone (ChlVPP) chemotherapy with or without mediastinal radiation. All were clinically staged at diagnosis. RESULTS: Nodular sclerosing (NS) HD was the most common histologic subtype (155 of 331 patients [47%]) and was uniformly distributed through all stages. Lymphocyte-depletion (LD) HD was extremely uncommon (< 1%). Mixed-cellularity (MC) HD had the highest relapse rate, but this was only significant (P < .05) in stage I patients who received local irradiation alone. There was no other statistically significant difference in OS and PFS between the various histologic subtypes. Multivariate analysis for PFS and OS confirmed that stage was the most important prognostic factor and that histology did not have an effect after stratification by stage. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that with effective multiagent chemotherapy, histologic subtype does not influence outcome. The high relapse rates in stage I MC subtype indicates that MC HD is biologically aggressive and systemic treatment with or without local irradiation may be indicated. The high relapse rate in stage IV patients appeared to be independent of histology.     

Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with human and rodent obesity

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, a direct link between these two states is difficult to establish, since obesity frequently occurs with other disease states such as diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Clinical studies have clearly shown that uncorrected obesity is associated with cardiac hypertrophy and compromised ventricular function. A number of rodent models of obesity have been studied in terms of cardiovascular adaptations. Cardiac function of the obese Zucker rat appears to be normal at a younger age. Only after several months is depression in cardiac function discernable. These animals are mildly hypertensive, but do not exhibit the characteristic increase in cardiac output associated with human obesity. A unique characteristic of JCR:LA-cp rat is that they develop atherosclerotic and myocardial lesions. Hearts from these animals will maintain normal function when perfused with physiological levels of calcium. At higher calcium concentrations, however, mechanical function becomes impaired. Dietary-induced obese rats exhibit many of the hemodynamic alterations associated with human obesity, but there is no evidence to-date that these animals will develop severe cardiac depression. Short-term weight reduction apparently has beneficial cardiovascular effects, but weight cycling may be harmful. Given the widespread occurrence of obesity, further studies are warranted to characterize the cardiac manifestations of this condition.     

Stabilised p53 facilitates aneuploid clonal divergence in colorectal cancer

Mutations in the p53 tumour suppressor gene are amongst the most frequent genetic abnormalities acquired in tumours. Recent studies in vitro suggest that mutant p53 destabilises the genome and facilitates development of aneuploidy. Here, in a study of 83 colorectal carcinomas, we demonstrate that alterations in p53 (detected by immunocytochemical stabilisation) precede and apparently facilitate divergence of aneuploid sub-clones. Aneuploidy in these tumours (but not those with normal p53) is predominantly in the subtetraploid range, suggesting that endoreduplication is important in its origin. This association with a specific phase of carcinoma progression is not shared by other commonly acquired genetic abnormalities in these tumours. These observations highlight the critical role of p53 in the regulation of abnormal chromosome replication and afford an explanation for the association between p53 abnormalities, aneuploidy and biological aggression in cancer.