Control of glycolytic gene expression in the budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Fascin is an actin-bundling protein that was first isolated from cytoplasmic extracts of sea urchin eggs [Kane, 1975: J. Cell Biol. 66:305-315] and was the first bundling protein to be characterized in vitro. Subsequent work has shown that fascin bundles actin filaments in fertilized egg microvilli and filopodia of phagocytic coelomocytes [Otto et al., 1980: Cell Motil. 1:31-40; Otto and Bryan, 1981: Cell Motil. 1:179-192]. Fifteen years later, the molecular cloning of sea urchin fascin [Bryan et al., 1993: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:9115-9119] has led to the identification and characterization of homologous proteins in Drosophila [Cant et al., 1994: J. Cell Biol. 125:369-380], Xenopus [Holthuis et al., 1994: Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1219:184-188], rodents [Edwards et al,. 1995: J. Biol. Chem. 270:10764-10770], and humans [Duh et al., 1994: DNA Cell Biol. 13:821-827; Mosialos et al., 1994: J. Virol. 68:7320-7328] that bundle actin filaments into structures which stabilize cellular processes ranging from mechanosensory bristles to the filopodia of nerve growth cones. Fascin has emerged from relative obscurity as an exotic invertebrate egg protein to being recognized as a widely expressed protein found in a broad spectrum of tissues and organisms. The purpose of this review is to relate the early studies done on the sea urchin and HeLa cell fascins to the recent molecular biology that defines a family of bundling proteins, and discuss the current state of knowledge regarding fascin structure and function.     

Quantitative measurement of nasal production of nitric oxide in awake humans

The aim of this study was to determine, quantitatively, the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the nose and nasopharynx. Subjects were instructed to perform a Valsalva manoeuvre with their mouth open as gas was aspirated from a closely fitting nasal CPAP mask by a chemiluminescence analyser (Sievers 270B, Sievers Instrument Corp. Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.). Room air was free to flow in through the mouth and out through the nose and hence to the analyser. The manoeuvre was continued until a smooth plateau of at least 20 seconds in duration was achieved on a chart recorder. The mean plateau concentrations were 176 (+/- 39.6) parts per billion (ppb) for males and 135.8 (+/- 24.4) ppb for females. The mean male production of NO was 15.8 nanomol/min which was significantly different from that of females of 12.5 nanomol/min (Mann-Whitney U Test; P < 0.01). By measuring the concentration of NO in gas aspirated from the nose during Valsalva manoeuvre, we excluded the respiratory tract below the glottis from our sampling and as such results represent the portion of NO produced in the nose and nasopharynx. These findings suggest that nasally produced NO is produced in sufficient quantities to act as a continuous pulmonary vasodilator, being inspired preferentially into areas of greatest ventilation, thus perhaps acting to continually match ventilation to perfusion.     

In vivo surface analysis of titanium and stainless steel miniplates and screws

OBJECTIVE: To determine the results peranal excision for rectal carcinoma. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: A university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Of 178 patients who presented for curative resection of rectal carcinoma between 1975 and 1993, 19 (10.7%) were deemed suitable for local excision. There were 10 men and 9 women with a mean age of 71.2 years. The follow-up ranged from 13 to 184 months. INTERVENTION: Peranal excision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Histologic differentiation, gross morphology, depth of invasion and size of the carcinoma, adequacy of margins of excision, complications of operation, rates of recurrence, results of salvage therapy and 5-year survival. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative complications included urinary retention (one patient) and bleeding (one patient). There were five local recurrences (26%). Salvage operations were performed in three (60%) patients and were successful in two of them. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 82%. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with inadequate margins of excision and ulcerative lesions. Neither size nor grade of the carcinoma correlated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Local excision of rectal carcinoma can be performed successfully in selected patients. Diligent follow-up is required, because up to 60% of local recurrences can be treated successfully.     

Reducing cancer risk among Native American adolescents

BACKGROUND: This article discusses the development, implementation, and preliminary testing of an intervention to reduce cancer risks through tobacco use prevention and dietary modification among Native American youth in the Northeastern United States. METHODS: The intervention outcome study includes a research design and outcome measurement instruments. In collaboration with Native American communities, reservations, and organizations in the Northeastern United States, implementation of the design quantifies the separate and combined effects of a tobacco use prevention and a dietary modification intervention. RESULTS: Native American youths in the tobacco prevention intervention and in the combined tobacco and dietary intervention increased their knowledge of tobacco facts and their awareness of the motives of tobacco advertising, and showed higher ratings for an ability to resist peer pressure and to refuse offers of tobacco use between pretest and posttest. Youths in the combined intervention were significantly less apt to report smoking of any kind. Youths in the tobacco use prevention-only condition reported significantly less smoking than their counterparts in the dietary modification-only condition and control condition on 4 of 8 measurement items. As for dietary variables, pretest to posttest measurement scores showed that, after receiving the curriculum, youths in the dietary modification intervention and in the combined intervention improved their knowledge of the health implications of consuming dietary fat, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Youths in the dietary modification and combined intervention also improved their scores of knowledge related to cancer risk-reducing nutritional practices, cultural dietary habits, and healthy food choices available for Native American cultures. Youths in the dietary modification-only condition report significantly increasing their consumption of complex carbohydrates and significantly decreasing their fat intake between pretest and posttest occasions. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this longitudinal study suggest the value of the FACETS curriculum for helping Native American youth reduce their risks for cancer associated with tobacco use and dietary preference and consumption patterns. In particular, results indicate the enhanced effects of the combined tobacco use prevention and dietary modification intervention for preventing tobacco use and for improving youths' knowledge and attitudes with regard to tobacco use and diet. Further, the study demonstrates the value of collaborating with Native American organizations to design a cancer risk-reducing curriculum and to implement tests of that curriculum.     

Colorectal surgery using a biofragmentable anastomotic ring

To compare the efficacy of the biofragmentable anastomotic ring (Valtrac-BAR, Davis and Geck, Medical Device Division, Danbury, CT, USA) with conventional anastomotic techniques, 30 patients who underwent colorectal surgery from August 1993 to March 1995 were retrospectively studied. The use of the BAR was also compared with conventional techniques including hand-sewn sutures in 30 patients and an end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) stapler in 24 patients. There were 17 men and 13 women in the BAR group with ages ranging from 37 to 80 years, 18 men and 12 women in the hand-sewn group with ages ranging from 41 to 82 years and 14 men and 10 women in the EEA group with ages ranging from 38 to 72 years. Surgical indications included: 25 colon cancers and five rectal cancers in the BAR group; 27 colon cancers and three rectal cancers in the hand-sewn group; and six colon cancers and 18 rectal cancers in the EEA group. There was no conversion to other anastomotic methods. Most of the patients tolerated a low-residual diet from the fifth post-operative day. No clinical leakage or stricture was noted. Only seven patients were aware of the passage of BAR fragments. The mean hospital stay was 14.1 days. There were no significant differences among these techniques in the return of bowel function, the incidence of surgical complications, including anastomotic leakage, or the length of hospitalization. BAR anastomosis was more time efficient than conventional techniques. Our results confirmed that BAR was an ideal sutureless alternative for anastomosis in colorectal surgery.     

Current situation and control strategies for resurgence of diphtheria in newly independent states of the former Soviet Union

Since 1990, an epidemic of diphtheria has spread throughout the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, and by 1995 a total of 47 808 cases were reported. During the early stages of the epidemic, adequate control measures were not taken and vaccine was in short supply; possible contributing factors to the spread of the epidemic are the presence of highly susceptible child and adult populations, socioeconomic instability, population movement, and a deteriorating health infrastructure. Although WHO views the epidemic as an International public-health emergency and, together with UNICEF and the International Red Cross, has formulated a strategy to combat the epidemic, the necessary funds have not been made fully available. Current vaccination recommendations also need to be reviewed to ensure that population immunity will be adequate to prevent any resurgence of diphtheria in Europe and North America.     

Iodine-131-anti-B1 radioimmunotherapy for B-cell lymphoma

PURPOSE: The CD20 B-lymphocyte surface antigen expressed by B-cell lymphomas is an attractive target for radioimmunotherapy, treatment using radiolabeled antibodies. We conducted a phase I dose-escalation trial to assess the toxicity, tumor targeting, and efficacy of nonmyeloablative doses of an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (anti-B1) labeled with iodine-131 (131I) in 34 patients with B-cell lymphoma who had failed chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were first given tracelabeled doses of 131I-labeled anti-B1 (15 to 20 mg, 5 mCi) to assess radiolabeled antibody biodistribution, and then a radioimmunotherapeutic dose (15 to 20 mg) labeled with a quantity of 131I that would deliver a specified centigray dose of whole-body radiation predicted by the tracer dose. Whole-body radiation doses were escalated from 25 to 85 cGy in sequential groups of patients in 10-cGy increments. To evaluate if radiolabeled antibody biodistribution could be optimized, initial patients were given one or two additional tracer doses on successive weeks, each dose preceded by an infusion of 135 mg of unlabeled anti-B1 one week and 685 mg the next. The unlabeled antibody dose resulting in the most optimal tracer biodistribution was also given before the radioimmunotherapeutic dose. Later patients were given a single tracer dose and radioimmunotherapeutic dose preceded by infusion of 685 mg of unlabeled anti-B1. RESULTS: Treatment was well tolerated. Hematologic toxicity was dose-limiting, and 75 cGy was established as the maximally tolerated whole-body radiation dose. Twenty-eight patients received radioimmunotherapeutic doses of 34 to 161 mCi, resulting in complete remission in 14 patients and a partial response in eight. All 13 patients with low-grade lymphoma responded, and 10 achieved a complete remission. Six of eight patients with transformed lymphoma responded. Thirteen of 19 patients whose disease was resistant to their last course of chemotherapy and all patients with chemotherapy-sensitive disease responded. The median duration of complete remission exceeds 16.5 months. Six patients remain in complete remission 16 to 31 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Nonmyeloablative radioimmunotherapy with 131I-anti-B1 is associated with a high rate of durable remissions in patients with B-cell lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy.     

Morphologic disturbance of lung maturation in fetuses of alloxan diabetic rabbits

Maturation of lungs was studied morphologically in fetuses of does made diabetic with alloxan. The lungs of fetuses of does treated with alloxan 24 h after mating appeared to be less mature than control lungs, as shown by significant decrease in areal density of air space (p < 0.01) and by increases in areal density of alveolar epithelium and capillaries (p < 0.02). In alloxan fetuses, ultrastructural techniques revealed that type II cells had 10 times the control value for areal density of glycogen (p < 0.01) and 2.5 times that of rough endoplasmic reticulum (p < 0.05), but the proportion of type II cells and the number of lamellar bodies per type II cell profile were similar in both groups. Ultrastructural examination of capillaries demonstrated that their migration and the fusion of their basement membrane with that of alveolar epithelium did not occur as frequently in alloxan fetuses as in control fetuses. Biochemically, the lungs of alloxan fetuses contained significantly more glycogen and protein (p < 0.01) than control lungs, but the deoxyribonucleic acid was similar. The alloxan fetuses had a disturbance of lung structural maturation that was consistent with our previous findings of delayed functional maturation without accompanying change in disaturated phosphatidylcholine levels and ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin.