Atheromatous plaque macrophages produce plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 and stimulate its production by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells

The capacity of macrophages to influence directly and indirectly fibrinolytic processes in atherosclerosis was studied using macrophages isolated from atherosclerotic plaques of patients undergoing surgical repair of distal aortic and femoral arteries. These cells were characterized by their morphology, adherence, esterase positivity, and expression of CD14 antigen. Production of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) by plaque macrophages (6.7 +/- 2.7 ng/10(5) cells/24 hours [mean +/- SEM]) was significantly greater than PAI-1 production by blood monocytes isolated simultaneously from the same patients (1.8 +/- 1.5 ng/10(5) cells/24 hours). Production of tissue type plasminogen activator and urokinase type was not augmented compared to blood monocytes. Conditioned medium from cultured plaque macrophages significantly increased production of PAI-1 by endothelial cells (85 +/- 11% above basal) and vascular smooth muscle cells (25 +/- 10%) in vitro. This response was significantly greater than the response to monocyte-conditioned medium (endothelial cells 38 +/- 11%, vascular smooth muscle cells 2.5 +/- 2.0%). Stimulation of endothelial cell PAI-1 production by macrophage-conditioned medium was partially inhibitable by a monoclonal antibody to transforming growth factor-beta. Tissue type plasminogen activator production by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells was not affected by plaque macrophage- or monocyte-conditioned medium. Urokinase type plasminogen activator production by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells was undetectable in control medium and was augmented to similar levels in response to plaque macrophage- and monocyte-conditioned media. These results demonstrate upregulation of PAI-1 production by macrophages in atheromatous plaques and the capacity of soluble products from plaque macrophages to upregulate PAI-1 production by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. These data suggest that macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques may inhibit thrombolysis both directly and indirectly by effects of their soluble products on endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Distribution of alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E voltage-dependent calcium channel subunits in the human hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus

The distribution of voltage-dependent calcium channel subunits in the central nervous system may provide information about the function of these channels. The present study examined the distribution of three alpha-1 subunits, alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E, in the normal human hippocampal formation and parahippocampal gyrus using the techniques of in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. All three subunit mRNAs appeared to be similarly localized, with high levels of expression in the dentate granule and CA pyramidal layer. At the protein level, alpha 1A, alpha 1B and alpha 1E subunits were differentially localized. In general, alpha 1A-immunoreactivity was most intense in cell bodies and dendritic processes, including dentate granule cells, CA3 pyramidal cells and entorhinal cortex pre-alpha and pri-alpha cells. The alpha 1B antibody exhibited relatively weak staining of cell bodies but stronger staining of neuropil, especially in certain regions of high synaptic density such as the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus and the stratum lucidum and radiatum of the CA regions. The alpha 1E staining pattern shared features in common with both alpha 1A and alpha 1B, with strong immunoreactivity in dentate granule, CA3 pyramidal and entorhinal cortex pri-alpha cells, as well as staining of the CA3 stratum lucidum. These findings suggest regions in which particular subunits may be involved in synaptic communication. For example, comparison of alpha 1B and alpha 1E staining in the CA3 stratum lucidum with calbindin-immuno-reactivity suggested that these two calcium channels subunits may be localized presynaptically in mossy fibre terminals and therefore may be involved in neurotransmitter release from these terminals.     

Polarisation transformer on Ti:LiNbO3 with reset-free optical operation for heterodyne/homodyne receivers

Experimental results for an integrated-optical state-of-polarisation (SOP) controller device on Ti:LiNbO3 for continuous broadband optical operation, with small temperature sensitivity and the possibility of integration with polarisation- insensitive directional couplers, are presented.     

Substitution of the human beta-spectrin promoter for the human agamma-globin promoter prevents silencing of a linked human beta-globin gene in transgenic mice

During development, changes occur in both the sites of erythropoiesis and the globin genes expressed at each developmental stage. Previous work has shown that high-level expression of human beta-like globin genes in transgenic mice requires the presence of the locus control region (LCR). Models of hemoglobin switching propose that the LCR and/or stage-specific elements interact with globin gene sequences to activate specific genes in erythroid cells. To test these models, we generated transgenic mice which contain the human Agamma-globin gene linked to a 576-bp fragment containing the human beta-spectrin promoter. In these mice, the beta-spectrin Agamma-globin (betasp/Agamma) transgene was expressed at high levels in erythroid cells throughout development. Transgenic mice containing a 40-kb cosmid construct with the micro-LCR, betasp/Agamma-, psibeta-, delta-, and beta-globin genes showed no developmental switching and expressed both human gamma- and beta-globin mRNAs in erythroid cells throughout development. Mice containing control cosmids with the Agamma-globin gene promoter showed developmental switching and expressed Agamma-globin mRNA in yolk sac and fetal liver erythroid cells and beta-globin mRNA in fetal liver and adult erythroid cells. Our results suggest that replacement of the gamma-globin promoter with the beta-spectrin promoter allows the expression of the beta-globin gene. We conclude that the gamma-globin promoter is necessary and sufficient to suppress the expression of the beta-globin gene in yolk sac erythroid cells.     

Increasing breast and cervical cancer screening in low-income women

Active cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was treated with an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant. A total number of 19 implants were performed in 15 eyes of 9 AIDS patients. The intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir was effective in preventing reactivation of CMV retinitis in 15 of the 19 implants, ineffective in 3, and undetermined in 1. All ineffective cases had been resistant to ganciclovir therapy before the implants. Vision after the therapy was maintained at better than 0.5 except for one eye. There were no serious ocular complications caused by the therapy. Among 5 patients with unilateral CMV retinitis, 2 unaffected eyes developed CMV retinitis during this therapy. In addition, another patient developed presumed CMV infection in other systemic organs. Based on these data, the intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant was considered to be useful for the treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS.     

Ergonomics in rehabilitation: a comparison of two methods of moving an empty manual wheelchair short distances

Phthalimidomethyl derivatives 1, encompassing a wide range of leaving group abilities, are rapidly hydrolysed to the corresponding phthalamic acid via rate-determining attack at the phthalimide carbonyl group.     

Routine analysis of proteins by Kjeldahl and Dumas methods: review and interlaboratory study using dairy products

The Kjeldahl and Dumas (combustion) methods were compared in 11 laboratories analyzing samples of milk, skim milk powder, whole milk powder, whey protein concentrate, infant formula, casein, caseinate, 2 reference compounds (glycine and EDTA), and a secondary reference skim milk powder. The comparison was conducted by using international standards where applicable. Overall means were 8.818 g N/100 g by the Kjeldahl method and 8.810 g N/100 g by the Dumas method. No evidence was found for a consistent bias between methods that may be of concern in the trading of dairy produce. A review of more than 10 related trials revealed a lack of consensus in the bias between the 2 methods, suggesting that differences in methodology and sources of systematic error may be contributors. For samples containing > 2 g N/100 g, the Dumas relative repeatability and reproducibility standard deviations were consistently about 0.35 and 0.75%, respectively, whereas the corresponding Kjeldahl values declined generally with N content and were significantly larger. The Dumas precision characteristics may be due to the dominance of Leco analyzers in this trials, and in most other recent trials, rather than an inherent method attribute. Protein determination methods for dairy products need to be reviewed and updated. The Dumas method needs Codex Alimentarius status as a recognized test method.     

Characterization of a negative cis-acting DNA element regulating the transcription of CYP2B1/B2 gene in rat liver

Polymeric films were deposited from hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) plasma on non-woven poly(butyleneterephtalate) (PBT) filter materials. To test the effect of deposition conditions on surface properties, film were deposited using a constant monomer flow rate and a discharge power ranging from 40-100 W. Surface composition and surface energetics were evaluated by Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) and contact angle measurement, respectively. Albumin (Alb) and fibrinogen (Fg) adsorption from single protein solutions to the plasma-coated filters was measured. Results illustrate the marked effects of the deposition condition on the surface composition, the surface field of forces, and the protein adsorption behavior. The latter is modeled by the application of the Good-van Oss-Chaudhury theory of Lewis acid-base contribution to interfacial energetics. Materials endowed with widely different properties are obtained from the same monomer and different deposition conditions, a result that must be taken into account both in the production step, to assure constant quality, and in the development of specifically tailored materials.