Histometric study of meat products. A literature review

In the present paper, the literature on the development of methods for histometric monitoring the quality of meats is reviewed. The value of specific techniques, statistical interpretation of results and the practicability of automation of histometric analysis are examined more closely. It is concluded from the study of the literature that histometric examination of meats allows an objective assessment of volume percentages of tissue components. When a distinct difference in contrast between various tissues is achieved by specific staining methods, developments in the field of image analysis systems will allow automation of the quantitative histological examination of meats.     

MMP and TIMP expression pattern in pleural effusions of different origins

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are proteolytic enzymes that are essentially involved in the turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their activity is counterbalanced by specific antagonists, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP). In this study, we sought to analyze the expression of MMP and TIMP isoforms in pleural effusions from 88 patients. We compared MMP and TIMP isoform expression in transudates (n = 21) and exudates (n = 67), the latter divided into exudates of paraneoplastic (n = 46) or parainfectious (n = 21) origin. Zymographic and Western blot analyses revealed constant expression of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), gelatinase-A (MMP-2), and TIMP-1 in all 88 samples. In contrast, analyses of gelatinase-B (MMP-9) demonstrated a specific expression pattern, with high expression in exudates and lack of expression in transudates. Neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8) was detected in trace amounts, and correlated with the number of neutrophils in the effusion. Low levels of TIMP-2 were detected only in exudates and not in transudates. Quantitative analysis of the expression ratio of gelatinase-B to gelatinase-A revealed statistically significant differences between effusions of different origin. The ratio was highest in exudates of paraneoplastic origin and lowest in transudates. Our data thus suggest that interstitial collagenase, gelatinase-A, and TIMP-1 play a role in homeostasis of the pleural space in vivo as constitutively expressed proteins, whereas gelatinase-B and TIMP-2 expression are induced in specific disease states. These observations contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of pleural effusions, and may help to characterize and possibly distinguish effusions of different origin.     

Differential expression of two functional serine/threonine protein kinases from soybean that have an unusual acidic domain at the carboxy terminus

Two soybean cDNA clones, SPK-3 and SPK-4, encoding putative protein kinases were isolated and characterized. Both cDNAs encoded approximately 40-kDa serine/threonine kinases with unusual stretches of acidic amino acids in their carboxy-terminal regions, which are highly homologous to PKABA1 from wheat and ASKs from Arabidopsis. These kinases are encoded by one- or two-copy genes in the soybean genome. Notably, SPK-3 and -4 showed different patterns of expression in various soybean tissues. SPK-3 is highly expressed in dividing and elongating tissues of young seedlings but relatively weakly in tissues of mature plants. In contrast, SPK-4 showed relatively high and constitutive expression in all the tissues examined except for leaf tissues of mature plants. Although various stressors, such as dehydration and high salinity, increased the expression of both genes, the induction kinetics were different. The two genes also differed in their response to abscisic acid (ABA). SPK-3 was induced but SPK-4 was not affected by exogenously supplied abscisic acid. In accordance with these expression data analysis of the activity of a chimeric SPK-3 promoter::beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene by transient expression in tobacco leaves confirmed the inducibility of SPK-3 by salt and ABA. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a recombinant SPK-4 protein produced in Escherichia coli specifically recognized both recombinant SPK-3 and -4 proteins. Kinase assays using affinity-purified SPK-4/ antibody complexes with crude soybean extracts as substrate identified specific phosphorylation of two 41 and 170 kDa soybean proteins that were phosphorylated on serine residues. Taken together, our results suggest that SPK-3, and/or SPK-4 are functional serine protein kinase(s). Furthermore, SPK-3 and -4 may play different roles in the transduction of various environmental stresses.     

Pancreatic cancer and comparison of a hospital-based tumor registry with a National Cancer Data Base

BACKGROUND: The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has called upon institutions providing cancer care to compare practice patterns and outcomes with the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Using data from the Virginia Mason Tumor Registry (VMTR), we sought to compare our pancreatic cancer care patterns with those reported nationally, while critically evaluating the accuracy and usefulness of our registry. METHODS: A review of the 906 computerized patient files in the VMTR from 1973 to 1995 was performed, with more detailed data on patients from the last 5 years retrieved from 224 manual abstracts. These data were compared with the 1991 NCDB for pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: The percent of cases according to AJCC stage in the NCDB (n = 9,715) versus the VMTR (n = 149), respectively, with cases of unknown stage excluded, were stage I 22% versus 22%, stage II 9% versus 12%, stage III 17% versus 28% (P <0.05) stage IV 52% versus 38% (P <0.05). One-third of the cases in the VMTR 1991 to 1995 were of unknown stage; number of cases with unknown stage for NCDB was 26.6%. The percent of surgical procedures for the NCDB (n = 7,802) versus the VMTR (n = 224), respectively, was pancreatectomy 14% versus 11%, local excision 1% versus 0%, no cancer-directed surgery 83% versus 89% (P <0.05), unknown 2% versus 0% (P <0.05). The actuarial relative survival rates for the 1991 NCDB versus 1987 to 1995 VMTR was 3-year 18% versus 38%, and 5-year 14% versus 35%. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the NCDB, VMTR may have fewer stage IV pancreatic cancers, but improvement is needed in decreasing the number of patients for whom the stage is unknown, as many of these likely represent late stage disease. We have a similar resection rate and a higher survival compared with the NCDB, but a mechanism is not in place to statistically compare our survival data with those of the NCDB. Even though all accredited hospitals are required to have a tumor registry, our data were difficult to compare with those of the NCDB because of coding and reporting deficiencies and inability to statistically compare survival data. Before our practice patterns and outcomes can be compared with national standards, both the VMTR and the NCDB must have standardized data collection and better access to the data.