Role of the C-terminal extension in the interaction of S100A1 with GFAP, tubulin, the S100A1- and S100B-inhibitory peptide, TRTK-12, and a peptide derived from p53, and the S100A1 inhibitory effect on GFAP polymerization

Controversy over the efficacy of many topical wound treatments, particularly growth factors, is common, with many clinical practitioners still confused as to the real value of these agents. A serious lack of knowledge appears to exist concerning the diffusion and distribution of topically applied solutes in wounds. Without this basic understanding there seems little chance of accurately predicting the therapeutic window of drugs targeted at cellular activities, such as division and chemotaxis, and processes, such as collagen lattice deposition and contraction, occurring below the surface of the granulating layer. This study was designed to determine the absorption and distribution of a number of radiolabeled solutes (water, sodium chloride, lidocaine) and growth factors (basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor) applied topically to full-thickness excisional wounds in rats during the early (2 d), mid (7 d), and late (12 d) stages of repair. Results showed that water and sodium penetrated deepest into wound sites and that changes in water distribution and retention in the wound paralleled the healing process. Multiple stepwise regression showed that molecular weight and tissue depth, but not day of healing, were significant factors in predicting the concentration of each solute in wound and underlying tissue sites. This finding was consistent with a tissue diffusion model developed in this study. Basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor only penetrated slightly into the upper granulating layers of the wound site, and calculation of therapeutic doses, based on the percentage of applied solute reaching the deeper granulating layers, is presented.     

Analysis of a genomic DNA expression library of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using tuberculosis patient sera: evidence for modulation of host immune response

DNA obtained from a human sputum isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, NTI-64719, which showed extensive dissemination in the guinea pig model resulting in a high score for virulence was used to construct an expression library in the lambda ZAP vector. The size of DNA inserts in the library ranged from 1 to 3 kb, and recombinants represented 60% of the total plaques obtained. When probed with pooled serum from chronically infected tuberculosis patients, the library yielded 176 recombinants with a range of signal intensities. Among these, 93 recombinants were classified into 12 groups on the basis of DNA hybridization experiments. The polypeptides synthesized by the recombinants were predominantly LacZ fusion proteins. Serum obtained from patients who were clinically diagnosed to be in the early phase of M. tuberculosis infection was used to probe the 176 recombinants obtained. Interestingly, some recombinants that gave very strong signals in the original screen did not react with early-phase serum; conversely, other whose signals were extremely weak in the original screen gave very intense signals with serum from recently infected patients. This indicates the differential nature of either the expression of these antigens or the immune response elicited by them as a function of disease progression.     

Renal transplantation in adults with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/haemolytic-uraemic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (TTP/HUS) is a rare cause of renal failure in adults. There is little data concerning the outcome of adult patients who receive a renal transplant for TTP/HUS: METHODS: We have carried out a survey of 22 transplant centres in the USA to determine the outcome of patients who developed ESRD from TTP/HUS and latter received a renal transplant. RESULTS: Twelve of the 22 centres responded to our inquiry. Seven centres had not transplanted any patients with TTP/HUS, and five centres had transplanted a total of 24 grafts in 17 patients with TTP/HUS: Thirty-three per cent of patients demonstrated definite clinical and pathological evidence of recurrence of TTP/HUS: An additional 16% of patients demonstrated pathological evidence of possible recurrence of TTP/HUS in the absence of clinical manifestations. The overall 1-year graft survival rate was 42% and the 2-year graft survival rate was 35%. In our experience recurrence TTP/HUS was associated with universal graft failure. Although cyclosporin A does occasionally cause a thrombotic angiopathy in patients with no history of TTP/HUS, we found no evidence that it should be avoided in patients with a previous history of ESRD from TTP/HUS who subsequently receive a renal transplant. CONCLUSIONS: TTP/HUS frequently recurres in adults who receive a renal transplant, with a 2-year graft survival rate of 35%.     

Seroprevalence survey of Egyptian tourism workers for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and Treponema pallidum infections: association of hepatitis C virus infections with specific regions of Egypt

Blood samples from 740 Egyptian Nationals working in the tourism industry at two sites in the South Sinai governorate were screened for markers of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Treponema pallidum. Study subjects included 467 individuals from a rural seashore tourist village and 273 persons at two hotels in a well-established resort town. Subjects' ages ranged from 15 to 70 years; 99.3% were male. The prevalence of serologic markers for currently asymptomatic or past HBV infection alone was 20.7% (n = 153), of markers for past or chronic HCV infection alone was 7.4% (n = 55), and of markers for both HBV and HCV was 6.9% (n = 51). Of the 204 individuals positive for anti-HBV core antibody, 12 (5.9%) were also positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Two individuals (0.3%) had a serologic market suggestive of an active syphilitic infection. No subject was found to be HIV-seropositive. History of prior injections and number of injections were associated with infection with HCV. Primary residence in the Nile delta and valley areas where schistosomiasis is highly endemic, was also a statistically significant risk factor for HCV, but not HBV infection.     

MR angiography of the head and neck

A review of the basic physics and techniques for acquiring and evaluating magnetic resonance angiograms is provided, including time-of-flight and phase contrast techniques. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography is becoming a routine method of evaluating carotid bifurcation atherosclerotic disease in both a screening and diagnostic capacity. The expanding clinical utility of MR angiography in the detection of intracranial aneurysms, characterization of arteriovenous malformations, and evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease are also reviewed. Furthermore, MR angiography allows for the noninvasive diagnosis of arterial dissection. Magnetic resonance venography also allows the confirmation of the previously elusive and likely underdiagnosed entity of cerebral venous thrombosis.     

Distribution of myosin heavy chain isoforms in non-weight-bearing rat soleus muscle fibers

The effects of 14 days of spaceflight (SF) or hindlimb suspension (HS) (Cosmos 2044) on myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform content of the rat soleus muscle and single muscle fibers were determined. On the basis of electrophoretic analyses, there was a de novo synthesis of type IIx MHC but no change in either type I or IIa MHC isoform proportions after either SF or HS compared with controls. The percentage of fibers containing only type I MHC decreased by 26 and 23%, and the percentage of fibers with multiple MHCs increased from 6% in controls to 32% in HS and 34% in SF rats. Type IIx MHC was always found in combination with another MHC or combination of MHCs; i.e., no fibers contained type IIx MHC exclusively. These data suggest that the expression of the normal complement of MHC isoforms in the adult rat soleus muscle is dependent, in part, on normal weight bearing and that the absence of weight bearing induces a shift toward type IIx MHC protein expression in the preexisting type I and IIa fibers of the soleus.     

Selective capacity of glass-wool filtration for the separation of human spermatozoa with condensed chromatin: a possible therapeutic modality for male-factor cases?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate chromatin condensation of human spermatozoa following swim-up compared to glass-wool separation. Semen aliquots from men attending an andrological outpatient clinic were processed by means of a swim-up procedure and glass-wool filtration. Chromatin condensation was recorded using aniline blue staining and results were reported according to color intensity of stained sperm heads. Morphometric measurements of sperm heads were performed on stained sperm samples. RESULTS: Glass-wool filtration resulted (i) in a significantly higher total motile sperm count (P < 0.0005) compared to swim-up and (ii) in a significantly higher percentage of normal chromatin-condensed spermatozoa compared to the ejaculate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In contrast, comparing swim-up to the ejaculate, the percentage of matured nuclei (unstained spermatozoa) retrieved following swim-up was significantly lower (P < 0.005). Glass-wool filtration separates human spermatozoa according to motility and size of the sperm head. The size of the sperm head closely correlated with the chromatin condensation quality.     

Effect of castration and steroid treatments on the activity of some hydrolytic enzymes in dog prostate

Adult mongrel dogs were castrated and treated by intramuscular injections of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (androstanediol) alone or in combination with estradiol in order to find convenient enzymatic markers of hormone action in prostate. The activities of 15 hydrolytic enzymes were determined. Arginine esterase, acid sulfatase, and acid phosphatase were found to be the most sensitive markers of testicular hormones since they were decreased 18-, 5- and 5-fold respectively after 1 month of castration. The enzyme activities returned to precastration levels after 2 weeks of injection of androstanediol to castrated animals. The effect of androstanediol on the majority of the remaining enzymes was small. In general, the activities obtained after androstanediol treatment in combination with estradiol were similar to those obtained with androstanediol alone. Finally, beta-glucuronidase and neutral sulfatase were increased after castration, a finding that suggests that these enzymes are constituents of stromal cells. These studies will provide a basis for future studies of hormone action in the dog prostate.     

The effects of chemical injury on the ocular surface

Chemical burns of the eye may destroy all of the corneal epithelium and large portions of conjunctival epithelium into the fornices. Restoration of the ocular surface after a chemical burn depends on the centritedal movement of conjunctival epithelial cells and their adherence to the altered corneal stroma. Epithelial movement after a corneal burn is normal for 72 hours after a burn, but persistent epithelial defects thereafter commonly are not resolved until total corneal vascularization occurs. Although this fresh epithelium may be protected by a bandage soft contact lens, more promising and far-reaching approaches may follow epithelial supplementation and even replacement. The link between the health and integrity of the epithelial layer as it relates to the corneal substratum and its cellular constituents remains to be forged.