Juvenile Tillaux fracture simulating syndesmosis separation: a case report

Determination of proliferative activity of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), aimed at improving the prediction of their clinical behavior, has gained considerable attention in the recent years. Flow cytometry has allowed rapid measurement of the cellular DNA content in terms of ploidy and proliferative activity. Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed on paraffin embedded biopsy specimens taken from 125 patients with NHL. In 90 of them, proliferative index (PI) could be accurately measured and correlated with histology grade of the Working Formulation (WF). Intermediate and high grade NHL (54 patients) were analyzed together as HG-NHL. With the discrimination point for PI of 10%, the survival of high and low proliferative lymphomas was compared in the whole NHL group and within the WF prognostic groups. The median PI was 5% in LG (low grade) NHL and 10% in HG (high grade) NHL group. Acturial survival in NHL with high proliferative activity (39 patients) was 31% at 5 years and 15% at 10 years, and in NHL with low proliferative activity (51 patients) 53% and 18%, respectively (p = 0.002). In HG-NHL, survival at 5 years for low proliferative cases was 55% and for high proliferative cases 28% (p = 0.065), whereas in the LG-NHL group it was 54% and 28%, respectively (p = 0.059). The survival at 10 years was nearly equal in all groups. Proliferative index was associated with the overall survival of NHL in the whole group, as well as within the LG and HG prognostic categories. PI could differentiate more and less aggressive NHLs both within LG-NHL and HG-NHL. A tendency of survival curves toward continuous relapse was observed in low proliferative NHL and a tendency toward "plateau" in high proliferative NHL, irrespective of the histology grade.     

StAR protein is expressed in both medulla and cortex of the bovine and rat adrenal gland

We have employed polyclonal antibodies to a peptide sequence of bovine steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and human placental 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) to determine the localisation and distribution of these proteins in rat and bovine adrenal glands. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the presence of StAR protein in the zona glomerulosa (ZG), zona fasciculata (ZF), zona reticularis (ZR) and in the medulla of both species. For 3beta-HSD, immunostaining was observed in the ZG, ZF and ZR of the rat adrenal and was absent in the medulla. Immunoblotting experiments showed intense bands for StAR protein (30 kDa, 37 kDa) in the mitochondria of bovine ZG, ZF and medulla and a less intense band (30 kDa) in the microsomes. In rat ZG and ZF/R mitochondria only the 30 kDa protein was present. For 3beta-HSD, an intense band (42 kDa) was found in microsomes and mitochondria of rat and bovine ZG and ZFR. A very faint signal for 3beta-HSD was seen in adrenal medulla. In conclusion, StAR (or a closely related) protein is present throughout the adrenal gland in rat and bovine species in contrast to 3beta-HSD which is confined to the steroidogenic zones. The possible function of StAR protein in the adrenal medulla merits investigation.     

Relationship between prothrombin activation fragment F1.2 and international normalized ratio in patients with atrial fibrillation. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prothrombin time (expressed as the international normalized ratio [INR]) is the standard method of monitoring warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Prothrombin activation fragment F1.2 provides an index of in vivo thrombin generation and might provide a better index of the effective intensity of anticoagulation. We examined the relationship between F1.2 and INR in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We measured INR and F1.2 levels in 846 patients with atrial fibrillation participating in the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III study. Two hundred nineteen (26%) were taking aspirin alone, 326 (39%) were taking adjusted-dose warfarin, and 301 (36%) were taking a low fixed dose of warfarin (1 to 3 mg) plus aspirin (combination therapy). F1.2 levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin or combination therapy had significantly higher INR and significantly lower F1.2 values than those on aspirin alone (P < or = .0001 for each of the four comparisons). F1.2 values (nanomolar) were inversely correlated with INR (F1.2 = -0.1 + 2.3[1/INR]; R2 = .37; P < .0001; simple linear regression). However, significant variability remained. Among patients receiving warfarin, older patients had higher F1.2 values than younger patients after adjustment for INR intensity (P < .001) in the model. There was no difference in the relationship between F1.2 and INR between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing intensity of anticoagulation, as measured by the INR, is associated with decreasing thrombin generation as measured by the F1.2 level, but significant variability exists in this relationship. Older anticoagulated patients have higher F1.2 values than younger patients at equivalent INR values. The clinical significance of these differences is not clear. F1.2 measurement might provide information regarding anticoagulation intensity in addition to that reflected by the INR.     

Demonstration of discrete secreted and membrane-bound ocular mucins in the dog

Our aims were to separate and characterize secreted canine ocular mucins, and to provide definitive evidence of membrane-bound mucins at the canine ocular surface. Mucus was collected by suction from the ocular surface of normal dogs and dispersed in guanidine hydrochloride and a cocktail of protease inhibitors. Caesium chloride density gradient centrifugation separated secreted mucins from membranes, which were collected from the top of the gradients. Membranes were extracted with octyl glucoside and screened using lectins and anti-mucin antibodies. Gradient fractions containing secreted mucins were constituted into pools on the basis of differential lectin and antibody staining. High molecular weight material from each pool was purified by gel filtration. This material, and the membrane extract, were reduced and alkylated. Vacuum blotting of separated materials after agarose gel electrophoresis was used to compare subunit structure. Density gradient profiles indicated three principal secreted glycoprotein peaks: one staining strongly with anti-mucin antibodies. Gel filtration demonstrated that each contained high molecular weight material. Vacuum blots demonstrated the presence of two secreted glycoproteins with differently sized subunits. On the basis of buoyant density, one of these may be lipid complexed. Membrane extracted material stained with anti-mucin antibodies, and vacuum blotting of this material provided evidence for two membrane-bound components. In conclusion, we have shown that normal canine ocular mucus contains two secreted mucins, each exhibiting different subunit structure; one of these mucins may undergo lipid complexation. Normal canine ocular mucus also contains two membrane-bound mucins: one of which is unique among membrane mucins in showing subunit structure.     

Flotation rates,molecular weights and hydrated densities of the low-density lipoproteins

A method involving three computer programs is described for characterizing the major component of the S_f 0–12 low-density lipoprotein class by its S_f rate, hydrated density and molecular weight. All necessary information is obtained from a standard low and high-density lipoprotein ultracentrifugal analysis. Moving-boundary flotation rates are measured in 1.061 g/ml sodium chloride and 1.200 g/ml sodium bromide solutions and are corrected to flotation at zero concentration. Hydrated densities are calculated from η F^o versus ρ plots and minimum hydrated molecular weights calculated using Stokes' frictional factor, assuming spherical molecules. Preliminary application of this procedure indicates higher S _f ^o rates, higher molecular weights, and lower hydrated densities in females than in males. Molecular weights and standard deviations of the principal S_f 0–12 component for non-fasting normal adult females and males were 2.36±0.16 and 2.12±0.20 millions, respectively. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, New York, October, 1968.     

Cell interaction study of amyloid by using luminescent conjugated polythiophene: implication that amyloid cytotoxicity is correlated with prolonged cellular binding

Needles and noodles: Studying amyloid toxicity is important for understanding protein misfolding diseases. Using a luminescent conjugated polythiophene, we found that cell binding of nontoxic filamentous amyloids of insulin and β2-microglobulin was less efficient than that of toxic fibrillar amyloids; this suggests a correlation between amyloid toxicity and cell binding.     

The response of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) to lodgepole pine trees baited with verbenone and exo-brevicomin

exo-brevicomin, a multifunctional pheromone of the mountain pine beetle,Dendroctonus ponderosae, was tested at release rates of 0.5 and 2.5 mg/day alone and in combination with the antiaggregation pheromone verbenone against unbaited controls. Significantly more lodgepole pinePinus contorta var.latifolia trees were attacked, and at higher densities, with both release rates ofexo-brevicomin than with all other treatments. Verbenone significantly reduced the response of mountain pine beetles toexo-brevicomin. Verbenone alone did not reduce the number of trees attacked by mountain pine beetle or the attack density when compared to the unbaited controls.     

Optimized laser processing of calibration blocks for grinding burn detection with Barkhausen noise

Calibration samples for the Barkhausen noise (BN) method were produced with laser processing. A planet gear wheel used for production quality control was subjected to laser irradiation to verify the BN sensor output. Different samples were found to respond similarly to the laser processing although the laser parameters needed to be adjusted for different surface qualities separately. The surface optimization for laser processing was studied with different surface qualities of samples. The ground surface was compared with a sandblasted and vibratory ground surface. The ground and sandblasted surfaces were both amenable to the laser processing whereas the vibratory grinding process created inhomogeneous surfaces for laser beam absorption. Laser processing was found to produce uniform changes in the residual stress values in two perpendicular measuring directions. The root mean square value of the BN voltage signal exhibited linear correlations with the values of the residual stress and surface hardness.     

Proteolytic cleavage and activation of PAK2 during UV irradiation-induced apoptosis in A431 cells

Exposure of mammalian cells to ultraviolet (UV) light elicits a cellular response and can also lead to apoptotic cell death. In this report, we show that a 36-kDa myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase detected by an in-gel kinase assay can be dramatically activated during the early stages of UV irradiation-triggered apoptosis of A431 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed that this 36-kDa MBP kinase could be recognized by an antibody against the C-terminal regions of a family of p21Cdc42/Rac-activated kinases (PAKs). By using this antibody and a PAK2-specific antibody against the N-terminal region of PAK2 as studying tools, we further demonstrated that UV irradiation caused cleavage of PAK2 to generate a 36-kDa C-terminal catalytic fragment and a 30-kDa N-terminal fragment in A431 cells. The appearance of the 36-kDa C-terminal catalytic fragment of PAK2 matched exactly with the activation of the 36-kDa MBP kinase in A431 cells upon UV irradiation. In addition, UV irradiation also led to activation of CPP32/caspase-3, but not ICH-1L/caspase-2 and ICE/caspase-1, in A431 cells and the kinetics of activation of CPP32/caspase-3 appeared to correlate well with that of DNA fragmentation and of cleavage/activation of PAK2, respectively. Moreover, blockage of activation of CPP32/caspase-3 by pretreating the cells with two specific tetrapeptidic inhibitors for caspases (Ac-DEVD-cho and Ac-YVAD-cmk) could significantly attenuate the extent of cleavage/activation of PAK2 induced by UV irradiation. Collectively, the results demonstrate that cleavage and activation of PAK2 can be induced during the early stages of UV irradiation-triggered apoptosis and indicate the involvement of CPP32/caspase-3 in this process.     

Age- and gender-related elastin distribution changes in human vocal folds

To elucidate the mechanism of gut hypertrophy observed in rats artificially reared (AR) on milk formulas, the effects of four refined formulas with different ratios of casein (C) and whey protein (W), CW 2:8, CW 4:6, CW 6:4 and CW 8:2, on the gut growth of AR rats were examined. Four groups of pups were infused with each formula through an intragastric cannula from age 5 to 15 days. Each of the four milk formulas showed a different character in the stomach, such as no curd, very soft curd, soft curd and hard curd, in response to an increasing ratio of C:W. There were no significant differences in body weight gain among the AR groups and mother-reared (MR) controls. The stomach growth, in weight, of AR rats increased in response to the increasing ratios of C:W. In comparison with MR controls, hypertrophy of the stomach of AR rats appeared within the formulas with higher proportions of casein than whey protein (CW 6:4 and CW 8:2), but not those with lower proportions (CW 2:8 and CW 4:6). The growth of the small intestine was also related to the increasing ratio of C:W in the formulas. A similar pattern of hypertrophy in the hindgut was seen in AR rats. There was no association between hypertrophy of the gut in AR rats and plasma triiodothyronine. The present results clearly demonstrated that the gut growth of AR rat pups was directly influenced by the diet but not by AR per se, and that hard casein-curd in the stomach might be one cause of gut hypertrophy.