Chromosomal anomalies in stage D1 prostate adenocarcinoma primary tumors and lymph node metastases detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization

We previously reported a HPLC assay method using fluorimetric detection for the simultaneous determination of urinary N2-(3-aminopropyl)biopterin (oncopterin, a natural pteridine newly found in urine from cancer patients), biopterin and neopterin. We now have observed that an unknown substance, which may be derived from methotrexate, in urine from a patient with stomach cancer interfered with the assay of oncopterin and demonstrated that oncopterin could be completely separated from the unidentified substance by HPLC using a Nucleosil 100-5SA strong cation-exchange column. Furthermore, oncopterin was not detectable by this HPLC-fluorimetric method in urine samples from patients with stomach cancer who were not treated with methotrexate. The content of urinary oncopterin from cancer patients is supposed to be very low, with less than 1 mumol/mol creatinine. The present results indicate that the peak found with elution from the C18 column was a methotrexate-derived compound and co-eluted with the analyte oncopterin.     

Identification of a novel endogenous memory facilitating cyclic dipeptide cyclo-prolylglycine in rat brain

Using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas-chromatography and chromato-mass spectrometry methods a novel endogenous cyclic dipeptide cyclo-prolylglycine was identified in rat brain. Its content according to gas chromatography is 2.8 +/- 0.3 nmol/g wet brain. Synthetic cyclo-prolylglycine has demonstrated antiamnesic activity in the passive avoidance test in rats at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg i.p. Cyclic dipeptide cyclo-prolylglycine seems to be a memory facilitating substance and its presence in rat brain suggests the existence of a new mechanism of memory regulation.     

Microsatellite instability in gynecological sarcomas and in hMSH2 mutant uterine sarcoma cell lines defective in mismatch repair activity

We have examined a panel of gynecological sarcomas for microsatellite instability. The genomic DNA from 11 of 44 sarcomas contained somatic alterations in the lengths of one or more di-, tri-, tetra-, or pentanucleotide microsatellite sequence markers, and 6 of these cases had alterations in two or more markers. In addition, di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide microsatellites were found to be highly unstable in single cell clones of two cell lines derived from a uterine mixed mesodermal tumor. Since such instability is characteristic of cells defective in postreplication mismatch repair, we examined mismatch repair activity in extracts made from these lines. Both extracts were repair deficient, while an extract of another gynecological sarcoma cell line not exhibiting microsatellite instability was repair proficient. The repair deficiency was complemented by a colon tumor cell extract that was defective in the hMLH1 protein but not by an extract defective in hMSH2 protein. This suggested that the defect in the uterine sarcoma line could be in hMSH2. Subsequent analysis of the gene revealed a 2-bp deletion in exon 14, leading to premature truncation of the hMSH2 protein at codon 796 and no detectable wild-type gene present. These data suggest that the microsatellite instability observed in these cell lines, and possibly in a significant number of gynecological sarcomas, is due to defective postreplication mismatch repair. There was no apparent correlation with microsatellite instability and clinical outcome.     

Spatial organization of electrical processes in the brain: problems and solutions

Theoretical questions of the spatial organization of electrical activity in the brain are discussed in terms of a multilevel realization of the synergetic principle for formation of functional systems underlying behavior and mental function. The role of the spatial-temporal superimposition of coherent structures of biopotentials in generating fields of increased activity in the cerebral cortex is discussed, these being responsible for integrative and associative functions. A hypothesis is proposed regarding the relationship between the energy and information factors of coherent structures as one of the important characteristics describing the efficiency of energy-informational processes. Emphasis is placed on the need for considering not only linear, but also nonlinear associations of biopotentials in considerations of the form and functional sense of their spatial organization.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland with symptomatic ovarian metastases

We report the clinical and pathologic features of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland that metastasized to the ovaries 10 years after initial presentation. A 30-year-old woman underwent excision of a right submandibular adenoid cystic carcinoma followed by regional external beam radiation therapy. Three years later, she underwent extended hepatic resection and localized radiotherapy to the hepatic region for metastatic disease. The patient was without evidence of disease for 7 years when she developed pelvic pain and a pelvic mass was found. A solid and cystic 10-cm left ovarian mass and a single metastatic tumor nodule involving the right ovary were excised via the laparoscope. Histologically, the tumor was identical to the patient's initial salivary gland neoplasm. The neoplastic cells were CAM 5.2 positive, S100 positive, muscle-specific actin positive, and smooth muscle actin positive. Ultrastructurally, characteristic pseudocysts (pseudolumina) with abundant basal lamina and true glandular lumina lined by short microvilli were present. Other than a single anecdotal account of a parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, this case represents the first documented report of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin that was associated with symptomatic ovarian metastases. This case demonstrates that the ovary is a potential site for metastatic disease many years following the diagnosis and treatment for a primary neoplasm however uncommon or remote the site of origin. Since metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma can rarely present as an ovarian mass, a clinical history of this neoplasm should be heavily weighed in the differential diagnosis of any unusual ovarian tumor with a predominant cribriform, trabecular, or tubular pattern.