Oncogene rearrangement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a 14q+ chromosome of unknown origin

Southern blot analysis was performed with a panel of DNA probes to detect rearrangements of c-myc, bcl-1, bcl-2 and bcl-3 in 14 cases of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with a clonal cytogenetic rearrangement involving the chromosome 14q32 locus and no known donor chromosome [t(14;?)(q32;?)]. In our experience, 21% of all chromosomal abnormalities involving the 14q32 locus in B-cell NHL are of this type. We found oncogene rearrangements in five of the 14 cases: bcl-1 rearrangement on one mantle zone lymphoma, bcl-2 rearrangements in two follicular lymphomas, and c-myc rearrangements in two small noncleaved cell lymphomas. We conclude that a 14q32+ abnormality of unknown origin is a relatively frequent karyotypic finding in B-cell NHL. In one third of the cases, known oncogenes that have been previously described in reciprocal translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus were shown to be involved in the 14q32+ abnormality. The translocations in the other cases are likely to have involved one of the above oncogenes with breakpoints not revealed by the probes employed, other known oncogenes, or oncogenes that have not yet been identified.     

A capstone design project to meet the needs of the changing power systems industry and satisfy new accreditation standards

Currently, two motivators are effecting change in power systems education. First, the industry's transition to a more competitive environment is requiring changes in the content and pedagogy of power systems education. Second, engineering education as a whole is seeking to modify its curriculum to reflect a better balance between science and education in order to better meet the needs of industry. These curricular changes are largely a result of revised Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation requirements. In response to these changes, new curriculum and analysis tools were developed for a power systems capstone design course. The project integrates market economics and socio-political considerations with transient stability analysis and transmission planning. A power systems analysis package and an economic analysis tool were developed for use with this project. Student evaluations of the course in which the project was implemented indicate that the curriculum successfully addresses a broad range of ABET accreditation criteria.     

Testosterone has rewarding affective properties in male rats: Implications for the biological basis of sexual motivation.

Evidence from mammalian species, including humans, suggests that testosterone (TST) enhances motivational aspects of sexual behavior, although the mechanism by which TST exerts this effect is unknown. The hypothesis that increases in plasma TST have rewarding affective properties was examined. Acute elevations of plasma TST were induced in intact male rats by systemic administration of a recently developed testosterone-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex that mimics pulsatile release of the hormone. In a conditioned-place-preference paradigm, rats displayed a preference for an environment previously paired with TST administration (800 μg/kg and 1,200 μg/kg) as opposed to an environment paired with saline administration, indicating that TST has rewarding affective properties. The findings suggest that TST may enhance motivational aspects of mammalian sexual behavior by facilitating acquisition or expression of learned associations between environmental stimuli and sexual activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internal excitation of intermediate mass fragments from collisions of 36Ar+Ag nuclei at 35 MeV/nucleon

An extruding wire knife was used to give adult male CFHB rats a minimally traumatic unilateral mechanical lesion of the medial forebrain bundle. In addition, some rats received bilateral intrastriatal injections of one of three fluorescent retrograde tracers either eight days before or eight days after the lesion. Injections made after the lesion revealed that about half of the animals had complete lesions of the nigrostriatal tract, while the other half were incompletely lesioned, the mean proportion of non-axotomized neurons being 23%. Over the 10 weeks following the lesions, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in the lesioned substantia nigra fell linearly, reaching a mean of 29% of that of the control substantia nigra. In the animals which were completely lesioned, neuronal survival at 10 weeks varied between 6 and 12%. That the disappearance of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons was due to cell death rather than the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase itself was confirmed by labelling the cells with Fluoro Gold before axotomy; the tracer was seen in survival neurons, microglia and in a few involuted neurons which continued to be tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive. This percentage of neurons surviving axotomy corresponds to the proportion of substantia nigra neurons which project to the contralateral striatum, and these neurons were in the region of the substantia nigra from which the contralateral projection originated. It is concluded that following mechanical transection of the nigrostriatal tract, all truly axotomized substantia nigra neurons die over a period of about 10 weeks.     

V beta specificity of superantigen TSST-1 plus CD28 costimulation without APCs

Little has so far been known about the role of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the activation of T cells by superantigens. Recently several studies showed that superantigens could directly activate purified T cells in the presence of CD28 costimulation. Here we investigate V beta expression of T cells activated by the superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), plus CD28 costimulation, in the absence of APCs. The aim of this study was to ask if TSST-1 activated purified T cells in the presence of CD28 costimulation with the same specificity as in the presence of APCs. We provide evidence that the specificity of TSST-1 to human V beta, in the presence of CD28 costimulation, is identical to that in the presence of APCs, with V beta 2 being significantly expanded. The results indicate that the main role of APCs in the superantigen-mediated T cell activation may be to provide T cells with CD28 costimulation.     

A multiparameter wearable physiologic monitoring system for space and terrestrial applications.

A novel, unobtrusive and wearable, multiparameter ambulatory physiologic monitoring system for space and terrestrial applications, termed LifeGuard, is presented. The core element is a wearable monitor, the crew physiologic observation device (CPOD), that provides the capability to continuously record two standard electrocardiogram leads, respiration rate via impedance plethysmography, heart rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, ambient or body temperature, three axes of acceleration, and blood pressure. These parameters can be digitally recorded with high fidelity over a 9-h period with precise time stamps and user-defined event markers. Data can be continuously streamed to a base station using a built-in Bluetooth RF link or stored in 32 MB of on-board flash memory and downloaded to a personal computer using a serial port. The device is powered by two AAA batteries. The design, laboratory, and field testing of the wearable monitors are described.     

Survival of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus treated with combined-modality therapy

Since 1985, 229 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus have been considered for entry into a protocol with the use of preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgical intervention as the primary element of treatment. One hundred sixty-five patients (93 with adenocarcinoma and 72 with squamous cell carcinoma) had esophagogastrectomy. The 5-year survival of the protocol patients who underwent resection was 25% for both groups--squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Of the protocol patients with squamous cell carcinoma who underwent resection, 40% had a sterilized specimen, whereas of those with adenocarcinoma, 20% had a sterilized specimen. If the patient had a sterilized specimen, the 5-year survival was approximately 60% for adenocarcinoma and 40% for squamous cell carcinoma. Those patients with adenocarcinoma and Barrett's esophagus had a 5-year survival of 55%. Of the patients who underwent only esophagectomy and esophagogastrectomy and had not been entered into the protocol, none lived beyond 3 years. The operative mortality rate for those who had esophagogastrectomy was 5%. Sixty-four patients completed the radiation therapy and chemotherapy but did not undergo surgical procedures because of progressive disease or refusal. Of those patients who completed chemotherapy and radiation therapy without surgical intervention, 5-year survival was 18% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, whereas no patients with adenocarcinoma survived beyond 3 years. The finding of a sterilized specimen after esophagectomy is a favorable prognostic factor in patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The finding that patients with Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma have an improved chance for survival is perhaps related to an earlier diagnosis. It is clear that some patients with squamous cell carcinoma who did not undergo surgical procedures did have a sterilized specimen, because the survival in this group approached 20% at 5 years.