Influence of lead on metabolism of vitamins B group in alimentary iron deficient rats

Gamma delta T-Cells represent a minor subpopulation of T-lymphocytes in man and their role in normal and diseased human skin is unknown. This article is a comprehensive review of T-lymphocytes bearing the gamma delta T-cell receptor in normal and pathological human skin. Firstly, we have documented the occurrence of gamma delta T-cells in normal skin and in a range of reactive and malignant skin conditions. We have then discussed the experimental findings regarding the repertoire used by gamma delta T-cells in normal human skin and in cutaneous disorders with an increased percentage of gamma delta T-cells.     

Effects of acetylcholine and glutamate on isolated neurons of locomotory network of Clione

In Clione limacina, locomotory rhythm is produced in the central pattern generator by reciprocal activity of two groups of interneurons. Dorsal (D) and ventral (V) phase interneurons activate neurons of the same phase and inhibit neurons of the opposite phase. Which neurotransmitters are used by these interneurons is not clear. In this study, identified follower neurons to V and D interneurons were isolated, and their responses to the local application of potential neurotransmitters were examined. Acetylcholine exerted inhibitory action on the isolated D-phase neurons and excitatory action on V-phase neurons. Glutamate produced excitation in D-phase neurons, and inhibition in V-phase neurons. These results suggest that acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter of D-phase interneurons, while glutamate might be the neurotransmitter of V-phase interneurons.     

Routine use of ultrasound 24 hours before laparoscopic cholecystectomy can predict the need for intraoperative cholangiogram: results of a 12-month prospective audit

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive degenerative extrapyramidal disease that often masquerades as Parkinson's disease (PD). Similar to PD, dysphagia frequently complicates the course of PSP. Because there is only one published report characterizing dysphagia in PSP, we reviewed the neurologic features and dynamic videofluoroscopic swallowing function study results in 10 dysphagic PSP patients. Abnormalities during multiple stages of ingestion were recorded in each patient. Uncoordinated lingual movements, absent velar retraction or elevation, impaired posterior lingual displacement, and copious pharyngeal secretions were noted in all patients. Tongue-assisted mastication, noncohesive lingual transfer, excessive oral bolus lingual leakage to the pharynx prior to active transfer, vallecular bolus retention, abnormal epiglottic positioning, and hiatal hernias were noted in at least half of the cohort. Although ingestion abnormalities in PSP are similar to those previously reported in PD, the number of studied patients and observed differences were too few to clearly differentiate the two diseases.     

Allelic polymorphism of the DNA-loci met and D7S23, linked to the mucoviscidosis gene in human populations of the Volga-Ural region

Data on allelic polymorphism of MET and D7S23 DNA loci linked to the human cystic fibrosis gene studied in three Bashkir ethnic groups and some Volga-Ural populations (Tartars, Maris, Mordovians, Udmurts, Chuvashs, and Komis) are presented. Udmurts were found to be substantially different from Bashkirs, Tartars, Mordovians, and Chuvashs by the allele frequency distribution observed for MET, while Komis and Bashkirs differed by this parameter from Mordovians and Maris. Comparative analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at the D7S23 locus revealed statistically significant differences in genotype frequencies between Bashkirs of the Arkhangel' skii region and populations of Mordva and Udmurtia. In this respect, the Mordovian population appeared to be notably different from the populations of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Marii-El, Udmurtiya, Chuvashiya, and Komis. Genetic distances were calculated and corresponding dendrograms were constructed on the basis of data on Met-H, CS.7, and the ApoB locus hypervariable region allelic frequencies. Three ethnogeographic Bashkir groups belonging to one tree branch were found to be closely related to the populations of Tartars, Maris, Udmurts, and Chuvashs and substantially different from Komis and Mordovians. Thus, the position of Volga-Ural populations on the dendrogram corresponds to the degree of relationship between the Finno-Ugric and Turkic populations, confirming the usefulness of DNA polymorphism analysis for the study of the genetic structure of populations.     

Involvement of specific mechanism in plasmid DNA uptake by mouse peritoneal macrophages

Lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP)2, which directly interacts with B-type lamins and chromosomes, is an integral membrane protein specifically distributed along the inner nuclear membrane of the nuclear envelope. Multiple regions of its large nucleoplasmic domain promote this localization, including the first (residues 1-296) and the second (residues 298-409) halves of the LAP2 N terminus. The second half is involved in LAP2 association with the nuclear lamina [Furukawa, K., Panté, N., Aebi, U. & Gerace, L. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 1626-1636]. In this study to further define its role, we examined which domain of B-type lamin interacts with LAP2 by means of a binding assay with bacterially expressed proteins and a yeast two-hybrid system. We found that amino acids in the region of residues 78-258 of the lamin B1 rod domain directly bound with LAP2. The data suggest that LAP2 may modulate the assembly of nuclear lamins.     

EMS1 gene expression in primary breast cancer: relationship to cyclin D1 and oestrogen receptor expression and patient survival

The EMS1 and CCND1 genes at chromosome 11q13 are amplified in about 15% of primary breast cancers but appear to confer different phenotypes in ER positive and ER negative tumours. Since there are no published data on EMS1 expression in large series of breast cancers we examined the relationship of EMS1 expression with EMS1 gene copy number and expression of mRNAs for cyclin D1 and ER. In a subset of 129 patients, where matched tumour RNA and DNA was available, EMS1 mRNA overexpression was associated predominantly with gene amplification (P = 0.0061), whereas cyclin D1 mRNA overexpression was not (P = 0.3142). In a more extensive series of 351 breast cancers, there was no correlation between cyclin D1 and EMS1 expression in the EMS1 and cyclin D1 overexpressors (P = 0.3503). Although an association between EMS1 mRNA expression and ER positivity was evident (P = 0.0232), when the samples were divided into quartiles of EMS1 or cyclin D1 mRNA expression, the increase in the proportion of ER positive tumours in the ascending EMS1 mRNA quartiles was not statistically significant (P = 0.0951). In marked contrast there was a significant stepwise increase in ER positivity in ascending quartiles of cyclin D1 mRNA (P = 0.030). A potential explanation for this difference was provided by the observation that in ER positive breast cancer cells oestradiol treatment resulted in increased cyclin D1 gene expression but was without effect on EMS1. The relationship between EMS1 expression and clinical outcome was examined in a subset of 234 patients with median follow-up of 74 months. High EMS1 expression was associated with age > 50 years (P = 0.0001), postmenopausal status (P = 0.0008), lymph node negativity (P = 0.019) and an apparent trend for worse prognosis in the ER negative subgroup. These data demonstrate that overexpression of EMS1 mRNA is largely due to EMS1 gene amplification, is independent of cyclin D1 and ER expression and, in contrast to cyclin D1, is not regulated by oestrogen. Independent overexpression of these genes may confer different phenotypes and disease outcomes in breast cancer as has been inferred from recent studies of EMS1 and CCND1 gene amplification.