Reaction of cytochrome P450 with cumene hydroperoxide: ESR spin-trapping evidence for the homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond by ferric cytochrome P450 1A2

ESR spin trapping was used to investigate the reaction of rabbit cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 with cumene hydroperoxide. Cumene hydroperoxide-derived peroxyl, alkoxyl, and carbon-centered radicals were formed and trapped during the reaction. The relative contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum were influenced by the concentration of the spin trap. Computer simulation of the experimental data obtained at various 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) concentrations was used to quantitate the contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum. The alkoxyl radical was the initial radical produced during the reaction. Experiments with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane identified the carbon-centered adducts as those of the methyl radical, hydroxymethyl radical, and a secondary carbon-centered radical. The reaction did not require NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase or NADPH. It is concluded that the reaction involves the initial homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond to produce the cumoxyl radical. Methyl radicals were produced from the beta-scission of the cumoxyl radical. The peroxyl adduct was not observed in the absence of molecular oxygen. We conclude that the DMPO peroxyl radical adduct detected in the presence of oxygen was due to the methylperoxyl radical formed by the reaction of the methyl radical with oxygen. At a higher P450 concentration, a protein-derived radical adduct was also detected.     

One or two incisions for nephroureterectomy in transitional cell renal pelvis tumours

A retrospective study comprising 18 patients with transitional cell renal pelvis tumours (TCPT) was carried out to evaluate the results after two different surgical procedures for nephroureterectomy. The kidney was removed by a flank incision and the lower part of the ureter by either an incision in the lower part of the abdomen or intussusception of the ureter followed by transurethral resection of the ureteral orifice. Eight patients were subjected to nephroureterectomy by means of two incisions and another eight patients underwent a simple nephrectomy followed by ureteral intus-susception and transurethral resection. Two patients received other treatments. After nephroureterectomy with a separate incision for ureterectomy, the average hospital stay was 12 days, compared with 7.5 days in patients operated upon with only one abdominal incision. Recurrence of tumour or survival was not significantly different in the two groups.     

The transjugular stent implantation for the treatment of malignant portal and hepatic vein obstruction in cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The increase in portal vascular resistance is a significant complication of metastatic disease to the liver or locally advanced cancer, e.g., biliary cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This paper describes the successful palliative treatment of two cancer patients with portal hypertension presenting with the symptoms of tense ascites, mesenteric congestion, and severe variceal bleeding. By creating a stenttract between a hepatic vein and a main branch of the portal vein and/or by placing an extendable stent into the portal vein, the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) technique was used to decompress the portovascular system. RESULTS: The TIPS-technique offers a new, safe and effective palliation for malignant portal hypertension. In both patients, the symptoms of the portal hypertension disappeared after the procedure. This was accompanied by a significant improvement of the patients performance status allowing an early ambulation. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the TIPS procedure as a minimal invasive treatment for portal vein decompression in selected tumor patients.     

Global analysis of the thermal and chemical denaturation of the N-terminal domain of the ribosomal protein L9 in H2O and D2O. Determination of the thermodynamic parameters, deltaH(o), deltaS(o), and deltaC(o)p and evaluation of solvent isotope effects

The stability of the N-terminal domain of the ribosomal protein L9, NTL9, from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been monitored by circular dichroism at various temperatures and chemical denaturant concentrations in H2O and D2O. The basic thermodynamic parameters for the unfolding reaction, deltaH(o), deltaS(o), and deltaC(o)p, were determined by global analysis of temperature and denaturant effects on stability. The data were well fit by a model that assumes stability varies linearly with denaturant concentration and that uses the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation to model changes in stability with temperature. The results obtained from the global analysis are consistent with information obtained from individual thermal and chemical denaturations. NTL9 has a maximum stability of 3.78 +/- 0.25 kcal mol(-1) at 14 degrees C. DeltaH(o)(25 degrees C) for protein unfolding equals 9.9 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1) and TdeltaS(o)++(25 degrees C) equals 6.2 +/- 0.6 kcal mol(-1). DeltaC(o)p equals 0.53 +/- 0.06 kcal mol(-1) deg(-1). There is a small increase in stability when D2O is substituted for H2O. Based on the results from global analysis, NTL9 is 1.06 +/- 0.60 kcal mol(-1) more stable in D2O at 25 degrees C and Tm is increased by 5.8 +/- 3.6 degrees C in D2O. Based on the results from individual denaturation experiments, NTL9 is 0.68 +/- 0.68 kcal mol(-1) more stable in D2O at 25 degrees C and Tm is increased by 3.5 +/- 2.1 degrees C in D2O. Within experimental error there are no changes in deltaH(o) (25 degrees C) when D2O is substituted for H2O.     

Surgical release for intubation purposes in postburn contractures of the neck

One hundred and twenty-four patients over the age of 75 years were assessed for the cause of their macrocytosis (MCV > 95 fl). A definitive diagnosis was reached in 75/124 (60%) by non-invasive techniques. The remainder underwent a bone marrow biopsy yielding a definitive diagnosis in a further six patients who had an identifiable myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). A high proportion of the remainder had morphological abnormalities which fitted with no recognized pathological entity. It is suggested that these may represent MDS in evolution.     

A Device-Level Vacuum-Packaging Scheme for Microbolometers on Rigid and Flexible Substrates

This paper reports on the design, fabrication, and characterization of device-level vacuum-packaged microbolometers on rigid Si wafers and flexible polyimide substrates. Semiconducting yttrium barium copper oxide (commonly referred to as YBCO) serves as the bolometric material. Operating micromachined bolometers in vacuum reduces the thermal conductance G_th from the detector to the substrate. If flexibility of the substrate is not to be sacrificed, then the vacuum packaging needs to be done at the device level. Here, the microbolometers are fabricated on a silicon nitride support membrane, isolated from the substrate using surface micromachining. Suitable materials as well as various dimensions in the vacuum cavity are determined using finite-element method (FEM)-based CoventorWARE. A vacuum cavity made of Al₂O₃ has been designed. The thermal conductance G_th of bolometers with the geometry implemented in this work is the same for devices on rigid and flexible substrates. The theoretical value of G_th was calculated to be 4.0 x 10^-6 W/K for devices operating in vacuum and 1.4 x 10^-4 W/K for devices operating at atmospheric pressure. Device-level vacuum-packaged microbolometers on both rigid Si and flexible polyimide substrates have been fabricated and characterized for optical and electrical properties. A low thermal conductance of 1.1 X 10^-6 W/K has been measured six months after fabrication, which implies an intact vacuum cavity.     

TAG-1 can mediate homophilic binding, but neurite outgrowth on TAG-1 requires an L1-like molecule and beta 1 integrins

Subsets of axons in the embryonic nervous system transiently express the glycoprotein TAG-1, a member of the subfamily of immunoglobulin (Ig)-like proteins that contain both C2 class Ig and fibronectin type III domains. TAG-1 is attached to the cell surface by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage and is secreted by neurons. In vitro studies have shown that substrate-bound TAG-1 promotes neurite outgrowth. We have examined the nature of axonal receptors that mediate the neurite-outgrowth promoting properties of TAG-1. Although TAG-1 can mediate homophilic binding, neurite outgrowth on a substrate of TAG-1 does not depend on the presence of TAG-1 on the axonal surface. Instead, neurite outgrowth on TAG-1 is inhibited by polyclonal antibodies directed against L1 and, independently, by polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against beta 1-containing integrins. These results provide evidence that TAG-1 can interact with cell surfaces in both a homophilic and heterophilic manner and suggest that neurite extension on TAG-1 requires the function of both integrins and an L1-like molecule.