Characterization of Y3 receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition by chimeric neuropeptide Y-peptide YY peptides in the rat brainstem

Archival material from primary and metastatic renal clear cell carcinomas of 25 patients was studied by comparative genomic hybridization. Copy number changes of entire chromosomes or chromosomal subregions were detected in 22 primary and 21 metastatic tumors. Copy number changes affected the following chromosomes in at least 20% of the 25 primary tumors (minimal common region given in parentheses): gains were noted for chromosomes 1 (1q21-->q23), 5 (5q31-->q34), 7 (7p), 8 (8q), 16 (16p), 17 (17q12-->qter), 19, and 22 (22q12-->qter); losses were revealed for chromosomes 3 (3p21-->pter), 8 (8p23-->pter), 14(14q21-->qter), and Y. The same chromosomal regions that were involved in primary renal clear cell carcinomas were also found in the respective metastatic tumors but with strikingly different frequencies for a few regions. Metastatic tumors showed a significantly higher frequency of complete or partial gains of the long arm of chromosome 1, in particular at 1q21-->q23 than primary tumors (16 cases versus 6 cases; P < 0.005). These data suggest a correlation of metastatic events in renal clear cell carcinomas with an increase in the copy number of genes located at 1q, in particular at 1q21-->q23. In contrast, the entire or partial loss of the short arm of chromosome 3 was significantly less frequent in metastatic tumors (8 cases versus 15 cases; P < 0.025). The validity of 1q and 3p copy number changes detected by comparative genomic hybridization was confirmed by interphase cytogenetics with region-specific yeast artificial chromosomes to paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections.     

Differential effects of deoxycholic acid on proliferation of neoplastic and differentiated colonocytes in vitro

The secondary bile acid deoxycholic acid is believed to be a promoter of large bowel cancer, in part by inducing colonic epithelial proliferation. The effects of deoxycholic acid on [3H]thymidine incorporation by the human colon cancer cell line HT29 and two differentiated subclones were measured and compared. The subclone HT29-C1 has features of mature absorptive cells and HT29-N2 cells secrete mucus under cholinergic control. The three cell lines were treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA) at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 150, and 300 microM for 3, 6, 9, 15, 24, and 48 hr. A significant increase in proliferation was noted in HT29 cells only at 6 hr with 5 and 10 microM deoxycholic acid. Neither the subclone HT29-C1, nor HT29-N2 cells exhibited significant change in [3H]thymidine incorporation with DCA at these concentrations or time points. Higher doses of deoxycholic acid above 50 microM and duration of exposure greater than 24 hr were cytotoxic to all three cell lines. The proliferative effects of DCA in HT29 cells were not paralleled by changes in protein kinase C activity or protein kinase C isoform expression. Quantitative and qualitative differences in PKC isoform expression were not noted in the three cell lines used in this study. The proliferative effects of DCA on HT29 cells appear to be independent of the PKC signal transduction pathway.     

Analysis of Residential Irrigation Distribution Uniformity

Irrigation has become commonplace for residential homeowners desiring high quality landscapes in Florida. The goal of this project was to document irrigation system uniformity in Central Florida and to quantify distribution uniformity of residential sprinkler equipment under controlled conditions. The catch-can testing procedure used was a modified version of both the American Society of Agricultural Engineers standard and Florida Mobile Irrigation Laboratory (MIL) procedures. The modified version included a larger sample size to ensure complete sample collection over the entire irrigated area. The standard MIL procedure may overestimate the uniformity for residential systems. From the tests on residential irrigation systems, the average low quarter distribution uniformity (DUlq) value was calculated as 0.45. Rotary sprinklers resulted in significantly higher DUlq compared to fixed pattern spray heads with 0.49 compared to 0.41, respectively. From uniformity tests performed on rotor and spray heads under ideal conditions, rotor heads had more uniform distributions than the spray heads of 0.55 compared to 0.49, respectively. Spray heads had better uniformity when fixed quarter circle nozzles were used as opposed to adjustable nozzles. Both residential irrigation system and controlled tests resulted in (DUlq) at the low end of industry guidelines. Residential irrigation system uniformity can be improved by minimizing the occurrence of low pressure in the irrigation system and by ensuring proper spacing is used in design and installation.     

Human cytochrome P4502B6: interindividual hepatic expression, substrate specificity, and role in procarcinogen activation

In situ hybridization was combined with serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) or tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry and with Fluoro-Gold retrograde labeling of bulbo-spinal pathways in order to investigate the expression of GAP-43 mRNA in monoamine cell groups of the adult rat brain stem. Consistent with previous reports, GAP-43 mRNA was observed in serotonin and dopamine cell groups in the pons. In addition, GAP-43 expressing cells were observed in all the major monoamine cell groups in the medulla. Thus the B1, B2 and B3 serotonin cell groups all showed high GAP-43 expression in all contained many GAP-43 expressing serotonin cells with spinal cord projections. The A1, A2, A5 and A6 noradrenaline cell groups also showed high GAP-43 expression, although cells with spinal cord projections were largely restricted to the A5 group and A6 subcoeruleus region. In all areas, GAP-43 expressing cells with spinal cord projections were also observed which were not serotonergic or noradrenergic.