Estrogen receptor-associated expression of keratinocyte growth factor and its possible role in the inhibition of apoptosis in human breast cancer

Although estrogen is known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of estrogen remain elusive. In the present study, we focused on keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and its receptor (KGFR) in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, as a growth factor mediating estrogen action, since significant roles of KGF were demonstrated in various steroid hormone-dependent tissues. First, using paraffin-embedded specimens from 42 breast cancer patients, we examined expression patterns of KGF and KGFR by both immunohistochemistry using newly generated antibodies and nonradioactive in situ hybridization with T-T dimerized synthetic oligonucleotide probes. We next compared the results with the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta, proliferative activity and apoptotic frequency (TUNEL staining). Also, the similar approaches were taken to analyze the expression and role of KGF in ER-positive (MCF7, ZR-75-1) and ER-negative (SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cell lines in vitro. In the surgical specimens, KGF was expressed in cancer cells as well as stromal cells in 19/42 cases (45%), while KGFR was found in cancer cells in 24/42 cases (57%). The distribution of protein and mRNA in the analysis of both KGF and KGFR expression generally coincided. Moreover, KGF expression was closely associated with the expression of ER alpha, and the coexpression of KGF and KGFR significantly correlated with lower TUNEL index, but not with proliferative activity. In accordance with the in vivo findings, KGF expression was detected only in ER alpha-positive MCF7 and ZR-75-1 cells in vitro. And more importantly, we found the inhibitory effect of KGF upon the induction of apoptosis by anticancer drugs in MCF7 cells. Collectively, our results indicate that ER alpha may be involved in KGF expression, and that KGF may play antiapoptotic roles, rather than mitogenic, in human breast cancer.     

Monoclonal antibodies against transferrin. Precipitating mixtures and lack of inter-species cross-reactivity

Five stable hybridoma lines were prepared using the myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag.653 and spleen cells of mice hyperimmunized by pig transferrin. All hybridomas grew well in mouse peritoneal cavity and produced antibodies of the IgG₁ subclass. Antibody preparations obtained from ascitic fluids tested for their capacity of antigen precipitation. No precipitation was obtained with single antibodies and with pairs of antibodies. Three out of 10 possible triads gave clear and sharp precipitation zones and rings in immunodiffusion tests performed in agar gel. All 5 antibodies were shown by quantitative enzyme-immunoassay to be specific for pig transferrin: no cross-reaction was obtained with mouse, human, horse and sheep transferrins.     

Early rehabilitation program in postmastectomy patients: a prospective clinical trial

The purpose of this study was to determine whether 20 patients who received an early postmastectomy rehabilitation treatment program showed more improvement in range of shoulder motion and functional activities than 13 patients who received instruction for exercise only. Data were obtained at preoperatively, three days after operation, at discharge and at postdischarge one month for each patient on parameters such as range of motion of the ipsilateral shoulder joint, upper extremity circumferential measurements, as well as 10 elements of shoulder function. Postoperatively, both groups showed an increased range of motion of the shoulder joint and improved functional activities, but the group that received postoperative rehabilitation management had a better range of shoulder motion and less difficulty in five items for functional assessment. This study also showed that an early rehabilitation program did not increase postoperative complications. We concluded that an early rehabilitation program or intensive instruction program only by a well-trained physical therapist or physiatrist was beneficial to postmastectomy patients in regaining the function and range of shoulder motion, and significantly better in a rehabilitation group.     

Gain-of-function polymorphism in mouse and human Ltk: implications for the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex multigenic disease, is a typical antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibodies against a variety of autoantigens and immune complex-type tissue inflammation, most prominently in the kidney. Evidence suggests that genetic factors predisposing to aberrant proliferation/maturation of self-reactive B cells initiate and propagate the disease. In SLE-prone New Zealand Black (NZB) mice and their F1 cross with New Zealand White (NZW) mice, B cell abnormalities can be ascribed mainly to self-reactive CD5+ B1 cells. Our genome-wide scans to search for susceptibility genes for aberrant activation of B1 cells in these mice showed evidence that the gene, Ltk, encoding leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK), is a possible candidate. LTK is a receptor-type protein tyrosine kinase, belonging to the insulin receptor superfamily, and is mainly expressed in B lymphocyte precursors and neuronal tissues. Sequence and functional analyses of the gene revealed that NZB has a gain-of-function polymorphism in the LTK kinase domain near YXXM, a binding motif of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). SLE patients also had this type of Ltk polymorphism with a significantly higher frequency compared with the healthy controls. Our findings suggest that these polymorphic LTKs cause up-regulation of the PI3K pathway and possibly form one genetic component of susceptibility to abnormal proliferation of self-reactive B cells in SLE.     

诺如病毒酶联免疫检测试剂盒效果的研究

目的 比较RIDASCREEN Norovirus 3rdGeneration kit(R-biopham AG,darmstadt,Germany)(必发试剂盒)与IDEIA NLV kit(DAKOCytomation.,Ely,UK)(dako试剂盒)两试剂盒检测诺如病毒效果.方法 用此两种试剂盒以及RT-PGR方法 对长春和广州两地的308份腹泻患儿粪便标本各检测一遍.对RT-PCR阳性标本进行基因测序、序列对比以确定型别.结果 以RT-PCR方法 为金标准,必发试剂盒的灵敏度和特异度分别是96.10%和93.51%,阳性预测值和阴性预测值是83.14%和98.63%;dako试剂盒的灵敏度和特异度分别是95.83%和95.76%,阳性预测值和阴性预测值是87.34%和98.69%.结论 必发试剂盒因为具有满意的灵敏度和较好的特异度,应该成为ELLSA检测的首选.     

PCR-RFLP based molecular typing of enteroviruses isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis in Korea

Summary.  We have evaluated PCR–RFLP as a practical method for rapid typing of enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis in Korea. Through blind examination of 80 clinical isolates from patients with aseptic meningitis, we have compared the results of conventional serotyping with PCR–RFLP based genotyping, which was developed for this study. Among the 80 case isolates, which had been previously typed by routine neutralization test, only 42 cases (52.5%) were matched with typing by PCR–RFLP. The result clearly demonstrated that the enterovirus serotype does not coincide with the genotype. Therefore, the classification of enteroviruses by genotyping with PCR–RFLP, although rapid and simple, may be complicated by regional or seasonal differences. However, the PCR–RFLP method developed in this study is applicable to the epidemiological study of enteroviruses when regional or seasonal differences exist, and is useful in identifying the source of an infection. Received August 6, 2001; accepted April 15, 2002 Published online July 10, 2002     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of trimebutine and its major metabolite, N-monodesmethyl trimebutine, in rat and human plasma

A rapid, selective and very sensitive ion-pairing reversed-phase HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of trimebutine (TMB) and its major metabolite, N-monodesmethyltrimebutine (NDTMB), in rat and human plasma. Heptanesulfonate was employed as the ion-pairing agent and verapamil was used as the internal standard. The method involved the extraction with a n-hexane-isopropylalcohol (IPA) mixture (99:1, v/v) followed by back-extraction into 0.1 M hydrochloric acid and evaporation to dryness. HPLC analysis was carried out using a 4-microm particle size, C18-bonded silica column and water-sodium acetate-heptanesulfonate-acetonitrile as the mobile phase and UV detection at 267 nm. The chromatograms showed good resolution and sensitivity and no interference of plasma. The mean recoveries for human plasma were 95.4+/-3.1% for TMB and 89.4+/-4.1% for NDTMB. The detection limits of TMB and its metabolite, NDTMB, in human plasma were 1 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 10-5000 ng/ml for TMB and 25-25000 ng/ml for NDTMB with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 and with within-day or between-day coefficients of variation not exceeding 9.4%. This assay procedure was applied to the study of metabolite pharmacokinetics of TMB in rat and the human.     

Expression of P fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains

The occurrence of P fimbriae in a total of 222 uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains was investigated. Out of the total, 31 (14%) were P fimbriated. Of 24 pyelonephritogenic E. coli strains, three (13%) with P fimbriae occurred in children with clinical pyelonephritis, and of 198 E. coli strains 29 (15%) occurred in children with cystitis. Prevalence of P fimbriae of E. coli strains was found to be quite similar in patients with cystitis and pyelonephritis     

抗慢性B淋巴细胞白血病患者IgM单抗相对亲和力的分析

本文采用间接ELISA法检测了11株抗B-CLL患者IgM腹水和杂交瘤上清McAb的相对亲和力。结果提示,各株McAb结合抗原的相对亲和力不同。根据50％最大结合浓度分为两组。其中4株杂交瘤上清McAb与纯化腹水McAb测得结果基本吻合。实验结果为合理地选用这些单抗提供了重要依据。     

分枝杆菌噬菌体D29气溶胶特性的研究

目的 为了研究噬菌体D29气溶胶吸入治疗结核分枝杆菌的可行性,测试了噬菌体D29耐雾化能力、喷雾量、气溶胶粒径等气溶胶特性参数.方法 负压实验室气雾柜内发生噬菌体D29气溶胶,TSI3321气溶胶粒径分析仪测试了气溶胶空气动力学直径.Anderson六级空气微生物采样器测试了生物粒子气溶胶中值直径.据雾化前后噬菌体D29的浓度变化及体积变化得到噬菌体D29的雾化时间存活率和雾化量.结果 噬菌体D29气溶胶空气动力学直径为0.872 μm,生物粒子气溶胶中值直径为2.21 μm.噬菌体D29在雾化5、15、30、45、60 min后的存活率分别为89.78%、77.19%、48.86%、33.99%、30.12%.气溶胶的雾化量为232 μl/min.结论 噬菌体D29气溶胶粒径、耐雾化能力及喷雾量等气溶胶参数可以进一步进行动物气溶胶吸入治疗结核分枝杆菌感染方面的研究.