Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Arnold

Publications and source records attributed to A Arnold.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Orbit and optic nerve.

The optic nerve is a fiber tract of the brain, and is not a true cranial nerve. Primary pathologic processes seen in the central nervous system and its linings can therefore affect the optic nerve. Along their course the fibers of the visual pathways are also susceptible to secondary extrinsic processes. The MR appearance of many of the primary and secondary processes that affect the optic nerve are characteristic. Where the imaging features of a process are not characteristic, a fairly narrow differential diagnosis can be suggested depending on the imaging appearance and anatomic location of the pathologic entity. This article is a categorical overview of the disease entities that may affect the optic nerve and tracts. Pathologic processes are organized according to the typical sites of involvement along the visual pathways, from the retina to the occipital cortex. Medical imaging, pathologic, clinical, and epidemiological highlights are presented.

Brain Diseases↗

Immunohistochemical detection and gene amplification of cyclin D1 in mammary infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

The deregulation of cyclin D1 (BCL-1, PRAD1, CCND1) protein, normally synthesized in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of some malignant neoplasms, including invasive mammary carcinomas. We used rabbit polyclonal antibody 19 to detect cyclin D1 in 55 infiltrating ductal carcinomas and compared the findings to six important clinicopathologic parameters and cyclin D1 gene amplification. Nuclear immunoreactivity of variable intensity for cyclin D1 was present in 35% of the neoplasms, whereas immunoreactivity of normal mammary epithelial nuclei was absent. No significant correlations were observed between immunoreactivity and patient age, axillary lymph node status, estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, histologic grade, or any of its three components. There was a correlation between cyclin D1 immunostaining and tumor size (P = 0.013). Fourteen of 15 tumors 2 cm or less were negative, whereas 7 of 12 neoplasms larger than 4 cm were immunopositive. Fifteen percent of the invasive carcinomas had cyclin D1 gene amplification. Of these eight tumors, six showed cyclin D1 immunoreactivity (P = 0.017). In this study, cyclin D1 was detected immunohistochemically in approximately one-third of infiltrating ductal carcinomas; approximately one-third of these had detectable cyclin D1 gene amplification. These results further implicate cyclin D1 in breast tumorigenesis and are additional evidence for the role of cell cycle regulatory proteins in invasive mammary carcinoma.

Adult↗

Transforming p21ras mutants and c-Ets-2 activate the cyclin D1 promoter through distinguishable regions.

Several different oncogenes and growth factors promote G1 phase progression. Cyclin D1, the regulatory subunit of several cyclin-dependent kinases, is required for, and capable of shortening, the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The present study demonstrates that transforming mutants of p21ras (Ras Val-12, Ras Leu-61) induce the cyclin D1 promoter in human trophoblasts (JEG-3), mink lung epithelial (Mv1.Lu), and in Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cell lines. Site-directed mutagenesis of AP-1-like sequences at -954 abolished p21ras-dependent activation of cyclin D1 expression. The AP-1-like sequences were also required for activation of the cyclin D1 promoter by c-Jun. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from cultured cells and primary tissues, several AP-1 proteins (c-Jun, JunB, JunD, and c-Fos) bound the cyclin D1 -954 region. Cyclin D1 promoter activity was stimulated by overexpression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p41MAPK) or c-Ets-2 through the proximal 22 base pairs. Expression of plasmids encoding either dominant negative MAPK (p41MAPKi) or dominant negatives of ETS activation (Ets-LacZ), antagonized MAPK-dependent induction of cyclin D1 promoter activity. Epidermal growth factor induction of cyclin D1 transcription, through the proximal promoter region, was antagonized by either p41MAPKi or Ets-LacZ, suggesting that ETS functions downstream of epidermal growth factor and MAPK in the context of the cyclin D1 promoter. The activation of cyclin D1 transcription by p21ras provides evidence for cross-talk between the p21ras and cell cycle regulatory pathways.

Animals↗

Absence of cyclin D1/PRAD1 point mutations in human breast cancers and parathyroid adenomas and identification of a new cyclin D1 gene polymorphism.

PRAD1 (cyclin D1) has been implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of a variety of tumors, including parathyroid adenomas, t(11;14)-bearing B-lymphoid tumors, and breast cancer. The sequence of the overexpressed PRAD1 genes has been directly analyzed in only two tumor specimens, a benign parathyroid adenoma and a malignant centrocytic lymphoma. Thus, little is known about PRAD1 sequence in the vast majority of human primary tumors, including breast cancers. Using single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, we have examined the coding region of the PRAD1 gene in 30 primary breast cancers and 25 parathyroid adenomas. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-SSCP analysis of the coding region of exons 1-5 of the PRAD1 gene did not reveal any tumor-specific mutations. During the course of screening for mutations, we found and established the sequence variants of a new DNA polymorphism at codon 241 within exon 4 of the PRAD1 gene. Since this polymorphism is located within the coding region of the PRAD1 gene, it will allow determination of allele-specific expression of the gene and the detection of allele imbalance. At least in breast and parathyroid neoplasms, overexpression of the wild-type PRAD1 sequence, rather than point mutational activation, appears to be the predominant mechanism by which PRAD1 exerts its oncogenic action.

Adenoma↗

Inefficient membrane targeting, translocation, and proteolytic processing by signal peptidase of a mutant preproparathyroid hormone protein.

A preproparathyroid hormone allele from a patient with familial isolated hypoparathyroidism was shown to have a single point mutation in the hydrophobic core of the signal sequence. This mutation, changing a cysteine to an arginine codon at the -8 position of the signal peptide, was associated with deleterious effects on the processing of preproparathyroid hormone to proparathyroid hormone in vitro. To examine the biochemical consequence(s) of this mutation, proteins produced by cell-free translation of wild-type and mutant cRNAs were used in assays that reconstitute the early steps of the secretory pathway. We find that the mutation impairs interaction of the nascent protein with signal recognition particle and the translocation machinery. Moreover, cleavage of the mutant signal sequence by solubilized signal peptidase is ineffective. The consequence of this mutation on processing and secretion of parathyroid hormone is confirmed in intact cells by pulse-chase experiments following transient expression of the mutant protein in COS-7 cells. The inability of the mutant signal sequence, however, to interfere with the targeting and processing of other secreted proteins does not support obstruction of the translocation apparatus as the mechanism underlying the dominant mode of inheritance of hypoparathyroidism in this family.

Alleles↗

Frequent loss of chromosome arm 1p DNA in parathyroid adenomas.

Two molecular defects have been described in parathyroid adenomas: rearrangement and overexpression of the PRAD1/cyclin D1 oncogene and allelic loss of chromosome 11 DNA, often including the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) putative tumor suppressor gene region. In an effort to identify additional parathyroid tumor suppressor genes, we examined 25 parathyroid adenomas for tumor-specific allelic loss of polymorphic DNA loci located near known or candidate tumor suppressor genes. Control leukocyte DNA from all 25 patients was heterozygous for 1 or more of the 9 chromosome 1 markers examined. Allelic loss at 1 or more of these informative loci on chromosome 1 was observed in 10 of 25 (40%) adenomas. Although many tumors lost extensive regions on chromosome 1, all but one of these tumors had allelic loss of distal 1p (1p32-pter); four tumors also lost loci on 1q. Allelic loss at 11q13, the site of the MEN1 gene, was detected in 5 of 21 (24%) informative cases, including 3 with 1p loss. In contrast, allelic loss was rarely observed at loci on 9q and 10p and was not observed at loci on 3p, 3q, 4p, 5q, 12q, 14q, 18q, 22q, or Xp. In summary, clonal allelic loss of loci on chromosome arm 1p is a frequent feature of parathyroid adenomas, implying that inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene(s) on 1p commonly contributes to their pathogenesis.

Adenoma↗

Expression of cyclin D1 protein in centrocytic/mantle cell lymphomas with and without rearrangement of the BCL1/cyclin D1 gene.

Centrocytic/mantle cell lymphoma (CC/MCL) is a morphologically defined B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by a distinctive immunophenotype, BCL1/cyclin D1 (PRAD1) gene rearrangements, and, most recently, by overexpression of cyclin D1. Even using multiple breakpoint probes for BCL1 (MTC, p94PS) and cyclin D1, however, only approximately 70% of CC/MCL have a rearrangement consistent with a t(11;14) (q13;q32). To determine whether the type of molecular translocation affects the degree of cyclin D1 expression and to evaluate lymphomas diagnosed as CC/MCL but lacking molecular evidence of a BCL1 or cyclin D1 translocation, 16 CC/MCL and four cases of small lymphocytic lymphoma/B-CL1 (SLL/B-CLL) were stained using an anti-cyclin D1 antibody. All cases with a cyclin D1 translocation detected by Southern blotting techniques as well as four of the five CC/MCL without a documentable translocation showed nuclear cyclin D1 protein expression. There was no apparent correlation between staining intensity and the precise site or presence of a detectable translocation. Cases with a mantle zone growth pattern showed infiltration of the cyclin D1 positive cells into reactive follicular centers. None of the four SLL/B-CLL showed cyclin D1 expression. These findings show overexpression of the cyclin D1 protein in virtually all CC/MCL independent of the type or presence of a documentable BCL1 or cyclin D1 molecular rearrangement. The mechanism for cyclin D1 overexpression in the cases without a documentable rearrangement and the relationship of cyclin D1 overexpression to the pathogenesis of mantle cell neoplasia remain uncertain.

Cyclin D1↗

Cyclin D1 (PRAD1, CCND1) and glutathione-S-transferase pi gene expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Chromosome 11q13 amplification has been identified in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (H&N SCCs). This region contains several putative oncogenes, including cyclin D1 (PRAD1, CCND1), which encodes for an important cell cycle regulatory protein, and the locus encoding for the drug-detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi). To determine the relationship of cyclin D1 and GST-pi gene amplification to expression of the encoded proteins, the authors examined 64 H&N SCCs by both Southern blot hybridization and immunohistochemistry, using a recently described, affinity-purified, anticyclin D1 polyclonal antibody no. 19 as well as a polyclonal antibody against GST-pi. Anticyclin D1 antibody no. 19 labeled the tumor cell nuclei in 28 (44%) of the H&N SCCs, whereas cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for GST-pi was noted in 55 (86%) neoplasms. By Southern blot 24 tumors (37.5%) showed twofold to tenfold amplification of 11q13 loci; only two of these were coamplified for GST-pi. Immunopositivity with anticyclin D1 antibody no. 19 but not anti-GST-pi significantly correlated with 11q13 amplification (P < .0001). Of the 28 tumors positive with anticyclin D1 antibody no. 19, however, only 18 (64%) were amplified for 11q13, and six amplified tumors did not react with the no. 19 antibody. A strong trend was noted between anticyclin D1 antibody no. 19 reactivity and a hypopharyngeal primary site (P = .053), but no correlations were observed between immunoreactivity and cytological grade, architectural pattern, pathological stage, and disease-free or overall survival. The inconsistent association of cyclin D1 immunoreactivity with 11q13 amplification indicates that other mechanisms may exist for protein overexpression. Immunoreactivity for the GST-pi protein is prevalent in H&N SCC but is clearly unassociated with amplification. In this series, the presence or extent of cyclin D1 and GST-pi immunoreactivity was of no proven prognostic benefit in H&N SCC.

Adult↗

Sex differences in learning and memory in mice: effects of sequence of testing and cholinergic blockade.

Sexual dimorphism in spatial and cued navigation using the Morris water maze was examined in C57BL/6 mice both with and without administration of scopolamine, a cholinergic blocker. In Exp. 1, female and male mice learned to perform first a spatial, then a cued, navigation task. Both performed a spatial task similarly; males, however, performed a cued task better than females. In Exp. 2, the sequence of navigation testing was reversed. Both performed similarly on a cued task; however, males performed a spatial task better than females. In both experiments, females were more sensitive than males to the effects of scopolamine. No significant confounding sex differences were found in either spontaneous activity or passive avoidance retention. These data indicate that sex differences in spatial and cued tasks are dependent on the sequence of task presentation and implicate a role for the cholinergic system in these differences.

Animals↗

Cyclin D1 expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Detection by immunohistochemistry.

Cyclin D1/PRAD1 (bcl-1) is a recently discovered proto-oncogene that is overexpressed in mantle cell lymphomas and several other human tumors. In a previous study, the authors demonstrated expression of cyclin D1 in 15 of 15 cases of mantle cell lymphoma and 1 of 8 cases of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) using a polyclonal antibody and microwave enhanced immunohistochemical staining method on paraffin-embedded tissue sections. In this study, 107 additional B- and T-cell neoplasms were studied, including 47 cases of high grade lymphoma (33 diffuse large B-cell type, 9 Burkitt and Burkitt-like, 4 precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and 1 adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia), 38 additional cases of low grade B-cell lymphoma (18 CLL, 15 hairy cell leukemia and 5 mantle cell lymphoma), and 22 plasmacytomas for expression of cyclin D1 using the same immunohistochemical staining technique. All cases of mantle cell lymphoma showed diffuse nuclear staining. No additional cases of CLL showed cyclin D1 expression. In contrast, 1 of 15 hairy cell leukemias and 1 of 22 plasmacytomas showed cyclin D1 staining. None of the high grade lymphomas demonstrated expression of cyclin D1 protein by immunostaining, including three cases of large B-cell lymphoma that coexpressed CD5. The authors conclude that cyclin D1 is expressed in all cases of mantle cell lymphoma, and only in very rare cases of B-CLL, hairy cell leukemia and plasmacytoma/myeloma. Cyclin D1 does not appear to play an important role in high grade lymphomas. In addition, most CD5 positive high grade B-cell lymphomas do not express cyclin D1, and are not likely to be derived from mantle cell lymphoma or other lymphomas with t(11;14).

Cyclin D1↗

Magnesium deficiency in critically ill patients.

A study was performed to assess the value of estimation of intracellular magnesium in peripheral blood cells (red and mononuclear blood cells) in critically ill patients as an index of tissue magnesium content. A magnesium loading test was used to diagnose magnesium depletion in 16 critically ill patients. Patients were divided into magnesium depleted and non-depleted groups according to their response to the loading test. Pre-infusion plasma and intracellular (blood cell) magnesium levels were measured. There were no significant difference between the magnesium depleted (mean plasma magnesium 0.81 mmol.l-1, red blood cell magnesium 2.34 mmol.l-1, mononuclear blood cell magnesium 25.16 mmol.kg-1 dry weight) and non-depleted groups (mean plasma magnesium 0.90 mmol.l-1, red blood cell magnesium 2.18 mmol.l-1, mononuclear blood cell magnesium 18.1 mmol.kg-1 dry weight). We conclude that the diagnosis of magnesium depletion cannot be excluded in the face of normal plasma, red blood cell or mononuclear blood cell concentrations of magnesium.

Critical Illness↗

Monoclonality of parathyroid tumors in chronic renal failure and in primary parathyroid hyperplasia.

The pathogeneses of parathyroid disease in patients with uremia and nonfamilial primary parathyroid hyperplasia are poorly understood. Because of multigland involvement, it has been assumed that these common diseases predominantly involve polyclonal (non-neoplastic) cellular proliferations, but an overall assessment of their clonality has not been done. We examined the clonality of these hyperplastic parathyroid tumors using X-chromosome inactivation analysis with the M27 beta (DXS255) DNA polymorphism and by searching for monoclonal allelic losses at M27 beta and at loci on chromosome band 11q13. Fully 7 of 11 informative hemodialysis patients (64%) with uremic refractory hyperparathyroidism harbored at least one monoclonal parathyroid tumor (with a minimum of 12 of their 19 available glands being monoclonal). Tumor monoclonality was demonstrable in 6 of 16 informative patients (38%) with primary parathyroid hyperplasia. Histopathologic categories of nodular versus generalized hyperplasia were not useful predictors of clonal status. These observations indicate that monoclonal parathyroid neoplasms are common in patients with uremic refractory hyperparathyroidism and also develop in a substantial group of patients with sporadic primary parathyroid hyperplasia, thereby changing our concept of the pathogenesis of these diseases. Neoplastic transformation of preexisting polyclonal hyperplasia, apparently due in large part to genes not yet implicated in parathyroid tumorigenesis and possibly including a novel X-chromosome tumor suppressor gene, is likely to play a central role in these disorders.

Adult↗

Skin oxygen pressure histograms in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease during intraarterial and intravenous prostaglandin E1 infusions of different dosages and their prognostic value.

Skin surface oxygen pressure fields (tcPO2 [37 degrees C]) reproducibly characterize skin microcirculation in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. These appear suited for investigation of short- and long-term effects of vasoactive drug treatment. The authors studied whether skin surface oxygen pressure histograms change depending on dosage and route of administration of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), whether they are of predictive value for patients' clinical outcome, and whether they normalize after therapy with PGE1. The authors investigated 15 patients with various degrees of disease and measured forefoot oxygen histograms consisting of at least 80 single tcPO2 (37 degrees C) values before and during intraarterial infusion (1.5, 3, or 6 ng/kg/minute) and intravenous infusion (4.5, or 9 ng/kg/minute). The measurements were repeated two and six hours after the end of intraarterial application of 1.5 ng/kg/minute. Furthermore, the orthostatic vasoconstrictor response was tested. Skin oxygen pressure histograms were controlled after a period of twenty-two (mean) days of intraarterial PGE1 therapy. Resting histograms were left shifted with median tcPO2 (37 degrees C) between 1 and 7 mm Hg. During intraarterial application, histograms were shifted to lower tcPO2 (37 degrees C) values in most patients. Only in 3 diabetic subjects with proximal or acral obliterations was a marked increase observed. The alterations were detectable at least two hours after the end of the infusion. During intravenous infusion, histograms did not change in most cases. After long-term therapy, histograms were substantially unchanged. A pathologic vasoconstrictor response, which was present in 10 patients, could not be restored. Despite a marked deterioration of the histograms the clinical outcome was favorable in 7 patients. Patients with a high resting tcPO2 (37 degrees C) (median 4 mm Hg and more) and those with a vasoconstriction on orthostasis are likely to respond to PGE1 therapy.

Adult↗

Mutational analysis of the extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene in human parathyroid tumors.

Despite recent progress, such as the identification of PRAD1/cyclin D1 as a parathyroid oncogene, it is likely that many genes involved in the molecular pathogenesis of parathyroid tumors remain unknown. Individuals heterozygous for inherited mutations in the extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene that reduce its biological activity exhibit a disorder termed familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia or familial benign hypercalcemia, which is characterized by reduced responsiveness of parathyroid and kidney to calcium and by PTH-dependent hypercalcemia. Those who are homozygous for such mutations present with neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism and have marked parathyroid hypercellularity. Thus, the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene is a candidate parathyroid tumor suppressor gene, with inactivating mutations plausibly explaining set-point abnormalities in the regulation of both parathyroid cellular proliferation and PTH secretion by extracellular Ca2+ similar to those seen in hyperparathyroidism. Using a ribonuclease A protection assay that has detected multiple mutations in the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia and covers more than 90% of its coding region, we sought somatic mutations in this gene in a total of 44 human parathyroid tumors (23 adenomas, 4 carcinomas, 5 primary hyperplasias, and 12 secondary hyperplasias). No such mutations were detected in these 44 tumors. Thus, our studies suggest that somatic mutation of the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene does not commonly contribute to the pathogenesis of sporadic parathyroid tumors. As such, PTH set-point dysfunction in parathyroid tumors may well be secondary to other clonal proliferative defects and/or mutations in other components of the extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing pathway.

Adenoma↗

Cyclin D1 (PRAD1) protein expression in breast cancer: approximately one-third of infiltrating mammary carcinomas show overexpression of the cyclin D1 oncogene.

Amplification of chromosome 11q13 has been observed in 10-20% of breast carcinomas and numerous other tumors, including squamous cell carcinomas of the head, neck, and esophagus; transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder; and epithelial ovarian tumors. Cyclin D1/PRAD1 is a likely "driver" gene for this amplicon because of its role in cell cycle control and because it has been specifically implicated as an oncogene in parathyroid adenomas and B-cell lymphomas with 11q13 translocation breakpoints. We examined cyclin D1 protein expression in 48 consecutive cases of infiltrating mammary carcinoma using an affinity-purified polyclonal antisera to cyclin D1 and a microwave/citrate buffer antigen retrieval system. Staining data were correlated with clinicopathological features, protein detection by immunoblots, and 11q13 DNA amplification. Definite nuclear staining was seen in 17/48 (35%) tumors (16 infiltrating ductal carcinomas, predominantly grade 2/3, and one infiltrating lobular carcinoma). There was no nuclear staining of normal breast epithelium, fat cells, or admixed lymphocytes. Tumors with overexpression of cyclin D1 were estrogen receptor-positive (P < .005) and usually progesterone receptor-positive (P < .005) but otherwise were similar to other negative cases in the study group. Correlation between Western blot and immunostaining data was excellent (P < .01). Five of the 22 cases studied showed 11q13 DNA amplification as well as increased levels of cyclin D1 protein by Western blot and immunostaining. Four cases with increased cyclin D1 protein by both western blots and immunohistochemistry did not have detectable 11q13 amplification. Nuclear cyclin D1 protein can be detected in approximately one-third of infiltrating breast carcinomas using an immunohistochemical technique on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗