To characterize the risk of malignant progression of cervical epithelial lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types of yet unknown oncogenic potential the prevalences of these HPVs in different cervical epithelial lesions of 809 patients were determined. HPV types 53, 73, and CP8304 were detected in genital specimens of 16, 22, and 12 of the patients, respectively. The ratio of prevalence in high grade dysplastic lesions or cancers and low grade dysplastic lesions or normal specimens was calculated and compared to corresponding values of well known high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) HPVs. For HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 35, and 73 a ratio of 0.1, 0.2, 5.9, 6.5, 2.5, and 2.4, respectively, was calculated. The ratios of HPV53 and CP8304 were less than 1. Moreover, in contrast to HPV73, these viruses have never been detected in cancer specimens. Thus, HPV53 and CP8304 infections are probably not associated with a high risk of carcinogenesis, while HPV73 could be another HR-HPV type.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum-independent neutrophil chemotaxins in the yeast phase of Candida albicans.

Cell extracts from 6 strains of Candida albicans grown under different conditions were partially purified and tested for inherent chemotactic activity for human polymorphonuclear granulocytes. Chemotactic activity was demonstrated in the absence of serum using the Boyden chamber technique. No chemokinetic effects of the extracts examined were found using the same method. Cross desensitization experiments of PMN with C. albicans extracts and known leukotaxins (PAF, LTB4, and FMLP) revealed that C. albicans-derived chemotaxins differed from the known chemoattractants. Their possible role in Candida infections is discussed.

Candida albicans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enzyme release by Trichophyton rubrum depends on nutritional conditions.

Enzymes liberated by growing dermatophytes are of pathogenetic importance in tinea. To investigate the influence of nutrients on this enzyme release, Trichophyton rubrum was grown in media containing peptone, keratin and lipids, to which glucose was added in separate assays. The culture supernatants were compared for extracellular enzyme activities by use of the api-zym test. Our results clearly show that the extracellular enzyme activity is dependent on the nutrients supplied. Seven different enzymes were released when keratin was supplied, as compared with only five and two respectively when lipids or peptone were available. Among these enzymes alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were detected in all cultures lacking glucose. Enzyme release was inhibited completely when glucose was added to the media, except for N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in peptone cultures. This dependency of enzyme release on fungal nutrition can be expected to occur in vivo too. In addition, it has to be considered for in vitro cultural conditions. Alkaline phosphatase and acetylglucosaminidase may be more important in tinea than has been assumed so far.

Culture Media↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Scanning chromosome 17 for psoriasis susceptibility: lack of evidence for a distal 17q locus.

Evidence for a genetically heterogeneous psoriasis susceptibility locus on distal human chromosome 17q has recently been reported [Science 1994;264:1141]. Making use of an independently ascertained collection of 24 multiplex psoriasis kindreds, we have performed a genotyping scan of chromosome 17 using 12 microsatellite markers and analyzed the data using parametric (lod score) as well as novel nonparametric methods. Pairwise lod scores revealed no evidence for linkage to the previously implicated marker D17S784 under any of eight models varying in mode of inheritance, penetrance, and sporadic cases. Homogeneous linkage to D17S784 could be excluded under all four autosomal dominant models tested (Z < - 5.8 at theta = 0.05), and there was no evidence for genetic heterogeneity. All other chromosome 17 markers tested also failed to detect evidence for linkage in any of the kindreds under either a dominant or a recessive model. Although further analysis using affected sib pair methods provided no statistically significant evidence for linkage to any chromosome 17 marker, a cluster of three distal 17q loci displayed a trend towards greater than expected allele-sharing values (observed/expected = 1.10-1.14). These results do not formally confirm the existence of a psoriasis susceptibility locus on the distal long arm of human chromosome 17, but are suggestive of its possible involvement under a polygenic model, warranting its further investigation in familial psoriasis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of vitamin A acid in skin: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Profound metabolic changes take place in keratinizing epithelia in the presence of retinoic acid. In vivo as well as in vitro the proliferative activity of epidermal cells is greatly enhanced. Together with the increased rate of new cell production cellular differentiation (keratinization and cornification) is also altered. The effects are species-unspecific, probably tissue-specific and dose-dependent. The precise action of retinoic acid, however, still remains unknown.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative study on the clinical use of protein S-100B and MIA (melanoma inhibitory activity) in melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND: The guidelines for the care of melanoma patients have not recommended the routine use of tumor markers up till now. In comparison to the blood parameters, two serum proteins have demonstrated their usefulness in the follow-up of melanoma patients: protein S-100B, a member of the S100 protein family, and "Melanoma-inhibitory activity" (MIA), a recently described 11 kd soluble protein. We analysed the serum levels of S-100B and MIA in non-melanoma control patients and in melanoma patients in different stages of disease (stage I-IV) to report on the sensitivity and specificity of both tumor markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The serum concentration of S-100B was evaluated by a luminoimmunometric assay (LIA) in 670 blood samples of 87 melanoma patients and, as controls, in 169 blood samples of patients with different skin diseases apart from melanoma. MIA serum levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) in 791 serial blood samples of 87 melanoma patients and in 158 blood samples of control patients. A cut-off of 0.12 microgram/l (S-100B) and 6.5 micrograms/l (MIA) served as upper normal values in the melanoma group as recommended by the producing industrial companies. In the control patient group, we additionally used the cut-off value of 0.2 microgram/l for S-100B and 8.5 micrograms/l for MIA, respectively. RESULTS: In stage I/II 37.5%, in stage III 50% and in stage IV 80% of the blood samples were S-100B positive (> or = 0.12 microgram/l) prior to treatment. Post treatment (after complete surgery) S-100B was below the cut-off value in stage I/II 83.9%, in stage III 82% and in stage IV 85.7%, respectively. For MIA we found in stage I/II 0%, stage III 53.8% and in stage IV 68.3% of the blood samples positive (> or = 6.5 micrograms/l) prior to treatment. Post treatment: stage I/II 88.3%, stage III 90.3% and stage IV 93.1% were below the cut-off value. In the control group we found 85.8% and 89.9% of the blood samples beneath the cut-off values for S-100B and MIA, respectively. CONCLUSION: We were able to identify the majority of patients with advanced metastatic melanoma by analysing the serum levels of S-100B and MIA. The specificity of both tumor markers was within acceptable limits. However, the available data suggest that a slightly higher cut-off value might be of clinical value.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗