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Biomedical subjects

P Stanley

Publications and source records attributed to P Stanley.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Prognostic factors and treatment results for supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors in children using radiation and chemotherapy: a Childrens Cancer Group randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To determine clinical characteristics and response to treatment for children with supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (S-PNETs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: After surgery and staging, 55 patients aged 1.5 to 19.3 years with S-PNETs were randomized to receive craniospinal radiotherapy (RT) followed by eight cycles of 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-cyclohexylnitrosourea (CCNU), vincristine (VCR), and prednisone (standard treatment) or two cycles of 8-in-1 chemotherapy followed by RT and then eight additional cycles of 8-in-1. RESULTS: Three-year Kaplan-Meier estimates (estimate +/- SE) of survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates for patients with confirmed diagnoses of S-PNET were 57% +/- 8% and 45% +/- 8%, respectively; survival and PFS rates for children with PNETs located in the pineal region were 73% +/- 12% and 61% +/- 13%, respectively, and were significantly different from the other S-PNETs (P < .03). The 8-in-1 arm had greater toxicity than the standard-treatment arm. Distributions of PFS between the two treatment groups were not significantly different (P > .5). Other univariate prognostic factors that influenced PFS included metastasis (M) stage (P < .03: M0 50% +/- 9% v M1-4 0%) and age (P < .02: 1.5 to 2 years 25% +/- 13% v > or = 3 years 53% +/- 9%). CONCLUSION: In this first randomized treatment trial for S-PNETs in children, no significant differences were detected between the two treatment groups. M0 and pineal site of involvement were independent predictors of a better outcome. However, survival was better than previously reported.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Fatty acylation of two internal lysine residues required for the toxic activity of Escherichia coli hemolysin.

Hemolysin of Escherichia coli is activated by fatty acylation of the protoxin, directed by the putative acyl transferase HlyC and by acyl carrier protein (ACP). Mass spectrometry and Edman degradation of proteolytic products from mature toxin activated in vitro with tritium-labeled acylACP revealed two fatty-acylated internal lysine residues, lysine 564 and lysine 690. Resistance of the acylation to chemical treatments suggested that fatty acid was amide linked. Substitution of the two lysines confirmed that they were the only sites of acylation and showed that although each was acylated in the absence of the other, both sites were required for in vivo toxin activity.

Acyl Carrier Protein↗

Integrin LFA-1 alpha subunit contains an ICAM-1 binding site in domains V and VI.

In order to identify a binding site for ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the beta 2 integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), protein fragments of LFA-1 were made by in vitro translation of a series of constructs which featured domain-sized deletions starting from the N-terminus of the alpha subunit of LFA-1. Monoclonal antibodies and ICAM-1 were tested for their ability to bind to these protein fragments. Results show that the putative divalent cation binding domains V and VI contain an ICAM-1 binding site. A series of consecutive peptides covering these domains indicated two discontinuous areas as specific contact sites: residues 458-467 in domain V and residues 497-516 in domain VI. A three-dimensional model of these domains of LFA-1 was constructed based on the sequence similarity to known EF hands. The two regions critical for the interaction of LFA-1 with ICAM-1 lie adjacent to each other, the first next to the non-functional EF hand in domain V and the second coinciding with the potential divalent cation binding loop in domain VI. The binding of ICAM-1 with the domain V and VI region in solution was not sensitive to divalent cation chelation. In short, a critical motif for ICAM-1 binding to the alpha subunit of LFA-1 is shared between two regions of domains V and VI.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mice lacking N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I activity die at mid-gestation, revealing an essential role for complex or hybrid N-linked carbohydrates.

Eukaryotic cells require N-linked carbohydrates for survival. However, the biosynthetic intermediate Man5GlcNAc2Asn, in place of mature N-linked structures, allows glycoprotein synthesis and somatic cell growth to proceed normally. To determine whether the same would be true in a complex biological situation, the gene Mgat-1 was disrupted by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and transmitted to the germ line. The Mgat-1 gene encodes N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I [GlcNAc-TI; alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase; UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:glycoprotein (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to alpha-D-mannosyl-1,3-(R1)-beta-D-mannosyl-R2) beta-1,2-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.101], the transferase that initiates synthesis of hybrid and complex N-linked carbohydrates from Man5GlcNAc2Asn. Mice lacking GlcNAc-TI activity did not survive to term. Biochemical and morphological analyses of embryos from 8.5 to 13.5 days of gestation showed that Mgat-1-/-embryos are developmentally retarded, most noticeably in neural tissue, and die between 9.5 and 10.5 days of development.

Animals↗

Differential expression of an E-selectin ligand (SLex) by two Chinese hamster ovary cell lines transfected with the same alpha (1,3)-fucosyltransferase gene (ELFT).

The mammalian cDNA encoding alpha (1,3)-fucosyltransferase (alpha (1,3)Fuc-T) termed ELAM-1 ligand fucosyltransferase (ELFT) or Fuc-TIV was previously cloned by three groups who reported different results from transfection studies Goelz et al. (Goelz, S. E., Hession, C., Goff, D., Griffiths, B., Tizard, R., Newman, B., Chi-Rosso, G., and Lobb, R. (1990) Cell 63, 1349-1356) found that Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the ELFT cDNA had alpha (1,3)Fuc-T activity and were able to bind to E-selectin. In contrast, Lowe et al. (Lowe, J. B., Kukowska-Latallo, J. F., Nair, R. P., Larsen, R. D., Marks, R. M., Macher, B. A., Kelly, R. J., and Ernst, L. K. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 17467-17477) and Kumar et al. (Kumar, R., Potvin, B., Muller, W. A., and Stanley, P. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 21777-21783) found no binding to E-selectin of CHO transfectants expressing the same alpha (1,3)Fuc-T gene; nor did the latter transfectants synthesize a known E-selectin ligand, sialylated Lex (SLex), although they had substantial alpha (1,3)Fuc-T activity. We now show that these discrepant results were due to a difference between the parental CHO cell lines. Following transfection of ELFT cDNA into Pro-5 or dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)- CHO cells, only the DHFR- transfectants expressed SLex and bound to E-selectin. Indirect evidence from monoclonal antibody and lectin binding studies indicates that the range of carbohydrate structures synthesized by the Pro-5 and DHFR- CHO cell lines differs. Since DHFR-/ELFT transfectants expressed cell surface SLex but transferred fucose poorly to sialylated substrates in vitro, ELFT may be able to fucosylate a complex carbohydrate missing from Pro-5 cells. Alternatively, either CHO line may have an activity (such as an alpha (2,3)-sialyltransferase), that modifies alpha (1,3)-fucosylated lactosamines.

Animals↗

Multicentric giant cell tumor: report of five new cases.

The typical giant cell tumor (GCT) is a solitary neoplams that occurs in the epiphysis or epimetaphysis of long bones. GCT is seen with a slightly increased frequency in females, and 70% of patients are between 20 and 40 years of age at the time of presentation. Multicentric giant cell tumor (MGCT; two or more centers) is an unusual variant of GCT. Patients with MGCT are likely to be younger than those with a solitary lesion. The multicentric variety is often of a higher stage at diagnosis and is more often associated with a pathological fracture than the unifocal tumor. We are reporting five new cases of MGCT, with a total of 21 tumors seen over a period of 25 years from 1967 to 1992.

Adolescent↗

Aspergillosis of the posterior mediastinum.

Invasive pulmonary Aspergillus, although rare in the general population, represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality among immunosuppressed patients. However, mediastinal invasion by Aspergillus is very uncommon, with few cases documented in the literature. Among 13 immunosuppressed pediatric patients recently diagnosed with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, 3 have had posterior mediastinal invasion with severe complications. Rupture of a mycotic aortic aneurysm occurred in 2 patients, one of whom was operated on successfully. The infection involved the spinal cord with severe neurologic sequelae in 2 patients. We report our experience to make our colleagues aware of this problematic disease, which may be more prevalent in the current population of highly immunosuppressed pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗

Maintaining long-term central venous access by repetitive hepatic vein cannulation.

Long-term central venous access has become a critical issue in the treatment of pediatric patients. Exhaustion of access sites can lead to superior and inferior vena cava thrombosis, limiting the choices for central line placement. Under such circumstances, hepatic vein cannulation is a viable option. We present the cases of two patients who, combined, have undergone five hepatic vein catheterizations. One patient has received four consecutive central lines via a hepatic vein. This experience suggests that the hepatic vein is a reusable site of cannulation in patients with no other alternative for venous access.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

The sticking point: How integrins bind to their ligands.

The integrin adhesion receptors are alpha beta heterodimers that exist in different ligand-binding states. Because of their large size and conformational lability, it has been difficult to determine how they interact with their ligands. Ligand-binding sites have been identified in the beta subunit, and now more recently in the 'I' domain and EF-hand-like domains V and VI of the alpha subunit. We speculate here about how these various sites might operate together to bind ligand in a stable manner.

Journal Article↗

Regulation of N-linked glycosylation. Neuronal cell-specific expression of a 5' extended transcript from the gene encoding N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I.

A key transferase in the generation of mature N-linked carbohydrates is the medial Golgi enzyme N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (EC 2.4.1.101; GlcNAc-TI) which is encoded by the Mgat-1 gene. Previous studies revealed two size classes of Mgat-1 mRNA that are differentially expressed in mouse tissues. Nearly all tissues possess a shorter form (approximately 2.9 kb), whereas brain has predominantly a longer Mgat-1 mRNA (approximately 3.3 kb). We now show, by in situ hybridization of horizontal sections of adult mouse brain, that Mgat-1 RNA levels vary markedly in different brain cell types with the greatest expression being in neuronal cells. The differential expression of the approximately 2.9 kb and approximately 3.3 kb Mgat-1 mRNAs is likely to be controlled by tissue-specific promoters since the size difference between the mRNAs was found to residue entirely in the 5' untranslated region of the approximately 3.3 kb mRNA. Evidence for this was obtained by an RNase H strategy, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5' anchored PCR. All of the 0.4 kb difference in size was localized upstream of the previously isolated cDNA sequence. Sequence information from this region was obtained from a mouse brain cDNA library by a PCR amplification strategy and a probe specific for the 3.3 kb mRNA was generated. This probe hybridized uniquely to the approximately 3.3 kb Mgat-1 mRNA and Southern blot analysis showed that the new sequence is physically linked to the Mgat-1 gene. A tissue culture model which displays an increase in expression of the approximately 3.3 kb Mgat-1 mRNA transcript during differentiation to neuronal cells has been developed in P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. The combined data suggest that 5' exons in the Mgat-1 gene are differentially utilized by tissue-specific promoters and that transcription factor(s) which specify production of the approximately 3.3 kb Mgat-1 mRNA are induced by retinoic acid treatment of P19 EC cells.

Animals↗

Survival of infants with primitive neuroectodermal tumors or malignant ependymomas of the CNS treated with eight drugs in 1 day: a report from the Childrens Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: Very young children with CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) and ependymomas have a poor prognosis and commonly have impairment of growth and cognitive abilities, in part resulting from radiotherapy. Thus, an intensive chemotherapeutic regimen was used to treat children less than 18 months of age at diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children were treated on a Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) protocol with an eight-drug chemotherapeutic regimen (vincristine, carmustine, procarbazine, hydroxyurea, cisplatin, cytarabine, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide) following surgery and postoperative staging. Delayed or reduced-volume radiotherapy was to be administered to all patients, but, in fact, was omitted in most cases. RESULTS: On central review of pathology, 82 children had diagnosis concordant with study entry criteria. Of these, 46 (56%) had posterior fossa (PF) PNET, eight (10%) had pineal PNET, 11 (12%) had nonpineal supratentorial PNET, 15 (18%) had ependymoma, and two had rhabdoid tumors. Fifty percent of tumor resections were complete, as verified by postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan, and 23% of patients had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Objective tumor response was documented following two cycles of chemotherapy in 28% of assessable patients. Toxicity of chemotherapy was primarily hematopoietic. Five children died of chemotherapy-related complications. Radiotherapy was administered to only nine patients before tumor progression. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates for PF PNET, pineal PNET, supratentorial nonpineal PNET, and ependymoma are 22% (SE = 6%), 0%, 55% (16%), and 26% (11%), respectively. The 3-year PFS rate for those children without metastatic disease was 29% (6%), as compared with 11% (6%) for those with metastatic disease. The only independent predictors of PFS were metastasis stage and location of the tumor within the pineal region. The median time to progression was 6 months. Twenty-four children completed the chemotherapeutic regimen without tumor progression; 19 are event-free survivors more than 2 years from diagnosis, only three of whom received radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: While overall survival in this group of very young patients is poor, a subset of children who have received only chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment remain free from tumor recurrence.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Mutants in dolichol synthesis: conversion of polyprenol to dolichol appears to be a rate-limiting step in dolichol synthesis.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells of the Lec9 recessive complementation group display a distinctive profile of resistance to a variety of toxic lectins. In addition, they accumulate cis-alpha-unsaturated polyprenol and use mainly polyprenol rather than dolichol to synthesize the glycosylated lipids used in asparagine-linked glycosylation of proteins. The primary defect in these cells is thought to result from a deficiency in polyprenol reductase activity. Three new mutants were isolated and determined to have qualitatively, although not quantitatively, similar lectin resistance profiles to Lec9 cells. Two of these mutants (AbrR and RicR) also contained polyprenol rather than dolichol. The lectin resistance profile of an independent mutant which accumulates polyprenol, F2A8, was also found to be qualitatively similar to the Lec9 pattern. The relationship among these mutants was analysed in more detail by construction of cell-cell hybrids. Lectin resistance profiles of the hybrids demonstrated that AbrR, RicR and F2A8 fell into the Lec9 complementation group. Analysis of prenols in the hybrids also showed that F2A8 was a member of the Lec9 group. Surprisingly, a significant fraction of the prenols found in Lec9 x Parent hybrids was polyprenol (up to 30% of the neutral fraction), whereas the prenols found in Parent x Parent hybrids were nearly exclusively dolichol (97% of the neutral lipid fraction). Therefore, reduction of polyprenol to dolichol appears to be a rate-limiting step in the synthesis of dolichol since hybrids with differing numbers of wild-type alleles can be biochemically distinguished.

Animals↗

Ependymal cells of the choroid plexus express tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) is a major proinflammatory cytokine which appears in the cerebrospinal fluid very early after endotoxin challenge, and is likely to be produced locally. Following in vivo and in vitro challenge with endotoxin, we have demonstrated immunocytochemically and by in situ hybridization that pig and guinea-pig choroid plexus ependymal cells can produce TNF alpha. Immuno-electron microscopy shows that this protein is localized within ependymal cells to the cytoplasm and microvilli. We suggest that this TNF alpha may be important in the initiation of the inflammatory response in bacterial meningitis.

Animals↗

Acute systemic hypoxia and the surface ultrastructure and morphological characteristics of rat leucocytes.

We have examined the surface ultrastructure and morphological characteristics of leucocytes obtained from control rats breathing air and rats made acutely hypoxic (breathing 6% O2, for 30 min). Striking ultrastructural and morphological changes occurred in the leucocytes of hypoxic rats. These changes included the appearance of crater-like holes, a reduction in granule size and disruption of the cell membrane. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗

Pulmonary banding complicated by low origin of right pulmonary artery.

In our attempt to band the main pulmonary artery above the valve in a 4-month-old prematurely born infant, we erroneously banded only the left pulmonary artery, owing to the unusually low origin of the right pulmonary artery (which arose partially in the sinus of Valsalva). When severe cardiac failure recurred, the anomaly was noted upon reoperation and the band was repositioned at the level of the pulmonary valve. Since this revision, the postoperative course has been good. Low origin of the right pulmonary artery is normal in premature infants. However, origin of the right pulmonary artery from the sinus of Valsalva is a sufficiently extreme variant to constitute a surgically important anomaly. Our postmortem studies of the pulmonary arteries of 25 premature infants born without cardiac malformation showed that while the right pulmonary artery was lower than the left, it never originated from the sinus of Valsalva. This anomalous configuration of the pulmonary arteries has, to our knowledge, never been found in an infant as old as 4 months; yet we believe it should be taken into account when banding pulmonary arteries in infants.

Cardiac Output, Low↗

E. coli hemolysin interactions with prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell membranes.

The hemolysin toxin (HlyA) is secreted across both the cytoplasmic and outer membranes of pathogenic Escherichia coli and forms membrane pores in cells of the host immune system, causing cell dysfunction and death. The processes underlying the interaction of HlyA with the bacterial and mammalian cell membranes are remarkable. Secretion of HlyA occurs without a periplasmic intermediate and is directed by an uncleaved C-terminal targetting signal and the HlyB and HlyD translocator proteins, the former being a member of a transporter superfamily central to import and export of a wide range of substrates by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The separate process by which HlyA is targetted to mammalian cell membranes is dependent upon fatty acylation of a non-toxic precursor, proHlyA. This is achieved by a novel mechanism directed by the activator protein HlyC, which binds to an internal proHlyA recognition sequence and provides specificity for the transfer of fatty acid from cellular acyl carrier protein.

Acylation↗