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PubMed1992

Evolution of Ac and Dsl elements in select grasses (Poaceae).

We present data on evolution of the Ac/Ds family of transposable elements in select grasses (Poaceae). An Ac-like element was cloned from a DNA library of the grass Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet) and 2387 bp of it have been sequenced. When the pearl millet Ac-like sequence is aligned with the corresponding region of the maize Ac sequence, it is found that all sequences corresponding to intron II in maize Ac are absent in pearl millet Ac. Kimura's evolutionary distance between maize and pearl millet Ac sequences is estimated to be 0.429 +/- 0.020 nucleotide substitutions per site. This value is not significantly different from the average number of synonymous substitutions for coding regions of the Adh1 gene between maize and pearl millet, which is 0.395 +/- 0.051 nucleotide substitutions per site. If we can assume Ac and Adh1 divergence times are equivalent between maize and pearl millet, then the above calculations suggest Ac-like sequences have probably not been strongly constrained by natural selection. The level of DNA sequence divergence between maize and pearl millet Ac sequences, the estimated date when maize and pearl millet diverged (25-40 million years ago), coupled with their reproductive isolation/lack of current genetic exchange, all support the theory that Ac-like sequences have not been recently introduced into pearl millet from maize. Instead, Ac-like sequences were probably present in the progenitor of maize and pearl millet, and have thus existed in the grasses for at least 25 million years. Ac-like sequences may be widely distributed among the grasses. We also present the first 2 Ds1 controlling element sequences from teosinte species: Zea luxurians and Zea perennis. A total of 10 Ds1 elements had previously been sequenced from maize and a distant maize relative, Tripsacum. When a maximum likelihood network of genetic relationships is constructed for all 12 sequenced Ds1 elements, the 2 teosinte Ds1 elements are as distant from most maize Ds1 elements and from each other, as the maize Ds1 elements are from one another. Our new teosinte sequence data support the previous conclusion that Ds1 elements have been accumulating mutations independently since maize and Tripsacum diverged. We present a scenario for the origin of Ds1 elements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 4-Hexylresorcinol (CAS No. 136-77-6) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies).

4-Hexylresorcinol, which is used as an anthelmintic and antiseptic, was nominated by the National Cancer Institute for study. Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies were conducted by administering 4-hexylresorcinol (greater than 99% pure) in corn oil by gavage to groups of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice of each sex for 16 days, 13 weeks, or 2 years. Sixteen-Day and Thirteen-Week Studies: In the 16-day studies, groups of five rats and five mice of each sex were administered 0, 31.3, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg 4-hexylresorcinol. Survival was not affected. Decreased body weights were seen in male rats that received 250 or 500 mg/kg 4-hexylresorcinol. No other effects were observed. In the 13-week studies, groups of 10 rats and 10 mice of each sex were administered 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg of the chemical, 5 days per week. All rats and male mice and 9/10 female mice that received 1,000 mg/kg died before the end of the studies. Final mean body weights of male rats that received 250 or 500 mg/kg were 22% or 38% lower than that of the vehicle controls; final mean body weights of female rats that received 250 or 500 mg/kg were 16% or 9% lower. No compound-related gross or microscopic pathologic effects were observed in rats. No body weight effects were observed for mice. Mild to moderate nephropathy was dose related in male and female mice. Based on these results, 2-year toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of 4-hexylresorcinol were conducted by administering 0, 62.5, or 125 mg/kg to groups of 50 F344/N rats and 50 B6C3F1 mice of each sex, 5 days per week. Body Weight and Survival in the Two-Year Studies: Mean body weights of high dose male rats were 7%-11% lower than those of the vehicle controls throughout the study. Mean body weights of low dose male and dosed female rats were similar to those of the vehicle controls. The body weights of dosed male and dosed female mice were comparable to those of vehicle controls except during the last 16 weeks of the studies, when body weights were 6%-16% lower in the dosed groups. No significant differences in survival were observed between any groups of rats or mice of either sex (male rats: vehicle control, 30/50; low dose, 29/50; high dose, 33/50; female rats: 28/50; 32/50; 30/50; male mice: 36/50; 26/50; 30/50; female mice: 35/50; 32/50; 35/50). Nonneoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions in the Two-Year Studies: Two astrocytomas and an oligodendroglioma were observed in high dose male rats, a glioma was observed in one low dose male rat, and an oligodendroglioma was observed in one vehicle control male rat. These neoplasms were not considered to be related to 4-hexylresorcinol administration. Focal medullary hyperplasia of the adrenal gland was observed at increased incidences in dosed male mice (5/50; 16/50; 10/49). Pheochromocytomas in male mice occurred with a marginal upward trend (1/50; 2/50; 5/49). Historically, these neoplasms are observed in about 1% of corn oil vehicle control B6C3F1 male mice. The incidences of neoplasms of the harderian gland in male mice were slightly increased over those in the vehicle controls (adenomas or carcinomas, combined: 0/50; 4/50; 3/50). Decreases were observed in the incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia in dosed male (12/49; 7/50; 1/50) and female (16/50; 3/50; 2/50) rats, hepatocellular adenomas or carcinomas (combined) in dosed male mice (21/50; 9/50; 9/50), and circulatory system tumors in male (10/50; 4/50; 2/50) and female (6/50; 2/49; 0/50) mice. These decreased incidences of tumors in rats and mice are considered to be possibly related to 4-hexylresorcinol administration. The incidences and severity of nephropathy (male: 39/50; 43/50; 47/50; female: 7/50; 40/49; 47/50) and incidences of osteosclerosis (male: 5/50; 5/50; 15/50; female: 21/50; 25/49; 40/50) were increased in both dosed male and female mice and are considered to be related to chemical exposure. Genetic Toxicology: 4-Hexylresorcinol was not mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, or TA1537 with or without S9 metabolic activation. 4-Hexylre, TA1535, or TA1537 with or without S9 metabolic activation. 4-Hexylresorcinol induced forward mutations at the TK locus in mouse L5178Y cells in the presence of S9; no response was observed in the absence of metabolic activation. In cytogenetic assays with cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, 4-hexylresorcinol caused an increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in the absence of metabolic activation; no induction of SCEs was observed in the presence of S9. Chromosomal aberrations were not induced in CHO cells with or without metabolic activation. Data Audit: The data, documents, and pathology materials from the 2-year studies of 4-hexylresorcinol were audited at the NTP Archives. The audit findings show that the conduct of the studies is documented appropriately and support the data and results given in this Technical Report. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2-year gavage studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of 4-hexylresorcinol for male or female F344/N rats given doses of 62.5 or 125 mg/kg. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of 4-hexylresorcinol for male B6C3F1 mice, as shown by marginally increased incidences of pheochromocytomas (and hyperplasia) of the adrenal medulla and of harderian gland neoplasms. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity for female B6C3F1 mice given doses of 62.5 or 125 mg/kg 4-hexylresorcinol. Decreased incidences of three tumors types were considered related to 4-hexylresorcinol administration: mononuclear cell leukemia in male and female rats, hepatocellular neoplasms in male mice, and circulatory system tumors in male and female mice. Synonyms: 4-hexyl-1,3-benzenediol; 4-hexyl-1,3-dihydroxybenzene

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

SSADH variation in primates: intra- and interspecific data on a gene with a potential role in human cognitive functions.

In the present study we focus on the nucleotide and the inferred amino acid variation occurring in humans and other primate species for mitochondrial NAD(+)-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, a gene recently supposed to contribute to cognitive performance in humans. We determined 2527 bp of coding, intronic, and flanking sequences from chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, orangutan, gibbon, and macaque. We also resequenced the entire coding sequence on 39 independent chromosomes from Italian families. Four variable coding sites were genotyped in additional populations from Europe, Africa, and Asia. A test for constancy of the nonsynonymous vs. synonymous rates of nucleotide changes revealed that primates are characterized by largely variable d(N)/d(S) ratios. On a background of strong conservation, probably controlled by selective constraints, the lineage leading to humans showed a ratio increased to 0.42. Human polymorphic levels fall in the range reported for other genes, with a pattern of frequency and haplotype structure strongly suggestive of nonneutrality. The comparison with the primate sequences allowed inferring the ancestral state at all variable positions, suggesting that the c.538(C) allele and the associated functional variant is indeed a derived state that is proceeding to fixation. The unexpected pattern of human polymorphism compared to interspecific findings outlines the possibility of a recent positive selection on some variants relevant to new cognitive capabilities unique to humans.

Adaptation, Biological↗
PubMed2003

Variation in the protocadherin gamma A gene cluster.

We screened for variation in the 12 protocadherin gamma A (PCDHGA) genes of the protocadherin cluster on chromosome 5q31. We used denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography followed by sequencing to identify changes in the DNA sequence. We identified 24 nonsynonymous changes, 24 synonymous SNPs, and 9 polymorphisms in the 5' flanking regions. The variant with the greatest predicted impact on the encoded protein was a frameshift polymorphism in PCDHGA8, caused by a deletion of one C base (Pro174fsdelC). The del variant was more common in 512 controls compared to 506 schizophrenic (SZ) cases (10.6% vs 7.2%, p=0.007) but this trend was not replicated in an independent sample of 403 trios, in which it was transmitted 47 times and not transmitted 55 times from heterozygous parents (p=0.43). We screened 10 of the common polymorphisms for association with schizophrenia by genotyping pooled DNA from 540 SZ cases and 540 controls, but none of them showed a significant difference. It will be important to identify the phenotype associated with the loss of the PCDHGA8 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Natural selection on the influenza virus genome.

Influenza viruses are the etiological agents of influenza. Although vaccines and drugs are available for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza virus infections, the generation of escape mutants has been reported. To develop vaccines and drugs that are less susceptible to the generation of escape mutants, it is important to understand the evolutionary mechanisms of the viruses. Here natural selection operating on all the proteins encoded by the H3N2 human influenza A virus genome was inferred by comparing the numbers of synonymous (d(S) [D(S)]) and nonsynonymous (d(N) [D(N)]) substitutions per site. Natural selection was also inferred for the groups of functional amino acid sites involved in B-cell epitopes (BCEs), T-cell epitopes (TCEs), drug resistance, and growth in eggs. The entire region of PB1-F2 was positively selected, and positive selection also appeared to operate on BCEs, TCEs, and growth in eggs. The frequency of escape mutant generation appeared to be positively correlated with the d(N)/d(S) (D(N)/D(S)) values for the targets of vaccines and drugs, suggesting that the amino acid sites under strong functional constraint are suitable targets. In particular, TCEs may represent candidate targets because the d(N)/d(S) (D(N)/D(S)) values were small and negative selection was inferred for many of them.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical quiz. Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (synonyms: broad thumbs and great toes, characteristic facies, and mental retardation -- broad thumb-hallux syndrome).

A 28-year-old mentally retarded, institutionalised woman was referred to us for evaluation of multiple plantar warts and ingrown nails of both great toes. The patient was born to unrelated parents of North African origin and had one brother and three half-brothers, all of whom were healthy. Physical examination revealed short stature, slight obesity, facial abnormalities (Fig. 1), short and broad thumbs and big toes (Figs. 2 and 3). A keloid was found on the right forearm, that had developed after surgical correction of a fracture (Fig. 4). Ill-defined hyperpigmented macules were observed on the trunk. The patient also presented pruritic eczematous lesions of the limbs and the back that had been present for some years and were recurrent despite treatment with emollients and local steroids. Androgenetic-type alopecia of moderate severity was seen on the vertex of the scalp. Past medical history included polydactylism of the feet and clinodactyly of the thumbs (both corrected surgically), respiratory tract infections, Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and refractive errors necessitating glasses.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies 2-Butoxyethanol (CAS NO. 111-76-2) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies).

2-Butoxyethanol is a member of a family of ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers. It is used extensively as a solvent in surface coatings such as lacquers, enamels, varnishes, and latex paint; in paint thinners, paint stripping formulations, and inks; and in degreasers and industrial and household cleaners. 2-Butoxyethanol was nominated for study because of its widespread use in industrial and consumer applications, the potential for exposure to workers and the general population, and the absence of chronic toxicity data. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol (greater than 99% pure) by inhalation (primary route of human exposure) for 14 weeks or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium, cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells, and the bone marrow of male F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. 14-WEEK STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 31, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 ppm, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 14 weeks. One female rat in the 250 ppm group was killed moribund during week 8; four females in the 500 ppm group were killed moribund during week 1 and one during week 5. Final mean body weights of females exposed to 500 ppm were significantly less than those of the chamber controls. Clinical findings included abnormal breathing, pallor, red urine stains, nasal and eye discharge, lethargy, and increased salivation and/or lacrimation. Due to vascular thrombosis and infarction in the tail vertebrae of 500 ppm female rats, the tails became necrotic and either sloughed off or were chewed off. The primary effect on the hematopoietic system was an anemia characterized as macrocytic, normochromic, and regenerative in males exposed to 125 ppm or greater and, to a greater extent, in all exposed groups of females. Compared to the chamber controls, kidney weights of males exposed to 500 ppm and females exposed to 125 ppm or greater and liver weights of males exposed to 250 or 500 ppm and females exposed to 125 ppm or greater were significantly increased, and thymus weights of females exposed to 500 ppm were significantly less. In female rats killed moribund, there was considerable histologic evidence of thrombosis in tissues and organs including the nasal cavity, incisors, liver, lung, and heart. In addition to thrombosis, infarction occurred in the vertebrae of the tail resulting in necrosis and loss of the distal portion of the tail. There were also inflammation, necrosis, and ulceration of the forestomach; necrosis and centrilobular degeneration of the liver; renal tubule degeneration; and atrophy of the spleen and thymus. Exposure-related increases in the incidences of Kupffer cell pigmentation, forestomach inflammation and epithelial hyperplasia, bone marrow hyperplasia, splenic hematopoietic cell proliferation, and renal tubule pigmentation were observed in male and/or female rats surviving to the end of the study. 14-WEEK STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female mice were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 31, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 ppm, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 14 weeks. Two male and two female mice exposed to 500 ppm died and two males and two females were killed moribund during the first 2 weeks of the study. Final mean body weights of 125, 250, and 500 ppm male mice were significantly less than those of the chamber controls. Clinical findings were observed only in 500 ppm males and females that died or were killed moribund and included abnormal breathing, red urine stains, and lethargy. Hematologic evaluation indicated an anemia that was characterized as normocytic, normochromic, and regenerative in mice exposed to 62.5 ppm or greater; the anemia was more pronounced in females. Liver weights of males exposed to 500 ppm were significantly greater than the chamber controls. In mice either dying early or killed moribund, there were inflammation, necrosis, and ulceration of the forestomach; mediastinal pleura and peritoneal inflammationmmation associated with the forestomach lesions; liver necrosis; renal tubule degeneration; atrophy of the spleen, thymus, and mandibular and mesenteric lymph nodes; and degeneration of the testis. Exposure-related increases in the incidences of hematopoietic cell proliferation and hemosiderin pigmentation of the spleen, Kupffer cell hemosiderin pigmentation of the liver, inflammation and epithelial hyperplasia of the forestomach, and renal tubule hemosiderin pigmentation occurred in male and/or female mice surviving to the end of the study. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 50 male and 50 female rats were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 31.2, 62.5, or 125 ppm, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 104 weeks. For hematology and bone marrow analyses, additional groups of 27 male and 27 female rats were exposed to 0, 62.5, or 125 ppm for evaluation at 3, 6, and 12 months and nine male and nine female rats were exposed to 31.2 ppm for evaluation at 3 (hematology only) and 6 months. Survival and Body Weights: Survival of exposed male and female rats was similar to the chamber control groups. The mean body weights of females exposed to 125 ppm were generally less than the chamber control group. Hematology and Bone Marrow Cellularity: The most consistent exposure-related effect on the hematopoietic system was an exposure concentration-related mild macrocytic, normochromic, regenerative anemia present at 3, 6, and 12 months, with females more affected than males. Significant increases in bone marrow cellularity and decreases in the myeloid/erythroid ratio relative to the chamber controls were observed at all time points in females exposed to 125 ppm, and a decrease in the myeloid/erythroid ratio was observed in males exposed to 125 ppm at 12 months. Pathology Findings: The incidence of benign or malignant pheochromocytoma (combined) of the adrenal medulla in females exposed to 125 ppm was not significantly increased compared to the chamber controls but exceeded the historical control range. Exposure-related increases in the incidences of hyaline degeneration of the olfactory epithelium and Kupffer cell pigmentation of the liver were observed in male and female rats. 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 50 male and 50 female mice were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol by inhalation at concentrations of 0, 62.5, 125, or 250 ppm, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 104 weeks. For hematology and bone marrow analyses, additional groups of 30 male and 30 female mice were exposed to 0, 62.5, 125, or 250 ppm for evaluation at 3, 6, and 12 months. Survival and Body Weights: Survival of male mice exposed to 125 or 250 ppm was significantly less than that of the chamber control group. The mean body weights of exposed males were generally less than those of the chamber control group during the last 6 months of the study. The mean body weights of exposed female mice were less than those of the chamber control group; the reductions were greater and occurred earlier than those observed in males. Hematology: The most consistent exposure-related effect on the hematopoietic system was an exposure concentration-related minimal normocytic, normochromic, regenerative anemia present at 3, 6, and 12 months, with females affected slightly more than males. Pathology Findings: In females exposed to 250 ppm, incidences of forestomach squamous cell papilloma and squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma (combined) were significantly increased relative to the chamber controls, and these incidences exceeded the ranges in historical chamber controls. In 2-butoxyethanol exposed males, there were possible exposure-related increases in the incidences of squamous cell papilloma of the forestomach, although the increases were not significant and the incidences were within the historical control range for chamber controls. Accompanying these neoplasms in females and, to a lesser extent, in males were exposure-related increases in the incidences of ulcer and epithelial hyperplasia of the forestomach. In male mice exposed to 250 ppm, the incidence of hemangiosarcoma of the liver was significantly increased relative to chamber controls and exceeded the range in historical controls; in addition, there were possible exposure-related increases in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Incidences of hemosiderin pigmentation in the Kupffer cells were significantly increased in 125 and 250 ppm males and all exposed groups of females. The incidences of splenic hematopoietic cell proliferation and hemosiderin pigmentation were generally increased in males and females, and the incidences of bone marrow hyperplasia were increased in males. The incidences of hyaline degeneration of the olfactory and respiratory epithelia of the nose were increased in female mice. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY: 2-Butoxyethanol did not induce mutations in any of the S. typhimurium strains tested, with or without induced hamster or rat liver S9. 2-Butoxyethanol induced cycle delay but did not induce either sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells with or without S9. 2-Butoxyethanol did not induce micronuclei in bone marrow cells of male rats or mice administered the chemical by intraperitoneal injection three times at 24-hour intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in male F344/N rats exposed to 31.2, 62.5, or 125 ppm. There was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in female F344/N rats based on the increased combined incidences of benign or malignant pheochromocytoma (mainly benign) of the adrenal medulla. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of hemangiosarcoma of the liver. A marginal increase in the incidences of forestomach squamous cell papilloma and an increase in the incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma may have been exposure related. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2-butoxyethanol in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of fore stomach squamous cell papilloma or carcinoma (mainly papilloma). Increased incidences of forestomach neoplasms in male and female mice occurred in groups in which ulceration and hyperplasia were also present. Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol caused a mild regenerative anemia and effects secondary to the anemia. Synonyms: 2-Butoxy-1-ethanol; m-butyl ether; butyl glycol; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether Trade name: Butyl Cellosolve

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

[Drug therapy and pharmacogenomics--hopes and facts].

Recent achievements in molecular genetics, in particular the characterization of a large number of non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (ns-SNPs) have led to a substantial accumulation of knowledge about the mechanisms of interindividual variability in drug response. The concept of elucidating drug reactions by genetic analysis is termed "pharmacogenomics". Pharmacogenomics is set to provide a relevant contribution to our understanding of adverse drug reactions and non-responsiveness to drug therapy and may help realize the vision of providing individualized therapies. The greatest challenges for the field of pharmacogenomics relate to the issues of genotype-phenotype- and genotype-environment- interactions, optimal selection of study designs, predictivity and ethical aspects. Although its current impact on the routine of medicine is minimal, it is likely that pharmacogenomics will provide important contributions to the practice of drug therapy. Pharmacogenetic concepts may prove important for approximately 20% of therapeutic drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Nickel Subsulfide (CAS No. 12035-72-2) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies).

Nickel subsulfide is used in the manufacture of lithium batteries and is a major component in the refining of certain nickel ores. Nickel subsulfide was nominated as part of a class study of nickel compounds, for which there was little information on the toxic and carcinogenic effects of inhalation exposure. Male and female F334/N rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to nickel subsulfide (at least 97% pure; the mean value for the mass median aerodynamic diameter at each exposure concentration ranged from 2.0 to 2.2 mm by inhalation 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 16 days, 13 weeks, or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium, and mouse peripheral blood samples were analyzed for frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes. 16-DAY STUDY IN RATS: Groups of five male and five female F344/N rats were exposed to atmospheres containing 0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) (equivalent to 0, 0.44, 0.88, 1.83, 3.65, and 7.33 mg nickel/m(3)) 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for a total of 12 exposure days during a 16-day period. Additionalmgroups of three male and three female rats were exposed to 0, 0.6, 2.5, or 10 mg/m(3) for tissue burden studies. One male exposed to 10 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) in the core study died on day 14; all other rats survived until the end of the study. Final mean body weights and mean body weight gains of males exposed to 5 or 10 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) and females exposed to 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/m(3) were significantly lower than those of the controls. Clinical findings of toxicity on day 5 of the study included labored respiration in 10 mg/m(3) males and 5 and 10 mg/m(3) females and dehydration in 5 and 10 mg/m(3) females. Absolute and relative lung weights of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/m(3) males and all exposed groups of females were significantlymgreater than those of the controls, as was the absolute lung weight of 1.2 mg/m(3) males. Inflammation of the lung and atrophy of the nasal olfactory epithelium occurred in all exposed mgroups. The concentrations of nickel in the lungs of exposedmgroups of rats increased with exposure concentration (males, 7 to 67 mg nickel/g lung; females, 9 to 77 mg/g lung). 16-DAY STUDY IN MICE: Groups of five male and five female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to atmospheres containing 0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for a total of 12 exposure days during a 16-day period. Additional groups of three male and three female mice were exposed to 0, 0.6, 2.5, or 10 mg/m(3) for tissue burden studies. All male and female mice exposed to 10 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) in the core study died before the end of the study; the death of one female was accidental. One control male, one control female, and one 1.2 mg/m(3) male also died before the end of the study. Final mean body weights and mean body weight gains of 5 mg/m(3) males were significantly lower than those of the controls. Clinical findings at day 5 included labored respiration in 10 mg/m(3) males and females. The absolute lung weight of 5 mg/m(3) males, the absolute and relative lung weights of 10 mg/m(3) males and 5 mg/m(3) females, and the relative lung weight of 10 mg/m(3) females were significantly greater than those of the controls. Inflammation of the lung occurred in 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/m(3) male and female mice, fibrosis of the lung occurred in 5 mg/m(3) males and females, and lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchial lymph nodes and atrophy of the nasal olfactory epithelium occurred in 1.2, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/m(3) males and females. Nickel concentrations in the lung of exposed male and female mice were greater than those of the controls (males, 10 to 20 mg nickel/g lung; females, 8 to 20 mg/g lung) 13-WEEK STUDY IN RATS: Groups of 10 male and 10 female F344/N rats were exposed to atmospheres containing 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, or 2.5 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) (equivalent to 0, 0.11, 0.22, 0.44, 0.88, and 1.83 mg nickel/m(3)) 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 13 weeks. Additional groups of 18 male and 18 female female rats were exposed to 0, 0.15, 0.6, or 2.5 mg/m(3) for tissue burden studies. All core study rats survived until the end of the study. Final mean body weights and mean body weight gains of 2.5 mg/m(3) males were significantly lower than those of the controls; final mean body weights of all other exposure groups were similar to those of the controls. Chemical-related clinical findings included labored respiration in 2.5 mg/m(3) males and females during weeks 2 through 7. In general, neutrophil and erythrocyte counts, hematocrit values, and hemoglobin concentrations were minimally increased in exposed rats. Absolute and relative lung weights of all exposed groups were significantly greater than those of the controls. Increases in the number of alveolar macrophages, interstitial infiltrates, or incidences of chronic inflammation of the lung occurred in all groups exposed to nickel subsulfide concentrations of 0.3 mg/m(3) or greater; the severity of these lesions generally increased with increasing exposure concentration. Increases in the number of alveolar macrophages were observed in 0.15 mg/m(3) males and females. Lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes was observed in rats exposed to 0.3 mg/m(3) or greater. Most 0.6, 1.2, and 2.5 mg/m(3) males and females had atrophy of the nasal olfactory epithelium, and the severity generally increased with increasing exposure concentration. Nickel concentrations in the lung increased with exposure concentration and were greater than those in the controls in rats exposed for 13 weeks (males, 5 to 18 mg nickel/g lung; females, 5 to 17 mg/g lung). 13-WEEK STUDY IN MICE: Groups of 10 male and 10 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to atmospheres containing 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, or 2.5 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 13 weeks. Additional groups of six male and six female mice were exposed to 0, 0.15, 0.6, or 2.5 mg/m(3) for tissue burden studies. Final mean body weights of all exposure groups were similar to those of the controls. No chemical-related clinical findings were observed. Lymphocyte counts in 1.2 and 2.5 mg/m(3) males were minimally greater than that of the controls. Hemoglobin concentrations and erythrocyte counts in 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, and 2.5 mg/m(3) females were minimally greater than those of the controls. Absolute and relative lung weights of 1.2 and 2.5 mg/m(3) males and females were significantly greater than those of the controls. An increase in alveolar macrophages was present in mice from the 0.3 mg/m(3) and higher exposure groups. Chronic inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the lung of 1.2 and 2.5 mg/m(3) males and females. Interstitial infiltrates of lymphocytes were observed in mice exposed to 0.6, 1.2, or 2.5 mg/m(3). Lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchial lymph nodes was observed in groups exposed to 1.2 or 2.5 mg/m(3). Atrophy of the nasal olfactory epithelium occurred in 0.6, 1.2, and 2.5 mg/m(3) males and females, and incidences and severity generally increased with increasing exposure concentration. At 13 weeks, nickel concentrations in the lungs of exposed mice were greater than those of the controls (males, 3 to 17 g nickel/g lung; females, 6 to 23 mg/g lung), and these concentrations increased with increasing exposure concentration. 2-YEAR STUDY IN RATS: Survival, Body Weights, Clinical Findings, and Hematology: Groups of 63 male and 63 female F344/N rats were exposed to 0, 0.15, or 1 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) (equivalent to 0, 0.11, or 0.73 mg nickel/m(3)) by inhalation for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 104 weeks. Survival of exposed males and female rats was similar to that of the controls. Mean body weights of males and females exposed to 0.15 mg/m(3) were similar to those of the controls. Mean body weights of rats exposed to 1 mg/m(3) were lower than those of the controls throughout the second year of the study. Chemical-related clinical findings included rapid and shallow breathing following exposure periods. Hematocrit values and hemoglobin concentrations in 1 mg/m(3) males and females and the erythrocyte count in 1 mg/m(3) males were mildly greater than those in the controls. Pathology Findings: In general, the absolute and relative lung weights of exposed males and females were significantly greater than those of the controls at 7 and 15 months. There were exposure-related increases in the incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma in males, alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma in males and females, and alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in males and females at 2 years. Nonneoplastic lung lesions generally observed in exposed males and females included fibrosis; chronic active inflammation; focal alveolar epithelial hyperplasia, macrophage hyperplasia, and proteinosis; bronchial lymphoid hyperplasia; and interstitial inflammation. At 2 years, there were significant exposure-related increases in the incidences of benign pheochromocytoma, malignant pheochromocytoma, and benign or malignant pheochromocytoma (combined) in males and of benign pheochromocytoma in females. The incidence of adrenal medulla hyperplasia in 1 mg/m(3) females was significantly greater than that of the controls At 2 years, the incidences of chronic active inflammation of the nose in 1 mg/m(3) females and of olfactory epithelial atrophy in 1 mg/m(3) males and females were significantly greater than those of the controls. The incidences of lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchial lymph node in exposed males at 7 and 15 months and in exposed males and females at 2 years were significantly greater than those of the controls. Incidences of macrophage hyperplasia in the bronchial lymph node of exposed males at 15 months and exposed males and females at 2 years were greater than those of the controls. Tissue Burden Analyses: Nickel concentrations in the lungs of exposed rats were greater than those of the controls at 7 months (males, 6 to 9 mg nickel/g lung; females, 6 to 9 mg/g lung) and 15 months (males, 4 to 3 mg nickel/g lung; females, 4 to 7 mg/g lung). 2-YEAR STUDY IN MICE: Survival, Body Weights, Clinical Findings, and Hematology: Groups of 80 male and 80 female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 0.6, or 1.2 mg nickel subsulfide/m(3) (equivalent to 0, 0.44, or 0.88 mg nickel/m(3)) by inhalation for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 105 weeks. Survival of exposed male and female mice was similar to that of the controls. Mean body weights of 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) males and females were less than those of the controls throughout the second year of the study. Chemical-related clinical findings in male and female mice included labored respiration following exposure periods. The hematocrit value and the segmented neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, and total leukocyte counts in 1.2 mg/m(3) females were greater than those in the controls. Pathology Findings: Absolute and relative lung weights of exposed males and females were generally significantly greater than those of the controls at 7 and 15 months. The incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma in 0.6 mg/m(3) females and the incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) in 0.6 mg/m(3) males and 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) females were significantly less than those of the controls. In general, the incidences of chronic active inflammation; bronchialization (alveolar epithelial hyperplasia), macrophage hyperplasia and proteinosis; interstitial infiltration; and fibrosis in exposed groups of males and females were greater than those of the controls at 7 and 15 months and at 2 years. The incidences of atrophy of the nasal olfactory epithelium and inflammation of the nose in exposed mice were also generally greater than those of the controls. At 2 years, the incidences of degeneration of olfactory epithelium in exposed females were significantly less than that of the controls. The incidences of lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchial lymph node in 1.2 mg/m(3) males at 15 months, in 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) females at 15 months, and in 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) males and females at 2 years were significantly greater than those of the controls. The incidences of macrophage hyperplasia in 1.2 mg/m(3) males at 7 and 15 months, in 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) females at 15 months, and in 0.6 and 1.2 mg/m(3) males and females at 2 years were significantly greater than those of the controls. Tissue Burden Analyses: Nickel concentrations in the lungs of exposed mice were greater than those of the controls at 7 months (males, 10 to 11 mg nickel/g lung; females, 10 to 14 mg/g lung) and 15 months (males, 12 to 20 mg nickel/g lung; females, 15 to 26 mg/g lung). GENETIC TOXICOLOGY: Nickel subsulfide was considered to be equivocal in the Salmonella gene mutation assay overall. Sporadic weakly positive and equivocal responses were obtained in strain TA100 with and without S9 metabolic activation enzymes; all other strain/activation combinations gave negative results. No increase in the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes was observed in peripheral blood samples from male or female mice exposed to nickel subsulfide by inhalation for 13 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of nickel subsulfide in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma, carcinoma, and adenoma or carcinoma (combined) and on increased incidences of benign, malignant, and benign or malignant (combined) pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of nickel subsulfide in female F344/N rats based on increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar carcinoma and alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma (combined) and an increased incidence of benign pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of nickel subsulfide in male or female B6C3F1 mice exposed to 0.6 or 1.2 mg/m(3). Exposure of male and female rats to nickel subsulfide by inhalation for 2 years resulted in inflammation, hyperplasia, and fibrosis in the lung; inflammation and atrophy of the olfactory epithelium in the nose; and hyperplasia in the adrenal medulla (females). Exposure of male and female mice to nickel subsulfide by inhalation for 2 years resulted in inflammation, bronchialization, hyperplasia, and fibrosis in the lung and inflammation and atrophy of the olfactory epithelium in the nose. Synonyms: Heazlewoodite, nickel subsulphide, nickel sulfide (3:2), a-nickel sulfide (3:2) crystalline, nickel sulphide, nickel tritadisulphide, trinickel disulfide

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Polymorphism screening of PIK4CA: possible candidate gene for chromosome 22q11-linked psychiatric disorders.

Lithium is potent non-competitive inhibitor of an enzyme involved in the metabolism of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P(2)), a critical phosphoinositide (PI) that regulates signal transduction and synaptic vesicle function. Interestingly, a number of genes involved in the regulation of PtdIns-4,5-P(2) synthesis and dephosphorylation are found in regions of the genome previously mapped in bipolar disorder (BPD) including 10p, 18q, 21q, and 22q. One is PIK4CA, a member of the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase family that phosphorylates PtdIns at the D4 position of the inositol ring as part of the PtdIns-4,5-P(2) synthetic pathway. PIK4CA maps to 22q11 in a region believed to contain a susceptibility gene for psychiatric disorders. Screening of two functional domains of PIK4CA and the promoter region resulted in the identification of 15 different polymorphisms. Rare variants at a consensus splice donor site and the promoter region were found in a total of three patients with BPD, three with schizophrenia (SZ) and only one control. Several common non-synonymous changes and a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -31 in the putative promoter were identified and analyzed in patients with BPD, SZ, and controls. There was no difference in the allele distribution in mentally ill subjects and controls for two variants, R2259C and E2079Q, both located in the PIK4CA catalytic domain. There was, however, a trend toward significance in the distribution of the -31 promoter genotypes in bipolar subjects and controls. Although the results of this analysis were modest, considering the heterogeneity of BPD and SZ and the hypothesis that BPD may be caused by abnormalities in genes that regulate PI-mediated phenomena in the brain, the polymorphisms we detected in the PIK4CA gene should be analyzed in a larger data set to help determine their significance in 22q11-linked mental disorders.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗
PubMed2006

Robust inference of positive selection from recombining coding sequences.

MOTIVATION: Accurate detection of positive Darwinian selection can provide important insights to researchers investigating the evolution of pathogens. However, many pathogens (particularly viruses) undergo frequent recombination and the phylogenetic methods commonly applied to detect positive selection have been shown to give misleading results when applied to recombining sequences. We propose a method that makes maximum likelihood inference of positive selection robust to the presence of recombination. This is achieved by allowing tree topologies and branch lengths to change across detected recombination breakpoints. Further improvements are obtained by allowing synonymous substitution rates to vary across sites. RESULTS: Using simulation we show that, even for extreme cases where recombination causes standard methods to reach false positive rates >90%, the proposed method decreases the false positive rate to acceptable levels while retaining high power. We applied the method to two HIV-1 datasets for which we have previously found that inference of positive selection is invalid owing to high rates of recombination. In one of these (env gene) we still detected positive selection using the proposed method, while in the other (gag gene) we found no significant evidence of positive selection. AVAILABILITY: A HyPhy batch language implementation of the proposed methods and the HIV-1 datasets analysed are available at http://www.cbio.uct.ac.za/pub_support/bioinf06. The HyPhy package is available at http://www.hyphy.org, and it is planned that the proposed methods will be included in the next distribution. RDP2 is available at http://darwin.uvigo.es/rdp/rdp.html

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Human non-synonymous SNPs: server and survey.

Human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) represent the most frequent type of human population DNA variation. One of the main goals of SNP research is to understand the genetics of the human phenotype variation and especially the genetic basis of human complex diseases. Non-synonymous coding SNPs (nsSNPs) comprise a group of SNPs that, together with SNPs in regulatory regions, are believed to have the highest impact on phenotype. Here we present a World Wide Web server to predict the effect of an nsSNP on protein structure and function. The prediction method enabled analysis of the publicly available SNP database HGVbase, which gave rise to a dataset of nsSNPs with predicted functionality. The dataset was further used to compare the effect of various structural and functional characteristics of amino acid substitutions responsible for phenotypic display of nsSNPs. We also studied the dependence of selective pressure on the structural and functional properties of proteins. We found that in our dataset the selection pressure against deleterious SNPs depends on the molecular function of the protein, although it is insensitive to several other protein features considered. The strongest selective pressure was detected for proteins involved in transcription regulation.

Databases, Genetic↗
PubMed2005

ABCA2 is a strong genetic risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Recent epidemiological, biological and genetic data indicate a relationship between cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease (AD) including the association of polymorphisms of ABCA1 (a gene that is known to participate in cholesterol and phospholipid transport) with AD prevalence. Based on these data, we postulated that genetic variation in the related and brain-specific ABCA2 gene leads to increase risk of AD. A large case-control study was conducted where the sample was randomly divided into a hypothesis-testing sample (230 cases/286 controls) and a validation sample (210 cases/233 controls). Among the 45 SNPs we tested, one synonymous SNP (rs908832) was found significantly associated with AD in both samples. Additional analyses performed on the whole sample showed a very strong association between this marker and early-onset AD (OR = 3.82, 95% C.I. = [2.00 - 7.30], P = 5 x 10(-5)). Further research is needed to understand the functional role of this polymorphism. However, together with the reported associations of AD with APOE, CYP46A1 and ABCA1, the present result adds a very significant support for the role of cholesterol and phospholipid homeostasis in AD and a rationale for testing novel cholesterol homeostasis-related therapeutic strategies in AD.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed2006

Bias of selection on human copy-number variants.

Although large-scale copy-number variation is an important contributor to conspecific genomic diversity, whether these variants frequently contribute to human phenotype differences remains unknown. If they have few functional consequences, then copy-number variants (CNVs) might be expected both to be distributed uniformly throughout the human genome and to encode genes that are characteristic of the genome as a whole. We find that human CNVs are significantly overrepresented close to telomeres and centromeres and in simple tandem repeat sequences. Additionally, human CNVs were observed to be unusually enriched in those protein-coding genes that have experienced significantly elevated synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rates, estimated between single human and mouse orthologues. CNV genes encode disproportionately large numbers of secreted, olfactory, and immunity proteins, although they contain fewer than expected genes associated with Mendelian disease. Despite mouse CNVs also exhibiting a significant elevation in synonymous substitution rates, in most other respects they do not differ significantly from the genomic background. Nevertheless, they encode proteins that are depleted in olfactory function, and they exhibit significantly decreased amino acid sequence divergence. Natural selection appears to have acted discriminately among human CNV genes. The significant overabundance, within human CNVs, of genes associated with olfaction, immunity, protein secretion, and elevated coding sequence divergence, indicates that a subset may have been retained in the human population due to the adaptive benefit of increased gene dosage. By contrast, the functional characteristics of mouse CNVs either suggest that advantageous gene copies have been depleted during recent selective breeding of laboratory mouse strains or suggest that they were preferentially fixed as a consequence of the larger effective population size of wild mice. It thus appears that CNV differences among mouse strains do not provide an appropriate model for large-scale sequence variations in the human population.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

SARS-CoV genome polymorphism: a bioinformatics study.

A dataset of 103 SARS-CoV isolates (101 human patients and 2 palm civets) was investigated on different aspects of genome polymorphism and isolate classification. The number and the distribution of single nucleotide variations (SNVs) and insertions and deletions, with respect to a "profile", were determined and discussed ("profile" being a sequence containing the most represented letter per position). Distribution of substitution categories per codon positions, as well as synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions in coding regions of annotated isolates, was determined, along with amino acid (a.a.) property changes. Similar analysis was performed for the spike (S) protein in all the isolates (55 of them being predicted for the first time). The ratio Ka/Ks confirmed that the S gene was subjected to the Darwinian selection during virus transmission from animals to humans. Isolates from the dataset were classified according to genome polymorphism and genotypes. Genome polymorphism yields to two groups, one with a small number of SNVs and another with a large number of SNVs, with up to four subgroups with respect to insertions and deletions. We identified three basic nine-locus genotypes: TTTT/TTCGG, CGCC/TTCAT, and TGCC/TTCGT, with four subgenotypes. Both classifications proposed are in accordance with the new insights into possible epidemiological spread, both in space and time.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 1,3-Butadiene (CAS No. 106-99-0) in B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies).

1,3-Butadiene is produced in large volumes for use in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and of thermoplastic resins. In previous inhalation studies conducted by the NTP (NTP, 1984) there was clear evidence of multiple organ carcinogenicity in male and female mice exposed to 625 or 1,250 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 60 or 61 weeks. To better characterize exposure-response relationships for neoplasms and nonneoplastic lesions, toxicology and carcinogenesis studies were conducted by exposing groups of male and female B6C3F1 mice to air containing 1,3-butadiene (greater than 99% pure) for up to 2 years. An additional study in male B6C3F1 mice, in which exposure to 1,3-butadiene was stopped after limited exposure periods (13, 26, 40, or 52 weeks), was performed to assess the effects of varying concentration and duration of exposure on the incidences of 1,3-butadiene-induced neoplasms. In vitro genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium and mouse lymphoma cells. In vivo genetic effects were assayed in germ cells of male Drosophila melanogaster and in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of B6C3F1 mice. 2-Year Studies: Groups of 70 male and 70 female mice were exposed to air containing 0, 6.25, 20, 62.5, or 200 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for up to 2 years; groups of 90 male and 90 female mice were exposed to 625 ppm 1,3-butadiene on the same schedule. Up to 10 animals from each group were examined after 9 and 15 months of exposure. Survival and Body Weight in the 2-Year Studies: Two-year survival was decreased for males and females exposed to concentrations of 20 ppm or above, primarily due to the development of chemical-related malignant neoplasms. No female mice exposed to 200 or 625 ppm or males exposed to 625 ppm survived to the end of the studies (males: 35/50, 39/50, 24/50, 22/50, 4/50, 0/70; females: 37/50, 33/50, 24/50, 11/50, 0/50, 0/70). Mean body weights of exposed male and female mice were similar to those of the controls. Hematologic Effects in the 2-Year Studies: Hematologic parameters were evaluated after 9 and 15 months of exposure. At 9 months, decreases in erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and packed red cell volume were observed in male mice exposed to 62.5 ppm or above and in female mice exposed to 200 or 625 ppm. Mean erythrocyte volume was increased in male mice exposed to 625 ppm and in females exposed to 200 or 625 ppm. At 15 months, decreases in erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and packed red cell volume and increases in mean erythrocyte volume were observed in male and female mice exposed to 625 ppm. Neoplasms and Nonneoplastic Lesions in the 2-Year Studies: Exposure of mice to 1,3-butadiene induced benign and malignant neoplasms at multiple sites. Statistically significant increases in the incidences of neoplasms at one or more sites were seen at concentrations of 20 ppm and higher in males and 6.25 ppm and higher in females. There was no exposure level in this study at which a significant carcinogenic response was not observed. Statistically significant increases occurred in the incidences of malignant lymphoma; histiocytic sarcoma; cardiac hemangiosarcoma; harderian gland adenoma; hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma; alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma and carcinoma; mammary gland carcinoma, adenoacanthoma, and malignant mixed tumor (females only); benign and malignant ovarian granulosa cell tumor; and forestomach squamous cell papilloma and carcinoma. Low incidences of uncommon neoplasms also occurred in exposed male and female mice, including intestinal carcinomas in males, renal tubule adenomas in males and females, skin sarcomas (all types combined) in females, and Zymbal's gland adenomas and carcinomas in females. Lymphocytic lymphomas appeared as early as week 23 and were the principal cause of death of male and female mice exposed to 625 ppm 1,3-butadiene. The early and extensive development of lethal lymphocytic lymphomas in mice exposed to 625 ppm resulted in a reduced number of mice at risk for neoplasms developing laterg later at other sites. Exposure-response relationships for 1,3-butadiene-induced neoplasms were more clearly characterized at concentrations below 625 ppm and after adjustment for intercurrent mortality. Increased incidences of nonneoplastic lesions in exposed mice included bone marrow atrophy; testicular atrophy; ovarian atrophy, angiectasis, germinal epithelial hyperplasia, and granulosa cell hyperplasia; uterine atrophy; cardiac endothelial hyperplasia and mineralization; alveolar epithelial hyperplasia; forestomach epithelial hyperplasia; and harderian gland hyperplasia. Stop-Exposure Study: The stop-exposure study consisted of groups of 50 male mice exposed to 1,3-butadiene at concentrations of 200 ppm for 40 weeks, 625 ppm for 13 weeks, 312 ppm for 52 weeks, or 625 ppm for 26 weeks. After the exposures were completed, these groups were placed in control chambers for the remainder of the 2-year study. The total exposure of 1,3-butadiene (concentration times duration of exposure) of the 13- and 40-week stop-exposure groups was approximately 8,000 ppm-weeks, while that of the 26- and 52-week stop-exposure groups was approximately 16,000 ppm-weeks. The survival of all stop-exposure groups was markedly lower than that of the controls. The incidences of lymphocytic lymphoma, histiocytic sarcoma, cardiac hemangiosarcoma, alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma and carcinoma, forestomach squamous cell papilloma and carcinoma, hepatocellular adenoma, harderian gland adenoma and adenocarcinoma, and preputial gland carcinoma were significantly increased. Neoplasms were induced at most of these sites after only 13 weeks of exposure to 1,3-butadiene. Additionally, low numbers of malignant gliomas and neuroblastomas of the brain and Zymbal's gland carcinomas occurred in one or more stop-exposure groups. At similar total exposures, the incidence of lymphocytic lymphoma was greater with exposure to a higher concentration of 1,3-butadiene for a short time compared with exposure to a lower concentration for an extended period (34% at 625 ppm for 13 weeks versus 12% at 200 ppm for 40 weeks; 60% at 625 ppm for 26 weeks versus 8% at 312 ppm for 52 weeks). Genetic Toxicology: 1,3-Butadiene has been tested both in vitro and in vivo for mutagenic activity. In vitro, positive results were obtained in the Salmonella typhimurium gene mutation assay with strain TA1535; mutagenic activity was not observed in other S. typhimurium strains (TA100, TA97, and TA98). 1,3-Butadiene was negative in the mouse lymphoma assay for induction of trifluorothymidine resistance in L5178Y cells with and without S9. In vivo, 1,3-butadiene did not induce sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in germ cells of male Drosophila melanogaster; however, it did induce significant increases in chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in bone marrow cells of mice exposed for 2 weeks by inhalation. In addition, significant increases in micronucleated erythrocytes were observed in peripheral blood samples obtained from male and female mice exposed to 1,3-butadiene for 2 or 13 weeks or 15 months by inhalation. Conclusions: The previous inhalation studies of 1,3-butadiene (TR-288) in male and female B6C3F1 mice provided clear evidence of carcinogenicity at exposure concentrations of 625 or 1,250 ppm. The present inhalation studies - 2-year exposures of 6.25, 20, 62.5, 200, or 625 ppm or shorter duration exposures of 200, 312, or 625 ppm - provide a better characterization of the concentration-dependent responses for 1,3-butadiene-induced neoplasms and nonneoplastic lesions. The present studies confirmed the clear evidence of carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of neoplasms in the hematopoietic system, heart, lung, forestomach, liver, harderian gland, preputial gland, brain, and kidney. There was clear evidence of carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of neoplasms in the hematopoietic system, heart, lung, forestomach, liver, harderian gland, ovary, and mammary gland. Low incidences of intestinal carcinomas in male mice, Zymbal's gland carcinomas in male and female mice, and renal tubule adenomas and skin sarcomas in female mice may also have been related to administration of 1,3-butadiene. Synonyms: alpha,gamma-Butadiene; bivinyl; divinyl; erythrene; vinylethylene; biethylene; pyrrolylene

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Analysis of coding-polymorphisms in NOTCH-related genes reveals NUMBL poly-glutamine repeat to be associated with schizophrenia in Brazilian and Danish subjects.

Abnormality in neurodevelopment is one of the most robust hypotheses on the etiology of schizophrenia and has found substantial support from brain imaging and genetic studies. Neurodevelopmental processes involve several signaling pathways, including the Notch, but little is known at present regarding their possible involvement in schizophrenia. In the present study we investigated the link of non-synonymous variants of five genes of the Notch pathway (NOTCH2, NOTCH3, JAGGED2, ASCL1 and NUMBL) to schizophrenia in a group of 200 Brazilian patients and 200-paired controls. Also, we replicated the association of the NUMBL variant, our most promising finding, in an unrelated set of 684 Danish patients and controls. When the Brazilian and Danish cohorts were merged, a total of 1084 subjects, we found the allele 18 CAG of NUMBL (p=0.003, x2=8.88, OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.56) as well as the 18/18 CAG genotype (p=0.002, x2=9.46, OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.15-1.87) to be associated with schizophrenia. The consistency of this finding in two independent and unrelated populations reinforces the veracity of this association.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Molecular evidence for heterogeneity of the multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis population in Scotland (1990 to 1997).

Multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MTB) has been well studied in hospitals or health care institutions and in human immunodeficiency virus-infected populations. However, the characteristics of MDR-MTB in the community have not been well investigated. An understanding of its prevalence and circulation within the community will help to estimate the problem and optimize the strategies for control and prevention of its development and transmission. In this study, MDR-MTB isolates from Scotland collected between 1990 and 1997 were characterized, along with non-drug-resistant isolates. The results showed that they were genetically diverse, suggesting they were unrelated to each other and had probably evolved independently. Several new alleles of rpoB, katG, and ahpC were identified: rpoB codon 525 (ACC-->AAC; Thr525Asn); katG codon 128 (CGG-->CAG; Arg128Gln) and codon 291 (GCT-->CCT; Ala291Pro); and the ahpC synonymous substitution at codon 6 (ATT-->ATC). One of the MDR-MTB isolates from an Asian patient had an IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern very similar to that of the MDR-MTB W strain and had the same drug resistance-related alleles but did not have any epidemiological connection with the W strains. Additionally, a cluster of M. tuberculosis isolates was identified in our collection of 715 clinical isolates; the isolates in this cluster had genetic backgrounds very similar to those of the W strains, one of which had already developed multiple drug resistances. The diverse population of MDR-MTB in Scotland, along with a low incidence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis, has implications for the control of the organism and prevention of its spread.

Alleles↗