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Hybrid survival motor neuron genes in Japanese patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a frequently occurring autosomal recessive disease, characterized by the degeneration of spinal cord anterior horn cells, leading to muscular atrophy. Most SMA patients carry homozygous deletions of the telomeric survival motor neuron gene (SMN) exons 7 and 8. In the study presented here, we examined 20 Japanese SMA patients and found that 4 of these patients were lacking in telomeric SMN exon 7, but retained exon 8. In these 4 patients, who exhibited all grades of disease severity, direct sequencing analysis demonstrated the presence of a hybrid SMN gene in which centromeric SMN exon 7 was adjacent to telomeric SMN exon 8. In an SMA family, a combination of polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-digestion analysis and haplotype analysis with the polymorphic multicopy marker Agl-CA indicated that the patient inherited the hybrid gene from her father. In conclusion, hybrid SMN genes can be present in all grades of disease severity and inherited from generation to generation in an SMA family.

Adult↗

Polymerization of composites using pulsed laser.

The quality of visible-light-cured composites depends on the capability of the light source to properly polymerize the material within a specified exposure time. In this study, the degree of conversion of different composite materials (hybrid and microfilled) of light and dark shades was compared after illumination by a standard curing unit and pulsed laser (lambda=468) respectively. The degree of conversion was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results obtained by the analysis of the pulsed laser-induced polymerization were significantly higher for all the materials and shades observed. All values of the degree of conversion were lower for dark shades of all types of composites, regardless of the photopolymerization technique used. Besides the surface, better polymerization was recorded also at depths of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mm, respectively. These values varied from 59.7%+/-2.14 to 84.5%+/-0.33 for pulsed laser (including all depths) caused by the saturation effect induced by high power laser pulses and from 42.7%+/-1.48 to 74.7%+/-0.99 for standard polymerization.

Acrylic Resins↗

Reduction of polymerization shrinkage stress and marginal microleakage using soft-start polymerization.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of a soft-start light-curing exposure on polymerization shrinkage stress and marginal integrity of adhesive restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six resin-based composites (Pertac II, Tetric Ceram, Definite, Surefil, Solitaire, and Visio-Molar) were adhesively bonded to a cylindrical cavity (n = 9 per material/light) in a photoelastic material. Visible light-curing was applied using either the standard polymerization mode (800 mW/cm2 exposure duration 40 s) of the curing light (Elipar TriLight, 3M ESPE) or the exponential mode from the same device (ramp-curing: 150 mW/cm2 to 800 mW/cm2 within the first 15 s of a total curing time of 40 s). Polymerization stress was calculated at 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours postexposure from the second-order isochromatic curves obtained from photoelastic images (Matrox-Inspector). Two standardized Class V preparations were made each on the facial and lingual surfaces of 80 extracted human molars and premolars. Resin restorative systems (Pertac II/EBS Multi, Tetric Ceram/Syntac, Definite/Etch&Prime 3.0, and Surefil/Prime & Bond 2.1) were exposed using both light exposure modes (n = 20). Marginal dye penetration (2% methylene blue) was investigated separately for enamel and cementum margins after thermocycling. To obtain information on equivalent depth of cure, relative surface hardness measurements were performed on resin samples of the same material at the top surface and at 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm thickness (Zwick 3212, 10 N). RESULTS: A significant (p < .01) reduction in polymerization stress of 7.1% for Pertac II, 4.1% for Tetric Ceram, 3.6% for Definite, 3.7% for Surefil, and 6.2% for Solitaire was observed when using the exponential mode as opposed to the standard. A significant (p = .04) reduction of marginal dye penetration was found only for Pertac II/EBS Multi at the cementum margins when the soft-start polymerization was used. For the sample thickness of 3 mm, a significant higher relative bottom to top surface ratio in favor of the standard exposure mode was found (p = .001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Depending on the restorative material, soft-start polymerization may lead to a significant reduction in marginal microleakage of adhesive Class V restorations. This effect might be attributable to a significantly lower polymerization stress, as seen from photoelastic analysis, and/or a decrease in the degree of conversion, as deducted from surface hardness ratios. However, the effect of soft-start curing mode depends on the material itself, with the most effective response from hybrid resin-based composites.

Acetone↗

Biosynthesis of a novel prostaglandin, delta 17-PGE1, in the ram.

The prostaglandin, delta 17-PGE1, was purified from extracts of ram seminal fluid by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified after conversion to delta 17-PGB1 by UV-analysis and by capillary column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was also formed by incubation of a homogenate of ram vesicular glands. The amount of delta 17-PGE1 in the seminal fluid and in the homogenate averaged 12% and 25% of the amount of PGE2, respectively. The results show that cis-8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid can be metabolized to prostaglandins in vivo in the ram.

Alprostadil↗

Spectroscopic and photoacoustic studies of hypericin embedded in liposomes as a photoreceptor model.

In photoresponsive ciliates, like Blepharisma japonicum and Stentor coeruleus, the photoreceptor pigments responsible for photomotile reactions are hypericin-type chromophores packed in highly osmiophilic subpellicular granules. Lipopsomes loaded with hypericin can constitute a simple model system, appropriate for understanding the primary light-induced molecular events triggering the sensory chain in these microorganisms. Optical absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence and pulsed photoacoustic calorimetry have been used to measure spectral distributions, fluorescence lifetimes, radiative and radiationless transition quantum yields of hypericin when assembled into egg L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine liposomes. With respect to hypericin ethanol solutions, both absorption and fluorescence maxima are 5 nm red shifted when the pigment is inserted into the lipidic microenvironment, regardless of the hypericin local concentration. Increasing by 100 times the hypericin local concentration decreases the relative fluorescence quantum yield by a factor of around 150 and the fraction of thermally released energy, conversely, increases from 0.6 to 0.9. From the analysis of fluorescence lifetimes and their relative amplitudes it appears that a subnanosecond living component is predominant at the highest hypericin local concentrations.

Acoustics↗

Complement activation in acne vulgaris: consumption of complement by comedones.

Comedones, the contents of acne lesions, were shown to consume scomplement hemolytic activity in normal serum. This consumption was stimulated by the addition of serum from patients with inflammatory acne. Absorption of acne serum with Propionibacterium acnes cells removed all stimulating activity. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of serum incubated with comedones revealed the conversion of C3 and factor B in normal serum. The addition of acne serum resulted in cleavage of C4. In serum treated with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid, only C3 and factor B were converted. This indicates that comedones may activate complement by either the classical or the alternative pathway. It is suggested that P. acnes cells in comedonal material are responsible for the complement activation.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Analysis of polyomavirus middle-T-antigen-transformed rat cell variants expressing different levels of pp60c-src.

We characterize two independent variant cellular clones which arose following in vitro passage of polyomavirus middle-T-antigen (MTAg)-transformed FR3T3 cells expressing RNA complementary to c-src mRNA. These clones were initially flat and underwent morphologic transformation at a high frequency to a phenotype indistinguishable from that of parental MTAg-transformed FR3T3 cells. Biochemical analysis of the flat clones prior to phenotypic conversion revealed that these cells synthesized little detectable pp60c-src and had correspondingly low levels of pp60c-src protein kinase activity and MTAg-associated protein kinase activity. The flat cell clones did not possess detectable focus-forming activity, were not capable of detectable anchorage-independent growth, and had saturation densities and doubling times below those normally observed for FR3T3 cells. Following conversion of the flat clones to a shape resembling that of typical MTAg-transformed cells, the abundance of pp60c-src, pp60c-src kinase activity, and MTAg-associated in vitro protein kinase activity were all restored to the levels found in the parental MTAg transformants. These cells had growth rates, focus-forming activities, anchorage-independent growth rates, and saturation densities similar to those of the parental MTAg-transformed rat cells. These data provide additional evidence that maintenance of a transformed phenotype by polyomavirus MTAg in established rat cell lines depends, at least in part, on a minimal threshold level of pp60c-src.

Animals↗

Ongoing diversification of the rearranged immunoglobulin light-chain gene in a bursal lymphoma cell line.

The chicken immunoglobulin light-chain gene (IgL) encodes only a single variable gene segment capable of recombination. To generate an immune repertoire, chickens diversify this unique rearranged VL gene segment during B-cell development in the bursa of Fabricius. Sequence analysis of IgL cDNAs suggests that both gene conversion events derived from VL segment pseudogene templates (psi VL) and non-template-derived single-base-pair substitutions contribute to this diversity. To facilitate the study of postrecombinational mechanisms of immunoglobulin gene diversification, avian B-cell lines were examined for the ability to diversify their rearranged IgL gene during in vitro passage. One line that retains this ability, the avian leukosis virus-induced bursal lymphoma cell line DT40, has been identified. After passage for 1 year in culture, 39 of 51 randomly sequenced rearranged V-J segments from a DT40 population defined novel subclones of the parental tumor. All cloned V-J segments displayed the same V-J joint, confirming that the observed diversity arose after V-J rearrangement. Most sequence variations that we observed (203 of 220 base pairs) appeared to result from psi VL-derived gene conversion events; 16 of the 17 novel single nucleotide substitutions were transitions. Based on these data, it appears that immunoglobulin diversification during in vitro passage of DT40 cells is representative of the diversification that occurs during normal B-cell development in the bursa of Fabricius.

Alleles↗

An X-linked gene affecting mouse cell DNA synthesis also affects production of unintegrated linear and supercoiled DNA of murine leukemia virus.

To identify specific cellular factors which could be required during the synthesis of retroviral DNA, we have studied the replication of murine leukemia virus in mouse cells temperature sensitive for cell DNA synthesis (M. L. Slater and H. L. Ozer, Cell 7:289-295, 1976) and in several of their revertants. This mutation has previously been mapped on the X chromosome. We found that a short incubation of mutant cells at a nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C) during the early part of the virus cycle (between 0- to 20-h postinfection) greatly inhibited virus production. This effect was not observed in revertant or wild-type cells. Molecular studies by the Southern transfer procedure of the unintegrated viral DNA synthesized in these cells at a permissive (33 degrees C) or nonpermissive temperature revealed that the levels of linear double-stranded viral DNA (8.8 kilobase pairs) were nearly identical in mutant or revertant cells incubated at 33 or 39 degrees C. However, the levels of two species of supercoiled viral DNA (with one or two long terminal repeats) were significantly lower in mutant cells incubated at 39 degrees C than in mutant cells incubated at 33 degrees C or in revertant cells incubated at 39 degrees C. Pulse-chase experiments showed that linear viral DNA made at 39 degrees C could not be converted into supercoiled viral DNA in mutant cells after a shift down to 33 degrees C. In contrast, such conversion was observed in revertant cells. Restriction endonuclease analysis did not detect differences in the structure of linear viral DNA made at 39 degrees C in mutant cells as compared to linear viral DNA isolated from the same cells at 33 degrees C. However, linear viral DNA made at 39 degrees C in mutant cells was poorly infectious in transfection assays. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that this X-linked gene, affecting mouse cell DNA synthesis, is operating in the early phase of murine leukemia virus replication. It seems to affect the level of production of unintegrated linear viral DNA only slightly while greatly reducing the infectivity of these molecules. In contrast, the accumulation of supercoiled viral DNA and subsequent progeny virus production are greatly reduced. Our pulse-chase experiments suggest that the apparent, but not yet identified, defect in linear viral DNA molecules might be responsible for their subsequent impaired circularization.

Animals↗

High-frequency homologous recombination between duplicate chromosomal immunoglobulin mu heavy-chain constant regions.

Homologous recombination was used in a previous study to correct a 2-base-pair deletion in the third constant domain (Cmu3) of the haploid chromosomal mu gene in a mutant hybridoma cell line by transfer of a pSV2neo vector bearing a subfragment of the normal Cmu region (M.D. Baker, N. Pennell, L. Bosnoyan, and M.J. Shulman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6432-6436, 1988). In these experiments, both gene replacement and single reciprocal crossover events were found to restore normal, cytolytic 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-specific immunoglobulin M production to the mutant cells. In the cases of single reciprocal recombination, the structure of the recombinant mu gene is such that the normal Cmu region, in its correct position 3' of the expressed 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-specific heavy-chain variable region, is separated from the mutant Cmu region by the integrated vector sequences. I report here that homologous recombination occurs with high frequency between the duplicate Cmu regions in mitotically growing hybridoma cells. The homologous recombination events were easily detected since they generated hybridomas that were phenotypically different from the parental cells. Analysis of the recombinant cells suggests that gene conversion is the most frequent event, occurring between 60 and 73% of the time. The remaining events consisted of single reciprocal crossovers. Intrachromatid double reciprocal recombination was not detected. The high frequency of recombination, the ability to isolate and analyze the participants in the recombination reactions, and the capacity to generate specific modifications in the immunoglobulin Cmu regions by gene targeting suggest that this system will be useful for studying mammalian chromosomal homologous recombination. Moreover, the ability to specifically modify the chromosomal immunoglobulin genes by homologous recombination should facilitate studies of immunoglobulin gene regulation and expression and provide a more convenient of engineering specifically modified antibody.

Animals↗

Cathepsin L mediates intracellular ileal digestion of gastric intrinsic factor.

Although acidic proteases of lysosomal origin are implicated in the degradation of intrinsic factor (IF) during cobalamin (cbl) transport across enterocytes and proximal renal tubule cell lines, the enzyme(s) involved in this process is not known. Recombinant (baculovirus-produced) rat 125I-labeled IF (125I-rIF), 43 kDa, added in vivo to the lumen of rat ileum was converted intracellularly to peptides of 33 and 26 kDa. In vitro rat 125I-rIF was degraded to peptides of 33 and 31 kDa by addition of cathepsin L; this conversion was fully inhibited by leupeptin. Western blot analysis using antiserum against denatured native rat IF identified additional cathepsin L degradation products in the 17- to 23-kDa range. In vitro the binding of cobalamin partially inhibited cathepsin L degradation of IF. Rat rIF produced from either insect (Sf9) or mammalian (CHO) cells and native rat IF were all degraded by cathepsin L, although the prominence of the various products differed in the recombinant preparations, being 33 and 36 kDa, respectively. Native rat IF was most sensitive to proteolysis, and no degradation products were identified. Rat 125I-rIF was taken up by LLC-PK1 cells, and 125I from degraded IF appeared abundantly on the basolateral side of cell monolayers by 1 h. The intracellular products of rat rIF in LLC-PK1 cells were the same size as those produced in vitro by the action of cathepsin L. Antiserum against a human kidney cDNA cathepsin L fusion protein easily demonstrated the protease in rat intestinal mucosa, as well as in all other tissues tested. These data suggest that cathepsin L is the protease responsible for the leupeptin-sensitive intracellular degradation of IF.

Animals↗

Regulation of nitric oxide synthesis by oxygen in vascular endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells synthesize nitric oxide (NO) in response to agonists that elevate cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations. Once activated, NO synthase (NOS) requires arginine, NADPH, and O2 as cosubstrates. In this study, we investigated the role of O2 in regulating endothelial NOS activity in intact bovine aortic endothelial cells by measuring the rate of nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) production after conversion of NO2- to S-nitrosoglutathione before analysis or after reduction of NO2- and NO3- to NO using acidic vanadium chloride. The basal rate of NO2- production was 6.5 +/- 0.8 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1. Thapsigargin (TG, 1 microM) elevated free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and increased the rate of NO2- synthesis. At maximal concentrations of TG, the rate of stimulated NO2- production was linear for at least 20 min and was eightfold higher than the basal rate (53.5 +/- 1.8 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1). Incubation of cells in gas mixtures chosen to produce PO2 values in the physiological range led to a progressive fall in the rate of TG-stimulated NO2- production, as O2 concentrations were reduced from that of room air. The half-maximal effective concentration for NO2- production by intact cells was found to occur at 38 Torr. PO2 values higher than that of room air did not lead to a change in the rate of TG-stimulated NO2- production. To confirm that measurement of NO2- accurately reflects total NO production, both NO2- plus NO3- were measured in buffer samples from cells incubated in either room air or N2. The sum of these NO oxidation products was inhibited similarly by hypoxia. These findings suggest that O2 is an important determinant of NOS activity in hypoxic tissues or in vascular beds such as the pulmonary arterial or fetal circulation where PO2 values in the range of 40 Torr are encountered normally.

Animals↗

Diagnostic value of articulation tests with individuals having clefts.

Articulation testing provides a structure for evaluating children with cleft or velopharyngeal incompetency in a specific manner so that they can be compared with normative data and later to themselves. Results from an articulation test should always be compared to the precept of what is heard in conversation, specifically on articulation, nasality, and velopharyngeal competency. Analysis of an articulation test provides data for the speech clinician to develop a therapy program which is realistic and structured. Articulation tests also help clinicians evaluate the child's progress.

Adolescent↗

Comparative in vitro study of the pro-apolipoprotein A-I to apolipoprotein A-I converting activity between normal and Tangier plasma.

We examined the ability of the plasma of a 52-yr-old male Tangier patient to effect the conversion of radiolabeled pro-apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), isolated from hepatoma cell culture media, into mature apo A-I. The conversion was assessed by amino-terminal sequence analysis, isoform patterns with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and a rapid assay based on the different solubilities of intact pro-apo A-I and its hexapeptide prosegment in 10% trichloroacetic acid. We found that the converting activity of Tangier plasma was comparable to that exhibited by control normolipidemic plasma and that in both cases pro-apo A-I was correctly processed at the Gln-Asp bond. After ultracentrifugal fractionation of Tangier plasma at d = 1.21 g/ml, the pro-apo A-I-to-mature apo A-I converting activity was mainly recovered in the middle fraction of d = 1.225 g/ml and was at least 10-fold more effective than the top and bottom fractions. In contrast, in normal plasma the activity was only present in the top and bottom fractions. It has been previously established that in Tangier plasma the pro-apo A-I/apo A-I ratio is significantly higher than normal (1 vs. 0.02). Our studies suggest that this abnormal ratio is not the result of a reduced converting enzyme activity and may relate to differences in turnover rates between Tangier and normal plasma apolipoproteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Metabolic basis of hyperapobetalipoproteinemia. Turnover of apolipoprotein B in low density lipoprotein and its precursors and subfractions compared with normal and familial hypercholesterolemia.

The turnover of apolipoprotein B (apo B) in very low density, intermediate density, and low density lipoproteins (VLDL, IDL, and LDL) and in the light and heavy fractions of LDL was determined in seven patients with hyperapobetalipoproteinemia (hyperapo B), six normolipidemic subjects, and five patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). After receiving an injection of 125I-VLDL, hyperapo B patients were found to have a higher rate of synthesis of VLDL-apo B than controls (40.1 vs. 21.5 mg/kg per d, P less than 0.05) but a reduced fractional catabolic rate (FCR) (0.230 vs. 0.366/h, P less than 0.01). After receiving an injection of 131I-LDL, hyperapo B patients had higher rates of LDL-apo B synthesis than controls (23.1 vs. 13.0 mg/kg per d, P less than 0.001), as did FH patients (22.7 mg/kg per d). The FCR of LDL was similar in hyperapo B patients and controls (0.386 vs. 0.366/d) but was markedly decreased in FH patients (0.192/d). Most subjects exhibited precursor-product relationships between VLDL and IDL, and all did between IDL and light LDL; an analogous relationship between light and heavy LDL was evident in most hyperapo B patients and controls but not in FH patients. Simultaneous injection of differentially labeled LDL fractions and deconvolution analysis showed increased light LDL synthesis with normal conversion into heavy LDL in hyperapo B, whereas in FH conversion of light LDL was reduced and there was independent synthesis of heavy LDL. These data show that the increased concentration of LDL-apo B in hyperapo B is solely due to increased LDL synthesis, which is secondary to increased VLDL synthesis; in contrast, in FH there is both an increase in synthesis of LDL (which is partly VLDL-independent) and reduced catabolism.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Transit time of leukocytes rolling through venules controls cytokine-induced inflammatory cell recruitment in vivo.

Leukocyte recruitment requires leukocyte rolling, activation, firm adhesion, and transmigration. Injection of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha induces expression of E-selectin, interleukin-8, and other adhesion molecules and chemoattractants on the endothelial surface. TNF-alpha- treated CD18 null mouse cremaster muscle venules show increased leukocyte rolling velocity and reduced leukocyte recruitment efficiency. Leukocyte recruitment in CD18 null but not wild-type mice is significantly blocked by an mAb to E-selectin. To understand this overlap between adhesion events previously considered separate, we introduce a quantitative analysis of the efficiency of induction of rolling, conversion of rolling to adhesion, and of adhesion to transmigration. We find that CD18 and E-selectin cooperate to control the time a leukocyte needs to roll through an inflamed area and to convert rolling to firm adhesion. Leukocyte rolling time, defined as the time it takes for a rolling leukocyte to pass through a defined length of a vessel segment, emerges as a unifying parameter determining the efficiency of inducing firm adhesion, which is a rate-limiting step controlling leukocyte recruitment in inflammation. We conclude that leukocytes integrate chemoattractant signals while rolling along the endothelial surface until they reach a critical level of activation and become firmly adherent.

Animals↗

Assessment of an automated chemiluminescence nitrogen analyzer for routine use in clinical nutrition.

An automated method of chemiluminescence analysis of nitrogen used routinely for 4 yr. Liquid samples (urine, enteral, and parenteral feeds) required simple dilution, whereas feces required a modified acid-digestion procedure, before analysis. For urine samples, the coefficient of variation was within batch from 0.9-3.6%, and between batch 4.3-7.6%. At a sample injection rate of 2 microliter/sec, the useful dynamic range, for urine diluted 1:200, was 0-14 g N/liter. Precision for fecal nitrogen analysis was 3.8-6.7% for samples of low to high nitrogen content. The correlation between this technique and an established Kjeldahl method for fecal analysis was studied (r = 0.96, slope = 1.30). The discrepancy between the methods was due to inefficient conversion of nitrogen to NH4+ during Kjeldahl digestion of feces, rather than systematic errors in chemiluminescence analysis. Reliability was as good as for other automated clinical analyzers and sample cost was ca. 0.22 pounds. It has proved possible to analyze approximately 80 samples in the working day. The efficiency of measuring 24-hr urine urea-nitrogen (UUN) and total urine nitrogen (TUN) in patients on general wards was measured. Results were obtained on 87% of TPN days, but large variations were noted in UUN/TUN from less than 30% to greater than 90% (average 75.7%) in patients receiving TPN, and from less than 55% to 100% (average 83.8%) in patients receiving enteral nutrition. In contrast, UUN/TUN was 87.0% and 84.0% in healthy subjects, fasted or receiving iv nutrition, respectively. We therefore expect that clinical nutritionists will find increasing applications for this method of nitrogen analysis.

Autoanalysis↗