Life-threatening bleeding after pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer: endovascular management of ruptured false aneurysm of the external iliac artery

ABSTRACT: Late rupture of external iliac artery pseudo-aneurysm is an uncommon complication in patients who undergo extensive gynecologic radical surgeries. A 28-year-old woman with stage IB cervical cancer underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and extrafascial trachelectomy. Two months after surgery, massive bleeding from ruptured pseudo-aneurysm of the external iliac artery occurred. Endovascular management with covered stent placement was feasible and safe to stop bleeding.     

Negative factor from SIV binds to the catalytic subunit of the V-ATPase to internalize CD4 and to increase viral infectivity

The accessory protein negative factor (Nef) from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is required for optimal viral infectivity and the progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nef interacts with the endocytic machinery, resulting in the down-regulation of cluster of differentiation antigen 4 (CD4) and major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) molecules on the surface of infected cells. Mutations in the C-terminal flexible loop of Nef result in a lower rate of internalization by this viral protein. However, no loop-dependent binding of Nef to adaptor protein-2 (AP-2), which is the adaptor protein complex that is required for the internalization of proteins from the plasma membrane, could be demonstrated. In this study we investigated the relevance of different motifs in Nef from SIV(mac239) for its internalization, CD4 down-regulation, binding to components of the trafficking machinery, and viral infectivity. Our data suggest that the binding of Nef to the catalytic subunit H of the vacuolar membrane ATPase (V-ATPase) facilitates its internalization. This binding depends on the integrity of the whole flexible loop. Subsequent studies on Nef mutant viruses revealed that the flexible loop is essential for optimal viral infectivity. Therefore, our data demonstrate how Nef contacts the endocytic machinery in the absence of its direct binding to AP-2 and suggest an important role for subunit H of the V-ATPase in viral infectivity.     

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism effects triglycerides but not CAD risk in Caucasian women younger than 65 years

The pathogenesis of CAD is similar in man and woman, yet some risk factors have a greater impact on the CAD risk in woman than in man. In this study we assessed the effect of the apoE gene polymorphism on lipid metabolism and risk for CAD in women younger than 65 years (premature CAD). In a cross-sectional case-control study, 147 female Caucasian patients with premature CAD (confirmed by coronarography) were compared with a control group of 114 healthy Caucasian women. The apoE allele frequencies of patients vs. controls were 5.1% vs. 5.7% for 2, 85.4% vs. 83.3% for 3, and 9.5% vs. 11% for epsilon4. The subjects with epsilon2/3 genotype had statistically significantly higher triglycerides levels than the subjects with epsilon3/3 genotype (2.23 +/- 2.13 mmol.L(-1) vs. 1.73 +/- 0.84 mmol.L(-1); p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed no association between risk genotypes (3/4 and 4/4) of the apoE gene polymorphism and CAD risk (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0. 5-1.7, P=0.7). We observed metabolic clustering of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, higher BMI and triglycerides, and lower HDL cholesterol in the CAD group compared to the control group. Arterial hypertension, diabetes, HDL cholesterol level, and BMI were independent risk factors for premature CAD in female population, whereas, the risk genotype of the apoE gene polymorphism was not. In conclusion, in Slovene women risk genotypes of the apoE gene polymorphism are not associated with premature CAD; a metabolic clustering of diabetes, HDL, triglycerides and arterial hypertension is frequently present in Caucasian women with premature CAD.     

Monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitation of cell membrane glycoproteins

Procedural modifications facilitating the immunoprecipitation of cell surface-associated glycoproteins by monoclonal antibodies are presented. The use of complexes of antibodies coupled to protein A-Sepharose in place of antibodies directly coupled to Sepharose, and the inclusion of ATP and salt in the lysis buffer, is shown to markedly reduce the nonspecific binding of aggregated cytoskeletal proteins. These modifications result in low backgrounds while the specific membrane-associated proteins are still quantitatively immunoprecipitated.     

A painful trp can be a bonding experience

The receptive field of the TRPA1 nociceptor is remarkably expansive when compared to other chemodetectors such as odorant receptors. The identification of a unique mechanism utilized by TRPA1 helps clarify how this protein can efficiently alert the cell to an array of reactive chemical agents, regardless of their structure.     

Doubled haploid production in rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) through isolated microspore culture

Haploid induction in rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.), a novel and increasingly important vegetable, was studied in microspore culture. A procedure based on a high sucrose NLN medium and heat shock treatment resulted in nuclear divisions and embryo induction. The effect of genotype both among seed lots and among single plants was a major factor influencing embryo formation. The addition of activated charcoal was essential for obtaining reproducible results, 0.2 mg l⁻¹ being superior to 1.0 mg l⁻¹. A 24 h heat shock treatment at 32°C doubled the embryogenic response compared to a 48 h treatment. Embryo conversion was only efficient (23%) for embryos that had been cultured on medium with activated charcoal and subcultured on solid B5 medium; pretreatment of embryos with ABA or desiccation for 1–3 weeks inhibited embryo conversion. Analysis of ploidy level revealed that the majority (65.6%) of 489 regenerated plantlets tested were diploid. Breeding programs and genetic studies of rocket are likely to benefit substantially from the established method.