Multicenter evaluation of the performance and clinical utility in longitudinal monitoring of the Bayer Immuno 1 complexed PSA assay.

We conducted a multicenter evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the automated Bayer Immuno 1 complexed PSA (cPSA) assay, and compared assay performance to the Bayer Immuno 1 PSA assay. We sought to determine whether measurements of cPSA could be of clinical utility in the management of patients with prostate cancer. Results of the 10-day imprecision across three evaluation sites produced total CV < 2.50% and an analytical sensitivity of 0.02 microgram/L. There was an increased trend in clinical sensitivity for prostate cancer with increasing stage of disease (71-86%). Clinical specificity for patients with benign urogenital disease was 74.8%, and for other nonprostate diseases ranged from 91.1-100%. Retrospective serial monitoring of 155 patients with prostate cancer demonstrated concordance of cPSA measurements to clinical status for 97% of the patients analyzed. Results from the clinical studies using the Bayer Immuno 1 cPSA assay were comparable to results obtained with the Bayer Immuno 1 PSA assay. The Bayer Immuno 1 cPSA assay demonstrates analytical performance and clinical effectiveness in the management of prostate cancer patients during the course of disease and therapy.     

1-Alkyl-3-amino-5-aryl-1H-[1,2,4]triazoles: novel synthesis via cyclization of N-acyl-S-methylisothioureas with alkylhydrazines and their potent corticotropin-releasing factor-1 (CRF(1)) receptor antagonist activities.

Cyclizations of alkylhydrazines with N-acyl-S-methylisothioureas, readily synthesized from acyl chlorides, sodium thioisocyanate, dialkylamines then methyl iodide in a one-pot reaction, gave 1-alkyl-3-dialkylamino-5-phenyltriazoles 7 as major products. The regioisomers were assigned through the use of NOE NMR experiments. While bearing a N-bis(cyclopropyl)methyl-N-propylamino group, this series of compounds shows very good binding affinity on the human CRF₁ receptor. Among them, 1-methyl-3-[N-bis(cyclopropyl)methyl-N-propylamino]-5-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole 7a had the best binding affinity for the CRF₁ receptor (K_i=9 nM).     

谷子和狗尾草核型分析

作者研究了我国谷子(Setaria italica Beauv.)和狗尾草的核型与Giemsa带,两者核型基本相同,均为2n=18=14m+2sm+2st(SAT)。带型亦相近,另外在谷子和狗尾草中都发现有四倍体。     

Physiology of the ECL cells.

The enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells of the oxyntic mucosa (fundus) of the stomach produce, store and secrete histamine, chromogranin A-derived peptides such as pancreastatin, and an unanticipated but as yet unidentified peptide hormone. The cells are stimulated by gastrin and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide and suppressed by somatostatin and galanin. Choline esters and histamine seem to be without effect on ECL cell secretion. The existence of a gastrin-ECL cell axis not only explains how gastrin stimulates acid secretion but also may help to explore the functional significance of the ECL cells with respect to the nature and bioactivity of its peptide hormone. From the results of studies of gastrectomized/fundectomized and gastrin-treated rats, it has been speculated that the anticipated ECL-cell peptide hormone acts on bone metabolism.     

Correction of chromosomal point mutations in human cells with bifunctional oligonucleotides.

A sequence-specific genomic delivery system for the correction of chromosomal mutations was designed by incorporating two different binding domains into a single-stranded oligonucleotide. A repair domain (RD) contained the native sequence of the target region. A third strand-forming domain (TFD) was designed to form a triplex by Hoogsteen interactions. The design was based upon the premise that the RD will rapidly form a heteroduplex that is anchored synergistically by the TFD. Deoxyoligonucleotides were designed to form triplexes in the human adenosine deaminase (ADA) and p53 genes adjacent to known point mutations. Transfection of ADA-deficient human lymphocytes corrected the mutant sequence in 1-2% of cells. Neither the RD or TFD individually corrected the mutation. Transfection of p53 mutant human glioblastoma cells corrected the mutation and induced apoptosis in 7.5% of cells.     

Cytology of tracheobronchial amyloidosis

Localized amyloidosis of the respiratory tract is seldom diagnosed in cytologic specimens. This report describes a case of the tracheobronchial form of amyloidosis in which diagnostic material was present in a cytologic specimen obtained during bronchoscopy.     

Methods for rapid screening and isolation of bacteria producing acidic lipase: feasibility studies and novel activity assay protocols

Acidic lipase finds its commercial values in medical applications and bioremediation of food wastes. In this work, approaches for rapid screening of lipase-producing bacteria were developed and the feasibility assessment of the screening methods was performed. From food waste samples, the proposed screening procedures allowed isolation of sixteen pure bacterial strains expressing higher lipase activity at acidic pH (pH 6.0) than at alkaline pH (pH 9.0). To enhance the accuracy of lipase activity determination under acidic conditions, a novel assay procedure was also developed by deactivating lipase activity by microwave treatment prior to back titration. This additional step could minimize interferences arising from residual lipase activity during conventional direct back-titration methods in measuring lipase activity at acidic pH. Using the four strategies proposed in this work, the best acidic-lipase-producing isolate was obtained by strategy C (SSC) and was identified as Aeromonas sp. C14, displaying an optimal lipase activity of 0.7 U/ml at an acidic pH of 6.0.