A review of techniques and results obtained in one laboratory by an integrated system of methods designed for routine clinical flow cytometric DNA analysis

Establishing flow cytometric DNA analysis as a clinical routine procedure requires adequate and proven guidelines, by which the data can be obtained and interpreted to directly influence management of the individual patient with a specific neoplasm. The present paper is intended as a contribution to such guidelines, of which only fragments are available today. We have previously described a system of methods, designed for routine flow cytometric DNA analysis. In the present status report our experience, based on approximately 18,000 samples (clinical and experimental) is summarised. Sample acquisition with fine-needle aspiration, storage at -80 degrees C, internal standardization by chicken (CRBC) and trout red blood cells (TRBC), staining with propidium iodide (PI), and analysis in the flow cytometer is recapitulated, with emphasis on previously unpublished aspects. The method of statistical analysis which has an integrating role is described in some detail. A lack of linearity between channel number and DNA content was determined experimentally, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was found to decrease with increasing channel number. The corrections in the algorithm of deconvolution made necessary by these findings are fundamental for estimating the end results. The zero point adjustment and procedures for changing from one batch of standards to another are described. A systematic approach to interpretation of DNA histograms is attempted and illustrated by data from clinical specimens of malignant lymphoma, breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, cancer of the oral cavity, and bladder cancer. Some problems are still unsolved and visual inspection is required to determine if the quality of the individual histogram is satisfactory. Inspection of the fluorescence/light scatter dot-plot provides additional information for the recognition of artifacts. The results stress that good quality DNA histograms with as small CVs as possible are important for interpretation of the data. It is essential that statistical methods are employed to extract the key end-point results. These are the number of subpopulations and their relative representation, and for each subpopulation the DNA index (DI) and the fractions of cells in the cell cycle phases. For the DNA data to have any rationally based impact on clinical decision making, it must be demonstrated that they have an independent prognostic value. Strategies for final evaluation are discussed. Multicenter trials on fresh material, to accrue quickly the number of patients necessary for firm conclusions, are suggested.     

Organization and expression of mouse Hox3 cluster genes

Summary The three yolk protein genes (yp) of Drosophila melanogaster are transcribed in a sex- and tissue-limited fashion. We have searched for cis-regulatory sequences in regions flanking yp1 and yp2 to identify the elements that confer female-specific expression in the fat body. One such 127 by element has previously been identified in this region. We show here the existence of two additional regions which confer female fat body-specific expression on an Adh reporter gene and on the native yp2 gene, respectively. This suggests some redundancy in the regulation of expression of the yp genes. Computer searches for putative binding sites for the DSX protein, which regulates sex-specific expression of the yp genes, revealed several such sites in our constructs. However, the significance of these is unclear since many such sites also occur in genes which one would not expect to be regulated in a sex-specific manner (e.g. Adh, Actin 5C). We suggest that DSX acts in concert with other proteins to mediate sex- and tissue-specific expression of the yp genes.     

A stereocontrolled, enantiomerically specific total synthesis of thienamycin

A versatile stereocontrolled total synthesis of thienamycin starting from L-aspartic acid is reported. Stereocontrol is achieved by potassium tri-sec-butylborohydride reduction of a thermodynamically formed 3 alpha-acetylazetidinone intermediate. The key [3.2.0] bicyclic ring system is prepared by a metal catalyzed carbene insertion reaction.     

Tetraethylammonium and p-aminohippurate as clearance markers for renal plasma flow in the rat during saline and glucose infusion.

Renal plasma clearances (C) of 14C-tetraethylammonium (TEA) and p-aminohippurate (PAH) as estimates of arterial renal plasma flow (ARPF) were evaluated in anesthetized rats during control conditions and during intravenous glucose infusion. Venous renal blood flow was measured directly by means of a servo-controlled pump, keeping the renal venous pressure constant. Arteriovenous extraction fractions (E = 1 - P(renal venous)/P(renal arterial)) for PAH averaged 88.3 +/- (SE) 0.8% in control rats and 82.0 +/- 0.9% in glucose-infused rats (p less than 0.001); E(TEA) averaged 92.0 +/- 0.6 and 90.1 +/- 0.6%, respectively (p less than 0.05). Under both experimental conditions, (C/E)PAH did not differ significantly from ARPF, while (C/E)TEA underestimated ARPF; the rate of extraction of TEA exceeded the rate of excretion by 15-20%, probably due to accumulation of TEA in renal tissue. It is concluded that, when corrected for E, C(PAH) is in general a more accurate estimate for ARPF than C(TEA). However, under conditions involving changes in plasma glucose levels C(TEA) may provide a better estimate of the effective renal plasma flow than C(PAH).     

Low Density Lipoproteins Promote Unstable Calcium Handling Accompanied by Reduced SERCA2 and Connexin-40 Expression in Cardiomyocytes

The damaging effects of high plasma levels of cholesterol in the cardiovascular system are widely known, but little attention has been paid to direct effects on cardiomyocyte function. We therefore aimed at testing the hypothesis that Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol affects calcium dynamics and signal propagation in cultured atrial myocytes. For this purpose, mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by real time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively, and intracellular calcium was visualized in fluo-4 loaded atrial HL-1 myocyte cultures subjected to field stimulation. At low stimulation frequencies all cultures had uniform calcium transients at all tested LDL concentrations. However, 500 µg LDL/mL maximally reduced the calcium transient amplitude by 43% from 0.30±0.04 to 0.17±0.02 (p<0.05). Moreover, LDL-cholesterol dose-dependently increased the fraction of alternating and irregular beat-to-beat responses observed when the stimulation interval was shortened. This effect was linked to a concurrent reduction in SERCA2, RyR2, IP3RI and IP3RII mRNA levels. SERCA2 protein levels were also reduced by 43% at 200 µg LDL/mL (p<0.05) and SR calcium loading was reduced by 38±6% (p<0.001). By contrast, HDL-cholesterol had no significant effect on SERCA expression or SR calcium loading. LDL-cholesterol also slowed the conduction velocity of the calcium signal from 3.2+0.2 mm/s without LDL to 1.7±0.1 mm/s with 500 µg LDL/mL (p<0.05). This coincided with a reduction in Cx40 expression (by 44±3%; p<0.05 for mRNA and by 79±2%; p<0.05 for Cx40 protein at 200 µg/ml LDL) whereas the Cx-43 expression did not significantly change. In conclusion, LDL-cholesterol destabilizes calcium handling in cultured atrial myocytes subjected to rapid pacing by reducing SERCA2 and Cx40 expression and by slowing the conduction velocity of the calcium signal.     

A review of the biology and transmission ecology of African bovine species of the genus Schistosoma

The present paper reviews the information available concerning the biology and transmission ecology of the African bovine species Schistosoma bovis, S. mattheei, S. margrebowiei and S. leiperi. Criteria for species identification (egg morphology, intermediate host spectra, definitive host-parasite relationships, etc.) are listed and the geographical distribution of the four species and factors determining the relative occurrence within their overall distributional ranges are described. S bovis and S. mattheei occur north and south of 10 degrees S, respectively, and S. margrebowiei occurs mainly, and S. leiperi only, in southern central Africa. Definitive host-related factors (susceptibility, water contact pattern, ect.) providing the background for being a primary definitive host and the primary definitive host spectra for the four schistosome species are described. The primary definitive host spectrum for S. margrebowiei and S. leiperi comprise lechwe, puku and waterbuck, for S. mattheei lechwe, puku, waterbuck plus cattle, and for S. bovis cattle and possibly also some of the listed antelope species. In addition, wild bovines and cattle may provide a reservoir of S. mattheei and S. margrebowiei in humans, but wild bovines and domestic stock play no major role in the transmission of other human species of schistosomes. The intermediate snail host spectra of S. mattheei and S. leiperi only comprise members of the Bulinus africanus species complex; S. bovis is transmitted by members of the B. truncatus, B. africanus and B. forskalii species groups, and S. margrebowiei is transmitted by members of the B. forskalii species group and possibly also by members of the B. tropicus and B. truncatus species groups. Factors determining the transmission ecology of the four schistosome species, and thereby the epidemiology of bovine schistosomiasis, are discussed. Influential factors comprise environmental conditions mediated via the effect of these on the size of the snail host population and on the rate of the intramolluscan development, behavioural patterns of the definitive host population and the course of the infection in the definitive host as related to aspects of susceptibility and level of endemicity. The epidemiological pattern (prevalence and intensity of infection, seasonality of transmission, etc.) is described and exemplified, and it is finally concluded that the increasing water conservation and changing methods of husbandry may result in bovine schistosomiasis becoming a major veterinary problem in Africa.     

Proacaciberin,A cyanogenic glycoside from Acacia sieberiana var. Woodii

A new cyanogenic glycoside isolated from pods of Acacia sieberiana var. woodii has been shown by chemical and spectroscopic methods to be (2S)-2-[(6-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3-methylbut-3-enenitrileo. Acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the glycoside afforded arabinose and proacacipetalin, and base-catalysed double-bond migration gave 2- [(6-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-β- d-glucopyranosyl)oxy ]-3-methylbut-2-enenitrile.     

The Relationship Between GPS Sampling Interval and Estimated Daily Travel Distances in Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus)

International Journal of Primatology - Modern studies of animal movement use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to estimate animals’ distance traveled. The temporal resolution of GPS fixes...