Molecular portrait of human kidney carcinomas: the gene expression profiling of protein-tyrosine kinases and tyrosine phosphatases which controlled regulatory signals in the cells

Hybridization with cDNA arrays was used to obtain expression profiles of 214 protein-tyrosine kinase, protein-tyrosine phosphatase, dual-specific phosphatase, and other genes for kidney carcinomas (KC) and normal kidney tissues of 34 patients and for seven carcinoma cell lines. Computer analysis revealed three clusters of genes coexpressed in KC. A proliferating-cell gene cluster included MET, VIM, MYC, TOP2A, PCNA, etc. A neoangiogenesis and blood-cell gene cluster included LCK, HCK, FGR, MMP9, CSFR1, VEGF, FLT1, and KDR. A cluster corresponding to normal, differentiated kidney cells included ERBB2 (HER2) for receptor protein-tyrosine kinase, several phosphatase genes (PTPRE, PTPRB, DUSP9), and EGF. The results suggested that MET, DUSP9, PCNA, TOP2A, and VIM may serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers in KC. Tubulin and topoisomerase II were assumed to be promising targets for cell proliferation inhibitors in KC.     

Some observations on the effect of Daflon (micronized purified flavonoid fraction of Rutaceae aurantiae) in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema

BACKGROUND: Morbidity management is a core component of the global programme for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. In a double-blind clinical trial, the tolerability and efficacy of Daflon (500 mg) + DEC (25 mg) or DEC (25 mg) alone, twice daily for 90 days, was studied in 26 patients with bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. RESULTS: None of the patients in either drug group reported any adverse reaction throughout the treatment period (90 days). Haematological and biochemical parameters were within normal limits and there was no significant difference between the pre-treatment (day 0) and post-treatment (day 90) values. The group receiving Daflon showed significant reduction in oedema volume from day 90 (140.6 PlusMinus; 18.8 ml) to day 360 (71.8 PlusMinus; 20.7 ml) compared to the pre-treatment (day 0, 198.4 PlusMinus; 16.5 ml) value. This accounted for a 63.8% reduction in oedema volume by day 360 (considering the pre-treatment (day 0) as 100%). In the DEC group, the changes in oedema volume (between day 1 and day 360) were not significant when compared to the pre-treatment (day 0) value. The percentage reduction at day 360 was only 9%, which was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that Daflon (500 mg, twice a day for 90 days) is both safe and efficacious in reducing oedema volume in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. Further clinical trials are essential for strengthening the evidence base on the role of this drug in the morbidity management of lymphatic filariasis.     

Dynamics and genetic determination of transformation of alpha macroglobulins allogroups in different populations of domestic pigs

The results of genetic studies of transformation of alpha-macroglobullin (AM) allogroups (i.e., fixed allotype combinations) in pigs are presented. Population and hybridization studies showed that the phenomenon discovered was based on activation/inactivation of the AMI allotype expression, which depended on the genetic environment and interlocus relationships. Genetic and selection bases, as well as the significance of the transformation phenomenon described, are discussed.     

Discordance and cosegregation of swine halothane susceptibility and 1843 C-T mutation of their RYR1 locus responsible for the ryanodine receptor

In two Siberian swine populations, the halothane test and PCR were used to determine the halothane susceptibility of the animals and to reveal a point mutation in their RYR1 gene, respectively. No correlations were found between the halothane susceptibility of an animal and the presence or absence of a point mutation at its RYR1 locus. However, the population changes in halothane susceptibility and the frequency of the mutation proved to be unidirectional. In the studied swine populations, the halothane-susceptible animals had no hyperthermia and the frequencies of their Hal and RYR1 genes changed similarly. These phenomena along with the phylogenesis of malignant hyperthermia and the porcine stress syndromes (PSS) in different breeds are discussed. In the populations studied, PSS is suggested to be under the polygenic control.     

Inheritance of hypodontia in Kerry Blue Terrier dogs

Integral segregation analysis, which earlier proved efficient in studying complex hereditary diseases in humans and have been introduced in animal genetics for several years, was used to analyze the inheritance of hypodontia by premolars in Kerry Blue Terrier dogs. Dental formulas have been determined in 598 out of 911 animals united into a single large, complex pedigree. The results of integrated segregation analysis indicated heterogeneous genetic control of different forms of hypodontia. The geneses of different premolars in dogs have been demonstrated to be described by different models of inheritance: the absence of the second premolars can be described by the recessive major-gene model, whereas the agenesis of the fourth premolars have a more complex genetic mechanism and cannot be described by the model of a simple major-gene control.     

Development of sex and protective behavior of female crickets Gryllus argentinus Sauss. at preproductive and reproductive periods of adult ontogenesis

The work presents data on reproductive and protective behavior of non-copulative female crickets Gryllus argentinus Sauss. at the beginning of adult ontogenesis. There is studied character of interaction of females with "virtual" males (the method of "trackball". The forms of female motor reactions are described and characterized in the model of male intraspecies signals--the call and aggressive ones. The character of development of female acoustic behavior is described by a change in the motor reaction forms in the course of adult ontogenesis. It is shown that at once after moulting the reproductive behavior on adults has not yet been formed, but is maturing gradually for several days. The passive protective behavior was established to be the most expressed at the initial stages of adult ontogenesis.