Effects of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin on adenylate cyclase in murine mononuclear phagocytes

Peritoneal mononuclear phagocytes elicited by thioglycollate demonstrate responsiveness to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) which differs from that seen in the normal resident population. PTH causes a twofold stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in elicited cells but inhibits this activity in resident cells. CT causes a greater stimulation of adenylate cyclase in elicited than in resident cells. Both CT and PTH cause an increase in cyclic AMP accumulation in cultures of elicited mononuclear phagocytes. These results indicate that cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage have functional receptors for both PTH and CT. This is the first biochemical evidence to support the hypothesis that mononuclear phagocytes are precursors of the bone resorbing osteoclast.     

Appendix: Synthesis of N-acylglutathione derivatives by dimethylaminopyridine catalysis

A general procedure, involving 4-dimethylaminopyridine-catalysed acylation of the amino groups in the appropriate S-blocked glutathione, is reported for the preparation of N-blocked derivatives of glutathiones.     

Hepatitis B and C in the hemodialysis unit of Tocantins,Brazil: serological and molecular profiles

A survey was conducted in the hemodialysis population of the state of Tocantins, Brazil, aiming to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, to analyze associated risk factors, and also to investigate these viruses genotypes distribution. During January and March 2001, all patients (n = 100) were interviewed at the unique dialysis unit in Tocantins. Blood samples were collected and serum samples were screened for HBV serological markers. Hepatitis B surface antigen positive samples were tested for HBV DNA. All samples were also tested for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. An overall prevalence of 45% was found for HBV infection (4% were HBsAg/anti-HBc positive, 2% were anti-HBc only and 39% had anti-HBc/anti-HBs markers). Concerning HCV infection, anti-HCV and HCV RNA were detected in 13% and 14% of the subjects, respectively. Three patients were HCV RNA positive and anti-HCV negative, resulting in an overall HCV prevalence of 16%. Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that only shift and length of tile on hemodialysis were associated with HBV and HCV positivity respectively. Among the four HBsAg-positive samples, HBV DNA was detected in three of them, which were identified as genotype A by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. All 14HCV RNA-positive samples were genotyped by INNO-LiPA. Genotypes la and 3a were found in 85% and 15%, respectively. The present data show low HBsAg and HCV prevalence rates. The risk factors associated with HBV and HCV positivity suggest that nosocomial transmission may influence in spreading these viruses in the dialysis unit studied.     

High SEPT9_v1 Expression Is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this work was to determine SEPT9_v1 expression levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to analyze whether SEPT9_v1 expression is relevant to clinical outcomes. Recently, the SEPT9 isoform SEPT9_v1 has been implicated in oncogenesis, and methylation of the SEPT9 promoter region was reported in HNSCC. These findings led us to hypothesize that SEPT9_v1 could be differently expressed in HNSCC. To determine whether SEPT9_v1 is expressed in HNSCC, tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis was performed using a SEPT9_v1-specific antibody. Tissue microarrays stained with a polyclonal SEPT9_v1-specific antibody was used to determine protein expression levels in HNSCC tissue samples, some with known clinical outcomes. This analysis showed that SEPT9_v1 is in fact highly expressed in HNSCC compared with normal epithelium, and high expression levels directly correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Specifically, a high SEPT9_v1 expression was associated with decreased disease-specific survival (P = .012), time to indication of surgery at primary site (P = .008), response to induction chemotherapy (P = .0002), and response to chemotherapy (P = .02), as well as advanced tumor stage (P = .012) and N stage (P = .0014). The expression of SEPT9_v1 was also strongly correlated with smoking status (P = .00094). SEPT9_v1 is highly expressed in HNSCC, and a high expression of SEPT9_v1 is associated with poor clinical outcomes. These data indicate that SEPT9_v1 warrants additional investigation as a potential biomarker for HNSCC.