The blood platelet proteome is changed in UREMIC patients

Comparative analysis of the protein profile of blood platelets isolated from nondialyzed and hemodialyzed uremic patients and healthy controls has been performed. These preliminary results indicate markedly changed expression of several proteins in blood platelets from both groups of patients compared with controls, with dramatic changes in hemodialyzed patients in the over-expression of low molecular peptides with a very wide range of pI values.     

Oligonucleotide microarray-based detection and genotyping of Plum pox virus

Plum pox virus (PPV) is the most damaging viral pathogen of stone fruits. The detection and identification of its strains are therefore of critical importance to plant quarantine and certification programs. Existing methods to screen strains of PPV suffer from significant limitations such as the simultaneous detection and genotyping of several strains of PPV in samples infected with different isolates of the virus. A genomic strategy for PPV screening based on the viral nucleotide sequence was developed to enable the detection and genotyping of the virus from infected plant tissue or biological samples. The basis of this approach is a long 70-mer oligonucleotide DNA microarray capable of simultaneously detecting and genotyping PPV strains. Several 70-mer oligonucleotide probes were specific for the detection and genotyping of individual PPV isolates to their strains. Other probes were specific for the detection and identification of two or three PPV strains. One probe (universal), derived from the genome highly conserved 3' non-translated region, detected all individual strains of PPV. This universal PPV probe, combined with probes specific for each known strain, could be used for new PPV strain discovery. Finally, indirect fluorescent labeling of cDNA with cyanine after cDNA synthesis enhanced the sensitivity of the virus detection without the use of the PCR amplification step. The PPV microarray detected and identified efficiently the PPV strains in PPV-infected peach, apricot and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. This PPV detection method is versatile, and enables the simultaneous detection of plant pathogens.     

Characterization of the reciprocity law failure in three mammography screen-film systems.

The purpose of this project was to quantify reciprocity law failure (RLF) for mammography screen-film systems. Three widely used screen-film systems were evaluated: the Kodak MinR 2000 system. Fuji UM Mammo Fine screen and Fuji UM MA HC film, and Agfa MR Detail screen and Agfa Mammoray MR5 film. The logit algorithm that linearizes logistic curve shapes was utilized to characterize film sensitometric response. Different values of mammographic phantom thickness, tube current, and kVp were used to vary screen-film exposure rates. RLF was quantified by examining the dependence of logit parameters (maximum and minimum film density, curve shift, and slope) on exposure rate. The shift of the logit curve was found to be a good indicator of the screen-film system speed, while the slope of the logit curve is affected by the RLF. RLF leads to changes in film contrast as well as speed. For the range of exposure rates measured (50-fold), screen-film contrast and speed varied by factors of 2 and 3.5, respectively. Film contrast decreased as exposure rate increased. The greatest changes were observed with the Kodak MinR 2000 screen-film system.     

Scanning Force Microscopy of the Fine Structure of Cartilage Irradiated with a CO2 Laser

. Alterations of the cartilage matrix structure under non-destructive laser irradiation have been investigated by scanning force microscopy. Porcine nasal septum cartilage was irradiated with a CO₂ laser with a power density of 50 W/cm² under two different time regimes: for 3 s and for 30 s. Short-time irradiation had little effect on the structure of the cartilage matrix. In comparison with non-irradiated cartilage, small channels of 100–400 nm in cross-section appeared. This observation gives evidence that the underlying mechanism of laser-induced stress relaxation of cartilage is based on short-time depolymerisation and subsequent re-formation of proteoglycan units. The 30 s laser treatment results in melting and denaturation of the matrix. For the first time, small crystals, 100–800 nm, were found on cut sections of the laser treated cartilage. The crystals mainly consist of resolvable sodium carbonate. Thus, they cannot be responsible for the formation of a stable cartilage configuration after laser treatment. Paper received 24 February 1998; accepted after revision 22 June 1999.     

Loss of heterozygosity at loci from chromosome arm 22Q in human sporadic breast carcinomas

Forty-four breast carcinomas were studied for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 25 microsatellite markers distributed almost evenly along chromosome arm 22q. LOH at at least one marker were observed in 66% tumors, while 6 regions of consistent LOH were identified. The size of each region ranged between 3 and 6 cM, and the distance between each region was estimated to be 8 to 12 cM. Even if not all these regions contain a bona fide tumor-suppressor gene, it is possible that several loci from chromosome arm 22q may be involved in breast carcinogenesis. Int. J. Cancer 75:181–186, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.