Determination of biogenic amines in fish implicated in food poisoning by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) method for the simultaneous determination of seven biogenic amines in fish was developed. The peaks of all components were successfully separated within 11.5 min. MECC was performed with 0.06 M sodium deoxycholate in 0.02 M borate buffer (pH 9.2)-methanol (95:5, v/v) solvent. The average recoveries for all components ranged from 84.4 to 100.3%. The application of this method to detect amines in fried marlin fillet implicated in a food poisoning incident indicated that a high level (56.24 mg/100 g) of histamine was present in the sample. Another 10 fish samples collected from markets were also analyzed and did not contain detectable levels of histamine (<2.5 mg/100 g).     

Typology of the arteries in the human scalenus region, with special reference to the accessory ascending cervical artery

The accessory ascending cervical artery (Murakami et al., 1996), which arises from the subclavian artery and ascends between the scalenus anterior and medius muscles, was studied in 87 Japanese adult cadavers (174 sides), with special attention being given to its origin, distribution, and relationship to other arteries at the cervical or scalenus region. In 154 sides (88.5%), the accessory ascending cervical artery was found to originate from the subclavian artery behind the scalenus anterior muscle, and to branch out to the scalenus anterior and medius muscles as well as those entering the 5th and 6th intervertebral foramens along the 6th and 7th cervical nerves. This artery arose independently in 105 sides. The accessory ascending cervical artery issued off or formed a common trunk with the transverse cervical artery and/or costocervical trunk in 49 sides. In cases lacking the accessory ascending cervical artery, it was usually compensated for by the costocervial trunk and/or transverse cervical artery (18 sides). Common trunk formation with the vertebral, internal thoracic, or suprascapular arteries was not observed. The authors suggest that the accessory ascending cervical artery, the transverse cervical artery, and the costocervical trunk should be grouped into one arterial system, a system that may be a remnant of the precostal longitudinal anastomoses of intersegmental arteries of the dorsal aorta behind the scalenus anterior muscle.     

Interaction between KIR3DL1 and HLA-B*57 supertype alleles influences the progression of HIV-1 infection in a Zambian population

KIR and HLA loci are both highly polymorphic, and some HLA class 1 products bind and trigger cell-surface receptors specified by KIR genes. We examined whether KIR genes act in concert with HLA-B locus to control HIV-1 infection in a sample of Zambian patients. DNA samples from 88 Zambian patients with HIV-1 were examined. Patients were classified as either slow progressors (SP; n = 54) or rapid progressors (RP; n = 34) to AIDS. All were typed for HLA-B and KIR genes. Our results reveal an association between B*57 supertype (B*57s, which includes B*57 and B*58 alleles) and delayed progression to AIDS (p = 0.0007 by pc = 0.015; OR = 5.25). We also observed an increase incidence of Bw4-I80 in patients with slow progression (p = 0.001 by pc = 0.003, OR = 5). This increase was found to be secondary to B*57s. The presence of both KIR3DL1 and B*57S has a significant effect on progression to AIDS (p = 0.0008; OR = 5.61). B*57s genotypes with another HLA-B allele different from those in the trans position, which also had a specificity different to Bw4-I80 (Bw4-T80 or Bw6), was also greater in the SP than in the RP group (p = 0.00003; OR = 10.11). The presence of the inhibitory allele KIR3DL1 in combination with the HLA-B*57s alleles that contain the Bw4-I80 epitope, has a highly protective effect against progression to AIDS in Zambian patients.     

Generation of sheep X (sheep X mouse) heterohybridoma cell line expressing the beta-1 integrin membrane molecule

Sheep are an important biological model in such diverse areas as immunology and reproductive biology. The limitation of sheep as an experimental model is the absence of reliable cell lines. To establish cell lines that express functional sheep membrane molecules, we produced a sheep x mouse heterohybridoma by fusion of sheep efferent lymph T cells with the murine myeloma cell line NS1. A cloned heterohybridoma fusion partner was selected by treatment with 8-azaguanine. The resulting cell line HL1/385 was selected for hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine (HAT) sensitivity and growth efficiency. The HL1/385 cell line was used as a back-fusion partner into lectin-stimulated efferent T lymphocytes. The back-fusion approach produced more than 50 heterohybrid cell lines with high growth efficiency. The expression of physiological levels of the sheep beta-1 integrin cell surface molecule on the HT4/6 cell line was stable for months in culture. These results suggest that somatic heterohybrids may provide a reliable source of cell lines for sheep studies in vitro.     

Comparison of ethanol versus formalin fixation on preservation of histology and RNA in laser capture microdissected brain tissues

Although RNA can be retrieved from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, the yield is low, and the RNA is fragmented. Recent advances in gene expression profiling underscore the importance of identifying a fixative that preserves histology and mRNA. We demonstrated that, for immersion fixation of brains, 70% ethanol is superior to formalin for mRNA preservation. RNA yield from ethanol-fixed tissues was 70% of the yield from fresh frozen specimens, but only a negligible quantity was recovered from formalin-fixed tissues. RNA from ethanol-fixed brains showed integrity comparable to RNA from fresh frozen tissues, and RT-PCR using RNA from ethanol-fixed tissues was consistently successful. RNA from FFPE tissues composed of low-molecular weight fragments, and their use in RT-PCR failed repeatedly. The yield and quality of RNA from ethanol-fixed brains were unaffected after immersion at 4 degrees C for 2 weeks. In a blinded comparison to FFPE tissues, ethanol-fixed specimens were judged to show comparable histology and superior immunostaining. After laser capture microdissection (LCM), we failed to recover mRNA from FFPE tissues but retrieved mRNA from ethanol-fixed tissues for RT-PCR and cDNA microarray analysis. We conclude that 70% ethanol preserves RNA integrity and is suitable for expression profiling of brain tissues by LCM and cDNA microarray.     

Studies with a pathogenic and an attenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes

Summary Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus was passaged in KB cell cultures. The virus lost its mouse pathogenicity following subcutaneous inoculation during KB cell passage; the attenuated strain also produced smaller plaques than the pathogenic strain. Both strains grew to the same extent inAedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. If any reversions to pathogenicity occur during development of the attenuated virus in mosquitoes, then the mutation frequency per duplication per particle must be smaller than 3.5×10^–6.     

Mechanisms of Neuronal Death in Alzheimer's Disease

Recent data in cell culture has shown that brain neurons are particularly vulnerable to degeneration by apoptosis. Further the inducers that activate the program (e.g. β-amyloid, oxidatative damage, low energy metabolism) correspond to conditions present in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. This suggests the possibility that apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms contributing to neuronal loss in this disease. Indeed, some neurons in vulnerable regions of the AD brain show evidence of DNA damage, nuclear apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the induction of select genes characteristic of apoptosis in cell culture and animal models. This suggests the existence of apoptosis in the AD brain, a hypothesis also consistent with evolving research in one of the regulatory functions of the presenilin genes. On the other hand, DNA damage is present in the majority of neurons in vulnerable regions in early and mild cases. In most tissues, cells in fully activated apoptosis degenerate and are removed within hours to days and thus it seems all DNA damage is unlikely to signify terminal apoptosis. The presence of extensive DNA damage suggests an acceleration of damage, faulty repair process, loss of protective mechanisms, or an activation and arrest of aspects of the apoptotic program. DNA damage is unlikely to be an artifact of postmortem delay or agonal state. The existence of protective mechanisms for neurons may exist as these cells are nondividing and essential. In this context it is interesting that Bcl-2 is upregulated in most neurons with DNA damage. Further, at least one DNA repair enzyme is also upregulated. Thus it appears as if neurons are in a struggle between degeneration and repair. As research advances it is critical to reduce the stimuli that cause the neuronal damage and discover the key intervention points to assist neurons in the repair processes.     

Histiocytoid hemangioma of the heart with peripheral eosinophilia

A histiocytoid hemangioma of the heart is reported, which was found incidentally in a man with unusually high eosinophilia. The eosinophilia subsided dramatically following removal of the tumor. The "histiocytoid" or the "epithelioid" appearance of the tumor cells and the presence of vacuolated cells were the characteristic microscopic features. The endothelial origin of this tumor was verified by positive immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen and ultrastructural demonstration of intracytoplasmic lumen formation, abundant cytoplasmic filaments, pinocytotic vesicles, and prominent basal lamina. The presence of mitotic activity, cellular pleomorphism, and tumor necrosis raised the possibility of its malignant potential. The occurrence of this tumor in the heart may be mistaken for a myxoma clinically and a metastatic carcinoma pathologically.