Feasibility of in situ hybridisation with chromosome specific DNA probes on paraffin wax embedded tissue.

The feasibility was studied of in situ hybridisation using chromosome specific DNA probes on paraffin wax embedded normal and malignant tissues from different organs. Both isolated nuclei and 5 microns sections were used in in situ hybridisation experiments with biotinylated repetitive DNA probes specific for the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1 and 17. The hybridisation results were visualised with peroxidase-diaminobenzidine. The optimal pretreatments with sodium thiocyanate and pepsin were experimentally defined for the different tissues. Although interphase cytogenetics on paraffin wax embedded tissue is possible, the results indicate that it has its limitations, compared with investigations on fresh tumour tissue.     

New strategy for multi-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation: COBRA: COmbined Binary RAtio labelling

Multicolour in situ hybridisation (MFISH) is increasingly applied to karyotyping and detection of chromosomal abnormalities. So far 27 colour analyses have been described using fluorescently labelled chromosome painting probes in a so-called combinatorial approach. In this paper a new strategy is presented to use efficiently the currently available number of spectrally separated fluorophores in order to increase the multiplicity of MFISH. We introduce the principle of COBRA (COmbined Binary RAtio labelling), which is based on the simultaneous use of combinatorial labelling and ratio labelling. Human chromosome painting in 24 colours is accomplished using four fluorophores only. Three fluorophores are used pair wise for ratio labelling of a set of 12 chromosome painting probes. The second set of 12 probes is labelled identically but is also given a binary label (fourth fluorophore). The COBRA method is demonstrated on normal human chromosomes and on a lymphoma (JVM) cell line, using probes enzymatically labelled with fluorescein, lissamine and cy5 as primary fluorophores, and diethylaminocoumarin (DEAC), a blue dye, as combinatorial fourth label to demonstrate incorporated digoxigenin. In addition, the principle was tested using chemical labelling. The first set of 12 painting probes was therefore labelled by ULS (Universal Linkage System), using DEAC, cy3 and cy5 as primary labels, and the second set was labelled similarly, but also contained a digoxigenin-ULS label, which was indirectly stained with fluorescein. Subsequently, a mathematical analysis is presented and methods are indicated for achieving an MFISH multiplicity of 48, 96 or even higher using existing technology.     

Amino acids and vitamins prevent culture-induced metabolic perturbations and associated loss of viability of mouse blastocysts

Culture of in-vivo-developed mouse blastocysts in a simple culture medium based on a balanced salt solution supplemented with carbohydrates for 3 h significantly perturbed embryo metabolism. Maximal perturbation occurred after just 6 h of culture. Similarly, culture of rat blastocysts in a simple culture medium for 3 h also resulted in perturbed metabolism. Cultured mouse and rat blastocysts both had an abnormally elevated rate of glycolysis of approximately 100% after culture (P < 0.05). Rates of pyruvate oxidation by mouse blastocysts were also significantly reduced after culture in a simple medium for 6 h (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the developmental competence of mouse blastocysts after transfer was significantly reduced by just 6 h of culture in a simple medium (P < 0.05). Addition of Eagle's amino acids or vitamins to the culture medium reduced the perturbation of both the glycolytic activity and oxidative capacity of cultured mouse blastocysts and acted in synergy to further the inhibition. Importantly, culture with amino acids and vitamins prevented any loss of viability of mouse blastocysts after culture for 6 h. It can be concluded that the mouse blastocyst is sensitive to its environment and that culture-induced stress results in the loss of normal cellular function, as manifested in this case by an abnormal pattern of glucose utilization and loss of viability.      

JAK2 is associated with the c-kit proto-oncogene product and is phosphorylated in response to stem cell factor

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that interacts with the receptor tyrosine kinase, c-kit. We have found that SCF- stimulates rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 in human and murine cell lines, as well as in normal human progenitor cells. JAK2 and c-kit were associated in unstimulated cells with further recruitment of JAK2 to the c-kit receptor complex after SCF stimulation. Treatment of cells with JAK2 antisense oligonucleotides resulted in a 46% decrease in SCF-induced proliferation. These data demonstrate that SCF induces tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 and suggest that JAK2 is a component of the SCF signal transduction pathway.     

Cytogenetic features and serum lactic dehydrogenase level predict a poor treatment outcome for children with pre-B-cell leukemia

Leukemic cells from 89 (24%) of 369 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were found to have a pre-B immunophenotype. By comparison with blasts having the common ALL phenotype, the pre-B cells were more likely to have a DNA index less than 1.16 (P = 0.02), a pseudodiploid karyotype (P less than 0.001), and a chromosomal translocation (P = 0.001). Increased serum lactic dehydrogenase levels (P = 0.001) were also characteristic of pre-B ALL; otherwise, the clinical and laboratory features of the two groups were similar. A nonrandom chromosomal translocation, t(1;19)(q23;p13.3), was identified in blast cells from 16 (23%) of the 70 patients with pre-B ALL and adequate chromosome banding studies; different translocations were found in 11 of the remaining patients. The presence of any chromosomal translocation in the pre-B group was significantly related to a higher leukocyte count, an increased level of serum lactic dehydrogenase, an increased percentage of S-phase cells, black race, and a blast cell DNA index less than 1.16. Four presenting features were found to confer an increased risk of treatment failure among pre-B patients: pseudodiploidy, chromosomal translocation, black race, and higher serum lactic dehydrogenase level. In a multivariate analysis, pseudodiploidy emerged as the strongest factor for predicting relapse in pre-B ALL. The frequent association of chromosomal abnormalities of known adverse prognostic significance and high serum lactic dehydrogenase levels with pre-B-cell ALL explains, at least in part, the poor treatment outcome reported for children with this subtype of leukemia.     

Self-rated health,work characteristics and health related behaviours among nurses in Greece: a cross sectional study

Background  

Previous studies on self-rated health among nurses have indicated an association of low job satisfaction and stress in relation to poor self-rated health. The relationship between self rated health and the specific work characteristics and health related behaviours of nurses to our knowledge have not been adequately studied.     

Circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor correlate with disease severity in the intrinsic type of atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shed light on the complex regulation of genetic, environmental, immunologic and pharmacologic factors, which contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, it is still unclear to which extent neuroimmune mediators have a role in AD. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To assess peripheral neurotrophin levels and their correlation with scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) scores in both the intrinsic and extrinsic types of AD compared with patients with psoriasis and nonatopic healthy subjects. METHODS: Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were assessed in peripheral blood with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on IgE-mediated sensitization, AD was divided into the extrinsic and intrinsic type. Severity of AD was assessed with SCORAD score and with psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) in patients with psoriasis. RESULTS: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NGF were detectable in all the subjects studied. However, the levels of both neurotrophins were significantly higher in patients with extrinsic and intrinsic types of AD compared with patients with psoriasis and nonatopic healthy subjects (NGF: P < 0.001, BDNF: P < 0.001). NGF and BDNF levels were similar in the intrinsic and extrinsic type of AD. There was a significant correlation between BDNF and SCORAD score only in patients with the intrinsic type of AD (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time that NGF and BDNF are increased in both, the extrinsic type and the intrinsic type of AD. This finding points to a similar pathophysiologic background implicating a neuroimmune network in both variants of this chronic inflammatory skin disease. Future studies are needed to show the direct mechanisms of neurotrophin action in chronic inflammatory skin.     

Local and distant protein structural changes on photoisomerization of the retinal in bacteriorhodopsin

The photoisomerization of the retinal in bacteriorhodopsin is selective and efficient and yields perturbation of the protein structure within femtoseconds. The stored light energy in the primary intermediate is then used for the net translocation of a proton across the membrane in the microsecond to millisecond regime. This study is aimed at identifying how the protein changes on photoisomerization by using the O-H groups of threonines as internal probes. Polarized Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy of [3-(18)O]threonine-labeled and unlabeled bacteriorhodopsin indicates that 3 of the threonines (of a total of 18) change their hydrogen bonding. One is exchangeable in D(2)O, but two are not. A comprehensive mutation study indicates that the residues involved are Thr-89, Thr-17, and Thr-121 (or Thr-90). The perturbation of only three threonine side chains suggests that the structural alteration at this stage of the photocycle is local and specific. Furthermore, the structural change of Thr-17, which is located >11 A from the retinal chromophore, implicates a specific perturbation channel in the protein that accompanies the retinal motion.     

冷冻温度对聚乙烯醇水凝胶性能的影响

目的:冷冻温度对制备性能优良的聚乙烯醇水凝胶有较大的影响,拟通过采用反复冷冻-融化方法制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶,探讨在不同冷冻温度下制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶的物理性能和力学性能,寻求制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶的最佳冷冻温度。方法:实验于2007-04/06在中国矿业大学材料学院摩擦学与可靠性工程实验室完成。实验选用白色絮状的聚乙烯醇20-99作为原料,按一定比例将聚乙烯醇溶于去离子水中,在恒温水浴箱中于90℃下加热4h,配制成一定浓度的聚乙烯醇水溶液;然后将聚乙烯醇水溶液在超低温冷冻储存箱中冷冻成型,冷冻温度分别设为-10℃,-15℃,-20℃,-25℃,-30℃,冷冻时间为6～10h,取出试样后室温下融化2～4h,上述冷冻-融化过程重复3次制得聚乙烯醇水凝胶。实验选用聚乙烯醇的质量分数为15%,制备不同厚度的聚乙烯醇水凝胶试样若干备用。测试各种冷冻温度下制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶的密度、含水率、再溶胀性和结晶度等物理性能以及弹性模量和应力松弛等力学性能。结果:聚乙烯醇水凝胶的物理性能和力学性能随冷冻温度的不同而明显变化;-20℃反复冷冻融化制备的聚乙烯醇水凝胶具有较好的物理性能和力学性能,其密度为1.06543g/cm3,含水率为82.61%,再溶胀率达238.8%,结晶度为74.03%,弹性模量为0.0974MPa。结论:-20℃是反复冷冻-融化法制备聚乙烯醇水凝胶的常选冷冻温度。