Tissue factor mRNA expression in breast carcinoma cells

Tissue factor (TF) activity has been found in tumor cell homogenates and high TF mRNA expression has been observed in metastatic tumor cell lines. TF is responsible for initiating the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. In the present study, TF cDNA was cloned on the basis of high expression of the corresponding mRNA in metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells, as opposed to its low expression in non-metastatic MCF-7 cells. However, further analyses revealed that TF mRNA was not uniquely expressed in malignant breast carcinoma cells. Thus, high levels of TF mRNA were observed in nonmalignant, immortalized A1N4, MCF-10 and HBL100 breast epithelial cell lines, whereas low levels were observed in 4 breast carcinoma derived cell lines. TF mRNA was analysed in node-negative breast carcinomas by RT-PCR. Strong expression was observed in 10/24 tumors. We conclude that TF expression did not correlate with the malignant potential of the breast cell lines examined and that TF mRNA can be detected in node-negative breast cancers.     

Litomosoides carinii: extraction of the microfilarial sheath components and antigenicity of the sheath fractions

Microfilarial sheaths ofLitomosoides carinii were isolated and extracted with 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 5% 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME). Extraction with SDS alone did not alter the ultrastructure of the sheaths and yielded five polypeptides (27–67 kDa) that were not recognized by antibodies of infected hosts but reacted with antibodies to host-serum proteins. 2ME treatment caused partial solubilization of the sheaths (45% as determined by amino acid analysis), which could be further improved by combining 2ME with SDS. The remainder showed filamentous/threadlike structures on electron microscopic examination. As compared with whole sheaths, the insoluble proportion was markedly enriched in alanine and cysteine but contained less galactosamine, serine, and threonine. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 2ME/SDS-extractable components showed 12–16 bands of 14>120 kDa. A predominant component had an apparent molecular mass of 22 kDa. Two bands (42 and 120 kDa) could be stained with Coomassie blue but showed negative staining when gels were stained with silver. Several components (but not the 22-kDa polypeptide) bore phosphocholine epitopes. Apart from the negatively staining bands, most of the 2ME-soluble sheath components were recognized by antibodies ofL. carinii-infectedMastomys coucha. Except for several polypeptides that had been unspecifically recognized by IgM, the antibody response to sheath components started at the end of the prepatent period.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Sonderforschungsbereich 272)     

Creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-BB) in combination to prostatic acid phosphatase measured by RIA in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer

Summary Creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-BB) measured by mass was used to determine its value in the early diagnosis of prostatic cancer. Sera of patients with prostatic carcinoma of various stages (treated and untreated) were compared to normal male sera and sera of patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate (BPH) with respect to CK-BB. The sera were simultaneously tested for PAP content. The sensitivity of the CK-BB-RIA was 1.63+/-0.08 g/l and reproducibility in the higher and lower concentration range 7.6% and 10.5%, respectively. CK-BB alone or in combination with PAP is no marker for early detection of prostatic cancer. In individual cases changes occurred similar to those found with a malignant growth of the prostate.     

Silicone rubber-- an unsuitable and dangerous material for T-drains]

Four cases of bile peritonitis after removal of silastic T-tubes are described. The removal of the tubes took place 8 to 23 days after operation. This complication has been described only since the introduction of silastic tubing. The therapy consists in early relaparotomy and drainage. In dogs, the behavior of intraperitoneal silastic and rubber tubes was compared. Whereas rubber tubing was completely surrounded by a fibrous sheet not later than 2 weeks after implantation, the silastic tubing was floating freely in the abdominal cavity even after 6 weeks. Therefore, the use of silastic tubes is dangerous in short-time bile duct drainage. On the other hand, this material had advantages for long-term drainage and for endoluminal prostheses.     

Toxic cardiogenic shock in a patient receiving weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin

A 54-year-old man was treated with weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil (2600 mg/m2) and leucovorin (100 mg/m2) for metastatic colon cancer. At first, he tolerated the treatment well and no significant toxicity was identified. After a total of eight courses of treatment, a stable disease was observed, but mild shortness of breath was found on occasion. The patient had no previous history of cardiac disease and the heart performance assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction before treatment was normal. Unfortunately, acute pulmonary edema with lethal cardiogenic shock occurred during the ninth course of treatment, in spite of intensive medical treatment. The chest X-ray showed extreme cardiomegaly. Repeated assessment of his heart function by echocardiogram and ventricular ejection fraction revealed a very poor cardiac performance. Toxic cardiogenic shock during weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported in the English literature. We report a case and the relevant literature about the incidence, clinical picture and possible pathophysiology on 5-fluorouracil-related cardioxicity is reviewed.      

Correlation between basic fibroblast growth factor immunostaining of stromal cells and stromelysin-3 mRNA expression in human breast carcinoma.

We examined the localization of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a series of human breast carcinomas using immunohistochemistry. Staining was observed in tumour cells in 15 out of 54 (28%) tumours and in the adjacent stroma in 34 out of 54 (63%) tumours examined. No correlation was observed between positive staining of these two compartments. The relationship between bFGF staining and expression of the metalloprotease stromelysin-3, and between bFGF and microvessel density, was examined. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.003) was observed between bFGF staining of the stromal compartment and high expression of stromelysin-3 (ST-3; MMP-11) metalloprotease mRNA by stromal cells. In contrast, no correlation was observed between bFGF and intratumour microvessel density (IMD). These results raise the possibility that bFGF may be involved in the induction of stromelysin-3 mRNA expression in breast cancer stroma.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on blood lipids and adiposity of rats fed diets rich in saturated versus unsaturated fat

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may decrease adiposity and improve blood lipid profiles under some conditions. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of CLA supplementation on blood lipid profiles and adiposity of rats fed a diet containing a primarily saturated fat versus a diet containing a primarily unsaturated fat. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four diets containing coconut oil, coconut oil with CLA, corn oil or corn oil with CLA. After 28 days, blood was collected and serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triacylglycerols (TG) were assessed. Food intake, body weights, and epididymal fat pads were measured. No significant differences (p>0.05) were noted among groups for amount of food consumed, weight gained, food efficiency ratio or serum TG concentrations. TC concentrations were lower (p<0.05) in the CLA-supplemented rats that were fed coconut oil but not those consuming corn oil. Serum HDL-C was lower (p<0.05) in rats consuming corn oil but was not significantly different (p>0.05) for CLA supplemented groups. Epididymal fat pads weighed significantly more (p<0.05) in the coconut oil fed group compared to the corn oil fed group, but there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the corn oil and coconut oil + CLA group. Overall, this study suggests that CLA is more beneficial for control of blood lipids and adiposity when supplemented to a diet rich in saturated versus unsaturated fat.     

白首乌化学成分的研究

自白首乌主要品种耳叶牛皮消(Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight)根中首次分得三个已知甾体酯型甙元:告达亭(caudatin),开德甙元(kidjolanin),萝藦甙元(Metaplexigenin)和一种新的二苯酮衍生物(Ⅳ),经光谱分析推定其结构为2,6,2′,5′-四羟基,3-乙酰基,6′-甲基二苯酮,命名白首乌二苯酮。