Interferon-inducible protein-10 identified as a mediator of tumor necrosis in vivo

Human Burkitt lymphoma cell lines give rise to progressively growing subcutaneous tumors in athymic mice. These tumors are induced to regress by inoculation of Epstein–Barr virus-immortalized normal human lymphocytes. In the present study, analysis of profiles of murine cytokine/chemokine gene expression in Burkitt tumor tissues excised from the nude mice showed that expression of the murine α-chemokine interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) was higher in the regressing than in the progressive Burkitt tumors. We tested the effects of IP-10 on Burkitt tumor growth in nude mice. Inoculation of established Burkitt tumors either with crude preparations of murine IP-10 or with purified human IP-10 caused visible tumor necrosis in a proportion of the animals, although no complete tumor regressions were observed. Constitutive expression of murine IP-10 in Burkitt cells reduced their ability to grow as subcutaneous tumors, and caused visible tumor necrosis in a proportion of the animals. Histologically, IP-10-treated and IP-10-expressing Burkitt tumors had widespread evidence of tumor tissue necrosis and of capillary damage, including intimal thickening and vascular thrombosis. Thus, IP-10 is an antitumor agent that promotes damage in established tumor vasculature and causes tissue necrosis in human Burkitt lymphomas established subcutaneously in athymic mice.     

Efficient synthesis of human type alpha transforming growth factor: its physical and biological characterization.

Human transforming growth factor type alpha (TGF-alpha) was synthesized by a stepwise solid-phase method with an overall yield of 26%. Synthetic TGF-alpha, consisting of 50 amino acid residues deduced from a cDNA precursor sequence, was purified in a single HPLC step. The homogeneity and primary structure were confirmed by several criteria including Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. Synthetic TGF-alpha was as active as murine epidermal growth factor in binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor and in stimulation of anchorage-dependent and of anchorage-independent growth of normal indicator cells in culture. Synthetic TGF-alpha stimulated plasminogen activator production in A 431 and HeLa cells; the stimulation was similar to that induced by epidermal growth factor. Furthermore, synthetic human TGF-alpha showed similar immunoreactivity when compared with rat TGF-alpha. Thus, the 50-amino acid TGF-alpha is likely to be the bioactive principle produced and secreted by tumor cell lines.     

Population genetic data of 30 insertion–deletion markers in Punjabi population of Pakistan

Insertion–deletion polymorphism (Indels) is valuable diallelic markers for forensic as well as parentage analysis. The Investigator DIPplex Kit (Qiagen) contains thirty autosomal Indels markers along with amelogenin. These thirty markers were tested in the Pakistani Punjabi Population but no significant deviations were observed from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium rule expectations (Bonferroni corrected) except HLD58, HLD56, HLD99, and HLD40. The mean expected and observed heterozygosity was found 0.4701 and 0.4667 respectively; combined matching probability was computed as 7.31867 × 10−13. However, the use of the 30 Indels markers proved to be a good supplementary tool in forensic casework, particularly when evidence sample is highly degraded. The significant genetic differences were also observed between the Punjabi and other populations of the world.     

Hysterectomy in a male? A rare case report

INTRODUCTION

Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a rare form of male pseudo-hermaphroditism characterized by the presence of Mullerian duct structures in an otherwise phenotypically, as well as genotypically, normal man; only a few cases have been reported in the worldwide literature. A great variety of organs have been found in indirect inguinal hernial sacs.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of 70 year old man, father of 4 children with unilateral cryptorchidism on the right side and left-sided obstructed inguinal hernia containing uterus and fallopian tube (that is, hernia uteri inguinalis; type I male form of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome) coincidentally detected during an operation for an obstructed left inguinal hernia.

DISCUSSION

PMDS is usually coincidently detected during surgical operation, as was in our case. However pre-operative ultrasonography, computerized tomography and MRI allow possible pre-operative diagnosis.³

CONCLUSION

In cases of unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism associated with hernia, as in our patient''s case, the possibility of PMDS should be kept in mind.     

The ventricular system of the brain: a comprehensive review of its history, anatomy, histology, embryology, and surgical considerations

Introduction

The cerebral ventricles have been recognized since ancient medical history. Their true function started to be realized more than a thousand years later. Their anatomy and function are extremely important in the neurosurgical panorama.

Methods

The literature was searched for articles and textbooks of different topics related to the history, anatomy, physiology, histology, embryology and surgical considerations of the brain ventricles.

Conclusion

Herein, we summarize the literature about the cerebral ventricular system.