Perceived environment and physical activity in youth

The examination of physical environments to explain and promote physical activity is an important yet under-investigated area of research inquiry. This study explored relationships between the perceived availability of physical environmental resources and the perceived importance of these resources in relation to physical activity levels amongst youth. A self-report questionnaire was completed by 610 students (mean age = 15.5 years old; 62% female participants) from four high schools (grades 9-12) in rural Alberta, Canada. Perceived physical environment constructs explained 5% of the variance in physical activity, with home, neighborhood, and school as significant domains. Perceived importance constructs explained 8% of the variance in physical activity with school context showing the only significant relationship with physical activity. A hierarchical regression analysis entered sex, grade, self-efficacy, peer, family and physical education teacher relationships, as the first block and eight environmental constructs as the second block. The first block variables accounted for 22% of the variance and environmental constructs accounted for an added 4% of the variance in physical activity. Perceived importance of the school environment was the only environment variable significantly associated with physical activity (β = .14; p < .05) after taking into account the impact of these traditional predictors. These findings reinforce the need to provide and support school physical environments related to physical activity.     

Birnavirus VP1 proteins form a distinct subgroup of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases lacking a GDD motif

We have cloned and characterized the Drosophila X virus (DXV) genome segment B and its encoded VP1, the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) present in the virion. The 2991-bp open reading frame encodes the largest birnavirus VP1 at 977 aa, with a calculated M(r) of 112.8 kDa. As with the VP1 proteins of the type species of the other two genera in the family Birnaviridae, namely, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (genus Aquabirnavirus) and infectious bursal disease virus (genus Avibirnavirus), the DXV (genus Entomobirnavirus) VP1 protein contains a consensus GTP-binding site and appears to possess self-guanylylation activity. All of the birnavirus VP1 proteins contain conserved RdRp motifs that reside in the catalytic "palm" domain of all classes of polymerases. However, the birnavirus RdRps lack the highly conserved Gly-Asp-Asp (GDD) sequence, a component of the proposed catalytic site of this enzyme family that exists in the conserved motif VI of the palm domain of other RdRps. All three birnavirus RdRps do contain downstream DD motifs that could function as part of the catalytic triad. These motifs are, however, located in spatially distinct regions of the various birnavirus VP1 proteins. These results suggest that the VP1 proteins of birnaviruses form a defined subgroup of polymerases that either are lacking the conserved RdRp motif VI or have repositioned this motif to different structural regions.     

MUC4 expression increases progressively in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is believed to develop from histologically identifiable intraductal lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) that undergo a series of architectural, cytologic, and genetic changes, a progression model similar to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in the colon. The apomucin MUC4 has been implicated in invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MUC4 expression is not detectable at the RNA level in normal pancreas but is detectable at high levels in invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We documented the pattern of expression of MUC4 in PanINs by studying a series of 71 PanIN lesions immunohistochemically using a new monoclonal antibody to MUC4. Five (17%) of 30 PanIN-1 lesions, 10 (36%) of 28 PanIN-2 lesions, 11 (85%) of 13 PanIN-3 lesions, and 25 (89%) of 28 invasive adenocarcinomas labeled with the MUC4 antibody used in the study. In addition, afew nonneoplastic lesions labeled with the MUC4 antibody, including reactive ducts in chronic pancreatitis, atrophic ducts filled with inspissated secretions, and ducts showing squamous metaplasia. Our data help establish the patterns of MUC4 expression in neoplastic precursors in the pancreas and add further support to the progression model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

Linkage of the MHC to familial multiple sclerosis suggests genetic heterogeneity. The Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Group

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. While its etiology is not well understood, genetic factors are clearly involved. Until recently, most genetic studies in MS have been association studies using the case-control design testing specific candidate genes and studying only sporadic cases. The only consistently replicated finding has been an association with the HLA-DR2 allele within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. Using the genetic linkage design, however, evidence for and against linkage of the MHC to MS has been found, fostering suggestions that sporadic and familial MS have different etiologies. Most recently, two of four genomic screens demonstrated linkage to the MHC, although specific allelic associations were not tested. Here, a dataset of 98 multiplex families was studied to test for an association to the HLA-DR2 allele in familial MS and to determine if genetic linkage to the MHC was due solely to such an association. Three highly polymorphic markers (HLA-DR, D6S273 and TNFbeta) in the MHC demonstrated strong genetic linkage (parametric lod scores of 4.60, 2.20 and 1.24, respectively) and a specific association with the HLA-DR2 allele was confirmed (TDT; P < 0.001). Stratifying the results by HLA-DR2 status showed that the linkage results were limited to families segregating HLA-DR2 alleles. These results demonstrate that genetic linkage to the MHC can be explained by the HLA-DR2 allelic association. They also indicate that sporadic and familial MS share a common genetic susceptibility. In addition, preliminary calculations suggest that the MHC explains between 17 and 62% of the genetic etiology of MS. This heterogeneity is also supported by the minority of families showing no linkage or association with loci within the MHC.      

Inflammatory Bowel Disorders

Infiltration of leucocytes into the mucosa is a hallmark feature of a number of inflammatory bowel disorders, most notably Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The interactions between circulating leucocytes and the vascular endothelium that permit leucocyte migration to a site of injury or infection are mediated via a variety of adhesion molecules. There is now ample evidence for alterations in adhesion molecule expression and function in inflammatory bowel disorders. This raises the possibility that adhesion molecules could be targets for novel therapies. Indeed, many existing anti-inflammatory drugs are capable of modulating adhesion molecule expression or function. Moreover, intensive research is under way to develop more selective and effective modulators of adhesion molecules, in the hope that they will be useful for treating various inflammatory disorders.     

Confirmation of specificity by neutralisation in immunoradiometric assay for hepatitis B surface antigen

Two types of neutralisation or blocking test using human anti-HB_s are described for the confirmation of positive results obtained by immunoradiometric screening for HB_SAg.     

Dysregulated production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-12 by peripheral blood lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals is associated with altered proliferative responses to recall antigens.

The loss of immune function following infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may result from altered production of immunoregulatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-12. In this study, we analyzed IL-10 and IL-12 production by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV+ individuals and correlated their levels with proliferative responses to the recall antigens HIV p25 and influenza virus. We report two distinct groups of HIV+ patients. One group produced small amounts of IL-10, had PBMC that proliferated in response to recall antigens, and demonstrated enhanced recall antigen-induced proliferation upon addition of anti-IL-10 antibodies and/or IL-12. Conversely, the second group produced high levels of IL-10, had PBMC that failed to proliferate to recall antigens, and did not demonstrate enhanced proliferation upon addition of anti-IL-10 antibodies and/or IL-12. Mitogen-stimulated PBMC from both groups produced significantly lower levels of IL-12 than did those from HIV- controls. Analysis of the source of the IL-10-producing cell subset in PBMC demonstrated that in HIV+ individuals, IL-10 is produced by monocytes, while in HIV- controls, it is produced by both T cells and monocytes. Taken together, our results suggest that monocytes from HIV+ individuals secrete decreased amounts of IL-12, a Th1-type cytokine, which may lead to the development of Th2-type responses characterized by high IL-10 secretion and immune dysfunction.     

Androgen receptor YAC transgenic mice carrying CAG 45 alleles show trinucleotide repeat instability

X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the first exon of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Disease-associated alleles (37-66 CAGs) change in length when transmitted from parents to offspring, with a significantly greater tendency to shift size when inherited paternally. As transgenic mice carrying human AR cDNAs with 45 and 66 CAG repeats do not display repeat instability, we attempted to model trinucleotide repeat instability by generating transgenic mice with yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) carrying AR CAG repeat expansions in their genomic context. Studies of independent lines of AR YAC transgenic mice with CAG 45 alleles reveal intergenerational instability at an overall rate of approximately 10%. We also find that the 45 CAG repeat tracts are significantly more unstable with maternal transmission and as the transmitting mother ages. Of all the CAG/CTG repeat transgenic mice produced to date the AR YAC CAG 45 mice are unstable with the smallest trinucleotide repeat mutations, suggesting that the length threshold for repeat instability in the mouse may be lowered by including the appropriate flanking human DNA sequences. By sequence-tagged site content analysis and long range mapping we determined that one unstable transgenic line has integrated an approximately 70 kb segment of the AR locus due to fragmentation of the AR YAC. Identification of the cis - acting elements that permit CAG tract instability and the trans -acting factors that modulate repeat instability in the AR YAC CAG 45 mice may provide insights into the molecular basis of trinucleotide repeat instability in humans.      

Laforin preferentially binds the neurotoxic starch-like polyglucosans, which form in its absence in progressive myoclonus epilepsy

Lafora disease (LD) is a fatal and the most common form of adolescent-onset progressive epilepsy. Fulminant endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated depositions of starch-like long-stranded, poorly branched glycogen molecules [known as polyglucosans, which accumulate to form Lafora bodies (LBs)] are seen in neuronal perikarya and dendrites, liver, skeletal muscle and heart. The disease is caused by loss of function of the laforin dual-specificity phosphatase or the malin E3 ubiquitin ligase. Towards understanding the pathogenesis of polyglucosans in LD, we generated a transgenic mouse overexpressing inactivated laforin to trap normal laforin's unknown substrate. The trap was successful and LBs formed in liver, muscle, neuronal perikarya and dendrites. Using immunogold electron microscopy, we show that laforin is found in close proximity to the ER surrounding the polyglucosan accumulations. In neurons, it compartmentalizes to perikaryon and dendrites and not to axons. Importantly, it binds polyglucosans, establishing for the first time a direct association between the disease-defining storage product and disease protein. It preferentially binds polyglucosans over glycogen in vivo and starch over glycogen in vitro, suggesting that laforin's role begins after the appearance of polyglucosans and that the laforin pathway is involved in monitoring for and then preventing the formation of polyglucosans. In addition, we show that the laforin interacting protein, EPM2AIP1, also localizes on the polyglucosan masses, and we confirm laforin's intense binding to LBs in human LD biopsy material.     

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma: possible prognostic and management value of assessing DNA content.

The case records and pathology of all children with kidney tumours treated in the West Midlands Health Authority Region (WMHAR) from 1957 to 1986 were reviewed. The histology was reviewed by a panel of three paediatric pathologists. Thirteen (6%) out of 211 cases were considered to have congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN). Nine were of the conventional type, three of the atypical cellular type, and one mixed. DNA ploidy was investigated and showed two of the tumours to be aneuploid and nine diploid (tissue was not available in the two other cases). The two aneuploid tumours were of atypical cellular and mixed histology, respectively; the diploid tumours were of the conventional type in eight cases and atypical cellular in one. The atypical cellular type has been reported to behave more aggressively, but the benefit of additional treatment after surgery to prevent recurrence remains unclear. Measurement of DNA content by flow cytometry, together with histological subclassification, may be useful in selecting patients who will benefit from further treatment after surgery.