The expression and role of insulin-like growth factor II in malignant hemangiopericytomas

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare soft tissue tumor originating from contractile pericapillary pericytes. To address the issue of molecular genetic events that participate in genesis and progression of hemangiopericytoma we analyzed insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II and IGF I receptor in 29 tumors collected from a human tumor bank network. Seven of these tumors were associated with severe hypoglycemia; six were retroperitoneal and one was located in the leg. Of 22 tumors tested 12 (54.5%) exhibited IGF II mRNA, while almost 90% (17 of 19) of hemangiopericytomas exhibited IGF I receptor mRNA. Sera from some patients whose tumors expressed IGF II mRNA contained elevated levels of IGF II. Removal of the tumor eliminated most of the IGF II immunoreactivity from the sera. The potential role of IGF II as a growth-promoting factor was examined on three malignant primary hemangiopericytoma cell cultures. Extracellular addition of IGF II significantly enhanced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides that specifically inhibit IGF II mRNA, at a concentration of 40 or 80 micrograms/ml, inhibited the growth of hemangiopericytoma cells significantly, by 40%. Simultaneous administration of antisense deoxyoligonucleotides to both IGF II and IGF I receptor inhibited tumor cell proliferation by even 80%. Our data suggest that tumor cells produce IGF II, and that this in turn stimulates their proliferation by autocrine mechanisms.     

Molecular Characterization of High-Level Mupirocin Resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

The genetic analysis of high-level mupirocin resistance (Hi-Mup^r) in a Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolate from a dog is presented. The Hi-Mup^r ileS2 gene flanked by a novel rearrangement of directly repeated insertion sequence IS257 elements was located, together with the aminoglycoside resistance aacA-aphD determinant, on a conjugative plasmid related to the pSK41/pGO1 family plasmids.     

Carotid endarterectomy and endovascular angioplasty with stenting in patients with atherosclerotic stenoses and occlusions of the internal carotid artery

The authors made a comparative assessment of carotid endarterectomy and endovascular angioplasty with stenting in patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries. The authors consider that indications to stenting and carotid endarterectomy are identical in patients with stenose and occlusions of the carotid arteries. Contraindications to angioplasty of carotid arteries are determined. It was shown that angioplasty and stenting in atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries was an effective method with a less number of complications as compared with carotid endarterectomy and are thought to be an adequate alternative to open surgical method of treatment of patients with stenoses and occlusions of the carotid arteries.     

Effects of prometryne on apoptosis and necrosis in thymus, lymph node and spleen in mice

Prometryne is a methylthio-s-triazine herbicide. Significant traces are documented in environment, mainly waters, soil and plants used for nutrition. The aim of this study was to estimate prometryne immunotoxic properties through induction of apoptotic and/or necrotic changes in thymocytes, splenocytes and lymph node cells after repeated subchronical exposure. Three different doses of prometryne (185, 375, 555mgkg(-1)) were applied per os every 48h, over 28 days. Flow cytometry assay (annexinV-FITC and PI) was conducted to record apoptotic and necrotic damage. In the spleen significant changes in the percentage of apoptotic cells were not detected between treated and control groups respectively. In thymus and lymph node, within the lowest dose group (185mgkg(-)1), an increase in percentage of early apoptosis without any significant increase in necrosis was detected. Medium (375mgkg(-1)) as well as high dose triggered increase in late apoptosis in lymph node while in thymus; late apoptosis was increased only in animals exposed to the highest dose (555mgkg(-1)). The highest applied dose, in thymus and lymph node respectively, caused a general decrease in percentage of vital cells in favour of marked increase of percentages of all types of dying cells (apoptotic, late apoptotic/early necrotic and necrotic). Prometryne caused disbalance in major organs of immune system, markedly lymph nodes and thymus, by induction of early apoptotic changes in dose/time specific manner.     

Die X-chromosomal rezessive spinobulbäre Muskelatrophie (Typ Kennedy) Beschreibung einer Familie, Klinik, molekulare Genetik, Differentialdiagnose und Therapie

Zusammenfassung Das Kennedy-Syndrom ist eine X-chromosomal rezessiv vererbte bulbospinale Muskelatrophie, die in einigen F?llen mit endokrinologischen St?rungen, wie einer partiellen Androgenresistenz und einem Diabetes mellitus einhergeht. Die Erkrankung manifestiert sich in der Regel zwischen dem 20. und 40. Lebensjahr. Initiale Symptome sind schlaffe proximale Paresen, Faszikulationen, Muskelkr?mpfe oder Tremor. Die Progredienz der Krankheit ist meist langsam und die Lebenserwartung normal. Deshalb ist es wichtig, das Kennedy-Syndrom von der amyotrophen Lateralsklerose (ALS), spinalen Muskelatrophien (SMA), Muskeldystrophien und anderen Formen von Motorneuronerkrankungen abzugrenzen. Das Kennedy-Syndrom wird durch eine Trinukleotidexpansion im Gen des Androgenrezeptors verursacht. Heute erlaubt die genetische Diagnostik im Individualfall eine zuverl?ssige Diagnose und genetische Beratung. Eine effektive Behandlung existiert bisher noch nicht.      

Transdermal Delivery and Cutaneous Targeting of Antivirals using a Penetration Enhancer and Lysolipid Prodrugs

Purpose

In this work, we investigate prodrug and enhancer approaches for transdermal and topical delivery of antiviral drugs belonging to the 2,6-diaminopurine acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (ANP) group. Our question was whether we can differentiate between transdermal and topical delivery, i.e., to control the delivery of a given drug towards either systemic absorption or retention in the skin.

Methods

The in vitro transdermal delivery and skin concentrations of seven antivirals, including (R)- and (S)-9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]-2,6-diaminopurine (PMPDAP), (S)-9-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]-2,6-diaminopurine ((S)-HPMPDAP), its 8-aza analog, and their cyclic and hexadecyloxypropyl (HDP) prodrugs, was investigated with and without the penetration enhancer dodecyl-6-(dimethylamino)hexanoate (DDAK) using human skin.

Results

The ability of ANPs to cross the human skin barrier was very low (0.5–1.4 nmol/cm²/h), and the majority of the compounds were found in the stratum corneum, the uppermost skin layer. The combination of antivirals and the penetration enhancer DDAK proved to be a viable approach for transdermal delivery, especially in case of (R)-PMPDAP, an anti-HIV effective drug (30.2?±?2.3 nmol/cm²/h). On the other hand, lysophospholipid-like HDP prodrugs, e.g., HDP-(S)-HPMPDAP, reached high concentrations in viable epidermis without significant systemic absorption.

Conclusions

By using penetration enhancers or lysolipid prodrugs, it is possible to effectively target systemic diseases by the transdermal route or to target cutaneous pathologies by topical delivery.