A simple and versatile harvesting device for processing radioactive label incorporated into and-or released from cells in microculture

The difficulty with microculture systems is not in growing small numbers of cells in the wells of microtiter plates, but in harvesting, washing and processing these cells or their supernatants for radioactive counting. The logistical advantage of microculture techniques has prompted development of a simplified and versatile microculture harvesting device which can process cell precipitates as well as cell supernatants, can be made by any machine shop, and has proven extremely useful in a laboratory of immunology.     

Molecular interactions of fission yeast Skp1 and its role in the DNA damage checkpoint

Skp1 is a central component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF (Skp1-Cullin-1-F-box). It forms an adapter bridge between Cullin-1 and the substrate-determining component, the F-box protein. In order to establish the role of Skp1, a temperature sensitive (ts) screen was carried out using mutagenic PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and 9 independent ts mutants were isolated. Mapping the mutated residues on the 3-D structure of human Skp1 suggested that the mutants would be compromised in binding to F-box proteins but not Cullin-1 (Pcu1). In order to assess the binding properties of ts Skp1, 12 F-box proteins and Pcu1 were epitope-tagged, and co-immunoprecipitation performed. This systematic analysis showed that ts Skp1 retains binding to Pcu1. However, binding to three specific F-box proteins, essential Pof1, Pof3 involved in maintaining genome integrity, and nonessential Pof10, was reduced. skp1ts cells exhibit a G2 cell cycle delay, which is attributable to activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. Intriguingly, contrary to pof3 mutants, in which this checkpoint is required for survival, checkpoint abrogation in skp1(ts) suppresses a G2 delay and furthermore almost rescues the ts phenotype. The activation mechanism of the DNA damage checkpoint therefore differs between pof3Delta and skp1(ts), implicating a novel role for Skp1 in the checkpoint-signalling cascade.     

Biochemical and clinical characterization of prealbuminCHICAGO: an apparently benign variant of serum prealbumin (transthyretin) discovered with high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis

We report identification, biochemical, clinical, and genetic studies of an apparently benign, electrophoretic variant of serum prealbumin (PALB, transthyretin, TTR) in a North American kindred of Swedish ancestry. The variant polypeptide stems from a C to T point mutation in exon 4 which results in methionine instead of threonine at position 119 of the mature molecule. It was discovered incidentally in a girl with classic alpha-1-anti-trypsin (A1AT) deficiency and her father during diagnostic A1AT phenotyping by ISO-DALT high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). Twelve relatives in the four-generation paternal kindred, including five individuals who were heterozygous for the variant prealbumin, were studied. In each of these five heterozygotes, the variant allele product was equimolar and isoelectric with the normal protein, yet migrated with an apparently lower mass in the SDS-PAGE dimension. The inheritance pattern was consistent with autosomal dominant transmission. Histories and physical examinations showed no evidence of amyloidosis, as has been observed with other variants of prealbumin. Mean values of serum prealbumin and retinol binding protein levels were higher in the carriers as compared to the normal relatives in the family, but the difference was not statistically significant. Thyroid hormone levels and distribution of thyroxine and triiodothyronine among binding proteins in serum were within reference limits. Four members of the lineage had dominant, scalp-restricted keratinaceous cysts, yet only three of these four individuals had the variant. We counseled the family that this is likely a benign variant with regard to amyloidosis-related morbidity or shortened life span, although senile effects cannot be entirely ruled out. The provisional designation assigned to this allele is PALBCHICAGO. The substitution of methionine at position 119, as predicted by the DNA sequence, was confirmed by amino acid sequencing of CNBr and tryptic peptides. This substitution occurs at a CpG dinucleotide that may be a point mutational "hot spot," as has been postulated for the methionine-30 and isoleucine-122 PALB variants. The apparently lower mass of the variant probably results from a more compact conformation in SDS. With the exception of histidine-58, a charge substitution, all other amyloidosis-related prealbumin variant polypeptides had normal mobility in the ISO-DALT 2DE system.     

Stress, coping, and hepatitis B antibody status

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the association between exposure to stressful life events, coping style, and antibody status after hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: Two hundred sixty medical school undergraduates, who had received the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine before recruitment to this study, completed questionnaires measuring exposure to stressful life events during the past year, customary coping strategies, and health behaviors. Antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen were determined; levels <100 mIU/ml were deemed inadequate. RESULTS: Two participant cohorts were identified: those vaccinated within the last year and those vaccinated earlier. In the early vaccination cohort, participants with greater-than-average stress exposures had a more than two-fold increased risk of having an inadequate antibody titer. Coping by accepting the reality of stressful situations proved protective, whereas coping by substance use increased the risk of having an inadequate antibody count in this cohort. These associations remained significant after adjustment for possible mediators. Furthermore, the effects of stress and coping were largely independent of one another. Neither stress nor coping was significantly associated with antibody status in the recently vaccinated cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms that the immune system is sensitive to variations in psychological factors. Stressful life events and coping strategy seem to have a continuing impact on hepatitis B antibody status.     

Detection of enzootic babesiosis in baboons (Papio cynocephalus) and phylogenetic evidence supporting synonymy of the genera Entopolypoides and Babesia

Blood smear evaluation of two baboons (Papio cynocephalus) experiencing acute hemolytic crises following experimental stem cell transplantation revealed numerous intraerythrocytic organisms typical of the genus Babesia. Both animals had received whole-blood transfusions from two baboon donors, one of which was subsequently found to display rare trophozoites of Entopolypoides macaci. An investigation was then undertaken to determine the prevalence of hematozoa in baboons held in our primate colony and to determine the relationship, if any, between the involved species. Analysis of thick and thin blood films from 65 healthy baboons (23 originating from our breeding facility, 26 originating from an out-of-state breeding facility, and 16 imported from Africa) for hematozoa revealed rare E. macaci parasites in 31%, with respective prevalences of 39, 35, and 12%. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear small-subunit rRNA gene sequences amplified from peripheral blood of a baboon chronically infected with E. macaci demonstrated this parasite to be most closely related to Babesia microti (97.9% sequence similarity); sera from infected animals did not react in indirect fluorescent-antibody tests with Babesia microti antigen, however, suggesting that they represent different species. These results support an emerging view that the genus Entopolypoides Mayer 1933 is synonymous with that of the genus Babesia Starcovici 1893 and that the morphological variation noted among intracellular forms is a function of alteration in host immune status. The presence of an underrecognized, but highly enzootic, Babesia sp. in baboons may result in substantial, unanticipated impact on research programs. The similarity of this parasite to the known human pathogen B. microti may also pose risks to humans undergoing xenotransplantation, mandating effective screening of donor animals.     

Non-linear relationship between an index of social deprivation, psychiatric admission prevalence and the incidence of psychosis

BACKGROUND: Indicators of population socio-economic disadvantage expressed as weighted deprivation indices show strong relationships with mental health and underpin national funding of psychiatric services. A new index of social deprivation, the Mental Illness Needs Index, has been devised specifically to predict need for psychiatric services. Its validity has not been established outside the area in which it was developed. METHODS: We explored the relationship between the Mental Illness Needs Index and two alternative indicators of need for mental health services: the prevalence of psychiatric admission for electoral wards in Nottingham (calculated from Hospital Episode Statistics for the years 1992 and 1993) and ward-based incidence rates for psychosis (ICD-10 F1X-F33). Relationships were explored graphically using local regression models, and estimated using Generalized Linear and Additive Models, and Poisson regression. RESULTS: Social deprivation was strongly related to admission prevalence and psychosis incidence (Spearman's rho 0.63 and 0.44 respectively). Neither admission prevalence, nor the incidence of psychosis were linearly related to social deprivation. Areas with above average social deprivation had both more new cases of psychoses and a higher proportion of the population admitted than expected from a linear function. CONCLUSIONS: Application of a linear function to funding gradients may underfund high and low need areas and overfund median need areas. Improving the precision of estimates of the relationship between social deprivation and need for services is crucial to more equitable resource allocation.     

The effect of a series of fixatives on the AgNOR technique

With increasing interest being shown in nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in pathology, it was considered of great importance to evaluate the effect of some of the more commonly used and more specialized fixatives on the demonstration of these moieties. NORs can be demonstrated in paraffin sections by a silver technique (AgNOR method) which was developed from a method used by cytogeneticists for the demonstration of NORs in chromosome spreads. The degree of staining is dependent on the fixation regime employed and results may vary greatly from one fixative to another. The fixative schedules and post-treatments used in this study were based on standard sequences from the literature. We have shown that, in general, alcohol-based fixatives give optimal results, Carnoy's fluid being especially recommended. Mercurial and dichromate-containing fixatives were found to have highly detrimental effects on NOR staining. 'Routine' 10 per cent formol saline fixation gave adequate results whereas 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin gave optimal staining, similar to alcohol-based fixation.     

A method for typing strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms

A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing method for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was developed. The method depended upon the use of cloned EcoR1 fragments from L. pneumophila (Knoxville-1) probing Nci1 restriction fragments of chromosomal DNA. Examination of strains of L. pneumophila which were apparently unrelated showed that inter-strain RFLPs were common, and these formed the basis of the typing scheme. The technique was found to be highly reproducible and discriminatory. When the RFLP data were compared to that obtained by monoclonal antibody (MAb) subgrouping both methods of strain differentiation gave consistent results. The isolates examined by either method were also sub-divided by the alternative technique. The analysis of RFLPs by cloned probes should be of considerable epidemiological value.     

Familial insertional translocation of a portion of 3q into 11q resulting in duplication and deletion of region 3q22.1→q24 in different offspring

The use of elongated prophase and prometaphase chromosome preparations has allowed detection of an insertion of a small segment of 3q into 11q in a kindred with 4 balanced carriers and 8 unbalanced offspring. Those with partial 3q deletion have a true multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome with an appearance suggestive of the Schwartz-Jampel syndrome.