We previously cloned cDNA for a T cell-replacing factor (TRF) that has been defined as a T cell-derived lymphokine that acts on activated B cells as a B cell growth and differentiation factor. Based on the diverse activities of rTRF on different target cells, we proposed that TRF be called IL-5. In this study, the molecular characteristics of TRF/IL-5 prepared by rDNA technology and TRF/IL-5 mRNA expression in various T cell lines and normal T cells have been studied. Specific immunoassay showed that rTRF/IL-5, which is transiently translated in vitro by rabbit reticulocyte lysate, has an apparent m.w. of 14,000. By contrast, active forms of rTRF/IL-5 translated in Xenopus oocytes has an apparent m.w. of 45,000 to 50,000 in the nonreducing condition and migrates to the m.w. of 25,000 to 30,000 under the reducing condition, indicating that active form of rTRF/IL-5 consists of dimer forms. The rTRF/IL-5 does not show detectable levels of IL-2, IL-3, and B-cell stimulatory factor 1 (IL-4) activities. Northern blot hybridization of poly (A)+ RNA from constitutively TRF-producing B151K12 T cell hybridoma revealed a single 1.7-kb band hybridizing to the cloned murine TRF/IL-5 cDNA. The expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA in B151K12 was augmented by the stimulation with PMA plus calcium ionophore. In contrast, neither thymoma BW5147 nor IL-2-producing T cell hybridoma A55, both of which produced an undetectable level of TRF, expressed detectable levels of TRF/IL-5 mRNA. Stimulation of EL 4 and D9 cells with PMA and Con A, respectively, induced an increase in the levels of TRF/IL-5 mRNA expression accompanied by TRF/IL-5 production, whereas both cell lines did not show significant gene expression in the absence of the stimulation. In spleen cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-primed mice, significant expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA was detected only when the cells were stimulated with relevant Ag, PPD. Normal spleen cells stimulated with Con A showed a significant, but approximately four-fold less expression of TRF/IL-5 mRNA. Molecular and functional properties of TRF/IL-5 will be discussed.

The quorum sensing signals-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) were directly detected in 1-9-day-old subtidal biofilms developed in a coastal fish farm by using AHL reporter strains and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both methods showed that the AHL molecules and/or AHL-producing bacterial community were dynamic during biofilm development, with dominant AHLs changed from short-chain to long-chain AHLs. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes derived from subtidal biofilms of different ages was compared to that of the 21 AHL-producing bacteria isolated from the same batch of subtidal biofilms. All terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) generated from AHL-producing bacteria matched with the dominant TRFs derived from the biofilm bacterial community samples. Particularly, the TRFs of all AHL-producing Vibrio spp. matched with the TRFs that were dominant only in 1-day-old biofilm, suggesting that AHL-producing vibrios were one of the pioneer groups during subtidal biofilm formation. We reported here for the first time the dynamics of AHLs and AHL-producing bacteria during the formation of a subtidal biofilm.

Both lovastatin (a fungal product) and a tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF(25), a mixture of tocols isolated from stabilized and heated rice bran containing desmethyl [d-P(21)-T3] and didesmethyl [d-P(25)-T3] tocotrienols) are potent hypocholesterolemic agents, although they suppress cholesterol biosynthesis by different mechanisms. To determine additive and/or synergistic effects of both agents, chickens were fed diets supplemented with 50 ppm TRF(25) or d-P(25)-T3 in combination with 50 ppm lovastatin for 4 weeks. Combinations of d-P(25)-T3 with lovastatin were found most effective in reducing serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared to the control diet or individual supplements. The mixture of TRF(25)+lovastatin inhibited the activity of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzymeA reductase (21%) compared to lovastatin alone, which did not change its activity. Cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity was increased by lovastatin (11%) and by lovastatin plus TRF(25) (19%). TRF(25)+lovastatin decreased levels of serum total cholesterol (22%), LDL cholesterol (42%), apolipoprotein B (13-38%), triglycerides (19%), thromboxane B(2) (34%) and platelet factor 4 (26%), although high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A1 levels were unaffected. The mixture of TRF(25)+lovastatin showed greater effects than did the individual treatments alone, reflecting possible additive pharmacological actions. The effects, however, of the d-P(25)-T3/lovastatin combination were no greater than that of d-P(25)-T3 alone, possibly indicating that d-P(25)-T3 produced a maximum cholesterol lowering effect at the concentration used.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication confronted by patients with diabetes. Available data indicate that the development of DN is linked to hyperglycemia. Tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil (PO) and rice bran oil (RBO) has been shown to lower the blood glucose level in patients and preclinical animal models. This study was designed to investigate if TRF from PO and RBO could improve the renal function in DN by the virtue of their hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities. Male Wistar rats having an average body weight (bw) 250g were divided into four groups of six each .The first group served as diabetic control [injected with 55mg/kg bw of streptozotocin (STZ), intraperitoneally], while the second and third group received PO-TRF and RBO-TRF, respectively, by gavage at a dose of 200mg/kg bw/day, over a period of 8 weeks post-induction of diabetes. The fourth group comprised of age-matched male Wistar rats that received single intraperitoneal injection of normal saline only and served as control. After 8 weeks of STZ injection and TRF treatment, 24h urine was collected and animals were sacrificed. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, biochemical markers of renal function and oxidative stress were evaluated in serum, urine and kidney tissue. The results show that treatment with PO-TRF as well as RBO-TRF significantly improved the glycemic status and renal function in type 1 diabetic rats but PO-TRF afforded greater efficiency at similar dose as compared to RBO-TRF. In conclusion, PO-TRF was found to be more effective hypoglycemic and nephroprotective agent in DN than RBO-TRF.

A substantial genetic contribution underlies variation in baseline peripheral blood counts. We performed quantitative trait locus/loci analyses to identify chromosome regions harboring genes influencing red cell hemoglobin concentration using the cell hemoglobin concentration mean (CHCM), a directly measured parameter analogous to the mean cell hemoglobin concentration. Fourteen significant loci (gene symbols Chcmq1-Chcmq14) were detected. Seven of these influenced CHCM in a sex-specific fashion, and 2 showed significant interactive effects (epistasis). For quantitative trait locus/loci detected in multiple crosses, confidence intervals were narrowed using statistical and bioinformatic approaches. Two strong candidate genes emerged and were further analyzed: adult β-globin (Hbb) for Chcmq3 on Chr 7, and transferrin (Trf) for Chcmq2 on Chr 9. High and low allele parental strains in crosses detecting Chcmq3 segregate 100% with the known ancestral haplotype blocks, hemoglobin (Hb) diffuse (Hbb(d)) and Hb single (Hbb(s)), respectively. Hbb(d) consists of nonidentical major and minor polypeptides and exhibits an increased positive charge relative to Hbb(s) due to the net loss of 2 negative residues in the Hbb(dminor) polypeptide, resulting in a pI of 7.85 versus 7.13. Thus, as shown in human erythrocytes, positively charged Hbs are associated with cell dehydration and increased CHCM in mouse erythrocytes.

Previous studies have shown that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) heteroduplex analysis (HDA) of the cytochrome B (cytb) gene is useful in identifying mosquito bloodmeals derived from avian hosts. However, interpretation of PCR-HDA gels is performed visually, which can make it difficult to analyze large numbers of specimens and to compare results between laboratories. We investigated the utility of a terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) assay to analyze cytb PCR products. PCR was performed on 123 blood or tissue samples from 55 avian, 13 mammalian, and one amphibian species by using end-labeled primers to amplify a 358-bp segment of cytb. Each PCR product was sequenced to determine predicted terminal restriction fragment (TRF) profiles. Additionally, experimental TRFs were determined by sizing fragments from restriction endonuclease digests with capillary electrophoresis. A Web-based searchable database was created to compare unknown mosquito bloodmeal TRF profiles against sequence-predicted and experimentally derived terminal fragment lengths of known vertebrates. The predictive value of experimental profiles was found to be accurate to the species level for 67 of 69 species (97%). Fifty-nine field-collected mosquitoes were tested to determine the bloodmeal source using the T-RFLP method. The bloodmeal source from 50 of these mosquitoes was identified by comparing the TRF profile of the unknown source against the cytochrome B database. The bloodmeal source from the remaining nine mosquitoes was not identified as no known profile matched the experimentally derived profile. T-RFLP analysis is a highly reproducible technique and the searchable TRF database is continually being expanded to include additional species from diverse geographic areas.

Serpentine soils are characterized by high levels of heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cr), and low levels of important plant nutrients (P, Ca, N). Because of these inhospitable edaphic conditions, serpentine soils are typically home to a very specialized flora including endemic species as the nickel hyperaccumulator Alyssum bertolonii. Although much is known about the serpentine flora, few researches have investigated the bacterial communities of serpentine areas. In the present study bacterial communities were sampled at various distances from A. bertolonii roots in three different serpentine areas and their genetic diversity was assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. The obtained results indicated the occurrence of a high genetic diversity and heterogeneity of the bacterial communities present in the different serpentine areas. Moreover, TRFs (terminal restriction fragments) common to all the investigated A. bertolonii rhizosphere samples were found. A new cloning strategy was applied to 27 TRFs that were sequenced and taxonomically interpreted as mainly belonging to Gram-positive and alpha-Proteobacteria representatives. In particular, cloned TRFs which discriminated between rhizosphere and soil samples were mainly interpreted as belonging to Proteobacteria representatives.

Palm oil is enriched in vitamin E in the form of alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols. Dietary tocotrienol supplements have been shown to prevent atherosclerosis development in patients and preclinical animal models. However, the mechanistic basis for this health beneficial effect is not well established. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha, gamma, and delta (PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and PPARdelta) are ligand regulated transcription factors that play essential preventive roles in the development of atherosclerosis through regulating energy metabolism and inflammation. In this study, we presented data that the tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil activated PPARalpha, PPARgamma, and PPARdelta in reporter based assays. Importantly, TRF attenuated the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice through inducing PPAR target gene liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) and its down-stream target genes apolipoproteins and cholesterol transporters, suggesting that modulating the activities of PPARs is a key aspect of the in vivo action of tocotrienols.

We have introduced a time-resolved fluorometry (TRF)-based microwell hybridization assay for PCR products in detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. TRF is a sensitive nonradioactive detection technique which involves the use of lanthanide chelates as fluorescent labels. We used PCR primers from the glycoprotein D genes of HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2. The biotinylated PCR products were collected on streptavidin-coated microtitration wells and hybridized with short oligonucleotide probes, europium labeled for HSV-1 and samarium labeled for HSV-2. The TRF results were obtained as counts per second and as signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1 infectious units (PFU) of HSV in CSF specimens, and the S/N values increased with the virus amount, up to 68.5 for 10(3) PFU of HSV-1 and to 58.5 for 10(3) PFU of HSV-2, allowing semiquantitation of HSV in CSF. The primers and probes recognized all the studied 48 HSV wild-type samples, with S/N ratios of 12.4 to 190 (HSV-1) and 5.1 to 248 (HSV-2). We tested CSF specimens, 100 for each HSV type, which were HSV PCR negative by Southern blot and 22 CSF specimens which were HSV-1 or -2 PCR blot positive. In the TRF test, the mean S/N ratio for the HSV-1-negative CSF was 1.37 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.513) and for the HSV-2-negative CSF it was 1.03 (SD = 0.098). The HSV-1 blot-positive CSF yielded S/N ratios of 3.6 to 85.9, and the HSV-2 blot-positive CSF yielded ratios from 1.9 to 13. Using the mean S/N ratio for negative CSF specimens + 3 SD as the cutoff yielded all the previously HSV-positive specimens as TRF positive. The TRF PCR assay for HSV in CSF specimens is a rapid and sensitive method, improves interpretation of PCR results, and is well suited for automation.

Mammalian tissue- and/or time-specific transcription is primarily regulated in a combinatorial fashion through interactions between a specific set of transcriptional regulatory factors (TRFs) and their cognate cis-regulatory elements located in the regulatory regions. In exploring the DNA regions and TRFs involved in combinatorial transcriptional regulation, we noted that individual knockdown of a set of human liver-enriched TRFs such as HNF1A, HNF3A, HNF3B, HNF3G and HNF4A resulted in perturbation of the expression of several single TRF genes, such as HNF1A, HNF3G and CEBPA genes. We thus searched the potential binding sites for these five TRFs in the highly conserved genomic regions around these three TRF genes and found several putative combinatorial regulatory regions. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that almost all of the putative regulatory DNA regions were bound by the TRFs as well as two coactivators (CBP and p300). The strong transcription-enhancing activity of the putative combinatorial regulatory region located downstream of the CEBPA gene was confirmed. EMSA demonstrated specific bindings of these HNFs to the target DNA region. Finally, co-transfection reporter assays with various combinations of expression vectors for these HNF genes demonstrated the transcriptional activation of the CEBPA gene in a combinatorial manner by these TRFs.

Although vertebrate telomeres are highly conserved, telomere dynamics and telomerase profiles vary among species. The objective of the present study was to examine telomerase activity and telomere length profiles of transformed and non-transformed avian cells in vitro. Non-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) showed little or no telomerase activity from the earliest passages through senescence. Unexpectedly, a single culture of particularly long-lived senescent CEFs showed telomerase activity after over 250 days in culture. Transformed avian lines (six chicken, two quail and one turkey) and tumor samples (two chicken) exhibited telomerase activity. Telomere length profiles of non-transformed CEF cultures derived from individual embryos of an inbred line (UCD 003) exhibited cycles of shortening and lengthening with a substantial net loss of telomeric DNA by senescence. The telomere length profiles of several transformed cell lines resembled telomere length profiles of senescent CEFs in that they exhibited little of the typical smear of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) suggesting that these transformed cells may possess a reduced amount of telomeric DNA. These results show that avian telomerase activity profiles are consistent with the telomerase activity profiles of human primary and transformed cells. Further, monitoring of telomere lengths of primary cells provides evidence for a dynamic series of changes over the lifespan of any specific cell culture ultimately resulting in net telomeric DNA loss by senescence.

Purified mouse T lymphocytes were separated into Lyt-2+ and Lyt-2- populations by the procedure of panning, in which a monoclonal rat anti-Lyt-2 antibody and dishes coated with affinity-purified mouse anti-rat Ig antibodies were used. The populations obtained were 95 to 99% pure as determined by immunofluorescence. Graded doses of these T cells were cultured with optimal mitogenic doses of concanavalin A and the 0 to 24 and 24 to 48-hr culture supernatants were collected. The dose-curve assays of the supernatants of Lyt-2+ and Lyt-2- cells showed comparable activity in interleukin 2 (IL 2) and T cell-replacing factor (TRF), assayed on antigen-stimulated culture of T-depleted spleen cells. Limiting dilution assays of IL 2-secreting precursor cells stimulated by Con A showed a high frequency of precursors in both populations, slightly higher among Lyt-2- cells. The supernatants also contained comparable levels of IPA (inducer of plasminogen activator production by the macrophages), MAF (macrophage-activating factor, assayed by induction of their cytolytic function), and MCGF (mast cells growth factor, assayed on a mast cell line). IPA and MAF were not produced with the same kinetics and in the same T cell concentration conditions as IL 2 and TRF. In contrast, interferon was principally produced by the Lyt-2+ cells.

Spleen cells of dinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNPKLH) primed and boosted mice produced a nonantigen-specific helper factor upon in vitro challenge with DNPKLH. This helper factor displays all of the biological characteristics so far described for TRF produced by allogeneic or Concanavalin A stimulation of mouse spleen cells. It restores the primary anti-SRBC response in nude spleen cultures following the same kinetics of action as T-cell-replacing factor (TRF). Conversely, TRF restores the primary in vitro immune response of nude spleen cultures to DNPKLH. TRF also restores the secondary anti-hapten IgG response of T-cell-deprived spleen cell cultures derived from DNPKLH primed and boosted mice. Here the need for carrier specificity is fully overcome. The data therefore suggest that TRF, as a nonantigen-specific maturation signal, is involved in the primary and secondary immune responses to both particulate and soluble antigens.

A human helper T cell clone (d4), which showed its helper effect on the differentiation of both T and B cells, was established by MLC reaction of normal T cells against a B lymphoblastoid cell line (CESS) followed by cloning in the presence of IL2 and x-irradiated CESS and autologous non-T cells. d4 cells helped the induction of cytotoxic T cells against UV-treated CESS cells. Antigen-stimulated d4 cells secreted helper factor(s) involved in the induction of cytotoxic T cells (killer helper factor(s), KHF), and KHF activity could be separated into two fractions, one with the m.w. of 15,000 to 20,000 and the other with the m.w. of 45,000 to 50,000. The factor with 15,000 to 20,000 m.w. showed IL 2 activity; the other factor showed gamma-interferon activity without IL 2 activity, suggesting that both IL 2 and gamma-interferon exerted KHF activity. d4 cells or their culture supernatant showed helper activity in the induction of IgG in a B cell line (CESS). The helper activity of the supernatant (TRF) was absorbed with CESS cells but not with IL 2-dependent CTLL, whereas KHF activity was absorbed with IL 2-dependent CTLL but not with CESS cells. The results showed that TRF and KHF were distinct molecules and a single helper T cell clone could secrete helper factors for both B and T cells.

It has been proposed that telomeres shorten with every cell cycle because the normal mechanism of DNA replication cannot replicate the end sequences of the lagging DNA strand. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA repeats at the DNA 3' ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, can compensate for such shortening, by extending the template of the lagging strand. Telomerase activity has been identified in human germline cells and in neoplastic immortal somatic cells, but not in most normal somatic cells, which senesce after a certain number of cell divisions. We and others have found that telomerase activity is present in normal human lymphocytes and is upregulated when the cells are activated. But, unlike the immortal cell lines, presence of telomerase activity is not sufficient to make T cells immortal and telomeres from these cells shorten continuously during in vitro culture. After senescence, telomerase activity, as detected by the TRAP technique, was downregulated. A cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) cell line that was established in the laboratory has very short terminal restriction fragments (TRFs). Telomerase activity in this cell line is induced during activation and this activity is tightly correlated with cell proliferation. The level of telomerase activity in activated peripheral blood T cells, the CTL cell line, and two leukemia cell lines does not correlate with the average TRF length, suggesting that other factors besides telomerase activity are involved in the regulation of telomere length.

The central nucleus of the amygdala (Ce) mediates cardiovascular and autonomic changes associated with defense or fear responses. At least 16 different neuropeptides have been identified within nerve terminals within the Ce. The role that these peptides play in the Ce regulation of cardiovascular and autonomic function has been assessed. Neuropeptides were microinjected into the region of the Ce and mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured. Five of the 16 peptides caused changes of MAP and HR. Thyrotropin releasing factor (TRF) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced increases of MAP and HR. Angiotensin-II (A-II) and somatostatin-28 (SS-28) injection produced increases of MAP and decreases of HR. Bombesin (Bom) injections into the Ce induced an increase of MAP but did not alter HR. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), TRF and CGRP were the only peptides found to increase plasma catecholamine concentrations. These results support the conclusion that the Ce contains several peptides that could be involved in the regulation of cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system function. A role of the amygdala in mediating the observed effects of CRF, TRF, CGRP, A-II, SS-28, and Bom is suggested by these studies.

OBJECTIVE

Several biomarkers including B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been suggested to improve prediction of coronary events and all-cause mortality. Moreover, coronary artery calcium (CAC) as marker of subclinical atherosclerosis is a strong predictor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of BNP and CAC for all-cause mortality and coronary events above traditional cardiovascular risk factors (TRF) in the general population.

METHODS

We followed 3782 participants of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study without coronary artery disease at baseline for 7.3 ± 1.3 years. Associations of BNP and CAC with incident coronary events and all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox regression, Harrell's c, and time-dependent integrated discrimination improvement (IDI(t), increase in explained variance).

RESULTS

Subjects with high BNP levels had increased frequency of coronary events and death (coronary events/mortality: 14.1/28.2% for BNP ≥100 pg/ml vs. 2.7/5.5% for BNP < 100 pg/ml, respectively). Subjects with a BNP ≥100 pg/ml had increased incidence of hard endpoints sustaining adjustment for CAC and TRF (for coronary events: hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) 3.41(1.78-6.53); for all-cause mortality: HR 3.35(2.15-5.23)). Adding BNP to TRF and CAC increased measures of predictive ability: coronary events (Harrell's c, for coronary events, 0.775-0.784, p = 0.09; for all-cause mortality 0.733-0.740, p = 0.04; and IDI(t) (95% CI), for coronary events: 2.79% (0.33-5.65%) and for all-cause mortality 1.78% (0.73-3.10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of BNP are associated with excess incident coronary events and all-cause mortality rates, with BNP and CAC significantly and complementary improving prediction of risk in the general population above TRF.

OBJECTIVE

Cross-sectional and prospective studies have linked cardiovascular events and traditional risk factors (TRFs) with higher plasma fibrinogen levels. In a young cohort, we sought to determine longitudinal associations between changes in/development of TRFs and fibrinogen levels over 13 years.

METHODS

We included 2525 adults from the CARDIA study, aged 25-37 with fibrinogen and TRFs measured at year 7 (study baseline; 1992-1993); and year 20 (follow-up). Multiple linear regressions were used to compare mean changes in fibrinogen to TRFs.

RESULTS

Mean fibrinogen increased by 71 mg/dL vs. 70 mg/dL (p = NS) in black vs. white men, and 78 mg/dL vs. 68 mg/dL (p < 0.05) in black vs. white women, respectively over 13 years. After multivariable adjustments, fibrinogen generally rose with increasing BMI (p < 0.001; all sex/race groups), LDL cholesterol, log triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure; and fell with increasing HDL cholesterol and physical activity. 13-year increase in fibrinogen for persons who quit smoking or became non-obese were comparable (p = NS) to that of never-smokers and never-obese persons.

CONCLUSIONS

Among young black and white men and women with few baseline cardiovascular risk factors, fibrinogen tracked longitudinally with changes in TRFs over 13 years through middle age. There was a strong inverse longitudinal relationship between modifiable risk factors (weight loss/smoking cessation) and 13-year change in fibrinogen. Our study helps provide some insight into the role of fibrinogen as a disease marker in the associations between fibrinogen and CVD.

The ethanol extract from the fruit of Terminalia chebula (Combretaceae) exhibited significant inhibitory activity on oxidative stress and the age-dependent shortening of the telomeric DNA length. In the peroxidation model using t-BuOOH, the T. chebula extract showed a notable cytoprotective effect on the HEK-N/F cells with 60.5 +/- 3.8% at a concentration of 50 microg/ml. In addition, the T. chebula extract exhibited a significant cytoprotective effect against UVB-induced oxidative damage. The life-span of the HEK-N/F cells was elongated by 40% as a result of the continuous administration of 3 microg/ml of the T. chebula extract compared to that of the control. These observations were attributed to the inhibitory effect of the T. chebula extract on the age-dependent shortening of the telomere, length as shown by the Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) of DNA extracted from subculture passages.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the current study was to investigate longitudinally children's behavioral and social competence outcomes up to 2 years after pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) and related factors.

METHODS

Ninety-nine mothers and 24 youths completed standardized questionnaires (Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL] and Youth Self-Report [YSR]) pre-SCT, and 12 and 24 months after SCT; 26 teachers completed Teacher Report Form (TRF) at 24 months. Information regarding clinical (eg, diagnosis, cranial radiation, graft vs host disease [GVHD]), child (eg, age, sex, physical health), and familial (eg, maternal age, education, distress) factors was also obtained.

RESULTS

Linear mixed regression models with compound covariance structure followed by adjusted pairwise analyses yielded significant improvements from pre-SCT to 1 and 2 years after SCT in total scores; in externalizing and internalizing scores from pre-SCT to 2 years after SCT; and in total competence from pre-SCT to 1 year after SCT. Child's physical health, maternal age, and depression were found to be significantly associated with the total, internalizing, and externalizing CBCL scores, whereas GVHD, mother's age, and time since diagnosis were associated with CBCL competence scores. Diagnosis, cranial radiation, GVHD, child's physical health, and maternal age and education were associated with YSR total behavioral and competence scores. Finally, total TRF scores were associated with time since diagnosis; TRF educational and adaptability scores were associated with maternal education, age, and distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical, personal, and familial factors must be considered to understand the psychosocial outcomes of these survivors up to 2 years after SCT. This study has important implications for psychosocial interventions for this population.

A procedure for determination of apparent affinity constants K(D)(app) between Concanavalin A (Con A) and naturally d-mannose containing glycoproteins using enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) is reported. Three distinct ELLA protocols are compared to each other with 3 different fitting models used (Liliom, Hill with and without a cooperativity factor). The glycoproteins were physisorbed on a highly charged polystyrene solid surface of immunoassay plates and the amount of lectin bound to the glycoproteins was determined by photometry. The interactions of Con A with five mannose-containing glycoproteins, invertase (INV), glucoamylase (GA), glucose oxidase (GOx), ovalbumin (OVA), and transferrin (TRF) were quantified with apparent affinity constant being in the range 2×10(-7) to 9×10(-6)M. The strength of interaction between Con A and glycoproteins is discussed on the basis of glycan structure/exposure on the protein backbone for each glycoprotein.

The response of plasma ACTH and/or cortisol concentrations to thyrotropin-releasing-factor (TRF), vasopressin, and insulin administration was determined in 5 patients with Nelson's syndrome and 12 patients with untreated Cushing's disease. TRF administration was associated with a mean increment of 267 pg/ml in plasma ACTH concentrations in patients with Nelson's syndrome, and of 42 pg/ml in patients with Cushing's disease. The increment in plasma cortisol concentrations in the latter group was 12 mug%. No ACTH or cortisol response was observed in normal subjects. Patients with Cushing's disease or Nelson's syndrome exhibited significantly greater increments in plasma ACTH concentrations in response to vasopressin administration (P less than .05, P less than .02 respectively) than did normal subjects; the increment in cortisol concentration was also greater, (P less than .05), in patients with Cushing's disease than in normal subjects. No significant difference was present between patients with Cushing's disease and Nelson's syndrome with regard to the magnitude of the ACTH response to vasopressin administration. In contrast, the increment in plasma cortisol and plasma ACTH concentrations following insulin induced hypoglycemia was significantly less in patients with Cushing's disease than seen in normal subjects, (P less than .001, P less than .05 respectively); while this stimulus was associated with a significantly greater increment in plasma ACTH concentrations in patients with Nelson's syndrome as compared to that seen in normal subjects, (P less than .01) and in patients with Cushing's disease (P less than .01). These findings indicate that pituitary function in patients with Nelson's syndrome is not autonomous and suggest the possibility that altered central nervous regulatory mechanism might play a role in the etiology of the pituitary tumors which are frequently associated with this syndrome. The TRF induced rise in plasm cortisol and ACTH concentrations in patients with Cushing's disease and Nelson's syndrome suggests the possibility of altered hypothalamic or pituitary receptors in such patients.

We measured concentrations of transferrin (TRF, in micrograms), and creatinine (Cr, in millimoles) in samples of untimed urine from 53 healthy subjects and 157 non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDD) subjects. The urinary TRF/Cr ratio was significantly higher in the NIDD group (P less than 0.001). If NIDD subjects are grouped according to their Alb/Cr ratio into normal albuminuria (Group A, Alb/Cr less than 2.5 mg/mmol), microalbuminuria (Group B, Alb/Cr 2.5-26.8 mg/mmol), and macroalbuminuria (Group C, Alb/Cr greater than 26.8 mg/mmol), the TRF/Cr ratios in all three groups exceeded those for healthy controls. Moreover, this ratio was higher in Group B than in Group A and higher in Group C than in Group B. The value for TRF/Cr was clearly abnormal (i.e., exceeded the 95th percentile value found in healthy subjects) in 61%, 95%, and 100% of Group A, B, and C subjects, respectively. The TRF/Cr ratio was significantly higher in those NIDD subjects with clinical retinopathy, and it correlated with arterial pressure. Evidently, TRF/Cr may be increased early in NIDD subjects, and it may be a sensitive marker for detecting development of complications of diabetes.