Expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM in endocrine cells

We examined the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM in a number of endocrine tissues of adult rat and in an endocrine tumor cell line. NCAM was found by immunoelectron microscopy to be present on the surface of all endocrine cells in the three lobes of the hypophysis, although staining was relatively less intense in the intermediate lobe, and in pancreatic islets. Pituicytes, hypophyseal glial cells, were also labeled for NCAM. A rat insulinoma cell line (RIN A2) also expressed NCAM as judged by immunocytochemistry. Analysis of NCAM antigenic determinants (Mr 180, 140, and 120 KD) revealed large variations in the relative proportions of NCAM polypeptides present in the different tissues. Although all tissues and cell lines expressed NCAM-140, NCAM-180 was not detected in the adenohypophysis, pancreas, or adrenal medulla, and NCAM-120 was found in none of the endocrine tissues or cell lines except at low levels in the neurohypophysis. The tumor cell line expressed significant levels of NCAM-180, which was most abundant in the neurohypophysis. These results show that NCAM expression appears to be a general property of endocrine cells, although the antigenic composition differs markedly from that in brain tissue. These data are discussed with regard to the embryological origins of the different endocrine tissues, and possible functional implications are suggested

Direkte und indirekte Kosten aktiver Epilepsie in Deutschland und im internationalen Vergleich

Epilepsie ist eine der häufigsten chronisch neurologischen Erkrankungen und stellt eine erhebliche Belastung für die Betroffenen und die Gesellschaft dar. Dennoch gibt es in Deutschland nur eine sehr kleine Anzahl an Kostenstudien, die sich mit den sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen der Epilepsie befassen. Deshalb führten wir am Epilepsie-Zentrum Marburg eine Pilotstudie durch, um die direkten und indirekten Kosten therapierefraktärer Epilepsie zu berechnen. Wir erhoben die Kosten und kostentreibenden Faktoren an einer Querschnittspopulation aus erwachsenen Patienten der Epilepsieambulanz mit aktiver Epilepsie. Anfallsfreie Patienten und Patienten mit ihrem ersten Anfall wurden ausgeschlossen. Über einen Untersuchungszeitraum von drei Monaten wurden die direkten und indirekten Kosten prospektiv durch den Einsatz von Fragebögen und Patiententagebüchern erfasst. Die Studienpopulation umfasste 101 Patienten (40,7 +/- 15,2 Jahre; Krankheitsdauer: 18,1 +/- 15,3 Jahre). Insgesamt 20 Patienten (20%) hatten eine idiopathische generalisierte Epilepsie mit generalisierten tonisch-klonischen Anfällen, von den Patienten mit einer fokalen Epilepsie hatten 6 Patienten (6%) ausschließlich einfach-partielle, 28 komplex-partielle (28%) und 43 (43%) auch sekundär generalisierte tonisch-klonische Anfälle. Die Gesamtkosten der Epilepsie für einen Patienten betrugen für den Zeitraum von drei Monaten durchschnittlich € 2610 +/- 4200. Die direkten Kosten trugen 38% zu den Gesamtkosten bei. Den Hauptbeitrag zu den direkten Kosten verursachten die antikonvulsiven Medikamente (€ 600 +/- 610), während die indirekten Kosten hauptsächlich auf Produktivitätsverluste durch Frühberentung (€ 780 +/- 2680) zurückzuführen waren. Als kostentreibende Faktoren wurden häufige Anfälle, lange Krankheitsdauer, anfallsbedingte Stürze und unangemessene Handlungen während oder nach dem Anfall identifiziert. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass bei erwachsenen Patienten mit aktiver Epilepsie die indirekten Kosten höher waren als die direkten Kosten. Medikamente trugen am meisten zu den direkten Kosten bei, während Frühberentung der Hauptfaktor der indirekten Kosten darstellte. Trotz der Limitationen beim Vergleich der Studien verschiedener Länder, variierender Studienpopulationen und unterschiedlicher Gesundheitssysteme zielte ein Literaturvergleich darauf ab, eine breite Übersicht über die Kostenstudien bei Erwachsenen mit Epilepsie zu erhalten, die seit 1990 publiziert wurden. In der vorliegenden Studie lagen die Kosten therapierefraktärer Epilepsie über dem Durchschnitt der in Europa erhobenen Kosten aller Epilepsieformen. Die Kosten stiegen jedoch nicht deutlich an. Auch in dieser Studie überwogen die indirekten Kosten gegenüber den direkten Kosten, wobei die Medikation den größten Faktor bei den direkten Kosten darstellte. Schlüsselwörter: Krankheitskosten – Epilepsie – Direkte Kosten – Indirekte Koste

Differential expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM 140 in human pituitary tumors

We have analyzed the expression of the intracellular marker protein neuron specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin (SYN) and of the cell surface marker NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule) in both normal human hypophysis and in pituitary adenomas in order to explore their potential use as diagnostic tools. All adenomas (4 prolactinomas, 3 growth hormone (GH) producing adenomas and 4 inactive adenomas) showed SYN and NSE immunoreactivity on tissue sections and this was confirmed by immunoblots. NCAM 140 (an isoform of NCAM with molecular mass 140 kDa) was detected by immunoblotting in normal human adenohypophysis, in all GH adenomas, and in three out of four inactive adenomas, but not in prolactinomas. Using highly sensitive techniques, NCAM immunoreactivity was observed by electron microscopy in all adenomas. These data indicate that NCAM 140 is a constituent of the cell surface of endocrine cells in both normal human adenohypophysis and its tumors. Since prolactinomas express very low levels of NCAM 140 compared to other hypophyseal tumors its virtual absence could be used for differential diagnosis. A combined analysis of NCAM, SYN and NSE could be useful to characterize inactive adenomas which are not immunoreactive for pituitary hormones and which may contain no or only low levels of the alpha chain of the glycoprotein hormones

Manganese containing copper aluminate catalysts:Genesis of structures and active sites for hydrogenation of aldehydes

Copper aluminate spinel (CuO.CuAl2O4) is the favoured Cr-free substitute for the copper chromite catalyst (CuO.CuCr2O4) in the industrial hydrogenation of aldehydes. New insights in the catalytic mechanism were obtained by systematically studying the structure and activity of these catalysts including effects of manganese as a catalyst component. The hydrogenation of butyraldehyde to butanol was studied as a model reaction and the active structure was characterised using X-ray diffraction, temperature programmed reduction, N2O chemisorption, EXAFS and XANES, including in-situ investigations. The active catalyst is a reduced spinel lattice that is stabilised by protons, with copper metal nanoparticles grown upon its surface. Incorporation of Mn into the spinel lattice has a profound effect on the spinel structure. Mn stabilises the spinel towards reduction of CuII to Cu0 by occupation of tetrahedral sites with Mn cations, but also causes decreased catalytic activity. Structural data, combined with the effect on catalysis, indicate a predominantly interface-based reaction mechanism, involving both the spinel and copper nanoparticle surface in protonation and reduction of the aldehyde. The electron reservoir of the metallic copper particles is regenerated by the dissociative adsorption and oxidation of H2 on the metal surface. The generated protons are stored in the spinel phase, acting as proton reservoir. Cu(I) species located within the spinel and identified by XANES are probably not involved in the catalytic cycle

NCAM: a surface marker for human small cell lung cancer cells

Immunocytochemical and immunochemical techniques were used to study the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by human lung cancer cell lines. Intense surface staining for NCAM was found at light and electron microscopic levels on small cell lung cancer cells. The NCAM polypeptide of Mr 140000 (NCAM 140) was detected by immunoblotting in all of 7 small cell lung cancer cell lines examined and in one out of two of the closely related large cell cancer cell lines: it was not detected in cell lines obtained from one patient with a mesothelioma, in two cases of adenocarcinoma, nor in two cases of squamous cell cancer. In contrast, neuron-specific enolase was found by immunoblotting in all the lung cancer cell lines tested and synaptophysin in all but the adenocarcinoma cell lines. These antigens were localized intracellularly. The specific expression of NCAM 140 by human small and large cell lung carcinomas suggests its potential as a diagnostic marker

Delayed neurotrophin treatment following deafness rescues spiral ganglion cells from death and promotes regrowth of auditory nerve peripheral processes: Effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and fibroblast growth factor

The extent to which neurotrophic factors are able to not only rescue the auditory nerve from deafferentation-induced degeneration but also promote process regrowth is of basic and clinical interest, as regrowth may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of cochlear prostheses. The use of neurotrophic factors is also relevant to interventions to promote regrowth and repair at other sites of nerve trauma. Therefore, auditory nerve survival and peripheral process regrowth were assessed in the guinea pig cochlea following chronic infusion of BDNF + FGF 1 into scala tympani, with treatment initiated 4 days, 3 weeks, or 6 weeks after deafferentation from deafening. Survival of auditory nerve somata (spiral ganglion neurons) was assessed from midmodiolar sections. Peripheral process regrowth was assessed using pan-Trk immunostaining to selectively label afferent fibers. Significantly enhanced survival was seen in each of the treatment groups compared to controls receiving artificial perilymph. A large increase in peripheral processes was found with BDNF + FGF 1 treatment after a 3-week delay compared to the artificial perilymph controls and a smaller enhancement after a 6-week delay. Neurotrophic factor treatment therefore has the potential to improve the benefits of cochlear implants by maintaining a larger excitable population of neurons and inducing neural regrowth. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56070/1/21320_ftp.pd

Die Bedeutung der Rhizosphäre von Bromus mollis L. als Ort erhöhter mikrobieller Aktivität im Boden für eine mögliche Mineralisation von Xenobiotika

In the presented study the connection between root growth and degradation of xenobiotics in the rhizosphere of Bromus mollis L. (Poacea) has been investigated with an especially assembled experiment. The regular root system (secondary homorhizie) of the test plant as well as the sufficient production rate of the root-biomass (about 200 mg/ g soil dry weight (dw) within 9 weeks) under given test conditions and given testing time have been important conditions for significant and reproducible test results. At first root surface growth and root development have been investigated in root-development-tests. Parallel to the analyse of root development the microbial abundance (measurement of total bacteria number) as well as the microbial activity (substrate induced respiration and reductase activity) in the soil and rhizosphere respectively have been registered. The parallel measurement of the parameter at different sowing densities was used to eliminate methodical errors as well as to statistically ensure the results. Independent of the sowing density the microbial parameter correlate with a rise of the density of roots up to a root-surface of 4000 to 5000 cm2 per g soil dw. The abundance of microorganisms in the planted soil reached three times the amount (n = 16 x 10E9 x gE-1) of the unplanted control whereas the rates of both physiological parameters reached one and a half times the amount (reductase activity: DMS / dw soil x t = 600 ng / g x h respectively substrate induced respiration: CO2 / dw soil x t = 0.06 mg / g x h). The degradation rate of the rhizosphere of Bromus mollis was tested by using 14C-labeled chemicals in basically same built and controlled ventilated model ecosystems. The comparison of both test series enables a correlation between root development of Bromus mollis and degradation rate of organic substances in the rhizosphere. The same kind of "natural" soil has been used in both test series (root-development-tests and degradation tests). It was taken from a loamy farmland location. By using soil with a natural composition and structure as well as a natural population of microorganisms to begin with enabled a transferability of the results towards outdoor conditions despite of the prevailing standardized laboratory conditions. With p-nitrophenol and pyrene two different persistent 14C-labeled chemicals were used as xenobiotics. P-nitrophenol as a metabolite of parathion for example represents a pesticide-transformation-product. Pyrene has been used exemplary for the widespread substance-group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's). The degradation rate of the rhizosphere of Bromus mollis concerning these two xenobiotics shows significant differences: Compared to the unplanted control, the degradation of p-nitrophenol in the rhizosphere-system was only slightly increased. This can be explained by the fast degradation of p-nitrophenol by non-rhizosphere microorganisms. Within the first week - at a time when Bromus mollis only just germinated - 80% of the applied amount of 14C-p-nitrophenol were already mineralised. When using the more persistent xenobiotic pyrene the rhizosphere-effect could be clearly made out. Here the rate of mineralization in the rhizosphere-system was about 40% of the applied amount of 14C-pyrene and by that 30% higher than in the unplanted control test after seven weeks. The correlation of the mineralization of the degradation tests with the development of the reductase activity and substrate induced respiration respectively in the root-development-tests shows a direct proportionality between degradation capacity and microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Compared to that the abundance of microorganisms as a measured parameter does not show the development of the degradation capacity in a sufficient way. The root-development-tests as well as the degradation tests show that the increasing activity of the microorganisms is casually connected with the increased degradation capacity and that it is indirectly caused by the structural and physiological changes in the root system of Bromus mollis. The root surface as a measured parameter allows only limited conclusions concerning the degradation capacity of the rhizosphere of Bromus mollis. To achieve a better understanding of the interactions in the rhizosphere, a characterization of the physiological condition (of parts) of the roots as well as the measuring of the root surface should be included in future experiments