Effect of short range order on electronic and magnetic properties of disordered Co based alloys

We here study electronic structure and magnetic properties of disordered CoPd and CoPt alloys using Augmented Space Recursion technique coupled with the tight-binding linearized muffin tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method. Effect of short range ordering present in disordered phase of alloys on electronic and magnetic properties has been discussed. We present results for magnetic moments, Curie temperatures and electronic band energies with varying degrees of short range order for different concentrations of Co and try to understand and compare the magnetic properties and ordering phenomena in these systems.Comment: 15 pages,17 postscript figures,uses own style file

Mutation analysis of P73 and TP53 in Merkel cell carcinoma

The p73 gene has been mapped to 1p36.33, a region which is frequently deleted in a wide variety of neoplasms including tumours of neuroectodermal origin. The p73 protein shows structural and functional homology to p53. For these reasons, p73 was considered as a positional and functional candidate tumour suppressor gene. Thus far, mutation analysis has provided no evidence for involvement of p73 in oligodendrogliomas, lung carcinoma, oesophageal carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. In neuroblastoma, two mutations have been observed in a series of 140 tumours. In view of the occurrence of 1p deletions in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and the location of p73 we decided to search for mutations in the p73 gene in five MCC cell lines and ten MCC tumours to test potential tumour suppressor function for this gene in MCC. In view of the possible complementary functions of p73 and TP53 we also examined the status of the TP53 gene. Sequence analysis of the entire coding region of the p73 gene revealed previously reported polymorphisms in four MCCs. In one MCC tumour, a mis-sense mutation located in the NH2-terminal transactivation region of the p73 gene was found. These results show that p73, analogous to neuroblastoma, is infrequently mutated in MCC. This is also the first report in which the role of TP53 in MCC has been investigated by sequencing the entire coding region of TP53. TP53 mis-sense mutations and one non-sense mutation were detected in three of 15 examined MCCs, suggesting that TP53 mutations may play a role in the pathogenesis or progression of a subset of MCCs. Moreover, typical UVB induced C to T mutations were found in one MCC cell line thus providing further evidence for sun-exposure in the aetiology of this rare skin cancer. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Expression of the chemokine receptor CCR5 in psoriasis and results of a randomized placebo controlled trial with a CCR5 inhibitor

Several reports have indicated that the chemokine receptor CCR5 and its ligands, especially CCL5 (formerly known as RANTES), may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the expression of CCR5 and its ligands in chronic plaque psoriasis and to evaluate the clinical and immunohistochemical effect of a CCR5 receptor inhibitor. Immunohistochemical analysis showed low but significant increased total numbers of CCR5 positive cells in epidermis and dermis of lesional skin in comparison to non-lesional skin. However, relative expression of CCR5 proportional to the cells observed revealed that the difference between lesional and non-lesional skin was only statistically significant in the epidermis for CD3 positive cells and in the dermis for CD68 positive cells. Quantification of mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction only showed an increased expression of CCL5 (RANTES) in lesional skin. A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial in 32 psoriasis patients revealed no significant clinical effect and no changes at the immunohistochemical level comparing patients treated with placebo or a CCR5 inhibitor SCH351125. We conclude that although CCR5 expression is increased in psoriatic lesions, this receptor does not play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

Cyclosporin in atopic dermatitis: review of the literature and outline of a Belgian consensus

This paper reflects the consensus reached among Belgian professors of dermatology on the place of cyclosporin (CsA) in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Existing therapeutic modalities and ways to evaluate efficacy of treatment are reviewed briefly. Based on data from the literature and personal experience, guidelines for the use of CsA in AD are proposed. CsA can be prescribed in recalcitrant cases of AD on a short-term basis, both in adults and children. Long-term treatment, up to 1 year, should be considered only in exceptional cases that cannot be controlled by short-time therapy. Contraindications, drug interactions and necessary controls during treatment are also discussed