The effects of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin on the in vitro growth of bladder cancer cell lines

The effects of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and its subunits on in vitro bladder cancer cell growth have been assessed using the a tetrazolium salt reduction assay (MTT). Intact hCG, alpha-hCG and beta-core hCG all had no effect on cell growth, while beta-hCG increased MTT reduction in all four bladder cancer lines tested. The magnitude of beta-hCG stimulation was maximal in the T24 line, which does not itself produce beta-hCG and appeared to be correspondingly lower in beta-hCG-secreting lines. The addition of antibodies to beta-hCG inhibited MTT reduction among high secretors but failed to inhibit MTT reduction in non-beta-hCG producers. These results are consistent with the poor prognosis associated with beta-hCG expression by bladder tumours in vivo and suggest an autocrine/paracrine stimulation of tumour growth by endogenously produced beta-hCG

Production of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and PLAP-like material by epithelial germ cell and non-germ cell tumours in vitro

Placental and placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) levels in the culture media of 87 cell lines of neoplastic and 'normal' origin were measured by a conventional immunosorbent enzymatic assay (IAEA) and by a new immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). The IRMA detected immunoreactive PLAP in 37 of 80 (46%) human epithelial and germ cell cultures, while the IAEA detected PLAP in only 25 (33%). Of the 52 non-germ cell tumour cultures, the IRMA detected expression in 24 (46%) and the IAEA in only 16 (31%). In 17 cases (21%) the IRMA recorded levels double that of the IAEA, while in five cultures (6%) the reverse was true. The IRMA was much more robust than the IAEA and had considerably lower inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (3.75-8.5% vs 5.2-46%). Detection of PLAP(-like) expression by IAEA is dependent on neoplastic expression of enzymatically functional molecules and quantification assumes constant enzyme kinetics. PLAP-like material has a higher catalytic rate constant than PLAP and thus will give higher values on a stoichiometric basis in an IAEA. The higher detection rate and levels of PLAP-like material in neoplastic cultures when measured by the IRMA clearly demonstrate ectopic expression of non-enzymatic PLAP and PLAP-like genes. The incidence of PLAP(-like) expression by non-germ cell and possible germ cell tumours has been underestimated and its utility as a tumour marker should be re-examined using assays which measure antigen mass rather than phosphatase activity

Topology Driven Improvement of FDC Build Parameters

The likeliest failure origin for advanced ceramics parts, prepared by fused deposition, is a void from improper fill. Adequate filling of each cross-section is dependent upon the deposition toolpath. Cross-sectional spaces are conventionally filled with pre-defined parameters. We propose that adaptive build parameters will control variations in geometry and property of a part. Voids, overfilling, incomplete bonding and excess traversing can be suppressed by adjusting the fill parameters for cross-sectional areas. Improved build parameters and toolpath allows for faster build time and components ofj full density. Some implementations are discussed and presented.Mechanical Engineerin

Exploring the Relative Importance of Factors That Influence Student-Athletes’ School-Choice Decisions: A Case Study of One Canadian University

Understanding salient factors influencing student-athletes’ decisions to attend particular university institutions is of crucial importance to scholars and athletic administrators. Consequently, our research was concerned with two separate but interrelated substantive and methodological objectives: i) to gain insights into the relative importance of 12 school choice decision-making factors influencing Canadian student-athletes; and ii) to explore the efficacy of a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) method for analyzing data in the context of the current investigation. Specifically, we employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to better understand the relative importance of school choice decision factors. The results of the AHP analysis on Canadian student-athletes’ school choice decisionmaking showed that having the desired academic program was the most important influence. This item was almost twice as important as the reputation of the school, and over twice as important as scholarship value, athletic facilities, chance to win, and reputation of the head coach. Of the 12 factors considered, these six had the greatest influence on student-athletes’ decision-making. Implications of our findings for research and recruitment efforts are discussed

The temporary anatomical structures prominent in the first trimester may be fulfilling exchange functions assigned to the placenta in the second and third trimester

The extra-embryonic coelom (EEC) and secondary yolk sac are prominent structures in the gestational sac during the first trimester of human pregnancy, at a time before the definitive placental circulation becomes established. We propose that the EEC and yolk sac play a critical role in the nutrition of early pregnancy, fulfilling exchange functions which are assumed by the placenta at a later stage

Expression of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin by non-trophoblastic non-endocrine 'normal' and malignant epithelial cells.

Expression of hCG and its free subunits by non-trophoblastic tumours is well recognised. Previously we reported hCG secretion by normal and malignant bladder epithelial cells in vitro. Here we examined culture medium from 83 different cell lines derived mainly from common epithelial tumours. Thirty-two of the cell lines were found to secrete hCG-like material into their culture media. Partial immunochemical characterisation showed that of these only choriocarcinoma and fetal tissue cell lines produced intact hCG and alpha subunit. The remaining 28 hCG-expressing epithelial cell lines, which are of mucosal origin, only secreted free beta subunit. Expression of free beta hCG by non-trophoblastic nonendocrine cells would appear to be especially characteristic of mucosal epithelia from the genitourinary and oral/respiratory tracts. Furthermore, this phenomenon may be characteristic of epithelium with transitional and/or squamous cell-like properties

In vitro secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin by bladder tumour cells.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and alphafetoprotein (AFP) were measured in culture media from a panel of 29 cell lines including 9 bladder carcinomas, 5 'normal' bladder epithelia, 10 germ cell tumours, and 5 miscellaneous tumours and 'normal' cell lines. In 7 of the 9 bladder carcinomas and 4 of the 5 'normal' bladder epithelia, the media contained hCG at levels ranging from between 34 and 3,600 IU l(-1). All other cell lines, including the 10 germ cell tumour lines gave negative results for hCG. These findings indicate that in vitro secretion of hCG is a common feature of normal and neoplastic bladder transitional epithelia, and support the hypothesis that parts of the genito-urinary epithelium have a potential for hCG production

Surface-in pathology in multiple sclerosis: a new view on pathogenesis?

While multiple sclerosis can affect any part of the CNS, it does not do so evenly. In white matter it has long been recognized that lesions tend to occur around the ventricles, and grey matter lesions mainly accrue in the outermost (subpial) cortex. In cortical grey matter, neuronal loss is greater in the outermost layers. This cortical gradient has been replicated in vivo with magnetization transfer ratio and similar gradients in grey and white matter magnetization transfer ratio are seen around the ventricles, with the most severe abnormalities abutting the ventricular surface. The cause of these gradients remains uncertain, though soluble factors released from meningeal inflammation into the CSF has the most supporting evidence. In this Update, we review this ‘surface-in’ spatial distribution of multiple sclerosis abnormalities and consider the implications for understanding pathogenic mechanisms and treatments designed to slow or stop them

The prognostic significance of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and its metabolites in women with cervical carcinoma

AIMS: To examine long term survival of women with primary and recurrent cervical carcinoma in relation to (1) excretion of beta-core (a urinary metabolite of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta hCG)) and (2) beta hCG immunostaining of the tumours, to determine the suitability of these markers for assessing prognosis. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study undertaken in a gynaecological oncology centre: 57 women with primary cervical cancer and 42 with recurrent disease were recruited between January 1990 and September 1992. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with the log rank test was used to assess survival differences with survival rate given per year of follow up. RESULTS: In primary disease, the four year survival for the beta-core negative group was 79%, compared with 14% for the beta-core positive group (p = 0.001). This was still significant for early stage disease or squamous lesions alone. In recurrent disease, beta-core positivity was not prognostically significant. Immunohistochemistry was of no prognostic significance in either group. CONCLUSIONS: beta-core excretion appears to be useful in assessing prognosis of primary cervical cancer but not of recurrent disease. A large prospective study of urinary beta-core in early stage cervical cancer is needed to determine whether it can be used as an index for modifying treatment