Human tumour-associated cell adhesion protein MN/CA IX: identification of M75 epitope and of the region mediating cell adhesion

MN/CA IX is a cell surface protein, strongly associated with several types of human carcinomas. It exerts activity of carbonic anhydrase and capacity of binding to cell surface receptors. In the present work, we used affinity purified MN/CA IX protein to demonstrate that the cells adhere to immobilized MN/CA IX and that the monoclonal antibody M75 abrogates cell attachment to MN/CA IX. Using synthetic oligopeptides, we identified M75 epitope and located it in the proteoglycan domain, which contains a sixfold tandem repeat of six amino acids GEEDLP. From phage display library of random heptapeptides we identified and chemically synthesized those which compete for the epitope with M75 and inhibit adhesion of cells to MN/CA IX. These heptapeptides might serve as lead compounds for drug design. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols between Moscow and Vladivostok

International audienceThe TROICA-9 expedition (Trans-Siberian Observations Into the Chemistry of the Atmosphere) was carried out at the Trans-Siberian railway between Moscow and Vladivostok in October 2005. Measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties were made from an observatory carriage connected to a passenger train. Black carbon (BC) concentrations in fine particles (PM2.5, aerodynamic diameter ?, NO3?, SO42?, Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, oxalate and methane sulphonate) were measured continuously by using an on-line system with a 15-min time resolution. In addition, particle volume size distributions were determined for particles in the diameter range 3?850 nm using a 10-min. time resolution. The continuous measurements were completed with 24-h. PM2.5 filter samples which were stored in a refrigerator and later analyzed in chemical laboratory. The analyses included mass concentrations of PM2.5, ions, monosaccharide anhydrides (levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan) and trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn). The mass concentrations of PM2.5 varied in the range of 4.3?34.8 ?g m?3 with an average of 21.6 ?g m?3. Fine particle mass consisted mainly of BC (average 27.6%), SO42? (13.0%), NH4+ (4.1%), and NO3? (1.4%). One of the major constituents was obviously also organic carbon which was not determined. The contribution of BC was high compared with other studies made in Europe and Asia. High concentrations of ions, BC and particle volume were observed between Moscow and roughly 4000 km east of it, as well as close to Vladivostok, primarily due to local anthropogenic sources. In the natural background area between 4000 and 7200 km distance from Moscow, observed concentrations were low, even though there were local particle sources, such as forest fires, that increased occasionally concentrations. The measurements indicated that during forest fire episodes, most of the aerosol mass consisted of organic particulate matter. Concentrations of biomass burning tracers levoglucosan, oxalate and potassium were elevated close to the forest fire areas observed by the MODIS satellite. The polluted air masses from Asia seem to have significant influences on the concentration levels of fine particles over south-eastern Russia

Effects of elevated CO2 and N deposition on CH4 emissions from European mires

[1] Methane fluxes were measured at five sites representing oligotrophic peatlands along a European transect. Five study plots were subjected to elevated CO2 concentration (560 ppm), and five plots to NH4NO3 (3 or 5 g N yr(-1)). The CH4 emissions from the control plots correlated in most cases with the soil temperatures. The depth of the water table, the pH, and the DOC, N and SO4 concentrations were only weakly correlated with the CH4 emissions. The elevated CO2 treatment gave nonsignificantly higher CH4 emissions at three sites and lower at two sites. The N treatment resulted in higher methane emissions at three sites (nonsignificant). At one site, the CH4 fluxes of the N-treatment plots were significantly lower than those of the control plots. These results were not in agreement with our hypotheses, nor with the results obtained in some earlier studies. However, the results are consistent with the results of the vegetation analyses, which showed no significant treatment effects on species relationships or biomass production

Connections between atmospheric sulphuric acid and new particle formation during QUEST III–IV campaigns in Heidelberg and Hyytiälä

This study investigates the connections between atmospheric sulphuric acid and new particle formation during QUEST III and BACCI/QUEST IV campaigns. The campaigns have been conducted in Heidelberg (2004) and Hyytiälä (2005), the first representing a polluted site surrounded by deciduous forest, and the second a rural site in a boreal forest environment. We have studied the role of sulphuric acid in particle formation and growth by determining 1) the power-law dependencies between sulphuric acid ([H₂SO₄]), and particle concentrations (<I>N</I>_3&ndash;6) or formation rates at 1 nm and 3 nm (<I>J</i>₁ and <I>J</I>₃); 2) the time delays between [H₂SO₄] and <I>N</I>_3&ndash;6 or <I>J</I>₃, and the growth rates for 1&ndash;3 nm particles; 3) the empirical nucleation coefficients <I>A</I> and <I>K</I> in relations <I>J</I>₁=<I>A</I>[H₂SO₄] and <I>J</I>₁=<I>K</I>[H₂SO₄]², respectively; 4) theoretical predictions for <I>J</I>₁ and <I>J</I>₃ for the days when no significant particle formation is observed, based on the observed sulphuric acid concentrations and condensation sinks. In both environments, <I>N</I>_3&ndash;6 or <I>J</I>₃ and [H₂SO₄] were linked via a power-law relation with exponents typically ranging from 1 to 2. The result suggests that the cluster activation theory and kinetic nucleation have the potential to explain the observed particle formation. However, some differences between the sites existed: The nucleation coefficients were about an order of magnitude greater in Heidelberg than in Hyytiälä conditions. The time lags between <I>J</I>₃ and [H₂SO₄] were consistently lower than the corresponding delays between <I>N</I>_3&ndash;6 and [H₂SO₄]. The exponents in the <I>J</I>₃&#x221D;[H₂SO₄ ]^n_J3-connection were consistently higher than or equal to the exponents in the relation <I>N</I>_3&ndash;6&#x221D;[H₂SO₄ ]^n_N36. In the <I>J</I>₁ values, no significant differences were found between the observed rates on particle formation event days and the predictions on non-event days. The <I>J</I>₃ values predicted by the cluster activation or kinetic nucleation hypotheses, on the other hand, were considerably lower on non-event days than the rates observed on particle formation event days. This study provides clear evidence implying that the main process limiting the observable particle formation is the competition between the growth of the freshly formed particles and their loss by scavenging, rather than the initial particle production by nucleation of sulphuric acid. In general, it can be concluded that the simple models based on sulphuric acid concentrations and particle formation by cluster activation or kinetic nucleation can predict the occurence of atmospheric particle formation and growth well, if the particle scavenging is accurately accounted for

Using a moving measurement platform for determining the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols between Moscow and Vladivostok

The TROICA-9 expedition (Trans-Siberian Observations Into the Chemistry of the Atmosphere) was carried out at the Trans-Siberian railway between Moscow and Vladivostok in October 2005. Measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties were made from an observatory carriage connected to a passenger train. Black carbon (BC) concentrations in fine particles (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;, aerodynamic diameter &amp;lt;2.5 μm) were measured with an aethalometer using a five-minute time resolution. Concentrations of inorganic ions and some organic compounds (Cl&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt;, SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt;, Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, K&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;, Mg&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;, oxalate and methane sulphonate) were measured continuously by using an on-line system with a 15-min time resolution. In addition, particle volume size distributions were determined for particles in the diameter range 3&amp;ndash;850 nm using a 10-min time resolution. The continuous measurements were completed with 24-h PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; filter samples stored in a refrigerator and analyzed later in a chemical laboratory. The analyses included the mass concentrations of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;, ions, monosaccharide anhydrides (levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan) and trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn). The mass concentrations of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; varied in the range of 4.3&amp;ndash;34.8 μg m&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;3&lt;/sup&gt; with an average of 21.6 μg m&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;3&lt;/sup&gt;. Fine particle mass consisted mainly of BC (average 27.6%), SO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt; (13.0%), NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; (4.1%) and NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt; (1.4%). One of the major constituents was obviously organic carbon which was not determined. The contribution of BC was high compared with other studies made in Europe and Asia. High concentrations of ions, BC and particle volume were observed between Moscow and roughly 4000 km east of it, as well as close to Vladivostok, primarily due to local anthropogenic sources. In the natural background area between 4000 and 7200 km away from Moscow, observed concentrations were low, even though local particle sources, such as forest fires, occasionally increased concentrations. During the measured forest fire episodes, most of the aerosol mass appeared to consist of organic particulate matter. Concentrations of the biomass burning tracers levoglucosan, oxalate and potassium were elevated close to the forest fire areas observed by the MODIS satellite. The polluted air masses from Asia seem to have significant influences on the concentration levels of fine particles over south-eastern Russia

Laparoscopic versus hybrid approach for treatment of incisional ventral hernia : a 5–10-year follow-up of the randomized controlled multicenter study

Purpose: In this long-term follow-up of a prospective, randomized, and multicenter study, we compare the results of a group receiving laparoscopic incisional ventral hernia repair using intraperitoneal onlay mesh (LG) to a group receiving a hybrid hernia repair where open closure of fascial defect was added to intraperitoneal mesh placement (HG). Methods: Originally, 193 patients with 2–7 cm incisional hernias were randomly assigned to either the LG or HG during the 30-month recruitment period in 2012 to 2015. Long-term follow-up was conducted 5–10 years after surgery to evaluate hernia recurrence rate and quality of life (QoL). Results: In all, 65 patients in the LG and 60 in the HG completed the long-term follow-up with a median follow-up period of 87 months. Recurrent hernia was detected in 11 of 65 patients (16.9%) in the LG and 10 of 60 patients (16.7%) in the HG (p > 0.9). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a recurrence rate approaching 20% in both groups, with similar curves. Three patients in the LG (4.6% and five patients in the HG (8.1%) had undergone re-operation due to recurrence (p = 0.48). There was no difference in patient-reported QoL measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. Mean pain scores were similar between groups, mean numeric rating scale (NRS) 0 to 10 being 1.1 in the LG and 0.7 in the HG (p = 0.43). Conclusion: Fascial closure did not reduce hernia recurrence rate in this study population, even though it has been shown to be beneficial and recommended in surgery guidelines. In the long term, recurrence rate for both groups is similar.Peer reviewe

Low free 25-hydroxyvitamin D and high vitamin D binding protein and parathyroid hormone in obese Caucasians. A complex association with bone?

BackgroundStudies have shown altered vitamin D metabolism in obesity. We assessed differences between obese and normal-weight subjects in total, free, and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D, 25(OH) D-Free, and 25(OH) D-Bio, respectively), vitamin D binding protein (DBP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone traits.Methods595 37-47-year-old healthy Finnish men and women stratified by BMI were examined in this cross-sectional study. Background characteristic and intakes of vitamin D and calcium were collected. The concentrations of 25(OH) D, PTH, DBP, albumin and bone turnover markers were determined from blood. 25(OH) D-Free and 25(OH) D-Bio were calculated. pQCT was performed at radius and tibia.ResultsMean +/- SE (ANCOVA) 25(OH) D-Free (10.8 +/- 0.6 vs 12.9 +/- 0.4 nmol/L; P = 0.008) and 25(OH) DBio (4.1 +/- 0.3 vs 5.1 +/- 0.1 nmol/L; P = 0.003) were lower in obese than in normal-weight women. In men, 25(OH) D (48.0 +/- 2.4 vs 56.4 +/- 2.0 nmol/L, P = 0.003), 25(OH) D-Free (10.3 +/- 0.7 vs 12.5 +/- 0.6 pmol/L; P = 0.044) and 25(OH) D-Bio (4.2 +/- 0.3 vs 5.1 +/- 0.2 nmol/L; P = 0.032) were lower in obese. Similarly in all subjects, 25(OH) D, 25(OH) D-Free and 25(OH) D-Bio were lower in obese (P<0.001). DBP (399 +/- 12 vs 356 +/- 7mg/L, P = 0.008) and PTH (62.2 +/- 3.0 vs 53.3 +/- 1.9 ng/L; P = 0.045) were higher in obese than in normal-weight women. In all subjects, PTH and DBP were higher in obese (P = 0.047 and P = 0.004, respectively). In obese women, 25(OH) D was negatively associated with distal radius trabecular density (R-2 = 0.089, P = 0.009) and tibial shaft cortical strength index (CSI) (R-2 = 0.146, P = 0.004). 25(OH) D-Free was negatively associated with distal radius CSI (R-2 = 0.070, P = 0.049), radial shaft cortical density (CorD) (R-2 = 0.050, P = 0.045), and tibial shaft CSI (R-2 = 0.113, P = 0.012). 25(OH) D-Bio was negatively associated with distal radius CSI (R-2 = 0.072, P = 0.045), radial shaft CorD (R-2 = 0.059, P = 0.032), and tibial shaft CSI (R-2 = 0.093, P = 0.024).ConclusionsThe associations between BMI and 25(OH) D, 25(OH) D-Free, and 25(OH) D-Bio, DBP, and PTH suggest that obese subjects may differ from normal-weight subjects in vitamin D metabolism. BMI associated positively with trabecular bone traits and CSI in our study, and slightly negatively with cortical bone traits. Surprisingly, there was a negative association of free and bioavailable 25(OH) D and some of the bone traits in obese women