YKL-40 is associated with MIA syndrome in HD

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) is a glycoprotein associated with inflammation and tissue remodeling that has recently been used as a marker of inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we aimed to determine whether YKL-40 has potential to serve as a nutritional parameter in Japanese HD patients. The serum YKL-40 concentration, hematological parameters, inflammatory marker levels, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory values were measured in 88 patients receiving HD. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) was used as a nutritional assessment tool. 45.4% of patients were malnourished. YKL-40 correlated positively with age, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ -GTP) levels, but not with nutritional status, and correlated inversely with ankle brachial index score, a predictor of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis confirmed that γ-GTP, GNRI and age correlated with YKL-40. YKL-40 elevation was associated with γ-GTP, GNRI and age in HD patients

THE EXPRESSION OF THE fms GENE AND THE GENE PRODUCT IN THYROID TUMOR

The amplification of the fms gene DNA was investigated in 5 human thyroid tumors. No significant amplification or rearrangement was observed in tumor DNA. The expression of the fms gene product was also investigated in 20 thyroid tumor tissues embedded in paraffin using a polyclonal antibody to the fms oncogene product immunohistochemically. Ten out of 20 samples showed clearly positive, 6 out of 20 were weakly positive but 4 out of 20 were negative. Therefore, the fms oncogene might play an important role for thyroid carcinogenesis, and it might also be of possible importance for understanding the mechanism of thyroid carcinogenesis

NPH3- and PGP-like genes are exclusively expressed in the apical tip region essential for blue-light perception and lateral auxin transport in maize coleoptiles

Phototropic curvature results from differential growth on two sides of the elongating shoot, which is explained by asymmetrical indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) distribution. Using 2 cm maize coleoptile segments, 1st positive phototropic curvature was confirmed here after 8 s irradiation with unilateral blue light (0.33 μmol m−2 s−1). IAA was redistributed asymmetrically by approximately 20 min after photo-stimulation. This asymmetric distribution was initiated in the top 0–3 mm region and was then transmitted to lower regions. Application of the IAA transport inhibitor, 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), to the top 2 mm region completely inhibited phototropic curvature, even when auxin was simultaneously applied below the NPA-treated zone. Thus, lateral IAA movement occurred only within the top 0–3 mm region after photo-stimulation. Localized irradiation experiments indicated that the photo-stimulus was perceived in the apical 2 mm region. The results suggest that this region harbours key components responsible for photo-sensing and lateral IAA transport. In the present study, it was found that the NPH3- and PGP-like genes were exclusively expressed in the 0–2 mm region of the tip, whereas PHOT1 and ZmPIN1a, b, and c were expressed relatively evenly along the coleoptile, and ZmAUX1, ZMK1, and ZmSAURE2 were strongly expressed in the elongation zone. These results suggest that the NPH3-like and PGP-like gene products have a key role in photo-signal transduction and regulation of the direction of auxin transport after blue light perception by phot1 at the very tip region of maize coleoptiles

Cumulative incidence of mammary carcinomas in irradiated and nonirradiated (BALB/cHeA × MSM/Ms)Fmice with or genotype

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "heterozygous deficiency enhances development of mammary carcinomas in heterozygous knockout mice"</p><p>Breast Cancer Research 2004;7(1):R164-R170.</p><p>Published online 10 Dec 2004</p><p>PMCID:PMC1064114.</p><p>Copyright © 2004 Umesako et al., licensee BioMed Central Ltd.</p