Pathological Metabolism of Methionine in Malignant Cells Is a Potential Target for the Antitumor Therapy

This review presents the characteristics of the cellular metabolism of methionine, as well as known data on the mechanisms of the development of methionine dependence in malignant cells. The possibilities of using a non-methionine diet for the control of the tumor growth in patients with various forms of cancer are considered. The newest information about methionine-γ-lyase, an enzyme providing elimination of methionine from plasma, is grouped and summarised. Its role as a potential antitumor enzyme is disclosed. Data on methionine-γ-lyase producers, activity of this enzyme, obtained from various sources, and information on tumor models and cell cultures, showing methionine dependence are summarised

Analysis of arterial intimal hyperplasia: review and hypothesis

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: Despite a prodigious investment of funds, we cannot treat or prevent arteriosclerosis and restenosis, particularly its major pathology, arterial intimal hyperplasia. A cornerstone question lies behind all approaches to the disease: what causes the pathology? Hypothesis: I argue that the question itself is misplaced because it implies that intimal hyperplasia is a novel pathological phenomenon caused by new mechanisms. A simple inquiry into arterial morphology shows the opposite is true. The normal multi-layer cellular organization of the tunica intima is identical to that of diseased hyperplasia; it is the standard arterial system design in all placentals at least as large as rabbits, including humans. Formed initially as one-layer endothelium lining, this phenotype can either be maintained or differentiate into a normal multi-layer cellular lining, so striking in its resemblance to diseased hyperplasia that we have to name it "benign intimal hyperplasia". However, normal or "benign " intimal hyperplasia, although microscopically identical to pathology, is a controllable phenotype that rarely compromises blood supply. It is remarkable that each human heart has coronary arteries in which a single-layer endothelium differentiates earl

Monitoring of atherosclerosis

Population-based epidemiological studies of atherosclerosis using autopsy material is now impossible to perform in most countries due to declining autopsy rates. Based on epidemiological studies of atherosclerosis using autopsy material in five European cities which were carried out with an interval of 25 years in the 1960s and 1980s, respectively, we have shown that atherosclerosis in young so-called practically healthy people, 20-39 years of age, who died from accidental causes, closely reflects the level of atherosclerosis in the population as a whole. These people can thus be used for monitoring the development of atherosclerosis in a population since they are normally a subject to a medico-legal autopsy; therefore, material for such studies can be obtained. Furthermore, histomorphological studies of specimens that are taken from practically healthy people at standard places of coronary arteries and aortas also reflect this general level of atherosclerosis. These studies also provide information on the atherosclerotic process and its relation to various risk factors. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Influence of host matrices on krypton electron binding energies and KLL Auger transition energies

The low-energy electron spectra emitted in the radioactive decay of the 83Rb and 83Sr isotopes were measured with a combined electrostatic electron spectrometer. Radioactive sources used were prepared by ion implantation of 83Sr into a high purity polycrystalline platinum foil at 30 keV and by vacuum-evaporation deposition of 83Rb on the same type of foil. From the measured conversion electron spectra, the electron binding energies (referenced to the Fermi level) for the K, L1, L2, L3, M1, M2, and M3 shell/subshells of krypton in the platinum host were determined to be 14316.4(12), 1914.3(9), 1720.3(9), 1667.6(9), 281.5(9), 209.6(13), and 201.2(15) eV, respectively, and those for the evaporated layer were observed to be lower by 0.7(1) eV. For both host matrices, values of 2.3(2), 4.6(2), 1.7(2), 1.3(2), and 3.2(3) eV were obtained for the krypton K, L1, L2, L3, and M1 natural atomic level widths, respectively. The absolute energies of 10838.5(9) and 10839.5(10) eV were measured for the KL2L3(1D2) Auger transition in krypton implanted in Pt and generated in the evaporated rubidium layer, respectively. A value of 601.0(8) eV was measured for the energy difference of the KL2L3(1D2) transitions in Rb and Kr in the Pt host. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations of the krypton KLL transition energies and intensities were also performed