Dissection of a QTL Hotspot on Mouse Distal Chromosome 1 that Modulates Neurobehavioral Phenotypes and Gene Expression

A remarkably diverse set of traits maps to a region on mouse distal chromosome 1 (Chr 1) that corresponds to human Chr 1q21–q23. This region is highly enriched in quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control neural and behavioral phenotypes, including motor behavior, escape latency, emotionality, seizure susceptibility (Szs1), and responses to ethanol, caffeine, pentobarbital, and haloperidol. This region also controls the expression of a remarkably large number of genes, including genes that are associated with some of the classical traits that map to distal Chr 1 (e.g., seizure susceptibility). Here, we ask whether this QTL-rich region on Chr 1 (Qrr1) consists of a single master locus or a mixture of linked, but functionally unrelated, QTLs. To answer this question and to evaluate candidate genes, we generated and analyzed several gene expression, haplotype, and sequence datasets. We exploited six complementary mouse crosses, and combed through 18 expression datasets to determine class membership of genes modulated by Qrr1. Qrr1 can be broadly divided into a proximal part (Qrr1p) and a distal part (Qrr1d), each associated with the expression of distinct subsets of genes. Qrr1d controls RNA metabolism and protein synthesis, including the expression of ∼20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Qrr1d contains a tRNA cluster, and this is a functionally pertinent candidate for the tRNA synthetases. Rgs7 and Fmn2 are other strong candidates in Qrr1d. FMN2 protein has pronounced expression in neurons, including in the dendrites, and deletion of Fmn2 had a strong effect on the expression of few genes modulated by Qrr1d. Our analysis revealed a highly complex gene expression regulatory interval in Qrr1, composed of multiple loci modulating the expression of functionally cognate sets of genes

Human serum albumin adsorption on poly[(glycidyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate)] beads modified with a spacer-arm-attached L-histidine ligand

WOS: 000234608100007Poly(GMA/MMA) beads were synthesized from glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a cross-linker (i.e. ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) via suspension polymerization. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA/MMA) beads were converted into amino groups with either ammonia or 1,6-diaminohexane (i.e. spacer-arm). An L-histidine ligand was then covalently immobilized on the aminated (poly(GMA/MMA)-AH) and/or the spacer-arm attached (poly(GMA/MMA)-SAH) beads using glutaric dialdehyde as a coupling agent. Both affinity adsorbents were used in human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption/desorption studies under defined pH, ionic strength or temperature conditions in a batch reactor. The spacer-arm attached affinity adsorbent resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity to HSA when compared to the aminated counterpart (i.e. poly(GMA/MMA)-AH). The maximum adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were found to be significantly high, i.e. 43.7 and 80.2 mg g(-1) (of the beads), while the affinity constants, evaluated by the Langmuir model, were 3.96 x 10(-7) and 9.53 x 10(-7) molL(-1) for poly(GMA/MMA) -AH and poly(GMA/MMA)-SAH, respectively. The adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were decreased for HSA by increasing the ionic strength, adjusted with NaCl. The adsorption kinetics of HSA were analysed by using pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order equations. The second-order equation fitted well with the experimental data. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

Pneumatic lithotripter application for giant bladder stone in a patient with augmentation cystoplasty

An 18-year-old patient with repaired bladder exstrophy developed a 550-g stone burden in his augmented bladder. The stones were removed percutaneously with the aid of a pneumatic lithotripter. This should be considered the method of choice in these difficult cases

Impact of transition zone biopsies in detection and evaluation of prostate cancer

Objective: To analyze the impact of 2 systematic transition zone (TZ) biopsies in addition to systematic sextant biopsies in an effort to establish the importance of cancer detected in the transition zone. Methods: Between November 1995 and October 1996, TRUS-guided systematic sextant peripheral zone (PZ) and two additional TZ biopsies were performed on 189 consecutive men. Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) was performed to 13 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. The biopsy results of the 52 patients with cancer and the pathological specimens of the patients who underwent surgery were compared. Results: Of the 189 patients, 52 (27.5%) had prostate cancer of whom 20 (38.5%) both in the PZ and TZ, 31 (59.6%) only in the PZ, and 1 (1.9%) in the TZ only. Of the 96 patients with high serum PSA levels despite normal DRE, 14 had prostate cancer. TZ cancer only rate was 7.1% (1 in 14 patients) in this group. RRP was performed to 8 patients who had cancer only in the PZ and 5 patients in both TZ and PZ. The pathological stages of the postoperative specimens and extracapsular extension rates of those with cancer in the PZ and TZ were significantly higher (p = 0.029 and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Routine TZ biopsy does not substantially increase the prostate cancer detection rate, however it can be useful in selected patient groups. If further studies reveal the relationship of cancer in the transition zone, higher capsular extension rate (pT3 cancer) and higher pathological stage after radical surgery, then TZ biopsies may yield additional information that might influence the therapeutic approach

Is periprostatic local anesthesia for transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy associated with increased infectious or hemorrhagic complications? A prospective randomized trial

Purpose: Periprostatic local anesthesia for prostate biopsy requires 2 or more extra needle punctures and injection of the local anesthetic through the highly colonized rectum. To our knowledge we report the first prospective randomized trial to assess the infectious or hemorrhagic complications associated with this method

Modified ''pluck'' nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract disorders: Combined endourologic and open approach

Nephroureterectomy is the standard surgical approach for upper urinary tract transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) and many other conditions, In 1952, a modification of the conventional method was described in which a transurethral resection of the ureteral meatus and intramural meter is undertaken until the remaining ureter has no attachment to the bladder, The resected area and the distal tip of the ureter are coagulated, and the ureter is removed in continuity with the kidney through a single flank incision, Since January 1990, we have performed 12 nephroureterectomies with this technique (9 men and 3 women with an average age of 61.8 years, ranging from 35 to 73), Six of them were operated on for a TCC of the upper urinary tract, and the postoperative follow-up of these patients was from 6 to 54 months (mean 18.6), Within the follow-up period, tumor has not recurred either at the resected trigonal area or in the retroperitoneum, and only one patient has bad a tumor distant from the site of ureteric resection, One patient with bladder TCC, who had a suspect kidney mass on the left side detected by CT, underwent nephroureterectomy with this technique, Five patients had primary renal disorders and upper tract calculous problems, in which nephroureterectomy was required, After the transurethral resection, an indwelling catheter was left in the bladder for 4 days, We believe that our experience confirms the feasibility of this technique in order to improve and simplify nephroureterectomy, Therefore, we recommend the modified ''pluck'' technique in all patients who are candidates for an operation requiring nephrometerectomy, as it gives considerable benefit to the patient

Transition zone biopsy and prediction of extraprostatic extension at radical prostatectomy

Background: There is limited data in the literature that suggests that transition zone (TZ) biopsy might be useful for the prediction of extraprostatic extension (EPE) in clinically localized prostate cancer. We studied the role of TZ biopsy in the prediction of EPE