Novel monoclonal antibodies demonstrate biochemical variation of brain parkin with age. (17/216)

Autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism is a movement disorder associated with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta. The loss of functional parkin caused by parkin gene mutations is the most common single cause of juvenile parkinsonism. Parkin has been shown to aid in protecting cells from endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stressors presumably due to ubiquitin ligase activity of parkin that targets proteins for proteasomal degradation. However, studies on parkin have been impeded because of limited reagents specific for this protein. Here we report the generation and characterization of a panel of parkin-specific monoclonal antibodies. Biochemical analyses indicate that parkin is present only in the high salt-extractable fraction of mouse brain, whereas it is present in both the high salt-extractable and RIPA-resistant, SDS-extractable fraction in young human brain. Parkin is present at decreased levels in the high salt-extractable fraction and at increased levels in the SDS-extractable fraction from aged human brain. This shift in the extractability of parkin upon aging is seen in humans but not in mice, demonstrating species-specific differences in the biochemical characteristics of murine versus human parkin. Finally, by using these highly specific anti-parkin monoclonal antibodies, it was not possible to detect parkin in alpha-synuclein-containing lesions in alpha-synucleinopathies, thereby challenging prior inferences about the role of parkin in movement disorders other than autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism.  (+info)

Inconsistency of the immunophenotype of Reed-Sternberg cells in simultaneous and consecutive specimens from the same patients. A paraffin section evaluation in 56 patients. (18/216)

Both immunophenotypic overlaps between Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and evolution of one into the other have been reported. However, the underlying assumption that the antigenic expression of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells is consistent in the same patient has not been evaluated. Such an evaluation was undertaken by immunophenotyping paraffin-embedded lymphoid tissue biopsies with HD from 56 patients in whom multiple specimens were obtained, either simultaneously from different sites or at different times. The panel of antibodies we used included: CD3 polyclonal antiserum, DAKO-M1 (CD15), L26 (CD20), BerH2 (CD30), MT1 (CD43), DAKO-LCA (CD45RB), UCHL1 (CD45R0), LN2 (CD74), and DAKO-EMA. The phenotype of RS cells was identical in simultaneous biopsies in only 11 of 39 patients (28%) and remained constant in consecutive biopsies in only 4 of 21 patients (19%). Major differences (relative to cell lineage specific antigens) were observed in 10 of 39 patients with simultaneous biopsies and in 10 of 21 patients over time; they mainly involved expression of T-cell antigens. Minor differences (relative to any other antigen) were observed in 22 of 39 patients with simultaneous biopsies and in 15 of 21 patients over time; these mainly involved CD15 or CD74. This striking variability of the immunophenotype of RS cells in the same patient may be due to aberrant marker expression, as a result of the neoplastic state, and/or to modulation of antigenic expression in relation to the host environment. This inconsistency suggests caution when interpreting the relationship between HD and NHL by paraffin immunophenotyping alone.  (+info)

Bauhinia purpurea--a new paraffin section marker for Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease. A comparison with Leu-M1 (CD15), LN2 (CD74), peanut agglutinin, and Ber-H2 (CD30). (19/216)

Thirty-three cases of Hodgkin's disease (thirteen nodular sclerosis, four diffuse, lymphocyte predominance, and sixteen mixed cellularity) were studied with Bauhinia purpurea (BPA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), anti-Leu-M1, LN2, and Ber-H2 by the avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method in paraffin sections. Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells and variants were stained positively with one or more of the reagents in all cases. BPA staining was positive in 32 of 33 cases (97.0%), PNA staining was positive in 23 of 33 cases (69.7%), Leu-M1 was positive in 13 of 33 cases (39.4%), LN2 was positive in 14 of 33 cases (42.4%), and Ber-H2 was positive in 24 of 33 cases (72.7%). Many RS cells were stained moderately to strongly and were readily recognized in 31 cases (96.9%) of BPA+, 10 (43.5%) of PNA+, 8 (61.5%) of Leu-M1+, 6 (42.9%) of LN2+, and 22 (91.7%) of Ber-H2+ cases; in the remaining positive cases, the RS cells were found only after careful searching. Three staining patterns were recognized: paranuclear, diffuse cytoplasmic, and membranous. These three patterns were obtained with all markers except for LN2. LN2 showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining in most of the positive cells, and a few cells showed paranuclear deposits. BPA reactivity was not affected by formalin fixation or paraffin embedding. Except for RS cells, BPA also showed dense cytoplasmic staining reaction with macrophage-histiocytes. Sixty cases of non-Hodgkin's diffuse lymphomas (30 T- and 30 B-cell origin) were also studied. Tumor cells were not stained with BPA, PNA, and Leu-M1, but stained positively with LN2 in six T-cell lymphomas and thirteen B-cell lymphomas, and with Ber-H2 in six T-cell lymphomas and one B-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, to facilitate the detection of RS cells and related variants in paraffin sections, BPA can be accepted as a useful marker due to its high-detection rate, reproducible staining pattern, and resistance to fixatives.  (+info)

VIGOROUS MOLD GROWTH IN SOILS AFTER ADDITION OF WATER-INSOLUBLE FATTY SUBSTANCES. (20/216)

Various water-insoluble fatty compounds, when added to soil in finely divided form, will support as high-caloric nutrients a visible, vigorous growth of the molds, Fusarium solani Mart., F. diversisporum Sherb., and F. equiseti. n-Paraffins and olefins are most effective, because the effect of additives is reduced to the extent that oxygen atoms are introduced into the molecule. n-Fatty alcohols support growth in soil almost as well as the paraffins; however, growth is reduced when branched-chain compounds are added as nutrients. Compounds that will support mold growth when added to air-dried soil as finely powdered solids will not do so when incorporated at temperatures above their melting point, but will produce dense growth when applied to wet soil in this form. Mold growth is correlated with degradation of fatty matter. The rate of degradation is controlled by the availability of water, oxygen, and the basic inorganic nutrients.  (+info)

FURTHER STUDIES ON CELL DIVISION WITHOUT MITOTIC APPARATUS IN SEA URCHIN EGGS. (21/216)

A large quantity of paraffin oil, sucrose solution, or sea water was injected into the eggs of the heart urchin Clypeaster japonicus shortly before the onset of the first cleavage. The injected oil became spherical, pushing the mitotic apparatus aside. The sucrose solution mixed with the protoplasm and caused disintegration of the mitotic apparatus, and the sea water formed a vacuole at the center of the cell. In all these cases, cleavage may take place almost normally in spite of the absence of the mitotic apparatus or its displacement within the cell. In some eggs, furrowing may take place when more than fifty per cent of the endoplasm has been replaced with sea water before onset of cleavage.  (+info)

Skin ulceration due to cement. (22/216)

Despite legislation that requires manufacturers to inform the public about the dangers of contact with cement, severe ulceration from cement contact still occurs. We present a retrospective study of seven patients presenting to this department over a 2-year period. All were male and employed in the building trade, their injuries being sustained whilst at work. The injuries were to the lower limb, often multiple and required a median of seven visits before healing was complete. One required hospital admission and skin grafting.  (+info)

Establishment of proliferative cell nuclear antigen gene as an internal reference gene for polymerase chain reaction of a wide range of archival and fresh mammalian tissues. (23/216)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from paraffin-embedded tissues provides a powerful tool to amplify DNA from a variety of recent and archival material. Because DNA from paraffin-embedded samples is more degraded than from fresh material, the amplification of reference genes is essential to exclude false-negative results. This study describes the use of the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene as a reference gene in a range of animal species and in humans. The PCNA-PCR to amplify a fragment extending from exon 5 through exon 6 and including the intervening intron 6 gave a reproducible pattern, with a 280-base pair (bp) band from canine, equine, bovine, ovine, and caprine samples showing high sequence homology. Porcine, guinea pig, tiger, and lion samples, however, gave an additional fragment of approximately 197 bp. The whole intron 6 from these fragments is missing, possibly representing a pseudogene. In feline samples only the 197-bp fragment could be detected. This study shows that the PCNA gene is highly conserved across a broad range of animal species and is well suited as an internal control for PCR analysis in veterinary medicine.  (+info)

Development of an immunohistochemical assay for the detection of babesiosis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. (24/216)

The hemoparasite Babesia can cause life-threatening infections to neonates, elderly and immunocompromised people, and people who have undergone splenectomy. By using pooled hamster serum samples collected 21 days after infection with Babesia microti, we developed an immunohistochemical assay for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPET) samples and blood smears. By use of the immunohistochemical assay, parasites were detected inside erythrocytes present in the heart, spleen, and liver of experimentally and naturally infected animals. FFPET samples from 2 fatal and 1 nonfatal human cases demonstrated immunohistochemical assay-positive parasites in circulating erythrocytes in various organs, including lymph nodes and spleen. In addition, air-dried blood smears from 4 patients showed positive immunohistochemical staining inside the erythrocytes. The immunohistochemical assay showed cross-reactivity against the Babesia WA-1 strain but did not react against Babesia bigemina or Plasmodium falciparum. The immunohistochemical assay for Babesia microti successfully detected parasites in human and animal FFPET samples and blood smears. This technique will be useful for the diagnosis of clinically suspected cases and for differentiating Babesia microti infection from malaria. Application of this technique to animal models will better define pathogenic mechanisms, including the possible recognition of exoerythrocytic tissue stages.  (+info)