Inhibition of human positive cofactor 4 radiosensitizes human esophageal squmaous cell carcinoma cells by suppressing XLF-mediated nonhomologous end joining.

Radiotherapy has the widest application to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Factors associated with DNA damage repair have been shown to function in cell radiosensitivity. Human positive cofactor 4 (PC4) has a role in nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and is involved in DNA damage repair. However, the clinical significance and biological role of PC4 in cancer progression and cancer cellular responses to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential roles of PC4 in the radiosensitivity of ESCC. In this study, we showed that knockdown of PC4 substantially increased ESCC cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) both in vitro and in vivo and enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe (MC). Importantly, we demonstrated that silencing of PC4 suppressed NHEJ by downregulating the expression of XLF in ESCC cells, whereas reconstituting the expression of XLF protein in the PC4-knockdown ESCC cells restored NHEJ activity and radioresistance. Moreover, high expression of PC4 positively correlated with ESCC resistance to CRT and was an independent predictor for short disease-specific survival of ESCC patients in both of our cohorts. These findings suggest that PC4 protects ESCC cells from IR-induced death by enhancing the NHEJ-promoting activity of XLF and could be used as a novel radiosensitivity predictor and a promising therapeutic target for ESCCs.

A blue variant in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum.

A blue variant of the rainbow trout, which appeared in a French fish farm, displayed an iridescent body color that was cobalt blue on the back, lighter on the undersides, and silvery on the belly and which held up to adult stage. This color was supposed to result from a Tyndall effect involving a structural arrangement of melanin pigments because it disappeared when it was associated with a depigmenting gene. This blue variant appeared to be governed by an autosomal recessive gene. Blue fry survival and body weight were about 25% less than those of wild-type sibs, but no major problem was observed in further breeding performances, including reproduction. These features do not correspond with those of the blue variants previously described in the rainbow trout.

Genetic variation of resistance to mercury poisoning in steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) alevins.

Newly hatched steelhead alevins were obtained from the factorial breeding of 24 male and 10 female steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Each set of offspring were in a separate cell. They were tested for resistance to intoxication by methylmercuric chloride (CH3HgCl) in water at a nearly constant mercury concentration of 8 microg l(-1). High mortality (81% of the tested alevins) occurred within 2 weeks. Resistance to intoxication, as measured by the time to death, as well as by the survival rate, shared high paternal and maternal variation with negligible interaction. Heritability of time to death was 0.59 +/- 0.17; heritability of survival (all-or-none trait) was lower (0.26 +/- 0.09). Mercury in dead alevins increased with time to death, exhibiting a large environmental variation and (comparatively) negligible genetic influence. At the end of the bioassay, the mercury content in survivors varied widely (3-21 microg g(-1) wet weight). The content was greater than, but correlated with that of dead alevins from the same cells, and it showed little relation with survival rate. Thus, it seems that resistance to poisoning implies a tolerance to high levels of mercury rather than a limitation of its accumulation.

Evolution of genetic variability in a population of the edible snail, Helix aspersa Müller, undergoing domestication and short-term selection.

The evolution of genetic variability is studied in six successive generations of a population originating from wild Helix aspersa. During the first three generations (G1 to G3), no artificial selection was applied. During the next three generations (G4 to G6), two lines were reared: a control line (C) and a line (S) selected for increased adult weight. Genetic variability is described by genealogical parameters (inbreeding, number of founders, effective number of founders and ancestors, effective number of remaining genomes) and by the additive genetic variance in adult weight. A large decrease in all parameters was observed between G1 and G2, suggesting strong natural selection: additive genetic variance in adult weight (transformed data) decreased from 0.0119 +/- 3.8 x 10(-3) to 0.0070 +/- 1.7 x 10(-3) (P < 0.05) and effective number of ancestors from 97.4 to 67.0. Selection also caused a large decrease during the first generation: additive genetic variance was 0.0079 +/- 2.1 x 10(-3) in G3 and 0.0040 +/- 1.1 x 10(-3) after the first selection cycle (P < 0.02). At the same time, the effective number of ancestors decreased from 59.2 to 29.5 and 24.2. This decrease is consistent with the theory of selection and the Bulmer effect.

Direct and correlated responses to individual selection for large adult weight in the edible snail Helix aspersa Muller.

A selection experiment for large adult weight based on individual performance was conducted for three generations in Helix aspersa aspersa. A second line was kept as an unselected control line. Direct response measured as deviation from the control line was 3.55 g after three generations of artificial selection, which averaged 13%. Realized heritability was 0.38 +/- 0.04. Correlated responses to selection showed a significant increase in weight after hibernation, mean egg weight and mean weight of newly-hatched snails with selection. For adult age, egg number, and hatching rate, no significant change correlated to selection was found, but this is to be confirmed.

[Wegener's granulomatosis: localization in the subglottic space]. / Granulomatosis de Wegener: presentación localizada en el espacio subglótico.

In the paper is presented a localized form of Wegener's granulomatosis. This entity being considered as incipient stage of the disease. Its better knowledge and consequent early diagnosis has contributed to increase the clinic pictures. We report one of these cases sitting on the subglottic space, in a 40-years-old woman, beginning with a serious dyspnea. Several clinic aspects of the disease are emphasized as well the immunologic procedures helping to the diagnosis and to day's classifications. Finally, the better prognosis of localized forms, because its excellent response to immunosuppresants, is stressed.

[Vaginal hysterectomy. Role of laparoscopic preparation. Our experience]. / Hystérectomie vaginale. Place de la coelio-préparation. Notre expérience.

The aim of this publication is to define the indications of laparoscopically prepared vaginal hysterectomy. Vaginal hysterectomy is for the authors the best way to perform hysterectomy, but unfortunately it is not always possible in benign lesions and may be insufficient for malignant tumors. As from 1992, they have introduced laparoscopy in their therapeutical approach. From January 1992 to February 1995 they have performed 268 hysterectomies and in 34 cases have done a laparoscopically prepared intervention. They precise their indications, surgical techniques, analyze their results and compare their experience to that found in the literature.

[Disseminated lupus erythematosus discovered during delivery: a difficult diagnosis]. / Lupus érythémateux disséminé révélé au cours de l'accouchement: un diagnostic difficile.

The authors report a case of lupus showed in labour by the presence of generalised convulsions and coma after the crisis. This was followed by labile transitory hypertension, by massive proteinuria which cleared in 15 days, by major hyperthermia (higher than 39.5 degrees) and transitory agranulocytosis. The infant had a purely biological neonatal lupus. Pregnancy in a lupus patient has two risks: the mother's relapses of lupus, it is usual that renal failure is the worst of the prognostic features, but in this patient cerebral complications were much more serious. In the fetus there is a risk of spontaneous abortion linked to the anticardiolipin antibody level, and the risk of disease in the heart due to the anti-SSA (or anti-Ro) factor giving rise to congenital auriculo-ventricular blocks. The therapeutic possibilities are classically treated with immunosuppressants, mainly corticoids, which is added to low doses of aspirin. Plasmaphoresis and immunoglobulin treatments are being tried out.

[Cold tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess]. / Absceso frio retrofaringeo de estirpe tuberculosa.

The AA. present a report about a patient having a cold tuberculous abscess which symptomatologic manifested through dysphagia and cervico-brachialgia. Comments on the most remarkable aspects of these conditions.

Photomultiplier for optically probing Comet Halley.

A low mass eight-color channel photopolarimeter was developed for the Giotto spacecraft. Utilizing the spin of the spacecraft, a multichannel plate photomultiplier, and a unique optical design, the instrument required no moving parts to measure color and linear polarization. The photopolarimeter collected data as the spacecraft passed through the coma of Comet Halley on 13 and 14 Mar. 1986. This instrument's design, calibration, and reduction are discussed and some final results are presented.

[Pigmented mucosal lesion associated with oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma]. / Asociación entre lesión mucosa pigmentada y carcinoma escamoso orofaríngeo.

The presence, in a same anatomical location, of an aquired melanopathy and a carcinoma squamous, obliges us to stablish a communal etiopathogenic hypothesis that we interpret through a bibliographic review carried out on the theme.