Tumor protein D52 overexpression and gene amplification in cancers from a mosaic of microarrays.

The tumor protein D52 gene is increasingly recognized to be overexpressed in different cancer types, frequently through gain of the corresponding locus at chromosome 8q21.13. This review summarizes the literature identifying D52 overexpression and/or gene amplification in different cancers, as well as recent publications directly analyzing D52 functions. Since D52 overexpression is increasingly being identified in tumors of different cellular origins, this is likely to perturb fundamental cell properties common to different cell types. Furthermore,since increased D52 expression occurs at different stages of tumorigenesis and progression, this could contribute to these processes through multiple mechanisms. Although functions are beginning to emerge from targeted studies, the pathways through which D52 overexpression contributes to cell transformation and the molecular interactions required remain undefined. In summary, while targeting D52 overexpression could provide therapeutic benefits in many cancer types, this will require an improved understanding of D52's cellular and molecular functions.

Decline in neurophysiological function after 7 years in an adolescent diabetic cohort and the role of aldose reductase gene polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVE: This 7-year longitudinal study examines the potential impact of aldose reductase gene (AKR1B1) polymorphisms on the decline of nerve function in an adolescent diabetic cohort. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with type 1 diabetes (n = 262) were assessed with three cardiovascular autonomic tests (heart rate variation during deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, and during standing from a lying position) and pupillometry (resting pupil diameter, constriction velocity, and reflex amplitude), thermal, and vibration thresholds on the foot. Genotyping was performed for promoters (C-106T and C-12G), (CA)(n) dinucleotide repeats, and intragenic BamH1 polymorphism. RESULTS: Median time between first and last assessment was 7.0 years (interquartile range 5.1-11.1), with a median of five assessments (four to seven) per individual. At first assessment, median age was 12.7 years (11.7-13.9), median duration was 5.3 years (3.4-8.0), and median HbA(1c) was 8.5% (7.8-9.3). All tests declined over time except for two cardiovascular autonomic tests and vibration discrimination. Faster decline in maximum constriction velocity was found to associate with the Z-2 allele (P = 0.045), Z-2/Z-2 (P = 0.026). Slower decline in hot thermal threshold discrimination associated with Z+2 (P = 0.044), Z+2/Z+2 (P < 0.0005), Z+2/T (P = 0.038), and bb (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Most autonomic and quantitative sensory nerve testings declined over time. AKR1B1 polymorphisms were strongly associated with the rate of decline of these complications.

Genetic analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from the sputa of Australian adult cystic fibrosis patients.

Genetic investigations were carried out with 50 phenotypically selected strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 18 patients attending an Australian cystic fibrosis (CF) center. The isolates were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Phylogenetic analysis of the macrorestriction patterns showed rates of genetic similarity ranging from 76 to 100%; 24 (48%) of the strains from 11 patients had greater than 90% similarity. A dominant strain emerged: 15 isolates from seven patients had identical PFGE patterns, and 4 other isolates were very closely related. The 50 isolates were grouped into 21 pulsotypes on the basis of visual delineation of a three-band difference. Ten of the 18 (56%) patients were infected with clonal or subclonal strains. Sequence analysis of PCR products derived from the mucA gene showed 20 mutations, with the number of mutations in individual isolates ranging from 1 to 4; 19 of these changes are reported here for the first time. Potentially functional changes were found in 22 (44%) isolates. Eight changes (five transversions and three single base deletions) led to premature stop codons, providing support for the presence of mucA mutations as one pathway to mucoidy. There was a trend toward an association between the dominant strain and lack of potentially functional mucA mutations (P = 0.09 by the chi(2) test) but no relationship between genotype and phenotype. This is the first study of genetic variation in P. aeruginosa isolates from adult Australian CF patients. The findings highlight the need for further investigations on the transmissibility of P. aeruginosa in CF patients.