Geographically predominant genotypes of Aspergillus terreus species complex in Austria: s microsatellite typing study.

Aspergillus terreus species complex is recognized as a frequent agent of invasive aspergillosis in Tyrol. The reason for this specific epidemiological situation is unclear. Aspergillus terreus strains isolated from environmental and clinical sources were genotyped using a novel panel of short tandem repeats and were evaluated for virulence. Three major endemic genotypes collected from the Inn region and its side valleys were found to cause the majority of invasive A. terreus infections. All of these genotypes were of the same mating type, which suggests that a mating barrier is present between these geographically well-adapted strains which is found to persist for at least 11 years. The three major genotypes were prevalent in both human infections and the environment. No major differences in virulence were observed using Galleria mellonella as model. Our data suggest a specific environmental exposure being responsible for the high incidence of A. terreus infections in Innsbruck, the Inn valley and side valleys (Tyrol, Austria).

Psychometric evaluation of the German Version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey for Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C-G) of cancer patients.

This study aimed for psychometric validation of the German version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey for Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C-G). In- and outpatients with lung, urological and gastrointestinal cancer at Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany and in each case one relevant caregiver were asked to complete a set of questionnaires assessing their unmet needs together with distress, depression, anxiety and caregiver strain. In addition, medical data of the patients were collected. Fully completed questionnaires were received from 188 pairs of patients and their caregivers. Using exploratory factor analysis, four domains of unmet needs were identified with an appropriate variance explanation (58.7%) and acceptable (>0.70) internal consistencies (α = 0.95 to 0.76) for each domain. Convergent validity was found with respect to significant positive correlations (>0.40) of the SCNS-P&C-G domains with caregivers' anxiety, depression and strain. Although poorer health status of the patient indicated more unmet caregiver needs, this finding was not consistent for all need domains. Overall, associations were only moderate to weak pointing out the necessity of a separate screening for caregivers' needs. The findings of this study support that the SCNS-P&C-G is an appropriate research instrument to assess caregivers' needs on different domains throughout the disease trajectory.

The effects of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation and isokinetic muscular performance following acute (3-day) supplementation.

AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of 3 d of creatine supplementation on thermoregulation and isokinetic muscular performance. METHODS: Fourteen males performed two exercise bouts following 3 d of creatine supplementation and placebo. Subjects exercised for 60 min at 60-65% of VO2max in the heat followed by isokinetic muscular performance at 60, 180, and 300°·s(-1). Dependent variables for pre- and postexercise included nude body weight, urine specific gravity, and serum creatinine levels. Total body water, extracellular water and intracellular water were measured pre-exercise. Core temperature was assessed every 5 min during exercise. Peak torque and Fatigue Index were used to assess isokinetic muscular performance. RESULTS: Core temperature increased during the run for both conditions. Total body water and extracellular water were significantly greater (P<0.05) following creatine supplementation. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found between conditions for intracellular water, nude body weight, urine specific gravity, and serum creatinine. Pre-exercise scores for urine specific gravity and serum creatinine were significantly less (P<0.05) versus post-exercise. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found in peak torque values or Fatigue Index between conditions for each velocity. A significant (P<0.05) overall velocity effect was found for both flexion and extension. As velocity increased, mean peak torque values decreased. CONCLUSION: Three d of creatine supplementation does not affect thermoregulation during submaximal exercise in the heat and is not enough to elicit an ergogenic effect for isokinetic muscle performance following endurance activity.

Cytotoxicity of materials used in perforation repair tested using the V79 fibroblast cell line and the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells.

AIM: To compare the cytotoxicity of materials used to repair perforations using permanent V79 fibroblasts and murine granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM). METHODOLOGY: Set specimens from amalgam, glass-ionomer, SuperEBA, N-Rickert, MTA and gutta-percha were eluted with culture medium for 72 h and their cytotoxicities were assessed by incubating the extracts with V79 and bone marrow-derived progenitors for 24 h and 7 days, respectively. Cytotoxicity on V79 cells was judged using the total nucleic acid content (NAC), neutral red uptake (NRU) and reduction of the tetrazolium salt (MTT). The number of bone marrow CFU-GM colonies determined in clonal cultures stimulated with recombinant murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was used to assess cytotoxicity to progenitor cells. Statistical analyses were conducted using the one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test where appropriate. RESULTS: All materials were cytotoxic in both cell systems; however, CFU-GM was more sensitive to the extracts than V79 cells. A similar rank order of toxicity was observed in V79 cells using the NAC and the MTT assays: glass-ionomer > N-Rickert congruent with SuperEBA > gutta-percha > amalgam congruent with MTA (P < 0.05). In contrast, the NRU test exhibited a lower sensitivity to MTA, gutta-percha and amalgam extracts. In the clonal culture assay, the toxicity was less pronounced in the presence of gutta-percha, SuperEBA and MTA. Similar cellular responses were found by placing the set specimens directly in the clonal culture dishes. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of toxicity depended on the choice of the endpoint and the cell-culture system. Nevertheless, MTA was ranked as the least cytotoxic cement in both cell systems.

Violacein cytotoxicity on human blood lymphocytes and effect on phosphatases.

Given the importance of protein phosphorylation in the context of cellular functions, abnormal protein phosphatase activity has been implicated in several diseases, including cancer. These critical roles of protein phosphatases qualify them as potential targets for the development of medicinal compounds that possess distinct modes of action such as violacein. In this work, studies with this natural indolic pigment at a concentration of 10.0 micromol L(-1) demonstrated a 20% activation of total protein phosphatase extracted from human lymphocytes. Although no alteration was observed on protein tyrosine phosphatase (CD45), 30% of inhibition was achieved in cytoplasmatic protein phosphatase activity after incubation with 10.0 micromol L(-1) violacein. Additionally, 5.0 micromol L(-1) of violacein inhibited by 50% the serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Violacein presented toxic effect on lymphocytes with IC50 values of 3 and 10 micromol L(-1) for protein content and protein phosphatase activity, respectively. These findings suggest an important role for protein phosphatases in the mechanisms controlling proliferation and cell death.

Sensitive detection of tumour cells in effusions by combining cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH).

Diagnosis of malignant cells in effusions is important for staging procedures and resulting therapeutic decisions. Cytodiagnostics in effusions is sometimes difficult since reactive mesothelial cells can mimic malignant cells. We used fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in single-colour or if appropriate in dual-colour evaluation to detect chromosomal aberrations in effusion cells as markers of malignancy, to raise the diagnostic yield. Cytologic and FISH evaluations--by using probes representing several chromosomes always including chromosomes 11 and 17--were performed in 358 effusion fluids. Cytology was positive for malignancy in 44.4% of all effusions, whereas FISH was positive in 53.9% (P=0.0001). The combination of cytology and FISH was diagnostic for malignancy in 60.9% of effusions. Diagnostic superiority of FISH was demonstrated in effusions from breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and in effusions from the entire group of gynaecological and gastrointestinal carcinomas. In transudates (effusion protein <2.5 g dl(-1)), malignant cells were detectable by cytology, FISH, and combined use of both methods in 18.6, 30, and 37.1% of effusions, respectively, suggesting that cytologic and molecular analysis should be performed also with transudates. In conclusion, FISH in combination with conventional cytology is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for detecting malignant cells in effusions.

Association of NQO1 polymorphism with spontaneous breast cancer in two independent populations.

Eight different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six different genes were investigated for possible association with breast cancer. We used a case-control study design in two Caucasian populations, one from Tyrol, Austria, and the other from Prague, Czech Republic. Two SNPs showed an association with breast cancer: R72P inTP53 and P187S in NQO1. Six SNPs, Q356R and P871L in BRCA1, N372H in BRCA2, C112R (E4) and R158C (E2) in ApoE and C825T in GNB3, did not show any sign of association. The P187S polymorphism in NQO1 was associated with breast cancer in both populations from Tyrol and Prague with a higher risk for carriers of the 187S allele. Combining the results of the two populations, we observed a highly significant difference (P=0.0004) of genotype and allele frequencies (odds ratio (OR)=1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.85; P=0.001) and of the homozygote ratio (OR=3.8; 95% CI 1.73-8.34; P=0.0001). Combining the two 'candidate' SNPs (P187S and R72P) revealed an increased risk for breast cancer of double heterozygotes (P187S/R72P) of the NQO1 and TP53 genes (OR=1.88; 95% CI 1.13-3.15; P=0.011), suggesting a possible interaction of these two loci.

Derivatives of dehydrocrotonin, a diterpene lactone isolated from Croton cajucara: cytotoxicity in rat cultured hepatocytes and in V79 cells.

Derivatives of dehydrocrotonin (DHC; Compound I) with different anti-ulcerogenic properties but less toxicity were produced by reducing the cyclohexenone moiety of DHC with NaBH4 (Compound II), reducing the cyclohexenone and lactone moieties with LiAlH4 (Compound III) and transforming the lactone moiety into an amide (Compound IV) using dimethylamine. Derivatives of DHC were assayed in cultured hepatocytes and V79 fibroblasts. Three independent endpoints assays for cytotoxicity were used, namely, the DNA content, tetrazolium reduction (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU). Compound III was less toxic than the other DHC derivatives in both cell cultures. ICso values ranging from 250 to 600 microM were obtained for Compounds II and IV in the NRU and DNA content tests evaluated in 4-hour hepatocyte cultures. Although Compound II showed relatively low cytotoxicity in rat hepatocytes based on the NRU and DNA content assays, a very high toxicity (IC50=10 microM) was observed in the MTT test. Metabolites of Compound II in conditioned medium from 4-hour old hepatocyte cultures enhanced the MTT-reducing ability of V79 fibroblasts. The cytotoxicity of the derivatives was greater in recently isolated hepatocytes (only a 4-hour incubation for cell attachment prior to treating with the derivatives) than in hepatocytes previously cultured (24-hour incubation) before the treatment. Thus, aging reduced the cytotoxic effects of DHC derivatives in isolated hepatocytes, suggesting that P450-mediated biotransformation of such derivatives may lead to the formation of more toxic metabolites.

Synthesis, antimycobacterial activities and cytotoxicity on V79 of 3-[4'-Y-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4-yl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-(4-X-phenyl)-2-propen-1-amine derivatives.

The derivatives of 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-X-phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (5a-m) were synthesised through a Friedel-Crafts acylation followed by Wittig reaction. The effects of the compounds on standard strains of Mycobacterium sp. (ATCC) and M. tuberculosis isolated from clinical specimens were evaluated. Also the toxicity was determined on V79 cells line using neutral red uptake (NRU), nucleic acid content (NAC) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction to measure the cellular viability.

Cytotoxicity of derivatives from dehydrocrotonin on V79 cells and Escherichia coli.

New derivatives from dehydrocrotonin (DHC, compound I), with the same anti-ulcerogenic properties but less toxicity were synthesised by reducing the cyclohexenone moiety of DHC with NaBH(4) (compound II), by reducing the cyclohexenone and lactone moieties with LiAlH(4) (compound III) and by transforming the lactone moiety into an amide (compound IV) using dimethylamine. The cytotoxicity of these derivatives from DHC was assayed on V79 fibroblast cell line. Three independent endpoints for cytotoxicity were evaluated; namely, the nucleic acid content (NAC), tetrazolium reduction (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU). IC(50) values of 540 and 350 microM were obtained for compound II in the NRU and NAC tests, respectively. Compound III was less toxic than the other DHC derivatives (IC(50)=1800 microM) on V79 cells based on NAC assay. Compound IV showed an IC(50) ranging from 350 to 600 microM based on the three endpoints evaluated. The three compounds were less toxic on V79 cells than DHC. DHC, compounds II, III and IV did not change the respiration rate of Escherichia coli on the acute toxicity assay.

Antimycobacterial activity of 4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl 4-x-phenylmethanone derivatives, and their acute toxicity and cytotoxicity.

The antimycobacterial activity of nine biphenyl methanone (BPM) derivatives against standard strains of Mycobacterium kansasii, M. avium and M. malmoense was determined by colorimetric assay in microplates with the dye Alamar Blue. Acute toxicity of these compounds was also analyzed by determination of CO2 concentration in a respirometric assay using Escherichia coli. The compounds showed weak antimycobacterial activity with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) over 0.038 mmol l-1 and no toxicity was found in E. coli up to 400 mmol l-1. No cytotoxicity was observed on V79 cells up to 0.35 mmol l-1 with 7 of the BPM derivatives, with two exceptions (X = SO2CH3, NO2) that showed some toxicity. The greatest antimycobacterial activity was observed with the SO2CH3 derivative and the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a relationship between structure and antimycobacterial activity of the compounds. Two descriptors, nucleophilic superdelocalizability of carbon atom and pi-hydrophobic constant, were necessary to describe this relationship.

Effect of music on anxiety of women awaiting breast biopsy.

The authors investigated the effect of music on the state anxiety of a sample of 20 patients awaiting breast biopsy at a suburban medical facility. The patients were assigned alternately to either the control or experimental group. The individuals in the experimental group were given a 20-minute music-based intervention in a preoperative holding area, whereas the patients in the control group received the customary preoperative care. Clinicians measured blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration in both groups of patients, and the participants completed the State portion of the self-administered State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). After the patients completed the 20 minutes of music or of preoperative care without music, clinicians again measured the participants' vital signs and the patients completed the STAI. The authors' findings indicated that the posttest state anxiety and respiratory rates of the patients in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the patients in the control group.

Cytotoxicity of prodigiosin and benznidazole on V79 cells.

The cytotoxicity of prodigiosin, an antibiotic and potential trypanocide produced by Serratia marcescens, and Benznidazole, a trypanocidal drug, were assayed on V79 fibroblast cell line. Three independent endpoints for cytotoxicity were evaluated; namely, the nucleic acid content (NAC), MTT reduction and neutral red uptake (NRU). IC(50) values of 1-20 microM were obtained for prodigiosin in the NRU, MTT and NAC tests. Prodigiosin had greater trypanocidal activity (IC(50)=5 microM) than Nifurtimox (IC(50)=150 microM) a known trypanocide drug used in Chagas' disease therapy. Benznidazole was less toxic (IC(50)=2000 microM) than prodigiosin (IC(50)=1-20 microM) in V79 cells based on the MTT and NAC assays. Benznidazole stimulated the NRU until 2 mM. Indeed, the cell viability measured with the NRU was higher at all concentrations of benznidazole tested than that measured by MTT reduction and NAC assays.

Mammaglobin gene expression: a superior marker of breast cancer cells in peripheral blood in comparison to epidermal-growth-factor receptor and cytokeratin-19.

Various molecular markers have been used for the detection of circulating breast cancer cells in blood by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Using nested RT-PCR, we compared the specificity and sensitivity of human mammaglobin (hMAM), epidermal-growth-factor receptor (EGF-R), and cytokeratin 19 (CK-19) expression as markers for circulating carcinoma cells in the peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer. Blood samples from 12 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, 133 patients with invasive breast cancer, 20 patients with hematological malignancies, 31 healthy volunteers, and tumor tissues from 40 patients with invasive breast cancer were screened for mRNA encoding hMAM, EGF-R, or CK-19 by nested RT-PCR. In all breast cancer tissues, mRNA for hMAM, EGF-R, and CK-19 was detectable. In blood samples from patients with invasive breast cancer, 11 (8%), 13 (10%), and 64 (48%) were positive for mRNA encoding hMAM, EGF-R, or CK-19, respectively. Blood samples from none of the healthy volunteers and patients with hematological disorders were positive for hMAM, while CK-19 mRNA was found in the blood of 12 (39%) healthy volunteers and transcripts for EGF-R and CK-19 were detectable in 5 (25%) and 2 (10%), respectively, of the patients with hematological malignancies. Only hMAM mRNA expression in blood correlated with clinical parameters such as nodal status, metastasis, and CA 15-3 serum levels. In summary, hMAM transcripts detectable in blood by RT-PCR represent the most specific molecular marker for hematogenous spread of breast cancer cells. With the nested RT-PCR method, aberrant EGF-R mRNA expression might occasionally be found in hematological malignancies, whereas CK-19 mRNA expression proved to be rather nonspecific. The prognostic value of hMAM RT-PCR-based tumor cell detection in peripheral blood should be further tested and validated in prospective studies.

New rearrangement pattern after treatment of hairy-cell leukemia with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

Leukemic hairy cells are clonally proliferating B-lymphoid cells with clonal rearrangements of genes for immunoglobulin chains. We describe a patient with a new hairy-cell clone after treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA). In this patient, a single course of 2-CdA resulted in good partial remission of hairy-cell leukemia, but Southern blot analysis of bone marrow biopsies and polymerase chain reaction using seminested amplifications with consensus primers revealed a new rearranged band 4 months after therapy with 2-CdA. Four years after therapy, the patient is in complete clinical remission and both bands disappeared during follow-up. The new rearranged band might have been related to prior treatment of hairy-cell leukemia with 2-CdA.

Gastroprotective effect of essential oil from Croton cajucara Benth. (Euphorbiaceae).

The gastroprotective activity of the essential oil from the bark of Croton cajucara Benth (Euphorbiaceae) was assessed in three different models of experimentally induced gastric ulcer in mice. At oral dose of 100 mg/kg the essential oil reduced gastric lesions induced by hypothermic restraint stress and HCl/ethanol significantly. In the HCl/ethanol model a dose-dependent gastroprotective effect was found. Moreover, significant changes in gastric parameters such as pH, secretion rate and total gastric acid were found after intraduodenal administration of essential oil under ligated pylorus (Shay) conditions. The acute toxicity of essential oil was assessed in mice. The LD50 values were 9.3 and 680 mg/kg for oral and intraperitoneal administrations, respectively. The cytotoxicity of essential oil was studied also. A dose-dependent cell viability inhibition was found in V79 fibroblast cell cultures with an IC50 of 22.9 microg/ml. Our results support the pharmacological study of this essential oil.

Violacein cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis in V79 cells.

Violacein, a pigment produced by Chromobacterium violaceum, is reported to be a potential drug for the treatment of Chagas' disease. Violacein is also effective against leukemia and lymphoma cells in culture (IC50 10(-8) M). Changes in the nuclear acid content, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction and neutral red uptake in these cells were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of violacein in V79 Chinese hamster (M-8) fibroblasts. Violacein was highly cytotoxic to V79 fibroblasts (IC50 5-12 microM). Using the TUNEL method and the Feulgen reaction coupled to image analysis, violacein (5 and 10 microM) was found to trigger apoptosis but not necrosis in V79 cells. The morphological changes seen in the nuclei of these cells included chromatin condensation and a decrease in deoxyribonucleic acid content. These results demonstrating that violacein induces apoptosis in V79 cells strengthen its potential as a therapeutic agent.

Sensitized photooxygenation and peroxidase-catalyzed inactivation of xanthine oxidase--evidence of cysteine damage by singlet oxygen.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) has been investigated for its decreased activity in several cancerous tissues and constitutive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo seems to contribute significantly to its inactivation. Singlet oxygen (1O2) production has been suggested to be relevant when considering folic acid metabolism by cancer cells. Thus, the susceptibility of XO to inactivation by 1O2 generated either by the bioenergized systems folic acid/peroxidase/GSH/Mn2+/O2 and malonaldehyde/peroxidase/Mn2+/O2 or by methylene blue (MB) or eosin-sensitized photooxygenation was studied. Our results showed that other ROS were also responsible for XO inactivation when MB was used. In contrast, eosin produced almost exclusively 1O2. Kinetic studies of XO oxidation in the malonaldehyde/peroxidase system showed that histidine (His) is a competitive inhibitor with respect to XO. A similar result was observed in the eosin-photosensitized process, suggesting the involvement of 1O2 in both processes. In addition, an efficient quenching of XO oxidation by guanosine in the folic acid/peroxidase system was observed. Amino acid analysis revealed that cysteine (Cys) is more affected than other XO amino acids also prone to oxidation such as tyrosine (Tyr), methionine (Met) and His. These results indicate that 1O2 may cause oxidative damage to the Cys residues of XO, with loss of enzyme activity. Alteration of the flavin prosthetic site is hypothesized.

Densification, crystallization, and electrical properties of lead zirconate titanate glass-ceramics.

Piezoelectric glass-ceramics in the lead zirconate titanato-lead silicate system were developed. SiO(2) was required for glass formability, and excess PbO allowed low temperature processing. The amounts of those constituents were limited by the optimization of the piezoelectric properties. Only a small region of compositions in this system yielded the desired combination of glass formability, crystallization and densification behavior, and resulting piezoelectric properties. Selected compositions were melted and roller quenched to form glass ribbon, then milled into glass powder. Pressed glass powder densified to closed porosity at 850 degrees C with piezoelectric d(33 ) and g(33) coefficients of 26 pC/N and 33x10(-3 ) Vm/N. The low temperature sintering behavior of these ferroelectric glass-ceramics provides the possibility of incorporating a piezoelectric material as a sensor or actuator in thick film circuits or low-fire multilayer packages.

Evaluation of in vitro toxicity of N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amines isomers.

The trypanocidal activities of cis-3-(4'-bromo[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)- 3-(phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (Vb) and cis-3-(4'-bromo[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2- propen-1-anine (Vg) appeared 6.3 and 3.5 fold more active than the trans-isomers, respectively. Multi-endpoints for toxicity were also applied. Neutral red uptake (NRU), tetrazolium salt reduction (MTT), DNA content on V79 fibroblast cell culture and acute toxicity von E. coli were measured. The IC50 through DNA contents was lower for the cis-isomers in both series of compounds 5b: 7.8 microM and 5g: 5.2 microM). NRU values for derivative 5b in isomeric mixture shows the same value as the isolated isomers however, in the case of 5g a more significant toxicity of the cis-isomer was found. MTT values show that 5g is more toxic than 5b. In both cases, the acute toxicity of the trans-isomers was higher than that of the cis-isomers.