Pectic-AGP is a major form of Arabidopsis AGPs.

As a key component in cell walls of numerous organisms ranging from green algae to higher plants, AGPs play principal roles in many biological processes such as cell-cell adhesion and regulating Ca signaling pathway as a Ca-capacitor. Consistently, AGP structures vary from species to species and from tissue to tissue. To understand the functions of AGPs, it is vital to know their structural differences relative to their location in the plant.

Acetylation in Ionic Liquids Dramatically Increases Yield in the Glycosyl Composition and Linkage Analysis of Insoluble and Acidic Polysaccharides.

Glycosyl composition and linkage analyses are important first steps toward understanding the structural diversity and biological importance of polysaccharides. Failure to fully solubilize samples prior to analysis results in the generation of incomplete and poor-quality composition and linkage data by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acidic polysaccharides also do not give accurate linkage results, because they are poorly soluble in DMSO and tend to undergo β-elimination during permethylation.

FUT4 and FUT6 Are Arabinofuranose-Specific Fucosyltransferases.

The bulk of plant biomass is comprised of plant cell walls, which are complex polymeric networks, composed of diverse polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenolics, and hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs). Glycosyltransferases (GTs) work together to synthesize the saccharide components of the plant cell wall. The fucosyltransferases (FUTs), FUT4, and FUT6, are members of the plant-specific GT family 37 (GT37).

Analytical Techniques for Determining the Role of Domain of Unknown Function 579 Proteins in the Synthesis of -Methylated Plant Polysaccharides.

Matrix polysaccharides are a diverse group of structurally complex carbohydrates and account for a large portion of the biomass consumed as food or used to produce fuels and materials. Glucuronoxylan and arabinogalactan protein are matrix glycans that have sidechains decorated with 4--methyl glucuronosyl residues. Methylation is a key determinant of the physical properties of these wall glycopolymers and consequently affects both their biological function and ability to interact with other wall polymers.

Downregulation of a UDP-Arabinomutase Gene in Switchgrass ( L.) Results in Increased Cell Wall Lignin While Reducing Arabinose-Glycans.

Switchgrass ( L.) is a C perennial prairie grass and a dedicated feedstock for lignocellulosic biofuels. Saccharification and biofuel yields are inhibited by the plant cell wall's natural recalcitrance against enzymatic degradation.

Structural diversity of xylans in the cell walls of monocots.

Xylans in the cell walls of monocots are structurally diverse. Arabinofuranose-containing glucuronoxylans are characteristic of commelinids. However, other structural features are not correlated with the major transitions in monocot evolution.

Loss of function of folylpolyglutamate synthetase 1 reduces lignin content and improves cell wall digestibility in Arabidopsis.

Background: One-carbon (C1) metabolism is important for synthesizing a range of biologically important compounds that are essential for life. In plants, the C1 pathway is crucial for the synthesis of a large number of secondary metabolites, including lignin. Tetrahydrofolate and its derivatives, collectively referred to as folates, are crucial co-factors for C1 metabolic pathway enzymes.

4-O-methylation of glucuronic acid in Arabidopsis glucuronoxylan is catalyzed by a domain of unknown function family 579 protein.

The hemicellulose 4-O-methyl glucuronoxylan is one of the principle components present in the secondary cell walls of eudicotyledonous plants. However, the biochemical mechanisms leading to the formation of this polysaccharide and the effects of modulating its structure on the physical properties of the cell wall are poorly understood. We have identified and functionally characterized an Arabidopsis glucuronoxylan methyltransferase (GXMT) that catalyzes 4-O-methylation of the glucuronic acid substituents of this polysaccharide.

[Male breast cancer: history, epidemiology, genetic and histopathology].

Breast carcinoma is a rare disease in men. The incidence is 1 per cent of the incidence in women. Relative hyperestrogenemia and environmental factors seem to be important for the development of the disease.

Childhood leukaemia incidence around French nuclear installations using geographic zoning based on gaseous discharge dose estimates.

The present study investigated for the first time the incidence of childhood leukaemia (1990-2001) around French nuclear installations using a geographic zoning based on estimated doses to the red bone marrow due to gaseous radioactive discharges. The observed number of cases of acute leukaemia (O=750) in 40 km2 centred on 23 French nuclear installations between 1990 and 2001 was lower than expected (E=795.01), although not significantly so (standardised incidence ratio SIR=0.

S100 as an immunohistochemically-detected marker with prognostic significance in endometrial carcinoma.

Background: Several studies have indicated that dendritic cells (DC) participate in anti-tumor immunity, possibly influencing the course of malignant disease. We tested whether tumor infiltration by S100+ DC could be a prognostic marker for endometrial cancer.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study analyzing 115 tissue samples from patients with endometrial carcinoma and known histological grading as well as hormone receptor, Ki-67, Her-2/neu and p53 expression.

French population exposure to radon, terrestrial gamma and cosmic rays.

In France, natural sources account for most of the population exposure to ionising radiation. This exposure varies widely with area. Radon and gamma-ray exposure data come from national measurement campaigns; cosmic doses were calculated from city altitude.

Simultaneous interdisciplinary counseling in German breast/ovarian cancer families: first experiences with patient perceptions, surveillance behavior and acceptance of genetic testing.

As part of a multicenter study supported by the German Mildred Scheel foundation we have established an interdisciplinary counseling setting for members of breast and/or ovarian cancer families. We offer simultaneous counseling by a team consisting of a geneticist, a gynecologist and a psycho-oncologist. Here we describe our counseling protocol and our first short-term experience with this interdisciplinary approach.

Frequency of BRCA1 mutation 5382insC in German breast cancer patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the BRCA1 mutation 5382insC in German breast cancer patients with and without prior knowledge of a family history of breast cancer.

Methods: Two groups of breast cancer patients were tested for the presence or absence of the 5382insC mutation using a PCR primer mismatch assay. A sample of 248 patients unrelated by genealogy was selected based on a history of breast and/or ovarian cancer in the families.

Endometrial carcinoma: immunohistochemically detected proliferation index is a prognosticator of long-term outcome.

Aim: To test which immunohistochemically detected tumour parameters are predictive of outcome in endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective study of 300 patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma between 1980 and 1985, ensuring a follow up of at least 10 years. Paraffin wax embedded tissues from 236 patients with endometrial carcinoma were evaluated in terms of histological tumour type and grade, stage of disease, and certain immunohistochemical biological parameters.

Significant decrease of maternal serum serotonin levels in singleton pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to compare peripartum maternal and umbilical cord serum serotonin levels in singleton pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) or by severe preeclampsia with those of appropriate controls. The study population comprised 14 primigravidae women with class 1 or 2 HELLP syndrome (platelet count < 50,000 or < 100,000/mm3, elevated transaminase levels, evidence of hemolysis) and 17 women with severe preeclampsia (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria). Serotonin was measured in maternal serum immediately before delivery and in umbilical cord serum by a highly sensitive 125I-radioimmunoassay.

p53 protein in endometrial cancer is related to proliferative activity and prognosis but not to expression of p21 protein.

Expression of the tumor suppressor gene product p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, which is transcriptionally activated by p53, was investigated and compared with patient survival in a retrospective longitudinal study of 202 cases of endometrial carcinoma. The median duration of follow-up was 4.3 years.

[Rate of proliferation as a prognostic criterion in endometrial carcinoma--an immunohistochemical analysis with the monoclonal antibody KI-S1].

In a subset of 183 primarily operative treated patients of 300 patients with endometrial carcinoma an analysis of histological tumor type (n = 142), myometrial invasion (n = 115), stage (n = 114), immunohistochemically detected steroid receptor status, histologic grading (n = 152) and growth fraction, detected by immunohistochemical determination of antibody Ki-S1 (n = 130), was performed. The mean follow up was 9.1 years.

Immunohistochemically detected HER-2/neu-expression and prognosis in endometrial carcinoma.

Expression of the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene product was looked for immunohistochemically in 222 endometrial carcinomas in a retrospective follow-up study. The intensity of protein expression was correlated with patient survival. Median follow-up time was 4.

[Tainted femininity--traces of traditional menstruation myths in product advertising of feminine hygiene products].

Objective: Does the portrayal of menstruation in menstrual product advertisements reflect cultural myths about menstruation?

Methods: We analyse the reception of menstruation in contemporary and historical menstruation product advertisements.

Results: In menstrual product advertisements, menstruation is depicted as an unclean attribute, discrediting an ideal femininity and creating the need to conceal it.

Conclusion: This tendency to taboo menstruation in menstrual product advertising contributes--by conveying a negative definition of femaleness--to a negative self-perception, particularly in young women.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical tissue. Retrospective analysis of 855 cervical biopsies.

The histopathologic features of 855 cervical biopsies were correlated with the presence of human papillomavirus DNA using in situ hybridization (ISH) with biotin labeled type specific probes for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 51. HPV-DNA was found in 18% (13/72) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I), 30% (35/115) of CIN II, 28% (57(206) of CIN III, in 84% (21/25) of flat condyloma and in 13% (15/112) of normal cervical tissue. HPV DNA was detectable in 11% (5/46) of cervical adenocarcinoma and in 21% (59/279) of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix.