Expression and functional studies on the noncoding RNA, PRINS.

PRINS, a noncoding RNA identified earlier by our research group, contributes to psoriasis susceptibility and cellular stress response. We have now studied the cellular and histological distribution of PRINS by using in situ hybridization and demonstrated variable expressions in different human tissues and a consistent staining pattern in epidermal keratinocytes and in vitro cultured keratinocytes. To identify the cellular function(s) of PRINS, we searched for a direct interacting partner(s) of this stress-induced molecule.

Comparison of stress-induced PRINS gene expression in normal human keratinocytes and HaCaT cells.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 2-4% of the population. We recently described a novel non-coding RNA, psoriasis susceptibility related RNA gene induced by stress (PRINS), that was overexpressed in non-lesional psoriatic epidermis, and its expression was induced by various stress factors such as serum starvation, contact inhibition, ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation, viral infection and translational inhibition in HaCaT cells. In the present work we set out to compare the stress and microbial agent-induced PRINS expression in normal human keratinocytes (NHKs) and HaCaT cells.

In vitro dedifferentiation of melanocytes from adult epidermis.

In previous work we described a novel culture technique using a cholera toxin and PMA-free medium (Mel-mix) for obtaining pure melanocyte cultures from human adult epidermis. In Mel-mix medium the cultured melanocytes are bipolar, unpigmented and highly proliferative. Further characterization of the cultured melanocytes revealed the disappearance of c-Kit and TRP-1 and induction of nestin expression, indicating that melanocytes dedifferentiated in this in vitro culture.

Chronic progressive deficits in neuron size, density and number in the trigeminal ganglia of mice latently infected with herpes simplex virus.

Numerous epidemiological studies have proposed a link between herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and several common chronic neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental HSV infection of mice can lead to chronic behavioral and neurological deficits and chronic pain. While neuron injury and loss are well-documented consequences of the acute phase of infection, the pathologic consequences of latent HSV infection are poorly understood.

Syndecan-1 and syndecan-2 play key roles in herpes simplex virus type-1 infection.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is an important human pathogen and a leading cause of infectious blindness in the developed world. HSV-1 exploits heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) for attachment to cells. While the significance of heparan sulphate (HS) moieties in HSV-1 infection is well established, the role of specific proteoglycan core proteins in the infection process remains poorly understood.

Expression of herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) in the cornea and trigeminal ganglia of normal and HSV-1 infected mice.

Purpose: Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation through interaction with its natural ligands LIGHT and lymphotoxin alpha and also serves as one of the entry receptors of herpes simplex virus (HSV). The purpose of this study was to better understand the expression of HVEM in the cornea and trigeminal ganglia (TG), which are important targets of HSV infection.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to define HVEM expression in the cornea and TG of normal and HSV-1 infected mice euthanized 2 to 5 days or 7 months following corneal inoculation of virus.

Identification of virus resistant tumor cell subpopulations in three-dimensional uveal melanoma cultures.

To better understand melanoma resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-mediated oncolysis, traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures and extracellular matrix (ECM) containing three-dimensional (3D) cultures of OCM1 and C918 uveal melanoma cells were infected with an HSV-1 strain that expresses the green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker during replication. Although 2D cultures were completely destroyed within a few days of HSV-1 inoculation, viable GFP-negative tumor cells remained detectable in 3D cultures for several weeks. Tumor cells with increased resistance to HSV-1 included cells that formed vasculogenic mimicry patterns and multicellular spheroids and cells that invaded Matrigel individually.

Complications after large vein catheterization.

Serious complications of the introduction of pacemaker electrodes and of the catheterization of large veins performed in the course of 6 years are discussed. The majority of the 24 observed complications occurred on the left side. In the case of constant suction and thoracic haemorrhage, surgical exposure is unavoidable.

Therapeutic results and complications of thoracic operations. Part I.

The therapeutic results and complications of 557 thoracic operations are evaluated. 94.4% of the patients recovered, 2.

An operated case of Holt-Oram syndrome with autosomal dominant inheritance.

This report is concerned with a patient successfully operated for Holt-Oram syndrome. The disorder is inherited dominantly with complete penetrance and variable expressivity. It is pointed out that in cases of congenital heart disease familial cumulation must be borne in mind which can easily be verified by pedigree investigation.

Investigation on the serum and lung tissue level of rifampicin in man.

After the oral administration of 600 mg rifampicin, we determined the rifampicin level of the lung tissue of 18 operated patients, as well as the rifampicin level of the pleural callus of one patient, that of the pericardial cyst of another, and the serum level of all the 20 patients. The serum level amounted to an average of 6.5 mcg/ml between 2 and 6hours after administration, and to 3.

[Methicillin levels in the human serum, pericardial effusion and myocardium].

The antibiotic level in the serum, pericardial fluid and myocardium of 11 patients prepared for heart surgery was tested by means of the agar-diffusion method after the intramuscular administration of 1 g of methicillin. The mean level after 1 to 3 hours was 14.7 mcg/ml in serum, 1.