Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Levetiracetam: A Case Report in Kuwait.

Epilepsy is a common disorder caused by a myriad of drugs, of that levetiracetam is being commonly used late because of its strong safety profile and efficacy. With the increasing usage of drugs, some rare side effects may sometimes appear that can escape the most stringent checks, possibly due to the rarity of their occurrence. Rhabdomyolysis is known to occur in some patients owing to a variety of causes, even leading to kidney injury.

Protective effects of Vitamin E on CCl-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.

The increased generation of free radicals plays an important role in testicular damage. The present study aimed to investigate the adverse effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl) on the reproductive system of male rats as well as to examine whether Vitamin E (VE) is able to ameliorate these effects. The rats were equally divided into three groups: control, CCl-treated, and CCl + VE-treated groups.

Genomic diversity and evolution of papillomaviruses in rhesus monkeys.

We are studying the diversity of and relationships among papillomaviruses (PVs) to understand the modes and timescales of PV evolution and in the hope of finding animal PVs that may serve as model systems for disease caused by human PVs (HPVs). Toward this goal, we have examined 326 genital samples from rhesus monkeys and long-tailed macaques with a PCR protocol optimized for detecting genital HPV types. In 28 of the rhesus monkey samples, we found amplicons derived from 12 different and novel PV genomes, RhPV-a to RhPV-m, with the likely taxonomic status of "type.

Genital papillomaviruses (PVs) and epidermodysplasia verruciformis PVs occur in the same monkey species: implications for PV evolution.

Portions of the genome from two different papillomaviruses (PVs) of the Abyssinian Colobus monkey were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. This revealed that the major evolutionary separation between genital PVs and epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated PVs (EV-PVs) hitherto found only in human papillomaviruses (HPVs) also exists in animal PVs. The sequence of the long control region (LCR) of Colobus monkey PV type 2 (CgPV-2) reveals a small size and an arrangement of potential cis-responsive elements typical of the EV-HPVs; namely four binding sites for the viral E2 protein, with one of them being located within the L1 gene, a cluster of nuclear factor I (NFI)- and AP-1-binding sites and a 50-bp sequence upstream of the E6 gene consisting only of the nucleotides A and T.

The E5 gene product of rhesus papillomavirus is an activator of endogenous Ras and phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase in NIH 3T3 cells.

We examined the effect of two rhesus papillomavirus 1 (RhPV) oncogenes on cytokine-induced signal transduction pathways leading to the possible activation of Ras protein (p21ras) and phosphatidylinositol kinase. p21ras in both the activated (GTP-bound) and inactivated (GDP-bound) states were quantitated. NIH 3T3 cell lines expressing the RhPV 1 E5 gene or epidermal growth factor receptor cDNA had about a sixfold higher ratio of p21ras-bound GTP to p21ras-bound GDP as compared with parental NIH 3T3 cells or a cell line expressing the RhPV 1 E7 gene under normal culture conditions, yet expressed similar levels of p21ras.

Synthesis and analysis of a 640-bp pol region of novel human endogenous retroviral sequences and their evolutionary relationships.

Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the pol gene among 47 retroelements identified two very conserved regions, separated by a span of approximately 640 bp, that have not been previously reported. A set of mixed oligonucleotide primers, 5'-MOP-2 and 3'-MOP-2, homologous to these two conserved pol regions was constructed for use in detection of retroelements. When MOPs-2 were employed in PCR amplification studies, products of about 0.

Phylogenetic analyses of 55 retroelements on the basis of the nucleotide and product amino acid sequences of the pol gene.

Comparisons of pol gene nucleotide and reverse transcriptase (RT) amino acid sequences of 47 retroviruses, 3 caulimoviruses, and 5 hepadnaviruses showed that approximately one-third of the gene at the 5' end is much more conserved than other pol regions. The most conserved regions on both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were chosen for construction of phylogenetic trees. The maximum-parsimony and distance-matrix methods were used for analyses of aligned amino acid sequences; these two methods, and the compatibility method, were used to analyze the aligned nucleotide sequences.

Restricted expression of new HERV-K members in human teratocarcinoma cells.

Northern hybridization with five HERV-K family members, previously cloned from human teratocarcinoma genomic DNA, indicated that two (HERV-(K)27 and -(K)67) of the five clones are expressed in these teratocarcinoma cells. These two clones are closely related (98.49%), however, and Northern blot hybridization lacks the specificity to distinguish between their respective mRNAs.

The expression levels of the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 correlate with its transforming potential.

The transforming potential of the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 has been defined largely in the E7, E6, and E5 oncoproteins, with the major transforming capability residing in the E7 gene. In this paper, we found that in cooperation with the activated ras, the HPV16 E7 gene when expressed in a retroviral vector could fully transform baby rat kidney (BRK) cells in transfections, whereas the same construct could only immortalize the BRK cells following retroviral infection. This inability to transform correlated with the low levels of E7 gene RNA expression in the viral infected cells, which harbor a lower number of copies of the E7 gene constructs.

Serological and molecular evidence of rhesus papillomavirus type 1 infections in tissues from geographically distinct institutions.

We have previously demonstrated the presence of rhesus monkey papillomavirus type 1 (RhPV-1), from molecular and pathological evidence, in a mating group within a single institution. We have now also obtained a number of fresh or archival tissues of rhesus monkeys from other geographically distinct institutions. Using PCR amplification, we observed two animals from one of these institutions and five animals from another which demonstrated RhPV-1 DNA sequences.

The E6 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 is sufficient for transformation of baby rat kidney cells in cotransfection with activated Ha-ras.

The transforming potential of the E6 open reading frame (ORF) of the human papillomavirus type 16 was investigated with transformation assays in cotransfections with an activated ras gene. The E6 ORF driven by the heterologous CMV promoter could fully transform baby rat kidney cells (BRK) in cooperation with ras. The transformed cells grew in soft agar and induced tumors in athymic nude mice.

Topical CTC-96 accelerates wart growth in rabbits infected with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus.

CTC-96, a cobalt containing complex, was tested as a putative topical therapeutic agent for the treatment of papillomavirus-induced tumors in our cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV)-rabbit model system. Following experimental infection of domestic rabbits with CRPV, CTC-96 was applied to infection sites twice daily, 5 days a week for a total of 8 weeks. Two levels of concentrations of aqueous CTC-96 were compared to placebo control-treated animals.

Frequent HLA class I and DP sequence mismatches in serologically (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DR) and molecularly (HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1) HLA-identical unrelated bone marrow transplant pairs.

The rates of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and rejection are significantly higher among recipients of unrelated donor marrow (BM) than in recipients of marrow from HLA-identical siblings, even when donors and recipients are mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) compatible and serologically and Dw identical. It has been hypothesized that phenotypically silent HLA class I and DP sequence mismatches might be associated with these differences, but little is known about their incidence. We have sequenced the HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1 genes expressed by 12 unrelated marrow transplant pairs, 11 of whom were molecularly matched at DRB, DQA1, and DQB1 loci.

Pilot trial of ribavirin for the treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis.

The antiviral drug ribavirin was used as an adjunct to laser surgery for the treatment of patients with laryngeal papillomatosis (LP). An uncontrolled clinical trial for four patients with ribavirin treatment at a daily dose of 23 mg/kg was performed. Three adults received drug prior to laser surgery and continuing orally for 6 months.

The products of the E5, E6, or E7 open reading frames of RhPV 1 can individually transform NIH 3T3 cells or in cotransfections with activated ras can transform primary rodent epithelial cells.

Rhesus papillomavirus (RhPV) type 1 was recently shown to cooperate with the activated ras oncogene to transform primary rodent epithelial cells at a level comparable to HPV 16. In similar cotransfection studies, subgenomic portions of RhPV 1 driven by either their natural or a strong heterologous promoter were used in primary baby rat kidney cells to demonstrate that transforming properties of RhPV 1 could be localized individually to the E5, E6, and E7 open reading frames. Fully transformed cells were observed when either E5 or E7 were downstream of a strong heterologous promoter.

HLA class I sequence-based typing.

HLA oligogenotyping has been used successfully to characterize most phenotypically undetectable variants of class II genes. Limitations inherent to the class I system have, however, complicated the application of this and other molecular approaches to HLA class I typing. We have previously shown that HLA class II polymorphism can be analyzed by a SBT approach.

Regulation of expression of transgenes in developing fish.

The transcriptional regulatory elements of the beta-actin gene of carp (Cyprinus carpio) have been examined in zebrafish and goldfish harbouring transgenes. The high sequence conservation of the putative regulatory elements in the beta-actin genes of animals suggested that their function would be conserved, so that transgenic constructs with the same transcriptional control elements would promote similar levels of transgene expression in different species of transgenic animals. To test this assumption, we analysed the temporal expression of a reporter gene under the control of transcriptional control sequences from the carp beta-actin gene in zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) and goldfish (Carrasius auratus).

Cellular transformation by a unique isolate of human papillomavirus type 11.

Infection with human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV 11) is associated with benign epithelial proliferations and rarely with malignant and metastasizing tumors. Because of the biological diversity displayed in tissues infected with HPV 11, we have examined the capacity of various isolates of HPV 11 to transform cultured cells and compared their molecular differences by DNA sequence analysis. Five isolates of HPV 11 were examined for their ability to transform primary neonatal rat kidney epithelial cells and NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts in DNA transfection experiments using calcium phosphate precipitation.

Multiple complex families of endogenous retroviruses are highly conserved in the genus Gallus.

We have analyzed the genome of the domestic chicken for the presence of genetic sequences related to the envelope protein-encoding genes of avian sarcoma/leukosis retroviruses to determine the organization, structure, potential functionality, and distribution of such sequences. We have previously identified in the genus Gallus an extensive group of endogenous avian retroviruses termed EAV-0. Southern blot and sequence analysis presented here of EAV-0 elements revealed that the majority of the EAV-0 elements in the domestic chicken genome have large deletions in their env genes.

Novel human endogenous sequences related to human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Endogenous retrovirus-related sequences exist within the normal genomic DNA of all eukaryotes, and these endogenous sequences have been shown to be important to the nature and biology of related exogenous retroviruses and may also play a role in cellular functions. To date, no endogenous sequences related to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been reported. Herein we describe the first report of the presence of nucleotide sequences related to HIV-1 in human, chimpanzee, and rhesus monkey DNAs from normal uninfected individuals.

Characterization of AluI repeats of zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio).

Two families of repetitive DNA sequences were isolated from the zebrafish genome and characterized. Eight different sequences were sequenced and classified by two standards, their (G + C) composition and their lengths. For convenience, the sequences were first divided into two types.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for northern pike (Esox lucius) growth hormone.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the northern pike (Esox lucius) cDNA for pregrowth hormones was determined from clones derived from a pituitary gland cDNA library. Seventeen cDNA clones were isolated from a single mRNA species. A cDNA of 1,227 nucleotides was sequenced and found to encode a polypeptide of 209 amino acid residues, which included a putative signal sequence of 22 amino acid residues.