Validation of peptide epitope microarray experiments and extraction of quality data.

Introduction: Within the last decade, the development of antigen microarray slides has enabled the simultaneous measurement of serum reactivity to hundreds of peptides in a single biological sample. Despite this considerable scientific progress, many issues remain regarding the quality, analysis and interpretation of the data these slides produce. There is currently no accepted approach to guide data analysis, and researchers use a wide variety of statistical methods and software tools.

Cytotoxic drug sensitivity of Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblastoid B-cells.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of immunosuppression associated lymphoproliferations such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), AIDS related immunoblastic lymphomas (ARL) and immunoblastic lymphomas in X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP). The reported overall mortality for PTLD often exceeds 50%. Reducing the immunosuppression in recipients of solid organ transplants (SOT) or using highly active antiretroviral therapy in AIDS patients leads to complete remission in 23-50% of the PTLD/ARL cases but will not suffice for recipients of bone marrow grafts.

No CMV DNA in Guthrie cards from children who later developed ALL.

An association of a viral infection in utero and development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been suggested. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been reported as a leading agent of intrauterine infections resulting in some cases of congenital infections. The authors investigated the presence of prenatal CMV infection in children who later developed ALL.

Dose and time dependent apoptotic response in a human melanoma cell line exposed to accelerated boron ions at four different LET.

The aim was to investigate and compare the influence of linear energy transfer (LET), dose and time on the induction of apoptosis in a human melanoma cell line exposed to accelerated light boron ((10)B) ions and photons. Cells were exposed in vitro to doses up to 6 Gy accelerated boron ions (40, 80, 125 and 160 eV nm(-1)) and up to 12 Gy photons (0.2 eV nm(-1)).

Human herpes virus 6 or Epstein-Barr virus were not detected in Guthrie cards from children who later developed leukaemia.

To investigate if children who later developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were prenatally infected with HHV-6 and/or EBV, Guthrie cards taken at birth were analysed by PCR. Guthrie cards from 54 patients with ALL and 47 healthy controls matched for age and birth place were tested negative for both HHV-6 and EBV DNA. All samples contained amplifiable DNA when tested by HLA-DQ PCR.

Low and high LET radiation-induced apoptosis in M059J and M059K cells.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the ability of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK)-deficient and -proficient cells to undergo apoptosis after exposure to low and high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation.

Materials And Methods: A human glioma cell line M059J lacking the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs) and its DNA-PKcs-proficient counterpart, M059K, were exposed to 1 and 4 Gy of accelerated nitrogen ions (14N, 140 eV nm(-1), 8-12 Gy min(-1)) or 60Co gamma-rays (0.2 eV nm(-1), 0.

Relative biological effectiveness of boron ions on human melanoma cells.

Purpose: To compare the difference in relative biological effectiveness (RBE) between (10)B ions and a (60)Co gamma-ray beam for human melanoma cells using in vitro cell survival based on a clonogenic assay.

Materials And Methods: Cells were irradiated in vitro under aerobic conditions with (60)Co and (10)B ions with different linear energy transfer (LET) (40, 80 and 160 eV nm(-1)). The dose to the cells was determined using ferrous sulphate dosimetry and an ionisation chamber.

Cellular effects of high-intensity focused continuous wave ultrasound alone and in combination with X-rays.

Purpose: To investigate the cellular effects of 1.1 MHz high-intensity focused continuous wave (CW) ultrasound alone and in combination with X-rays.

Materials And Methods: V79 cells were exposed to ultrasound of different intensities for 30s (non-hyperthermic conditions).