Facial necrotizing fasciitis following acute dacryocystitis.

Purpose: To report a case of progressive necrotizing fasciitis of the face following acute dacryocystitis.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 60-year-old woman presented with left acute dacryocystitis with abscess formation that had ruptured; a small wound remained.

Control of synaptic strength, a novel function of Akt.

Akt (also known as PKB), a serine/threonine kinase involved in diverse signal-transduction pathways, is highly expressed in the brain. Akt is known to have a strong antiapoptotic action and thereby to be critically involved in neuronal survival, but its potential role in the dynamic modulation of synaptic transmission is unknown. Here we report that Akt phosphorylates, both in vitro and in vivo, the type A gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABA(A)R), the principal receptor mediating fast inhibitory synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain.

The distinct gene expression profiles of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma suggest different anti-apoptotic mechanisms but predict only some differences in phenotype.

We compared gene expression in purified tumor cells from untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic (CLL) (n=24) and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) (n=29) using the Affymetrix HuGeneFL microarray with probes for approximately 6800 genes. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that CLL and MM have distinct expression profiles (class prediction). Gene and protein expression (measured by flow cytometry) correlated well for CD19, CD20, CD23, and CD138 in CLL and MM, but not for immunoglobulin light chain, CD38 and CD79b in CLL, or CD45 and CD52 in MM.

Oncogenic potential of TASK3 (Kcnk9) depends on K+ channel function.

TASK3 gene (Kcnk9) is amplified and overexpressed in several types of human carcinomas. In this report, we demonstrate that a point mutation (G95E) within the consensus K+ filter of TASK3 not only abolished TASK3 potassium channel activity but also abrogated its oncogenic functions, including proliferation in low serum, resistance to apoptosis, and promotion of tumor growth. Furthermore, we provide evidence that TASK3G95E is a dominant-negative mutation, because coexpression of the wild-type and the mutant TASK3 resulted in inhibition of K+ current of wild-type TASK3 and its tumorigenicity in nude mice.

Activation of PI3-kinase is required for AMPA receptor insertion during LTP of mEPSCs in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Hippocampal CA1 homosynaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) is expressed specifically at activated synapses. Increased insertion of postsynaptic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) appears to be crucial for CA1 LTP. However, the mechanism underlying AMPAR insertion during LTP remains largely unknown.

Inhibition of purified factor Xa amidolytic activity may not be predictive of inhibition of in vivo thrombosis: implications for identification of therapeutically active inhibitors.

Objective: In this study we test the hypothesis that blood/plasma-based prothrombinase assays, rather than inhibition of purified factor Xa (fXa), are predictive of in vivo antithrombotic activity.

Methods And Results: Six fXa inhibitors with equivalent nanomolar Ki were studied in thrombin generation assays using human plasma/blood and endogenous macromolecular substrate. In all assays, benzamidine inhibitors were more potent (100 to 800 nmol/L) than the aminoisoquinolines (5 to 58 micromol/L) or neutral inhibitors (3 to 10 micromol/L).

Mobilization of CD34+ cells in elderly patients (>/= 70 years) with multiple myeloma: influence of age, prior therapy, platelet count and mobilization regimen.

The mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells was studied in 984 multiple myeloma patients, including 106 patients aged >/= 70 years. Increasing age correlated inversely with CD34+ yield (P < 0.0001), but also with >/= 12 months of prior standard chemotherapy (P = 0.

Identification of galectin I and thioredoxin peroxidase II as two arsenic-binding proteins in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

In this study, we report the identification of two arsenic-binding proteins from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The crude extract derived from CHO and SA7 (arsenic-resistant CHO cells) was applied to a phenylarsine oxide-agarose affinity column, and after extensive washing, the absorbed proteins were eluted with buffers containing 20 mM 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or dithiothreitol (DTT). Three differentially expressed proteins, galectin 1 (Gal-1; in the 2-ME-eluted fraction from CHO cells), glutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P) and thioredoxin peroxidase II (TPX-II), respectively in the 2-ME- and DTT-eluted fractions from SA7 cells, were identified by partial amino acid sequence analysis after separation by SDS/PAGE.

Bone marrow transplant engraftment analysis with loss of an informative allele.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are highly polymorphic DNA sequences in the human genome. STR genotype analysis is used for human identity testing and to monitor bone marrow engraftment after allogeneic transplantation. Engraftment analysis requires one or more informative STR loci that distinguish recipient from donor.

Dual regulation of NMDA receptor functions by direct protein-protein interactions with the dopamine D1 receptor.

Dopamine D1-like receptors, composed of D1 and D5 receptors, have been documented to modulate glutamate-mediated fast excitatory synaptic neurotransmission. Here, we report that dopamine D1 receptors modulate NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated functions through direct protein-protein interactions. Two regions in the D1 receptor carboxyl tail can directly and selectively couple to NMDA glutamate receptor subunits NR1-1a and NR2A.

PRC17, a novel oncogene encoding a Rab GTPase-activating protein, is amplified in prostate cancer.

We used cDNA-based genomic microarrays to examine DNA copy number changes in a panel of prostate tumors and found a previously undescribed amplicon on chromosome 17 containing a novel overexpressed gene that we termed prostate cancer gene 17 (PRC17). When overexpressed in 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, PRC17 induced growth in low serum, loss of contact inhibition, and tumor formation in nude mice. The PRC17 gene product contains a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) catalytic core motif found in various Rab/Ypt GAPs, including RN-Tre.

G protein-coupled receptors form stable complexes with inwardly rectifying potassium channels and adenylyl cyclase.

A large number of studies have demonstrated co-purification or co-immunoprecipitation of receptors with G proteins. We have begun to look for the presence of effector molecules in these receptor complexes. Co-expression of different channel and receptor permutations in COS-7 and HEK 293 cells in combination with co-immunoprecipitation experiments established that the dopamine D(2) and D(4), and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)-AR) form stable complexes with Kir3 channels.

Effect of selective posterior rhizotomy on transverse myelitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This report describes the case of a 26-yr-old man experiencing transverse myelitis, a rare but serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus occurring in less than 1% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 4 yr after the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus. Significant neurologic deficits, including spastic paraplegia, dysthetic pain, and impaired bladder control, which made him completely bedridden and dependent in activities of daily living, continued, despite his immediate diagnosis and treatment. The patient received bilateral L1 to S1 selective posterior rhizotomy 1 yr after the onset of transverse myelitis, and 10 mo after selective posterior rhizotomy, he was completely independent in ambulation and self-care, demonstrating that selective posterior rhizotomy can be safely performed and its goals achieved under different medical conditions, as long as thorough preoperative evaluation and every possible precaution have been taken.

The neurofibromatosis gene in human pituitary adenomas.

The neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) gene encodes a protein neurofibromin, which contains a glutamyl transpeptidase (GTP)-activating protein (GAP)-related domain: NF1 GRD. This domain is able to down-regulate P by stimulating its intrinsic GTPase. Because P has an important role in regulating growth and differentiation, somatic mutations in the NF1 gene may result in mutant neurofibromins that might interfere with the Ras signaling pathway and contribute to the development of tumors.