Three different putative phosphate transport receptors are encoded by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome and are present at the surface of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

A gene encoding a protein homologous to the periplasmic ABC phosphate binding receptor PstS from Escherichia coli was cloned and sequenced from a lambda gt11 library of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by screening with monoclonal antibody 2A1-2. Its degree of similarity to the E. coli PstS is comparable to those of the previously described M.

[Experiences with outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Objective: To determine the feasibility and desirability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in day care.

Design: Prospective, pilot study.

Setting: Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The efficacy of laparoscopic staging in patients with upper gastrointestinal tumors.

Background: The major advantage of diagnostic laparoscopy for patients with a gastrointestinal tumor is the prevention of unnecessary explorative laparotomies. However, it is doubtful whether this procedure also prevents late laparotomies that are necessary for palliative treatment during follow-up.

Methods: From January 1992 to July 1995, 233 consecutive patients with gastrointestinal malignancies underwent laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography after routine diagnostic procedures had shown potential curative disease.

A serine/threonine protein kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Genomic DNA sequencing in the vicinity of the pstA-1 gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis allowed us to clone, sequence and identify a gene encoding a 70-kDa protein. The size of the protein was confirmed by in vitro coupled transcription/translation. Its N-terminal domain shows extensive sequence similarity with the catalytic domain of eukaryotic serine/threonine protein kinases, and the protein was therefore called Mbk (mycobacterial protein kinase).

Laparoscopic ultrasonography for abdominal tumor staging: technical aspects and imaging findings.

Since 1992 diagnostic laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography has been performed in our center in more than 300 patients for staging of tumors of the liver, bile ducts, pancreas, esophagus, and gastric cardia. In this article our experience with laparoscopic ultrasonography for abdominal tumor staging is described, with particular attention for the technical aspects, imaging findings, limitations, and pitfalls.

Characterization of the 6'-N-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase gene aac(6')-Im [corrected] associated with a sulI-type integron.

The amikacin resistance gene aac(6')-Im [corrected] from Citrobacter freundii Cf155 encoding an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase was characterized. The gene was identified as a coding sequence of 521 bp located down-stream from the 5' conserved segment of an integron. The sequence of this aac(6')-Im [corrected] gene corresponded to a protein of 173 amino acids which possessed 64.

Value of laparoscopic ultrasonography in staging of proximal bile duct tumors.

The additional value of laparoscopic ultrasonography was evaluated prospectively in 35 patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for a suspected potentially resectable proximal bile duct tumor. Findings were compared with transabdominal ultrasonography, laparoscopy, surgery, and pathology. Laparoscopic ultrasonography was able to visualize the presence and origin of small bile duct tumors or stones and small liver metastases, which could not be seen or could be visualized only doubtfully by ultrasonography and laparoscopy.

Preoperative biliary drainage, colonisation of bile and postoperative complications in patients with tumours of the pancreatic head: a retrospective analysis of 241 consecutive patients.

Objective: To analyse the outcome of preoperative biliary drainage in patients being operated on for a tumour in the pancreatic head.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University hospital, The Netherlands.

A Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene cluster encoding proteins of a phosphate transporter homologous to the Escherichia coli Pst system.

We report the cloning and sequencing of three M. tuberculosis genes encoding proteins homologous to E. coli PstA, PstC and PstB.

Identification of a second Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene cluster encoding proteins of an ABC phosphate transporter.

Following the identification of a M. tuberculosis phosphate transporter belonging to the superfamily of ABC transporters, we report on the cloning and sequencing of two additional genes, called pstS-3 and pstC-2, encoding proteins homologous to PstS and PstC of Escherichia coli, respectively. Together with the previously isolated M.

The adenovirus E1A-associated 300 kDa adaptor protein counteracts the inhibition of the collagenase promoter by E1A and represses transformation.

Adenovirus E1A proteins modulate the expression of a large variety of genes in transformed cells by either stimulating or repressing their promoters. For example, the E1A proteins inhibit the collagenase promoter, whereas they activate the c-jun promoter. Both effects are mediated through AP-1/ATF-binding sites.

Manganese-induced hydroxyl radical formation in rat striatum is not attenuated by dopamine depletion or iron chelation in vivo.

The present studies were aimed at investigating the possible roles of dopamine (DA) and iron in production of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in rat striatum after Mn2+ intoxication. For this purpose, DA depletions were assessed concomitant with in vivo 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) formation from the reaction of salicylate with OH, of which 2,3-DHBA is a nonenzymatic adduct. Following intrastriatal Mn2+ injection, marked 2,3-DHBA increases were observed in a time- and dose-dependent fashion reaching maximum levels at 6-18 h and a plateau beyond 0.

Comparison of laparoscopic and transabdominal ultrasonography in staging of cancer of the pancreatic head region.

The value of laparoscopic ultrasonography in the staging of cancer of the pancreatic head region was compared prospectively to that of transabdominal ultrasonography. Eighty patients underwent LUS, after ultrasonography had shown normal Doppler findings of portal vessels and no signs of metastatic disease. Presence of hepatic or lymph node metastases and vascular tumor infiltration were evaluated in 74 and 48 patients, respectively.

Laparoscopic ultrasonography for staging of gastrointestinal malignancy.

Background: Diagnostic laparoscopy has been used frequently as a preoperative staging procedure for different gastrointestinal malignancies. The assessment of solid abdominal organs and retroperitoneal ingrowth or detection of lymph-node metastasis is limited, however. A recent development, laparoscopic ultrasonography, will probably increase the preoperative evaluation of these lesions and thus further improve the preoperative staging.

Treatment of bile duct lesions after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

From January 1990 to June 1994, 53 patients who sustained bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy were treated at the Amsterdam Academic Medical Centre. There were 16 men and 37 women with a mean age of 47 years. Follow up was established in all patients for a median of 17 months.

Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in staging of carcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia.

Background: The objective of this prospective study was to assess the contribution of laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography (LLU) in the preoperative staging of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and cardia.

Study Design: Preoperative LLU was performed in 56 patients who were selected for curative resection of carcinoma of the esophagus (n = 38) or gastric cardia with involvement of the distal esophagus (n = 18) after routine preoperative workup. During LLU, the peritoneal cavity was scrutinized for metastatic disease, and ultrasonography of the liver and celiac axis was performed.

Diagnostic laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography in staging of cancer of the pancreatic head region.

The aim of this study was to assess the additional role of diagnostic laparoscopy combined with laparoscopic ultrasonography in the staging of patients with pancreatic head malignancy. Between January 1993 and June 1994, 73 patients with stage I cancer of the pancreatic head determined by preoperative investigation (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and Doppler ultrasonography) were eligible for laparoscopic ultrasonography. The peritoneal cavity was investigated for peritoneal deposits, intrahepatic metastases, malignant infiltration of the portal and superior mesenteric vessels, and N3 lymph node metastases.

Adenovirus E1A antagonizes both negative and positive growth signals elicited by transforming growth factor beta 1.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) is a cytokine capable of inhibiting or stimulating cell growth, depending on the nature of the target cell. Inhibition of cell growth by TGF beta 1 is thought to be mediated by TGF beta 1-induced changes in the expression and activity of cell cycle regulatory proteins like cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2 and cdk4. Here we show that adenovirus E1A blocks growth inhibition by TGF beta 1.

Outcome of microscopically nonradical, subtotal pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's resection) for treatment of pancreatic head tumors.

From 1983 to 1992 a total of 240 patients with a pancreatic head tumor underwent laparotomy to assess the resectability of the tumor. In 44 patients the tumor was not resected because of distant metastases (n = 20) or major vascular involvement or local tumor infiltration (n = 24) not detected during the preoperative workup. A palliative biliary and gastric bypass was performed in these patients.

Prognostic factors for survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with carcinoma of the pancreatic head region.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors for survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for carcinoma of the pancreatic head region.

Methods: From 1983 to 1992. 176 patients underwent PD for ampullary carcinoma (n = 67), distal bile duct carcinoma (n = 42), or pancreatic carcinoma (n = 67).