[Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus].

We present a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) associated leiomyoma of the uterus in a 57-year-old woman. It is clinically and morphologically suspected to be leiomyoma. IVL is a rare benign neoplasm that commonly grows into the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava and, rarely, the right side of the heart.

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of sulfur derivatives of indane-1,3-dione.

Synthesis of sulfur derivatives of indane-1,3-dione, VIIb-c, VIIIa-b, IX and X is described. Results of a preliminary pharmacological screening of six compounds [VIIb, VIII, VIIIb, IX, X and XI] are presented.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 mediates cytokine-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction.

Objective: Pro-inflammatory cytokines depress myocardial contractile function by enhancing peroxynitrite production, yet the mechanism by which peroxynitrite does this is unknown. As matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be activated by peroxynitrite and can proteolytically cleave troponin I in hearts, we determined whether this occurs in cytokine-induced myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: Isolated working rat hearts were perfused with buffer containing interleukin-1 beta, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Different modulation of phospholipase A2 activity by saturated and monounsaturated N-acylethanolamines.

The physiological functions of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are poorly understood, although many functions were suggested for these naturally occurring membrane components of plants and animals. The binding with cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 was demonstrated for some NAEs, such as anandamide. However, the chemical nature of these molecules suggests that some of their biological effects on biomembranes could be related, at least partially, to physical interactions with the lipid bilayer.

R-Ras promotes focal adhesion formation through focal adhesion kinase and p130(Cas) by a novel mechanism that differs from integrins.

R-Ras regulates integrin function, but its effects on integrin signaling pathways have not been well described. We demonstrate that activation of R-Ras promoted focal adhesion formation and altered localization of the alpha2beta1 integrin from cell-cell to cell-matrix adhesions in breast epithelial cells. Constitutively activated R-Ras(38V) dramatically enhanced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and p130(Cas) phosphorylation upon collagen stimulation or clustering of the alpha2beta1 integrin, even in the absence of increased ligand binding.

Mitochondrial DNA variability in Poles and Russians.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation was examined in Poles (from the Pomerania-Kujawy region; n = 436) and Russians (from three different regions of the European part of Russia; n = 201), for which the two hypervariable segments (HVS I and HVS II) and haplogroup-specific coding region sites were analyzed. The use of mtDNA coding region RFLP analysis made it possible to distinguish parallel mutations that occurred at particular sites in the HVS I and II regions during mtDNA evolution. In total, parallel mutations were identified at 73 nucleotide sites in HVS I (17.

Antiphospholipid antibodies and stroke in young women.

Background And Purpose: Antiphospholipid antibodies have been associated with ischemic stroke in some but not all studies.

Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study examining antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulants) using stored frozen sera and plasma in 160 cases and 340 controls enrolled in the Stroke Prevention in Young Women study. We evaluated for the presence of anticardiolipin antibody (IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for the lupus anticoagulant using several phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests (activated partial thromboplastin time, dilute Russell's viper venom time) with mixing studies.

Apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 protects against severe liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus.

The outcome of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies greatly. The virus associates with serum lipoproteins, including those containing apolipoprotein E (apoE) and apolipoprotein B (apoB), and may enter cells via the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). ApoE genotypes can affect the extent of damage in diseases caused by 2 other viruses--herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1; in Alzheimer's disease and herpes labialis) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Dual effect of 2-methoxyestradiol on cell cycle events in human osteosarcoma 143B cells.

We have demonstrated for the first time that the steroid metabolite, 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) is a powerful growth inhibitor of human osteosarcoma 143 B cell line by pleiotropic mechanisms involving cell cycle arrest at two different points and apoptosis. The ability of 2-ME to inhibit cell cycle at the respective points has been found concentration dependent. 1 microM 2-ME inhibited cell cycle at G1 phase while 10 microM 2-ME caused G2/M cell cycle arrest.

Aromatic indolinic aminoxyls as antioxidants in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum lipid and protein oxidation.

The results presented demonstrate the influence of aromatic indolinic aminoxyls: 1,2-dihydro-2-ethyl-2-phenyl-3H-indole-3-phenylimino-1-oxyl (IA-C2) and 1,2-dihydro-2-octadecyl-2-phenyl-3H-indole-3-phenylimino-1-oxyl (IA-C18) on oxidation of lipids and proteins of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. We have used doxorubicin and t-butyl hydroperoxide as agents inducing oxidative stress in isolated rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane system. Carbonyl groups were measured as the end product of membrane protein oxidation, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were assessed as a marker of lipid peroxidation.

Molsidomine potentiates the protective activity of GYKI 52466, a non-NMDA antagonist, MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, and riluzole against electroconvulsions in mice.

The influence of molsidomine, a donor of nitric oxide (NO), L-arginine, a substrate for NO synthesis, and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (NNA), an inhibitor of NO synthase, on the protective activity of CGP 40116, GYKI 52466, MK-801, and riluzole against electroconvulsions was studied in mice. Molsidomine (100 mg kg(-1); i.p.

Herpesviruses in brain and Alzheimer's disease.

It has been established, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) is present in a high proportion of brains of elderly normal subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. It was subsequently discovered that the virus confers a strong risk of AD when in brain of carriers of the type 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (apoE-epsilon4). This study has now sought, using PCR, the presence of three other herpesviruses in brain: human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6)-types A and B, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

[Bone turnover markers in patients with leg ischemia before and after revascularization].

In patients with leg ischemia bone metabolism impairment has been observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical bone metabolism markers. Elevated level of osteolysis markers was observed before and 7 days after revascularization the level of markers was unchanged.

Homogeneity and distinctiveness of Polish paternal lineages revealed by Y chromosome microsatellite haplotype analysis.

Different regional populations from Poland were studied in order to assess the genetic heterogeneity within Poland, investigate the genetic relationships with other European populations and provide a population-specific reference database for anthropological and forensic studies. Nine Y-chromosomal microsatellites were analysed in a total of 919 unrelated males from six regions of Poland and in 1,273 male individuals from nine other European populations. AMOVA revealed that all of the molecular variation in the Polish dataset is due to variation within populations, and no variation was detected among populations of different regions of Poland.

Protein oxidation in male Syrian hamster kidney during estrogen-induced carcinogenesis.

Chronic administration of estradiol leads to generation of estrogen-dependent renal cancer in male Syrian hamsters within 9-12 months. The pathogenesis of this tumour is associated with oxygen free radicals, however, it is still not clear which metabolic pathway of estrogens is responsible for the generation of the radicals, and which part of the cell is mostly affected by it. The paper presents an experiment in which the protein oxidation measured by carbonyl groups level in 9-month estrogenization scheme.

Return to work after ischemic stroke: a methodological review.

Despite the economic cost of lost employment, return to work after ischemic stroke has received little study. The percentages of patients working after stroke vary widely from 11 to 85%. Comparisons of these studies are difficult because they report return to work in different populations after diverse follow-up periods using variable definitions of stroke and work.

Cytomegalovirus is present in a very high proportion of brains from vascular dementia patients.

We previously found that herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV1), when present in brain of carriers of the apolipoprotein E type 4 allele is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. To find if HSV1 or certain other herpesviruses are involved in vascular dementia (VaD), we searched post mortem brain specimens from patients suffering from VaD for the presence of HSV1, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesvirus type 6 DNA, using polymerase chain reaction. We have found that a very high proportion of the VaD patients, 93% (14/15), but not of age-matched normals, 34% (10/29), harbor CMV DNA (P = 0.

Juvenile hormone III-dependent conformational changes of the nuclear receptor ultraspiracle.

The identification of potential endogenous or synthetic ligands for orphan receptors in the steroid receptor superfamily is important both for discerning endogenous regulatory pathways and for designing receptor inhibitors. The insect nuclear receptor Ultraspiracle (USP), an ortholog of vertebrate RXR, has long been treated as an orphan receptor. We have tested here the fit of terpenoid ligands to the JH III-binding site of monomeric and homo-oligomeric USP from Drosophila melanogaster (dUSP).

Vaccination prevents latent HSV1 infection of mouse brain.

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a rare but very serious disorder caused by herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1). Treatment with acyclovir decreases mortality but many patients still suffer cognitive impairment subsequently. A vaccine against HSV1 would therefore be of great value.

Hemoglobin components from trout (Salmo irideus): determination of their peroxidative activity.

The peroxidative activity of trout hemoglobins, HbI and HbIV, which differ in their conformation, was compared with that of HbA. Artificial substrates (guaiacol and dopamine) and more physiological substrates such as model lipid membranes containing unsaturated fatty acids were used. The results indicate that all the hemoglobin molecules assayed show different levels of peroxidative activity.

Morphological and biochemical strategies for monitoring trafficking of epitope-tagged G protein-coupled receptors in agonist-naive and agonist-occupied states.

Epitope tagged alpha 2-AR subtypes have been used to address a variety of cell biological questions, and the strategies used are readily applicable to all GPCR as well as other cell surface proteins. We have provided detailed protocols for successful utilization of the epitope-tagged receptor in the studies of protein localization and trafficking in epithelial cells, and the mechanisms by which this is achieved. We have also described reversible biotinytion strategies to examine agonist-dependent (and independent) receptor turnover at the cell surface.