[Melanoma antigen genes(MAGE) and malignant tumors].

The melanoma antigen genes(MAGE) were found to express in a variety of tumors of different histological origin. Peptides encoded by the MAGE genes are tumor rejection antigens, which can induce specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes(CTL) to recognize and kill tumor cells. This lead to the idea of using MAGE genes as the targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Bombesin-like peptide receptor gene expression, regulation, and function in fetal murine lung.

Bombesin-peptide (BLP) immunoreactivity occurs at high levels in fetal lung. Previous studies showed that bombesin promotes fetal lung development. To test the hypothesis that such effects are mediated by known mammalian bombesin receptors [gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)/bombesin-preferring receptor (GRPR), neuromedin B (NMB) receptor (NMBR), and the orphan bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3)], we analyzed the ontogeny of GRPR, NMBR, and BRS-3 gene expression in mouse lung.

[Study on the relationship between angiogenesis and cervical lymphatic metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between tumor angiogenesis and cervical lymphatic metastasis and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Method: Fifty-eight head and neck carcinoma tissue slides were immunohistochemically stained for anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody and anti-VEGF polyclonal antibody by SABC method. The intratumor microvessel density (IMVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor were measured.

[Alteration of P53 protein expression and p53 gene in laryngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To study the prevalence of P53 protein expression and p53 gene mutation in laryngeal carcinoma.

Methods: Using immunohistochemistry P53 expression was detected in 31 patients with laryngeal carcinoma. In 11 P53 negative patients,microdissection-PCR-HA technique was used to determine mutation in p53 exon 5, 6, 7, 8.

Redox stress regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma through Akt protein phosphorylation.

Employing a spin trapping agent combined with electron spin resonance spectroscopy, we were able to capture reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living hepatoma cells and first found that the trapped ROS was superoxide anion (O(2)(z.rad;-)). O(2)(z.

[Express of human papillomavirus, P53 and H-ras gene in laryngeal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the abnormality of p53 and H-ras gene in laryngeal cancer cells and their relation to the infection of human papillomavirus(HPV) subtypes. METHODS: The HPV subtypes, P53 and H-ras gene were examined in 28 cases of laryngeal cancer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: P53 gene mutation existed in 50%cases of laryngeal cancer and DNA sequencing showed base substitution, insertion or deletion in 4 cases; The positive rate of the H-ras oncogene mutation was only 3.

Automated perimetry: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Objective: The purpose of this document is to summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of new automated perimetry tests and algorithms in diagnosing glaucoma and detecting disease progression.

Methods: A literature search on automated perimetry retrieved over 300 citations from 1994 to 2001, of which 71 were selected as relevant to this assessment. The quality of the evidence obtained from these studies was assessed by the methodologist.

The role of biomethylation in toxicity and carcinogenicity of arsenic: a research update.

Recent research of the metabolism and biological effects of arsenic has profoundly changed our understanding of the role of metabolism in modulation of toxicity and carcinogenicity of this metalloid. Historically, the enzymatic conversion of inorganic arsenic to mono- and dimethylated species has been considered a major mechanism for detoxification of inorganic arsenic. However, compelling experimental evidence obtained from several laboratories suggests that biomethylation, particularly the production of methylated metabolites that contain trivalent arsenic, is a process that activates arsenic as a toxin and a carcinogen.

[Association of ecNOS 4 b/a polymorphism and end-stage chronic renal failure].

Objective: To examine the association between insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 4 of ecNOS gene (ecNOS 4 b/a) and end-stage chronic renal failure (ESCRF) in Han people in Tianjin, China.

Methods: The genotypes of ecNOS 4 b/a polymorphism were detected by PCR-minisatellite DNA detection technique. 67 CRF patients on hemodialysis were included in the study group, with 70 healthy volunteers as controls.

Three-dimensional high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of ocular and orbital malignancies.

Background: Ultrathin-section 3-dimensional fast spin-echo (3-D FSE) T2-weighted imaging is a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that we used in the evaluation of ocular and orbital malignancies. We evaluated the usefulness of this new technique compared with conventional MRI.

Methods: Imaging data from 26 consecutive patients seen in the Ocular Oncology Unit at the University of California-San Francisco were retrospectively reviewed by physicians from the ocular oncology and neuroradiology units.

Three-dimensional structure of an immunoglobulin light-chain dimer with amyloidogenic properties.

The X-ray structure of an immunoglobulin light-chain dimer isolated from the urine as a "Bence-Jones protein" from a patient with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis (Sea) was determined at 1.94 A resolution and refined to R and R(free) factors of 0.22 and 0.

A novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine:arsenic(III) methyltransferase from rat liver cytosol.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet):arsenic(III) methyltransferase, purified from liver cytosol of adult male Fischer 344 rats, catalyzes transfer of a methyl group from AdoMet to trivalent arsenicals producing methylated and dimethylated arsenicals. The kinetics of production of methylated arsenicals in reaction mixtures containing enzyme, AdoMet, dithiothreitol, glutathione (GSH), and arsenite are consistent with a scheme in which monomethylated arsenical produced from arsenite is the substrate for a second methylation reaction that yields dimethylated arsenical. The mRNA for this protein predicts a 369-amino acid residue protein (molecular mass 41056) that contains common methyltransferase sequence motifs.