Hypoxia induces the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene BNIP3.

It has been shown that oxygen deprivation results in apoptotic cell death, and that hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF1) and the tumor suppressor p53 play key roles in this process. However, the molecular mechanism through which hypoxia and HIF1 induce apoptosis is not clear. Here we show that the expression of pro-apoptotic gene BNIP3 is dramatically induced by hypoxia in various cell types, including primary rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of HIF1alpha, but not p53, induces the expression of BNIP3. Overexpression of BNIP3 leads to a rather unusual type of apoptosis, as no cytochrome c leakage from mitochondria was detected and inhibitors of caspases were unable to prevent cell death. Taken together, these data suggest that HIF1-dependent induction of BNIP3 may play a significant role during hypoxia-induced cell death.

Polymer-supported tetrafluorophenol: a new activated resin for chemical library synthesis.

A new tetrafluorophenol activated resin that facilitates the use of 19F NMR to quantitate loading is presented. This new resin provides a useful tool for acylation, and a novel activated polymeric sulfonate ester to generate sulfonamides. This activated resin reacts with a wide scope of N-nucleophiles including primary and secondary amines, and anilines. This new activated resin methodology provides a powerful tool for pure single-compound library synthesis.

Structure-activity relationships of boronic acid inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV. 1. Variation of the P2 position of Xaa-boroPro dipeptides.

A series of prolineboronic acid (boroPro) containing dipeptides were synthesized and assayed for their ability to inhibit the serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV). Inhibitory activity, which requires the (R)-stereoisomer of boroPro in the P1 position, appears to tolerate a variety of L-amino acids in the P2 position. Substitution at the P2 position which is not tolerated include the D-amino acids, alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids, and glycine. Specificity against DPPII and proline specific endopeptidase is reported. A correlation between the ability to inhibit DPPIV in cell culture and in the human mixed lymphocyte reaction is demonstrated. A synthesis of prolineboronic acid is reported as well as conditions for generating the fully unprotected boronic acid dipeptides in either their cyclic or acyclic forms.

[Thoracic outlet syndrome: results of surgical treatment]. / Zespól górnego otworu klatki piersiowej--wyniki leczenia chirurgicznego.

21 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (t.o.s.) were operated on in the Department of Neurosurgery of MMA in Lódz between 1982-1991. Early and long-term results of treatment were analyzed in the group of 13 cases. In early postoperative period 5 patients were free of pain and neurologic or vascular disturbances in the upper limb. In other 6 cases pain disappeared partially and mild neurological or vascular syndromes persisted. Altogether satisfactory results of treatment were obtained in 8 patients (85%). There was some improvement in 2 patients but pain and neurological or vascular disorders were still significant after surgery. Long-term results were assessed at least 1 year after operative treatment. Recurrent pain with or without mild neurological (vascular) syndromes appeared in 6 patients (46%). Recurrent t.o.s. occurred mainly in cases of young women with low position of shoulder girdle and poorly developed musculature of this region. Only 2 patients still remained free of preoperative syndromes. Altogether only 8 patients (61%) had acceptable results of surgical treatment at long-term follow-up. The remaining 5 patients (39%) had unsatisfactory long-term results.

Effects of video based training on spoken and signed language acquisition by students with mental retardation.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of video presentations on the acquisition of both spoken and manually signed lexical items by students with mental retardation. A 10-lesson curriculum in which lexical items were introduced and reviewed by one of three pedagogical methods (therapist only, therapist plus video, or video only) was implemented over a four week period. Pretest and posttest measures of expressive and receptive vocabulary of 35 students with mental retardation revealed that all three methods resulted in significant increases in both spoken and manual sign production of the targeted lexical items compared to control items which were not taught. The therapist only and therapist plus video methods yielded significantly higher sign production scores than the video only method. Receptive vocabulary was not significantly improved by the intervention.