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To study the mitosis-specific phosphorylation of caldesmon (CaD), we generated a mutant of the C-terminal fragment (amino acids 244–538) of human fibroblast CaD (CaD39-6F), as well as a mutant of the full-length CaD (CaD-6F), in which all six potential phosphorylation sites for Cdc2 kinase were abolished. The mitotic CaD39-6F-overexpressing cells required more time to progress from anaphase start to 50% cytokinesis, exhibited larger size, and abnormally formed numerous small blebs. In contrast, overexpression of the wild-type C-terminal fragment of CaD (CaD39) did not result in abnormal bleb formation, but led to larger size and prolonged the time requirement between anaphase start and 50% cytokinesis. Similar abnormal blebs were also observed in the CaD-6F-overexpressing cells. CaD-6F-overexpressing cells did not show larger size but required more time to progress from anaphase start to 50% cytokinesis. These results suggest that mitosis-specific phosphorylation of CaD plays a role in inhibiting bleb formation and that the N-terminal fragment of CaD is required for cell size determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida colonization of the oral cavity increases in the elderly. A major predisposing condition is denture use, which also increases in the elderly. To test whether the increase in colonization is age-related in a fashion independent of denture use, we analyzed the frequency (incidence) of carriage, the intensity of carriage, the multiplicity of species, and the genetic relatedness of strains in the oral cavities of 93 test subjects separated into the three age groups: 60 to 69 yr, 70 to 79 yr, and ≥ 80 yr. Each age group was further subdivided into subjects with and without dentures, and into males and females. The results demonstrate that the frequency of carriage, the intensity of carriage, and multispecies carriage all increase as a function of age and differ according to gender, in both cases independent of denture use, suggesting that the natural suppression of yeast carriage in the oral cavity breaks down in the elderly. In addition, it is demonstrated that Candida glabrata colonizes the oral cavities of elderly individuals without dentures only after 80 yr of age, suggesting that there are age-related compromising conditions other than denture use in this most elderly age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All mechanical heart valves (MHV) are thrombogenic. Application of surface modification technology to reduce the incidence of thrombus formation on MHV is a novel undertaking. This requires collaboration within the bioengineering and cardiothoracic surgery fields. From reviewing results of recent and past investigations, and our own preliminary study with diamond-like carbon coating (DLC) and plasma or glow discharge treatment (GDT) of MHV, we identify and discuss several potentially beneficial effects that may reduce the extent of valverelated thrombogenesis by surface modification. DLC and GDT may affect the surfaces of MHV in many ways, including cleaning of organic and inorganic debris, generating reactive and functional groups on the surface layers without affecting their bulk properties, and making the surfaces more adherent to endothelial cells and albumin and less adherent to platelets. These different effects of surface modification, separately or in combination, may transform the surfaces of MHV to be more thromboresistant in the vascular system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the clinical observation of enhanced antineoplastic action of etoposide in the presence of cyclosporin A (CyA), we investigated this drug interaction in several in vitro and in vivo tumor systems. Macromolecular DNA damage induced by etoposide at drug levels comparable to plasma AUC values achieved in patients was increased not only in leukemic peripheral blood cells from patients but also in mononuclear peripheral blood cells from a healthy donor. Intracellular retention of radioactivity from 3H-etoposide was increased by a factor of 1.5 at the most in the presence of CyA. The cytotoxicity of etoposide and adriamycin to L 1210 leukemic cells was clearly enhanced, whereas CyA had no effect on the action of cisplatin or ionizing irradiation. At CyA blood levels not exceeding 1.44 microgram/ml, increased tumor inhibition of etoposide was observed in a human embryonal cancer xenograft, but there was also higher lethality in normal mice. We conclude from our own data and from other recent findings that with respect to chemosensitization the effects of CyA resemble those of calcium channel blockers or anticalmodulin agents. In contrast to calcium channel blockers, however, adequate plasma levels of CyA can well be achieved in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]