Search

Obesity is highly co-morbid with anxiety and/or depression in children, conditions that may further worsen the metabolic and cardiovascular risks for obese individuals. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders, depression, and obesity, and diverse cortisol concentrations may be found in obese children, depending on their degree of psychological distress. The aim of this study was to examine cortisol profiles among obese children with or without symptoms of anxiety and depression. A group of 128 children (53% females; mean age ± SD: 11.2 ± 2.2 years) derived from a pediatric obesity clinic were studied. Anxiety and depressive symptomatology were assessed with appropriate instruments. Morning serum and five diurnal salivary cortisol concentrations were measured. Obese children were 3.1/2.3 times more likely to report state and trait anxiety, respectively, and 3.6 times more likely to report depressive symptoms than children of the same age group, from a contemporary Greek sample. Trait anxiety and noon salivary cortisol concentrations were significantly positively correlated (p = 0.002). Overall, salivary cortisol concentrations were increased in children with anxiety or depression symptomatology compared to obese children without any affective morbidity (p = 0.02) and to those with anxiety and depression co-morbidity (p = 0.02). In conclusion, in obese children, emotional distress expressed by symptoms of anxiety and/or depression is associated with circadian cortisol profiles reflecting a potential pathway for further morbidity. Longitudinal studies may reveal a role of cortisol in linking obesity, anxiety, and depression to the development of further psychological and physical morbidity.

In recent years an increasing amount of interest has been directed at the study and routine testing of polymorphisms responsible for variations in drug metabolism. Most of the current methods involve either time-consuming electrophoresis steps or specialized and expensive equipment. In this context, we have developed a rapid, simple and robust method for genotyping of CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3 and TPMT*2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Genomic DNA is isolated from whole blood and the segments that span the SNP of interest are amplified by PCR. The products are subjected directly (without purification) to two primer extension (PEXT) reactions (three cycles each) using normal and mutant primers in the presence of biotin-dUTP. The PEXT primers contain a (dA)(30) segment at the 5' end. The PEXT products are detected visually by a dry-reagent dipstick-type assay in which the biotinylated extension products are captured from immobilized streptavidin on the test zone of the strip and detected by hybridization with oligo(dT)-functionalized gold nanoparticles. Patient samples (76 variants in total) were genotyped and the results were fully concordant with those obtained by direct DNA sequencing.

Background Three mutations in the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene account for 49% of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) cases in Greece. Methods We used the microelectronic array technology of the NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation to develop a multiplex method to analyze these single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Primer pairs amplified the region encompassing each SNP. The biotinylated PCR amplicon was electronically addressed to streptavidin-coated microarray sites. Allele-specific fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide reporters were designed and used for detection of wild-type and SNP sequences. Genotypes were compared to PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results We developed three monoplex assays (1 SNP/site) and an optimized multiplex assay (3SNPs/site). We performed 92 Greece II, 100 Genoa, and 98 Afrikaner-2 NanoChip® monoplex assays (addressed to duplicate sites and analyzed separately). Of the 580 monoplex genotypings (290 samples), 579 agreed with RFLP. Duplicate sites of one sample were not in agreement with each other. Of the 580 multiplex genotypings, 576 agreed with the monoplex results. Duplicate sites of three samples were not in agreement with each other, indicating requirement for repetition upon which discrepancies were resolved. Conclusions The multiplex assay detects common LDLR mutations in Greek FH patients and can be extended to accommodate additional mutations.

Objectives: Familial hypercholesterolemia is a monogenic disorder caused by mutations in the LDL receptor ( LDLR ) gene. We observed allelic drop-out during LDLR genotyping and aimed at redesigning mutation detection. Design and methods: The NanoChip microelectronic array technology and PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were used. Results: Allele drop-out caused false homozygous diagnoses and was overcome using PCR primers without polymorphisms in the primer binding site. Conclusions: This report presents the importance of allele drop-out in LDLR genotyping.

Objectives: To develop and study novel microtiter well based DNA hybridization assays in which the DNA serves as a reporter molecule. Methods: Two hybridization assay configurations are proposed. In configuration A the target DNA is end-labeled with biotin and captured to streptavidin-coated wells. The one strand is removed by NaOH treatment and the other is hybridized with a dATP-tailed oligonucleotide probe. Configuration B involves simultaneous hybridization of heat-denatured target DNA with a biotinylated capture probe (immobilized on streptavidin-coated wells) and a dATP-tailed detection probe. In both configurations the hybrids are reacted with dTTP-tailed luciferase-coding DNA fragment followed by in vitro expression of the DNA on the solid phase. This is accomplished either by a coupled transcription/translation or by sequential transcription and translation reactions optimized separately. Results: The signal-to-background ratios for configuration A at 0.93 fmoles target DNA were 2.6 and 16.7 with the coupled and the separated transcription/translation protocols, respectively. As low as 0.1 fmoles target DNA can be detected with the separate transcription/translation protocol with a signal-to-background ratio of 2.7. The signal-to-background ratios obtained for 0.1 fmoles target DNA with configuration B using the coupled and the separate expression protocols were 2.2 and 4.6, respectively. The average CV was 10%. Conclusion: The expression yield is significantly improved with the separate transcription/translation protocol. Both assay configurations offer high sensitivity and are easily automatable.

Cardiac surgery is usually performed under conditions of cardioplegicischemic arrest. To protect the heart during the ischemic period, themyocardium is exposed to varying degrees of hypothermia. Althoughhyperthermia is known to induce the heat shock response, the moleculareffects of hypothermia on the myocardium have not been investigated. We havestudied the effect of hypothermia on the induction of heat shock proteins inprimary cultures of neonatal cardiomyocytes. Cold stress in cardiomyocytesinduced a 6 fold increase in the heat shock protein HSP70 as compared tocontrol. Increased HSP70 protein levels correlated with induction of HSP70mRNAs. Maximal levels of HSP70 protein appeared 4-6 h following recoveryfrom cold shock, indicating the transient nature of the response. Inductionof HSP25 mRNA was also observed in cold-shocked cardiomyocytes, even thoughincreased HSP25 protein levels were not detected. Our results indicate thathypothermia is capable of inducing the heat shock response in neonatalcardiomyocytes.

Objectives Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by mutations in the LDL receptor ( LDLR ) gene. We report the application of a universal method with high allele discrimination properties to the simultaneous genotyping of 7 LDLR mutations in Greeks, in dry-reagent format. Design and methods We genotyped mutations C858A, C939A, G1285A, T1352C, G1646A, G1775A, C/T81G. Unpurified amplicons from a multiplex PCR that produced fragments encompassing all 7 mutations were subjected to probe extension reactions in the presence of fluorescein-modified dCTP, and a microtiter well-based assay of extension products with a peroxidase–antifluorescein conjugate and a chemiluminogenic substrate. We used lyophilized dry reagents and assigned genotypes by the signal ratio of normal-to-mutant-specific probe. Results We standardized the method and optimised all steps for specificity. The method was validated by genotyping blindly 119 (833 genotypings). Results were fully concordant with other methods used as standards. Conclusions This method is accurate, simple, rapid and robust. The microtiter well format allows genotyping of a large number of samples in parallel for several mutations.

Context.—We previously developed a novel technology known as instant evolution for high-throughput analysis of mutations in Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA.Objective.—To develop a genetic platform for the isolation of new classes of antiinfectives that are not susceptible to drug resistance based on the instant evolution system.Design.—Mutation libraries were constructed in the 16S rRNA gene of E coli and analyzed. In addition, the rRNA genes from a number of pathogenic bacteria were cloned and expressed in E coli. The 16S rRNA genes were incorporated into the instant-evolution system in E coli.Setting.—The Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.Main Outcome Measures.—Ribosome function was assayed by measuring the amount of green fluorescent protein produced by ribosomes containing mutant or foreign RNA in vivo.Results.—We have developed a new combinatorial genetic technology (CGT) platform that allows high-throughput in vivo isolation and analysis of rRNA mutations that might lead to drug resistance. This information is being used to develop anti-infectives that recognize the wild type and all viable mutants of the drug target. CGT also provides a novel mechanism for identifying new drug targets.Conclusions.—Antimicrobials produced using CGT will provide new therapies for the treatment of infections caused by human pathogens that are resistant to current antibiotics. The new therapeutics will be less susceptible to de novo resistance because CGT identifies all mutations of the target that might lead to resistance during the earliest stages of the drug discovery process.

Enzymes are used widely as labels in binding assays for protein analytes, because they provide signal amplification. Efforts at improving the assay sensitivity have been focused mainly on the synthesis of novel substrates, e.g. fluorogenic and chemiluminogenic ones. We report the investigation of T7 RNA polymerase (T7RP) as a label with unique characteristics for antigen quantification. In an in vitro, coupled (one-step) transcription/translation reaction, T7RP catalyzes the expression of an enzyme-coding DNA template to produce free enzyme (luciferase) in solution. We demonstrate that the generated luciferase is linearly related to the input T7RP in a range covering over four orders of magnitude. It is also shown that T7RP exhibits a significant level of self-replication (100-fold) in vitro by acting on a DNA template comprising the T7RP cDNA downstream of a T7 promoter. By combining the self-replication reaction with the expression of luciferase DNA, as low as 1400 T7RP molecules are detectable. Furthermore, the T7RP is biotinylated, complexed with streptavidin and used for antigen quantification in a microtiter well-based assay with high sensitivity and reproducibility.

The sensitivity of aequorin-based bioluminometric hybridization assays was enhanced by introducing, enzymically, multiple aequorin labels per DNA hybrid. The target DNA was hybridized in microtiter wells with an immobilized capture probe and a digoxigenin-labeled detection probe. The hybrids were reacted with an anti-digoxigenin antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Peroxidase catalyzed the oxidation of digoxigenin-tyramine by hydrogen peroxide, resulting in the attachment of multiple digoxigenin moieties to the solid phase. Aequorin-labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody was then allowed to bind to the immobilized digoxigenins. The bound aequorin was determined by its characteristic Ca2+-triggered bioluminescence. As low as 20 fmol/L (1 amol/ well) target DNA was detected with a signal-to-background ratio of 2.7. A hybridization assay that used only aequorin-labeled anti-digoxigenin antibody without the peroxidase amplification step gave a signal-to-background ratio of 2 for 160 fmol/L target DNA. The signal enhancement of the amplified assay was in the range of 14-38 times. The analytical range of the amplified assay extended up to 2600 fmol/L. The CVs were in the range of 5.5-7.3%.

Two cDNAs encoding firefly luciferase (FLuc) and Renilla luciferase (RLuc) were used as labels for the development of a microtiter well-based expression hybridization assay that allows simultaneous determination of two target DNA sequences. The target DNAs were denatured and hybridized with specific capture and detection probes. One detection probe was biotinylated while the other was tailed with poly(dT). The hybrids were reacted with a streptavidin−FLuc DNA complex and a poly(dA)-tailed RLuc DNA, respectively. Subsequently, the cDNA labels were expressed in vitro simultaneously and independently in the same transcription/translation reaction mixture. The activities of generated firefly and Renilla luciferases were co-determined in the same sample based on the differential requirements of their characteristic bioluminescent reactions for magnesium ions.