We report here the identification and characterization of two minicircular plasmid-like DNAs isolated from mitochondria of a moroccan date-palm variety. Both molecules were cloned and used as probes in Southern analyses of mitochondrial and total-cellular DNA. Evidence was obtained that these plasmid-like DNAs cross-hybridized but did not show any homology to nuclear, chloroplastic, or main mitochondrial genomes. Sequence analysis revealed that both minicircles, 1,346- and 1,160-bp long, share several stretches of homology, the most important consisting of three identical clusters of lengths 42, 47 and 38 bp. In contrast, no major homology was observed with the other higher-plant plasmid-like DNAs reported so far. Sequence analysis also revealed the presence, in the same strand of one of the minicircles, of two open reading frames potentially encoding proteins 89 and 86 amino acids in length. Interestingly, Northern analyses, using single strands of each minicircle as probes, showed the presence of two transcripts hybridizing only with the strand bearing these two open reading frames. However, computer-assisted comparison of the predicted polypeptide sequences with a protein-sequence library failed to detect any significant homology to known sequences.

Base Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Small nodule detection in cirrhotic livers: evaluation with US, spiral CT, and MRI and correlation with pathologic examination of explanted liver.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the detection and characterization of nodules > or = 8 mm and small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in liver cirrhosis. METHOD: Pathologic examination and results of US, helical CT, and dynamic MRI with gadolinium were compared after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) of 43 cirrhotic patients. Nodules were classified as macroregenerative nodules (MRNs), borderline nodules (BNs), and HCC. RESULTS: Pathologic examination classified 69 nodules: 50 MRNs, 6 BNs, and 13 HCCs. Sensitivities of MRN, BN, and HCC detection were, respectively, for US imaging 2% (1/50), 33.3% (2/6), and 46.2% (6/13); for helical CT 2% (1/50), 50% (3/6), and 53.8% (7/13); and for MRI 42% (21/50), 50% (3/6), and 76.9% (10/13). MRI detected 21 MRNs. They presented on T1/T2-weighted images as hyperintense/hypointense (n = 8), hyperintense/isointense (n = 7), hypointense/hypointense (n = 4), hypointense/isointense (n = 1), and hypointense depicted only on echo planar imaging (n = 1). The three detected BNs were hyperintense/hypointense nodules. The 10 detected HCCs appeared hyperintense/isointense (n = 7), hyperintense/hypointense (n = 2), and hypointense/isointense (n = 1). None of the MRNs but eight HCCs and one BN were enhanced after gadolinium injection. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MRI is the most sensitive technique for detecting liver nodules. No MR signal intensity pattern characteristic of small HCCs enables differentiation from benign nodules, however. Gadolinium enhancement is the most sensitive and specific characteristic of HCC.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[GABA levels in the plasma of patients with endogenous depression and during the treatment with thymoleptics].

The analysis of GABA levels in plasma of 28 normal persons and 25 patients with endogenous depression did not show any significant differences between both groups. Neither did we observe any differences in GABA levels in patients treated with antidepressant drugs before and after treatment, during a remission or a depression, in responders or nonresponders to treatment. The study did not indicate any results pointing to a role of gabaergic mechanisms in the pathophysiology of endogenous depression or in the action of tricyclic antidepressant drugs.

Adult↗