Highly efficient and site-specific gene transfer can be achieved by applying a few pulses of nanosecond pulsed LISWs to rat skin in vivo.

Since the CD44 variant 6(v6) molecule has been noted as a marker for tumor metastasis and prognosis in several tumors, we examined whether or not v6 is a useful marker for evaluating the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. In addition, we attempted to assess the clinicopathological implications for pancreatic cancer of the variant 2 (v2) isoform using a recently developed monoclonal antibody against a v2 epitope. The expression of CD44 variants was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded pancreatic cancer tissues from 42 patients who were confirmed surgically and histologically to have received curative resection. An indirect immunoperoxidase method was used with monoclonal antibodies against epitopes of the standard (CD44s) Key words: CD44 variants -Pancreatic cancer -Metastasis -Prognosis -Immunohistochemistry CD44 is a heavily glycosylated cell surface molecule which is involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions 1, 2) and mediates several functions, such as extracellular matrix cell adhesion, 3, 4) lymphocyte homing, 5,6) T cell activation 7) and tumor metastasis. 7,8) The CD44 family of polymorphic transmembrane glycoproteins is encoded by a complex gene 7,[9][10][11][12] that occupies a stretch of 60-80 kD assigned to the human chromosomal locus 11p13. Its human form is composed of at least 21 exons, 10 of which are constitutively expressed on almost all cell types to produce a heavily glycosylated 85-90 kD isoform known as standard form CD44s (Fig. 1). The remaining exons can be alternatively spliced in various combinations, and their products are incorporated into the polypeptide backbone encoded by the standard form exons. This results in a large array of protein isoforms (CD44v) which are differentially expressed in various tissues and at various stages in development. 13)Recently, it was demonstrated that the expression of one variant isoform of CD44 distinguished metastatic from non-metastatic pancreatic carcinoma cell lines in the rat.8) Evidence that CD44v itself has a role in metastasis came from the demonstration that transfection with cDNA encoding this isoform converted non-metastatic carcinoma rat cells into metastatic cells. 8) Although the functions of CD44v isoforms in humans remain unclear, it is thought that CD44v isoforms play an important role in the growth and metastasis of several kinds of tumors. [14][15][16][17][18] It has been demonstrated that the disturbed activity of the CD44 gene in malignant tumors results in the accumulation of immature mRNA transcripts containing introns 10,19) from the CD44 gene. Moreover, in a recent study, 20) direct comparison of Southern blots with western blots from matched tumor cell line extracts indicated that most of the diverse mRNA isoforms are not detectably translated into proteins. These findings, together with data from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis, show that the overexpression at the protein level involves only a minority of aberrant RNA transcripts.Recent clinic...

Background: We previously reported that inhaled nitric oxide (NO) improved pulmonary function following smoke inhalation. This study evaluates the

FObjective: To evaluate the pulmonary effect of treatMain Outcome Measures: Cardiopulmonary variment with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME) with ables and blood gases were measured serially. The muland without inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in a swine model tiple inert gas elimination technique was performed at 3 of endotoxemia.hours. The wet-to-dry lung weight ratio was measured following necropsy. Design: Randomized controlled trial.Results: Administration of LPS resulted in pulmonary Setting: Laboratory.arterial hypertension, pulmonary edema, and hypoxemia with increased ventilation perfusion ratio misInterventions: Following a 20-minute intravenous inmatching. None of these changes were attenuated by fusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (200 NAME treatment alone but all were significantly pLg/kg), animals were resuscitated with saline solution improved by the simultaneous administration of (1 mL/kg per minute) and observed for 3 hours while meinhaled NO. chanically ventilated (fraction of inspired oxygen [Fio,], 0.6; tidal volume, 12 mLikg; positive end-expiratory presConclusions: Systemic NO synthase inhibition failed to sure, 5 cm HRO). Group 1 (LPS, n=6) received no addirestore hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction following LPS tional treatment; group 2 (NAME, n=5) received NAME administration. The deleterious effects of endotoxemia (3 mg/kg per hour) for the last 2 hours; group 3 (NO, on pulmonary function can be improved by inhaled NO n=6) received NAME (3 mg/kg per hour) and inhaled NO but not by systemic inhibition of NO synthase. (40 ppm) for the last 2 hours; and group 4 (control, n=5) received only saline solution without LPS.(Arch Surg. 1994;129:1233-1239 S EPSIS RESULTS in a systemic in-lowing sepsis is a significant comorbid facflammatory response that is tor, therapy aimed at attenuating this mediated by various cytodeleterious process may exert a benefikines and activated leukocial effect on outcome. cytes. Systemic vasodilation Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstricand hypotension characteristic of sepsis tion is a mechanism that modulates pulhave been hypothesized to occur secondmonary gas exchange by matching the disarily to endogenous overproduction of nitribution of blood flow to ventilation. 7 ,8 tric oxide (NO).',' In contrast to the sysHowever, the cellular mechanisms that initemic vasodilatory response, pulmonary tiate and maintain HPV remain poorly un-

Although the addition of burn injury exaggerated the lung lipid peroxidation and hypoproteinemia in the presence of more pronounced hemodynamic changes, the pulmonary dysfunction was not accentuated.