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he production of high-quality repaired engines is possible only with the right selection of technological equipment. The issues of the processing quality on honing machines rank first in the repair production, since the reliability of engines depends on the processing quality of cylinder liners. It is revealed that for a clear understanding of the feasibility of using old and choosing new technological equipment, it is necessary to evaluate it from the standpoint of an integral quality indicator. As a basic model for assessing the quality of technological equipment, use is made of the cost method. According to it, the cost index of quality as the value inverse to the integral indicator of product quality is formed for evaluating machines. It is determined by the value of the unit cost of processing one part calculated in cost form by groups of resource intensity indicators multiplied by the corresponding resource prices. Each cost group is the product of the resource price by its specific consumption in physical terms, resulting in a cost index of quality. For honing machines used for processing cylinder liners, a relationship was determined to analyze the cost index of quality. This index includes four basic elements – the indicators of material intensity, labor intensity, energy intensity of machinery and the material intensity of the inputs used in the technological process. The evaluation of the quality of machines has revealed that purchasing new equipment is economically feasible as technical and economic level of new machines exceeds the base level due to increased productivity, reduced energy consumption and unit cost. It is most advisable to use the ROBBI SET150-L machine (Italy) from among the new ones, since its integral quality indicator is significantly higher than its analogues. From among the old ones, NAGEL VS8-50 (Germany) should be recommended, while domestic machines should be replaced due to their low efficiency.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating degenerative disease characterized by an immunological attack on the myelin sheath leading to demyelination and axon degeneration. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become attractive targets as therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as MS due to their potent immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. The placenta is a unique source of MSCs (PMSCs), demonstrates "fetomaternal" tolerance during pregnancy, and serves as a novel source of MSCs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. PMSCs and PMSC-EVs have been shown to promote remyelination in animal models of MS, however, the molecular mechanisms by which modulation of autoimmunity and promotion of myelination occurs have not been well elucidated. The current review will address the molecular mechanisms by which PMSC-EVs can promote remyelination in MS.

Lean Management is currently one of the best-known and is the most widely used management concepts in production enterprises. Lean creates such a culture of work in an organization that makes all participants in the organization interested in raising the level of quality, reducing costs and delivery time. However, there is no information about the influence of lean tools on the level of safety in production organizations. The paper presents the influence of five lean tools on the safety level by the example of metal manufacturing organization. The number of potentially dangerous situations and the number of accidents were taken as the measure of safety level. The obtained results indicates that the most important for the safety level is 5S, TPM while Kaizen, Poka-Yoka and VSM are smaller. The paper aims to broaden the knowledge about the dependence of the use of lean tools on the level of occupational safety.

The paper presents the author’s concept of increasing employment in rural areas by expanding the practice of efficient use of labor resources. When analyzing this problem and proposing a research hypothesis, the authors used such methods as synthesis, induction, assumptions, and a sociological survey. The study resulted in recommendations for increasing indirect employment in the studied region.

The technique and features of micrometering of cylinder liners are presented. The main factors influencing the wear of the cylinder liner and the rules for assigning planes and sections when conducting a micrometer of its inner surface are theoretically substantiated. On the example of a study of used cylinder liners of engines of the Yaroslavl Motor Plant, it was revealed that the greatest wear is manifested in the place where the upper piston ring stops in the upper part of the liner, and the amount of wear will be greater in the swinging plane of the connecting rod due to the action of normal force during pressure distribution at the beginning of the expansion stroke. High wear at the top is also due to high temperatures and lack of lubrication. It was found that the diameter of the upper non-wearing band can be used to judge the initial size of the sleeve hole. The underside of the cylinder liner is subject to wear due to the friction of the piston skirt against its surface.

The main machine repair problem and the main hidden defects are determined. The analysis of the protocols of the machine test stations showed that the greatest number of tractor failures occurs in the final drive gearboxes. To study their quality, such spare parts as the shaft, front axle half-shaft and the gear were selected. The main physical, mechanical and geometric parameters of the investigated spare parts, necessity and reasons for high quality control for qualitative production of spare parts are considered. Controlled geometric defects, methods and means of control of transmission spare parts are determined. Means of measurement for comparison of indicators and control accuracy are proposed.

The article deals with the role and tasks of general technical training of future engineers, justifies the choice of general technical subject “Machine parts, design basics and lifting and transport machines” as a link between general and special subjects. The article reveals the possibilities of using integrative computational and graphic works to form the general technical competence of engineering students, the technological aspect of designing integrated content of general technical subjects on the example of developing end-to-end complex individual tasks.

The estrogen receptor α (ERα) status of breast tumors is used to identify patients who may respond to endocrine agents such as tamoxifen. However, ERα status alone is not perfectly predictive, and there is a pressing need for more reliable markers of endocrine responsiveness. In this aim, we used a two-step strategy. We first screened genes of interest by a pangenomic 44 K oligonucleotide microarray in a series of ten ERα-positive tumors from five tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal patients who relapsed (distant metastasis) and five tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal patients who did not relapse, matched with respect to age, Scarff–Bloom–Richardson grade, lymph node status, and macroscopic tumor size. Genes of interest (n=24) were then investigated in an independent well-characterized series of ERα-positive unilateral invasive primary breast tumors from postmenopausal women who received tamoxifen alone as adjuvant hormone therapy after primary surgery. We identified four genes (HRPAP20, TIMELESS, PTPLB, and MGC29814) for which high mRNA levels were significantly associated with shorter relapse-free survival (log-rank test). We also showed that hormone-regulated proliferation-associated 20 kDa protein (HRPAP20) and TIMELESS are 17β-estradiol-regulated in vitro and are ectopically expressed in OH-Tam-resistant cell lines. In conclusion, these findings point to HRPAP20 and TIMELESS as promising markers of tamoxifen resistance in women with ERα-positive breast tumors.

Creatine and Creatinine Levels in the Larval Fat Body of the Moth, Spodoptera mauritia, during Development

In this paper we present the results of the first large scale side-scanning of two coastal marine Romanian NATURA 2000 sites - Mangalia and Eforie. Sonogram processing was performed using specialised software. An IXSEA ELICS 400-1250 system and DELPH Sonar sofware suite was used for data aquisition and processing. Seabed classification based on the acoustic characteristics and the merging of classes followed in order to generate a map of seabed types. Seabed classification was performed using QTC Swathview and acoustic facies maps were produced using QTC Clams. Ground truthing was provided mainly by grab samples and has given the necessary information to associate acoustic classes to specific seabed facies. Detailed seabed maps resulted to be used in subsequent habitat mapping.

An important objective in nowadays research is the discovery of new biomarkers that can detect colon tumours in early stages and indicate with accuracy the status of the disease. The aim of our study was to identify potential biomarkers for colon cancer onset and progression. We assessed gene expression profiles of a list of 10 candidate genes (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-7, DEFA 1, DEFA-5, DEFA-6, IL-8, CXCL-1, SPP-1, CTHRC-1) by quantitative real time PCR in triplets of colonic mucosa (normal, adenoma, tumoral tissue) collected from the same patient during surgery for a group of 20 patients. Additionally we performed immunohistochemistry for DEFA1-3 and SPP1. We remarked that DEFA5 and DEFA6 are key factors in adenoma formation (p0.05). MMP7 is important in the transition from a benign to a malignant status (p0.01) and further in metastasis being a prognostic indicator for tumor transformation and for the metastatic potential of cancer cells. IL8, irrespective of tumor stage, has a high mRNA level in adenocarcinoma (p0.05). The level of expression for SPP1 is correlated with tumor level. We suggest that high levels of DEFAS, DEFA6 (key elements in adenoma formation), MMP7 (marker of colon cancer onset and progression to metastasis), SPP1 (marker of progression) and IL8 could be used to diagnose an early stage colon cancer and to evaluate the prognostic of progression for colon tumors. Further, if DEFA5 and DEFA6 level of expression are low but MMP7, SPP1 and IL8 level are high we could point out that the transition from adenoma to adenocarcinoma had already occurred. Thus, DEFA5, DEFA6, MMP7, IL8 and SPP1 consist in a valuable panel of biomarkers, whose detection can be used in early detection and progressive disease and also in prognostic of colon cancer.

The purpose of screening cDNA libraries is to isolate a particular cDNA clone encoding a mRNA and by implication, a protein, of interest. The screening is based on identification of the desired clone among a large number of recombinant clones within the library selected (1,2). As an example of both the utility and power of library screening, we will relate our own library screening efforts utilized to isolate the nonmuscle high molecular weight myosin light chain kinase isoform from a human umbilical vein endothelial cell cDNA library (3). This unique nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase isoform phosphorylates myosin light chains, thereby playing an essential role in agonist-mediated endothelial cell contraction, paracellular gap formation and increased vascular permeability. We are hopeful that this step-by-step approach will help the reader to understand the discussed methods.

Objectives: Nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia remains a major concern in critically ill patients. We explored the potential impact of microorganism-targeted adjunctive immunotherapy in such patients. Patients and methods: This multicentre, open pilot Phase 2a clinical trial (NCT00851435) prospectively evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics and potential efficacy of three doses of 1.2 mg/kg panobacumab, a fully human monoclonal anti-lipopolysaccharide IgM, given every 72 h in 18 patients developing nosocomial P. aeruginosa (serotype O11) pneumonia. Results: Seventeen out of 18 patients were included in the pharmacokinetic analysis. In 13 patients receiving three doses, the maximal concentration after the third infusion was 33.9+8.0 mg/mL, total area under the serum concentration-time curve was 5397+1993 mg h/mL and elimination half-life was 102.3+47.8 h. Panobacumab was well tolerated, induced no immunogenicity and was detected in respiratory samples. In contrast to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) prediction, all 13 patients receiving three doses survived, with a mean clinical resolution in 9.0+2.7 days. Two patients suffered a recurrence at days 17 and 20. Conclusions: These data suggest that panobacumab is safe, with a pharmacokinetic profile similar to that in healthy volunteers. It was associated with high clinical cure and survival rates in patients developing nosocomial P. aeruginosa O11 pneumonia. We concluded that these promising results warrant further trials. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Ipsilateral segmental fractures of the diaphysis and the upper end of the femur are relatively rare. They are encountered more frequently in patients with multiple injuries. The basic prerequisite of treatment is an early and accurate diagnosis which may prove difficult in particular in patients with multiple injuries. Conservative treatment is associated with a high incidence of complications, therefore the authors recommend urgent or early surgical stabilization of both fractures. As a rule the method of open reposition and stabilization by plates according to principles of the AO school with the known advantages and shortcomings of this method is used. The authors found intramedullary osteosynthesis by a combination of interlocking nailing and the use of screws useful in intracapsular fractures or else Ender's method in case of the localization of the proximal fracture in the trochanteric area. In both types of fractures new types of nails are useful (long Gamma nail, reconstruction nail of the second or third generation) which before now were not available. Key words: ipsilateral femoral fractures, surgical treatment.

Cancer is a complex polygenic and multifactorial disease, resulting from successive dynamic changes in the genome of somatic cells and from the accumulation of molecular alterations in both tumour cells and host cells. For the majority of cancers, including many malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, our current means of diagnosis and treatment of the tumors are grossly insufficient. In recent years the development of several gene expression profiling methods such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), differential display, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and DNA arrays, together with the sequencing of the human genome, has provided an opportunity to monitor and investigate the complete cascade of molecular events leading to tumor development and progression. Given the central role played by surgeons in the current management of patients with solid cancers, it is of paramount importance for them to know the principles characterizing this laboratory tools to critically assess the results originating from this biotechnology. We describe in this article the scientific partnership between Fundeni Clinical Institute Bucharest, Romania and RNtech Company, Paris, France for the development of a center of biological resources (Biobank) as well as the standardized protocol of working with the biological samples, the ongoing projects and the future perspectives.

Testiranje motornog ulja SHPD kvalitete, gradacije viskoznosti SAE 15W-40 je obavljeno u jesenjsko-zimskom oranju, a s ciljem prikupljanja podataka o dinamici promjena osnovnih karakteristika motornog ulja i osnovom toga mogućnostima produljenja intervala zamjene. Oranje je obavljano na tlu teksturne oznake praškasto-glinasta ilovača, sadržaja vode 15-19 % na dubinu a=30-32 cm u vremenu 13. studenog do 11. prosinca 2002. godine. Posao je obavljen za 24 radna dana sa četverobraznim okretnim plugom Regent Megastar 600 CX i traktorom John Deere 8200 od 155 kW (210 KS), a uzorci ulja u količini od 1 litre uzimani su crpkom izravno u polju. Vrijednosti fizikalno kemijskih svojstava ulja kretale su se unutar očekivanih granica. Trend promjene viskoznosti navodi na zaključak da se tijekom ispitivanja viskoznost vrlo malo mijenjala i u cijelom razdoblju ostala je unutar početne gradacije, što znači da ulje pri teškim uvjetima rada traktora spješno održava svojstva podmazivosti bez opasnosti po ispravan rad i stanje motora. Ulje je i nakon završetka ispitivanja imalo visoku alkalnu rezervu (TBN), što znači da je dobro štitilo motor i da je moglo biti još u uporabi. Trošenje metalnih dijelova, vidljivo kroz vrijednosti količine metala u ulju, bilo je nisko. Tijekom ispitivanja ukupno je nadoliveno 3, 7 l ulja, što daje prosječnu potrošnju od 1, 22 l ulja na 100 sati traktora. Ukupno vrijeme testiranja ulja je bilo 304 sata traktora. Iako su gotovo svi pokazatelji ukazivali na mogućnost produženja rada, odnosno produljenja intervala zamjene ulja, krajnji interval zamjene ulja nije utvrđen s razlogom prije vremenog prekida ispitivanja od strane korisnika, vjerojatno potaknutih prethodno uobičajenim mjenjanjem ulja na 200 sati rada.

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of taxa, is of crucial importance to quarantine, pest management and analysis. Advances in DNA technology has resulted in an exceedingly vary of molecular techniques which might be employed in phylogenetically focussed approaches. Use of DNA sequence data derived from region of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (mtCOI) has been widely used to estimate phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomic levels across insects. The present study investigates the molecular evolution of the Nephotettix virescens using COI gene (DDBJ accession No. AB976528; ENA accession No. LM994675) and its usefulness for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within and among the leafhopper species.

A local increase of interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression has been recently demonstrated in Crohn's disease (CD), suggesting a role for mature IL-18 (cleaved by ICE protease) in the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and Th1 polarization observed in CD lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate IL-18 modulation and its potential immune consequences in CD lesions. We showed increased IL-18 production in chronic CD lesions and identified epithelial cells and macrophages as IL-18-producing cells. A twofold increase in ICE alpha, beta, and/or gamma mRNA that encodes for the complete mature peptide was required for ICE activity, and a marked increase in IL-18R-positive immune cells was observed in chronic lesions compared to uninvolved areas or normal control samples. Chronic lesions also displayed intense transcription of IL-18-induced cytokines, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-8. By contrast, when neither IL-18 nor ICE mRNAs were enhanced (early asymptomatic CD lesions), IL-18-induced cytokines were not up-regulated. These results are in accordance with a putative role of mature IL-18 in the pathogenesis of CD.

The thrombocytopenia and absent radii (TAR) syndrome is a rare disease associating bilateral radial agenesis and congenital thrombocytopenia. Here, we investigated in vitro megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation and expression of c-mpl in 6 patients. Using blood or marrow CD34(+) cells, the colony-forming unit (CFU)-MK number was markedly reduced. CD34(+) cells were also cultured in liquid medium in the presence of a combination of 3 cytokines (stem cell factor, interleukin-3, and interleukin-6) or megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF) with or without SCF. In the presence of PEG-rHuMGDF, the majority of mature megakaryocytes (CD41 high, CD42 high) underwent apoptosis. This phenomenon was also observed in cultures stimulated by three cytokines. However, this last combination of cytokines allowed a more complete terminal MK differentiation. Surprisingly, a homogeneous population of CD34(-)CD41(+)CD42(-) cells accumulated during the cultures. This population was unable to differentiate along the myeloid pathways. This result suggests that a fraction of MK cells is unable to differentiate in the TAR syndrome. We subsequently investigated whether this could be related to an abnormality in c-mpl. No mutation or rearrangement in the c-mpl gene was found by Southern blots or by sequencing of the c-mpl coding region and its promoter in any of the patients. Using Western blot analysis, a decreased level of Mpl was found in patient platelets. A decreased level of c-mpl messenger RNA in TAR platelets was also detected with a lower c-mpl-P to c-mpl-K ratio in comparison to adult platelets. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the thrombocytopenia of the TAR syndrome is associated with a dysmegakaryocytopoiesis characterized by cells blocked at an early stage of differentiation. (Blood. 2000;95:1633-1641)

This article is the second in a series of three that focus on recent changes in the caries status of children and adolescents in the United States.This study is based on analyses of data regarding untreated carious primary teeth among children 2 to 10 years of age from the first and third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, or NHANES I and NHANES III. The NHANES is conducted periodically by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Overall, the number of carious primary teeth among children 2 to 10 years old decreased from 1.42 as measured in NHANES I to 0.63 as measured in NHANES III. The number of carious primary teeth in children 2 to 10 years old also decreased across four demographic variables: age, sex, race and poverty level.The number of untreated carious primary teeth among children has declined. Since the 1970s, the absolute difference in untreated caries between disadvantaged children in the United States and the rest of the U.S. child population has narrowed, although not to the same extent as in permanent teeth.On average, children of preschool and elementary-school age have less untreated caries than in the past. More often, dentists do not need to treat on a first visit. This provides more opportunity to introduce these children to preventive dentistry at an early age.

Placental iodide transport is critical for the fetal thyroid function, but the molecular mechanisms of this transport are not understood. The expression of two recently identified iodide transporters, namely the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and pendrin, the product of the gene responsible for the Pendred syndrome (PDS), was studied using real-time kinetic quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry 1) in placental tissues collected at different gestational ages and 2) in primary cultures of villous cytotrophoblast cells (VCT) that differentiate and fuse over 2-3 days in vitro to form villous syncytiotrophoblast (VSCT) cells. Both NIS and PDS genes are expressed in placenta, albeit at low levels compared with those in thyroid tissue. NIS gene expression in placental samples from first trimester and term pregnancies was similar. In contrast, the expression of PDS gene was higher in term than in first trimester pregnancy samples. In vitro, NIS gene was expressed at a high level in VCT obtained from first trimester pregnancy, and its expression decreased by 3- to 4-fold during the differentiation of VCT in VSCT. Expression of NIS was lower (up to 30-fold) in VCT obtained in placental samples from third trimester than from first trimester pregnancy. In contrast, the expression of PDS gene was low in VCT and increased by 5- to 10-fold during VSCT formation; this was observed in cells isolated from placental samples of both first trimester and term pregnancies. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that NIS protein was present on the entire membrane of VCT, whereas pendrin was mainly located at the brush border membrane of VSCT, facing the mother. In conclusion, 1) NIS and PDS genes are differently expressed in the placenta during gestation; and 2) whereas pendrin is expressed at the brush border membrane of syncytiotrophoblast cells, NIS protein is mainly located in the cytotrophoblast layer.

The myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) gene, a muscle member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, yields both smooth muscle and nonmuscle cell isoforms. Both isoforms are known to regulate contractile activity via calcium/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation. We previously cloned from a human endothelial cell (EC) cDNA library a high-molecular-weight nonmuscle MLCK isoform (EC MLCK (MLCK 1) with an open reading frame that encodes a protein of 1914 amino acids. We now describe four novel nonmuscle MLCK isoforms (MLCK 2, 3a, 3b, and 4) that are the alternatively spliced variants of an mRNA precursor that is transcribed from a single human MLCK gene. The primary structure of the cDNA encoding the nonmuscle MLCK isoform 2 is identical to the previously published human nonmuscle MLCK (MLCK 1) (J. G. N. Garcia et al., 1997, Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 16, 489-494) except for a deletion of nucleotides 1428-1634 (D2). The full nucleotide sequence of MLCK isoforms 3a and 3b and partial sequence for MLCK isoform 4 revealed identity to MLCK 1 except for deletions at nucleotides 5081-5233 (MLCK 3a, D3), double deletions of nucleotides 1428-1634 and 5081-5233 (MLCK 3b), and nucleotide deletions 4534-4737 (MLCK 4, D4). Northern blot analysis demonstrated the extended expression pattern of the nonmuscle MLCK isoform(s) in both human adult and human fetal tissues. RT-PCR using primer pairs that were designed to detect specifically nonmuscle MLCK isoforms 2, 3, and 4 deletions (D2, D3, and D4) confirmed expression in both human adult and human fetal tissues (lung, liver, brain, and kidney) and in human endothelial cells (umbilical vein and dermal). Furthermore, relative quantitative expression studies demonstrated that the nonmuscle MLCK isoform 2 is the dominant splice variant expressed in human tissues and cells. Further analysis of the human MLCK gene revealed that the MLCK 2 isoform represents the deletion of an independent exon flanked by 5' and 3' neighboring introns of 0.6 and 7.0 kb, respectively. Together these studies demonstrate for the first time that the human MLCK gene yields multiple nonmuscle MLCK isoforms by alternative splicing of its transcribed mRNA precursor with differential distribution of these isoforms in various human tissues and cells.

The authors analyzed trends for rent and mortgage, as reported by independent active private practitioners, for the period of 1989-1995. Rent and mortgage were analyzed overall and by different characteristics.In the ADA's annual "Survey of Dental Practice," dentists reported gross billings and net incomes, as well as itemized practice expenses. The authors tabulated survey responses over time to develop trends and compare rent and mortgage expenses for each year. If trends over time were not exhibited, the authors combined multiple years of data to develop more reliable statistics.Approximately three-fourths of independent active private practitioners reported rent but no mortgage expenses. The percentages of practitioners who reported rent or mortgage was stable over time. The percentage reporting rent only as an expense increased with the number of dentists in the practice, the age of the reporting dentist and the number of office locations. In contrast, the opposite was true for dentists reporting mortgage only as an expense.The authors found that office rental is more common than is office ownership and that mortgages as a percentage of gross billings and in dollar amounts were similar to rents. They also found that because the cost of office space as a percentage of gross billings decreased as the number of dentists in the practice increased, limited economies of scale may be present in the cost of dental office space.There is not a large financial advantage to ownership, so renting is likely to remain an important way to acquire office space. As only limited economies of scale exist in office space expenses, many group practices may choose to rent office space.

Screening was performed in 130 consecutive patients with apparently sporadic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) to assess the prevalence of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and hormonal production. Screening for MEN1 included measurement of serum calcium and PTH [PTH-(1-84)], gastrin, PRL, and insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) levels. MEN1 genetic testing was performed in patients with two components of the MEN1 syndrome. Screening for hormonal production included measurement of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), calcitonin (CT), glycoprotein alpha-subunit (GP alpha), hCG beta-subunit (free hCG beta), and somatostatin levels. Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) determinations were also performed. Four patients had hyperparathyroidism, none of whom had pituitary or familial disease. Hyperprolactinemia was compatible with a pituitary disease in one patient. No acromegalic feature or any increase in IGF-I was found. Hypergastrinemia, compatible with an associated pancreatic NET, was found in one patient. Genetic screening of the MEN1 gene was performed in five of the six patients with two components of the MEN1 syndrome. A nonsense mutation (Arg108stop) was identified in the tumor of one patient. Elevated NSE, 5-HIAA, CT, GP alpha, free hCG beta, SMS, and nonsuppressible UFC were found in 47%, 46%, 14%, 19%, 12%, 3%, and 6% of NET patients, respectively. Production of CT, GP alpha, and free hCG beta was highly related to the primary site: all but two of these secretions originated in foregut NET. 5-HIAA secretion was found in 27% of foregut-derived and 85% of midgut-derived NET. In conclusion, MEN1 is a rare event in patients presenting with apparently sporadic NET. It occurred mainly in foregut NET and should be screened for by serum calcium and PTH-(1-84) measurements. Routine hormonal measurements should depend on the primary site. NSE, 5-HIAA, CT, and alphaGP should be routinely measured in foregut-derived NET; only serum NSE and 5-HIAA measurements are recommended in midgut-derived NET.

The expression of 4 thyroid tissue-specific genes [Na+/I- symporter (NIS), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (Tg), TSH receptor (TSH-R)] as well as of the glucose transporter type 1 (Glut1) gene was analyzed in 90 human thyroid tissues Messenger ribonucleic acids were extracted from 43 thyroid carcinomas (38 papillary and 5 follicular), 24 cold adenomas, 5 Graves' thyroid tissues, 8 toxic adenomas, and 5 hyperplastic thyroid tissues; 5 normal thyroid tissues were used as reference. A kinetic quantitative PCR method, based on the fluorescent TaqMan methodology and real-time measurement of fluorescence, was used. NIS expression was decreased in 40 of 43 thyroid carcinomas (10- to 1200-fold) and in 20 of 24 cold adenomas (2- to 700-fold); it was increased in toxic adenomas and Graves' thyroid tissues (up to 140-fold). TPO expression was decreased in thyroid carcinomas, but was normal in cold adenomas; it was increased in toxic adenomas and Graves' thyroid tissues Tg expression was decreased in thyroid carcinomas, but was normal in the other tissues. TSH-R expression was normal in most tissues studied and was decreased in only some thyroid carcinomas. In thyroid cancer tissues, a positive relationship was found between the individual levels of expression of NIS, TPO, Tg and TSH-R. No relationship was found with the age of the patient. Higher tumor stages (stagesI vs stage I) were associated with lower expression of NIS (P = 0.03) and TPO (P0.01). Expression of the Glut1 gene was increased in 1 of 24 adenomas and in 8 of 43 thyroid carcinomas. In 6 thyroid carcinoma patients, 131I uptake was studied in vivo; NIS expression was low in all samples; 3 patients with normal Glut-1 gene expression had 131I uptake in metastases, whereas the other 3 patients with increased Glut-1 gene expression had no detectable 131I uptake. In conclusion, this study shows 1) a reduced expression of NIS gene in most hypofunctioning benign and malignant thyroid tumors; 2) a differential regulation of the expression of thyroid-specific genes; 3) an increased expression of Glut-1 gene in some malignant tumors that may suggest a role for glucose derivative tracers to detect in vivo thyroid cancer metastases by positron emission tomography scanning.