NEWSAND
VIEWS
371
27 S. M. D’Ambrosio, J. W. Whetstone, L. Slazinski and E. Lowney, Photorepair of pyrimidine dimers in human skin in vivo, Photochem. Photobiol., 34 (1981) 461-464. 28 G. Eggset, G. Volden and H. Krokan, Characterization of antibodies specific for W-damaged DNA by ELISA, Photo&em. Photobiol., 45 (1987) 485-491. 29 I. Husain, W. L. Carrier, J. D. Regan and A. Sancar, Photoreactivation of killing in E. coli K-12 phr- cells is not caused by pyrimidine dimer reversal, Photo&em. Photobiol., 48 (1988) 233-234. 30 L. Roza, K. J. M. van der Wulp, S. J. McFarlane, P. H. M. Lohman and R. A. Baan, Detection of cyciobutane thymine dimers in DNA of human cells with monoclonal antibodies raised against a thymine dimer-containing tetranucleotide, Photo&em. Photobiol., 48 (1988) 627-634. 31 L. Roza, F. R. de Gruijl, J. B. A. Bergen Henegouwen, K. Guikers, H. van Weelden, G. P. van der Schans and R. A. Baan, Detection of photorepair of UV-induced thymine dimers in human epidermis by immunofluorescence microscopy, J. Invest. Derma tel., in the press.
What does HPD really mean? John D. Spikes Department
of Biology,
University
of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 ~..%A.)
Recently, in this News and Views section of J. Photo&em. Photobid. B: Bid., there has been an interesting (and humorous) exchange of comments on the desirability of using hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as a sensitizer for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors [l-3]. Some investigators are opposed to the continuing use of HPD for clinical purposes since, unlike almost all other drugs approved for human use, HPD is a complex (and variable) mixture containing porphyrin monomers and aggregates, and a dimer/oligomer fraction. I recently discovered a new problem with the use of HPD: this abbreviation can mean different things in different areas of biomedical science! While carrying out a computerized literature search, using the MEDLINE” database abstracts (published by the National Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), I found that HPD, in addition to standing for hematoporphyrin derivative, is also used to designate the following: haloperidol, hearing protective device, hematopoietic disorder, hereditary progressive disorder, high phosphate diet, high protein diet, home peritoneal dialysis, hypnogenic paroxysmal distonia, hypothalamic-pituitary disconnection, etc. PF, as used in PF II (the abbreviation for Photofrin II, a partially purified HPD preparation), can stand for parafollicular, pelvic fracture, pemphigus foliaceous, peritoneal fluid, platelet factor, proflavine and pulmonary function. Even PDT has several meanings, including pancreatico-
372
NEWS AND VIEWS
duodenal transplant, personality disorder and/or trait, and population doubling time. The abbreviation for our European Society for Photobiology (ESP) is used in many ways. It also designates egg-specific protein, epidemic spastic paraparesis, electrical stimulation of the penis, end-systolic pressure, excitatory synaptic potential and extrasensory perception. Even the American Society for Photobiology (ASP) has some competition for its abbreviation, including acid-soluble peptide, anal sphincter pressure, ankle systolic pressure, antisocial personality disorder, aspiration pneumonia and atria1 septal perforation. Therefore, we should be very careful in our use of abbreviations in photobiology; abbreviations with multiple speciality-specific meanings can confuse non-specialists!
1
D. Kessel, A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization, J. Photobiol. B: Biol., 4 (1989) 123-124. M. A. J. Rodgers, Comment on “A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization”, J. Photuchem. Photobiol. B: Biol., 5 (1990) 525. D. Kessel, Comment on “A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization” (Michael A. J. Rodgers, J. Photo&em. Photobiol. B: Biol., 5 (1990) 5) - a comment, J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biol., 8 (1991) 341-342.
Photo&em. 2
3
VIEWS
371
27 S. M. D’Ambrosio, J. W. Whetstone, L. Slazinski and E. Lowney, Photorepair of pyrimidine dimers in human skin in vivo, Photochem. Photobiol., 34 (1981) 461-464. 28 G. Eggset, G. Volden and H. Krokan, Characterization of antibodies specific for W-damaged DNA by ELISA, Photo&em. Photobiol., 45 (1987) 485-491. 29 I. Husain, W. L. Carrier, J. D. Regan and A. Sancar, Photoreactivation of killing in E. coli K-12 phr- cells is not caused by pyrimidine dimer reversal, Photo&em. Photobiol., 48 (1988) 233-234. 30 L. Roza, K. J. M. van der Wulp, S. J. McFarlane, P. H. M. Lohman and R. A. Baan, Detection of cyciobutane thymine dimers in DNA of human cells with monoclonal antibodies raised against a thymine dimer-containing tetranucleotide, Photo&em. Photobiol., 48 (1988) 627-634. 31 L. Roza, F. R. de Gruijl, J. B. A. Bergen Henegouwen, K. Guikers, H. van Weelden, G. P. van der Schans and R. A. Baan, Detection of photorepair of UV-induced thymine dimers in human epidermis by immunofluorescence microscopy, J. Invest. Derma tel., in the press.
What does HPD really mean? John D. Spikes Department
of Biology,
University
of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 ~..%A.)
Recently, in this News and Views section of J. Photo&em. Photobid. B: Bid., there has been an interesting (and humorous) exchange of comments on the desirability of using hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as a sensitizer for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors [l-3]. Some investigators are opposed to the continuing use of HPD for clinical purposes since, unlike almost all other drugs approved for human use, HPD is a complex (and variable) mixture containing porphyrin monomers and aggregates, and a dimer/oligomer fraction. I recently discovered a new problem with the use of HPD: this abbreviation can mean different things in different areas of biomedical science! While carrying out a computerized literature search, using the MEDLINE” database abstracts (published by the National Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), I found that HPD, in addition to standing for hematoporphyrin derivative, is also used to designate the following: haloperidol, hearing protective device, hematopoietic disorder, hereditary progressive disorder, high phosphate diet, high protein diet, home peritoneal dialysis, hypnogenic paroxysmal distonia, hypothalamic-pituitary disconnection, etc. PF, as used in PF II (the abbreviation for Photofrin II, a partially purified HPD preparation), can stand for parafollicular, pelvic fracture, pemphigus foliaceous, peritoneal fluid, platelet factor, proflavine and pulmonary function. Even PDT has several meanings, including pancreatico-
372
NEWS AND VIEWS
duodenal transplant, personality disorder and/or trait, and population doubling time. The abbreviation for our European Society for Photobiology (ESP) is used in many ways. It also designates egg-specific protein, epidemic spastic paraparesis, electrical stimulation of the penis, end-systolic pressure, excitatory synaptic potential and extrasensory perception. Even the American Society for Photobiology (ASP) has some competition for its abbreviation, including acid-soluble peptide, anal sphincter pressure, ankle systolic pressure, antisocial personality disorder, aspiration pneumonia and atria1 septal perforation. Therefore, we should be very careful in our use of abbreviations in photobiology; abbreviations with multiple speciality-specific meanings can confuse non-specialists!
1
D. Kessel, A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization, J. Photobiol. B: Biol., 4 (1989) 123-124. M. A. J. Rodgers, Comment on “A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization”, J. Photuchem. Photobiol. B: Biol., 5 (1990) 525. D. Kessel, Comment on “A guide to the terminology of hematoporphyrin-catalyzed photosensitization” (Michael A. J. Rodgers, J. Photo&em. Photobiol. B: Biol., 5 (1990) 5) - a comment, J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biol., 8 (1991) 341-342.
Photo&em. 2
3
