The expression and clinical significance of pSTAT3, VEGF and VEGF-C in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a central cytoplasmic transcription factor and regulates a number of pathways important in tumorigenesis including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis.This study aims to investigate the expression of pSTAT3, VEGF and VEGF-C in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and their relations to the clinicopathological features, tumor angiogenesis and prognosis. In the present study, the expression of pSTAT3, VEGF and VEGF-C and microvascular density (MVD) were examined via immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological information was collected and patients were regularly followed up. The relationship between the parameters and the clinicopathological features were analyzed, and the univariate and multivariate prognostic factors were also analyzed. The expression of pSTAT3 in tumor tissues was significantly higher in contrast to that in normal tissues, and pSTAT3 was related to VEGF and VEGF-C expression, MVD, tumor size, lymphogenous status and TNM staging (P<0.05). Survival analysis suggested that tumor size, TNM staging, pSTAT3 and VEGF expression were risk factors of prognosis, but no independent factors were found. We concluded that pSTAT3, which was a risk factor of prognosis, was abnormally expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and related to tumor size, TNM staging and lymphatic metastasis. pSTAT3 may promote tumor angiogenesis via up-regulating VEGF on protein and even gene levels, and enhance the early lymphatic metastasis through VEGF-C. Better understanding of STAT3 signaling pathways in angiogenesis may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies in angiogenesis and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

Difference in pre- and postchemotherapy vascular endothelial growth factor levels as a prognostic indicator in osteosarcoma

This retrospective analysis examined the difference in pre- and postchemotherapy levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as an indicator of osteosarcoma prognosis. VEGF protein levels were assessed immunohistochemically in primary tumour samples from 61 osteosarcoma patients diagnosed between February 2001 and July 2005. The difference in pre- and postchemotherapy VEGF protein reduction levels was categorized into weak (23 patients) and strong (38 patients). The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in the weak VEGF reduction group (34.8%) than in the strong VEGF reduction group (73.7%). The weak VEGF reduction group had significantly higher rates of metastasis and recurrence. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the change in VEGF was an independent and significant factor for predicting a good prognosis. The analysis of VEGF will enable clinicians to tailor surgery and chemotherapy regimens more appropriately, earlier in the disease process.

Intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytomas in children and adolescents: CT and MR imaging findings

Intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytomas in children and adolescents are prone to bleeding during surgery. CT and MR imaging may serve a role in preoperative diagnosis. The purpose of this report was to describe the radiologic findings in 9 pathologically proved cases of intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytomas in children and adolescents. The average duration of symptoms was short (mean, 4.0 months; median, 1.5 months). The intraoperative blood loss was large (mean, 3561 mL; median, 1000 mL). Tumors were extra-axial, irregularly multilobular, and hypervascular. Radiologically, they showed mixed attenuation on precontrast CT images, heterogeneous signal intensity on precontrast MR imaging, and marked and heterogeneous enhancement on postcontrast MR imaging. Bone erosion was sometimes present, but hyperostosis was not present. On MR imaging, multiple signal intensity voids of vessels were observed in 100% (8/8) of tumors with AVM-like signal intensity flow voids in 25% (2/8) of tumors. These results suggest that CT and MR imaging findings may be helpful for preoperative diagnosis.

An oncogenic role of miR-142-3p in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) by targeting glucocorticoid receptor-α and cAMP/PKA pathways

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of 19-24 nucleotide non-coding RNAs with posttranscriptional regulatory functions. The involvement of miRNAs in normal hematopoiesis implies that deregulated miRNAs might contribute to leukemogenesis. To date, although certain miRNAs have been established a clear oncogenic role in hematological malignancies, other individual miRNAs potentially involved in human leukemogenesis still remain elusive. In this report, we showed that miR-142-3p was upregulated in human T-leukemic cell lines and primary T-leukemic cells isolated from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients and its expressive levels were correlated with patients' prognosis. Such an oncogenic role of miR-142-3p could be explained by its targeting cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) and glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRα). High levels of miR-142-3p resulted in low levels of cAMP and weak activity of PKA, thus relieving the inhibitory effect of PKA on T-leukemic cell proliferation. Meanwhile, miR-142-3p decreased GRα protein expression by directly targeting the 3'-untranslational region of GRα mRNA, leading to glucocorticoid resistance. Transfection of the miR-142-3p inhibitor effectively converted glucocorticoid resistance, because of the resultant increase of GRα expression and PKA activity. These findings suggest that miR-142-3p is critical in T-cell leukemogenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in T-ALL patients.

The effects and mechanisms of blockage of STAT3 signaling pathway on IL-6 inducing EMT in human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro

Aberrant Signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) signaling pathway is a major cause of tumor invasion and metastasis; the underlying mechanisms, however, are not well understood. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an early event that occurs during invasion of cancers of an epithelial origin. It remains elusive whether STAT3signaling pathway is involved in EMT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of blockage of STAT3 signaling pathway on IL-6 inducing EMT in human pancreatic cancer cells. We used SW1990 cells and induced them to undergo EMT by exposing these cells to soluble factor interleukin-6 (IL-6). The expression of Snail, E-cadherin, and Twist was detected by reverse transcription-PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Cell morphology was observed under invert phase-contrast microscope.The invasion ability was determined by cell invasion assay in vitro. Our results demonstrated that STAT3 signaling pathway was involved in pancreatic cancer cell invasion and EMT, and that EMT induced by IL-6 was associated with the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway. Inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway by silencing of the STAT3 gene with RNAi blocked STAT3 signaling pathway activation and suppressed EMT in pancreatic cancer cells. Collectively, the STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the process of EMT of pancreatic cancer by regulating Snail gene expression. Better understanding of STAT3 signaling pathways in EMT may contribute to development of novel therapeutic strategies in invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

Spiers Memorial Lecture. Breeding and building molecular spies

To circumvent the limited spatial resolution of fluorescent protein imaging, we are developing genetically encoded tags for electron microscopy (EM).

Rheological Properties of Neat and Calcium Carbonate Particles Filled Polypropylene Blends under Axial Vibration Force Field

Structures, working mechanism, data collecting and processing methods of the self-made multifunctional all-electronic rheometer for polymer composites were introduced in detail. The validity of this equipment was proved by deriving the apparent shear viscosity expression under axial vibration condition and comparing the results obtained from both this self-made rheometer and Rosand Rh7D capillary rheometer at steady state. With this equipment, the effects of calcium carbonate weight fraction, particle size and vibration parameters on apparent shear viscosity of calcium carbonate filled propylene composites were investigated. The results show that: the apparent shear viscosity of the composites increases with the filled particle concentration. However, it is seldom affected by particle size within certain a range of shear rate. While the apparent shear viscosity increases with the decrease of particle size at moderate shear rate. Besides, the apparent shear viscosity declines rapidly with the increasing vibration amplitude. However it exhibits a cosinoidal or sinusoidal trend as vibration frequency increases and peaks at the resonant frequency of the composites.

Lower Temperature Plasticizing and Extrusion of Polymer in Spherical Screw Extruder under Vibration Force Field

Physical and mathematical model for polymer plasticizing in proposed electromagnetic dynamic spherical screw extruder were developed to explore polymer plasticizing and molding mechanism at lower temperature under vibration force field. Polymer plasticizing mechanism was studied by deriving the mathematical expressions of energy consumed and the polymer flow. The energy consumed in polymer plasticizing was depicted in terms of vibrating dissipation, polymer deformation, shear and friction energy. LDPE was used as an objective material and extruded by the extruder with the electromagnetic excitation and spherical screw. The experimental results show the good agreement with theoretical calculations. Both of them show that: Polymer processing temperature and energy consumption decrease significantly while the plasticizing rate is increased over 60% by introducing the vibration force field. The research offers experimental and theoretical references as well as the evaluation method for optimizing the polymer processing parameters and designing the vibration induced equipment.

House fly vector for porcine circovirus 2b on commercial pig farms

We investigated the on-farm potential of common farm invertebrates to transmit porcine circovirus genotype 2 (PCV2) and other non-enveloped viruses. In 2007 (pre-PCV2 vaccination) and 2008 (post-PCV2 vaccination), invertebrate communities were trap-collected (8 trap-dates per year), counted and sorted into genus and species groups on 5 farm study sites within England. Total DNA was extracted from feces of representational cross-sections of pigs on each farm in each year and also from intact samples of Diptera flies (ca. 20 flies per trap) and dissected viscera of any cockroaches (ca. 5 per trap). Each DNA sample was tested for the presence of PCV2 DNA by separate PCRs for ORF1 and ORF2. Positive samples were sub-typed via DNA sequencing of PCR products. The pig-associated Diptera fly community was dominated by Musca domestica (house fly) in both years on all 5 farms; numerous Blatta orientalis cockroaches were only noted on 1 farm throughout. Specific PCV2b DNA elements were routinely detected (25-60% of samples) in weaner/nursery pig feces in 2007, but not in other age groups. Musca collected on 4 of the 5 farms in 2007 was also positive for PCV2b DNA elements. Comparison of ORF2 sequences indicated that ORF2 sequences indicating PCV2b genotype were identical in pigs and flies. Minor changes were noted in ORF1 sequences from different samples. Flies collected in the weaner/nursery area were most likely to be positive (22-50% of fly-trap samples). DNA extracted from all cockroaches (2007 and 2008) and all flies and pig feces in 2008 were also negative throughout. We suggest that Musca flies have the most likely on-farm potential to carry and transmit PCV2b due to their life cycle incorporating stages in close association with pigs and their habitat. Vaccination appeared to reduce environmental load of PCV2b.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi from Camptotheca acuminata (Nyssaceae)

Agricultural research of plant-derived endophytic fungi has grown in recent decades. We isolated 26 endophytic fungi from the leaves, stems and fruits of "the tree of life", Camptotheca acuminata, and tested them for antimicrobial activities based on growth inhibition measurements in a modified agar diffusion method. Fermentation broths from most of the isolates exhibited antifungal activity and 50% exhibited antibacterial activity; some of them also exhibited strong broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The strongest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by strains XSY10 and XSY15 against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, with 75% and 67% inhibition, respectively. Strain XSJ01 gave strong activity against pathogenic bacteria, with inhibition zones more than 20 mm in diameter. The isolates were identified by molecular methods as belonging to nine taxa: Nigrospora, Diaporthe, Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Pestalotiopsis, Sordariomycete, Guignardiai, Penicillium, and Zythia. Based on these results, we conclude that the endophytic fungi of C. acuminata are promising sources of novel bioactive compounds.

TRE17/USP6 oncogene translocated in aneurysmal bone cyst induces matrix metalloproteinase production via activation of NF-kappaB

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is an aggressive, pediatric bone tumor characterized by extensive destruction of the surrounding bone. Though first described over 60 years ago, its molecular etiology remains poorly understood. Recent work revealed that ABCs harbor translocation of TRE17/USP6, leading to its transcriptional upregulation. TRE17 encodes a ubiquitin-specific protease (USP), and a TBC domain that mediates binding to the Arf6 GTPase. However, the mechanisms by which TRE17 overexpression contributes to tumor pathogenesis, and the role of its USP and TBC domains are unknown. ABCs are characterized by osteolysis, inflammatory recruitment, and extensive vascularization, processes in which matrix proteases play a prominent role. This led us to explore whether TRE17 regulates the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In the current study, we demonstrate that TRE17 is sufficient to induce expression of MMP-9 and MMP-10, in a manner requiring its USP activity, but not its ability to bind Arf6. TRE17 induces transcription of MMP-9 through activation of NFκB, mediated in part by the GTPase RhoA and its effector kinase, ROCK. Furthermore, xenograft studies demonstrate that TRE17 induces formation of tumors that reproduce multiple features of ABC, including a high degree of vascularization, with an essential role for the USP domain. In sum, these studies reveal that TRE17 is sufficient to initiate tumorigenesis, identify MMPs as novel TRE17 effectors that likely contribute to ABC pathogenesis, and define the underlying signaling mechanism of their induction.

Subliminal fear priming potentiates negative facial reactions to food pictures in women with anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND

To investigate hedonic reactivity and the influence of unconscious emotional processes on the low sensitivity to positive reinforcement of food in anorexia nervosa (AN).

METHOD

AN and healthy women were exposed to palatable food pictures just after a subliminal exposure to facial expressions (happy, disgust, fear and neutral faces), either while fasting or after a standardized meal (hunger versus satiety). Both implicit [facial electromyographic (EMG) activity from zygomatic and corrugator muscles, skin conductance, heart rate, and videotaped facial behavior] and explicit (self-reported pleasure and desire) measures of affective processes were recorded.

RESULTS

In contrast to healthy women, the AN patients did not display objective and subjective indices of pleasure to food pictures when they were in the hunger states. Pleasure to food cues (liking) was more affected than the desire to eat (wanting) in AN patients. Subliminal 'fear faces' increased corrugator muscle reactivity to food stimuli in fasting AN patients, as compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that unconscious fear cues increase the negative appraisal of alimentary stimuli in AN patients and thus contribute to decreased energy intake.

Reduced cortical folding in mental retardation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

MR is a developmental disorder associated with impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior. With a 2D region of interest-based GI, a preliminary study reported significantly reduced gyrification in the prefrontal lobe in MR. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the abnormalities of cortical gyrification in MR and to explore the possible causes of these abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen patients with MR and 26 demographically matched healthy controls were included in this study. A 3D surface-based lGI was calculated as a measure to quantify gyrification. Then vertex-by-vertex contrasts of lGI were performed between patients with MR and healthy controls.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that patients with MR had significantly reduced lGI in multiple brain regions compared with healthy controls. These regions include the lateral and medial prefrontal cortices, the right superior temporal gyrus, the left superior parietal lobe, the bilateral insular and adjacent cortices, and the visual and motor cortices.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed abnormal pattern of cortical gyrification revealed by significant reduction of lGI in multiple brain regions might reflect the developmental disturbance in intracortical organization and cortical connectivities in MR.