Yes-Associated Protein 1 Promotes Adenocarcinoma Growth and Metastasis through Activation of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a nuclear effector of the Hippo pathway, plays an important role in tumorigenesis and progression of multiple cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of YAP1 and receptor tyrosine kinase Axl expression in human lung adenocarcinomas (LAC). We further explored possible molecular mechanisms mediated by YAP1 in LAC and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) cells. Forty-nine cases of human LAC and normal lung tissue (NLT) were collected. The expression of YAP1 and Axl was assessed by immunohistochemical assay through tissue microarray procedure and the clinicopathologic characteristics of all patients were analyzed. Using a loss of function approach, we investigated the effects of small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of YAP1 on the expression of Axl, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and the proliferative activities and invasive potential in LAC A549 and GAC SGC-7901 cell lines. As a result, the expression of YAP1 and Axl was found in LAC tissues with higher strong reactivity rate compared to the NLT (87.8% vs.60.8%, p=0.000;77.6% vs 0.0%, P=0.000), but they did not associate with the age, gender, tumor size, TNM staging or lymph node metastases of LAC patients (each p>0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between YAP1 and Axl expression. Furthermore, knockdown of YAP in vitro markedly down-regulated the expression of Axl, PCNA and MMP-9, and inhibited the proliferation and invasion of LAC and GAC cells. Taken together, YAP1 and Axl are highly expressed in LAC compared to the NLT, and knockdown of YAP1 may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of adenocarcinoma cells through downregulation of the Axl pathway, representing a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer.

Near midplane scintillator-based fast ion loss detector on DIII-D

A new scintillator-based fast-ion loss detector (FILD) installed near the outer midplane of the plasma has been commissioned on DIII-D. This detector successfully measures coherent fast ion losses produced by fast-ion driven instabilities (≤500 kHz). Combined with the first FILD at ∼45° below the outer midplane [R. K. Fisher, et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 10D307 (2010)], the two-detector system measures poloidal variation of losses. The phase space sensitivity of the new detector (gyroradius r(L) ∼ [1.5-8] cm and pitch angle α ∼ [35°-85°]) is calibrated using neutral beam first orbit loss measurements. Since fast ion losses are localized poloidally, having two FILDs at different poloidal locations allows for the study of losses over a wider range of plasma shapes and types of loss orbits.

SKLB1002, a novel inhibitor of VEGF receptor 2 signaling, induces vascular normalization to improve systemically administered chemotherapy efficacy

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have shown only modest clinical activity for most tumor types when used as single agents. However, present evidence indicates that these antiangiogenic drugs can cause transient "normalization" of the tumor vasculature, thereby improving the delivery of systemic chemotherapy. We examined temporal changes in tumor vascular function in response to the novel VEGFR2 inhibitor, SKLB1002. Established tumor-bearing animals were evaluated at serial time points for treatment-associated changes in tumor vascular architecture and function. As a result, blocking VEGF signaling by SKLB1002 produced a morphologically and functionally "normalized" vascular network. Consistent with our observations, a 2.2 fold increase in intratumoral doxorubicin levels was determined with SKLB1002 pretreatment compared with administration of doxorubicin alone. Finally, combined SKLB1002 and doxorubicin exhibited significant antitumor (49% of control size) and antimetastatic effects (12% of control metastatic nodules) in vivo. Our results showed SKLB1002 induced vascular normalization and enhanced anticancer drug delivery, which were associated with the observed synergistic effect in vivo.

Magnetic glass in shape memory alloy: Ni45Co5Mn38Sn12

The first order martensitic transition in the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni(45)Co(5)Mn(38)Sn(12) is also a magnetic transition and has a large field induced effect. While cooling in the presence of a field this first order magnetic martensite transition is kinetically arrested. Depending on the cooling field, a fraction of the arrested ferromagnetic austenite phase persists down to the lowest temperature as a magnetic glassy state, similar to the one observed in various intermetallic alloys and in half doped manganites. A detailed investigation of this first order ferromagnetic austenite (FM-A) to low magnetization martensite (LM-M) state transition as a function of temperature and field has been carried out by magnetization measurements. Extensive cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF) measurements and a novel field cooled protocol for isothermal MH measurements (FC-MH) are utilized to investigate the glass like arrested states and show a reverse martensite transition. Finally, we determine a field-temperature (HT) phase diagram of Ni(45)Co(5)Mn(38)Sn(12) from various magnetization measurements which brings out the regions where thermodynamic and metastable states coexist in the HT space, clearly depicting this system as a 'magnetic glass'.

Expressed sequence tag-PCR markers for identification of alien barley chromosome 2H in wheat

We developed EST-PCR markers specific to barley chromosome 2H, for the purpose of effectively tracing alien chromosomes or chromosome parts in the wheat genetic background. The target alien chromosome 2H confers high resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, which is a worldwide natural disaster in wheat. A total of 120 primer pairs were selected by combining the wheat group 2 chromosomes of the EST database and the genome sequences of the new model plant Brachypodium distachyon. Seventy-seven of 120 primer pairs were polymorphic and 31 of 120 primer pairs were monomorphic between a set of wheat-barley chromosome 2H disomic addition/substitution lines and their parents by agarose gel electrophoresis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thirty of 77 polymorphic primer pairs including primer pair P120 derived from the basi gene were chromosome 2H-specific. These markers are expected to be valuable in screening of wheat-barley chromosome 2H recombination lines and pre-harvest sprouting resistant varieties.

Technical modifications of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

To report a single-center experience and technical modifications of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy (HARLDN).

METHODS

A total of 78 living donors underwent HARLDN from June 2004 to November 2009. We used a three-port, finger-dissecting, routine retroperitoneal approach. After almost complete mobilization of the kidney, the renal pedicle was dissected to expose the renal vessels. The ureter was dissected and divided at the level of the iliac vessels. An approximately 7-cm Gibson incision was made as the hand-assisted port. The surgeon's hand was introduced through this incision directly. With hand assistance, the renal artery was clipped using two Hem-o-lok clips at the proximal end, and then sheared by scissors without any clips on the kidney side. The renal vein was controlled similarly. Then the kidney was rapidly removed through the incision by hand.

RESULTS

HARLDN was effectively and safely completed in 78 (100%) donors. No conversion to an open operation was necessary. The mean operative time and mean warm ischemic time were 121 minutes (range, 90-134) and 146 seconds (range, 112-247) respectively. The mean blood loss was 61 mL (range, 32-85). Clavien 1 complications including subcutaneous emphysema in 5.1% (4/78). The mean visual analog scales on postoperative days 1 to 5 were: 2.5, 1.2, 0.8, 0.5, and 0.1, respectively. The mean time to resume oral diet was 1.5 days. The mean hospital stay was 4.5 days (range, 4-5). The mean level of postoperative serum creatinines of the donors at 7 days and 1 month thereafter were 1.06 mg/dL (range, 0.74-1.43) and 1.15 mg/dL (range, 0.79-1.61) mg/dL, respectively. The mean level of postoperative serum creatinines of the recipients at 7 days and 1 month were 1.40 mg/dL (range 0.81-1.67) and 1.52 mg/dL (range, 0.76-1.83), respectively. The mean incision length was 6.5 cm (range, 6.0-7.2).

CONCLUSIONS

The modified HARLDN combines the purely laparoscopic technique with quicker, safer organ retrieval by the open access.

Long term survival of mice with hepatocellular carcinoma after pulse power ablation with nanosecond pulsed electric fields

Novel therapies are needed for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without recurrence in a single procedure. In this work we evaluated anti-neoplastic effects of a pulse power ablation (PPA) with nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs), a non-thermal, non-drug, local, regional method and investigated its molecular mechanisms for hepatocellular carcinoma tumor ablation in vivo. An ectopic tumor model was established using C57BL/6 mice with Hepa1-6 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Pulses with durations of 30 or 100 ns and fast rise times were delivered by a needle or ring electrode with different electric field strengths (33, 50 and 68 kV/cm), and 900 pulses in three treatment sessions (300 pulses each session) or a single 900 pulse treatment. Treated and control tumor volumes were monitored by ultrasound and apoptosis and angiogenesis markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Seventy five percent of primary hepatocellular carcinoma tumors were eradicated with 900 hundred pulses at 100 ns pulses at 68 kV/cm in a single treatment or in three treatment sessions without recurrence within 9 months. Using quantitative analysis, tumors in treated animals showed nsPEF-mediated nuclear condensation (3 h post-pulse), cell shrinkage (1 h), increases in active executioner caspases (caspase-3 > -7 > -6) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end-labeling (1 h) with decreases in vascular endothelial growth factor expression (7d) and micro-vessel density (14d). NsPEF ablation eliminated hepatocellular carcinoma tumors by targeting two therapeutic sites, apoptosis induction and inhibition of angiogenesis, both important cancer hallmarks. These data indicate that PPA with nsPEFs is not limited to treating skin cancers and provide a rationale for continuing to investigate pulse power ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma using other models in pre-clinical applications and ultimately in clinical trials. Based on present treatments for specific HCC stages, it is anticipated that nsPEFs could be substituted for or used in combination with ablation therapies using heat, cold or chemicals.

Ischemia-reperfusion impairs blood-brain barrier function and alters tight junction protein expression in the ovine fetus

The blood-brain barrier is a restrictive interface between the brain parenchyma and the intravascular compartment. Tight junctions contribute to the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Hypoxic-ischemic damage to the blood-brain barrier could be an important component of fetal brain injury. We hypothesized that increases in blood-brain barrier permeability after ischemia depend upon the duration of reperfusion and that decreases in tight junction proteins are associated with the ischemia-related impairment in blood-brain barrier function in the fetus. Blood-brain barrier function was quantified with the blood-to-brain transfer constant (K(i)) and tight junction proteins by Western immunoblot in fetal sheep at 127 days of gestation without ischemia, and 4, 24, or 48 h after ischemia. The largest increase in K(i) (P<0.05) was 4 h after ischemia. Occludin and claudin-5 expressions decreased at 4 h, but returned toward control levels 24 and 48 h after ischemia. Zonula occludens-1 and -2 decreased after ischemia. Inverse correlations between K(i) and tight junction proteins suggest that the decreases in tight junction proteins contribute to impaired blood-brain barrier function after ischemia. We conclude that impaired blood-brain barrier function is an important component of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the fetus, and that increases in quantitatively measured barrier permeability (K(i)) change as a function of the duration of reperfusion after ischemia. The largest increase in permeability occurs 4 h after ischemia and blood-brain barrier function improves early after injury because the blood-brain barrier is less permeable 24 and 48 than 4 h after ischemia. Changes in the tight junction molecular composition are associated with increases in blood-brain barrier permeability after ischemia.

The association of plasma free amino acids with liver enzymes in Type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND

Elevated γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) could predict the risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the reason for their elevation was unclear. GGT and ALT mediated the metabolism of many amino acids (AA). Up to now, it was not investigated whether abnormal AA concentration was associated with elevated liver enzymes.

AIM

This study was to investigate the status of AA in T2D and their relationship with liver enzymes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 132 T2D patients and 137 healthy controls were recruited. Plasma free AA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The contribution of individual AA to liver enzymes was assessed by stepwise linear regression.

RESULTS

a) The levels of alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, glutamate, and lysine were higher while the level of glycine was lower in T2D than in controls (all p<0.01). b) Glutamate contributed to GGT in T2D, and its contribution was even greater than that of waist circumference. Leucine, lysine, and glutamate contributed to ALT.

CONCLUSION

There were significant differences in plasma AA profile between T2D and controls. Abnormal AA might contribute to elevated liver enzymes. The interaction between AA, liver enzymes, and the risk of T2D should be further investigated by prospective studies.