The role of lanierone in the chemical ecology ofIps pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in California

Five doses of lanierone (2-hydroxy-4,4,6-trimethyl-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one) were tested with one dose of enantiomerically pure [99.4% (4R)-(-)] ipsdienol (2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol) for activity as an aggregation pheromone ofIps pini (Say) in California. The response ofI. pini to 1 mg/day ipsdienol + 20 μg/day lanierone was significantly greater than the response to ipsdienol alone, but the response pattern did not demonstrate a clear dose-response relationship. The response to the highest dose of lanierone (2 mg/day) was significantly lower than the response to ipsdienol alone. Ipsdienol attracted significantly moreI. pini than a male-infested log. Lanierone did not alter the percentage of maleI. pini responding to ipsdienol alone. Neither sex ofI. pini orDendroctonus brevicomis LeConte from California produced detectable amounts of lanierone, but myrcene-aerated maleD. brevicomis produced 97.8%-(4S)-(+)-ipsdienol. The black-bellied clerid,Enoclerus lecontei (Wolcott) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) was attracted to lanierone when released with ipsdienol. Neither compound was attractive when released alone, proving synergism for the kairomone of this predator. Lanierone did not influence the response of the predatorsTemnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim) (Coleoptera: Trogositidae) andEnoclerus sphegeus (F.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae), which were attracted to all treatments containing ipsdienol.Tomicobia tibialis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) responded in significantly greater numbers to the male-infested log than it did to ipsdienol or ipsdienol + 20 μg/day lanierone.

Androgens regulate prostate cancer cell growth via an AMPK-PGC-1α-mediated metabolic switch

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among men in industrialized countries, accounting for the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although we now know that the androgen receptor (AR) is important for progression to the deadly advanced stages of the disease, it is poorly understood what AR-regulated processes drive this pathology. Here we demonstrate that AR regulates prostate cancer cell growth via the metabolic sensor 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a kinase that classically regulates cellular energy homeostasis. In patients, activation of AMPK correlated with prostate cancer progression. Using a combination of radiolabeled assays and emerging metabolomic approaches, we also show that prostate cancer cells respond to androgen treatment by increasing not only rates of glycolysis, as is commonly seen in many cancers, but also glucose and fatty acid oxidation. Importantly, this effect was dependent on androgen-mediated AMPK activity. Our results further indicate that the AMPK-mediated metabolic changes increased intracellular ATP levels and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, affording distinct growth advantages to the prostate cancer cells. Correspondingly, we used outlier analysis to determine that PGC-1α is overexpressed in a subpopulation of clinical cancer samples. This was in contrast to what was observed in immortalized benign human prostate cells and a testosterone-induced rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Taken together, our findings converge to demonstrate that androgens can co-opt the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling cascade, a known homeostatic mechanism, to increase prostate cancer cell growth. The current study points to the potential utility of developing metabolic-targeted therapies directed toward the AMPK-PGC-1α signaling axis for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Blend chemistry and field attraction of commercial sex pheromone lures to grape berry moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and a nontarget tortricid in vineyards

Anecdotal reports by scientists and growers suggested commercial sex pheromone lures were ineffective with monitoring field populations of grape berry moth, Paralobesia viteana (Clemens), in vineyards. This study addressed the need to evaluate commercial sex pheromone lures for chemical purity and efficacy of attracting grape berry moth and a nontarget tortricid, the sumac moth, Episumus argutanus (Clemens). The percentage of chemical components from a set of eight lures from each manufacturer was found using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and confirmed by chemical standards. No lures adhered to the 9:1 blend of (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (Z9-12:Ac) to (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac), though Suterra (9.1:1), ISCA (5.7:1), and Trécé (5.4:1) lures were closest. The Trécé lures contained ≍98 μg Z9-12:Ac, which is 3-51 times more than the other lures. The Suterra and ISCA lures were loaded with ≍29 and 33 μg Z9-12:Ac, and the Alpha Scents lures only contained ≍2 μg Z9-12:Ac. An antagonistic impurity, (E)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (E9-12:Ac), was found in all manufacturer lures at concentrations from 3.2 to 4.8%. Field attraction studies were done in summer 2010, and again in 2011, to evaluate commercial lures for their potential to attract P. viteana and E. argutanus in the presence of lures from other manufacturers. Separate experiments were established in two vineyards in Augusta County, VA, one with open and the other with wooded surroundings. In field experiments, Suterra lures detected P. viteana most often, Trécé lures detected more E. argutanus, and ISCA lures detected P. viteana in the open vineyard the least, while Alpha Scents lures were least attractive to E. argutanus in both environments. Fewer P. viteana were captured in the wooded versus open vineyard, which may limit the potential for sex pheromone monitoring of P. viteana in wooded vineyards.

Power of metabolomics in biomarker discovery and mining mechanisms of obesity

Obesity, the prevalence of which is increasing rapidly worldwide, is recognized as a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and renal disease. Unfortunately, the mechanisms underlying it have not been well characterized. Fortunately, metabolomics - the systematic study of metabolites, which are small molecules generated by the process of metabolism - has been important in elucidating the pathways underlying obesity. Small-molecule metabolites have an important role in biological system and represent attractive candidates to understand obesity phenotypes. Metabolomic analysis is a valid and powerful tool with which to further define the mechanisms. Recent attention has focused on identifying biomarkers that would propose a better non-invasive way to detect or visualize obesity and prevent its events. The discovery of the biomarkers has become a key breakthrough towards a better molecular understanding of obesity. Thus, this review covers how recent metabolomic studies have advanced biomarker discovery and the elucidation of mechanisms underlying obesity and its comorbidities. The importance of identifying metabolic markers and pathways of disease-associated intermediate phenotypes is also emphasized. These biomarkers would be applicable as diagnostic tools in a personalized healthcare setting and may also open door to biomarker discovery, disease diagnosis and novel therapeutic avenues.

Social opportunity causes rapid transcriptional changes in the social behaviour network of the brain in an African cichlid fish

Animals constantly integrate external stimuli with their own internal physiological state to make appropriate behavioural decisions. Little is known, however, about where in the brain the salience of these signals is evaluated, or which neural and transcriptional mechanisms link this integration to adaptive behaviours. We used an African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni to test the hypothesis that a new social opportunity activates the conserved 'social behaviour network' (SBN), a collection of brain nuclei known to regulate social behaviours across vertebrates. We measured mRNA levels of immediate early genes (IEGs) in microdissected brain regions as a proxy for neuronal activation, and discovered that IEGs were higher in all SBN nuclei in males that were given an opportunity to rise in social rank compared to control stable subordinate and dominant individuals. Furthermore, because the presence of sex-steroid receptors is one defining criteria of SBN nuclei, we also tested whether social opportunity or status influenced androgen and oestrogen receptor mRNA levels within these same regions. There were several rapid region-specific changes in receptor mRNA levels induced by social opportunity, most notably in oestrogen receptor subtypes in areas that regulate social aggression and reproduction, suggesting that oestrogenic signalling pathways play an important role in regulating male status. Several receptor mRNA changes occurred in regions with putative homologies to the mammalian septum and extended amygdala, two regions shared by SBN and reward circuits, suggesting an important role in the integration of social salience, stressors, hormonal state and adaptive behaviours. We also demonstrated increases in plasma sex- and stress-steroids at 30 min after a rise in social rank. This rapid endocrine and transcriptional response suggests that the SBN is involved in the integration of social inputs with internal hormonal state to facilitate the transition to dominant status, which ultimately leads to improved fitness for the previously reproductively-suppressed individual.

Development of a dot-immunoenzyme filtration assay for the detection of enterovirus 71 antigen in human serum via immunoglobulin M

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a rapid, sensitive dot-immunoenzyme filtration assay to detect enterovirus 71 (EV71) antigen in serum samples from paediatric patients with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), through detection of anti-EV71 immunoglobulin (Ig)M.

METHODS

Serum samples from HFMD patients and healthy adult controls were evaluated for the presence of anti-EV71 IgM using a dot-immunoenzyme filtration assay (DIEFA). The results were compared with those obtained using a dot-immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA). The EV71 structural protein VP1 was used as the antigen for both assays.

RESULTS

Serum samples from 72 HFMD patients and 54 healthy controls were evaluated. The DIGFA procedure showed a sensitivity of 98.5% and a specificity of 100%, whereas the DIEFA procedure showed a sensitivity of 98.6% and a specificity of 98.0%. There were no significant differences between the assays in either specificity or sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

The DIEFA procedure developed in this study has potential as a rapid, simple, sensitive and cost-effective screening technique for detecting EV71 antigen in serum samples from patients with HFMD.

Multifocality and multicentricity in breast cancer and survival outcomes

BACKGROUND

The clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic significance of multifocal (MF) and multicentric (MC) breast cancers are not well established.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

MF and MC were defined as more than one lesion in the same quadrant or in separate quadrants, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier product limit was used to calculate recurrence-free survival (RFS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards models were fit to determine independent associations of MF/MC disease with survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 3924 patients, 942 (24%) had MF (n = 695) or MC (n = 247) disease. MF/MC disease was associated with higher T stages (T2: 26% versus 21.6%; T3: 7.4% versus 2.3%, P < 0.001), grade 3 disease (44% versus 38.2%, P < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (26.2% versus 19.3%, P < 0.001), and lymph node metastases (43.1% versus 27.3%, P < 0.001). MC, but not MF, breast cancers were associated with a worse 5-year RFS (90% versus 95%, P = 0.02) and BCSS (95% versus 97%, P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis shows that MF or MC did not have an independent impact on RFS, BCSS, or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

MF/MC breast cancers were associated with poor prognostic factors, but were not independent predictors of worse survival outcomes. Our findings support the current TNM staging system of using the diameter of the largest lesion to assign T stage.

Thyroid Hormone Analogue Stimulates Keratinocyte Proliferation but Inhibits Cell Differentiation in Epidermis

Gross clinical manifestations of thyroid hormone (TH) imbalance are often first seen in the skin where TH plays an integral role in sustaining natural function. Although mounting evidence suggests that TH plays an important role in epidermal proliferation and wound healing, the physiologic role of thyroid hormone in skin is not well understood. In the current study, we investigated the effect of a natural thyroid hormone analogue-3, 3', 5-triiodo-thyroacetic acid (TRIAC) on regulating proliferation and differentiation and its possible molecular mechanism in normal human epidermal keratinocytes and C57BL/6 mice. We determined that TRIAC could stimulate epidermal thickening in mice and promote human keratinocyte proliferation by activating Cyclin D1 expression and promoting entrance into S phase. Moreover, TRIAC might inhibit cell differentiation through repressing the expression of Casein Kinase 1 (CK1), which is a key regulatory protein involved in the control of cell differentiation. Taken together, our data explored the physiologic effect of TRIAC on skin and the possible molecular mechanism of TRIAC, which might be an interesting compound for the treatment of hyperkeratotic skin disorders.

Nepetalactones from essential oil of Nepeta cataria represent a stable fly feeding and oviposition repellent

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), is one of the most serious pests to livestock. It feeds mainly on cattle and causes significant economic losses in the cattle industry. Standard stable fly control involving insecticides and sanitation is usually costly and often has limited effectiveness. As we continue to evaluate and develop safer fly control strategies, the present study reports on the effectiveness of catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) oil and its constituent compounds, nepetalactones, as stable fly repellents. The essential oil of catnip reduced the feeding of stable flies by >96% in an in vitro bioassay system, compared with other sesquiterpene-rich plant oils (e.g. amyris and sandalwood). Catnip oil demonstrated strong repellency against stable flies relative to other chemicals for repelling biting insects, including isolongifolenone, 2-methylpiperidinyl-3-cyclohexen-1-carboxamide and (1S,2'S)-2-methylpiperidinyl-3-cyclohexen-1-carboxamide. The repellency against stable flies of the most commonly used mosquito repellent, DEET, was relatively low. In field trials, two formulations of catnip oil provided >95% protection and were effective for up to 6 h when tested on cattle. Catnip oil also acted as a strong oviposition repellent and reduced gravid stable fly oviposition by 98%.

Reduced fracture risk with early corticosteroid withdrawal after kidney transplant

Corticosteroid use after kidney transplantation results in severe bone loss and high fracture risk. Although corticosteroid withdrawal in the early posttransplant period has been associated with bone mass preservation, there are no published data regarding corticosteroid withdrawal and risk of fracture. We hypothesized lower fracture incidence in patients discharged from the hospital without than with corticosteroids after transplantation. From the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), 77, 430 patients were identified who received their first kidney transplant from 2000 to 2006. Fracture incidence leading to hospitalization was determined from 2000 to 2007; discharge immunosuppression was determined from United Networks for Organ Sharing forms. Time-to-event analyses were used to evaluate fracture risk. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 1448 (808-2061) days. There were 2395 fractures during follow-up; fracture incidence rates were 0.008 and 0.0058 per patient-year for recipients discharged with and without corticosteroid, respectively. Corticosteroid withdrawal was associated with a 31% fracture risk reduction (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.59-0.81). Fractures associated with hospitalization are significantly lower with regimens that withdraw corticosteroid. As this study likely underestimates overall fracture incidence, prospective studies are needed to determine differences in overall fracture risk in patients managed with and without corticosteroids after kidney transplantation.

Predicting relapse prior to transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia by integrating expert knowledge and expression data

MOTIVATION

Selecting a small number of signature genes for accurate classification of samples is essential for the development of diagnostic tests. However, many genes are highly correlated in gene expression data, and hence, many possible sets of genes are potential classifiers. Because treatment outcomes are poor in advanced chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), we hypothesized that expression of classifiers of advanced phase CML when detected in early CML [chronic phase (CP) CML], correlates with subsequent poorer therapeutic outcome.

RESULTS

We developed a method that integrates gene expression data with expert knowledge and predicted functional relationships using iterative Bayesian model averaging. Applying our integrated method to CML, we identified small sets of signature genes that are highly predictive of disease phases and that are more robust and stable than using expression data alone. The accuracy of our algorithm was evaluated using cross-validation on the gene expression data. We then tested the hypothesis that gene sets associated with advanced phase CML would predict relapse after allogeneic transplantation in 176 independent CP CML cases. Our gene signatures of advanced phase CML are predictive of relapse even after adjustment for known risk factors associated with transplant outcomes.

MEASURING INTER-HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION IN BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER USING BRAIN NETWORK ANALYSES AND HARDI

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, including both manic and depressive episodes commonly accompanied by psychosis. Many imaging studies have investigated white matter changes in bipolar illness, and the results have suggested abnormal intra- and inter-hemispheric white matter structures, particularly in the fronto-limbic and callosal systems. However, some inconsistency remains in the literature, and no study to-date has utilized brain network analysis using graph theory. Here, we acquired 64-direction diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) on 25 euthymic bipolar I subjects and 25 gender/age matched healthy subjects. White matter integrity measures were computed and compared in 50 white matter ROIs. The results indicated impaired integrity in the corpus callosum. Guided by this, we constructed whole brain structural connectivity networks using graph theory. We devised brain network metrics (inter-hemispheric path length and efficiency) to further probe inter-hemispheric integration, and demonstrated relatively preserved intra-hemispheric but significantly impaired inter-hemispheric integration in our bipolar subjects.

Identification of three MICA alleles in the genotype of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related chain A gene (MICA) sequence-based genotyping (SBT) was attempted on a peripheral blood sample collected from a patient evaluated for hematopoietic stem cell retransplant. The electropherogram pattern of MICA SBT indicated the possibility of carrying more than two MICA alleles. Subsequent cloning and sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products revealed the presence of three distinct MICA alleles: MICA*008:01/:04 (A5.1), MICA*007:01(A4), and MICA*002:01 (A9) in the genotype of this patient. The origin of the third extra MICA allele could not be determined and would require MICA genotyping information from other family members, which is unavailable.

Reduced fracture risk with early corticosteroid withdrawal after kidney transplant

Corticosteroid use after kidney transplantation results in severe bone loss and high fracture risk. Although corticosteroid withdrawal in the early posttransplant period has been associated with bone mass preservation, there are no published data regarding corticosteroid withdrawal and risk of fracture. We hypothesized lower fracture incidence in patients discharged from the hospital without than with corticosteroids after transplantation. From the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), 77, 430 patients were identified who received their first kidney transplant from 2000 to 2006. Fracture incidence leading to hospitalization was determined from 2000 to 2007; discharge immunosuppression was determined from United Networks for Organ Sharing forms. Time-to-event analyses were used to evaluate fracture risk. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 1448 (808-2061) days. There were 2395 fractures during follow-up; fracture incidence rates were 0.008 and 0.0058 per patient-year for recipients discharged with and without corticosteroid, respectively. Corticosteroid withdrawal was associated with a 31% fracture risk reduction (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.59-0.81). Fractures associated with hospitalization are significantly lower with regimens that withdraw corticosteroid. As this study likely underestimates overall fracture incidence, prospective studies are needed to determine differences in overall fracture risk in patients managed with and without corticosteroids after kidney transplantation.