Condylomata gigantea in a male transsexual

Summary

As the incidence of genital warts increases, warts arising in the mouth, throat and other sites can occasionally be seen. Condyloma gigantea in genital sites are often reported, but literature on genital warts in transsexuals is rare. We present a case of C. gigantea in a 23-year-old male-to-female transsexual, whose warts arose on the transplanted skin of a neovagina and in the perianal region. We conclude that although C. gigantea can occur in transsexuals, the best way to treat it is not clear.

Zoledronate reverses mandibular bone loss in osteoprotegerin-deficient mice

To characterize the changes in osteoprotegerin-deficient (OPG-/-) mice mandibles and the possible mandibular bone loss prevention by zoledronate. This preventive effect in the mandible differed from that in the proximal tibia and was independent of the OPG pathway.

INTRODUCTION

The study aimed to characterize both the changes in the mandible in osteoprotegerin-deficient (OPG-/-) mice and possible mandibular bone loss prevention by zoledronate.

METHODS

Twenty-eight 6-week-old female mice (C57BL/6J), including OPG-/- (n = 21) and wild-type (WT) (n = 7) mice, were assigned to four groups after 2 weeks of acclimatization to local vivarium conditions: wild mice with vehicle (WT group); OPG-/- mice with vehicle (OPG-/- group); and OPG-/- mice that were subcutaneously injected with either 50 or 150 microg/kg zoledronate (Zol-50 and Zol-150 groups, respectively). Mice were sacrificed at 4 weeks after these treatments and after fasting for 12 h. Sera were harvested for biochemical analyses. The right mandible and tibia of each mouse were selected for microCT analysis. Student's t-test was performed for comparisons of bone parameters at different sites in the WT group. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the biomarkers and bone parameters in the different treatment groups.

RESULTS

Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) were significantly decreased in WT mice as compared to the levels in the OPG-/- mice (P < 0.05). Zoledronate treatment decreased the high serum B-ALP activity observed in OPG-/- mice to the levels seen in WT mice, while serum TRACP-5b concentrations were decreased to levels even lower than those in WT mice. There were substantial variations in BMD and microstructure of the mandibular and proximal tibial trabeculae. Mandibular bone loss was less affected by OPG gene deprivation than the proximal tibia was. Both zoledronate groups showed greater BMD, trabecular BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.N, and Conn.D and a significant decrease in Tb.Sp and SMI as compared to the findings in OPG-/- mice (P < 0.05). However, higher apparent BMD and more compact plate-like trabeculae were observed in the mandible after treatment with zoledronate as compared to the findings in the proximal tibia. No significant differences were found in any parameter in both zoledronate groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that zoledronate could reverse the significant bone loss in mice mandibles that was induced by OPG gene deficiency. This preventive effect, which was accompanied with considerable inhibition of bone turnover, differed in the mandible and in the proximal tibia and was independent of the OPG pathway.

Stability of hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles under biologically relevant conditions

Hydrophilic 2,3-dimercaptosuccinnic acid (HOOC-CH(SH)-CH(SH)-COOH, DMSA) coated monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were dispersed in water, RPMI-1640 with 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum, RPMI-1640, PBS and MES, respectively, to investigate their stability under biologically relevant conditions. The Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS) results showed that DMSA-Fe3O4 nanoparticles existed as aggregate under biological conditions. UV-vis, MRI and AFM results indicated that DMSA-Fe3O4 nanoparticles dispersed in RPMI-1640, PBS and MES presented poor stability, whereas those dispersed in RPMI-1640 with fetal calf serum exhibited excellent stability, which was due to their adsorption from fetal calf serum, as confirmed by zeta potential and IR results. Additionally, in vitro cell experiments showed that DMSA-Fe3O4 nanoparticles with adsorption from fetal calf serum had higher intracellular uptake than those without adsorption from serum, indicating that fetal calf serum could play a great role in intracellular uptake of nanoparticles.

Statins decrease the aberrant HLA-DR expression on thyrocytes from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Statins have been found to exert anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory effects. It seems likely that these drugs may improve thyroid function in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of statins on HLA-DR (human leukocyte antigen D-related) expression of thyrocytes from patients with HT hypothyroidism. Thyroid tissues were obtained from surgical specimens. Thyrocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of IFN-gamma (50 ng/ml) with or without statins (simvastatin 10 microM or atorvastatin 10 microM) for 72 hours. HLA-DR expression was detected by flow cytometry. Normal thyrocytes were used for controls. HLA-DR expression of HT thyrocytes was much higher than that of normal thyrocytes (41.2+/-4.5% vs. 2.7+/-2.1%, p<0.01), which could be further increased by IFN-gamma stimulation in both groups (p<0.01). However, simvastatin and atorvastatin could significantly inhibit the "aberrant" HLA-DR expression on HT thyrocytes and decrease IFN-gamma- induced HLA-DR expression in both HT and normal thyroid cells (p<0.01). Statins can repress HLA-DR expression of HT thyrocytes, which might inhibit the subsequent lymphocyte activation and ameliorate the immune disturbance of HT.

Intensive glycemic control lowers plasma visfatin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

Visfatin is an independent association factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In order to evaluate the plasma visfatin levels and investigate whether plasma visfatin concentrations are altered by intensive glycemic control in patients with diabetes, we determined plasma visfatin concentrations and metabolic parameters in 53 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and 35 healthy controls. Visfatin levels were also investigated before and after intensive glycemic control for three months in subgroup of patients with T2DM. Plasma visfatin levels were significantly elevated in diabetic patients compared with healthy controls (p<0.001). Circulating visfatin concentration was associated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour OGTT plasma glucose (2hPG), HOMA-beta indexes (r=0.338, p=0.001; r=0.340, p=0.002; r=-0.296, p=0.006, respectively), but not with insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) or other metabolic or anthropometric parameters in all subjects. In addition, visfatin levels were also correlated with HbA1c levels in diabetic patients. Furthermore, visfatin concentrations reduced from 25.0+/-6.5 ng/ml at baseline to 20.3+/-4.7 ng/ml (p<0.01) after 3 months of intensive glycemic control, while HbA1c levels decreased from 9.0+/-1.8% to 6.2+/-0.7% (p<0.01). We conclude that the change of visfatin concentration may be a compensatory mechanism to ameliorate insulin deficiency due to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction.

Interferon gamma receptor 1 gene polymorphism in patients with tuberculosis in China

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the CA microsatellite polymorphisms of interferon gamma receptor 1 on patients with tuberculosis (TB) in the south-eastern Chinese population. Genomic DNA from patients with TB (n = 155) and ethnically matched controls (n = 89) were genotyped by short tandem repeat-PCR method. The allele frequency of (CA)(25) was 1.70-fold higher among patients than that among controls (95% CI 1.07-2.70) (P = 0.025). Compared with the non-(CA)(25)/non-(CA)(25) reference group, the risk to TB of the carriers of (CA)(25)/(CA)(25) genotypes were 6.46-fold (95% CI 1.40-29.74) (P = 0.0017) higher. On the contrary, the allele frequency of (CA)(26) was 0.29-fold lower in patients than that in controls (95% CI 0.11-0.76) (P = 0.012). Genotypes with (CA)(26) allele were at 0.35-fold (95% CI 0.13-0.98) (P = 0.045) lower to the risk of TB, compared with that of the non-(CA)(26)/non-(CA)(26) in the reference group. The above results indicated that the allele (CA)(25) appeared to be susceptible to TB, while the allele (CA)(26) to be protective towards TB. Our data also suggest that the CA repeat was a highly polymorphic marker and could be used for linkage and association analysis.

Circulating chemokines in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases

Chemokines are a group of small proteins that recruit different leukocyte subtypes to sites of inflammation and play important roles in initiating and maintaining immunological responses in autoimmune endocrine diseases including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Previous studies have found increased gene and protein expression of different kinds of chemokines not only within the thyroid gland but also within thyroid cells in GD or HT patients. A few studies have determined serum levels of chemokines, with conflicting results. We measured circulating concentrations of CCL2, CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCL10 in patients with GD, HT, and nontoxic nodular thyroid disease (NNT). While CCL2 and CXCL9 concentrations were comparable in patients with either AITD or NNT, CCL5 was significantly increased in GD patients compared with HT or NNT subjects. In contrast, CXCL10 levels were lower in patients with GD, but the difference was statistically significant only when compared with patients with HT (p=0.0018). Importantly, GD patients who relapsed or went into remission had significantly different levels of CXCL9 (p=0.0252). Serum levels of CCL2, CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCL10 did not reveal any correlation with thyroid volume; with the levels of thyrotropin (TSH), FT3, or FT4; or with the titers of TSH receptor antibody and thyroperoxidase antibody. These data suggest that the expression patterns of chemokines in various thyroid diseases differ from each other, which may reflect the distinct immune responses in HT and GD.

Diet-induced central obesity and insulin resistance in rabbits

The present study was designed to examine whether rabbits fed a diet containing high fat and sucrose could develop obesity and insulin resistance (IR), the major pathophysiological features of metabolic syndrome. Male Japanese white rabbits were fed either a normal chow diet (control) or high fat and sucrose diet (HFSD) for 36 weeks. Plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose and insulin were measured. To evaluate glucose metabolism, we performed an intravenous glucose tolerance test. In addition, we compared adipose tissue accumulation in HFSD-fed rabbits with that in normal rabbits. HFSD constantly and significantly led to an increase in body weight of HFSD-fed rabbits, caused by significantly higher visceral adipose tissue accumulation. Although there were no differences in plasma TG, TC, glucose, insulin levels and blood pressure between the two groups, HFSD-fed rabbits showed impaired glucose clearance associated with higher levels of insulin secretion compared to control rabbits. Our results showed that HFSD induced IR and increased adipose accumulation in rabbits, suggesting that HFSD-fed rabbits may become a model for research on human IR and obesity.

Interaction between a functional MAOA locus and childhood sexual abuse predicts alcoholism and antisocial personality disorder in adult women

Women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) have an increased risk of alcoholism and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Among male subjects, a functional polymorphism (MAOA-LPR, monoamine oxidase A linked polymorphic region) in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) appears to moderate the effect of childhood maltreatment on antisocial behavior. Our aim was to test whether MAOA-LPR influences the impact of CSA on alcoholism and ASPD in a sample of 291 women, 50% of whom have experienced CSA; we also tested whether haplotypes covering the region where both MAOA and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) genes are located predict risk of alcoholism and ASPD better than the MAOA-LPR locus alone. Participants included 168 alcoholics (39 with ASPD (antisocial alcoholics) and 123 controls (no alcoholics, no ASPD). Antisocial behavior was also modeled as a continuous trait: ASPD symptoms count. The MAOA-LPR low activity allele was associated with alcoholism (P=0.005), particularly antisocial alcoholism (P=0.00009), only among sexually abused subjects. Sexually abused women who were homozygous for the low activity allele had higher rates of alcoholism and ASPD, and more ASPD symptoms, than abused women homozygous for the high activity allele. Heterozygous women displayed an intermediate risk pattern. In contrast, there was no relationship between alcoholism/antisocial behavior and MAOA-LPR genotype among non-abused women. The MAOA-LPR low activity allele was found on three different haplotypes. The most abundant MAOA haplotype containing the MAOA-LPR low activity allele was found in excess among alcoholics (P=0.008) and antisocial alcoholics (P=0.001). Finally, a MAOB haplotype, which we termed haplotype C, was significantly associated with alcoholism (P=0.006), and to a lesser extent with antisocial alcoholism (P=0.03). In conclusions, MAOA seems to moderate the impact of childhood trauma on adult psychopathology in female subjects in the same way as previously shown among male subjects. The MAOA-LPR low activity allele appears to confer increased vulnerability to the adverse psychosocial consequences of CSA. Haplotype-based analysis of the MAOA gene appeared to strengthen the association, as compared to the MAOA-LPR locus alone. A MAOB haplotype was associated with alcoholism independently from ASPD.

Genetic and QTL analysis of resistance to Xiphinema index in a grapevine cross

Resistance to the dagger nematode Xiphinema index has been an important objective in grape rootstock breeding programs. This nematode not only causes severe feeding damage to the root system, but it also vectors grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), the causal agent of fanleaf degeneration and one of the most severe viral diseases of grape. The established screening procedures for dagger nematode resistance are time consuming and can produce inconsistent results. A fast and reliable greenhouse-based system for screening resistance to X. index that is suitable for genetic studies and capable of evaluating breeding populations is needed. In this report, the dynamics of nematode numbers, gall formation, and root weight loss were investigated using a variety of soil mixes and pot sizes over a 52-week period. Results indicated that the number of galls formed was correlated with the size of the nematode population and with the degree of root weight loss. After inoculation with 100 nematodes, gall formation could be reliably evaluated in 4-8 weeks in most plant growth conditions and results were obtained 6 months more rapidly than past evaluation methods. This modified X. index resistance screening method was successfully applied to 185 of the 188 F(1) progeny from a cross of D8909-15 x F8909-17 (the 9621 population), which segregates for a form of X. index resistance originally derived from Vitis arizonica. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was carried out on both parental genetic maps of 255 markers using MapQTL 4.0. Results revealed that X. index resistance is controlled by a major QTL, designated Xiphinema index Resistance 1 (XiR1), near marker VMC5a10 on chromosome 19. The XiR1 QTL was supported by a LOD score of 36.9 and explained 59.9% of the resistance variance in the mapping population.

Recovery oriented phosphorus adsorption process in decentralized advanced Johkasou

Decentralized advanced wastewater treatment using adsorption and desorption process for recovery and recycling oriented phosphorus removal was developed. Adsorbent particles made of zirconium were set in a column, and it was installed as subsequent stage of BOD and nitrogen removal type Johkasou, a household domestic wastewater treatment facility. The water quality of the effluent of adsorption column in a number of experimental sites was monitored. The effluent phosphorus concentration was kept below 1 mg l(-1) during 90 days at all the sites. Furthermore, over 80% of the sites achieved 1 mg l(-1) of T-P during 200 days. This adsorbent was durable, and deterioration of the particles was not observed over a long duration. The adsorbent collected from each site was immersed in alkali solution to desorb phosphorus. Then the adsorbent was reactivated by soaking in acid solution. The reactivated adsorbent was reused and showed almost the same phosphorus adsorption capacity as a new one. Meanwhile, the desorbed phosphorus was recovered with high purity as trisodium phosphate by crystallization. It is proposed as a new decentralized system for recycling phosphorus that paves the way to high-purity recovery of finite phosphorus.

A marker-assisted backcross approach for developing submergence-tolerant rice cultivars

Submergence stress regularly affects 15 million hectares or more of rainfed lowland rice areas in South and Southeast Asia. A major QTL on chromosome 9, Sub1, has provided the opportunity to apply marker assisted backcrossing (MAB) to develop submergence tolerant versions of rice cultivars that are widely grown in the region. In the present study, molecular markers that were tightly linked with Sub1, flanking Sub1, and unlinked to Sub1 were used to apply foreground, recombinant, and background selection, respectively, in backcrosses between a submergence-tolerant donor and the widely grown recurrent parent Swarna. By the BC(2)F(2) generation a submergence tolerant plant was identified that possessed Swarna type simple sequence repeat (SSR) alleles on all fragments analyzed except the tip segment of rice chromosome 9 that possessed the Sub1 locus. A BC(3)F(2) double recombinant plant was identified that was homozygous for all Swarna type alleles except for an approximately 2.3-3.4 Mb region surrounding the Sub1 locus. The results showed that the mega variety Swarna could be efficiently converted to a submergence tolerant variety in three backcross generations, involving a time of two to three years. Polymorphic markers for foreground and recombinant selection were identified for four other mega varieties to develop a wider range of submergence tolerant varieties to meet the needs of farmers in the flood-prone regions. This approach demonstrates the effective use of marker assisted selection for a major QTL in a molecular breeding program.

Enhancement of antitumor activity of cisplatin in human lung cancer cells by tumor suppressor FUS1

FUS1 is a novel tumor suppressor gene located in the human chromosome 3p21.3 region. We previously showed that restoration of FUS1 function in 3p21.3-deficient human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells significantly inhibited tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we evaluated the combined effects of the tumor suppressor FUS1 and the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin on tumor cell growth and apoptosis induction in NSCLC cells, and explored the molecular mechanism of their mutual action. Exogenous expression of FUS1 by nanoparticle-mediated gene transfer sensitized the response of NSCLC cells to cisplatin, resulting in a 4- to 6-fold increase in tumor-suppressing activity. A systemic treatment with a combination of FUS1-nanoparticles and cisplatin in a human H322 lung cancer orthotopic xenograft mouse model dramatically enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin. We also found that the FUS1-enhanced chemosensitivity is associated with the downregulation of MDM2, accumulation of p53 and activation of the Apaf-1-dependent apoptosis pathway. Our results demonstrated an important role of FUS1 in modulating chemosensitivity of lung cancer cells, and suggested that a proper combination of molecular therapeutics such as the proapoptotic tumor suppressor FUS1 and the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs such as cisplatin may be an efficient treatment strategy for human lung cancer.

PD-L1 expression analysis in gastric carcinoma tissue and blocking of tumor-associated PD-L1 signaling by two functional monoclonal antibodies

Programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1), a member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules, plays an important role in the regulations of the cellular and humoral immune responses. In this study, two mouse anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies named 10E10 and 2H11 were successfully generated and further characterized. Monoclonal antibody 10E10 bound to distinct PD-L1 epitope comparing an available anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody on a series of malignant cell lines, activated T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and dendritic cells. Then, by using immunohistochemistry staining with monoclonal antibody 2H11, the expression of PD-L1 was found in human gastric carcinoma specimens but not in normal or gastric adenoma tissues. Additional data show that PD-L1 can be regarded as a decisive factor in evaluating gastric carcinoma prognosis and anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibody 10E10 could inhibit T-cell apoptosis induced by tumor-associated PD-L1. Taken together, these results showed that the two functional mouse anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies we generated might be of great value for further exploration of the costimulatory molecule regulating network and immunointervention for tumor immunotherapy.