Clinicopathologic risk factors for distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

AIMS

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinicopathologic risk factors associated with distant metastases (DMs) from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).

METHODS

Between February 1990 and February 2000, a retrospective analysis of 391 HNSCC patients was performed. The frequency and the clinicopathologic risk factors for DM were evaluated by using univariate chi(2) tests and multiple stepwise logistic regression models. Statistical analysis of overall survival was performed by using Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

44 patients (11.3%) developed DM in clinic. In a univariate analysis, clinical N stage, primary tumor site, level of tumor invasion, pathologic N stage and number of levels with pathologic lymph node were found to be significantly associated with the risk of DM. In a multivariate analysis, the most significant risk factors were number of levels with pathologic lymph node, level of tumor invasion, and primary tumor site. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall survival rates of 44 patients with DMs in clinic were 56.8% at 1 year, 9.1% at 3 years, and 6.8% at 5 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of levels with pathologic lymph node, the site of primary tumor and the level of tumor invasion are decisive risk factors in determining the development of DM in head and neck SCC patients. Patients with multilevel nodal involvement in neck, with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas, and patients with primary tumor invasion into muscular, bone or cartilage have the highest risk of developing DM.

Non-invasive bioluminescence imaging of caspase-3 activity in Breast Cancer

e14557

Background: Apoptosis is a major form of tumor cells death during cytotoxic therapy. Understanding the kinetics of apoptosis would greatly facilitate development of more effective therapeutic approaches. In order to monitor apoptosis activities in vivo, we developed a novel bioluminescence-based reporter gene to detect caspase 3 activities, which are elevated at the execution phase of apoptosis. Methods: A caspase-3 reporter system was constructed by combining two different reporter proteins; green fluorescent protein (GFP) and firefly luciferase (FL) linked through multiple polyubiquitin domains with a caspase-3 recognition site. Under normal circumstances, the reporter proteins are rapidly degraded by the proteasome system.. During apoptosis, activated caspse 3 cleaves off the multi-ubiquitin domain from the reporter protein. This enable the GFP and luciferase fusion reporter to be stabilized and achieve a significant gain in GFP protein and luciferase activities, which in turn could be monitored both in vitro and in vivo. 4T1 cells transduced with CMV-luc or Caspase-3 reporter xenografts were treated with both chemotherapy and radiation therapy and monitored for apoptosis activity. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated increased luciferase with increasing radiation dose reflective of apoptosis with background levels nearly undetectable. Taxol was associated with a time-dependent increase from 24 to 72hrs after drug exposure, indicating that apoptosis is a gradual, heterogeneous process. EGFP signal increased from 1.85% in controls to 80.6% in cells treated with 1uM Taxol. Xenografts showed nearly undetectable luciferase background with Cytoxan therapy resulting in a 90-fold increase, 10 Gy a 24 fold increase and fractionated RT (5Gy x3) with a 46-fold increase. Conclusions: We developed a novel in vivo caspase reporter based on the ubiquitous proteosome system of protein degradation and bioluminsecence imaging. This allowed us to assess activation of apoptosis in response to chemoradiation therapy in tissue culture and breast cancer xenografts over the course of 2–3 weeks, which has not been possible with other technologies.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Spermatogonial stem cells: unlimited potential

Recent reports have demonstrated that adult cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotency, but mostly with genes delivered using retroviruses. Some of the genes are cancer causing; thus, these adult-derived embryonic stem (ES)-like cells cannot be used for therapy to cure human diseases. Remarkably, it has also been demonstrated recently by several groups that, in mice, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) can be reprogrammed to ES-like cells without the necessity of exogenously added genes. SSCs constitute one of the most important stem cell systems in the body, not only because they produce spermatozoa that transmit genetic information from generation to generation, but also because of the recent studies showing their remarkable plasticity. Very little is known about SSCs in humans, except for the earlier work of Clermont and colleagues who demonstrated that there are Adark and Apale spermatogonia, with the Adark referred to as the reserve stem cells and the Apale being the renewing stem cells. We now demonstrate that G protein-coupled receptor 125 (GPR125) may be a marker for human SSCs. Putative human SSCs can also be reprogrammed to pluripotency. We were able to achieve this result without the addition of genes, suggesting that human SSCs have considerable potential for cell-based, autologous organ regeneration therapy for various diseases.

Longitudinal spin density wave order in a quasi-1D Ising-like quantum antiferromagnet

From neutron diffraction measurements on a quasi-1D Ising-like Co2+ spin compound BaCo2V2O8, we observed an appearance of a novel type of incommensurate ordering in magnetic fields. This ordering is essentially different from the Néel-type ordering, which is expected for the classical system, and the peculiar spin structure is caused by quantum fluctuation inherent in the quantum spin chain. A Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid nature characteristic of the gapless quantum 1D system is responsible for the realization of the incommensurate ordering.

Effect of DNA methylation on protein-DNA interaction of HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells have been induced with differentiation index 16% by S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) as inducer in the presence of optimum concentration of 10 pmol/L. The methylation level of genome DNA determined by HPLC is increased during cell differentiation. When restriction endonucleaseHae III,Sma I,Sal I,XhoI andHind III which are sensitive to 5-methyicytoside were used to cleave the genome DNA, a resistance effect was found. The interaction between DNA and DNA binding proteins is changed by using gel retarding test.

Microbial populations in acid mineral bioleaching systems of Tong Shankou Copper Mine, China

AIMS

To understand the composition and structure of microbial communities in different acid mineral bioleaching systems, and to present a more complete picture of microbially mediated acid mine drainage production.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In Tong Shankou Copper Mine, China, two samples (named K1 and K2) from two different sites with bioleaching were studied. A bacterial 16S rDNA library and an archaeal 16S rDNA library of the sample from each site were constructed by 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing. A total of 18 bacterial representative sequences and 12 archaeal representative sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 77.09% of the total bacterial clones were affiliated with Proteobacteria, and 21.22% of the total bacterial clones were closely related to Nitrospira. The rest of the bacterial clones were related to Firmicutes (1.68%). Sequences affiliated with the archaea of the Thermoplasma and Ferroplasma lineages were detected abundantly in the two samples. Unexpectedly, sequences affiliated with Sulfolobales and Methanothermus genera were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The molecular studies appear to be consistent with the environmental conditions existing at the sites, which coincides with previous studies. High concentrations of some elements (such as copper, iron and sulfur) seemed to be the key factors resulting in the diverse distribution of typical iron-oxidizing bacteria such as Leptospirillum species and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Research on micro-organisms present in bioleaching systems especially archaea is not abundant. The acidophiles in the two bioleaching sites obtained from Tong Shankou Copper Mine, China, have not been reported until now. These results may expand our knowledge of the microbial diversity in the acid mineral bioleaching systems.

Novel ordering of an S = 1/2 quasi-1d Ising-like antiferromagnet in magnetic field

High-field specific heat measurements on BaCo(2)V(2)O(8), which is a good realization of an S=1/2 quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Ising-like antifferomagnet, have been performed in magnetic fields up to 12 T along the chain and at temperature down to 200 mK. We have found a new magnetic ordered state in the field-induced phase above H(c) approximately 3.9 T. We suggest that a novel type of the incommensurate order, which is caused by the quantum effect inherent in the S=1/2 quasi-1D Ising-like antiferromagnet, appears in the field-induced phase.

Relationship between TFAM Gene Polymorphisms and Endurance Capacity in Response to Training

The aim of this study was to explore whether polymorphisms in mitochondrial transcription factor A ( TFAM) gene are associated with endurance capacity in a pretraining state (baseline) and/or in response to a supervised 18-wk endurance training (changes) in 102 young Chinese males (nonathletes). Phenotypes measured were running economy (RE) and V(.)O (2max). Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and the genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1937, rs2306604 and rs1049432. Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci (p > 0.05). When the three polymorphisms were considered together, three haplotypes were estimated, i.e., G (rs1937)-A (rs2306604)-G (rs1049432) (49 %), G (rs1937)-G (rs2306604)-G (rs1049432) (33 %) and C (rs1937)-G (rs2306604)-T (rs1049432) (18 %). SNPrs1937 and rs1049432 achieved near complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) (D' = 1 and r (2) = 0.903). We found no significant differences in baseline levels of V(.)O (2max) and RE between TFAM genotypes or haplotypes. Similarly, we found no differences for the training-induced changes of both variables. It was concluded that the three polymorphisms in TFAM gene rs1937, rs2306604 and rs1049432 do not predict endurance capacity/trainability, at least in Chinese males.

VEGF receptor inhibition slows the progression of polycystic kidney disease

Although the receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exert their effects on vasculogenesis and angiogenesis through receptors located on endothelial cells, recent studies have shown that these receptors are also present on renal tubular epithelial cells. We investigated the role of VEGF on increased tubule cell proliferation in the Han:SPRD heterozygous (Cy/+) rat model of polycystic kidney disease. The levels of VEGF in the kidneys and the serum, and the expression of the two receptors on tubules were increased in Cy/+ rats. These rats were given ribozymes that specifically inhibited VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 mRNA expression. Tubule cell proliferation within the cysts was significantly decreased in the ribozyme-treated animals leading to decreased cystogenesis, blunted renal enlargement, and prevented the loss of renal function. Our studies show that inhibition of VEGF function may be an important therapeutic option to delay the progression of polycystic kidney disease.

NRF2 Genotype Improves Endurance Capacity in Response to Training

The aim of this work was to examine the association between the polymorphisms in nuclear respiratory factor (NRF2) gene and endurance capacity measured prior to and after an 18-wk endurance training program in young Chinese men. The phenotypes measured were running economy (RE) and VO(2max). The RE was determined by measuring submaximal VO(2) for 5 min at a constant running speed of 12 km x h (-1) and VO(2max) was measured during an incremental test to volitional exhaustion. Genomic DNA was extracted from white cells of peripheral blood and the genotypes were examined in SNPrs12594956, rs8031031 and rs7181866 by PCR-RFLP. Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci, and linkage disequilibrium was observed (LD D' = 1 and r (2) = 0.903) between rs8031031 and rs7181866. The VO(2max) was associated with rs12594956 at baseline while the training response of VO(2) at RE, was associated with rs12594956, rs8031031 and rs7181866. When the three SNPs were considered together, those carrying the ATG haplotype had 57.5 % higher training response in VO(2) at RE (p = 0.006) than non-carriers. In conclusion, polymorphisms in NRF2 gene may explain some of the between-person variance in endurance capacity.