[Relationship between organisational structure and worksite health management in the information technology and communications sector]

AIM OF THE STUDY

Worksite health management (WHM) can positively influence employee health and performance. However, it has not yet been comprehensively implemented in companies. This study aims to identify the role of organisational structures in the implementation of WHM.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected on the companies' WHM and the organisational structure. Out of 522 randomly selected companies within the German information technology and communication (ITC) sector, one managing director for each company was being questioned through telephone interviews. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The results of the study reveal that the implementation of WHM is positively correlated with a large company size (OR 2.75; 95%-CI 1.10-6.88) and with the existence of an employee representation (OR 2.48; 95%-CI 1.54-3.98). Other structural characteristics, such as the employment of a company physician, the percentage of temporary workers as well as the staff's age and sex distribution do not seem to have a significant impact on the implementation of WHM.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the implementation of WHM can only be explained to a certain degree by organisational structures. However, the findings highlight the fact that companies with few structural resources are in particular need of tailored support when implementing WHM.

Use of germ-line single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in drug transporters (ABCG2/ABCB1) and tubulin (TUBB4) to predict survival in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) receiving docetaxel

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Background: Multiple treatment options now exist for metastatic CRPC patients (pts). Germ-line SNPs in docetaxel (D) transport, metabolism, binding site, and degradation genes may contribute to variability in outcomes observed in D treated CRPC pts.

Methods: Between 1/07 and 10/08, all PCa pts seen in the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center oncology clinics were approached for recruitment to the Prostate Cancer Genetic Risk Evaluation of SNPs Study (PROGRESS). Participants completed a demographic and clinical questionnaire and provided a blood sample. Only CRPC pts treated with D were included in this analysis. Germ-line DNA was analyzed for SNP genotyping on a 128-SNP chip using a TaqMan OpenArray GT Kit (Applied Biosystems). The chip included genes critical to D signaling, transport, and elimination with minor allele frequencies > 5%. Pts were followed for progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariable analyses were performed to identify significant associations between SNP genotype, clinical parameters, and PFS and OS outcomes.

Results: 60 pts with metastatic CRPC initiated on D enrolled. Demographics included: age (median) – 69 yrs, ECOG PS 0– 40%, prostate specific antigen (PSA) (median) – 129.9 ng/ml, PSA doubling time (median) – 1.8 months, visceral mets –25%. No clinical parameters were associated with PFS and OS. Significant SNP associations are summarized below.

Conclusions: Differences in germ-line ABCG2, ABCB1, and TUBB4 SNPs may contribute to variation in clinical outcomes in CRPC pts treated with D.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Germ-line single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) predictors of progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT)

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Background: Significant variation in response duration and overall survival exists among prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with ADT. Germ-line SNPs affecting function of genes critical to hormone synthesis, transport, metabolism, binding sites, and degradation may contribute to variability in clinical outcomes observed in PCa patients treated with ADT.

Methods: Between 1/07 and 10/08, all PCa patients seen in the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center oncology clinics were approached for recruitment to the Prostate Cancer Genetic Risk Evaluation of SNPs Study (PROGRESS). Participants completed a demographic and clinical questionnaire and provided a peripheral blood sample. Only patients with confirmed ADT initiation dates were included in this analysis. Germ-line DNA was analyzed for SNP genotyping on a 128-SNP chip using a TaqMan OpenArray GT Kit (Applied Biosystems). The chip included genes critical to hormone signaling, transport, and elimination pathways with minor allele frequencies > 5%. Patients were followed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) endpoints. Univariable analyses were performed to identify significant associations between SNP genotype, clinical parameters, and PFS and OS outcomes.

Results: 107 patients with PCa initiated on ADT enrolled. Demographics included: age (median)–69 yrs, prostate specific antigen (PSA) (median)–28.0 ng/ml, PSA doubling time (median)–4.9 months, biochemical/metastatic–25%/75%, concurrent anti-androgen therapy–44%. No clinical parameters were associated with PFS and OS. Significant SNP associations with PFS and OS are summarized in the Table.

Conclusions: Interpatient differences in hormone pathway germ-line SNPs may contribute to variability in clinical outcomes in patients treated with ADT.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Androgen pathway constitutional polymorphism predictors of progression-free and overall survivals in advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients treated with ketoconazole (KC)

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Background: Recent trials have highlighted the clinical utility of second-line hormonal therapies for CRPC. KC, an oral inhibitor of CYP3A4 and CYP17, is commonly used in this setting. Germline SNPs in genes critical to hormone synthesis, transport, metabolism, binding sites, and degradation may contribute to variability in outcomes observed in KC treated CRPC pts.

Methods: Between 1/07 and 10/08, all PCa pts seen in the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center oncology clinics were approached for recruitment to the Prostate Cancer Genetic Risk Evaluation of SNPs Study (PROGRESS). Participants completed a demographic and clinical questionnaire and provided a peripheral blood sample. Only pts with initiated on KC were included in this analysis. Germline DNA was analyzed for SNP genotyping on a 128-SNP chip using a TaqMan OpenArray GT Kit. The chip included genes critical to hormone signaling, transport, and elimination pathways with minor allele frequencies > 5%. Pts were followed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) endpoints. Univariable analyses were performed to identify significant associations between SNP genotype, clinical parameters, and PFS and OS outcomes.

Results: Between January 2007 and October 2008, 39 pts with CRPC initiated on KC therapy enrolled. Demographics included: age (median) – 70 yrs, prostate specific antigen (PSA) (median) – 13.0 ng/ml, PSA doubling time (median) – 2.9 months, metastatic –85%, ECOG PS 0– 74%. Age < 70 was associated with shorter PFS (p=0.010) and age > 70 was associated with shorter OS (p=0.030). SNPs significantly associated with PFS and OS are summarized in the table.

Conclusions: Interpatient differences in hormonal pathway germline SNPs may contribute to variability in clinical outcomes in pts treated with KC.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Gene-expression profiles related to a synergistic effect of taxane and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid combination treatment in gastric cancer cells

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Background: We evaluated the cytotoxic effects of combining of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, with taxanes in human gastric cancer cell lines, and evaluated the pre-treatment difference of gene profile to identify genes that could potentially mediate the cytotoxic response.

Methods: Twenty-five gastric cancer cell lines with 22K gene expression data were treated with SAHA and paclitaxel or docetaxel, and the synergistic interaction between the drugs was evaluated in vitro using the combination index (CI) method. We performed significance analysis of microarray (SAM) to identify chemosensitivity-related genes in gastric cancer cell lines that were concomitantly treated with SAHA and taxane. We generated a correlation-matrix between gene expression and CI values to identify genes whose expression correlated with a combined effect of taxanes and SAHA.

Results: Taxane and SAHA combination had a synergistic cytotoxic effect against taxane-resistant gastric cancer cells. We selected 49 chemosensitivity-related genes, which were commonly identified in paclitaxel and docetaxel combined with SAHA, via SAM analysis. Among them, nine common genes (SLIT2, REEP2, EFEMP2, CDC42SE1, FSD1, POU1F1, ZNF79, ETNK1, and DOCK5) were extracted from the subsequent correlation-matrix analysis.

Conclusions: Taxane and SAHA combination could be efficacious for the treatment of gastric cancer. The genes which were related with the synergistic response to taxane and SAHA could serve as surrogate biomarkers to predict the therapeutic response in gastric cancer patients. We are researching to determine the expression of the nine genes in malignant human gastric cancer tissue and to correlate them with clinical information.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Translationally controlled tumor protein induces human breast epithelial cell transformation through the activation of Src

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is implicated in cell growth and malignant transformation. TCTP has been found to interact directly with the third cytoplasmic domain of the α subunit of Na,K-ATPase, but whether this interaction has a role in tumorigenesis is unclear. In this study, we examined TCTP-induced tumor progression signaling networks in human breast epithelial cells, using adenoviral infection. We found that TCTP (a) induces Src release from Na,K-ATPase α subunit and Src activation; (b) phosphorylates tyrosine residues 845, 992, 1086, 1148 and 1173 on anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); (c) activates PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase )-AKT, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK1/2, Rac-PAK1/2, MKK3/6-p38 and phospholipase C (PLC)-γ pathways; (d) enhances NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation; (e) stimulates cytoskeletal remodeling and cell motility and (f) upregulates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 and 13. These findings suggest that TCTP induces tumorigenesis through distinct multicellular signaling pathways involving Src-dependent EGFR transactivation, ROS generation and MMP expression.

A hypoxia-dependent upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 by nuclear factor-κB promotes gastric tumour growth and angiogenesis

BACKGROUND

The underlying mechanisms involved in the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in gastric cancer remain unclear. As nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) as well as HIF-1 have been implicated in angiogenesis of various cancers, we investigated their relationship in gastric cancer.

METHODS

Nuclear expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB/RelA were assessed in 251 human gastric carcinoma specimens by immunohistochemical tissue array analysis. Stable human gastric cancer cells, infected with a retroviral vector containing super-suppressive mutant form of IκBα (IκBαM), were used for animal studies as well as cell culture experiments. Xenografted tumours were measured and IκBαM effects on angiogenesis and HIF-1α activation were assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, luciferase reporter assay, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, NF-κB effects on the HIF-1α degradation and synthesis were examined.

RESULTS

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α activation positively correlated with RelA activation in clinical gastric cancer samples (P<0.001). The IκBαM overexpression suppressed tumour growth, microvessel density, and HIF-1α activation in xenografted tumours. Cell culture experiments showed that hypoxia-induced HIF-1α expression was reduced by NF-κB inhibition under hypoxic conditions at the translational level.

CONCLUSION

The hypoxia-dependent activation of the NF-κB/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway contributes, at least in part, to gastric cancer promotion via enhancement of angiogenesis.

Culture and in vitro hepatogenic differentiation of placenta-derived stem cells, using placental extract as an alternative to serum

OBJECTIVES

Translational research using adult stem cells derived from various tissues has been highlighted in cell-based therapy. However, there are many limitations to using conventional culture systems of adult stem cells for clinically applicability, including limited combinations of cytokines and use of nutrients derived from animals. Here, we have investigated the effects of placental extract (PE) for culture of placenta-derived stem cells (PDSCs) as well as their potential for hepatogenic differentiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Placental extract, extracted using water-soluble methods, was used as a supplement for culture of PDSCs. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay, and cytokine assay was performed using Luminex assay kit. Gene expression, indocyanine green (ICG) up-take, PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) staining and urea production were also analysed.

RESULTS

The placental extract contained several types of cytokine and chemokine essential for maintenance and differentiation of stem cells. Expression of stemness markers in PDSCs cultured with PE is no different from that of PDSCs cultured with foetal bovine serum (FBS). After hepatogenic differentiation, expression patterns for hepatocyte-specific markers in PDSCs cultured with PE were consistent and potential for hepatogenic differentiation of PDSCs cultured with PE was similar to that of PDSCs cultured with FBS, as shown by PAS staining and urea production assays.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed that placental extract could be used as a new component for culture of adult stem cells, as well as for development of human-based medium, in translational research for regenerative medicine.

JIP1 binding to RBP-Jk mediates cross-talk between the Notch1 and JIP1-JNK signaling pathway

Notch1 signaling has a critical function in maintaining a balance among cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Our earlier work showed that the Notch1 intracellular domain interferes with the scaffolding function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-interacting protein-1 (JIP1), yet the effect of JIP1 for Notch1-recombining binding protein suppressor of hairless (RBP-Jk) signaling remains unknown. Here, we show that JIP1 suppresses Notch1 activity. JIP1 was found to physically associate with either intracellular domain of Notch1 or RBP-Jk and interfere with the interaction between them. Furthermore, we ascertained that JIP1 caused the cytoplasmic retention of RBP-Jk through an interaction between the C-terminal region of JIP1 including Src homology 3 domain and the proline-rich domain of RBP-Jk. We also found that RBP-Jk inhibits JIP1-mediated activation of the JNK1 signaling cascade and cell death. Our results suggest that direct protein-protein interactions coordinate cross-talk between the Notch1-RBP-Jk and JIP1-JNK pathways.

Non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with blood pressure and hypertension

In this study, we determined the association of 1180 non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hypertensive status. A total of 8842 subjects were taken from two community-based cohorts--Ansung (n=4183) and Ansan (n=4659), South Korea--which had been established for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Five SNPs (rs16835244, rs2286672, rs6265, rs17237198 and rs7312017) were significantly associated (P-values: 0.003-0.0001, not corrected for genome-wide significance) with SBP in both cohorts. Of these SNPs, rs16835244 and rs2286672 correlated with risk for hypertension. The rs16835244 SNP replaces Ala288 in arginine decarboxylase (ADC) with serine, and rs2286672 replaces Arg172 in phospholipase D2 (PLD2) with cysteine. A comparison of peptide sequences between vertebrate homologues revealed that the SNPs identified occur at conserved amino-acid residues. In silico analysis of the protein structure showed that the substitution of a polar residue, serine, for a non-polar alanine at amino-acid residue 288 affects a conformational change in ADC, and that Arg172 in PLD2 resides in the PX domain, which is important for membrane trafficking. These results provide insights into the function of these non-synonymous SNPs in the development of hypertension. The study investigating non-synonymous SNPs from GWAS not only by statistical association analysis but also by biological relevance through the protein structure might be a good approach for identifying genetic risk factors for hypertension, in addition to discovering causative variations.