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.

Nucleotide sequence variation within the human tyrosine kinase B neurotrophin receptor gene: association with antisocial alcohol dependence

To identify sequence variants in genes that may have roles in neuronal responses to alcohol, we resequenced the 5' region of tyrosine kinase B neurotrophin receptor gene (NTRK2) and determined linkage disequilibrium (LD) values, haplotype structure, and performed association analyses using 43 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the entire NTRK2 region in a Finnish Caucasian sample of 229 alcohol-dependent subjects with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and 287 healthy controls. Individually, three SNPs were associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse (AD) (P-value from 0.0019 to 0.0059, significance level was set at P<or=0.01 corrected for multiple testing), whereas a common 18 locus haplotype within the largest LD block of NTRK2, a 119-kb region containing the 5' flanking region and exons 1-15, was marginally overrepresented in control subjects compared to AD individuals (global P=0.057). Taken together, these results support a role for the NTRK2 gene in addiction in a Caucasian population with AD and a subtype of ASPD.

Common Polymorphisms in theCACNA1HGene Associated with Childhood Absence Epilepsy in Chinese Han Population

Variants with a relatively high frequency in the CACNA1H gene have previously been identified in cases of childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) in the Chinese Han population most of which are located in exons 6 to 12. In present study we attempted to further investigate whether the CACNA1H gene is associated with CAE. Exons 6 to 12 of CACNA1H gene were sequenced in samples of 100 CAE trios recruited consecutively, and 191 normal human controls. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were studied in both single locus and haplotype analyses in 218 CAE trios, of which 118 trios were selected from our previous research. Case-control comparisons and the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) both supported a coding SNP (cSNP) rs9934839 (R603R) in exon 9 as being close related to CAE. The carriers of the G allele of rs9934839 had a 3-fold higher risk of CAE than non-carriers. Moreover, another cSNP rs8044363 was predicted to be connected directly with CAE in a Bayesian network. In addition, two haplotypes consisting of five cSNPs in the region of CACNA1H were statistically associated with CAE. Our research provides new evidence to further support the hypothesis that CACNA1H may be an important susceptibility gene for CAE in the Chinese Han population.

Delayed synapsing muscles are more severely affected in an experimental model of MuSK-induced myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis can be induced in mice by injecting the extracellular domain of rat muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase involved in agrin signaling at the neuromuscular junction. About 5-10% of human myasthenia gravis patients have autoantibodies against MuSK. Here we have examined mouse neuromuscular junctions following MuSK immunization in two groups of muscles that can be distinguished on the basis of the timing of neuromuscular synaptogenesis and their response to perturbation of agrin signaling. We used confocal microscopy to characterize the distribution and expression of nicotinic acetylcoline receptors and of two presynaptic makers, neurofilament protein and synaptophysin. We observed disruption of neuromuscular junctions in all muscles examined in this model of myasthenia gravis. However delayed-synapsing muscles, including the diaphragm, sternomastoid and tibialis posterior, were significantly more severely affected than fast-synapsing muscles, including the intercostal, adductor longus and tibialis anterior. These results suggest a basis for the differential susceptibility of muscles in different classes of myasthenia gravis patients, including patients with autoantibodies against MuSK.

Refined mapping of the Pierce's disease resistance locus, PdR1, and Sex on an extended genetic map of Vitis rupestris x V. arizonica

A framework genetic map based on genomic DNA-derived SSR, EST-derived SSR, EST-STS and EST-RFLP markers was developed using 181 genotypes generated from D8909-15 (female) x F8909-17 (male), the '9621' population. Both parents are half siblings with a common female parent, Vitis rupestris 'A. de Serres', and different male parents (forms of V. arizonica). A total of 542 markers were tested, and 237 of them were polymorphic for the female and male parents. The female map was developed with 159 mapped markers covering 865.0 cM with an average marker distance of 5.4 cM in 18 linkage groups. The male map was constructed with 158 mapped molecular markers covering 1055.0 cM with an average distance of 6.7 cM in 19 linkage groups. The consensus '9621' map covered 1154.0 cM with 210 mapped molecular markers in 19 linkage groups, with average distance of 5.5 cM. Ninety-four of the 210 markers on the consensus map were new. The 'Sex' expression locus segregated as single major gene was mapped to linkage group 2 on the consensus and the male map. PdR1, a major gene for resistance to Pierce's disease, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, was mapped to the linkage group 14 between markers VMCNg3h8 and VVIN64, located 4.3 and 2.7 cM away from PdR1, respectively. Differences in segregation distortion of markers were also compared between parents, and three clusters of skewed markers were observed on linkage groups 6, 7 and 14.

Evidence for superfluidity of ultracold fermions in an optical lattice

The study of superfluid fermion pairs in a periodic potential has important ramifications for understanding superconductivity in crystalline materials. By using cold atomic gases, various models of condensed matter can be studied in a highly controllable environment. Weakly repulsive fermions in an optical lattice could undergo d-wave pairing at low temperatures, a possible mechanism for high temperature superconductivity in the copper oxides. The lattice potential could also strongly increase the critical temperature for s-wave superfluidity. Recent experimental advances in bulk atomic gases include the observation of fermion-pair condensates and high-temperature superfluidity. Experiments with fermions and bosonic bound pairs in optical lattices have been reported but have not yet addressed superfluid behaviour. Here we report the observation of distinct interference peaks when a condensate of fermionic atom pairs is released from an optical lattice, implying long-range order (a property of a superfluid). Conceptually, this means that s-wave pairing and coherence of fermion pairs have now been established in a lattice potential, in which the transport of atoms occurs by quantum mechanical tunnelling and not by simple propagation. These observations were made for interactions on both sides of a Feshbach resonance. For larger lattice depths, the coherence was lost in a reversible manner, possibly as a result of a transition from superfluid to insulator. Such strongly interacting fermions in an optical lattice can be used to study a new class of hamiltonians with interband and atom-molecule couplings.

Polymorphisms in the HBB gene relate to individual cardiorespiratory adaptation in response to endurance training

OBJECTIVE

The crucial role of haemoglobin in endurance performance has been well documented. We examined whether polymorphisms in the HBB gene modified aerobic capacity.

METHODS

102 recruits were trained by running 5000 m three times per week for 18 weeks. Exercise intensity progressively increased from an initial heart rate corresponding to 95% of the individual baseline ventilatory threshold during the first 10 weeks to 105% during the last 8 weeks. The phenotypes measured were running economy and VO(2)max. Running economy was determined by measuring submaximal VO(2) for 5 min at a constant running speed of 12 km.h(-1) and VO(2)max was obtained during an incremental test to exhaustion. Genomic DNA was extracted from white cells of peripheral blood and the -551C/T, intron2,+16C/G and +340 A/T genotypes were examined relative to the TAA site variants by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci. None of the running economy and VO(2)max-related traits were associated with the three polymorphisms or haplotypes at baseline, while the training response of running economy was associated with -551C/T and intron2,+16C/G polymorphisms. Subjects homozygous for intron2,+16C/C or -551C/C had decreased oxygen cost of running compared to the other individuals.

DISCUSSION

It was concluded that the -551C/C or intron2,+16C/C genotype might explain part of the individual variation in the cardiorespiratory adaptation to endurance training.

Synergistic and selective inhibition of NSCLC cell growth via a caspase-independent cell death pathway by tumor suppressor 101F6 nanoparticles plus vitamin C in vitro and in vivo

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Background: 101F6 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 3p21.3, a site of allele loss and genomic alterations were frequently found in many human cancers. We previously showed that enforced expression of wt-101F6 by adenoviral virus significantly inhibited tumor cell growth in 3p21.3-deficient NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. How 101F6 exerts this effect is largely unknown. Using a computer-aided structural and functional modeling, we recently identified 101F6 as a member of cytochrome b-561 protein family, which is involved in the regeneration of vitamin C. We hypothesized that under normal physiologic conditions, 101F6 protects cells from oxidative damage by regenerating antioxidant vitamin C and that in 101F6-deficient tumor cells, exogenous 101F6 facilitates vitamin C-mediated cytotoxic H2O2 formation. Methods and Results: We examined endogenous 101F6 expression in human NSCLC cell lines and tissue samples. All normal lung bronchial epithelial cells and fibroblasts but few lung cancers expressed 101F6. We investigated the combined effect of 101F6 and vitamin C on the cell growth: a nanoparticle-mediated wt-101F6 gene transfer plus a sub-pharmacologic concentration of vitamin C synergistically inhibited 3p21.3-deficient NSCLC cell growth but did not affect normal cell growth. We also used a human NSCLC H322 orthotopic lung tumor xenograft mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of systemic injection of 101F6 nanoparticles and intraperitoneal injection of vitamin C. The growth of lung tumors was synergistically inhibited by the combination treatment (p<0.001). Furthermore, exogenous 101F6 promoted intracellular vitamin C uptake, leading to the vitamin C-mediated accumulation of H2O2 in the tumor cells, and these two agents synergistically killed the cells through caspase-independent apoptosis and autophagy cell death pathways. Conclusions: The synergistic and selective antitumor effect of 101F6 nanoparticles plus vitamin C may offer a useful tool for lung cancer prevention and intervention. This abstract is supported by grants from NCI (SPORE P50CA70907) and DOD (TARGET, DAMD17002–1-0706).

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Experimental study on Chinese ink as the dye for the sentinel lymph node biopsy

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Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a very important method in detecting lymph nodes metastasis. There are several methods developed to detect sentinel lymph node. In this study, we will research on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) by using Chinese ink and study on its feasibility, clinical value and suitable concentration. Methods: Forty-two female rabbits were randomly divided into seven groups with 12 sides of mammaries (6 animals) in each group.The second mammary and the armpit of the same side were anatomized and injected 0.1 ml different dyes (1% isosulfan blue, 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 100% sterilized Chinese ink) at the base of the second mammary. We observed the dying time of the sentinel and the second lymph nodes and the fading time of the dying nodes. The pathological and histological examination of the sentinel lymph nodes were conducted in 5 minutes,1 hour and 2 weeks after the nodes were dyed by ink, respectively. The rabbits’ hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys were detected pathologic changes. Results: There was no obvious difference among different concentration ink on the dyeing time of the sentinel and second lymph nodes (P > 0.05),but distinctively different from 1% isosulfan blue (P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference between groups on the number of the dyed nodes (P > 0.05). But the nodes dyed by 0.1% ink were dyed too lightly to be found. The average fading time of the nodes dyed by 1% isosulfan bluewas 33.9 minutes, and the nodes dyed by ink were still dyed deeply 2 weeks after the experiment. The pathologic examination showed that the carbon aggregated in the lymph nodes sinus 5 minutes after the nodes were dyed, but was phagocytosed by Macrophage (MΦ) 1 hour after dyed. The groups (0.1%, 1%, 10% ink) showed good histology image, however, groups (20%, 50%, 100% ink) showed too much carbon aggregation to disturb the observation. There were no difference in blood routine and pathologic change between these two groups. Conclusions: Chinese ink of concentration 1% to 10% is a useful dye of SLNB according chromaticity, histological observation and security. This dye had latency clinical value and was a new type of the dye for SLNB.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Observation of strong quantum depletion in a gaseous Bose-Einstein condensate

We studied quantum depletion in a gaseous Bose-Einstein condensate. An optical lattice enhanced the atomic interactions and modified the dispersion relation resulting in strong quantum depletion. The depleted fraction was directly observed as a diffuse background in the time-of-flight images. Bogoliubov theory provides a semiquantitative description for our observations of depleted fractions in excess of 50%.

Evidence of a novel biomarker, αs1-Casein, a milk protein, in benign prostate hyperplasia

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly men. Although it is a non-malignant disease, it has a significant detrimental impact on the quality of life in patients with late-stage disease. Owing to the lack of specific markers, diagnosis of early-stage BPH has been proven unsuccessful. Recently, using two-dimensional electrophoresis, we identified a group of prostatic secretory proteins that are specifically produced by BPH cells (Xu et al., Electrophoresis 2003; 24: 1311). In this study, we investigated the potential diagnostic value of one of the secretory proteins, alphas1-Casein, in BPH by inmmunohistological staining of normal, BPH and prostate cancer tissues. We found that 90% (20 out of 22) of BPH tissues showed moderate to strong alphas1-Casein protein expression whereas none of the normal tissues (0 out of 10) and less than 10% of the prostate cancer tissues (3 out of 30) showed similar staining intensity. Our results suggest that alphas1-Casein may be a potential biomarker for early identification of BPH patients.