Ultrastructural changes of nucleoli in common wheat induced by actinomycin DPeople's Republic of China

Common wheat root tip meristematic cells were treated with low concentrations of actinomycin D (ActD), then stained whole by silver nitrate. We showed by transmission electron microscopy that the typical nucleolar structure did not form, but a granular and fibrillar network was exhibited in the nucleolar region. Our results support a correlation between nucleolar organization/assembly and the activation of RNA Polymerase I transcription. Furthermore, we speculate that the fibrillar network present in the nucleolar region of ActD treated cells may represent the basic skeletal structure required to support the nucleolus.

Study of heat shock response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using cDNA microarray

Genetic response of human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) to heat shock was studied using gene expression analysis. HUVECs were subjected to heat treatment at 44 degrees C and 55 degrees C for 1 h, respectively. Four hours after the treatment, gene expression of the treated cells and control cells (37 degrees C) were profiled using cDNA microarray. Data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools, and the results were verified by real-time quantitative PCR experiment. It has been shown that a large number of genes were regulated indicating global response to heat treatment at the genetic level.

Enhancing the prediction accuracy of bovine lameness models through transformations of limb movement variables

The issue of modeling bovine lameness was explored by testing the hypothesis that B-spline transformation of limb movement variables (LMV) employed in predictive models improved model accuracy. The objectives were to determine the effect of number of B-spline knots and the degree of the underlying polynomial approximation (degree of freedom) on model accuracy. Knot number used in B-spline transformation improved model accuracy by improving model specificity and to a lesser extent model sensitivity. Degree of polynomial approximation had no effect on model predictive accuracy from the data set of 261 cows. Model stability, defined as changes in predictive accuracy associated with the superimposition of perturbations (0.5 and 1.0%) in LMV on the measured data, was explored. Model specificity and to a lesser degree, sensitivity, increased with increased knot number across data set perturbations. Specificity and sensitivity increased by 43 and 11%, respectively, when knot number increased from 0 to 7 for a perturbation level of 0.5%. When the perturbation level was 1%, the corresponding increases in specificity and sensitivity were 32 and 4%, respectively. Nevertheless, different levels of LMV perturbation varied the optimal knot number associated with highest model accuracy. The optimal knot number for 0.5% perturbation was 8, whereas for 1% perturbation the optimal knot number was 7. The B-spline transformation improved specificity and sensitivity of predictive models for lameness, provided the appropriate number of knots was selected.

The experience of menopausal symptoms by Arabic women in Sydney

AIM

To investigate the menopausal experience of Arabic women living in Sydney and to explore the relationship between the psychosomatic symptoms and various sociodemographic factors.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 197 Arabic women aged 45-65 years. The Menopause-specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics and menopausal symptoms.

RESULTS

The median age at menopause in the present study was 49 years (mean+/-standard deviation, 47.9+/-5.0 years). Out of 29 symptoms, the most frequent symptom reported was 'feeling tired or worn out' (86%), followed by 'aching in muscles and joints' (85%). Sixty-three percent of the subjects reported 'hot flushes' and 54% reported 'vaginal dryness during intercourse'. The least prevalent symptom was 'increased facial hair' (35%). Postmenopausal women suffered more vasomotor and sexual symptoms than pre- and perimenopausal women (p<0.05). Women from the sample who were better educated and had a lower body mass index reported fewer and less severe symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Menopause-related symptoms among these Arabic women in Sydney were more prevalent and severe than those reported in many other countries and their quality of life was negatively affected by these symptoms.

Mutations in the LDL receptor gene in four Chinese homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder of lipoprotein metabolism caused by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene, leading to elevated levels of cholesterol and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. In this article, from four homozygous FH phenotype probands we identified disease causing mutations and analyzed the relationship between genotype and phenotype.

METHODS AND RESULTS

DNA sequencing identified five LDL-R point mutations in four unrelated families. We found a novel homozygous mutation (C210R), a homozygous mutation at W462X, a compound heterozygous mutation of C122Y and T383I, and a G>A intron 3 splice site homozygous mutation. The functional alteration caused by the novel C210R mutation was confirmed by FACS analysis. Four probands have high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, ranging from 14.65 to 27.66 mmol/L. Their heterozygous parents had relatively low levels. B-mode ultrasound supplemented by Doppler was used to examine aortic/mitral valve structural alterations and carotid intima-media thickness (ITM) in all probands. The ITM values were between 1.2 and 2.3mm, much higher than the normal value of <0.8mm.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrated that all the probands were associated with severe hypercholesterolemia, thick carotid IMT and a low CFVR (coronary flow velocity reserve) value. The novel mutation (C120Y) is a disease causing mutation.

Expression of AS3MT alters transcriptional profiles in human urothelial cells exposed to arsenite

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is an environmental toxicant and human carcinogen. The enzymatic methylation of iAs that is catalyzed by arsenic (+3 oxidation state)-methyltransferase (AS3MT) generates reactive methylated intermediates that contribute to the toxic and carcinogenic effects of iAs. We have shown that clonal human urothelial cells (UROtsa/F35) that express rat AS3MT and methylate iAs are more susceptible to acute toxicity of arsenite (iAs(III)) than parental UROtsa cells that do not express AS3MT and do not methylate iAs. The current work examines transcriptional changes associated with AS3MT expression and identifies specific categories of genes expressed in UROtsa and UROtsa/F35 cells in response to a 24-h exposure to 1 or 50 microM iAs(III). Here, the expression of 21,073 genes was assessed using Agilent Human 1A(V2) arrays. Venn analysis showed marked concentration-dependent differences between gene expression patterns in UROtsa and UROTsa/F35 cells exposed to iAs(III). Among 134 genes altered by exposure to subtoxic 1 microM iAs(III), only 14 were shared by both cell lines. Exposure to cytotoxic 50 microM iAs(III) uniquely altered 1389 genes in UROtsa/F35 and 649 genes in UROtsa cells; 5033 altered genes were associated with the chemical alone. In UROtsa, but not UROtsa/F35 cells exposure to 1 microM iAs(III) altered expression of genes associated with cell adhesion. In contrast, expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation was significantly altered in UROtsa/F35 cells at this exposure level. At 50 microM iAs(III), pathways regulating cell cycle, cell death, transcription, and metabolism were affected in both cell lines. However, only Urotsa/F35 cells showed numerous G-protein and kinase pathway alterations as well as alterations in pathways involved in cell growth and differentiation. These data link the AS3MT-catalyzed methylation of iAs to specific genomic responses in human cells exposed to iAs(III). Further analysis of these responses will help to characterize the role of AS3MT-catalyzed methylation in modulation of iAs(III) toxicity.

Distribution of vasoactive intestinal peptide and substance P messenger ribonucleic acid in intestinal nerve of Remak of chicken

The intestinal nerve of Remak (INR) is unique to birds. The exact distributions and secretions of the peptide transmitters in the INR that innervate the intestine, and the patterns of their projections to the nerve plexus of the intestinal wall, are still unclear. In the present study, the distributions of chicken vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mRNA and substance P (SP) mRNA in the chicken INR were demonstrated by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry, using sense and antisense digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes. The in situ hybridization histochemistry results suggested that VIP mRNA-positive neurons were mainly distributed in ganglions, whereas some of the INR fibers were weakly positive. The proportion of VIP mRNA-positive cells among total neurons was 75% in the juxta-jejunoileum portion and 87% in the juxta-rectal portion of the INR. Most SP mRNA-positive cells were sporadically distributed in layers or small groups within the ganglions, as well as in nerve trunks between ganglions. Moreover, the proportion of positive cells among total neurons was 83% in the juxta-jejunoileum portion and 98% in the juxta-rectal portion of the INR, which suggests that both VIP and SP mRNA are coexpressed in the chicken INR. Our results provide an approach to further study of the locations of VIP and SP in nerve tissue.

Predictors for casual sex and/or infection among sexually transmitted disease clinic attendees in China

To assess the risk factors for casual sex and infections among the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic attendees in two disparate Chinese cities, an STD clinic-based cross-sectional study was conducted to provide demographic and sexual behaviour information. Participants were recruited from nine STD clinics selected by mapping strategy. STD prevalence was 69.4% (68.6% of men and 65.2% of women). The most common diagnoses were non-gonococcal urethritis (22.2%), genital warts (13.2%), syphilis (11.6%), gonorrhoea (8.4%), chlamydia (6.3%) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (5.8%). Of 536 participants, 22.5% reported having casual sex in the last three months, younger age, less education, unawareness of transmission routes and having had casual sex in the last three months were independent risk factors for acquisition of an STD. Single or separated marital status, non-local residency and STD diagnoses were independently associated with having had casual sex. After decades of exceedingly low STD rates in China, a full panoply of STD diagnoses are now evident. Both for reproductive health concerns and for stemming the expansion of HIV spread, STD control and prevention must be revitalized as a priority for China's public health and medical institutions. Effective training is a priority, given the dearth of STD-experienced health-care workers.

Improving auscultatory blood pressure measurement with electronic and computer technology: the visual auscultation method

BACKGROUND

The auscultatory method is used as the reference standard in all prevalent protocols for validation of noninvasive blood pressure measuring devices, and a validation study is essentially based on the comparison between the device and observer measurements. Thus, the objectivity and accuracy of observer measurements are crucial to the validation result.

METHODS

To provide observers with more objective information about an auscultatory measurement so that sufficient information to make measurements with greater potential objectivity and accuracy can be available, a computerized data acquisition and analysis system has been developed. It cannot only acquire and store Korotkoff sound, cuff pressure, and oscillometric pulse signals, as well as the sphygmomanometer image, but it also can display the waveforms of the three signals and the sphygmomanometer video while playing the synchronous Korotkoff sounds. With this system, observers can make their measurements via the visual auscultation method, that is to say, by watching those waveforms, instead of the sphygmomanometer, while listening for synchronized Korotkoff sounds. The system was validated according to the International Protocol (IP).

RESULTS

The result showed that all the differences between system measurements by the visual auscultation method and observer measurements by the conventional auscultatory method were within 4 mm Hg.

CONCLUSIONS

The visual auscultation method achieved a high degree of accuracy, and human observers can be replaced by the system in the validation study of blood pressure measuring devices.

Circulating cytokine and angiogenic factors as predictive biomarkers of glioblastoma response to aflibercept (VEGF Trap)

2029

Background: Aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein that scavenges both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF). In a single-arm phase II study (NABTC06–01; NCT00369590 ), a 22% response rate was seen in recurrent glioblastoma patients receiving aflibercept 4 mg/kg iv every 2 weeks. We performed detailed analyses of circulating and urinary cytokine and angiogenic factors to describe the modulation of markers in response to aflibercept and to identify potential predictive markers. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 31 of 32 enrolled patients at baseline, 24 hours and every 2–4 weeks until progression. Urine samples were collected at baseline and every 4 weeks. Levels of 41 circulating factors were measured using suspension bead multiplex assays (BioRad) or ELISA. Free VEGF and PlGF levels were determined following sample immunodepletion. Baseline and changes in marker levels over time were correlated with response and progression using logistic regression and Cox proportion hazard models. Results: Treatment with aflibercept resulted in significant increases in total VEGF and PlGF at 24 hours and 28 days (p ≤ 0.001). Free VEGF was rapidly sequestered by 24 hours and remained significantly decreased at 28 days (p = 0.001). However, free PlGF levels rose over time and by 28 days were 45-fold higher than baseline (p < 0.001). Additional modulation of 4 factors at 24 hours included decreases in Groα and MIF (p = 0.001) and increases in urinary VEGF and MIP1β (p ≤ 0.001). At 28 days, levels of IL-18 were significantly decreased (p = 0.02) while SCGFβ and urinary VEGF levels increased (both p < 0.02). Comparing baseline biomarker levels between response groups (PD, SD, and PR), patients with lower levels of GROα, HGF, SCGFβ and higher levels of free VEGF were more likely to have a PR (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In recurrent glioblastoma, aflibercept resulted in rapid and sustained decreases in free VEGF levels. Although greater than 95% of PlGF remained bound, free PlGF levels significantly increased over time. Treatment significantly modulated multiple cytokine and angiogenic factors with striking increases in MIF and SCGFβ. Potential biomarkers predictive of response to aflibercept include Groα, HGF and SCGFβ.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Susceptibility of head and neck cancer to an attenuated model of the oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus expressing suicide genes

e14604

Background: The predominant loco-regional progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) makes it suitable for testing oncolytic viruses. Recent work from several laboratories including ours has focused on developing vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a replication-competent anticancer viral vector. Attenuated strains, such as M protein mutant VSV (M51R) are more likely to be promoted in clinical research. The major shortcoming of viral therapy is related to the large proportion of tumor cells remaining uninfected. We are addressing this limitation in two ways: the expression of the cytosine deaminase-uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (C:U) suicide gene by the rVSV vector, expected to produce a strong bystander effect and the exploitation of the radiosensitizing potential of the 5-FU chemo-drug produced intratumorally, as well as of the VSV virus itself. Methods: We determined the extent of defectiveness in interferon pathways and susceptibility to oncolytic VSV in a collection of HNSCC cell lines and in patient HN primary tumor cells. We employed gene array to screen for differences in gene expression in sensitive and resistant models. We have generated the rVSV-C:U and M51R-C:U viruses and we tested our collection of HNSCC cell models to infection with these viruses in the presence and absence of 5-FC. In vivo experiments were performed on a localized and on a metastatic SQ-20B model of HNSCC in nude mice. Results: 1) the primary patient HNC cells are more resistant than the HNC cell lines to the M51R-VSV; 2) the activation of IFN pathways and /or alterations of AKT pathway is contributing to resistance to VSVs. 3) Addition of the suicide gene to the attenuated VSV provided significantly more oncolytic effect in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy and the radiosensitizing potential of M51R- C:U on a nude mice model of HNSCC (SQ-20B) will be presented. Conclusions: M51R-VSV has increased efficiency and radiosensitizing effect on HNSCC models. We can define an optimal approach to testing VSV vectors for treatment of HNSCC, with a clinical trial in HNSCC patients as our next goal. Finally, we have important new information, both from cell lines and patient tissues, for proof-of-principle that cancers can down-regulate antiviral responses.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phase IIb trial of fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and paclitaxel (POF) compared with fluorouracil, feucovorin, and irinotecan (IF) as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC)

e15642

Background: Primary results of POF as 1st and 2nd line treatment for AGC have been presented at ASCO 2007 and 2008. We report here data on the feasibility and the toxicity of POF versus IF(Dank, et al, ASCO 2005) in 1st line treatment of AGC. Methods: Patients with previously untreated, advanced, unresectable, and histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the gastric or gastroesophageal junction were randomly assigned to POF or IF regiment. Treatment was continued until disease progressed, unacceptable toxicity, or patient choice. Results: 25 patients were entered in this study between March 2007 and July 2007: 13 in the POF group and 12 in the IF group. The median patient age was 55 years (range, 36 to 67 years), 18 were males and 7 were females. No complete response was observed. The response rate was 62.5% (POF) and 33.3% (IF) respectively. At a median follow-up of 285 days, 7(POF) versus 6(IF) patients were still alive. Hematological toxicity was the most frequent toxicity in both groups. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia were 38.5% (POF) versus 8.3% (IF). Diarrhea was found 0% and 8.3% in POF and IF group respectively. No grade 3 peripheral neurotoxicity was observed. Conclusions: Compared with IF regiment, POF could also be used as first-line treatment for AGC with acceptable safety profile, good efficacy, and more encouraging results.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Elevated troponin and abnormalities of cardiac structure and function in AL cardiac amyloidosis

e19524

Background: Patients with systemic amyloidosis involving the heart have generally a poor prognosis. Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) has been shown to predict poor survival in patients with AL cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, cardiac structure and function associated with an elevated cTn in patients with CA remains uncertain. Methods: Eighty patients with CA who had an echocardiogram and cTnI measured at the time of diagnosis between March 1997 May 2008 were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: normal cTnI ( <0.06 ng/ml, n = 28) or elevated cTnI (≥0.06 ng/ml; n = 52). Results: The elevated cTnI group was slightly older with higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and creatinine clearance than the normal cTnI group. There was a trend towards higher prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) in the elevated cTnI group than the normal group at time of diagnosis. The elevated cTnIgroup had thicker interventricular septum and higher left atrial (LA) volume than the normal group. LV ejection fraction, left atrial systolic force (LASF) and stroke volume were lower in the elevated cTnI group than the normal group. Mean survival was significantly shorter in the elevated cTnI group than the normal group (10 vs. 47 months). Conclusions: Elevated troponin in patients with AL cardiac amyloidosis is associated with worse left atrial and ventricular structure and function. The raised troponin level reflects myocardial injury due to the amyloid deposition and correlates with more abnormal alteration of cardiac structure and function. Routine measurement of troponin is useful in identifying high risk patients with CA.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Cytokines and angiogenic factors in metastatic renal cell cancer: Association of pretreatment serum levels with survival

e16036

Background: To correlate serum cytokine and angiogenic factor (CAF) levels and overall survival (OS) in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-α). Methods: Serum CAF levels were measured in 103 patients treated on a randomized trial with IFN-α 0.5 million units (MU) twice daily or 5 MU daily. Concentrations of 17 analytes including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) and several cytokines were determined by multiplex bead immunoassays or ELISA (basic fibroblast growth factor). We used proportional hazards models to evaluate the effect of CAF levels and clinical factors on OS. Results: Pretreatment serum interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12p40, VEGFA, and IL-6 levels, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center risk grouping were independently correlated with OS, with hazard ratios of 2.33, 2.00, 2.07, 1.82 and 0.39, respectively (concordance index = 0.69 for the combined model versus 0.60 for the CAF model versus 0.52 for the clinical model). Based on an index derived from these five risk factors (RF), patients with 0–2 RF had a median OS time of 32 months, versus 9 months for patients with 3–5 RF (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Serum CAF profiling contributes to prognostic evaluation in mRCC and helps to identify a subset of patients with 20% 5-year OS.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.