Risk of second primary cancer after treatment for esophageal cancer: a pooled analysis of nine cancer registries

The introduction of new treatments for esophageal cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of these modalities has not only improved patient survival, but may also increase the risk of the second primary cancers. The available evidence is conflicting with most risk estimates based on sparse numbers. Here we estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second cancer among 24,557 esophageal cancer survivors (at least 2 months) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program between 1973 and 2007, who had been followed up for median 6.5 years (range 2 months-29.3 years). Second cancer risk was statistically significantly elevated (SIR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.25-1.42) among the survivors compared with the general population; the SIRs for cancers of oral and pharynx, stomach, small intestine, larynx, lung and bronchus, thyroid and prostate cancer were 8.64 (95% CI = 7.36-10.07), 2.87 (95% CI = 2.10-3.82), 3.80 (95% CI = 1.82-7.00), 3.19 (95% CI = 2.12-4.61), 1.68 (95% CI = 1.46-1.93), 2.50 (95% CI = 1.25-4.47), and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.65-0.90), respectively. Radiotherapy raised cancer risk of larynx (SIR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.43-6.14) and thyroid (SIR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.54-7.03) among all esophageal cancer survivors. For patients who had 5-9 years of follow up after radiotherapy, the SIR for lung cancer was 3.46 (95% CI = 2.41-4.82). Patients with esophageal cancer are at increased risks of second cancers of oral and pharynx, larynx, lung, and thyroid, while at a decreased risk for prostate cancer. These findings indicate that radiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients may increase risk of developing second cancers of larynx, lung, and thyroid. Thus, randomized clinical trials to address the association of radiotherapy and the risk of secondary cancer are warranted.

Primary cilia act as mechanosensors during bone healing around an implant

The primary cilium is an organelle that senses cues in a cell's local environment. Some of these cues constitute molecular signals; here, we investigate the extent to which primary cilia can also sense mechanical stimuli. We used a conditional approach to delete Kif3a in pre-osteoblasts and then employed a motion device that generated a spatial distribution of strain around an intra-osseous implant positioned in the mouse tibia. We correlated interfacial strain fields with cell behaviors ranging from proliferation through all stages of osteogenic differentiation. We found that peri-implant cells in the Col1Cre;Kif3a(fl/fl) mice were unable to proliferate in response to a mechanical stimulus, failed to deposit and then orient collagen fibers to the strain fields caused by implant displacement, and failed to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the lack of a functioning primary cilium blunts the normal response of a cell to a defined mechanical stimulus. The ability to manipulate the genetic background of peri-implant cells within the context of a whole, living tissue provides a rare opportunity to explore mechanotransduction from a multi-scale perspective.

First Report of Phytophthora palmivora Causing Root Rot of Cassava in China

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an economically important crop grown widely in South China. Seventy percent of the cassava grown is used for starch and ethanol production and it has become the foundation of local food and bioenergy systems. In November 2010, a new root rot disease was found on cv. HuaNan205 from a cassava plantation in Danzhou, Hainan Province. Disease occurred on 30% or less of the plants. Initially, the upper leaves wilted at noon and recovered in the evening. Eventually, infected plants no longer recovered and the whole plant wilted and died. Root rot symptoms consisting of irregular brown patches occurred on the tuberous roots. Symptomatic root rot tissue was cut into 1-cm pieces, washed in distilled water, and soaked in a solution of 1% sodium hypochlorite for 3 min. A subsection was cut from each sterilized piece, placed on a plate of V8 agar medium, and incubated at 28°C for 7 days. Pathogenicity was established by following Koch's postulates. In July 2011, 10 plants of cassava cv. HuaNan205 were selected from a disease-free plantation in Danzhou. The pathogen was cultivated on V8 agar at 28°C for 14 days. Four holes were established 15 cm from the base of the cassava plants. Five plants were inoculated with 100 mL of the mycelial suspension in each of the four spots and covered by soil. The other five plants were treated with sterile water as control. Plants were maintained for 4 months. All five of the inoculated plants wilted and two died, while the control plants grew normally. Symptoms similar to the original root lesions were observed on tuberous roots of inoculated plants, while only scars formed on tuberous roots of control plants. The pathogen was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants. Microscopic examination showed the sporangia as papillate and ovoid with the widest part close to the base. They were easily washed off and each detached sporangium contained a short pedicel 1.2 to 6.9 μm long, average 2.9 μm. Chlamydospores were readily observed on diseased roots and observed in pure cultures on V8 agar. Morphological characteristics of the specimen were similar to the descriptions for Phytophthora palmivora (2). Genomic DNA of this isolate was extracted with a cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide protocol (3) from mycelium and used as a template for amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA with primer pair ITS1/ITS4 (1). The sequence (GenBank Accession No. HE580279) exactly matched several sequences (e.g., GenBank Accession Nos. HQ237481.1, AY745750, and AY745751) of P. palmivora. To our knowledge, this is the first report of root rot caused by P. palmivora on cassava in China. References: (1) D. E. L. Cooke et al. Fungal Genet. Biol. 30:17, 2000. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (3) J. R. Xu et al. Genetics 143:175, 1996.

Skin advanced glycation end-product accumulation is negatively associated with calcaneal osteo-sono assessment index among non-diabetic adult Japanese men

This study aims to determine the relationship between advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation in skin tissue and bone strength, assessed by quantitative ultrasound, among healthy adult Japanese men. The results of the study suggest that men with higher AGE accumulation in skin tissue have a lower osteo-sono assessment index.

INTRODUCTION

AGE accumulate in bone collagen with age and diabetes and decrease the mechanical properties of bone. Although increased AGE levels are associated with fractures among diabetic patients and elderly women, it is unclear whether a relationship between increased AGE levels and bone strength is present in apparently healthy adult males. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between AGE accumulation in tissue and the mechanical properties of bone among adult Japanese men, using quantitative ultrasound as a surrogate measure of the latter.

METHODS

Skin autofluorescence (AF), which is a noninvasive method for measuring tissue AGEs, and osteo-sono assessment index (OSI), which is determined by quantitative ultrasound, were measured in 193 adult Japanese men (median age 43 years; interquartile range 37.0-55.0 years).

RESULTS

Adjusted for age, BMI, calcium intake, physical activity, smoking status, and education level, log-transformed skin AF had a negative association with log-transformed OSI (β = -0.218, P < 0.01). Adjusted geometric means (95% CI) for OSI across the tertiles of skin AF were 2.81 (2.75-2.87) for the lowest tertile, 2.81 (2.74-2.87) for the middle tertile, and 2.66 (2.61-2.73) for the highest tertile; thus, OSI for the highest skin AF appeared to be 5.0% lower than that for the lowest and middle skin AF tertiles (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Among apparently healthy adult Japanese men, those with higher skin AF had a lower OSI, indicating a relationship between AGE accumulation and bone strength. A long-term prospective study is required to clarify the causality.

Impact of irrigation with high arsenic burdened groundwater on the soil-plant system: Results from a case study in the Inner Mongolia, China

Consequences of irrigation by arsenic (As) enriched groundwater were assigned in the Hetao Plain, part of Chinas' Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Examinations followed the As flow path from groundwater to soil and finally plants. A sunflower and a maize field were systematically sampled, each irrigated since three years with saline well water, characterized by elevated As concentrations (154 and 238μgL(-1)). The annual As input per m(2) was estimated as 120 and 186mg, respectively. Compared to the geogenic background, As concentrations increased toward the surface with observed enrichments in topsoil being relatively moderate (up to 21.1mgkg(-1)). Arsenic concentrations in plant parts decreased from roots toward leaves, stems and seeds. It is shown that the bioavailability of As is influenced by a complex interplay of partly counteracting processes. To prevent As enrichment and soil salinization, local farmers were recommended to switch to a less problematic water source.

Association of Japanese dietary pattern with serum adiponectin concentration in Japanese adult men

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although previous studies suggest that the traditional Japanese dietary pattern is independently associated with a low cardiovascular disease mortality risk, the mechanisms mediating or linking this association are not well understood. Adiponectin has emerged as a valuable biomarker for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of present study was to evaluate whether dietary patterns are associated with serum adiponectin concentration in Japanese adult men.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We designed a cross-sectional study of 702 men (median [interquartile range] age, 44.5 [37.8-54.2] years) living in Japan. Dietary consumption was assessed via a 75-item food frequency questionnaire. We used principal-components analysis to derive 3 major dietary patterns-"Japanese", "sweets-fruits" and, "Izakaya (Japanese Pub)"- from 39 food groups. Serum adiponectin concentration was measured by using a specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After adjustment for potential confounders, the geometric mean (95% confidence interval) for log-transformed adiponectin concentration associated with "Japanese" dietary pattern factor score tertiles were 5.24 (4.84-5.69) for the lowest tertile, 5.82 (5.39-6.29) for the middle tertile, and 5.95 (5.47-6.46) for the highest tertile (P for trend <0.01). In contrast, a significant inverse association was found between the "Izakaya" pattern factor score tertiles and adiponectin concentration (P for trend = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater adherence to the "Japanese" dietary pattern was independently associated to a higher serum adiponectin concentration in Japanese adult men. This finding supports the hypothesis that the traditional Japanese diet may have a potentially beneficial effect on adiponectin concentrations. A long-term prospective study or randomized trials are required to clarify this causality.

Oral health behavior and metabolic syndrome and its components in adults

Inflammation has been strongly related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Periodontal disease is the most common chronic infection in adults. We investigated a cross-sectional (n = 925) and 3-year longitudinal (n = 685) relationship between the daily frequency of toothbrushing and MetS. In the cross-sectional analysis, the prevalence of MetS was 15.7%. After adjustment for potential confounding factors (including all lifestyle factors), the odds ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of having MetS in those who brushed 2 times/day and ≥ 3 times/day were 0.71 (0.48-1.05) and 0.47 (0.24-0.92), respectively, as compared with ratios in those with a toothbrushing frequency of ≤ 1 time/day. Increasing toothbrushing frequency tended to relate inversely to hypertriglyceridemia and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. In the longitudinal analysis, 99 participants were newly diagnosed with MetS. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of the MetS in participants who brushed 2 times/day and ≥ 3 times/day as compared with participants who brushed ≤ 1 time/day were 0.80 (0.49-1.31) and 0.43 (0.19-0.97), respectively. The frequency of toothbrushing was related inversely only to hypertriglyceridemia, consistent with the cross-sectional analysis. This study found that more frequent toothbrushing is related to a lower prevalence and incidence of MetS. These results suggest that more frequent toothbrushing may contribute to the prevention of MetS due to the inflammation/triglyceride pathway.

Efficacy and safety of mitiglinide versus nateglinide in newly diagnose patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized double blind trial

This study was performed to examine the efficacy and safety of mitiglinide in type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM). Enrolled patients had received treatment with diet and exercise in the previous 3 months with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7-10%, and were randomized to receive mitiglinide (n = 111, 5-20 mg/meal) or nateglinide (n = 114,60-120 mg/meal) for 16 weeks. Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were assessed by the changes in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial glucose (PBG) levels. The baseline HbA1c value was 8.2 and 8.3% in both groups. At the end of study, the reduction of HbA1c values from baseline by mitiglinide was slightly more than that by nateglinide (-1.11% vs. -0.76%), but not statically significant (p = 0.06). Final FBG and PBG were comparable for the two treatments. There were 2.8% subjects treated with nateglinide who had hypoglycaemic episodes, but none in the mitiglinide treatment group. The results indicate that mitiglinide and nateglinide had similar effects on FBG, PBG and HbA1c in T2DM patients after the 16-week treatments.

Emodin induces chloride secretion in rat distal colon through activation of mast cells and enteric neurons

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is an active component of many herb-based laxatives. However, its mechanism of action is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mast cells and enteric neurons in emodin-induced ion secretion in the rat colon.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Short-circuit current (I(SC)) recording was used to measure epithelial ion transport. A scanning ion-selective electrode technique was used to directly measure Cl(-) flux (J(Cl)-) across the epithelium. RIA was used to measure emodin-induced histamine release.

KEY RESULTS

Basolateral addition of emodin induced a concentration-dependent increase in I(SC) in colonic mucosa/submucosa preparations, EC(50) 75 µM. The effect of emodin was blocked by apically applied glibenclamide, a Cl(-) channel blocker, and by basolateral application of bumetanide, an inhibitor of the Na(+) -K(+) -2Cl(-) cotransporter. Emodin-evoked J(Cl)- in mucosa/submucosa preparations was measured by scanning ion-selective electrode technique, which correlated to the increase in I(SC) and was significantly suppressed by glibenclamide and bumetanide. Pretreatment with tetrodotoxin and the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine had no effect on emodin-induced ΔI(SC) in mucosa-only preparations, but significantly reduced emodin-induced ΔI(SC) and J(Cl)- in mucosa/submucosa preparations. The COX inhibitor indomethacin, the mast cell stabilizer ketotifen and H(1) receptor antagonist pyrilamine significantly reduced emodin-induced ΔI(SC) in mucosa and mucosa/submucosa preparations. The H(2) receptor antagonist cimetidine inhibited emodin-induced ΔI(SC) and J(Cl)- only in the mucosa/submucosa preparations. Furthermore, emodin increased histamine release from the colonic mucosa/submucosa tissues.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The results suggest that emodin-induced colonic Cl(-) secretion involves mast cell degranulation and activation of cholinergic and non-cholinergic submucosal neurons.

TRAF2 docking with related proteins in silico studies

Using the protein-protein docking program, this study investigates the relationship between TRAF2 and its related proteins and the diversity within the 3D structures of TRAF2s. TRAF2 exists in monomer, trimer, and hexamer forms and it can combine with a number of proteins. Through comparative analysis we found that TRAF2(122), TRAF2(22), TRAF2(21740), TRAF2(2), TRAF2( 22ABC), and TRAF2(Phyre) perform very close homoousia in docking with the same group of ligands, though these TRAF2s come from different sources. The TRAF2-related proteins of cluster 1 change docking values strongly from top to bottom. The TRAF2- related proteins of clusters 2 and 3 have acceptable variation of the docking values. In consideration of the amino acid percentage, TRAF2-related proteins of cluster 2 represent appropriate docking values.

Analysis of clinical data of patients with different outcomes after short-time insemination

The study is to analyse the clinical data of the two groups of patients with different fertilisation outcomes after short-time insemination and probe into short-time insemination indications. A retrospective study including 558 cycles of short-time insemination in our centre during January 2009 to June 2010 which were divided into two groups by the method of fertilisation, 472 cycles by IVF and 86 cycles by Re-ICSI group according to fertilisation conditions to and compare the differences between the two groups in the indexes of average female age, average male age, duration of infertility, forward-moving sperm counts, abnormal sperm rate, proportion of primary infertility, etc. The differences between the two groups have statistical significance in duration of infertility, forward-moving sperm counts, abnormal sperm rate and proportion of primary infertility (5.02 ± 3.12 versus 5.86 ± 3.35; 83.06 ± 78.55 versus 54.02 ± 61.78; 83.56 ± 5.24% versus 86.31 ± 5.26%; 56.87% versus 74.42%; P < 0.05). The discrepancy between the two groups has no statistical significance in average female age and average male age (P > 0.05). Duration of infertility, forward-moving sperm counts, abnormal sperm rate and previous pregnancy history have great significance to predict fertilisation failure, so decisions should be made on the basis of the above indexes when evaluating whether a patient should conduct short-time insemination.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of hepatic adenoma

Nine hepatic adenomas (HA) diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) among 123 liver lesions (89 patients) were evaluated retrospectively; five were confirmed through pathological diagnosis. Time-intensity curves (TIC), contrast medium arriving time (AT), peak time (PT) and retrogression time (RT) for HA were compared with 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and six focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH). Significant differences existed between HA and poorly-differentiated HCC in AT, PT and RT, and between HA and well-differentiated HCC in AT. Differential diagnosis between HA and FNH was determined only through their different perfusion and arterial morphological features: HA showed typical perfusion characteristic of 'fast-in, slow-out', with a centripetal or mixed-filling pattern in the arterial phase, while FNH showed a centrifugal filling pattern. In conclusion, CEUS was helpful for identifying HA but it may be relatively difficult to distinguish between HA and some well-differentiated HCC or FNH.

Analysis of birefringent and dispersive properties of photonic crystal fibers

Two types of high birefringence photonic crystal fiber (PCF) which import four or six big circular air holes near the elliptical-hole are proposed. Their birefringent and dispersive properties are analyzed by full-vector finite-element method (FEM). Numerical analysis demonstrates that importing the big circular hole near the center of elliptical-hole PCFs can achieve a high birefringence. When the ratio (d/Λ) of diameter to hole spacing is larger than 0.8, the proposed two types of PCF have a larger birefringence than that of sole elliptical air hole ones. When the ratio d/Λ is equal to 0.95, the birefringences of these two types PCF can be as high as 4.27×10(-3) and 5.09×10(-3) at the wavelength of 1.55 μm, respectively. Besides, PCF with the four big circular air holes has a large negative dispersion at the long wavelength in x-polarized mode, which indicates a potential in single-polarized mode dispersion compensation.