Evolution of phase synchronization of the two frequency components of the electrohysterogram (EHG): application to the detection of human labor

The analysis of the electrical activity of the uterus recorded externally, the electrohysterogram (EHG), may find an application in the prediction of labor. In the literature parameters that are supposed to be related to the excitability of the uterine cells have almost exclusively been used for this purpose. In the present paper we evaluate the possible use of synchronization parameters for EHG measured in several places on the uterus for this prediction. The EHG is mainly composed of two frequency components called FWL and FWH. These components may be related to the synchronization and the excitability phenomenon respectively. In order to study independently these frequency components, we extracted the corresponding ridges of the wavelet transform of the EHG using the GVF-snake method. For each frequency component we computed parameters that are related to the frequency content of the signals and parameters that consider the synchronization relationship between signals. The synchronization parameters used were the mean phase coherence and the phase entropy. The values of the different parameters were compared during pregnancy and labor by statistical analysis. The detection quality of each parameter was evaluated using ROC curves. Our results suggest that synchronization parameters could be used for the detection of labor in addition to the classical previously published parameters. Another important result of our study is that both FWH and FWL seem related to excitability but only FWL seems to be related to the synchronization of the uterus at term.

Sodium exclusion QTL associated with improved seedling growth in bread wheat under salinity stress

Worldwide, dryland salinity is a major limitation to crop production. Breeding for salinity tolerance could be an effective way of improving yield and yield stability on saline-sodic soils of dryland agriculture. However, this requires a good understanding of inheritance of this quantitative trait. In the present study, a doubled-haploid bread wheat population (Berkut/Krichauff) was grown in supported hydroponics to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with salinity tolerance traits commonly reported in the literature (leaf symptoms, tiller number, seedling biomass, chlorophyll content, and shoot Na(+) and K(+) concentrations), understand the relationships amongst these traits, and determine their genetic value for marker-assisted selection. There was considerable segregation within the population for all traits measured. With a genetic map of 527 SSR-, DArT- and gene-based markers, a total of 40 QTL were detected for all seven traits. For the first time in a cereal species, a QTL interval for Na(+) exclusion (wPt-3114-wmc170) was associated with an increase (10%) in seedling biomass. Of the five QTL identified for Na(+) exclusion, two were co-located with seedling biomass (2A and 6A). The 2A QTL appears to coincide with the previously reported Na(+) exclusion locus in durum wheat that hosts one active HKT1;4 (Nax1) and one inactive HKT1;4 gene. Using these sequences as template for primer design enabled mapping of at least three HKT1;4 genes onto chromosome 2AL in bread wheat, suggesting that bread wheat carries more HKT1;4 gene family members than durum wheat. However, the combined effects of all Na(+) exclusion loci only accounted for 18% of the variation in seedling biomass under salinity stress indicating that there were other mechanisms of salinity tolerance operative at the seedling stage in this population. Na(+) and K(+) accumulation appear under separate genetic control. The molecular markers wmc170 (2A) and cfd080 (6A) are expected to facilitate breeding for salinity tolerance in bread wheat, the latter being associated with seedling vigour.

Identification of candidate genes with pro-apoptotic properties by functional screening of randomly fragmented cDNA libraries

The sequences of many genomes are available; therefore, relevant methods are needed for rapid and efficient identification of functional genes. The ability of tumour cells to resist apoptosis induced by anticancer agents may decide the success of failure of tumour elimination. Although the CD95-signalling pathway is functional in tumour cells, the increased resistance of tumour cells to CD95-mediated apoptosis has been widely reported. In order to identify genes that might determine the response of tumour cells to CD95-mediated apoptosis, we modified the conventional technical knock out (TKO) strategy for isolation of genes that function in CD95-mediated apoptosis. Due to the fact that multiple different plasmids are usually introduced into the same cells, the effectiveness of the conventional TKO strategies is low. To overcome this obstacle, we replaced the conventional TKO strategy (based on stably expressed randomly fragmented cDNA libraries) with a multi-cycle selection procedure (based on transiently expressed randomly fragmented cDNA libraries with multi-cycle selection). Using this approach we could rapidly and significantly identify small numbers of antisense mRNA molecules, whose re-introduction into different tumour types confirmed their ability to block the pro-apoptotic function of their cognate genes. Thus, our modified TKO strategy provides a generally applicable procedure for the identification of functional genes with pro-apoptotic properties that may be clinically relevant to tumor therapy.

Evaluation of the tissue toxicity of antiseptics by the hen's egg test on the chorioallantoic membrane (HETCAM)

Background

Antiseptics are frequently used for the prophylaxis and treatment of local infections of chronic wounds. Whereas local antiseptics in general have a positive effect on wound healing an uncritical use may impair wound healing due to toxic side effects.

Objective

We sought to assess the vascular irritation potential of different antiseptic solutions and ointments commonly used for short and long term application as a measure of tissue toxicity.

Method

The vascular irritation was evaluated by the hen's egg test (HET) on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The effects on the vessels of a mucous membrane were directly assessed by stereomicroscopic observation in vivo.

Results

Severe CAM irritation was observed after short-term applications of 1% octenidin-2HCl (Octeni sept™), 72% isopropanol (Cutasept™), 0.35% chloroxylenol (Dettol™) and 10% PVP-I ointment (Betaisodona™). Medium irritations were observed for 10% PVP-I solution (Betaisodona™), 3% lysosomal PVP-I ointment (Repithel™), 1.8% cadexomer-iodine ointment (Iodosorb™) and 1% cadexomer-iodine pellets (Iodosorb™). Finally, slight irritations were observed for 1% PVP-I solution (Betaisodona™), 0.1% polyhexanid plus betain (Prontosan™) and 1% silver-sulfadiazine ointment (Flammazine™), whereas 0.04% polyhexanid solution (Lavanid™), washings from sterile maggots of Lucilia sericata and filtrated enzymes from Clostridium histolyticum (Iruxol-N™) showed no effects of irritation. In the long-term approaches, no vascular irritations were found for polyhexanid, washings from Lucilia sericata and enzyme filtrations from Clostridium histolyticum.

Conclusion

The vascular injuries caused by the studied antiseptics are an indirect indicator of their tissue toxicity. Strikingly, even therapeutic substances, which have been regarded as safe in their application for the treatment of chronic wounds in clinical studies, showed severe irritations on the CAM. We suggest that agents with no or low irritation potential on the CAM should be preferred in the clinical practice in order to obtain optimal results.

International study of asthma and allergies in childhood: phase 3 in the Syrian Arab Republic

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) uses standardized symptom-based questionnaires to describe the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children worldwide. Three governorates in the Syrian Arab Republic (Aleppo, Lattakia and Tartous) participated in ISAAC phase 3 in 2001-03. Adolescents in the 13-14 year age group and parents of the 6-7-year-old children completed the questionnaire about asthma symptoms. The prevalence of current symptoms of asthma (wheezing in the last 12 months) in different centres ranged from 4.7% to 5.7% for 6-7-year-olds and 3.9% to 6.5% for 13-14-year-olds. In 13-14-year-olds the prevalence of severe speech-limiting wheeze was 2.0%-3.5%, of rhinoconjunctivitis was 8.6%-14.6% and of eczema was 3.3%-4.2%.

Parasites of native and exotic freshwater fishes in south-western Australia

In this study, 1429 fishes of 18 different species (12 native and six exotic) were sampled from 29 localities to compare the levels of parasitism between native and exotic fish species and to examine the relationship between environmental degradation and parasite diversity. Forty-four putative species of parasites were found and most of these appear to be native parasites, which have not previously been described. Two parasite species, Lernaea cyprinacea and Ligula intestinalis, are probably introduced. Both were found on or in a range of native fish species, where they may cause severe disease. Levels of parasitism and parasite diversity were significantly greater in native fishes than in exotic species, and this may contribute to an enhanced demographic performance and competitive ability in invading exotics. Levels of parasitism and parasite diversity in native fishes were negatively related to habitat disturbance, in particular to a suite of factors that indicate increased human use of the river and surrounding environment. This was due principally to the absence in more disturbed habitats of a number of species of endoparasites with complex life cycles, involving transmission between different host species.

Spatial analysis of uterine EMG signals: evidence of increased in synchronization with term

Evaluation of synchronization between signals can give new insights into the functioning of the related systems. Methods that can detect synchronization or coupling between signals can be divided two types: linear and non linear methods. In this paper we use the non linear correlation coefficient (h(2)) to show the difference in synchronization between efficient uterine contractions during labor and normal physiological contractions during pregnancy, in uterine activity bursts recorded at different places on the pregnant abdomen. Our interest in the non linear correlation coefficient is based on the fact that the propagation mechanism of uterine EMG signal may be strongly non linear. The results obtained from estimating the synchronization between 16 uterine EMG channels indicate that synchronization between contractions as measured by h(2) is stronger in labor than in pregnancy. Limited data indicates that the h(2) value increases markedly with term when expressed in duration before spontaneous labor.

Improving the classification rate of labor vs. normal pregnancy contractions by using EHG multichannel recordings

Most of the studies on the synchronization between EHG signals, recorded during the same contractions at different locations, are limited to the use of only two channels. Multichannel techniques have however been widely applied to EEG signals but rarely to EHG. In this paper, we investigate the use of multichannel uterine EMG signals for classifying contractions. We compare the performance of phase synchronization in distinguishing between labor and normal pregnancy contractions by using either only two channels or a 4x4 matrix positioned on the woman's abdomen. We used two indexes to measure the phase synchronization: mean phase coherence and phase entropy. ROC curves indicate that the use of multichannel signals can significantly improve the classification rate of pregnancy and labor contractions.

The relationship between bcl-2 oncogene expression and clinicopathological criteria in various stages of cervical neoplasia in Egyptian women

PURPOSE

To assess the degree of bcl-2 expression in the various stages of cervical neoplasia in a sample population of Egyptian women and relate the findings to clinicopathological criteria of invasive cervical cancer.

METHODS

Bcl-2 protein expression was assessed by immuno-histochemistry in 40 patients with cervical neoplasia (intraepithelial and invasive) in comparison to 20 patients with benign changes. Patients with invasive disease were followed up 2 years later and the outcome was correlated to the bcl-2 status at the time of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Bcl-2 expression increased from 20% in normal cervical tissue to 42.9% in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II then dropped to 33% in invasive disease. Bcl-2 was not expressed (0%) in patients with advanced disease stage and grade nor in patients with lympho-vascular space invasion.

CONCLUSION

Bcl-2 expression is reduced along the spectrum from benign towards invasive disease of the cervix. The maximum expression found in CIN II may suggest increased potential of progression to CIN III.

Dissociation of the E-Cadherin-Catenin-Complex (CCC) Is an Early and Progressive Event in Lobular Neoplasia

Recent data suggests that some lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) lesions may behave as precursors to invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Loss of E-cadherin (E-CD) mediated cell adhesion is characteristic of both LCIS and ILC and is reflected in the dis-cohesive appearance of the individual cells. Subsequent dissociation of the intracellular E-cadherin-catenin-complex (CCC) facilitates tumor progression, invasion and migration. Whether disruption of the CCC plays a role in the progression of select LCIS lesions to ILC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between loss of E-CD and dissociation of the CCC in pure LCIS and LCIS with concurrent ILC (LCIS w/ILC). Methods Thirty patients undergoing mastectomy for LCIS alone or LCIS w/ ILC were prospectively enrolled to an IRB-approved protocol. FFPE blocks were retrieved and sections prepared for IHC. 18 cases had LCIS w/ ILC, 12 cases had pure-LCIS. IHC was performed for ER, PR, E-CD, N-cadherin (N-CD), and α-, β- and phospho-β-catenin. ER/PR positivity was scored as any nuclear staining, and E-CD and N-CD by any membranous staining. a- and β-catenin expression was scored by site (membranous/cytoplasmic/nuclear) of staining compared to normal. Dissociation of the CCC was defined by loss of membranous α- and β-catenin expression.Results Median age at surgery was 51yrs (range 40-79); patients with pure LCIS were younger than those with LCIS w/ ILC (median 48yrs vs 57yrs, p=.0002). Among 18 cases of LCIS w/ ILC, the median tumor size was 2cm (range 1.4-5.7), 9 patients had N1 disease and 1 had M1 disease. All pure LCIS, LCIS w/ ILC and ILC lesions were ER/PR positive and E-CD negative. N-CD expression was also absent in all pure LCIS, LCIS w/ ILC and ILC lesions. Normal α-catenin membranous expression was confirmed in all normal epithelial cells but decreased with the transition from in-situ to invasive disease: pure-LCIS lesions 83%; LCIS w/ ILC 28%; ILC 0%. Loss of membranous α-catenin expression was accompanied by cytoplasmic α-catenin expression in all lesions. A similar trend of decreasing membranous staining from in-situ to invasive disease was observed for β-catenin, however in contrast to α-catenin, cytoplasmic β-catenin expression decreased from 67% in pure LCIS to 11% in LCIS w/ ILC and 6% in ILC. Active β-catenin (nuclear staining) was not seen in pure LCIS lesions and was only present in one case of LCIS w/ ILC. Inactive (phospho) β-catenin expression was present in all lesions.Conclusion Loss of E-CD expression is an early event in lobular neoplasia however subsequent dissociation of the intracellular CCC a a ppears to be a progressive process with complete dissociation occurring only in invasive lesions. This finding suggests that complete disruption of the CCC may be required to facilitate maintenance of the invasive phenotype; however, the absence of N-CD expression and predominance of inactive β-catenin in both in situ and invasive lesions suggests that alternate mechanisms are also required to mediate the pro-invasive effects of CCC dissociation. Further studies into the mechanisms of CCC dissociation and downstream events in lobular carcinoma are needed to define the role of this process in the transition from in-situ to invasive disease.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6149.

Quantitative Analysis of HER2 Receptors Expression In Vivo by Near-Infrared Optical Imaging

Purpose: HER2 overexpression has been associated with a poor prognosis and resistance to therapy in breast cancer patients. However, up to now, quantitative estimates of this important characteristic have been limited to ex vivo ELISA essays of tissue biopsies and/or PET-based analysis. We aim at developing a novel approach in optical imaging, involving specific probes that do not interfere with the binding of the therapeutic agents, thus, excluding competition between therapy and imaging. Affibody-based molecular probes seem to be ideal for in vivo analysis of HER2 receptors using near-infrared optical imaging. To achieve quantification of HER2 receptors and overcome experimental uncertainties, we analyze post-injection temporal variations of the fluorescence intensity in the tumor area.Experimental design: Quantitative in vivo near-infrared imaging uses HER2-specific albumin-binding domain-fused-(ZHER2:342)2 Affibody molecules, labeled with AlexaFluor750 dye, as targeting agents. Subcutaneous tumor xenografts, expressing different levels of HER2 (BT474, MDA-MB361, MCF7, U251), are imaged at different times post-injection. Mathematical modeling allowed assessment of correlation between measured characteristics and HER2 expression levels from ex-vivo assays of the same tumors.Results: Affibody-Alexa Fluor conjugates may be used as a specific near-infrared probe for the non-invasive imaging of HER2-positive tumors, while analysis of the imaging parameters, directly estimated from the sequence of optical images, provides quantitative insight on the HER2 overexpression, as suggested by observed correlation between tumor cell amplification/overexpression of HER2, and these parameters.Conclusions: Method might potentially be employed in clinic for noninvasive monitoring of the HER2 expression variation in response to therapeutic intervention.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5002.