Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Han and Mongolian rural population with hypertension

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the International Diabetes Federation, was compared in two rural populations with hypertension in China. A total of 6326 subjects aged >or= 35 years were included: 5043 Han and 1283 Mongolian. Metabolic syndrome was identified in 33.9% (men: 16.1%; women: 47.8%) of the Han and 37.6% (men: 14.7%; women: 55.0%) of the Mongolian populations. In men, prevalence of metabolic syndrome showed no obvious ethnicity differences; however, in women, prevalence was significantly higher in the Mongolian than in the Han population. This study showed high prevalence and ethnic differences in prevalence of metabolic syndrome in these two Chinese hypertensive populations.

Critical role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in degeneration of retinal capillaries in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Diabetes results in the upregulation of the production of several components of the inflammatory response in the retina, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of iNOS in the pathogenesis of the early stages of diabetic retinopathy using iNOS-deficient mice (iNos (-/-)).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

iNos (-/-) mice and wild-type (WT; C57BL/6J) mice were made diabetic with streptozotocin or kept as non-diabetic controls. Mice were killed at different time points after the induction of diabetes for assessment of vascular histopathology, cell loss in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), retinal thickness, and biochemical and physiological abnormalities.

RESULTS

The concentrations of nitric oxide, nitration of proteins, poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)-modified proteins, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, prostaglandin E(2), superoxide and leucostasis were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in retinas of WT mice diabetic for 2 months compared with non-diabetic WT mice. All of these abnormalities except PAR-modified proteins in retinas were inhibited (p < 0.05) in diabetic iNos (-/-) mice. The number of acellular capillaries and pericyte ghosts was significantly increased in retinas from WT mice diabetic for 9 months compared with non-diabetic WT controls, these increases being significantly inhibited in diabetic iNos (-/-) mice (p < 0.05 for all). Retinas from WT diabetic mice were significantly thinner than those from their non-diabetic controls, whereas diabetic iNos (-/-) mice were protected from this abnormality. We found no evidence of cell loss in the GCL of diabetic WT or iNos (-/-) mice. Deletion of iNos had no beneficial effect on diabetes-induced abnormalities on the electroretinogram.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We demonstrate that the inflammatory enzyme iNOS plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular lesions characteristic of the early stages of diabetic retinopathy in mice.

A phase II trial of weekly cisplatin and docetaxel in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Every 3-week cisplatin doublets used to treat advanced NSCLC carry a significant risk of renal and other toxicities and can be difficult for patients with co-morbidities. To reduce these toxicities, we conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly cisplatin and docetaxel in advanced NSCLC. Methods: Eligibility included patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC, ECOG PS of 0–1, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. This Cancer Institute of New Jersey network, single stage phase II clinical trial was designed to give 3 weekly doses of cisplatin at 25 mg/m2 and docetaxel at 35 mg/m2, followed by 1 week of rest, for a total of 6 cycles of therapy. Toxicity was monitored weekly, and disease evaluation was performed every 2 cycles. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR); secondary endpoints included time to progression (TTP), median and 1-year survival. Results: From 12/03 to 11/06, 36 patients were enrolled so far. The median age of patients is 63 (range 47–78), the majority is white (n=33), 29 have stage IV disease, and half (n=18) are women. Fourteen have an ECOG PS=0 and 22 with PS=1. Histologic subtypes are: adenocarcinoma (n=24), NSCLC NOS (n=7), squamous (n=5). Eleven patients received = 4 cycles of therapy; median number of cycles delivered is 2.5. Reasons for treatment discontinuation include completion of therapy (n=5), progression of disease (n=16), adverse events (n=8), and patient preference (n=4). Three patients continue on therapy at this time. No complete responses were yet observed; 8 patients (22%) achieved a partial response; 10 patients had stable disease, 10 patients progressed, and 8 came off study before first disease evaluation. Median TTP was 3.1 months (mo) (95% CI 2, 5.5), median survival is 8.3 mo (95% CI 5,16.2) and 1-year survival is 39% (95% CI 20, 57). Most toxicities were mild but also included neutropenia (grade 3, n=1; grade 4, n=1), neutropenic fever (n=1), renal toxicity (grade 3, n=2), nausea (grade 3, n=1), fatigue (grade 3, n=3), diarrhea (grade 3, n=4) and metabolic abnormalities (grade 3, n=3). Conclusion: Weekly cisplatin and docetaxel is well tolerated with a low incidence of toxicity and demonstrates activity similar to every 3-week treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Randomized multicenter phase III trial of oxaliplatin plus raltitrexed compared to oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil and leucovorin treatment in recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer

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Purpose: To compare oxaliplatin (L-OHP) plus raltitrexed (RTX) with L-OHP plus fluorouracil and leucovorin (LV/5FU) for patients (pts) with recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC). Methods: Eligible pts had to have histologically proven recurrent or metastatic CRC,not having previously received oxaliplatin as palliative chemotherapy,ECOG PS = 2,age:18∼70,and adequate hematological,renal and hepatic function.After written informed consent,pts were randomized to L-OHP:130 mg/m2 d1 + RTX: 3 mg/m2 d1 (Arm A) or + LV: 200 mg/m2 + 5FU:375 mg/m2 d1–5 (Arm B). Results: Between Jan 2005 and July 2006, 216 pts were enrolled at 15 centers in China.112 pts (mean age: 55.0 (19∼70), M/F: 57/46, PS 0/1/2: 46/53/13) were randomly assigned to A and 102 (mean age: 54.2(22∼70), M/F: 54/46, PS 0/1/2: 44/59/9) to B. 203 pts were eligible for response evaluation (A:103, B:100).The median number of cycles was 4 (1∼6) in A and 3 (1∼6) in B (P=0.1431).The RR was 29.1% (CR:2, PR:28, SD:50 , PD:23) in A and 17.0% (CR:2, PR:15, SD:46 , PD:37) in B (P=0.0437).The disease-control rate was 77.7% in A and 63.0% in B (P=0.0237). After a median follow-up of 10 months (4–16.5),92 pts had had progression of disease (40 in A and 52 in B); 73 deaths had occurred (35 in A and 38 in B), median time to progression was not reached. Following-up is ongoing.The median QoL scores for the two arms were comparable. 214 were included in the safety analyses (A:112, B:102). There was a higher incidence of neutropenia (48.2% verse 29.4%, P=0.005) and transaminase increase (49.1% verse 35.3%, P=0.041) among A. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was much common in pts in A than those in B (20.5% verse 4.9% , P=0.001), but was complicated by fever in only 3.6% of cases (4 pts) in A and in 2.9% of cases (3 pts) in B. No pts were dead or infectious due to neutropenia. There were similar rates of grade 3 or 4 transaminase elevation in the two groups. Vomitting and anorexia were much commoner with B. Conclusions: The L-OHP+RTX seems beneficial in recurrent and metastatic CRC, demonstrating better response rate and higher disease control rate with acceptable tolerability, maintenance of QoL and convenient administration schedule.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Construction of a counterselection-based in-frame deletion system for genetic studies of Streptococcus mutans

Genetic studies of Streptococcus mutans have benefited greatly from the numerous techniques that have been successfully adapted for use in this organism. One notable exception is the lack of a negative selection system that can be employed for the easy isolation of markerless in-frame deletions. In this study, we report the development of a galK/galactose-based negative selection system in S. mutans for this purpose. This system consists of a recipient strain (IFD140) that contains a deletion in the galKTE operon and a suicide vector (pIFD-Sm) that carries the S. mutans galK open reading frame fused to the constitutive lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) promoter. Using this system we created a markerless in-frame deletion in the beta-galactosidase (lacG) gene within the S. mutans lactose operon. After vector integration, plasmid excision after counterselection appeared to have occurred in 100% of the galactose-resistant colonies and resulted in in-frame deletions in 50% of the screened isolates. Based on the ratio of galactose-resistant cells to total cells, we determined that plasmid excision occurred at a frequency of approximately 1/3000 cells. Furthermore, the simplicity of this system should make it adaptable for use in numerous other gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.

Postsynaptic enrichment of Eps8 at dendritic shaft synapses of unipolar brush cells in rat cerebellum

Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (Eps8) is a widely expressed multidomain signaling protein that coordinates two disparate GTPase-dependent mechanisms: actin reorganization via Ras/Rac pathways and receptor trafficking via Rab5. Expression of Eps8, the gene encoding the founding member of the Eps8 family of proteins, was found in cerebellum by virtual Northern analysis and in situ hybridization. Because the cerebellum has a well-known cellular architecture and is a favored model to study synaptic plasticity and actin dynamics, we sought to analyze Eps8 localization in rat cerebellar neurons and synapses by light and electron microscopy. Specificity of Eps8-antibody was demonstrated by immunoblots and in brain sections. In cerebellum, unipolar brush cells (UBCs) were densely Eps8 immunopositive and granule cells were moderately immunostained. In both types of neuron immunoreaction product was localized to the somatodendritic and axonal compartments. Postsynaptic immunostained foci were demonstrated in the glomeruli in correspondence of the synapses formed by mossy fiber terminals with granule cell and UBC dendrites. These foci appeared especially evident in the UBC brush, which contains an extraordinary postsynaptic apparatus of actin microfilaments facing synaptic junctions of the long and segmented varieties. Eps8 immunoreactivity was conspicuously absent in Purkinje cells and their actin-rich dendritic spines, in all types of inhibitory interneurons of the cerebellum, cerebellar nuclei neurons, and astrocytes. In conclusion, Eps8 protein in cerebellum is expressed exclusively by excitatory cortical interneurons and is intracellularly compartmentalized in a cell-class specific manner. This is the first demonstration of the presence of a member of the Eps8 protein family in UBCs and its enrichment at postsynaptic sites.

Novel animal models for Sjögren's syndrome: expression and transfer of salivary gland dysfunction from regulatory T cell-deficient mice

IL-2 knockout (KO), IL-2Ralpha KO and scurfy mice lack the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and develop severe inflammation in multiple organs, although organs affected vary among these strains. We asked if salivary and lacrimal glands, the main organs affected in Sjögren's syndrome, are targeted in these strains. Severe lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration in the salivary and lacrimal glands and a decrease in salivary secretory function were observed in IL-2 KO and IL-2Ralpha KO mice, but not in scurfy mice. Interestingly, transfer of lymph node cells from scurfy mice to RAG-1 KO recipients rapidly and effectively induced inflammation and loss of function in the salivary glands. Furthermore, we observed that daily LPS feeding in scurfy mice also induced inflammation in the salivary glands. Our study demonstrates several novel models for Sjögren's syndrome, including an adoptive transfer model that shows that scurfy mice have dormant salivary gland-specific autoreactive lymphocytes that can be activated by certain environmental factors, such as those present in RAG-1 KO mice.

Expression of immune responsive genes in cell lines from two different Anopheline species

Malaria infection results in increased expression of immune responsive genes, including those encoding antimicrobial peptides such as Gambicin (Gam1) and Cecropin A (Cec1). Understanding how these genes are regulated will provide insights how the mosquito immune system is activated by Plasmodium. We previously have shown that Cec1 was primarily regulated by the Imd-Relish (REL2) pathway in the Anopheles gambiae Sua1B cell line. We show here that expression of Defensin A (Def1) and Gam1 was reduced after RNA interference against components of the Imd-REL2 pathway in An. gambiae cell lines. Interestingly, promoter reporters of these antimicrobial peptides were expressed at very low level in the cell line MSQ43 from Anopheles stephensi. Surprisingly, over-expression of either NF-kappaB transcription factor REL1 or REL2 alone is sufficient to induce the expression of Cec1, Gam1 and Def1. These results suggest that expression of these antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in vivo may be regulated by both the Toll and Imd pathways. We also show here for the first time that Tep4, a gene encoding a thioester containing protein, is regulated by REL2. Taken together, these results suggest that there are significant overlaps of genes regulated by the Toll-Rel1 and Imd-Rel2 pathways. Further, the different expression patterns in two different Anopheline cell lines provide a platform to identify other key positive and negative regulators of the antimicrobial peptide genes.

Espins and the actin cytoskeleton of hair cell stereocilia and sensory cell microvilli

The espins are novel actin-bundling proteins that are produced in multiple isoforms from a single gene. They are present at high concentration in the parallel actin bundle of hair cell stereocilia and are the target of deafness mutations in mice and humans. Espins are also enriched in the microvilli of taste receptor cells, solitary chemoreceptor cells, vomeronasal sensory neurons and Merkel cells, suggesting that espins play important roles in the microvillar projections of vertebrate sensory cells. Espins are potent actin-bundling proteins that are not inhibited by Ca2+. In cells, they efficiently elongate parallel actin bundles and, thereby, help determine the steadystate length of microvilli and stereocilia. Espins bind actin monomer via their WH2 domain and can assemble actin bundles in cells. Certain espin isoforms can also bind phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, profilins or SH3 proteins. These biological activities distinguish espins from other actin-bundling proteins and may make them well-suited to sensory cells.

A prospective study of respiratory ciliary structure and function after stem cell transplantation

We prospectively investigated the morphological and ciliary function abnormalities in 19 consecutive Chinese patients undergoing hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and studied their relationship with pulmonary complications. The percentage of structural ciliary abnormalities preceding HSCT was comparable to normal controls, but increased up to 1-year post-HSCT. However, the abnormalities did not correlate with ciliary or pulmonary function. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) for patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic SCT was lower than that of matched controls, with a further decline at one year. There was, however, no significant change in pulmonary function for the whole cohort. There was considerable variation in CBF and ciliary abnormalities in all cases during 3-month interval assessments. Regular ciliary assessment did not predict the only two patients who eventually suffered from bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). We conclude that structural and functional ciliary abnormalities are common in recipients of HSCT, and predict post-HSCT deterioration. However, there is no evidence to show that CBF monitoring may be of prospective benefit.

Application of principal components analysis to 1H-NMR data obtained from propolis samples of different geographical origin

Propolis is a widely used natural remedy and a range of biological activities have been attributed to it. The chemical composition of propolis is highly variable and its quality is often controlled on the basis of one or two marker compounds. In order to progress towards a method for the quality control of this complex material, HPLC and 1H-NMR approaches as methods of quality control have been compared. HPLC analyses of 43 samples of propolis were carried out and six marker compounds were quantified in each sample. The same samples were analysed using 1H-NMR and the spectra were then converted into their first derivative forms and digitised using the software application MestRe-C. The digitised data were subjected to principal component analysis using the software application Simca-P. It was found that the chemical composition of propolis mapped well according to the geographical origins of the samples studied when the first three principal components were used to display them. In addition, each sample was assessed for anti-oxidant activity, and the results were then overlaid onto the sample groupings according to 1H-NMR data. It was observed that anti-oxidant properties also mapped quite well according to geographical origin.

NK cells do not mediate renal injury in murine adriamycin nephropathy

In adriamycin nephropathy (AN), a model of chronic proteinuric renal injury, the absence of functional B and T cells with residual natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice results in more severe disease than in immunocompetent mice. We have recently shown expression of the stimulatory NK cell molecule NKG2D and its ligand RAE-1 in the adriamycin (ADR) kidney. Therefore, we sought to determine the role of NK cells in AN. We used anti-asialo GM1 NK cell depletion in immunocompetent BALB/c mice with AN, and also compared AN in immunodeficient SCID mice and immunodeficient nonobese diabetic (NOD)-SCID mice (that have impaired NK cell function). The number of NK cells was increased in AN in BALB/c mice compared with normal controls. NK cell depletion or reduction of NK function in NOD-SCID mice did not affect the severity of disease. In both wild type and immunodeficient models, ADR upregulated RAE-1 in the kidney. High levels of Class I major histocompatibility complex molecules were found in both models of AN. In conclusion, NK cells do not play a significant role in AN.

Julibroside J8-induced HeLa cell apoptosis through caspase pathway

The julibroside J8 was isolated from the Albizia julibrissin and evaluated for antiproliferatived on six cancer cell lines (BGC-823, Bel-7402, HeLa, PC-3MIE8, MDA-MB-435 and LH-60) in vitro. Julibroside J8 at 100 microg mL- 1 (46.08 micromol.L- 1) significantly inhibited growth in the first three cell lines. In addition, in HeLa cells typical apoptotic changes in morphology were observed, and further, nuclear damage was observed by Giemsa staining and DNA fragmentation was exhibited. Effects of julibrosideJ8 on induction of DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation and downregulation of ICAD expression were effectively inhibited by a caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk. In addition, apoptosis induced with julibroside J8 was associated with an increase in expression of the apoptosis inducer Bax, and a significant reduction in expression of the apoptosis suppressor Bcl-2 in mitochondria. These results suggest that julibroside J8 induces HeLa death through caspase pathway.

Structural and functional insights into the AmtB/Mep/Rh protein family

X-ray crystallography revealed a similar architecture of the ammonium transport protein AmtB from Escherichia coli and the homologous protein Amt-1 from Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Furthermore, the atomic structures suggest that the proteins conduct ammonia (NH3) rather than ammonium ions (NH4+). These findings indicate that the more than 350 members of the ammonium transporter/methylamine permease/Rhesus (Amt/Mep/Rh) protein family found in archaea, bacteria, fungi, plants and animals are ammonia-conducting channels rather than ammonium ion transporters. The essential part of these proteins is the narrow hydrophobic ammonia-conducting pore with two highly conserved histidine residues located in the middle of the pore. A specific ammonium ion binding site is found at the extracellular entry site of E. coli AmtB. E. coli AmtB and its regulator GlnK form an effective ammonium sensory system that couples intracellular gene regulation by the nitrogen control system to external changes in ammonium availability. Based on structural and functional analysis of various mutants, two conserved histidine residues were found to be essential for substrate conductance also in the functional eukaryotic ammonium transporters. The next big challenge in the field surely is to determine the atomic structure of Rh proteins.

The dynamics and associations of airway neutrophilia post lung transplantation

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophilia has been repeatedly observed in lung transplant recipients with established bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Little is known of the fluctuations in BAL and airway neutrophilic inflammation post-transplant. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes of lung allograft neutrophils with time, immunosuppression, infection and BOS. A total of 28, initially healthy, BOS 0, lung transplant recipients underwent 134 bronchoscopic assessments, including BAL and endobronchial biopsies (EBB) (with immunohistochemistry) over 3-year follow up. Subsequently, 21 developed BOS 0p and 16 ultimately BOS. Compared to controls, there was early and persistent BAL neutrophilia (p < 0.05), contrasting with an initially normal EBB that shows a progressive increased airway wall neutrophil infiltrate. BAL neutrophilia (but not airway wall neutrophilia) was most striking when there was concomitant bronchopulmonary infection, particularly in the patients with BOS. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that BAL neutrophilia was linked to markers of infection while EBB neutrophilia was linked with coexistent inflammation with macrophages and lymphocytes.

IN CONCLUSION

(i) BAL neutrophilia is predominantly associated with infection; (ii) Airway wall neutrophilia (as monitored by EBB) increases with time post-transplant and is not associated with infection; (iii) By itself, BOS is not the major contributor to BAL and EBB neutrophilia.