HLA-A*3318, a novel allele, identified by sequence-based typing in a Chinese individual

We report a novel human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A allele, officially named as A*3318, which was found during high-resolution sequence-based typing in a Chinese potential hematopoietic stem cell transplantation donor. Compared with the HLA-A*330301 sequence, the A*3318 has one nucleotide substitution in exon 3: at nt 413 where A-->G resulting in an amino acid substitution from Q (CAG) to R (CGG) at codon 114.

Potential therapy of Fc-antigen combination-encoding DNA vaccination in mouse allergic airway inflammation

Vaccination with allergen-encoding DNA has been proposed as having potential for allergen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, we examine the therapeutic effect of allergen-encoding DNA vaccination directly to dendritic cells (DCs) on allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model and explore potential mechanism. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and challenged mice were immunized with DNA vaccine and received bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 1 day after the last challenge, to measure BAL levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, interferon (IFN)-gamma and differential cell count. Pulmonary DCs and Spleen DCs were purified and sorted according to the expression of CD(11c) (+)CD(80) (+) and CD(11c) (+)CD(86) (+) co-stimulatory molecules. Our data demonstrated that DNA vaccine therapy with OVA-Fc-pcDNA(3.1) significantly prevented OVA-increased levels of IL-4, IL-5 and the percentage of eosinophils and OVA-decreased level of IFN-gamma. OVA-Fc-pcDNA(3.1)-treated mice had less severity of airway inflammation, and lower expression of CD(11c) (+)CD(80) (+) and CD(11c) (+)CD(86) (+) on pulmonary DCs, as compared with animals with OVA-pcDNA(3.1,) pcDNA(3.1) and OVA respectively. DNA vaccine encoding both Fc and OVA was shown to be more effective than DNA vaccine encoding OVA alone. Our data indicate that Fc-antigen combination-encoding DNA vaccination has better preventive effects on antigen-induced airway inflammation by regulating DCs, and may be a new alternative therapy for asthma.

Functional whole-colony screening method to identify antimicrobial peptides

A high throughput method for screening cDNA libraries has been developed to identify putative antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). It is based on a rapid dye inclusion assay for assessing antagonism of bacterial viability. Colonies are grown on a membrane on a permissive medium until full colony size is reached. The membrane, supporting the array of colonies, is transferred onto an inductive medium containing a vital dye. Upon expression of any antagonizing peptides, the cell membrane becomes compromised allowing dye infusion to permit visual identification of deleterious peptides. Our approach was validated by screening a synthetic oligonucleotide library expressed in Escherichia coli. A random oligonucleotide library, containing inserts of up to 75 nucleotides in length was constructed and expressed in E. coli. From a potential pool of 100000 peptides, in a single round of screening, three were found to be antimicrobial: L1, L3, and L8. Peptide L1 was shown to have a concentration-dependent bactericidal effect against Gram-negative E. coli and moderate biostatic activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. L8 was found to have bacteriostatic, and possibly bactericidal effect against E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium. These results validated this high throughput AMP identification assay based on filter bound colony array libraries and vital dye inclusion.

Surgical treatment for patients with different origins of Krukenberg tumors: outcomes and prognostic factors

AIMS

We sought to investigate survival impacts of metastasectomy in women with Krukenberg tumors of the ovary and survival benefits in different origins (gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, or others).

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with Krukenberg tumors of the ovary who underwent surgical treatment at a single institution between 1997 and 2003 were retrospectively evaluated. Survival analyses and comparisons were performed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients with Krukenberg tumors of the ovary were identified. The estimated 5-year survival was 12.1%. The median survival in patients with microscopic residual disease after metastasectomy was 29.6 months, compared to 10 months in those with visible residual disease (P<0.01). The median survival among patients with Krukenberg tumors of gastric origin, colon and rectum origin, and other origins were 13 months, 29.6 months, and 48.2 months, respectively (P=0.03). There was a significant difference in survival between patients with metastatic disease confined to the ovaries and those with extensive metastases, with an estimated median survival of 30.7 months and 10 months, respectively (P=0.02). Multivariate analysis suggested that the origin of ovarian metastatic carcinoma (P<0.01), residual disease after metastasectomy (P<0.01), and KPS (Karnofsky performance status) (P=0.03) were independent prognostic factors of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Krukenberg tumors from colorectal cancer experience a better prognosis than those from gastric cancer and benefit more from metastasectomy. And metastasectomy significantly lengthens overall survival in patients with primary colorectal or breast cancer, higher KPS score, and those with optimal metastasectomy.

Pelvic body composition measurements by quantitative computed tomography: association with recent hip fracture

INTRODUCTION

Loss of subcutaneous fat, decreased muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and increased muscle adiposity are related to declining physical function and disability in the elderly, but there is little information about the relationship of these tissue changes to hip fracture. Thus we have compared body composition measures in women with hip fractures to age-matched controls, using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) imaging of the hip to characterize total adiposity, muscle CSA and muscle attenuation coefficient, a measure of adiposity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

45 Chinese women (mean age 74.71+/-5.94) with hip fractures were compared to 66 healthy control subjects (mean age 70.70+/-4.66). Hip QCT scans were analyzed to compute total adipose CSA as well as CSA and attenuation values of muscle groups in the CT scan field of view, including hip extensors, abductors, adductors and flexors. The total femur areal BMD (aBMD) was estimated from the QCT images. Logistic regression was employed to compare body composition measures between fracture subjects and controls after adjustment for age, height, BMI and aBMD. Receiver-operator curve (ROC) analyses determined whether combinations of aBMD and body composition had higher area under curve (AUC) than aBMD alone.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Fracture subjects had lower fat CSA (p<0.0001) than controls but had higher muscle adiposity as indicated by lower attenuation in the adductor, abductor and flexor groups (0.00001<p<0.02). Fracture subjects also had lower extensor and adductor CSA values (p<0.0001). After age and BMI adjustment, the total fat CSA, the extensor and adductor CSA values, and the adductor attenuation values remained significantly lower in the fracture subjects (0.001<p<0.05). In ROC analyses, models combining aBMD with soft tissue measures had higher AUC than models containing only BMD (0.001<p<0.05). Combining body composition with skeletal measures may improve fracture prediction compared to bone measures alone.

Segmental bone tissue engineering by seeding osteoblast precursor cells into titanium mesh-coral composite scaffolds

The size and specific shape of bone grafts are important for jaw reconstruction. In this experiment, segmental bone grafts were engineered in a predetermined shape via seeding osteoblast precursor cells into titanium mesh-coral composite scaffolds. Titanium meshes were moulded into the shape of a column with length 12 mm and diameter 8mm. The column was filled with natural coral granules and the complex acted as a cell-seeding scaffold. About 4 x 10(7) osteoblast precursor cells in 200 microl cell-culture medium were seeded into each of six scaffolds and incubated in vitro for 2 days. Then, the composites were implanted subcutaneously into the backs of nude mice and incubated in vivo. Two months after implantation, the animals were killed and new bone formed in the scaffolds was investigated by gross inspection, X-ray examination, histological observation and mechanical testing. The results showed that newly formed tissue was red and presented the gross appearance of bone, and kept the original shape of the column. Titanium mesh was situated on the surface of the bone graft. An X-ray blocking shadow was observed in and around the titanium scaffolds; most of the coral granules had been absorbed. Histological observation demonstrated a large amount of new bone formed and integrated well with titanium mesh. Mechanical testing showed that new bone improved the mechanical property of the graft significantly. In conclusion, a titanium mesh-coral composite scaffold with osteoblast precursor cells is an efficient means to engineer segmental bone, possessing the desired shape and mechanical strength.

Increasing upstream capacity in TDM-PON with multiple-wavelength transmission using Fabry-Perot laser diodes

We propose a new technique for multiple-wavelength upstream transmission in time division multiplexed-passive optical networks using Fabry-Perot laser diodes (FP-LD) at optical network units (ONU). The FP-LD transmits at one of strategically separated seeding wavelengths from the optical line terminal enabling the ONUs to join one of few TDM upstream channels. The scheme increases upstream capacity without the use of costly, higher speed burst mode transceivers. We present experimental results showing that up to 9 upstream channels at 2.5 Gb/s data rate can be achieved with this scheme. The paper presents locking characteristics of the FP-LD relevant for this application such as suppression of other seeding wavelengths, minimum wavelength separation and burst mode operation.

Study of the effect of DMSO on VOS odour production in a wastewater plant

Odours caused by volatile organic sulphides (VOS) have a history spanning over 20 years for Philadelphia's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (NEWPCP). A "canned corn" type of odour has caused residential complaints. Traditional odour control approaches based on hydrogen sulphide failed. This study confirmed that dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) from a chemical facility was the dominant cause of the "canned corn" nuisance odour in the form of dimethyl sulphide (DMS). During a discharge, DMSO concentrations up to 12 mg/L were found in the influent of the NEWPCP. Each DMSO concentration peak induced a DMS peak. DMS concentrations increased from less than 50 microg/L to 6 mg/L with a corresponding decrease in DMSO. Approximately 79% of DMSO from the primary sedimentation influent was passed to the effluent, and to downstream processes, such as the aeration tanks where the DMS was volatilised by the aeration. The DMS partial pressure in ambient air of NEWPCP can be between 0.03 and 0.18 x 10(-3) atm during a DMSO discharge. From the above information, the potential of VOS production is estimated and a practical plan for remediation can be designed.

Proximal femoral density and geometry measurements by quantitative computed tomography: association with hip fracture

INTRODUCTION

Bone mineral density and geometry measurements by volumetric quantitative computed tomography (vQCT) have been utilized in clinical research studies of aging, pharmacologic intervention and mechanical unloading, but there is relatively little information about the association of these measures with hip fracture. To address this issue, we have carried out a study comparing vQCT parameters in elderly Chinese women with hip fractures with measurements in age-matched controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-five women (mean age 74.71+/-5.94) with hip fractures were compared to 66 age-matched control subjects (mean age 70.70+/-4.66). vQCT was employed to characterize the volumetric bone mineral density in cortical, trabecular, and integral volumes of interest in the proximal femur. In addition to the volume of interest measurements, we computed the cross-sectional areas of the femoral neck and intertrochanteric planes, the femoral neck axis length, indices of femoral neck bending and compressive strength, and measures of femoral neck cortical geometry. To determine if cortical geometry measures were associated with hip fracture independently of trabecular vBMD, we carried out multi-variate analyses including these parameters in a logistic regression model.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

All vQCT measurements discriminated between fractured subjects and age-matched controls. There was no significant difference in predictive strength between volumetric and areal representations of BMD and trabecular and integral vBMD showed comparable discriminatory power, although both of these measures were more correlated to fracture status than cortical vBMD. We found that fractured subjects had larger femoral neck cross-sectional areas, consistent with adaptation to lower BMD in these osteoporotic subjects. The larger neck cross-sectional areas resulted in bending strength indices in the fractured subjects that were comparable or larger than those of the control subjects. In multi-variate analyses, reduced femoral neck cortical thickness and buckling ratio indices were associated with fracture status independently of trabecular vBMD.

Neutralizing IL-7 promotes long-term allograft survival induced by CD40/CD40L costimulatory blockade

Memory T cells are somewhat resistant to immunosuppresion. They therefore pose a threat to inducing long-term allograft survival. IL-7 is essential for memory T-cell generation. Here, we investigated whether neutralizing IL-7 promotes allograft survival. We found that neutralizing IL-7 alone did not significantly prolong allograft survival. However, blocking both IL-7 and CD154 signaling synergistically prolonged allograft survival. In contrast, neutralizing IL-2 failed to further prolong allograft survival induced by CD40/CD154 costimulatory blockade. Allospecific memory CD8+ T-cell generation was severely impaired under the treatment of anti-IL-7 plus anti-CD154 Ab while administering recombinant IL-7 enhanced CD8+ memory generation even under donor-specific transfusion plus anti-CD154 Ab treatment. Neutralizing IL-7, but not IL-2, together with blocking CD154 synergistically suppressed the proliferation of naïve/effector CD8+ T cells infiltrating grafts. Nevertheless, neutralizing IL-7 did not alter regulatory T-cell generation while neutralizing IL-2 suppressed their generation. Hence, targeting IL-7 represents a new strategy to prolong allograft survival by acting on both naïve and memory T cells. Long-term allograft survival may be achieved by neutralizing IL-7 plus CD40/CD154 blockade, since CD40/CD154 costimulatory blockade prevents acute rejection while neutralizing IL-7 suppresses the generation of memory T cells that persist and mediate late or chronic rejection.