Curcumin for the prevention of progression in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: A word of caution

A recent pilot study found that curcumin, in certain patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), decreases the paraprotein load and the urinary N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen bone turnover marker. While this result is encouraging, the easy availability of the food component turmeric, containing curcumin, may lead to intake by MGUS patients without medical supervision. Curcumin is generally considered safe. Nevertheless, it is known that curcumin inhibits interleukin-12 production in dendritic cells, thereby dampening the Th1 response. It is also well established that Th1 cells are protective against invading pathogens and tumors. The present study describes a case in which bronchitis developed upon turmeric intake for gastrointestinal complaints. While one case does not provide proof of curcumin toxicity, a thorough literature overview suggests that turmeric may have an immunosuppressive effect, notably in patients with a compromised immune system. A warning against the use of turmeric or curcumin without medical supervision in immunocompromised patients seems therefore very opportune. Patients with MGUS, in whom the levels of non-affected immunoglobulins are reduced, should be carefully monitored for toxicity when curcumin is administered.

Altered global gene expressions of human placentae subjected to assisted reproductive technology treatments

BACKGROUND

Researchers are more and more concerning the safety of fetus or offspring derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. As the placenta is a critical organ that sustains and protects the fetus, we hypothesize that altered global gene expression of the placenta subjected to ART manipulation may reflect changes associated with ART procedures and subsequently causal related to offspring health.

METHODS

Three term placenta samples were obtained from patients undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer due to oviductal factors only. Other three control placentae were from those underwent normal pregnancy. A GeneChip Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 Array was utilized to analyze the genes. Using qRT-PCR we certified microarray data from 10 dysregulated genes. Five genes were localized precisely in the placenta as per immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Twenty-six differentially expressed genes were identified in the ART-treated placentae: 17 up-regulated; 9 down-regulated. Eighteen of these were classified into six groups according to critical placental function: immune response; transmembrane transport; metabolism; oxidative stress; cell differentiation; and other functions. Genes involved in immune response, such as ERAP2 and STAT4, and those regulating cell differentiations, such as MUC1, were discerned to be differentially expressed. These gene products were expressed in the placental villus tissues, either in the cytoplasm or in the membrane of syncytiotrophoblastic cells.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study in comparing differentially expressed genes in placentae from patients undergone ART treatment vs. those underwent normal pregnancy. Abnormal profiles of critical placental functioning genes, such as ERAP2, STAT4 and MUC1, may be valuable biomarkers to understand how the placenta affects fetal development and ART-derived offspring's health problems.

Morphological analysis of the lung of neonatal yak

Although yaks play an important role as companion or pack and draught animals on Chinese plateaus in alpine and sub-alpine regions, morphological studies and anatomical data on the lung of yak are sparse. To provide anatomical descriptions and morphometric data, 10 one-day-old yaks were examined by means of dissection, light and electron microscopy. The measurements of lung were made on dissected specimens and histological sections. Unequal dichotomous branching was demonstrated in the dissected tracheobronchial tree. The diameters of bronchial airways and height of epithelium were measured, and showed that the variation of diameters in airways was always greater than that of height of epithelium. In addition, the thickness of muscularis, cartilage and adventitia was examined, as well as the number of goblet and Clara cells in airways. Ultrastructural studies showed that the surface epithelium was mainly composed of goblet, ciliated, Clara and basal cells, similar to that in other domestic animals. Under electron microscope, two distinctive types of ciliated cells could be seen in the tracheobronchial epithelium. The first type contained some mitochondria, distended smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), little rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and numerous vacuoles in electron-lucent cytoplasm. The second type had dense cytoplasm with abundant mitochondria, RER and no vacuoles. Both types were rich of glycogen granules. The goblet cells in neonatal yak lung had the following characteristic features: dentate nucleus in dense cytoplasm, with stacks of RER and numerous dense membrane-bounded mucous droplets, which were round or oval, often with an electron-lucent core. The droplets were not confluent. Glycogen granules were numerous, and Golgi complex was occasionally present. Clara cells were dome-shaped and usually protruded into the airway lumen. Large amounts of SER and many secretory droplets were found within the cytoplasm. Several typical 'clefts' were also found in the cytoplasm.

One novel and two recurrent mutations in the keratin 5 gene identified in Chinese patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a group of inherited skin diseases, characterized by the formation of intraepidermal blisters. We performed genetic analysis of the keratin 5 (KRT5) gene in two Chinese pedigrees. One novel missense mutation was identified in a patient with sporadic EBS (general, non-Dowling-Meara). Sequence analysis showed a heterozygous T > A transition at nucleotide 1730 of KRT5, changing phenylalanine (Phe) to tyrosine (Tyr) at position 577 of the keratin 5 (K5). In addition, two recurrent mutations c.1649delG (p.Gly550AlafsX77) and c.508G > (p.Glu170Lys) in KRT5 were identified in Chinese patients with mottled pigmentation EBS and localized EBS, respectively. None of the mutations were found in any unaffected family members or in an additional 100 unrelated control samples. These results suggest that these mutations are pathogenic and might be one of the potential causes of EBS in these Chinese patients.

Prevalence of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in the adult Chinese population

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in an adult Chinese population without gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between March 2006 and February 2007, consecutive individuals aged between 18 and 75 years, who underwent routine upper endoscopy as part of their regular medical examination were recruited. Demographic and medical information were collected. Erosive esophagitis was defined endoscopically as visible breaks of the distal esophageal mucosa. Barrett's esophagus was diagnosed endoscopically and confirmed histologically. "Silent GERD" was defined when erosive esophagitis and/or Barrett's esophagus were present in an individual without reflux symptoms.

RESULTS

Among the 2580 individuals included, erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus were found in 4.3 % (n = 110) and 1.0 % (n = 27), respectively. In individuals with erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus, 33.6 % and 40.7 %, respectively, were asymptomatic. Thus, the prevalence of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in individuals without GERS was 1.6 % and 0.5 %, respectively, giving an overall prevalence of silent GERD of 2.0 % (46 / 2270). Multivariate analysis identified that male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.87, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.24 - 6.66; P = 0.014), hiatus hernia (OR = 9.68, 95 %CI 5.00 - 17.95; P < 0.001), and alcohol consumption (OR = 3.17, 95 %CI 1.44 - 6.97; P = 0.004) were positively associated with erosive esophagitis, whereas Helicobacter Pylori infection (OR = 0.37, 95 %CI 0.14 - 0.98; P = 0.046) was negatively associated with erosive esophagitis. Alcohol consumption (OR = 5.32, 95 %CI 1.55 - 13.33; P = 0.008) was positively associated with Barrett's esophagus in asymptomatic individuals.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of the adult Chinese population without reflux symptoms, the prevalence of erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus is 1.6 % and 0.5 %, respectively, with an overall prevalence of silent GERD of 2.0 %. Male sex, hiatus hernia, and alcohol consumption are positively associated with erosive esophagitis, whereas a negative association exists for H. pylori infection. Alcohol consumption is positively associated with Barrett's esophagus.

Tapping mode microwave impedance microscopy

We report tapping mode microwave impedance imaging based on atomic force microscope platforms. The shielded cantilever probe is critical to localize the tip-sample interaction near the tip apex. The modulated tip-sample impedance can be accurately simulated by the finite-element analysis and the result agrees quantitatively to the experimental data on a series of thin-film dielectric samples. The tapping mode microwave imaging is also superior to the contact mode in that the thermal drift in a long time scale is totally eliminated and an absolute measurement on the dielectric properties is possible. We demonstrated tapping images on working nanodevices, and the data are consistent with the transport results.