Ultrasmall and monodisperse colloidal amorphous Nd–Fe–B–Na magnetic nanoparticles with high TC

Ultrasmall and monodisperse air-stable colloidal Nd–Fe–B nanoparticles have been synthesized by the solution phase colloidal method and characterized by TEM and SQUID. Their size can be controlled in the sub-5 nm regime. The critical temperature (T_C) of Nd–Fe–B nanoparticles with 3 nm diameter is surprisingly high, higher than 650 K.

Abstract OT1-1-04: HER2 status of circulating tumor cells in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients: A valuable biomarker in anti-HER2 therapy

Background: In the earlier study which we have conducted, we observed that: among the patients who were histologically positive for HER2 and received anti-HER2 therapy, only those with HER2-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have benefited. We also demonstrated that CTC enumeration with a modified cut-off is a valuable prognostic tool for HER2-positive MBC patients, and formulated the criterion for evaluating CTCs HER2 status. Although the number of cases was not adequate enough so as to make the persuasion of the statistical analysis limited, it was still a valuable innovative study worthy of further exploring.

Purpose: we conducted a prospective study in order to find out whether HER2 expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) influenced anti-HER2 therapy in those HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.

Trial design

Patients: All the patients randomly enrolled in the trial were diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, and the metastasis of all eligible subjects can be measured or evaluated, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score is 0 to 3. Each patient had a pathology report confirmed that this was a HER2-positve patient by the means of an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score or a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) ratio, the researcher was also informed of the histological type, nodal status, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) statuses. All of the patients would receive a new line or a new cycle of systematic therapy which must include the anti-HER2 therapy. The blood sample (10 ml) was drawn with an interval of <7days before the initiating of the new treatment. All the therapeutic regimens were made without knowing the CTC results and according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guidelines (Breast Cancer V.2.2010). Disease status was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).

Detection method: CTC isolation, enumeration and characterization were performed by using the CellSearch technology. HER2 expression intensity in CTC was given a score of 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+, according to the trial we have conducted previously, the CTC HER2 positive criterion was defined as >30% of CTCs over-expressing HER2 (3+).

Statistical method: PFS was measured as the time between the baseline CTC assessment and the documentation of disease progression or death. Patients who were alive without progression at the time of analysis, PFS was calculated by the most recent follow-up evaluations. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated based on the

CTC levels at baseline and the HER2 status of CTC, the curves were compared using the log-rank test.

Present accrual and target accrual: 174 eligible patients were enrolled during September 2010 to April 2013, 76 patients were detected with CTC31, 50 patients received a new line or a new cycle of anti-HER2 therapy within 7days. Among the 50 patients, 40 patients received Trastuzumab and others received Lapatinib. With the ongoing of the trial, we’ll continue following up with PFS and other data of the patients.

Types of anti-HER2 therapyAnti-HER2 therapyNTrastuzumab40Lapatinib10Total50

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr OT1-1-04.

Imbalance of different types of CD4(+) forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) T cells in patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to examine the numbers of CD4(+) CD25(-) forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) , CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) and CD4(+) CXCR5(+) FoxP3(+) T cells in patients with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The numbers of CD4(+) CD25(-) FoxP3(+) , CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) and CD4(+) CXCR5(+) FoxP3(+) T cells and the concentrations of serum interleukin (IL)-10 in 23 patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were measured. The potential correlations between CD4(+) FoxP3(+) T cells, serum IL-10 and clinical measures in SLE patients were analysed. In comparison with that in the HC, significantly reduced numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) and CD4(+) CXCR5(+) FoxP3(+) T cells, but increased numbers of CD4(+) CD25(-) FoxP3(+) T cells, were detected, accompanied by significantly lower levels of serum IL-10 in the patients. Stratification analysis indicated the numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) and CD4(+) CXCR5(+) FoxP3(+) T cells and serum IL-10 levels in the patients with seropositive anti-dsDNA were significantly less than that in those with seronegative anti-dsDNA. Treatment with the anti-SLE therapy, particularly with prednisone, leflunomide and methotrexate, significantly improved the imbalance of these types of FoxP3(+) T cells and increased the concentrations of serum IL-10 in the drug-responding patients. The numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) T cells were correlated negatively with the values of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), whereas the numbers of CD4(+) CD25(-) FoxP3(+) T cells were correlated positively with the values of SLEDAI, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum C3. In addition, the concentrations of serum IL-10 were correlated positively with the numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) T cells, but negatively with the values of SLEDAI, serum C3, CRP and ESR in these patients. Our data indicate that the imbalance of different types of FoxP3(+) CD4(+) T cells may contribute to the development of SLE in Chinese patients.

Cell supermarket: adipose tissue as a source of stem cells

Adipose tissue is derived from numerous sources, and in recent years this tissue has been shown to provide numerous cells from what seemingly was a population of homogeneous adipocytes. Considering the types of cells that adipose tissue-derived cells may form, these cells may be useful in a variety of clinical and scientific applications. The focus of this paper is to reflect on this area of research and to provide a list of potential (future) research areas.

High frequencies of activated B cells and T follicular helper cells are correlated with disease activity in patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis

This study aimed to examine the frequency of different subsets of circulating B and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and following standard therapies. Twenty-five RA patients and 15 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for characterizing the frequency of CD27⁺, immunoglobulin (Ig)D⁺, CD86⁺, CD95⁺, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-9⁺ B cells and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) and programmed death 1 (PD-1)-positive Tfh cells and the level of serum interleukin (IL)-21. The potential correlation between the frequency of different subsets of B and Tfh cells and the values of clinical measures in RA patients was analysed. In comparison with HC, significantly higher percentages of circulating IgD⁺ CD27⁻ CD19⁺ naive B, CD86⁺ CD19⁺ and CD95⁺ CD19⁺ activated B, CD3⁺ CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺, CD3⁺ CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ ICOS⁺, CD3⁺ CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ PD-1⁺ and CD3⁺ CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ ICOS⁺ PD-1⁺ Tfh cells but lower IgD⁺ CD27⁺ CD19⁺ preswitch memory B cells were detected, accompanied by significantly higher levels of serum IL-21 in the RA patients. Furthermore, the percentages of CD95⁺ B cells were correlated positively with the frequency of PD-1⁺ Tfh cells, but negatively with ICOS⁺ Tfh cells. The percentages of CD86⁺ B cells and ICOS⁺ Tfh cells were correlated positively with the values of disease activity score 28 (DAS28). Following the drug therapies for 1 month, the percentages of CD86⁺ B and PD-1⁺ Tfh cells were reduced significantly in the drug-responding patients. Our data suggest that activated B and Tfh cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of RA and the frequency of activated B and Tfh cells may be used as biomarkers for evaluating the therapeutic responses of individual patients with RA.

Mid-infrared Raman-soliton continuum pumped by a nanotube-mode-locked sub-picosecond Tm-doped MOPFA

We demonstrate a mid-infrared Raman-soliton continuum extending from 1.9 to 3 µm in a highly germanium-doped silica-clad fiber, pumped by a nanotube mode-locked thulium-doped fiber system, delivering 12 kW sub-picosecond pulses at 1.95 µm. This simple and robust source of light covers a portion of the atmospheric transmission window.

Association between copy number variations of HLA-DQA1 and ankylosing spondylitis in the Chinese Han population

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with complex genetic traits. Multiple sequence variations have been associated with AS, but explained only a proportion of heritability. The studies herein aimed to explore potential associations between genomic copy number variation (CNV) and AS of Han Chinese. Five AS patients were examined with the high-density comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) microarrays in the first screen test for AS associated CNVs. A total of 533 AS patients and 792 unrelated controls were examined in confirmation studies with the AccuCopy assays. A significant association was observed between the CNV of the HLA-DQA1 and AS. Comparing with controls, AS patients showed an aberrant copy number (CN), and significantly increased number of patients had more than 2 copies of the HLA-DQA1. Therefore, CNV of the HLA-DQA1 may play an important role in susceptibility to AS in Han Chinese population.

Cell wall degradation and the dynamic changes of Ca2+ and related enzymes in the developing aerenchyma of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under waterlogging

This research was aimed to study the cell wall degradation and the dynamic changes of Ca2+ and related enzymes in developing aerenchyma of wheat root under waterlogging. An examination of morphological development by light and electron microscope revealed that the structure of cell wall in middle cortical cells remained intact after 12 h of waterlogging and turned thinner after waterlogging for 24 h. At 48 h, the aerenchyma has been formed. The cellulase activity gradually increased in middle cortical cells within 24 h of waterlogging, and decreased with the formation of aerenchyma. Fluorescence detection and subcellular localization of Ca2+ showed the dynamic changing of Ca2+ at the cellular and subcellular levels during the development of aerenchyma. The activity of Ca2+-ATPase enhanced markedly in intercellular space, plasma membrane and tonoplast of some middle cortical cells after 8 h of waterlogging and remained high after 24 h, but it decreased after 48 h of waterlogging. All these suggests that cellulase, Ca2+ and Ca2+-ATPase show a dynamic distribution during the aerenchyma development which associated with the cell wall degradation of middle cortical cells. Moreover, there is a feedback regulation between Ca2+ and Ca2+-ATPase.

1:4 matched case-control study on influential factor of early onset neonatal sepsis

BACKGROUND

Bacteria, funghi, viruses and protozoa can lead to neonatal sepsis. Neonatal sepsis is the leading cause of infectious disease onset and death in many neonates.

AIM

To explore the major risk factors of early-onset neonatal sepsis and provide a scientific basis for strategies of early-onset neonatal sepsis prevention.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A 1:4 matched case-control study was adopted and 147 cases of early-onset neonatal sepsis were enrolled. Conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the univariate and multivariate data to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS

Univariate analysis shows that the impact factors on the occurrence of early-onset neonatal sepsis include the following: Maternal age > 35, mother having fixed occupation, mother of urban residence, abnormal fetal position, fetal times, parity, caesarean section, premature rupture of membranes, amniotic fluid volume abnormalities, pregnancy-induced hypertension, placental abnormalities, fetal distress, newborn gender, low birth weight infants, neonatal Apgar scoring at one and five minutes, neonatal jaundice, wet lung, anemia, IVH, and premature infant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age > 35 (OR = 4.835, OR 95% CI = 1.170-19.981), cesarean section (OR = 0.103, OR 95% CI = 0.041-0.258), premature rupture of membranes (OR = 0.207, OR 95% CI = 0.078-0.547), premature infants (OR = 0.059, OR 95% CI = 0.010-0.329) and newborn jaundice (OR = 0.092, OR 95% CI = 0.021-0.404) were the factors of early-onset neonatal sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Early-onset neonatal sepsis could be affected by multi-factors, and targeted prevention may reduce the incidence of early-onset neonatal sepsis rates.

Efficient 3D porous microstructure reconstruction via Gaussian random field and hybrid optimization

Obtaining an accurate three-dimensional (3D) structure of a porous microstructure is important for assessing the material properties based on finite element analysis. Whereas directly obtaining 3D images of the microstructure is impractical under many circumstances, two sets of methods have been developed in literature to generate (reconstruct) 3D microstructure from its 2D images: one characterizes the microstructure based on certain statistical descriptors, typically two-point correlation function and cluster correlation function, and then performs an optimization process to build a 3D structure that matches those statistical descriptors; the other method models the microstructure using stochastic models like a Gaussian random field and generates a 3D structure directly from the function. The former obtains a relatively accurate 3D microstructure, but computationally the optimization process can be very intensive, especially for problems with large image size; the latter generates a 3D microstructure quickly but sacrifices the accuracy due to issues in numerical implementations. A hybrid optimization approach of modelling the 3D porous microstructure of random isotropic two-phase materials is proposed in this paper, which combines the two sets of methods and hence maintains the accuracy of the correlation-based method with improved efficiency. The proposed technique is verified for 3D reconstructions based on silica polymer composite images with different volume fractions. A comparison of the reconstructed microstructures and the optimization histories for both the original correlation-based method and our hybrid approach demonstrates the improved efficiency of the approach.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 activates wnt signaling through downregulating CXXC finger protein 4

Through silencing tumor suppressor genes, epigenetic changes can activate signaling pathways important to cancer development. In this report, we found an epigenetic contribution to the aberrant activation of wnt signaling in human gastric cancer. CXXC4 (CXXC finger protein 4) was identified as a novel target of EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2), and EZH2 promotes the activation of wnt singaling by downregulating CXXC4 expression. CXXC4 inhibits the growth of gastric cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo through inactivating wnt signaling. In contrast, depletion of CXXC4 activates wnt signaling and promotes the anchorage-independent growth of nontumor gastric epithelial cells. CXXC4 is downregulated in gastric carcinoma tissues and its downregulation is associated with poor outcome of gastric cancer patients (hazard ratio: 5.053, P<0.05). Through its binding to dishevelled (Dvl), CXXC4 stabilizes the destruction complex of β-catenin to inhibit wnt signaling. Two critical amino acid residues in CXXC4, K161 and T162 were found to be important to its binding to Dvl and the growth inhibitory effect of CXXC4. In summary, EZH2 promotes the activation of wnt signaling in gastric carcinogenesis through the downregulation of CXXC4 expression. CXXC4 is a novel potential tumor suppressor directly regulated by EZH2, and its expression is a significant prognosis factor for patients with early stages of gastric cancer.

Differences in brain responses between lean and obese women to a sweetened drink

BACKGROUND

Ingestion of sweet food is driven by central reward circuits and restrained by endocrine and neurocrine satiety signals. The specific influence of sucrose intake on central affective and reward circuitry and alterations of these mechanisms in the obese are incompletely understood. For this, we hypothesized that (i) similar brain regions are engaged by the stimulation of sweet taste receptors by sucrose and by non-nutrient sweeteners and (ii) during visual food-related cues, obese subjects show greater brain responses to sucrose compared with lean controls.

METHODS

In a double-blind, crossover design, 10 obese and 10 lean healthy females received a sucrose or a non-nutrient sweetened beverage prior to viewing food or neutral images. BOLD signal was measured using a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner.

KEY RESULTS

Viewing food images after ingestion of either drink was associated with engagement of similar brain regions (amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, anterior insula). Obese differed from lean subjects in behavioral and brain responses rating both beverages as less tasteful and satisfying, yet demonstrating greater brain responses. Obese subjects also showed engagement of an additional brain network (including anterior insula, anterior cingulate, hippocampus, and amygdala) only after sucrose ingestion.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Obese subjects had a reduced behavioral hedonic response, yet a greater engagement of affective brain networks, particularly after sucrose ingestion, suggesting that in obese subjects, lingual and gut-derived signaling generate less central hedonic effects than food-related memories in response to visual cues, analogous to response patterns implicated in food addiction.

Magnetoplasmons in quasineutral epitaxial graphene nanoribbons

We present an infrared transmission spectroscopy study of the inter-Landau-level excitations in quasineutral epitaxial graphene nanoribbon arrays. We observed a substantial deviation in energy of the L(0(-1)) → L(1(0)) transition from the characteristic square root magnetic-field dependence of two-dimensional graphene. This deviation arises from the formation of an upper-hybrid mode between the Landau-level transition and the plasmon resonance. In the quantum regime, the hybrid mode exhibits a distinct dispersion relation, markedly different from that expected for conventional two-dimensional systems and highly doped graphene.

Combined treatment of the experimental human papilloma virus-16-positive cervical and head and neck cancers with cisplatin and radioimmunotherapy targeting viral E6 oncoprotein

BACKGROUND

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is implicated in >99% of cervical cancers and ∼40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We previously targeted E6 oncogene with (188)Rhenium-labelled monoclonal antibody (mAb) C1P5 to HPV16 E6 in cervical cancer and HNSCC. Intranuclear E6 can be accessed by mAbs in non-viable cells with leaky membranes. As radioimmunotherapy (RIT) efficacy depends on the availability of target protein-we hypothesised that pretreatment with cisplatin will kill some tumour cells and increase E6 availability for RIT.

METHODS

Mice with subcutaneous HPV16+ cervical (CasKi) and HNSCC (2A3) tumours were pretreated with 0-7.5 mg kg(-1) per day cisplatin for 3 days followed by (188)Re-C1P5 and biodistribution was performed 24 h later. For RIT, the animals were treated with: 5 mg kg(-1) per day cisplatin for 3 days; or 5 mg kg(-1) per day cisplatin for 3 days followed 200 or 400μCi (188)Re-C1P5 mAb; or 200 or 400μCi (188)Re-C1P5 mAb; or left untreated, and observed for tumour growth for 24 days.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with cisplatin increased the uptake of (188)Re-C1P5 in the tumours 2.5 to 3.5-fold and caused significant retardation in tumour growth for CasKi and 2A3 tumours in both RIT alone and cisplatin, and RIT groups in comparison with the untreated control and cisplatin alone groups (P<0.05). The combined treatment was more effective than either modality alone (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that preceding RIT targeting E6 oncogene with chemotherapy is effective in suppressing tumour growth in mouse models of HPV16+ cancers.

Efficacy of Pyrimethamine/Sulfadoxine versus Chloroquine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in Children Aged Under 5 Years

The children aged under 5 years from vast African areas badly suffer from falciparum malaria and many of them die of this disease. Therapeutic efficacy of anti-malaria drugs, especially pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (PS) and chloroquine (CQ) to falciparum malaria is frequently evaluated and reported in recent 10 years. Unfortunately, to date, these widespread materials and researches have not been systematically collected and analyzed. In our study, two investigators were employed to widely and independently gather researches on efficacy of PS vs. CQ mono-therapy of falciparum malaria in children aged below 5 years in unpublished and published databases. Meta-analyses were conducted in categories of PS group and CQ group respectively. Pooled OR of PS vs. CQ was 0.11 (95%CI, 0.05-0.24). PS showed higher therapeutic efficacy to falciparum malaria in less-than-5-year children than CQ. Random model was chosen to analyze for the heterogeneity existence between different studies. Subgroup analyses were performed, but heterogeneity was still presented. Heterogeneity might be caused by different resistance of falciparum malaria to PS and CQ in different settings. Malaria type associated with parasite species, basic information of PS and CQ, and PS & CQ resistant malaria control measures were demonstrated and discussed respectively in detail in this article.

278 Jak/Stat3 SIGNALING PROMOTES SOMATIC CELL REPROGRAMMING BY EPIGENETIC REGULATION

Although leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) maintains the ground state pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) by activating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Jak/Stat3) pathway, the mechanism remains unclear. Stat3 has only been shown to promote complete reprogramming of epiblast and neural stem cells, and the partially reprogrammed cells (pre-iPSC). We investigated if and how Jak/Stat3 activation promotes reprogramming of terminally differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF). We demonstrated that activated Stat3 not only promotes but is essential for the pluripotency establishment in MEF cell reprogramming. We further demonstrated that, during reprogramming, inhibiting Jak/Stat3 activity blocks demethylation of Oct4 and Nanog regulatory DNA sequences in induced cells, which are marked by suppressed endogenous pluripotent gene expression. These are correlated with significant upregulation of DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) 1 and histone deacetylases (HDAC) expression, as well as the increased expression of lysine-specific histone demethylase 2 and methyl-CpG binding protein 2. Inhibiting Jak/Stat3 also blocks the expression of Dnmt3L, which is correlated with the failure of retroviral transgene silencing. Furthermore, Dnmt or HDAC inhibitor but not overexpression of Nanog rescues the reprogramming arrested by Jak/Stat3 inhibition or LIF deprivation. Finally, we demonstrated that LIF/Stat3 signal also represents the prerequisite for complete reprogramming of pre-iPSC. We conclude that Jak/Stat3 activity plays a fundamental role in promoting the establishment of pluripotency at the epigenetic level, by facilitating DNA demethylation/de novo methylation and open-chromatin formation during late stage reprogramming.