Analysis of 10 independent samples provides evidence for association between schizophrenia and a SNP flanking fibroblast growth factor receptor 2

We and others have previously reported linkage to schizophrenia on chromosome 10q25-q26 but, to date, a susceptibility gene in the region has not been identified. We examined data from 3606 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping to 10q25-q26 that had been typed in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of schizophrenia (479 UK cases/2937 controls). SNPs with P<0.01 (n=40) were genotyped in an additional 163 UK cases and those markers that remained nominally significant at P<0.01 (n=22) were genotyped in replication samples from Ireland, Germany and Bulgaria consisting of a total of 1664 cases with schizophrenia and 3541 controls. Only one SNP, rs17101921, was nominally significant after meta-analyses across the replication samples and this was genotyped in an additional six samples from the United States/Australia, Germany, China, Japan, Israel and Sweden (n=5142 cases/6561 controls). Across all replication samples, the allele at rs17101921 that was associated in the GWAS showed evidence for association independent of the original data (OR 1.17 (95% CI 1.06-1.29), P=0.0009). The SNP maps 85 kb from the nearest gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) making this a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.

An inexact dynamic optimization model for municipal solid waste management in association with greenhouse gas emission control

Municipal solid waste (MSW) should be properly disposed in order to help protect environmental quality and human health, as well as to preserve natural resources. During MSW disposal processes, a large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) is emitted, leading to a significant impact on climate change. In this study, an inexact dynamic optimization model (IDOM) is developed for MSW-management systems under uncertainty. It grounds upon conventional mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approaches, and integrates GHG components into the modeling framework. Compared with the existing models, IDOM can not only deal with the complex tradeoff between system cost minimization and GHG-emission mitigation, but also provide optimal allocation strategies under various emission-control standards. A case study is then provided for demonstrating applicability of the developed model. The results indicate that desired waste-flow patterns with a minimized system cost and GHG-emission amount can be obtained. Of more importance, the IDOM solution is associated with over 5.5 million tonnes of TEC reduction, which is of significant economic implication for real implementations. Therefore, the proposed model could be regarded as a useful tool for realizing comprehensive MSW management with regard to mitigating climate-change impacts.

Health-risk-based groundwater remediation system optimization through clusterwise linear regression

This study develops a health-risk-based groundwater management (HRGM) model. The model incorporates the considerations of environmental quality and human health risks into a general framework. To solve the model, a proxy-based optimization approach is proposed, where a semiparametric statistical method (i.e., clusterwise linear regression) is used to create a set of rapid-response and easy-to-use proxy modules for capturing the relations between remediation policies and the resulting human health risks. Through replacing the simulation and health risk assessment modules with the proxy ones, many orders of magnitude of computational cost can be saved. The model solutions reveal that (i) a long remediation period corresponds to a low total pumping rate, (ii) a stringent risk standard implies a high total pumping rate, and (iii) the human health risk associated with benzene would be significantly reduced if it is regarded as constraints of the model. These implications would assist decision makers in understanding the effects of remediation duration and human-health risk level on optimal remediation policies and in designing a robust groundwater remediation system. Results from postoptimization simulation show that the carcinogenic risk would decrease to satisfy the regulated risk standard under the given remediation policies.

The --1019 C/G polymorphism of the 5-HT(1)A receptor gene is associated with negative symptom response to risperidone treatment in schizophrenia patients

The application of pharmacogenetics is currently one of the most promising developments in anti-psychotic treatment and is attracting more and more attention. Although risperidone belongs to the first-line atypical anti-psychotics, there have been relatively few risperidone pharmacogenetic studies, especially in Asian populations. We investigated the relationship between the C825T polymorphism of GBN3 (rs5443) and the -1019 C/G polymorphism of 5-HT(1)A (rs6295) and response to risperidone treatment. One-hundred and thirty schizophrenia patients were recruited. They were treated with risperidone monotherapy for eight weeks. Clinical response was assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) on the day of admission and was subsequently assessed after eight weeks following the treatment. Patients were genotyped for two functional polymorphisms: C825T of GBN3 (rs5443) and -1019 C/G of HT(1)A (rs6295). Association tests between genotypes and percentage improvement in total PANSS scores, as well as positive symptom scores and negative symptom scores, were performed using analyses of variance (ANOVA). The -1019 C/G polymorphism of HT(1)A (rs6295) was associated with negative symptom response to treatment. Patients with the CC genotype showed substantial improvement as regards negative symptom response (F = 4.177, df = 2, P = 0.019), compared with the patients with the CG and GG genotypes. No association was observed between C825T of GBN3 (rs5443) and changes in PANSS scores. The results suggest that the -1019 C/G polymorphism (rs6295) in the 5-HT(1)A gene may be a useful predictor of reduction in negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone.

Adaptation to chronic hypoxia involves immune cell invasion and increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in rat carotid body

Exposure to chronic hypoxia (CH; 3-28 days at 380 Torr) induces adaptation in mammalian carotid body such that following CH an acute hypoxic challenge elicits an abnormally large increase in carotid sinus nerve impulse activity. The current study examines the hypothesis that CH initiates an immune response in the carotid body and that chemoreceptor hyperexcitability is dependent on the expression and action of inflammatory cytokines. CH resulted in a robust invasion of ED1(+) macrophages, which peaked on day 3 of exposure. Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and the chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, was increased >2-fold after 1 day of hypoxia followed by a >2-fold increase in IL-6 on day 3. After 28 days of CH, IL-6 remained elevated >5-fold, whereas expression of other cytokines recovered to normal levels. Cytokine expression was not restricted to immune cells. Studies of cultured type I cells harvested following 1 day of in vivo hypoxia showed elevated transcript levels of inflammatory cytokines. In situ hybridization studies confirmed expression of IL-6 in type I cells and also showed that CH induces IL-6 expression in supporting type II cells. Concurrent treatment of CH rats with anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or dexamethasone) blocked immune cell invasion and severely reduced CH-induced cytokine expression in carotid body. Drug treatment also blocked the development of chemoreceptor hypersensitivity in CH animals. Our findings indicate that chemoreceptor adaptation involves novel neuroimmune mechanisms, which may alter the functional phenotypes of type I cells and chemoafferent neurons.

Caspase-3 activation as a key factor for HBx-transformed cell death

OBJECTIVES

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation has been associated with the tumorigenic growth of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx)-transformed cells. This study was aimed to find a key target for treatment of HBx-mediated cancers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NF-kappaB activation, endoplasmic reticulum-stress (ER-stress), caspase-3 activation, and cell proliferation were evaluated after Chang/HBx cells permanently expressing HBx viral protein were treated with inhibitors of NF-kappaB, proteasome and DNA topoisomerase.

RESULTS

Inhibition of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity by transient transfection with mutant plasmids encoding Akt1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), or by treatment with chemical inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, showed little effect on the survival of Chang/HBx cells. Furthermore, IkappaBalpha (S32/36A) mutant plasmid or other NF-kappaB inhibitors, 1-pyrrolidinecarbonidithioic acid and sulphasalazine, were also shown to have little effect on the cell proliferation. By contrast, proteasome inhibitor-1 (Pro1) and MG132 enhanced the HBx-induced ER-stress response and the subsequent activation of caspase-12, -9 and -3 and reduced cell proliferation. Camptothecin (CPT), however, triggered activation of caspase-3 without induction of caspase-12, and reduced cell proliferation. In addition, CPT-induced cell death was reversed by pre-treatment with z-DEVD, a caspase-3-specific inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

Detailed exploitation of the regulators of caspase-3 activation could open the gate for finding an efficient target for development of anticancer therapeutics against HBx-transformed hepatocellular carcinoma.

A simulation-aided factorial analysis approach for characterizing interactive effects of system factors on composting processes

A simulation-aided 2-level factorial analysis approach is proposed to characterize the interactive effects of composting factors (i.e. temperature, moisture, oxygen content and initial biomass concentration) on composting processes. To screen the important effect factors when high-order interactions occur, normal probability plot is applied to the result analysis. The results show that the factors have various effects on the composting process in different stages. At the 24th hour, the factors do not show significant effects on the composting process. At the 72nd hour when the composting process reaches active stage, the factors have important effects on the composting process, and their interactive effects are also significant. At the 144th hour, temperature and oxygen content still have effects on the composting process, but not as significant as those at the active stage. These findings could be useful for guiding composting-process operation and management and developing associated control strategies in different composting stages.

Salacia oblonga root decreases cardiac hypertrophy in Zucker diabetic fatty rats: inhibition of cardiac expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor

AIMS

We investigated the effect of the water extract of Salacia oblonga (SOE), an ayurvedic antidiabetic and antiobesity medicine, on obesity and diabetes-associated cardiac hypertrophy and discuss the role of modulation of cardiac angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) expression in the effect.

METHODS

SOE (100 mg/kg) was given orally to male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats for 7 weeks. At the end-point of the treatment, the hearts and left ventricles were weighed, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional areas were measured, and cardiac gene profiles were analysed. On the other hand, angiotensin II-stimulated embryonic rat heart-derived H9c2 cells and neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were pretreated with SOE and one of its prominent components mangiferin (MA), respectively. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression and protein synthesis and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation were determined.

RESULTS

SOE-treated ZDF rats showed less cardiac hypertrophy (decrease in weights of the hearts and left ventricles and reduced cardiomyocyte cross-sectional areas). SOE treatment suppressed cardiac overexpression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and AT(1) mRNAs and AT(1) protein in ZDF rats. SOE (50-100 microg/ml) and MA (25 micromol) suppressed angiotensin II-induced ANP mRNA overexpression and protein synthesis in H9c2 cells. They also inhibited angiotensin II-stimulated [(3)H]thymidine incorporation by cardiac fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that SOE decreases cardiac hypertrophy in ZDF rats, at least in part by inhibiting cardiac AT(1) overexpression. These studies provide insights into a potential cardioprotective role of a traditional herb, which supports further clinical evaluation in obesity and diabetes-associated cardiac hypertrophy.

Clinical course and prognostic factors of clinical early IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is prevalent in many countries including China. At the time of diagnosis many IgAN patients present with normal renal function, proteinuria of 0.4 g/d or less, and normal blood pressure and they are classified as clinically early IgAN patients. However, the natural history of clinically early IgAN and prognostic factors has not yet been clarified.

METHODS

We investigated 177 early IgAN patients (108 males and 69 females) followed up for a mean period of 111 +/- 43 months.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period among 177 clinically early IgAN patients, urinary abnormalities disappeared in 9% of the patients; increased proteinuria was present in 79 patients (46%). The prevalence of hypertension was 38% (68 patients), and 24% (43 patients) developed renal insufficiency. Poor renal outcome was associated with haematuria, urinary protein excretion index (UPEI, the product of urinary protein excretion at the time of renal biopsy and prebiopsy duration), and tubulointerstitial lesions.

CONCLUSION

Renal outcome is dismal in patients with clinically early IgAN. Haematuria, UPEI, and tubulointerstitial lesions could be useful markers of a progressive course.

Enhancement of CD4+ T-cell help reverses the doxorubicin-induced suppression of antigen-specific immune responses in vaccinated mice

Multimodality treatments that combine conventional cancer therapies with antigen-specific immunotherapy have emerged as promising approaches for the control of cancer. In the current study, we have explored the effect of doxorubicin on the antigen-specific immune responses generated in mice vaccinated with calreticulin (CRT)/E6 and/or Ii-PADRE DNA. We observed that pretreatment with doxorubicin suppressed the E6-specific CD8+ T-cell immune responses generated by CRT/E6 DNA vaccination in vaccinated mice. In contrast, pretreatment with doxorubicin enhanced the PADRE-specific CD4+ T-cell immune responses generated by Ii-PADRE DNA vaccination. Furthermore, coadministration of Ii-PADRE DNA could not only reverse the suppression, but also enhanced the E6-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in CRT/E6-vaccinated mice pretreated with doxorubicin. Finally, treatment with doxorubicin followed by CRT/E6 combined with Ii-PADRE DNA vaccination led to enhanced antitumor effects and prolonged survival in TC-1 tumor-bearing mice. The clinical implications of the current study are discussed.

Mesenchymal stem cell-based angiopoietin-1 gene therapy for acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can serve as a vehicle for gene therapy. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is a critical factor for endothelial survival and vascular stabilization via the inhibition of endothelial permeability and leukocyte-endothelium interactions. We hypothesized that MSC-based Ang1 gene therapy might be a potential therapeutic approach for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury. MSCs were isolated from 6 week-old inbred male mice and transduced with the Ang1 gene, using a lentivirus vector. The MSCs showed no significant phenotypic changes after transduction. In the in vivo mouse model, the LPS-induced lung injury was markedly alleviated in the group treated with MSCs carrying Ang1 (MSCs-Ang1), compared with groups treated with MSCs or Ang1 alone. The expression of Ang1 protein in the recipient lungs was increased after MSCs-Ang1 administration. The histopathological and biochemical indices of LPS-induced lung injury were improved after MSCs-based Ang1 gene treatment. MSCs-Ang1 administration also reduced pulmonary vascular endothelial permeability and the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung. Cells of MSC origin could be detected in the recipient lungs for 2 weeks after injection with MSCs. These results suggest that MSCs and Ang1 have a synergistic role in the treatment of LPS-induced lung injury. MSC-based Ang1 gene therapy may be developed as a potential novel strategy for the treatment of acute lung injury.

Association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival of breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen treatment

BACKGROUND

Human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotype may affect the efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in Caucasian women with breast cancer. The most common polymorphism of CYP2D6 in Chinese women is variant 10 (188 C to T).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHtam) were measured in the serum of 37 women with breast cancer who were receiving tamoxifen treatment. The association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival was determined in a cohort of 293 women with breast cancer who received tamoxifen (n = 152) or who did not (n = 141).

RESULTS

The serum 4OHtam concentrations were significantly lower in women with the CYP2D6 *10 homozygous variant T/T genotype than in those with the homozygous wild-type C/C genotype (P = 0.04). Among tamoxifen-treated women, women with the T/T genotype had a significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) than those with the C/C or C/T genotype, and the T/T genotype remained an independent prognostic factor of DFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 4.7; 95% confidence interval = 1.1-20.0; P = 0.04). Among women who did not receive tamoxifen, there was no significant association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival.

CONCLUSION

In tamoxifen-treated patients, women with the CYP2D6 *10 T/T genotype have a lower 4OHtam level in the serum and a worse clinical outcome.

The interfacial structure and Young's modulus of peptide films having switchable mechanical properties

We report the structure and Young's modulus of switchable films formed by peptide self-assembly at the air-water interface. Peptide surfactant AM1 forms an interfacial film that can be switched, reversibly, from a high- to low-elasticity state, with rapid loss of emulsion and foam stability. Using neutron reflectometry, we find that the AM1 film comprises a thin (approx. 15A) layer of ordered peptide in both states, confirming that it is possible to drastically alter the mechanical properties of an interfacial ensemble without significantly altering its concentration or macromolecular organization. We also report the first experimentally determined Young's modulus of a peptide film self-assembled at the air-water interface (E=80MPa for AM1, switching to E<20MPa). These findings suggest a fundamental link between E and the macroscopic stability of peptide-containing foam. Finally, we report studies of a designed peptide surfactant, Lac21E, which we find forms a stronger switchable film than AM1 (E=335MPa switching to E<4MPa). In contrast to AM1, Lac21E switching is caused by peptide dissociation from the interface (i.e. by self-disassembly). This research confirms that small changes in molecular design can lead to similar macroscopic behaviour via surprisingly different mechanisms.

The role of pro-inflammatory factors in mediating the effects on the fetus of prenatal undernutrition: implications for schizophrenia

Exposure to prenatal undernutrition or malnutrition increases the risk of schizophrenia, although little is known about the mechanism. Pro-inflammatory factors are critical in brain development, and are believed to play an important role in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with prenatal exposure to infection, including schizophrenia. However it is not known whether pro-inflammatory factors also mediate the effects on the fetus of prenatal malnutrition or undernutrition. In this study, we established a new prenatal undernourished rat model induced by maternal exposure to a diet restricted to 50% of the low (6%) protein diet (RLP50). We observed the disappearance of maternal nest-building behavior in the RLP50 dams, increased levels of TNFA and IL6 in the placentas (P<0.001; P=0.879, respectively) and fetal livers (P<0.001; P<0.05, respectively), and a decrease in the fetal brains (P<0.05; P<0.01, respectively). Our results are similar to previous studies of maternal infection, which implies that a common pathway mediated by pro-inflammatory factors may contribute to the brain development, consequently increasing the risk of schizophrenia and other psychiatric diseases programmed by varied maternal adversities. We also provide a new prenatal undernourished model for researching prenatal problems, which differs from previous malnourished model in terms of the maternal behavior of dams and of observed pro-inflammatory factor levels in fetal tissues.

Corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia

BACKGROUND

Postherpetic neuralgia is a common serious complication of herpes zoster. Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory and might be beneficial.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy of corticosteroids in preventing postherpetic neuralgia.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Search for randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials for corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia in MEDLINE (1950 to 2006), EMBASE (1980 to 2006), LILACS (1982 to 2005), the Chinese Biomedical Retrieval System (1978 to 2006) and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2006). Date of most recent search: September 2006.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Types of studies: quasi-randomised or randomised controlled trials.

TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

people of all ages with herpes zoster of all degrees of severity within seven days after onset. Types of interventions: all kinds of corticosteroids given by oral, intramuscular or intravenous routes during the acute stage (starting within one week of onset of the rash) compared with no treatment or placebo, but not with other treatments. We also included trials which compared corticosteroids plus routine treatment with placebo plus routine treatment. Types of outcome measures: Primary: the presence of postherpetic neuralgia six months after the onset of the acute herpetic rash. Secondary: pain severity measured by a validated visual analogue scale or numerical descriptive scale after three, six and 12 months; quality of life measured with the short form 36 questionnaire after six months; adverse events during or within two weeks after stopping treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data were extracted by two independent reviewers.

MAIN RESULTS

Five trials were included with altogether 787 participants. All were randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group studies. Our primary outcome measure was the presence of postherpetic neuralgia six months after the onset of the acute herpetic rash. There was no significant difference between the corticosteroid and control groups for the primary outcome (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.20 to 7.97). There was also no significant difference between the corticosteroid plus antiviral agents and placebo plus antiviral agents groups for the primary outcome (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.03). No included trials evaluated pain severity with a validated visual analogue scale or numerical descriptive scale and also no trials measured quality of life with the Short Form 36 questionnaire. Adverse events during or within two weeks after stopping treatment were reported by all five included trials, but after meta-analysis, there was no significant difference in any serious adverse event (death, acute cardiac insufficiency, rash dissemination, bacterial pneumonia or haematemesis) or non serious adverse event (dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hypertension or hyperglycaemia).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There was insufficient evidence to conclude that corticosteroids are safe or effective in the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia. More randomised controlled trials with a greater number of participants are needed to determine reliably whether there is real benefit (or harm) from the use of corticosteroid therapy to prevent postherpetic neuralgia. Future trials should measure function and quality of life.