Abstract P6-07-31: Molecular mechanism of alcohol-associated breast cancer

Epidemiological studies have indicated that alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for breast cancer. The association of alcohol consumption and breast cancer is more pronounced in ER+ cases than in ER- cases. However, this molecular mechanism remains to be determined. Deregulation of RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription enhances cellular tRNAs and 5S rRNA production, increasing translational capacity to promote cell transformation and tumor formation. Our results reveal that alcohol increases Pol III gene transcription in both normal and cancer breast cell lines. The induction of Pol III genes by alcohol in ER+ breast cancer cells is significantly higher than in ER- normal breast cells and ER- breast cancer cells. E2 causes slight increase in Pol III gene transcription. The addition of ethanol to this system produces a marked increase. Alcohol increases ERa expression to enhance the cellular levels of Brf1 protein and mRNA. In addition, ethanol markedly stimulates phosphorylation of JNK1. Inhibition of JNK1 decreases ERE-Luc reporter activity and represses expression of ERa, Brf1 and Pol III genes. Reduction of ERa by its siRNA represses Brf1 and Pol III gene transcription. Ethanol with E2 produces larger and more numerous colonies. Repression of ERa or Brf1 inhibits alcohol-induced cell transformation. More interestingly, human biopsies studies show that Brf1 expression is significantly increased in nuclei of breast cancer cells, compared to tissue adjacent to the carcinoma. Together, these results support the idea that alcohol increases ERa expression through JNK1 pathway to elevate Brf1 expression and Pol III gene transcription, leading to greater phenotypic changes. ERa mediates Pol III gene transcription through Brf1, suggesting that ERa play a critical role in alcohol-induced deregulation of Pol III genes in ER+ breast cancer development.

*: The project is supported by NIAAA/NIH grants: AA017288, AA021114 and AA02324 to S Zhong.

Citation Format: Zhong S, Zhang Y, Lei J, Li W, Wu Z, Shi G. Molecular mechanism of alcohol-associated breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-31.

The common CARD14 gene missense polymorphism rs11652075 (c.C2458T/p.Arg820Trp) is associated with psoriasis: a meta-analysis

Recent genetic evidence suggests a robust association of the CARD14 single nucleotide polymorphism rs11652075 (c.C2458T/p.Arg820Trp) and other rare mutations in this gene with psoriasis. To assess whether combined data support the relationship between CARD14 rs11652075 and susceptibility to this disease, we conducted a meta-analysis. PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant papers published in English. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effect models. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochran's Q and I² statistics. A total of five published studies, including 32,807 psoriasis patients and 45,458 controls, met our inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled OR of the association between the minor allele of this polymorphism and psoriasis was 0.877 (95%CI = 0.834-0.922; P < 0.001). In a stratified analysis, pooled ORs relating to European and Asian ancestry were 0.883 (95%CI = 0.822-0.948) and 0.872 (95%CI = 0.812-0.936), respectively. Those calculated for studies with case sample sizes above and below 1000 were 0.912 (95%CI = 0.870- 0.956) and 0.824 (95%CI = 0.734-0.924), respectively. No publication bias was present, and the exclusion of any single dataset did not substantially alter the corresponding pooled ORs. Due to the limited data available regarding clinical classification of cases and genotypes, subgroup stratification by clinical type was not performed. Our results demonstrate a significant association between the CARD14 rs11652075 polymorphism and psoriasis.

High preoperative and postoperative levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and CYFRA 21-1 indicate poor prognosis in patients with pathological Stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA 21-1) are supposed to have a prognostic role in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery, but it has not been used as an adjunct to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system to provide therapy options for patients with pathological Stage I NSCLC. This study was designed to investigate the effect of serum levels of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 before and after surgery on the prognosis of patients with Stage I NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed regarding the medical records and follow-ups of 169 patients with Stage I NSCLC before and after surgery. The patients were divided into three groups based on levels of serum CEA and CYFRA 21-1 before and after surgery: (1) continuously normal-level groups (CEA [NN] and CYFRA 21-1 [NN] groups); (2) declined to normal-level groups (CEA [HN] and CYFRA 21-1 [HN] groups); and (3) continuously high-level groups (CEA [HH] and CYFRA 21-1 [HH] groups). Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method for each group. The Chi-square or Fisher exact test was employed to compare clinical and pathologic factors at the level of P < 0.05. The prognostic factor was evaluated by the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Compared with the continuously normal-level groups, the CEA [HN] group was significantly correlated to tumor size (P = 0.011), and the CYFRA 21-1 [HN] group was significantly correlated to tumor type and pathological TNM in addition to tumor size. Five-year survivals were significantly lower (P = 0.004) in the CEA [HH] group (67.3%) and the CEA [HN] group (86.5%) than in the CEA [NN] group (85.7%) and were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the CYFRA 21-1 [HH] group (47.2%) and the CYFRA 21-1 [HN] group (70.1%) than in the CYFRA 21-1 [NN] group (90.1%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor size (21-50 mm), CEA [HH], and CYFRA 21-1 [HH] were independent unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas tumor size (21-50 mm), CEA [HH], CYFRA 21-1 [HN], and CYFRA 21-1 [HH] were independent significant prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a persistently high serum CEA or CYFRA 21-1 before and after surgery had shortest OS and PFS. These patients had worst prognosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy was likely to improve survival for these patients.

Changes in T-lymphocytes in lung cancer patients after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy or radiotherapy

We investigated dynamic changes in T-lymphocyte subsets after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) or radiotherapy using flow cytometry. A total of 1423 lung cancer patients admitted to our hospital between October 2012 and July 2015 were enrolled, and age-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were purified using standard Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, based on which CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cells were isolated. A surface marker was identified by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemical analysis determined the distribution of the cells in the tumor mass or adjacent tissues. A total of 957 patients (male: 555; female: 402; median age: 49.3 years) with lung cancer who had received only HIPEC or radiotherapy were enrolled. The patients were followed-up until death. No statistical difference was noticed between the patients who had received chemotherapy compared with the baseline levels. A remarkable elevation was noticed in the CD3+ T-cells in the patients three months after radiotherapy (78.71 ± 9.36 vs 68.15 ± 9.65, P < 0.05). The level of CD8+ in the patients who had received chemotherapy or radiotherapy was remarkably elevated in the post-treatment period (P < 0.05). The CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells were mainly expressed in the cytoplasm rather than in the adjacent tissues. The expression of CD3+ and CD4+ was correlated to tumor infiltration and metastasis. Remarkable elevation was noticed in the CD3+ T-cells in the patients three months after radiotherapy. The expression of CD3+ and CD4+ was negatively correlated to tumor infiltration and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Glutamate Receptor Interacting Protein 1 Regulates CD4(+) CTLA-4 Expression and Transplant Rejection

PDZ domains are common 80- to 90-amino-acid regions named after the first three proteins discovered to share these domains: postsynaptic density 95, discs large, and zonula occludens. PDZ domain-containing proteins typically interact with the C-terminus of membrane receptors. Glutamate receptor interacting protein 1 (GRIP1), a seven-PDZ domain protein scaffold, regulates glutamate receptor surface expression and trafficking in neurons. We have found that human and mouse T cells also express GRIP1. T cell-specific GRIP1(-/-) mice >11 weeks old had prolonged cardiac allograft survival. Compared with wild-type T cells, in vitro stimulated GRIP1(-/-) T cells had decreased expression of activation markers and increased apoptotic surface marker expression. Surface expression of the strong T cell inhibitory molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) was increased on GRIP1(-/-) T cells from mice >11 weeks old. CTLA-4 increases with T cell stimulation and its surface expression on GRIP1(-/-) T cells remained high after stimulation was removed, indicating a possible internalization defect in GRIP1-deficient T cells. CTLA-4-blocking antibody treatment following heart transplantation led to complete rejection in T cell GRIP1(-/-) mice, indicating that increased CTLA-4 surface expression contributed to the extended graft survival. Our data indicate that GRIP1 regulates T cell activation by regulating CTLA-4 surface expression.

Laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy due to giant uterine fibroids: a case report

The laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LSH) was given to a patient whose uterus was about seven-month pregnanacy because of fibroids. The biggest problem was the operation space and visual field was too narrow. Different from the usual procedure we do, we morcellated the uterus at the beginning to expand the space. Loop ligature of the uterine isthmus was adopted to block uterine ateries before morcellating the uterus. After the adnexa exposed totally, we started to cut off the round ligaments, proper ligaments and fallopian tubes like usual. It was the first time we did LSH for so giant uterus in our hospital, although which was usually suitable for the uterus smaller than four-month pregnancy. But if the uterine ateries can be blocked effectively at the beginning, the uterus can be morcellated and the space will be enlarged. The laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy will also be completed successfully.

Electroacupuncture alleviates cisplatin-induced nausea in rats

Objective

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms of action underlying the anti-emetic effect of electroacupuncture (EA).

Design

Forty-eight rats received saline (n=12) or 6 mg/kg cisplatin (n=36) to establish a chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting model. EA was performed at CV12 (n=12), bilateral PC6 (n=12), or sham points (n=12) 3 days before and 1–2 days after cisplatin administration (4–5 times in total), at 0.5–1 mA intensity and 2/15 Hz frequency for 10 min. Kaolin intake, food intake and bodyweight change were evaluated as markers of nausea and vomiting severity. Concentrations of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the duodenum and c-Fos expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) were measured using high performance liquid chromatography and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Results

Cisplatin administration led to increased kaolin intake and reduced food intake and bodyweight over the following 2 days. EA at CV12 significantly reversed the cisplatin-induced change in kaolin intake (on days 1 and 2) and food intake and bodyweight (on day 1). EA at CV12 also attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in 5-HT in the duodenum and suppressed c-Fos expression in the NTS. EA at PC6 influenced kaolin intake (on day 1 only) and c-Fos expression, but had no statistically significant effect on food intake, bodyweight or 5-HT expression.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated beneficial effects of EA on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a rat model. The anti-emetic effect of EA may be mediated through inhibition of 5-HT secretion in the duodenum and activity of the NTS.

Expression of G protein αq Subunit is Decreased in Lymphocytes from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and is Correlated with Disease Activity

Gαq, the alpha subunit of Gq, a member of the Gq/11 sub-family, was reported to inhibit phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K) activation and prevent the activation of Akt. Previous studies demonstrated that mice losing Gαq in their immune system could spontaneously develop inflammatory arthritis. In this study, we showed that the Gαq expressions at mRNA and protein levels in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were significantly decreased in comparison of which in healthy individuals. The expression levels of Gαq mRNA in PBLs from patients with RA were correlated with RA disease activity (DAS28), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor. We also demonstrated that Gαq controlled the apoptosis of RA PBLs through regulating the activity of Mcl-1 and caspase-3. These data suggested that Gαq might be involved in the pathogenesis of RA by regulating PBLs apoptosis.

The role of autoreactive T cell in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and implications for T cell targeted vaccine therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterised by chronic inflammation of joint synovial tissue and subsequent destruction of associated bone, cartilage and soft tissues. RA is commonly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), glucocorticoids and biologic inhibitors of TNF, IL-1, IL-6, T cells and B cells. The use of these drugs especially biological agents has greatly improved the treatment of RA. Although the pathogenesis of RA remains unclear, T-cell mediated immune response is considered as a critical contributor in RA initiation and progression. It has been hypothesized that arthritogenic T cells (autoreactive T cells) escaping negative selection can recognize arthritogenic antigens and lead to autoimmunity and tissue destruction. Due to the important role of autoreactive T cells in the mechanisms of RA, they might be a novel therapeutic target. Many vaccines targeting autoreactive T cells which can establish immunological self tolerance have been developed. The efficacy of these vaccines has been justified in experimental models of RA and clinical trials. Inhibition of autoreactive T cell response by vaccination might provide a new treatment opinion in RA.

High cytoplasmic expression of SALL4 predicts a malignant phenotype and poor prognosis of breast invasive ductal carcinoma

Sal-like 4(SALL4) is significant for maintaining self-renewal and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells, cancer cells and perhaps even cancer stem cells. The expression of SALL4 has been recorded in various kinds of cancers and is deemed to have a clinical value for diagnosis. However, little information on SALL4 expression has been illustrated in breast cancer. In this study, the expression of SALL4 was scrutinized by immunohistochemical analysis in breast invasive ductal carcinoma in a large cohort of 160 patients. High cytoplasmic expression of SALL4 was detected in breast cancer tissues compared with normal adjacent tissues. High SALL4 expression was associated with advanced tumor invasion (p = 0.019), lymph node stage (p = 0.027), ER (p = 0.030), PR (p = 0.037), HER2 (p = 0.019) and TNBC (p = 0.007) in overall patients. Interestingly, in Kaplan-Meier analysis, breast cancer patients with high expression of SALL4 demonstrated a worse OS. Both univariate and multivariate analysis illustrated that examination of SALL4 was of great prognostic value in OS. Thus, our data showed that high cytoplasmic expression of SALL4 was considered to be an independent prognostic indicator for breast invasive ductal carcinoma.

Efficacy and safety of ginger-salt-indirect moxibustion for urge urinary incontinence after stroke: protocol for a pilot multicentre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Ginger-salt-indirect moxibustion is widely applied to treat urge urinary incontinence after stroke, which is a common complication in stroke survivors. Moxa cone moxibustion and moxa box moxibustion are the main techniques of ginger-salt-indirect moxibustion. Our previous study had shown that ginger-salt-indirect moxibustion using moxa cones was feasible and effective for urination disorders post-stroke. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting research to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ginger-salt-indirect moxibustion for patients with post-stroke urge urinary incontinence.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a multicentre, prospective, single-blinded, pilot randomised controlled trial. 120 eligible patients will be randomly allocated to three groups. Treatment group A (n=40) will receive moxa cone moxibustion and routine care; treatment group B (n=40) will receive moxa box moxibustion and routine care; control group (n=40) will only receive routine care for stroke recovery. The entire moxibustion treatment will consist of a total of 28 sessions during the course of 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the increase in mean volume per void assessed at week 4 from the first moxibustion session (baseline). Secondary outcome measures will include mean frequency of urination per day and quality of life assessments measured by completion of the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire and Barthel Index. All outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at 4 and 16 weeks from baseline. Adverse events in the three groups will be recorded to assess the safety of moxibustion.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Research ethics was approved by the Research Ethical Committee of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to the Capital Medical University (ref: 2013BL-094). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Study results will be published in peer reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN 44706974.

Matrine reduces yeast-to-hypha transition and resistance of a fluconazole-resistant strain of Candida albicans

AIMS

To evaluate the potential effect of matrine on reducing the growth of hypha and lowering the resistance of a fluconazole-resistant colony of Candida albicans.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Candida albicans SC5314 and a fluconazole-resistant C. albicans 215 were used. As for C. albicans SC5314, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC(80)) and effective concentration (EC(50)) were determined, 1 mg ml(-1) matrine could inhibit nearly 80% of planktonic growth by inverted microscope, 2 mg ml(-1) matrine suppressed 50% of metabolic activity of biofilm by XTT assay, vanishing hypha could be observed on spider agar containing 2 mg ml(-1) matrine, the expressions of three hypha-related genes, namely ALS 3, SUN 41 and PBS 2, were suppressed by 29, 45 and 61% by 2 mg ml(-1) matrine. Also, matrine could lower the resistance of C. albicans 215, in either the free-floating form or the biofilm phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Matrine had favourable antifungal potential and might be able to reverse the fluconazole resistance of clinical isolates at relatively high concentration. The anti-candidal performance of matrine could be tightly associated with yeast-to-hypha transition proved by spider agar test and qRT-PCR.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

More efforts are needed to find new antifungal agents. Matrine could be a potential candidate to fight against Candida-related infections by regulating yeast-to-hypha transition.

Clinicopathological features and expression of four keratins (K10, K14, K17 and K19) in six cases of eruptive vellus hair cysts

Six cases of eruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHC) were evaluated for histopathology and the immunohistochemical profile of Ki-67 and four keratins (K10, K14, K17 and K19). The pathological hallmark of EVHC was the existence of vellus hair shafts within the cystic cavity, but atypical pathological changes included two or three cysts and a foreign-body granuloma in three cases. Our results demonstrate that atypical pathological changes are not uncommon in EVHC, and indicate that based on keratin expression, it is likely that EVHC is derived from the infrainfundibulum and sebaceous duct.

Cav-1 deletion impaired hematopoietic stem cell function

A tightly controlled balance between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell compartments is required to maintain normal blood cell homeostasis throughout life, and this balance is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic cellular factors. Cav-1 is a 22-kDa protein that is located in plasma membrane invaginations and is implicated in regulating neural stem cell and embryonic stem cell proliferation. However, the role of Cav-1 in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function is largely unknown. In this study, we used Cav-1^−/− mice to investigate the role of Cav-1 in HSCs function during aging. The results showed that Cav-1^−/− mice displayed a decreased percentage of B cells and an increased percentage of M cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood, and these changes were due to an increased number of HSCs. FACS analysis showed that the numbers of Lin⁻Sca1⁺c-kit⁺ cells (LSKs), long-term HSCs (LT-HSCs), short-term HSCs and multipotent progenitors were increased in Cav-1^−/− mice compared with Cav-1^+/+ mice, and this increase became more pronounced with aging. An in vitro clonogenic assay showed that LT-HSCs from Cav-1^−/− mice had reduced ability to self-renew. Consistently, an in vivo competitive transplantation assay showed that Cav-1^−/− mice failed to reconstitute hematopoiesis. Moreover, a Cav-1 deletion disrupted the quiescence of LSKs and promoted cell cycle progression through G2/M phase. In addition, we found that Cav-1 deletion impaired the ability of HSCs to differentiate into mature blood cells. Taken together, these data suggest that Cav-1-deficient cells impaired HSCs quiescence and induced environmental alterations, which limited HSCs self-renewal and function.

Early prediction of response of sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma by CT perfusion imaging: an animal study

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the feasibility of CT perfusion parameters for the early efficacy prediction of sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats.

METHODS

CT hepatic perfusion measurements were performed in the livers of 40 rats implanted with rat HCC. The rats in the experimental group (n = 28) were treated by oral gavage with sorafenib (20 mg per day), whereas the rats in the control group (n = 12) were treated by normal saline. Rats were classified into the responder group if the maximum diameter of their tumour had decreased 21 days after treatment, whereas the other rats were classified into the non-responder group. Data were analysed using the Pearson correlation analysis or analysis of variance.

RESULTS

CT perfusion was used to depict haemodynamic changes before and after treatment. The arterial liver perfusion was significantly decreased in the responder group on Day 11 after treatment with sorafenib (from 71.5 to 53.4 ml min(-1) 100 ml(-1)), whereas no significant changes were observed in the non-responder group (p = 0.87). The maximum diameter of the tumour was also significantly decreased in the responder group on Day 21 after treatment (p = 0.042), whereas the maximum tumour diameter was significantly increased in the control group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION AND ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: CT perfusion could be used to quantitatively analyse the haemodynamic changes in the treatment of HCC with sorafenib, which indicates that this approach may be developed for the early prediction of treatment efficacy for sorafenib.

Leptin levels in patients with psoriasis: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There have been inconsistent results reported for leptin levels in patients with psoriasis.

AIM

To evaluate leptin levels in patients with psoriasis using a meta-analysis of studies comparing leptin levels in controls and in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant papers published in English. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochran Q and I(2) statistics.

RESULTS

In total, 11 studies, comprising 773 patients with psoriasis and 570 healthy controls, were identified. Leptin levels were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared with controls (WMD = 7.24, 95% CI 4.55-9.93; P < 0.001). On stratified analysis, significant differences in leptin levels between patients with psoriasis and controls were reported only in serum samples (P < 0.001), and not in plasma samples (P = 0.025). Sensitivity analysis showed that there were no changes in the direction of effect when any one study was excluded. No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Leptin levels are higher in patients with psoriasis compared with those in controls. Future studies are warranted to clarify the association between leptin levels and the pathomechanism of psoriasis.

Iodine quantification with dual-energy CT: phantom study and preliminary experience with VX2 residual tumour in rabbits after radiofrequency ablation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to validate iodine quantification in a phantom study with dual-source dual-energy CT (DECT) and to apply this technique to differentiate benign periablational reactive tissue from residual tumour in VX2 carcinoma in rabbits after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

METHODS

We applied iodine quantification with DECT in a phantom and in VX2 carcinoma in rabbits after incomplete RFA to differentiate benign periablational reactive tissue from residual tumour and evaluated its efficacy in demonstrating response to therapeutic RFA. A series of tubes containing solutions of varying iodine concentration were scanned with DECT. The iodine concentration was calculated and compared with known true iodine concentration. Triple-phase contrast-enhanced DECT data on 24 rabbits with VX2 carcinoma were then assessed at Day 3 (n=6), 1 week (n=6), 2 weeks (n=6) and 3 weeks (n=6) after incomplete RFA independently by 2 readers. Dual-energy postprocessing was used to produce iodine-only images. Regions of interest were positioned on the iodine image over the lesion and, as a reference, over the aorta, to record iodine concentration in the lesion and in the aorta. The pathological specimens were sectioned in the same plane as DECT imaging, and the lesion iodine concentration and lesion-to-aorta iodine ratio of residual tumour and benign periablational reactive tissue were assessed.

RESULTS

There was excellent correlation between calculated and true iodine concentration (r=0.999, p<0.0001) in the phantom study. The lesion iodine concentration and lesion-to-aorta iodine ratio in residual tumour were significantly higher than in benign periablational reactive tissue in the 2-week group during the arterial phase (AP) (p<0.01) and in the 3-week group during both the AP (p<0.05) and the portal venous phase (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between them with respect to the lesion iodine concentration or lesion-to-aorta iodine ratio in the 3-day and 1-week groups.

CONCLUSION

Iodine quantification with DECT is accurate in a phantom study and can be used to differentiate benign periablational reactive tissue from residual tumour in VX2 carcinoma in rabbits after RFA.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Iodine quantification with DECT may help in differentiating benign periablational reactive tissue from residual tumour in VX2 carcinoma in rabbits after RFA.

Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling by plasmid-based microRNA-7 inhibits human malignant gliomas growth and metastasis in vivo

MicroRNAs are endogenous, non-coding RNAs of approximately 20-22 nucleotides that regulate genes expression by binding to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of targets mRNAs and play critical roles in cancer pathways. Malignant glioma is the most common and highly lethal central nervous system tumor for which little effective treatment is available over several decades. The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic potential of plasmid-based microRNA-7 (miR-7) for gliomas in vivo. Enhancing miR-7 levels in vitro could significantly induce cell apoptosis, and inhibit cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion. Western blotting analysis was performed, which indicated that miR-7 directly inhibited epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and further antagonized the downstream protein kinases including ERK, Akt and Stat3. Furthermore, systemic administration of miR-7 encapsulated in cationic liposome resulted in glioma xenografts growth arrest and the metastatic nodules decrease effectively in a sequence-specific manner. In this study, miR-7 was applied in glioma treatment for the first time in vivo. Our findings suggested that the plasmid-mediated gene therapy with miR-7 appeared to be a promising candidate for the development of new antitumor and anti-metastasis treatment for human glioma.

Case-control study of risk factors for human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus in Jiangsu Province, China, 2013

We describe a case-control study performed in Jiangsu, China, to evaluate risk factors for human infection with novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. Twenty-five cases and 93 controls matched by age, sex, and location were included in the study. Direct contact with poultry or birds in the two weeks before illness onset, chronic medical conditions (hypertension excluded), and environment-related exposures were significantly associated with A(H7N9) infection.

Gαq gene promoter polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis in the Han Chinese population are not associated

Mice that lose Gαq from their immune system can spontaneously develop inflammatory arthritis. Gαq expression in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is significantly decreased in comparison to that in healthy individuals, and reduced Gαq expression is closely correlated with RA disease activity. These indicate that Gαq plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of RA. To address whether single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the Gαq gene (GNAQ) influenced Gαq expression in RA patients and was a genetic risk factor for RA, we sequenced the promoter region of GNAQ in a Han Chinese population. A common dinucleotide polymorphism at position -695/-694, an exchange of 2 adjacent nucleotides (GC>TT), was revealed in 118 RA patients and 101 healthy adults. The proportions of genotypes observed for -695/-694 in the RA group were GC/GC (65.25%), GC/TT (33.05%), and TT/TT (1.70%), and those in the control group were GC/GC (62.38%), GC/TT (33.66%), and TT/TT (3.96%). No significant difference in the allele and genotype frequencies between RA patients and healthy controls for dinucleotide polymorphism was found in the Han Chinese population, neither in the whole data set nor in stratified subsets, i.e., rheumatoid factors, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, and Gαq expression status (P > 0.05). We conclude that the GNAQ promoter polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor for RA in the Han Chinese population, and that decreased Gαq expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA might potentially be due to other causes.

Microporous Film, Made from β-Crystalline Phase Polypropylene

A new type microporous polypropylene film was prepared simply by biaxial drawing of β-crystalline phase polypropylene The effect of draw ratio on the pore size distribution, ethanol sorption, and porosity, as well as β-α transformation during drawing were studied For the purpose of improving its hydrophilicity ion and solute permeability, the plasma graft-polymerization technique was utilized The resulting film showed much higher permeability toward Na+, Mg++ and urea, being 3.2 × 10−6, 5.8 × 10−8 and 1.75 × 10−6 cm2/min, respectively, than the original one and had better dimensional stability.

Targeted cell reprogramming produces analgesic chromaffin-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells

Transplantation of allogeneic adrenal chromaffin cells demonstrated the promise of favorable outcomes for pain relief in patients. However, there is a very limited availability of suitable human adrenal gland tissues, genetically well-matched donors in particular, to serve as grafts. Xenogeneic materials, such as porcine and bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, present problems; for instance, immune rejection and possible pathogenic contamination are potential issues. To overcome these challenges, we have tested the novel approach of cell reprogramming to reprogram human bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) using cellular extracts of porcine chromaffin cells. We produced a new type of cell, chromaffin-like cells, generated from the reprogrammed hMSCs, which displayed a significant increase in expression of human preproenkephalin (hPPE), a precursor for enkephalin opioid peptides, compared to the inherent expression of hPPE in naive hMSCs. The resultant chromaffin-like cells not only expressed the key molecular markers of adrenal chromaffin cells, such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and methionine enkephalin (Met-enkephalin), but also secreted opioid peptide Met-enkephalin in culture. In addition, intrathecal injection of chromaffin-like cells in rats produced significant analgesic effects without using immunosuppressants. These results suggest that analgesic chromaffin-like cells can be produced from an individual's own tissue-derived stem cells by targeted cell reprogramming and also that these chromaffin-like cells may serve as potential autografts for chronic pain management.

Gene networks implicated in diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the main causes of renal end-stage disease. The incidence of DKD has increased substantially over the past few years. However, our understanding to the molecular mechanism of DKD is still essential, and an effective treatment has not been developed.

AIM

We aimed to explore the molecule mechanism in the development of DKD, and provide a comparison of DKD in different compartments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we implemented a system biology approach and analyzed gene expression profiles in 22 microdissected human renal glomerular and 22 tubule samples from healthy patients and patients with DKD.

RESULTS

The WGCNA (Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis) analysis identified 10 modules of genes with high topological overlap in tubuli and 12 modules in glomeruli. Several TFs (transcription factors) were found expressed in both compartments, such as ETS1, ETV4, JUN, LITAF, NFE2, RARG and STAT5A. These genes may be used as therapeutic targets for DKD. By comparing the modules in the two compartments, we found that dysregulation of cell proliferation may significantly contribute to the development of DKD. Furthermore, our results concluded that DKD may be an immune-mediated degenerative disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies identified multiple genes that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DKD and provided a system understanding of the potential relationships among these genes. We hope our study could aid in understanding of DKD and could provide the basis for DKD biomarker discovery.

Use of Cardioselective ß-Blockers in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Blinded Trials

Objective:

To assess the effect of cardioselective b-blockers on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods:

The Embase and MEDLINE™ databases and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched comprehensively to identify all relevant clinical trials in humans published between January 1966 and May 2011. Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trials that studied the effects of cardioselective ß-blockers on the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the responsiveness of the FEV1 to ß-agonist administration in patients with COPD were included in the analysis.

Results:

Five studies were identified: four of these assessed both cardioselective and nonselective ß-blockers; one assessed only cardioselective ß-blockers. The FEV1 was shown to decrease by 0.14 l with nonselective ß-blockers and by 0.03 l with cardioselective ß-blockers. The responsive -ness of the FEV1 to ß-agonist administration decreased significantly by 13.42% after nonselective ß-blockers, but did not change significantly after cardioselective -blocker administration.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis suggests that the use of β-blockers, especially cardioselective β-blockers, should not be contraindicated in patients with COPD.

The effect of acupuncture on stroke recovery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in China. Current treatments for stroke are limited and achieve no optimal effect. Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of stroke and in improving the quality of life for patients in China. In most previous clinical studies, the effects of acupuncture have been diverse, and few well-designed randomized controlled trials have been conducted to investigate the long-term effect of acupuncture on acute stroke recovery.

Method

Three hundred and twenty eight subjects with acute cerebral apoplexy will be recruited. The patients will be randomized into two different groups: the intervention group will receive acupuncture treatment together with Western standard treatment for 2 weeks plus the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks; the control group will receive only the Western standard treatment for 2 weeks and the secondary prevention treatment for 22 weeks. The primary outcome measures are Barthel Index and the Stroke-Specific Quality Of Life. The secondary outcome measures are the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale. All assessments will be conducted at the baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 24 of follow-up.

Discussion

This study will evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the long-term recovery of acute stroke and on improving the quality of life of the patients. The results of this study will help establish optimal integrated therapeutic strategies for patients with stroke.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN29932220

A novel thin-layer amperometric detector based on chemically modified ring-disc electrode and its application for simultaneous measurements of nitric oxide and nitrite in rat brain combined with in vivo microdialysis

A novel thin-layer amperometric detector (TLAD) based on chemically modified ring-disc electrode and its application for simultaneous measurements of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite (NO(2)(-)) in rat brain were demonstrated in this work. The ring-disc electrode was simultaneously sensitive to nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite (NO(2)(-)) by modifying its inner disc with electropolymerized film of cobalt(II) tetraaminophthalocyanine (polyCoTAPc)/Nafion and its outer ring with poly(vinylpyridine) (PVP), respectively. The ring-disc electrode was used to constitute a novel TLAD in radial flow cell for simultaneous measurements of NO and NO(2)(-) in rat brain combined with techniques of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and in vivo microdialysis. It was found that the basal concentration of NO in the caudate nucleus of rat brain is lower than 1.0x10(-7) mol l(-1), NO(2)(-) concentration is 5.0x10(-7) mol l(-1) and NO exists in brain maybe mainly in the form of its decomposed product.

SKLB1002, a novel inhibitor of VEGF receptor 2 signaling, induces vascular normalization to improve systemically administered chemotherapy efficacy

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have shown only modest clinical activity for most tumor types when used as single agents. However, present evidence indicates that these antiangiogenic drugs can cause transient "normalization" of the tumor vasculature, thereby improving the delivery of systemic chemotherapy. We examined temporal changes in tumor vascular function in response to the novel VEGFR2 inhibitor, SKLB1002. Established tumor-bearing animals were evaluated at serial time points for treatment-associated changes in tumor vascular architecture and function. As a result, blocking VEGF signaling by SKLB1002 produced a morphologically and functionally "normalized" vascular network. Consistent with our observations, a 2.2 fold increase in intratumoral doxorubicin levels was determined with SKLB1002 pretreatment compared with administration of doxorubicin alone. Finally, combined SKLB1002 and doxorubicin exhibited significant antitumor (49% of control size) and antimetastatic effects (12% of control metastatic nodules) in vivo. Our results showed SKLB1002 induced vascular normalization and enhanced anticancer drug delivery, which were associated with the observed synergistic effect in vivo.