SLC27A2 regulates miR-411 to affect chemo-resistance in ovarian cancer

Although platinum-based chemotherapies have long been used as standard treatment in ovarian cancer, cisplatin resistance is a major problem that restricts its use. Herein, we investigate the biological function of SLC27A2 and its underlying mechanisms in regulating chemo-resistance in ovarian cancer. The findings show that SLC27A2 down-regulation in primary ovarian cancer tissues correlates with chemo-resistance and poor patient survival in our patient cohort. Significantly, we demonstrate that up-regulation of SLC27A2 by lentivirus-mediated p-SLC27A2 sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo via apoptosis. Mechanistic investigation reveals that miR-411 is the most strikingly over-expressed gene in response to ectopic expression of SLC27A2, but under-expressed in recurrent ovarian cancer tissues. Lower miR-411 expression contributes to ovarian cancer chemo-resistance in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, SLC27A2 directly binds specific sites in the miR-411 promoter region and promoter activity decreases after mutation of putative SLC27A2-binding sites. This indicates that SLC27A2 is required for the transcriptional induction of miR-411. The luciferase assays also confirm that miR-411 directly targets ABCG2 in ovarian cancer, and overall findings establish the SLC27A2-miR-411-ABCG2 pathway in the regulation of ovarian cancer chemo-resistance with potential therapeutic applications.

Valproic Acid Induces Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Phenotypic Switching

Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, is a widely used anticonvulsant drug that is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for anticancer therapy due to its anti-angiogenic potential. Endothelial cells (ECs) can transition into mesenchymal cells and this form of EC plasticity is called endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which is widely implicated in several pathologies including cancer and organ fibrosis. However, the effect of VPA on EC plasticity and EndMT remains completely unknown. We report herein that VPA-treatment significantly inhibits tube formation, migration, nitric oxide production, proliferation and migration in ECs. A microscopic evaluation revealed, and qPCR, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting data confirmed EndMT-like phenotypic switching as well as an increased expression of pro-fibrotic genes in VPA-treated ECs. Furthermore, our data confirmed important and regulatory role played by TGFβ-signaling in VPA-induced EndMT. Our qPCR array data performed for 84 endothelial genes further supported our findings and demonstrated 28 significantly and differentially regulated genes mainly implicated in angiogenesis, endothelial function, EndMT and fibrosis. We, for the first time report that VPA-treatment associated EndMT contributes to the VPA-associated loss of endothelial function. Our data also suggest that VPA based therapeutics may exacerbate endothelial dysfunction and EndMT-related phenotype in patients undergoing anticonvulsant or anticancer therapy, warranting further investigation.

[Dynamic variations of BMI and influencing factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 2013-2014]

Objective: To understand the dynamic variation of BMI and influencing factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART for the first time since 1 January 2013 were selected. Data on BMI was analyzed among patients receiving HAART at baseline,6 months and 12 months after treatment. By using the general linear model repeated measures of analysis of variance, BMI dynamic variations and influencing factors were described and analyzed. Results: The average BMI of 2 871 patients at baseline, 6th months and 12th months appeared as (20.65±3.32), (20.87±3.22) and (21.18±3.20), respectively, with differences all statistically significant (F=18.86, P<0.001). BMI were increasing over time with treatments (F=37.25, P<0.001). Main influencing factors were noticed as: age, sex, marital status, baseline data of CD(4)(+)T cells and the WHO classification on clinical stages. Conclusions: Higher proportion of BMI malnutrition counts was seen among patients before receiving HAART in Liuzhou. BMI of the patients that were on HAART seemed being influenced by many factors. It is necessary to select appropriate treatment protocols on different patients so as to improve the nutritional status of the patients.

[Expression and significance of pepsin in lingual tonsil hypertrophy]

Objective: To discuss the relationship between lingual tonsil hypertrophy and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Methods: Ninety-two patients who received throat surgery in Nanfang Hospital between October 2015 and October 2016 were enrolled. Twenty-six healthy volunteers were recruited as normal controls. All participants were assessed with the reflux finding score(RFS) and the size of lingual tonsils were evaluated using a clinical grading system proposed by Friedman under electronic laryngoscope. The score of reflux symptom index(RSI), personal history and medical history were gathered. Biopsy specimens of lingual tonsils were taken from all participants for the immunohistochemical stain of pepsin.SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were 46.2% (12/26) pepsin-positive and 53.8% (14/26) pepsin-negative volunteers in normal controls. There were 87.0% (80/92) pepsin-positive and 13.0% (12/92) pepsin-negative patients in study group. The severity of lingual tonsil hypertrophy and expression intensity of pepsin in patients were significantly higher in volunteers (Z=-3.636, Z=-5.273, P<0.01). The severity of lingual tonsil hypertrophy was positively associated with the pepsin level in patients (r=0.556, P<0.01). The patients with pepsin-positive expression showed significant correlation between lingual tonsil hypertrophy and the positive rate of RSI and RFS (r=0.258, r=0.225, P<0.05). Analysis of correlated factors indicated that lingual tonsil hypertrophy was associated with smoking (χ(2)=8.502, P<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of pepsin can be detected in lingual tonsil tissues. The lingual tonsil hypertrophy is closely related to laryngopharyngeal reflux.

[Comparative study of VOTE classification in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients between awake and sleep state]

Objective:To compare the differences of the sites of airway obstruction in OSAHS patients between awake and sleep state by using the VOTE classification system. Method:Forty OSAHS patients diagnosed by PSG underwent awake Müller's maneuver and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). Video and compare the observation. Its findings were described using the VOTE classification system which include the following features: level, degree and configuration of obstruction. Associations were analyzed between different degrees of obstruction, BMI, AHI, minimal SaO₂ and average SaO₂. Result:Our patients had 52.5% complete velum collapse and 30.0% complete oropharyngeal lateral wall collapse in awake Müller's maneuver. In DISE, airway closure of 95.0% cases related to velum occurred collapse in concentric configuration, and 90.0% cases showed completely obstructive. We found that 60.0% complete oropharyngeal lateral wall collapse and 17.5% complete tongue base collapse. There was a significant difference in the VOTE scores between DISE and awake Müller's maneuver, and the VOTE scores of DISE were higher in all levels (P<0.05). No association was found between degrees of obstruction, AHI, BMI, minimal SaO2 and average SaO₂ in Müller's maneuver (P>0.05). Complete velum collapse was just significantly associated with AHI and minimal SaO₂ in DISE (P<0.05). Conclusion:The VOTE scores of DISE were higher than awake Müller's maneuver, reflected by more obstructive levels and severe degree. The difference between different degrees of obstruction, BMI, AHI, minimal SaO₂ and average SaO₂ was not significant.

Cardiac Overexpression of S100A6 Attenuates Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis and Reduces Infarct Size After Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion

Background

Cardiomyocyte‐specific transgenic mice overexpressing S100A6, a member of the family of EF‐hand calcium‐binding proteins, develop less cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and myocyte apoptosis after permanent coronary ligation, findings that support S100A6 as a potential therapeutic target after acute myocardial infarction. Our purpose was to investigate S100A6 gene therapy for acute myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion.

Methods and Results

We first performed in vitro studies to examine the effects of S100A6 overexpression and knockdown in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. S100A6 overexpression improved calcium transients and protected against apoptosis induced by hypoxia‐reoxygenation via enhanced calcineurin activity, whereas knockdown of S100A6 had detrimental effects. For in vivo studies, human S100A6 plasmid or empty plasmid was delivered to the left ventricular myocardium by ultrasound‐targeted microbubble destruction in Fischer‐344 rats 2 days prior to a 30‐minute ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion. Control animals received no therapy. Pretreatment with S100A6 gene therapy yielded a survival advantage compared to empty‐plasmid and nontreated controls. S100A6‐pretreated animals had reduced infarct size and improved left ventricular systolic function, with less myocyte apoptosis, attenuated cardiac hypertrophy, and less cardiac fibrosis.

Conclusions

S100A6 overexpression by ultrasound‐targeted microbubble destruction helps ameliorate myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion, resulting in lower mortality and improved left ventricular systolic function post–ischemia‐reperfusion via attenuation of apoptosis, reduction in cardiac hypertrophy, and reduced infarct size. Our results indicate that S100A6 is a potential therapeutic target for acute myocardial infarction.

[Association between ambulatory arterial stiffness index with left ventricular mass index in the elderly hypertensive patients]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the elderly hypertensive patients. Methods: This study population consisted of 332 elderly hypertensive patients, who hospitalized in our department from January 2012 to December 2014.AASI was calculated from 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring recordings and LVMI from echocardiography examination.According to the median value of AASI, patients were divided to less than the AASI median group (low AASI group) and equal to or above the AASI median group (high AASI group). Differences between two groups were evaluated using the Student's t-test and Chi-square test.Univariate association was assessed by the Pearson correlation analyses.Multivariate linear regression models were performed to analyze the correlation between AASI and LVMI. Results: LVMI was significantly higher in high AASI group compared with low AASI group ( (115.91±21.36) g/m² vs.(104.11±17.24) g/m^2,P=0.008). Pearson correlation analyses showed that AASI and 24 h pulse pressure were positively correlated to LVMI (r=0.332, P<0.001; r=0.169, P=0.002). In multivariate linear regression model, AASI(β=44.48, P<0.001), LDL-C(β=-5.97, P<0.001) and UA (β=0.02, P=0.045)showed significant association with LVMI. Conclusion: AASI independently associated with LVMI, and AASI might be one predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy in hospitalized elderly hypertensive patients.

Estrogen/ERR-α signaling axis is associated with fiber-type conversion of upper airway muscles in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Estrogen is related with the low morbidity associated with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) in women, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined the relationship between OSAS and estrogen related receptor-α (ERR-α). We found that the expression levels of ERR-α and Myh7 were both downregulated in palatopharyngeal tissues from OSAS patients. In addition, we report that ERR-α is dynamically expressed during differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Knockdown of ERR-α via instant siRNA resulted in reduced expression of Myh7, but not Myh4. Furthermore, differentiation of C2C12 cells under 3% chronic intermittent hypoxia, a model resembling human OSAS, was impaired and accompanied by a obvious reduction in Myh7 expression levels. Moreover, activation of ERR-α with 17β-estradiol (E2) increased the expression of Myh7, whereas pretreatment with the ERR-α antagonist XCT790 reversed the E2-induced slow fiber-type switch. A rat ovariectomy model also demonstrated the switch to fast fiber type. Collectively, our findings suggest that ERR-α is involved in estrogen-mediated OSAS by regulating Myhc-slow expression. The present study illustrates an important role of the estrogen/ERR-α axis in the pathogenesis of OSAS, and may represent an attractive therapeutic target, especially in postmenopausal women.

[Effect of blastocyst quality on the strategy of single blastocyst transfer in frozen-thawed cycles]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of blastocyst quality on the strategy of single blastocyst transfer in frozen-thawed cycles.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed in Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on clinical data of single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles from January 2008 to December 2013. All cycles were divided into four groups (AA, AB/BA, BB, BC/CB) according to the blastocyst score, then the clinical outcomes were compared between groups. And on this basis, the clinical outcomes were further explored when the group of outcomes with single blastocyst transfer wasn't ideal, which would diverted to transfer two blastocyst.

RESULTS

In single frozen blastocyst transfer cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate of each group with the blastocyst scored AA, AB/BA, BB, BC/CB were 61.4% (470/765), 51.2% (330/645), 40.5% (407/1 005), 22.9% (60/262), live births rate in each group were 52.2% (399/765), 41.2% (266/645), 30.4% (306/1 005), 13.7% (36/262), and the abortion rate were 13.6% (64/470), 16.7% (55/330), 21.4% (87/407), 35.0%(21/60), separately. This showed that the clinical pregnancy rate and live births rate decreased significantly with the decline of blastocyst quality (P<0.01), but the abortion rate showed significant upward trend (P<0.01). When single blastocyst scored ≥BB grade transferred, an acceptable clinical pregnancy rate (>40%) and live births rate (>30%) could be obtained, however, the clinical pregnancy rate of 22.9% and live births rate of 13.7% could only be acquired when blastocyst scored BC/CB only transferred one embryo, which significant lower than those of each group scored ≥BB grade (P<0.01). So, after that, the blastocyst scored BC/CB were further divided into two groups (single blastocyst transferred versus two blastocyst transferred) to investigate, then the result showed that the clinical pregnancy rate [22.9% versus 38.5%(67/174),P<0.01] and live births rate [13.7% versus 30.5%(16/67),P<0.01] were significantly increased in the group of two blastocyst transferred compared with the group of one blastocyst transferred, and the abortion rate was also significantly decreased from 35.0% to 17.9% (12/67;P<0.05). So when two blastocyst scored BC/CB were transferred, the clinical outcomes were similar to the group of one blastocyst scored BB transferred (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Of single blastocyst transfer in frozen-thawed cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate and liver births rate showed significant upward trend, but the abortion rate showed significant downward trend, with the decline of blastocyst quality. When the blastocyst scored ≥BB grade, the single blastocyst transfer could be considered to be performed.

Suicidal drug overdose in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a nationwide population-based case-control study

OBJECTIVE

A four-fold increase of suicide mortality has been demonstrated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Prior studies showed that the most common method of suicide attempts in SLE patients involves drug overdose. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide population-based case-control study to elucidate factors associated with drug overdose as suicide attempt in SLE patients.

METHODS

This study was based on the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. We identified all SLE patients from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Patients who had suicidal drug overdose (SDO) were selected as cases while age- and gender-matched patients who did not have SDO were selected as controls.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of SDO in SLE patients was 291 cases per 100,000 person-years, higher than that in the general population (160 cases per 100,000 person-years). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, we observed that SDO was associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders (odds ratio: 8.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.60-12.48) and insomnia (odds ratio: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.73-4.25), and lower monthly income (odds ratios: 2.74 to 3.50) in SLE patients.

CONCLUSION

SDO is associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders and insomnia, and lower monthly income in SLE patients.

Analysis of household data on influenza epidemic with Bayesian hierarchical model

Data used for modelling the household transmission of infectious diseases, such as influenza, have inherent multilevel structures and correlated property, which make the widely used conventional infectious disease transmission models (including the Greenwood model and the Reed-Frost model) not directly applicable within the context of a household (due to the crowded domestic condition or socioeconomic status of the household). Thus, at the household level, the effects resulting from individual-level factors, such as vaccination, may be confounded or modified in some way. We proposed the Bayesian hierarchical random-effects (random intercepts and random slopes) model under the context of generalised linear model to capture heterogeneity and variation on the individual, generation, and household levels. It was applied to empirical surveillance data on the influenza epidemic in Taiwan. The parameters of interest were estimated by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method in conjunction with the Bayesian directed acyclic graphical models. Comparisons between models were made using the deviance information criterion. Based on the result of the random-slope Bayesian hierarchical method under the context of the Reed-Frost transmission model, the regression coefficient regarding the protective effect of vaccination varied statistically significantly from household to household. The result of such a heterogeneity was robust to the use of different prior distributions (including non-informative, sceptical, and enthusiastic ones). By integrating out the uncertainty of the parameters of the posterior distribution, the predictive distribution was computed to forecast the number of influenza cases allowing for random-household effect.

Responsiveness to therapy for increased intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury is associated with neurological outcome

In patients with severe traumatic brain injury, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is associated with poor functional outcome or death. Hypertonic saline (HTS) is a hyperosmolar therapy commonly used to treat increased ICP; this study aimed to measure initial patient response to HTS and look for association with patient outcome. Patients >17 years old, admitted and requiring ICP monitoring between 2008 and 2010 at a large urban tertiary care facility were retrospectively enrolled. The first dose of hypertonic saline administered after admission for ICP >19mmHg was recorded and correlated with vital signs recorded at the bedside. The absolute and relative change in ICP at 1 and 2h after HTS administration was calculated. Patients were stratified by mortality and long-term (≥6 months) functional neurological outcome. We identified 46 patients who received at least 1 dose of HTS for ICP>19, of whom 80% were male, mean age 34.4, with a median post-resuscitation GCS score of 6. All patients showed a significant decrease in ICP 1h after HTS administration. Two hours post-administration, survivors showed a further decrease in ICP (43% reduction from baseline), while ICP began to rebound in non-survivors (17% reduction from baseline). When patients were stratified for long-term neurological outcome, results were similar, with a significant difference in groups by 2h after HTS administration. In patients treated with HTS for intracranial hypertension, those who survived or had good neurological outcome, when compared to those who died or had poor outcomes, showed a significantly larger sustained decrease in ICP 2h after administration. This suggests that even early in a patient's treatment, treatment responsiveness is associated with mortality or poor functional outcome. While this work is preliminary, it suggests that early failure to obtain a sustainable response to hyperosmolar therapy may warrant greater treatment intensity or therapy escalation.

Pharmacologic Treatment Reduces Pressure Times Time Dose and Relative Duration of Intracranial Hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Past work has shown the importance of the "pressure times time dose" (PTD) of intracranial hypertension (intracranial pressure [ICP] > 19 mm Hg) in predicting outcome after severe traumatic brain injury. We used automated data collection to measure the effect of common medications on the duration and dose of intracranial hypertension.

METHODS

Patients >17 years old, admitted and requiring ICP monitoring between 2008 and 2010 at a single, large urban tertiary care facility, were retrospectively enrolled. Timing and dose of ICP-directed therapy were recorded from paper and electronic medical records. The ICP data were collected automatically at 6-second intervals and averaged over 5 minutes. The percentage of time of intracranial hypertension (PTI) and PTD (mm Hg h) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients with 664 treatment instances were identified. Baseline PTD ranged from 27 (before administration of propofol and fentanyl) to 150 mm Hg h (before mannitol). A "small" dose of hypertonic saline (HTS; ≤250 mL 3%) reduced PTD by 38% in the first hour and 37% in the second hour and reduced the time with ICP >19 by 38% and 39% after 1 and 2 hours, respectively. A "large" dose of HTS reduced PTD by 40% in the first hour and 63% in the second (PTI reduction of 36% and 50%, respectively). An increased dose of propofol or fentanyl infusion failed to decrease PTD but reduced PTI between 14% (propofol alone) and 30% (combined increase in propofol and fentanyl, after 2 hours). Barbiturates failed to decrease PTD but decreased PTI by 30% up to 2 hours after administration. All reductions reported are significantly changed from baseline, P < .05.

CONCLUSION

Baseline PTD values before drug administration reflects varied patient criticality, with much higher values seen before the use of mannitol or barbiturates. Treatment with HTS reduced PTD and PTI burden significantly more than escalation of sedation or pain management, and this effect remained significant at 2 hours after administration.

Abstract 325: Temporally Separated Administration of Proangiogenic Growth Factor Combination Promotes Angiogenesis in Both Diabetic and Nondiabetic Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease associated with various vascular complications. Various strategies to promote therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic tissue including delivery of pro-angiogenic growth factors have shown disappointing results. Risk factors, such as diabetes, may adversely impact the response to angiogenic strategies and limit efficacy in vivo. We assessed the hypothesis that temporally separated delivery of multiple pro-angiogenic growth factors will improve the efficacy of the angiogenic response in the setting of both diabetes and non-diabetes in vitro.

Methods: 96-well tissue culture plates were coated with 60 μL growth factor reduced Matrigel. After gelation, non-diabetic human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) and type-II diabetic cells (D-HMVECs) were plated at 1x104 cells/well with 100 μL basal media EBM-2 with 0.1% bovine serum, and incubated at 37°C. Combinations of growth factors including recombinant human VEGF (50 ng/mL), angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and -2 (250 ng/mL) were administrated at start of the assay and/or at 6 hours into the assay. Images were taken at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 hours and used for tube formation quantification by Inverted Microscope at 10x magnification.

Results: In untreated control, D-HVECs showed reduced tube formation in compared to HMVECs (n=12; p<0.001). Growth factors combination ‘VEGF and Ang-2 at start of the assay and Ang-1 at 6 hours showed the most significantly increased of tube formation when compared to single growth factor (to VEGF, Ang-1, 2; p<0.001) or growth factors combination without temporally separated delivery (to VEGF/Ang-1, VEGF/Ang-2; p<0.001) in both HMVEC and D-HMVEC.

Conclusion: Diabetic endothelial cells showed impaired angiogenesis compared to non-diabetic endothelial cells. Combinations of temporally separated pro-angiogenic growth factors were able to optimize the angiogenic effects and yield the most significant efficacy in the setting of both diabetes and non-diabetes. Future studies will focus on in vivo temporally separated combinations of multiple growth factors.

Neuroprotective effect of agmatine in rats with transient cerebral ischemia using MR imaging and histopathologic evaluation

PURPOSE

This study aimed to further investigate the effects of agmatine on brain edema in the rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) injury using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring and biochemical and histopathologic evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following surgical induction of MCAO for 90min, agmatine was injected 5min after beginning of reperfusion and again once daily for the next 3 post-operative days. The events during ischemia and reperfusion were investigated by T2-weighted images (T2WI), serial diffusion-weighted images (DWI), calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) during 3h-72h in a 1.5T Siemens MAGNETON Avanto Scanner. Lesion volumes were analyzed in a blinded and randomized manner. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), Nissl, and Evans Blue stainings were performed at the corresponding sections.

RESULTS

Increased lesion volumes derived from T2WI, DWI, ADC, CE-T1WI, and TTC all were noted at 3h and peaked at 24h-48h after MCAO injury. TTC-derived infarct volumes were not significantly different from the T2WI, DWI-, and CE-T1WI-derived lesion volumes at the last imaging time (72h) point except for significantly smaller ADC lesions in the MCAO model (P<0.05). Volumetric calculation based on TTC-derived infarct also correlated significantly stronger to volumetric calculation based on last imaging time point derived on T2WI, DWI or CE-T1WI than ADC (P<0.05). At the last imaging time point, a significant increase in Evans Blue extravasation and a significant decrease in Nissl-positive cells numbers were noted in the vehicle-treated MCAO injured animals. The lesion volumes derived from T2WI, DWI, CE-T1WI, and Evans blue extravasation as well as the reduced numbers of Nissl-positive cells were all significantly attenuated in the agmatine-treated rats compared with the control ischemia rats (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that agmatine has neuroprotective effects against brain edema on a reperfusion model after transient cerebral ischemia.

Nationwide population-based epidemiologic study of rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

Epidemiological studies of rheumatoid arthritis in Asia are rare. The aim of this research was to study the epidemiology and associated medical expenses of rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan.

METHODS

Cases of rheumatoid arthritis, based on the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria, were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database with corresponding International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code (ICD-9) 714.0 from January 2000 to December 2007, and limited to those 16 years and older. Age- and sex-specific incidences were estimated by dividing the incidence number by population data obtained from the Department of Statistics, Ministry of the Interior.

RESULTS

There were a total of 40,995 cases. The average age-adjusted annual incidence rate was 15.8 per 100,000. The adjusted incidence rates were very stable at 20.9-25.2/100,000/year and 7.0-8.2/100,000/year for females and males, respectively, during the study period. The adjusted average incidence ratio of females/males was 3.1. The age-specific incidence peaked in the 60-64 and 70-74 year age groups for females and males, respectively. The adjusted prevalence rate increased steadily during the study period from 57.7/100,000 in 2000 to 99.6/100,000 in 2007. The average total yearly expense per patient increased from 1,155 United States Dollars (USD) in 2000 to 1,821 USD in 2007. Sicca syndrome (ICD-9 code 710.2) was the most common co-existing ICD-9 code.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first incidence study based on the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria in Asia. The prevalence rate based on these criteria was lower than in previous Asia studies. The medical expenses increased continuously.

Antinucleosome antibodies as a potential biomarker for the evaluation of renal pathological activity in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis

The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between antinucleosome antibodies and renal pathological activity in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). We evaluated 36 patients with proliferative LN, 14 non-renal lupus patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Lupus activity was assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group 2004 (BILAG 2004) index, serum anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) levels, serum complement levels and daily urinary protein levels. All 36 lupus nephritis patients received renal biopsy. Antinucleosome antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that levels of serum antinucleosome antibodies were significantly higher in LN patients (median 90.35 units/ml, interquartile range [IQR] 37.38–135.23) than in non-renal SLE patients (median 5.45 units/ml, IQR 2.6–28.93, p <0.05) and in healthy volunteers (median 3.35 units/ml, IQR 2.95–5.23, p <0.001). Serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were positively correlated with BILAG index (Spearman’s r = 0.645, p <0.001) and serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels ( rs = 0.644, p <0.01), while serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were negatively correlated with serum levels of C3 ( rs = -0.400, p <0.01) and C4 ( rs = -0.300, p <0.05). Serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were positively correlated with the histological activity index of LN ( rs = 0.368, p <0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies and the histological chronicity index. In conclusion, the serum level of antinucleosome antibodies is a potential biomarker for early recognition of renal involvement and evaluation of disease activity in SLE. Our preliminary results suggested that serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies might be a potential biomarker in evaluating pathological activity of LN.

α-Tocopherol treatment ameliorates chronic pancreatitis in an experimental rat model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of α-tocopherol on pancreatic fibrosis and survival in rats with experimental chronic pancreatitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

METHODS

Chronic pancreatitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of TNBS into the pancreatic duct. α-Tocopherol (300, 600 or 900 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats with experimental pancreatitis (treatment group) daily for 4 weeks. The relative pancreatic weight, pancreatic pseudocyst and death rate were observed. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were sliced, stained by hematoxylin-eosin and histopathologically examined.

RESULTS

α-Tocopherol administration significantly ameliorated the pancreatic weight loss induced by TNBS in chronic pancreatitis rats compared to the control group. There were pancreatic pseudocysts in 69% of the α-tocopherol group, and in 100% of the control group. α-Tocopherol administration led to a significant increase of the survival rate. The histopathologic scores were higher in the control group than in the α-tocopherol group. Subgroup analysis of histopathologic scores revealed that a high dose of α-tocopherol results in less pancreatic injuries.

CONCLUSION

α-Tocopherol treatment elevates survival rate, extenuates fibrosis and increases relative pancreatic weight in the chronic pancreatitis model. α-Tocopherol therapy in chronic pancreatitis is now required to confirm these findings and establish the role of this treatment in the management of this disabling condition. and IAP.

Understanding bamboo flowering based on large-scale analysis of expressed sequence tags

Unlike other plants, bamboo (Bambusoideae) flowering is an elusive physiological phenomena, because it is unpredictable, long-periodic, gregarious, and uncontrollable; also, bamboo plants usually die after flowering. The flowering mechanism in Arabidopsis thaliana, a eudicot model species, is well established, but it remains unknown in bamboo species. We found 4470 and 3878 expressed sequence tags in the flower bud and vegetative shoot cDNA libraries, respectively, of the bamboo species, Bambusa oldhamii. Different genes were found expressed in bamboo flower buds compared to vegetative shoots, based on the Munich Information Center for Protein Sequences functional categorization; flowering-related genes were also identified in this species. We also identified Arabidopsis flowering-specific homologs that are involved in its photoperiod in this bamboo species, along with autonomous, vernalization and gibberellin-dependent pathways, indicating that bamboos may have a similar mechanism to control floral transition. Some bamboo expressed sequence tags shared high similarity with those of rice, but others did not match any known sequences. Our data lead us to conclude that bamboo may have its own unique flowering genes. This information can help us understand bamboo flowering and provides useful experimental methods to study the mechanisms involved.