Prediction of virological response by pretreatment hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase quasispecies heterogeneity: the advantage of using next-generation sequencing

Prediction of antiviral efficacy prior to treatment remains largely unavailable. We have previously demonstrated the clinical value of on-treatment hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) quasispecies (QS) evolution patterns. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relevance for prediction of pretreatment HBV RT QS characteristics by comparing the performance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and clone-based Sanger sequencing (CBS). Thirty-six lamivudine-treated patients were retrospectively studied, including 18 responders and 18 non-responders. CBS and NGS data of pretreatment serum HBV were used to generate RT QS genetic complexity and diversity scores, according to our previous studies. The ability of both methods to predict responsiveness was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A cut-off value was generated on the basis of prediction ability. Responders had significantly higher pretreatment RT QS genetic complexity and diversity (in the first two parts, which overlapped with the S gene, at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels) than non-responders by NGS-based testing. NGS-based algorithms predicted response better than CBS in the ROC curve analysis. The mean distance of the second contig had the highest area under the curve (AUC) value. When the cut-off value was set to 0.007186, the difference between survival curves was significant (p 0.0090). Pretreatment HBV RT QS heterogeneity in the overlapping region of the RT and S genes could be a predictor of antiviral efficacy. NGS improves the predictions of virological outcomes relative to CBS algorithms. This may have important implications for the clinical management of subjects chronically infected with HBV.

Composting and gypsum amendment of broiler litter to reduce nutrient leaching loss

The effect of composted litter relative to fresh litter on leaching losses of nutrients has not been well documented. Fresh and composted broiler litter was surface-applied to bermudagrass (hay) [ (L.) Pers.] established in undisturbed soil columns based on N need of the grass in the presence or absence of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum to evaluate an approach to reduce broiler litter nutrient leaching potential. Columns were periodically leached and biomass was harvested during the 60-d experiment. Total N applied to bermudagrass from broiler litter was 320 kg ha. Gypsum was mixed with fresh and composted litter at the rate based on 20% of litter weight. For composted broiler litter, NO-N, P, K, Cu, and Zn contents in the leachate obtained from the first leaching event were 58, 50, 40, 32, and 38% less than fresh broiler litter, respectively. Significant decreases in NO-N (13%), P (53%), Cu (17%), and Zn (28%) in leachate were obtained when gypsum was mixed with fresh broiler litter. Fresh broiler litter and composted broiler litter applications increased bermudagrass growth compared with the control and gypsum significantly increased yields when mixed with broiler litter. Composted broiler litter application significantly increased N and organic C in the soil compared with fresh litter. Results demonstrate that coapplication of composted broiler litter with FGD gypsum provide the most effective management option for minimizing leaching losses of nutrients while sustaining crop productivity.

Analysis and forecast for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections among liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) has become an important pathogenic bacterium with specific epidemic features in the intensive care unit. We explored the epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Ab infections among liver transplant recipients at the Liver Transplantation Center, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

METHODS

Seventeen multidrug-resistant Ab strains were isolated from the sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens of 249 liver transplant recipients from January 2007 to December 2009. The drug resistance and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the 17 Ab strains were determined. The Ab strains were genotyped with the use of repetitive element-based polymerase chain reaction. The risk factors were also characterized by single-factor and multifactor analysis to the clinical data of the 249 liver transplant recipients.

RESULTS

The drug sensitivity results showed that the 17 Ab strains isolated displayed 100% drug resistance rate to aminoglycosides (gentamicin), quinolones (ciprofloxacin), penicillins (piperacillin), cephalosporins (ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and cefepime), and carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem). The 17 Ab strains could be divided into 3 genotypes: 1, 1, and 15 strains for types A, C, and B, respectively. Fungal culture positivity after operation (odds ratio [OR], 5.470) and tracheal intubation twice (OR, 11.538) were the independent risk factors for multidrug-resistant Ab strain infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Type B multidrug-resistant Ab strains are prevalent in the liver transplantation center, and they could be transmitted clonally. Liver transplant recipients with postoperational fungal culture positivity and tracheal intubation twice are prone to multidrug-resistant Ab infections. Therefore, a high degree of vigilance should be paid to those recipients to avoid nosocomial Ab infections.

Magnetic resonance imaging and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine in professional wrestlers and untrained men

The aim of this study was to examine the relation between bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) and bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine in male professional wrestlers and healthy untrained men. A total of 14 wrestlers (22.9±3.4 years) and 11 controls (24.4±1.6 years) were studied cross-sectionally. Body composition and BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was examined in a sagittal T1-weighted (T1-w) spin-echo (SE) sequence. The averaged bone marrow signal intensity (SI) of L2-L4 was related to the signal of an adjacent nondegenerative disk. Mean SI of T1-w SE in wrestlers was lower than controls (P=0.001), indicating L2-L4 BMAT in wrestlers was lower compared to controls. L2-L4 BMD in wrestlers was higher than controls (P<0.001). In the total subject population, L2-L4 BMD was inversely correlated with mean SI of T1-w SE (r=-0.62, P=0.001). This association remained strong after adjusting for body mass and whole lean mass, but became weaker after adjusting for whole body or trunk fat percentage. The inverse relationship between BMAT and BMD was confirmed in this relatively small subject sample with narrow age range, which implies that exercise training is an important determinant of this association.

Effect of bradykinin on renal mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix secretion

Recent studies have found that bradykinin (BK) plays a role in delaying glomerulosclerosis, although the mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. Mesangial cell proliferation (MCP) and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion are important mechanisms for glomerulosclerosis. This study investigated the impact of BK on the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced proliferation of mesangial cells, and evaluated its correlations with the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. The results showed that on its own, 10-1000 mg/L BK promoted MCP and ECM secretion and induced ERK phosphorylation. However, BK administration after PDGF pre-incubation inhibited PDGF-induced MCP, ECM secretion, and ERK phosphorylation. The BK B2 receptor-specific antagonist, HOE-140, and tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor (OV) effectively blocked the function of BK. In summary, these results demonstrated that BK has a bidirectional effect on MCP and ECM secretion: when used alone, it promoted effects on these phenomena, but these effects were inhibited when combined with PDGF. This suggests that the role of BK might be achieved through inhibiting activation of the PDGF-induced ERK1/2 pathway.

Coffee, tea, and the risk of hip fracture: a meta-analysis

The present meta-analysis shows no clear association between coffee consumption and the risk of hip fractures. There was a nonlinear association between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture. Compared to no tea consumption, drinking 1-4 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower risk of hip fracture.

INTRODUCTION

Prospective cohort and case-control studies have suggested that coffee and tea consumption may be associated with the risk of hip fracture; the results have, however, been inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between coffee and tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture.

METHODS

We performed systematic searches using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and OVID until February 20, 2013, without limits of language or publication year. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived using random-effects models throughout all analyses. We conducted categorical, dose-response, heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

Our study was based on 195,992 individuals with 9,958 cases of hip fractures from 14 studies, including six cohort and eight case-control studies. The pooled RRs of hip fractures for the highest vs. the lowest categories of coffee and tea consumption were 0.94 (95% CI 0.71-1.17) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.66-1.02), respectively. For the dose-response analysis, we found evidence of a nonlinear association between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture (p(nonlinearity) < 0.01). Compared to no tea consumption, 1-4 cups of tea per day may reduce the risk of hip fracture by 28% (0.72; 95% CI 0.56-0.88 for 1-2 cups/day), 37% (0.63; 95% CI 0.32-0.94 for 2-3 cups/day), and 21% (0.79; 95% CI 0.62-0.96 for 3-4 cups/day).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant association between coffee consumption and the risk of hip fracture. A nonlinear association emerged between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture; individuals drinking 1-4 cups of tea per day exhibited a lower risk of hip fractures than those who drank no tea. The association between 5 daily cups of tea, or more, and hip fracture risk should be investigated.

Role of stromal-derived factor-1<alpha>/CXCR4 in neo-intimal repair

Abstract

Neo-intimal hyperplasia is one of the major causes of restenosis in which stromal cell-derived factor-1<alpha> (SDF-1α) and its receptor CXCR4 play an important role. In a rat common carotid artery balloon injury model, the number of CD34⁺CXCR4⁺ cells was significantly increased immediately after injury (p < 0.01), followed by a gradual decrease to baseline seven days after the injury. Furthermore, the plasma (SDF-1α) level was markedly elevated, and peaked 24 hours after injury (p < 0.01), followed by a rapid decrease to baseline level seven days after the injury. In the injured common carotid artery, the mRNA expression of (SDF-1α) was elevated immediately after injury, followed by a gradual decline, but that of CXCR4 was increased four days after injury.

Immuno-histochemistry displayed CXCR4-positive staining one day after injury, which then gradually increased and continued for at least one month. In addition, administration of AMD3100 (200 ng/kg, i.p.), a CXCR4 antagonist, did not affect the number of CD34⁺CXCR4⁺ cells, the elevated level of plasma (SDF-1α) and expression of (SDF-1α) mRNA. The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein however was markedly decreased, and detectable CXCR4-positive cells occurred four days after injury, followed by a decreased intensity of staining. We also found that, three months after balloon injury, stenosis of the carotid artery intima in the group that received AMD3100 was significantly less than in the untreated group (p < 0.05). Therefore, (SDF-1α)/CXCR4 played a crucial role in the intimal hyperplasia, and restenosis may have be attenuated after inhibition of CD34⁺CXCR4⁺ cells in the intima.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure

Objective:

Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) are prone to various infections, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). This retrospective study investigated the relationship between AoCLF and IPA in a large patient cohort.

Methods:

Twenty-nine out of 470 patients with AoCLF, who were diagnosed with definite or probable IPA by clinical and laboratory parameters and were treated with voriconazole, were analysed for predisposing factors for IPA and clinical outcome.

Results:

Imaging findings, such as the halo sign and increased white blood cell count, contributed to the early diagnosis of IPA. Patients with AoCLF and IPA experienced fever, cough and chest pain and, despite treatment with antifungal therapy, most (25/29 patients) died within 7 days. Possible risk factors for IPA included prolonged antibiotic therapy and dexamethasone exposure.

Conclusions:

AoCLF with prolonged antibiotic therapy and dexamethasone exposure carries a high risk for IPA. AoCLF patients with IPA involved in this study exhibited fever, cough, chest pain and increased white blood cell count, and their imaging findings were useful for the early diagnosis of IPA.

Plasma treatment of electrospun PCL random nanofiber meshes (NFMs) for biological property improvement

In this article, the plasma surface modification effects on the chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) random nanofiber meshes (NFMs) were investigated by adjusting plasma chemistry, that is, using glow discharges of N(2) +H(2), NH(3) +O(2), and Ar+O(2) gas mixtures. The surface property changes of electrospun PCL NFMs after those plasma treatments were examined by water contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the plasma treatments introduced polar groups onto the surfaces and thus increased the surface hydrophilicity. From tensile test data, plasma treatment had limited effect on the mechanical properties of PCL random NFMs. The biological properties of the plasma-treated PCL NFMs were examined by cell proliferation assays using mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1). It was found that the plasma-treated PCL NFMs gave a higher proliferation rate and improved cell adhesion properties as compared with the untreated controls.

Disruption of Synechocystis PCC 6803 for lipid extraction

In order to extract intracellular lipids from cyanobacterial Synechocystis PCC 6803 for biofuel production, seven cell-disruption methods - autoclaving, bead beating, freeze drying, French press, microwave, pulsed electric fields (PEF), and ultrasound - were tested prior to lipid extraction to make intracellular lipids more accessible by organic solvents. The different methods brought about distinct disruption effects to the cell envelope, plasma membrane, and thylakoid membranes that were related to extraction efficiency. Microwave, PEF, and ultrasound with temperature control had significant enhancement of lipid extraction (9-13% increases). Bead beating, freeze drying, and French press did not provide significant enhancement of lipid extraction. Furthermore, autoclaving, French press, and ultrasound treatments caused significant release of lipid into the medium, which may increase solvent usage and make medium recycling difficult. In order to minimize the cost of cell-disruption and lipid-extraction steps, microwave and PEF (with temperature control) might be best suited for large-scale cell disruption among all techniques investigated.

P3-17-02: Targeting the Autophagy Pathway for Drug Resistance of Breast Tumor-Initiating Cells

Background: Our clinical data and experimental evidence reveal that the tumor-initiating cells (TICs) in the original tumor are intrinsically resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy and greatly enriched in residual breast cancers after such treatments. We have published a gene expression signature of such breast TICs, and our pathway analysis on the gene signature suggests that the activation of autophagy pathway may be an intrinsic characteristic of the TICs. This motivates us to further investigate the role of the autophagy pathway in TICs self-maintenance and their resistance to hormonal and chemo therapies, as well as their response to TIC-targeted therapies.

Methods: A collective 84 well-documented autophagy pathway genes were used to compare the activation of autophagy pathway in different microarray datasets, 1) flow-sorted CD44+/CD24−/low cancer cells vs. all other cells (representing 20 patients), and cancer-derived MSs vs. corresponding primary bulk tumors (representing 17 patients), 2) before vs. after letrozole and doxetaxel treatments (representing 30 patient pairs), 3) before vs. after letrozole treatment (representing 176 patient pairs), and 4) before vs. after lapatinib treatment (representing 115 patient pairs). We applied the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) algorithm to analyze the expression data of 211 normalized probes for the 84 genes. Low-density RTPCR array for the 84 genes was used to confirm the differential expressed genes on tumor tissues of 18 letrozol treated patient pairs. Two human-cancer-in-mouse triple-negative xenograft tumor lines were treated with Notch pathway inhibitor alone or in combining with docetaxel. The tumor growth, mammosphere formation efficiency, and the expression of autophagy marker proteins were evaluated.

Results: Overall, the enrichment analysis of the 84-gene set in all the above microarray datasets showed that the autophagy genes are significantly enriched in the differential expressed genes. In particular, 28 out of the 84 autophagy genes are significantly up-regulated in the TICs populations while 5 other autophagy genes are down-regulated with the false discovery rate (FDR) less than 0.05. For the letrozole and doxetaxel treatment microarray analysis, 34 out of the 84 autophagy genes are significantly up-regulated in the after-treatment group (p&lt;0.01), and only 3 out of the 84 autophagy genes are down-regulated (FDR&lt;0.05). Interestingly, significantly more autophagy genes (15 out of the 84) are down-regulated in the after-lapatinib treatment group (p&lt;0.05), and less genes (13 out of 84) are up-regulated after lapatinib treatment, thus confirming previous observations that lapatinib may affect TICs. We confirmed these findings in two human cancer xenograft studies of Notch pathway inhibitor (GSI) to target TICs, which showed significantly reduced expressions of LC3 and p62, two autophagic markers. In both xenograft models, GSI reduced mammosphere formation efficiency compared to vehicle control (p&lt;0.05).

Conclusion: Activation of the autophagy pathway in TICs is a promising target to combat the drug resistance of breast cancer to conventional systemic therapy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-17-02.

Detection of incidental colorectal tumours with 18F-labelled 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans: results of a prospective study

AIM

This study assessed the clinical significance of incidental colorectal 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake using (18) F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans and evaluated the importance of colonoscopy when incidental colorectal FDG uptake was observed.

METHOD

A prospective study was designed and conducted at a single institution over a 2-year period. In patients undergoing PET/CT scans, all with FDG uptake in the colorectum were assigned to have colonoscopy and biopsy. The value of PET/CT scanning was studied by comparison with the colonoscopy and biopsy results.

RESULTS

Among 10,978 PET/CT scans, one or more focal uptakes of FDG in the colorectum were observed in 148 (1.35%) patients. In 136 valid patients, malignant colorectal tumours and polyps were found in 23.5% and 20.5%, respectively,, while the colon in the other 56% was normal. A higher false-positive rate was found in the right colon compared with the distal colorectum (66.2%vs 36.7%, P = 0.004). A significant increase of the maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) value was found among normal, polyps and cancer groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that SUVmax was the risk factor for predicting colorectal cancer or polyps and FDG uptake in the right colon was a negative predictive factor for finding cancers or polyps.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study proves the necessity of colonoscopy when incidental FDG uptake is found on PET/CT imaging. The false-positive FDG uptake is more commonly observed in the right colon. Although the SUVmax value is higher in cancer patients, a high SUVmax value does not necessarily result in malignancies.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of house dust mite immunotherapy in Chinese asthmatic patients

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine if house dust mite immunotherapy with Alutard SQ is effective in improving symptom control and reducing rescue medication use in Chinese patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma.

METHODS

This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 132 asthmatic subjects aged 6-45 years recruited from three different regions of Mainland China. Subjects were given a 52-week course of immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract (Alutard Der p, ALK-Abelló, Hørsholm, Denmark) or placebo while their dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) was maintained.

RESULTS

129 subjects (64 in active group) completed the study. The symptom scores began to diverge at week 29 with the immunotherapy group showing a significantly lower score until week 48 (P = 0.018). Immunotherapy resulted in a significant decline in symptom (P = 0.002) and medication (P = 0.007) scores during the second half of the treatment period. Both groups showed significant improvement in peak flow rate and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) also decreased in both groups of subjects, but peripheral blood eosinophil count remained unchanged. Skin test response decreased in actively treated subjects only, but Der p-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) remained unchanged. Immunotherapy resulted in a significantly greater improvement in self-evaluation scores (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

One year treatment with Alutard SQ house dust mite immunotherapy significantly reduced symptoms and medication use in asthmatic subjects. This was associated with a greater subjective improvement in asthma control.

Engineered delta ribozymes can simultaneously knock down the expression of the genes encoding uracil phosphoribosyltransferase and hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in Toxoplasma gondii

Engineered delta ribozymes or HDV ribozymes were used as gene expression modulators in Toxoplasma gondii. The substrate recognition sequence of the trans-acting delta ribozyme, which was derived from the self-cleaving motif located on the antigenomic strand of the hepatitis delta virus genome, was modified to target T. gondii transcripts. The mRNA encoding two well-documented genes, namely uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) and hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyltransferase (HXGPRT) of T. gondii were chosen as the targets for the ribozymes. UPRT and HXGPRT are the operative enzymes of the pyrimidine and purine salvage pathway, respectively. The knockdown of UPRT or HXGPRT expression by the engineered ribozymes resulted in parasites with lower levels of the corresponding transcripts and diminished their abilities to assimilate radioactive pyrimidine or purine analogs. Five out of six engineered ribozymes could cleave their substrates and gave rise to the products, which were detected by primer extension assays. Upon electroporation of individual active ribozymes against the UPRT gene, the uracil incorporation was decreased. Similarly, the ribozymes against HXGPRT caused decreased incorporation of hypoxanthine. When the most active ribozyme against UPRT was used in a combination with the best HXGPRT specific ribozyme, the incorporation of both uracil and hypoxanthine were decreased. Northern blot analysis revealed that the target transcripts were lowered to an undetectable level when specific ribozymes were used, and that the transcripts of the housekeeping gene remained intact. The ribozyme system should thus prove to be effective for the study of gene expression in T. gondii.

Physiologic actions of zinc related to inhibition of acid and alkali production by oral streptococci in suspensions and biofilms

Zinc is a known inhibitor of acid production by mutans streptococci. Our primary objective was to extend current knowledge of the physiologic bases for this inhibition and also for zinc inhibition of alkali production by Streptococcus rattus FA-1 and Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 13419. Zinc at concentrations as low as 0.01-0.1 mm not only inhibited acid production by cells of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 in suspensions or in biofilms but also sensitized glycolysis by intact cells to acidification. Zinc reversibly inhibited the F-ATPase of permeabilized cells of S. mutans with a 50% inhibitory concentration of about 1 mm for cells in suspensions. Zinc reversibly inhibited the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system with 50% inhibition at about 0.3 mm ZnSO4, or about half that concentration when the zinc-citrate chelate was used. The reversibility of these inhibitory actions of zinc correlates with findings that it is mainly bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. Zinc inhibited alkali production from arginine or urea and was a potent enzyme inhibitor for arginine deiminase of S. rattus FA-1 and for urease of S. salivarius. In addition, zinc citrate at high levels of 10-20 mm was weakly bactericidal.

[Expression property of adhesive molecule ICAM-1 on vitro-cultured pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells under the stimuli of asthmatic serum]

It has been recognized only in the past 15 years that the major pathological mechanism of asthma is inflammation, which has a hallmark of focal leukocyte extravasation. The different recruitment behaviors of inflammatory cells depend on the expression of specific adhesive molecules on both leukocytes and endothelial cells (EC). Intercellular cellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) plays a major role. In the previous detailed in-vivo study of asthmatic models, we have proved the significant pathological increase of both the leukocyte-endothelium adhesion phenomenon and the ICAM-1 expression in the tissues of asthmatic lung. It may be due to an ICAM-1 accumulation on the microvascular endothelial cells and thus an enhancement of adhesion force during the course of disease. In this study, endothelial cells were obtained from rats by mechanical isolation of lung tissues and in vitro culture on glass. Confluent endothelial cells were incubated with serum collected from rat blood of normal and asthmatic models and were used for in vitro study of endothelial cell adhesion. The effect of pathological serum stimulation was examined on the expression of ICAM-1 of the pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEC). The expression of ICAM-1 on PMEC was measured by indirect immuno-fluorescence with flow cytometry. We found that the surface expression of ICAM-1 was obviously increased on serum-incubated EC as compared with that on the culture solution-incubated one, and that asthmatic serum increased the expression of ICAM-1 on EC to a peak in 4 hours and then decreased it rapidly, the expression level remained the same in the whole course when EC was treated with culture solution or normal serum.

[Combining transvaginal sonography and endometrial cytology in the diagnosis of endometrial disorders in postmenopausal women]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the combined use of transvaginal sonography and endometrial cytology for the diagnosis of endometrial disorders in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

One hundred forty-three patients with postmenopausal uterine bleeding were studied prospectively. Transvaginal sonography was used to measure the endometrial thickness (double layers), followed by use of the ori endometrial sampler. The results were compared to the histopathologic diagnosis of specimens obtained by dilatation and curettage.

RESULTS

When the cutoff point of endometrial thickness was set at 5 mm to detect endometrial malignancy and premalignancy, transvaginal sonography showed a 100.0% sensitivity and 56.9% false positive rate. Endometrial cytology showed a 96.3% specificity but it had a 2.5% false negative rate. The combined use of transvaginal sonography and endometrial cytology can decrease false positive rate of transvaginal sonography from 56.9% to 43.2% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The combined use of transvaginal sonography and endometrial cytology is a good method to screen endometrial malignancy and premalignancy.

Surface photo-grafting of polyurethane with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate for promotion of human endothelial cell adhesion and growth

Cytocompatible polyurethane (PU) surface was prepared by photo-grafting 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) onto the membrane surface. Graft polymerization was conducted by combining the use of the photo-oxidation and irradiation grafting. PU membrane was photo-oxidized to introduce the hydroperoxide groups onto the surface, then the membrane, immersed previously in monomer solution, was irradiated under UV light. The ATR-FTIR spectra, element spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water contact angle characterized the grafted copolymers and verified the occurrence of graft polymerization. The results showed that UV irradiation could realize the graft polymerization effectively and the grafting was confined within the surface layer. The grafted membrane showed minimal surface morphology. Human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells were seeded on the grafted surface. The performance of the surface in cell attachment and growth correlated with the oxygen content and mainly the carbonyl content on the surface. Cells were spread more extensively and grew faster on the surface with a higher oxygen content.

[Collecting of trichloroaniline in the air by micropore filter membrane and determination by gas chromatography]

Trichloroaniline in the air was collected with micropore filter membrane and desorbed with cyclohexane, separated with a column OV-17, OV-210 and determined by GC-ECD. The materals for the filter of collection, solution of desorping and flow-rate of sampling were selected. The detectable limit is 0.01 mg/L. When the concentration of standard solutions is 1-10 mg/L, the relative standard deviation (RSD) is 4.5%-2.3%. There is a linear relation within the range of 0.005-30 mg/L. The sampling efficiency is 98.7%-100%. The samplers were stable for at least 15 days. This method is proved to be accurate, sensitive, fast and simple for sampling and carrying, and it is method is suitable for the determination of trichloroaniline in air, for personal detection and detection in the fields.

Identification of a new human CYP2A gene fragment with close linkage to CYP2GP1

Human genomic libraries were screened to identify CYP2G-related cytochrome P450 genes. A genomic fragment comprising exons 7 through 9 of CYP2GP1 and exons 6 through 9 of a previously unidentified CYP2A gene, designated CYP2A7P2, was isolated from an EMBL3 library; the two genes were arranged in outward opposite directions with about 8 kbp of intervening sequence. The same structure was also detected in a bacteriophage P1 clone, which contained a full-length CYP2GP1 gene, exons 6 through 9 of CYP2A7P2, and the CYP2B7 gene. However, additional CYP2A-related exons as well as other CYP2A genes, CYP2A7P1, CYP2B6, CYP2F1, and CYP2GP2 were not detected. These results indicate that CYP2A7P2 is located near CYP2B7 in the middle of the CYP2A-2B-2F gene cluster on chromosome 19. Furthermore, an analysis of CYP2A sequence alignment suggests that CYP2A7P2 may be derived from the same ancestral gene that gave rise to CYP2A7P1, which was corrupted by a large insertion at intron 5.

Spiral ganglion neurons are protected from degeneration by GDNF gene therapy

Perceptual benefits from the cochlear prosthesis are related to the quantity and quality of the patient's auditory nerve population. Multiple neurotrophic factors, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have been shown to have important roles in the survival of inner ear auditory neurons, including protection of deafferented spiral ganglion cells (SGCs). In this study, GDNF gene therapy was tested for its ability to enhance survival of SGCs after aminoglycoside/diuretic-induced insult that eliminated the inner hair cells. The GDNF transgene was delivered by adenoviral vectors. Similar vectors with a reporter gene (lacZ) insert served as controls. Four or seven days after bilateral deafening, 5 microl of an adenoviral suspension (Ad-GDNF or Ad-lacZ) or an artificial perilymph was injected into the left scala tympani of guinea pigs. Animals were sacrificed 28 days after deafening and their inner ears prepared for SGC counts. Adenoviral-mediated GDNF transgene expression enhanced SGC survival in the left (viral-treated) deafened ears. This observation suggests that GDNF is one of the survival factors in the inner ear and may help maintain the auditory neurons after insult. Application of GDNF and other survival factors via gene therapy has great potential for inducing survival of auditory neurons following hair cell loss.

Characterization of human CYP2G genes: widespread loss-of-function mutations and genetic polymorphism

CYP2G1 is an abundant, olfactory mucosa-specific cytochrome P450 enzyme active in the metabolism of sex steroids and xenobiotic substrates in mammalian animals. Two different human CYP2G genes, CYP2GP1 and CYP2GP2, were characterized in the present study. Polymorphisms in these genes were also studied. CYP2GP1 contained a single nucleotide deletion in exon 2 (deltaC) and a 2.4-kb deletion between exons 3 and 7 (deltaE4-6), whereas CYP2GP2 contained a nonsense mutation in exon 1 and another in exon 3. The coding region sequences in exons 1-3 and 7-9 of the two genes were 96.7% identical. Both genes were localized to human chromosome 19, and Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA did not detect any additional copies of the CYP2G gene. The occurrence of these loss-of-function mutations was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping in more than 200 individuals. The deltaE4-6 deletion in CYP2GP1 was detected in 94% of subjects (either homozygous or heterozygous), and an allele which does not contain this deletion was detected in 11.6% of individuals. The nonsense mutation in CYP2GP2 exon 3 was detected in 86% of individuals (either homozygous or heterozygous); however, a potentially functional CYP2GP2 allele based on the absence of the nonsense mutation in exon 3 was also detected in 31% of individuals. These results indicate that a functional CYP2G allele is rare in humans. Analysis of the allelic distribution in different ethnic groups suggested that a functional CYP2G allele, if present, is more likely to be found in Black and Hispanic subjects.