Chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma: novel understanding of the role of IgE 'above atopy'

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects more than 10% of the European population and is often associated with asthma. Phenotypes of CRS can be differentiated based on mucosal remodelling and inflammatory patterns. Understanding the role of central mediators, such as interleukin-5, in these different phenotypes may lead to the development of specific therapeutic approaches. The impact of staphylococcal superantigens has been shown to further modify the immune response, contributing to persistent severe disease via the activation of T and B cells and the formation of local IgE. It is clear that these mechanisms are involved in the systemic spread of upper airway disease with resulting asthma comorbidity, when IgE antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins are present at measurable levels in serum. Recent findings point to superantigens as possible causal agents in the intrinsic form of severe asthma, and an anti-IgE strategy has shown promising therapeutic potential in nonatopic patients with nasal polyps and asthma. These findings should lead to a clinically relevant endotyping of patients with upper and lower airway disease and to a new understanding of the role of IgE 'above atopy'.

Quantification and rapid metabolite identification in drug discovery using API time-of-flight LC/MS

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), utilizing a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer, has been evaluated and applied to problems in bioanalysis for pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism. The data obtained by TOF MS differ from those obtained using quadrupole mass spectrometer instruments in that full-scan spectra can be routinely collected with greater sensitivity and speed. Both quantitative and qualitative information, including compound concentration in rat plasma and full-scan atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectra, are concurrently obtained. This approach has been used to characterize the disposition of several drug compounds that have been simultaneously dosed to rats in a cassette format. Quantitation limits in the 5-25 ng/mL range (approximately 20 nM) were obtained from nominal mass chromatograms (0.5 Da resolution). A reference lock mass was used to provide accurate mass measurement to reach third decimal place accuracy in the monoisotopic molecular weight. An improvement in quantitation limits was demonstrated after using accurate mass determinations. Several possible preliminary drug metabolites were confirmed or refuted, based on accurate mass. The trend of metabolite formation and clearance was qualitatively evaluated.

Retrograde cerebral perfusion provides negligible flow through brain capillaries in the pig

OBJECTIVES

Although retrograde cerebral perfusion is being used clinically during aortic arch surgery, whether retrograde flow perfuses the brain effectively is still uncertain.

METHODS

Fourteen pigs were cooled to 20 degrees C with cardiopulmonary bypass and perfused retrogradely via the superior vena cava for 30 minutes: 7 underwent standard retrograde cerebral perfusion and 7 underwent retrograde perfusion with occlusion of the inferior vena cava. Antegrade and retrograde cerebral blood flow were calculated by quantitating fluorescent microspheres trapped in brain tissue after the animals were put to death; microspheres returning to the aortic arch, the inferior vena cava, and the descending aorta were also analyzed during retrograde cerebral perfusion.

RESULTS

Antegrade cerebral blood flow was 16 +/- 7.7 mL. min(-1). 100 g(-1) before retrograde cerebral perfusion and 22 +/- 6.3 mL. min(-1). 100 g(-1) before perfusion with caval occlusion (P =.14). During retrograde perfusion, calculations based on the number of microspheres trapped in the brain showed negligible flows (0.02 +/- 0.02 mL. min(-1). 100 g(-1) with retrograde cerebral perfusion and 0.04 +/- 0.02 mL. min(-1). 100 g(-1) with perfusion with caval occlusion; P =.09): only 0.01% and 0.02% of superior vena caval inflow, respectively. Less than 13% of retrograde superior vena caval inflow blood returned to the aortic arch with either technique. During retrograde cerebral perfusion, more than 90% of superior vena caval input was shunted to the inferior vena cava and was then recirculated, as indicated by rapid development of an equilibrium in microspheres between the superior and inferior venae cavae. With retrograde perfusion and inferior vena caval occlusion, less than 12% of inflow returned to the descending aorta and only 0.01% of microspheres.

CONCLUSIONS

The paucity of microspheres trapped within the brain indicates that retrograde cerebral perfusion, either alone or combined with inferior vena caval occlusion, does not provide sufficient cerebral capillary perfusion to confer any metabolic benefit. The slightly improved outcome previously reported with retrograde cerebral perfusion during prolonged circulatory arrest in this model may be a consequence of enhanced cooling resulting from perfusion of nonbrain capillaries and from venoarterial and venovenous shunting.

Aspartate-like and glutamate-like immunoreactivities in the inferior olive and climbing fibre system: a light microscopic and semiquantitative electron microscopic study in rat and baboon (Papio anubis)

A post-embedding immunogold procedure was used to analyse, in a semiquantitative manner, the distributions of aspartate-like and glutamate-like immunoreactivities in the inferior olive and climbing fibre system in rats and baboons. The neurons in the inferior olive were uniformly labelled for aspartate as well as glutamate, indicating a 100% co-localization of these two amino acids in the cell bodies. The level of glutamate-like immunoreactivity in the climbing fibre terminals was similar to that in the parent cell bodies, as judged by a computer-assisted calculation of gold particle densities. In contrast, the level of aspartate-like immunoreactivity in the climbing fibre terminals was only one-seventh of that of the olivary neurons. No differences were found between the hemispheres and vermis. Nerve terminals in the inferior olive were generally moderately labelled with the aspartate antiserum, as were cell bodies of astrocytes. With a few exceptions, the results obtained in baboons were similar to those in rats. Notably, no evidence was found of an enrichment of aspartate-like immunoreactivity in climbing fibres. The present results do not support previous data suggesting that aspartate is the transmitter of the climbing fibres but indicate that glutamate or another excitatory compound should be considered as candidate for this role. Our findings show that the presence of aspartate-like immunoreactivity in cell bodies is an unreliable indicator of transmitter identity.

Linking genomic reorganization to tumor initiation via the giant cell cycle

To investigate the mechanisms underlying our recent paradoxical finding that mitotically incapacitated and genomically unstable polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) are capable of tumor initiation, we labeled ovarian cancer cells with α-tubulin fused to green fluorescent protein, histone-2B fused to red fluorescent protein and FUCCI (fluorescent ubiquitination cell cycle indicator), and tracked the spatial and time-dependent change in spindle and chromosomal dynamics of PGCCs using live-cell fluorescence time-lapse recording. We found that single-dose (500 nm) treatment with paclitaxel paradoxically initiated endoreplication to form PGCCs after massive cell death. The resulting PGCCs continued self-renewal via endoreplication and further divided by nuclear budding or fragmentation; the small daughter nuclei then acquired cytoplasm, split off from the giant mother cells and acquired competency in mitosis. FUCCI showed that PGCCs divided via truncated endoreplication cell cycle (endocycle or endomitosis). Confocal microscopy showed that PGCCs had pronounced nuclear fragmentation and lacked expression of key mitotic proteins. PGCC-derived daughter cells were capable of long-term proliferation and acquired numerous new genome/chromosome alterations demonstrated by spectral karyotyping. These data prompt us to conceptualize a giant cell cycle composed of four distinct but overlapping phases, initiation, self-renewal, termination and stability. The giant cell cycle may represent a fundamental cellular mechanism to initiate genomic reorganization to generate new tumor-initiating cells in response to chemotherapy-induced stress and contributes to disease relapse.

Structural and optical properties of GaN laterally overgrown on Si(111) by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using an AlN buffer layer

Lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) on Si(111) substrates using an AlN buffer layer is demonstrated and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and cathodoluminescence imaging. The <100>-oriented LEO GaN stripes grown on silicon substrates are shown to have similar structural properties as LEO GaN grown on GaN/Al2O3 substrates: the surface topography is characterized by continuous crystallographic steps rather than by steps terminated by screw-component threading dislocations; the density of threading dislocations is <106 cm−2; the LEO regions exhibit crystallographic tilt (0.7-4.7°) relative to the seed region. The AlN buffer thickness affects the stripe morphology and, in turn, the microstructure of the LEO GaN. The issues of chemical compability and thermal expansion mismatch are discussed.

Developing a New Generation of Antimicrobial and Bioactive Dental Resins

Dental caries is prevalent, and secondary caries causes restoration failures. This article reviews recent studies on developing a new generation of bioactive resins with anticaries properties. Extensive effects were made to develop new antimicrobial composites, bonding agents, and other resins containing quaternary ammonium methacrylates to suppress plaque buildup and bacterial acid production. The effects of alkyl chain length and charge density and the antimicrobial mechanisms for chlorhexidine, nano-silver, quaternary ammonium methacrylates, and protein-repellent agents were discussed. Synergistic effects of contact-killing and protein-repellent properties were shown to yield the greatest biofilm-inhibition effects. The combination of antimicrobial, protein-repellent, and calcium phosphate nanoparticle remineralization was suggested to provide maximal anticaries effects. In addition, for use orally, cytotoxicity and biocompatibility were important considerations for the new bioactive materials. Furthermore, rather than kill all bacteria, it would be more desirable to modulate the oral biofilm compositions via bioactive resins to suppress cariogenic/pathogenic species and promote benign species. For widespread clinical use of the new antimicrobial and therapeutic materials, whether they would induce bacterial drug resistance needs to be determined, which requires further study. Nonetheless, the new generation of bioactive anticaries resins with therapeutic and biofilm acid-inhibiting properties has the potential to substantially benefit oral health.

Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated gene product inhibits DNA damage-induced apoptosis via ceramide synthase

DNA double-stranded breaks (dsb) activate surveillance systems that identify DNA damage and either initiate repair or signal cell death. Failure of cells to undergo appropriate death in response to DNA damage leads to misrepair, mutations, and neoplastic transformation. Pathways linking DNA dsb to reproductive or apoptotic death are virtually unknown. Here we report that metabolic incorporation of 125I-labeled 5-iodo-2'deoxyuridine, which produces DNA dsb, signaled de novo ceramide synthesis by post-translational activation of ceramide synthase (CS) and apoptosis. CS activation was obligatory, since fumonisin B1, a fungal pathogen that acts as a specific CS inhibitor, abrogated DNA damage-induced death. X-irradiation yielded similar results. Furthermore, inhibition of apoptosis using the peptide caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone did not affect CS activation, indicating this event is not a consequence of induction of apoptosis. ATM, the gene mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, is a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase family that constitutes the DNA damage surveillance/repair system. Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cell lines from six ataxia telangiectasia patients with different mutations exhibited radiation-induced CS activation, ceramide generation, and apoptosis, whereas three lines from normal patients failed to manifest these responses. Stable transfection of wild type ATM cDNA reversed these events, whereas antisense inactivation of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated gene product in normal B cells conferred the ataxia telangiectasia phenotype. We propose that one of the functions of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated gene product is to constrain activation of CS, thereby regulating DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

Automating solid-phase extraction: current aspects and future prospects

This paper reviews current trends and techniques in automated solid-phase extraction. The area has shown a dramatic growth the number of manuscripts published over the last 10 years, including applications in environmental science, food science, clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical bioanalysis, forensics, analytical biochemistry and organic synthesis. This dramatic increase of more that 100% per year can be attributed to the commercial availability of higher throughput 96-well workstations and extraction plates that allow numerous samples to be processed simultaneously. These so-called parallel-processing workstations represent the highest throughput systems currently available. The advantages and limitations of other types of systems, including discrete column systems and on-line solid-phase extraction are also discussed. Discussions of how automated solid-phase extractions can be developed, generic approaches to automated solid-phase extraction, and three noteworthy examples of automated extractions are given. The last part of the review suggests possible near- and long-term directions of automated solid-phase extraction.

Distribution of glutamate-like immunoreactivity in excitatory hippocampal pathways: a semiquantitative electron microscopic study in rats

A semiquantitative electron microscopic immunocytochemical procedure was used to study the cellular and subcellular distribution of glutaraldehyde-fixed glutamate in rat hippocampal formation. Ultrathin plastic-embedded sections were incubated with a primary glutamate antiserum followed by a secondary antibody coupled to colloidal gold particles. A computer-assisted assessment of gold particle densities revealed that the axon terminals of all of the main excitatory pathways in the hippocampus were enriched with glutamate-like immunoreactivity relative to other tissue elements, including the parent cell bodies (granule and pyramidal cells). The different excitatory pathways showed slightly different labelling intensities: boutons in the termination zone of the lateral perforant path were covered by higher gold particle densities than boutons situated in the termination zones of the medial perforant path, the Schaffer collateral/commissural pathway and the hilar associational/commissural pathway. The mossy fibre terminals were significantly less enriched in immunoreactivity than terminals of the lateral perforant path and the Schaffer collateral/commissural pathway. Within the terminals, glutamate-like immunoreactivity was concentrated over synaptic vesicles and mitochondria. Terminals establishing symmetric junctions with cell bodies or dendritic stems displayed low particle densities, as did glial cell processes. These findings support the idea that glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in hippocampal excitatory synapses. Our observations are also in line with biochemical data pointing to the existence of a considerable neuronal and a smaller glial, metabolic pool of glutamate.

Barrier function of the nasal mucosa in health and type-2 biased airway diseases

The mucosal lining of the upper airways represents the outer surface of the body to the ambient air and its contents and is prepared for it as the first line of defense. Apart from the well-described physical barrier and the mucociliary clearance, a variety of systems, including the airway microbiome, antimicrobial proteins, damage-associated molecular patterns, innate lymphoid cells, epithelial-derived cytokines and chemokines, and finally the adaptive immune system, as well as eosinophils as newly appreciated defense cells form different levels of protection against and response to any possible intruder. Of interest especially for allergic airway disease, mucosal germs might not just elicit a classical Th1/Th17-biased inflammatory response, but may directly induce a type-2 mucosal inflammation. Innovative therapeutic interventions may be possible at different levels also; however, whether modulations of the innate or adaptive immune responses will finally be more successful, and how the correction of the adaptive immune response might impact on the innate side, will be determined in the near future.

A mutation in the Lunatic fringe gene suppresses the effects of a Jagged2 mutation on inner hair cell development in the cochlea

Recent studies have demonstrated that the Notch signaling pathway regulates the differentiation of sensory hair cells in the vertebrate inner ear [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]. We have shown previously that in mice homozygous for a targeted null mutation of the Jagged2 (Jag2) gene, which encodes a Notch ligand, supernumerary hair cells differentiate in the cochlea of the inner ear [7]. Other components of the Notch pathway, including the Lunatic fringe (Lfng) gene, are also expressed during differentiation of the inner ear in mice [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]. In contrast to the Jag2 gene, which is expressed in hair cells, the Lfng gene is expressed in non-sensory supporting cells in the mouse cochlea [10]. Here we demonstrate that a mutation in the Lfng gene partially suppresses the effects of the Jag2 mutation on hair cell development. In mice homozygous for targeted mutations of both Jag2 and Lfng, the generation of supernumerary hair cells in the inner hair cell row is suppressed, while supernumerary hair cells in the outer hair cell rows are unaffected. We also demonstrate that supernumerary hair cells are generated in mice heterozygous for a Notch1 mutation. We suggest a model for the action of the Notch signaling pathway in regulating hair cell differentiation in the cochlear sensory epithelium.

Interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis B reduces progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Interferon (IFN) has been used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B for decades. Beneficial effects including hepatitis B e antigen/HBV DNA seroclearance have been documented. However, the effect of treatment on the prevention of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis of available literature to evaluate whether IFN reduces the incidence of liver cirrhosis and HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Twelve clinical controlled trials, including 2082 patients and comparing IFN with no treatment, were selected. Data on the incidence of liver cirrhosis and HCC in IFN treated and untreated patients were extracted from each study. The evaluation of preventive effectiveness was performed with an intention-to-treat method. The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the main outcomes as a measure of efficacy were used. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed-effect or random-effect methods, depending on absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. Analyses were performed with STATA version 9.0 and Review Manager Version 4.2. Five studies including the data on development of liver cirrhosis, and eleven studies including the data on development of HCC were analyzed. There was no evidence for publication bias on the funnel plot or by Egger's test, and the heterogeneity test indicated that the variation of trial-specific RR was not statistically significant. A different incidence of liver cirrhosis and HCC was observed between treated and untreated patients. The RR of liver cirrhosis and HCC was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.91) and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.43, 0.81), respectively. In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis indicate that IFN prevents or delays the development of liver cirrhosis and HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Aberrant intrinsic brain activity and cognitive deficit in first-episode treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Given the important role of the default mode network (DMN) in cognitive function and the well-known neurocognitive deficit in schizophrenia, it is intriguing to examine systematically the relationship between neurocognitive dysfunction and aberrant intrinsic activities, and also functional connectivity, of the DMN in patients with schizophrenia. Method First-episode, treatment-naive patients with schizophrenia (FES) (n = 115) and healthy controls (n = 113) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans and neurocognitive tests. Intrinsic neural activities evaluated by using the fragment amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and the resting-state functional connectivity assessed by seed-based correlational analysis were compared between patients and controls. Aberrant intrinsic activities and DMN connectivity in patients were then correlated to neurocognitive performance and clinical symptoms.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients with FES showed decreased fALFF in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and increased fALFF in the bilateral putamen. Increased functional connectivity with the DMN was observed in the left insula and bilateral dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) in patients with FES. In patients, aberrant fALFF in the bilateral OFC were correlated with cognitive processing speed; fALFF in the left OFC and right putamen were correlated with the clinical factors excited/activation and disorganization; and increased DMN functional connectivity in the left insula was correlated with the clinical factors positive, excited/activation, disorganization and neurocognitive deficit in the domain of sustained attention.

CONCLUSIONS

These associations between neurocognitive dysfunction and aberrant intrinsic activities, and also functional connectivity, of the DMN in patients with schizophrenia may provide important insights into the neural mechanism of the disease.

The relationship between sarcopenia and fragility fracture-a systematic review

Sarcopenia is a common geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive decrease of muscle mass and function leading to an increased risk of physical disability, poor quality of life, and mortality. Increasing evidence shows that sarcopenia is related with fragility fractures. This systematic review aimed to summarize the following: (1) the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with fragility fracture and (2) the associated risk factors for fragility fracture in patients with sarcopenia. Literature search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane databases. Studies with the prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly patients with fragility fracture and associated risk factors in patients with sarcopenia were included. A total of 15 papers were included, with 10 reporting sarcopenia prevalence, and 5 on fracture risk in patients with sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia after fracture ranged from 12.4 to 95% in males and 18.3 to 64% in females. The prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly patients with fragility fracture was high, especially in men. Two studies showed that sarcopenia was a risk factor for fragility fracture when associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) but only in men. Caution should be taken for male patients with sarcopenia and low BMD, which is related to significantly increased risk of fractures. There is a pressing need for further research on sarcopenia and its risk on fragility fracture to better understand the relationship, pathophysiology, and mechanisms, which may shed light on potential interventions to improve clinical outcomes.

Isolation of full-length ATM cDNA and correction of the ataxia-telangiectasia cellular phenotype

A gene mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), ATM, was recently identified by positional cloning. ATM is a member of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase superfamily, some of which are protein kinases and appear to have important roles in cell cycle control and radiation signal transduction. We describe herein, to our knowledge, for the first time, the cloning of a full-length cDNA for ATM and correction of multiple aspects of the radio-sensitive phenotype of A-T cells by transfection with this cDNA. Overexpression of ATM cDNA in A-T cells enhanced the survival of these cells in response to radiation exposure, decreased radiation-induced chromosome aberrations, reduced radio-resistant DNA synthesis, and partially corrected defective cell cycle checkpoints and induction of stress-activated protein kinase. This correction of the defects in A-T cells provides further evidence of the multiplicity of effector functions of the ATM protein and suggests possible approaches to gene therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy and surgical cytoreduction for poorly differentiated and signet ring cell adenocarcinomas of the appendix

BACKGROUND

Poorly differentiated and signet ring cell adenocarcinomas of the appendix represent a subset with aggressive tumor biology and poor outcomes with few studies evaluating the impact of systemic chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery (CRS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients with either poorly differentiated and signet ring cell appendiceal adenocarcinomas was completed from 1992 to 2010.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-two patients were identified. Seventy-eight patients with metastatic disease received chemotherapy. Radiographic response was 44%, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 1.7 years. In multivariate analysis, response to chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.5; P = 0.02] predicted improved PFS, and complete CRS (HR 0.3; P = 0.004) predicted improved OS. Patients who underwent complete CRS (n = 26) had a median relapse-free survival (RFS) of 1.2 years and a median OS of 4.2 years. In multivariate analysis for this subset, complete cytoreduction score of 0 was significantly correlated with improved RFS (HR 0.07; P = 0.01) and OS (HR 0.02; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic chemotherapy appears to be a viable treatment option for patients with metastatic poorly differentiated and signet ring cell appendiceal adenocarcinomas. Complete CRS is associated with improved RFS and OS, though part of this benefit likely reflects the selection of good tumor biology.

Pleiotrophin and midkine, a family of mitogenic and angiogenic heparin-binding growth and differentiation factors

The heparin-binding polypeptide homologs pleiotrophin and midkine are the only known members of a family of secreted growth/differentiation cytokines. Pleiotrophin and midkine are both developmentally regulated and highly conserved among species. They signal a number of physiological functions involved with angiogenesis, neuorogenesis, cell migration, and mesoderm-epithelial interactions. Constitutive expression of pleiotrophin and midkine in responsive cells support their role as "tumor growth factors" and positive regulators of tumor angiogenesis. Widespread deregulation of pleiotrophin and midkine is found in many known human cancers or their derived cell lines, and the molecular targeting of pleiotrophin to block its signaling in tumor cells has limited tumor growth and metastasis in animal models. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pleiotrophin and midkine action in tumorgenesis and tumor angiogenesis may lead to the identification of novel targets for tumor therapy.

Effects of soil organic matter on the development of the microbial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation potentials

The microbial activity in soils was a critical factor governing the degradation of organic micro-pollutants. The present study was conducted to analyze the effects of soil organic matter on the development of degradation potentials for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Most of the degradation kinetics for PAHs by the indigenous microorganisms developed in soils can be fitted with the Logistic growth models. The microbial activities were relatively lower in the soils with the lowest and highest organic matter content, which were likely due to the nutrition limit and PAH sequestration. The microbial activities developed in humic acid (HA) were much higher than those developed in humin, which was demonstrated to be able to sequester organic pollutants stronger. The results suggested that the nutrition support and sequestration were the two major mechanisms, that soil organic matter influenced the development of microbial PAHs degradation potentials.

Improved anti-apoptotic and anti-remodeling potency of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by anoxic pre-conditioning in diabetic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) mediate their protection by paracrine mechanism under ischemic conditions and anoxic pre-conditioning (AP) of MSC strongly enhances their survival and regenerative capacity. However, there is no report about the therapeutic potency of MSC transplantation on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), an important cause of heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Four months after streptozotocin injection, diabetic rats were randomly given an intramyocardial injection of one of the following: DMEM, MSC, or AP-MSC (no.=10 for each group). Two weeks after transplantation, MSC, especially AP-MSC greatly increased the fractional shortening of diabetic heart (p<0.01, respectively). AP-MSC increased the capillary density of diabetic myocardium and attenuated myocardial fibrosis (p<0.01, respectively) by increasing the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and inhibitiing transforming growth factor beta-1 (p<0.01, respectively). AP-MSC are anti-apoptotic in the rat DCM model, possibly mediated through cardiac upregulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio (p<0.05) and inhibiting the expression and activation of caspase- 3 (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Intramyocardial transplantation of MSC has a protective effect on diabetic myocardium and anoxic pre-conditioning can enhance this protective effect. AP-MSC transplantation improved cardiac function in the rat DCM model, possibly through an anti-apoptotic effect on diabetic myocarium and attenuation of cardiac remodeling.

Important research questions in allergy and related diseases: 3-chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis - a GALEN study

Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common health care challenges, with significant direct medical costs and severe impact on lower airway disease and general health outcomes. The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) currently is based on clinical signs, nasal endoscopy and CT scanning, and therapeutic recommendations are focussing on 2 classes of drugs, corticosteroids and antibiotics. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and the factors amplifying mucosal inflammation therefore seems to be crucial for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In an effort to extend knowledge in this area, the WP 2.7.2 of the GA(2)LEN network of excellence currently collects data and samples of 1000 CRS patients and 250 control subjects. The main objective of this project is to characterize patients with upper airway disease on the basis of clinical parameters, infectious agents, inflammatory mechanisms and remodeling processes. This collaborative research will result in better knowledge on patient phenotypes, pathomechanisms, and subtypes in chronic rhinosinusitis. This review summarizes the state of the art on chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis in different aspects of the disease. It defines potential gaps in the current research, and points to future research perspectives and targets.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances spatial learning and synaptic plasticity via the VEGF and BDNF-NMDAR pathways in a rat model of vascular dementia

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on learning and memory in a rat model of vascular dementia (VaD) and to analyze the associated mechanisms. Bilateral carotid artery occlusion (2-VO) was used to establish a rat model of VaD. High-frequency (5Hz) rTMS was performed on rats for four weeks. Spatial learning and memory abilities were evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM), and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus was assessed via long-term potentiation (LTP). Hippocampal expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and three subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR), NR1, NR2A and NR2B, was analyzed by Western blotting. Compared with the VaD group, escape latency was decreased (P<0.05) and the time spent in the target quadrant and the percentage of swimming distance within that quadrant were increased (P<0.05) in the rTMS group. LTP at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses was enhanced by rTMS (P<0.05). VEGF expression was up-regulated following 2-VO and was further increased by rTMS (P<0.05). BDNF, NR1 and NR2B expression was decreased in the VaD group and increased by rTMS (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in NR2A expression among the three groups. These results suggest that rTMS improved learning and memory in the VaD model rats via the up-regulation of VEGF, BDNF and NMDARs. In addition, NR2B may be more important than NR2A for LTP induction in the hippocampus during rTMS treatment of VaD.

Rhinosinusitis and asthma: a link for asthma severity

The term rhinosinusitis describes an inflammation of the mucosal lining of the nose and sinuses; however, recent evidence points to the need to differentiate patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps from those with nasal polyps. Asthma comorbidity is especially common in nasal polyp disease and may be associated with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. Of interest, asthma comorbidity is uncommon in some parts of the world but common in others. A further analysis of the inflammatory patterns also revealed that nasal polyps do not represent one single entity; interleukin (IL)-5-positive nasal polyps can be differentiated from IL-5-negative forms by different inflammatory patterns (predominance of eosinophils vs neutrophils). Staphylococcus aureus superantigens frequently colonize IL-5-positive nasal polyps and may amplify the eosinophilic inflammation, induce a polyclonal local IgE formation, and increase the risk of asthma comorbidity. Recent findings in severe asthma patients confirm the role of superantigens in lower airway disease.

Impact of soil organic matter on the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils

The knowledge on the distribution of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils can provide better understanding for their fate in the environment. In the present study, the n-butanol extraction and humic fractionation were applied to investigate the impact of SOM on the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results indicated that 80.5%-94.8% of the target PAHs could be extracted by n-butanol and 63.1%-94.6% of PAHs were associated with fulvic acid (FA). Concentrations of un-extracted PAHs increased significantly with the increasing soil organic matter (SOM), however, such an association was absent for the extractable fractions. The results suggested that the sequestration played a critical role in the accumulation of PAHs in soils. SOM also retarded the diffusion of PAHs into the humin fractions. It implied that sequestration in SOM was critical for PAH distribution in soils, while the properties of PAH compounds also had great influences.