Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β: A regulator of kidney development and cystogenesis

The understanding of the genomics of the renal tissue has gathered a considerable interest and is making rapid progress. The molecular mechanisms as well as the precise function of the associated molecular components toward renal pathophysiology have recently been realized. For the cystic kidney disease, the regulation of gene expression affecting epithelial cells proliferation, apoptosis as well as process of differentiation/de-differentiation represent key molecular targets. For the cystic disorders, molecular targets have been identified, which besides lending heterogeneity to cysts may also provide tools to unravel their functional importance to understand the renal tissue homeostasis. This review focuses on providing comprehensive information about the transcriptional regulatory role of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β, a homeoprotein, as well as its interacting partners in renal tissue development and pathophysiology.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on stromal CD10 antigens in breast cancer - a preliminary study

INTRODUCTION

CD10 is a zinc-dependent peptidase (metalloproteinase). Stromal CD10 expression in breast cancer correlates with poor prognosis, oestrogen receptor negativity and higher grade. CD10 may be a potential target of new cancer therapies as it is involved in cleavage of doxorubicin.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of neo-adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy on status of stromal CD10 antigens in breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with invasive breast cancer scheduled for anthracycline-based neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. Tumor stromal CD10 expression was estimated before and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy, and change in its status was correlated with clinical response to chemotherapy.

RESULTS

16 out of the 29 patients had strong CD10 expression; in these 16 patients, 14 (87.5%) were hormone receptor negative, and 14 (87.5%) had HER-2/neu overexpression. Stromal CD10 expression remained same in 13 out of 29 cases (44.83%) after chemotherapy. There was a change in CD10 expression in the remaining 16 cases (55.17%); in 13 cases (44.83%) it decreased from its pre-chemotherapy status, while its expression increased in 3 cases (10.34%). In cases of complete and partial clinical response, there was no increase in CD10 expression. Where CD10 expression had increased after chemotherapy, there was either a minor response or no response to chemotherapy. In 13 cases where CD10 expression had decreased, 12 cases had a clinical response to chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong CD10 expression correlates with hormone receptor negativity and HER-2/neu overexpression. Stromal CD10 expression in breast cancer is not static and changes with neo-adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy. A stable or decrease in CD10 expression correlates with complete or partial clinical response, while an increase in CD10 expression appears to correlate with poor clinical response. A larger series is required to determine the clinical significance of these changes. As stromal CD10 expression and its change with chemotherapy may have a prognostic significance, they should be documented in breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.

Role of salivary epithelial toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in modulating innate immune responses in chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Chronic periodontitis is initiated by sequential colonization with a broad array of bacteria and is perpetuated by an immune-inflammatory response to the changing biofilm. Host recognition of microbes is largely mediated by toll-like receptors (TLRs), which interact with conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Based on ligand recognition, TLR-2 and TLR-4 interact with most periodontal pathogens. Extracrevicular bacterial reservoirs, such as the oral epithelial cells, contribute to the persistence of periodontitis. Human saliva is a rich source of oral epithelial cells that express functional TLRs. In this study we investigated the role of salivary epithelial cell (SEC) TLR-2 and TLR-4 in patients with generalized chronic periodontitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was collected from patients with generalized chronic periodontitis and from healthy individuals after obtaining informed consent. Epithelial cells isolated from each UWS sample were assessed for TLR-2, TLR-4, peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)-3 and PGRP-4 by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, the SECs were stimulated in vitro with microbial products for up to 24 h. The culture supernatant was assessed for cytokines by ELISA.

RESULTS

Stimulation with TLR-2- or TLR-4-specific ligands induced cytokine secretion with differential kinetics and up-regulated TLR2 and TLR4 mRNAs, respectively, in cultures of SECs from patients with periodontitis. In addition, the SECs from patients with periodontitis exhibited reduced PGRP3 and PGRP4 mRNAs, the TLR-responsive genes with antibacterial properties.

CONCLUSION

SECs derived from the UWS of patients with chronic periodontitis are phenotypically distinct and could represent potential resources for assessing the epithelial responses to periodontal pathogens in the course of disease progression and persistence.

Need for a national epilepsy control program

This article briefly outlines the proposed national epilepsy control program. The content of the article is based on four meetings held by invitation of the Ministry of Health. Invitees by ministry – Drs. D. C. Jain, M. Gourie Devi, V. Saxena, S. Jain, P. Satish. Chandra, M. Gupta, K. Bala, V. Puri, K. S. Anand, S. Gulati, S. Johri, P. S. Chandra, M. Behari, K. Radhakrishnan, D. Bachani. Presentations were made by Dr. M. Tripathi.The program will involve all neurologists across the country in teaching and training at state levels and a central monitoring committee.

Bilateral symmetrical facial swelling owing to tuberculous gummas

Metastatic tuberculous abscesses and gummas are unusual forms of cutaneous tuberculosis. They result from haematogeneous spread of the mycobacterium from a primary focus during a period of impaired immunity. A 5-year-old boy is reported who presented with spinal tuberculosis and bilateral subcutaneous swelling of the cheeks owing to tuberculous gummas.

Solid lipid nanoparticles regulate functional assortment of mouse mesenchymal stem cells

A rapid decline in self-renewability, viability and function, of isolated stem cells are major hurdles in developing cell based therapies. There has been an increasing interest towards identifying a support material for maintaining stem cell features of the isolated cells. Pioneering observations of the present paper, demonstrate functionally diverse potential of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in deciding the fate & behavior of mouse mesenchymal stem cell. The evidences are provided to show the dual nature of the SLNs for being a scaffold for the stem cell attachment, to retain stemness, and as reagent for inducing stem cell differentiation. Scanning electron microscopic examinations together with expression analysis were used to conform to such observations. Results of the study thus suggest that Solid lipid nanoparticles can be used as a good support material when functionalized to achieve adhesive properties and as a molecular paradigm for studying the adipocytic differentiation. We envisage a new role of SLNs towards regulating stem cell character by orchestrating the structural alignment during preparation of Solid lipid nanoparticles.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Regulate Functional Assortment of Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells

A rapid decline in self-renewability, viability and function, of isolated stem cells are major hurdles in developing cell based therapies. There has been an increasing interest towards identifying a support material for maintaining stem cell features of the isolated cells. Pioneering observations of the present paper, demonstrate functionally diverse potential of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in deciding the fate & behavior of mouse mesenchymal stem cell. The evidences are provided to show the dual nature of the SLNs for being a scaffold for the stem cell attachment, to retain stemness, and as reagent for inducing stem cell differentiation. Scanning electron microscopic examinations together with expression analysis were used to conform to such observations. Results of the study thus suggest that Solid lipid nanoparticles can be used as a good support material when functionalized to achieve adhesive properties and as a molecular paradigm for studying the adipocytic differentiation. We envisage a new role of SLNs towards regulating stem cell character by orchestrating the structural alignment during preparation of Solid lipid nanoparticles

A threonine to isoleucine missense mutation in the pericentriolar material 1 gene is strongly associated with schizophrenia

Markers at the pericentriolar material 1 gene (PCM1) have shown genetic association with schizophrenia in both a University College London (UCL) and a USA-based case-control sample. In this paper we report a statistically significant replication of the PCM1 association in a large Scottish case-control sample from Aberdeen. Resequencing of the genomic DNA from research volunteers who had inherited haplotypes associated with schizophrenia showed a threonine to isoleucine missense mutation in exon 24 which was likely to change the structure and function of PCM1 (rs370429). This mutation was found only as a heterozygote in 98 schizophrenic research subjects and controls out of 2246 case and control research subjects. Among the 98 carriers of rs370429, 67 were affected with schizophrenia. The same alleles and haplotypes were associated with schizophrenia in both the London and Aberdeen samples. Another potential aetiological base pair change in PCM1 was rs445422, which altered a splice site signal. A further mutation, rs208747, was shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assays to create or destroy a promoter transcription factor site. Five further non-synonymous changes in exons were also found. Genotyping of the new variants discovered in the UCL case-control sample strengthened the evidence for allelic and haplotypic association (P=0.02-0.0002). Given the number and identity of the haplotypes associated with schizophrenia, further aetiological base pair changes must exist within and around the PCM1 gene. PCM1 protein has been shown to interact directly with the disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) protein, Bardet-Biedl syndrome 4, and Huntingtin-associated protein 1, and is important in neuronal cell growth. In a separate study we found that clozapine but not haloperidol downregulated PCM1 expression in the mouse brain. We hypothesize that mutant PCM1 may be responsible for causing a subtype of schizophrenia through abnormal cell division and abnormal regeneration in dividing cells in the central nervous system. This is supported by our previous finding of orbitofrontal volumetric deficits in PCM1-associated schizophrenia patients as opposed to temporal pole deficits in non-PCM1-associated schizophrenia patients. Caution needs to be exercised in interpreting the actual biological effects of the mutations we have found without further cell biology. However, the DNA changes we have found deserve widespread genotyping in multiple case-control populations.

Case-control studies show that a non-conservative amino-acid change from a glutamine to arginine in the P2RX7 purinergic receptor protein is associated with both bipolar- and unipolar-affective disorders

Three linkage studies of bipolar disorder have implicated chromosome 12q24.3 with lod scores of over 3.0 and several other linkage studies have found lods between 2 and 3. Fine mapping within the original chromosomal linkage regions has identified several loci that show association with bipolar disorder. One of these is the P2RX7 gene encoding a central nervous system-expressed purinergic receptor. A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism, rs2230912 (P2RX7-E13A, G allele) and a microsatellite marker NBG6 were both previously found to be associated with bipolar disorder (P=0.00071 and 0.008, respectively). rs2230912 has also been found to show association with unipolar depression. The effect of the polymorphism is non-conservative and results in a glutamine to arginine change (Gln460Arg), which is likely to affect P2RX7 dimerization and protein-protein interactions. We have confirmed the allelic associations between bipolar disorder and the markers rs2230912 (P2RX7-E13A, G allele, P=0.043) and NBG6 (P=0.010) in a London-based sample of 604 bipolar cases and 560 controls. When we combined these data with the published case-control studies of P2RX7 and mood disorder (3586 individuals) the association between rs2230912 (Gln460Arg) and affective disorders became more robust (P=0.002). The increase in Gln460Arg was confined to heterozygotes rather than homozygotes suggesting a dominant effect (odds ratio 1.302, CI=1.129-1.503). Although further research is needed to prove that the Gln460Arg change has an aetiological role, it is so far the most convincing mutation to have been found with a role for increasing susceptibility to bipolar and genetically related unipolar disorders.

RNAi screens reveal novel metabolic regulators: RIP140, MAP4k4 and the lipid droplet associated fat specific protein (FSP) 27

Adipose tissue modulates whole body metabolism and insulin sensitivity by controlling circulating lipid levels and producing molecules that can regulate fatty acid metabolism in such tissues as muscle and liver. We have developed RNA interference (RNAi) screens to identify genes in cultured adipocytes that regulate insulin signalling and key metabolic pathways. These short interfering RNA (siRNA)-based screens identified the transcriptional corepressor receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140) (J Clin Invest 116: 125, 2006) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP4k4) (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103: 2087, 2006) as negative regulators of insulin-responsive hexose uptake and oxidative metabolism. Gene expression profiling revealed that RIP140 depletion upregulates the expression of clusters of genes in the pathways of glucose uptake, glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation. RIP140-null mice resist weight gain on a high-fat diet and display enhanced glucose tolerance. MAP4k4 depletion in adipocytes increases many of the RIP140-sensitive genes, increases adipogenesis and mediates some actions of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Remarkably, another hit in our RNAi screens was fat specific protein 27 (FSP27), a highly expressed isoform of Cidea. We discovered that FSP27 unexpectedly associates specifically with lipid droplets and regulates fat storage. We conclude that RIP140, MAP4k4 and the novel lipid droplet protein FSP27 are powerful regulators of adipose tissue metabolism and are potential therapeutic targets for controlling metabolic disease. The discovery of these novel proteins validates the power of RNAi screening for discovery of new therapeutic approaches to type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Critical flicker frequency: diagnostic tool for minimal hepatic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is associated with poorer quality of life and increased work disability. Diagnosis requires cumbersome psychometric and neurophysiological tests. We evaluated critical flicker frequency (CFF) to diagnose MHE.

METHODS

156 cirrhotic patients (age 41+/-12.5 yr) without overt encephalopathy (Child A 63, Child B 56, Child C 37) were evaluated by psychometric (number connection tests A, B or figure connection tests A, B), P300 auditory event related potential (ERP) and CFF. MHE was diagnosed by abnormal psychometric and/or P300 auditory event related potential.

RESULTS

Prevalence of MHE was 53% with 27 (43%) in Child's A, 33 (59%) in Child's B and 23 (62%) in Child's C cirrhosis (p=NS). Of 83 patients, 72 (87%) had abnormal psychometry, 64 (77%) had abnormal P300 auditory event related potential (ERP) (380.6+/-28.8 ms) and in 66 (80%) CFF was below 39 Hz. 60 (83%) patients with abnormal psychometry and 51 (80%) with abnormal P300 auditory event related potential had CFF below 39 Hz. CFF sensitivity (96%), specificity (77%) and positive predictive value (68%), negative predictive value (98%) and diagnosis accuracy was 83.3% when compared to patients with both abnormal psychometry and P300ERP.

CONCLUSIONS

Critical flicker frequency is a simple, reliable and accurate test without any age or literacy dependence for the diagnosis of MHE.

N-hexane neuropathy in screen printers

BACKGROUND

To study the clinical and electrophysiological profile of n-hexane neuropathy in a tertiary care center of India.

METHODS

Twenty five screen printers from five different factories, with peripheral neuropathy were included in the study. A detailed general physical, systemic and neurological examination was conducted Visual acuity, color vision and field charting was done in all the subjects. All patients were subjected to Folstein mini mental scale examination. Electrophysiological evaluation included motor and sensory conduction studies of the conventionally studied nerves of upper and lower limbs, Needle EMG of various distal and proximal muscles and patterned visual evoked responses. The electrophysiological profile was repeated every three months till one year. Sural nerve biopsy was studied in six patients. The patients were followed for a maximum of 4 years.

RESULTS

Twenty three [92%] patients had sensory- motor neuropathy, while pure sensory neuropathy was seen in two. The sensory conductions were affected almost equally in upper as well as the lower limbs, while the motor conductions were affected more in the lower limbs than the upper limbs. The sensory conductions were not recordable in both the upper and the lower limbs in 18 [72%] patients. Motor conduction studies revealed an asymmetric and patchy involvement. Proximal conduction block was seen in 3 patients [12%]. On needle EMG features of denervation were seen in all patients. P100 latency was normal in all. Sural nerve biopsy showed a selective decrease in large myelinated axons with demyelination. Axonal swelling with focal areas of demyelination was observed in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The electrophysiological patterns as well as the histopathology reflect the pathophysiology of n-hexane neuropathy.

Intramesosigmoid hernia: a rare type of congenital internal hernia

Intestinal obstruction from congenital internal hernias is a rare and often unsuspected problem. We report the case of a 66-year-old male with a rare type of congenital internal hernia causing bowel obstruction. He underwent successful laparoscopy-assisted surgical repair without bowel resection. Symptomatic congenital internal hernias usually present with intermittent or acute small-bowel obstruction without any history of previous abdominal surgery. Laparoscopy or hand-assisted laparoscopy can be useful tools for locating the region of pathology and enable minimally invasive surgical treatment.

Robotically assisted biliary pancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch: a new technique

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgical techniques decrease the length of hospitalization and the morbidity for general surgery procedures. Application of minimally invasive techniques to obesity surgery had previously been limited to stapled techniques used primarily for the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic band placement. The authors present the technique for totally intracorporeal robotically assisted biliary pancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch (BPD/DS) using five ports.

METHODS

After development of the technique in animal and human cadaver models, the da Vinci robot was first used in October 2000 to perform BPD/DS using five ports and a totally intracorporeal technique. Patient selection was based on standard surgery guidelines for the morbidly obese.

RESULTS

This technique was applied for 47 patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 45 kg/m2 and a mean age of 38 +/- 10 years. The median operating time was 514 min (range, 370-931 min). The median operative time for the last 10 patients was 379 min (range, 370-582 min). Three patients underwent conversion to open surgery, and four patients experienced postoperative leaks with no mortality.

CONCLUSION

The safety, feasibility, and reproducibility of a minimally invasive robotic surgical approach to complex abdominal operations such as BPD/DS is demonstrated. The BPD/DS allows for a sutured bowel anastomosis similar to the open technique using a minimal number of small access ports.

Laparoscopic vs conventional tension free inguinal herniorrhaphy: 2005 Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) annual meeting debate

This report summarizes the 2005 Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons' inguinal herniorrhaphy debate. Most inguinal herniorrhaphies in the United States are performed using one of several prosthesis-based, tension-free (TFR) procedures. Approximately 15% of the procedures used are laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphies (LIH). Technical ease, lower cost, and local anesthesia are the major advantages attributed to TFR, whereas superior cosmesis, less perioperative pain, and a faster return to normal activity is attributed to LIH. The overall cost-benefit ratio, incidence of chronic pain syndromes, and relevance of a recent major trial could not be entirely settled in this debate. The importance of adequate training for surgeons undertaking LIH cannot be overemphasized. Experienced surgeons displaying equivalent results for LIH and TFR are justified in offering LIH to patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernias.

Effects of oestrogen on trigeminal ganglia in culture: implications for hormonal effects on migraine

Although migraine is more common in women than men and often linked to the menstrual cycle, few studies have investigated the biological basis of hormonal influences on the trigeminovascular system. In the present study we investigated the effect of physiological levels (10(-9) m) oestrogen on female rat trigeminal ganglia in vitro. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of oestrogen receptor-alpha in a predominantly cytoplasmic location and in neurites. Microarray analysis demonstrated that oestrogen treatment regulates several genes with potential relevance to menstrual migraine. The genes that were upregulated included synapsin-2, endothelin receptor type B, activity and neurotransmitter-induced early gene 7 (ania-7), phosphoserine aminotransferase, MHC-1b, and ERK-1. Down-regulated genes included IL-R1, bradykinin B2 receptor, N-tropomodulin, CCL20, GABA transporter protein, fetal intestinal lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, carcinoembryonic antigen-related protein, zinc finger protein 36, epsin 1 and cysteine string protein. Protein activity assays demonstrated that exposure of the cultured neurons to oestrogen leads to activation of ERK, which has been linked to inflammatory pain. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that activated ERK was present in neurons containing peripherin, a marker of nociceptive neurons. Several of the genes in the present study may provide potential targets for understanding the association of oestrogen with migraine and other hormone-related orofacial pain.

Down beat nystagmus in vitamin B 12 deficiency syndrome

A 34 years old male, presenting with progressive proximal weakness, with a neurogenic pattern on needle EMG, and a family history suggestive of an autosomal recessive disorder, was found to have additional features of myeloneuropathy and a down beat nystagmus. A low serum vitamin B12 level was found, and on vitamin B12 supplementation there was a partial clinical as well as electrophysiological recovery.