The effects of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on the management of chemotherapy-induced anemia and tumor growth in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), such as erythropoietin (EPO) and darbepoetin, may alleviate anemia in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. However, many cancer cells express EPO receptors (EPOR), through which exogenously administered ESAs potentially promote cancer cell growth. We conducted preclinical/phase II studies to investigate the safety and efficacy of ESAs for managing chemotherapy-related anemia in DLBCL patients. We examined EPOR expression in germinal center B-cell (GCB)- and activated B-cell (ABC)-DLBCL cell lines, and investigated the effects of ESAs on cell proliferation, and rituximab-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The clinical study enrolled 50 histologically confirmed DLBCL patients receiving rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisolone (R-CHOP) who had hemoglobin levels <10.0 g/dl after a maximum of three R-CHOP cycles and received ≥4 doses of fixed-dose darbepoetin (360 μg) once every 3 weeks. EPOR mRNA was detected in all GCB-DLBCL cell lines, but little/none was detected in ABC-DLBCL cell lines. GCB-DLBCL and ABC-DLBCL cell proliferation was unaffected by EPO or darbepoetin. Rituximab-mediated CDC of DLBCL cell lines with/without EPOR expression was not affected adversely by EPO. In the clinical study, baseline mean hemoglobin was 9.19 g/dl; the overall mean change in hemoglobin was 1.59 ± 1.3 g/dl (16 weeks). Forty-eight percent of enrolled patients achieved a hematopoietic response. Our study shows that ESAs do not affect the growth of DLBCL cells or rituximab-mediated CDC under the experimental conditions that we used, and the appropriate use of ESAs may be effective and safe for DLBCL patients with anemia after R-CHOP.

[Expression of high-mobility group box-Ⅰ and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in status epilepticus]

Objective: To investigate the expression changes of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and the 2B receptor of N- methyl -D- aspartate receptor (NR2B) in status epilepticus (SE). Methods: (1) Primary hippocampal neurons from SD rats with 16 to 18 days of fetal age were cultured in vitro for 7 days, and exposed to Mg(2+) free media for 3 hours. Those cultured neurons were randomly divided into control group and intermittent hypoxia group. (2) SD rats with similar weight were selected and randomly divided into control group and SE model group. The rat model with SE was established by an intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride-piloearpine (LI-PILO). Real-time PCR technique was used to detect the expression of HMGB1 and NR2B mRNA. Results: In Sombati's cell model cultured in normal concentration of oxygen, the HMGB1 mRNA expression levels were 0.005 01±0.000 54, 0.026 76±0.003 75, 0.003 52±0.000 33, and the NR2B mRNA expression levels were 0.008 84±0.000 69, 0.012 23±0.000 90, 0.029 11±0.000 71, respectively, at 2, 4 and 6 h; compared with the expressions of HMGB1 and NR2B mRNA at the same time points of Sombatis cell model groups, the differences were also significant (all P<0.05). After the successful establishment of epilepsy model, the HMGB1 mRNA expression levels were 0.000 11±0.000 09, 0.000 18±0.000 01, 0.000 11±0.000 01, and the NR2B mRNA expression levels were 0.196 12±0.009 41, 0.232 11±0.006 27, 0.272 48±0.005 84, respectively, at 6, 8 and 10 h; compared with the expressions of HMGB1 and NR2B mRNA at the same time points of control groups, the differences were all significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: HMGB1 mRNA expression levels increase at 2, 4 h, decrease at 6 h in the Sombati's cell model in normal oxygen culture, while increase at 6, 8 h, and decrease at 10 h in LI-PILO induced rat model with SE; the NR2B mRNA relative expression increases with time in both the Sombati's cell model in normal oxygen culture and rat model of SE.

[Factors associated with commercial sexual behavior among men who have sex with men in Shenzhen, China, in 2011-2015]

Objective: To investigate the status and factors associated with commercial sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shenzhen. Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to recruit MSM in Shenzhen from 2011 to 2015. Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted on a one-on-one basis. Data were collected, including socio-demographic information, HIV testing history, history of blood donation and drug abuse in the last 2 years, self-reported sexual orientation, role in homosexual behavior, and experience serving as a male sex worker and/or as a client of male sex workers. Blood samples (5 ml) were taken and tested for treponema pallidum and HIV antibodies. The rate of MSM serving as male sex workers among different age groups was analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Factors associated with commercial sexual behavior were analyzed by univariate logistic regression and multivariate unconditional logistic regression. Results: Among the 3 040 MSM recruited, 341 (11.2%) reported having served as male sex worker. The prevalence rates of syphilis, HIV, and syphilis-HIV co-infection among all recruited MSM were 18.3% (556/3 040), 9.8% (297/3 040), and 5.1% (154/3 040), respectively. The prevalence rates of syphilis, HIV, and syphilis-HIV co-infection among those who served as male sex worker were 27.0% (92/341), 16.4% (56/341), and 8.8% (30/341), respectively, and the prevalence rates among MSM with no experience as male sex worker were 17.2% (464/2 699), 8.9% (241/2 699), and 4.6% (124/2 699), respectively. Compared with non-male sex worker MSM, male sex worker had a significantly higher prevalence rates of syphilis, HIV, and syphilis-HIV co-infection (with χ² values of 19.41, 19.28, and 11.12, and P-values of <0.001,<0.001, 0.001, respectively). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that>30-year-old MSM or education level of college or above, reside in Shenzhen for 0.5-3.0 years or the living years above 3.0 years are less likely to serve as male sex worker compared with<30-year-old MSM, education level of high school or below, who reside in Shenzhen for less than 0.5 years; the OR (95%CI) values were 0.55 (0.42-0.71), 0.10 (0.06-0.14), 0.46 (0.31-0.68), and 0.23 (0.16-0.33), respectively. MSM having a monthly income of >5 000 yuan, drug abuse history, experience as male sex worker clients, and self-reported insertive and receptive anal sex behaviors were more likely to have experience serving as male sex worker compared with those having a monthly income of <3 000 yuan (OR=2.57, 95%CI: 1.85-3.57), no drug abuse history (OR=3.23, 95% CI: 2.14-4.87), no experience as male sex worker clients (OR =1.50, 95% CI: 1.04-2.15) and who engage in predominantly insertive anal sex behaviors (OR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.34-2.35). Conclusion: Age, education level, duration of residence in Shenzhen, monthly income, history of drug abuse, role in homosexual activity, and had experience commercial sex activity were associated with serving as a male sex worker among MSM. These factors need to be considered when designing syphilis/HIV prevention programs for MSM.

[Investigation of dose-dependent association between bedtime routines and sleep outcomes in infants and toddlers]

Objective: To investigate the current bedtime routine among Chinese children less than 3 years of age and explore its dose-dependent association with sleep duration and sleep quality. Method: Healthy full-term born children aged 0-35 months were selected by stratified cluster random sampling method from 8 provinces in China following the "Hospital of Province-City-County" sampling technical route during 2012-2013.Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire(BISQ) was used to assess sleep conditions of these children.Children's personal and family information was obtained by Shanghai Children's Medical Center Socio-demographic Questionnaire.Both of these questionnaires were filled in by parents. The effects of bedtime routine on children's sleep duration and quality were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. Result: The children's average age was(12±10) months(n=1 304), of whom 689 were males (52.8%, 689/1 304). There were 48.5%(632/1 304)of the parents reported that their children had not established regular sleep routines. There was a consistent dose-dependent association between bedtime routine and sleep duration, as well as other indicators for sleep quality (all P<0.05). The more regular the sleep routines, the longer the sleep duration, the earlier the children went to sleep, the shorter the sleep onset latency, the fewer the nighttime wakeup and the shorter the nighttime waking.The nighttime sleep duration was significantly longer for those with a bedtime routine 'every night' than those who 'never' had a bedtime routine (9.5(95%CI: 9.4-9.6)vs. 8.9(95%CI: 8.6-9.3)h, t=3.345, P=0.001). Compared with children who never had bedtime routines, children with regular bedtime routines had fewer night wakeup (1.3(95%CI: 1.2-1.4) vs. 2.4( 95%CI: 2.0-2.9), t=3.182, P=0.001) and shorter night waking duration(16.6(95%CI: 14.6-18.8) vs. 59.2 (95%CI: 47.0-72.7)min, t=6.383, P<0.01). Conclusion: The percentage of children who have established regular bedtime routine is low in China. There is significant dose-dependent association between regular bedtime routine and sleep outcomes, especially sleep quality. The more regular the sleep routines, the better the sleep quality.

[Update on pubertal development among primary school students in Shanghai, 2014]

Objective: To investigate the current prevalence of pubertal development in healthy Shanghai schoolchildren. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional investigation focused on current pubertal development conducted in healthy Shanghai schoolchildren by multi-stage cluster sampling. The sample included 17 571 children in grades 1-5 investigated in June 2014. The data were weighted by inverse probability weighting (IPW) to make them more representative. At examination, stages of breast and pubic hair development were rated according to the Tanner method. Testicular volume was determined. Data on menarche and spermatorrhea were collected by the status quo method. The rates of precocious puberty, breast, and pubic hair development of Tanner stage ≥Ⅱ in girls aged 6-7 years, menarche in girls aged 6-9 years, and testicular volume ≥4 ml and pubic hair development of Tanner stage ≥Ⅱ in boys aged 6-8 years were calculated. All the data were weighted by IPW. Results: After data processing, 16 197 children's data were analyzed. In girls aged 6-7 years, 17.2% and 2.5% showed evidence of breast and pubic hair development at Tanner stage ≥Ⅱ, respectively. In girls aged 6-9 years, 0.3% had experienced menarche. Schoolgirls' rate of menarche was 4.7%. In girls aged 6-7 years, 19.0% were diagnosed with precocious puberty according to the classic criteria. In boys aged 6-8 years, 1.7% had testicular volume ≥4 ml, and 0.6% showed evidence of pubic hair development at Tanner stage ≥Ⅱ. Schoolboys' incidence rate of spermatorrhea was 0.1%. In boys aged 6-8 years, 2.3% were diagnosed with precocious puberty according to the classic criteria. All the numbers above were weighted. Conclusion: Proper education on adolescence and sex is essential for Shanghai schoolchildren.

The nutrition contribution of dietary supplements on total nutrient intake in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The use of dietary supplements (DSs) by children and adolescents is increasing. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of DS users and examine the nutritional contributions of DSs to total nutrient intakes in children and adolescents, using data obtained from a national survey.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

In total, 3134 subjects aged 9-18 years who participated in the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009) were selected; the survey included 24-h recall questions on food intake and questions on DS use over the past year. Nutrient intakes from DSs were calculated using the aid of a label-based database on such supplements, and individual total nutrient intakes were derived by combining information on the foods and DSs consumed by each subject.

RESULTS

There were 895 DS users (28.5%), 85.2% of whom (n=577) had complete DS nutrient information and were therefore defined as identified-DS users. Identified-DS users were slightly younger and had a greater household income and better nutritional knowledge than did non-users. The most frequently consumed type of supplement was a 'multivitamin and minerals' complex. For total nutrient intake, identified-DS users had a significantly higher intake of most of the nutrients, except for macronutrient and sodium than non-users. In all identified-DS users, the contribution of vitamins and minerals from DSs to total nutrient intake was higher than energy and macronutrients.

CONCLUSIONS

DS use by children and adolescents can improve micronutrient status, but it also increases the risk of excessive intake of certain vitamins and minerals.

Dietary supplement use and its effect on nutrient intake in Korean adult population in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (2007-2009) data

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Although there is an increasing trend of dietary supplement (DS) use, few researches have evaluated nutrient intake from DS. This study aimed to establish a nutrient database (NDB) for DS and estimate the effect of DS on total nutrient intake by Korean adults.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

The NDB for DS was established using the label information of products reported in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV. Of the 16,031 participants who were ≥20 years old, 2053 products were reported as being taken by 5606 subjects. But nutrient composition could be identified by searching product name only in 1158 products consumed by 3844 subjects (DS users). Total nutrient intake of DS users was obtained by combining intakes from diet and DS.

RESULTS

Dietary supplement use was higher in women, in middle-aged people and in those with higher education and low smoking and drinking preferences. Nutrients obtained from food were higher in DS users than in nonusers for most nutrients, particularly in women. When total nutrient intake was evaluated in DS users, the percentage of subjects whose intake was below the estimated average requirement for Koreans decreased for several vitamins and minerals, but the percentage of subjects whose intake was above the tolerable upper intake levels increased for vitamin A, vitamin C and iron.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly developed NDB for DS will be an important resource for more accurate assessment of nutrient intake as well as evaluation of the relationship between nutrition and health. Further research is needed to update a more comprehensive NDB applicable to diverse populations.

Impact of MTHFR polymorphisms on methylation of MGMT in glioma patients from Northeast China with different folate levels

Hypomethylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter in glioma cells has been associated with temozolomide resistance. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which is produced during folate metabolism, is the main source of methyl groups during DNA methylation. As a key enzyme during folate metabolism, polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) may regulate folate end-products. We investigated the effect of typical polymorphisms of MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) on MGMT methylation based on different serum folate levels in patients with glioma from Northeast China. A total of 275 patients with glioma and 329 without malignant tumors were tested. Serum folate concentration was assayed by using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. MTHFR polymorphisms were detected by Taqman-Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methylation-specific PCR was used to assess MGMT methylation. The constituent ratio of glioma patients below the serum folate biological reference value was significantly higher than that of the control population (P < 0.001). In patients with oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma, heterozygotes for the A1298C mutation were found in higher frequency than homozygotes or wild types (oligodendroglioma, P < 0.001; glioblastoma, P < 0.01). When grouped by the median or biological reference value of serum folate, only homozygotes for C677T with low levels of folate were significantly associated with decreased methylation of MGMT (median, P < 0.001; biological reference value, P = 0.036). These data suggest that, in combination with a negative folate balance in glioma patients, T/T genotypes in MTHFR C677T may be associated with MGMT demethylation.

Evaluation of the efficacy of immunocastration vaccine composed of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone conjugated with Salmonella typhimurium flagellin in rats

Immunocastration is an alternative method to replace surgical castration that is commonly performed in domestic and pet animals. In this study, a new immunocastration vaccine was developed, and its efficacy was evaluated in male rats. Six tandem copies of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) peptide were genetically fused to Salmonella typhimurium flagellin fljB (STF2) that is a ligand of toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). The recombinant STF2-GnRH protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used as the immunocastration vaccine. Sixteen male rats were equally assigned to four groups. Excluding the control rats, three groups were immunized with 100, 200 and 400 μg of the STF2-GnRH vaccine, respectively. All of the immunized rats developed significantly higher titres of antibodies to GnRH than the control rats. The size and weight of both testes and epididymides from the immunized rats were significantly smaller than those of the control rats. Testicular tissues in the immunized rats demonstrated atrophy of seminiferous tubules and decreased numbers of both spermatogonia and spermatocytes. These data indicate that the newly developed STF2-GnRH vaccine has a potent immunogenicity to GnRH and efficiently suppresses the development of testes in rats.

Polar nanodomains and giant converse magnetoelectric effect in charge-ordered Fe2OBO3

The magnetoelectric coupling and polar nanodomains in the charge-ordered Fe2OBO3 have been extensively studied from room temperature down to 100 K. In situ TEM investigations demonstrate that the charge-ordering transition characterized by an incommensurate modulation could evidently result in remarkable polar nanodomains at low temperatures. This kind of nanodomain could play a critical role in triggering a high dielectric constant and notable dielectric dispersion as observed in Fe2OBO3. Moreover, measurements of the magnetoelectric coupling under electrical field demonstrate the existence of giant electrically induced changes in magnetization around the magnetic transition.

Human cytomegalovirus IE86 protein binds to cellular Mcm3 protein but does not inhibit its binding to the Epstein-Barr virus oriP in U373MG-p220.2 cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) or its immediate-early IE86 protein alone induces cell cycle in quiescent primary human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs), but blocks its progression at the G1/S interphase and inhibits cellular DNA synthesis by a mechanism that is not clearly understood. It is assumed that, in this phenomenon, the binding of minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) proteins to replication origins is blocked. In this work, we analyzed the initiation of DNA replication in HCMV-permissive U373MG cells and used oriP of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a simplified model of a cellular replication origin. Using U373MG cells we found that HCMV IE86 protein was bound to Mcm3, but did not inhibit the cellular DNA synthesis. Using U373MG-p220.2 cells carrying EBV oriP and expressing Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), we found that EBNA1 as well as Mcm3 were bound to oriP and that neither HCMV nor IE86 protein inhibited the binding of Mcm3 to oriP. Differences between the effects of HCMV on the cell cycle progression in HFFs and U373MG cells are discussed.

KEYWORDS

cell cycle; Human cytomegalovirus; DNA replication.

Structural properties and superconductivity of SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3)

The SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3) materials were prepared by a solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the single-phase samples can be successfully obtained for SrFe(2)As(2 - x)P(x) (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) and CaFe(2)As(2 - y)P(y) (0.0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3). Visible contraction of the lattice parameters is determined due to the relatively smaller radius of P ions in comparison with that of As. The spin-density-wave (SDW) instability associated with the tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition is suppressed noticeably in both systems following the increase in P content. The highest superconducting transitions are observed at about 27 K in SrFe(2)As(1.3)P(0.7) and at about 13 K in CaFe(2)As(1.925)P(0.075), respectively. Structural analysis suggests that lattice contraction could notably affect the superconductivity in these materials.

Clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis from a survey in Shanghai, China

Objective

To describe clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Shanghai, China.

Methods

Prevalent patients with MS were identified and investigated by a network of physicians in 11 districts of Shanghai during the period from 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005. Admission registries of each hospital in the study area were checked systematically for patients with a diagnosis of MS, neuromyelitis optica or other demyelinating disorders. All patients with collected information were evaluated by four senior neurologists according to the McDonald criteria.

Results

There were 249 (146 female and 103 male) patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis, at a female-to-male ratio of 1.4. The mean age at onset of MS was 37.4 years for the 249 patients with MS and, on the prevalence day, 42.7 years. The most frequent location of clinical MS lesions in the central nervous system was the spinal cord (61%), followed by the cerebrum (55%) and optic nerves (41%). Nearly all (96%) of the patients with MS had been examined by magnetic resonance imaging, and 226 (94%) patients of those examined were suggestive of MS. No family history of MS was found in any of the patients. Most (86%) of the patients had no or mild disability on the prevalence day (31 December 2004). Almost all (96%) patients with MS had been treated with corticosteroids.

Conclusion

Clinical features of patients with MS are described based on the information from the largest case series reported among Chinese. Comparisons and discussions are made with findings from the other populations.

Cesium-filled single wall carbon nanotubes as conducting nanowires: scanning tunneling spectroscopy study

Metal-filled single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are examined for possible application to conducting wires in nanoelectronics architecture. The local electronic structure of SWCNTs partially filled with cesium atoms is studied with scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The conduction and valence bands are shifted downward with two localized states in the gap at the location where the Cs atoms are filled. From a first-principles calculation, we confirm that these two gap states are bound states originating from the two lowest conduction bands.

Self-seeded multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser

We propose and demonstrate a self-seeded multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser with an internally self-excited Brillouin pump, which is achieved by incorporation of a length of single-mode fiber together with a Sagnac loop mirror into a fiber ring cavity. In this simple scheme the Brillouin pump is self-excited in the fiber ring cavity and then used to seed the Brillouin multiwavelength comb in the single-mode fiber. Stable generation of more than 120 Brillouin Stokes wavelengths with relatively uniform amplitudes is demonstrated with this scheme. It is also shown that such a self-seeded Brillouin laser has good stability and repeatability.

MUC1 expression in primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer cells for in vitro treatment by (213)Bi-C595 radioimmunoconjugate

Control of micrometastatic pancreatic cancer remains a major objective in pancreatic cancer treatment. The overexpression of MUC1 mucin plays an important role in cancer metastasis. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of MUC1 in human primary tumour tissues and three pancreatic cancer cell lines (CAPAN-1, CFPAC-1 and PANC-1), and target MUC1-positive cancer cells in vitro using ²¹³Bi-C595 alpha-immunoconjugate (AIC). The expression of MUC1 on pancreatic tumour tissues and cancer cell lines was performed by immunohistochemistry and further confirmed by confocal microscope and flow cytometry analysis on the cell surface. Cytotoxicity of ²¹³Bi-C595 was tested by MTS assay. Apoptosis was documented using TUNEL assay. Overexpression of MUC1 was found in ∼90% of tested tumour samples and the three pancreatic cancer cell lines. ²¹³Bi-C595 is specifically cytotoxic to pancreatic cancer cells in a concentration-dependent fashion. These results suggest that overexpression of MUC1 in pancreatic cancer is a useful target, and that the novel ²¹³Bi-C595 AIC selectively targets pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. ²¹³Bi-C595 may be a useful agent for the treatment of micrometastases or minimal residual disease (MRD) in pancreatic cancer patients with overexpression of MUC1 antigen.

Long-term evaluation of mice model infected with Helicobacter pylori: focus on gastric pathology including gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Long-term evaluation of gastric pathology after H. pylori infection is very important in order to reveal its clinical implications, since debate still exists on the gastric carcinogenesis provoked by H. pylori infection in animal models.

AIM

Either to evaluate the long-term outcome of H. pylori infection or to determine how H. pylori could provoke gastric cancer in the mice model.

METHODS

Four-week-old specific pathogen free C57BL/6 mice (n = 115) were infected with SS1, the mouse-adapted H. pylori strain. After 4, 8, 16, 24, 36, 50 and 80 weeks of bacterial infection, the H. pylori-infected mice were sacrificed.

RESULTS

After 80 weeks of infection, almost all the H. pylori-infected mice developed hyperplastic gastritis, but did not show any evidence of gastric adenoma, dysplasia or carcinoma. PCNA positive cells were most abundant after 50 weeks and tended to decrease thereafter up to 80 weeks, whereas apoptosis began to be noted 8 weeks after H. pylori infection, showing 7-8 apoptotic cells/high power field, and tending to increase as time passed. Normally observed neutral mucin decreased during the experiment, showing the most marked decrease 50 weeks after H. pylori infection. In contrast, acidic mucin was noted from 50 weeks after infection.

CONCLUSION

The SS1-infected mouse seems to be a suitable animal model for H. pylori-related research, and H. pylori itself does not induce gastric cancer in normal wild-type mouse model following long-term exposure, which could be explained by the balance that exists between cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Physicochemical characterization of UASB sludge with different size distributions

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) sludges developed in UASB system are used to treat various wastewaters. Methanogenic microbial consortia in UASB sludges convert organic compounds to methane under anaerobic conditions. Sludge granules are developed by self-granulation of microorganisms and dynamic balance between granule growth and decay results in coexistence of UASB sludges with different sizes in the reactor. In this study, UASB sludges taken from a laboratory-scale UASB reactor were classified into 4 groups based on their diameters and their physicochemical characteristics were investigated. Each group was analyzed for settling ability, specific methanogenic activity (SMA), and elemental content. Settling ability was proportional to diameter of UASB sludges, suggesting effective detainment of larger granular sludges in the reactor. When acetate o r glucose was used as a substrate, a ll groups showed a relatively slight difference in SMA. However SMA with a volatile fatty acid mixture showed a significant increase with sludge diameter, suggesting better establishment of syntrophic relationship in larger granular sludges. Larger granular sludges showed a higher value of SMA upon environmental changes(ie., pH, temperature, or toxicant concentration). Comparative analysis of elemental contents showed that content (dry weight %) of most tested elements (Fe, Ca, P, Zn, Ni, and Mn) decreased with sludge diameter, suggesting that the elements could be important for initial granulation. Taken together, this study verified experimentally that physicochemical properties of UASB sludges are related to UASB sludge size distributions. Overall results of physicochemical characterization supports that larger granular sludges are better applicable to UASB systems.

[Development of a gas chromatographic column system for the on-line analysis of trace tetrahydrofuran in hexane]

A gas chromatographic system using home-made 7 microns thick cross-linked dimethylpolysiloxane columns for the on-line analysis of trace tetrahydrofuran in hexane in a rubber production facility was developed. The experimental parameters of the column system, including the temperature, flow rate as well as the back-flushing and heart-cutting program were investigated. The total column-switching program was suggested. The system has been successfully operated for more than one year with good resolution, stability and precision (RSD < 5%) in analyzing trace tetrahydrofuran (0-250 x 10(-6), V/V) for industrial process control in the rubber production facility.

Up-regulation and co-expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors in human gastric cancer

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), a key regulatory factor of cell growth and differentiation, is involved in embryonic development, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. To date, four different FGF receptors (FGFRs) have been cloned and characterized. We examined the expression of four FGFRs in human gastric cancer tissues and cell lines using Northern analysis, ribonuclease protection assay, and immunohistochemistry. The mRNAs of FGFR-1 (10/14), FGFR-2 (9/14), and FGFR-4 (9/14) were up-regulated in cancer compared with normal tissues. FGFR-3 mRNAs were barely detectable in both normal and cancer tissues. These FGFR mRNAs were co-expressed in various combinations of two or three in the same tissue. Immunohistochemistry confirmed specific staining of multiple FGFRs, except FGFR-3, in the cancer specimens. To investigate the functional significance of FGFR co-expression we examined the invasive property of SNU-16 cells, which exhibited gene amplification of FGFR-2, -3, and -4 as well as over-expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR), a splice variant of FGFR-2, and FGFR-4 mRNA. KGF plus acidic FGF (aFGF), KGF, and aFGF treatment enhanced the invasive potential of SNU-16 cells over the control by 100%, 107%, and 47%, respectively, indicating that neither additive nor synergistic effect was induced by stimulation with aFGF plus KGF. These results suggest that co-expression of FGFRs in various combinations may cause subtle changes in the progression of gastric cancer.

Soluble dietary fibre improves insulin sensitivity by increasing muscle GLUT-4 content in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. The effects of soluble dietary fibre (psyllium) on peripheral insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle GLUT-4 protein expression were studied in 12 male stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) fed a high-caloric diet from 5 to 9 weeks of age. 2. In the psyllium-supplemented group, fasting plasma glucose was significantly reduced and glucose levels following an oral glucose tolerance test were significantly lower than in the cellulose-supplemented group at 30 (P < 0.05) and 60 min (P < 0.01). However, there was no difference in insulin secretion. 3. In the psyllium-supplemented group, skeletal muscle GLUT-4 content was significantly increased in the plasma membrane (P < 0.001), but not in the intracellular membrane. 4. No significant difference was found in phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase activity between cellulose and psyllium diet not only in the basal state but also when stimulated by insulin. 5. These results demonstrate that psyllium increases blood glucose disposal by increasing skeletal muscle plasma membrane GLUT-4 content without PI3-kinase activation.

Purification and immunoreactivity of three components from the 30/32-kilodalton antigen 85 complex in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The three proteins of the antigen 85 complex (85A, 85B, and 85C), which are major secretory products of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, were purified to homogeneity in large amounts by a combination of chromatography on hydroxylapatite, DEAE-Sepharose, and DEAE-Sephacel and gel filtration from M. tuberculosis culture filtrate. Then we examined the immunological reactivity of the three proteins in tuberculosis patients and healthy controls. Antibody responses to the 85B and 85A proteins in patients were significantly greater than responses to the 85C protein. In contrast, all three antigens induced significant lymphoproliferation and gamma interferon production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy tuberculin reactors.

Curcumin inhibits Th1 cytokine profile in CD4+ T cells by suppressing interleukin-12 production in macrophages

1 Interleukin-12 (IL-12) plays a central role in the immune system by driving the immune response towards T helper 1 (Th1) type responses which are characterized by high IFN-gamma and low IL-4 production. In this study we investigated the effects of curcumin, a natural product of plants obtained from Curcuma longa (turmeric), on IL-12 production by mouse splenic macrophages and the subsequent ability of these cells to regulate cytokine production by CD4+ T cells. 2 Pretreatment with curcumin significantly inhibited IL-12 production by macrophages stimulated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or head-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKL). 3 Curcumin-pretreated macrophages reduced their ability to induce IFN-gamma and increased the ability to induce IL-4 in Ag-primed CD4+ T cells. Addition of recombinant IL-12 to cultures of curcumin-pretreated macrophages and CD4+ T cells restored IFN-gamma production in CD4+ T cells. 4 The in vivo administration of curcumin resulted in the inhibition of IL-12 production by macrophages stimulated in vitro with either LPS or HKL, leading to the inhibition of Th1 cytokine profile (decreased IFN-gamma and increased IL-4 production) in CD4+ T cells. 5 These findings suggest that curcumin may inhibit Th1 cytokine profile in CD4+ T cells by suppressing IL-12 production in macrophages, and points to a possible therapeutic use of curcumin in the Th1-mediated immune diseases.

Training in swimming reduces blood pressure and increases muscle glucose transport activity as well as GLUT4 contents in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Exercise improves muscle insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 contents. We investigated the beneficial effects of swimming training on insulin sensitivity and genetic hypertension using stroke-prone hypertensive rats (SHRSP). We studied the relationship between genetic hypertension and insulin resistance in SHRSP and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) as a control. The systolic blood pressure of SHRSP was significantly reduced by 4-week swimming training (208.4 +/- 6.8 mmHg vs. 187.2 +/- 4.1 mmHg, p < 0.05). The swimming training also resulted in an approximately 20% increase in the insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity (p < 0.05) of soleus muscle strips and an approximately 3-fold increase in the plasma membrane GLUT4 protein expression (p < 0.01) in SHRSP. However, basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity and GLUT4 contents were not significantly different between WKY and SHRSP. There was no difference in insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of SHRSP as compared with WKY. Our results indicated swimming training exercise improved not only hypertension but also muscle insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 protein expression in SHRSP.