Volume increases in putamen associated with positive symptom reduction in previously drug-naive schizophrenia after 6 weeks antipsychotic treatment

BACKGROUND

Brain structure appears to alter after antipsychotic administration, but it is unknown whether these alterations are associated with improvement of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia. In this study, the authors explore this relationship.

METHOD

Altogether, 66 first-episode, drug-naive patients with schizophrenia and 23 well-matched healthy controls underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline. All 23 healthy controls and 42 of the patients were rescanned after 6 weeks follow-up. The patients received regular antipsychotic treatment during the 6-week period and their psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and 6 weeks. The difference in PANSS scores between baseline and 6 weeks was expressed as a ratio of the scores at baseline - 'PANSS reduction ratio'. A modified tensor-based morphometry procedure was applied to analyse longitudinal images. Correlations between regional volume changes, PANSS reduction ratio and antipsychotic drug dosages were explored.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, there was a significant increase in grey-matter volume of the right putamen in patients after 6 weeks treatment. This volume change was positively correlated with a positive PANSS reduction score but not related to drug dosages.

CONCLUSIONS

Putaminal volume increased after 6 weeks antipsychotic treatment in first-episode schizophrenia. The increased volume was closely correlated with improved psychopathology, suggesting the putamen might be a biomarker to predict the treatment response in schizophrenia.

Cloning and characterization of the HSP90 beta gene from Tanichthys albonubes Lin (Cyprinidae): effect of copper and cadmium exposure

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a highly conserved molecular chaperone important in the maturation of a broad spectrum of proteins. In order to evaluate the effect of copper (Cu(2+)) and cadmium (Cd(2+)) on the expression of HSP90 from Tanichthys albonubes (designated TaHSP90), the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) of TaHSP90 was cloned using reverse transcription PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. A 2,687-bp sequence was sequenced and consisted of an open reading frame (ORF) of 2,181 bp encoding a polypeptide of 727 amino acids with five HSP90 family signatures. Homologous analysis revealed that TaHSP90 gene shared high similarity with other known HSP90 genes and belonged to HSP90β subtype. Fluorescent real-time quantitative PCR was used to examine the expression pattern of TaHSP90β mRNA in different tissues (liver, muscle, gill, fin, eye, ovary, intestine and brain), and the result indicated that TaHSP90β was widely expressed in all examined tissues at different levels. Sensitivity of TaHSP90β to copper and cadmium was examined by exposing fish to different concentrations of Cu(2+) (0, 13.50 and 27.00 μg/L) and Cd(2+) (0, 1.15, 2.31 mg/L) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. The copper treatment induced TaHSP90β expression slight increase only at 24 and 48 h, while cadmium treatment caused slight down-regulation of TaHSP90β only 72 and 96 h. Our data suggest that the cloning and expression analysis of T. albonubes HSP90β gene provided useful molecular information of T. albonubes responses in stress conditions and potential ways to monitor the chronic stressors in T. albonubes culture environments.

Combining transfer of TTF-1 and Pax-8 gene: a potential strategy to promote radioiodine therapy of thyroid carcinoma

Cotransfer of thyroid-specific transcription factor (TTF)-1 and Pax-8 gene to tumor cells, resulting in the re-expression of iodide metabolism-associated proteins, such as sodium iodide symporter (NIS), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroperoxidase (TPO), offers the possibility of radioiodine therapy to non-iodide-concentrating tumor because the expression of iodide metabolism-associated proteins in thyroid are mediated by the thyroid transcription factor TTF-1 and Pax-8. The human TTF-1 and Pax-8 gene were transducted into the human thyroid carcinoma (K1 and F133) cells by the recombinant adenovirus, AdTTF-1 and AdPax-8. Re-expression of NIS mRNA and protein, but not TPO and Tg mRNA and protein, was detected in AdTTF-1-infected F133 cells, following with increasing radioiodine uptake (6.1-7.4 times), scarcely iodide organification and rapid iodide efflux (t(1/2) ≈ 8-min in vitro, t(1/2) ≈ 4.7-h in vivo). On contrast, all of the re-expression of NIS, TPO and Tg mRNA and proteins were detected in F133 cells coinfected with AdTTF-1 and AdPax-8. AdTTF-1- and AdPax-8-coinfected K1 and F133 cells could effectively accumulate radioiodine (6.6-7.5 times) and obviously retarded radioiodine retention (t(1/2) ≈ 25-30-min in vitro, t(1/2) ≈ 12-h in vivo) (P<0.05). Accordingly, the effect of radioiodine therapy of TTF-1 and Pax-8 cotransducted K1 and F133 cells (21-25% survival rate in vitro) was better than that of TTF-1-transducted cells (40% survival rate in vitro) (P<0.05). These results indicate that single TTF-1 gene transfer may have limited efficacy of radioiodine therapy because of rapid radioiodine efflux. The cotransduction of TTF-1 and Pax-8 gene, with resulting NIS-mediated radioiodine accumulation and TPO and Tg-mediated radioiodine organification and intracellular retention, may lead to effective radioiodine therapy of thyroid carcinoma.

Depletion and recovery of lymphoid subsets following morphine administration

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Opioid use and abuse has been linked to significant immunosuppression, which has been attributed, in part, to drug-induced depletion of lymphocytes. We sought to define the mechanisms by which lymphocyte populations are depleted and recover following morphine treatment in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Mice were implanted with morphine pellets and B- and T-cell subsets in the bone marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes were analysed at various time points. We also examined the effects of morphine on T-cell development using an ex vivo assay.

KEY RESULTS

The lymphocyte populations most susceptible to morphine-induced depletion were the precursor cells undergoing selection. As the lymphocytes recovered, more lymphocyte precursors proliferated than in control mice. In addition, peripheral T-cells displayed evidence that they had undergone homeostatic proliferation during the recovery phase of the experiments.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The recovery of lymphocytes following morphine-induced depletion occurred in the presence of morphine and via increased proliferation of lymphoid precursors and homeostatic proliferation of T-cells.

Population-based surveillance of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Shandong Province, China

To investigate the prevalence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Chinese populations, we analyzed the drug resistance profiles of 1787 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates through a population-based surveillance project in Shandong Province, China. We found 330 (18.5%; 95%CI 16.1-20.3) isolates resistant to ≥1 first-line drug and 65 (3.6%; 95%CI 2.9-4.6) multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, of which 13 (20.0%; 95%CI 11.9-31.4) were XDR; 47/65 MDR-TB isolates (70.8%; 95%CI 58.2-81.4) were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Our results indicate that inadequate application of second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs has caused increased prevalence of XDR-TB in certain Chinese populations.

Ossifying parosteal lipoma of the mandible: a case report and review of the literature

Parosteal lipoma is an unusual kind of lipoma and occurs in intimate association with the underlying periostium of the bone. Parosteal lipomas mostly affect the long bones and involvement of the mandible is rare. We report a case of ossifying parosteal lipoma of the mandible in which CT was effective in diagnosis and showed a well-circumscribed mass of fat attenuation containing areas of ossification and branch-like bony protuberances from adjacent cortical bone. Microscopic examination revealed that the mass was composed of mature fat cells without nuclear hyperchromasia or atypia. Layers of bone and ossification were found inside. Although rare, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of teratoma, osteochondroma and osteosarcoma.

Vitamin C enhances the in vitro development of porcine pre-implantation embryos by reducing oxidative stress

Vitamin C (Vc) is a natural compound supplemented to culture media to guarantee the appropriate reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, as well as protect cells from oxidative damage and apoptosis. The current study was conducted to determine the effects of Vc (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml) on the ROS production, developmental ability and quality of in vitro produced porcine parthenotes. The results show that: (i) the ROS levels in the embryos significantly decrease in the Vc-treated groups compared with the control (p < 0.05), (ii) the rates of blastocyst formation and total cell numbers in each blastocyst are significantly higher in the Vc-treated groups than in the control (p < 0.05); the optimum concentration of Vc is 20 μg/ml, (iii) the relative expression of Bcl-xL significantly increases and that of Bax is downregulated after Vc treatment. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling analysis indicates that the ratio of apoptotic cells in the blastocyst is also significantly lower in Vc-treated groups (p < 0.05) and (iv) Vc treatment can also increase the expression of the Nanog gene in porcine embryos, with a fivefold increase in 20 μg/ml Vc treatment compared with the control (p < 0.05). Therefore, Vc improves the development of porcine embryos by reducing the ROS levels. Vc addition in PZM-3 medium can decrease the number of apoptotic cells and increase the cell numbers in blastocysts to produce high-quality porcine embryos in vitro.

185 PARTHENOGENETIC ACTIVATION OF SIKA DEER (CERVUS NIPPON TEMMINCK) OOCYTES WITH CHEMICALS

Parthenogenetic activation of the oocyte represents an important step in the somatic cell nuclear transfer. The aim of the present study was to establish optimizing conditions for parthenogenetic activation of Sika deer oocytes necessary for cloning Sika deer. Sika deer ovaries were collected from a slaughter house during oestrus season (October and November), placed into saline (25°C) supplemented with 1% (v/v) penicillin and streptomycin and transported into the laboratory within 4 h. The small vesicular follicles (diameter, 2–5 mm) on the ovarian surface were incised with a scalpel in a Petri dish containing PBS to release the cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC). Only COC with uniform cytoplasm and at least 3 layers of compact cumulus cells were cultured in vitro for 24 h. The media of in vitro maturation (IVM) was TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 10 μg mL–1 FSH, 1 μg mL–1 LH, 0.2 mM cysteamine and 50 ng mL–1 epidermal growth factor. After IVM, the cumulus cells were denuded with 0.2% hyaluronidase in TCM-199 at 38.5°C by pipetting. The cumulus-free Sika deer oocytes were stimulated by 1 of the following treatments: 1) ethanol + 6-DMAP, treated with 7% ethanol for 7 min and 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) in DSOF for 4 h; or 2) ionomycin + 6-DMAP, treated with 5 μM ionomycin for 5 min and 2 mM 6-DMAP in DSOF for 4 h. Then, oocytes were transferred into culture media for 7 days [Day 0 (D0) = activation]. On D3, embryos were transferred into fresh DSOF drops supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum. All cultures were overlaid with mineral oil and kept in a humidified modular incubation chamber gassed with 5% CO2. Effects of these chemicals on oocyte activation were then examined and compared with the controls, in which oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 for 4 h without chemical supplement. Our results showed that rates of cleavage, morula and blastocyst were 72.7, 43.9 and 32.4% (n = 139), respectively, by treatment with ionomycin + 6-DMAP. And rates of cleavage, morula and blastocyst were 61.1, 29.7 and 17.8% (n = 134), respectively, by treatment with ethanol + 6-DMAP. However, the rates of cleavage, morula and blastocyst were 5, 0 and 0% (n = 101) in the control group. Meanwhile, the rates of oocyte cleavage (72.7% vs 61.1%), morula (43.9% vs 29.7%) and blastocyst (32.4% vs 17.8%) between 2 treatments of ionomycin + 6-DMAP and ethanol + 6-DMAP were significantly different (P < 0.05). In conclusion, parthenogenetic activation of Sika deer oocytes with ionomycin + 6-DMAP is more effective than that with ethanol + 6-DMAP. These results have begun to elucidate parameters important for animal modeling and cloning with the Sika deer and should facilitate the development of genetically defined animal models in this species. This work was supported by the grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 20090451135).

59 HISTONE DEACETYLASE 1 KNOCK-DOWN IN BOVINE FIBROBLAST CELLS AND CLONED EMBRYOS

Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) is one of the most conserved enzymes present in the nuclei of cells. It was thought to be the most important enzyme in the regulation of histone deacetylation process. However, the function of HDAC1 in bovine fibroblast cells and nuclear transfer embryos is not clear. In the present study, sh299 (5′GCAAGCAGATGCAGAGATTTCAAGA GAATCTCTGCATCTGCTTGCTT3′) targeting of HDAC1 mRNA sequence was designed in the PGP/U6/GFP vector (short hairpin RNA, shRNA, expression vector). The sh299 vector was transfected into bovine fibroblast cells by transfection reagent FuGENE HD and the positive cells were identified by the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Histone deacetylase 1 down-regulation in bovine fibroblast cells was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR with the 2–ΔΔCT method) at 48 h after sh299 vector transfection at mRNA level. Immunocytochemistry was performed at 96 h after sh299 vector transfection to examine the HDAC1 protein level. Bovine fibroblast cells of the control group, negative control vector transfection group and sh299 vector transfection group were used as donor cells for nuclear transfer. Cleavage rates and expression of HDAC1 mRNA in bovine cloned embryos were examined at 48 h after nuclear transfer. Blastocyst rates and total cell numbers of blastocysts were examined on Day 7 post-nuclear transfer. Data were analysed with Statistics Production for Service Solution (version 16.0; SPSS) by 1-way ANOVA. A value of P < 0.05 was considered to be significantly different. Our results showed that the expression level of HDAC1 was significantly reduced by transfection of the sh299 expression vector. The GFP-positive cells showed decreased signal for HDAC1 by immunocytochemistry. It was suggested that the transfection of the sh299 expression vector reduced HDAC1 expression in bovine fibroblast cells at both mRNA level and protein level. Following nuclear transfer, expression of HDAC1 was significantly reduced in the sh299 vector transfection group (donor cells were transfected by the sh299 vector) compared to the other 2 groups. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was seen in cleavage rates among bovine cloned embryos in the sh299 vector transfection group (52.3 ± 3.4%), control group (51.1 ± 5.4%) and negative control vector transfection group (56.2 ± 3.1%). However, blastocyst rates and total cell numbers of blastocysts were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the sh299 vector transfection group (4.2 ± 1.3% and 75.4 ± 9.2, n = 89) compared to the control group (18.2 ± 3.7% and 97.6 ± 7.3, n = 78) and negative control vector transfection group (18.9 ± 1.7% and 104.2 ± 10.3, n = 83). In conclusion, HDAC1 down-regulation in bovine fibroblast cells and cloned embryos by the sh299 expression vector indicated that HDAC1 was essential for the development of bovine cloned embryos. This work was supported by the grant from National Transgenic Animal Program (No.2009ZX08007-004B) in China.

Effects of estrogen and progestin on expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in a nude mouse model of endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

The study endeavored to observe the effects of estrogen and progestin on expression of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in a nude mouse model of endometriosis (EMT) and to explore the roles of MMP-2/TIMP-2 in the pathogenesis of EMT.

METHODS

Sixty nude mice were injected in the abdominopelvic cavity with human endometrial tissue and randomly divided into four hormone treatment groups (estrogen, progestin, estrogen+progestin, and saline control; n=15 per group). Implantation rates and gross morphological characteristics were assessed. Further, expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in ectopic endometrial lesions was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The overall implantation rate of endometrial samples was 87.5% (50/60) in injected nude mice. Although there was no statistically significant difference in implantation rates between groups, the number of lesions in the progestin group was higher than that in other groups, and the size of lesions in the progestin and estrogen+progestin groups was larger than in the estrogen and control groups (p < 0.05). Further, expression levels of MMP-2 in the estrogen and estrogen+progestin groups were higher than in the progestin and control groups (p < 0.05). In contrast, expression levels of TIMP-2 in estrogen, progestin, and estrogen+progestin groups were lower than in the control group; additionally, the expression level of TIMP-2 in the progestin group was lower than in the estrogen group (p < 0.05). Finally, the ratios of MMP-2/TIMP-2 expression in the estrogen, progestin, and estrogen+progestin groups were higher than for the control group; in fact, this ratio was highest in the estrogen+progestin group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The nude mouse is an appropriate model for early clinical studies of EMT, specifically in the detection of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. These proteins appear important in the pathogenesis of EMT. Specifically, estrogen can raise the expression level of MMP-2 to promote ectopic implantation of endometrial tissue. Meanwhile, progestin can inhibit the expression of TIMP-2 to raise the MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio, which can enhance invasiveness of ectopic endometrium to promote implantation.

Relationships of percent body fat and percent trunk fat with bone mineral density among Chinese, black, and white subjects

We examined ethnic difference in the association of body fat and trunk fat with bone mineral density (BMD) among Chinese, white, and black subjects. We found that, with greater body and trunk fat, both white and black subjects were more likely to have a low BMD than Chinese subjects.

INTRODUCTION

Ethnic differences in body fat, abdominal fat distribution, and BMD have been found in previous studies between Chinese and white subjects. However, the associations of body fat and abdominal fat distribution with BMD have not been studied, and whether the ethnic differences have an effect on these associations is unclear.

METHODS

We evaluated 1,147 subjects aged ≥ 18 years (805 Chinese, 193 whites, and 149 blacks). Percent body fat (%BF), percent trunk fat (%TF), and total and regional BMD including that of head, arm, leg, trunk, rib, spine, and pelvis were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression models were developed to test the association of ethnicity, %BF, and interaction between ethnicity and %BF with BMD. The models were repeated again, replacing %BF with %TF.

RESULTS

Chinese subjects showed lower BMD in total and most regions compared with black and white subjects; however, these differences were eliminated between Chinese and whites within both sexes and between Chinese and black men when age, weight, height, and %BF were added. %BF and %TF were negatively associated with most regional body BMD. The interactions between %BF, %TF, and ethnicity were found in most regional body BMD among Chinese, white, and black subjects for both men and women.

CONCLUSION

Both %BF and %TF have negative associations with BMD. With greater accumulation of %BF and %TF, both white and black subjects may experience a higher risk of low BMD than Chinese subjects.

First Report of Xanthomonas gardneri Causing Bacterial Spot of Tomato in Ohio and Michigan

In 2009 and 2010, outbreaks of bacterial spot characterized by significant fruit spotting occurred in at least 2,000 ha of commercial processing tomatoes in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Losses were estimated at $7.8 million. Diseased fruit and foliage were collected from 32 Ohio and Michigan fields in 2010. Excised lesions from fruit and leaves were dipped briefly in 70% ethanol, air dried, and chopped into pieces in 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (KPB), pH 7.4. Ten-fold serial dilutions in KPB were plated on yeast dextrose carbonate agar medium and 83 yellow mucoid colonies were purified. All isolates were gram negative and induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants 24 h after inoculation with a 10⁸ CFU/ml bacterial suspension in water. All 83 isolates were identified as Xanthomonas spp. using genus-specific primers RST65/69 (2). Of these, 11 were identified as X. euvesicatoria and 8 as X. perforans using the species-specific primers RST27/28 (1) and JJ19/22 (5'-AACCCAACTAATTTCCCTC-3' and 5'-AACGAGATTTGTTACGAACC-3'; J. B. Jones, personal communication), respectively. DNA fingerprint profiles of 62 of the 64 remaining strains generated using BOX-PCR assays (4) were identical to the profile of X. gardneri type strain XCGA2. The DNA profiles of 2 of the 64 Xanthomonas strains did not resemble those of any reference strains. The 16S rDNA and ITS1 genes from two representative strains (SM174-10 and SM230-10) were PCR amplified, direct sequenced, and aligned using nBLAST with the same gene region from XCGA2 (GenBank Accession No. AF123093). Strains SM174-10 and SM230-10 differed from XCGA2 by 2 bp (99% nucleotide similarity). Pathogenicity tests were performed twice on 6-week-old tomato seedlings (cv. Peto 696). Three tomato seedlings were sprayed until runoff with strain SM174-10 (~10⁸ CFU/ml), three seedlings were sprayed similarly with water (control treatment), and all six plants were grown under high relative humidity (24 s of mist per 12 min) at day/night temperatures of 29/23°C for 15 days. Seedlings inoculated with SM174-10 exhibited water-soaked lesions and chlorosis on the foliage, similar to field symptoms, within 14 days. Seedlings sprayed with water did not develop symptoms. Isolates cultured as described above from all three pathogen-inoculated seedlings were similar in morphology to strain SM174-10; no cultures were recovered from water-inoculated plants. The BOX-PCR fingerprint profile of a representative reisolated colony was identical to that of SM174-10. Although bacterial spot of tomato is a common disease in Ohio and Michigan, to our knowledge this is the first report of X. gardneri infecting tomatoes in these states and provides evidence that there may have been a shift in the primary causal agent of bacterial spot from X. euvesicatoria (3) to X. gardneri. References: (1) H. Bouzar et al. Phytopathology 84:39, 1994. (2) A. Obradovic et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 11:285, 2004. (3) F. Sahin. Ph.D. Diss. The Ohio State University, Columbus, 1997. (4) D. J. Versalovic et al. Methods Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:25, 1994.

Contribution of visceral fat accumulation to carotid intima-media thickness in a Chinese population

Objective:

Recent observational studies have reported that body fat distribution might be differentially associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. We previously reported that visceral fat area (VFA) ⩾80 cm² is the optimal cutoff for identifying abdominal obesity in Chinese subjects. We examined whether VFA ⩾80 cm² reflects the association between abdominal obesity and subclinical atherosclerosis, and if determination of the visceral fat quantity is useful for assessing subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals.

Methods and results:

Participants (N=1005, men 515, women 490, 34–66 years) free of cardiovascular disease underwent magnetic resonance imaging and carotid ultrasound assessment to quantify VFA and carotid intima–media thickness (C-IMT). Overweight/obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) ⩾25.0 kg m⁻²) had a higher C-IMT than lean subjects (BMI <25.0 kg m⁻²) (P<0.01). Subjects with VFA ⩾80 cm² had significantly higher C-IMT than those without abdominal obesity regardless of BMI (P<0.01). By multivariate regression analysis adjusted for anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors, waist circumference but not BMI was independently correlated with C-IMT in men (P<0.001). Similar findings were observed with an accurate obesity indices adjusted model, which showed that VFA was an independent risk factor for increased C-IMT in men but not in women.

Conclusions:

VFA ⩾80 cm² effectively identified carotid atherosclerosis for both lean and obese individuals in middle-aged Chinese men.

Interleukin-17 exacerbates hepatic steatosis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Mechanisms associated with the progression of simple steatosis to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain undefined. Regulatory T cells (T(regs)) play a critical role in regulating inflammatory processes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and because T helper type 17 (Th17) functionally oppose T(reg)-mediated responses, this study focused on characterizing the role of Th17 cells using a NAFLD mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or high fat (HF) diet for 8 weeks. Mice in the HF group had a significantly higher frequency of liver Th17 cells compared to ND-fed mice. Neutralization of interleukin (IL)-17 in HF mice ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury reflected by decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and reduced inflammatory cell infiltrates in the liver. In vitro, HepG2 cells cultured in the presence of free fatty acids (FFA; oleic acid and palmitic acid) for 24 h and IL-17 developed steatosis via insulin-signalling pathway interference. IL-17 and FFAs synergized to induce IL-6 production by HepG2 cells and murine primary hepatocytes which, in combination with transforming growth factor (TGF-β), expanded Th17 cells. It is likely that a similar process occurs in NASH patients, as there were significant levels of IL-17(+) cell infiltrates in NASH patient livers. The hepatic expression of Th17 cell-related genes [retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma (ROR)γt, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23] was also increased significantly in NASH patients compared to healthy controls. Th17 cells and IL-17 were associated with hepatic steatosis and proinflammatory response in NAFLD and facilitated the transition from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. Strategies designed to alter the balance between Th17 cells and T(regs) should be explored as a means of preventing progression to NASH and advanced liver diseases in NAFLD patients.

Epigenetic inactivation of paired box gene 5, a novel tumor suppressor gene, through direct upregulation of p53 is associated with prognosis in gastric cancer patients

Using genome-wide methylation screening, we identified that paired box gene 5 (PAX5) is involved in human cancer development. However, the function of PAX5 in gastric cancer (GC) development is largely unclear. We analyzed its epigenetic inactivation, biological functions and clinical application in GC. PAX5 was silenced in seven out of eight GC cell lines. A significant downregulation was also detected in paired gastric tumors compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The downregulation of PAX5 was closely linked to the promoter hypermethylation status and could be restored with demethylation treatment. Ectopic expression of PAX5 in silenced GC cell lines (AGS and BGC823) inhibited colony formation and cell viability, arrested cell cycle, induced apoptosis, suppressed cell migration and invasion and repressed tumorigenicity in nude mice. Consistent with the induction of apoptosis by PAX5 in vitro, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining showed significantly enhanced apoptotic cells in PAX5-expressed tumors compared with the vector control tumors. On the other hand, knockdown of PAX5 by PAX5-short hairpin RNA increased the cell viability and proliferation. The anti-tumorigenic function of PAX5 was revealed to be mediated by upregulating downstream targets of tumor protein 53 (p53), p21, BCL2-associated X protein, metastasis suppressor 1 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1, and downregulating BCL2, cyclin D1, mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) and matrix metalloproteinase 1. Immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that PAX5 directly bound to the promoters of p53 and MET. Moreover, PAX5 hypermethylation was detected in 77% (144 of 187) of primary GCs compared with 10.5% (2/19) of normal gastric tissues (P<0.0001). GC patients with PAX5 methylation had a significant poor survival compared with the unmethylated cases as demonstrated by Cox regression model and log-rank test. In conclusion, PAX5 is a novel functional tumor suppressor in gastric carcinogenesis. Detection of methylated PAX5 can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor in GC.

Coherent spin precession via photoinduced antiferromagnetic interactions in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3

Pronounced spin precessions are observed in a geometry with negligible canting of the magnetization in ferromagnetic La(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) thin films using the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. The precession amplitude monotonically decreases with increasing field, indicating that the coherent spin rotation may be triggered by a transient exchange field and not by demagnetization and/or anisotropy field modulation. We attribute the transient exchange field to emergent antiferromagnetic interactions due to charge transfer and modification of the kinetic energy of e(g) electrons under optical excitation.

Associations of miRNA polymorphisms and female physiological characteristics with breast cancer risk in Chinese population

mircoRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles on regulation of gene expressions. Aberrant expression of miRNAs was involved in various biological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were implicated in altered expression or biological functions of mature miRNAs. To explore the relevance of miRNA polymorphisms and female physiological characteristics to breast cancer risk, SNPs located within hsa-miR-605 (rs2043556), hsa-miR-149 (rs2292832), hsa-miR-27a (rs895819), hsa-miR-196a-2 (rs11614913) and hsa-miR-618 (rs2682818) were selected, and their associations with breast cancer risk were analysed. In addition, associations between physiological characteristics-related factors and breast cancer risk were estimated too. We found that the ones with menarche age less than 16 years had increased breast cancer risk (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.23-3.60). Marginally significant association between rs11614913 CT/CC genotypes and reduced breast cancer risk was observed (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.40-1.06), while no significance was detected about the other miRNA polymorphisms. We concluded that menarche at less than 16 years old increased breast cancer risk, while the genetic variants in miR-196-a-2 might decrease the risk.