Solitary electromagnetic pulses detected with super-Alfvénic flows in Earth's geomagnetic tail

Solitary nonlinear (deltaB/B>>1) electromagnetic pulses have been detected in Earth's geomagnetic tail accompanying plasmas flowing at super-Alfvénic speeds. The pulses in the current sheet had durations of approximately 5 s, were left-hand circularly polarized, and had phase speeds of approximately the Alfvén speed in the plasma frame. These pulses were associated with a field-aligned current J(parallel) and observed in low density (approximately 0.3 cm(-3)), high temperature (T(e) approximately T(i) approximately 3x10(7) K), and beta approximately 10 plasma that included electron and ion beams streaming along B. The wave activity was enhanced from below the ion cyclotron frequency to electron cyclotron and upper hybrid frequencies. The detailed properties suggest the pulses are nonlinearly steepened ion cyclotron or Alfvén waves.

Phase II study of irinotecan based fourth-line chemotherapy for gefitinib therapy-failed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

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Background: Despite the undoubted gains from EGFR TK inhibitor therapy as 2nd or 3rd line chemotherapy, most of them will relapse during treatment. Among these patients, they might be young, with good performance status, and their disease is expressed with only minor symptoms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antitumor efficacy and safety of irinotecan based regimen as 4th line therapy for refractory or recurrent to gefitinib treatment. We report our experience with irinotecan-based 4th line chemotherapy. Methods: Eligibility required proven NSCLC refractory or recurrent after 3rd line chemotherapy(gefitinib), measurable lesions by RECIST, and ECOG PS 0–1. Irinotecan (60mg/m2, day 1,8,15) and/or cisplatin (60 mg/m2, day 1) were administered every four week for at least 2 course. We analyzed for time to tumor progression (TTP) for first, response rates and toxicities. Results: Since June 2004, 17 patients (consisting of 9 with squamous cell, 7 with adeno-, and 1 with NSCLC not further specified) with a median age of 61 years were enrolled, with 1 drop out during treatment. Chemotherapy was administered for a median 2 courses (range 2–6). Median TTP was 91 (range 35–210) days. Two pts achieved a PR and 5 pts a SD. Disease control rate was 41.2%. Response rate was 11.8%. Toxicity of grade 3 or 4 consisted of neutropenia (35.3%), anemia (29.4%), thrombocytopenia (17.7%), nausea (17.6%), and diarrhea (23.5%). There were no treatment related deaths. Conclusions: This irinotecan based chemotherapy for EGFR TK inhinbitor therapy failed NSCLC patients showed promising efficacy with tolerable toxicity. Irinotecan based chemotherapy may be considered a potential therapeutic option for 4th line chemotherapy in well selected patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Ultrasound imaging features of radial scars of the breast

Radial scars of the breast are common benign lesions, which are often radiologically occult. When they are detected by imaging, they are most often found by mammography. Radial scars are usually impalpable and have traditionally been localized for core biopsy and hookwire placement preoperatively by mammographic guidance. Stereotactic biopsy and localization is often difficult. Ultrasound-guided core biopsies and hookwire placement have the potential to provide a more accurate needle placement. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of radial scars detectable by ultrasound and the feasibility of carrying out core biopsies and hookwire localization ultrasonographically. A retrospective review of the records of 7236 women was undertaken to determine those who had a histological diagnosis of radial scar. A total of 44 radial scars in 43 women were found, of which 40 had images that were available for analysis. Sixty-eight per cent of radial scars are visible on ultrasound, most commonly seen as hypoechoic areas/masses. Parenchymal distortion without a hypoechoic mass was seen in 22%. In 8%, the lesion was appreciably better visualized by ultrasound when compared with mammography. In one case, the lesion was detected on ultrasound and not detected by mammography. At least two-thirds of mammographically detected radial scars can be visualized on ultrasound. These should be submitted to preoperative core biopsy and hookwire localization under ultrasound control.

Evaluation of acellular human dermis reinforcement of the crural closure in patients with difficult hiatal hernias

BACKGROUND

Biologic prosthetics may circumvent mesh-related complications at the esophageal hiatus by becoming remodeled by native cells. We present our experience with acellular human dermal matrix in the repair of difficult hiatal hernias (HH).

METHODS

Records of 17 patients who underwent laparoscopic HH repair using acellular human dermis to buttress the crural closure were analyzed. Hernias were paraesophageal (PEH) in 12 patients, large type 1 in 1 patient, and recurrent after prior HH repair in 4 patients. Barium swallow (BAS) was obtained 6-12 months after surgery. (Data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation.)

RESULTS

Mean patient age was 65 +/- 12 years and BMI was 31 +/- 4. Mean gastroesophageal (GE) junction distance above the diaphragm in the PEHs was 4.9 +/- 1.5 cm; 9 of 12 patients with PEH had more than 50% of the stomach in the chest. Mean operating time was 273 +/- 48 min. Average hiatal defect size was 4.7 x 2.7 cm, with 4.2 +/- 1.2 sutures used to close the crura. Nissen fundoplication was performed in all patients, esophageal lengthening in four patients, and anterior gastropexy in three patients. Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was 2.3 +/- 0.8 days. Mean followup was 14.4 +/- 4.4 months. Postoperatively, only one (6%) patient had heartburn/regurgitation, one (6%) had mild dysphagia, and two (12%) take proton pump inhibitors. Followup BAS at 10.3 +/- 4.9 months after surgery showed small recurrent hernias in two patients (12%), but only one was symptomatic. In addition, there was one symptomatic failure of a redo Nissen in an obese patient. Reoperative gastric bypass 15 months later showed an intact crural closure with a remodeled buttress site.

CONCLUSIONS

Acellular human dermal matrix may be an effective method to buttress the crural closure in patients with large hiatal hernias. Longer followup in larger numbers of patients is needed to assess the validity of this approach.

100 EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POST-ACTIVATION TREATMENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER PIG EMBRYOS

Activation treatment is one of the important factors that affect the development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. We examined the effect of post-activation (PA) treatment on the change in donor nucleus and SCNT embryo development in pig. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with porcine follicular fluid, cysteine, pyruvate, EGF, insulin, and hormones for the first 22 h and in fresh hormone-free medium for 18 h. After 40 h of IVM, oocytes with a polar body were enucleated, injected with a donor cell (ear skin fibroblasts bearing the human decay accelerating factor gene), electrically fused, and activated 1 h after fusion. Then, SCNT embryos were cultured in a modified NCSU-23 medium (Park et al. 2005 Zygote 13, 269–275) containing no additives (control), 5 �g mL-1 cytochalasin B (CB), 0.4 �g mL-1 demecolcine (D), or CB+D for 4 h. CB and D were prepared from stock solutions of 5 mg mL-1 CB in DMSO and 10 �g mL-1 D in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), respectively. After PA treatment, SCNT embryos were cultured in a modified NCSU-23 medium for 6 days. The embryos (n = 188, 189, 187, and 186 for control, CB, D, and CB+D, respectively) were examined for cleavage and blastocyst (BL) formation on Days 2 and 6, respectively (Day 0 = the day of SCNT). Cell number of BL was examined by counting the number of nuclei stained with Hoechst 33342 under fluorescence. To assess the nuclear structure, some of the fused oocytes were fixed at 12 h after PA and stained with aceto-orcein (n = 42, 44, 43, and 45 for control, CB, D, and CB+D, respectively). Nuclear state was classified as 1 pseudopronucleus (PPN), multi-PPN, and others. Data were analyzed by ANOVA (GLM procedure) in SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). PA treatment with D and CB+D significantly (P < 0.05) increased 1 PPN formation (84 and 80%, respectively) compared to control and CB (62 and 64%, respectively). Conversely, a higher (P < 0.001) rate of multi-PPN was observed in control and CB (31 and 36%, respectively) than in D and CB+D (9 and 7%, respectively). This result was in contrast with the finding in mouse that nocodazole, another microtubule depolymerizing agent, induced multi-PPN in reconstructed zygotes. Pig meiotic spindles differ at their poles from those in mice by lacking γ-tubulin. Absence of γ-tubulin in pig oocytes would make spindle dynamics more sensitive to depolymerization, which might lead to a different result in this study. Embryo cleavage (77–85%) was not altered by PA treatments, but BL formation was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by CB, D, or CB+D (26, 28, and 28%, respectively) compared to control (16%). Total cell number of BL (36–40 cells/BL) was not different among groups. These results indicate that PA treatment with CB and/or D improved in vitro development of SCNT pig embryos and that D treatment effectively prevented the formation of multi-PPN. This work was supported by the Research Project on the Production of Bio-organs (No. 200506020601), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Korea.

59 HIGHER BLASTOCYST FORMATION OF SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS DOES NOT GUARANTEE BETTER PREGNANCY IN PIG

Generally, blastocyst (BL) formation and embryo cell number are used as main parameters to evaluate the viability and quality of in vitro-produced somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. We investigated whether in vitro development of SCNT pig embryos correlates with in vivo viability after transfer to surrogates. For SCNT, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with follicular fluid, hormones, EGF, cysteine, and insulin for the first 22 h and in a hormone-free medium for 18 h. Three sources of pig skin cells were used as nuclear donor: (1) skin fibroblasts of a cloned piglet that were produced by SCNT of fetal fibroblasts from a Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc F1 hybrid (LYD), (2) skin fibroblasts of a miniature pig having the human decay accelerating factor gene (hDAF-MP), and (3) skin fibroblasts of a miniature pig with a different strain (MP). MII oocytes were enucleated, subjected to nuclear transfer from a donor cell, electrically fused, and activated 1 h after fusion. SCNT embryos were cultured in a modified NCSU-23 (Park Y et al. 2005 Zygote 13, 269–275) for 6 days or surgically transferred (110–150 fused embryos) into the oviduct of a surrogate that showed standing estrus on the same day as SCNT. Embryos were examined for cleavage and BL formation on Days 2 and 6, respectively (Day 0 = the day of SCNT). BLs were examined for their cell number after staining with Hoechst 33342. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound 30 and 60 days after embryo transfer. Embryo cleavage was not affected by donor cells (82, 81, and 72% for LYD, hDAF-MP, and MP, respectively), but BL formation was higher (P < 0.05) in hDAF-MP (16%) than in LYD (9%) and MP (6%). MP showed higher (P < 0.05) BL cell number (46 cells/BL) than hDAF-MP (34 cells) but did not show a difference from LYD (37 cells). LYD and MP showed higher pregnancy rates (Table 1) on Days 30 and 60, even though they showed lower BL formation in vitro. Due to a relatively small number of embryo transfers through a limited period, we could not exclude any possible effects by seasonal or operational differences. These results indicated that pregnancy did not correlate with in vitro BL formation of SCNT pig embryos but rather were affected by the source of donor cells. Table 1.In vivo development of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos derived from different sources of donor cells This work was supported by the Research Project on the Production of Bio-organs (No. 200506020601), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Korea.

356 IMPROVED ENUCLEATION EFFICIENCY FOR PIG SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER BY DENUDING OOCYTES AT 30 HOURS OF IN VITRO MATURATION

Oocytes for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have to be removed from their cumulus cells before enucleation. Denuding oocytes by vortexing or repeated pipetting makes the polar body (PB) deviate from the metaphase (MII) plate, which in turn makes it difficult to remove DNA materials completely during enucleation. We hypothesized that denuding oocytes at 30 h of IVM maintains the MII plate and PB in a closer position and therefore makes it easy to enucleate. To test this hypothesis, oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented follicular fluid, hormones, EGF, cysteine, and insulin for first 22 h, and in a hormone-free medium for 18 h with three modifications: (1) cumulus cells were removed from oocytes just prior to enucleation at 40 h of IVM (control), (2) oocytes were denuded at 30 h of IVM and co-cultured with their detached cumulus cells for 10 h (D+), and (3) oocytes denuded at 30 h of IVM were cultured without cumulus cells (D-). After IVM, some oocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 and photographed by a digital camera; the distance between the MII plate and the PB were measured using an image analysis program (ImageJ 1.36; http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij). Also, the enucleation rate after blind enucleation and the in vitro development of SCNT embryos were determined. For SCNT, oocytes were enucleated, and nuclear material from donor cells (skin fibroblasts from a miniature pig) was inserted; oocytes were then electrically fused, and activated 1 h after fusion. SCNT embryos were cultured in a modified NCSU-23 (Park et al. 2005 Zygote 13, 269-275) for 6 days. Embryos were examined for their cleavage and blastocyst formation on Days 2 and 6, respectively (the day of SCNT was designated Day 0). Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure and the least significant difference test in SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The distance between the MII plate and the PB was significantly (P < 0.01) shorter in D+ and D- embryos (19.4 and 18.9 �m, respectively) than in the controls (25.5 �m). Enucleation rates after blind enucleation were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in D+ and D- groups (77% and 72%, respectively) than in the controls (60%). Oocyte maturation (89–91%), SCNT embryo cleavage (71–77%), blastocyst formation (4–5%), and embryo cell number (39-45 cells/embryo) were not altered by different denuding methods. The perivitelline space (PVS) increases with time during maturation and denudation, after PB extrusion markedly enhances PB deviation. It is likely that increased PVS in control oocytes enhanced PB deviation during denudation and then resulted in lower enucleation rate. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that denuding at 30 h of IVM maintained the MII plate and the PB in a closer position and improved enucleation efficiency without impairing developmental capacity of SCNT embryos. This work was supported by the Research Project on the Production of Bio-organs (No. 200506020601), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Korea.

53 EFFECTS OF INSULIN-TRANSFERRIN-SELENIUM IN DEFINED AND PORCINE FOLLICULAR FLUID-SUPPLEMENTED MEDIUM ON IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF PORCINE SCNT EMBRYOS

Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose and amino acids, and is beneficial for maturation of oocytes in vitro. Transferrin is an iron-transport protein and selenium is an essential trace element. Insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) together has been used in some in vitro maturation systems. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of ITS in defined and porcine folicular fluid (pFF)-supplemented IVM medium on the glutathione (GSH) concentration, and on developmental competence after somatic cell nuclear transfer. ITS liquid media supplement (I-3146) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, MO, USA). Basic IVM medium was TCM-199 supplemented with 10 ng mL-1 epidermal growth factor, 4 IU mL-1 pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and hCG and either 1% PVA (defined medium) or 10% pFF. Ten �g mL-1 insulin, 5.5 �g mL-1 transferrin, and 5 �g mL-1 selenium was used for the entire 44-h culture period. The GSH content of a gruop of 10 to 20 oocytes was determined by the dithionitrobezoic acid-glutathione disulfide (DTNB-GSSG) reductase recycling assay. Fetal fibroblasts were used as somatic cell donors and reconstructed embryos were cultured in mNCSU-23 medium for 168 h. Cleavage and blastocyst formation was observed at 48 h and 168 h, respectively. The quality of blastocysts was assessed by differential staining of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE) cells. Each experiment was replicated for 5 times. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and Tukey was used as a posthoc test. The level of GSH production significantly varied in different culture conditions. The highest GSH concentration was observed in the pFF + ITS group (8.2 picomol/oocyte). A total of 116, 125, 126, and 120 reconstructed oocytes were cultured, and 10.1, 15.3, 17.2, and 21.8% blastocysts were observed for PVA, PVA + ITS, pFF, and pFF + ITS groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The numbers of inner cell mass, trophrectoderm cells, and total cells were significantly higher in the pFF + ITS group compared with the other groups. The average number of total cells in blastocysts was 31.9 � 1.8, 43.1 � 3.5, 46.7 � 4.9, and 52.3 � 6.7 for PVA, PVA + ITS, pFF, and pFF + ITS groups, respectively (P < 0.05). ITS supplement improved the developmental competence in both the defined and the pFF supplemented groups. We recommend supplementing porcine IVM medium with 10 �g mL-1 insulin, 5.5 �g mL-1 transferrin, and 5 �g mL-1 selenium.

CYP2D6 genotypes in association with steady state plasma concentrations of active metabolites of tamoxifen in patients with breast cancer

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Background: Tamoxifen is a prodrug that is metabolized to active metabolites, Z-4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen (BX) and Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4OH) where CYP2D6 plays a major role in the conversion. Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 by ethnicities are well known with CYP2D6*10 in Asians (up to 50% in Koreans), and CYP2D6 *2 and *4 in American Whites as major variant alleles. We analyzed the steady state plasma concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites in patients (pts) with breast cancer to evaluate their associations with various CYP2D6 genotypes. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 219 pts on tamoxifen, 20 mg daily as adjuvant therapy for more than 3 months at National Cancer Center, Korea. Plasma tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, BX, 4OH were measured by validated HPLC with fluorescence detector, and analyzed according to CYP2D6 genotype groups by Wilcoxon rank sum test. CYP2D6*10, CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*2×2 were identified by PCR-RFLP methods, and the rests were classified as CYP2D6*1 (wild type). This study was approved by IRB at National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCNHS04–033) and conducted after informed consent obtained by the patients. Results: Thus far, we measured plasma concentration of tamoxifen and its metabolites for 158 pts among 198 pts genotyped. 59 pts (29.8%) carried CYP2D6*1/*1, 84 pts (42.4%) *1/*10 and 49 pts (24.7%) *10/*10. Other types were CYP2D6*1/*5 (8.6%), *5/*5 (1.0%), *1/*2×2 (2.5%). Pts with CYP2D6 *10/*10 (n=40) demonstrated significantly lower steady state plasma concentrations of BX and 4OH than those with other genotypes (n=118) (BX: 7.9 vs.19.2. ng/ml [95 % CI; 5.5–10.4 vs. 15.8–22.7 ng/ml] p<0.0001; 4OH: 1.5 vs. 2.8 ng/ml [95 % CI; 1.1–2.0 vs. 2.3–3.3 ng/ml] p<0.0001), whereas there were no differences with *1/*10 (n=64) vs. without *10 allele (n=54) (BX: 20.6 vs. 18.1 ng/ml; 4OH: 2.9 vs. 2.7 ng/ml). Basically no significant differences in BX/4OH or other compounds by various CYP2D6*2 ×2 and *5 alleles were observed. Conclusions: The steady state plasma concentrations of BX and 4OH were significantly low with CYP2D6 *10/*10 genotype, and their clinical implications need to be explored.(Supported by a grant NCC-0410590).

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: cases reports in the family with diverticulosis and literature review

We report on benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma in two siblings whose family had a history of multiple familial diseases including diverticulosis. After a genetic evaluation and a chromosomal analysis, we were not able to identify a specific genetic cause of the family's pattern of disease. We assumed that previous surgical procedures and the chronic inflammatory process from diverticulitis were the underlying etiology. Both patients had multiple recurrences with indolent courses similar to those reported in other cases. After the recurrences, one patient was treated with cystic aspiration and the other with hormones. The cysts in both cases regressed partially but the patients were relieved of their clinical symptoms, for 2 years after cystic drainage in one case and for 5 years after hormonal treatment in the other.

Optical properties in nonequilibrium phase transitions

An open question about the dynamical behavior of materials is how phase transition occurs in highly nonequilibrium systems. One important class of study is the excitation of a solid by an ultrafast, intense laser. The preferential heating of electrons by the laser field gives rise to initial states dominated by hot electrons in a cold lattice. Using a femtosecond laser pump-probe approach, we have followed the temporal evolution of the optical properties of such a system. The results show interesting correlation to nonthermal melting and lattice disordering processes. They also reveal a liquid-plasma transition when the lattice energy density reaches a critical value.

NK cells mediate costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of allogeneic stem cells during nonmyeloablative transplantation

Although T-cell CD28/CD40 costimulation blockade represents a powerful mechanism to promote immune tolerance during murine allotransplantation, it has not yet been successfully translated to clinical transplantation. We determined the impact of natural killer (NK) cells on costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of donor bone marrow. We found that NK cells represent a potent barrier to engraftment: host NK depletion led to increased donor stem cell survival, increased mixed hematopoietic chimerism and to engraftment of low doses of donor marrow (1 x 10(8)/kg) that were otherwise rejected. To understand the mechanisms of NK alloreactivity, we employed an in vivo NK-specific cytotoxicity assay. We found that an increased proportion of target cells were killed between days 2 and 8 after cell transfer, and that NK killing of parental targets was inducible: NK cells preprimed with allotargets were more efficient at their elimination upon reexposure. Finally, both transplant and in vivo NK-killing models were used to determine the contribution of LFA-1 to NK alloreactivity. Blockade of LFA-1 led to decreased NK-mediated killing, and increased alloengraftment. These results identify NK alloreactivity as an integral component to costimulation blockade-resistant rejection, and suggest that its inhibition may represent an important target in the clinical translation of tolerance-induction transplantation.