C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene is not associated with blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in healthy male subjects

In vitro studies have shown that multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) has an affinity for cortisol; however, in vivo association studies on the relationship between MDR1 gene polymorphisms and blood cortisol levels have produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we examined the effects of the C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene on blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in healthy subjects. The subjects comprised 30 healthy Japanese males. Ten subjects were recruited for each of the C3435T MDR1 genotypes: C/C, C/T, and T/T. Blood samples were taken at 6:00 pm on two occasions with an interval of 2 weeks. Blood levels of cortisol and ACTH were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. There were no significant differences in the blood levels of the HPA axis hormones among the MDR1 genotypes. The present study suggests that the C3435T MDR1 polymorphism does not affect blood levels of HPA axis hormones in healthy Japanese males.

Preparation and Properties of Novel Aromatic Polyimides from 5,7-Diamino-1,1,4,6-Tetramethylindan and Aromatic Tetracarboxylic Dianhydrides

Novel aromatic polyimides containing indan structure units were prepared from 5,7-diamino-1,1,4,6-tetramethylindan and various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. The glass transition temperatures ( Tg’s) of these polyimides were not observed by differential scanning calorimetry at a temperature lower than 500 °C and the 5% weight loss temperatures ( Td5’s) of them were above 422 and 474 °C in air and nitrogen, respectively. Polyimide prepared from 5,7-diamino-1,1,4,6-tetramethylindan and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride was soluble in organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentanone, chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and cresol at 20 wt% concentration at ambient temperature. The other resulting polyimides obtained from this diamine possessing an indan structure were also soluble in several organic solvents. These results indicated that polymer properties such as thermal behaviour and solubilities were influenced by the indan structure unit in a repeating structure.

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab and standard chemotherapy drug combination in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a four arms phase Ib study

In this phase Ib study, four combination therapies of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and standard chemotherapy (cisplatin/gemcitabine, cisplatin/pemetrexed, carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab, or docetaxel) showed acceptable toxicity profiles in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Furthermore, these combination therapies presented encouraging antitumor activities.

Background

The human IgG4 monoclonal antibody nivolumab targets programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and promotes antitumor response by blocking the interaction of PD-1 with its ligands. This single-center phase Ib study investigated the tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics of nivolumab combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

Patients who had stage IIIB without indication for definitive radiotherapy, stage IV, or recurrent NSCLC were eligible. Regimens were nivolumab 10 mg/kg + gemcitabine/cisplatin (arm A), pemetrexed/cisplatin (arm B), paclitaxel/carboplatin/bevacizumab (arm C), or docetaxel (arm D). Regimens A, B, and D were repeated every 3 weeks for up to four cycles and regimen C was repeated for up to six cycles; nivolumab alone (arm A), with pemetrexed (arm B), bevacizumab (arm C), or docetaxel (arm D) was continued every 3 weeks as maintenance therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was evaluated during the first treatment cycle.

Results

As of March 2014, six patients were enrolled in each arm. The combination of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy was well tolerated. DLT was observed in only one patient in arm A (alanine aminotransferase increased). Select adverse events (those with a potential immunologic cause) of any grade were observed in six, four, six, and five patients in arms A, B, C, and D, respectively. Three, three, six, and one patient achieved partial response while median progression-free survival was 6.28, 9.63 months, not reached, and 3.15 months in arms A, B, C, and D, respectively.

Conclusions

Combination of nivolumab 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy showed an acceptable toxicity profile and encouraging antitumor activity in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Clinical trials number

Japanese Pharmaceutical Information Center Clinical Trials Information (JapicCTI)-132071.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of anthocyanin-rich purple sweet potato beverage on serum hepatic biomarker levels in healthy Caucasians with borderline hepatitis

The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich purple-fleshed sweet potato (PSP) beverage on the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in healthy Caucasians with borderline hepatitis. Forty healthy Caucasians (41-69 years) consumed three bottles of the PSP beverage (177 mg anthocyanins per 125-ml bottle) or placebo (1.3 mg) per day for 8 weeks. Thirty-nine subjects completed the study and two subjects were excluded from statistical analysis. GGT levels in the PSP group on days 15 and 43 were lower (P=0.077 and 0.038, respectively), AST levels in the PSP group on days 29 and 43 were lower (P=0.010 and 0.045, respectively) and ALT level in the PSP group on day 43 was lower (P=0.037) than in the placebo group. The PSP beverage did not induce clinically relevant changes in other blood and clinical chemistry parameters.

Heat shock transcription factor 1-associated expression of slow myosin heavy chain in mouse soleus muscle in response to unloading with or without reloading

AIM

The effects of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) deficiency on the fibre type composition and the expression level of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family members (NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3α (p-GSK3α) and p-GSK3β, microRNA-208b (miR-208b), miR-499 and slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC) mRNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) of antigravitational soleus muscle in response to unloading with or without reloading were investigated.

METHODS

HSF1-null and wild-type mice were subjected to continuous 2-week hindlimb suspension followed by 2- or 4-week ambulation recovery.

RESULTS

In wild-type mice, the relative population of slow type I fibres, the expression level of NFATc2, p-GSK3 (α and β), miR-208b, miR-499 and slow MyHC mRNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) were all decreased with hindlimb suspension, but recovered after it. Significant interactions between train and time (the relative population of slow type I fibres; P = 0.01, the expression level of NFATc2; P = 0.001, p-GSKβ; P = 0.009, miR-208b; P = 0.002, miR-499; P = 0.04) suggested that these responses were suppressed in HSF1-null mice.

CONCLUSION

HSF1 may be a molecule in the regulation of the expression of slow MyHC as well as miR-208b, miR-499, NFATc2 and p-GSK3 (α and β) in mouse soleus muscle.

Wearing Compression Garment after Endurance Exercise Promotes Recovery of Exercise Performance

The present study examined the effects of wearing a lower-body compression garment (CG) after endurance exercise on recovery of physiological function. 18 males were divided into 2 experiments, the downhill running (n=10, DHR) experiments and the level running (n=8, LR) experiments. Subjects performed 30 min of DHR (gradient: - 10%) or LR (gradient: 0%) at 70% of  ˙VO2max with either wearing a CG (CG trial) or normal garment (CON trial) for 24 h after running. Changes in jump performance (counter movement jump; CMJ, rebound jump; RJ, drop jump; DJ), subjective feelings, circumferences of leg, and blood variables (creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) were evaluated before exercise, immediately after exercise, 1, 3 and 24 h following exercise. Running economy was evaluated at 24 h following exercise. CMJ height and RJ index were significantly higher in the CG trial than in the CON trial 24 h after running (P<0.05). Although changes in muscle soreness and blood variables were significantly greater in the DHR experiment than in the LR experiment, there was no significant difference between the trials in either experiment. Wearing a CG following endurance exercise facilitated recovery of jump performance under situations with severe exercise-induced muscle damage.

Successful control of an outbreak of GES-5 extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a long-term care facility in Japan

BACKGROUND

Little is known about multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

AIM

To describe an MDRP outbreak in an LTCF and to clarify risk factors for MDRP acquisition.

METHODS

Patients who were positive for MDRP at an LTCF from January 2013 to January 2014 were analysed. A descriptive analysis, a case-control study, and a microbiological analysis were performed.

FINDINGS

A total of 23 MDRP cases were identified, 16 of which were confirmed in sputum samples. Healthcare workers were observed violating hand hygiene procedures when performing oral, wound, and genital care. Nasogastric tube and oxygen mask use was associated with MDRP acquisition in the respiratory tract, which might have been confounded by poor hand hygiene. Sharing unhygienic devices, such as portable oral suction devices for oral care, and washing bottles and ointments for wound and genital care with inadequate disinfection could explain the transmission of MDRP in some cases. Isolates from 11 patients were found to be indistinguishable or closely related by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and harbouring the blaGES-5 gene. Subsequent enhanced infection control measures were supported by nearby hospitals and a local public health centre. No additional cases were identified for a year after the last case occurred in January 2014.

CONCLUSION

An outbreak of MDRP with an antimicrobial resistance gene, blaGES-5, occurred in a Japanese LTCF. It was successfully controlled by enhanced infection control measures, which neighbouring hospitals and a local public health centre supported.

Drop episodes improved after tracheotomy: a case of Coffin-Lowry syndrome associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Some cases of Coffin-Lowry syndrome recognized episodic drops and it tended to be intractable for medical treatment. We reported here a patient with the Coffin-Lowry syndrome associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The patient had epileptic seizures and drop attacks only during night-time and it was not recognized during the daytime. His sleep-induced electroencephalogram was normal. At 12-years old of his age, his OSAS was worse, so we performed a tracheotomy. Notably after the operation, his epileptic episodes were disappeared.

The transcribed-ultraconserved regions in prostate and gastric cancer: DNA hypermethylation and microRNA-associated regulation

The transcribed-ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs, which are absolutely conserved (100%) between the orthologous regions of the human, rat and mouse genomes. Previous studies have described that several T-UCRs show differential expressions in cancers and might be involved in cancer development. We investigated the transcriptional levels of representative 26 T-UCRs and determined the regions that were differently expressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and gastric cancer (GC). A quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the downregulation of Uc.158+A expression by a DNA methylation-associated mechanism, which was restored by 5-Aza-dC (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) treatment. Bisulfite genomic sequencing using cell lines and tissue samples demonstrated cancer-specific CpG hypermethylation in both GC and PCa. However, Uc.416+A was only overexpressed in GC and we identified an miR-153 binding site in the possible regulatory region of Uc.416+A using online databases. Along with a forced expression or knockdown of miR-153 in MKN-74 GC cells, the transcriptional levels of Uc.416+A were significantly disturbed. A luciferase reporter gene assay supported the direct regulation of Uc.416+A expression by miR-153. Furthermore, Uc.416+A was associated with cell growth through the regulation of IGFBP6 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6) in GC. These findings suggest an oncogenic role of Uc.416+A in GC, which suggests that our approach would provide new insights into functional studies of T-UCRs in cancer biology.

Deficiency of heat shock transcription factor 1 suppresses heat stress-associated increase in slow soleus muscle mass of mice

AIM

Effects of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) deficiency on heat stress-associated increase in slow soleus muscle mass of mice were investigated.

METHODS

Both HSF1-null and wild-type mice were randomly assigned to control and heat-stressed groups. Mice in heat-stressed group were exposed to heat stress (41 °C for 60 min) in an incubator without anaesthesia.

RESULTS

Significant increase in wet and dry weights, and protein content of soleus muscle in wild-type mice was observed seven days after the application of the heat stress. However, heat stress had no impact on soleus muscle mass in HSF1-null mice. Neither type of mice exhibited much effect of heat stress on HSF mRNA expression (HSF1, HSF2 and HSF4). On the other hand, heat stress upregulated heat shock proteins (HSPs) at the mRNA (HSP72) and protein (HSP72 and HSP110) levels in wild-type mice, but not in HSF1-null mice. The population of Pax7-positive nuclei relative to total myonuclei of soleus muscle in wild-type mice was significantly increased by heat stress, but not in HSF1-null mice. Furthermore, the absence of HSF1 gene suppressed heat stress-associated phosphorylation of Akt and p70 S6 kinase (p-p70S6K) in soleus muscle.

CONCLUSION

Heat stress-associated increase in skeletal muscle mass may be induced by HSF1 and/or HSF1-mediated stress response that activates muscle satellite cells and Akt/p70S6K signalling pathway.

Planned Overreaching and Subsequent Short-term Detraining Enhance Cycle Sprint Performance

We investigated the effect of a training program consisting of planned overreaching and subsequent short-term detraining on sprint performance. 24 physically active men participated in an 18-day sprint-training program. They were divided into 2 groups: the overreaching-detraining (OR-DT) and the control (CON) groups. Subjects in the OR-DT group performed 12 consecutive days of maximal cycle sprint training followed by 6 days of detraining, whereas a rest day was provided after every 2 successive training days for the CON group. Peak power output during maximal pedaling increased significantly after 6 days of detraining in the OR-DT group compared with the baseline (P<0.05), whereas no change was observed in CON group. Intramuscular phosphocreatine concentration increased significantly after 12 days of daily training in the OR-DT group (69.3±45.8% increase vs. baseline, P<0.05), and it was maintained after the detraining period (46.6±33.6% increase vs. baseline, P<0.05). However, no change was observed in CON group. No significant changes in blood variables were observed after the training period except significant reduction of serum cortisol in the CON group. Daily sprint training and subsequent short-term detraining enhanced peak power output after the detraining period.

Macrophage deficiency in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice inhibits activation of satellite cells and prevents hypertrophy in single soleus fibers

Effects of macrophage on the responses of soleus fiber size to hind limb unloading and reloading were studied in osteopetrotic homozygous (op/op) mice with inactivated mutation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) gene and in wild-type (+/+) and heterozygous (+/op) mice. The basal levels of mitotically active and quiescent satellite cell (-46 and -39% vs. +/+, and -40 and -30% vs. +/op) and myonuclear number (-29% vs. +/+ and -28% vs. +/op) in fibers of op/op mice were significantly less than controls. Fiber length and sarcomere number in op/op were also less than +/+ (-22%) and +/op (-21%) mice. Similar trend was noted in fiber cross-sectional area (CSA, -15% vs. +/+, P = 0.06, and -14% vs. +/op, P = 0.07). The sizes of myonuclear domain, cytoplasmic volume per myonucleus, were identical in all types of mice. The CSA, length, and the whole number of sarcomeres, myonuclei, and mitotically active and quiescent satellite cells, as well as myonuclear domain, in single muscle fibers were decreased after 10 days of unloading in all types of mice, although all of these parameters in +/+ and +/op mice were increased toward the control values after 10 days of reloading. However, none of these levels in op/op mice were recovered. Data suggest that M-CSF and/or macrophages are important to activate satellite cells, which cause increase of myonuclear number during fiber hypertrophy. However, it is unclear why their responses to general growth and reloading after unloading are different.

Ipragliflozin in combination with metformin for the treatment of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: ILLUMINATE, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the efficacy and safety of ipragliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, in combination with metformin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients were randomized in a 2 : 1 ratio to 50 mg ipragliflozin (n = 112) or placebo (n = 56) once daily for 24 weeks, followed by a 28-week open-label extension in which all patients received 50 or 100 mg ipragliflozin, while continuing metformin. The primary outcome was the change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to week 24. HbA1c decreased significantly in the ipragliflozin group (-0.87%; adjusted mean difference from placebo: -1.30%; p < 0.001). The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar in both groups, although pollakiuria and constipation were more common in the ipragliflozin group; thus, ipragliflozin significantly improved glycaemic control and reduced body weight without major safety issues in Japanese patients with T2DM.

Relationship between leukocyte telomere length and personality traits in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that certain personality traits are related to mortality and disease morbidity, but the biological mechanism linking them remains unclear. Telomeres are tandem repeat DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, and shorter telomere length is a predictor of mortality and late-life disease morbidity. Thus, it is possible that personality traits influence telomere length. In the present study, we examined the relationship of leukocyte telomere length with personality traits in healthy subjects.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The subjects were 209 unrelated healthy Japanese who were recruited from medical students at 4th-5th grade. Assessment of personality traits was performed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Leukocyte relative telomere length was determined by a quantitative real-time PCR method for a ratio of telomere/single copy gene.

RESULTS

In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, shorter telomere length was related to lower scores of neuroticism (P<0.01) and conscientiousness (P<0.05) of the NEO-PI-R, and lower scores of harm avoidance (P<0.05) and reward dependence (P<0.05) of the TCI.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that leukocyte telomere length is associated with some personality traits, and this association may be implicated in the relationship between personality traits and mortality.