Dental, skeletal asymmetries and functional characteristics in Class II subdivision malocclusions

Treatment outcomes of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusions may be compromised because of the uncertainty of the aetiology. Previous studies have reported controversial ideas about the origins, but the existence of a primary contributor still remains unknown. Functional factors have been mentioned as a probable cause, but until now, there have been no supporting data. This study was a cross-sectional investigation of the characteristics of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusion, including dental, skeletal and functional factors, by comparison of the subdivision group and the normal occlusion group. The evaluations of dental and skeletal asymmetries of both groups were carried out by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and analysis of dental casts. The functional deviations were evaluated by cast mounting and measuring. In the subdivision group, the asymmetric position of the glenoid fossa was found to be the most significant skeletal asymmetry. No dentoalveolar asymmetry was found in this group. The most important finding was that, in subdivision malocclusions, functional deviation resulting in pseudoasymmetry occurred in 32.86% of the study participants. This deviation is probably related to the disharmonious arch width between maxillary and mandibular dental arches in the premolar section. The origin of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusion is multifactorial, with dental, skeletal and functional factors included. Functional deviation occurs, probably due to dental arch width disharmony. Asymmetric position of the glenoid fossa may account for most of the skeletal asymmetry.

Inhibition of human positive cofactor 4 radiosensitizes human esophageal squmaous cell carcinoma cells by suppressing XLF-mediated nonhomologous end joining

Radiotherapy has the widest application to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Factors associated with DNA damage repair have been shown to function in cell radiosensitivity. Human positive cofactor 4 (PC4) has a role in nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and is involved in DNA damage repair. However, the clinical significance and biological role of PC4 in cancer progression and cancer cellular responses to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential roles of PC4 in the radiosensitivity of ESCC. In this study, we showed that knockdown of PC4 substantially increased ESCC cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR) both in vitro and in vivo and enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe (MC). Importantly, we demonstrated that silencing of PC4 suppressed NHEJ by downregulating the expression of XLF in ESCC cells, whereas reconstituting the expression of XLF protein in the PC4-knockdown ESCC cells restored NHEJ activity and radioresistance. Moreover, high expression of PC4 positively correlated with ESCC resistance to CRT and was an independent predictor for short disease-specific survival of ESCC patients in both of our cohorts. These findings suggest that PC4 protects ESCC cells from IR-induced death by enhancing the NHEJ-promoting activity of XLF and could be used as a novel radiosensitivity predictor and a promising therapeutic target for ESCCs.

Hydroxysafflor yellow a attenuates small airway remodeling in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Our previous studies found that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), an active ingredient in Carthamus tinctorius L., has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of HSYA on small airway remodeling (SAR) in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rat model induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). SAR is a common lesion in COPD characterized by thickening of the airway wall, mainly by subepithelial fibrosis. In this study the thickness of the small airway was determined by total wall area/basement membrane perimeter (WAt/Pbm). Collagen deposition of the small airway was assessed by Masson's trichrome staining. HSYA significantly attenuated the thickening and collagen deposition of the small airway and inhibited transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA and protein expression in COPD rat. In addition, HSYA inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in the lung tissue of rat. HSYA can attenuate experimentally induced airway remodeling and this attenuation may be attributed to suppression of TGF-β1 expression.

Protection Effect of Vaxxitek HVT + IBD Vaccine Against Infectious Bursal Disease in Broiler Chickens

The very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) infection cause constant and frequent outbreaks of IBD. In order to prevent the disease caused by vvIBDV, moderate-virulent live vaccines are usually used in broilers, but these vaccine influence the immune system of chickens and cause the immunosuppression. VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD bivalent vaccine, a novel vaccine produced by Merial Company, is the recombinant vaccine generated by inserting IBDV VP2 gene into the HVT genome. The recombinant vaccine could prevent Marek’s disease and IBD of chickens at the same time after vaccinated by the subcutaneous route at 1-day-old. The objective of this study was to evaluate protection effect of this new vaccine against IBD in broilers. The results of the lab and field immunization trial showed that the vaccination of VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD vaccine did not damage the bursa of broilers; the level of IBD antibody of the VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD vaccination groups was higher than IBD-BLEN® vaccination groups at 21-day-old; the protection effect of the VAXXITEK® HVT + IBD vaccination groups was better than IBD-BLEN® vaccination groups, especially at 21-28 day. The results indicated that VAXXITEK® HVT + IBD vaccine could provide better protection to broiler chickens against IBD.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v24i1-2.19102 Progress. Agric. 24(1&2): 69 - 78, 2013

Characterization of an injectable chitosan-demineralized bone matrix hybrid for healing critical-size long-bone defects in a rabbit model

BACKGROUND

The effect of injectable demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on bone repair is not known. Here, we tested the hypothesis that injectable DBM can heal a critical-size diaphyseal radius defect in a rabbit model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bone defect was filled with DBM powder, injectable DBM or powdered, freeze-dried powdered allografts. Radiological determination, gross evaluation, histology, and micro-computer tomography was carried out 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the surgery, respectively.

RESULTS

The injectable DBM group yielded better when compared with the freeze-dried powder group (p < 0.05). Moreover, biomechanical functionality was restored comparable to normal levels in the injectable DBM group.

CONCLUSIONS

The injectable DBM was as effective in structurally and functionally repairing bone defects as the DBM powder and more effective than the freeze-dried bone powder. Thus, our study supports the use of injectable DBM for bone healing.

Abstract P4-15-08: Discovery of a potent inhibitor of CREB-mediated gene transcription that completely suppresses the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells

Background: Breast cancers are a heterogeneous group of diseases with distinct and complex mechanisms of pathogenesis. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) form a subgroup of breast cancers with poor prognosis. TNBCs lack the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) or HER2 and no targeted therapies exist. The cyclic-AMP (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) is a stimulus-induced transcription factor activated by multiple extracellular signals through phosphorylation. The transcription activity of CREB depends on its phosphorylation at Ser133 by mitogen- and stress-activated protein serine/threonine kinases, which are often dysregulated in TNBCs. The phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) can then bind the mammalian transcription co-activator, CREB-binding protein (CBP), via the kinase-inducible domain (KID) in CREB and KID-interacting (KIX) domain in CBP. This binding event will further recruit other transcriptional machinery to the gene promoter to initiate CREB-dependent gene transcription. CREB is overexpressed in breast cancer tissues compared to normal mammary tissues and the level of expression inversely correlates with disease-free survival. Genetic studies have shown that inhibition of CREB's activity leads to decreased breast cancer cell proliferation. We describe here the discovery of a potent small molecule inhibitor of CREB-mediated gene transcription with in vitro and in vivo activity in TNBCs.

Methods: The small molecule inhibitor (compound 1) was reporter earlier by us (Li and Xiao ChemBioChem 2009). Starting from this lead compound, we designed and synthesized a more potent compound 2. The in vitro antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction were evaluated in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells with MTT assays and flow cytometry, respectively. In vivo activity was investigated in a human xenograft model of MDA-MB-468. The CREB target gene expression was investigated by Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis.

Results: Starting from compound 1, which is a low micromolar and cell-permeable inhibitor of CREB-mediated gene transcription, we designed and synthesized compound 2. Compound 2 potently inhibited CREB-mediated gene transcription with IC50 ∼80 nM. In vitro, this compound inhibited proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells with concomitant activation of apoptosis and necrosis. In contrast, compound 2 was not toxic to normal human mammary epithelial cells. In vivo, compound 2 completely suppressed the growth of MDA-MB-468 cells at a dose not toxic to the mice.

Conclusion: Compound 2 potently inhibited CREB-mediated gene transcription and TNBC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that CREB is a promising druggable target for TNBCs.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-15-08.

Long-term follow-up of a phase III study comparing radiotherapy with or without weekly oxaliplatin for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Previous results from our trial showed that adding oxaliplatin to radiotherapy (RT) increased survival in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at 2 years. Here, we present the data of long-term efficacy and late toxic effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2001 and January 2003, 115 Patients with nonkeratinizing/undifferentiated locoregionally advanced NPC were randomly to receive either RT alone (n = 56) or plus concurrent oxaliplatin 70 mg/m(2) weekly for six cycles (n = 59).

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 114 months (range 18-139 months), the 5-year overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) group were significantly higher than those observed in the RT-alone group (OS, 73.2% versus 60.2%, P = 0.028; MFS, 74.7% versus 63.0%, P = 0.027). However, CCRT did not improve locoregional failure-free survival significantly. Subgroup analyses showed that the superiorities of CCRT mainly existed in the T3-4N0-1 stage subgroup (OS: HR = 0.394, P = 0.034). The grade 3/4 late toxic effects were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

The long-term follow-up data confirms the role of CCRT as a treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC. Oxaliplatin can be considered as an alternative optional therapeutic regimen for these patients due to its high efficiency and low toxic effect.

Phase II study of sorafenib in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil to treat recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It was a Simon two-stage designed trial. Chemotherapy-naive patients with recurrent or metastatic disease were enrolled. The regimen was sorafenib 400 mg orally b.i.d., cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1, and 5-FU 1000 mg/m(2)/day CIV for 4 days, repeated every 21 days. After a maximum of six cycles of chemotherapy, patients received maintenance of sorafenib.

RESULTS

In total, 54 patients were enrolled. The objective response rate reached 77.8%, including 1 complete response and 41 partial responses. The median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (95% CI 6.8-8.4 months), and the median overall survival was 11.8 months (95% CI 10.6-18.7 months). Major toxic effects included hand-foot skin reaction, myelosuppression, and gastrointestinal (GI) reaction. The incidence of hemorrhage was 22.2%, and one patient with liver metastases died of GI bleeding. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was carried out in a subset of patients with liver metastases.

CONCLUSION

Combination of sorafenib, cisplatin (80 mg/m(2)) and 5-FU (3000 mg/m(2)) was tolerable and feasible in recurrent or metastatic NPC. Further randomized trials to compare sorafenib plus cisplatin and 5-FU with standard dose of cisplatin plus 5-FU in NPC are warranted.

Characterization of a Tembusu virus isolated from naturally infected house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Northern China

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the most widely distributed wild birds in China. Tembusu virus (TMUV) strain, TMUV-SDHS, was isolated from house sparrows living around the poultry farms in Shandong Province, Northern China. Genetic analysis of E and NS5 genes showed that it had a close relationship with that of the YY5 strain, which can cause severe egg drop in ducks. Pathogenicity studies showed that the virus is highly virulent when experimentally inoculated into the ducks. These findings show that house sparrows carrying the Tembusu virus may play an important role in transmitting the virus among other species.

Ursolic acid promotes robust tolerance to cardiac allografts in mice

Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is an important molecule in T cell activation. Our previous work has found that T cell-restricted NF-κB super-repressor (IκBαΔN-Tg) mice, expressing an inhibitor of NF-κB restricted to the T cell compartment, can permanently accept fully allogeneic cardiac grafts and secondary donor skin grafts. In this study, we explore if transient NF-κB inhibition by a small molecular inhibitor could induce permanent graft survival. Ursolic acid, a small molecular compound, dose-dependently inhibited T cell receptor (TCR)-triggered NF-κB nuclear translocation and T cell activation in vitro. In vivo, ursolic acid monotherapy prolonged significantly the survival of cardiac allograft in mice. Assisted with donor-specific transfusion (DST) on day 0, ursolic acid promoted 84·6% of first cardiac grafts to survive for more than 150 days. While the mice with long-term surviving grafts (LTS) did not reject the second donor strain hearts for more than 100 days without any treatment, they all promptly rejected the third-party strain hearts within 14 days. Interestingly, this protocol did not result in an increased proportion of CD4(+) CD25(+) forkhead box P3(+) regulatory T cells in splenocytes. That adoptive transfer experiments also did not support regulation was the main mechanism in this model. Splenocytes from LTS showed reduced alloreactivity to donor antigen. However, depletion of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells did not alter the donor-reactivity of LTS splenocytes. These data suggest that depletion of donor-reactive T cells may play an important role in this protocol.

Isolation and characterization of a sea cucumber fucoidan-utilizing marine bacterium

AIMS

To isolate a fucoidan-utilizing strain from seawater for sea cucumber fucoidan degradation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The utilization of sea cucumber fucoidan was monitored by H(2)SO(4)-phenol assay for neutral sugar. The bacterium CZ1127 was isolated from seawater and shown to have a relatively large maximum fucoidan-utilizing rate of 81.5%. CZ1127 was confirmed to belong to the family Flavobacteriaceae by 16S rDNA and physiological analyses. This strain has an ability to utilize fucoidans extracted from various sea cucumbers to different degrees. Both extracellular and intracellular enzymes of CZ1127 could degrade sea cucumber fucoidan, as confirmed by high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The M(r) of sea cucumber fucoidan could be reduced from 792.6 kDa to at least 3.7 kDa by the crude intracellular enzyme of this strain.

CONCLUSIONS

The marine bacterial strain CZ1127, which belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae, was found to utilize various sea cucumber fucoidans and furthermore showed promise in sea cucumber fucoidan enzymatic degradation and oligosaccharide preparation.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The finding of a novel source can be applied in sea cucumber fucoidan enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, it is the first definite report of a bacterial strain that can utilize the fucoidans from various sea cucumbers.

[Humoral immune response in mice to hybrid nucleic acid vaccines containing Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 block 17-based gene]

AIM

To analyse the humoral immune response in mice to nucleic acid vaccines (VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 for intracellular expression or VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP-17 for secretion) containing Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) 17 block gene and gene fragment of several T cell epitopes from MSA1, MSA2, RESA, IL-1 and TT.

METHODS

BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice received three times intramuscular immunization with 200 micrograms/100 microliters or 100 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 or VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse each time. Anti-HG or anti-MSP1-17 antibodies were monitored by indirect ELISA.

RESULTS

BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice immunized with 100 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised significantly anti-HG and anti-MSP1-17 antibodies, but the levels of antibodies were not high. BALB/c mice immunized with 200 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised higher anti-HG antibodies but not anti-MSP1-17 antibodies. BALB/c mice immunized with 200 micrograms/100 microliters of VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17 per mouse raised low level of anti-HG antibodies only.

CONCLUSION

VR1012/HG-MSP1-17 is more immunogenic than VR1012/TPA/HG-MSP1-17.

Genes associated with membrane-initiated signaling of estrogen and energy homeostasis

During the reproductive cycle, fluctuations in circulating estrogens affect multiple homeostatic systems controlled by hypothalamic neurons. Two of these neuronal populations are arcuate proopiomelanocortin and neuropeptide Y neurons, which control energy homeostasis and feeding. Estradiol modulates these neurons either through the classical estrogen receptors (ERs) to control gene transcription or through a G protein-coupled receptor (mER) activating multiple signaling pathways. To differentiate between these two divergent ER-mediated mechanisms and their effects on homeostasis, female guinea pigs were ovariectomized and treated systemically with vehicle, estradiol benzoate (EB) or STX, a selective mER agonist, for 4 wk, starting 7 d after ovariectomy. Individual body weights were measured after each injection day for 28 d, at which time the animals were euthanized, and the arcuate nucleus was microdissected. As predicted, the body weight gain was significantly lower for EB-treated females after d 5 and for STX-treated females after d 12 compared with vehicle-treated females. Total arcuate RNA was extracted from all groups, but only the vehicle and STX-treated samples were prepared for gene microarray analysis using a custom guinea pig gene microarray. In the arcuate nucleus, 241 identified genes were significantly regulated by STX, several of which were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR and compared with EB-treated groups. The lower weight gain of EB-treated and STX-treated females suggests that estradiol controls energy homeostasis through both ERalpha and mER-mediated mechanisms. Genes regulated by STX indicate that not only does it control neuronal excitability but also alters gene transcription via signal transduction cascades initiated from mER activation.