Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis: evidence of linkage to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 in four Chinese families

BACKGROUND

Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis (PKC) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by abnormal involuntary movements precipitated by sudden movement. The pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 has been linked to PKC by several reports. This study was to localize and identify PKC gene in four Chinese PKC families.

METHODS

Genetic linkage mapping with eight markers spanning chromosome 16p12-q13 was performed in 43 family members. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scans were performed on four individuals in Family 1 in which infantile convulsion (IC) was co-inherited with PKC.

RESULTS

Individuals in Family 1 presented with both IC and paroxysmal choreoathetosis (ICCA), and Families 2, 3, and 4 presented only with PKC. Evidence for linkage was found with a maximum two-point LOD score of 4.89 for D16S690 (theta = 0.0) and a maximum multipoint LOD score was 5.34 between D16S3080 and D16S3136. Haplotype analysis showed the disease locus was between D16S3093 and D16S3057. A total of 84 SNPs spanned on 16q12.1-q13 was not segregated with the PKC phenotype, which defined an unlinked region from rs9933187 to rs8044753. Thus, the critical region of the PKC gene is across the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16, and most likely maps to a region of 20.5 Mb (6.2 cM) between D16S3093 and rs9933187 (16p11.2-q12.1).

CONCLUSION

The assignment of the locus for PKC to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 is confirmed and putatively narrowed in the present study.

U-shape association between white blood cell count and the risk of diabetes in young Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Chronic low-grade inflammation is related to diabetes risk in population studies. Elevated levels of white blood cells (WBC) were related to the risk of diabetes in cross-sectional studies in the Chinese population. The objective of the study is to assess the prospective association between WBC and the risk of diabetes in the Chinese population.

METHODS

We examined 7445 manual workers aged 18-59 years free from diabetes at baseline. Fasting glucose concentrations and white cell count were measured at annual health examinations from 1997 to 2007. Anthropometric measurements were taken by health workers. In the present study, each participant had at least two measurements of fasting blood glucose.

RESULTS

During a mean of 4.94 years follow-up, 178 participants developed diabetes. After controlling for known risk factors for diabetes (age, gender, smoking, drinking, parental history of diabetes, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, hepatitis B surface antigen and liver function), a U-shaped association between WBC count and diabetes was found. The hazard ratios (HR) of diabetes across quartiles of WBC count were 1.87 (95% CI 1.15-3.05), 1.00, 1.46 (0.88-2.42) and 2.04 (1.28-3.25). The association was stronger among non-smokers: compared with the second quartile, the HR of diabetes for the first and fourth quartiles of WBC were 3.00 (1.28-7.03) and 3.16 (1.33-7.53). Adjusting for hepatitis B virus infection and liver function did not change the association.

CONCLUSION

Both low and high levels of WBC count were associated with an increased risk of diabetes in young workers.

Real-time 3D internal marker tracking during arc radiotherapy by the use of combined MV-kV imaging

To minimize the adverse dosimetric effect caused by tumor motion, it is desirable to have real-time knowledge of the tumor position throughout the beam delivery process. A promising technique to realize the real-time image guided scheme in external beam radiation therapy is through the combined use of MV and onboard kV beam imaging. The success of this MV-kV triangulation approach for fixed-gantry radiation therapy has been demonstrated. With the increasing acceptance of modern arc radiotherapy in the clinics, a timely and clinically important question is whether the image guidance strategy can be extended to arc therapy to provide the urgently needed real-time tumor motion information. While conceptually feasible, there are a number of theoretical and practical issues specific to the arc delivery that need to be resolved before clinical implementation. The purpose of this work is to establish a robust procedure of system calibration for combined MV and kV imaging for internal marker tracking during arc delivery and to demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of the technique. A commercially available LINAC equipped with an onboard kV imager and electronic portal imaging device (EPID) was used for the study. A custom built phantom with multiple ball bearings was used to calibrate the stereoscopic MV-kV imaging system to provide the transformation parameters from imaging pixels to 3D world coordinates. The accuracy of the fiducial tracking system was examined using a 4D motion phantom capable of moving in accordance with a pre-programmed trajectory. Overall, spatial accuracy of MV-kV fiducial tracking during the arc delivery process for normal adult breathing amplitude and period was found to be better than 1 mm. For fast motion, the results depended on the imaging frame rates. The RMS error ranged from approximately 0.5 mm for the normal adult breathing pattern to approximately 1.5 mm for more extreme cases with a low imaging frame rate of 3.4 Hz. In general, highly accurate real-time tracking of implanted markers using hybrid MV-kV imaging is achievable and the technique should be useful to improve the beam targeting accuracy of arc therapy.

Fast internal marker tracking algorithm for onboard MV and kV imaging systems

Intrafraction organ motion can limit the advantage of highly conformal dose techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) due to target position uncertainty. To ensure high accuracy in beam targeting, real-time knowledge of the target location is highly desired throughout the beam delivery process. This knowledge can be gained through imaging of internally implanted radio-opaque markers with fluoroscopic or electronic portal imaging devices (EPID). In the case of MV based images, marker detection can be problematic due to the significantly lower contrast between different materials in comparison to their kV-based counterparts. This work presents a fully automated algorithm capable of detecting implanted metallic markers in both kV and MV images with high consistency. Using prior CT information, the algorithm predefines the volumetric search space without manual region-of-interest (ROI) selection by the user. Depending on the template selected, both spherical and cylindrical markers can be detected. Multiple markers can be simultaneously tracked without indexing confusion. Phantom studies show detection success rates of 100% for both kV and MV image data. In addition, application of the algorithm to real patient image data results in successful detection of all implanted markers for MV images. Near real-time operational speeds of approximately 10 frames/sec for the detection of five markers in a 1024 x 768 image are accomplished using an ordinary PC workstation.

Cytochrome P450s in Papilio multicaudatus and the transition from oligophagy to polyphagy in the Papilionidae

Although substrate-specific CYP6B1 and CYP6B3 enzymes in Papilio polyxenes contribute to specialization on furanocoumarin-containing host plants, CYP6B4 and CYP6B17 enzymes in the polyphagous Papilio glaucus and Papilio canadensis have a broader range of substrates. Papilio multicaudatus, an oligophage with one furanocoumarin-containing host, is putatively ancestral to polyphagous Papilio species. Furanocoumarin-inducible CYP6B33-CYP6B37 and CYP6AB6 were characterized from this species. Heterologous expression of CYP6B33 revealed furanocoumarin metabolism resembling that of CYP6B4-CYP6B17 enzymes from P. glaucus and P. canadensis. Molecular models of CYP6B33 and CYP6B4 indicate that seven conserved aromatic side chains stabilize their hydrophobic catalytic sites and that a Lys484-Ser484 substitution enlarges the CYP6B4 active site pocket to increase the predicted distance between the substrate and reactive oxygen relative to CYP6B1. Loss of specialization in this lineage may have resulted from relatively few mutational changes, allowing acquisition of broader catalytic activities without loss of ancestral furanocoumarin-metabolizing activities.

HER2 signaling modulates the equilibrium between pro- and antiangiogenic factors via distinct pathways: implications for HER2-targeted antibody therapy

We determined the impact of HER2 signaling on two proangiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), and on an antiangiogenic factor, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). Re-expression of HER2 in MCF-7 and T-47D breast cancer cells that endogenously express low levels of HER2 resulted in elevated expression of VEGF and IL-8 and decreased expression of TSP-1. Inhibition of HER2 with a humanized anti-HER2 antibody (trastuzumab, or Herceptin) or a retrovirus-mediated small interfering RNA against HER2 (siHER2) decreased VEGF and IL-8 expression, but increased TSP-1 expression in BT474 breast cancer cells that express high levels of HER2. These in vitro results were further evaluated by treatment of BT474 xenografts in immunosuppressed mice with trastuzumab. Trastuzumab inhibited growth of BT474 xenografts and decreased microvascular density associated with downregulation of VEGF and IL-8 and with upregulation of TSP-1 expression. Inhibiting the PI3K-AKT pathway decreased VEGF and IL-8 expression. AKT1 overexpession increased VEGF and IL-8 expression, but did not increase TSP-1 expression. A p38 kinase inhibitor, SB203580, instead blocked TSP-1 expression and a p38 activator, MKK6, increased TSP-1 expression. Trastuzumab stimulated sustained p38 activation and SB203580 attenuated the TSP-1 upregulation induced by trastuzumab. HER2 signaling therefore influences the equilibrium between pro- and antiangiogenic factors via distinct signaling pathways. Trastuzumab inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth, at least in part, through activation of the HER2-p38-TSP-1 pathway and inhibition of the HER2-PI3K-AKT-VEGF/IL-8 pathway.

Remarkable substrate-specificity of CYP6AB3 in Depressaria pastinacella, a highly specialized caterpillar

The parsnip webworm, Depressaria pastinacella, a specialist on two genera in Apiaceae, feeds exclusively on the furanocoumarin-containing reproductive structures of its host plants. This caterpillar relies principally on cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification for coping with the high concentrations of furanocoumarins in its diet. A cDNA encoding the furanocoumarin-inducible P450 CYP6AB3 from this species was coexpressed with house-fly NADPH P450 reductase in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells and tested for binding and metabolism of the six furanocoumarins typically encountered in host plant tissues. Only imperatorin and bergapten bind in close proximity to the catalytic haem and only imperatorin is metabolized (V(max) and K(m) of 2.412 pmol/min per pmol P450 and 94.28 microm, respectively). Purification of the imperatorin metabolite by normal phase HPLC and characterization of its structure by MS-MS analysis indicate that CYP6AB3 initially epoxidizes the carbon-carbon pi-bond on the isoprenyl side chain on imperatorin. An improved molecular model for the CYP6AB3 protein based on this biochemical characterization and the recently defined mammalian CYP3A4 crystal structure provides insight into the remarkable substrate specificity of this protein.

A novel mutation of keratin 9 in a large Chinese family with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma

BACKGROUND

Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK) is an autosomal dominant inherited skin disorder characterized by diffuse yellow thickening of the skin of the palms and soles, sharply bordered with erythematous margins. Histologically and ultrastructurally, EPPK presents cytolysis of keratinocytes and abnormal aggregation of tonofilaments in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis. To date, 15 different mutations of the keratin 9 gene (KRT9) have been demonstrated to cause most cases of EPPK.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the KRT9 mutation in a large Chinese family with EPPK.

METHODS

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), DNA sequencing and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) were used to screen exon 1 of the KRT9 gene for sequence variations.

RESULTS

The DHPLC elution profiles of the DNA fragments amplified from the affected samples differed from those obtained from unaffected individuals, indicating that a sequence variation existed within the analysed fragment of KRT9. DNA sequencing revealed a novel insertion-deletion mutation in the exon 1 of KRT9, 497delAinsGGCT, resulting in the change of tyrosine(166) to tryptophan and leucine (Y166delinsWL). AS-PCR confirmed the mutation was not a common polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the molecular basis of EPPK in this Chinese family and provide further evidence that mutations in the helix initiation motif of keratin 9 underlie Chinese EPPK.

Spin dynamics from majorana fermions

Using the Majorana fermion representation of spin-1/2 local moments, we show how the dynamic spin correlation and susceptibility are obtained directly from the one-particle Majorana propagator. We illustrate our method by applying it to the spin dynamics of a nonequilibrium quantum dot, computing the voltage-dependent spin relaxation rate and showing that, at weak coupling, the fluctuation-dissipation relation for the spin of a quantum dot is voltage dependent. We confirm the voltage-dependent Curie susceptibility recently found by Parcollet and Hooley [Phys. Rev. B 66, 085315 (2002)]].

Superconductivity near itinerant ferromagnetic quantum criticality

Superconductivity mediated by spin fluctuations in weak and nearly ferromagnetic metals is studied close to the zero-temperature magnetic transition. We solve analytically the Eliashberg equations for p-wave pairing and obtain the quasiparticle self-energy and the superconducting transition temperature T(c) as a function of the distance to the quantum critical point (QCP). We show that the reduction of quasiparticle coherence and lifetime due to scattering by quasistatic spin fluctuations is the dominant pair-breaking process, which leads to a rapid suppression of T(c) to a nonzero value near the QCP. We point out the differences and similarities of the problem to that of paramagnetic impurities in superconductors.

Forced expression of murine IL-17E induces growth retardation, jaundice, a Th2-biased response, and multiorgan inflammation in mice

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine, and its in vivo expression induces neutrophilia in mice. IL-17E is a recently described member of an emerging family of IL-17-related cytokines. IL-17E has been shown to bind IL-17Rh1, a protein distantly related to the IL-17R, suggesting that IL-17E probably possesses unique biological functions. In this study, we have identified the murine ortholog of IL-17E and developed transgenic mice to characterize its actions in vivo. Biological consequences of overexpression of murine (m)IL-17E, both unique to IL-17E and similar to IL-17, were revealed. Exposure to mIL-17E resulted in a Th2-biased response, characterized by eosinophilia, increased serum IgE and IgG1, and a Th2 cytokine profile including elevated serum levels of IL-13 and IL-5 and elevated gene expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 was observed in many tissues. Increased gene expression of IFN-gamma in several tissues and elevated serum TNF-alpha were also noted. In addition, IL-17E induces G-CSF production in vitro and mIL-17E-transgenic mice had increased serum G-CSF and exhibit neutrophilia, a property shared by IL-17. Moreover, exposure to mIL-17E elicited pathological changes in multiple tissues, particularly liver, heart, and lungs, characterized by mixed inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, and hypertrophy. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-17E is a unique pleiotropic cytokine and may be an important mediator of inflammatory and immune responses.

Antioxidant vitamins attenuate oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction in tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVES

We administered antioxidant vitamins to rabbits with pacing-induced cardiomyopathy to assess whether antioxidant therapy retards the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF).

BACKGROUND

Although oxidative stress is increased in CHF, whether progression of heart failure could be prevented or reduced by antioxidants is not known.

METHODS

Rabbits with chronic cardiac pacing and sham operation were randomized to receive a combination of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol alone or placebo over eight weeks. Echocardiography was used to measure cardiac function weekly. Resting hemodynamics and in vivo myocardial beta-adrenergic responsiveness were studied at week 8. Animals were then sacrificed for measuring myocardial beta-receptor density, norepinephrine (NE) uptake-1 site density, sympathetic neuronal marker profiles, tissue-reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and oxidative damage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

RESULTS

Rapid cardiac pacing increased myocardial oxidative stress as evidenced by reduced myocardial GSH/GSSG ratio and increased oxidized mtDNA and produced cardiac dysfunction, beta-adrenergic subsensitivity, beta-receptor downregulation, diminished sympathetic neurotransmitter profiles and reduced NE uptake-1 carrier density. A combination of antioxidant vitamins reduced the myocardial oxidative stress, attenuated cardiac dysfunction and prevented myocardial beta-receptor downregulation and sympathetic nerve terminal dysfunction. Administration of alpha-tocopherol alone produced similar effects, but the effects were less marked than those produced by the three vitamins together. Vitamins produced no effects in sham-operated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Antioxidant vitamins reduced tissue oxidative stress in CHF and attenuated the associated cardiac dysfunction, beta-receptor downregulation and sympathetic nerve terminal abnormalities. The findings suggest that antioxidant therapy may be efficacious in human CHF.

[Discussion of leigong 17 processing methods]

"Seventeen Methods" plays an important role in the field of processing medicinal herbs, and also makes a notable impact on modern ages. However, some problems among it are still existed. According to the origin of "17 Methods" and interrelating records, a simple description about its objections was given.

[Preliminary study on relationship between TCM syndrome-type and insulin resistance in coronary heart disease]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the relationship between TCM Syndrome-type and insulin resistance (ISR) in coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

Fifty patients were divided into 3 groups according to the Syndrome Differentiation-typing in TCM, the Heart blood stasis (HBS) Syndrome group, the Phlegm-Turbid stagnation (PTS) Syndrome group and both Qi-Yin Deficiency (QYD) Syndrome group. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin (Ins), insulin antibody (IAA), islet cell antibody (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD-Ab) and related blood lipid parameters in patients were determined and insulin sensitive index (ISI) was calculated simultaneously. Then the above-mentioned data were compared with those determined in 20 healthy control subjects.

RESULTS

The levels of FBG and Ins in CHD group were higher than those in healthy control group significantly (P < 0.05), but ISI level was obviously lower (P < 0.01). Moreover, the positive ratio of IAA (40%) was higher in CHD group than that in the control group (5%) significantly (P < 0.01). Comparison between the 3 TCM Syndrome-type groups and the control group showed that ISI level in HBS and PTS group was obviously lower than that in the control and the QYD (P < 0.05) respectively, and the IAA positive ratio in the former 2 groups (50%, 47.3%) was higher than that in the later two (5%, P < 0.01 and 15.38%, P < 0.05) markedly. While Ins level increased only in the HBS group (P < 0.05). Besides, patients of HBS and PTS were accompanied by lipid metabolic disturbance.

CONCLUSION

ISR presents in part of CHD patients particularly in those with HBS and PTS, which was partly due to the existence of IAA in patients serum.

Antioxidant vitamins prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis produced by norepinephrine infusion in ferrets

BACKGROUND

Norepinephrine (NE) induces apoptosis in cultured neonatal rat myocytes. To determine whether this change occurred in intact animals after chronic subhypertensive doses of NE, and whether the effect was mediated via oxidative stress produced by NE, we measured myocyte apoptosis and apoptotic gene proteins in ferrets receiving chronic NE with and without antioxidant vitamin treatment.

METHODS

Ferrets were administered either subcutaneous NE or vehicle and simultaneously assigned to receive antioxidant vitamins (beta-carotene, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Resting hemodynamics and plasma NE were measured at 4 weeks. Animals were then sacrificed for measuring cardiac myocyte size by electron microscopy, and oxidative stress by reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and mitochrondrial DNA 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by both terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and monoclonal antibody to single-stranded DNA (Mab) staining. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and apoptotic protein Bax.

RESULTS

NE administration produced a 4-fold increase in plasma NE, but had no effect on resting heart rate, heart weight, arterial pressure, left ventricular systolic function or cardiac cell size. NE infusion decreased tissue GSH/GSSG ratio, and increased mtDNA 8-oxo-dG, and TUNEL- and Mab-positive apoptotic cells. These changes were associated with a 27% decrease in Bcl-2 protein, a 42% increase in Bax and a 57% reduction in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. All of the changes were prevented by co-administration of antioxidant vitamins.

CONCLUSION

NE administration at a dose which produced no significant increase in blood pressure or myocyte hypertrophy caused cardiomyocyte apoptosis in intact animals. This effect was associated with an increase in oxidative stress, up-regulation of Bax protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. Antioxidant vitamins prevented the changes produced by NE. The findings suggest that NE-induced myocyte apoptosis is mediated by oxidative stress, and that antioxidant vitamins may be beneficial in heart failure in which cardiac NE release is increased.

Comparison of animal models for the evaluation of radiolabeled androgens

Biodistribution of two 18F-labeled androgens and an 124I/125I-labeled androgen were studied in five androgen receptor (prostate) animal models with or lacking sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). As models for androgen-receptor positive ovarian cancer, xenografts of three human ovarian cancer cell lines were tested in SCID mice. SHBG in the prostate model systems significantly affects the metabolism, clearance, and distribution of the radiolabeled androgens in several tissues, but ovarian cancer animal models were disappointing.

[Serological study on inhibitory function of shenkang injection on glomerular mesangial cell]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the intensity of inhibitory function of Shenkang injection (SKI), a Chinese herbal recipe, and benazepril on the proliferation of human glomerular mesangial cell (MC).

METHODS

The effect of SKI and benazepril on the proliferation of human MC was observed by using the cultured MC in vitro and serum pharmacological assay.

RESULTS

Both SKI and benazepril could inhibit the proliferation of human MC, but in equal dosage consistency, SKI showed a better inhibitory effect than that of benazepril.

CONCLUSION

MC is the important target cell for the action of SKI, the inhibiting on proliferation might be one of the essential mechanisms of SKI in retarding glomerulosclerosis.