Zebrafish models of leukemia

The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a well-established, invaluable model system for the study of human cancers. The genetic pathways that drive oncogenesis are highly conserved between zebrafish and humans, and multiple unique attributes of the zebrafish make it a tractable tool for analyzing the underlying cellular processes that give rise to human disease. In particular, the high conservation between human and zebrafish hematopoiesis (Jing & Zon, 2011) has stimulated the development of zebrafish models for human hematopoietic malignancies to elucidate molecular pathogenesis and to expedite the preclinical investigation of novel therapies. While T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the first transgenic cancer model in zebrafish (Langenau et al., 2003), a wide spectrum of zebrafish models of human hematopoietic malignancies has been established since 2003, largely through transgenesis and genome-editing approaches. This chapter presents key examples that validate the zebrafish as an indispensable model system for the study of hematopoietic malignancies and highlights new models that demonstrate recent advances in the field.

Phosphorylation of NFAT3 by CDK3 induces cell transformation and promotes tumor growth in skin cancer

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family proteins are transcription factors that regulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other genes during the immune response. Although the NFAT proteins have been extensively investigated in the immune system, their role in cancer progression remains controversial. Here, we report that NFAT3 is highly expressed in various skin cancer cell lines and tumor tissues. Knockdown of endogenous NFAT3 expression by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation, colony formation and anchorage-independent cell growth. Furthermore, results of the mammalian two-hybrid assay showed that cyclin-dependent kinase 3 (CDK3) directly interacted with NFAT3 and phosphorylated NFAT3 at serine 259 (Ser259), which enhanced the transactivation and transcriptional activity of NFAT3. The phosphorylation site of NFAT3 was critical for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated cell transformation of the HaCaT immortalized skin cell line and mutation of NFAT3 at Ser259 led to a reduction of colony formation in soft agar. We also found that overexpressing wildtype NFAT3, but not mutant NFAT3-S259A, promoted A431 xenograft tumor growth. Importantly, we showed that CDK3, NFAT3 and phosphorylated NFAT3-Ser259 were highly expressed in skin cancer compared with normal skin tissues. These results provided evidence supporting the oncogenic potential of NFAT3 and suggested that CDK3-mediated phosphorylation of NFAT3 has an important role in skin tumorigenesis.

Evaluation of immune responses induced by rhoptry protein 5 and rhoptry protein 7 DNA vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii

Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is widespread, and the organism can cause congenital infections in humans. The horizontal transmission of Toxoplasma is even more common than congenital. An effective vaccine strategy brings the prospect of improving Toxoplasma disease control. Rhoptry protein 5 (ROP5) and ROP7 are potential stimulators of humoral and cellular immune responses. In this study, we constructed a multi-antigenic DNA vaccine expressing ROP5 and ROP7 of T. gondii and compared the protective efficacy to single-gene vaccines and control groups. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly three times. The levels of IgG antibodies and cytokines in mice immunized with the multi-antigenic DNA vaccine (pROP5/ROP7) were significantly higher than those in the control mice. Mice vaccinated with pROP5/ROP7 showed a longer survival time (16 days) than single-gene-immunized mice (11 and 12 days, respectively) or control mice (8 days) after a challenge with 1 × 10(4) tachyzoites of RH strain of T. gondii. Furthermore, after intragastric infection with 20 cysts of PRU strain of T. gondii, the number of brain cysts in mice immunized with pROP5/ROP7 was only 25% of the number in control mice. Our results showed that a DNA vaccine encoding ROP5 and ROP7 significantly enhanced protection against T. gondii challenge.

Imaging Cancer Angiogenesis and Metastasis in a Zebrafish Embryo Model

Tumor angiogenesis and metastasis are key steps of cancer progression. In vitro and animal model studies have contributed to partially elucidating the mechanisms involved in these processes and in developing therapies. Besides the improvements in fundamental research and the optimization of therapeutic regimes, cancer still remains a major health threatening condition and therefore the development of new models is needed. The zebrafish is a powerful tool to study tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, because it allows the visualization of fluorescently labelled tumor cells inducing vessel remodeling, disseminating and invading surrounding tissues in a whole transparent embryo. The embryo model has also been used to address the contribution of the tumor stroma in sustaining tumor angiogenesis and spreading. Simultaneously, new anti-angiogenic drugs and compounds affecting malignant cell survival and migration can be tested by simply adding the compound into the water of living embryos. Therefore the zebrafish model offers the opportunity to gain more knowledge on cancer angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo with the final aim of providing new translational insights into therapeutic approaches to help patients.

Clinical features of allergic rhinitis in children of Shanghai, China

The aims of the current study were to assess the clinical features of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children in Shanghai. Serum-specific IgE (sIgE) tests were performed on samples from patients with AR symptoms from January 2011 to December 2014. A disease-related questionnaire was completed after AR diagnosis. The allergen profile and clinical features of AR were analyzed. In total, 2713 AR patients were enrolled in this study. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was found to be the most common offending allergen in the study population. With increasing age, the prevalence of sIgE against inhalant allergens was significantly increased; however, the opposite trend was observed for food allergens. Additionally, the proportion of children with high levels of sIgE against D. pteronyssinus increased with age. Of the AR cases, 8.6% were classified as intermittent mild, 4.2% as persistent mild, 40.5% as intermittent moderate-severe, and 46.7% as persistent moderate-severe. A family history of allergies and a patient history of allergies within 6 months of birth were significantly associated with the duration and severity of AR symptoms. The occurrence of co-morbidities, such as allergic conjunctivitis, cough, and asthma, gradually increased from intermittent mild, persistent mild, and intermittent moderate-severe to persistent moderate-severe. The most frequently used drugs were topical corticosteroids and oral antihistamines, which were used by 86.7 and 79.0% of patients, respectively. These results confirm the adequacy of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines for classifying AR patients, and advance the understanding of clinical features of AR in children in Shanghai, China.

Value of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) in predicting the proton pump inhibitor response in coronary artery disease patients with gastroesophageal reflux-related chest pain

Chest pain experienced by patients with coronary artery disease can be partly due to gastroesophageal reflux-induced chest pain (GERP). Empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy has been recommended as an initial clinical approach for treating GERP. However, PPI use may lead to some health problems. The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) may represent a noninvasive and cost-effective approach for avoiding PPI misuse and for identifying the appropriate patients for the PPI trial test. The aim of this pilot study was to prospectively evaluate the association between GerdQ scores and PPI response in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and GERP to determine whether the GerdQ predicts the PPI response in patients with CAD and GERP and to further validate the clinical application value of the GerdQ. A total of 154 consecutive patients with potential GERP were recruited to complete a GerdQ with subsequent PPI therapy. Based on the PPI trial result, patients were divided into a PPI-positive response group and a PPI-negative response group. The difference in the GerdQ scores between the two groups was assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of GerdQ score was drawn according to the PPI response as the gold standard. The ability of GerdQ to predict the PPI response was assessed. A total of 96 patients completed the entire study; 62 patients (64.6%) were assigned to the PPI-positive response group, and 34 patients (35.4%) to the PPI-negative response group. The GerdQ score of the PPI-positive response group (8.11 ± 3.315) was significantly higher than that of the PPI-negative response group (4.41 ± 2.743), and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.863, P = 0.000). The ROC curve was drawn according to a PPI response assessment result with a score above 2 as the gold standard. The area under curve was 0.806. When the critical value of GerdQ score was 7.5, Youden index was up to 0.514, the diagnostic sensitivity was 0.661, and the diagnostic specificity was 0.853. A GerdQ score greater than 7.5 better predicts the response to the PPI trial therapy. There is a strong association between the GerdQ score and the response to PPI therapy. Higher GerdQ scores were predictive of a positive PPI response in CAD patients with GERP. The GerdQ may be a reasonable screening tool for GERP in patients with CAD who are prepared to accept PPI therapy.

Microbial Fe(III) oxide reduction potential in Chocolate Pots hot spring, Yellowstone National Park

Chocolate Pots hot springs (CP) is a unique, circumneutral pH, iron-rich, geothermal feature in Yellowstone National Park. Prior research at CP has focused on photosynthetically driven Fe(II) oxidation as a model for mineralization of microbial mats and deposition of Archean banded iron formations. However, geochemical and stable Fe isotopic data have suggested that dissimilatory microbial iron reduction (DIR) may be active within CP deposits. In this study, the potential for microbial reduction of native CP Fe(III) oxides was investigated, using a combination of cultivation dependent and independent approaches, to assess the potential involvement of DIR in Fe redox cycling and associated stable Fe isotope fractionation in the CP hot springs. Endogenous microbial communities were able to reduce native CP Fe(III) oxides, as documented by most probable number enumerations and enrichment culture studies. Enrichment cultures demonstrated sustained DIR driven by oxidation of acetate, lactate, and H2 . Inhibitor studies and molecular analyses indicate that sulfate reduction did not contribute to observed rates of DIR in the enrichment cultures through abiotic reaction pathways. Enrichment cultures produced isotopically light Fe(II) during DIR relative to the bulk solid-phase Fe(III) oxides. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes from enrichment cultures showed dominant sequences closely affiliated with Geobacter metallireducens, a mesophilic Fe(III) oxide reducer. Shotgun metagenomic analysis of enrichment cultures confirmed the presence of a dominant G. metallireducens-like population and other less dominant populations from the phylum Ignavibacteriae, which appear to be capable of DIR. Gene (protein) searches revealed the presence of heat-shock proteins that may be involved in increased thermotolerance in the organisms present in the enrichments as well as porin-cytochrome complexes previously shown to be involved in extracellular electron transport. This analysis offers the first detailed insight into how DIR may impact the Fe geochemistry and isotope composition of a Fe-rich, circumneutral pH geothermal environment.

Edible bird's nest enhances antioxidant capacity and increases lifespan in Drosophila Melanogaster

In this study, we aims to investigate the effects of edible bird's nest (EBN) on anti-aging efficacy. In order to investigate lifespan and mortality rate of flies, we treated flies with various doses of EBN. Besides, fecundity, water content and food are determined and heat-stress test is conducted after flies treating with different medium. Effects of EBN on total antioxidant activity (T-AOC), super-oxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined in drosophila melanogaster. Results indicated that flies in EBN treated group illustrated significantly lower mortality rates and longer median and maximum lifespan compared to control group (P<0.05). The fecundity in EBN-treated group was increased compared to control group. SOD levels and CAT activity were significantly increased, and MDA levels decreased in EBN-treated group compared to control group (P<0.01). In conclusion, EBN can extend lifespan, decrease mortality rate and increase survival rate in heat-stress test, and which can also promote SOD and CAT activity and reduce MDA levels. EBN is able to delay drosophila melanogaster aging, attributing to the increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing content of lipid peroxidation products in drosophila melanogaster.

Ethanol adaptation induces direct protection and cross-protection against freezing stress in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

AIMS

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salm. Enteritidis) encounters mild ethanol stress during its life cycle. However, adaptation to a stressful condition may affect bacterial resistance to subsequent stresses. Hence, this work was undertaken to investigate the influences of ethanol adaptation on stress tolerance of Salm. Enteritidis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Salmonella Enteritidis was subjected to different ethanol adaptation treatments (2·5-10% ethanol for 1 h). Cellular morphology and tolerance to subsequent environmental stresses (15% ethanol, -20°C, 4°C, 50°C and 10% NaCl) were evaluated. It was found that 10% was the maximum ethanol concentration that allowed growth of the target bacteria. Ethanol adaptation did not cause cell-surface damage in Salm. Enteritidis as revealed by membrane permeability measurements and electron micrograph analysis. Salmonella Enteritidis adapted with 2·5-10% ethanol displayed an enhanced resistance to a 15%-ethanol challenge compared with an unchallenged control. The maximum ethanol resistance was observed when ethanol concentration used for ethanol adaptation was increased to 5·0%. Additionally, pre-adaptation to 5·0% ethanol cross-protected Salm. Enteritidis against -20°C, but not against 4°C, 50°C or 10% NaCl.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol adaptation provided Salm. Enteritidis direct protection from a high level ethanol challenge and cross-protection from freezing, but not other stresses tested (low temperature, high salinity or high temperature).

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results are valuable in developing adequate and efficient control measures for Salm. Enteritidis in foods.

Prevalence and Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome-identified by Three Criteria among Men in Rural China: A Population-based Cross-sectional Study Conducted during 2007-2008

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to estimate MS prevalence according to three criteria and its risk factors among men in rural China.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The Nantong Metabolic Syndrome Study (NMSS) was conducted during 2007-2008 in Nantong, China.

PARTICIPANTS

6997 male participants aged 18-74 years.

MEASUREMENTS

In person interviews, blood glucose and lipid measurements were accomplished.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MS was 12.86%, 8.55% and 15.28% according to IDF, ATPIII and ATPIII-modified criteria, respectively. The IDF and ATP III-modified criteria agreed only moderately with ATP III criteria (κ= 0.56 and 0.68), whereas ATP III-modified and the IDF criteria agreed perfectly (κ= 0.90). Vigorous occupational physical activity was associated with a low prevalence of MS with Odds ratio (OR) of 0.58 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45-0.74). Beer drinkers (alcohol ≤ 6.2 g/day) and rice wine drinkers (alcohol ≤ 9.0 g/day) had about 34% and 33% low risks of developing MS respectively, compared with non-drinkers. OR of MS was 1.95 (95% CI: 1.39-2.73) in men who had familial history of at least two diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, compared with men without familial history of those diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that MS is highly prevalent among men in rural China. Family history of diabetes and hypertension is a risk factor in MS development. Physical activity, rice wine and beer consumption are associated with a significantly lower risk.

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic EST-SSR and genomic SSR markers in spotted mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri Steindachne)

Spotted mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri Steindachne) feed solely on live fry of other fish species once the fry start feeding in the wild. In the present study, 26 polymorphic transcriptome-derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and 14 genomic SSR markers were developed and characterized in S. scherzeri Steindachne by combining a biotin-enrichment protocol and transcriptome of F1 interspecies hybrids between S. chuatsi (♀) and S. scherzeri (♂). These 40 polymorphic SSRs amplified 168 alleles (mean 4.2). The number of alleles, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content per locus were in the range of 2 to 7 (mean 4.3), 0.1111 to 1.000 (mean 0.6718), 0.3118 to 0.8276 (mean 0.6901), and 0.2735 to 0.7902 (mean 0.6298), respectively. Ten of these microsatellite loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.00125) after Bonferroni correction for multiple tests and no significant linkage disequilibrium (P < 0.00006) was observed. The microsatellite markers characterized from S. scherzeri could be a valuable tool in genetic evaluation for conservation and for assessment of the mechanism associated with unique food preference of S. scherzeri from a genetic point of view.

Design High-Efficiency III-V Nanowire/Si Two-Junction Solar Cell

In this paper, we report the electrical simulation results of a proposed GaInP nanowire (NW)/Si two-junction solar cell. The NW physical dimensions are determined for optimized solar energy absorption and current matching between each subcell. Two key factors (minority carrier lifetime, surface recombination velocity) affecting power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell are highlighted, and a practical guideline to design high-efficiency two-junction solar cell is thus provided. Considering the practical surface and bulk defects in GaInP semiconductor, a promising PCE of 27.5 % can be obtained. The results depict the usefulness of integrating NWs to construct high-efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells.

Effects of different exercise durations on Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation in mouse skeletal muscle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute exercise stress on the nuclear factor-erythroid2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) transactivation, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) cytosolic protein and Nrf2 nucleoprotein expressions, Nrf2 target genes mRNA expressions, and glutathione redox (GSH/GSSG) ratio level; with a particular focus on the changes in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation following different durations of exercise. Wild-type mice (C57BL/6J, two months old) were separated into one-hour and six-hour treadmill running groups, as well as a non-exercise control group (n = 10 in each group). Measurements of Nrf2/ARE transactivation, Nrf2 nucleoprotein expressions, Keap1 cytosolic protein expression, Nrf2 target genes' mRNA expressions (superoxide dismutase-1 [SOD1], superoxide dismutase-2 [SOD2], γ-glutamyl cysteine ligase-modulatory [GCLm], γ-glutamyl cysteine ligase-catalytic [GCLc], glutathione reductase [GR], glutathione peroxidase-1 [Gpx1], catalase [CAT], and hemoxygenase-1 [Ho-1]), and GSH/GSSG ratio were carried out immediately after exercise. The results showed significant increases in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and the mRNA expressions of six measured enzymes in skeletal muscle after six hours of exercise; while in the one-hour exercise group, there was no change in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and only two enzymes' mRNA expressions were increased. It is suggested that the changes in Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation and its target genes' mRNA expressions were dependent on the exercise duration, with longer duration associated with higher responses.

Investigation of the composition of arterial plaques based on arterial waveforms and material properties

Stroke is mainly caused by a narrowing of the carotid artery from a build-up of plaque. The risk of plaque rupture and subsequent stroke is dependent on plaque composition. Advances in imaging modalities offer a non-invasive means to assess the health of blood vessels and detect damage. However, the current diagnosis fails to identify patients with soft lipid plaque that are more susceptible to fissure, resulting in stroke. The aim of this study was to use waveform analysis to identify plaque composition and the risk of rupture. We have investigated pressure and flow by combining an artificial blood flow circuit with tubing containing different materials, to simulate plaques in a blood vessel. We used fat and bone to model lipid and calcification respectively to determine if the composition of plaques can be identified by arterial waveforms. We demonstrate that the arterial plaque models with different percentages of calcification and fat, results in significantly different arterial waveforms. These findings imply that arterial waveform analysis has the potential for further development to identify the vulnerable plaques prone to rupture. These findings could have implications for improved patient prognosis by speed of detection and a more appropriate treatment strategy.

High leukocyte mitochondrial DNA content contributes to poor prognosis in glioma patients through its immunosuppressive effect

Background:

Epidemiological studies have indicated significant associations of leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number with risk of several malignancies, including glioma. However, whether mtDNA content can predict the clinical outcome of glioma patients has not been investigated.

Methods:

The mtDNA content of peripheral blood leukocytes from 336 glioma patients was examined using a real-time PCR-based method. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to examine the association of mtDNA content with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients. To explore the potential mechanism, the immune phenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma concentrations of several cytokines from another 20 glioma patients were detected by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

Results:

Patients with high mtDNA content showed both poorer OS and PFS than those with low mtDNA content. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that mtDNA content was an independent prognostic factor for both OS and PFS. Stratified analyses showed that high mtDNA content was significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with younger age, high-grade glioma or adjuvant radiochemotherapy. Immunological analysis indicated that patients with high mtDNA content had significantly lower frequency of natural killer cells in PBMCs and higher plasma concentrations of interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-α, suggesting an immunosuppression-related mechanism involved in mtDNA-mediated prognosis.

Conclusions:

Our study for the first time demonstrated that leukocyte mtDNA content could serve as an independent prognostic marker and an indicator of immune functions in glioma patients.

The diagnostic value of high-resolution ultrasonography for the detection of anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint: a meta-analysis employing the HSROC statistical model

The study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of high-resolution ultrasonography (HR-US) in the detection of anterior disc displacement (ADD) of the temporomandibular joint. Relevant trials reported in MEDLINE, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Embase were identified. A manual search was also performed. The quality of retrieved data was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) criteria. Data were extracted and cross-checked, and a statistically rigorous meta-analysis was performed using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model (HSROC). The clinical utility of results was assessed using Fagan nomograms (Bayes theory). All data were evaluated using Stata software. A total 11 studies including 1096 subjects were included in the analysis; all reported the utility of HR-US for the diagnosis of ADD with reduction (ADDWR) and without reduction (ADDWoR). For ADDWR, the weighted sensitivity and specificity were 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-0.88) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.76-0.92) respectively. The lambda value was 3.41 (95% CI 2.37-4.46) and the Fagan nomogram pre-test probability 58%, with a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 6.01. The positive post-test probability was 89%, with a negative LR of 0.20. The negative post-test probability was 21%. The positive increase in diagnostic utility was 31% and the negative decrement in that value 37%. For ADDWoR, the weighted sensitivity and specificity values were 0.72 (95% CI 0.59-0.81) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.93), respectively. The lambda value was 3.69 (95% CI 2.39-4.99) and the Fagan nomogram pre-test probability 38%, with a positive LR of 7.00. The positive post-test probability was 82%, with a negative LR of 0.32. The negative post-test probability was 16%. The increase in diagnostic utility was 44% and the negative decrement in that value 22%. HR-US delivers acceptable performance when used to diagnose ADD, being superior for the detection of ADDWoR than ADDWR, and exhibiting a lower negative diagnostic value in the detection of ADDWoR than ADDWR. HR-US may serve as a new method for the rapid diagnosis of ADD. The method has the advantages of simplicity and low cost. Given the uncertainty in some of the estimated values, more high-quality studies are needed to assess that diagnostic efficacy.

Application of ultrasound technology in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract diseases

Ultrasound is commonly used in clinical examination which is economic, non-invasive and convenient. Ultrasound can be used for the examination of solid organs and hollow organs. Due to the presence of air, routine ultrasound examination of the digestive tract is not very appropriate, Because of the development of endosonography and its related technology, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases have been improved which is valuable in clinic. This review focused on the application of ultrasound technology in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract diseases.

Imputation of missing genotypes from low- to high-density SNP panel in different population designs

Imputation of missing genotypes, in particular from low density to high density, is an important issue in genomic selection and genome-wide association studies. Given the marker densities, the most important factors affecting imputation accuracy are the size of the reference population and the relationship between individuals in the reference (genotyped with high-density panel) and study (genotyped with low-density panel) populations. In this study, we investigated the imputation accuracies when the reference population (genotyped with Illumina BovineSNP50 SNP panel) contained sires, halfsibs, or both sires and halfsibs of the individuals in the study population (genotyped with Illumina BovineLD SNP panel) using three imputation programs (fimpute v2.2, findhap v2, and beagle v3.3.2). Two criteria, correlation between true and imputed genotypes and missing rate after imputation, were used to evaluate the performance of the three programs in different scenarios. Our results showed that fimpute performed the best in all cases, with correlations from 0.921 to 0.978 when imputing from sires to their daughters or between halfsibs. In general, the accuracies of imputing between halfsibs or from sires to their daughters were higher than were those imputing between non-halfsibs or from sires to non-daughters. Including both sires and halfsibs in the reference population did not improve the imputation performance in comparison with when only including halfsibs in the reference population for all the three programs.

Monodisperse magnetofluorescent nanoplatforms for local heating and temperature sensing

Monodisperse multifunctional MnFe2O4/dye/silica core/shell nanoparticles have been designed and developed. The magnetic cores act as nano-heaters in biological systems under RF field excitation and the encapsulated dyes work as local temperature probes. The silica shells enable the water-solubility and biocompatibility of the NPs and protect the encapsulated fluorophores from photobleaching.

UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A expression levels determine the response of colorectal cancer cells to the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor ganetespib

HSP90 inhibition represents a promising route to cancer therapy, taking advantage of cancer cell-inherent proteotoxic stress. The HSP90-inhibitor ganetespib showed benefit in advanced clinical trials. This raises the need to identify the molecular determinants of treatment response. We tested the efficacy of ganetespib on a series of colorectal cancer (CRC)-derived cell lines and correlated their sensitivities with comprehensive gene expression analysis. Notably, the drug concentration required for 50% growth inhibition (IC₅₀) varied up to 70-fold (from 36 to 2500 nM) between different cell lines. Correlating cell line-specific IC₅₀s with the corresponding gene expression patterns revealed a strong association between ganetespib resistance (IC₅₀>500 nM) and high expression of the UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) gene cluster. Moreover, CRC tumor samples showed a comparable distribution of UGT1A expression levels. The members of the UGT1A gene family are known as drug-conjugating liver enzymes involved in drug excretion, but their function in tumor cells is hardly understood. Chemically unrelated HSP90 inhibitors, for example, 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), did not show correlation of drug sensitivities with UGT1A levels, whereas the ganetespib-related compound NVP-AUY922 did. When the most ganetespib-resistant cell line, HT29, was treated with ganetespib, the levels of HSP90 clients were unaffected. However, HT29 cells became sensitized to the drug, and HSP90 client proteins were destabilized by ganetespib upon siRNA-mediated UGT1A knockdown. Conversely, the most ganetespib-sensitive cell lines HCT116 and SW480 became more tolerant toward ganetespib upon UGT1A overexpression. Mechanistically, ganetespib was rapidly glucuronidated and excreted in resistant but not in sensitive CRC lines. We conclude that CRC cell-expressed UGT1A inactivates ganetespib and other resorcinolic Hsp90 inhibitors by glucuronidation, which renders the drugs unable to inhibit Hsp90 and thereby abrogates their biological activity. UGT1A levels in tumor tissues may be a suitable predictive biomarker to stratify CRC patients for ganetespib treatment.

Short-term therapeutic drug monitoring of mycophenolic acid reduces infection: a prospective, single-center cohort study in Chinese living-related kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

The role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is not clear. We performed a prospective cohort study to evaluate the efficiency of MPA TDM in the Chinese population.

METHODS

A total of 183 living-related KTRs were studied; 101 KTRs received controlled-dose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (the CD group), and 82 patients received fixed-dose MMF (the FD group). MPA exposure was measured at days 3, 7, 14, and 30 in the CD group, and at day 30 in the FD group. The primary endpoint was treatment failure (a composite of acute rejection, graft loss, death, or MMF discontinuation) at 12 months post transplantation.

RESULTS

In the CD group, with a starting MMF dose of 2 g/day, approximately 35% of patients had high MPA levels, which were >60 mg × h/L, and mean MPA levels were 59.17 mg × h/L and 61.38 mg × h/L for the CD and FD groups, respectively (P = 0.588). After adjusting MMF dose, MPA exposures in the CD group at day 30 were lower than those in the FD group at day 30 (54.06 vs. 61.38, P = 0.004). At month 12, the CD group had fewer infections (16.8% vs. 31.7%, P = 0.018) with no difference in treatment failure, acute rejection, diarrhea, or anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

KTRs can benefit from short-term TDM of MPA in reducing infection, without increasing acute rejection.