Phytoremediation of heavy and transition metals aided by legume-rhizobia symbiosis

Legumes are important for nitrogen cycling in the environment and agriculture due to the ability of nitrogen fixation by rhizobia. In this review, we introduce an important and potential role of legume-rhizobia symbiosis in aiding phytoremediation of some metal contaminated soils as various legumes have been found to be the dominant plant species in metal contaminated areas. Resistant rhizobia used for phytoremediation could act on metals directly by chelation, precipitation, transformation, biosorption and accumulation. Moreover, the plant growth promoting (PGP) traits of rhizobia including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, siderophore release, and production of ACC deaminase and the volatile compounds of acetoin and 2, 3-butanediol may facilitate legume growth while lessening metal toxicity. The benefits of using legumes inoculated with naturally resistant rhizobia or recombinant rhizobia with enhanced resistance, as well as co-inoculation with other plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are discussed. However, the legume-rhizobia symbiosis appears to be sensitive to metals, and the effect of metal toxicity on the interaction between legumes and rhizobia is not clear. Therefore, to obtain the maximum benefits from legumes assisted by rhizobia for phytoremediation of metals, it is critical to have a good understanding of interactions between PGP traits, the symbiotic plant-rhizobia relationship and metals.

Abstract P1-08-05: The prognostic significance of Ki-67 expression before and after neoadjuvant anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy in different biological breast cancer phenotypes

Purpose

This study was conducted to analyze the Ki-67 expression before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and clinical pathology characteristics of different biological breast cancer phenotypes at our center. A correlation study was performed between Ki-67 index change and the prognosis of different biological breast cancer phenotypes and prognosis in Northern China.

Methods

A regression analysis was performed on 213 patients with invasive breast carcinoma accepted NAC admitted to Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital of Breast Surgery from January 2007 to April 2008. These patients were subtyped by hormone receptor status and HER2 status.The Ki67 index (percentage of Ki67-positive cancer nuclei) were determined immunohistochemically. The prognostic value of the Ki-67 index for different biological breast cancer phenotypes disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was investigated by use of Kaplan–Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression.

Results

The overall pathologic CR (pCR) rate, defined as no invasive residuals in breast and axilla, was 17.8%. The highest pCR rate of 32.1% was observed in patients with HR-/HER2+ tumors, which is 11.4%, 20.0% and 26.2% in HR+/HER2- HR+/HER2-,HR+/HER2+and HR-/HER2- tumor respectively(P = 0.024).The Ki-67 expression of pre-NAC and post-NAC have prognostic significance in HER2- breast cancer, which have not significance different in HER2+ breast cancer:The best Ki-67 idex cut point of pre-NAC and post-NAC to predict long-term survival was respectively 20% and 10% in HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Moreover, patients with a higher Ki-67 index (> cut-off point) showed significantly lower 5year-DFS/OS rates compared with those whose Ki-67 index were below cut-off point. In addition, Ki-67 index of post-NAC were independent prognostic factors for 5 year disease-free survival of patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Ki-67 change between pre- and post-NAC as an independent prognostic factor independently predict prognosis in the patients who have not achieved pCR, while the best cut-off point was 18%.

Conclusion

The Ki-67 index of pre- and post-NAC could predict the prognosis in the patients with HER2- breast cancer. Moreover, the Ki-67 change between pre- and post-NAC was an independent prognostic factor in the patients who have not achieved pCR.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-08-05.

Analysis of interventional treatments of Budd-Chiari Syndrome and the related complications: a study of 1006 cases

AIM

The aim of this paper was to investigate the cause of intraoperative and postoperative complications in Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and its prevention.

METHODS

BCS Patients (1035) who were treated between 1990 and 2009 were included in the present study. Among these patients, there were 651 cases with inferior vena cava occlusion, 273 cases with hepatic vein obstruction and 111 cases with both the symptoms. Treatment for 28 patients failed due to various causes and 1 case diagnosed of obstruction in the right hepatic vein was not treated due to the compensation from the middle and left hepatic vein. The remaining 1006 cases were resolved by the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), of which 746 cases had only PTA and 260 cases had both PTA and stent.

RESULTS

There were complications in 66 (6.56%) cases after intervention and 2 patients (0.199%) died. Accidental surgical penetration of the pericardium or cardiac tamponade (0.99%) led to the death of 10 patients, among which 4 cases had cardiac tamponade and one died due to the tamponade. In 2 (0.199%) patients there was stent migration into the right atrium from inferior vena cava. Pleural bleeding was seen in 1 case (0.099%) and abdominal bleeding in 2 cases (0.199%). Two cases (0.199%) had pulmonary obstruction. A single (0.099%) case had chocolate cyst rupture in thrombolytic process. Twenty-seven patients had acute re-stenosis after the surgery, among which 22 (2.95%, 22/746) had the stenosis after only PTA and 5 (1.92%, 5/260) had the stenosis after receiving both PTA and stent. 3 (0.298%) cases had pseudoaneurysm at the puncturing site. Puncture site bleeding and local hematoma was seen in 10 cases (0.99%), whereas 4 cases (0.398%) had leg phlebothrombosis on the same side of the puncture site.

CONCLUSION

Interventional treatment is a safe and effective way to treat BCS. Various effective measures should be taken to avoid and lower the incidence of complications.

Transport of Residual Nitrogen and Carbon through Intact Soil Cores Amended with Stockpiled Feedlot Manure with Wood-Chip or Straw Bedding

The environmental impact of using wood chips instead of straw bedding with feedlot manure on transport and leaching potential from feedlot manure is unknown. Our main objective was to determine if transport of total N, total organic N, NO-N, and nonpurgeable organic C (NPOC) to subsurface soil was lower for soils amended with feedlot manure if combined with wood chips compared with straw. A secondary objective was to compare transport of N and NPOC with organic amendments versus inorganic fertilizer. Stockpiled feedlot manure (SM) with wood chip (SM-WD) or barley straw (SM-ST) bedding at 39 Mg (dry wt.) ha, and inorganic fertilizer (IN) at 100 kg N ha, was applied annually for 13 yr to a clay loam soil in a replicated field experiment in southern Alberta, Canada. Intact soil cores were taken in fall 2011 (0-30 cm depth) from the three treatments, and the residual N and NPOC were eluted from the soil cores. Total N, total organic N, and NPOC were determined on filtered (1.0 μm) effluent samples that are primarily dissolved fraction but may contain some small particulate N and C. Peak concentrations, flow-weighted mean concentrations, and mass loss of total N, total organic N, NO-N, and NPOC were significantly ( ≤ 0.05) lower by 35 to 86% for SM-WD compared with SM-ST. Mean recoveries were also significantly lower for SM-WD than SM-ST by 0.07 to 8% (absolute difference). The transport behavior was similar for SM-WD and IN treatment, but solute transport was greater for SM-ST than for IN. Application of stockpiled feedlot manure with wood chips instead of straw bedding may be a beneficial management practice to reduce transport and leaching potential of N fractions and NPOC.

Engineering a single ubiquitin ligase for the selective degradation of all activated ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases

Interrogating specific cellular activities often entails the dissection of posttranslational modifications or functional redundancy conferred by protein families, which demands more sophisticated research tools than simply eliminating a specific gene product by gene targeting or RNA interference. We have developed a novel methodology that involves engineering a single SCF(βTrCP)-based ubiquitin ligase that is capable of not only simultaneously targeting the entire family of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases for ubiquitination and degradation, but also selectively recruiting only activated ErbBs. The engineered SCF(βTrCP) ubiquitin ligase effectively blocked ErbB signaling and attenuated oncogenicity in breast cancer cells, yet had little effect on the survival and growth of non-cancerous breast epithelial cells. Therefore, engineering ubiquitin ligases offers a simple research tool to dissect the specific traits of tumorigenic protein families, and provides a rapid and feasible means to expand the dimensionality of drug discovery by assessing protein families or posttranslational modifications as potential drug targets.

Inactivation of bacterial opportunistic skin pathogens by nonthermal DC-operated afterglow atmospheric plasma

AIMS

  Multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogens are clinically significant and require the development of new antimicrobial methods. In this study, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus cells were exposed to atmospheric plasma on agar plates and in vitro on porcine skin for the purpose of testing bacterial inactivation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

  Microbial inactivation at varying exposure durations was tested using a nonthermal plasma jet generated with a DC voltage from ambient air. The observed reduction in colony forming units was quantified as log(10) reductions.

CONCLUSIONS

  Direct plasma exposure significantly inactivated seeded bacterial cells by approx. 6 log(10) on agar plates and 2-3 log(10) on porcine skin. On agar plates, an indirect 'bystander' inactivation outside the plasma delivery area was also observed. The reduced inactivation observed on the skin surface was most likely due to cell protection by the variable surface architecture.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

  Atmospheric plasma has potential for clinical application as a disinfectant of patient skin and medically relevant surfaces.

The histopathologic and molecular basis for the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma and histiocyte-associated lymphoma of mice

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) and histiocyte-associated lymphoma (HAL) of mice are difficult to distinguish histologically. Studies of multiple cases initially diagnosed as HS or HAL allowed us to define HS as round, fusiform, or mixed cell types that were F4/80+, Mac-2+, and PAX5-; that lacked markers for other sarcomas; and that had immune receptor genes in germline configuration. Two other subsets had clonal populations of lymphocytes. The first, HAL, featured malignant lymphocytes admixed with large populations of normal-appearing histiocytes. The second appeared to be composites of lymphoma and HS. Several cases suggestive of B myeloid-lineage plasticity were also observed.

Basal ganglia surface morphology and the effects of stimulant medications in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

OBJECTIVE

Disturbances in the basal ganglia portions of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits likely contribute to the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The authors examined the morphologic features of the basal ganglia nuclei (caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus) in children with ADHD.

METHOD

A total of 104 individuals (combined-type ADHD patients: N=47; healthy comparison subjects: N=57), aged 7 to 18 years, were examined in a cross-sectional case-control study using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging. Conventional volumes and the surface morphology for the basal ganglia were measured.

RESULTS

Overall volumes were significantly smaller only in the putamen. Analysis of the morphological surfaces revealed significant inward deformations in each of the three nuclei, localized primarily in portions of these nuclei that are components of limbic, associative, and sensorimotor pathways in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits in which these nuclei reside. The more prominent these inward deformations were in the patient group, the more severe the ADHD symptoms. Surface analyses also demonstrated significant outward deformations of all basal ganglia nuclei in the ADHD children treated with stimulants compared with those ADHD youth who were untreated. These stimulant-associated enlargements were in locations similar to the reduced volumes detected in the ADHD group relative to the comparison group. The outward deformations associated with stimulant medications attenuated the statistical effects of the primary group comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings potentially represent evidence of anatomical dysregulation in the circuitry of the basal ganglia in children with ADHD and suggest that stimulants may normalize morphological features of the basal ganglia in children with the disorder.

Effects of age of cattle, turning technology and compost environment on disappearance of bone from mortality compost

As residual bones in mortality compost negatively impact subsequent tillage, two studies were performed. For the first study, windrows of mature cattle or calves were placed on a base of barley straw and covered with beef manure. Windrows were divided into two sections and turned at 3-month intervals. Approximately 5000 kg of finished compost per windrow was passed through a 6mm trommel screen, with bones collected and weighed. Bone weight was 0.66% of mature cattle compost and 0.38% of calf compost on a dry matter basis, but did not differ after adjustment for weights of compost ingredients. In a subsequent study, four windrows were constructed containing mortalities, straw and beef manure (STATC) or straw, manure and slaughter waste (STATW). Also, straw, beef manure and slaughter waste was added to an 850 L rolling drum composter (DRUMW). Fresh bovine long-bones from calves were collected, weighed and embedded in the compost. Bones were retrieved and weighed when windrows were turned, or with DRUMW, after 8 weeks. Temperatures achieved followed the order STATW>STATC>DRUMW (p<0.05). Rate of bone disappearance followed a pattern identical to temperature, with the weight of bones in STATW declining by 53.7% during 7 weeks of composting. For STATC, temperatures were uniform over three composting periods, but bone disappearance was improved (p<0.05) when compost dry matter was lower (46%), as compared to 58%. Using a ratio of five parts manure to one part mortalities, results of this study demonstrated that residual bone was <1% of cured cattle compost and may be reduced by maintaining a high compost temperature and moisture content.

Comparison of the sensitivity to endocrine therapy of PR+/ER- patients and ER+/PR- patients with HER2+ breast cancer

e11558

Background: Her2 and PR expression are important indicators for prognosis of breast cancer. Aslo, it's proved that their expression could guide chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted therapy in many studies. Methods: Collected 3,677 primary breast cancer cases from 2002 to 2004 in Tianjin University Cancer Hospital. All of the cases were confirmed by pathohistological method. All patients are female, aged from 15 to 92 years old, with median age 50 years old. Median follow-up time is 40 months. Her-2, PR and ER expression were detected by immunohistochemical methods. Results: 1. With Her2+ breast cancer, 168 patients are PR+/ER- and 211 patients are ER+/PR-. 2. All patients treated with anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy with 6 cycles and then given endocrine therapy: Pre-menopausal patients were given TAM (10mg P.O Bid); Post-menopausal patients were given AI (letrozole 2.5m po. bid or anastrozole 1 mg P.O Qd). Median follow-up time is 45 months. With Her2+ BC, 3-year DFS(disease-free survival rate) of PR+/ER- patients is 94.53%, higher than that of PR-/ER+ ones (91.81%).With Her2- BC, 3-year DFS of PR+/ER- patients is lower than that of PR-/ER+ (p<0.05). 3. Total of 1853 cases with 5-year followed up, and 1297 cases have been given endocrine therapy. 5-year overall survival rate was 83.41%. With Her2+ BC, it's significant difference that 5-year OS of PR+/ER- patients is higher than that of PR-/ER+ ones. However, there's no difference of 5- year OS between them with Her2- BC. Conclusions: With Her2+ breast cancer, 3-year DFS of PR+/ER- patients is higher than ER+/PR- and also PR+/ER- patients may more sensitive to endocrine therapy than ER+/PR- patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effect of dried distillers’ grains from wheat on diet digestibility and performance of feedlot cattle

In a 55-d backgrounding period, 120 (n = 22) British cross heifers (312 ± 20 kg) received diets containing 55% barley silage, 5% supplement and 0 (n = 24), 20 (n = 24), or 40% (n = 22) wheat distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The remainder of the diet was steam-rolled barley. Replacing half (20%) or all (40%) of the barley with DDGS did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) (P = 0.61), average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.86), or gain:feed (P = 0.94), indicating the energy content of DDGS is similar to that of barley when included in backgrounding diets. During a 133-d finishing period, DDGS were included at 0, 20, 40, or 60% of diet dry matter (DM) or at 60% plus additional calcium, provided as 1% limestone (n = 24). Additional calcium did not (P > 0.1) affect DMI, ADG, or gain:feed. Increasing levels of DDGS linearly increased (P = 0.001) DMI and reduced (P = 0.04) gain:feed and diet NEg content (P = 0.001), but had no effect on ADG (P = 0.20). Feeding 60% DDGS reduced (P < 0.01) DM digestibility as compared with the control. Wheat DDGS has similar feeding value as barley when included at 20% of diet DM, but digestibility and energy content decline with higher levels of inclusion. Key words: Beef, digestibility, distillers' dried grains, wheat

[Simultaneous determination of four beta-lactam antibiotics in milk by solid-phase extraction-micellar electrokinetic chromatography]

A solid-phase extraction (SPE)-micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of four beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin V and cephalexin) in spiked milk samples. The milk samples were extracted by SPE after protein precipitation. The analysis was performed by MEKC at 18 kV with phosphate buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the detection was carried out at 210 nm. The four antibiotics could be baseline-separated less than 9 min. The linearities in 0.5 - 20 mg/L could be constructed with the correlation coefficients between 0.994 3 - 0.997 6, and the limits of detection were 0.16 - 0.20 mg/L. The average recoveries of antibiotics from milk were over 70% except amoxicillin. The method is sensitive, specific and easy for the determination of beta-lactam antibiotic residues in milk.

Efficient antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects on human ovarian cancer growth by gene transfer of attenuated mutants of Shiga-like toxin I

To evaluate the potential effect of anticancer and antiangiogenesis of Stx1(W203F) and Stx1(R170H), two attenuated mutants of Shiga-like toxin I (Stx1), in cancer gene therapy. Antiproliferative effects of these Stx1 mutants were tested in human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV3 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Effect of these Stx1 mutants on inducing cell death and cell cycle arrest was analyzed in SKOV3 cells. Influence of these Stx1 mutants on endothelial cell function was analyzed in HUVECs. In vivo therapeutic effect of these Stx1 mutants on SKOV3 was explored using xenograft models in nude mice. These Stx1 mutants can inhibit the growth of SKOV3 or HUVECs and this effect can be abrogated by antibody specific for Stx1. They caused considerable cell death of SKOV3 cells in 24 h; neither caspase activity nor DNA fragmentation was observed, and necrosis is the major mode of cell death. These Stx1 mutants can induce cell cycle arrest of SKOV3 cells in G(2)-M or S phase depending on the dosage of gene transfer. Furthermore, they significantly decreased migration and capillary tube formation of HUVECs at low dose. In vivo study showed that Stx1(W203F) but not Stx1(R170H) significantly suppressed transplanted SKOV3 tumor growth in nude mice model. Interestingly, the microvessel densities of tumor treated with Stx1(W203F) and Stx1(R170H) were significantly reduced. This study suggests that genes encoding attenuated Stx1 can be selected as good candidates for the gene therapy of ovarian carcinoma because of their antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects.

Effects of different chemotherapy regimens and tamoxifen for HER2 over-expressed breast cancer adjuvant therapy

11048

Background: To evaluate effects of different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens and TAM in HER-2-overexpressed breast cancer patients. Methods: To study 1625 primary breast cancer cases after operation from 2002.7 to 2005.11 given adjuvant chemotherapy ,600 cases given CMF, 600 cases given CEF, and 425 cases given T-regimen (anthracyclines follow taxanes),1090 HR+ cases given tamoxifen. HER-2 expression were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Median follow-up time is 42 months. Results: (1)3yr DFS of HER-2 over-expression is inferior to HER-2 negative ones in CMF group(p<0.05), no difference between HER-2- overexpressed and HER-2-negative group treated with either CEF or taxanes-based regimen (p>0.05). Subgroup analysis suggested: patients treated with CMF, 3yr DFS of HER-2 over-expression is inferior to HER-2-negative ones in node-positive subgroup, but no difference in node-negative ones; HER-2 expression has no influence on effects of CEF or T-regimen in node-positive or node-negative subgroup. (2) 425 HER-2 over-expressed patients(183 cases given CMF , 121 cases given CEF , and 121 cases given T-regimen): compared to CMF, anthracyclines and taxanes are more effective, but no difference between anthracyclines and T-regimen. (3) 235 patients with HER-2 over- expression and node-postive (72 cases given CMF , 68 cases given CEF, and 95 cases given T-regimen):, anthracyclines and taxanes are more effective than CMF, but no difference between anthracyclines and T-regimen. (4)3yr DFS is 91.23% in HER-2 over-expressed group and 93.42% in HER-2-negative group (p=0.04) with TAM. HER-2 over-expressed patients are resistant to TAM. (5) Subgroup analysis suggested that: 3yr DFS is 88.67% with HER-2 over-expression and 92.20% with HER-2-negative in postmenopausal node-positive subgroup(p=0.0069), postmenopausal patients with HER-2 over-expression and node-positve are resistant to TAM; no difference in either premenopausal or postmenopausal node-negative subgroup (p>0.05). Conclusions: No difference between Anthracyclines based and T-regimens for HER2 over-expressed patients with node-positive for 3yr DFS.Postmenopausal ER+/PR+ patients with HER2 over- expression are resistant to Tamoxifen endocrine therapy.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Abnormal changes of plasma acute phase proteins in schizophrenia and the relation between schizophrenia and haptoglobin (Hp) gene

In this study we focused on detecting schizophrenia related changes of plasma proteins using proteomic technology and examining the relation between schizophrenia and haptoglobin (Hp) genotype. We investigated plasma proteins from schizophrenic subjects (n = 42) and healthy controls (n = 46) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with mass spectrometry. To further reveal the genetic relationship between acute phase proteins (APPs) and schizophrenia disease, we tested Hp alpha1/Hp alpha2 (Hp 1/2) polymorphism and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Hp, rs2070937 and rs5473, for associations with schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population. With the relatively high number of samples for 2-DE work, we found that four proteins in the family of positive APPs were all up-regulated in patients. In genetic association study, we found significant associations existing between schizophrenia and Hp polymorphisms, Hp 1/2 and rs2070937 variants. Schizophrenia is accompanied by both an altered expression of Hp protein and a different genotype distribution of Hp gene, demonstrating that Hp is associated with schizophrenia. The results from proteomic and genomic aspects both indicate that acute phase reaction is likely to be an aetiological agent in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but not just an accompanying symptom. The positive APPs are schizophrenic related proteins, with the highly concordant results on four positive APPs.

Clinical pathologic status and expression of tumor markers in 5,000 Chinese breast cancers

10644

Background: To evaluate the correlations of clinical pathologic status, expression of tumor markers and prognosis in 5000 Chinese breast cancer. Methods: A series primary operable breast cancers from 2002 to 2005 were studied in Tianjin Cancer Hospital. 55% of them are premenopausal and median age is 45 years old; 45% of them are postmenopausal and median age is 58 years old. All of the cases were reviewed by pathologist. ER, PgR, HER-2, p53, PCNA were measured by imunohistochemistry (IHC). Recurrence or metastasis were seen in 126 cases (median follow-up 30 months). Results: Negative axillary lymph nodes in 49.8%,and nodes positive in 50.2% (1 to 3 nodes positive in 28.3%, 4 to 9 nodes positive in 12.1% and over 10 nodes positive in 9.8%). Hermone receptor were observed in 51.7% ER+, 44.7% PgR+, 36.2% ER+/PgR+, 15.5% ER+/PgR−, 8.5% ER−/PgR+, 39.8% ER−/PgR−. HER-2 were observed in 56.8% her-2(-) ,21.7% her-2(+), 10.4% her-2(++) and 11.1% her-2(+++). p53 were observed in 34.4% (+) and PCNA were observed in 85.9% (+). Conclusions: First, Her-2 expression is shown positive correlation with positive axillary lymph nodes, especially remarkable correlated in the number of positive nodes in premenopausal patients. Second, Her-2 expression is shown negative correlation with ER and PgR. Third, Her-2 expression has no correlation with histologic grades of tumors and in some conditions has positive correlation with p53 and PCNA. Fifth, Her-2 expression has no correlation with recurrence, but positive correlation with distant metastasis. In general, Her-2 expression in breast cancer could be taken as the independent index for predicting prognosis. Status of axillary lymph nodes, expression of ER, PgR are the independent factor for expression of her-2. Expression of p53 and PCNA couldn’t be taken as the independent index for predict prognosis.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Antagonism of the renin-angiotensin system can counteract cardiac angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy and myocardial angiogenesis in the normal heart

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition or angiotensin II antagonism can counteract cardiac human vascular endothelial growth factor-A165 (phVEGF-A165) induced angiogenesis.

METHODS

Mice were given a single intramyocardial injection of phVEGF-A165. Either enalapril or candesartan was given subcutaneously for 10 consecutive days. Hearts were harvested and capillary count was performed by immunohistochemistry. With similar design, groups of mice were sacrificed after 24 h for the determination of tissue expression of phVEGF-A protein, mRNA expression of mouse VEGF-A, and VEGF receptors 1 and 2, after pEGFP-Luc transfection for luciferase expression.

RESULTS

Increased myocardial capillary density (P < .02) induced by phVEGF-A165 was counteracted by both enalapril (P < .07) and candesartan (P < .02) and then did not differ from control values. We found that phVEGF-A165 induced myocardial hVEGF-A expression (110 +/- 15 pg/heart, P < .0001). Both enalapril and candesartan decreased (P < .01) expression of hVEGF-A to a level not different from control values. Although phVEGF-A165 upregulated (P < .0001) mVEGFR-2, addition of candesartan downregulated endogenous mVEGF-A (P < .0001) and mVEGFR-2 (P < .0001) below the level in normal myocardium. Enalapril or candesartan did not effect luciferase expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Enalapril and candesartan both specifically inhibit phVEGF-A165 induced myocardial angiogenesis in the normal heart. The mechanism of inhibition is a combination of inhibition of cardiac hVEGF-A expression and of decreased endogenous expression of the mVEGF ligand and receptor system.

Simvastatin enhances myocardial angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor gene transfer

Statins have cardioprotective roles. We explored the cardiac angiogenic effects of simvastatin in combination with transient overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Compared with normal mice, 1-year-old ApoE(-/-) mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD) had about 30% less myocardial capillary (P < 0.001) and arteriolar (P < 0.03) densities, associated with decreased VEGF (55%), VEGFR-1 (56%) and VEGFR-2 (78%) mRNA expressions and myocardial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) production (58%). By contrast, angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 mRNA expressions were increased (500% P < 0.02, and 400% P < 0.01, respectively) in the ApoE(-/-) hearts. No change was observed in Tie-2 gene expression. Phosphorylation of antiapoptotic Akt was lower and proapoptotic p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was higher in the ApoE(-/-) mice compared with controls. Intramyocardial VEGF gene transfer increased capillary and arteriolar densities in the ApoE(-/-) mice, and simvastatin treatment further enhanced capillary density (P < 0.03) to a level similar to that of normal mice. Simvastatin did not change the lipid profile but blocked p38 MAPK phosphorylation in the ApoE(-/-) myocardium. Concurrent with these changes, there were increased levels of expression of mVEGF (P < 0.04) and VEGFR-2 (P < 0.03) mRNAs and increased production of eNOS (P < 0.05) in the ApoE(-/-) mice, while no changes were detected in the angiopoietin system. Thus, increased myocardial angiogenesis in the ApoE(-/-) mice following transient overexpression of VEGF is further increased by additional simvastatin treatment. These effects occurred concurrently with simvastatin-induced stimulation of the VEGF system, increased eNOS production and reduction in p38 MAPK phosphorylation.

A further simplification of the revised physical adsorption (RPA) model

We present a further simplification of the essentially parameter-free revised physical adsorption model (K. Agashe, J.R. Regalbuto, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 185 (1997) 174) in this paper. It has been discovered that a physical adsorption model describing the uptake of various metal complexes from aqueous solutions onto oxide surfaces can most accurately simulate experimental data when the model contains only a coulombic energy term, and not a solvation energy term. The results of the simulation for cobalt/silica, chloroplatinic acid (CPA)/alumina, and tetraamonium platinate (TAP)/alumina and silica are presented here. A reasonable justification for the omission of this term is that solvation effects are negligible when adsorbing metal complexes retain one or more hydration sheaths.

Angiogenic effects of dual gene transfer of bFGF and PDGF-BB after myocardial infarction

Therapeutic effects of combination of angiogenic growth factors for the treatment of ischemia after myocardial infarction are largely unknown. Plasmids expressing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) or their combination with a 1:1 mass ratio were injected into hearts with 7-day-old myocardial infarction. Hearts were harvested after 1 and 4 weeks after gene transfer. The major findings in this chronic myocardial infarction model were that bFGF, PDGF-BB and their combination all had a more pronounced angiogenic effect on the arteriolar than the capillary level. bFGF stimulated both capillary and arteriolar growth while PDGF-BB preferentially stimulated arterioles. The combination increased the amount of both capillaries and arterioles and in addition gave rise to stable capillaries compared to single factor transfer but did not further enhance angiogenesis. No cardiovascular side effects were observed after gene transfer.

[Clinical significance of MDR gene expression in malignant pleural effusion and ascites and solid tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the guiding significance of multidrug resistance (MDR) gene expression for monitoring the clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy upon cancer, and to analyze the MDR1 and glutnthione-s-transferase(GST-pi) mRNA expression rates in primary breast cancer, and their correlation with the clinical outcome and prognosis.

METHODS

The mRNA expression levels of MDR1 in 16 cases with malignant pleural effusion and ascites and 102 cases of solid tumors were measured using semiquantitative RT-PCR assay. The MDR1 and GST-pi mRNA expression rates in 84 cases of breast cancer, out of the 102 cases of solid tumors, were also studied in the same way.

RESULTS

(1) An average coincidence rate of 84.5% was found between the mRNA expression level of MDR1 and the clinical response to chemotherapy in the 16 cases with malignant pleural effusion and ascites and 18 cases of solid tumors. (2) The positive rate of MDR1 mRNA expression in primary breast cancer tissue was 79.7%, with the medium and high levels as high as 33.3%, while the positive rate of GST-pi mRNA expression was 33.3%, with the medium and high expression levels being as low as 4.8%. There was a highly significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The positive rates of MDR1 mRNA in the group having received chemotherapy before surgery and the group not receiving chemotherapy before surgery were 87.8% and 68.6% respectively, showing a lymph nodes and in the group without metastases in axillary lymph nodes were 89.1% and 68.4% respectively, indicating a significant difference (P < 0.05). The positive rates of GST-pi mRNA in the group suffering distant metastases and the group not suffering distant metastases were 71.4% and 20.6% respectively, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). The GST-pi mRNA expression rates in the estrogen receptor (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive groups were higher than those in the ER- and PR-negative groups, indicating a significant difference (P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSION

The mRNA expression level of MDR1 has a relatively high correlation with the clinical response to chemotherapy, and thus can be used to monitor the effectiveness of chemotherapy. MDR1 is the main drug resistance mechanism in breast cancer. Chemotherapy before surgery induces MDR1 mRNA expression. MDR1 e xpression and GST-pi mRNA expression serve as a significant prognostic indicator for breast cancer, thus having guiding significance for assessing prognosis.

Segmenting high-frequency intracardiac ultrasound images of myocardium into infarcted, ischemic, and normal regions

Segmenting abnormal from normal myocardium using high-frequency intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) images presents new challenges for image processing. Gray-level intensity and texture features of ICE images of myocardium with the same structural/perfusion properties differ. This significant limitation conflicts with the fundamental assumption on which existing segmentation techniques are based. This paper describes a new seeded region growing method to overcome the limitations of the existing segmentation techniques. Three criteria are used for region growing control: 1) Each pixel is merged into the globally closest region in the multifeature space. 2) "Geographic similarity" is introduced to overcome the problem that myocardial tissue, despite having the same property (i.e., perfusion status), may be segmented into several different regions using existing segmentation methods. 3) "Equal opportunity competence" criterion is employed making results independent of processing order. This novel segmentation method is applied to in vivo intracardiac ultrasound images using pathology as the reference method for the ground truth. The corresponding results demonstrate that this method is reliable and effective.

Model-based evaluation of two BNR processes--UCT and A2N

The activity of denitrifying P-accumulating bacteria (DPB) has been verified to exist in most WWTPs with biological nutrient removal (BNR). The modified UCT process has a high content of DPB. A new BNR process with a two-sludge system named A2N was especially developed to exploit denitrifying dephosphatation. With the identical inflow and effluent standards, an existing full-scale UCT-type WWTP and a designed A2N process were evaluated by simulation. The used model is based on the Delft metabolical model for bio-P removal and ASM2d model for COD and N removal. Both processes accommodate denitrifying dephosphatation, but the A2N process has a more stable performance in N removal. Although excess sludge is increased by 6%, the A2N process leads to savings of 35, 85 and 30% in aeration energy, mixed liquor internal recirculation and land occupation respectively, as compared to the UCT process. Low temperature has a negative effect on growth of poly-P bacteria, which becomes to especially appear in the A2N process.

Greenhouse gas emissions during cattle feedlot manure composting

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) during feedlot manure composting reduces the agronomic value of the final compost and increases the greenhouse effect. A study was conducted to determine whether GHG emissions are affected by composting method. Feedlot cattle manure was composted with two aeration methods--passive (no turning) and active (turned six times). Carbon lost in the forms of CO2 and CH4 was 73.8 and 6.3 kg C Mg-1 manure for the passive aeration treatment and 168.0 and 8.1 kg C Mg-1 manure for the active treatment. The N loss in the form of N2O was 0.11 and 0.19 kg N Mg-1 manure for the passive and active treatments. Fuel consumption to turn and maintain the windrow added a further 4.4 kg C Mg-1 manure for the active aeration treatment. Since CH4 and N2O are 21 and 310 times more harmful than CO2 in their global warming effect, the total GHG emission expressed as CO2-C equivalent was 240.2 and 401.4 kg C Mg-1 manure for passive and active aeration. The lower emission associated with the passive treatment was mainly due to the incomplete decomposition of manure and a lower gas diffusion rate. In addition, turning affected N transformation and transport in the window profile, which contributed to higher N2O emissions for the active aeration treatment. Gas diffusion is an important factor controlling GHG emissions. Higher GHG concentrations in compost windrows do not necessarily mean higher production or emission rates.

Neuroprotective effects in gerbils of spiramine T from Spiraea japonica var. acuta

The neuroprotective effects of spiramine T, an atisine-type diterpenoid alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Spiraea japonica var. acuta (Rosaceaee), on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury produced by 10-min bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries followed by 5-day reperfusion in gerbils were investigated. Intravenous spiramine T (0.38, 0.75, and 1.5 mg.kg-1) markedly reduced the stroke index, enhanced the recovery of EEG amplitude during reperfusion and decreased the concentrations of cortex calcium and LPO in a dose-dependent manner. However, no significant effects on water and sodium contents were observed. These results suggested that spiramine T exhibited protective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils, and its mechanism might be related to reducing calcium accumulation and lipid peroxidation. This is the first report on spiramine T as a natural product with neuroprotective effects.