Molecular characterization, expression, and functional analysis of NOD1 in Qingyuan partridge chicken

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein-1 (NOD1) is a cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor (PRR) and a key member of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family. It has been reported that NLRs recognize a variety of microbial infections to induce the host innate immune response via modulation of NF-κB signaling. However, no reports on chicken NOD1 have been reported to date. In the current study, the full-length cDNA sequence of NOD1 was cloned. The complete open reading frame of NOD1 contains 2856 bp and encodes a 951 amino acid protein. Structurally, it is comprised of one caspase recruitment domain at the N-terminus, seven leucine-rich repeat regions at the C-terminus, and one NACHT domain between the N and C-termini. Phylogenetic analyses showed that chicken NOD1 clusters with duck and turkey. Furthermore, tissue-specific expression analyses of chicken NOD1 were performed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. NOD1 is widely distributed in various tissues, with the highest expression observed in testes. Finally, induced expression of chNOD1 and its associated adaptor molecule receptor-interacting protein 2, as well as the effector molecule NF-κB, was observed following S. enterica serovar Enteritidis infection. These findings highlight the important role of chicken NOD1 in response to pathogenic invasion. The present study is the first report of the cloning, expression, and functional analysis of chicken NOD1 and provides the foundation for future research on the structure and function of chicken NOD1.

Measurement of vital sign in chick embryo using multi-channel diffuse speckle contrast analysis

In poultry industry which is avian breeding program, the determination whether chick embryos survive in the artificial incubation periods or not is essential to reduce the financial resources. We developed the multi-channel diffuse speckle contrast analysis (DSCA) system composed of four optical fiber detectors enabling to achieve in-vivo measurements of deep tissue flow noninvasively. The system could confirm vital sign of the chick embryo in early incubation stage. Moreover, it demonstrates the change of relative blood flow index and depth information with simplicity, low cost, and flexibility.

Unconventional resistive switching behavior in ferroelectric tunnel junctions

An unconventional resistive switching behavior is observed in ferroelectric tunnel junctions, which builds a bridge between ferroelectric tunnel junctions and resistive random access memory devices.

Gene expression profile of IGF1 and MSTN mRNA and their correlation with carcass traits in different breeds of geese at 70 d of age

1. The expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) and myostatin (MSTN) mRNA in breast and leg muscle was quantified in 70-d-old Taihu and Wanxi geese by using a Multiplex Competitive Fluorescent-PCR method and the correlations between mRNA levels and carcass traits were analysed. 2. IGF1 mRNA expression in breast muscle in Taihu geese was significantly higher than that in Wanxi geese and the MSTN mRNA level in leg muscle in Taihu geese was significantly higher than that in Wanxi geese. 3. There was no significant difference in breast muscle MSTN or leg muscle IGF1 mRNA expression between the two breeds. 4. Within the same breed, the IGF1 mRNA expression in leg muscle of male geese was significantly higher than that in female geese, and MSTN mRNA expression in leg muscle was significantly higher than that in breast muscle. 5. There was no difference in the IGF1 mRNA expression between tissues. 6. There was a positive correlation between IGF1 mRNA and MSTN mRNA and a negative correlation between IGF1 mRNA expression of breast muscle and leg muscle ratio. 7. In Wanxi geese, MSTN mRNA expression in leg muscle was negatively associated with body weight and leg muscle weight.

HDAC1 and Klf4 interplay critically regulates human myeloid leukemia cell proliferation

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is recognized as a complex disease of hematopoietic stem cell disorders, but its pathogenesis mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment remain unclear. General histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been used in blood cancers including AML, but the lack of gene specificity greatly limits their anti-cancer effects and clinical applications. Here, we found that HDAC1 expression was negatively correlated with that of Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) and that AML patients with lower HDAC1 level had better prognosis. Further, knockdown of HDAC1 in leukemia cells K562, HL-60, and U937 significantly increased Klf4 expression and inhibited cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, similar results were found for HDAC inhibitors (VPA and mocetinostat). Moreover, overexpression or knockdown of Klf4 could markedly block the effects of HDAC1 overexpression or knockdown on leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that HDAC1 and Klf4 competitively bound to the promoter region of Klf4 and oppositely regulated Klf4 expression in myeloid leukemia. We identified HDAC1 as a potential specific target for repressing cell proliferation and inducing cell cycle arrest through interplay and modulation of Klf4 expression, suggests that HDAC1 and Klf4 are potential new molecular markers and targets for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of myeloid leukemia.

Strain engineering induced interfacial self-assembly and intrinsic exchange bias in a manganite perovskite film

The control of complex oxide heterostructures at atomic level generates a rich spectrum of exotic properties and unexpected states at the interface between two separately prepared materials. The frustration of magnetization and conductivity of manganite perovskite at surface/interface which is inimical to their device applications, could also flourish in tailored functionalities in return. Here we prove that the exchange bias (EB) effect can unexpectedly emerge in a (La,Sr)MnO₃ (LSMO) “single” film when large compressive stress imposed through a lattice mismatched substrate. The intrinsic EB behavior is directly demonstrated to be originating from the exchange coupling between ferromagnetic LSMO and an unprecedented LaSrMnO₄-based spin glass, formed under a large interfacial strain and subsequent self-assembly. The present results not only provide a strategy for producing a new class of delicately functional interface by strain engineering, but also shed promising light on fabricating the EB part of spintronic devices in a single step.

Urethral reconstruction using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell- and smooth muscle cell-seeded bladder acellular matrix

BACKGROUND

Congenital or acquired abnormalities may lead to a urethral defect that often requires surgical reconstruction. The traditional methods often lead to complications, including urethrocutaneous fistulae and strictures. In this study, we proposed to construct a tissue-engineered sheet graft (TESG) using a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)- and smooth muscle cell (SMC)-seeded bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for urethral reconstruction.

METHODS

Rabbit BMSCs and SMCs were isolated, expanded, and identified in vitro before seeding into BAM as the experimental group, whereas BAM-only was the control group. The graft was used to construct TESG for implantation into the rabbit omentum for 2 weeks before urethral reconstruction. We divided 24 male rabbits into four experimental groups six each, and six other were the control group. Histological analysis was performed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks postoperatively. Retrograde urethrography was performed at 16 weeks postoperatively.

RESULTS

All experimental rabbits survived to they were humanly killed. At 8 weeks, there was no difference between the graft and the normal urethra with no severe shrinkage. At 8 and 16 weeks after TESG grafting in vivo, multilayer urothelium covered the graft, neovascularization was visible within the center of TESG, and organized smooth muscle bundles were present. Retrograde urethrography failed to demonstrate diverticula formation or urethral stricture. Three control rabbits died within 4 weeks postoperatively. Autopsy showed their urethras to be almost completely blocked whereas another three hosts displays urethral strictures.

CONCLUSION

A TESG was constructed using a BMSC- and SMC-seeded BAM for urethral reconstruction.

Genetic factors may play a prominent role in the development of coronary heart disease dependent on important environmental factors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine whether various lifestyle factors modify genetic influences on coronary heart disease (CHD).

DESIGN

The effect of lifestyle factors [including smoking, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol intake and body mass index (BMI)] on risk of CHD was evaluated via Cox regression models in a twin study of gene-environment interaction. Using structure equation modelling, we estimated genetic variance of CHD dependent on lifestyle factors.

SUBJECTS

In total, 51 065 same-sex twins from 25 715 twin pairs born before 1958 and registered in the Swedish Twin Registry were eligible for this study. During the 40-year follow-up, 7264 incident CHD events were recorded.

RESULTS

Smoking, sedentary lifestyle and above average BMI were significantly associated with increased CHD incidence. The heritability of CHD decreased with increasing age, as well as with increasing levels of BMI, in both men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in the genetic component of CHD as a function of BMI suggests that genetic factors may play a more prominent role for disease development in the absence of important environmental factors. Increased knowledge of gene-environment interactions will be important for a full understanding of the aetiology of CHD.

Molecular genetic diversity and maternal origin of Chinese black-bone chicken breeds

Chinese black-bone chickens are valued for the medicinal properties of their meat in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the genetic diversity and systematic evolution of Chinese black-bone chicken breeds. We sequenced the DNA of 520 bp of the mitochondrial cyt b gene of nine Chinese black-bone chicken breeds, including Silky chicken, Jinhu black-bone chicken, Jiangshan black-bone chicken, Yugan black-bone chicken, Wumeng black-bone chicken, Muchuan black-bone chicken, Xingwen black-bone chicken, Dehua black-bone chicken, and Yanjin black-bone chicken. We found 13 haplotypes. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity of the nine black-bone chicken breeds ranged from 0 to 0.78571 and 0.00081 to 0.00399, respectively. Genetic diversity was the richest in Jinhu black-bone chickens and the lowest in Yanjin black-bone chickens. Analysis of phylogenetic trees for all birds constructed based on hyplotypes indicated that the maternal origin of black-bone chickens is predominantly from three subspecies of red jungle fowl. These results provide basic data useful for protection of black-bone chickens and help determine the origin of domestic chickens.

Passive transfer of tumour-derived MDSCs inhibits asthma-related airway inflammation

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous population including myeloid progenitor and immature myeloid cells, are known to inhibit T cell responses. The issue of whether tumour-derived MDSCs regulate the immune response in an asthma environment is currently unclear. Here, we have reported that tumour-derived MDSCs shift the balance back to normal in a Th2-dominant asthmatic environment. In an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse asthma model, injected tumour-derived MDSCs were recruited to the lungs of asthmatic mice by CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). MDSCs transferred into asthmatic mice via i.v. injection suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung, the Th2 cytokine, IL-4, concentration in bronchial lavage fluid and the serum level of OVA-specific IgE. Increased TGF-β1 production in the lung was detected after transfer of MDSCs. The inhibitory effects of MDSCs were reversed upon treatment with an anti-TGF-β1 antibody, suggesting dependence of these activities on TGF-β1. Our findings imply that tumour-derived MDSCs inhibit the Th2 cell-mediated response against allergen in a TGF-β1-dependent manner. Based on the collective results, we propose that asthma may be effectively targeted using a novel MDSC-based cell therapy approach.

Tuning the entanglement between orbital reconstruction and charge transfer at a film surface

The interplay between orbital, charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom is at the core of correlated oxides. This is extensively studied at the interface of heterostructures constituted of two-layer or multilayer oxide films. Here, we demonstrate the interactions between orbital reconstruction and charge transfer in the surface regime of ultrathin (La,Sr)MnO₃, which is a model system of correlated oxides. The interactions are manipulated in a quantitative manner by surface symmetry-breaking and epitaxial strain, both tensile and compressive. The established charge transfer, accompanied by the formation of oxygen vacancies, provides a conceptually novel vision for the long-term problem of manganites—the severe surface/interface magnetization and conductivity deterioration. The oxygen vacancies are then purposefully tuned by cooling oxygen pressure, markedly improving the performances of differently strained films. Our findings offer a broad opportunity to tailor and benefit from the entanglements between orbit, charge, spin, and lattice at the surface of oxide films.

Transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α gene is associated with chicken skeletal muscle fiber types

The peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is a candidate gene for meat quality traits because of its prominent role in muscle fiber type switching and determination. We investigated the effects of the PGC-1α gene on chicken skeletal muscle fiber type switching and on other meat quality traits. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing, and then genotyping was performed by PCR-ligation detection reaction methods. Skeletal muscle fiber types, intramuscular fat content, shear forces, and water loss rate of the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle were measured in Qingyuan Partridge chickens and Recessive White chickens. Four SNPs, C171T in exon2, C384T in exon3, G646A in exon5, and A948G in exon8 were detected. Marker-trait association analysis indicated that G646A polymorphism was associated with skeletal myofiber type and that H1 (CCAA) was the most advantageous haplotype for skeletal myofiber type. We concluded that polymorphisms of the PGC-1α gene and their haplotypes are associated with chicken skeletal myofiber type traits.

Neural correlates of the abolished self-referential memory effect in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The self-referential memory (SRM) effect refers to the phenomenon that stimuli processed with reference to the self are better remembered than those referenced to others. Studies have shown that schizophrenia patients do not have this memorial advantage for self-referenced information. The current study investigated the electrophysiological mechanism of the abolished SRM effect in schizophrenia.

METHOD

Twenty schizophrenia patients and 22 controls were recruited to complete an SRM task. We used a high-time resolution event-related potential (ERP) technique to analyze the electrophysiological differences between patients and controls during self- and other-reflection processing.

RESULTS

Behavior data indicated that healthy controls had a typical SRM bias that was absent in the schizophrenia patients. ERP comparison between groups showed that the schizophrenia patients presented smaller voltages in both self- and other-reflection conditions in the 160-260 ms (P2 component) and 800-1200 ms (positive slow wave) time windows over the pre/frontal cortex. Furthermore, the N2 amplitudes (270-380 ms) differed between self- and other-reflection conditions in patients but not in normal controls. More importantly, we found that the P3 amplitudes in the parietal cortex correlated significantly with the SRM bias score in the patients (r = -0.688).

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide comprehensive and direct electrophysiological evidence for self- and other-reflective dysfunction in schizophrenia patients and contribute to our understanding of the underlying neural substrates of the abolished SRM effect in schizophrenia.

Spontaneous neuronal activity predicts intersubject variations in executive control of attention

Executive control of attention regulates our thoughts, emotion and behavior. Individual differences in executive control are associated with task-related differences in brain activity. But it is unknown whether attentional differences depend on endogenous (resting state) brain activity and to what extent regional fluctuations and functional connectivity contribute to individual variations in executive control processing. Here, we explored the potential contribution of intrinsic brain activity to executive control by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) as an index of spontaneous brain activity, we found that ALFF in the right precuneus (PCUN) and the medial part of left superior frontal gyrus (msFC) was significantly correlated with the efficiency of executive control processing. Crucially, the strengths of functional connectivity between the right PCUN/left msFC and distributed brain regions, including the left fusiform gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus and right precentral gyrus, were correlated with individual differences in executive performance. Together, the ALFF and functional connectivity accounted for 67% of the variability in behavioral performance. Moreover, the strength of functional connectivity between specific regions could predict more individual variability in executive control performance than regionally specific fluctuations. In conclusion, our findings suggest that spontaneous brain activity may reflect or underpin executive control of attention. It will provide new insights into the origins of inter-individual variability in human executive control processing.

Biomechanical assessment of a novel L4/5 level interspinous implant using three dimensional finite element analysis

OBJECTIVES

Range of motion (ROM) is often restricted by conventional spinal fusion surgery, while some complications also occurred after applying posterior dynamic devices in clinic. Therefore, new surgical implant options were necessitated. The biomechanical features of a novel interspinous implant were investigated using three dimensional (3D) finite element models (FEMs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An "H-shaped" polyether ether ketone (PEEK) interspinous implant was designed to tightly fit the upper and lower spinous processes, featuring a hollow cylindrical portion which was implanted autologous bones to enhance fusion with spinous processes. A 3D FEM of the intact L3/S segment with mild disc degeneration in L4/5 (degenerated model) was developed and subjected to flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation either with or without the implanted prosthesis (implant model) in order to examine effects on ROM, intradiscal stress, and facet joint load.

RESULTS

The whole lumbar ROM was altered slightly by implant insertion, and reduced end plate stress, nucleus stress, and facet joints load at the L4/5 level (implant location) were observed. L4/5 flexion-extension maximal end plate stress, nucleus stress, and facet joints load were 5.262 MPa, 0.1648 MPa, and 29.7 N, respectively, in the degenerated model and 2.323 MPa, 0.0892 MPa, and 5.4 N, respectively, in the implant model. End plate and nucleus stresses were partially alleviated at the L3/4 level. Slightly higher maximal von Mises stress in L3/4 and L5/S annuli were observed in the implant model.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed novel interspinous implant effectively restored stability without producing excessive ROM limitations, meriting further clinical evaluation. Furthermore, these findings provide a useful basis for wide application of FEM in a broad variety of spinal implant assessments.

Abstract P4-07-11: Dual characteristics of microRNA-484 modulated cytidine deaminase (CDA) axis in breast cancer: Chemo-resistance and regulating cell proliferation

Acquired resistance to chemotherapy is a major clinical obstacle to achieve successful treatment in breast cancer. Cancer cells could evolve a complicated sensory network to develop resistance to chemo treatment. Recently, microRNAs modulated chemo-resistance is investigated as a new paradigm in cancer biology and some acquired mis-expression of miRs confer cancer cells to escape chemotherapy. However, it is important to address whether these miRs also play various intrinsic roles in carcinogenesis. Here, our study demonstrated that miR-484 could modulate cytidine deaminase (CDA) axis, playing various roles in chemo-resistance and cell proliferation.

We have generated a chemo-resistant breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231 Gem) which has 10 fold higher IC50 value than MDA-MB-231 cells in response to gemcitabine (dFdC) treatment through molecular evolution. Gene ontology analysis showed that cytidine degradation pathway was activated in the resistant cells, and qPCR array confirmed that cytidine deaminase (CDA), which converts dFdC to dFdU, was significantly upregulated. Interestingly, microRNA array analysis implicated that miR-484, which might target the 3’UTR region of CDA gene was down-regulated in these resistant cells. Furthermore, 3’UTR luciferase reporter assay and western blot revealed that miR-484 directly regulates CDA gene expression. Over-expression of miR-484 can sensibilize the resistant cells to dFdC treatment. Remarkably, restoration of CDA gene strongly converts miR-484–mediated dFdC sensibilization. These results implicated that miR-484/CDA axis play a pivotal role in chemo-resistance. Unexpectedly, further studies implicated that miR-484/CDA axis could also regulate cell proliferation due to disrupting cell cycle. We found that the chemo-resistant cells had deficiency in cell cycle progression at the S-phase transition, and miR-484 could significantly promote cell growth and overcome cell cycle arrest with CDA down-regulation. Moreover, reintroduction of CDA gene could abrogate miR-484-induced effects on cell proliferation via reactivating S-phase checkpoint. Importantly, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis supported that higher expression of CDA in breast cancer patients indicates better outcome in DFS model.

In summary, this study uncovers for a previously unknown axis that cytidine deaminase was a direct downstream target for miR-484. The miR484/CDA axis could modulate cells into stagnant status for promoting cellular resistance to DNA damage agents in chemotherapy. On the other hand, as CDA gene participates in cell cycle S-phase arrest, miR484/CDA axis could also contribute to cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings provided new evidences that miR-484/CDA axis has various functions in cell proliferation and chemo-resistance and might be considered as a candidate therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-07-11.

MyoD and Myf6 gene expression patterns in skeletal muscle during embryonic and posthatch development in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica)

The MyoD and Myf6 genes, which are muscle regulatory factors (MRFs), play major roles in muscle growth and development and initiate muscle fibre formation via the regulation of muscle-specific gene translation. Therefore, MyoD and Myf6 are potential candidate genes for meat production traits in animals and poultry. The objective of this study was to evaluate MyoD and Myf6 gene expression patterns in the skeletal muscle during early developmental stage of ducks. Gene expression levels were detected using the quantitative RT-PCR method in the breast muscle (BM) and leg muscle (LM) at embryonic days 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, as well as at 1 week posthatching in Gaoyou and Jinding ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica). The MyoD and Myf6 gene profiles in the two duck breeds were consistent during early development, and MyoD gene expression showed a 'wave' trend in BM and an approximate 'anti-√' trend in LM. Myf6 gene expression in BM showed the highest level at embryonic day 21, which subsequently decreased, although remained relatively high, while levels at embryonic days 13, 17 and 21 were higher in LM. The results of correlation analysis showed that MyoD and Myf6 gene expression levels were more strongly correlated in LM than in BM in both duck breeds. These results indicated that different expression patterns of the MyoD and Myf6 genes in BM and LM may be related to muscle development and differentiation, suggesting that MyoD and Myf6 are integral to skeletal muscle development.

Construction of ureteral grafts by seeding bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and smooth muscle cells into bladder acellular matrix

BACKGROUND

Congenital or acquired abnormalities may cause an ureteral injury or defect. The main methods to reconstruct a long ureter often cause serious complications. In this study, we sought to construct a tissue-engineered graft by seeding bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) into a bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for ureteral reconstruction.

METHODS

Isolated, proliferated, and in vitro identified rabbit bone marrow MSCs and SMCs were seeded into BAM as the experimental group. Grafts only seeding SMCs were the control group. Cell-seeded grafts were used to construct tissue-engineered tubular grafts (TETG) for transplantation into the rabbit's omentum for 2 weeks before ureteral reconstruction. Evolutionary histology was performed at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks postoperatively. Renal function and ureteral obstruction were evaluated using intravenous urography at 16 weeks.

RESULTS

Flow cytometry demonstrated bone marrow MSCs to express CD29, CD44, CD90, but not CD34. Histological examination revealed consistent regeneration of TETG urothelium in the experimental group. At 8 and 16 weeks after TETG grafting in vivo, multilayer urothelium covered the entire lumen with visible neovascularization within the center. Organized smooth muscle bundles were observed. Intravenous urography demonstrated no ureteral stricture or hydronephrosis. The 5 rabbits were dead within 4 weeks postoperatively. Autopsy showed scar formation inside the graft with severe hydronephrosis.

CONCLUSION

We successfully constructed a TETG by seeding bone marrow MSCs and SMCs into BAM for ureteral reconstruction. Thus bone marrow MSCs can potentially promote urothelial regeneration to achieve a tissue-engineered ureter.

Time-dependent effects of sclerostin antibody on a mouse fracture healing model

OBJECTIVES

Treatment with Sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) has shown to enhance fracture healing in rodent and non-human primate models. The current study investigated the time-dependent changes during Scl-Ab treatment in a mouse osteotomy model.

METHODS

1 day after osteotomy, C57BL mice received subcutaneous injection with vehicle or Scl-Ab at 25 mg/kg, twice/week for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. 20 mice from each group were necropsied at weeks 2, 4, and 6 for Micro-CT, histomorphmetry and mechanical testing examinations.

RESULTS

The bone mineral apposition rate at fracture callus was significantly higher in the Scl-Ab treated groups at all the time points. Micro-CT analysis showed that the volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone volume over tissue volume (BV/TV) in the Scl-Ab treated groups at 4 and 6 weeks were significantly greater than that of vehicle control groups. Mechanical testing showed that the maximum load of failure at the fracture callus increased significantly by 68% at 6 weeks in the Scl-Ab treated groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that mice treated with Scl-Ab increased bone formation from 2 weeks, bone mineral density and bone volume at 4 weeks, followed by significant increase in bone strength at the fracture site at 6 weeks. These results suggest that applying sclerostin antibody at early stage fracture healing promotes fracture healing.

Tuning of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in amorphous CoFeB films

We demonstrate that the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (UMA) of amorphous CoFeB films can be tuned by crystallinity and orbital moment ratio, combining the results of magnetization reversal and ferromagnetic resonance with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray-absorption near-edge structure and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Isotropic polycrystalline buffers of tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), and copper (Cu) between CoFeB and Si(100) substrates have direct and crucial bearing on the interfacial microstructure and orbital moment ratio. Compared with Ta and Cu buffer, CoFeB with W buffer exhibits obvious UMA and has lower crystallinity at the interface and higher orbital moment. Amorphous phase distributed homogeneously in CoFeB film grown on W buffer contributes to improve the easy-axis squareness with a sharp magnetization reversal. Our demonstrations not only realize effective tuning of UMA in amorphous CoFeB, but also provide an appealing alternative buffer (W) for CoFeB-based magnetic tunnel junctions.

Characterization of chicken visfatin gene: cDNA cloning, tissue distribution, and promoter analysis

Here we report the cloning and characterization of chicken visfatin (also called pre-B cell enhancing factor; PBEF, or nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase; Nampt) gene. Sequence analyses revealed that the coding region of visfatin is 1,482 bp in length and encodes a protein of 493 amino acids, which shares high amino acid sequence identity not only to visfatin of human (94%), rat (94%), carp (89%), and zebrafish (89%), but also to Nampt of sponge (58%) and cyanobacterium (48%). The reverse transcription PCR assay and Northern-blot analysis demonstrated that visfatin was widely expressed in all chicken tissues examined. Using a dual luciferase reporter system, we further demonstrated that the cloned 1,372-bp fragment upstream of the putative translation start site (ATG) displayed the maximal promoter activity in cultured CHO, DF-1, and HEK293 cells, whereas the removal of its 5'-region (1,075 bp) or 3'-region (297 bp) could only partially reduce its promoter activity, implying that visfatin gene transcription was likely controlled by multiple promoters near the translation start site. Taken together, results from present study will contribute to our better understanding of the expression and roles of visfatin gene in chickens.

Suppression of hepatocarcinoma model in vitro and in vivo by ECRG2 delivery using adenoviral vector

Hepatocarcinoma represents one of the most malignant cancer types. Esophageal cancer-related gene 2 (ECRG2) is found to be critical in the process of carcinogenesis. It regulates urokinase-type plasmin activator receptor and extracellular matrix function and its polymorphism in exon 4 is associated with cancer relapse. To explore new strategies to fight against cancer, here we first systematically evaluated the therapeutic potential as a biological tool using adenoviral vector (Ad-ECRG2). Ad-ECRG2 is exogenously expressed in cytoplasm and is potent to suppress the growth of cancer cell by inducing apoptosis as effective as Ad-p53. Ad-ECRG2 is able to suppress the invasion and adhesion of cancer cells at low titers. It alters the expression of a panel of cancer-related molecules, including nuclear factor-kB, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and E-cadherin, contributing to reverse malignancy phenotype of cancer cells. In vivo experiments show a significant inhibition of cancer growth by intratumoral Ad-ECRG2 administration. No evident toxicity was observed in the model animal during the study. We concluded that ECRG2 is a potential molecular target in biological therapy strategies for cancer treatment.

Further studies on the use of a polymerase chain reaction test for the diagnosis of infectious coryza

Further information is reported on the use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the diagnosis of infectious coryza in China. The majority of sinus swabs taken from artificially infected chickens and stored in glycerol-enriched phosphate-buffered saline were still positive by PCR after storage for 180 days at either 4 degrees C or - 20 degrees C. Storage of swabs in either saline or nutrient broth was not as effective. Traditional culture failed to detect H. paragallinarum after storage for 3 days, regardless of storage medium or storage temperature. With dry swabs, the PCR could detect H. paragallinarum after storage for 7 days or longer at either 4 degrees C or - 20 degrees C, while traditional culture could not. In PCR tests on 64 artificially-challenged chickens, all were positive by PCR at the six sampling dates up to 18 days post-challenge. Traditional culture gave a similar result. Both PCR and culture detected 50% or less of chickens as positive at 21 and 24 days post challenge. Antibiotic treatment reduced the ability of both culture and the PCR test to detect H. paragallinarum. The value of the PCR test and its superiority over traditional culture for the diagnosis of infectious coryza has been confirmed in these experiments.

Room-temperature perpendicular exchange coupling and tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance in an antiferromagnet-based tunnel junction

We investigate the exchange coupling between perpendicular anisotropy (PMA) Co/Pt and IrMn in-plane antiferromagnets (AFMs), as well as tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) in [Pt/Co]/IrMn/AlO_{x}/Pt tunnel junctions, where Co/Pt magnetization drives rotation of AFM moments with the formation of exchange-spring twisting. When coupled with a PMA ferromagnet, the AFM moments partially rotate with out-of-plane magnetic fields, in contrast with being pinned along the easy direction of IrMn for in-plane fields. Because of the superior thermal tolerance of perpendicular exchange coupling and the stability of moments in ~6 nm-thick IrMn, TAMR gets significantly enhanced up to room temperature. Their use would advance the process towards practical AFM spintronics.

Multicenter phase II study of sunitinib in patients with non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Retrospective and molecular biologic data suggest that sunitinib may be effective in patients with non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligibility criteria included advanced nccRCC except for collecting duct carcinoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma without identifiable renal cell carcinoma subtypes. Patients were treated with 50 mg/day oral sunitinib for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of rest. The primary end point was overall response rate (RR).

RESULTS

Thirty-one eligible patients were enrolled. Twenty-four patients (77%) had prior nephrectomy. By Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center criteria, 8 patients (26%) had poor risk and 14 (45%) had intermediate risk. Twenty-two patients had papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and three had chromophobe RCC. Eleven patients had partial response with a RR of 36% (95% confidence interval (CI) 19% to 52%) and an additional 17 patients (55%) had stable disease. Median duration of response was 12.7 months (95% CI 6.3-19.1 months), and median progression-free survival was 6.4 months (95% CI 4.2-8.6 months). At a median follow-up duration of 18.7 months (95% CI 13.7-23.7 months), 13 patients (42%) had died, resulting in an estimated median survival of 25.6 months (95% CI 8.4-42.9 months). Toxicity profiles were commensurate with prior reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Sunitinib has promising activity in patients with nccRCC (NCT01219751).

Alveolar macrophage-derived vascular endothelial growth factor contributes to allergic airway inflammation in a mouse asthma model

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent proangiogenic factor that correlates with vascular permeability and remodelling in asthma. Recently, alveolar macrophages (AM) were shown to be an important source of VEGF during lung injury. Our previous studies demonstrated that AM are an important subset of macrophages in the initiation of asthmatic symptoms. Here, we further investigated whether AM-derived VEGF was required for allergic airway inflammation in asthma. In this study, we reported that the expression of VEGF in AM was significantly increased after allergen challenge. Depleting AM or neutralizing VEGF in alveolus prevented ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma-related inflammation by inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung, reduced the level of the cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and decreased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Moreover, the inhibition of miR-20b increased the protein level of VEGF in normal AM; conversely, increasing miR-20b in asthmatic AM resulted in decreased VEGF protein levels. These findings suggest that AM-derived VEGF is necessary for allergic airway inflammation in asthmatic mice and miR-20b negatively regulates this expression.

IL-12 and IL-10 production are differentially regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in mast cells

The cellular mechanisms that directly regulate the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in mast cells are currently unresolved. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the production of IL-12 and IL-10 in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), stimulated with Escherichia coli-derived LPS. LPS activates the PI3K signalling pathway; analysis of cytokine production following LPS stimulation of BMMCs revealed that inhibition of the PI3K pathway differentially regulated IL-10 and IL-12 syntheses. IL-12 production was enhanced, whereas IL-10 levels were suppressed. Inhibition of LPS-mediated activation of the PI3K pathway resulted in a pronounced reduction of NF-κB activity that was dependent on IκBα phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate a regulatory function for PI3K in modulating IL-10 and IL-12 production in mast cells and provide insight into how engagement of the PI3K pathway affects the induction of key immunoregulatory cytokines that control both qualitative and quantitative aspects of early inflammation.

Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of pH-sensitive oral insulin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolicacid) nanoparticles

AIM

Oral administration of insulin is a promising drug delivery system for diabetic patients as it is convenient and reduces pain, two of the major contributors to non-compliance.

METHODS

In this study, insulin was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) by using double-emulsion/solvent evaporation technique and analyses on its release kinetics were carried out using both in vitro and in vivo methods.

RESULTS

First, only by this simple methods, release speed of insulin from NPs can be controlled in different pH solution. The rate of release of insulin was found to be slower in acidic pH; about 90% of insulin was released in 11 days at pH 1.0. In alkaline conditions, the release was faster; about 90% release was observed to occur within 3 days at pH 7.8. The insulin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PINPs) were administered orally to diabetes mellitus-induced rats and the response of blood glucose and insulin levels was estimated. Blood glucose decreased and the concentration of insulin in animal blood increased. In diabetic animals which were administered intermittent insulin, every 8 h, blood glucose levels were maintained equivalently with those of healthy rats.

CONCLUSION

These experimental results indicated that oral PINPs are able to deliver insulin effectively and decrease animal blood sugar; in conclusion, this may be a promising delivery system for the treatment of diabetes.

Origin of strong white electroluminescence from dense Si nanodots embedded in silicon nitride

Strong white electroluminescence (EL) from SiN-based devices containing Si nanodots with a density of more than 4.6×10(12)cm(2) was investigated. The white EL illustrates enhanced light emission with increasing applied voltage and can be divided into two components, a dominant peak at ~710 nm and weak one at ~550 nm, which are close to those of the PL spectra optically pumped by the 325 and 488 nm lines, respectively. Based on the PL characteristics, we propose that the dominant EL band arises from the band-to-band recombination in the dense Si nanodots where quantum confinement plays a decisive role in the light emission, whereas the weak EL band originates from the radiative Si dangling bond (K⁰) centers in the silicon nitride matrix.

A genome-wide survey of copy number variation regions in various chicken breeds by array comparative genomic hybridization method

The discovery of copy number variation (CNV) in the genome has provided new insight into genomic polymorphism. Studies with chickens have identified a number of large CNV segments using a 385k comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) chip (mean length >140 kb). We present a detailed CNV map for local Chinese chicken breeds and commercial chicken lines using an Agilent 400k array CGH platform with custom-designed probes. We identified a total of 130 copy number variation regions (CNVRs; mean length = 25.70 kb). Of these, 104 (80.0%) were novel segments reported for the first time in chickens. Among the 104 novel CNVRs, 56 (53.8%) of the segments were non-coding sequences, 65 (62.5%) showed the gain of DNA and 40 (38.5%) showed the loss of DNA (one locus showed both loss and gain). Overlapping with the formal selective sweep data and the quantitative trait loci data, we identified four loci that might be considered to be high-confidence selective segments that arose during the domestication of chickens. Compared with the CNVRs reported previously, genes for the positive regulation of phospholipase A2 activity were discovered to be significantly over-represented in the novel CNVRs reported here by gene ontology analysis. Availability of our results should facilitate further research in the study of the genetic variability in chicken breeds.