IGF2, IGF binding protein 1, and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in implantation-stage endometrium following immunoneutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor in the rhesus monkey

Blastocyst implantation in the rhesus monkey is inhibited by administration of antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A during peri-implantation period with no change in the circulatory concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and VEGF. In this study, we have investigated the effect of administration of a MAB to VEGFA on days 5 and 10 after ovulation upon the mRNA expression, immunopositive protein expression, and immunohistological localization of IGF2, IGF binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 in the implantation-stage endometrium collected on day 13 after ovulation from fecund cycles of rhesus monkeys. The comparison between isotype-matched IgG (control; n=8)- and VEGF antibody (VEGF Mab; n=8)-treated animals revealed higher (P<0.05) IGF2 in lacunar and villous syncytiotrophoblasts, trophoblast cell columns, migrating extravillous trophoblast cells, and endovascular trophoblast cells in control animals, but with no change in the various cell types of maternal endometrium between the two groups. No change in IGFBP1 expression in the endometrium was observed between the two groups. MMPs 2 and 9 were detected in syncytiotrophoblast in lacunae and villi, trophoblast cell columns, and extravillous trophoblast cells in control samples. MMP9 transcript expression in maternal endometrium and its immunopositivity in endometrial stroma and trophoblast cells were lower (P<0.05) with no change in MMP2 level in VEGF Mab-exposed samples compared with those in control samples. A functional network involving VEGF, IGF2, and MMP9 in early placental trophoblast cells and maternal endometrium appears to be important for normal placentation.

Aqueous synthesis of ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites and their antimicrobial activity: implications in therapeutics

The present strategy proposes a simple and single step aqueous route for synthesizing stable, fluorescent ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites with varying dendrimer terminal groups. In these hybrid materials, the fluorescence of the semiconductor combines with the biomimetic properties of the dendrimer making them suitable for various biomedical applications. The ZnTe nanocomposites thus obtained demonstrate bactericidal activity against enteropathogenic bacteria without having toxic effects on the human erythrocytes. The average size of the ZnTe nanoparticles within the dendrimer matrix was in the range of 2.9-6.0 nm, and they have a good degree of crystallinity with a hexagonal crystal phase. The antibacterial activities of the ZnTe/dendrimer nanocomposites (ZnTe DNCs) as well other semiconductor nanocomposites were evaluated against enteropathogenic bacteria including multi-drug resistant Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). ZnTe DNCs had significant antibacterial activity against strains of V. cholerae and ETEC with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 64 to 512 μg ml(-1) and minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 128 to 1000 μg ml(-1). Thus, the observed results suggest that these water-soluble active nanocomposites have potential for the treatment of enteric diseases like diarrhoea and cholera.

Growth Pattern and Prevalence of Underweight and Stunting Among Rural Adolescents

Introduction: A cross-sectional study of 1094 (boys = 665; girls = 429) rural school children aged 11- 18 years of Midnapore Sadar North subdivision, Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to evaluate their growth pattern and nutritional status. Methodology: Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were measured following standard techniques. Underweight and stunting were used as indicators of nutritional status. Underweight and stunting were defined as weight-for-age (WAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) <-2 z-scores, respectively, of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) guidelines. Results: Results revealed that boys were significantly heavier than girls from age 16 onwards; they were also significantly taller from age 14 years. The mean WAZ for boys and girls were -1.488 and -1.417, respectively. The corresponding mean values for HAZ were -1.317 and -1.486. The overall rates of underweight and stunting were 28.3% and 27.8%, respectively. The prevalence of underweight was significantly higher among boys (31.0%) than girls (24.2%). These rates for stunting were 27.4% and 28.4%, for the boys and girls. The rate of underweight and stunting was more in late adolescents (15-18 years) than early adolescents (11-14 years). In boys, the prevalence of stunting was significantly (1.5 times) more in late adolescents than early adolescents. According to the WHO classification for assessing severity of malnutrition, the rates of stunting were medium in both sexes. The rates of underweight were high and very high for girls and boys, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, present study provided evidence that the nutritional status of these adolescents were not satisfactory especially among late adolescents. Key Words: Adolescent; Rural; Nutritional Status; Underweight; Stunting DOI: 10.3126/jnps.v31i1.3640J Nep Paedtr Soc 2010;31(1):17-24

Daily online localization using implanted fiducial markers and its impact on planning target volume for carcinoma prostate

BACKGROUND

Aim of the study was to assess prostate motion on daily basis with respect to setup and to compare the shifts based on bony anatomy and gold fiducial markers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gold fiducial markers were inserted in prostate under U/S guidance and daily portal images were taken and compared with digitally reconstructed images, both using bony landmarks and fiducial markers as reference. A dose of 2 MU was given for two orthogonal images daily. The mean and standard deviation of displacement using gold seeds and bone were calculated. Systematic and random errors were generated. The planning target volume (PTV) was calculated using the Van Herk formula.

RESULTS

A total of 180 portal images from 10 patients were studied. The mean displacement along x, y and z axes was 1.67 mm, 3.58 mm, and 1.76 mm using fiducial markers and 2.12 mm, 3.47 mm, and 2.09 mm using bony landmarks, respectively. The mean internal organ motion was 1.23 mm (+1.45), 3.11 mm (+2.69 mm); and 1.87 mm (+1.67 mm) along x, y and z axes, respectively. The PTV to account for prostate motion if daily matching was not done was 4.64 mm, 10.41 mm and 4.40 mm along lateral, superoinferior, and anteroposterior directions, respectively. If bony landmarks were used for daily matching, margins of 3.61 mm, 7.31 mm, and 4.72 mm in lateral, superoinferior, and anteroposterior directions should be added to the clinical target volume.

CONCLUSION

Daily alignment using gold fiducial markers is an effective method of localizing prostate displacement. It provides the option of reducing margins, thus limiting normal tissue toxicity and allowing the possibility of dose escalation for better long-term control.

Quantitative analysis of six gene products as candidate markers of early placental villi development in the human

Early placental development is critical for successful pregnancy. Recently, we have reported that -70 genes were differentially expressed in human placental villi between 6- and 8- weeks of gestation in cDNA-based expression arrays for -400 PCR products, of which six specific gene products (COL4A4, CXCR4, ERBB2, HDAC1, HPRT1, and TNFRSF1A) appeared intriguing. In the present study we have examined expressions of these six candidate genes in placental villi obtained from 6-weeks, 7-weeks and 8-weeks (n = 6 for each group) human placental samples using quantitative real time RTPCR. We observed that there was considerable concordance (>95% confidence) in pair-wise analysis of transcript profiles between the two methods, however, absolute quantitative values as measured by quantitative RTPCR differed from those obtained from cDNA-based array analysis for 2 gene products (CXCR4 and ERBB2) out of 6 genes. No significant change was observed in the steady state expression of COL4A4 and HPRT1 during the time period examined. However, there was significant decrease in CXCR4 for 7-weeks (P < 0.01) and 8-weeks (P < 0.05) samples, and significant (P < 0.05) increase was seen for ERBB2 in 7-weeks and 8-weeks as compared to 6-weeks samples with no change between 7-weeks and 8-weeks samples. Moreover, significant (P < 0.05) increase for HDAC1 and decrease for TNFRSF1A was observed in 8-weeks samples as compared to 6-weeks samples with no change observed between 6-weeks and 7-weeks samples. We infer that it is essential that cDNA array-based data are verified in terms of quantitative estimates preferably by quantitative PCR before their use for any exploratory purpose. Taking together our previous array based data and the present study we conclude that a categorical balance exists between the expression of ERBB2 and HDAC1 genes affecting cell proliferation and differentiation in one hand, and CXCR4 and TNFRSF1A affecting chemotaxis, inflammatory response and apoptosis on the other hand. The expression of these genes appear important for the early development of human placental villi.

Immunomodulatory cytokines determine the outcome of Japanese encephalitis virus infection in mice

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) induces an acute infection of the central nervous system, the pathogenic mechanism of which is not fully understood. To investigate host response to JEV infection, 14-day-old mice were infected via the extraneural route, which resulted in encephalitis and death. Mice that received JEV immune splenocyte transfer were protected from extraneural JEV infection. Pathology and gene expression profiles were then compared in brains of mice that either succumbed to JEV infection or were protected from infection by JEV immune cell transfer. Mice undergoing progressive JEV infection had increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and signal transducers associated with the interferon (IFN) pathway. In contrast, mice receiving immune cell transfer had increased production of the Th2 cytokine IL-4, and of IL-10, with subdued expression of IFN-gamma. We observed IL-10 to be an important factor in determining clinical outcome in JEV infection. Data obtained by microarray analysis were further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Together, these data suggest that JEV infection causes an unregulated inflammatory response that can be countered by the expression of immunomodulatory cytokines in mice that survive lethal infection.

Selective nodal irradiation for head and neck cancer using intensity-modulated radiotherapy: application of RTOG consensus guidelines in routine clinical practice

PURPOSE

We have been using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for selective neck irradiation. This article presents an analysis of patterns of failure and their dosimetric correlation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between October 2003 and January 2008, 83 patients with head-and-neck cancer were treated with IMRT. Nodal levels were contoured as per the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) consensus guidelines.

RESULTS

There were 32 relapses with 23 local relapses (21 local relapses alone and 2 local and regional relapses, simultaneously), 9 regional relapses (including 2 simultaneous local and regional relapses), and 5 distant relapses, of which 2 patients had local relapses. At 2 and 3 years, the locoregional relapse-free survival rates were was 68.3% and 60.8%, respectively, while the overall survival rates were 84.1% and 81.7%, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in locoregional relapse-free survival rates for total treatment times of <53 days vs. >53 days, a volume of CTV1PTV (i.e., the volume prescribed 70 Gy) <177 cc vs. >177 cc, a V100 for CTV1PTV of <91% vs. >91%, and a minimum dose to CTV1PTV of <54 Gy vs. >54 Gy. There were no failures in the elective nodal volume, substantiating both the nodal selection criteria and the RTOG consensus guidelines for delineation of neck node levels.

CONCLUSIONS

IMRT for head-neck cancer is feasible, using elective nodal selection criteria along with RTOG consensus guidelines for the radiological boundaries of levels of neck nodes.