The evaluation of biologically important trace metals in liver, kidney and breast tissue

The levels of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and potassium (K) have been measured in normal and malignant liver and kidney tissue using X-ray fluorescence. Zn was reduced in liver and kidney tumours by 63% and 26%, respectively. Fe, Cu and K were increased in kidney tumours by 150%, 8% and 90%, and reduced in liver tumours by 76%, 29% and 43%. A synchrotron microprobe was used to map calcium (Ca), Fe, Cu and Zn in breast tissue. The distributions were compared to reference images and higher concentrations of metals correlated with areas of cancer cells. The average increase of Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations in areas of malignancy were 70%, 43%, 53% and 87%.

Modelling studies to estimate the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease carriers after reactive vaccination

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically significant viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. Vaccination can be used to help restrict the spread of the infection, but evidence must be provided to show that the infection has been eradicated in order to regain the FMD-free status. While serological tests have been developed, which can identify animals that have been infected regardless of vaccination status, it is vital to know the probable prevalence of herds with FMD carriers and the within-herd prevalence of those carriers in order to design efficient post-epidemic surveillance strategies that establish freedom from disease. Here, we present the results of a study to model the expected prevalence of carriers after application of emergency vaccination and the impact of this on the sensitivity of test systems for their detection. Results showed that the expected prevalence of carrier-containing herds after reactive vaccination is likely to be very low, approximately 0.2%, and there will only be a small number of carriers, most likely one, in the positive herds. Therefore, sensitivity for carrier detection can be optimized by adopting an individual-based testing regime in which all animals in all vaccinated herds are tested and positive animals rather than herds are culled.

Measurement of airborne foot-and-mouth disease virus: preliminary evaluation of two portable air sampling devices

Until now measurement of airborne foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the field has not been attempted or been practical; measurements have been restricted to the laboratory and isolation units using instruments developed in the 1960s. However, with the development of air sampling devices for other biological purposes, there is now the possibility that this short-coming can be overcome and as a result earlier detection of virus may be possible in the future. Two recently-introduced commercially-available portable air sampling devices, the BioCapture 650 and the BioBadge 100, have successfully detected airborne virus in three proof-of-concept experiments involving pigs and cattle infected with FMDV. There is an early indication that these devices have potential for use in the field, but for maximum benefit they will need to be combined with a suitable portable analysis instrument. Further evaluation in the laboratory is required before any field measurements are considered.

A study of 54 cases of left displacement of the abomasum: February to July 2005

Fifty-four cows with left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) submitted to the hospital facility at Riverview Veterinary Clinic from February to July 2005 were treated by right flank laparotomy and omentopexy. Five cows died (a survival rate 90.7%) and one cow (1.8%) was culled due to recurrence of the LDA post-operatively. Forty-one cows (76%) returned to good production post-operatively. Thirty-nine cows (72%) were pregnant six months after corrective surgery.

Drug metabolism-related genes as potential biomarkers: analysis of expression in normal and tumour breast tissue

The complex role of drug metabolism-related enzymes and their possible influence in cancer development, treatment and outcome has not yet been completely elucidated. There is evidence that these enzymes can activate certain environmental procarcinogens to more toxic derivatives and thus a role has been proposed for them in carcinogenesis. The fact that they can also inactivate a number of chemotherapeutic drugs has raised the possibility of these enzymes influencing the sensitivity of tumour cells to anticancer agents. In this report, we analyse the expression of drug metabolism-related genes within a whole genome microarray study of 104 breast cancer and 17 normal breast specimens. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Chi-squared, and Cox Regression analyses were used to identify associations between expression of gene transcripts and patients' clinicopathological and survival data. Our results show that several of these genes are significantly expressed in both normal and tumour tissue; in many cases, expression is altered in the tumour specimens as compared to normal breast tissue. Moreover, expression of ARNT2 and GST A1 was correlated with prognosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed expression of ARNT2 mRNA to correlate significantly with favourable disease outcome for patients, in terms of both their disease-free survival (P = 0.0094) and overall survival (P = 0.0018) times from diagnosis, while detection of GST A1 mRNA correlated with shortened disease-free survival (P = 0.0131) and overall survival (P = 0.0028). Multivariate analysis indicated GST A1 expression to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.045). Our results suggest a possible use of ARNT2 and GST A1 as prognostic breast cancer biomarkers.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in young lambs: pathogenesis and tissue tropism

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in adult sheep usually causes milder clinical signs than in cattle or pigs, and is often subtle enough to go undiagnosed. In contrast, FMD in lambs has been reported to cause high mortality during field outbreaks. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of FMD in lambs, two groups, aged 10-14 days, were infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type O UKG. One group of lambs (n=8) was inoculated with FMDV in the coronary band, while the other (n=4) was infected by direct contact with FMDV-inoculated ewes. Daily serum samples and temperature measurements were taken. Lambs were killed sequentially and tissue samples taken for analysis. Using real-time RT-PCR, viral RNA levels in tissue samples and serum were measured, and a novel strand-specific real-time RT-PCR assay was used to quantify viral replication levels in tissues. Tissue sections were examined for histopathological lesions, and in situ hybridisation (ISH) was used to localise viral RNA within histological sections. The contact-infected lambs became infected approximately 24h after the ewes were inoculated. Vesicular lesions developed on the feet of all lambs and on the caudo-lateral part of the tongues of six of the eight inoculated lambs and three of the four contact-infected lambs. Although no lambs developed severe clinical signs, one of the contact-infected lambs died acutely at 5 days post-exposure. Histological examination of the heart from this lamb showed multi-focal areas of lymphocytic-plasmacytic myocarditis; similar lesions were also observed in the hearts of three of the inoculated lambs. Using ISH, viral RNA was localised within cardiac and skeletal muscle cells from the lamb which had died, and also from vesicular lesions on the coronary band and tongue of inoculated lambs. These results provide a detailed description of the pathogenesis of the disease in lambs.

Phytosterol, squalene, tocopherol content and fatty acid profile of selected seeds, grains, and legumes

The unsaponifiable lipid fraction of plant-based foods is a potential source of bioactive components such as phytosterols, squalene, and tocopherols. The objective of the present study was to determine the levels of phytosterols, and squalene, as well as tocopherols (alpha and beta + gamma) in selected grains, seeds, and legumes. The method comprised acid hydrolysis and lipid extraction followed by alkaline saponification, prior to analysis by HPLC. In addition, the fatty acid profile of the foods was determined via total lipid extraction, fatty acid derivitisation and GC analysis. In general, beta-sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 24.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seed to 191.4 mg/100 g in peas. Squalene identified in all foods examined in this study, was particularly abundant in pumpkin seed (89.0 mg/100 g). The sum of alpha- and beta+ gamma-tocopherols ranged from 0.1 mg/100 g in rye to 15.9 mg/100 g in pumpkin seeds. Total oil content ranged from 0.9% (w/w) in butter beans to 42.3% (w/w) in pumpkin seed and the type of fat, in all foods examined, was predominantly unsaturated. In conclusion, seeds, grains, and legumes are a rich natural source of phytosterols. Additionally, they contain noticeable amounts of squalene and tocopherols, and in general, their fatty acid profile is favorable.

An ancient mechanism controls the development of cells with a rooting function in land plants

Root hairs and rhizoids are cells with rooting functions in land plants. We describe two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that control root hair development in the sporophyte (2n) of the angiosperm Arabidopsis thaliana and rhizoid development in the gametophytes (n) of the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens. The phylogeny of land plants supports the hypothesis that early land plants were bryophyte-like and possessed a dominant gametophyte and later the sporophyte rose to dominance. If this hypothesis is correct, our data suggest that the increase in morphological complexity of the sporophyte body in the Paleozoic resulted at least in part from the recruitment of regulatory genes from gametophyte to sporophyte.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Crosses the Placenta and Causes Death in Fetal Lambs

Eighteen pregnant sheep, six at 45 days gestation and twelve at 75 days gestation, were infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type O UKG 34/2001. Two sheep from each gestational group were killed at 2, 4, and 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). Three sheep, pregnant for 75 days at infection, were killed at 17 and 18 dpi. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation (VI) were used to detect viral RNA and infectious virus, respectively, in fetal tissues taken post mortem. Eleven fetuses were obtained from the six sheep inoculated at day 45 of gestation. Of these, two of three fetuses at 2 dpi had viral RNA detected by RT-PCR and virus was detected in one by VI. Viral RNA was detected in two of four fetuses at 4 dpi, while viral RNA and virus were detected in all four fetuses at 7 dpi. No gross abnormalities were evident in these fetuses. In the group inoculated at day 75 of gestation, viral RNA was detected in three of four fetuses at 4 dpi. Virus and viral RNA were detected in three of four fetuses at 7 dpi. Of the seven fetuses examined at 17 and 18 dpi, viral RNA was detected in five, and four of these had died in utero. Gross abnormalities including haemorrhage and oedema in a number of tissues were evident in many of the fetuses in this group, but no vesicular lesions were found. Viral RNA and virus were detected in the amniotic fluid associated with infected fetuses. This study is the first to demonstrate that FMDV may cause transplacental infection and fetal death.

Justifying adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a survey of women and healthcare professionals

AIM

The absolute survival gains required to make adjuvant chemotherapy acceptable to women are unknown. We questioned women and healthcare professionals on the absolute survival benefits required to make adjuvant chemotherapy acceptable.

METHODS

A cohort of 1000 Irish women and 402 UK nurses and surgeons were invited to choose an absolute survival advantage sufficient to justify adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy. The non-physician cohort included women with a history of cancer, female medical healthcare professionals and women with no personal or professional experience of cancer.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and thirty-five women completed the questionnaire; 769, 651 and 413 said they would accept chemotherapy for a 10%, 5% and 1% survival advantage, respectively. There was a significant difference in women's preferences depending on their personal and professional experience of cancer. Eighty-nine women had personal experience of chemotherapy and these women were more likely to accept chemotherapy for any survival advantage (88, 87 and 66 for a 10%, 5% and 1% survival advantage, respectively; p=0.0023; Chi(2)). Surgeons and nurses were less likely to accept chemotherapy for smaller absolute survival advantages.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that women require modest absolute gains to choose adjuvant chemotherapy. The pattern of acceptance differs significantly between those with professional experience of cancer, a personal history of chemotherapy use and a history of cancer or not.

Investigation of the molecular profile of basal cell carcinoma using whole genome microarrays

Background

Skin cancer accounts for 1/3 of all newly diagnosed cancer. Although seldom fatal, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is associated with severe disfigurement and morbidity. BCC has a unique interest for researchers, as although it is often locally invasive, it rarely metastasises. This paper, reporting the first whole genome expression microarray analysis of skin cancer, aimed to investigate the molecular profile of BCC in comparison to non-cancerous skin biopsies. RNA from BCC and normal skin specimens was analysed using Affymetrix whole genome microarrays. A Welch t-test was applied to data normalised using dCHIP to identify significant differentially-expressed genes between BCC and normal specimens. Principal component analysis and support vector machine analysis were performed on resulting genelists, Genmapp was used to identify pathways affected, and GOstat aided identification of areas of gene ontology more highly represented on these lists than would be expected by chance.

Results

Following normalisation, specimens clustered into groups of BCC specimens and of normal skin specimens. Of the 54,675 gene transcripts/variants analysed, 3,921 were differentially expressed between BCC and normal skin specimens. Of these, 2,108 were significantly up-regulated and 1,813 were statistically significantly down-regulated in BCCs.

Conclusion

Functional gene sets differentially expressed include those involved in transcription, proliferation, cell motility, apoptosis and metabolism. As expected, members of the Wnt and hedgehog pathways were found to be significantly different between BCC and normal specimens, as were many previously undescribed changes in gene expression between normal and BCC specimens, including basonuclin2 and mrp9. Quantitative-PCR analysis confirmed our microarray results, identifying novel potential biomarkers for BCC.

Phenotypic and global gene expression profile changes between low passage and high passage MIN-6 cells

The long-term potential to routinely use replacement beta cells/islets as cell therapy for type 1 diabetes relies on our ability to culture such cells/islets, in vitro, while maintaining their functional status. Previous beta cell studies, by ourselves and other researchers, have indicated that the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) phenotype is relatively unstable, in long-term culture. This study aimed to investigate phenotypic and gene expression changes associated with this loss of GSIS, using the MIN-6 cell line as model. Phenotypic differences between MIN-6(L, low passage) and MIN-6(H, high passage) were determined by ELISA (assessing GSIS and cellular (pro)insulin content), proliferation assays, phase contrast light microscopy and analysis of alkaline phosphatase expression. Differential mRNA expression was investigated using microarray, bioinformatics and real-time PCR technologies. Long-term culture was found to be associated with many phenotypic changes, including changes in growth rate and cellular morphology, as well as loss of GSIS. Microarray analyses indicate expression of many mRNAs, including many involved in regulated secretion, adhesion and proliferation, to be significantly affected by passaging/ long-term culture. Loss/reduced levels, in high passage cells, of certain transcripts associated with the mature beta cell, together with increased levels of neuron/glia-associated mRNAs, suggest that, with time in culture, MIN-6 cells may revert to an early (possibly multi-potential), poorly differentiated, 'precursor-like' cell type. This observation is supported by increased expression of the stem cell marker, alkaline phosphatase.

Mitochondrial cytopathies, phenotypic heterogeneity and a high incidence

Mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders account for significant and varied presentations in paediatric practice. The true prevalence of these disorders in the paediatric population is still not well documented with predicted geographic variation. We report a retrospective analysis over a seven year period of cases presenting to a tertiary care centre and associated clinical features. The overall prevalence of mitochondrial disorders in our population is higher than expected (1/9,000 births), explained in part by multiple presentations in a consanguineous subgroup of the population (Irish travellers).

The celtic coincidence--the frequency and clinical characterisation of hereditary haemochromatosis in patients with coeliac disease

BACKGROUND

Hereditary Haemochromatosis (HH) and Coeliac disease (CD) are common disorders in Northern European populations, particularly the Irish population.

AIMS

To investigate whether there was increased frequency of the two common HFE gene mutations, C282Y and H63D, associated with HH amongst a cohort of CD patients, and to determine the penetrance of the HH associated genotypes in this cohort.

METHODS

HFE genotypes of a cohort of CD patients were determined using standard PCR techniques. HFE allele frequencies were compared to those of a previously reported, ethnically similar, cohort of 800 neonates, using Fishers exact test. Patients with HH-associated genotypes were subsequently evaluated.

RESULTS

The C282Y and H63D allele frequencies, 24/222 (11%) and 28/222 (13%) respectively, in the CD patients were similar to those of the neonatal group, 171/1600 (11%) and 242/1600 (15%). Eight patients had HH-associated genotypes, of which two demonstrated biochemical evidence of iron overload.

CONCLUSION

The HFE mutations associated with Hereditary Haemochromatosis are not more common in Irish CD patients.

Juvenile hemochromatosis due to G320V/Q116X compound heterozygosity of hemojuvelin in an Irish patient

Hemojuvelin (HJV) is a recently discovered gene responsible for 1q-linked juvenile hemochromatosis. The majority of mutations characterized in this gene are rare and private, except G320V, identified in patients from different countries. Here, we report the clinical features and the molecular study of a young Irish patient presenting with severe cardiac disease related to iron overload. We sequenced the coding region and the exon-intron boundaries of genes associated with juvenile hemochromatosis, HAMP and HJV encoding hepcidin and hemojuvelin respectively. Two heterozygous HJV mutations were identified: the G320V mutation and the new Q116X mutation that cause a premature stop codon in the protein. This finding increases the number of mutations identified in HJV gene and underlines that the G320V is a recurrent mutation, even in Northern Europe.

Interrater reliability of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders in an HIV-infected cohort: experience of the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium

The interrater reliability of the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) was assessed in a multicentre study. Four sites of the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium performed blinded reratings of audiotaped PRISM interviews of 63 HIV-infected patients. Diagnostic modules for substance-use disorders and major depression were evaluated. Seventy-six per cent of the patient sample displayed one or more substance-use disorder diagnoses and 54% had major depression. Kappa coefficients for lifetime histories of substance abuse or dependence (cocaine, opiates, alcohol, cannabis, sedative, stimulant, hallucinogen) and major depression ranged from 0.66 to 1.00. Overall the PRISM was reliable in assessing both past and current disorders except for current cannabis disorders when patients had concomitant cannabinoid prescriptions for medical therapy. The reliability of substance-induced depression was poor to fair although there was a low prevalence of this diagnosis in our group. We conclude that the PRISM yields reliable diagnoses in a multicentre study of substance-experienced, HIV-infected individuals.

Duodenal Dcytb and hephaestin mRNA expression are not significantly modulated by variations in body iron homeostasis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

While the upregulation of duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb) within duodenal enterocytes is reported in patients with iron deficiency, the expression of hephaestin (Hp) remains controversial in altered iron metabolism states, including HFE associated hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). The effect of iron depletion therapy on the expression of these molecules is unclear. This study examines the duodenal expression of these two molecules in HH patients (prior to and following phlebotomy), in patients with iron deficiency (ID) and in healthy controls.

METHODS

Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Dcytb and Hp mRNA expression levels were measured in duodenal tissue of C282Y homozygous HH patients, in ID patients negative for the C282Y mutation with a serum ferritin concentration less than 20 mug/l, and in controls negative for C282Y and H63D mutations with normal iron indices.

RESULTS

Dcytb and Hp mRNA expression levels were not significantly different in either non-phlebotomized and phlebotomized HH patients or individuals with iron deficiency when compared with controls. There was no significant correlation between the gene expression levels and their respective serum ferritin or TS% values in any of the investigated groups. In HH patients, there was no significant association between gene expression and the degree of hepatic parenchymal siderosis identified by Perl's iron stain. Dcytb and Hp mRNA levels were significantly correlated to each other when all cohorts were analyzed together and separately.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that the duodenal ferroreductase Dcytb and ferroxidase Hp mRNA expression are not significantly altered by variations in iron homeostasis. The effect of phlebotomy-induced erythropoiesis did not alter either gene transcript mRNA expression.