Confirmation of the X(1835) and observation of the resonances X(2120) and X(2370) in J/ψ→γπ+π-η'

With a sample of (225.2±2.8)×10(6) J/ψ events registered in the BESIII detector, J/ψ→γπ(+)π(-)η(') is studied using two η(') decay modes: η(')→π(+)π(-)η and η(')→γρ(0). The X(1835), which was previously observed by BESII, is confirmed with a statistical significance that is larger than 20σ. In addition, in the π(+)π(-)η(') invariant-mass spectrum, the X(2120) and the X(2370), are observed with statistical significances larger than 7.2σ and 6.4σ, respectively. For the X(1835), the angular distribution of the radiative photon is consistent with expectations for a pseudoscalar.

Evidence for ψ' decays into γπ0 and γη

The decays ψ'→γπ(0), γη and γη' are studied using data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e(+)e(-) collider. The processes ψ'→γπ(0) and ψ'→γη are observed for the first time with signal significances of 4.6σ and 4.3σ, respectively. The branching fractions are determined to be B(ψ'→γπ(0))=(1.58±0.40±0.13)×10(-6), B(ψ'→γη)=(1.38±0.48±0.09)×10(-6), and B(ψ'→γη')=(126±3±8)×10(-6), where the first errors are statistical and the second ones systematic.

Effects of a Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Selective Antagonist on the Inflammatory Reaction to Titanium Particles In Vivo and In Vitro

Wear particle-induced inflammation is a major factor contributing to aseptic loosening in peri-prosthetic tissue. The effects of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) on wear particle-induced inflammation remain unclear. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to assess the effects of a CB2-selective antagonist, AM630, on regulation of the inflammatory reaction and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to in vitro and in vivo stimulation with titanium particles. In vitro studies, in a model for pre-osteoclast-like cells, demonstrated that AM630 inactivation of CB2 profoundly inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α production by RAW264.7 cells stimulated with titanium particles. In vivo findings in a murine air-pouch model of titanium-induced inflammatory osteolysis indicated that AM630 reduced titanium-induced tissue inflammation, seen as a reduction in pouch membrane thickness, inflammatory infiltration and levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Thus, inactivation of CB2 by AM630 inhibited the titanium particle-induced inflammatory reaction by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo.

A 6-bp deletion in the TYRP1 gene causes the brown colouration phenotype in Chinese indigenous pigs

Brown coat colour has been described in Chinese-Tibetan, Kele, and Dahe pigs. Here, we report the identification of a causal mutation underlying the brown colouration. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on Tibetan and Kele pigs, and found that brown colours in Chinese breeds are controlled by a single locus on pig chromosome 1. By using a haplotype-sharing analysis, we refined the critical region to a 1.5-Mb interval that encompasses only one pigmentation gene: tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1). Mutation screens of sequence variants in the coding region of TYRP1 revealed a strong candidate causative mutation (c.1484_1489del). The protein-altering deletion showed complete association with the brown colouration across Chinese-Tibetan, Kele, and Dahe breeds by occurring exclusively in brown pigs (n=121) and lacking in all non-brown-coated pigs (n=745) from 27 different breeds. The findings provide the compelling evidence that brown colours in Chinese indigenous pigs are caused by the same ancestral mutation in TYRP1. To our knowledge, this study gives the first description of GWAS identifying causal mutation for a monogenic trait in the domestic pig.

Genetic diversity and origin of Gayal and cattle in Yunnan revealed by mtDNA control region and SRY gene sequence variation

There are hump, humpless cattle and gayal distributed in Yunnan province, south-west China, but their genetic background remains unclear. To determine the origin and genetic diversity of Yunnan gayal and cattle (Diqing, Nujiang and Wenshan cattle), we analysed mtDNA control region sequences of 71 samples and SRY gene sequences of 39 samples, together with the available sequences in GenBank. The neighbour-joining phylogeny and the reduced median network analysis showed that Yunnan gayal originated from the hybridization between male Bos frontalis and female Bos taurus or Bos indicus, and that Yunnan cattle mostly originated from B. indicus, also containing some hybrids of male B. indicus and female B. taurus. The phylogenetic pattern of Yunnan cattle was consistent with the recently described cattle matrilineal pool from China and indicated more contribution to the Yunnan cattle from B. indicus than from B. taurus.

Alterations in cortical thickness and white matter integrity in mild cognitive impairment measured by whole-brain cortical thickness mapping and diffusion tensor imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease and can be difficult to diagnose because of the subtlety of symptoms. This study attempted to examine gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) changes with cortical thickness analysis and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with MCI and demographically matched comparison subjects to test these measurements as possible imaging markers for diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects with amnestic MCI (n = 10; age, 72.2 +/- 7.1 years) and normal cognition (n = 10; age, 70.1 +/- 7.7 years) underwent DTI and T1-weighted MR imaging at 3T. Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and cortical thickness were measured and compared between the MCI and control groups. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 2 methods, either in combination or separately, using binary logistic regression and nonparametric statistical analyses for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

RESULTS

Decreased FA and increased ADC in WM regions of the frontal and temporal lobes and corpus callosum (CC) were observed in patients with MCI. Cortical thickness was decreased in GM regions of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes in patients with MCI. Changes in WM and cortical thickness seemed to be more pronounced in the left hemisphere compared with the right hemisphere. Furthermore, the combination of cortical thickness and DTI measurements in the left temporal areas improved the accuracy of differentiating MCI patients from control subjects compared with either measure alone.

CONCLUSIONS

DTI and cortical thickness analyses may both serve as imaging markers to differentiate MCI from normal aging. Combined use of these 2 methods may improve the accuracy of MCI diagnosis.

Multifunctional and multiplexed nanoparticles for molecular imaging and treatment of breast cancer

Abstract #6003

Multifunctional nanoparticles with the ability to target tumors, provide molecular imaging and to deliver therapeutic agents hold great promise for improving the survival of cancer patients. We have developed multifunctional nanoparticles targeted to cellular receptors that are highly expressed in breast cancer and tumor stromal cells. Fluorescent quantum dot (QD) or magnetic iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles are conjugated to either the amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) or to a single chain antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (ScFvEGFR), resulting in uPAR or EGFR targeted nanoparticles. Since the binding of ATF peptides or ScFvEGFR to their receptors results in blocking receptor function and internalization of the receptor-ligand complex, these targeted imaging probes can also inhibit tumor growth and deliver drugs. Using near infrared fluorescence (NIR) dye-labeled targeting peptides, we demonstrate specificity of these targeting ligands in an orthotopic human breast cancer model in nude mice. We found that tail vein injection of a mixture of Cy5.5 dye-ATF and IRDye 800-ScFvEGFR peptides leads to the selective accumulation of both probes in human breast cancer xenografts and NIR optical imaging of the tumors in the mammary fat pad of nude mice (Fig. A).
 
 We show that uPAR- and EGFR-targeted nanoprobes display different patterns of intratumoral distribution with EGFR probes in the central area and uPAR probes in the peripheral and central regions of the tumor, which may be the results of expressing uPAR in the invasive edge of tumor cells and tumor stromal cells and EGFR only in tumor cells. In vivo optical imaging using ATF-nanoparticles is also demonstrated in human breast cancer xenograft (Fig. B) and in mouse mammary tumor lung metastatic models. Furthermore, magnetic Cy5.5-ATF IO nanoparticles are multimodality imaging probes for both optical and MR tumor imaging. Since magnetic IO nanoparticles are biodegradable and relatively safe for human use, we have developed a therapeutic imaging nanoparticle by encapsulating doxorubicin into the polymer coating of the nanoparticles and have shown selective delivery of the drug and cytotoxic effect in breast cancer cells in vitro. Results of our study show that multifunctional and multiplexed nanoparticles have great potential for the development of novel tumor imaging and therapeutic approaches.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6003.

Lack of association of VEGF promoter polymorphisms with sporadic ALS

The authors tested the association of three vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter polymorphisms with sporadic ALS (SALS) to verify the results of a previous study and to investigate their modifier effects on the subphenotypes of SALS in a large family-based and case-control cohort of North American white subjects (N = 1,603). They did not find any association of the VEGF promoter polymorphisms with SALS or its subphenotypes, suggesting that they do not have a direct causal role in ALS.

Synergistic antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand combined with cisplatin in ovarian carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been shown to exert selectively cytotoxic activity against many tumor cells but not normal cells. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor activity of TRAIL and cisplatin (CDDP) both separately and combined in the human ovarian cancer cell lines. In vitro study showed that TRAIL elicited significant cell apoptosis of cell lines 3AO, SKOV3, and OVCAR3 in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05), while normal ovarian epithelial cells were resistant; this toxicity-free effect may be the result of upregulation of TRAIL receptors DcR1 and DcR2. Combined TRAIL and CDDP therapy produced more profound cell killing in 3AO cells than each alone (P < 0.05), and CDDP could upregulate the expression of both death and decoy TRAIL receptors. To further evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effects of TRAIL and the combination therapy, the abdominally and subcutaneously spread tumors in nude mice via inoculation of 3AO cells were established, and treatment of TRAIL resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of tumor growth while slight damage was observed in normal tissues. Furthermore, combined TRAIL and CDDP therapy had a synergistic effect in the regression of established ovarian cancer xenografts than TRAIL treatment alone (P < 0.05). We also examined the apoptosis-related gene expression in the transplantation tumors after TRAIL treatment, and the data suggested that the intracellular mechanism of TRAIL may be associated with downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of CD95 and Apo2.7.