Genetic characterization of Mytilus coruscus and M. galloprovincialis using microsatellite markers

Korean (hard-shelled) mussels (Mytilus coruscus) are an economically important endemic marine bivalve mollusk of Korea; yet, the population has rapidly declined because of overharvesting and habitat competition from the invasive Mytilus galloprovincialis species. The population structures of M. coruscus and M. galloprovincialis were analyzed by next-generation sequencing using 5 microsatellite markers specifically developed for M. coruscus. M. galloprovincialis had an average of 5.4 alleles per locus (range = 2-10), with an average allelic richness of 4.9 per locus (range = 2.0-9.3). M. coruscus had an average of 5.7 alleles per locus (range = 2-13), with an average allelic richness of 5.2 per locus (range = 2.0-11.9). Excessive homozygosity was observed at 3 loci, which was assumed to be due to the presence of null alleles at these loci. Pairwise multilocus FST estimates showed that the M. coruscus and M. galloprovincialis populations were clearly separated. Six populations of M. galloprovincialis from the western, eastern, and southern coast of Korea formed 2 separate clusters, indicating that more than 2 populations of M. galloprovincialis have been introduced to the Korean Peninsula. Hybrids between M. coruscus and M. galloprovincialis were not identified, probably because of genetic differences or different habitat preferences. Further genetic information is required to perform selective breeding, population management, and restoration of M. coruscus.

Dairy cows increase ingestive mastication and reduce ruminative chewing when grazing chicory and plantain

Although the nutritive value of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) has been thoroughly studied, little is known about the grazing behavior of cattle feeding on chicory and plantain swards. The objective of the present study was to assess and describe the grazing behavior of dairy cows as affected by dietary proportions of chicory and plantain fed as monocultures for part of the day. Ninety Holstein-Friesian cows (489±42 kg of body weight; 4.1±0.3 body condition score, and 216±15 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 15 groups (6 cows per group) and grazed according to 7 treatments: control (CTL, 3 groups), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) dominant sward (24-h pasture strip); 3 chicory treatments comprising 20, 40, and 60% of the diet, strip-grazing a monoculture of chicory to a fixed postgrazing residual before strip-grazing a perennial ryegrass dominant sward (2 groups of cows per treatment); and 3 plantain treatments comprising 20, 40, and 60% of the diet, strip-grazing a monoculture of plantain to a fixed postgrazing residual before strip-grazing a perennial ryegrass dominant sward (2 groups of cows per treatment). Four focal animals per group were equipped with 3-dimensional motion sensors, which provided the number of steps taken at each minute of the day. These cows were also fitted with automatic jaw-movement recorders that identified bites, mastication during ingestion, chewing during rumination, and determined grazing, rumination and idling times and bouts. Daily grazing time and bouts were not affected by treatments but rumination time differed and was reduced by up to 90 min when cows were allocated to chicory and plantain as 60% of their diet. Ruminative chewing was reduced in cows grazing chicory and plantain by up to 20% in cows allocated to the 60% treatments. Compared with perennial ryegrass, as the dietary proportion of chicory and plantain increased, cows spent more time idling and less time ruminating, and increased ingestive mastications 5 and 3 times for chicory and plantain, respectively. Cows allocated to chicory and plantain reduced bite rate and bites per grazing step linearly, and increased the number of mastications per bite of pasture dry matter intake while grazing pasture after having grazed chicory and plantain. These results indicate that cows grazing chicory and plantain masticate more during ingestion and reduce rumination time and chewing. They also suggest that chicory presents greater constraints to ingestion than does plantain. Thus, although chicory has been considered to have a greater nutritive value than plantain, its overall feeding value may be no greater than that of plantain.

A MC motif in silkworm Argonaute 1 is indispensible for translation repression

Small RNA-mediated gene silencing is a fundamental gene regulatory mechanism, which is conserved in many organisms. Argonaute (Ago) family proteins in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) play crucial roles in RNA interference (RNAi) pathways. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, four Ago proteins have been identified, named as Ago1, Ago2, Ago3 and Siwi. Ago2 participates in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced RNAi, whereas Ago3 and Siwi are involved in the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. However, there is no experimental evidence concerning silkworm Ago1 (BmAgo1) in the RNAi mechanism. In the present study, we analysed the function of BmAgo1 in the microRNA (miRNA)-mediated RNAi pathway using tethering and miRNA sensor reporter assays. These results clearly demonstrate that BmAgo1 plays an indispensable role in translation repression in silkworm. Moreover, coimmunoprecipitation data indicated that BmAgo1 interacts with BmDcp2, an orthologue of mRNA-decapping enzyme 2 (Dcp2) protein in the Drosophila processing-bodies (P-bodies). Substitutions of two conserved phenylalanines (F522 and F557) by valines in the MC motif strongly impaired the function of BmAgo1 in translation repression and its localization in P-bodies, suggesting that these two amino acid residues in the MC motif of BmAgo1 are prerequisites for mRNA translation repression in B. mori.

Diagnostic value of CA125 as a predictor of recurrence in advanced ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to establish the guidelines for detecting early recurrences of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer by use of the CA-125 level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-five of the patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. The authors examined 25 incremental changes of CA125 from one to 25 IU/ml, and compared the CA-125 value with other prognostic factors. Increases in the CA-125 level from the nadir level were expressed as CA-125- increments.

RESULTS

Among the 25 increments, a CA-125-8 (eight IU/ml) was selected as the predictor that was the most efficient and time-effective. CA-125-8 had a sensitivity of 91.5%, a specificity of 84.6%, a positive predictive value of 93.1%, a negative predictive value of 81.5%, an efficiency of 89.4%. and a median lead-time of 68.5 days (p <0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The authors suggest the incremented CA-125-8 as a predictor of recurrent advanced ovarian cancer.

Electronic structure and characteristics of Fe 3d valence states of Fe(1.01)Se superconductors under pressure probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy

The electronic structure and characteristics of Fe 3d valence states of iron-chalcogenide Fe(1.01)Se superconductors under pressure were probed with x-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES). The intensity of the pre-edge peak at ~7112.7 eV of the Fe K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum of Fe(1.01)Se decreases for pressure from 0.5 GPa increased to 6.9 GPa. The satellite line Kβ' was reduced in intensity upon applying pressure and became absent for pressure 52 GPa. Fe(1.01)Se shows a small net magnetic moment of Fe(2+), likely arising from strong Fe-Fe spin fluctuations. The 1s3p-RXES spectra of Fe(1.01)Se at pressures 0.5, 6.9, and 52 GPa recorded at the Fe K-edge reveal that unoccupied Fe 3d states exhibit a delocalized character, stemming from hybridization of Fe 3d and 4p orbitals arising from a local distortion around the Fe atom in a tetrahedral site. Application of pressure causes suppression of this on-site Fe 3d-Fe 4p hybridization, and thereby decreases the intensity of the pre-edge feature in the Fe K-edge absorption spectrum of Fe(1.01)Se. Compression enhances spin fluctuations at Fe sites in Fe(1.01)Se and increases the corresponding T(c), through a competition between nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic and next-nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions. This result aids our understanding of the physics underlying iron-based superconductors.

Dual-source, dual-energy multidetector CT for the evaluation of pancreatic tumours

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential diagnostic value of dual-energy CT (DECT) with virtual non-enhanced (VNE) and iodine-only images, and to determine the optimal mixed ratio of blended images for evaluation of pancreatic diseases.

METHODS

Multiphasic DECT was performed in 44 patients with focal pancreatic disease. DECT was used during the pancreatic and hepatic venous phases, and a peak kilovoltage of 120 kVp was used for both non-contrast phases. For qualitative analysis of the CT images, two radiologists assessed three image sets (VNE, iodine-only and blended images) in order to determine the acceptability of VNE in replacing true non-enhanced (TNE) images, the added value of iodine-only images and the preferred blending ratio. For quantitative analyses, the CT numbers and image noise of the pancreatic parenchyma, lesions, aorta and psoas muscle were measured. The contrast-to-noise ratio of the lesion was calculated on the pancreatic phase images. The effective radiation dose for DECT and TNE images was calculated. Statistical comparisons were made using the Friedman test, the Wilcoxon test, the paired t-test and repeated measures of analysis of variation with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

The level of acceptance of the VNE images in replacing TNE images was 90.9%. Regarding the iodine-only images, 50% of the cases were found to have an added value. The linear-blended images with a weighting factor of 0.5 were preferred.

CONCLUSIONS

DECT was able to provide high-quality VNE images that could replace TNE images and iodine-only images showing an added value. Blended images with a weighting factor of 0.5 were preferred by the reviewers.

Enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinomas on multiphasicmultidetector row CT: comparison with pathological differentiation

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of typical and atypical enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) on multiphasic multidetector row CT (MDCT) and to correlate the enhancement patterns and morphological image findings of HCC with the degree of tumour differentiation.

METHODS

MDCT images of 217 patients with 243 surgically proven HCCs were evaluated through consensus reading by two radiologists. Our MDCT protocol was composed of precontrast, arterial, portal and delayed phases. The reviewers analysed the CT images for degree of attenuation; relative timing of washout; presence of dysmorphic intratumoral vessels, aneurysms and necrosis; tumour size; tumour margin; presence of pseudocapsule; intratumoral heterogeneity; and determined enhancement pattern. The imaging features were correlated with tumour differentiation using Fisher's exact test or the χ(2) test.

RESULTS

Among 243 HCCs, 137 (56.4%) showed the typical enhancement pattern of HCC, which is arterial enhancement and washout on portal or equilibrium phase images. In the arterial phase, 190 of 243 (78.2%) HCCs showed hypervascularity, with approximately three quarters of poorly differentiated (PD) (34 of 45, 75.6%) and moderately differentiated (MD) HCCs (92 of 123, 74.8%) showing washout during the portal or delayed phases, vs only 50% of well-differentiated (WD) HCCs (11 of 22; p<0.048). The presence of intratumoral vessels and aneurysms, tumour necrosis, attenuation of precontrast, the relative timing of washout, intratumoral attenuation heterogeneity, tumour margin and tumour size were correlated with the pathological differentiation of HCCs (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

A typical enhancement of HCCs on MDCT was not unusual (43.6%) and WD and PD HCCs account for most of the atypical enhancement patterns. Early washout favoured MD and PD HCCs rather than WD HCCs, whereas in our study the presence of intratumoral aneurysm was a highly specific finding for PD HCC.

Anatomical collateral ligament reconstruction in the hand using intraosseous suture anchors and a free tendon graft

We describe anatomical collateral ligament reconstruction using a free tendon graft and intraosseous suture anchors in the digits. Eleven patients who underwent collateral ligament reconstruction at the proximal interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal joints were enrolled in this study. Proper and accessory collateral ligaments were reconstructed using a free tendon graft in an anatomical configuration and the grafted tendons were fixed with suture anchors. The mean time from surgery to last follow-up was 9.2 months. All anchors used for fixation of grafted tendons remained securely at their original positions at the last follow-up visits. No significant complications were associated with the use of anchors. Clinical results were excellent in 10 patients and good in one. Anatomical reconstruction of collateral ligaments using suture anchors is simpler, faster, and safer than the conventional bone tunnel technique and it does not have the risks of breakage of bone bridges, skin irritation, or graft loosening.

18F half-life measurement using a high-purity germanium detector

The half-life of (18)F has been measured using HPGe detectors with a (137)Cs reference source. The counting ratio of 511 keV γ-rays from (18)F to 622 keV γ-rays from (137)Cs was fitted for the half-life with a weighted least-square method. Uncertainties due to the systematic effects arising from the measurement of a high activity (18)F source were studied in detail. The half-life of (18)F was found to be (109.72±0.19) min. The result is in a good agreement with the recommended value of (109.728±0.019) min evaluated at the Laborotaire National Henri Becquerel (LNHB).

Effects of a priming dose of fentanyl during anaesthesia on the incidence and severity of fentanyl-induced cough in current, former and non-smokers

Fentanyl is commonly used during anaesthesia and can cause fentanyl-induced cough (FIC). This study investigated whether a priming dose of fentanyl reduced FIC, and determined the factors associated with increased risk of FIC. Subjects undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia (n = 800) were randomized into four groups: group 1 received 2 μg/kg fentanyl bolus; groups 2, 3 and 4 received a priming dose of fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg followed by 1.5 μg/kg after 1, 2 or 3 min, respectively. The incidence of FIC was 17.0%, 10.0%, 12.5% and 11.5% for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, with no significant between-group differences in FIC incidence or severity. The mean FIC onset time was 22 s. Former smokers were 2.91 times more likely than current smokers to experience cough. A fentanyl priming dose did not reduce the incidence and severity of FIC. Former smokers were hyper-reactive to fentanyl compared with current smokers.

Therapeutic effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with transarterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma <5 cm: comparison with transarterial chemoembolisation monotherapy--preliminary observations

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively compare the therapeutic effects of combined high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) with TACE alone for the treatment of non-advanced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) <5 cm.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the tumour responses of 32 HCCs of 25 patients who underwent combined HIFU and TACE, and 46 HCCs of 32 patients who underwent TACE only. The mean follow-up observation of the TACE+HIFU group was on average 31 months and that of the TACE group was 33 months. Those patients who had undergone any other treatment modality (including systemic chemotherapy) during the follow-up observation period were excluded. The therapeutic effects were classified according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (mRECIST): complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Additionally, we defined CR', PR', SD' and PD' as the therapeutic effects "per tumour".

RESULTS

The disease control rate calculated using the RECIST criteria (CR+PR+SD/All) was 48% in the HIFU+TACE group and 47% in the TACE group (p=0.78, Fisher's exact test). The disease control rate "per tumour" (CR'+PR'+SD'/All) was 78% in the HIFU+TACE group and 54% in the TACE group (p=0.035, Fisher's exact test). In the HIFU+TACE group, no HIFU-related complications requiring treatment were observed. The median survival time was 57 months in TACE+HIFU group and 36 months in the TACE group (p=0.048).

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study shows that the combination therapy of HIFU and TACE is more effective than TACE monotherapy for treating HCCs <5 cm.

Metformin ameliorates IL-6-induced hepatic insulin resistance via induction of orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP) in mouse models

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of hepatic diseases. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP, also known as NR0B2), a transcriptional co-repressor, plays an important role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that metformin-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) increases SHP protein production and regulates IL-6-induced hepatic insulin resistance.

METHODS

We investigated metformin-mediated SHP production improved insulin resistance through the regulation of an IL-6-dependent pathway (involving signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3] and suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 [SOCS3]) in both Shp knockdown and Shp null mice.

RESULTS

IL-6-induced STAT3 transactivation and SOCS3 production were significantly repressed by metformin, adenoviral constitutively active AMPK (Ad-CA-AMPK), and adenoviral SHP (Ad-SHP), but not in Shp knockdown, or with the adenoviral dominant negative form of AMPK (Ad-DN-AMPK). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and protein localisation studies showed that SHP inhibits DNA binding of STAT3 on the Socs3 gene promoter via interaction and colocalisation within the nucleus. Upregulation of inflammatory genes and downregulation of hepatic insulin signalling by acute IL-6 treatment were observed in wild-type mice but not in Shp null mice. Finally, chronic IL-6 exposure caused hepatic insulin resistance, leading to impaired insulin tolerance and elevated gluconeogenesis, and these phenomena were aggravated in Shp null mice.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our results demonstrate that SHP upregulation by metformin may prevent hepatic disorders by regulating the IL-6-dependent pathway, and that this pathway can help to ameliorate the pathogenesis of cytokine-mediated metabolic dysfunction.

Multiple-electrode radiofrequency ablations using Octopus® electrodes in an in vivo porcine liver model

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to determine the in vivo efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in porcine liver using Octopus® electrodes for creating a large coagulation compared with RFA using clustered electrodes.

METHODS

A total of 39 coagulations were created using a 200-W generator and clustered electrodes or Octopus electrodes during laparotomy in 19 pigs. Radiofrequency was applied to the livers using four protocols: (1) Group A-1, monopolar mode using a clustered electrode (n=11); (2) Group A-2, monopolar mode using an Octopus electrode (n=11); (3) Group B-1, consecutive monopolar mode using three, clustered electrodes (n=8); and (4) Group B-2, switching monopolar mode using two Octopus electrodes (n=9). The energy efficiency, shape, diameters (D) and volume (V) of the coagulation volume were compared in each of the two groups.

RESULTS

The mean maximum D and V of the coagulations in Group A-2 (4.7 cm and 33.1 cm(3), respectively) were significantly larger than those in Group A-1 (4.1 cm and 20.3 cm(3), respectively) (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mean minimum D, maximum D and V of the coagulations in Group B-2 were significantly larger than those in Group B-1, i.e. 5.3 vs 4.0 cm, 6.6 vs 4.9 cm and 66.9 vs 30.2 cm(3), respectively (p<0.05). The energy efficiencies were also significantly higher in Groups A-2 and B-2 than in Groups A-1 and B-1 (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The Octopus electrodes were more efficient for creating a large ablation zone than clustered electrodes, and the efficacy of RFA with Octopus electrodes can be amplified in the switching monopolar mode.

Intercomparison of methods for coincidence summing corrections in gamma-ray spectrometry--part II (volume sources)

The second part of an intercomparison of the coincidence summing correction methods is presented. This exercise concerned three volume sources, filled with liquid radioactive solution. The same experimental spectra, decay scheme and photon emission intensities were used by all the participants. The results were expressed as coincidence summing corrective factors for several energies of (152)Eu and (134)Cs, and different source-to-detector distances. They are presented and discussed.

Molecular characterization of heterochromatin proteins 1a and 1b from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Heterochromatin protein 1s (HP1s) are nonhistone chromosomal proteins that play a direct role in the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin structure. Similarly to Caenorhabditis elegans, silkworms possess holocentric chromosomes, in which diffused kinetochores extend along the length of each chromosome. We have isolated two silkworm HP1 homologues, BmHP1a and BmHP1b. Cytological analysis showed a unique localization of BmHP1s during cell division, in which these proteins first appear to dissociate from the chromosomes, but then return to enclose the chromosomes during metaphase. BmHP1s formed homo- and hetero-dimers and interacted with BmSu(var)3-9, which is a methyltransferase for histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9). We further showed, using a silkworm cell-based reporter system, that BmHP1b had higher transcriptional repression activity than BmHP1a, whereas BmHP1a interacted more strongly with BmSu(var)3-9 than did BmHP1b. These results suggest that silkworm HP1a and HP1b may play different roles in heterochromatin formation in holocentric silkworm chromosomes.

Perioperative Assessment of Terlipressin Infusion during Living Donor Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of infusion of terlipressin during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: Patients undergoing LDLT with low systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) ( n = 41) were randomly allocated into control ( n = 20) and terlipressin groups ( n = 21). Terlipressin was infused at 1.0 – 4.0 μg/kg per h in the terlipressin group during surgery. Controls received generally accepted inotropic and vasopressor agents. RESULTS: Terlipressin infusion induced significantly higher SVRI and PVRI at 60 min after drug infusion, produced significantly greater hourly urine output during the anhepatic phase, and was related to significantly shorter stays in the postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) compared with control treatment (mean ± SD ICU stay 5.7 ± 1.5 versus 6.9 ± 1.5 days, respectively). Patients given a terlipressin infusion > 2.0 μg/kg per h during the preanhepatic phase had a median ICU stay of < 6 days (sensitivity 90.0%; specificity 89.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Terlipressin infusion improved low SVRI and PVRI during LDLT and may have contributed to better renal function and shorter ICU stays.

PD02-02: A Decision Analysis of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy in Women Undergoing Treatment for Sporadic Unilateral Breast Cancer

Background:

The intent of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) is to improve survival after a diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer by reducing the risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC). CPM rates are rising among women with sporadic breast cancer, despite limited evidence that its benefits outweigh its harms. Although CPM is highly effective in reducing a woman's risk of CBC, the competing mortality risk from a patient's index breast cancer may offset its benefits. Furthermore, any examination of CPM needs to consider quality of life effects.

Methods:

We developed a Markov decision analytic model to estimate the effect of CPM in women with newly diagnosed unilateral breast cancer. The primary outcomes examined were gains in life expectancy (LE) and quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) for CPM compared with no CPM in 18 hypothetical cohorts of 45-year old women. Data from the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) was used to generate AJCC stage and molecular subtype-specific estimates of the risk of developing distant metastases from an index breast cancer. A correction factor was applied to account for the omission of relevant systemic therapy (including trastuzamab) in some women in the BCCA cohort. Additional model parameters, including utilities (quality of life weights) for breast cancer and CPM health states, were identified from the published medical literature. LE and QALE estimates were not discounted in the base case. Univariate sensitivity analysis was used to examine the impact of plausible variation in the key model parameters on model results.

Results:

CPM improved LE in all cohorts (range: 0.06 - 0.54 years, Table 1). AJCC stage had more effect on LE than molecular subtype (stage I mean, 0.43 years, stage III mean, 0.11 years). However, after adjusting for quality of life, a strategy of no CPM was favored in all cohorts. Univariate sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the only model parameter that influenced the outcome of QALE was the utility for health after CPM. In the base case the utility after CPM was 0.81 (compared to 0.85 for No CPM). The preferred strategy did not change from No CPM to CPM unless the utility after CPM exceeded 0.83. Model results were otherwise stable across the ranges of the key parameters examined, including the risk of distant metastases resulting from a patient's index breast cancer by stage and subtype, duration of survival with metastatic breast cancer, and the risk of CBC.

Conclusions:

The primary drivers of survival after unilateral breast cancer are stage at diagnosis and molecular subtype. Our model demonstrates that CPM confers modest additional LE gains, even in women with early-stage, favorable-subtype breast cancer. Furthermore, this modest benefit is negated if one assumes a small reduction in quality of life due to CPM. The decision to pursue CPM as part of treatment of unilateral breast cancer should include consideration of both patient specific breast cancer characteristics and individual preferences.

Identification of specific sites in the third intracellular loop and carboxyl terminus of the Bombyx mori pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor crucial for ligand-induced internalization

Sex pheromone production in most moths is mediated by the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBANR). Using fluorescent Bombyx mori PBANR (BmPBANR) chimeras to study PBANR regulation, we previously showed that BmPBANR undergoes rapid ligand-induced internalization, that the endocytotic motif resides between residues 358-367 of the BmPBANR C terminus, and that the internalization pathway is clathrin-dependent. Here, we sought to expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying BmPBANR function and regulation by transiently expressing a series of fluorescent BmPBANR chimeric constructs in cultured Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells and assaying for internalization of a fluorescently labelled ligand. Pharmacological inhibition of phospholipase C significantly reduced internalization, suggesting that BmPBANR regulation proceeds via a conventional G-protein-dependent pathway. This was further supported by impaired internalization following site-directed mutagenesis of R263 and R264, two basic residues at the transmembrane 6 intracellular junction that are thought to stabilize G-protein coupling via electrostatic interactions. Ala substitution of S333 and S366, two consensus protein kinase C sites in the C terminus, likewise impaired internalization, as did RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Sf9 protein kinase C. N-terminal truncations of BmPBANR indicate that the first 27 residues are not necessary for cell surface trafficking or receptor functionality.

Intraoperative calcium-related risk factors for biochemical acute pancreatitis after living-donor liver transplantation

Laboratory-based biochemical acute pancreatitis (BAP) is considered to be a benign but common complication after liver transplantation (LT), which to compensate for transfusion-related hypocalcemia, usually demands a large quantity of exogenous calcium which may be associated with pancreatic injury. We sought to investigate the relationship between intraoperative calcium-related factors and BAP occurrence after living-donor LT. Perioperative data, including intraoperative calcium chloride administration and serum calcium levels, were reviewed from 217 patients who underwent living-donor LT. Hyperamylasemia (≥ 458 U/L) was used to define posttransplantation BAP according to previous reports. Posttransplantation BAP was identified among 37 patients (17.3%), who showed a greater death rate than those in the non-BAP group (21.6% vs 8.6%; P = .013). Compared to with calcium-related parameters, the 2 groups showed differences in the amount of calcium chloride administered during the preanhepatic phase, the serum calcium surge during the initial 2 h after the liver graft reperfusion, the last serum calcium level, and the amount of transfused pack red blood cells (P < .05). However, after multivariate adjustment, only the amount of administered calcium chloride during the preanhepatic phase (odds ratios, 2.11-5.87, depending an amount) and the serum calcium surge during the initial 2 hours after liver graft reperfusion (odds ratio, 2.34) were selected as risk factors for posttransplantation BAP. The risk ratio of posttransplantation BAP increased in proportion to the administered amount of calcium chloride. In conclusion, limiting excessive calcium administration during the preanhepatic phase and close monitoring of the serum calcium surge after reperfusion may be required to prevent posttransplantation BAP in living-donor LT.