Release of High Mobility Protein Box-1 is Greatly Regulated by Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cell-2 in Human Monocytes

Close talk between inflammatory mediators and immunological cytokines has been discovered and reported. In this study, the role of nuclear factor of activated T cell-2 (NFAT2) in regulation of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) release was investigated. THP-1 cell and HEK293T cell were incubated and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Firstly, binding site between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was identified by co-immunoprecipitation (IP). Box A, Box B and CT domain of HMGB1 were constructed, as well as Rel-homology-domain (RHD), pre-RHD and pro-RHD of NFAT2. THP-1 cell was harvested, cell lysate and culture medium were collected at appointed times. Binding between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was measured, HMGB1 protein level in culture medium was analyzed at the same time. Secondly, the role of NFAT2 in regulating HMGB1 release was investigated. When THP-1 cell was cultured for 24 h, HMGB1 protein level was measured at appointed times with or without siRNA to inhibit NFAT2 expression. Our data show that HMGB1 bound to NFAT2 in THP-1 cell cytoplasm. Further experiments showed that box B domain of HMGB1 could bind to pre-RHD of NFAT2. After stimulation by LPS, interaction between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was discovered decreasing gradually. However, HMGB1 protein level increased in culture medium at the same time. Furthermore, HMGB1 release could be enhanced by NFAT2 inhibition. Taken together, release of HMGB1 could be regulated by NFAT2 in human monocytes.

Studies on the Effect of Pellet Size on Positive Conveying in Helically Grooved Single Screw Extruders

The helical grooved barrel feed section permits, when the barrel channel aspect ratio and the barrel channel helical angle are properly designed, an operating mode where the positive conveying is prevailing. While the pellet size of materials is varied, different dimension relationships of the barrel channel depth and pellet size could induce different equivalent barrel channel aspect ratios with the transformation of solids conveying mechanisms from the positive conveying to the friction-drag conveying. Considering the effect of dimension relationships on the solids conveying mechanism, a novel pellet-size physical model was established to guide the available design of the barrel channel geometry for positive conveying. In the pellet-size model, one or two shear interfaces were identified inside the solid-plug resulting in different equivalent barrel channel aspect ratios, based on which the solids conveying mechanism on the shear interfaces was detailed by the boundary condition equations for positive conveying. Besides, the theoretical simulations are also compared with the on-line measuring experimental data. The results show that the equivalent barrel channel aspect ratio on the shear interfaces exists indeed and determines the solids conveying mechanism, which is well confirmed by the excellent consistence between the predicted and measured data.

DAMGO in the central amygdala alleviates the affective dimension of pain in a rat model of inflammatory hyperalgesia

Pain has sensory-discriminative and emotional-affective dimensions. Recent studies show that the affective component can be assessed with a conditioned place avoidance (CPA) test. We hypothesized that systemic morphine before a post-conditioning test would more potently attenuate the affective aspect compared to the sensory component and that [d-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO), a μ-selective opioid receptor agonist, injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) would reduce established CPA. A rat model of inflammatory pain, produced by a complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) injection into the hind paw, was combined with a CPA test. Three experiments were performed on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Systemic morphine (0.5 or 1.0mg/kg) in Experiment 1, intrathecal (i.t.) morphine (2.5 μg/rat) in Experiment 2, and intra-CeA DAMGO (7.7-15.4 ng/0.4 μl) in Experiment 3 were given to CFA-injected rats (n=6-8/group) prior to a post-conditioning test. Saline-injected rats were used as control. Time spent in a pain-paired compartment was recorded twice, before conditioning and after a post-conditioning test. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to a noxious thermal stimulus was measured before experiment at day-1 and after the post-conditioning test; hyperalgesia was defined as a decrease in PWL. The data showed that CFA-injected rats had significantly negative CPA compared to those of saline-injected rats (P<0.05). Low-dosage systemic morphine significantly (P<0.05) reduced CFA-induced CPA but had no effect on PWL. I.t. morphine did not inhibit the display of CPA but significantly increased PWL, suppressing hyperalgesia (P<0.05). Intra-CeA DAMGO significantly inhibited the display of CPA compared to saline (P<0.05) but had no effect on PWL. The data demonstrate that morphine attenuates the affective component more powerfully than it does the sensory and suggests that the sensory and the emotional-affective dimensions are underpinned by different mechanisms.

The neuroprotective role and mechanisms of TERT in neurons with oxygen-glucose deprivation

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is reported to protect neurons from apoptosis induced by various stresses including hypoxia-ischemia (HI). However, the mechanisms by which TERT exerts its anti-apoptotic role in neurons with HI injury remain unclear. In this study, we examined the protective role and explored the possible mechanisms of TERT in neurons with HI injury in vitro. Primary cultured neurons were exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) for 3h followed by reperfusion to mimic HI injury in vivo. Plasmids containing TERT antisense, sense nucleotides, or mock were transduced into neurons at 48h before OGD. Expression and distribution of TERT were measured by immunofluorescence labeling and western blot. The expression of cleaved caspase 3 (CC3), Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by western blot. Neuronal apoptosis was measured with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). The mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by MitoSOX Red staining. Fluorescent probe JC-1 was used to measure the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). We found that TERT expression increased at 8h and peaked at 24h in neurons after OGD. CC3 expression and neuronal apoptosis were induced and peaked at 24h after OGD. TERT inhibition significantly increased CC3 expression and neuronal apoptosis after OGD treatment. Additionally, TERT inhibition decreased the expression ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and enhanced ROS production and ΔΨm dissipation after OGD. These data suggest that TERT plays a neuroprotective role via anti-apoptosis in neurons after OGD. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with regulating Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio, attenuating ROS generation, and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential.

The safety of postoperative hormone replacement therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer patients in China

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to determine whether postoperative hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has a negative influence on the progression-free and overall survival of epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review identified 77 patients with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer who had received HRT after primary surgical treatment from January 1995 to December 2010 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A 1 : 1 cohort of patients with the same diagnosis who did not receive HRT were matched by age and stage. An analysis of both progression-free survival and overall survival was performed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

According to the univariate analysis, HRT did not significantly influence progression-free or overall survival. Similarly, different types of HRT (estrogen alone, tibolone alone or an estrogen-tibolone combination) had no significant effect on the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. The FIGO stage, differentiation, histological type and resection status were significantly correlated with progression-free survival and, except for histological type, these factors also significantly influenced overall survival. Finally, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that the strongest independent variable in predicting both progression-free survival and overall survival was the FIGO stage of the disease.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the hypothesis that postoperative HRT does not have a negative effect on the progression-free and overall survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. However, a multicenter study is needed to support and extend our findings.

Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor levels induce hyperpermeability of endothelial cells in hantavirus infection

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODS

VEGF, soluble VEGF receptor (sVEGFR)-2, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ levels were measured in serum samples from 68 patients with HFRS. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUEVCs) were infected by Hantaan virus (HTNV) and/or stimulated with recombinant VEGF; dextran permeability of the cells was determined. Claudin-1 and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin levels were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses.

RESULTS

Serum VEGF, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were significantly elevated, whereas sVEGFR2 and Ang-1 levels were reduced, during the acute phase of HFRS. In vitro cell permeability was unaffected by HTNV infection or VEGF stimulation alone, but the combination of HTNV infection and VEGF treatment significantly increased the permeability of endothelial cell monolayers in a time-dependent manner. Claudin-1 and VE-cadherin were downregulated at both the mRNA and protein level by combined HTNV infection and VEGF stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated VEGF induced by HTNV infection may play an important role in the vascular hyperpermeability that is characteristic of HFRS.

Successful use of aromatase inhibitor letrozole in NOA with an elevated FSH level: a case report

Aromatase inhibitors inhibit the conversion of testosterone to oestrogens and could reduce serum oestradiol concentrations. Letrozole is one of aromatase inhibitors frequently used in treatment of men with oligospermia. We present the case of an infertile man with small testes and an elevated FSH level, which was diagnosed as NOA, hypospermatogenesis proven by testicular biopsy. After taking letrozole for 3 months, semen analyses by computer-aided sperm analysis present that this man had normal spermatogenesis. This is the first case report of the activation of spermatogenesis, in man who was NOA with elevated FSH level, resulting from the use of the one of aromatase inhibitors.

Nonlinear elastic instability in channel flows at low Reynolds numbers

It is presently believed that flows of viscoelastic polymer solutions in geometries such as a straight pipe or channel are linearly stable. Here we present experimental evidence that such flows can be nonlinearly unstable and can exhibit a subcritical bifurcation. Velocimetry measurements are performed in a long, straight microchannel; flow disturbances are introduced at the entrance of the channel system by placing a variable number of obstacles. Above a critical flow rate and a critical size of the perturbation, a sudden onset of large velocity fluctuations indicates the presence of a nonlinear subcritical instability. Together with the previous observations of hydrodynamic instabilities in curved geometries, our results suggest that any flow of polymer solutions becomes unstable at sufficiently high flow rates.

Downregulation of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris

BACKGROUND

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of conserved regulatory molecules expressed in all eukaryotic cells, which play essential roles in a wide range of vital regulatory processes, including differentiation, proliferation and transformation. In mammalian cells, seven 14-3-3 isoforms (β, γ, ε, η, θ/τ, σ and ζ) have been identified, and each of these seems to have distinct tissue localizations and isoform-specific functions. 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ are two important members of the 14-3-3 family.

AIM

To explore the role of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ in normal skin and psoriasis vulgaris (PV) skin.

METHODS

Using immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we measured expression of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ in 30 PV lesions and 15 normal skin samples. The average optical density (OD) of immunostaining and the relative grey scale of immunoblotting for 4-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ were analysed by the t-test.

RESULTS

The average OD of immunostaining for 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ was 0.17 ± 0.00 and 0.24 ± 0.01, respectively, in psoriatic lesions, which was significantly lower than in normal controls (0.22 ± 0.01 and 0.37 ± 0.02, respectively; P < 0.01 for both). There was also a significant difference in the relative grey scale of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ (0.52 ± 0.03 and 1.44 ± 0.06, respectively) in psoriatic lesions compared with normal control tissue (3.32 ± 0.15 and 2.76 ± 0.11, respectively; P < 0.01 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ were lower in psoriatic lesions than in normal human skin tissue. We speculate that 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ may be involved in the regulation of normal skin function, thus decreased expression of 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ might precipitate the disturbance in proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes seen in psoriasis.

Lack of evidence on Tai Chi-related effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis

AIMS

Whether Tai Chi (TC) benefits patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of TC in T2DM patients.

METHODS

A computerised search through PubMed and Embase was performed to identify relevant studies. The primary outcomes were fasting blood glucose (FBG), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA). Secondary outcomes included total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled WMDs from RCTs were -14.82 mg/dL (95% CI: -49.17 to 19.53; P=0.40) for FBG, -0.19% (95% CI: -0.41 to 0.03; P=0.09) for HbA1c and -0.34 units (95% CI: -3.02 to 2.34; P=0.80) for HOMA. The WMDs from NRCTs were -11.22 mg/dL (95% CI: -18.58 to -3.86; P=0.003) for FBG, -0.41% (95% CI: -0.53 to -0.29; P<0.00001) for HbA1c and -0.60 units (95% CI: -1.46 to 0.25; P=0.16) for HOMA. Furthermore, the pooled results of serum lipids suggest that TC significantly reduced triglyceride (P=0.006) instead of total cholesterol (P=0.77), and failed to improve HDL-C (P=0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Sufficient evidence to support the benefits of TC to T2DM patients is lacking. Further large-scale studies are needed to investigate the long-term efficacy of TC.

Rheology of human blood plasma: viscoelastic versus Newtonian behavior

We investigate the rheological characteristics of human blood plasma in shear and elongational flows. While we can confirm a Newtonian behavior in shear flow within experimental resolution, we find a viscoelastic behavior of blood plasma in the pure extensional flow of a capillary breakup rheometer. The influence of the viscoelasticity of blood plasma on capillary blood flow is tested in a microfluidic device with a contraction-expansion geometry. Differential pressure measurements revealed that the plasma has a pronounced flow resistance compared to that of pure water. Supplementary measurements indicate that the viscoelasticity of the plasma might even lead to viscoelastic instabilities under certain conditions. Our findings show that the viscoelastic properties of plasma should not be ignored in future studies on blood flow.

Scanning tunneling microscope-quartz crystal microbalance study of temperature gradients at an asperity contact

Investigations of atomic-scale friction frequently involve setups where a tip and substrate are initially at different temperatures. The temperature of the sliding interface upon contact has thus become a topic of interest. A method for detecting initial tip-sample temperature differences at an asperity contact is described, which consists of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip in contact with the surface electrode of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The technique makes use of the fact that a QCM is extremely sensitive to abrupt changes in temperature. In order to demonstrate the technique's capabilities, QCM frequency shifts were recorded for varying initial tip-substrate temperature differences as an STM tip was brought into and out of contact. The results are interpreted within the context of a recent model for thermal heat conduction at an asperity contact, and it is concluded that the transient frequency response is attributable to small changes in temperature close to the region of contact rather than a change in the overall temperature of the QCM itself. For the assumed model parameters, the results moreover reveal substantial temperature discontinuities at the boundary between the tip and the sample, for example, on the order of 10-15 °C for initial temperature differences of 20 °C.

Character of chicken polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class II alleles of 3 Chinese local breeds

To better understand the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic character of domestic birds, we sequenced and analyzed chicken MHC II (B-L) genes of 3 local chicken breeds, derived from 3 separate areas in China. We amplified cDNA sequences from 105 individuals, accounting for 35 alleles. Some of the same B-LB alleles with a high frequency were found in all samples. The putative B-L α-chain had few polymorphic sites, whereas the B-L β-chain had several polymorphic sites. Most of the mutation positions were located in the B-LB β1 domain encoded by exon 2, especially in the peptide-binding region. This indicated that the highly polymorphic peptide-binding region could potentiate binding diverse antigen epitopes. The comparison of 3-D molecule structures of chicken B-L and human HLA-DR1 revealed a distinctly structural similarity, but the chicken B-L molecule had more polymorphic sites than the human HLA-DR1 molecule, which presumably might be a mechanism to compensate for responding to a wider array of pathogens due to fewer loci for chicken. Moreover, some conserved sites in human and chicken MHC class II molecules reflected their common ancestry and similar functions. These results suggest that the chicken B-L gene showed more polymorphic sites and distinctly dominant trans-breed alleles, potentially to adapt to pathogens.

The properties of BiSb nanoribbons from first-principles calculations

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of BiSb nanoribbons (BSNRs) with different widths and edge configurations are investigated via the first-principles pseudopotential method. It is found that the pristine BSNRs with armchair edges (ABSNRs) are semiconductors and the band gaps exhibit a width dependent odd-even oscillation. In contrast, the pristine BSNRs with zigzag edges (ZBSNRs) are found to be metallic. When all the edge atoms are passivated by hydrogen, both the ABSNRs and ZBSNRs become semiconducting and the corresponding band gaps decrease monotonically with the increasing width. If, however, the edge atoms are partially passivated, the ABSNRs can be either semiconducting or metallic. Moreover, local magnetism appears when all the edge Sb atoms are passivated and there are one or more unsaturated Bi atoms. Using the nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) approach, we find that all the investigated odd-numbered ABSNRs have almost the same peak value of the power factor around the Fermi level. This is not the case for the even-numbered ABSNRs, where the peaks are twice that of when they are n-type doped. Our calculations indicate that BSNRs can have a very high room temperature figure of merit (ZT value), which makes them very promising candidates for thermoelectric applications.

Evaluation of an image-based tracking workflow using a passive marker and resonant micro-coil fiducials for automatic image plane alignment in interventional MRI

In this paper, an original workflow is presented for MR image plane alignment based on tracking in real-time MR images. A test device consisting of two resonant micro-coils and a passive marker is proposed for detection using image-based algorithms. Micro-coils allow for automated initialization of the object detection in dedicated low flip angle projection images; then the passive marker is tracked in clinical real-time MR images, with alternation between two oblique orthogonal image planes along the test device axis; in case the passive marker is lost in real-time images, the workflow is reinitialized. The proposed workflow was designed to minimize dedicated acquisition time to a single dedicated acquisition in the ideal case (no reinitialization required). First experiments have shown promising results for test-device tracking precision, with a mean position error of 0.79 mm and a mean orientation error of 0.24°.

The safety and efficacy of early-stage bi-weekly alendronate to improve bone mineral density and bone turnover in chinese post-menopausal women at risk of osteoporosis

The efficacy and safety of early, low frequency antiresorptive drug intervention for osteopaenia on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover in Chinese post-menopausal women at risk of developing osteoporosis were investigated. A total of 180 women aged 40 - 70 years were enrolled and equally randomized to receive either 70 mg alendronate once every 2 weeks plus 0.5 μg alfacalcidol daily (treatment group) or alfacalcidol 0.5 μg daily alone (control group) for 12 months. In the treatment group, lumbar spine and total hip BMD at 12 months had increased significantly from baseline and compared with the control group. There were also significant reductions in serum levels of the bone turnover biomarkers, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, compared with the control. No serious adverse events were observed in either group and safety profiles were similar. It was concluded that early intervention with 70 mg alendronate once every 2 weeks was safe, well tolerated and more effective than alfacalcidol alone (control) in increasing BMD and reducing bone turnover, and might prevent serious outcomes, such as fragility fractures, reduce rates of adverse effects and improve patient compliance.

First Report of Stem Blight of Eleocharis dulcis Caused by Phoma bellidis in China

Eleocharis dulcis is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Cyperaceae, which is native to China and India where it grows well in moist-to-wet soils. It is commonly used as a fruit or a vegetable. From August 2009 to December 2010, symptoms were observed on E. dulcis stems in Tuanfeng County, Hubei, China, with the crop area affected estimated to be more than 1,300 ha per year. Corm yield was reduced by 20% on average with as much as 60% yield losses in some fields. Lesions were initially small, red-brown, and oval or circular that enlarged to produce apical necrosis and extending until the stems withered, usually within 2 months. To obtain isolates, diseased tissue was disinfested for 1 min in 0.1% mercuric chloride solution, rinsed with sterilized water, and plated on potato dextrose agar. Isolates with similar morphological characteristics were consistently recovered. Three isolates, CTF-3, CTF-10, and CTF-11, were used to further evaluate characteristics of the pathogen. After 7 days, white colonies were 76 to 80 mm across on oatmeal agar (OA) with sparse aerial hyphae and a slight salmon color in the conidial masses. Pycnidia produced on OA were globose to subglobose, usually with one slightly ostiolar papilla, olivaceous to olivaceous black, and 93 to 245 μm in diameter. Conidia were hyaline, unicellular, ellipsoidal, mostly with two polar guttules, and 3.6 to 6.2 × 2.0 to 3.3 μm. Chlamydospores were absent. Growth of the isolates on malt extract agar (MEA) was slower than on OA, and the colony diameters at 7 days were 60 to 65 mm. The reactions with 1M NaOH were both positive on OA and MEA where the cultures initially changed to yellow green and gradually turned to red. The pathogen was identified as Phoma bellidis Neerg. based on descriptions in Boerema et al. (2). Pathogenicity tests were performed with the three isolates in the laboratory by spraying conidial suspensions (1 × 10⁶ conidia/ml) containing 0.1% Tween 20 until runoff (30 ml per plant) onto stem surfaces of 50-day-old, 60 cm tall plants. For each isolate, there were 50 stems from five replicate plants that had multiple stems per plant. Control plants were treated with sterilized water containing 0.1% Tween 20 only. Plants were incubated with a 16-h photoperiod at 28°C and 90% relative humidity in an artificial climate chamber. Five days after inoculation, typical red-brown spots were observed on all inoculated stems but no symptoms were seen on water-treated control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of P. bellidis from diseased stems. The pathogenicity tests were repeated twice more with the same results. P. bellidis has only been reported previously on Bellis spp. from England, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland (1,2). Furthermore, there are only a few fungal diseases known to be associated with E. dulcis, and none so far that involve species of Phoma (3,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. bellidis infecting E. dulcis worldwide. References: (1) M. M. Aveskamp et al. Stud. Mycol. 65:27, 2010. (2) G. H. Boerema et al. Phoma Identification Manual: Differentiation of Specific and Infra-Specific Taxa in Culture. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, 2004. (3) P. L. Lentz. Am. Midl. Nat. 67:184, 1962. (4) L. Pan et al. J. Changjiang Vegetables (in Chinese) 14:10, 2010.

Permanent Genetic Resources added to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2010-31 March 2010

This article documents the addition of 228 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Anser cygnoides, Apodemus flavicollis, Athene noctua, Cercis canadensis, Glis glis, Gubernatrix cristata, Haliotis tuberculata, Helianthus maximiliani, Laricobius nigrinus, Laricobius rubidus, Neoheligmonella granjoni, Nephrops norvegicus, Oenanthe javanica, Paramuricea clavata, Pyrrhura orcesi and Samanea saman. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Apodemus sylvaticus, Laricobius laticollis and Laricobius osakensis (a proposed new species currently being described).

Energetics of Stone-Wales defects in 4 A carbon nanotubes

Density functional calculations have been performed to study the formation of Stone-Wales defects in 4 A single-wall carbon nanotubes, which were firstly synthesized inside the AFI zeolite template. The minimum energy paths from perfect tubes to defect-containing ones are calculated by the nudged elastic band method. It is found that the C--C bonds "along" the tube axis are more likely to be rotated than those bonds "around" the circumference. There is a marked chirality dependence of the formation barriers, which are found to be lower than that of graphite. Our results may raise a question on the origin of superconductivity observed in these 4 A tubes.

Electronic and electrochemical properties of Li-doped carbon nanotube-zeolite complex

The electronic and electrochemical properties of Li-doped carbon nanotube-zeolite complex are studied by first-principles calculations. There are four possible sites for Li to be doped and the reactions are all exothermic. The corresponding energy band structures follow a rigid band picture and there are charge transfers from Li to the nanotube and/or zeolite. The Li capacity of the complex can be reached to 386 mAh g(-1) with only a slight increase in the cell volume, and the complex may be of good cyclic stability during the charge and discharge process. Moreover, a higher voltage of about 4 V can be obtained if the complex is used in an Li-ion battery.

Generation of Janus alginate hydrogel particles with magnetic anisotropy for cell encapsulation

A microfluidic approach for fabrication of Janus hydrogel particles with magnetic anisotropy is demonstrated. Using this technique, cells and magnetic beads (MBs) can be separately embedded in one hydrogel particle to maintain optical performance, and reduce the contact between cells and magnetic beads (nano- or submicron-particles). Alginate cell capsules prepared by this method can be easily controlled and manipulated by external magnetic fields and require no specific surface modification. Bio-degradability and super-paramagnetic properties of these hydrogel particles were also demonstrated experimentally.

Phase I/II study of arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) in patients with advanced malignant melanoma (MM)

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Background: ADI-PEG 20 is an enzyme that degrades arginine, a crucial amino acid central to metabolism and biosynthesis of growth and development of normal and neoplastic cells. Melanoma is auxotrophic for arginine because it lacks argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), a key enzyme required for synthesis of arginine from citrulline via the urea cycle. This study evaluates the safety and clinical efficacy of ADI-PEG 20 in patients with MM. Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed stage III (unresectable)/ IV cutaneous, uveal or mucosal MM were treated with 40, 80 or 160 IU/m2 ADI-PEG 20 i.m. weekly for 9 weeks in a phase I setting. In a phase II component, 16–25 pts receiving 160 IU/m2 will be evaluated for tumor response (TR) by RECIST. Secondary endpoints for all patients included metabolic response by 18FDG-PET, pharmacodynamics (PD), immunogenicity and ASS tumor expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: As of Nov. 2008, 24 pts were enrolled (40 IU/m2, n=6, 80 IU/m2, n=6, 160 IU/m2, n=12): 14 males, 10 females. Median age: 66 yrs (range 29- 83 yrs). Toxicity consisted primarily of Grade 1/2 adverse events (AE) (injection site pain, myalgia, arthralgia, fatigue, flushing, rash/itch, nausea, diarrhea, hyperuricemia, taste alteration). One dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of G3 arthralgia was observed at 80 IU/m2. Two DLTs (G3 seizure and G3 lymphedema) were reported, at 160 IU/m2. No grade 4 or 5 AEs were observed. Of 22 patients evaluable for TR, 8 had stable disease (SD) with 2 of these durable for ≥ 6 months. Notably, 3 SD were uveal melanoma. 14 patients had progressive disease. PD analysis showed plasma arginine depletion during study weeks 1–6 regardless of dose. Immunohistochemical ASS expression analysis in tumor tissue: negative= 13 pts, < 5% cells positive= 5 pts. Conclusions: ADI-PEG 20 as a single agent is well tolerated in advanced MM leading to consistent arginine depletion. The extent of clinical activity has yet to be shown. Combination therapy of ADI-PEG20 with other treatments such as pro-apoptotic reagents during the first 6 weeks of ADI-PEG 20 treatment while arginine is depleted could lead to synergistic anti-cancer activity.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Prognostic significance of leukopenia at the time of diagnosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

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Background: In contrast to the poor prognosis associated with hyperleukocytosis, the prognostic significance of leukopenia at the time of diagnosis of AML is unknown. Methods: Single institution retrospective analysis of 225 consecutive, newly diagnosed AML patients (pts), homogeneously treated between July 1996 and February 2005; and divided into 2 groups based on presenting WBC: < 2,000/uL (30) and > 2,000/uL (195). Simultaneously obtained peripheral blood and marrow blasts were analyzed for cell surface expression of CD34, cKit, CXCR4, PCAM, VLA-2, VLA-3, VLA-4, VLA-5, and FLT3 using flow cytometry. Results: Patients’ characteristics (gender, secondary vs. de novo, and cytogenetic [CTG] risk) were comparable between the 2 groups. Leukopenic AML pts were older (median 56 vs. 53 years, p = 0.02), and had lower induction complete remission [CR] rates: 63% vs. 81% (p = 0.03) by univariate analysis. Induction mortality was 0% for leukopenic and 5% for non-leukopenic pts. In primary refractory pts, median survival was longer for leukopenic (11) vs. non-leukopenic (34) pts: 137 vs. 81 d (p = 0.026). Median follow-up was 22 mos. Event-free (EFS), disease-free (DFS), and overall survivals (OS) were lower in the leukopenic group: 12 vs. 14; 14 vs. 17; and 17 vs. 19 mos, respectively; but did not reach statistical significance. By multivariate analysis, age (p < 0.0001) and CTG risk group (p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of OS, while CTG risk group predicted RFS (p < 0.0001). The level of expression of cell surface adhesion molecules on blood and marrow blasts was comparable for the 2 groups. Conclusions: AML pts presenting with leukopenia have comparable outcomes to those presenting with normal or high WBC despite a lower likelihood of achieving remission. Leukopenic AML did not have over-expression of cell surface adhesion molecules.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.