Infectivity, transmission, and pathology of human-isolated H7N9 influenza virus in ferrets and pigs

The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted between ferrets via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs were productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to naïve pigs or ferrets. Under appropriate conditions, human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.

Modelling Post-molding Warping

The post-molding warping of injection molded parts is strongly influenced by thermal expansion history. We show that a thermal expansion hysteresis loop occurs, so that heating and cooling curves can sometimes be different, due to microstructural changes. Following an extensive investigation of thermal expansion for a polypropylene, we propose a model to predict the specific volume change during post thermal treatments. The model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental measurements.

Modelling Post-molding Warping

This paper describes how to use the semi-empirical thermal expansion model, proposed in Part 1 of this paper (Fan et al., 2010), to simulate the post-molding warping of injection molded parts during the post thermal treatment. The post-molding warping of a viscoelastic ribbed plate and a fibre reinforced ribbed plate are simulated using a finite element method. The results of simulations showed that the post-molding warping due to the thermal treatment for viscoelastic ribbed plate is much larger than the de-mold warpage, in contrast to results for fibre reinforced ribbed plates.

The tumor affinity of chlorin e6 and its sonodynamic effects on non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising new approach for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the tumor affinity of chlorin e6, a photosensitizer, and its sonodynamic effects on NSCLC.

METHODS

Human lung adenocarcinoma cells SPCA-1 and mice bearing SPCA-1 tumor xenograft were exposed to ultrasound in the presence or absence of chlorin e6. Chlorin e6 distribution was detected by laser scan confocal microscope. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were studied by flow cytometry analysis. Tumor size and weight were measured after different treatments.

RESULTS

The concentration of chlorin e6 in tumor tissue was remarkably higher than that in normal muscle near tumor, and the difference was greatest at 18h (the fluorescence intensity was 5.38-fold higher in tumor than in muscle, P<0.05). In vivo, ultrasound (0.4-1.6W/cm(2)) or chlorin e6 (10-40mg/kg) alone had no remarkable anti-tumor effects, but the combination of ultrasound (1.6W/cm(2)) with chlorin e6 (SDT) hampered tumor growth significantly (P<0.05). Intraperitoneal injection of 40mg/kg chlorin e6 exerted no notable side effect on blood, liver and kidney function. Flow cytometry analysis showed that chlorin e6-mediated sonodynamic effect was mainly through the induction of cell necrosis.

CONCLUSION

Chlorin e6 is a promising sonosensitizer and chlorin e6-mediated SDT may provide a new approach for NSCLC therapy.

SKLB1002, a novel inhibitor of VEGF receptor 2 signaling, induces vascular normalization to improve systemically administered chemotherapy efficacy

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have shown only modest clinical activity for most tumor types when used as single agents. However, present evidence indicates that these antiangiogenic drugs can cause transient "normalization" of the tumor vasculature, thereby improving the delivery of systemic chemotherapy. We examined temporal changes in tumor vascular function in response to the novel VEGFR2 inhibitor, SKLB1002. Established tumor-bearing animals were evaluated at serial time points for treatment-associated changes in tumor vascular architecture and function. As a result, blocking VEGF signaling by SKLB1002 produced a morphologically and functionally "normalized" vascular network. Consistent with our observations, a 2.2 fold increase in intratumoral doxorubicin levels was determined with SKLB1002 pretreatment compared with administration of doxorubicin alone. Finally, combined SKLB1002 and doxorubicin exhibited significant antitumor (49% of control size) and antimetastatic effects (12% of control metastatic nodules) in vivo. Our results showed SKLB1002 induced vascular normalization and enhanced anticancer drug delivery, which were associated with the observed synergistic effect in vivo.

Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided local injections of etanercept into entheses of ankylosing spondylitis patients with refractory Achilles enthesitis

OBJECTIVES

Enthesitis is one of the most common and specific manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, the treatment of enthesitis is still a challenge for rheumatologist so far, especially to those AS patients with serious enthesitis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided local injection of etanercept into entheses of AS patients with refractory Achilles enthesitis.

METHODS

Twelve AS patients with severe unilateral refractory Achilles enthesitis were enrolled. Among them, 5 patients received US-guided local injection of etanercept and the other 7 received betamethasone. BASDAI, BASFI, VAS of the affected heel, the percentage of ASAS20 responders, CRP, ESR and any adverse events were recorded at baseline, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the treatment. US was also used to evaluate the corresponding entheses at baseline and every follow-up visit.

RESULTS

The BASDAI, BASFI, VAS of the affected heel, CRP, ESR, the percentage of ASAS20 responders and the regional blood flow signals detected by colour Doppler were all improved in both the etanercept group and the betamethasone group, at each follow-up visit compared to the baseline data (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the improvements of any of the above parameters between the two groups (p>0.05). In addition, there were no adverse events from the etanercept group, except for the mild acid bilges feeling during the injection procedure, while 1 patient from the betamethasone group developed mild local atrophoderma since the week 4 follow-up visit and the atrophoderma kept stable at the 2 subsequent visits.

CONCLUSIONS

US-guided local injection of etanercept might be a highly effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for Achilles enthesitis in patients with AS.

[The sonodynamic effects of Chlorin e6 on the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell SPCA-1]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising new approach for cancer therapy. The purpose of this study is to detect the effects of SDT on the cell proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell SPCA-1, using Chlorin e6 as a sonosensitizing agent activated by ultrasound.

METHODS

SPCA-1 and normal peripheral mononuclear cell (PMNC) were treated with ultrasound or Chlorin e6 alone and combined. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, and cell morphology was studied by inverted microscope after 6 h treated.

RESULTS

1.0 MHz ultrasound (1.0 W/ cm(2)-2.0 W/cm2 x 60 s) and Chlorin e6 (0.4 mg/mL-3.2 mg/mL) inhibited the cell proliferation of both SPCA-1 and PMNC cells in a intensity- and a dose-dependent manner respectively. Compared with the ultrasound (1.0 W/cm2 x 60 s) or Chlorin e6 (0.05 mg/mL-0.2 mg/mL) alone, the inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation was remarkably increased by the combination of ultrasound and chlorin e6 in SPCA-1 cells (P < 0.05), but no same effect was observed in PMNC cells (P > 0.05). Compared with the ultrasound (1.0 W/cm2 x 60 s) or chlorin e6 (0.2 mg/mL) alone, the combination treatment of ultrasound with Chlorin e6 induced more necrotic cells in SPCA-1 cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There was a significant selectively inhibitory effect of sonodynamic effect with Chlorin e6 on the SPCA-1 cell growth. Chlorin e6 may be a promising sonosensitizing agent for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

MyoD control of SKIP expression during pig skeletal muscle development

Skeletal muscle and kidney enriched inositol phosphatase (SKIP) was identified as a 5'-inositol phosphatase that hydrolyzes PI(3,4,5)P3 to PI(3,4)P2 that negatively regulates insulin-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling in skeletal muscle. In this study, we obtained a 1575-bp mRNA sequence of porcine SKIP that included the full coding region encoding a protein of 450 amino acids. With the use of comparative mapping, we mapped this gene to SSC12 q1.3, where many QTLs affect Backfat thickness at 10th rib, carcass yield, the number of muscle fibers, and ham weight traits. As a candidate gene for growth and carcass traits, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 12 (G>A) was detected by PCR-RFLP. The results showed that the GG genotype had higher skin percentage (SP), carcass length to first spondyle (CL1), carcass length to first rib (CL2), but lower intramuscular fat (IMF) as compared with genotype AG (P<0.05), and allele G seemed to be associated with an increase in the growth trait. Porcine SKIP was expressed abundantly in skeletal muscle tissue and was transcriptionally upregulated during skeletal muscle differentiation. Analysis of the porcine SKIP promoter sequence demonstrated that MyoD was involved in regulating SKIP mRNA expression in myotubes, partly via the cis-acting elements in SKIP promoter. In summary, we suggested that SKIP might play a role in the regulation of skeletal muscle development in pigs.

Evidence for a new allele at the SERCA1 locus affecting pork meat quality in part through the imbalance of Ca2+ homeostasis

Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 1 (SERCA1) as a Ca2+ release channel plays a key role in the relaxation of skeletal muscle through pumping cytosolic Ca2+ into the SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum). In this study, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 8 (C > T) was detected by tetra-primer ARMS-PCR and the tissue expression pattern of SERCA1 was analyzed in eleven tissues. A model of primary skeletal muscle cells in vitro exposed to dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic corticosteroid) was also employed to determine whether stress hormones cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration that is associated with alteration in SERCA1 and in turn subsequently affect meat quality. The results showed that the CC genotype has lower content intramuscular fat and higher water than pig carrying the genotype CT and CC. In addition, the additive effects were both significantly (P < 0.05) and allele T seemed to be associate with increase in intramuscular fat, while decrease in water content. Accompanied with previous studies, the high abundance of porcine SERCA1 was found in skeletal muscle tissue. DEX markedly down-regulated the expression of SERCA1, leading to Ca2+ overload. Furthermore, the imbalance of Ca2+ homeostasis up-regulated the transcription level of Calpain1. Taken together, we demonstrated a novel mechanism that the changes in expression of SERCA1 potential disturb the normal Ca2+ channel as well as the balance of Ca2+ homeostasis and which in turn finally activated Ca2+-dependent proteases such as Calpain1 which could affect meat quality.

A study of the evaporative deposition process: pipes and truncated transport dynamics

We consider contact line deposition of an evaporating thin drop. Following Dupont's proposal (unpublished), we focus on transport dynamics truncated by a maximal concentration as the single deposition mechanism. The truncated transport process, formalized as the "pipe model", admits a characteristic shock front that has a robust functional form and depends only on local hydrodynamic properties. By applying the pipe model, we solve the density profile in different asymptotic regimes. In particular, we find that near the contact line the density profile follows a scaling law that is proportional to the square root of the concentration ratio defined as the initial solute volume concentration divided by the maximal concentration. The maximal deposit density occurs at about 2/3 of the total drying time for uniform evaporation and 1/2 for diffusion-controlled evaporation. Away from the contact line, areal density decays exponentially with the radial distance to the power of -3 for the uniform evaporation and -7 for the diffusion-controlled evaporation.

Polymorphism of the pig 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type1 (HSD17B1) gene and its association with reproductive traits

17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD17B1) is a key enzyme of 17beta-estradiol biosynthesis, which might play an important role in follicular development of the ovary. In this study, we isolated the complete coding sequence of porcine HSD17B1 gene and its unique intron sequences of porcine HSD17B1 gene, identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP: A/C) in intron 4, and developed a PCR-MvaI-RFLP genotyping assay. Association of the SNP and litter size was assessed in two populations (purebred Large White and a experimental synthetic Line (DIV) sows). Statistical analysis demonstrated that, in the first parity, AC animals in experimental synthetic Line (DIV) sows had 0.52 more piglets born compared to the CC animals (P<0.05). In the all parities, pigs with the AA genotype had an additional 1.11 and 0.96 piglets born alive compared to the CC animals (P<0.05) in both experimental synthetic Line (DIV) and purebred Large White, respectively. Experimental synthetic Line (DIV) sows inheriting the AC genotype had additional 0.84 piglets born alive compared to the CC animals (P<0.01) in all parities. In addition, significant additive effect of -0.55+/-0.24 piglets/litter and -0.48+/-0.22 piglets/litter on piglet born alive was detected in both experimental synthetic Line (DIV) sows and purebred Large White lines (P<0.05), respectively. Therefore, HSD17B1 gene was significantly associated with litter size in two populations and could be a useful molecular marker in selection for increasing litter size in pigs.

Molecular characterization and SNPs analysis of the porcine Deleted in AZoospermia Like (pDAZL) gene

The Deleted in AZoospermia Like (DAZL) gene is expressed in prenatal and postnatal germ cells. In this study, we cloned and characterized the porcine Deleted in AZoospermia Like (pDAZL) gene. We found the full-length coding sequence of the pDAZL encoded a protein of 295 amino acids with a RNA recognition motif (amino acids 41-111) and a DAZ repeat (amino acids 167-120). The deduced protein sequence of pDAZL is 92.5% and 91.5% similar to those of human and bovine, respectively. PCR-MspI-RFLP and PCR-TaqI-RFLP were established to detect an A/G mutation in intron 7 and a C/A mutation in intron 9, respectively. Associations of two SNPs with litter size traits were assessed in Large White (n=275) and DIV (n=128) pig populations, and the statistical analysis demonstrated that CC produced 0.716 more (P<0.05) piglets born alive than CD genotypes in Large White pigs at TaqI locus (C/A mutation in intron 9), and the dominance effect was 0.304 pig per litter (P<0.05). This result suggests that the pDAZL gene might be a good candidate gene of litter size trait and provides some marker information for marker-assisted selection (MAS).

Neutral endopeptidase inhibits prostate cancer tumorigenesis by reducing FGF-2-mediated angiogenesis

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a cell surface peptidase that catalytically inactivates a variety of physiologically active peptides including basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). We investigated the effect of using lentivirus to overexpress NEP in NEP-deficient DU145 prostate cancer cells. Third-generation lentiviral vectors encoding wild-type NEP (L-NEP), catalytically inactive mutant NEP (L-NEPmu), and green fluorescent protein (L-GFP) were stably introduced into DU145 cells. FGF-2 levels in cell culture supernatants decreased by 80% in L-NEP-infected DU145 cells compared to cells infected with L-NEPmu or L-GFP (P<0.05) while levels of other angiogenic factors were not altered. In vitro tubulogenesis of human vascular endothelial cells induced by conditioned media from DU145 cells infected with L-NEP was significantly reduced compared with that from DU145 cells infected with L-GFP (P<0.05). Tumor xenografts from L-NEP-infected DU145 cells were significantly smaller compared to control cell xenografts and vascularity within these tumors was decreased (P<0.05). Our data suggest that stable expression of NEP in DU145 cells inhibits prostate cancer tumorigenicity by inhibiting angiogenesis, with a probable mechanism being proteolytic inactivation of FGF-2.

Lentiviral vector neutral endopeptidase gene transfer suppresses prostate cancer tumor growth

Neprilysin (neutral endopeptidase, NEP) is a cell surface peptidase whose expression is lost in approximately 50% of prostate cancers (PC). NEP normally functions to inactivate peptides such as bombesin and endothelin-1, and potentiates the effects of the PTEN tumor suppressor via a direct protein-protein interaction. NEP loss contributes to PC progression. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of using a lentiviral vector system to restore NEP expression in PC cells. Third-generation lentiviral vectors encoding wild-type NEP (L-NEP) or green fluorescent protein (L-GFP) were introduced into NEP-deficient 22RV1 PC cells. Cells infected with L-NEP or L-GFP at a multiplicity of infection of 10 demonstrated NEP enzyme activity of 1171.2+/-4.9 and 17.2+/-5.3 pmol/microg/min (P<0.0001), respectively. Cell viability, proliferation and invasion were each significantly inhibited in 22RV1 cells expressing NEP compared with control cells infected with L-GFP (P<0.01). Analysis of known downstream effects of NEP showed NEP-expressing cells exhibiting decreased Akt and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation and increased PTEN protein expression. Finally, injection of L-NEP into established 22RV1 xenograft tumors significantly inhibited tumor growth (P<0.01). These experiments demonstrate that lentiviral NEP gene transfer is a novel targeted strategy for the treatment of NEP-deficient PC.

Association analyses of polymorphisms in porcine MYF5 and MYOD1 genes with carcass traits

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of polymorphisms of myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) and myogenic differentiation 1 (MYOD1) genes on carcass traits in pigs. PCR-RFLP was used to identify three and one SNP(s) from the MYF5 and the MYOD1 gene, respectively. Association analysis performed on the four polymorphisms in a series of three Large White × Meishan F2 populations totalling near 400 pigs showed: (1) an MYF5 exon 1 Hsp92II polymorphism causing a Met→Leu substitution was significantly associated with fat meat percentage, shoulder fat thickness, thorax-waist fat thickness, average backfat thickness and carcass length to 1st rib (P < 0.05); (2) an MYF5 exon 2 MspI polymorphism and an intron 1 HaeIII polymorphism, which were completely linked, were significantly associated with thorax-waist fat thickness, 6–7th rib fat thickness and carcass length to 1st rib (P < 0.05); (3) an MYOD1 intron 1 DdeI polymorphism was significantly associated with carcass length to 1st rib.

Blood-based biomarkers for detecting aggressive prostate cancer at time of biopsy

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Background: To date, we have applied our unique methodology (the Sentinel Principle) to identify blood-based gene expressed biomarkers for several diseases including osteoarthritis, bladder cancer and psychiatric disorders. It is well known that new biomarkers for prostate cancer detection are needed, particularly aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Our objective was to identify gene expression signatures and to characterize a set of biomarkers from whole blood to identify patients with aggressive forms of prostate cancer at the time of prostate biopsy. Methods: We conducted a two staged study. The first stage was for gene discovery using microarrays (Affymetrix U133Plus2.0 GeneChips) among 47 patients (all Caucasian) who underwent a prostate biopsy for prostate cancer. We included 16 patients (cases) diagnosed with aggressive forms of prostate cancer defined as having a histologic grade of Gleason Score 7 or more and 31 patients with no evidence of cancer at biopsy (controls). The second stage was a validation study (108 patients) using real-time RT-PCR methods. Logistic regression was used to assess the ability of linear combinations of specific transcripts to distinguish cancers from controls. Results: In the first stage, we identified 1661 probes that were significantly different in blood gene expression profiles between cases and controls (p<0.05). In the second stage, real-time RT-PCR assays validated four genes among 33 cases and 75 controls: three up-regulated genes: A 1.4 fold, p<0.001, B 1.2 fold, p=0.03, C 1.3 fold, p=0.08; and one down-regulated gene D 0.70, p=0.008. Linear combination of these 4 genes discriminated the cases from controls with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 53% (AUC: 0.80, 95% C.I.: 0.713∼0.871). The performance of PSA (4 ng/ml cut-off) in the same 108 sample set was 91% sensitivity and 13% specificity (AUC: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.75∼0.98). The performance of combining the four blood biomarkers with PSA yielded an AUC of 0.86 (95% C.I.: 0.77∼0.91) with a sensitivity 90% and specificity 70%. Conclusions: When used with PSA, these four blood-based biomarkers improved the overall accuracy to identify patients with prostate cancer at biopsy. These results would have important implications for new biomarkers discovery for prostate cancer detection.

[Table: see text]

Neuropeptide-stimulated cell migration in prostate cancer cells is mediated by RhoA kinase signaling and inhibited by neutral endopeptidase

The neuropeptides bombesin and endothelin-1 stimulate prostate cancer (PC) cell migration and invasion (J Clin Invest, 2000; 106: 1399-1407). The intracellular signaling pathways that direct this cell movement are not well delineated. The monomeric GTPase RhoA is required for migration in several cell types including neutrophils, monocytes and fibroblasts. We demonstrate that bombesin-stimulated PC cell migration occurs via the heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (G-protein) G alpha 13 subunit leading to activation of RhoA, and Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK). Using siRNA to suppress expression of the three known G-protein alpha-subunit-associated RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), we also show that two of these RhoA GEFs, PDZ-RhoGEF and leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG), link bombesin receptors to RhoA in a non-redundant manner in PC cells. We next show that focal adhesion kinase, which activates PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG, is required for bombesin-stimulated RhoA activation. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is expressed on normal prostate epithelium whereas loss of NEP expression contributes to PC progression. We also demonstrate that NEP inhibits neuropeptide activation of RhoA. Together, these results establish a contiguous signaling pathway from the bombesin receptor to ROCK in PC cells, and they implicate NEP as a major regulator of neuropeptide-stimulated RhoA in these cells. This work also identifies members of this signaling pathway as potential targets for rational pharmacologic manipulation of neuropeptide-stimulated migration of PC cells.