Modulating effects of WT1 on interferon-β-vitamin D association in MS

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether those genes involved in the vitamin D pathway modulate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and IFN-β, the relationship between IFN-β and sun in predicting 25(OH)D, and the interaction between IFN-β and 25(OH)D in modulating relapse risk in patients with MS.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study of 169 participants with MS and genotype data followed 2002-2005. Gene-IFN-β and gene-IFN-β-sun interactions predicting 25(OH)D evaluated by multilevel mixed-effects linear regression. Gene-IFN-β interactions with 25(OH)D in modulating in relapse risk assessed using survival analysis.

RESULTS

The cohort was 71.6% female and of mean age 47.8. Two-independent intronic genotyped SNPs (rs10767935 and rs5030244) in WT1 significantly modified the IFN-β-25(OH)D association after adjustment (P(interaction) = 0.001, 0.0002; P(adj) = 0.003, 0.006, respectively). There was a marked difference in the interaction between self-reported sun exposure and IFN-β in predicting 25(OH)D by level of rs10767935, although this did not reach statistical significance. No SNPs modified the interaction between IFN-β and 25(OH)D in predicting relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated that two-independent SNPs (rs10767935 and rs5030244) in WT1 modified the IFN-β-25(OH)D association in patients with MS. Some evidence was shown for a difference in the sun-IFN-β-25(OH)D association by level of rs10767935. These findings indicate that WT1 variants may play a role in altering the effects of IFN-β on vitamin D in MS.

Influence of CYP2C19 loss-of-function variants on the metabolism of clopidogrel in patients from north-western China

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Variation of the cytochrome P450 2C19 gene coding for the CYP2C19 enzyme has been reported to be associated with clopidogrel response variability. The activity of the CYP2C19 enzyme is genetically influenced by polymorphisms of its gene.

METHODS

This study was conducted to assess the impact of CYP2C19 polymorphism on the clopidogrel metabolism, indirectly selecting the plasma concentration ratios of clopidogrel to its inactive metabolite SR26334 as an evaluation index. Genotyping and plasma concentration results of 366 patients on clopidogrel maintenance therapy (75 mg daily dose) were analysed in this study. CYP2C19 genotypes were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As for CYP2C19, patients were classified into three metabolism genotype groups: EM (44·3%), IM (43·4%) and PM (12·3%). The mean plasma concentration ratio of clopidogrel to its inactive metabolite SR26334 for the entire sample was 0·507. The plasma concentration ratios of the 3 metabolism groups were significantly different (P < 0·001). The lowest plasma concentration ratio value was observed for PM patients.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Polymorphism of CYP2C19 was significantly associated with plasma concentration ratios of clopidogrel to its inactive metabolite SR26334. Clopidogrel metabolism was regulated by CYP2C19. The *2 and *3 allele carriage were independently associated with the antiplatelet effect of chronic clopidogrel therapy.

Folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake, and risk of preeclampsia

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Folic acid supplementation has been suggested to reduce the risk of preeclampsia. However, results from few epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive. We investigated the hypothesis that folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake before conception and during pregnancy reduce the risk of preeclampsia.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A birth cohort study was conducted in 2010-2012 at the Gansu Provincial Maternity & Child Care Hospital in Lanzhou, China. A total of 10,041 pregnant women without chronic hypertension or gestational hypertension were enrolled.

RESULTS

Compared with nonusers, folic acid supplement users had a reduced risk of preeclampsia (OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.87). A significant dose-response of duration of use was observed among women who used folic acid supplemention during pregnancy only (P-trend=0.007). The reduced risk associated with folic acid supplement was similar for mild or severe preeclampsia and for early- or late-onset preeclampsia, although the statistical significant associations were only observed for mild (OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.81) and late-onset (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.86) preeclampsia. The reduced risk associated with dietary folate intake during pregnancy was only seen for severe preeclampsia (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.31-0.87, for the highest quartile of dietary folate intake compared with the lowest).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results suggest that folic acid supplementation and higher dietary folate intake during pregnancy reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Future studies are needed to confirm the associations.

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of a Mikto-Arm Star Dual Drug Amphiphile Containing both Paclitaxel and Camptothecin

Self-assembly of anticancer therapeutics into discrete nanostructures provides an innovative way to develop a self-delivering nanomedicine with a high, quantitative drug loading. We report here the synthesis and assembly of a mikto-arm star dual drug amphiphile (DA) containing both a bulky paclitaxel (PTX) and a planar camptothecin (CPT). The two anti-cancer drugs of interest were stochastically conjugated to a β-sheet forming peptide (Sup35) and under physiologically-relevant conditions the dual DA could spontaneously associate into supramolecular filaments with a fixed 41% total drug loading (29% PTX and 12% CPT). Transmission electron microscopy imaging and circular dichroism spectroscopy studies reveal that the bulkiness of the PTX, as well as the π-π interaction preference between the CPT units, has a significant impact on the assembly kinetics, molecular level packing, and nanostructure morphology and stability. We found that the DA containing two PTX units assembled into non-filamentous micelle-like structures, in contrast to the filamentous structures formed by the hetero dual DA and the DA containing two CPTs. The hetero dual DA was found to effectively release the two anticancer agents, exhibiting superior cytotoxicity against PTX-resistant cervical cancer cells. The presented work offers a potential method to generate well-defined entwined filamentous nanostructures and provides the basis for a future combination therapy platform.

Enriched environment improves the cognitive effects from traumatic brain injury in mice

To date, there is yet no established effective treatment (medication or cognitive intervention) for post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with chronic sequelae. Enriched environment (EE) has been recognized of importance in brain regulation, behaviour and physiology. Rodents reared in, or pre-exposed to EE, recovered better from brain insults. Using the concussive head trauma model of minimal TBI in mice, we evaluated the effect of transition to EE following a weight-drop (30g or 50g) induced mTBI on behavioural and cognitive parameters in mice in the Novel Object Recognition task, the Y- and the Elevated Plus mazes. In all assays, both mTBI groups (30g, 50g) housed in normal conditions were equally and significantly impaired 6 weeks post injury in comparison with the no-mTBI (p<0.001 and p<0.03, respectively) and the mTBI+EE groups (p<0.001 for the 30g, and p<0.017 for the 50g). No differences were found between the control and the EE mice. Two separate finding emerge: (1) the significantly positive effects of the placement in EE following mTBI, on the rehabilitative process of the tested behaviours in the affected mice; (2) the lack of difference between the groups of mice affected by 30g or by 50g. Further studies are needed in order to characterize the exact pathways involved in the positive effects of the EE on mice recovery from mTBI. Possible clinical implications indicate the importance of adapting correlates of EE to humans, i.e., prolonged and intensive physical activity - possibly combined with juggling training and intensive cognitive stimulation.

Comparison of long-term and short-term administration of itraconazole for primary antifungal prophylaxis in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal agents and duration of primary antifungal prophylaxis in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remain a matter of discussion.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of long-term and short-term administration of itraconazole (ITCZ) for primary antifungal prophylaxis in allo-HSCT recipients.

METHODS

This multicenter, randomized, open-label pilot study was performed in 4 transplant centers in China. Recipients of allo-HSCT without a history of invasive fungal disease (IFD) were randomly assigned to the long-term or the short-term arm. Randomization was carried out by a center computer system. Intravenous ITCZ was given to the patients in both study arms with a loading dose of 400 mg/day for 2 days followed by 200 mg/day until day +14 or when the white blood cell count was >1.0 × 10(9) /L, and then switched to oral ITCZ solution; prophylaxis was continued until day +30 post transplantation in the short-term arm or until day +90 in the long-term arm. The trough serum concentrations of ITCZ also were measured. The primary study endpoint was the incidence of IFD (proven, probable, and possible) within day +90 post transplantation.

RESULTS

A total of 128 recipients were enrolled in this study; 59 of them were randomized to the long-term arm and 62 were randomized to the short-term arm, forming the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) set. The incidence of IFD within day +90, the primary endpoint, was not significantly different between the 2 arms for the mITT set (6.78% in the long-term arm vs. 6.45% in the short-term arm, P = 0.94), or for the per-protocol set (6.90% in the long-term arm vs. 6.67% in the short-term arm, P = 0.96). From day +30 to day +90, the incidence of IFD was 0% and 6.45%, respectively, in the patients with long-term and short-term prophylaxis for the mITT set (P = 0.11). The mean trough serum concentrations of ITCZ was maintained at >500 ng/mL throughout administration. The incidences of withdrawal because of drug-related adverse events in patients with long-term and short-term prophylaxis were 6.78% and 0%, respectively (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term and short-term administration of ITCZ both seemed effective in preventing IFD in recipients of allo-HSCT. Further study with large sample size should be performed to evaluate this result. ITCZ shows the same pharmacokinetics in recipients of allo-HSCT as in non-recipients.

Establishment of reference range for thyroid hormones in normal pregnant women in China's coastal area

PURPOSE

The current study aims to establish reference ranges for thyroid hormones in normal pregnant women during their pregnancy period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A one-time cross-sectional survey was conducted on 490 normal pregnant women and 51 nonpregnant women (control). The serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) levels were measured.

RESULTS

The serum FT3 and FT4 levels in pregnant women decreased gradually from the first to the last three months of pregnancy (p < 0.01). The serum TSH level increased gradually during the whole pregnancy (p < 0.01), and was significantly lower than the control (p < 0.01) in the first three months. However, in the middle and last three months of pregnancy, TSH was higher than the control (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The thyroid hormone levels in normal pregnant women are different from those in non-pregnant women; significant differences exist among the three stages of pregnancy.

Enhancement of long-term depression by soluble amyloid β protein in rat hippocampus is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor and involves activation of p38MAPK, STEP and caspase-3

It is reported that the amyloid-β protein (Aβ)-induced impairments in synaptic plasticity coincide with memory decline and dementia. Although Aβ-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation has been intensively investigated, the underlying mechanism of Aβ-enhanced long-term depression (LTD) is not clear. Here, we report that acute exposure of rat hippocampal slices to soluble Aβ-enhanced LTD induced by weak low-frequency stimulation (wLFS; 1Hz for 3 min, 180 pulses) in granule cells of the dentate gyrus. Application of LY341495 (a non-selective Group I/II metrabotropic glumate receptor (mGluR) antagonist) completely blocked Aβ-enhanced LTD, whereas D-AP5 (a not selective N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist) had no effect on Aβ-enhanced LTD compared with controls. In addition, Aβ-enhanced LTD was occluded by pre-application of 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, a Group1 mGluR (mGluR1/5) agonist, suggesting Aβ-enhanced LTD depends on mGluR1/5 but not NMDAR. We also report here that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 and postsynaptic protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors phenylarsine oxide and sodium orthovanadate prevented the facilitatory effect of Aβ on LTD. Application of striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) activator MG132 facilitated induction of LTD by wLFS, but did not block following Aβ-enhanced LTD induced by another wLFS. On the other hand, Aβ-enhanced LTD blocked following MG132-LTD by wLFS, suggesting Aβ-enhanced hippocampal LTD involves STEP activation. Application of either non-selective caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK or caspase-3 selective inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK prevented Aβ-enhanced LTD. However, neither the tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme inhibitor TAPI-2 nor the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor rapamycin prevented the enhancement of Aβ on LTD. Therefore, we conclude that soluble Aβ enhances LTD in the hippocampal dentate gyrus region, and the facilitatory effect of Aβ on LTD involves mGluR1/5, p38MAPK, STEP and caspase-3 activation.

Metaproteomic analysis of ratoon sugarcane rhizospheric soil

Background

The current study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of yield decline in ratoon sugarcane using soil metaproteomics combined with community level physiological profiles (CLPP) analysis.

Results

The available stalk number, stalk diameter, single stalk weight and theoretical yield of ratoon cane (RS) were found to be significantly lower than those of plant cane (NS). The activities of several carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus processing enzymes, including invertase, peroxidase, urease and phosphomonoesterase were found to be significantly lower in RS soil than in NS soil. BIOLOG analysis indicated a significant decline in average well-color development (AWCD), Shannon’s diversity and evenness indices in RS soil as compared to NS soil. To profile the rhizospheric metaproteome, 109 soil protein spots with high resolution and repeatability were successfully identified. These proteins were found to be involved in carbohydrate/energy, amino acid, protein, nucleotide, auxin and secondary metabolisms, membrane transport, signal transduction and resistance, etc. Comparative metaproteomics analysis revealed that 38 proteins were differentially expressed in the RS soil as compared to the control soil or NS soil. Among these, most of the plant proteins related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism and stress response were up-regulated in RS soil. Furthermore, several microbial proteins related to membrane transport and signal transduction were up-regulated in RS soil. These proteins were speculated to function in root colonization by microbes.

Conclusions

Our experiments revealed that sugarcane ratooning practice induced significant changes in the soil enzyme activities, the catabolic diversity of microbial community, and the expression level of soil proteins. They influenced the biochemical processes in the rhizosphere ecosystem and mediated the interactions between plants and soil microbes.

Non-isothermal Mold Filling and Curing Simulation in Thin Cavities with Preplaced Fiber Mats

A numerical model for non-isothermal mold filling and curing simulation in thin cavities with preplaced fiber mats was developed based on the control volume method. Both lumped temperature system (i.e. local thermal equilibrium between the resin and the fiber) and unlumped temperature system (i.e. thermal non-equilibrium locally) were considered. A Lagrangian coordinate system was used in the flow front region to improve the energy transfer calculation. Several molding simulation results were presented to show the effect of fiber mat presence (in the mold cavity) on the inlet pressure and temperaturedistribution.

The diagnostic value of white cell count, C-reactive protein and bilirubin in acute appendicitis and its complications

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory markers such as white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and, more recently, bilirubin have been used as adjuncts in the diagnosis of appendicitis. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the above markers in acute and perforated appendicitis as well as their value in excluding the condition.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 1,169 appendicectomies was performed. Patients were grouped according to histological examination of appendicectomy specimens (normal appendix = NA, acute appendicitis = AA, perforated appendicitis = PA) and preoperative laboratory test results were correlated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area analysis (area under the curve [AUC]) was performed to examine diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTS

ROC analysis of all laboratory variables showed that no independent variable was diagnostic for AA. Good diagnostic accuracy was seen for AA when all variables were combined (WCC/CRP/bilirubin combined AUC: 0.8173). In PA, the median CRP level was significantly higher than that of AA (158mg/l vs 30mg, p<0.0001). CRP also showed the highest sensitivity (100%) and negative predictive value (100%) for PA. CRP had the highest diagnostic accuracy in PA (AUC: 0.9322) and this was increased when it was combined with WCC (AUC: 0.9388). Bilirubin added no diagnostic value in PA. Normal levels of WCC, CRP and bilirubin could not rule out appendicitis.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP provides the highest diagnostic accuracy for PA. Bilirubin did not provide any discriminatory value for AA and its complications. Normal inflammatory markers cannot exclude appendicitis, which remains a clinical diagnosis.

Development of new photon-counting detectors for single-molecule fluorescence microscopy

Two optical configurations are commonly used in single-molecule fluorescence microscopy: point-like excitation and detection to study freely diffusing molecules, and wide field illumination and detection to study surface immobilized or slowly diffusing molecules. Both approaches have common features, but also differ in significant aspects. In particular, they use different detectors, which share some requirements but also have major technical differences. Currently, two types of detectors best fulfil the needs of each approach: single-photon-counting avalanche diodes (SPADs) for point-like detection, and electron-multiplying charge-coupled devices (EMCCDs) for wide field detection. However, there is room for improvements in both cases. The first configuration suffers from low throughput owing to the analysis of data from a single location. The second, on the other hand, is limited to relatively low frame rates and loses the benefit of single-photon-counting approaches. During the past few years, new developments in point-like and wide field detectors have started addressing some of these issues. Here, we describe our recent progresses towards increasing the throughput of single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy in solution using parallel arrays of SPADs. We also discuss our development of large area photon-counting cameras achieving subnanosecond resolution for fluorescence lifetime imaging applications at the single-molecule level.

Past, present, and future of endovascular stroke therapies

Endovascular therapy in the acute management of ischemic stroke has become more common with technologic advances, such as easier navigation into the intracranial circulation and improved treatment efficacy with the advent of revascularization devices. This select review outlines milestones in the application of endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and offers some insight into important factors influencing the future directions of endovascular AIS treatment. In particular, we discuss the evolution of endovascular devices for AIS and how ingenuity continues to offer novel treatments. With these advances, the future of endovascular AIS treatment is promising.

Ages at different reproductive events, numbers of menstrual cycles in between and breast cancer risk

One hundred and seventy-five pathologically confirmed new cases of female breast cancer in National Taiwan University Hospital were selected as the case group. Four hundred and fifty-seven inpatient controls were individually matched for each case by age and date of admission. Information of reproductive factors and potential confounders were collected from questionnaire interview and medical records. Menstrual cycles before and after first fuIl-term pregnancy were estimated from the questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of reproductive risk factors and numbers of menstrual cycles before and after first full-term pregnancy. After adjusting for educational level, body mass index, family history of breast cancer and oral contraceptive use, age at menarche and menopause only showed borderline significance. Age at first full-term birth predicted breast cancer risk better. Parity was the most important protective factor. Number of menstrual cycles before first full-term pregnancy was also positively associated with breast cancer risk with linear trends.

Accuracy of noninvasive quantification of brain NAA concentrations using PRESS sequence: verification in a swine model with external standard

The metabolite ratios had been employed in the field of MR spectroscopy (MRS) for a long period. The main drawback of metabolite ratio is that ratio results are not comparable with absolute metabolite concentration in vivo. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of noninvasive quantification of brain N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations using previously reported MR external standard method. Eight swine were scanned on a GE 1.5 T scanner with a standard head coil. The external standard method was utilized with a sphere filled with NAA, GABA, glutamine, glutamate, creatine, choline chloride, and myo-inositol. The position resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence was used with TE=135 msec, TR=1500 msec, and 128 scan averages. The analysis of MRS was done with SAGE/IDL program. In vivo NAA concentration was obtained using the equation S=N * e(-TE/T₂) * [1-e(-TR/T₁). In vitro NAA concentration was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the MRS group, the mean concentration of NAA was 10.03 plusmn 0.74 mmol/kg. In the HPLC group, the mean concentration of NAA was 9.22 plusmn 0.55 mmol/kg. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.46). However, slightly higher value was observed in the MRS group (7/8 swine), compared with HPLC group. The range of differences was between 0.02~2.05 mmol/kg. MRS external reference method could be more accurate than internal reference method. ¹H MRS does not distinguish between N-acetyl resonance frequencies and other N-acetylated amino acids.