Microbiological characterization in children with aggressive periodontitis

The objective of this study was to characterize the subgingival microbiota of African-American children with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP). Fifty-one children were included. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from diseased (DD) and healthy sites (DH) in LAP and from healthy sites in HS and HC and analyzed by 16S rRNA-based microarrays. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) was the only species found to be both more prevalent (OR = 8.3, p = 0.0025) and abundant (p < 0.01) in DD. Filifactor alocis (Fa) was also found to be more prevalent in DD (OR 2.31, CI 1.06-5.01, p = 0.03). Most prevalent species in healthy sites were Selenomonas spp, Veillonella spp, Streptococcus spp, Bergeyella sp, and Kingella oralis. Overall, Streptococcus spp, Campylobacter gracilis, Capnocytophaga granulosa, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Lautropia mirabilis were most abundant in healthy children, while Aa, Fa, Tannerella sp, Solobacterium moorei, Parvimonas micra, and Capnocytophaga sp were most abundant in LAP. Based on a comprehensive analysis with 16S rRNA-based microarrays, Aa was strongly associated and site-specific in LAP. In contrast, other species were found to be associated with healthy sites and individuals (ClinicalTrials.gov number CT01330719).

ABBREVIATIONS

healthy site in healthy sibling (HS); healthy site in healthy control child (HC).

Viral Infection Triggers Rapid Differentiation of Human Blood Monocytes into Dendritic Cells (45.12)

Viruses post a constant threat of human existence. Although human immune system plays a central role in recognizing and eradicating pathogens, how it responds to virus infection remains unclear. Here we show that monocytes make up the majority of a wide variety of virus susceptible population in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Notably, infection with influenza virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and vaccinia virus promotes monocytes to differentiate within 18 hours into CD16-negative CD83-positive mature dendritic cells (DCs) with enhanced capacity to activate T cells. Virus-induced monocyte differentiation into DCs does not require cell division, and happens despite the synthesis of virus proteins, suggesting that monocytes thwart the capacity of these highly lytic viruses to hijack host cell biosynthesis pathway. Indeed, virus-induced DC differentiation from monocytes requires infectious virus and viral protein synthesis. Thus, our results demonstrate that monocytes are uniquely susceptible to virus infection among human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with the likely purpose of differentiating into DCs with enhanced capacity to activate innate and acquired anti-virus immunity.

1.86 W cw single-frequency 1319 nm ring laser pumped at 885 nm

A 1.86 W cw single-frequency 1319 nm laser was produced by using an 885 nm-pumped Nd:YAG crystal with a compact four-mirror ring cavity, for the first time to our knowledge. The Nd:YAG produced a slope efficiency of 21% and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 18% with respect to the absorbed diode pump power. A near-diffraction-limited beam with M(2)=1.2 was achieved under the maximum output power.

TMED2/p24β1 is expressed in all gestational stages of human placentas and in choriocarcinoma cell lines

Members of the transmembrane emp24 domain (Tmed)/p24 family of proteins are required for transport of proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi. One member of this family, Tmed2/p24β1, is expressed during placental development in mice and its expression is required for normal development of the labyrinth layer. Although TMED2 is conserved in humans, little is known about its expression and function in human placenta. We examined TMED2 expression in human placenta between 5.5 and 40 weeks of gestation and showed that TMED2 is expressed in syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, and stromal cells. We also found high levels of TMED2 expression in BeWo but not in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line. We used the BeWo cell line to determine TMED2 subcellular localization in placental cells and show its co-localization with the endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment. Our findings show conservation of TMED2 expression in human placenta and suggest that this protein may also play a role during placental development in humans.

Correlation between promoter methylation of glutathione-S-tranferase P1 and oxidative stress in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure

Promoter methylation of glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) may be involved in liver damage caused by oxidative stress in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B-induced liver failure (ACHBLF). This study aimed to explore GSTP1 promoter methylation status and oxidative stress in such patients. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with acute-on-chronic liver hepatitis B-induced liver failure, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal controls, followed by sodium-bisulfite treatment and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) adducts levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as oxidative stress marker. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was employed to estimate the severity of the liver failure. Eleven of 35 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure and 3 of 35 patients with stab le hepatitis B displayed GSTP1 promoter methylation, and the difference was significant (χ2)  = 5.71, P = 0.02). No differences in standard liver function tests were found in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure with and without GSTP1 promoter methylation although the levels of total bilirubin were greater in those with methylation. The levels of MDA adducts were significantly higher in patients with liver failure when compared to those with CHB (12.44 ± 5.38 pmol/mg vs 8.42 ± 5.49 pmol/mg, P < 0.01), and in the patients with liver failure who had promoter methylation the levels were higher than in those who did not (15.2 ± 4.68 pmol/mg vs 11.17 ± 5.29 pmol/mg, P < 0.01). The MELD score was not significantly different between methylated and unmethylated patients with liver failure (P > 0.05), although MDA adducts were correlated with MELD scores in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (r = 0.579, P < 0.01). GSTP1 promoter methylation may facilitate oxidative stress-associated liver damage in ACHBLF, and oxidative stress is correlated with ACHBLF severity.

Type I interferon signals control Theiler's virus infection site, cellular infiltration and T cell stimulation in the CNS

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) establishes a persistent infection in the central nervous system (CNS). To examine the role of type I interferon (IFN-I)-mediated signals in TMEV infection, mice lacking a subunit of the type I IFN receptor (IFN-IR KO mice) were utilized. In contrast to wild type mice, IFN-IR KO mice developed rapid fatal encephalitis accompanied with greater viral load and infiltration of immune cells to the CNS. The proportion of virus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses in the CNS was significantly lower in IFN-IR KO mice during the early stage of infection. Levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 produced by isolated primed CD4(+) T cells in response to DCs from TMEV-infected IFN-IR KO mice were also lower than those stimulated by DCs from TMEV-infected wild type control mice. The less efficient stimulation of virus-specific T cells by virus-infected antigen-presenting cells is attributable in part to the low level expression of activation markers on TMEV-infected cells from IFN-IR KO mice. However, due to high levels of cellular infiltration and viral loads in the CNS, the overall numbers of virus-specific T cells are higher in IFN-IR KO mice during the later stage of viral infection. These results suggest that IFN-I-mediated signals play important roles in controlling cellular infiltration to the CNS and shaping local T cell immune responses.

Prospective evaluation of gastroenterologist-guided, nurse-administered standard sedation for spiral deep small bowel enteroscopy

BACKGROUND

Sedation of patients for deep small bowel enteroscopy presents unique challenges and is traditionally provided by anesthesiologists. No study has directly evaluated gastroenterologist-guided, nurse-administered sedation for deep enteroscopy. Further, no comparison exists between gastroenterologist-guided versus anesthesiologist-guided sedation during deep enteroscopy.

AIMS

To evaluate safety and efficacy of performing deep (spiral) enteroscopy using gastroenterologist-guided sedation and compare outcomes between patients receiving gastroenterologist-guided and anesthesiologist-guided sedation.

METHODS

This prospective case series contains 91 consecutive patients who underwent deep enteroscopy with spiral Endo-Ease Discovery SB overtube. Of the patients, 64 received gastroenterologist-guided and 27 received anesthesiologist-guided sedation.

RESULTS

In the 64 patients receiving gastroenterologist-guided sedation, successful completion occurred in 59 of 64 enteroscopies (92.2%). Mean insertion depth was 231.0+/-85.8 cm beyond the ligament of Treitz. Total procedure time was 39.9+/-15.7 min (diagnostic time 34.7+/-12.3 min; therapy time 5.2+/-8.9 min). Positive findings were noted in 32 cases (50.0%), with therapy performed in 27 cases (42.2%). Six minor complications occurred. Compared to the anesthesiologist-guided sedation group, there was no difference in patient characteristics except mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score (2.5+/-0.5 in gastroenterologist-guided group versus 2.7+/-0.6 in anesthesiologist-guided group; p=0.046) and presence of adhesions (ten in gastroenterologist-guided group and zero in anesthesiologist-guided group; p=0.030). Outcomes for both groups were not significantly different except for shorter times in the gastroenterologist-guided group (39.9+/-15.7 min versus 46.0+/-12.1 min; p=0.047) and more frequent findings in the anesthesiologist-guided group (50.0% vs. 74.1%; p=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Deep enteroscopy using the spiral overtube can be successfully and safely accomplished with gastroenterologist-guided, nurse-administered standard sedation.

A systematic comparison between collagen-induced arthritis and pristane-induced arthritis in Dark Agouti rats

OBJECTIVES

Both collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) are commonly used rat models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was systematically to compare the differences between CIA and PIA in Dark Agouti (DA) rats.

METHODS

The CIA was induced by immunising DA rats intradermally with collagen type (C) and PIA was induced by injecting subcutaneously with pristane. The arthritis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Nitric oxide (NO) level of plasma was determined by Griess reaction method. Plasma autoimmune antibodies, including C specific IgG antibody (anti-C IgG), cyclic citrullinated peptide specific IgG antibody (anti-CCP IgG), IgM and IgG rheumatoid factors (IgM RF and IgG RF), were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The onset of PIA rats was earlier than that of CIA rats. The involved sites of PIA rats were mostly wrist/ankle and metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joints while those of CIA rats were primarily distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. NO level of plasma was increased in PIA rats, as anti-C IgG, anti-CCP IgG, IgM RF and IgG RF levels of plasma were increased in CIA rats. The kidney hyaline casts were more frequent in CIA rats than in control rats, with 9/12 in PIA group, 8/8 in CIA, and 4/8 in control, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PIA mainly affected wrist/ankle joints and MCP/MTP joints, had more severe inflammation and hardly involved other organs; while CIA mostly influenced DIP joints, had more autoimmune antibodies in plasma, and always showed hyaline casts in kidney. These findings will be useful to select the animal model of RA.

Effect of resistance training on risk of coronary artery disease in women with multiple sclerosis

The effects of a lower-extremity progressive resistance-training program (PRT) on risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) were determined in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twelve ambulatory women with MS (47.3+/-4.7 years; Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS), 4.00+/-1.37) completed twice weekly lower-body PRT for 8 weeks. Knee extensor and ankle flexor strength improved significantly (p<0.05) after training, and self-reported fatigue decreased (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride concentrations decreased (p<0.05) but body-weight and fatness, blood pressure, and serum glucose, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were unchanged. However, the number of CAD risk factors that reached the clinical threshold for each subject declined after PRT, suggesting that resistance training can promote CAD risk reduction in ambulatory female MS subjects.

Activation of toll-like receptor-3 induces interferon-lambda expression in human neuronal cells

We examined the gene expression and regulation of type III human interferon (IFN), IFN-lambda, in human neuronal cells. Human neuronal cells expressed endogenous IFN-lambda1 but not IFN-lambda2/3. Upon the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 expressed in the neuronal cells by polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (PolyI:C), both IFN-lambda1 and IFN-lambda2/3 expression was significantly induced. The activation of TLR-3 also exhibited antiviral activity against pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection of the neuronal cells. Human neuronal cells also expressed functional IFN-lambda receptor complex, interleukin-28 receptor alpha subunit (IL-28Ralpha) and IL-10Rbeta, as evidenced by the observations that exogenous IFN-lambda treatment inhibited pseudotyped HIV-1 infection of the neuronal cells and induced the expression of apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC)3G/3F, the newly identified anti-HIV-1 cellular factors. These data provide direct and compelling evidence that there is intracellular expression and regulation of IFN-lambda in human neuronal cells, which may have an important role in the innate neuronal protection against viral infections in the CNS.

Th17 cells enhance viral persistence and inhibit T cell cytotoxicity in a model of chronic virus infection

Persistent viral infection and its associated chronic diseases are a global health concern. Interleukin (IL) 17–producing Th17 cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, and in protection from bacterial or fungal infection. However, the role of Th17 cells in persistent viral infection remains unknown. We report that Th17 cells preferentially develop in vitro and in vivo in an IL-6–dependent manner after Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus infection. Th17 cells promote persistent viral infection and induce the pathogenesis of chronic demyelinating disease. IL-17 up-regulates antiapoptotic molecules and, consequently, increases persistent infection by enhancing the survival of virus-infected cells and blocking target cell destruction by cytotoxic T cells. Neutralization of IL-17 augments virus clearance by eliminating virus-infected cells and boosting lytic function by cytotoxic T cells, leading to the prevention of disease development. Thus, these results indicate a novel pathogenic role of Th17 cells via IL-17 in persistent viral infection and its associated chronic inflammatory diseases.

First Report of a 16SrI-C Group Phytoplasma Associated With a Yellows-Type Disease Affecting Willow Plants in China

In May of 2008, a phytoplasma-like disease was observed on willows (Salix babylonica Linn) grown in the Shaanxi Province. Affected plants showed yellowed leaves with green veins and dieback. Incidence of the disease was less than 10%. Samples were collected from 10 symptomatic and five asymptomatic willow plants from five different areas in Shaanxi Province. Total DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of leaf midrib and stem phloem tissue with a modified cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) method (3). Resulting DNA extracts were analyzed by a nested PCR assay using phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene primer pairs R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 (1), which amplified a 1,452- and a 1,246-bp product, respectively. Sequences of amplicons were almost the same. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the nested 1.2-kb 16S rDNA products with AluI, MseI, HhaI, HpaI, RsaI, HinfI, and TaqI endonucleases (2) indicated that all symptomatic plants were infected by a phytoplasma belonging to aster yellows group (16SrI) subgroup C (16SrI-C) 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris'. None of the symptomless plants tested positive. Nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned 16S rDNA (GenBank Accession No. FJ179166) confirmed the results on the basis of RFLP analyses. Subsequently, the presence of the phytoplasmas in symptomatic plants was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular evidence of the presence of a phytoplasma associated with a yellows-type disease of willows in northern China and its association with aster yellow group 16SrI, subgroup 16SrI-C. References: (1) D. E. Gundersen and I.-M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Inst. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (3) Y. Qi et al. Biotechnol. Bull. 4:44, 2004.

A nonlinear mixed-effect mixture model for functional mapping of dynamic traits

Functional mapping has emerged as a next-generation statistical tool for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect complex dynamic traits. In this article, we incorporated the idea of nonlinear mixed-effect (NLME) models into the mixture-based framework of functional mapping, aimed to generalize the spectrum of applications for functional mapping. NLME-based functional mapping, implemented with the linearization algorithm based on the first-order Taylor expansion, can provide reasonable estimates of QTL genotypic-specific curve parameters (fixed effect) and the between-individual variation of these parameters (random effect). Results from simulation studies suggest that the NLME-based model is more general than traditional functional mapping. The new model can be useful for the identification of the ontogenetic patterns of QTL genetic effects during time course.

Role of dendritic cells in differential susceptibility to viral demyelinating disease

Although persistent viral diseases are a global health concern, the mechanisms of differential susceptibility to such infections among individuals are unknown. Here, we report that differential interactions between dendritic cells (DCs) and virus are critical in determining resistance versus susceptibility in the Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus–induced demyelinating disease model of multiple sclerosis. This virus induces a chronic demyelinating disease in susceptible mice, whereas the virus is completely cleared in resistant strains of mice. DCs from susceptible mice are more permissive to viral infection, resulting in severe deficiencies in development, expansion, and function, in contrast to DCs from resistant mice. Although protective prior to viral infection, higher levels of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-γ produced by virus-infected DCs from susceptible mice further contribute to the differential inhibition of DC development and function. An increased DC number and/or acquired resistance of DCs to viral infection render susceptible mice resistant to viral persistence and disease progression. Thus, the differential permissiveness of DCs to infectious agents and its subsequent functional and developmental deficiencies determine the outcome of infection- associated diseases. Therefore, arming DCs against viral infection–induced functional decline may provide a useful intervention for chronic infection-associated diseases.

Many chronic viral diseases are associated with prolonged viral persistence levels, which vary from one individual to another. However, the mechanisms of differential susceptibility to persistent viral infections are unknown. Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) induces a chronic demyelinating disease similar to multiple sclerosis. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms of differential susceptibility to chronic viral persistence in the central nervous system following infection with TMEV. Our results indicate that differential interactions between virus and dendritic cells (DCs), leading to the induction of anti-viral immunity, are critical in determining resistance or susceptibility to virus-induced chronic demyelinating disease. DCs from susceptible mice are much more permissive to viral infection, resulting in severe deficiencies in their development, expansion, and function, whereas DCs from resistant mice are not permissive. Consequently, the DCs in susceptible mice are responsible for poor anti-viral T cell activation, permitting viral persistence and disease development in the host. Interestingly, the administration of additional DCs or pre-activated virus-resistant DCs enables susceptible mice to resist persistent viral infection and disease development. This knowledge may be useful in devising effective means to induce strong anti-viral immune responses, thereby protecting the host from virus-associated chronic diseases caused by persistent viral infection.

Aberrant indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) expression is present in pediatric patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma

9531

Background: Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme capable of inducing local immunosuppression and systemic tolerance. IDO activity, as measured by serum levels of tryptophan (TRP) and kynurenine (KYN), has been shown to portend a worse prognosis in several different malignancies. Additionally, IDO expression in tumor draining lymph nodes predicts a worst outcome in patients with malignant melanoma making IDO a potential target for therapeutic intervention. To date, no studies have evaluated the expression pattern of IDO in the setting of pediatric Hodgkin Disease. Methods: 20 cases of pediatric Hodgkin Disease (2 stage I, 11 stage II, 2 stage III and 5 stage IV), treated on Children's Oncology Group trials were studied. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and matching pre- and post-chemotherapy sera were obtained via the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN). Immunohistochemical studies were performed on sections of paraffin-embedded tissues to evaluate aberrant IDO expression and secondary serum KYN/TRP changes were analyzed. Results: Tumor tissues from 17/20 patients (85%) were positive for IDO. Two cases showed no expression and one was not evaluable due to tissue necrosis. Morphologically several cell types were noted to express IDO including eosinophils, dendritic cells and large cells, some of which are bi-nucleated, possibly consistent with Reed-Sternberg cells and variants. The mean serum KYN/TRP ratio was elevated pre-chemotherapy in comparison to post therapy levels (P value=0.0043 by Wilcoxon sign rank test). Conclusions: This pilot data demonstrates that aberrant IDO expression is a common finding in pediatric Hodgkin Disease, and that the potential immunomodulatory role of IDO expression in the context of Hodgkin Disease needs to be further studied. These data warrant further prospective evaluation in a larger cohort of patients to determine the clinical applicability of this observation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Antiviral activity of arbidol against influenza A virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, coxsackie virus and adenovirus in vitro and in vivo

Arbidol, ethyl-6-bromo-4-[(dimethylamino)-methyl]-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-[(phenylthio)methyl]-in dole-3-carboxylate hydrochloride monohydrate, is an antiviral chemical agent. In this report, we studied the antiviral activity of arbidol against a panel of human respiratory viruses, namely influenza A virus (FLU-A, A/PR/8/34 H1N1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus type 14 (HRV 14), coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) and adenovirus type 7 (AdV-7) in vitro in cell culture. Arbidol was found to present potent inhibitory activity against enveloped and non-enveloped RNA viruses, including FLU-A, RSV, HRV 14 and CVB3 when added before, during, or after viral infection, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 2.7 to 13.8 microg/ml. However, arbidol showed selective antiviral activity against AdV-7, a DNA virus, only when added after infection (therapeutic index (TI) = 5.5). Orally administered arbidol at 50 or 100 mg/kg/day beginning 24 h pre-virus exposure for 6 days significantly reduced mean pulmonary virus yields and the rate of mortality in mice infected with FLU-A (A/PR/8/34 H1N1). Our results suggest that arbidol has the ability to elicit protective broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a number of human pathogenic respiratory viruses.