Genetic analysis of mate discrimination in Drosophila simulans

Courtship is an elaborate behavior that conveys information about the identity of animal species and suitability of individual males as mates. In Drosophila, there is extensive evidence that females are capable of evaluating and comparing male courtships, and accepting or rejecting males as mates. These relatively simple responses minimize random sexual encounters involving subpar conspecific males and heterospecific males, and over generations can potentially select novel physical and behavioral traits. Despite its evolutionary and behavioral significance, little is still known about the genes involved in mating choice and how choices for novel males and females arise during evolution. Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia are two recently diverged species of Drosophila in which females have a preference for conspecific males. Here we analyzed a total of 1748 F2 hybrid females between these two species and found a small number of dominant genes controlling the preference for D. simulans males. We also mapped two redundant X-linked loci of mating choice, Macho-XA and Macho-XB, and show that neither one is required for female attractiveness. Together, our results reveal part of the genetic architecture that allows D. simulans females to recognize, mate, and successfully generate progenies with D. simulans males.

MiRNA s in oesophageal squamous cancer

Oesophageal cancer is a common cancer worldwide with a very poor prognosis. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the major subtype of oesophageal cancer but also one of the least studied cancers worldwide. Although the molecular genetics of OSCC have been widely studied, the molecular mechanism of OSCC carcinogenesis is not completely understood. MicroRNA (miRNA) is now essential to understanding the molecular mechanism of cancer progression. Recent findings include the following: 1) recent findings regarding the functions of miRNA; 2) some of the latest findings on expression profile of miRNA involved in OSCC; 3) miRNAs and their target genes and molecular mechanisms in OSCC; and 4) the therapeutic-clinical potential of miRNAs in OSCC. We can make full use of this knowledge to guide us to evaluate and improve the patient's condition and choose the most fitting medical treatment or explore new approaches to improve the survival ratio of OSCC patients.

Comparison of hemodynamic and inflammatory changes between transoral and transthoracic thoracoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopy has been developed for abdominal surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcome between a novel transoral approach and a standard transthoracic approach for the thoracic cavity in a canine model.

METHODS

Twenty-eight dogs were assigned to transoral (n = 14) or standard thoracoscopy (n = 14). Each group underwent thoracic exploration, pre-determined surgical lung biopsy, and pericardial window creation. Blood draws were obtained before surgery and at postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 14. Operative time, complications, laboratory parameters, hemodynamic parameters, and inflammatory parameters were compared between the two procedures. The animals were monitored for two weeks and necropsy were performed for surgical outcome evaluation.

RESULTS

The thoracic procedures were successfully performed in all of the dogs, with the exception of one animal in the transoral group. There were no serious acute or delayed complications related to surgery. There was no difference between the two surgical groups for each of the hemodynamic parameters that were evaluated. Regarding the immunological impact of the surgeries, transoral thoracoscopy was associated with significant elevations in interleukin 6 and c-reactive protein levels on postoperative days 1 and 3, respectively, when compared with the standard thoracoscopy. All dogs recovered well, without signs of mediastinitis or thoracic infection. Necropsy revealed absence of infection, no injury to vital organs, and confirmed the success of the novel procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that both techniques were comparable with respect to procedure success rate, hemodynamic impact, and inflammatory changes. Furthermore, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative discomfort between groups.

Coupling of NV centers to photonic crystal nanobeams in diamond

The realization of efficient optical interfaces for solid-state atom-like systems is an important problem in quantum science with potential applications in quantum communications and quantum information processing. We describe and demonstrate a technique for coupling single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers to suspended diamond photonic crystal cavities with quality factors up to 6000. Specifically, we present an enhancement of the NV center's zero-phonon line fluorescence by a factor of ~ 7 in low-temperature measurements.

Induction of autophagy and senescence by knockdown of ROC1 E3 ubiquitin ligase to suppress the growth of liver cancer cells

Regulator of Cullins-1 (ROC1) or RING box protein-1 (RBX1) is an essential RING component of Cullin-RING ligase (CRL). Our previous studies showed that ROC1 is required for the growth of several cancer cell lines while ROC1 siRNA silencing inactivates CRL, leading to cell cycle arrest, cell senescence and/or apoptosis. However, it is completely unknown whether ROC1 knockdown triggers autophagic response by inactivating CRL. Moreover, the role of ROC1 in liver cancer remains elusive. In this study, we reported that ROC1 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth of liver cancer cells by sequentially and independently inducing autophagy and p21-dependent cell senescence. Mechanism analysis revealed that ROC1 silencing triggered autophagy by inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity due to accumulation of mTOR-inhibitory protein Deptor, a substrate of CRL. Consistently, Deptor knockdown significantly blocked autophagy response upon ROC1 silencing. Biologically, autophagy response upon ROC1 silencing was a survival signal, and blockage of autophagy pathway sensitized cancer cells to apoptosis. Finally, we demonstrated that ROC1 was overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinomas, which is associated with poor prognosis of liver cancer patients. These findings suggest that ROC1 is an appealing drug target for liver cancer and provide a proof-of-concept evidence for a novel drug combination of ROC1 inhibitor and an autophagy inhibitor for effective treatment of liver cancer by enhancing apoptosis.

X-ray imaging of tumor growth in live mice by detecting gold-nanoparticle-loaded cells

We show that sufficient concentrations of gold nanoparticles produced by an original synthesis method in EMT-6 and CT-26 cancer cells make it possible to detect the presence, necrosis and proliferation of such cells after inoculation in live mice. We first demonstrated that the nanoparticles do not interfere with the proliferation process. Then, we observed significant differences in the tumor evolution and the angiogenesis process after shallow and deep inoculation. A direct comparison with pathology optical images illustrates the effectiveness of this approach.

Paraoxonase-1 is not a major determinant of stent thrombosis in a Taiwanese population

Background

Clopidogrel is a prodrug that undergoes in vivo bioactivation to show its antiplatelet effects. Recent studies have shown that cytochrome P450 (CYP), ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCB1), and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) play crucial roles in clopidogrel bioactivation. Here, we aim to determine the effects of genetic polymorphisms of CYP (CYP 2C19*2, CYP 2C19*3, and CYP 2C19*17), ABCB1 (ABCB1 3435C>T, ABCB1 129T>C, and ABCB1 2677G>T/A), and PON1 (PON1 Q192R, PON1 L55M, and PON1 108C>T) on the development of stent thrombosis (ST) in patients receiving clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods and Results

We evaluated the incidence of ST (0.64%) in 4964 patients who were recruited in the CAPTAIN registry (Cardiovascular Atherosclerosis and Percutaneous TrAnsluminal INterventions). The presence of genetic polymorphisms was assessed in 20 subjects who developed ST after aspirin and clopidogrel therapy and in 40 age- and sex-matched control subjects who did not develop ST, which was documented after 9 months of angiographic follow-up. ST was acute in 5 subjects, subacute in 7, late in 7, and very late in 1. The presence of CYP 2C19*2 allele was significantly associated with ST (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj]: 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.263–9.544; P = 0.031). However, genetic variations in PON1 and ABCB1 showed no significant association with ST.

Conclusion

We conclude that in a Taiwanese population, PON1 Q192R genotype is not associated with ST development after PCI. However, the presence of CYP 2C19*2 allele is a risk factor for ST development after PCI.

The lateral decubitus position improves transoral endoscopic access to the posterior aspects of the thorax

BACKGROUND

The success of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) depends on an adequate exploration of surgical regions. Currently, limited data are available regarding the optimal position for the NOTES approach for thoracic surgery. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transoral thoracic exploration in a canine model placed in a lateral decubitus position.

METHODS

A total of 14 dogs were used in this study. Transoral thoracoscopy was performed using a custom-made metal tube via an incision over the vestibular incision with the animal in a supine position. After thoracic exploration, the animal was placed in a lateral decubitus position. The thoracic intervention (surgical lung biopsy, pericardial window creation, and dorsal sympathectomy) was performed by passing a flexible bronchoscope through the lumen of a metal tube.

RESULTS

The mean operative time for this procedure was 70 min (range 45-100 min). For 12 dogs, all procedures were completed without major complications. However, for one dog, the exploration of the thoracic cavity was incorrect (the right lower lobe had been misinterpreted as the left lower lobe). Another dog had minor bleeding because of an intercostal artery injury that occurred during sympathectomy.

CONCLUSION

The posterior aspect of the thoracic cavity can be exposed via a transoral approach with the animal in a lateral decubitus position. This approach may be considered as an adjuvant to the supine approach, in which exploration of the posterior thoracic cavity is restricted.

Quantum interference of single photons from remote nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

We demonstrate quantum interference between indistinguishable photons emitted by two nitrogen-vacancy centers in distinct diamond samples separated by two meters. Macroscopic solid immersion lenses are used to enhance photon collection efficiency. Quantum interference is verified by measuring a value of the second-order cross-correlation function g((2))(0)=0.35±0.04<0.5. In addition, optical transition frequencies of two separated nitrogen-vacancy centers are tuned into resonance with each other by applying external electric fields. An extension of the present approach to generate entanglement of remote solid-state qubits is discussed.

Pediatric T- and NK-cell lymphomas: new biologic insights and treatment strategies

T- and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are challenging childhood neoplasms. These cancers have varying presentations, vast molecular heterogeneity, and several are quite unusual in the West, creating diagnostic challenges. Over 20 distinct T- and NK-cell neoplasms are recognized by the 2008 World Health Organization classification, demonstrating the diversity and potential complexity of these cases. In pediatric populations, selection of optimal therapy poses an additional quandary, as most of these malignancies have not been studied in large randomized clinical trials. Despite their rarity, exciting molecular discoveries are yielding insights into these clinicopathologic entities, improving the accuracy of our diagnoses of these cancers, and expanding our ability to effectively treat them, including the use of new targeted therapies. Here, we summarize this fascinating group of lymphomas, with particular attention to the three most common subtypes: T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified. We highlight recent findings regarding their molecular etiologies, new biologic markers, and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies applied to this intriguing class of neoplasms.

A common variant associated with asthma, interleukin 13 R130Q, promotes the production of IgE

Interleukin (IL)-13 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. A polymorphic variant of human IL-13 R130Q, results in substitution of an arginine with a glutamine was shown to be associated with asthma in Chinese Han nationality. We examined the functional consequences of this variant in vitro to investigate whether this variant enhanced functional activity compared with wild type IL-13. The wild-type and mutant IL-13 genes were amplified from the plasmid of pET22b-hIL-13 by PCR and site-directed mutagenesis PCR. Both the PCR product and the vector pET28a(+) were digested by the NdeI and BamHI. Then the PCR product was cloned in the prokaryotic expression vector of pET28a(+). The plasmids were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). The positive clones were selected, and tested by sequencing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy participants were isolated and cultured with increasing concentrations of recombinant WT IL-13 and IL-13 R130Q. IgE was detected with ELISA kit in the supernatants. Recombinant WT IL-13 and IL-13 R130Q were successfully expressed into the prokaryotic expression system and their biological activity was consistent with standard protein. Our results show that IL-13 R130Q is more active than WT IL-13 in inducing hydrocortisone-dependent IgE synthesis. There were statistical significances between them. IgE induction by physiologic concentrations was obviously increased. IL-13 R130Q has increased activity compared with wild type IL-13 in vitro. And IL-13 R130Q may be used for new target of asthma for diagnosis and therapy in the future.

Endoscopic closure of a tracheal access site using bioglue after transtracheal thoracoscopy in a nonsurvival canine model

OBJECTIVES

An ideal wound closure device would repair the wound with minimal complexity. In this report, we describe a simple wound closure method using BioGlue sealant.

METHOD

Eleven canines underwent transtracheal pericardial window creation under endoscopic guidance for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The tracheal wound was closed using BioGlue sealant. The integrity of the wound was assessed by determining the amount of air leaking under mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

Transtracheal thoracic exploration and pericardial window creation was successful for all of the canines, and adequate wound closure was achieved in 10 of the canines. There was 1 case of NOTES-related death arising from misplacement of the endotracheal tube in the left lower lobar bronchus. This caused a collapse of the left upper lobe and ventilatory failure. Minor lung injuries occurred in 3 canines and minor mediastinal bleeding was encountered in 1 canine during the creation of the access site.

CONCLUSION

BioGlue sealant was found to be effective in sealing the tracheal wound in all but 1 of the canines. This study demonstrates that the use of the sealant is a simple and efficient means of endoscopically closing the tracheal access site in NOTES.

Feasibility of Endoscopic Transoral Surgical Lung Biopsy in a Live Canine Model

Background. The feasibility of using a transoral approach to the thoracic cavity has not yet been measured in humans or animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of transoral surgical lung biopsy (TOLB) in 10 canines. Methods. Through an incision over the vestibulum oris, a homemade metal tube was introduced into the thoracic cavity under endoscopic guidance and used as a working channel of surgical lung biopsy. TOLB was performed on the predetermined lung lobe by using an electrocautery loop and endoscopic grasper. Results. Successful surgical lung biopsy was achieved in 8 of 10 animals in a mean time of 132 minutes (range 130-190 minutes). There were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications, and all animals survived for 2 weeks after surgery. Autopsy showed no evidence of vital structure injury, mediastinitis, or empyema. Conclusions. TOLB was demonstrated to be safe and feasible in a canine model.

Advances of research on anti-HIV agents from traditional Chinese herbs

The current approach for dealing with the global pandemic of AIDS focuses on pharmaceuticals. The classic treatment of AIDS is highly active antiretroviral therapy, but most people living with HIV/AIDS-especially those in developing countries-have little or no access to the treatment because of the high cost of the therapy. Such treatment is associated with toxic side effects and drug resistance. As such, the search for better anti-HIV agents continues, with much attention focused on natural sources-particularly, plant species. Thousands of herbs have been screened for anti-HIV activity, and new compounds have been discovered from the extracts, many of which demonstrate inhibitory activity against HIV. Their mechanisms of action include inhibiting the activities of reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase; weakening infection at the level of viral entry; and downregulating related gene expression. This provides researchers with new clues to synthesize drugs for the anti-HIV battle. Some synthetic derivatives of the anti-HIV natural products have stronger inhibitory effects in vitro than do their natural counterparts. Various mixed preparations of these anti-HIV herbs are in clinical trials or are applied in the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS-some of which yield lower plasma viral load, enhance immune function, relieve related symptoms and signs, improve the quality of life, or, in combination with highly active antiretroviral therapy, alleviate the side effects of biomedical drugs. This article reviews current laboratory findings and clinical trials of anti-HIV agents from traditional herbs-particularly, herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Drug interactions with highly active antiretroviral therapy and criteria for clinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine treatment are also discussed.

Effects of methoxychlor and 2,2-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane on 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 activities in human and rat testes

Human and rat testis microsomes were used to investigate direct inhibitory activities of methoxychlor (MXC) and its metabolite 2,2-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (HPTE) on 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17β-HSD3). The 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD3 enzymes are involved in the reactions that culminate in androgen biosynthesis in Leydig cells. The results demonstrated that MXC and HPTE inhibited human 3β-HSD activity at a concentration of 10 nm. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50) ) for MXC inhibition of 3β-HSD was 53.21 ± 15.52 μm (human) and 46.15 ± 17.94 μm (rat), and for HPTE, it was 8.29 ± 2.49 μm (human) and 13.82 ± 2.26 μm (rat). At the higher concentration of 100 μm, MXC did not affect human and rat 17β-HSD3 activity. However, the IC(50) for HPTE inhibition of 17β-HSD3 was 12.1 ± 1.9 μm (human) and 32 .0 ± 8.6 μm (rat). The mode of action of MXC and HPTE on 3β-HSD activity was non-competitive with the substrate pregnenolone, but was competitive with the cofactor NAD(+) . The mode of HPTE inhibition of 17β-HSD3 was non-competitive with the substrate androstenedione, but was competitive with the cofactor NADPH. In summary, our results showed that HPTE, which is the biologically active metabolite of MXC, has the capacity for direct inhibition of 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD3 enzyme activity. Inhibition of enzyme activity is presumably associated with suppression of steroidogenesis in gonadal tissues and has implications for testis function.