Brain charts for the human lifespan

Over the past few decades, neuroimaging has become a ubiquitous tool in basic research and clinical studies of the human brain. However, no reference standards currently exist to quantify individual differences in neuroimaging metrics over time, in contrast to growth charts for anthropometric traits such as height and weight1. Here we assemble an interactive open resource to benchmark brain morphology derived from any current or future sample of MRI data ( http://www.brainchart.io/ ). With the goal of basing these reference charts on the largest and most inclusive dataset available, acknowledging limitations due to known biases of MRI studies relative to the diversity of the global population, we aggregated 123,984 MRI scans, across more than 100 primary studies, from 101,457 human participants between 115 days post-conception to 100 years of age. MRI metrics were quantified by centile scores, relative to non-linear trajectories2 of brain structural changes, and rates of change, over the lifespan. Brain charts identified previously unreported neurodevelopmental milestones3, showed high stability of individuals across longitudinal assessments, and demonstrated robustness to technical and methodological differences between primary studies. Centile scores showed increased heritability compared with non-centiled MRI phenotypes, and provided a standardized measure of atypical brain structure that revealed patterns of neuroanatomical variation across neurological and psychiatric disorders. In summary, brain charts are an essential step towards robust quantification of individual variation benchmarked to normative trajectories in multiple, commonly used neuroimaging phenotypes.

Serological mass survey for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Wuzhou City, China

A serological mass survey was carried out in Wuzhou City of the Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. Sera were collected from 12,932 persons between the ages of 40 and 59. The positive rate of VCA/IgA antibody-positive person was 5.3%, but no EA/IgA antibody was found in sera from VCA/Iga-negative persons. Thirteen and nine nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients were detected from the VCA/Iga and EA/IgA antibody-positive persons, respectively. With the present combination method the detection rate of NPC for 12,932 persons was 100.5/100,000 and for 680 VCA/IgA antibody-positive persons it was 1,900/100,000. Thus, the rate was twice and 37 times higher, respectively, than the annual incidence rate of NPC in persons of the same age group from 1975-1978 in Wuzhou City. Of 13 NPC patients, 9 were in stage I (70%) and 4 in stage II (30%). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the mortality rate of NPC in Wuzhou City by radiotherapy of NPC patients in the early stage of the disease. The present results further suggest that EB virus is closely associated with NPC.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for treatment of bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia: results and long-term follow-up

Seven of 120 consecutive patients with inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia (from September 1, 1988 to January 1, 1991) had bundle branch reentrant tachycardia and underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the right bundle branch. The seven patients had been unsuccessfully treated with a mean of 3 +/- 1 drugs. Four patients presented with syncope and three with aborted sudden death. The baseline electrocardiogram revealed a left bundle branch block pattern in three patients and an intraventricular conduction defect in four. The baseline HV interval was prolonged in each case (79 +/- 2 ms). With use of programmed ventricular extrastimuli, sustained bundle branch reentrant tachycardia was inducible in all patients at a mean cycle length of 283 +/- 17 ms (range 230 to 350). Bundle branch reentrant tachycardia characteristics included atrioventricular dissociation, a His deflection that preceded each QRS complex and spontaneous His to His variation that preceded changes in ventricular tachycardia cycle length. A quadripolar catheter was positioned across the tricuspid valve with the distal electrode tip of the catheter near the right bundle branch. One to three applications of continuous unmodulated radiofrequency current at 300 kHz between the distal electrode and a large posterior skin patch resulted in complete right bundle branch block in all patients, after which none had inducible bundle branch reentrant tachycardia on restudy. On restudy, three of the seven patients had ventricular tachycardia of myocardial origin (not bundle branch reentry). One patient required no therapy; drug or defibrillator therapy was used in the others.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Left ventricular volumes determined by two-dimensional echocardiography in a normal adult population

The purpose of this study was to determine normal population volume variables of the left ventricle as determined by different algorithms currently available. Two-dimensional echocardiography was prospectively performed on 52 normal volunteers to determine normal left ventricular volume and ejection fraction as a prerequisite to their clinical application. All echocardiograms were performed using a commercially available two-dimensional phased array sector scanner. Three algorithms were applied to three views in various combinations. Ejection fraction calculations were found to be reliable, reproducible and independent of the algorithm employed. Left ventricular volumes were larger in men than in women (probability [p] less than 0.005) despite correcting for body surface area, indicating the need for separating patients according to sex. The Simpson's rule algorithm resulted in smaller values for left ventricular volume than did any of the area-length algorithms and the data were the most reproducible as judged by intraobserver variation. The single plane area-length methods are clinically useful because they are simple, rapid to execute and reliable. Ejection fraction calculation was independent of the algorithm employed.

Comprehensive study of lead pollution in Shanghai by multiple techniques

Aerosol samples of PM10 particulates were examined with particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE and micro-PIXE ), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and X-ray absorption fine structures (XAFS) to investigate atmospheric Pb concentrations and its chemical species and to decide the source assignment. From the elemental analyses, lead concentrations were averaged at 369 and 237 ng.m-3 in aerosol samples of PM10 collected from 19 monitor sites in Shanghai in the winter of 2002 and 2003, respectively. The XAFS results show that major chemical forms of the lead particulates are probably PbCl2, PbSO4, and PbO. A calculation of isotope ratio and chemical mass balance of the PM10 samples revealed that the atmospheric lead particulates in Shanghai in the two periods were mainly from coal combustors, iron and steel plants, and automobile exhausts, with coal combustion dominating the lead pollution after the phasing out of leaded gasoline in 1997 in Shanghai.

Short-chain fatty acids in diseases

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main metabolites produced by bacterial fermentation of dietary fibre in the gastrointestinal tract. The absorption of SCFAs is mediated by substrate transporters, such as monocarboxylate transporter 1 and sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter 1, which promote cellular metabolism. An increasing number of studies have implicated metabolites produced by microorganisms as crucial executors of diet-based microbial influence on the host. SCFAs are important fuels for intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and represent a major carbon flux from the diet, that is decomposed by the gut microbiota. SCFAs play a vital role in multiple molecular biological processes, such as promoting the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 by IECs to inhibit the elevation of blood glucose, increasing the expression of G protein-coupled receptors such as GPR41 and GPR43, and inhibiting histone deacetylases, which participate in the regulation of the proliferation, differentiation, and function of IECs. SCFAs affect intestinal motility, barrier function, and host metabolism. Furthermore, SCFAs play important regulatory roles in local, intermediate, and peripheral metabolisms. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the major SCFAs, they are involved in the regulation of immunity, apoptosis, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. Herein, we review the diverse functional roles of this major class of bacterial metabolites and reflect on their ability to affect intestine, metabolic, and other diseases. Video Abstract.

Normal left atrial function determined by 2-dimensional echocardiography

To obtain normal values for left atrial function noninvasively, volumes of the left atrium and ventricle were calculated in 52 volunteers by 2-dimensional echocardiography. A light pen digitizing and computation system, controlled by a microprocessor, was used to outline the left atrium and ventricle in orthogonal apical views. Then, to calculate end-systolic and end-diastolic atrial and ventricular volumes, a modified Simpson's rule formula was used. End-systolic left atrial volume (mean +/- standard deviation) was 37 +/- 11.7 ml or 21 +/- 6.6 ml/m2. The change in left atrial volume from end-systole to end-diastole was 24 +/- 7.6 ml or 13.5 +/- 4.3 ml/m2, which represented 37 +/- 12.9% of left ventricular stroke volume. The mean fractional emptying of the left atrium was 65 +/- 8.9% and the conduit volume was 41 +/- 14.0 ml or 23 +/- 7.9 ml/m2. These values are similar to those reported in studies in which left atrial function was calculated from contrast angiography.

Identification of the major positional isomer of pegylated interferon alpha-2b

Interferons display a wide range of antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities on a variety of cell types and have been used to treat many diseases including hairy-cell leukemia and hepatitis B and C and have also been applied to other therapeutic areas. To improve the pharmacological properties of interferon (IFN) alpha-2b, a long-acting pegylated form (PEG-IFN) has been developed [PEG, monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) with average molecular mass of 12 000 Da]. PEG-IFN is a mixture of pegylated proteins with differing sites of PEG attachment. To identify the major positional isomer in the pegylated material [PEG-IFN(His-34)], NMR studies were conducted on a subtilisin-digested N-acetylated peptide of the major positional isomer [PEG-IFN(His-34)dig], synthetic peptide analogues containing His-34, as well as unmodified IFN and PEG-IFN(His-34). Our studies reveal a novel interferon-polymer attachment site as a histidine-linked interferon conjugate. We show that the major component of PEG-IFN is pegylated in the imidazole side chain of histidine-34. Chemical shift data suggest that pegylation occurs mainly at the N(delta)(1) position in the imidazole side chain of this residue. This positional isomer, PEG-IFN(His-34), comprises approximately 47% of the total pegylated species when PEG-IFN is synthesized under the current experimental conditions at pH 6.5 with an electrophilic derivative of PEG, succinimidyl carbonate PEG. The reversibility of the histidine modification was examined. The PEG-imidazole adduct in the intact protein, PEG-IFN(His-34), is labile but much more stable than in the peptide, PEG-IFN(His-34)dig. Apparently, the tertiary structure of the intact protein protects the His(34)-imidazole ring from depegylation.

Ras oncoprotein inhibitors: the discovery of potent, ras nucleotide exchange inhibitors and the structural determination of a drug-protein complex

The nucleotide exchange process is one of the key activation steps regulating the ras protein. This report describes the development of potent, non-nucleotide, small organic inhibitors of the ras nucleotide exchange process. These inhibitors bind to the ras protein in a previously unidentified binding pocket, without displacing bound nucleotide. This report also describes the development and use of mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling techniques to elucidate the structure of a drug-protein complex, and aid in designing new ras inhibitor targets.

Patients with supraventricular tachycardia presenting with aborted sudden death: incidence, mechanism and long-term follow-up

A total of 13 (4.5%) of 290 patients with aborted sudden death had either documented (7; 54%) or strong presumptive evidence of supraventricular tachycardia that deteriorated into ventricular fibrillation. Six (46%) of the 13 had an accessory conduction pathway and either atrial fibrillation (5 patients) or paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia (1 patient) that deteriorated into ventricular fibrillation. Three patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia and four with atrial fibrillation and enhanced AV node conduction presented with supraventricular arrhythmias that deteriorated into ventricular fibrillation. Patients were treated with medical, surgical or catheter ablative procedures designed to prevent recurrences of supraventricular arrhythmias. Four patients received an implanted automatic defibrillator, but none had an appropriate device discharge. Over a follow-up period of 41.6 +/- 33.6 months, 12 patients are alive without symptomatic arrhythmias. One patient died because of severe chronic lung disease and heart failure. Supraventricular tachycardia was the cause of aborted sudden death in approximately 5% of patients referred for evaluation of sudden cardiac death. Treatment directed at prevention of supraventricular tachycardia was associated with an excellent prognosis. Current treatment techniques appear to obviate the need for automatic defibrillator therapy in these patients.

Left ventricular mass and volume/mass ratio determined by two-dimensional echocardiography in normal adults

This study prospectively defined the range of left ventricular mass and volume/mass ratio determined by two-dimensional echocardiography in 84 normal adults. A modified Simpson's rule algorithm was used to calculate ventricular volumes from orthogonal two and four chamber apical views. An algorithm based on a model of the left ventricle as a truncated ellipsoid was used to calculate ventricular mass. Like left ventricular volumes, left ventricular mass values were larger in normal men than in women (mean 148 versus 108 g, p less than 0.001) and remained larger after correction for body surface area. Volume/mass ratios, however, were constant at end-diastole (0.80) and end-systole (0.26). The influence of age and heart rate on all variables in this normal group was minimal, and no correction for these variables was necessary. The definition of normal mass, volume and volume/mass ratios by two-dimensional echocardiography will facilitate the noninvasive, quantitative diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy and help clarify the relation between hypertrophy and systolic wall stress.

Anaerobic biodegradability of cellulose and hemicellulose in excavated refuse samples using a biochemical methane potential assay

Improved techniques are needed to predict potential methane generation from refuse buried in landfills. The Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) test was used to measure the methane potential of ten refuse samples excavated from a Berkeley, CA, landfill. The test was conducted in 125-ml serum bottles containing phosphate-buffered medium and inoculated with anaerobically digested sewage sludge. Comparison of the measured BMP to the theoretical BMP calculated from measured cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations indicated that cellulose plus hemicellulose is not well correlated with the measured BMP. The average of the measured to theoretical BMP was 19.1% (range 0-53%, s.d. = 16.9%). Measured sulfate concentrations showed that sulfate was an insignificant electron sink in the samples tested. Once methane production from the refuse was complete, 0.072 g of Whatman no. 1 filter paper was added to two of the four serum bottles incubated for each sample. An average of 84.9% (s.d. = 2.5%) of the added filter paper was recovered as methane, suggesting that some cellulose and hemicellulose present in refuse is recalcitrant or otherwise not bioavailable.

Nanocrystalline ZnO with Ultraviolet Luminescence

Octylamine capped ZnO nanoparticles with mean diameters in the range of 4-14 nm were obtained by thermolysis of single source metal-organic precursors. The nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-visible, luminescence, and excitation spectroscopies. The nanocrystals are sufficiently defect-free to exhibit band edge luminescence. The size dependence of the changes in the band gap have been calculated by different methods and compared with the Kayanuma model.

Molecular characterization of a urea transporter in the gill of the gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta)

Urea excretion by the gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) has been shown in previous studies to be a highly pulsatile facilitated transport, with excretion probably occurring at the gill. The present study reports the isolation of an 1800 base pair (kb) cDNA from toadfish gill with one open reading frame putatively encoding a 475-residue protein, the toadfish urea transporter (tUT). tUT, the first teleostean urea transporter cloned, has high homology with UTs (facilitated urea transporters) cloned from mammals, an amphibian and a shark, and most closely resembles the UT-A subfamily. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, tUT increased urea permeability (as measured by [(14)C]urea uptake) five- to sevenfold, and this permeability increase was abolished by phloretin, a common inhibitor of other UTs. Northern analysis using the 1.8 kb clone was performed to determine the tissue distribution and dynamics of tUT mRNA expression. Of six tissues examined (gill, liver, red blood cells, kidney, skin and intestine), only gill showed expression of tUT mRNA, with a predominant band at 1.8 kb and a minor band at 3.5 kb. During several points in the urea pulse cycle of toadfish (0, 4, 6, 12 and 18 h post-pulse), measured by excretion of [(14)C]urea into the water, gill mRNA samples were obtained. Expression of tUT mRNA was found to be largely invariant relative to expression of beta-actin mRNA over the pulse cycle. These results further confirm the gill localization of urea transport in the toadfish and suggest that tUT regulation (and the regulation of pulsatile urea excretion) is probably not at the level of mRNA control. The results are discussed in the context of the mechanisms of vasopressin-regulated UT-A in mammalian kidney and morphological data for the toadfish gill.

Optical Properties of ZnO Nanocrystals Doped with Cd, Mg, Mn, and Fe Ions

ZnO nanocrystals doped with Cd, Mg, Mn, and Fe ions were obtained by thermolysis of a family of metal cupferrates. The nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible, luminescence, and excitation spectroscopy. The band gap of the nanocrystals can be tuned in the range of 2.9-3.8 eV by the use of the dopants. In most cases, the nanocrystals are sufficiently defect-free to exhibit band edge luminescence.

Metabolic and ionoregulatory responses of the Amazonian cichlid, Astronotus ocellatus, to severe hypoxia

We examined the metabolic and ionoregulatory responses of the Amazonian cichlid, Astronotus ocellatus, to 20 h exposure to severe hypoxia (0.37 +/- 0.19 mg O(2)/l; 4.6% air saturation) or 8 h severe hypoxia followed by 12 h recovery in normoxic water. During 20 h exposure to hypoxia, white muscle [ATP] was maintained at normoxic levels primarily through a 20% decrease in [creatine phosphate] (CrP) and an activation of glycolysis yielding lactate accumulation. Muscle lactate accumulation maintained cytoplasmic redox state ([NAD(+)]/[NADH]) and was associated with an inactivation of the mitochondrial enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). The inactivation of PDH was not associated with significant changes in cytoplasmic allosteric modulators ([ADP(free)], redox state, or [pyruvate]). Hypoxia exposure caused an approximately 65% decrease in gill Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity, which was not matched by changes in Na(+)/K(+) ATPase alpha-subunit protein abundance indicating post-translational modification of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase was responsible for the decrease in activity. Despite decreases in gill Na(+)/K(+) ATPase activity, plasma [Na(+)] increased, but this increase was possibly due to a significant hemoconcentration and fluid shift out of the extracellular space. Hypoxia caused an increase in Na(+)/K(+) ATPase alpha-subunit mRNA abundance pointing to either reduced mRNA degradation during exposure to hypoxia or enhanced expression of Na(+)/K(+) ATPase alpha-subunit relative to other genes.

Production of cloned calves by combination treatment of both donor cells and early cloned embryos with 5-aza-2/-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A

We previously reported that treatment of both donor cells and early cloned embryos with a combination of 0.01 μM 5-aza-2(/)-Deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and 0.05 μM trichostatin A (TSA) significantly improved development of cloned bovine embryos in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the effect of this combination treatment on the in vivo development potency and postnatal survivability of cloned calves. Blastocysts (77 and 82 blastocysts derived from untreated (control) and treated groups, respectively) were individually transferred to recipient cows. Relative to the control group, the combination treatment of both donor cells and early embryos with 5-aza-dC and TSA dramatically increased the cleavage rate (49.2 vs 63.6%, P < 0.05) at 24 h of culture, and blastocyst development rate on Days 6 and 7 of culture (18.8 vs 33.9% and 27.1 vs 38.5% respectively, P < 0.05). Although pregnancy rate did not differ 40 d after transfer, it was lower in the treated than control group 90 d after transfer (7.8 vs 29.3%, P < 0.05). In the control group, there were three calves born to 77 recipients (only two survived beyond 60 d), whereas in the treated group, 17 calves were born to 82 recipients, and 11 survived beyond 60 d. In conclusion, a combination treatment of donor cells and early cloned embryos with 5-aza-dC and TSA significantly enhanced development of somatic cell cloned bovine embryos in vivo; cloning efficiency (number of surviving calves at 60 d of birth/number of recipient cows) was increased from 2.6 to 13.4%.

Characterization of a major DNA-binding domain in the herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA-binding protein (ICP8)

We have studied the major DNA-binding protein (ICP8) from herpes simplex virus type 1 to identify its DNA-binding site. Since we obtained our protein from a cell line carrying multiple chromosomally located copies of the ICP8 gene, we first analyzed this protein to assess its similarity to the corresponding viral protein. Our protein resembled the viral protein by molecular weight, response to antibody, preference for binding single-stranded DNA, and ability to lower the melting temperature of poly(dA-dT). To define the DNA-binding domain, we subjected the protein to limited trypsin digestion and separated the peptide products on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. These fragments were then transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane, renatured in situ, and tested for their ability to bind DNA. From this assay, we identified four fragments which both bound DNA and exhibited the expected binding preference for single-stranded DNA. The sequence of the smallest of these fragments was determined and corresponds to a polypeptide spanning residues 300 to 849 in the intact protein. This peptide contains several regions which may be important for DNA binding based on sequence similarities in single-stranded DNA-binding proteins from other herpesviruses and, in one case, on a conserved sequence found in more distant procaryotic and eucaryotic proteins.

Electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic characteristics of anterior, midseptal and right anterior free wall accessory pathways

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to define the electrocardiographic (ECG) and electrophysiologic characteristics of midseptal, anteroseptal and right anterior free wall accessory pathways.

METHODS

The fully pre-excited 12-lead surface ECGs and ECGs during orthodromic atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia were compared for 13 patients with an anteroseptal, 7 with a midseptal and 7 with a right free wall accessory pathway. Routine electrophysiologic studies were performed in all and stimulation of the right ventricular summit during tachycardia was accomplished in 10 patients.

RESULTS

Differences in the surface ECGs were not sufficiently sensitive to distinguish among accessory pathway locations. Premature ventricular complexes induced from the right ventricular septal summit during ventricular activation either advanced the succeeding atrial depolarization or terminated the tachycardia in three of six patients with a septal pathway and in none of the four with a right anterior pathway. The change in ventriculoatrial (VA) interval with the development of right bundle branch block during orthodromic AV tachycardia proved most helpful in distinguishing these pathways. Patients with a right anterior free wall pathway showed a change in VA interval > or = 40 ms, whereas those with an anteroseptal pathway showed changes of 20 to 30 ms and those with a midseptal pathway showed no change.

CONCLUSIONS

Anteroseptal, midseptal and right anterior free wall pathways may be distinguished by using programmed stimulation of the summit of the right ventricular septum and especially with changes in the VA interval with development of right bundle branch block during orthodromic AV reentrant tachycardia.

Monoclonal antibodies against human ribosomal P proteins penetrate into living cells and cause apoptosis of Jurkat T cells in culture

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine the role of autoantibodies to the ribosomal P protein (anti-P Abs) in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using monoclonal anti-P antibodies (anti-P mAbs).

METHODS

Anti-P mAbs were prepared by a standard hybridoma procedure using recombinant human P1 and P2 proteins as immunogens. We studied the reactivities of these mAbs to P proteins, their binding and penetration capabilities in different cell lines and their apoptotic effects on Jurkat T cells.

RESULTS

In addition to recognizing human P0, P1 and P2 proteins, the anti-P mAb 9B6-4 bound to 20-40% and penetrated 50-90% of astrocytes, Jurkat T cells and lung cancer cells via the P0 surface protein. Treatment with the mAb 9B6-4 also caused increases in the percentages of Jurkat T cells in the sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle (14.8%) and undergoing apoptosis (21.3%).

CONCLUSION

Anti-P autoantibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of lymphopenia or lymphocyte dysfunction in SLE.

Systematic analysis of copy-number variations associated with early pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVES

Embryonic numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities are the most common cause of early pregnancy loss. However, the role of submicroscopic copy-number variations (CNVs) in early pregnancy loss is unclear, and little is known about the critical regions and candidate genes for miscarriage, because of the large size of structural chromosomal abnormalities. The aim of this study was to identify potential miscarriage-associated submicroscopic CNVs and critical regions of large CNVs as well as candidate genes for miscarriage.

METHODS

Over a 5-year period, 5180 fresh miscarriage specimens were investigated using quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction/CNV sequencing or chromosomal microarray analysis. Statistically significant submicroscopic CNVs were identified by comparing the frequency of recurrent submicroscopic CNVs between cases and a published control cohort. Furthermore, genes within critical regions of miscarriage-associated CNVs were prioritized by integrating the Residual Variation Intolerance Score and the human gene expression dataset for identification of potential miscarriage candidate genes.

RESULTS

Results without significant maternal-cell contamination were obtained in 5003 of the 5180 (96.6%) cases. Clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 59.1% (2955/5003) of these cases. Three recurrent submicroscopic CNVs (microdeletions in 22q11.21, 2q37.3 and 9p24.3p24.2) were significantly more frequent in miscarriage cases, and were considered to be associated with miscarriage. Moreover, 44 critical regions of large CNVs were observed, including 14 deletions and 30 duplications. There were 309 genes identified as potential miscarriage candidate genes through gene-prioritization analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified potential miscarriage candidate CNVs and genes. These data demonstrate the importance of CNVs in the etiology of miscarriage and highlight the importance of ongoing analysis of CNVs in the study of miscarriage. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Interaction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with anaerobic mixed bacterial cultures isolated from river sediment

The degradation of flame retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), including tetra-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-47), penta-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-99 and -100), and hexa-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE-153 and -154), by anaerobic bacterial mixed cultures isolated from river sediment was investigated. The effects of PBDEs on changes of anaerobic bacterial community in sediment culture were also studied. Sediments were collected from Er-Jen River and Nan-Kan River basins, which were both heavily polluted rivers in Taiwan, and bacteria from the sediment samples were enriched before the experiment was conducted. Into the anaerobic bacterial mixed cultures, 0.1 microg/mL of PBDEs was added followed by incubation under 30 degrees C for 70 days. Residues of PBDE were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD), and the changes of bacterial community were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Less than 20% of PBDEs were degraded after 70 days of incubation in all samples except for BDE-47 from the Nan-Kan River sediment. In that culture, BDE-47 was found to have notably degraded. In particular, after 42 days of incubation; BDE-47 was degraded, suddenly and sharply, to a negligible level on Day 70, and the result was confirmed by a repeated experiment. An interesting result was that although BDE-47 was degraded fast in the Nan-Kan River sediment, the bacterial communities did not shift significantly as we had speculated at Day 70. From UPGMA dendrograms, PBDEs changed the composition of bacterial communities, and the extents varied with the variety of PBDE congeners. By the amendment with BDE-153 or -154, bacterial communities would be changed immediately and irreversibly throughout the rest of the incubation period. No significant difference in degradation of PBDEs was observed between sediment bacteria from Er-Jen River and Nan-Kan River. However, the results verified the persistence of PBDEs in the environment.

Piperlongumine and p53-reactivator APR-246 selectively induce cell death in HNSCC by targeting GSTP1

TP53 mutations frequently occur in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients without human papillomavirus infection. The recurrence rate for these patients is distinctly high. It has been actively explored to identify agents that target TP53 mutations and restore wild-type (WT) TP53 activities in HNSCC. PRIMA-1 (p53-reactivation and induction of massive apoptosis-1) and its methylated analogue PRIMA-1Met (also called APR-246) were found to be able to reestablish the DNA-binding activity of p53 mutants and reinstate the functions of WT p53. Herein we report that piperlongumine (PL), an alkaloid isolated from Piper longum L., synergizes with APR-246 to selectively induce apoptosis and autophagic cell death in HNSCC cells, whereas primary and immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts and spontaneously immortalized non-tumorigenic human skin keratinocytes (HaCat) are spared from the damage by the co-treatment. Interestingly, PL-sensitized HNSCC cells to APR-246 are TP53 mutation-independent. Instead, we demonstrated that glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1), a GST family member that catalyzes the conjugation of GSH with electrophilic compounds to fulfill its detoxification function, is highly expressed in HNSCC tissues. Administration of PL and APR-246 significantly suppresses GSTP1 activity, resulting in the accumulation of ROS, depletion of GSH, elevation of GSSG, and DNA damage. Ectopic expression of GSTP1 or pre-treatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) abrogates the ROS elevation and decreases DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagic cell death prompted by PL/APR-246. In addition, administration of PL and APR-246 impedes UMSCC10A xenograft tumor growth in SCID mice. Taken together, our data suggest that HNSCC cells are selectively sensitive to the combination of PL and APR-246 due to a remarkably synergistic effect of the co-treatment in the induction of ROS by suppression of GSTP1.

AMP-activated protein kinase protects against necroptosis via regulation of Keap1-PGAM5 complex

BACKGROUND

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays critical roles in growth regulation and metabolism reprogramming. AMPK activation protects cells against apoptosis from injury in different cell and animal models. However, its function in necroptosis remains largely unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the current study, we demonstrated that AMPK was activated upon necroptosis induction and protected mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and cardiomyocytes from N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced necroptosis. Activation of AMPK with chemicals A-769662, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), and metformin or constitutively active (CA) AMPK markedly decreased necroptosis and cytotoxicity induced by MNNG. In contrast, AMPK inhibitor compound C, dominant negative (DN) AMPK, as well as AMPK shRNAs increased necroptosis and cytotoxicity induced by MNNG. We further showed that AMPK physically associated with a protein complex containing PGAM5 and Keap1 whereby facilitating Keap1-mediated PGAM5 ubiquitination upon necroptosis induction. The AMPK agonist metformin ameliorated myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury and reduced necroptosis through down-regulating the expression of PGAM5 in the Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.

CONCLUSION

Activation of AMPK protects against necroptosis via promoting Keap1-mediated PGAM5 degradation. Metformin may act as a valuable agent for the protection of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury by activating AMPK and reducing necroptosis.

The bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide causes rapid inappropriate excitation in rat cortex

There is mounting evidence that inflammation and associated excitotoxicity may play important roles in various neurodegenerative disorders, such as bacterial infections, Alzheimer's disease, AIDS dementia, and multiple sclerosis. The immunogen E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) has been widely used to stimulate immune/inflammatory responses both systemically and in the CNS. Here, we show that exposure of parietal cortical slices from adult rats to LPS triggered very rapid (<2.5 min) and sustained releases of the neurotransmitters glutamate and noradrenaline, and of the neuromodulator adenosine. The responses to LPS declined rapidly following removal of the LPS and exhibited no tachyphylaxis to repeated exposures to LPS. The detoxified form of LPS had no effect. LPS-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline, but not of glutamate or adenosine, appears to be partly due to the released glutamate acting at ionotropic receptors on the noradrenergic axons present in the cortical slices. LPS appears to release glutamate, which then acts at non-NMDA receptors to remove the voltage-sensitive Mg2+ block of NMDA receptors, thus permitting NMDA receptors to be activated and noradrenaline release to proceed. It seems possible that rapid, inappropriate excitation may occur in the immediate vicinity of gram-negative bacterial infections in the brain. If similar inappropriate excitations are also triggered by those immunogens specifically associated with Alzheimer's disease (beta-amyloid), AIDS dementia (gp120 and gp41), or multiple sclerosis (myelin basic protein), they might explain some of the acute, transient neurological and psychiatric symptoms associated with these disorders.