The first multicenter and randomized clinical trial of herbal Fufang for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

This multicenter and randomized clinical trial showed that daily oral herbal formula Xian Ling Gu Bao (XLGB) was safe in postmenopausal women over a 1-year treatment. Those patients (n ∼ 50) treated with XLGB at the conventional dose demonstrated a statistically significant increase in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine at 6 months and a numerically increased BMD at 12 months.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of a herbal formula XLGB in postmenopausal women (ChiCTR-TRC-00000347).

METHODS

One hundred eighty healthy postmenopausal women (≥60 years old) with BMD T-score ≤ -2.0 (lumbar spine or femoral neck) were recruited from four clinical centers to receive low-dose (conventional dose) XLGB (L-XLGB group, 3 g/day, n = 61) or high-dose XLGB (H-XLGB group, 6 g/day, n = 58) or placebo (CON group, n = 61). Women received daily calcium (500 mg) and vitamin D (200 IU) supplementation. Primary endpoints were lumbar spine BMD and safety; secondary endpoints were femoral neck BMD and bone turnover markers measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Of 180 women recruited, 148 completed the study. The compliance in each group was comparable. Prominent adverse events were not observed in either group. In the L-XLGB group at 6 months, lumbar spine BMD by DXA increased significantly from baseline (+2.11% versus CON +0.58%, p < 0.05), but femoral neck BMD did not; at 12 months, BMD in the L-XLGB group decreased from 6-month levels yet remained higher than baseline, but without difference from the CON group. There was no dose-dependent response. Bone turnover marker levels declined during the first 6 months after XLGB treatment. There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of side effects among treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSION

XLGB over 1-year treatment at the conventional dose demonstrated safe and only a statistically significant increase in BMD at lumbar spine at 6 months in postmenopausal women.

Comparative evaluation of the microcolumn gel card test and the conventional tube test for measurement of titres of immunoglobulin G antibodies to blood group A and blood group B

The conventional tube test (CTT) and microcolumn gel card test (MG) were used to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titres to blood group A (anti-A) and blood group B (anti-B) in 288 serum samples. Diagnostic concordance and correlations between the two methods were analysed. MG was more sensitive than CTT in the detection of both anti-A and anti-B IgG. Correlation coefficients for the two methods for the titration of anti-A and anti-B were 0.8470 and 0.8336, respectively. The regression equation representing the relationship between the two methods was calculated and used to convert critical values for anti-A and anti-B IgG antibodies determined by CTT to critical values for MG titration. Analyses showed 86.8% and 89.9% diagnostic concordant rates for the detection of anti-A and anti-B IgG, respectively. It was concluded that titration results obtained by MG correlate well with those obtained by CTT, but critical values determined by CTT need to be converted into corresponding MG values.

Contribution of visceral fat accumulation to carotid intima-media thickness in a Chinese population

Objective:

Recent observational studies have reported that body fat distribution might be differentially associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. We previously reported that visceral fat area (VFA) ⩾80 cm² is the optimal cutoff for identifying abdominal obesity in Chinese subjects. We examined whether VFA ⩾80 cm² reflects the association between abdominal obesity and subclinical atherosclerosis, and if determination of the visceral fat quantity is useful for assessing subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals.

Methods and results:

Participants (N=1005, men 515, women 490, 34–66 years) free of cardiovascular disease underwent magnetic resonance imaging and carotid ultrasound assessment to quantify VFA and carotid intima–media thickness (C-IMT). Overweight/obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) ⩾25.0 kg m⁻²) had a higher C-IMT than lean subjects (BMI <25.0 kg m⁻²) (P<0.01). Subjects with VFA ⩾80 cm² had significantly higher C-IMT than those without abdominal obesity regardless of BMI (P<0.01). By multivariate regression analysis adjusted for anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors, waist circumference but not BMI was independently correlated with C-IMT in men (P<0.001). Similar findings were observed with an accurate obesity indices adjusted model, which showed that VFA was an independent risk factor for increased C-IMT in men but not in women.

Conclusions:

VFA ⩾80 cm² effectively identified carotid atherosclerosis for both lean and obese individuals in middle-aged Chinese men.

Apoptotic gene expression by human periodontal ligament cells following cyclic stretch

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Periodontal ligament cells play an important role in maintaining homeostasis of periodontal tissue upon mechanical force loading caused by mastication or orthodontic force. Previous studies revealed force-driven periodontal ligament cell death via apoptosis, but the force-sensing genes assigned to the apoptotic pathway have not been fully characterized. The present study aimed to identify force-sensing genes implicated in the apoptotic pathway in periodontal ligament cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Human periodontal ligament cells were exposed to 20% stretch strain for 6 or 24 h, and the differential expression of 84 genes implicated in the apoptotic pathway were quantified by real-time PCR array technology.

RESULTS

Ten and 11 genes showed upregulated expression after 6 and 24 h stretches, respectively, and there were two downregulated genes in response to both 6 and 24 h stretches. These genes included those encoding the tumor necrosis factor ligand family (TNFSF8), tumor necrosis factor receptor family (FAS, TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF11B, TNFRSF25 and CD27), the Bcl-2 family (BAG3, BAK1, BCL2L11 and BCLAF1), the caspase family (CASP5 and CASP7), the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family (BIRC3, BIRC6 and NAIP), the caspase recruitment domain family (RIPK2 and PYCARD) and the death domain family (DAPK1), as well as an oncogene (BRAF).

CONCLUSION

This study identified several force-sensing genes implicated in the apoptotic pathway in periodontal ligament cells and should facilitate future studies on force-driven apoptosis by providing putative target genes.

Introducing traditional Chinese nursing: a review of concepts, theories and practices

AIM

This paper discussed the basic concepts, theories and practices of traditional Chinese nursing (TCN) to enrich our understanding of relevant concepts and ways to contribute to human health.

BACKGROUND

Advantages of TCN include health education based on theories and techniques of traditional Chinese medicine. It focuses mainly on mobilizing humans' capacity for self-adjustment and self-rehabilitation to make a dynamic balance between yin and yang, qi and blood and zang and fu. It has played a significant role in the fields of primary nursing, geriatric nursing, hospice, family nursing, etc., in China.

METHOD

PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid Medline (English) and the Wang Fang (Chinese) databases were searched for literature on a range of keywords relating to traditional Chinese medicine and nursing. Forty references (13 English and 27 Chinese) were finally selected for review.

CONCLUSION

Practices of nursing care in traditional Chinese medicine are based mainly on the theories of yin-yang and the five elements. There are two prime characteristics in the theoretical system of TCN: holism and nursing determination based on syndrome differentiation. The distinctive content include prevention, daily care of patients, dietary nursing, etc. TCN, with its characteristics of little damage, little pain, ease of operation and low cost, is appropriately used in primary health care in China. By combining Western and Eastern philosophies and approaches to nursing, life phenomena can be better understood, and more ways to promote health can be exploited. Scientists are beginning to use Western research methods to establish effectiveness. Many common interventions would not, however, be considered safe in Western nursing practice without more evidence and consideration of health and safety issues.

The response scale for the intellectual disability module of the WHOQOL: 5-point or 3-point?

OBJECTIVE

To deal with the question of whether a 5-point response Likert scale should be changed to a 3-point scale when used in the field testing of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs), which was raised after the pilot study of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-DIS, a module being developed with the World Health Organization measure of quality of life for disabilities.

METHODS

Three possible ways were used to generate hypothetical data by merging a 5-point scale into a 3-point scale. The analyses were based on both item response theory and classical measurement theory. The partial credit model for polytomous response was performed for item evaluation; the confirmatory factor analysis was used to check construct validity, the Cronbach's alpha for domain reliability, and correlation analyses for the relationship between the 5-point scale and the generated 3-point scale.

RESULTS

Most items with a 5-point response scale had disordered response options and/or unequal-length intervals between successive response options; these deficiencies were removed or improved without decline of validity and reliability in the hypothetical data of 3-point scales.

CONCLUSION

Instead of the 5-point scale, a 3-point scale could be used for IDs in the field test of developing the module WHOQOL-DIS.

Soybean-derived beta-conglycinin affects proteome expression in pig intestinal cells in vivo and in vitro

It is well known that β-conglycinin, a soybean allergen, induces allergies and causes intestinal damage in fetuses and neonates. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the adverse effects of β-conglycinin remain elusive. In particular, it is unknown whether or not this dietary substance causes direct damage affecting the proliferation and integrity of intestinal cells. This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of β-conglycinin (0 to 1,500 µg/mL) and the duration of culture (48 or 72 h) on the proliferation and proteome of porcine intestinal epithelial cells. Eight individually housed piglets (10 d old; initial BW, 3.79 ± 0.07 kg) were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 4) and challenged with or without β-conglycinin via oral administration d 10 through 28. After the last administration of β-conglycinin or PBS, piglets were killed and jejuna mucosal samples were collected for proteomic analysis. Supplementing β-conglycinin to either culture medium or weanling pigs increased (P < 0.05) the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, stress, and inflammation, but decreased (P < 0.05) the expression of proteins related to cytoskeleton and nucleus replication in intestinal cells. Further analysis confirmed an increase in caspase-3 expression in the cells exposed to β-conglycinin in vivo and in vitro. Collectively, these novel results indicate that β-conglycinin directly induces intestinal damage by depressing intestinal-cell growth, damaging the cytoskeleton, and causing apoptosis in the piglet intestine.

p85α mediates p53 K370 acetylation by p300 and regulates its promoter-specific transactivity in the cellular UVB response

Inducible acetylation of p53 at lysine residues has a great impact on regulating the transactivation of this protein, which is associated with cell growth arrest and/or apoptosis under various stress conditions. However, the factor(s) for regulating p53 acetylation remains largely unknown. In the current study, we have shown that p85α, the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, has a critical role in mediating p53 acetylation and promoter-specific transactivation in the ultraviolet B (UVB) response. Depletion of p85α in mouse embryonic fibroblasts significantly impairs UVB-induced apoptosis, as well as p53 transactivation and acetylation at Lys370 (Lys373 of human p53); however, the accumulation, nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of p53 are not affected. Interestingly, p85α binds to p300, promotes the p300-p53 interaction and the subsequent recruitment of the p53/p300 complex to the promoter region of the specific p53 target gene in response to UVB irradiation. Moreover, ablation of p53 acetylation at Lys370 by site-directed mutagenesis dramatically suppresses UVB-induced expression of the specific p53-responsive gene as well as cell apoptosis. Therefore, we conclude that p85α is a novel regulator of p53-mediated response under certain stress conditions, and targeting the p85α-dependent p53 pathway may be promising for cancer therapy.

Identification of the bacterial biodiversity in koumiss by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and species-specific polymerase chain reaction

Bacterial biodiversity in traditional koumiss fermented milk was studied by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Target DNA bands were identified according to the reference species ladder, constructed in this study. Comigrating bands present in the DGGE profiles were resolved by species-specific PCR. The results revealed a novel bacterial profile and extensive bacterial biodiversity in koumiss. The dominant lactic acid bacteria included Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens. Frequently encountered bacterial species were Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus kitasatonis, and Lactobacillus kefiri. Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus buchneri, and Lactobacillus jensenii were occasionally found in this product. In addition, L. buchneri, L. jensenii, and L. kitasatonis, which were never previously isolated by culture-dependent methods, were identified for the first time in the Xinjiang koumiss. Furthermore, conventional cultivation was performed by plating samples on M17, de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe, Halligan-Pearce, and Kenner fecal media. The results revealed that lactobacilli were the dominant species in the koumiss ecosystem, which was consistent with the results obtained by the DGGE analysis. This is the first systematic study of the microbial composition in koumiss, and our findings will be helpful in selecting appropriate strains for the manufacture of this product at the industrial level.

Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in China: a population-based endoscopy study of prevalence and impact

BACKGROUND

Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in Western populations.

AIM

To determine the epidemiology of dyspepsia and IBS in China.

METHODS

A representative sample of 18 000 adults from five regions of China were asked to complete the modified Rome II questionnaire; 20% were asked to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Participants from Shanghai were invited to provide blood samples and undergo oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 16 091 individuals (response rate: 89.4%). Overall, 387 participants (2.4%) had dyspepsia and 735 (4.6%) had IBS. All SF-36 dimension scores were at least five points lower in individuals with than without dyspepsia or IBS (P < or = 0.001). In Shanghai, 1030 (32.7%) of the 3153 respondents agreed to endoscopy; neither dyspepsia nor IBS was found to be associated with reflux oesophagitis, peptic ulcer disease or Helicobacter pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence estimates for dyspepsia and IBS in China are lower than in Western populations. In China, dyspepsia or IBS symptoms are generally not associated with underlying organic disease.

Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis in China

Mastitis is one of the largest production concerns in the dairy industry worldwide. Mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a major concern to the dairy industry because of its resistance to antibiotic treatment. In this report, the results of antibiotic susceptibility test, carried out on 236 Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk samples which were collected from cases of mastitis in cow herds of China, are presented. The regions and number of isolates include Inner Mongolia (112), Hebei (58) and Heilongjiang (66). Susceptibility to ampicillin, penicillin G, amoxicillin, piperacillin, cephalexin, cephazolin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefoxitin, SMZ-TMP, gentamycin, kanamycin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, furaxone, torlamician, roxithromycin, clindamycin and vancomycin was determined by the disc diffusion method. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed 87.30% (206 of 236) isolates were resistant to penicillin G. This result compares with the reports from other countries; the overall level of resistance was generally high for all antimicrobial agents tested.

Race, neighbourhood characteristics and disparities in chemotherapy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Studies have found significant race/ethnic and age differences in receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy for stages III colon and II/III rectal cancers. Little is known about the role of neighbourhood factors in these disparities.

METHODS

The 4748 Black and White patients from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry were diagnosed with stages III colon and II/III rectal cancers between 2000 and 2004. Neighbourhood poverty, segregation (% Black residents) and rurality were linked to each patient using census tract identifiers. Multilevel analyses explored the role of neighbourhood characteristics and the nested association of patient race within categories of neighbourhoods in receipt of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Odds of receiving chemotherapy for urban and suburban patients were 38% (95% CI 1.09 to 1.74) and 53% (95% CI 1.20 to 1.94) higher than for rural patients. However, odds of receiving chemotherapy for urban Black patients were 24% (95% CI 0.62 to 0.94) lower than for their White counterparts. Receipt of chemotherapy did not significantly differ between Blacks and Whites residing in suburban or rural areas.

CONCLUSION

Black-White disparities in receipt of chemotherapy among Georgia colorectal cancer patients were confined to urban patients. Disparities in receipt of this treatment for rural patients were found irrespective of patient race. Our findings highlight geographic areas where targeted interventions might be needed.

Initial results of a new clinical trial matching service to increase patient participation

e17504

Methods: Data from CTMS constituents and follow-up information describing enrollment status and barriers to trial participation are reviewed. Results: During 15 months of operation the CTMS provided information to 10,997 individuals; 7,521 (68.39%) used the website only, and 3,476 (31.61%) also contacted the ACS call center. Among 981 of the 3,476 (28.22% the basis of analyses below) who consented to and could be reached for follow-up and who answered the question on enrollment status, 119 (12.13%) enrolled in a CT. Trial phase was known for 74 enrollees (phase I: 17 [22.97%]; II: 36 [48.65%]; III: 21 [28.38%]; IV: 0 [0%]). Enrollment was negatively (p < 0.05) associated with poor ECOG functional status and black race, and was positively related to disease stage. Among the 757 individuals with available disease site and enrollment information, those with stomach cancer accounted for the most enrollments (25, 24.75% of all enrollments); followed by melanoma (12, 11.88%) and kidney, renal pelvis, bladder, ureter and urethra (also 12, 11.88%), and breast cancer (11, 10.89%). The highest enrollment rates (% enrollees among individuals with available follow-up) were for multiple myeloma/plasma cell disorders (4/14, 28.57%), melanoma (12/49, 24.49%), primary CNS malignancy (5/31, 16.13%), and soft tissue sarcoma (6/45, 13.33%). The following barriers were significantly associated with non-enrollment: ‘I cannot travel to clinical trial site,‘ ‘I cannot find a clinical trial using the modality or treatment I want,‘ ‘My physical activity level is too low,‘ and ‘I do not have measurable disease or am cancer-free.‘ Conclusions: 12% of CTMS participants with available follow-up data for enrollment status participated in a CT. Several determinants of CT participation were identified. Strategies for eliminating racial disparities, facilitating transportation, and increasing participation among patients with earlier stage disease and more common tumor types must be developed and implemented.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway contributes to the control of behavioral excitement

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway mediates neuronal plasticity in the CNS. The mood stabilizers lithium and valproate activate the ERK pathway in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and potentiate ERK pathway-mediated neurite growth, neuronal survival and hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we examined the role of the ERK pathway in behavioral plasticity related to facets of bipolar disorder. Mice with ERK1 ablation acquired reduced phosphorylation of RSK1, an ERK substrate, in prefrontal cortex and striatum, but not in hippocampus or cerebellum, indicating the ablation-induced brain region-specific ERK signaling deficits. ERK1 ablation produced a behavioral excitement profile similar to that induced by psychostimulants. The profile is characterized by hyperactivity, enhanced goal-directed activity and increased pleasure-related activity with potential harmful consequence. ERK1-ablated mice were hyperactive in multiple tests and resistant to behavioral despair in the forced swim test. These mice displayed more home-cage voluntary wheel running activities, rearings in a large arena and open-arm visits in an elevated plus maze. Treatments with valproate and olanzapine, but not lithium reduced baseline activities in ERK1-ablated mice. All three treatments attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in ablated mice. These data indicate a profound involvement of ERK1 signaling in behavioral excitement and in the behavioral action of antimanic agents. The extent to which ERK pathway perturbation contributes to the susceptibility, mood switch mechanism(s) and symptom pathophysiology of bipolar disorder requires further investigation. Whether there is a shared mechanism through which mood stabilizers produce their clinical actions on mood, thought and behavioral symptoms of mania also requires further investigation.

Haploinsufficiency of RanBP2 is neuroprotective against light-elicited and age-dependent degeneration of photoreceptor neurons

Prolonged light exposure is a determinant factor in inducing neurodegeneration of photoreceptors by apoptosis. Yet, the molecular bases of the pathways and components triggering this cell death event are elusive. Here, we reveal a prominent age-dependent increase in the susceptibility of photoreceptor neurons to undergo apoptosis under light in a mouse model. This is accompanied by light-induced subcellular changes of photoreceptors, such as dilation of the disks at the tip of the outer segments, prominent vesiculation of nascent disks, and autophagy of mitochondria into large multilamellar bodies. Notably, haploinsufficiency of Ran-binding protein-2 (RanBP2) suppresses apoptosis and most facets of membrane dysgenesis observed with age upon light-elicited stress. RanBP2 haploinsufficiency promotes decreased levels of free fatty acids in the retina independent of light exposure and turns the mice refractory to weight gain on a high-fat diet, whereas light promotes an increase in hydrogen peroxide regardless of the genotype. These studies demonstrate the presence of age-dependent and RanBP2-mediated pathways modulating membrane biogenesis of the outer segments and light-elicited neurodegeneration of photoreceptors. Furthermore, the findings support a mechanism whereby the RanBP2-dependent production of free fatty acids, metabolites thereof or the modulation of a cofactor dependent on any of these, promote apoptosis of photoreceptors in concert with the light-stimulated production of reactive oxygen species.

Osterix overexpression enhances osteoblast differentiation of muscle satellite cells in vitro

Muscle satellite cells have long been considered a distinct myogenic lineage responsible for postnatal growth, repair and maintenance of skeletal muscle. Recent studies have demonstrated that they are multi-potential. Osterix (Osx), a novel zinc-finger-containing transcription factor of the sp family, is required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. It was hypothesized that Osx overexpression would enhance osteoblast differentiation of muscle satellite cells in vitro. Recombinant adenovirus-mediated Osx gene (Ad-Osx) was constructed and used to transfect muscle satellite cells. Osx overexpression inhibited myogenesis, as demonstrated by suppression of MyoD and myogenin mRNA levels and reduced myotube formation. Muscle satellite cells transduced with Ad-Osx exhibited apparent osteoblast differentiation as determined by the expression of related osteoblastic genes, increased activity of alkaline phosphatase and the formation of mineralized nodules. These results confirmed the ability of Osx to enhance osteoblast differentiation of muscle satellite cells in vitro, and the competence of muscle satellite cells as promising seed cells for bone tissue engineering.

Morphologic and histologic comparisons between in vivo and nuclear transfer derived porcine embryos

Nuclear transfer (NT) is an inefficient but invaluable tool of the biotechnology industry. This study looked at abnormalities associated with peri-implantation NT porcine embryos. Four experimental groups were examined: nonpregnant animals, in vivo pregnant animals, NT recipients, and manipulation control embryos (MC). Embryos (Day 10, 12, or 14) were evaluated for embryonic disc diameter, gross morphology, nucleoli density, and mitotic figure index. Day 12 (P < or = 0.03) and Day 14 (P < or = 0.01) NT embryos had increased numbers of nucleoli, and Day 14 NT embryos had an increased (P < or = 0.03) mitotic index compared to in vivo and MC embryos. In vivo produced Day 14 embryos had increased (P < or = 0.01) disk diameters when compared to other embryos except for MC Day 14, which also showed increases (P < or = 0.01) in disk diameter except when compared to in vivo produced Day 12 and Day 14 embryos. In vivo produced Day 12 had greater (P < or = 0.03) disk diameters when compared to NT and MC embryos except for MC Day 14, and in vivo produced Day 14 embryos, which had a significantly increased (P < or = 0.01) disk diameter. In vivo produced Day 14 embryos were morphologically more advanced (P < or = 0.01) than Day 14 NT and MC counterparts. NT embryos develop at a slower rate than their in vivo produced counterparts. The increase in nucleoli and mitotic index of NT embryos suggest the cell cycle may be affected or the NT embryos are employing other means to compensate for slow development. The techniques used during NT also appear to compromise embryo development.

1 ABERRANT DNA METHYLATION IN PORCINE IN VITRO-, PARTHENOGENETIC-, AND NUCLEAR TRANSFER-PRODUCED BLASTOCYSTS

Aberrant DNA methylation of in vitro-, parthenogenetic-, and nuclear transfer-derived embryos has been implicated in the low developmental competence of early embryos. Demethylation of the genome occurs immediately after fertilization and continues through the blastocyst stage. Remethylation or reprogramming of the genome occurs around the time of implantation and is maintained in somatic tissues. The aim of this study was to analyze DNA methylation in porcine gametes and blastocysts. Differential DNA methylation hybridization was conducted to analyze the methylation status of the Bstu I site (CGCG) in the gamete and blastocyst epigenomes. Germinal vesicle oocytes were aspirated from ovaries collected at an abattoir, sperm was isolated from a fresh ejaculate, and blastocysts were derived and collected from in vivo, in vitro, nuclear transfer, and parthenogenetic sources. Genomic clones were selected from a porcine CpG Island library based on the presence of a Bstu I site. The inserts from these clones were PCR amplified and spotted on glass slides. DNA was digested with Mse I, ligated to linkers, and digested with Bstu I. Fragments with methylated Bstu I sites remained intact whereas fragments with unmethylated Bstu I sites were cut. Intact fragments were amplified by PCR and labeled with amino allyl-dUTP. Liver DNA served as the reference and was labeled with Cy5; the other samples were labeled with Cy3. An Axon Genepix 4000B scanner (Axon Instruments, Inc., Union City, CA, USA) was used to scan the slides. Initial analysis of the microarray image was performed with GenePix Pro 4.0 software. Additional analysis, performed by using Genespring 7.0 ANOVA (P < 0.05), identified 221 clones as being significantly different in at least one of the biological conditions of the gametes or the blastocysts. Forty-six clones were sequenced and BLAST analysis identified 18 clones that were unique, 16 clones that had no similarity, and 12 clones that had similarity to multiple genes. Ribosomal (RPS20, RPL18) and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) genes were identified in several clones. Components of the immune system (CCRs, TLRs), a transcription factor (ATF2), and an embryo-specific gene (WNT8B) were also identified. A condition tree was created according to the standard correlation similarity measure for the spots identified as significantly different. The condition tree shows that the methylation profiles are most similar in the germinal vesicle oocyte, parthenogenetic blastocyst, nuclear transfer blastocyst, in vitro-produced blastocyst, and sperm. In vivo-produced blastocysts grouped separately from the other samples. These results are consistent with previous studies that have shown that gametes undergo demethylation after fertilization on through the blastocyst stage when the genome is remethylated. Additionally, these results suggest that the reprogramming events that occur during the development of the in vivo-produced blastocysts are less likely to occur in in vitro-, nuclear transfer-, and parthenogenetic-produced blastocysts. This work was funded by a grant from the NIH (RR13438) and Food for the 21st Century.

381 PRODUCTION OF A TRANSGENIC PIGLET BY A NEW SPERM INJECTION TECHNIQUE

The technique for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has, until now, focused on scoring the tail of the sperm prior to catching and aspiration into the injection pipette. This is in spite of the fact that damage to the head would more closely simulate what occurs during normal fertilization. In addition, to aid in visualizing the injection process so that a reduced volume can be injected, the oocyte is generally centrifuged to clear a portion of the cytoplasm. Thus, with conventional ICSI, the sperm are immobilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone, repeatedly frozen and thawed, treated with DTT or Triton X-100, and severed between the head and tail; the oocyte is centrifuged or activated. All of the above treatments are designed to compensate for the intrinsic defects in conventional ICSI. Our objective was to use a modified ICSI procedure whereby aggressively motile sperm were captured onto the broken tip of an injection pipette and then injected into noncentrifuged oocytes. Damage to the head of the sperm occurred on the pipette or while pushed through the zona pellucida. These procedures are based on the work of Yong et al. 2003 Hum. Reprod. 18, 2390, where they achieved an improvement in development in vitro as compared to conventional methods. Ovaries were collected from prepubertal gilts, and oocytes were aspirated and matured in vitro. Sperm were collected from a transgenic boar carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and frozen. After thawing, aggressively motile sperm were captured and injected through the zona pellucida and into the cytoplasm of the in vitro-matured oocytes. A total of 452 injected oocytes (43-171 oocytes per recipient) were surgically transferred into the oviduct of six surrogate gilts. Two gilts (33%) became pregnant. One gave birth to a healthy male piglet. GFP expression was observed in the nose and hooves by direct epifluorescent examination of the newborn piglet. This pattern of GFP expression is identical to that in non-ICSI-derived GFP pigs in this line. This result showed for the first time that this new sperm injection technique could be used for production of a viable transgenic piglet using in vitro-matured oocytes and frozen-thawed sperm.

101 CRYOPRESERVATION OF PORCINE EMBRYOS DERIVED FROM SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

In the production of cloned pigs, a large number of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos generally need to be transferred into a single surrogate. Thus, attempts to conduct embryo transfer can be frustrating when either a synchronized surrogate is not available, or enough NT embryos are not produced. This problem would be solved if one could cryopreserve the porcine nuclear transfer embryos. Cryopreservation of porcine embryos has been successful only for in vivo-derived embryos. In vitro-derived porcine embryos are sensitive to chilling, and this sensitivity has been attributed to the lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. In previous reports, the viability of cyropreserved embryos was improved by removal of lipid drops from the cytoplasm. Therefore we designed a procedure to cryopreserve cloned blastocysts by a combination of the open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification method with removal of lipid drops from the oocyte. In vitro-matured MII oocytes were enucleated, and centrifuged (10 000 rpm, 5 min) to polarize the lipid droplets. This was followed by removal of the polarized lipid droplets and transfer of a donor fetal-derived fibroblast cell into the perivitelline space by micromanipulation. After electrical activation and fusion, the NT embryos were cultured in PZM-3 medium with 4 mg/mL BSA. Day 5 and Day 6 blastocysts (manipulation day was Day 0) were vitrified by equilibration with 25 mM HEPES-buffered TCM-199 containing 10% ethylene glycol, 10% DMSO, and 20% fetal calf serum for 2 min, followed by exposure to 20% ethylene glycol and 20% DMSO. Embryos were loaded into an OPS straw and immediately plunged into liquid nitrogen. The process from exposure of embryos to vitrification solution to plunging was 25–30 s. Embryos were thawed by immersing the end of the OPS straw in 0.3 M sucrose in which embryos were kept for 5 min, and then in 0.2 M sucrose for 5 min. Some embryos were cultured in PZM-3 for 12 h to determine the percentage and cell number of re-expanded blastocysts. The others were transferred to the uterus of a surrogate gilt within 3 h of thawing. Lipid removal appeared to have no harmful effect on embryo development and cell number of the blastocysts. Interestingly, a higher blastocyst percentage (28.8%, 178/619) was obtained with NT embryos from which the lipid had been removed as compared to normal NT (19.6%, 44/225; P < 0.01). The cell number (31.2 ± 7.7) of re-expanded blastocysts in the delipation group was comparable with normal NT blastocysts (33.6 ± 14.1, P = 0.33). The survival rate of blastocysts after freezing and thawing was enhanced after delipation (delipation group: 66.7%, 14/21; normal NT group: 21.9%, 9/42; P < 0.01). Two hundred and fourteen delipatized NT blastocysts were transferred to four surrogates after freezing and thawing. Three of the surrogates showed a delayed estrus cycle and one is still pregnant as confirmed by ultrasound scanning. We show that the combination of the OPS vitrification method with removal of lipid drops of oocyte cytoplasm might be an efficient way to cryopreserve porcine NT blastocysts. Funding for this project was from the NIH HL51670 and RR018877 and Food for the 21st Century.

Subtoxic concentration of doxorubicin enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP

Most tumor cells are sensitive to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis but sparing to normal cells, thus providing therapeutic potential for clinical use. Some tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced cell death while the sensitivity could be recruited with the existence of some chemical agents. In this study, human prostatic cancer cell line LNCaP was found to be resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis while it could be restored to TRAIL sensitivity with combination treatment of low concentration of doxorubicin. TRAIL receptor-1 (DR4) and TRAIL receptor-2 (DR5) were upregulated under the treatment of doxorubicin and verified to be responsible for TRAIL-mediated signal transduction. Furthermore, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were activated and drove their autocleavage into programmed cell death. Interestingly, apoptosis-inhibitory protein c-FLIP, but not Bcl-2 and XIAP was downregulated after doxorubicin treatment. Taken together, these findings suggested that the pathway of cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL was intact but under negative control. Subtoxic concentration of doxorubicin effectively boosted TRAIL sensitivity via depletion of antiapoptotic protein. These findings support the new strategies for killing tumors with TRAIL and chemical agents.

38 HIGH OSMOLARITY AT EARLY CULTURE STAGE IMPROVES IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-IMPLANTATION PORCINE NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS

Fragmentation occurs during early developmental stage of electrically activated oocytes and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos, and it might be the cause of the low developmental rate of pre-implantation porcine nuclear transfer embryos. The present study was conducted to investigate whether addition of sugars such as sorbitol and sucrose suppresses fragmentation and supports the development of NT embryos. Oocytes derived from a local abattoir were matured for 42–44 h and enucleated. Fetal fibroblast cells were obtained from a Day 35 porcine fetus. Parthenogenetically activated oocytes or NT embryos were cultured in PZM-3 for 6 days, or in PZM-3 supplemented with sorbitol or sucrose for 2 days and then cultured in PZM-3 for the remaining 4 days. The osmolarity of PZM-3, PZM-3 supplemented with 0.05 M or 0.1 M sorbitol, and PZM-3 with 0.05 M sucrose was 269 ± 6.31, 316 ± 3.13, 362 ± 4.37 and 315 ± 5.03 mOsm, respectively. When the parthogenotes were cultured in PZM-3 supplemented with 0.05 M sorbitol or sucrose for the first 2 days and then cultured in PZM-3 without sugar, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) cleavage rate and blastocyst rate was observed. Interestingly, sugar addition into PZM-3 at early culture stage for 2 days reduced the fragmentation rate compared to the rate in PZM-3 without sugar. In NT embryos, sugar addition into PZM-3 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the cleavage rate (67.6 ± 5.80 vs. 77.3 ± 3.03) and developmental rate to the blastocyst stage (10.2 ± 0.79 vs. 19.4 ± 1.77). There was no significant difference between treatments for the number of nuclei in the blastocysts. In addition the fragmentation rate in sugar-supplemented PZM-3 was reduced compared to that in PZM-3 without sugar (26.1 ± 4.30 vs. 14.5 ± 1.74). In conclusion, the increased osmolarity of PZM-3 with sugar supplementation at an early developmental stage for 48 h could increase the cleavage and developmental rate to the blastocyst stage by reducing the fragmentation rate.

Direct binding of estradiol enhances Slack (sequence like a calcium-activated potassium channel) channels’ activity

17Beta-estradiol (E2) is a major neuroregulator, exerting both genomic and non-genomic actions. E2 regulation of Slack (sequence like a calcium-activated potassium channel) potassium channels has not been identified in the CNS. We demonstrate E2-induced activation of Slack channels, which display a unitary conductance of about 60 pS, are inhibited by intracellular calcium, and are abundantly expressed in the nervous system. In lipid bilayers derived from rat cortical neuronal membranes, E2 increases Slack open probability and appears to decrease channel inactivation. Additionally, E2 binds to the Slack channel and activates outward currents in human embryonic kidney-293 cells that express Slack channels but not classical estrogen receptors (i.e. ERalpha or ERbeta). Neither E2-induced activation nor the binding intensity of E2 to the Slack channel is blocked by tamoxifen, an ER antagonist/agonist. Thus, E2 activates a potassium channel, Slack, through a non-traditional membrane binding site, adding to known non-genomic mechanisms by which E2 exerts pharmacological and toxicological effects in the CNS.

43IMPROVED IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF PORCINE NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS WITH 6-DMAP FOLLOWING FUSION

Although nuclear transfer (NT) has successfully produced cloned piglets, the development to blastocyst and to term is still low. Activation of the NT embryos is one of the key factors to improve the developmental ability of porcine NT embryos. Electric pulses as well as chemicals have been used to activate porcine NT embryos. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of continued activation following fusion pulses on in vitro development of porcine NT Embryos. Oocytes derived from a local abattoir were matured for 42 to 44h and enucleated. Ear skin cells were obtained from a 4-day-old transgenic pig transduced with eGFP recombinant retrovirus. Enucleated oocytes were reconstructed and cultured in PZM-3 in a gas atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Cleavage and blastocyst developmental rates were assessed under a stereomicroscope on Day 3 or 6. Blastocysts were stained with 5μg of Hoechst 33342 and total cell number was determined with an epifluorescent microscope. In Experiment 1, oocytes were activated with two 1.2kV/cm for 30μs (E) in 0.3M mannitol supplemented with either 0.1 or 1.0mM Ca2+. In each treatment, activated oocytes were divided into three groups. The first group was control (E). Other two groups were exposed to either ionomycin and 6-DMAP (E+I+D) or 6-DMAP (E+D) immediately after the electric pulses. In Experiment 2, fusion was conducted by using 1.0mM Ca2+ in the fusion medium. Fused NT embryos were divided into three treatments. NT embryos were fused and activated simultaneously with electric pulse as a control (C); the second group was treated with 6-DMAP immediately after fusion treatment (D0); and the third group was treated with 6-DMAP at 20min (D20) after fusion. In experiment 1, for 0.1mM Ca2+, developmental rates to the blastocyst stage for E, E+I+D or E+D were 12.5, 26.7 and 22.5%, respectively. For 1.0mM Ca2+, developmental rates to the blastocyst stage were 11.4, 28.3 and 35.6%, respectively. The activated oocytes treated with 6-DMAP following the electric pulses by using 1.0mM Ca2+ in fusion medium had higher (P&lt;0.05) developmental rates to the blastocyst stage. In Experiment 2, developmental rates to the blastocyst stage for C, D0 or D20 were 10.0, 12.3, and 19.9%, respectively. Developmental rate to the blastocyst stage was higher (P&lt;0.05) in D20. Fragmentation rates were 19.9, 10.8, and 9.0%, respectively. Regardless of Ca2+ concentration in fusion medium, continued treatments with chemicals following electric pulses supported more development of porcine activated oocytes. Treating NT embryos with 6-DMAP alone after fusion was completed by using 1.0mM Ca2+ in fusion medium improved the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage and prevented fragmentation accompanied by electric fusion. This study was supported by NIH NCRR 13438 and Food for the 21st Century.

Ectopic synaptogenesis during retinal degeneration in the royal college of surgeons rat

Rod photoreceptor-specific mutations cause ectopic synapses to form between cone photoreceptor terminals and rod bipolar cell dendrites in degenerating retinas of rhodopsin transgenic (P347L) pigs and retinal degeneration mice. Since the mutations occur in rod photoreceptor-specific genes in these two models, it is not known if ectopic synaptogenesis occurs specifically due to some rod photoreceptor cell-autonomous properties of a mutation or as a general consequence of photoreceptor degeneration. In the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, a mutation in the receptor tyrosine kinase gene, Mertk, causes failure of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to phagocytose shed photoreceptor outer segments; subsequently, both rod and cone photoreceptors die. The non-phagocytic phenotype of the RCS rat is RPE cell-autonomous and the photoreceptors degenerate secondarily. Here we show that in 35-day-old RCS rats, where a majority of rod and cone photoreceptors remained, rod bipolar cell dendrites had abnormal (flat-contact type) synaptic contacts with rod and cone terminals. Demonstration of ectopic synapses in the RCS rat suggested that ectopic synaptogenesis could occur as a result of photoreceptor degeneration, even when the rods and cones were developmentally normal. This further supported the hypothesis that ectopic synaptogenesis may be a common step in the disease progression of different forms of retinal degeneration that include photoreceptor death as a feature, such as retinitis pigmentosa.

Rectified heat transfer into translating and pulsating vapor bubbles

It is well known that, when a stationary vapor bubble is subject to a sufficiently intense acoustic field, it will grow by rectified heat transfer even in a subcooled liquid. The object of this paper is to study how translation, and the ensuing convective effects, influence this process. It is shown that, depending on the initial temperature distribution and other factors, convection can cause a destabilization of the bubble or its faster growth. Significant effects occur in parameter ranges readily encountered in practice. The phenomena described can therefore be exploited for bubble management, e.g., by increasing the condensation rate or promoting faster bubble growth and coalescence. In a saturated or a superheated liquid, heat rectification and convection reinforce each other and the bubble growth is accelerated by a translatory motion.

[Combined percutaneous ethanol injection through liver puncture and transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To study the therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with beta-ultrasound guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) at multiple points for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Eighty-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were divided into two groups: Group A, 45 patients were treated with TACE only, group B, 42 patients were treated with TACE plus PEI.

RESULTS

In group A patients, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 66.7%, 41.4%, and 21.4%, respectively. Only 26.1% of cancer specimens showed complete necrosis by pathologic examination in group A. In group B, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 97.1%, 85.71% and 65.71%, respectively, with complete necrosis in 81.8%.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with percutaneous multiple point ethanol injection through liver puncture is much better than that of TACE alone.

[The implications of the biological indices examination of bone marrow cells in myelodysplastic syndromes]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the biological characteristics of the hematopoietic cells in myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS) and the relationship between the biological indices and the disease progressing.

METHODS

R banding technique for karyotype analysis, in vitro semi-solid culture for CFU-GM growth patterns, flow cytometry after monoclonal antibody labeling for proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, flow cytometry after in vitro bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation for cell cycle kinetics analysis, and X-linked HUMARA gene polymorphism assay for hematopoiesis clonality analysis were carried out in 37 MDS patients.

RESULTS

1. Cytogenetic abnormalities were detected in 31% of the MDS patients and AML transformation occurred in 2 of 9 with normal and 3 of 5 with abnormal chromosomal karyotypes. 2. The mean CFU-GM colony yield was decreased and cluster yield increased in the MDS patients. Disease progression in 6 of 9 with more CFU-GM cluster yields, while only 1 of 9 with either normal or no CFU-GM yields transformed into AML. 3. Percentages of PCNA-positive BMMNCs were significantly higher in MDS patients than in normal control (44.22% vs 26.82%, P < 0.01). RAEB/RAEB-t subtypes had significantly higher PCNA-positive cells (P < 0.01). 4. The mean BrdU labeling index of MDS marrow cells was lower (5.07%), the mean DNA synthesis time (Ts) and potential doubling time(Tpot) of MDS patients were longer than that of normal control (p < 0.01), and the increased Ts and T pot were related to the disease progression. 5. Monoclonal pattern of BMMNCs was detected in 5 of 7 heterozygous female RA patients and the other 2 were polyclonal hematopoiesis. All 3 RAEB and 1 MDS/AML were monoclonal hematopoiesis.

CONCLUSION

With disease progressing and bone marrow blasts increasing, the biological nature of the hamatopoetic cells in MDS exhibited a tendency to transformation as follows: hematopoiesis converting into clonal, in vitro CFU-GM growth pattern approaching leukemic, PCNA expression increasing, and cell cycle prolonging.

[Association between polymorphism of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and apolipoprotein E gene and Parkinson's disease in Shanghai Hans]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between polymorphism of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin(AACT) and apolipoprotein E(ApoE) genes and the risk of Parkinson's disease(PD) in Shanghai Hans.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to study the distribution of AACT and ApoE gene polymorphism in 64 PD cases and 101 healthy elderly persons as controls. Association analysis was performed using odds ratio (OR) and chi 2 test.

RESULTS

No difference in distribution of AACT A/T allele polymorphism was found between PD cases and healthy controls(chi 2 = 0.83 P = 0.363 > 0.05), but AACT-AA genotype was associated with PD(OR = 2.68, chi 2 = 4.31 P = 0.038 < 0.05). The ApoE gene polymorphism was not associated with PD(allele: chi 2 = 2.85 P = 0.241 > 0.05; genotype: chi 2 = 9.25 P = 0.099 > 0.05). The AACT-AT genotype frequency in PD patients was significantly lower than that in the controls without ApoE epsilon 4 allele(OR = 0.47, chi 2 = 4.10 P = 0.043 < 0.05). In AACT-AT genotype the ApoE epsilon 4 allele was associated with PD(OR = 3.26, chi 2 = 5.53 P = 0.019 < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The AACT-AA genotype and AACT-AT genotype with ApoE epsilon 4 might be susceptible factors for PD in Shanghai Hans.

The involvement of bradykinin in adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema in rats

We investigated the effect of endogenous bradykinin on adrenaline-induced pulmonary edema (PE) by blocking bradykinin receptors. In preliminary experiments, a bolus injection of adrenaline (ADR; 10 microg/kg) solution (10 microg/ml) was determined to be an edematogenic dose for inducing PE. The lung body weight index (LBI) and incidence of PE (IPE) were determined. The IPE and LBI of the group pretreated with Des-Arg9-[Leu8]-Bradykinin (DA-BK, 50 microg/kg, 50 microg/ml) increased significantly compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). On the other hand, there were no remarkable changes in IPE and LBI in the groups pretreated with Hoe140 (D-Arginyl-[Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-Bradykinin (100 microg/kg, 100 microg/ml), captopril (20 mg/kg, 20 mg/ml) or L-NAME (1 mg/kg, 1 mg/ml). Moreover, the IPE and LBI of the group co-treated with L-NAME and DA-BK decreased compared with the DA-BK group (p<0.05). Thus, bradykinin aggravates adrenaline-induced PE through activation of the B2 receptor by the kallikreins as a result of the ADR administration, although the precise mechanism is not known.

[The predomination of rotavirus G3 serotype among children with diarrhea in Lulong County in 1998]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea among children in rural population.

METHODS

120 stool specimens collected from children with diarrhea during the winter of 1998 in Lulong County, Hebei Province were examined for rotavirus by PAGE and ELISA and for serotype by ELISA and PCR.

RESULTS

Rotavirus was detected in children aged between 2-24 months. The positive rate of rotavirus was 39.2% and the ratio of male to female was 1-1.47. All rotavirus RNA profiles were long pattern. The distribution of rotavirus serotypes was type 3(61.7%), followed by type 1(36.2%), and type 4(6.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea during 1998 rotavirus season in Lulong County was similar to that of other regions in China, but rotavirus serotype G3 was a prevalent strain in Lulong County, which was uncommon and different from the predominant G1 in other places throughout China.