An update on the use of melatonin as a stroke therapeutic

Delivery of melatonin and targeting melatonin receptors pose as neuroprotective strategies for stroke therapy. The potential of melatonin-based therapeutics for clinical application in stroke patients requires translational research to guide the conduct of clinical trials. We review recent preclinical and clinical data that support the use of melatonin for stroke.

A high incidence of WT1 abnormality in bilateral Wilms tumours in Japan, and the penetrance rates in children with WT1 germline mutation

Background:

Bilateral Wilms tumours (BWTs) occur by germline mutation of various predisposing genes; one of which is WT1 whose abnormality was reported in 17–38% of BWTs in Caucasians, whereas no such studies have been conducted in East-Asians. Carriers with WT1 mutations are increasing because of improved survival.

Methods:

Statuses of WT1 and IGF2 were examined in 45 BWTs from 31 patients with WT1 sequencing and SNP array-based genomic analyses. The penetrance rates were estimated in WT1-mutant familial Wilms tumours collected from the present and previous studies.

Results:

We detected WT1 abnormalities in 25 (81%) of 31 patients and two families, which were included in the penetrance rate analysis of familial Wilms tumour. Of 35 BWTs from the 25 patients, 31 had small homozygous WT1 mutations and uniparental disomy of IGF2, while 4 had large 11p13 deletions with the retention of 11p heterozygosity. The penetrance rate was 100% if children inherited small WT1 mutations from their fathers, and 67% if inherited the mutations from their mothers, or inherited or had de novo 11p13 deletions irrespective of parental origin (P=0.057).

Conclusions:

The high incidence of WT1 abnormalities in Japanese BWTs sharply contrasts with the lower incidence in Caucasian counterparts, and the penetrance rates should be clarified for genetic counselling of survivors with WT1 mutations.

Genetic variation of the East Balkan Swine (Sus scrofa) in Bulgaria, revealed by mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosomal DNA

East Balkan Swine (EBS) Sus scrofa is the only aboriginal domesticated pig breed in Bulgaria and is distributed on the western coast of the Black Sea in Bulgaria. To reveal the breed's genetic characteristics, we analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y chromosomal DNA sequences of EBS in Bulgaria. Nucleotide diversity (πn ) of the mtDNA control region, including two newly found haplotypes, in 54 EBS was higher (0.014 ± 0.007) compared with that of European (0.005 ± 0.003) and Asian (0.006 ± 0.003) domestic pigs and wild boar. The median-joining network based on the mtDNA control region showed that the EBS and wild boar in Bulgaria comprised mainly two major mtDNA clades, European clade E1 (61.3%) and Asian clade A (38.7%). The coexistence of two mtDNA clades in EBS in Bulgaria may be the relict of historical pig translocation. Among the Bulgarian EBS colonies, the geographical differences in distribution of two mtDNA clades (E1 and A) could be attributed to the source pig populations and/or historical crossbreeding with imported pigs. In addition, analysis of the Y chromosomal DNA sequences for the EBS revealed that all of the EBS had haplotype HY1, which is dominant in European domestic pigs.

IV ATP potentiates midazolam sedation as assessed by bispectral index

In this study, by measuring bispectral index (BIS), we tested the hypothesis that intravenous adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) infusion would deepen the level of midazolam-induced sedation. Ten healthy volunteers underwent 2 experiments with at least 2 weeks' interval: immediately after intravenous bolus administration of midazolam (0.04 mg/kg), they received continuous infusion of either ATP infusion (100 μg/kg/min) or placebo (saline) for 40 minutes in a double-blind, randomized, crossover manner. Changes in BIS values and responsiveness to verbal command as well as cardiorespiratory variables were observed throughout the study periods. Administration of midazolam alone reduced BIS value from control: 97 ± 1 to 68 ± 18 at 25 minutes, which was accompanied by significant cardiopulmonary depressant effects, while maintaining responsiveness to verbal command (consciousness) throughout the study period. Coadministration of ATP with midazolam further reduced BIS value to 51 ± 13, associated with complete loss of consciousness without adverse effect on the cardiorespiratory systems. We conclude that the addition of ATP infusion to midazolam significantly enhances midazolam sedation without disturbing cardiorespiratory functions.

A single nucleotide polymorphism of TRAF1 predicts the clinical response to anti-TNF treatment in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

Recent genome-wide association studies disclosed that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1) (+16860A/G), are associated with the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed the usefulness of TRAF1 genotyping as a genetic predictor of the response to anti-TNF treatment in Japanese RA patients.

METHODS

TRAF1 (+16860A/G) was genotyped using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay in 101 Japanese RA patients treated with anti-TNF drugs for >24 weeks. We retrospectively analysed the association between SNP and the clinical response to treatment. TRAF1 mRNA and protein expression was also evaluated in CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, or CD19+ cells from 25 healthy subjects using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and intracellular staining flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS

No statistical difference in DAS28-ESR at baseline was observed between the patient groups with the AA, AG, or GG genotype. The GG genotype was more frequent in non-responders than in good or moderate responders [odds ratio (OR) 7.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-37.5]. The non-responders possessed the G allele more frequently than the good or moderate responders (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.4-9.0). TRAF1 protein expression increased significantly in CD14+ monocytes from healthy subjects with the GG genotype compared with that in subjects with the AA or AG genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

TRAF1 (+16860A/G) may be useful for predicting the clinical response to anti-TNF treatment and may contribute to resistance to treatment in RA patients with the GG genotype by increasing the TRAF1 expression in circulating inflammatory cells.