Nuclear CSPP1 expression defined subtypes of basal-like breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The multi-exon CSPP1 gene, encoding for centrosome and microtubule-associated proteins involved in ciliogenesis and cell division, is a candidate oncogene in luminal breast cancer but expression of CSPP1 proteins remained unexplored.

METHODS

CSPP1 gene and protein expression was examined in normal mammary tissue, human breast cancer cell lines, and primary breast cancer biopsies from two patient cohorts. Cell type and epitope-dependent subcellular-specific CSPP1 staining pattern in normal mammary gland epithelium and cancer biopsies were correlated to molecular and clinical parameters.

RESULTS

A novel, nuclear localised CSPP1 isoform was exclusively detected in luminal epithelial cells, whereas cytoplasmic CSPP-L was generally expressed in normal mammary epithelium. Luminal cell-related nuclear CSPP1 expression was preserved in type-matched cell lines and carcinomas, and correlated to gene copy number and mRNA expression. In contrast, basal-like carcinomas displayed generally lower CSPP1 mRNA expression. Yet, a subgroup of basal-like breast carcinomas depicted nuclear CSPP1 expression, displayed luminal traits, and differed from nuclear CSPP1 devoid counterparts in expression of eight genes. Eight-gene signature defined groups of basal-like tumours from an independent cohort showed significant differences in survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Differential expression of a nuclear CSPP1 isoform identified biologically and clinically distinct subgroups of basal-like breast carcinoma.

Effects of feed restriction and prolactin-release inhibition at drying off on metabolism and mammary gland involution in cows

A cow's risk of acquiring a new intramammary infection during the dry period increases with milk production at drying off and decreases as mammary gland involution progresses. A method commonly used to reduce milk production is a drastic reduction in feed supply in the days that precede drying off. Milk production can also be reduced by inhibiting the lactogenic signal driven by prolactin (PRL). This study aimed to compare the effects of these 2drying-off procedures on metabolism, immunity, and mammary gland involution in cows. A total of 24Holstein cows in late lactation were assigned to 1 of 3treatments based on milk yield, somatic cell count, and parity. The cows were fed a lactation diet until drying off (control; n=8), only dry hay during the last 5d before drying off (DH; n=8), or the same lactation diet as the control cows but with twice-daily i.m. injections of 4mg of quinagolide, a specific inhibitor of PRL release, from 5d before drying off until 13d after (QN; n=8). Quinagolide induced a decrease in PRL concentration in blood and in milk and mammary secretions on all the injection days. Interestingly, PRL was also depressed in the blood and milk of the hay-fed cows before drying off. Both the QN and DH treatments induced a decrease in milk production, which averaged 17.9 and 10.1kg/d for the QN and DH cows, respectively, at drying off in comparison with 24.8kg/d for the control cows. Both BSA concentration and Na(+)-to-K(+) ratio increased faster in the mammary secretions of both the DH and QN cows than in those of the control cows, whereas citrate-to-lactoferrin ratio, another indicator of involution rate, decreased faster. The DH treatment decreased blood concentrations of glucose and most amino acids and increased blood concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acids. Quinagolide increased blood glucose but did not affect the other metabolites. The serum harvested on d-1 from the hay-fed cows reduced peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and IL-4 production, whereas the serum from the quinagolide-treated cows had no effect. In conclusion, this experiment shows that PRL-release inhibition could be a new alternative for reducing milk production before drying off and for hastening mammary gland involution without disturbing the metabolism of the cow.

Amelioration of Muc5b mucin hypersecretion is enhanced by IL-33 after 2-APB administration in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

We attempted to clarify whether hypersecretion of Muc5b mucin from mouse nasal submucosal glands that is enhanced by interleukin (IL)-33 under allergic conditions can be ameliorated by administration of 2-APB. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine both the distribution of T cells in the nasal mucosa of an allergic rhinitis mouse model and expressions of IL-33 receptor ST2 and Muc5b protein in mouse submucosal gland cells. The amounts of protein and mRNA of Orai1, Muc5b, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-33 in mouse nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and nasal mucosa were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of Orai1, Muc5b, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-33 were up-regulated in the allergic state and IL-33 increased the levels of Muc5b, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, but did not influence proliferation of T cells; however, ST2 was diminished in nasal submucosal gland cells. 2-APB reduced proliferation of T cells and the Orai1 level in the nasal mucosa. It also reduced the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in NLF and nasal mucosa, and hypersecretion of Muc5b from glandular cells that was enhanced by IL-33, but did not affect IL-33 production. 2-APB decreased Muc5b mucin hypersecretion from submucosal gland that was enhanced by IL-33 in allergic mice by limiting Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) channel activity in which Orai1 plays a crucial role in the gland cells and/or by controlling channel activation in T cells and proliferation of these cells.

Automatic localization of the left ventricle from cardiac cine magnetic resonance imaging: a new spectrum-based computer-aided tool

Traditionally, cardiac image analysis is done manually. Automatic image processing can help with the repetitive tasks, and also deal with huge amounts of data, a task which would be humanly tedious. This study aims to develop a spectrum-based computer-aided tool to locate the left ventricle using images obtained via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Discrete Fourier Transform was conducted pixelwise on the image sequence. Harmonic images of all frequencies were analyzed visually and quantitatively to determine different patterns of the left and right ventricles on spectrum. The first and fifth harmonic images were selected to perform an anisotropic weighted circle Hough detection. This tool was then tested in ten volunteers. Our tool was able to locate the left ventricle in all cases and had a significantly higher cropping ratio of 0.165 than did earlier studies. In conclusion, a new spectrum-based computer aided tool has been proposed and developed for automatic left ventricle localization. The development of this technique, which will enable the automatic location and further segmentation of the left ventricle, will have a significant impact in research and in diagnostic settings. We envisage that this automated method could be used by radiographers and cardiologists to diagnose and assess ventricular function in patients with diverse heart diseases.

Effects of chromium picolinate on the viability of chick embryo fibroblast

Chromium picolinate (CrPic), which is used as a nutritional supplement and to treat type 2 diabetes, has gained much attention because of its cytotoxicity. This study evaluated the effects of CrPic on the viability of the chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, morphological detection, and flow cytometry. The results show that lower concentrations of CrPic (8 and 16 μM) did not damage CEF viability (p > 0.05). However, higher CrPic concentrations (400 and 600 μM) indicated a highly significant effect on the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular calcium ion concentration, and the apoptosis rate (p < 0.01), contrary to lower CrPic concentrations (8 and 16 μM) and control group. Moreover, apoptotic morphological changes induced by these processes in CEF were confirmed using Hoechst 33258 staining. Cell death induced by higher concentrations of CrPic was caused by an apoptotic and a necrotic mechanism, whereas the main mechanism of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction was apoptotic death.

Chickens from lines artificially selected for juvenile low and high body weight differ in glucose homeostasis and pancreas physiology

Artificial selection of White Plymouth Rock chickens for juvenile (day 56) body weight resulted in two divergent genetic lines: hypophagic low weight (LWS) chickens and hyperphagic obese high weight (HWS) chickens, with the latter more than 10-fold heavier than the former at selection age. A study was designed to investigate glucose regulation and pancreas physiology at selection age in LWS chickens and HWS chickens. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests revealed differences in threshold sensitivity to insulin and glucose clearance rate between the lines. Results from real-time PCR showed greater pancreatic mRNA expression of four glucose regulatory genes (preproinsulin, PPI; preproglucagon, PPG; glucose transporter 2, GLUT2; and pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1, Pdx1) in LWS chickens, than HWS chickens. Histological analysis of the pancreas revealed that HWS chickens have larger pancreatic islets, less pancreatic islet mass, and more pancreatic inflammation than LWS chickens, all of which presumably contribute to impaired glucose metabolism.

Identification of a new HLA allele, HLA-B*13:70, in a Chinese individual

HLA-B*13:70 differs from HLA-B*13:02:01 by one nucleotide (A to G) at nucleotide position 329 in exon 2.

Effects of maintaining intravenous infusion of remifentanil or propofol on anesthesia and palinesthesia during anesthesia and analepsia

When recovering from general anesthesia, upon removal of the endotracheal tube, patients may experience a high dynamic response in the circulatory system, along with choking and restlessness. This study was designed to study the effect of maintaining an intravenous infusion of remifentanil or propofol on the performance of general anesthesia, including on the cardiovascular response, choking and irritability at the end of general anesthesia. We treated 60 patients with combined inhalation and general anesthesia for lower esophageal cancer resection. When the surgery was complete, narcotic drug treatment ceased, oropharynx and endotracheal suctioning was performed with a simple breathing bag, and the patient was quickly sent to the anesthesia recovery room. In the recovery room, patients were randomly divided into three groups (N = 20): the control group (waiting for extubation), the remifentanil group (target-controlled infusion of remifentanil; the target plasma concentration was 3 ng/ mL) and the propofol group (target-controlled infusion of propofol; the target plasma concentration was 2 μg/mL). The results show that maintaining an intravenous infusion of remifentanil or propofol can reduce the hemodynamic response, choking and irritability observed at the end of palinesthesia after administration of general anesthesia upon removing the endotracheal tube. The patients in the remifentanil group were fully awake when extubating, and remifentanil intervention did not extend the recovery time. Therefore, a maintenance infusion of remifentanil during general anesthesia may be a better choice.

A comprehensive, multispecialty approach to an acute exacerbation of chronic central pain in a tetraplegic

STUDY DESIGN

We present a case report describing the multidisciplinary treatment of a tetraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) patient who developed an acute exacerbation of chronic central pain.

OBJECTIVE

To bring further awareness to the importance of using a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach in treating acute exacerbation of chronic central pain in SCI patients.

SETTING

University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, USA.

CASE REPORT

We present a 34-year-old man with a past medical history of C5 American Spinal Injury Association B tetraplegia secondary to a surfing accident 8 years prior, central pain syndrome, spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia and anxiety who arrived at the emergency room with a 1-month history of worsening acute on chronic pain refractory to opioid escalation. The multispecialty treatment plan included treatment of the patient's urinary tract infection by the primary medicine service, management of the patient's depression by the psychiatric service, treatment of bowel obstruction by general surgery and adjustment of pain medications by pain management. The patient was found to have stable neurological findings, neuroimaging unchanged from prior imaging and a urinary tract infection. Hospitalization was complicated by severe colonic dilation that required disimpaction by general surgery.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of this patient's acutely worsened central pain highlights the importance of applying a multidisciplinary approach to SCI patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic central pain. In this case, the multispecialty treatment plan included treatment of the patient's urinary tract infection by the primary medicine service, management of the patient's depression by the psychiatric service, treatment of bowel obstruction by general surgery, and adjustment of pain medications by pain management.

Multiplex RT-PCR detection and distribution of four apple viruses in China

Apple trees are natural hosts of four economically important virus species in China. We used a simple, sensitive multiplex RT-PCR protocol with an internal control to simultaneously detect and differentiate four apple viruses: apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV), apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), and apple stem grooving virus (ASGV). This multiplex RT-PCR could be used as an alternative to other routinely used detection methods. We used this protocol to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of the four apple viruses in China. The four viruses were widely distributed throughout the main apple production region of China, including Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The four viruses, ApMV, ASPV, ASGV, and ACLSV, were present in 80.1%, 65.1%, 73.7%, and 69.7% of the samples, respectively. Two or more of the viruses were detected in most of the infections. The most frequent virus combinations were ApMV + ASGV + ASPV + ACLSV with an incidence of 27.22%, followed by ApMV + ASGV + ACLSV (14.37%), ApMV + ASGV + ASPV (12.54%), and ASGV + ApMV (11.01%). The incidence of the ASPV + ACLSV combination was the lowest (0.61%). This is the first extensive survey conducted in China for monitoring the four apple viruses, which provides important information for apple virus distribution and management in China.

Exploring the structural complexity of intermetallic compounds by an adaptive genetic algorithm

Solving the crystal structures of novel phases with nanoscale dimensions resulting from rapid quenching is difficult due to disorder and competing polymorphic phases. Advances in computer speed and algorithm sophistication have now made it feasible to predict the crystal structure of an unknown phase without any assumptions on the Bravais lattice type, atom basis, or unit cell dimensions, providing a novel approach to aid experiments in exploring complex materials with nanoscale grains. This approach is demonstrated by solving a long-standing puzzle in the complex crystal structures of the orthorhombic, rhombohedral, and hexagonal polymorphs close to the Zr2Co11 intermetallic compound. From our calculations, we identified the hard magnetic phase and the origin of high coercivity in this compound, thus guiding further development of these materials for use as high performance permanent magnets without rare-earth elements.

An adaptive genetic algorithm for crystal structure prediction

We present a genetic algorithm (GA) for structural search that combines the speed of structure exploration by classical potentials with the accuracy of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in an adaptive and iterative way. This strategy increases the efficiency of the DFT-based GA by several orders of magnitude. This gain allows a considerable increase in the size and complexity of systems that can be studied by first principles. The performance of the method is illustrated by successful structure identifications of complex binary and ternary intermetallic compounds with 36 and 54 atoms per cell, respectively. The discovery of a multi-TPa Mg-silicate phase with unit cell containing up to 56 atoms is also reported. Such a phase is likely to be an essential component of terrestrial exoplanetary mantles.

Associations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels with the prevalence of asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an inflammatory biomarker, has been demonstrated to contribute to the process of atherosclerosis and artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hs-CRP level is associated with asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS).

METHODS

A random sample of 5440 participants aged 40 years or older (40.1% women) were enrolled in the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community study in 2010-2011. Information on the potential risk factors for ICAS was collected and the presence of ICAS was assessed by transcranial Doppler in 5309 participants. Participants were stratified into three groups according to hs-CRP levels. A multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between hs-CRP levels and asymptomatic ICAS.

RESULTS

The prevalence of asymptomatic ICAS was 13.2% in this cohort. The median of hs-CRP levels was positively associated with the increasing numbers of ICASs. After adjusting for possible risk factors, hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/l remained significantly associated with asymptomatic ICAS (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.61).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large community-based study, subjects with higher hs-CRP levels showed a mild increase in the prevalence of asymptomatic ICAS, independent of traditional vascular risk factors. hs-CRP is an independent predictor of asymptomatic ICAS and intracranial atherosclerotic burden.