Comparison of the predictability, uniformity and stability of a laser in situ keratomileusis corneal flap created with a VisuMax femtosecond laser or a Moria microkeratome

This prospective study compared the predictability, uniformity and stability of laser in situ keratomileusis corneal flap thickness created by a femtosecond laser or a classic microkeratome. Twenty-five femtosecond laser (VisuMax, Carl Zeiss Meditec) flaps and 38 microkeratome (Moria M3) flaps were measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months postoperatively. Flap thickness at seven points on each of the four meridians was calculated. At 6 months, VisuMax flaps showed better prediction than Moria flaps for central flap thickness. The standard deviation within individual flaps was smaller for VisuMax flaps and their index of symmetry was better. The mean thicknesses among the four eccentricities in the VisuMax flaps were the same, while Moria flaps were thicker at the 3-mm radius compared with the centre. The VisuMax femtosecond laser created corneal flaps with better predictability and uniformity, and similar reproducibility and stability, compared with the microkeratome.

Soybean isoflavone alleviates β-amyloid 1-42 induced inflammatory response to improve learning and memory ability by down regulation of Toll-like receptor 4 expression and nuclear factor-κB activity in rats

β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42)-induced learning and memory impairment in rats is believed to be associated with inflammation. Cytokine production is a key pathologic event in the progression of inflammatory processes. In this rat study, soybean isoflavones (SIF) was used to investigate it's protective effects on inflammation caused by β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42), which is associated with learning and memory impairment in Alzheimer disease. We characterized the learning and memory ability. cytokine profiles of circulating interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum and the expression of Toll like receptor4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) mRNA and protein in the brain tissue following intracerebroventricular administration of Aβ1-42 by miniosmotic pump for 14 days. The results showed that functional deficits of learning and memory in SIF treatment groups were significantly improved compared to the control group without SIF treatment in water maze test. The serum IL-1β and TNF-α level were significantly increased, and the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein in the brain were up-regulated, indicating inflammation response was initiated following administration of Aβ1-42. After intragastric pre-treatment with SIF, inflammatory cytokines was significantly reduced and also SIF reversed the Aβ1-42 induced up-regulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein expression in the brain and expression of NF-κB p65 in nuclei. These results suggested that SIF reduced the cytokine cascade and inflammatory response induced by Aβ1-42 which could result in the improvement of spatial learning and memory ability impairment in the rats.

An ABA-binding protein with nucleic acid-binding property

Maize cDNA expression library was screened using the antibodies against ABA-binding proteins (ABBP). From 200 000 separated phage plaques, only one cDNA clone coding for a polypeptide was obtained. It shows 60%-65% homology to the genes of nucleic acid-binding proteins in mammalia. However, about 120 cDNA clones coding maize 17s rRNA were unexpectedly obtained. In view of this, the ABBP purified by ABA affinity chromatography and the antibodies derived from the purified ABBP were examined. It is found that rRNA is indeed present in the ABBP. In addition, the obtained antibodies could recognize RNA as well as ABBP. It is suggested that the ABBP have nucleic acid-binding property and can form a complex with rRNA.

Overexpression of 14-3-3ζ in cancer cells activates PI3K via binding the p85 regulatory subunit

The ubiquitously expressed 14-3-3 proteins regulate many pathways involved in transformation. Previously, we found that 14-3-3ζ overexpression increased Akt phosphorylation in human mammary epithelial cells. Here, we investigated the clinical relevance and molecular mechanism of 14-3-3ζ overexpression-mediated Akt phosphorylation and the potential impact on breast cancer progression. We found that 14-3-3ζ overexpression was significantly (P = 0.005) associated with increased Akt phosphorylation in human breast tumors. Additionally, 14-3-3ζ overexpression combined with strong Akt phosphorylation was significantly (P=0.01) associated with increased cancer recurrence in patients. In contrast, knockdown of 14-3-3ζ expression by siRNA in cancer cell lines and tumor xenografts reduced Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, 14-3-3ζ enhanced Akt phosphorylation through activation of PI3K. Mechanistically, 14-3-3ζ bound to the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K and increased PI3K translocation to the cell membrane. A single 14-3-3 binding motif encompassing serine 83 on p85 is largely responsible for 14-3-3ζ-mediated p85 binding and PI3K/Akt activation. Mutation of serine 83 to alanine on p85 inhibited 14-3-3ζ binding to the p85 subunit of PI3K, reduced PI3K membrane localization and activation, impeded anchorage independent growth and enhanced stress induced apoptosis. These findings revealed a novel mechanism by which 14-3-3ζ overexpression activates PI3K, a key node in the mitogenic signaling network known to promote malignancies in many cell types.

Experimental comparison of coherent polarization-switched QPSK to polarization-multiplexed QPSK for 10 × 100 km WDM transmission

Polarization-switched quadrature phase-shift keying has been demonstrated experimentally at 40.5 Gb/s with a coherent receiver and digital signal processing. Compared to polarization-multiplexed QPSK at the same bit rate, its back-to-back sensitivity at 10(-3) bit-error-ratio shows 0.9dB improvement, and it tolerates about 1.6 dB higher launch power for 10 × 100 km, 50 GHz-spaced WDM transmission allowing 1 dB penalty in required optical-signal-to-noise ratio relative to back-to-back.

Controlling the XUV transparency of helium using two-pathway quantum interference

Atoms irradiated with combined femtosecond laser and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) fields ionize through multiphoton processes, even when the energy of the XUV photon is below the ionization potential. However, in the presence of two different XUV photons and an intense laser field, it is possible to induce full electromagnetic transparency. Taking helium as an example, the laser field modifies its electronic structure, while the presence of two different XUV photons and the laser field leads to two distinct ionization pathways that can interfere destructively. This work demonstrates a new approach for coherent control in a regime of highly excited states and strong optical fields.

Cardiac allograft rejection correlates with increased expressions of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and allograft inflammatory factor 1

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that injury-induced activation of the recipient's innate immune response determines the outcome of allograft transplantation. The mechanism responsible for the induction of such innate immune response is not clear yet. We hypothesized that in cardiac transplantation settings, the initial myocardial ischemia and postischemia graft reperfusion may release allograft inflammatory factor (AIF) 1, causing Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated activation of macrophages and dendritic cells, leading to the production of cytokines and the activation of adaptive alloimmunity. Therefore, our goal was to validate the presence of these biomarkers in the peripheral blood and biopsy specimens of patients presenting allograft rejection.

METHODS

We studied 90 peripheral blood and 30 endomyocardial biopsy specimens from patients who had undergone cardiac transplantation. Specimens were tested by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to determine TLR-2 and -4 and AIF-1 expression levels, correlating with clinical rejection grades. The group differences for mRNA transcript levels between the rejection grades were determined by 1-way analysis of variance. The level of significance was set at P < .05 for comparison between the groups.

RESULTS

The mean ± SEM level of TLR-2 mRNA expression was increased 1.7-fold in monocytes (P < .05) and 4.2-fold in biopsy samples from groups with grade 3A compared with grade 1A or grade 0 rejection (P < .0001). AIF-1 expression was increased 2.4-fold in monocytes (P < .05) and 4.2-fold in biopsy samples comparing grade 3A versus 1A rejections. The TLR-4 mRNA expression was also increased in the group with 3A rejections; however, the difference was only significant in biopsy specimens (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that expression profiles of AIF-1 and TLR-2 correlated with biopsy-proven allograft rejection in both peripheral blood and local tissue, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of allograft rejection.

Inhibition of p38 MAPK-dependent bronchial contraction after ozone by corticosteroids

We determined the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) contractile responses following ozone and modulation by corticosteroids. Mice were exposed to air or ozone (3 ppm for 3 h) and isometric contractile responses of bronchial rings to acetylcholine (ACh) were measured using a myograph in the presence of p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB239063 (10⁻⁶ M) or dexamethasone (10⁻⁶ M). Because MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1 is a negative regulator of p38 MAPK, we also studied these effects in MKP-1(-/-) mice. Bronchial rings from ozone-exposed wild-type and MKP-1(-/-) mice showed increased contractile responses, with a leftward shift of the dose-response curve in MKP-1(-/-) mice. SB239063 inhibited bronchial contraction equally in air- and ozone-exposed C57/BL6 and MKP-1(-/-) mice. Dexamethasone inhibited ACh-induced bronchial contraction in both air- and ozone-exposed C57/BL6 mice, but not in air- or ozone-exposed MKP-1(-/-) mice. ACh-stimulated p38 MAPK and heat shock protein (HSP)27 phosphorylation, as measured by Western blotting, and this effect was suppressed by SB239063 in C57/BL6 and MKP-1(-/-) mice, but not by dexamethasone in either air- or ozone-exposed MKP-1(-/-) mice. p38 MAPK plays a role in maximal ACh-induced isometric contractile responses and increased contractility induced by ozone. Dexamethasone inhibits ACh-induced ASM contraction through phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and HSP27.

Mutation Analysis of the APC Gene in a Chinese FAP Pedigree with Unusual Phenotype

Background and Aim. Germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene cause familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an autosomal dominant inherited disease mainly characterized by colorectal adenomatous polyposis. Genetic studies of FAP have shown that somatic APC mutations are dependent on the position of the germline APC mutation. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these genotype-phenotype associations for APC in Chinese remain largely unknown. Patients and Methods. In this study, we investigated the APC gene mutation in a Chinese FAP family by systematic screening with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC), and DNA sequencing. Promoter methylation was detected by methylation-specific PCR. Results. The identical germline mutation c.1999 C>T (Q667X) of APC was identified in 5 affected members, among which 2 members carried somatic mutations of APC, one with promoter hypermethylation and the other with loss of wild-type allele in their adenomas. The somatic mutations were shown connected with the disease severity, demonstrating a unique genotype-phenotype association in this FAP pedigree. Conclusion. The study revealed the existence of novel pathogenic mutations in Chinese patients with FAP. Somatic mutations are of particular interest because of the unusual phenotypic features shown by patients.

Comparative proteomic analysis of follicular fluids from normal and cystic follicles in sows

Follicular fluid (FF) includes various biologically active proteins which can affect follicular growth and maturation. Certain proteins could reflect the physiological and pathological status of follicles. The aim of the present study was to explore the key proteins associated with pathogenesis of follicular cysts, some of which may be candidate biomarkers for the condition. We analysed the proteomes of FF from small, medium, large and cystic follicles by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with mass spectrometry (MS). The protein components in FF were found to be significantly different among groups; about 300 proteins spots in each group were examined, and 32 differentially expressed proteins were identified from different groups. To further reveal the source of identified proteins, transcripts encoding two of these, transferrin and RBP-4, were detected in granulosa cells (GCs) by RT-PCR, as well as the proteins were detected in 24 h culture media of GCs by ELISA. High levels of RBP-4 were examined in FF of cystic follicles by 2-DE analysis, which were significantly different to those in large follicles (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study enriches our understanding of the proteins of FF; RBP-4 and transferrin originate from passive transfer and follicular synthesized secretion, and RBP-4 might be a candidate biomarker for porcine follicular cysts. Combined with histological studies, these results further suggest that changes of the type and quantity of proteins in FF might be attributed to an abnormal metabolism of follicular cells and structure of follicular wall in cystic follicles. Our findings will contribute to further insight into the pathogenesis of follicular cysts.

Association of intergenic polymorphism of organic anion transporter 1 and 3 genes with hypertension and blood pressure response to hydrochlorothiazide

BACKGROUND

Organic anion transporter (OAT) 1 and OAT3, encoded by a tightly linked gene pair, play a key role in renal secretion of diuretics. However, no study has yet examined the influence of OAT1 and OAT3 polymorphisms on high blood pressure (BP) and the response to thiazide diuretics. We hypothesized that intergenic polymorphisms between OAT1 and OAT3 might be associated with adult hypertension and the antihypertensive effects of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

METHODS

The association of an intergenic polymorphism (rs10792367) with hypertension risk was investigated in two independent case-control studies (n = 1,592 and 602), and then a combined analysis was performed for improving power (1,106 cases and 1,088 controls) with adjustment for geographic location. Two clinical trials (n = 542 and 274) were conducted in untreated hypertensive patients for the association of rs10792367 with antihypertensive responses to 4 and 8 weeks of HCTZ treatment.

RESULTS

No significant association was found between rs10792367 and hypertension after adjustment for conventional risk factors in either the two populations, respectively, or the combined two population. After adjustment for pretreatment BP and other confounders, HCTZ-induced reduction in systolic BP was 4.8 mm Hg (P = 0.006, first trial) and 6.1 mm Hg (P = 0.003, in second trial) lower, respectively, in C allele carriers than in GG carriers in the two clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Intergenic polymorphism rs10792367 between OAT1 and OAT3 is not associated with hypertension, but appears to be involved in between-individual variations in antihypertensive responses to HCTZ.