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.

Effect of Galla chinensis on growth and metabolism of microcosm biofilms

Galla chinensis extract (GCE) interferes with de- and remineralization of dental enamel and the growth and metabolism in planktonic bacteria. However, no information is available on GCE effects on biofilms formed with saliva as inoculum. The aim of the current experiments was to investigate the effects of GCE at different stages of salivary microcosm biofilm formation. Biofilms formed on glass or enamel surfaces were treated with GCE solutions at different concentrations and at different time points. Effects were assessed by lactic acid formation and colony-forming unit (CFU) counts of the biofilms. The results showed that GCE treatments inhibited growth and acid metabolism of both nascent and mature microcosm biofilms. Pretreatment of the substratum with GCE solutions inhibited growth and lactic acid production of biofilms grown on enamel, but had little effects on biofilms formed on glass surfaces. A maximum GCE effect was found when biofilms, on either surface type, were treated after 8 h of formation with 40 h of subsequent growth. In medium with sucrose-fermenting biofilms, low concentrations of GCE (0.2 and 0.1 mg/ml) inhibited acid production without killing bacteria of the biofilm. Differences were found in GCE effects on biofilms formed with saliva from different donors, with reductions in acid formation and CFU values ranging between 0 and 78%. In conclusion, bioactive components in GCE reduce or inhibit both growth and lactic acid formation in biofilms.

Laser-enabled Auger decay in rare-gas atoms

In rare-gas atoms, Auger decay in which an inner-valence shell ns hole is filled is not energetically allowed. However, in the presence of a strong laser field, a new laser-enabled Auger decay channel can open up to increase the double-ionization yield. This process is efficient at high laser intensities, where an ns hole can be filled within a few femtoseconds of its creation. This novel laser-enabled Auger decay process is of fundamental importance for controlling electron dynamics in atoms, molecules, and materials.

Field-induced reactions of water molecules at Si-dielectric interfaces

Water molecules and water-related species are present to a varying degree in SiO2 and other dielectrics and at Si-dielectric interfaces. Their presence, even in small concentrations, constitutes a critical reliability problem for present day ultrathin dielectrics. Here we present first-principles density functional calculations that probe the reactivity of water molecules at the Si-dielectric interface. We report results on different possible reaction pathways for water at the interface, including dissociation of water that can lead to the release of H+ ions. The released protons can migrate along the interface and depassivate dangling bonds. Results are also presented for the reaction of water with a hydrogen atom migrating laterally along the interface that lead to the creation of hydronium species. These atomic-scale mechanisms may account for at least some of the creation of interface traps and oxide trapped charge, the two features that give rise to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), a well known reliability phenomenon that occurs in MOSFETs under normal operating and stress conditions.

A morphological study of corneal flap after thin-flap laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis by anterior segment optical coherence tomography

This prospective study assessed corneal flap morphology in 115 patients undergoing laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Flaps were created using the Moria M2 90-μm or KM-5000D 110-μm microkeratomes. Flap thickness was measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography at seven points in a 7-mm diameter zone 1 h, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week and 1 month after surgery. Flap accuracy, reproducibility, uniformity and changes over time were evaluated. The Moria M2 microkeratome created flaps with less accuracy in the centre than the KM-5000D microkeratome (114.06 ± 6.46 μm vs 128.39 ± 6.79 μm, respectively, at 1 week). For both microkeratomes, flap thickness varied between most of the peripheral areas and the central point. Both microkeratomes created flaps with good central predictability and reproducibility, but high variation and significant deviation from intended thickness were observed in peripheral flap thickness.

Assessing toxicities in a clinical trial: Bayesian inference for ordinal data nested within categories

This article addresses modeling and inference for ordinal outcomes nested within categorical responses. We propose a mixture of normal distributions for latent variables associated with the ordinal data. This mixture model allows us to fix without loss of generality the cutpoint parameters that link the latent variable with the observed ordinal outcome. Moreover, the mixture model is shown to be more flexible in estimating cell probabilities when compared to the traditional Bayesian ordinal probit regression model with random cutpoint parameters. We extend our model to take into account possible dependence among the outcomes in different categories. We apply the model to a randomized phase III study to compare treatments on the basis of toxicities recorded by type of toxicity and grade within type. The data include the different (categorical) toxicity types exhibited in each patient. Each type of toxicity has an (ordinal) grade associated to it. The dependence among the different types of toxicity exhibited by the same patient is modeled by introducing patient-specific random effects.

Immobilization of horseradish peroxidase on silane-modified ceramics and their properties: potential for oily wastewater treatment

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is proved being effective in eliminating oil from aqueous solutions, but the elimination is expensive because free HRP can not be reused. In present work, HRP was successfully immobilized on cordierite porous ceramics support with a novel method of N-beta-aminoethyl-gamma-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane modification and glutaraldehyde activation. Under the optimized immobilized conditions, the actual immobilized HRP was 1.16 mg/g support, the activity of the immobilized HRP could reach as high as 1379.4 U/g support. Experiment results showed that the properties of storage stability, acid-base stability and the tolerance to the pH fluctuation of the immobilized HRP were better than those of the free HRP. The operation stability of the immobilized HRP was also good. The immobilized HRP is suitable for the oily wastewater treatment because of its reusability proved in this work.

Web-accessible interactive software of 3D anatomy representing pathophysiological conditions to enhance the patient-consent process for procedures

Conveying to a patient the exact physical nature of a disease or procedure can be difficult. By establishing an access website, and using existing 3D viewer software along with our expanding set of anatomical models, we can provide an interface to manipulate realistic, 3D models of common anatomical ailments, chosen from a database frequently updated at the request of the medical community. Physicians will be able to show patients exactly what their condition looks like internally, and explain in better detail how a procedure will be performed.

Detection of cervical metastatic lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Background

A previous study demonstrated that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can distinguish thyroid cancer from benign thyroid lesions. The aim of this study was to explore the use of FTIR for identifying metastatic lymph nodes of papillary thyroid cancer in vitro, and distinguishing between metastatic and non-metastatic tissue.

Methods

Some 184 freshly removed cervical lymph nodes were obtained from 22 patients with papillary thyroid cancer undergoing thyroid surgery with lymph node dissection. Samples were measured by FTIR spectroscopy before being processed for histopathological diagnosis. The FTIR spectrum of each sample identified 13 bands from 1000 to 4000 cm−1. The peak position, intensity and full width at half maximum of each absorbent band were measured, and the relative intensity ratios were calculated. The FTIR spectra of metastatic lymph nodes were compared with those of non-metastatic nodes, and a linear discriminant analysis was performed based on these data.

Results

Histopathological examination confirmed 61 metastatic and 123 non-metastatic lymph nodes. The FTIR parameters of metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes differed owing to the content or configuration alterations of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The sensitivity for FTIR in diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes was 80·3 per cent, the specificity was 91·9 per cent and the accuracy was 88·0 per cent.

Conclusion

FTIR spectroscopy is a novel technique for detection of metastatic lymph nodes and may prove useful in surgery for papillary thyroid cancer.

Erythromycin inhibited glycinergic inputs to gastric vagal motoneurons in brainstem slices of newborn rats

BACKGROUND

Motilin has been known to stimulate the motility of digestive organs peripherally via activation of motilin receptors located at gastrointestinal (GI) cholinergic nerve endings and/or smooth muscle cells. Recent studies have indicated that motilin may also promote GI motility via actions in the central nervous system; however the sites of action and the mechanisms are not clear yet. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that motilin receptor agonist erythromycin alters the synaptic inputs of preganglionic gastric vagal motoneurons (GVMs) located in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV).

METHODS

Gastric vagal motoneurons were retrogradely labeled by fluorescent tracer from the stomach wall of newborn rats. Fluorescently labeled GVMs in DMV were recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp in brainstem slices and the effects of motilin receptor agonist erythromycin on the synaptic inputs were examined.

KEY RESULTS

Erythromycin (100 nmol L(-1), 1 μmol L(-1), 10 μmol L(-1)) significantly inhibited the frequency of glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) of GVMs and significantly inhibited the amplitude at the concentration of 10 μmol L(-1). These responses were prevented by GM-109, a selective motilin receptor antagonist. In the pre-existence of tetradotoxin (TTX, 1 μmol L(-1)), erythromycin (10 μmol L(-1)) caused significant decreases of the glycinergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs), in both the frequency and the amplitude. However, erythromycin (10 μmol L(-1)) didn't cause significant changes of the GABAergic sIPSCs.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Erythromycin selectively inhibits the glycinergic inputs of GVMs.

Short-term corneal endothelial changes after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy

To investigate the short-term effects of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) on the corneal endothelium, 10 patients undergoing LASEK for myopia without complications (20 eyes) were observed. Each eye was evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and non-contact specular microscopy pre-operatively, and at 15 min, 1 day and 1 week post-operatively. The decrease in endothelial cell density was statistically significant at 15 min post-operatively, and the difference between pre-operative and 15-min post-operative coefficient of variation of cell size was also statistically significant. The percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly different from baseline levels at 15 min and at 1 day post-operatively. All parameters at 1 week post-operatively were not statistically different from those observed pre-operatively. Immediate changes in endothelial cell number and morphology occurred following LASEK, but endothelial morphology returned to the pre-operative condition after 1 week. Long-term follow-up is needed to identify further consequences of this procedure.

Adenovirus-based vaccines: comparison of vectors from three species of adenoviridae

In order to better understand the broad applicability of adenovirus (Ad) as a vector for human vaccine studies, we compared four adenovirus (Ad) vectors from families C (Ad human serotype 5 [HAdV-5; here referred to as AdHu5]), D (HAdV-26; here referred to as AdHu26), and E (simian serotypes SAdV-23 and SAdV-24; here referred to as chimpanzee serotypes 6 and 7 [AdC6 and AdC7, respectively]) of the Adenoviridae. Seroprevalence rates and titers of neutralizing antibodies to the two human-origin Ads were found to be higher than those reported previously, especially in countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Conversely, prevalence rates and titers to AdC6 and AdC7 were markedly lower. Healthy human adults from the United States had readily detectable circulating T cells recognizing Ad viruses, the levels of which in some individuals were unexpectedly high in response to AdHu26. The magnitude of T-cell responses to AdHu5 correlated with those to AdHu26, suggesting T-cell recognition of conserved epitopes. In mice, all of the different Ad vectors induced CD8(+) T-cell responses that were comparable in their magnitudes and cytokine production profiles. Prime-boost regimens comparing different combinations of Ad vectors failed to indicate that the sequential use of Ad vectors from distinct families resulted in higher immune responses than the use of serologically distinct Ad vectors from the same family. Moreover, the transgene product-specific antibody responses induced by the AdHu26 and AdC vectors were markedly lower than those induced by the AdHu5 vector. AdHu26 vectors and, to a lesser extent, AdC vectors induced more potent Ad-neutralizing antibody responses. These results suggest that the potential of AdHu26 as a vaccine vector may suffer from limitations similar to those found for vectors based on other prevalent human Ads.

A rare case of Gerbode defect associated with double orifice mitral valve

Gerbode defect is an unusual cardiac defect; its association with a double orifice mitral valve has not been previously reported. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman who complained of palpitation and dyspnea on exertion. Echocardiography revealed an abnormal communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium, but misinterpreted a double orifice mitral valve as fusion of the anterolateral commissure. The Gerbode defect was closed during cardiopulmonary bypass, while the double orifice mitral valve was left untouched. The patient was discharged 16 days postoperatively.

Associations between the genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR and outcomes of methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801133C/T, rs1801131A/C, rs2274976A/G, rs2066462C/T genetic polymorphisms are associated with clinical response and adverse effects (AEs) of methotrexate (MTX) treatment in Chinese Han patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

One hundred and ten RA patients defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 revised criteria were involved in this study. All patients were treated with low-dose MTX (10-15 mg/week) without concomitant uses of other DMARDs. Clinical response (using ACR20 criteria) and AEs were evaluated at 0, 4, 12, 16 and 24 weeks. The genotypes of MTHFR rs1801133C/T, rs1801131A/C, rs2274976A/G and rs2066462C/T were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

The allele frequency of rs1801131C in the clinical response group was higher than in the non-response group (21.0% vs. 8.1%, p<0.05), and the patients with CC or AC genotype had greater clinical response than those with AA genotype. The allele frequencies of rs1801133T and rs2274976A were higher in the group with AEs than that without AEs (56.4% vs. 37.5% and 14.9% vs. 4.2%, respectively, both p<0.05). The patients with CT or TT genotype in rs1801133 had higher risks of AEs than those with CC genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

While rs1801131A/C genetic polymorphism is associated with the clinical response, rs1801133C/T and rs2274976A/G genetic polymorphisms are associated with MTX-related AEs in the treatment of RA. This suggests individualisation is necessary to achieve optimal outcomes in MTX therapy of RA.

Relevance of lower airway bacterial colonization, airway inflammation, and pulmonary function in the stable stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The objective of this investigation was to verify the hypothesis that the presence of lower airway bacterial colonization (LABC) can be a stimulating factor of airway inflammation, more frequent exacerbation, and impact on pulmonary function, independent of current tobacco smoking in the stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 46 ex-smokers with moderate to severe COPD, 19 healthy non-smokers, and 17 ex-smokers without COPD were included in this study. Their sputum specimens were collected at the first baseline visit and at the second visit after a follow-up of one year. The samples were analyzed for bacterial growth by culture, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of exacerbations and pulmonary function were compared at visit 2. At visit 1, 37.0% (17/46) were found to have LABC with bacterial loads ≥10⁶ CFU/ml in their sputum specimens. Haemophilus influenzae was the predominant pathogenic organism isolated. IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α in these patients' sputum were significantly higher than those without LABC (p < 0.05). It was the presence of LABC that contributed to the significantly elevated IL-8 and IL-6 at the 1-year period (p < 0.05). LABC was also associated with significantly increased frequencies of exacerbations and declined forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) (p < 0.05). LABC was documented in a subpopulation of stable COPD patients; it may be responsible for the deterioration of pulmonary function of COPD patients by promoting airway inflammation and/or increased frequency of exacerbations independently of tobacco smoking.