A retrospective study of different treatments of limited-stage small-cell esophageal carcinoma and associated prognostic factor analysis

Primary, small-cell esophageal carcinoma (SCEC) is a rare but highly malignant tumor. Due to lack of randomized, controlled, prospective studies, there are currently no unified treatment modalities for SCEC. This study retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of different treatments and prognostic factors that influence overall survival in patients with limited-stage SCEC. The study included 106 patients pathologically diagnosed with limited-stage SCEC at Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University (Huai'an, China), between 1998 and 2007. There were 66 males and 40 females, with a median age of 58 years (range: 45-77 years). Fourteen patients received surgery alone, 42 received surgery and postoperative chemotherapy, 11 received radiotherapy alone, and 39 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Combined modality treatment with and without chemotherapy yielded 5-year survival rates (5YSRs) of 27.2% and 0%, respectively. Associated median survival times were 22 months and 11 months, respectively, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-3.73, P = 0.001). Among patients treated with surgery plus postoperative chemotherapy or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the 5YSRs were 31.0% and 23.1%, respectively. Median survival times were 26 months and 18 months, with an HR of 1.25 (95% CI: 0.75-2.09, P = 0.725). Multivariate survival analysis using Cox regression model showed that chemotherapy was a positive independent prognostic factor for SCEC (HR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.25-6.80). Chemotherapy-based combined modality treatment appears to increase the long-term survival of patients with limited-stage SCEC. Similar overall survival rates results are achieved with surgery combined with chemotherapy as with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, with chemotherapy being an independent prognostic factor. Randomized, controlled, prospective studies are needed to identify optimal chemotherapy regimens for treating SCEC.

30 GENERATION OF CLONED TRANSGENIC GOATS WITH CARDIAC SPECIFIC OVEREXPRESSION OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR β1

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) has a potent profibrotic function and is central to signaling cascades involved in interstitial fibrosis, which plays a critical role in the pathobiology of cardiomyopathy and contributes to diastolic and systolic dysfunction. In addition, fibrotic remodeling is responsible for generation of re-entry circuits that promote arrhythmias (Bujak and Frangogiannis 2007 Cardiovasc. Res. 74, 184–195). Due to the small size of the heart, functional electrophysiology of transgenic mice is problematic. Large transgenic animal models have the potential to offer insights into conduction heterogeneity associated with fibrosis and the role of fibrosis in cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this study was to generate transgenic goats overexpressing an active form of TGFβ-1 under control of the cardiac-specific α-myosin heavy chain promoter (α-MHC). A pcDNA3.1DV5-MHC-TGF-β1cys33ser vector was constructed by subcloning the MHC-TGF-β1 fragment from the plasmid pUC-BM20-MHC-TGF-β1 (Nakajima et al. 2000 Circ. Res. 86, 571–579) into the pcDNA3.1D V5 vector. The Neon transfection system was used to electroporate primary goat fetal fibroblasts. After G418 selection and PCR screening, transgenic cells were used for SCNT. Oocytes were collected by slicing ovaries from an abattoir and matured in vitro in an incubator with 5% CO2 in air. Cumulus cells were removed at 21 to 23 h post-maturation. Oocytes were enucleated by aspirating the first polar body and nearby cytoplasm by micromanipulation in Hepes-buffered SOF medium with 10 µg of cytochalasin B mL–1. Transgenic somatic cells were individually inserted into the perivitelline space and fused with enucleated oocytes using double electrical pulses of 1.8 kV cm–1 (40 µs each). Reconstructed embryos were activated by ionomycin (5 min) and DMAP and cycloheximide (CHX) treatments. Cloned embryos were cultured in G1 medium for 12 to 60 h in vitro and then transferred into synchronized recipient females. Pregnancy was examined by ultrasonography on day 30 post-transfer. A total of 246 cloned embryos were transferred into 14 recipients that resulted in production of 7 kids. The pregnancy rate was higher in the group cultured for 12 h compared with those cultured 36 to 60 h [44.4% (n = 9) v. 20% (n = 5)]. The kidding rates per embryo transferred of these 2 groups were 3.8% (n = 156) and 1.1% (n = 90), respectively. The PCR results confirmed that all the clones were transgenic. Phenotype characterization [e.g. gene expression, electrocardiogram (ECG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] is underway. We demonstrated successful production of transgenic goat via SCNT. To our knowledge, this is the first transgenic goat model produced for cardiovascular research. This work was supported by the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative, Utah Multidisciplinary Arrhythmia Consortium.

Nutritional and chemical composition and antiviral activity of cultivated seaweed Sargassum naozhouense Tseng et Lu

Sargassum naozhouense is a brown seaweed used in folk medicine and applied for thousands of years in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China. This study is the first time to investigate its chemical composition and antiviral activity. On the dry weight basis, this seaweed was constituted of ca. 35.18% ash, 11.20% protein, 1.06% lipid and 47.73% total carbohydrate, and the main carbohydrate was water-soluble polysaccharide. The protein analysis indicated the presence of essential amino acids, which accounted for 36.35% of the protein. The most abundant fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, C18:1 and C20:4. The ash fraction analysis indicated that essential minerals and trace elements, such as Fe, Zn and Cu, were present in the seaweed. IR analysis revealed that polysaccharides from cultivated S. naozhouense may be alginates and fucoidan. The polysaccharides possessed strong antiviral activity against HSV-1 in vitro with EC(50) of 8.92 μg/mL. These results demonstrated cultivated S. naozhouense has a potential for its use in functional foods and antiviral new drugs.

Uptake of silica and carbon nanotubes by human macrophages/monocytes induces activation of fibroblasts in vitro -- potential implication for pathogenesis of inflammation and fibrotic diseases

The potential pathogenic effects of silica and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on fibroblasts, macrophages/monocytes, and T cells were investigated. Human macrophage/monocytes were cultured and stimulated with silica, CNTs, or titanium particles. After adding human T cells to the stimulated macrophages/monocytes, the cells were added to cultured human fibroblasts. Upon microscopic examination, CNT stimulation after 24 hours showed centralization of macrophages/monocytes around the CNTs. Silica stimulation showed a significant increase of IL-1α and IL-1β in cultured medium, and an increased gene expression of CTGF in cultured fibroblasts at 1 hour, as well as an up-regulation of the COL1A2 gene at 24-hour time point. In addition to the same changes of IL-1α, IL-1β and the COL1A2 by silica, CNT stimulation showed an increase of IL-8 in cultured medium at 1-hour time point. Titanium stimulation yielded no significant changes. The results indicate a proinflammatory and/or profibrotic effect of silica and CNTs to cultured human cells including macrophages/monocyte, T cells and fibroblasts.

Delayed administration of a PTEN inhibitor BPV improves functional recovery after experimental stroke

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) inhibitors administered prior to or immediately after experimental stroke confer acute neuroprotection. However, it remains unclear if delayed treatment with a PTEN inhibitor improves long-term functional recovery after stroke. We addressed the issue in this study. Adult male mice were subjected to 1h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by treatment with a well-established PTEN inhibitor BPV or saline daily for 14 days, starting at 24h after MCAO. Functional recovery was assessed with behavioral tests and acute infarct volumes were analyzed histologically. Delayed BPV treatment did not reduce infarction during the acute phase, but significantly improved long-term functional recovery after MCAO. Since PTEN is a critical intrinsic inhibitory factor in axonal regeneration, we further examined BPV effects on axonal densities following MCAO using bielschowsky silver staining and immunohistochemistry with antibodies against myelin basic protein. Delayed BPV treatment significantly increased axon densities in the ischemic brain at 14 days after MCAO. Moreover, PTEN expression persistently remained high in the ischemic brain over 14 days after MCAO, and BPV treatment increased post-ischemic activation of Akt and mTOR in the ischemic brain. Akt and mTOR activation are the well-established cascades downstream to PTEN inhibition and have been shown to contribute to post-injury axonal regrowth in response to PTEN inhibition. Consistently, in an in vitro neuronal ischemia model, BPV enhanced axonal outgrowth of primary cortical neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation and the enhancing effects were abolished by Akt/mTOR inhibition. In conclusion, delayed BPV treatment improved functional recovery from experimental stroke possibly via enhancing axonal growth and Akt/mTOR activation contributed to BPV-enhanced post-stroke axon growth.

Identification of Serum MicroRNA-21 as a Biomarker for Chemosensitivity and Prognosis in Human Osteosarcoma

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the serum level of microRNA (miR)-21 in patients with osteosarcoma and its correlation with chemosensitivity and prognosis.

Methods:

miR-21 levels in sera from 65 patients with osteosarcoma and 30 healthy controls were measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Correlations between serum miR-21 and clinicopathological features in patients with osteosarcoma were determined. The prognostic significance of serum miR-21 was assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results:

The serum level of miR-21 was significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma than in control subjects. High serum miR-21 was significantly correlated with advanced Enneking stage and chemotherapeutic resistance. Univariate and multivariate analyses for overall survival showed that upregulation of serum miR-21 was an independent, unfavourable prognostic factor for patients with osteosarcoma (hazard ratio, 2.325).

Conclusions:

miR-21 might be a good candidate for a therapeutic target, and a potential biomarker for the prediction of chemotherapeutic sensitivity and prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma.

Inhibiting periapical lesions through AAV-RNAi silencing of cathepsin K

Dental caries, one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide, affects approximately 80% of children and the majority of adults. Dental caries may result in endodontic disease, leading to dental pulp necrosis, periapical inflammation and bone resorption, severe pain, and tooth loss. Periapical inflammation may also increase inflammation in other parts of the body. Although many studies have attempted to develop therapies for this disease, there is still an urgent need for effective treatments. In this study, we applied a novel gene therapeutic approach using recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated RNAi knockdown of Cathepsin K (Ctsk) gene expression, to target osteoclasts and periapical bone resorption in a mouse model. We found that AAV-sh-Cathepsin K (AAV-sh-Ctsk) impaired osteoclast function in vivo and furthermore reduced bacterial infection-stimulated bone resorption by 88%. Reduced periapical lesion size was accompanied by decreases in mononuclear leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory cytokine expression. Our study shows that AAV-RNAi silencing of Cathepsin K in periapical tissues can significantly reduce endodontic disease development, bone destruction, and inflammation in the periapical lesion. This is the first demonstration that AAV-mediated RNAi knockdown gene therapy may significantly reduce the severity of endodontic disease.

Comparison of cellular responses across multiple passage numbers in Ba/F3-BCR-ABL cells induced by silver nanoparticles

With the rapid development of nanotechnology and increasingly broad bio-application of engineered nanomaterials, their biohazards have become a serious public concern. It is believed that the chemical nature, particle size, morphology, and surface chemistry of nanomaterials are key parameters that influence their toxicity. Although cultured cells have been widely used to evaluate nanomaterial toxicity, it remains unclear whether the passage of these cells affects the evaluation results. In the present study, Ba/F3 cells transfected with the BCR-ABL gene were subcultured to study the effect of passage number on cell stability and their cellular responses upon exposure to nanomaterials. The results demonstrated that proliferation, cellular senescence, BCR-ABL gene expression, cell cycle and apoptosis were stable across multiple passages. Senescence and BCR-ABL gene expression of cells from different passage cells were unchanged when treated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In addition, the cells at multiple passage numbers were all arrested in the G(2)/M phase and apoptosis was induced by the AgNPs. These nanoparticles could enter cells via endocytosis and localize in the endosomes, which were also not influenced by passage number. These data suggest that short-term passage would not affect cultured cell stability and toxicity assessment using these cells would be consistent when maintained appropriately.

[The general measurement of genetic factors on lung cancer in Xuanwei, China]

BACKGROUND

To investigate the hereditary model of lung cancer and to determine measurement of genetic factors on lung cancer.

METHODS

With methods of genetic epidemiology, 370 probands of lung cancer and 370 spouses of the probands ( control) were studied.

RESULTS

The segregation ratio of lung cancer was 0. 15 and the genetic model of lung cancer belonged to polygenetics.The heritability of lung cancer was 24. 6%, 14. 6% for male and 37. 8% for female.

CONCLUSIONS

The genetic model of lung cancer is polygenetics. The genetic susceptibility of female with lung cancer is higher than that of male. The genetic factor is one of the risk factors on lung cancer but the environmental factors are still the most important risk factors.

Thyroid Hormone Analogue Stimulates Keratinocyte Proliferation but Inhibits Cell Differentiation in Epidermis

Gross clinical manifestations of thyroid hormone (TH) imbalance are often first seen in the skin where TH plays an integral role in sustaining natural function. Although mounting evidence suggests that TH plays an important role in epidermal proliferation and wound healing, the physiologic role of thyroid hormone in skin is not well understood. In the current study, we investigated the effect of a natural thyroid hormone analogue-3, 3', 5-triiodo-thyroacetic acid (TRIAC) on regulating proliferation and differentiation and its possible molecular mechanism in normal human epidermal keratinocytes and C57BL/6 mice. We determined that TRIAC could stimulate epidermal thickening in mice and promote human keratinocyte proliferation by activating Cyclin D1 expression and promoting entrance into S phase. Moreover, TRIAC might inhibit cell differentiation through repressing the expression of Casein Kinase 1 (CK1), which is a key regulatory protein involved in the control of cell differentiation. Taken together, our data explored the physiologic effect of TRIAC on skin and the possible molecular mechanism of TRIAC, which might be an interesting compound for the treatment of hyperkeratotic skin disorders.

Sarcoidosis: vaginal wall and vulvar involvement

Sarcoidosis is a non-caseous granulomatous disease which could involve numerous organs including lungs, eyes, skin, nervous system, heart, liver. However, the genitourinary tract involvement was rarely reported in sarcoidosis. We report the case of a 45-year-old married woman who presented with 2 months history of a vulval mass as large as a soybean, and did not reveal any remarkable pulmonary signs. Biopsy results showed non-caseous granulomatous inflammation consistent with sarcoidosis in the vulvar lesion. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this entity in the world. Based on the related literature, we highlight the possibility of gynecologic involvement in sarcoidosis.

Genome-wide analysis of plant nat-siRNAs reveals insights into their distribution, biogenesis and function

BACKGROUND

Many eukaryotic genomes encode cis-natural antisense transcripts (cis-NATs). Sense and antisense transcripts may form double-stranded RNAs that are processed by the RNA interference machinery into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). A few so-called nat-siRNAs have been reported in plants, mammals, Drosophila, and yeasts. However, many questions remain regarding the features and biogenesis of nat-siRNAs.

RESULTS

Through deep sequencing, we identified more than 17,000 unique siRNAs corresponding to cis-NATs from biotic and abiotic stress-challenged Arabidopsis thaliana and 56,000 from abiotic stress-treated rice. These siRNAs were enriched in the overlapping regions of NATs and exhibited either site-specific or distributed patterns, often with strand bias. Out of 1,439 and 767 cis-NAT pairs identified in Arabidopsis and rice, respectively, 84 and 119 could generate at least 10 siRNAs per million reads from the overlapping regions. Among them, 16 cis-NAT pairs from Arabidopsis and 34 from rice gave rise to nat-siRNAs exclusively in the overlap regions. Genetic analysis showed that the overlapping double-stranded RNAs could be processed by Dicer-like 1 (DCL1) and/or DCL3. The DCL3-dependent nat-siRNAs were also dependent on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) and plant-specific RNA polymerase IV (PolIV), whereas only a fraction of DCL1-dependent nat-siRNAs was RDR- and PolIV-dependent. Furthermore, the levels of some nat-siRNAs were regulated by specific biotic or abiotic stress conditions in Arabidopsis and rice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that nat-siRNAs display distinct distribution patterns and are generated by DCL1 and/or DCL3. Our analysis further supported the existence of nat-siRNAs in plants and advanced our understanding of their characteristics.

Bacterial adhesion on honeycomb-structured poly(L-lactic acid) surface with ag nanoparticles

Polymeric materials with ordered porous structure have received increasing interest due to their potential applications in biomaterials. However, the enhancement of cell proliferation by this porous structure also raises worries about the increase of bacterial adhesion. For their further use as biomaterials in vivo, it is essential to assess the bacterial adhesion on porous polymer films and find strategies to inhibit the bacterial retention. Honeycomb-structured poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films with Ag nanoparticles were used in this purpose. The Ag+ release rate of Ag/PLLA films was analyzed. In vitro bacterial adhesions of S. aureus and E. coli on flat PLLA films, flat Ag/PLLA films, and honeycomb-structured Ag/PLLA films were compared. Ag nanoparticles activity appears to be more effective against bacteria in honeycomb-structured films compared with flat films of the same material. This activity is particularly significant when E. col is used. The results suggest that the honeycomb surface topography, as well as the enhanced release of Ag+, can greatly contribute to the anti-adhesion property of PLLA surface. These honeycomb-structured Ag/PLLA films also have no significant cytotoxicity. The decoration of Ag nanoparticles in honeycomb structure provides an effective and safe strategy to reduce the bacterial adhesion on porous polymer surface.

CD28 superagonist antibody treatment attenuated obliterative bronchiolitis in rat allo-orthotopic tracheal transplantation by preferentially expanding Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells

Obliterative airway disease (OAD) due to chronic alloantigen rejection remains a major challenge for long-term graft survival in lung transplantation. It is known that superagonistic CD28-specific monoclonal antibody JJ316 (supCD28 MAb) has the ability to induce regulatory T cells (Tregs) efficiently. Here we used a rat orthotopic tracheal transplantation model to investigate the effects of supCD28 MAb on expanding Tregs in vivo and its application in suppression of acute and chronic airway allograft rejection. SupCD28 MAb administration revealed a significant increase in the CD4+CD25+ T cells, CD4+FoxP3+ T cells, and CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells population among CD4+ T cells in spleen, peripheral blood, as well as cervical lymph nodes. The allografts from animals treated with supCD28 MAb showed significantly less airway obliteration and rejection of the respiratory epithelium compared with allografts of the mouse immunoglobulin G-treated group on the 5th day and the 60th day after transplantation. Overall, our data demonstrated that an intraperitoneally administrated low dose of supCD28 MAb was sufficient to induce Treg cell expansion in vivo and was effective in protecting the airway graft from early rejection and chronic OAD development. These findings provide the basis for new therapies to prevent OAD and perhaps rejection of allografts in other human transplantations.