Soluble interleukin-1 receptor, a potential negative regulator of orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides interleukin-1 system

In this study, the cDNA sequence encoding interleukin-1 (Il-1) receptor-like protein of orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides was obtained. The newly identified sequence was named soluble type I Il-1 receptor (sIl-1rI) owing to its structural composition, which had two Ig-like domains, lack of transmembrane region and the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain, similar to the brown rat Rattus norvegicus soluble Il-1rI. In addition, sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. coioides sequence had a closer relationship with Il-1rI than Il-1rII. Real-time PCR revealed that sil-1rI mRNA expression presented a process of decrease, restoration and increase in Cryptocaryon irritans-infected E. coioides. The negative correlation between Il-1β and sil-1rI mRNA in C. irritans-infected head-kidney implied the potential negative regulatory role of sil-1rI in E. coioides Il-1 system. The leucocytes incubated with lipopolysaccharide or polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid exhibited different expression profiles of sil-1rI. Recombinant Il-1β (rIl-1β) protein was capable of inducing sil-1rI mRNA under the concentration of 100 ng ml(-1) , suggesting that high dosage or excess Il-1β would stimulate the expression of sil-1rI to maintain the homoeostasis of E. coioides Il-1 system. For the first time, the role of teleost Il-1rI in parasite infection has been identified, and soluble Il-1r was found in fish.

Axillary lymph node status, adjusted for pathologic complete response in breast and axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, predicts differential disease-free survival in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Our retrospective study in breast cancer patients evaluated whether integrating subtype and pathologic complete response (pcr) information into axillary lymph node restaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nac) adds significance to its prognostic values.

METHODS

Patients included in the analysis had stage ii or iii disease, with post-nac axillary lymph node dissection (alnd), without sentinel lymph node biopsy before completion of nac, with definitive subtyping data and subtype-oriented adjuvant treatments. The ypN grading system was used to restage axillary lymph node status, and ypN0 was adjusted by pcr in both breast and axilla into ypN0(pcr) and ypN0(non-pcr). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Among the 301 patients analyzed, 145 had tumours that were hormone receptor-positive (hr+) and negative for the human epidermal growth factor receptor (her2-), 101 had tumours that were positive for her2 (her2+), and 55 had tumours that were triple-negative. The rate of pcr in both breast and axilla was 11.7%, 43.6%, and 25.5% respectively for the 3 subtypes. Compared with the non-pcr patients, the pcr patients had better disease-free survival (dfs) and overall survival (os): p = 0.002 for dfs and p = 0.011 for os. In non-pcr patients, dfs and os were similar in the ypN0(non-pcr) and ypN1 subgroups, and in the ypN2 and ypN3 subgroups. We therefore grouped the ypN grading results into ypN0(pcr) (n = 75), ypN0- 1(non-pcr) (n = 175), and ypN2-3 (n = 51). In those groups, the 3-year dfs was 98%, 91%, and 56%, and the 3-year os was 100%, 91%, and 82% respectively. The differences in dfs and os between those three subgroups were significant (all p < 0.05 in paired comparisons). Multivariate Cox regression showed that subtype and ypN staging adjusted by pcr were the only two independent factors predicting dfs.

CONCLUSIONS

Axillary lymph node status after nac, adjusted for pcr in breast and axilla, predicts differential dfs in patients without prior sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Deep inner-shell multiphoton ionization by intense x-ray free-electron laser pulses

We have investigated multiphoton multiple ionization dynamics of xenon atoms using a new x-ray free-electron laser facility, SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA) in Japan, and identified that Xe(n+) with n up to 26 is produced at a photon energy of 5.5 keV. The observed high charge states (n≥24) are produced via five-photon absorption, evidencing the occurrence of multiphoton absorption involving deep inner shells. A newly developed theoretical model, which shows good agreement with the experiment, elucidates the complex pathways of sequential electronic decay cascades accessible in heavy atoms. The present study of heavy-atom ionization dynamics in high-intensity hard-x-ray pulses makes a step forward towards molecular structure determination with x-ray free-electron lasers.

Hypocrea lixii, novel endophytic fungi producing anticancer agent cajanol, isolated from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.)

AIMS

The aim was to isolate, identify and characterize endophytes from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.), as novel producer of cajanol and its in vitro cytotoxicity assay.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Isolation, identification and characterization of novel endophytes producing cajanol from the roots of pigeon pea were investigated. The endophytes were identified as Hypocrea lixii by morphological and molecular methods. Cajanol produced by endophytes were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). R-18 produced the highest levels of cajanol (322·4 ± 10·6 μg l(-1) or 102·8 ± 6·9 μg g(-1) dry weight of mycelium) after incubation for 7 days. The cytotoxicity towards human lung carcinoma cells (A549) of fungal cajanol was investigated in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

First, a novel endophyte Hypocrea lixii, producing anticancer agent cajanol, was isolated from the host pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.). Fungal cajanol possessed stronger cytotoxicity activity towards A549 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This endophyte is a potential handle for scientific and commercial exploitation, and it could provide a promising alterative approach for large-scale production of cajanol to satisfy new anticancer drug development.

An epidemiological study of sleep quality in adolescents in South China: a school-based study

BACKGROUND

This study explored the prevalence of disturbed sleep and investigated its distribution characteristics and associated factors in adolescents in South China.

METHODS

Junior middle school and senior high school students (n = 1221) were recruited from schools in Shanghai, China. Students completed a questionnaire using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and factors associated with disturbed sleep.

RESULTS

The prevalence of a tendency towards poor sleep was 34.32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 31.66-36.98] with no significant difference between genders. This tendency increased with age, yielding a significant group effect (P < 0.01). In middle school and high school, the propensity towards poor sleep was 31.34% (95% CI: 28.29-34.39) and 42.22% (95% CI: 36.92-47.52) respectively. The factors associated with poor sleep were more television viewing during weekdays [odds ratio (OR): 1.56, CI: 1.36-1.71], more frequent computer/Internet use (OR: 1.25, CI: 1.08-1.39), earlier school starting time (OR: 1.12, CI: 1.07-1.28), and more time on homework during weekdays (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.51-1.98) and weekends (OR: 1.35, CI: 1.21-1.52)

CONCLUSIONS

A tendency towards poor sleep is common in adolescents in South China and its incidence increases with age. The factors associated with this phenomenon indicate that poor sleep in adolescents could be improved, at least partly, by reducing the use of visual technologies and by changing school timetables.

Identification and expression analysis of major histocompatibility complex IIB gene in orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides

In this study, complementary DNA (cDNA) and DNA sequences of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB genes (mhcIIB) were cloned from orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides. The gene structure of E. coioides mhcIIB consists of five exons and four introns, and its deduced amino acid sequence length is 249 amino acids, including a signal peptide, a peptide-binding region, an IGC1 domain, a transmembrane region and a cytoplasmic tail. A phylogenetic study showed that E. coioides mhcIIB shared 32.0-79.1% identity with those of other teleosts and mammals. Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR was performed to detect the class IIB gene expression in eight different tissues. To characterize the relationship between E. coioides mhcIIB gene and pathogens, in vivo and in vitro studies were performed. Challenge of Cryptocaryon irritans revealed that class IIB genes were down-regulated after 24 and 48 h of challenge, and their expression was later restored at 72 h. Stimulation of isolated E. coioides leukocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) significantly increased peripheral blood and spleen mhcIIB expression, while head kidney mhcIIB expression remained constant.

Molecular Identification and Characterization of Tomato zonate spot virus in Tobacco in Guangxi, China

In Guangxi Province of southwest China, diseases caused by Tospoviruses (family Bunyaviridae) pose a serious threat to tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) production. During surveys conducted annually at Xinrong Village in Jingxi County from 2008 to 2010, more than 130 ha of fields were found to have 10 to 50% of plants exhibiting symptoms similar to spotted wilt caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). During this period, disease symptoms at similar prevalence and incidence were also found at Fushan, Debao County in most of the cultivars produced in these areas, including Yunyan 85, 87, 92, 97, and K326. Symptoms on tobacco varied but commonly included dwarfing, midrib browning, distorted apical buds, and concentric ringspots that coalesced to form large areas of dead leaf tissue. Mechanical inoculation from diseased tobacco leaves with concentric ringspots back to tobacco cv. Yunyan 85 or 87, resulted in 12 of 16 plants with symptoms similar to those observed in the field. No symptoms on plants developed following inoculation with buffer only. Symptoms found in the field resembled those caused by TSWV. However, testing using TSWV-specific antiserum was shown to be negative by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA (Agdia, Elkhart, IN). Total RNA was extracted from 27 diseased tobacco plants collected from different regions in Guangxi using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RNA extracts were amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using the degenerate primers T2740 (ATGGGDATNTTTGATTTCATG) and T3920c (TCATGCTCATSAGRTAAATYTCTCT) designed to target the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) sequence of members in the genus Tospovirus (3). Amplification was performed at 42°C for 60 min, followed by 35 cycles of PCR (30 s denaturation at 94°C, 45 s annealing at 55°C, and 30 s extension at 72°C) and a 7-min final extension at 72°C. A PCR product of approximately 1.2 kb was amplified from 21 diseased plants. RT-PCR amplicons were cloned into the pUC19-T Simple Vector (TaKaRa, Dalian, China) and sequenced in both directions. Sequences were assembled and analyzed by DNAStar 5.01 (DNASTAR, Madison, WI). Sequences of representative isolates were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. JN020022 to JN020027). The 1.2-kb partial RdRp sequences of these isolates were shown to have 94.4 to 95.3% nucleotide identity and 96.5 to 97.5% amino acids identity to Tomato zonate spot virus (TZSV) (GenBank Accession No. NC_010491) (1). Among these TZSV isolates from Guangxi, the partial RdRp sequences have 98.0 to 99.4% nucleotide identity and 98.8 to 100% amino acids identity with each other. The presence of TZSV was further confirmed in diseased tobacco plants by indirect ELISA using antiserum of TZSV (provided by Prof. Zhongkai Zhang, Agricultural Academy of Yunnan, China). TZSV has been characterized as a novel tospovirus on various hosts including tobacco in Yunnan province (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of TZSV-associated disease on tobacco in Guangxi Province, southwest China. Further work is necessary to study the epidemiology and management of the disease. References: (1) J. Dong et al. Arch. Virol. 153:855, 2008. (2) J. Dong et al. J. Insect Sci. 10:166, 2010. (3) Y. Lin. Master Thesis. National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China, 2007.

Second-order autocorrelation of XUV FEL pulses via time resolved two-photon single ionization of He

Second-order autocorrelation spectra of XUV free-electron laser pulses from the Spring-8 Compact SASE Source (SCSS) have been recorded by time and momentum resolved detection of two-photon single ionization of He at 20.45 eV using a split-mirror delay-stage in combination with high-resolution recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS). From the autocorrelation trace we extract a coherence time of 8 ± 2 fs and a mean pulse duration of 28 ± 5 fs, much shorter than estimations based on electron bunch-length measurements. Simulations within the partial coherence model [Opt. Lett. 35, 3441 (2010)] are in agreement with experiment if a pulse-front tilt across the FEL beam diameter is taken into account that leads to a temporal shift of about 6 fs between both pulse replicas.

Preliminary results of a prospective trial of image-guided 3D conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI)

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Background: External beam APBI is noninvasive and may offer better coverage of tumor sites in proximity to skin or chest wall than brachytherapy. To improve conformality and accuracy of treatment, we conducted a prospective IRB-approved clinical trial of APBI with implanted gold markers for image guidance. Cosmetic assessments through patient and physician questionnaires were collected. Adverse events were graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. This is our preliminary report on toxicity and cosmetic outcomes.

Methods: Thirty-four pts were enrolled from 12/06 to 4/10. Eligibility criteria included age > 40, unifocal disease, ductal histology, tumor ≤ 3 cm, surgical margin ≥ 2 mm, and planning target volume: breast volume ratio < 0.2. Vascular invasion, positive axillary nodes, high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ, and extensive intraductal component were excluded. Three gold fiducials were sutured into the operative site at the time of partial mastectomy. The clinical target volume comprised the surgical cavity including all surgical clips and gold fiducials + 10-15 mm. Prescribed dose was 3.85 Gy b.i.d. to 38.5 Gy, using 4–5 non-coplanar beams. Special breathing technique and image guidance with electronic portal imaging were used.

Results: Median follow-up is 18 months (range 7-47 months). Most pts had mild acute reactions with only 6% grade 2 erythema. Late toxicities include hyperpigmentation (71% grade 1), fibrosis (26% grade 1, 32% grade 2), skin dimpling or indentation (38% grade 1, 3% grade 2), telangiectasias (12% grade 1), rib fractures in the treatment area (3% grade 2). The only grade 3 toxicity was a seroma requiring surgical excision in one pt. Cosmesis was rated by the pt versus (v.) physician as excellent/good in 85% v. 94%, 80% v. 90%, and 84% v. 85% of the pts at prior to treatment, 6 months, and one year respectively. Ninety-one percent of patients were “totally satisfied with the treatment and results.” No breast recurrences have been observed.

Conclusions: Image-guided APBI is well-tolerated, with high patient satisfaction. Early cosmesis results, as assessed by both pts and physicians, are comparable to whole-breast radiotherapy.

Three-electron interatomic Coulombic decay from the inner-valence double-vacancy states in NeAr

We have unambiguously identified interatomic Coulombic decay in NeAr from the inner-valence double-vacancy state Ne-Ar(2+)(3s(-2)) to outer-valence triple-vacancy states Ne(+)(2p(-1))-Ar(2+)(3p(-2)) by momentum-resolved electron-ion multicoincidence. This is the first observation of interatomic Coulombic decay where three electrons (3e) participate. The results suggest that this 3e interatomic Coulombic decay is significantly faster than other competing processes like fluorescence decay and charge transfer via curve crossing.

Sequence variation and genetic diversity in the giant panda

About 336-444 bp mitochondrial D-loop region and tRNA gene were sequenced for 40 individuals of the giant panda which were collected from Mabian, Meigu, Yuexi, Baoxing, Pingwu, Qingchuan, Nanping and Baishuijiang, respectively. 9 haplotypes were found in 21 founders. The results showed that the giant panda has low genetic variations, and that there is no notable genetic isolation among geographical populations. The ancestor of the living giant panda population perhaps appeared in the late Pleistocene, and unfortunately, might have suffered bottleneck attacks. Afterwards, its genetic diversity seemed to recover to some extent.

Development of immunity against hepatitis B virus after donor lymphocyte infusion in a peripheral blood stem cell transplantation recipient with chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the main concerns in blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) patients for possible breakthrough hepatitis. Active recipient immunization against HBV was found to be ineffective and many studies had showed that the adoptive transfer of immunity against hepatitis B virus would be possible by BMT with unknown duration and mechanism. A 46-year-old female patient with chronic hepatitis B had persistent detectable HBV DNA and positive serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), even while on long-term lamivudine and adefovir therapy. She received allogeneic matched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-MUD-PBSCT) for her refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The HBV DNA became undetectable and she developed HBeAg seroconversion after PBSCT. Her hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) remained positive, which disappeared later, along with the development of antibody to HBsAg after one shot of donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) as a boost against her AML. In summary, BMT from an immunized donor would probably bring adoptive immunity against HBV. This adoptive immunity might be further enhanced by the subsequent DLI.

Surface waves on non-Newtonian viscoelastic liquids

In the present work, we study the dynamics of thermally excited fluctuations on the surface of non-Newtonian viscoelastic liquids, which shows complex behaviors such as crossover between the capillary wave and the elastic wave, and the coexistence of several modes. We show that the power spectrum is separated into surface localized modes and the bulk shear modes, and they are decomposed further into several modes using the partial fraction expansion. The peak positions of these modes are characterized by roots of a polynomial equation. We calculate the decomposition of the surface wave spectra numerically, and discuss evolution of constituent peaks with liquid parameters.

Electron-transfer-mediated decay and interatomic Coulombic decay from the triply ionized states in argon dimers

We report the first observation of electron-transfer-mediated decay (ETMD) and interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD) from the triply charged states with an inner-valence vacancy, using the Ar dimer as an example. These ETMD and ICD processes, which lead to fragmentation of Ar(3+)-Ar into Ar(2+)-Ar(2+) and Ar(3+)-Ar+, respectively, are unambiguously identified by electron-ion-ion coincidence spectroscopy in which the kinetic energy of the ETMD or ICD electron and the kinetic energy release between the two fragment ions are measured in coincidence.

The prognostic impact and stability of Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Although the clinical features of the Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been characterized, its prognostic significance remains controversial and its stability has not been investigated. We analyzed 446 adults with primary non-M3 AML and found IDH2 R172, R140 and IDH1 R132 mutations occurred at a frequency of 2.9, 9.2 and 6.1%, respectively. Compared with wild-type IDH2, mutation of IDH2 was associated with higher platelet counts, intermediate-risk or normal karyotype and isolated +8, but was inversely correlated with expression of HLA-DR, CD34, CD15, CD7 and CD56, and was mutually exclusive with WT1 mutation and chromosomal translocations involving core-binding factors. All these correlations became stronger when IDH1 and IDH2 mutations were considered together. Multivariate analysis revealed IDH2 mutation as an independent favorable prognostic factor. IDH2(-)/FLT3-ITD(+) genotype conferred especially negative impact on survival. Compared with IDH2 R140 mutation, IDH2 R172 mutation was associated with younger age, lower white blood cell count and lactate dehydrogenase level, and was mutually exclusive with NPM1 mutation. Serial analyses of IDH2 mutations at both diagnosis and relapse in 121 patients confirmed high stability of IDH2 mutations. In conclusion, IDH2 mutation is a stable marker during disease evolution and confers favorable prognosis.