Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Type 1 Gaucher Disease in Argentina

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of osteoporosis (OP) in patients with Gaucher disease (GD) in Argentina. GD patients from 28 centers were consecutively included from April 2012 to 2014. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck or the total proximal femur for patients ≥20 yr of age, and by whole-body scan in the lumbar spine in patients <20 yr of age. In children, mineral density was calculated using the chronological age and Z height. OP diagnosis was determined following adult and pediatric official position of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. A total of 116 patients were included, of which 62 (53.5%) were women. The median age was 25.8 yr. All patients received enzyme replacement therapy, with a median time of 9.4 yr. Normal BMD was found in 89 patients (76.7%), whereas low bone mass (LBM) or osteopenia was found in 15 patients (13%) and OP in 12 patients (10.3%). The analysis of the pediatric population revealed that 4 patients (9.3%) had LBM and 3 (7%) had OP (Z-score ≤ -2 + fractures height-adjusted by Z), whereas in the adult population (n = 73), 11 patients (15%) had LBM or osteopenia and 9 (12.3%) had OP. Bone marrow infiltration and the presence of fractures were significantly correlated with the presence of OP (p = 0.04 and <0.001, respectively). This is the first study in Argentina and in the region describing the frequency of OP or LBM in GD patients treated with imiglucerase using the official position of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae induces NADPH oxidase-dependent monocyte extracellular trap formation and upregulates IL-12 and TNF-α, IL-6 and CCL2 gene transcription

Extracellular trap (ET) formation has been demonstrated as novel effector mechanism against diverse pathogens in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages and recently also in monocytes. In the current study, we show that E. ninakohlyakimovae triggers the deliverance of monocyte-derived ETs in vitro. Fluorescence illustrations as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed that monocyte-derived ET formation was rapidly induced upon exposure to viable sporozoites, sporocysts and oocysts of E. ninakohlyakimovae. Classical features of monocyte-released ETs were confirmed by the co-localization of extracellular DNA adorned with myeloperoxidase (MPO) and histones (H3) in parasite-entrapping structures. The treatment of caprine monocyte ET structures with NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodondium (DPI) significantly reduced ETosis confirming the essential role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in monocyte mediated ETs formation. Additionally, co-culture of monocytes with viable sporozoites and soluble oocyst antigen (SOA) induced distinct levels of cytokine and chemokine gene transcription. Thus, the transcription of genes encoding for IL-12 and TNF-α was significantly upregulated after sporozoite encounter. In contrast IL-6 and CCL2 gene transcripts were rather weakly induced by parasites. Conversely, SOA only induced the up-regulation of IL-6 and CCL2 gene transcription, and failed to enhance transcripts of IL-12 and TNF-α in vitro. We here report on monocyte-triggered ETs as novel effector mechanism against E. ninakohlyakimovae. Our results strongly suggest that monocyte-mediated innate immune reactions might play an important role in early host immune reactions against E. ninakohlyakimovae in goats.

Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile and Phospholipid Molecular Species Composition of Human Erythrocyte Membranes after Hybrid Palm and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Supplementation

This work aims to evaluate and compare, for the first time, the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and hybrid palm oil (HPO) supplementation on the fatty acid profile and phospholipid (PL) molecular species composition of human erythrocyte membranes. Results supported the effectiveness of both HPO and EVOO supplementation (3 months, 25 mL/day) in decreasing the lipophilic index of erythrocytes with no significant differences between HPO and EVOO groups at month 3. On the other hand, the novel and rapid ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method used for PL analysis reveals an increase in the levels of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine species esterified with polyunsaturated fatty acids. This work demonstrates the ability of both EVOO and HPO to increase the degree of unsaturation of erythrocyte membrane lipids with an improvement in membrane fluidity that could be associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Neuromyelitis optica study model based on chronic infusion of autoantibodies in rat cerebrospinal fluid

Background

Devic’s neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy, associated with central nervous system inflammation, demyelination, and neuronal injury. Several studies confirmed that autoantibodies directed against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG) are relevant in the pathogenesis of NMO, mainly through complement-dependent toxicity leading to astrocyte death. However, the effect of the autoantibody per se and the exact role of intrathecal AQP4-IgG are still controversial.

Methods

To explore the intrinsic effect of intrathecal AQP4-IgG, independent from additional inflammatory effector mechanisms, and to evaluate its clinical impact, we developed a new animal model, based on a prolonged infusion of purified immunoglobulins from NMO patient (IgG^AQP4+, NMO-rat) and healthy individual as control (Control-rat) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of live rats.

Results

We showed that CSF infusion of purified immunoglobulins led to diffusion in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, the targeted structures in NMO. This was associated with astrocyte alteration in NMO-rats characterized by loss of aquaporin-4 expression in the spinal cord and the optic nerves compared to the Control-rats (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively).

In addition, glutamate uptake tested on vigil rats was dramatically reduced in NMO-rats (p = 0.001) suggesting that astrocytopathy occurred in response to AQP4-IgG diffusion. In parallel, myelin was altered, as shown by the decrease of myelin basic protein staining by up to 46 and 22 % in the gray and white matter of the NMO-rats spinal cord, respectively (p = 0.03). Loss of neurofilament positive axons in NMO-rats (p = 0.003) revealed alteration of axonal integrity. Then, we investigated the clinical consequences of such alterations on the motor behavior of the NMO-rats. In a rotarod test, NMO-rats performance was lower compared to the controls (p = 0.0182). AQP4 expression, and myelin and axonal integrity were preserved in AQP4-IgG-depleted condition. We did not find a major immune cell infiltration and microglial activation nor complement deposition in the central nervous system, in our model.

Conclusions

We establish a link between motor-deficit, NMO-like lesions and astrocytopathy mediated by intrathecal AQP4-IgG. Our study validates the concept of the intrinsic effect of autoantibody against surface antigens and offers a model for testing antibody and astrocyte-targeted therapies in NMO.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0577-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Corrosion and microstructural analysis data for AISI 316L and AISI 347H stainless steels after exposure to a supercritical water environment

This article presents corrosion data and microstructural analysis data of austenitic stainless steels AISI 316L and AISI 347H exposed to supercritical water (25 MPa, 550 °C) with 2000 ppb of dissolved oxygen. The corrosion tests lasted a total of 1200 h but were interrupted at 600 h to allow measurements to be made. The microstructural data have been collected in the grain interior and at grain boundaries of the bulk of the materials and at the superficial oxide layer developed during the corrosion exposure.

Exploration of the Drosophila buzzatii transposable element content suggests underestimation of repeats in Drosophila genomes

Background

Many new Drosophila genomes have been sequenced in recent years using new-generation sequencing platforms and assembly methods. Transposable elements (TEs), being repetitive sequences, are often misassembled, especially in the genomes sequenced with short reads. Consequently, the mobile fraction of many of the new genomes has not been analyzed in detail or compared with that of other genomes sequenced with different methods, which could shed light into the understanding of genome and TE evolution. Here we compare the TE content of three genomes: D. buzzatii st-1, j-19, and D. mojavensis.

Results

We have sequenced a new D. buzzatii genome (j-19) that complements the D. buzzatii reference genome (st-1) already published, and compared their TE contents with that of D. mojavensis. We found an underestimation of TE sequences in Drosophila genus NGS-genomes when compared to Sanger-genomes. To be able to compare genomes sequenced with different technologies, we developed a coverage-based method and applied it to the D. buzzatii st-1 and j-19 genome. Between 10.85 and 11.16 % of the D. buzzatii st-1 genome is made up of TEs, between 7 and 7,5 % of D. buzzatii j-19 genome, while TEs represent 15.35 % of the D. mojavensis genome. Helitrons are the most abundant order in the three genomes.

Conclusions

TEs in D. buzzatii are less abundant than in D. mojavensis, as expected according to the genome size and TE content positive correlation. However, TEs alone do not explain the genome size difference. TEs accumulate in the dot chromosomes and proximal regions of D. buzzatii and D. mojavensis chromosomes. We also report a significantly higher TE density in D. buzzatii and D. mojavensis X chromosomes, which is not expected under the current models. Our easy-to-use correction method allowed us to identify recently active families in D. buzzatii st-1 belonging to the LTR-retrotransposon superfamily Gypsy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2648-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract P6-10-04: Factors determining underutilization of core biopsy prior to breast surgery

BACKGROUND:

The American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, Standard 2.9, requires a palpation-guided or image-guided needle biopsy as the initial diagnostic approach for breast cancer rather than an open biopsy. In replacing excisional biopsies, this minimally invasive technique demonstrates accuracy and precision in determining tumor characteristics and allows for more optimal breast cancer care. Recent studies have suggested that needle biopsy is underused in the United States. In a recently published analysis of U.S. Medicare data from 2003-2007, needle biopsy was used in 68.4% of all patients with breast cancer surgery. In this single-institution study, we analyzed the utilization of image-guided preoperative breast biopsies and which patient and system related factors contributed to the underutilization of image-guided breast biopsies and clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In this retrospective study, we analyzed all breast cancer cases diagnosed over a four year period at Mount Sinai Medical Center (MSMC) from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013 (n=485). We performed a detailed chart review of the surgical cases that did not meet breast biopsy standards to identify contributing patient and surgeon level factors. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used to characterize breast biopsy patterns and outcomes as well as delineate the associations between patient and surgical covariates with needle biopsy receipt.

RESULTS:

Needle biopsy was used in 86% (n=419) of all breast cancer surgeries. The median age for the cohort of patients without needle biopsy was 68.0 years (range 35-94). There was no significant variation in utilization of needle biopsy by race or surgeon. The proportion of patients without needle biopsy decreased significantly over time from 2009-2013. The most common reason for the lack of preoperative breast biopsy was the surgeon's preference to proceed with surgery because of very suspicious imaging studies (including mammograms and MRI) (n=9). There were an additional nine cases where the biopsy was attempted but was non-diagnostic. The most common patient-related factors for lack of needle biopsy were advanced age, use of anticoagulation and noncompliance due to a psychiatric diagnosis and patient discomfort. Other factors identified include lack of surgeon consultation before biopsy, biopsy of axillary lymph nodes as a means of diagnosis and patient's inpatient status.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this single institution, the rate of needle biopsy for breast cancer diagnosis was above national benchmarks. The most common reason for lack of a preoperative breast biopsy was the surgeon's preference to proceed with surgery because of very suspicious imaging studies. Patients with advanced age, psychiatric history, and inpatient workup were also more likely to lack a preoperative breast biopsy.

Citation Format: Fan T, Paramo J, Mesko T, Poppiti R, Ruiz A, Rodriguez E. Factors determining underutilization of core biopsy prior to breast surgery. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-04.

Effect of hydroxychloroquine and characterization of autophagy in a mouse model of endometriosis

In endometriosis, the increased survival potential of shed endometrial cells (which normally undergo anoikis) is suggested to promote lesion development. One mechanism that may alter anoikis is autophagy. Using an autophagic flux inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), we identified that it reduces the in vitro survival capacity of human endometriotic and endometrial T-HESC cells. We also identified that HCQ could decrease lesion numbers and disrupt lesion histopathology, as well as increase the levels of peritoneal macrophages and the IP-10 (10 kDa interferon-γ-induced protein) chemokine in a mouse model of endometriosis. We noted that RNA levels of a subset of autophagic markers were reduced in lesions relative to uterine horns from endometriosis-induced (untreated) mice. In addition, the RNA levels of autophagic markers were decreased in uterine horns of endometriosis-induced mice compared with those from controls. However, we noted that protein expression of LC3B (microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3β; an autophagic marker) was increased in uterine horns of endometriosis-induced mice compared with uterine horns of controls. By immunohistochemical staining of a human endometriosis-focused tissue microarray, we observed LC3B expression predominantly in epithelial relative to stromal cells in both eutopic and ectopic endometria. Via transmission electron microscopy, cells from eutopic endometria of endometriosis-induced mice contained more lipid droplets (rather than autophagosomes) compared with uterine horns from controls. Collectively, our findings indicate that the autophagic pathway is dysregulated in both ectopic and eutopic endometrium in a murine model of endometriosis and that HCQ has potential as a therapeutic agent for women afflicted with endometriosis.

34 EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE AND trans-10,cis-12 CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION DURING MATURATION ON DEVELOPMENT AND CRYOTOLERANCE OF BOVINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED IN VITRO

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of supplementation of maturation media with L-carnitine and trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on embryo development and survival following cryopreservation. Immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (n = 1796) were harvested from abattoir-derived ovaries and randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design to be matured in maturation medium [TCM-199 with Earle salts supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) bovine steer serum, 2 μg mL–1 oestradiol 17-β, 20 μg mL–1 bovine FSH, 22 μg mL–1 sodium pyruvate, 50 μg mL–1 gentamicin sulfate, and 1 mM glutamax®] supplemented with or without 100 mM CLA and with or without 3.03 mM L-carnitine for 22 to 24 h at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. The proportion of oocytes that cleaved was determined on Day 3 after insemination, and the proportion of oocytes developing to the blastocyst and advanced blastocysts stages (expanded, hatching, and hatched) was assessed on Day 7. Blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stage embryos (n = 270) were harvested on Day 7 and subjected to controlled-rate freezing following equilibration in 1.5 M ethylene glycol. Embryos were thawed and then cultured for 72 h in SOF-BE1 (Fields et al. 2011) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum and 50 μM dithiothreitol. Post-thaw re-expansion and hatching rates were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h. The experiment was replicated 5 times. There was no effect of supplementation of maturation medium with either CLA or L-carnitine on the proportion of oocytes that cleaved at Day 3 or that developed to the blastocyst and advanced blastocyst stages at Day 7 after insemination. There was no interaction between CLA and L-carnitine affecting cleavage rate or embryo development. Supplementation of maturation medium with L-carnitine did not affect post-thaw re-expansion or hatching rates. In contrast, treatment with CLA during maturation reduced (P < 0.05) post-thaw re-expansion (24 h: 75.2 ± 3.8% v. 60.3 ± 4.1%; 48 h: 82.0 ± 3.4% v. 64.9 ± 4.0%; 72 h: 78.9 ± 3.6% v. 65.9 ± 4.0%, respectively) and hatching (24 h: 33.7 ± 4.2% v. 23.5 ± 3.6%; 48 h: 61.1 ± 4.3% v. 44.0 ± 4.2%; 72 h: 62.6 ± 4.3% v. 50.2 ± 4.2%, respectively) rates at all time points. There was no interaction between CLA and L-carnitine affecting post-thaw viability. In conclusion, supplementation of maturation medium with L-carnitine did not affect embryo development or post-thaw viability. Although addition of CLA during maturation did not affect embryo development, post-thaw cryotolerance was reduced following CLA supplementation. There was no beneficial effect of supplementing maturation medium with both CLA and L-carnitine on embryo development or post-thaw cryosurvival.

33 POST-THAW VIABILITY OF BOVINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED IN VITRO FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH ASCORBIC ACID, DITHIOTHREITOL, AND CASPASE-3 INHIBITOR DURING CRYOPRESERVATION

The aim of the present experiments was to determine whether treatment with the antioxidants ascorbic acid and dithiothreitol, or an inhibitor of caspase-3, Z-DEVD-FMK, during cryopreservation could improve the cryotolerance of bovine embryos produced in vitro. For all experiments, bovine embryos were produced in vitro using abattoir-derived ovaries. At Day 7 after insemination, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stage embryos were harvested and subjected to controlled-rate freezing following equilibration for 8 to 10 min in freezing medium [Hepes-TALP (Parrish et al. 1986) plus 1.5 M ethylene glycol and 0.5 M sucrose] with treatments as described below. Embryos were thawed and then cultured for 72 h in SOF-BE1 (Fields et al. 2011) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2. Re-expansion and hatching rates were recorded at 24, 48, and 72 h. For Experiment 1, embryos (n = 578) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 mM ascorbic acid. For Experiment 2, embryos (n = 243) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 50, 100, or 200 μM dithiothreitol. For Experiment 3, embryos (n = 227) were equilibrated in freezing medium containing 0, 50, 100, or 200 μM Z-DEVD-FMK. Embryos frozen in freezing medium containing ascorbic acid had increased (P < 0.05) re-expansion and hatching rates at 24, 48, and 72 h compared with embryos not treated with ascorbic acid (Table 1). The optimal concentration of ascorbic acid for post-thaw cryosurvival was 0.1 mM. In particular, embryos treated with 0.1 mM ascorbic acid during cryopreservation had increased (P < 0.05) re-expansion rates at 24, 48, and 72 h, as well as hatching rates at 48 and 72 h, compared with control-treated embryos (Table 1). There was no effect of treatment with dithiothreitol or Z-DEVD-FMK on re-expansion or hatching rates at 24, 48, or 72 h after thaw. In conclusion, addition of ascorbic acid to freezing medium improves the cryosurvival of bovine embryos produced in vitro. Further research is necessary to determine whether treatment with ascorbic acid can increase pregnancy rates. Table 1.Effect of ascorbic acid during cryopreservation of bovine embryos (%, means ± standard error of the mean)

163 EFFECTS OF SERUM AND L-CARNITINE ON DEVELOPMENT AND CRYOTOLERANCE OF BOVINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED IN VITRO

Cryotolerance of bovine embryos produced in vitro (PIV) can be improved by l-carnitine. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the optimal concentration of l-carnitine is dependent on serum. Bovine embryos were produced in vitro with abattoir-derived oocytes. After fertilization (Day 0), oocytes (n = 2768) were randomly assigned in a 2 × 4 factorial design to culture in SOF-BE1 medium supplemented with or without 5% fetal bovine serum and l-carnitine at concentrations of 0.0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.03 mM at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2. The proportion of oocytes that cleaved was assessed on Day 3, and the proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst and advanced blastocyst (expanded, hatching, and hatched) stages was determined on Day 7. Blastocysts and expanded blastocysts (n = 466) were harvested on Day 7 and subjected to controlled-rate freezing following equilibration in 1.5 M ethylene glycol. After thaw, embryos were cultured for 72 h in SOF-BE1 supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum and 50 mM dithiothreitol at 38.5°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2. Post-thaw re-expansion and hatching rates were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h. The experiment was replicated 9 times, and data were analysed by logistic regression. There was no interaction between serum and l-carnitine, at any of the concentrations tested, on embryo development or cryotolerance. Cleavage rates were not affected by serum or l-carnitine. Addition of serum during culture increased (P < 0.05) development to the blastocyst (19.7 ± 1.1% v. 25.3 ± 1.4%) and advanced blastocyst (9.1 ± 0.8% v. 12.4 ± 1.2%) stages. While l-carnitine did not affect blastocyst development, advanced blastocyst development was reduced (P < 0.05) for l-carnitine at 3.03 mM (0 mM: 10.9 ± 1.2%, 0.75 mM: 12.2 ± 1.4%, 1.5 mM: 13.5 ± 1.5%, 3.03 mM: 7.0 ± 1.0%). Serum reduced (P < 0.01) re-expansion (78.1 ± 3.4% v. 65.5 ± 3.1%, 81.0 ± 3.0% v. 68.4 ± 2.7%, 78.4 ± 3.4% v. 65.8 ± 3.1%, for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively) and hatching (52.0 ± 4.0% v. 39.8 ± 3.6%, 61.2 ± 4.1% v. 45.4 ± 3.8%, 61.2 ± 4.1% v. 45.4 ± 3.8%, for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively) rates at all time points. In contrast, treatment of embryos with l-carnitine during culture increased (P < 0.05) post-thaw re-expansion rates at 24 and 48 h, regardless of concentration (Table 1). In conclusion, post-thaw viability of bovine embryos PIV can be improved by the addition of l-carnitine during culture. Moreover, the beneficial effects of l-carnitine on cryosurvival are not dependent on serum supplementation. Table 1.Effect of addition of l-carnitine during culture on post-thaw re-expansion and hatching rates