High Power Dynamic Polarization Control Using Plasma Photonics

We report the first experimental demonstration of a plasma wave plate based on laser-induced birefringence. An elliptically polarized input was converted into a nearly ideal circularly polarized beam using an optical system composed of a second laser beam and a plasma. The results are in excellent agreement with linear theory and three-dimensional simulations up to phase delays exceeding π/4, thus establishing the feasibility of laser-plasma photonic devices that are ultrafast, damage-resistant, and easily tunable.

Does higher radiation dose lead to better outcome for non-operated localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy? A population based propensity-score matched analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal radiotherapy dose for non-operated localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NOL-ESCC) patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is hotly debated.

METHODS

We identified eligible patients diagnosed within 2008-2013 from Taiwan Cancer Registry and constructed a propensity score matched cohort (1:1 for high dose (⩾60Gy) vs standard dose (50-50.4Gy)) to balance observable potential confounders. We compared the hazard ratio (HR) of death between standard and high radiotherapy dose groups during the entire follow-up period. We performed sensitivity analysis (SA) to evaluate the robustness of our finding regarding potential unobserved confounders & index date definition.

RESULTS

Our study population constituted 648 patients with well balance in observed co-variables. The HR of death when high dose was compared to standard dose was 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.64-0.88). Our result was sensitive to potential unobserved confounders but robust to alternative index date definition in SA.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that higher than standard radiotherapy dose may lead to better survival for NOL-ESCC patients undergoing CCRT.

PAK1 Is a Novel Therapeutic Target in Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma Activated by the PI3K/AKT Signaling Regardless of EGFR Mutation

PURPOSE

EGFR mutation as a biomarker has documented that EGFR-mutant patients will derive clinical benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Unfortunately, most patients show TKI resistance and tumor recurrence after therapy. Therefore, we expected that an adjuvant biomarker other than EGFR mutation is needed for predicting TKI resistance.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Molecular manipulations were performed to verify whether TKI resistance mediated by p21-activated kinase (PAK1) could be through increasing Mcl-1 protein stability via the PI3K/AKT/C/EBP-β/miR-145 cascade. Xenograft mouse models were used to confirm the mechanistic action of PAK1 on TKI resistance. Forty-six tumor tissues from patients with lung adenocarcinoma who received TKI therapy were collected to evaluate PAK1 and E-cadherin mRNA expressions by real-time PCR. The association of PAK1 and E-cadherin mRNA expressions with tumor response to TKI treatment and outcomes was evaluated.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that PAK1 confers TKI resistance in EGFR-mutant cells as well as in EGFR-wild-type cells. Mechanistically, the positive feedback loop of PAK1/PI3K/AKT/C/EBP-β/miR-145 cascades persistently activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to protect Mcl-1 degradation by Fbw7, which results, in turn, in TKI resistance and cell invasion via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition due to a decrease in E-cadherin expression. The mechanism underlying the cell model is further confirmed in xenograft tumors. Among patients, high-PAK1 or low-E-cadherin tumors more commonly exhibited an unfavorable response to TKI and poorer outcome compared with low-PAK1 or low-E-cadherin tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of TKI with AKT inhibitor might confer TKI sensitivity and in turn improve outcomes in patients with lung adenocarcinoma who harbored high PAK1 mRNA-expressing tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5370-82. ©2016 AACR.

NKX2-1-mediated p53 expression modulates lung adenocarcinoma progression via modulating IKKβ/NF-κB activation

NKX2-1 plays a dual role in lung adenocarcinoma progression, but the underling mechanism is not fully understood. In the present study, we provide evidence that NKX2-1 directly regulates p53 transcription, and in turn, NKX2-1 elevates the mutant p53/NF-Y complex to up-regulate IKKβ transcription in p53-mutant cells, but NKX2-1-mediated wild-type p53 down-regulates IKKβ transcription via decreased Sp1 binding to IKKβ promoter in p53-WT cells. The IKKβ-mediated p65 nuclear localization and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulated by the NKX2-1/p53 axis is responsible for soft-agar growth, invasion, and xenograft tumour formation. Among patients, high-IKKβ mRNA tumours had higher prevalence in p53-mutant or nuclear p65 tumours than their counterparts, but not related with NKX2-1 mRNA expression. However, when tumours were divided into p53-WT and p53-mutant subgroups, NKX2-1 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with IKKβ mRNA in p53-WT subgroup, but positively related with IKKβ mRNA expression in p53-mutant subgroup. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis indicated that high NKX2-1 mRNA tumours exhibited poorer overall survival and relapse free survival than low NKX2-1 mRNA tumours in p53-WT subgroup, but the opposite was observed in p53-mutant subgroup. Therefore, we suggest that NKX2-1 as a tumour suppressor or a tumour promoter in lung adenocarcinoma progression is dependent on p53 status.

Comparisons of Different Screening Tools for Identifying Fracture/Osteoporosis Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older People

A prospective study was conducted to compare criterion, predictive, and construct validities of 9 fracture/osteoporosis assessment tools, including calcaneal quantitative ultrasonography (QUS), Age Bulk One or Never Estrogens (ABONE), body weight criterion (BWC), Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), Garvan fracture risk calculator (GARVAN), Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI), Osteoporosis Index of Risk (OSIRIS), Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA), and Simple Calculated Osteoporosis Risk Estimation (SCORE), among older men and women in Taiwan.Using the femoral neck dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) T-score as an external criterion, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for each tool were calculated. The ability of these tools to predict injurious falls was examined. A principal component analysis was applied to understand whether these tools were measuring the same underlying construct.The FRAX, BWC, ORAI, OSIRIS, OSTA, and SCORE had AUCs of ≥0.8 in men, while the GARVAN, OSIRIS, OSTA, and SCORE had AUCs of ≥0.8 in women. The sensitivity, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio of the ABONE, BWC, ORAI, OSIRIS, OSTA, and SCORE tools in both men and women were 100%, ≥90%, and 0.0, respectively; the specificity and positive predictive value and likelihood ratio were far from satisfactory. The GARVAN displayed the best predictive ability of a fall in both men (AUCs, 0.653-0.686) and women (AUCs, 0.560-0.567), despite being smaller in women. The 9 screening tools and 2 central DXA measurements assessed 5 different factors, while the ABONE, BWC, ORAI, OSIRIS, OSTA, and SCORE measured the same one.Simple self-assessment tools can serve as initial screening instruments to rule out persons who have osteoporosis; however, these tools may measure a different construct other than fracture/osteoporosis risk.

Environmental exposure and HPV infection may act synergistically to induce lung tumorigenesis in nonsmokers

Most studies of lung tumorigenesis have focused on smokers rather than nonsmokers. In this study, we used human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative lung cancer cells to test the hypothesis that HPV infection synergistically increases DNA damage induced by exposure to the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), and contributes to lung tumorigenesis in nonsmokers. DNA adduct levels induced by B[a]P in HPV-positive cells were significantly higher than in HPV-negative cells. The DNA adduct formation was dependent on HPV E6 oncoprotein expression. Gene and protein expression of two DNA repair genes, XRCC3 and XRCC5, were lower in B[a]P-treated E6-positive cells than in E6-negative lung cancer cells. The reduced expression was also detected immunohistochemically and was caused by increased promoter hypermethylation. Moreover, mutations of p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes in lung cancer patients were associated with XRCC5 inactivation. In sum, our study indicates that HPV E6-induced promoter hypermethylation of the XRCC3 and XRCC5 DNA repair genes and the resultant decrease in their expression increases B[a]P-induced DNA adducts and contributes to lung tumorigenesis in nonsmokers.

NF1 frameshift mutation (c.6520_6523delGAGA) association with nervous system tumors and bone abnormalities in a Chinese patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as NF1 or von Recklinghausen's disease, is a common neurocutaneous syndrome that presents with multiple café-au-lait patches, skinfold freckling, dermatofibromas, neurofibromas, and Lisch nodules. The mutations of the gene NF1, encoding the protein neurofibromin, have been identified as the cause of this disease. Here, we report a clinical and molecular study of a Chinese patient with multiple café-au-lait skin freckles, dermatofibroma, central and peripheral nervous system tumors, and bone abnormalities attributed to NF1. The patient showed >6 café-au-lait spots on the body and multiple dermatofibromas. A brain glioma and multiple nerve sheath tumors inside and outside the vertebral canal were identified by magnetic resonance imaging, which also showed multiple intercostal nerve schwannomas and hydrocephalies above the cerebellar tentorium. Talipes equinus was also apparent. A mutation analysis of the NF1 gene revealed a novel frameshift mutation in exon 43, consisting of a heterozygous deletion of four nucleotides (GAGA) between positions 6520 and 6523. No NF1 mutations were detected in the patient's parents or younger brother. These results extend the list of known mutations in this gene. The absence of the NF1 mutation in the healthy family members suggests that it is responsible for the NF1 phenotype. To our knowledge, this frameshift mutation represents a novel NF1 case, and may be associated with nervous system tumors and bone abnormalities.

[The meaning of serum myeloperoxidase in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of detecting peripheral blood myeloperoxidase in OSAHS patients. Method:Sixty cases of OSAHS patients in our hospital was selected as OSAHS group, which was subdivided into light, medium and heavy groups according to the PSG, each with 20 cases, and 20 cases of healthy persons were selected as control group; ELISA method was used to detect the MPO level of peripheral blood. 20 cases of severe OSAHS patients detect MPO level again three months after the fist detection, and analyze the correlation between serum MPO level and indicators of sleep respiratory related events. Result:①The level of peripheral serum MPO level positively correlated with the severity of the patients' condition. The control group, light, medium and heavy groups' serum MPO levels were (7.93±2.44), (10.58±3.31), (18.91±8.37), (29.03±10.06)ng/mg, respectively (F=19.102, P<0.05). ②OSAHS patients' peripheral blood MPO concentration had no correlation with gender, age and BMI, but was positively correlated with AHI and negatively correlated with LSaO₂ (P<0.05). ③Twenty cases of severe MPO and AHI patients with OSAHS were decreased and LSaO₂ increased, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:The detection of serum MPO in patients with OSAHS has important significance in judging the severity of the disease, evaluating the treatment effect and predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with severe OSAHS.

Effects of Home-Based Tai Chi and Lower Extremity Training and Self-Practice on Falls and Functional Outcomes in Older Fallers from the Emergency Department-A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of guided home-based tai chi chuan (TCC) and lower extremity training (LET) and of levels of self-practice on falls and functional outcomes in older fallers.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Taipei, Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals aged 60 and older who had fall-related emergency department visits at least 6 months before participating in the study and ambulated independently at baseline (N = 456).

INTERVENTION

Six months of TCC or LET.

MEASUREMENTS

Four types of fall measures (falls, time to first fall, fallers, recurrent fallers) and six functional measures (handgrip strength, balance, mobility, fear of falling, depression, cognitive function).

RESULTS

The TCC group was significantly less likely than the LET group to experience any falls during the 6-month intervention (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.15-0.60), and the effects remained significant after 12 months of follow-up (IRR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14-0.71). These effects remained significant for injurious falls during the 6-month intervention (IRR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.16-0.68) and the entire 18-month study (IRR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.83). Similar results were obtained when another two fall measures (time to first fall, number of fallers) were used. Moreover, participants who independently practiced TCC or LET seven times per week or more were significantly less likely to experience injurious falls during the 6-month intervention (IRR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.20-0.83) and the 18-month study (IRR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21-0.87) than their counterparts, had a significantly longer time to first injurious fall, and were significantly less likely to have an injurious fall during the 6-month intervention. Cognitive function improved to a greater extent in the TCC group than in the LET group over the 18-month study.

CONCLUSION

Home-based TCC may reduce the incidence of falls and injurious falls more than conventional LET in older fallers, and the effects may last for at least 1 year.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies multiple lung cancer susceptibility loci in never-smoking Asian women

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of lung cancer in Asian never-smoking women have previously identified six susceptibility loci associated with lung cancer risk. To further discover new susceptibility loci, we imputed data from four GWAS of Asian non-smoking female lung cancer (6877 cases and 6277 controls) using the 1000 Genomes Project (Phase 1 Release 3) data as the reference and genotyped additional samples (5878 cases and 7046 controls) for possible replication. In our meta-analysis, three new loci achieved genome-wide significance, marked by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7741164 at 6p21.1 (per-allele odds ratio (OR) = 1.17; P = 5.8 × 10(-13)), rs72658409 at 9p21.3 (per-allele OR = 0.77; P = 1.41 × 10(-10)) and rs11610143 at 12q13.13 (per-allele OR = 0.89; P = 4.96 × 10(-9)). These findings identified new genetic susceptibility alleles for lung cancer in never-smoking women in Asia and merit follow-up to understand their biological underpinnings.

Early enteral and parenteral nutrition on immune functions of neurocritically ill patients

This study was designed to investigate the influence of early enteral and parenteral nutrition on immune functions of neurocritically ill patients. Patients who were admitted to the neurological intensive care unit (ICU) of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between May 2014 and January 2016 were selected. They had been hospitalized for more than one week and received enteral nutrition (EN) via nasogastric tube, with a gross energy of 25 kcal/(Kg • d). Patients were divided into EN group, EN + early PN (EPN) group and EN + supplemental PN (SPN) group according to the time of PN support. Differences in patients’ general information and changes in serum protein and immune indexes were compared between the three groups. On admission, patients’ Glasgow coma scale (GCS), age, immune functions and protein indexes had no obvious differences between the three groups. After nutritional support, serum protein level reduced in the EN group while prealbumin (PALB) and retinol binding protein (RBP) increased in the EN + EPN group and EN + SPN group after one week of admission to hospital, and the differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), PALB and transferrin (TRF) increased significantly in the EN + EPN group and EN + SPN group compared with the EN group (p < 0.05); before and after treatment, an increase was found in ALB in the EN + EPN group in comparison with EN + SPN group, with a notable difference (p < 0.05); C3, C4, immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) increased in the EN + SPN group after nutritional support compared with before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA in the EN + EPN group increased after nutritional support comparing to prior to nutritional support, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). After nutritional treatment, IgA and IgG increased markedly in the EN + EPN group, and there was a statistical significance between the groups (p < 0.05); the EN + EPN group and EN + SPN group exceeded the EN group in total lymphocyte count (TLC), and the difference had a statistical significance (p less than 0.05). These results demonstrate that neurocritically ill patients achieving the target energy can avoid malnutrition and immunodeficiency; serum protein decrease can cause malnutrition after one week of EN support; and enteral and parenteral nutrition can improve nutritional and immune indicators of neurocritically ill patients in the acute phase. In addition, EPN is more likely to improve malnutrition and immune functions of critical patients than SPN.

Segregation analysis of microsatellite (SSR) markers in sugarcane polyploids

No information is available on segregation analysis of DNA markers involving both pollen and self-progeny. Therefore, we used capillary electrophoresis- and fluorescence-based DNA fingerprinting together with single pollen collection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker segregation among 964 single pollens and 288 self-progenies (S1) of sugarcane cultivar LCP 85-384. Twenty SSR DNA fragments (alleles) were amplified by five polymorphic SSR markers. Only one non-parental SSR allele was observed in 2392 PCRs. SSR allele inheritance was in accordance with Mendelian laws of segregation and independent assortment. Highly significant correlation coefficients were found between frequencies of observed and expected genotypes in pollen and S1 populations. Within the S1 population, the most frequent genotype of each SSR marker was the parental genotype of the same marker. The number of genotypes was higher in pollen than S1 population. PIC values of the five SSR markers were greater in pollen than S1 populations. Eleven of 20 SSR alleles (55%) were segregated in accordance with Mendelian segregation ratios expected from pollen and S1 populations of a 2n = 10x polyploid. Six of 20 SSR alleles were segregated in a 3:1 (presence:absence) ratio and were simplex markers. Four and one alleles were segregated in 77:4 and 143:1 ratios and considered duplex and triplex markers, respectively. Segregation ratios of remaining alleles were unexplainable. The results provide information about selection of crossing parents, estimation of seedling population optimal size, and promotion of efficient selection, which may be valuable for sugarcane breeders.

Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography: Experiences from a tertiary hospital in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (CT) has been reported to reduce lung cancer-specific mortality for smokers at high risk. However, despite different characteristics of lung cancer in Asia, there are few data concerning this specific population for screening. We aim to analyze the performance of lung cancer screening with low-dose CT concurrent with chest radiography in Taiwan, with reference to international experience.

METHODS

During the 1-year period from January 2012 to December 2012, we conducted a retrospective, single-center population-based screening program for lung cancer in the setting of annual medical examinations. Participants were asymptomatic adults without prior history of any cancer. Low-dose CT and chest radiography were offered to all individuals. Baseline CT evaluations were defined as positive if any noncalcified nodule≥4 mm in diameter, which were then classified as solid, pure ground-glass or partial ground-glass opacity.

RESULTS

Of 3339 individuals, we detected 34 cancers, yielding an overall cancer detection rate of 1.02%. There was a particularly high cancer detection rate of 6.2% (8/129) in the high-risk group aged younger than 50 years with a positive family history of all types of cancers in first-degree relatives. Adenocarcinomas accounted for 88% (30/34) of cancers and 99% of them were early-stage (including carcinoma in situ and Stage I). The probability of cancers was significant higher in nodules with interval growth (odds ratio 257.89, p = 0.0002). There was no significant difference in the probability of cancers between ground glass opacity nodules and solid nodules (odds ratio 1.16, p=0.72). Of all screen-detected cancers, 61.76% (21/34) were chest radiographically occult.

CONCLUSION

Low-dose CT is effective to detect early lung cancers. Further establishment of selection criteria for lung cancer screening, specifically for Asian individuals, is definitely warranted.

Mutant p53 confers chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer by upregulating Nrf2

Nrf2 is a key transcription factor for genes coding for antioxidants, detoxification enzymes, and multiple drug resistance and it also confers resistance to anticancer drugs. Here, we hypothesized that mutant p53 could upregulate Nrf2 expression at the transcriptional level, thereby conferring cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Luciferase reporter assays and real-time PCR analysis indicated that the Nrf2 promoter activity and its mRNA levels were markedly suppressed by wild-type p53, but not by mutant p53. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) further confirmed that wild-type p53 binds at the p53 putative binding site to block Sp1 binding to the Nrf2 promoter and consequently to suppress the Nrf2 promoter activity. The MTT assay indicated that an increase in Nrf2 expression by mutant p53 is responsible for cisplatin resistance. Among the Nrf2 downstream genes, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL contribute more strongly to Nrf2-mediated cisplatin resistance when compared with heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Cox regression analysis showed that patients with high-Nrf2, high-Bcl-2, high-Bcl-xL mRNA tumors were more commonly occurred unfavorable response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy than their counterparts. The prognostic significance of Nrf2 mRNA levels on OS and RFS was also observed in patients who have received cisplatin-based chemotherapy, particularly in p53-mutant patients. Collectively, mutant p53 may confer cisplatin resistance via upregulation of Nrf2 expression, and Nrf2 mRNA level may predict chemotherapeutic response and outcomes in NSCLC.

Analysis of Heritability and Shared Heritability Based on Genome-Wide Association Studies for Thirteen Cancer Types

BACKGROUND

Studies of related individuals have consistently demonstrated notable familial aggregation of cancer. We aim to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation attributable to the additive effects of common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for cancer at 13 anatomical sites.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2014, the US National Cancer Institute has generated data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 49 492 cancer case patients and 34 131 control patients. We apply novel mixed model methodology (GCTA) to this GWAS data to estimate the heritability of individual cancers, as well as the proportion of heritability attributable to cigarette smoking in smoking-related cancers, and the genetic correlation between pairs of cancers.

RESULTS

GWAS heritability was statistically significant at nearly all sites, with the estimates of array-based heritability, hl (2), on the liability threshold (LT) scale ranging from 0.05 to 0.38. Estimating the combined heritability of multiple smoking characteristics, we calculate that at least 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14% to 37%) and 7% (95% CI = 4% to 11%) of the heritability for lung and bladder cancer, respectively, can be attributed to genetic determinants of smoking. Most pairs of cancers studied did not show evidence of strong genetic correlation. We found only four pairs of cancers with marginally statistically significant correlations, specifically kidney and testes (ρ = 0.73, SE = 0.28), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and pediatric osteosarcoma (ρ = 0.53, SE = 0.21), DLBCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (ρ = 0.51, SE =0.18), and bladder and lung (ρ = 0.35, SE = 0.14). Correlation analysis also indicates that the genetic architecture of lung cancer differs between a smoking population of European ancestry and a nonsmoking Asian population, allowing for the possibility that the genetic etiology for the same disease can vary by population and environmental exposures.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide important insights into the genetic architecture of cancers and suggest new avenues for investigation.

Pathway-based network analysis of myeloma tumors: monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and multiple myeloma

Although many studies have been carried out on monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significances (MGUS), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and multiple myeloma (MM), their classification and underlying pathogenesis are far from elucidated. To discover the relationships among MGUS, SMM, and MM at the transcriptome level, differentially expressed genes in MGUS, SMM, and MM were identified by the rank product method, and then co-expression networks were constructed by integrating the data. Finally, a pathway-network was constructed based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, and the relationships between the pathways were identified. The results indicated that there were 55, 78, and 138 pathways involved in the myeloma tumor developmental stages of MGUS, SMM, and MM, respectively. The biological processes identified therein were found to have a close relationship with the immune system. Processes and pathways related to the abnormal activity of DNA and RNA were also present in SMM and MM. Six common pathways were found in the whole process of myeloma tumor development. Nine pathways were shown to participate in the progression of MGUS to SMM, and prostate cancer was the sole pathway that was involved only in MGUS and MM. Pathway-network analysis might provide a new indicator for the developmental stage diagnosis of myeloma tumors.

Anti-osteoporosis activity of red yeast rice extract on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease, affecting millions of people worldwide and leading to significant morbidity and high costs. Monacolin K, an extract of red yeast rice (RYR, Hongqu), plays important roles in the management of dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Our study aimed to investigate the protective effect of monacolin K on ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats. Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated and five ovariectomized (OVX) groups: OVX with vehicle, OVX with fluvastatin, and OVX with RYR extract of three graded doses. Bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers, and cell viability were analyzed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification and western blot. Our results showed that administration of RYR extract markedly increased the bone mineral density in OVX rats. Moreover, RYR extract decreased the levels of bone turnover markers, including osteocalcin and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity. The MMT assay revealed that RYR extract treatment significantly improved the osteoblast viabilities in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). At the molecular level, we further demonstrated that RYR extract enhanced the expression of Bmp2 and Bmp4 both at the mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, these data suggested RYR extract could protect against osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats, most likely through activation of BMP2/4 expression.

The rectenna design on contact lens for wireless powering of the active intraocular pressure monitoring system

This paper proposed a wireless power harvesting system with micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) fabrication for noninvasive intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement on soft contact lens substructure. The power harvesting IC consists of a loop antenna, an impedance matching network and a rectifier. The proposed IC has been designed and fabricated by CMOS 0.18 um process that operates at the ISM band of 5.8 GHz. The antenna and the power harvesting IC would be bonded together by using flip chip bonding technologies without extra wire interference. The circuit utilized an impedance transformation circuit to boost the input RF signal that improves the circuit performance. The proposed design achieves an RF-to-DC conversion efficiency of 35% at 5.8 GHz.

R331W Missense Mutation of Oncogene YAP1 Is a Germline Risk Allele for Lung Adenocarcinoma With Medical Actionability

PURPOSE

Adenocarcinoma is the most dominant type of lung cancer in never-smoker patients. The risk alleles from genome-wide association studies have small odds ratios and unclear biologic roles. Here we have taken an approach featuring suitable medical actionability to identify alleles with low population frequency but high disease-causing potential.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Whole-genome sequencing was performed for a family with an unusually high density of lung adenocarcinoma with available DNA from the affected mother, four affected daughters, and one nonaffected son. Candidate risk alleles were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectroscopy. Validation was conducted in an external cohort of 1,135 participants without cancer and 1,312 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Family follow-ups were performed by genotyping the relatives of the original proband and the relatives of the identified risk-allele carriers. Low-dose computed tomography scans of the chest were evaluated for lung abnormalities.

RESULTS

YAP1 R331W missense mutation from the original family was identified and validated in the external controls and the cohort with lung adenocarcinoma. The YAP1 mutant-allele carrier frequency was 1.1% in patients with lung adenocarcinoma compared with 0.18% in controls (P = .0095), yielding an odds ratio (adjusted for age, sex, and smoking status) of 5.9. Among the relatives, YAP1-mutant carriers have overwhelmingly higher frequencies of developing lung adenocarcinoma or ground-glass opacity lung lesions than those who do not carry the mutation (10:0 v 1:7; P < .001). YAP1 mutation was shown to increase the colony formation ability and invasion potential of lung cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

These results implicated YAP1 R331W as an allele predisposed for lung adenocarcinoma with high familial penetrance. Low-dose computed tomography scans may be recommended to this subpopulation, which is at high risk for lung cancer, for personalized prevention and health management.

Nickel may contribute to EGFR mutation and synergistically promotes tumor invasion in EGFR-mutated lung cancer via nickel-induced microRNA-21 expression

We recently reported that nickel accumulation in lung tissues may be associated with an increased in p53 mutation risk via reduced DNA repair activity. Here, we hypothesized that nickel accumulation in lung tissues could contribute to EGFR mutations in never-smokers with lung cancer. We enrolled 76 never-smoking patients to evaluate nickel level in adjacent normal lung tissues by ICP-MS. The prevalence of EGFR mutations was significantly higher in the high-nickel subgroup than in the low-nickel subgroup. Intriguingly, the OR for the occurrence of EGFR mutations in female, adenocarcinoma, and female adenocarcinoma patients was higher than that of all patients. Mechanistically, SPRY2 and RECK expressions were decreased by nickel-induced miR-21 via activation of the EGFR/NF-κB signaling pathway, which promoted invasiveness in lung cancer cells, and particularly in the cells with EGFR L858R expression vector transfection. The patients' nickel levels were associated with miR-21 expression levels. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed poorer overall survival (OS) and shorter relapse free survival (RFS) in the high-nickel subgroup than in low-nickel subgroup. The high-nickel/high-miR-21 subgroup had shorter OS and RFS periods when compared to the low-nickel/low-miR-21 subgroup. Our findings support previous epidemiological studies indicating that nickel exposure may not only contribute to cancer incidence but also promote tumor invasion in lung cancer.

MicroRNA-184 Deregulated by the MicroRNA-21 Promotes Tumor Malignancy and Poor Outcomes in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer via Targeting CDC25A and c-Myc

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA (miR)-184 has been reported to have a dual role in human cancers. However, the role of miR-184 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

METHODS

Wild-type or mutant CDC25A promoters were constructed by PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to verify whether miR-184 could inhibit CDC25A expression at post-transcription level. Boyden chamber assay was used to assess whether miR-184 could modulate cell invasiveness via targeting CDC25A and c-Myc. We utilized 124 tumors from NSCLC patients to determine miR-184, miR-21, PDCD4 mRNA, c-Myc mRNA, and CDC25A mRNA expression levels by means of real-time PCR analysis. The prognostic value of CDC25A, c-Myc, and miR-184 on overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

MiR-184 suppressed CDC25A expression by enhancing the instability of its mRNA as a result of miR-184 binding to its coding region. An increase in CDC25A expression by means of a reduction in miR-184 promotes cell invasiveness. Moreover, a concomitant increase in CDC25A and c-Myc expression as a result of decreased miR-184 via the miR-21-mediated PDCD4 reduction is responsible for cell invasiveness. Among patients, miR-184 expression in lung tumors was found to correlate negatively with CDC25A mRNA, c-Myc mRNA, and miR-21 expression, but was positively related to PDCD4 mRNA expression. High-miR-184, High-CDC25A, or high-c-Myc mRNA tumors exhibited shorter OS and RFS periods than their counterparts. The worst OS and RFS were observed in low-miR-184/high-CDC25A/high-c-Myc tumors, followed by low-miR-184 /high-CDC25A, low-miR-184/high-c-Myc, high-c-Myc, and high-CDC25A tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-184 as a tumor suppressor miR inhibits cell proliferation and invasion capability via targeting CDC25A and c-Myc. Low miR-184 level may predict worse prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases among patients with haematological disorders in the Asia-Pacific: a prospective observational study

We conducted a 2-year multicentre prospective observational study to determine the epidemiology of and mortality associated with invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) among patients with haematological disorders in Asia. Eleven institutions from 8 countries/regions participated, with 412 subjects (28.2% possible, 38.3% probable and 33.5% proven IFDs) recruited. The epidemiology of IFDs in participating institutions was similar to Western centres, with Aspergillus spp. (65.9%) or Candida spp. (26.7%) causing the majority of probable and proven IFDs. The overall 30-day mortality was 22.1%. Progressive haematological disorder (odds ratio [OR] 5.192), invasive candidiasis (OR 3.679), and chronic renal disease (OR 6.677) were independently associated with mortality.

Interactions between household air pollution and GWAS-identified lung cancer susceptibility markers in the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia (FLCCA)

We previously carried out a multi-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) on lung cancer among never smokers in the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia (FLCCA) (6,609 cases, 7,457 controls) that identified novel susceptibility loci at 10q25.2, 6q22.2, and 6p21.32, and confirmed two previously identified loci at 5p15.33 and 3q28. Household air pollution (HAP) attributed to solid fuel burning for heating and cooking, is the leading cause of the overall disease burden in Southeast Asia, and is known to contain lung carcinogens. To evaluate the gene-HAP interactions associated with lung cancer in loci independent of smoking, we analyzed data from studies participating in FLCCA with fuel use information available (n = 3; 1,731 cases; 1,349 controls). Coal use was associated with a 30% increased risk of lung cancer (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6). Among the five a priori SNPs identified by our GWAS, two showed a significant interaction with coal use (HLA Class II rs2395185, p = 0.02; TP63 rs4488809 (rs4600802), p = 0.04). The risk of lung cancer associated with coal exposure varied with the respective alleles for these two SNPs. Our observations provide evidence that genetic variation in HLA Class II and TP63 may modify the association between HAP and lung cancer risk. The roles played in the cell cycle and inflammation pathways by the proteins encoded by these two genes provide biological plausibility for these interactions; however, additional replication studies are needed in other non-smoking populations.