[Association between hand-foot skin reaction and effectiveness of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the association between hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) in the treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) and the effectiveness of VEGFR-TKIs. Methods: Clinical data of 155 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with VEGFR-TKIs at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2006 and January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients received first-line VEGFR-TKI therapy. The treatment effectiveness and outcome between patients developing HFSR and those without HFSR were compared. Comparison of treatment response rate (RR) was performed with χ² test, survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The median survival of all the 155 patients was 36.2 months. Among the 117 (75.5%) patients who developed HFSR, 19 patients (12.3%) had grade Ⅰ HFSR, 73 (47.1%) had grade Ⅱ, and 25 (16.1%) had grade Ⅲ; there were no grade Ⅳ events. The RR and median progression-free survival (mPFS) in patients who did not develop HFSR were 15.8% and 6.7 months, respectively; while the RR and mPFS in patients who developed HFSR were 52.1% and 13.8 months, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.002). The RR and mPFS in patients with grade Ⅰ HFSR were 42.1% and 9.5 months, respectively; those in patients with grade Ⅱ HFSR were 56.2% and 12.2 months, respectively, in patients with grade Ⅲ were 48.0% and 22.2 months, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three grades of HFSR (P=0.001, 0.009). Conclusions: HFSR might be an effective predictor for effectiveness of VEGFR-TKIs in mRCC patients. Large-sample studies are warranted to further prove these results.

Meta-analysis of association between IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common disease in the aging population and studies have shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is potentially implicated in its pathogenesis. This study was designed to assess the association between the IL-6 gene -634C/G polymorphism and osteoporosis. PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched for eligible studies published up to and including December 2014 in English or Chinese. Meta-analysis was conducted by the RevMan5.2 software. Weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated by a fixed-effect or random-effect model. Bone mineral density (BMD) was regarded as the assessment index. As a result, a total of four articles with 3068 subjects were included. Differences in BMD between the CC and GG genotypes were 0.03 g/cm(2) (95%CI = 0.01 to 0.05) at total body, 0.01 g/cm(2) (95%CI = 0.00 to 0.03) at femoral neck, and 0.03 g/cm(2) (95%CI = 0.00 to 0.06) at the lumbar spine (P < 0.05). For the CG versus GG genotypes, the differences in BMD were 0.03 g/cm(2) (95%CI = 0.02 to 0.05) at total body and 0.02 g/cm(2) (95%CI = 0.00 to 0.03 at the femoral neck (P < 0.05). For the CC versus CG genotypes, the differences in BMD were not significant (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the GG genotype of the -634C/G polymorphism in IL-6 appears to play a role in reducing BMD, which affects normal bone metabolism and leads to osteoporosis.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a proliferating cell nuclear antigen gene by chemically induced male sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Although a number of studies have shown that chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) affect anther growth and regulate cell-cycle progression, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an essential factor in DNA replication, and in many other processes in eukaryotic cells. In this study, the open reading frame of TaPCNA, the PCNA in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sequence analysis revealed that this gene was 792-bp long and encoded a protein with 234 amino acids. Alignment of the TaPCNA-predicted sequence revealed a high degree of identity with PCNAs from other plant species. A subcellular localization assay indicated that TaPCNA was localized in the nucleus. The TaPCNA was cloned into the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET32a, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into BL21 (DE3). TaPCNA expression was induced by 0.5 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside and verified using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot assays, which indicated that the fusion protein was successfully expressed. The gene involved in the G1-to-S transition, Histone H4, was downregulated by 1376- CIMS, which is a chemically induced male sterility line. However, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that TaPCNA expression was upregulated in 1376-CIMS. Our results suggest that CHAs (SQ-1) induce DNA damage in wheat anthers. DNA damage results in either the delay or arrest of cell-cycle progression, which affects anther development. This study will help to elucidate the mechanisms of SQ-1-induced male sterility.

Role of IL-6 polymorphism on the development of cardiovascular events and coronary artery disease in patients receiving hemodialysis

We aimed to investigate the role of IL-6 polymorphism on the development of cardiovascular events and coronary artery disease in patients receiving hemodialysis. Blood samples were collected from 216 patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to genotype IL-6 -634C/G, -174G/C and -572C/G. By multivariate analysis, we found that the IL-6 -634GG genotype was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients receiving hemodialysis, with HR (95%CI) of 4.07 (1.20-15.70). Similarly, we found that the IL-6-174CC genotype was related to the onset and development of cardiovascular events in patients receiving hemodialysis, with HR (95%CI) of 3.33 (1.21-9.51). However, we did not find an association between IL-6 -572C/G polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular events in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Relationship between male sterility and β-1,3-glucanase activity and callose deposition-related gene expression in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In previous studies, we first isolated one different protein β-1,3-glucanase using two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry from normal wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chemical hybridization agent-induced male sterility (CIMS) wheat. In this experiment, β-1,3-glucanase activity and the expression of a callose deposition-related gene, UDP-glucose phosphorylase (UGPase), were determinate in normal, CIMS, and genetic male sterility (GS) wheat. β-1,3-glucanase activity was significantly different between the fertile and sterile lines during callose synthesis and degradation, but there was no difference between CIMS and GS wheat. The UGPase gene of callose deposition was highly expressed in the meiophase and sharply decreased in the tetrad stage. However, the expression of the UGPase gene was significantly different between the fertile and sterile lines. These data indicated that β-1,3-glucanase activity and the expression of the UGPase gene play important roles in the male sterility of wheat. Consequently, pollen mother cells (PMCs) might degenerate at the early meiosis stage, and differences in UGPase gene expression and β-1,3-glucanase activity might eventually result in complete pollen collapse. In addition, the critical period of anther abortion might be the meiosis stage to the tetrad stage rather than what we previously thought, the mononuclear period.

[Change of Bt protein in soil after growing Bt corns and returning corn straws to soil and its effects on soil nutrients]

The spatiotemporal dynamics of Bt protein in soil and the change of soil nutrients in rhizosphere soil, root surface soil and soils at 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm were measured in greenhouse experiments. Two Bt corns, 5422Bt1 and 5422CBCL, and their near isogenic non-Bt variety 5422 were grown for 90 days and the crop residues were retained to soil. Results showed that 1.59 and 2.78 ng x g(-1) Bt protein were detected in the rhizosphere soil with Bt corns 5422Bt1 and 5422CBCL immediately after harvest. However, there were only trace amounts of Bt protein (< 0.5 ng x g(-1)) were detected in root surface soil after 90 days and in bulk soil in the two Bt corn treatments after 30, 60 and 90 days. When corn residues returned to soil, Bt protein declined rapidly within 3 days and only trace amounts of Bt protein were measured after 7 days. There were no sig- nificant differences in organic matter, available nutrient (alkaline hydrolytic N, available P, available K) or total nutrient (total N, total P, total K) in root surface soils and soils at 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm among the Bt and non-Bt corns after 90 days. Sixty days after returning crop residues of 5422Btl to soil, the contents of organic matter and total N increased and the content of available K reduced significantly in the 0-20 cm soil depth. There were no significant differences in any other parameter at the 0-20 cm depth, neither for any parameter in the 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm soil depths compared to those in the non-Bt corn 5422 treatment. There were no significant differences in soil nutrient contents in Bt corn 5422CBCL treatment compared to those in non-Bt corn 5422 treatment except that available phosphorus content was reduced in root surface soils, and total P content increased at the 0-20 cm soil depth after 90 days. When crop residues of Bt corn 5422 CBCL were returned to soil, only available P content in the 0-20 cm soil layer was evidently higher compared to the soil receiving crop residues of non-Bt corn 5422. Results suggested that Bt protein released from root and crop residues of Bt corns would not accumulate in soil, and growing Bt corns and returning crop residues to soil would have no significant effect on soil nutrients in general.

A Medicago truncatula H+-pyrophosphatase gene, MtVP1, improves sucrose accumulation and anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

We recently cloned MtVP1, a type I vacuolar-type H(+)-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase from Medicago truncatula. In the present study, we investigated the cellular location and the function of this H(+)-PPase in Arabidopsis and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). An MtVP1::enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion was constructed, which localized to the plasma membrane of onion epidermal cells. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MtVP1 had more robust root systems and redder shoots than wild-type (WT) plants under conditions of cold stress. Furthermore, overexpression of MtVP1 in potato accelerated the formation and growth of vegetative organs. The tuber buds and stem base of transgenic potatoes became redder than those of WT plants, but flowering was delayed by approximately half a month. Interestingly, anthocyanin biosynthesis was promoted in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings and potato tuber buds. The sucrose concentration of transgenic potato tubers and tuber buds was enhanced compared with that of WT plants. Furthermore, sucrose concentration in tubers was higher than that in tuber buds. Although there was no direct evidence to support Fuglsang's hypothetical model regarding the effects of H(+)-PPase on sucrose phloem loading, we speculated that sucrose concentration was increased in tuber buds owing to the increased concentration in tubers. Therefore, overexpressed MtVP1 enhanced sucrose accumulation of source organs, which might enhance sucrose transport to sink organs, thus affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis.

First Report of Sweet Cherry Virescence Disease in China and Its Association with Infection by a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi'-Related Strain

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a deciduous tree originating in the Black Sea/Caspian Sea region where Asia and Europe converge. Being highly valued for its timber and fruit, sweet cherry has been cultivated and naturalized on all continents. Over the past decade, the area of sweet cherry cultivation increased rapidly in China and has reached 140,000 ha. In April 2013, sweet cherry trees (cv. Summit) exhibiting floral virescence symptoms were observed in two orchards located in suburban Taian, Shandong Province, China. The diseased trees developed flowers having white petals with green veins or abnormal floral structures having cupped, green petals. The affected flowers failed to set fruit. A month following the first appearance of the virescence symptoms, the diseased trees became wilted and eventually died. Leaf and stem samples were collected from nine symptomatic and two nearby symptomless trees. Total DNA was extracted from each sample using the Plant Quick DNA Extract Kit (TianGen, Beijing, China). Nested-PCR was carried out using phytoplasma-universal primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 (1). All PCR assays with DNA templates from symptomatic samples yielded an amplicon of 1.25 kb, corresponding to the full-length F2nR2 region of phytoplasmal 16S rDNA. No amplicon was generated in PCRs containing DNA templates from symptomless plants. The amplicons were cloned into plasmid vector pMD18-T (TaKaRa, Dalian, China) and sequenced. The obtained sequences were nearly identical, and a representative sequence was deposited into GenBank (Accession No. KF268424). An analysis of the sequence through the iPhyClassifier (4) revealed that the sweet cherry virescence (SCV) disease was associated with infection by a phytoplasma closely related to the reference strain of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi.' The 16S rDNA F2nR2 region of the SCV phytoplasma shared 99.8% nucleotide sequence identity with that of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi' reference strain (Accession No. AB052876). A computer-simulated restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the SCV phytoplasma 16S rDNA F2nR2 sequence with a set 17 restriction enzymes (3) resulted in a collective RFLP profile identical to the reference pattern of the elm yellows phytoplasma group, subgroup B (16SrV-B). Phytoplasmal diseases of sweet cherry were reported previously in Europe and the etiological agents were phytoplasmas of other groups, including the aster yellows group (16SrI), the X-disease group (16SrIII), and the apple proliferation group (16SrX) (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a phytoplasmal disease of sweet cherry in China, and the SCV phytoplasma is a new member of the subgroup 16SrV-B. Presence of 16SrV-B phytoplasmas and their etiological association with various plant diseases in China have been reported previously; affected host plants included jujube, hemp fiber, paper mulberry, Chinese cherry, plum, apricot, red barberry, clover, dianthus, elm, and sunshine tree. Our identification of the SCV phytoplasma expands the known plant host range of the 16SrV-B phytoplasma lineage. The impact of the SCV phytoplasma in the regional ecosystem and in sweet cherry production is being assessed. References: (1) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) S. Paltrinieri et al. Acta Hort. 550:365, 2001. (3) W. Wei et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 57:1855, 2007. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

Molecular cloning of the goose ACSL3 and ACSL5 coding domain sequences and their expression characteristics during goose fatty liver development

It has been demonstrated that ACSL3 and ACSL5 play important roles in fat metabolism. To investigate the primary functions of ACSL3 and ACSL5 and to evaluate their expression levels during goose fatty liver development, we cloned the ACSL3 and ACSL5 coding domain sequences (CDSs) of geese using RT-PCR and analyzed their expression characteristics under different conditions using qRT-PCR. The results showed that the goose ACSL3 (JX511975) and ACSL5 (JX511976) sequences have high similarities with the chicken sequences both at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Both ACSL3 and ACSL5 have high expression levels in goose liver. The expression levels of ACSL3 and ACSL5 in goose liver and hepatocytes can be changed by overfeeding geese and by treatment with unsaturated fatty acids, respectively. Together, these results indicate that ACSL3 and ACSL5 play important roles during fatty liver development. The different expression characteristics of goose ACSL3 and ACSL5 suggest that these two genes may be responsible for specific functions.

Adiposity and glucose intolerance exacerbate components of metabolic syndrome in children consuming sugar-sweetened beverages: QUALITY cohort study

BACKGROUND

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to weight gain and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in children, but whether these associations are modified by excess weight and glucose tolerance status in children is not known.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between SSB intake and MetS components among children above and below the 85th body mass index (BMI) percentile and those with and without impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

METHODS

Data were from the QUébec Adiposity and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth study (2005-2008). Caucasian children aged 8-10 years (n = 632) were recruited from 1040 primary schools in Québec, Canada. SSB consumption was assessed by three 24-h dietary recalls, body fat mass by dual-energy absorptiometry, physical activity by 7-d accelerometer. Multivariate linear regressions were used, with age, sex, fat mass index and physical activity as covariates, including waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), concentrations of triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as outcome variables.

RESULTS

Among overweight children, a 100-mL higher SSB consumption was associated with a 0.1-unit higher HOMA-IR (P = 0.009) and a 1.1-mm Hg higher SBP (P = 0.001). In children with IGT, a 100-mL higher SSB consumption was associated with a 1.4-mm Hg higher SBP and a 4.0-cm higher WC (P < 0.001). These associations were not observed among children <85th BMI percentile.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the association between higher SSB consumption and MetS components is more evident in overweight/obese and glucose-intolerant children.

Recent progress in prostaglandin F2α ethanolamide (prostamide F2α) research and therapeutics

Prostamide (prostaglandin ethanolamide) research emerged from two distinct lines of research: 1) the unique pharmacology of the antiglaucoma drug bimatoprost and 2) the discovery that endocannabinoid anandamide was converted by COX-2 to a series of electrochemically neutral prostaglandin (PG) ethanolamides. Bimatoprost pharmacology was found to be virtually identical to that of prostamide F2α. The earliest studies relied on comparison of agonist potencies compared with PGF2α and synthetic prostaglandin F2α (FP) receptor agonists. The subsequent discovery of selective and potent prostamide receptor antagonists (AGN 211334-6, as shown in Fig. 3) was critical for distinguishing between prostamide and FP receptor-mediated effects. The prostamide F2α receptor was then modeled by cotransfecting the wild-type FP receptor with an mRNA splicing variant (altFP4).Bimatoprost is now used therapeutically for treating both glaucoma and eyelash hypotrichosis. Bimatoprost also stimulates hair growth in isolated human scalp hair follicles. A strong effect is also seen in mouse pelage hair, where bimatoprost essentially halves the onset of hair regrowth and the time to achieve full hair regrowth in shaved mice. Beyond glaucoma and hair growth, bimatoprost has potential for reducing fat deposition. Studies to date suggest that preadipocytes are the cellular target for bimatoprost. The discovery of the enzyme prostamide/PGF synthase was invaluable in elucidating the anatomic distribution of prostamide F2α. High expression in the central nervous system provided the impetus for later studies that described prostamide F2α as a nociceptive mediator in the spinal cord. At the translational level, bimatoprost has already provided therapeutics in two distinct areas and the use of both prostamide agonists and antagonists may provide other useful medicaments.

Polycistronic lentivirus induced pluripotent stem cells from skin biopsies after long term storage, blood outgrowth endothelial cells and cells from milk teeth

The generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) requires the collection of donor tissue, but clinical circumstances in which the interests of patients have highest priority may compromise the quality and availability of cells that are eventually used for reprogramming. Here we compared (i) skin biopsies stored in standard physiological salt solution for up to two weeks (ii) blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) isolated from fresh peripheral blood and (iii) children's milk teeth lost during normal replacement for their ability to form somatic cell cultures suitable for reprogramming to hiPSCs. We derived all hiPSC lines using the same reprogramming method (a conditional (FLPe) polycistronic lentivirus) and under similar conditions (same batch of virus, fetal calf serum and feeder cells). Skin fibroblasts could be reprogrammed robustly even after long-term biopsy storage. Generation of hiPSCs from juvenile dental pulp cells gave similar high efficiencies, but that of BOECs was lower. In terms of invasiveness of biopsy sampling, biopsy storage and reprogramming efficiencies skin fibroblasts appeared best for the generation of hiPSCs, but where non-invasive procedures are required (e.g., for children and minors) dental pulp cells from milk teeth represent a valuable alternative.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a Brassica juncea yellow stripe-like gene, BjYSL7, whose overexpression increases heavy metal tolerance of tobacco

KEY MESSAGE

BjYSL7 encodes a plasma-localized metal-NA transporter and has transport Fe(II)-NA complexes activity. BjYSL7 is involved in the transport of Cd and Ni from roots to shoots. Heavy metal transporters play a key role in regulating metal accumulation and transport in plants. In this study, we isolated a novel member of the yellow stripe-like (YSL) gene family BjYSL7 from the hyperaccumulator Brassica juncea. BjYSL7 is composed of 688 amino acids with 12 putative transmembrane domains and is over 90 % identical to TcYSL7 and AtYSL7. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that BjYSL7 mRNA was mainly expressed in the stem under normal condition. The expression of BjYSL7 was found to be up-regulated by 127.1-, 12.7-, and 3.4-fold in roots and 6.5-, 4.3-, and 2.8-fold in shoots under FeSO4, NiCl2, and CdCl2 stresses, respectively. We have demonstrated that BjYSL7 is a Fe(II)-NA influx transporter by yeast functional complementation. Moreover, a BjYSL7::enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion localized to the plasma membrane of onion epidermal cells. The BjYSL7-overexpressing transgenic tobacco plants exhibited longer root lengths, lower relative inhibition rate of lengths and superior root hair development compared to that of wild-type (WT) plants in the presence of CdCl2 and NiCl2. Furthermore, the concentrations of Cd and Ni in shoots of BjYSL7-overexpressing plants are significantly higher than that of WT plants. Compared with WT plants, BjYSL7-overexpressing plants exhibited Fe concentrations that were higher in the shoots and seeds and lower in the roots. Taken together, these results suggest that BjYSL7 might be involved in the transport of Fe, Cd and Ni to the shoot and improving heavy metal resistance in plants.

[Degradation and bioaccumulation characteristics of ciprofloxacin in soil-vegetable system]

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of applying ciprofloxacin (CIP) on the growth of flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris), radish (Raphanus sativus), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and long bean (Vigna unguiculata), the bioaccumation of CIP in the vegetables, and the degradation of the antibiotics in soil. The results showed that applying 5, 30 and 75 mg x kg(-1) of CIP had no significant effects on the plant biomass of flowering Chinese cabbage, tomato and long bean, but the high concentration of CIP (> or = 30 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited the radish growth significantly. The degradation of CIP in soil was fast at beginning, but slowed down gradually since then. The DT50 and DT90 of CIP in long bean soil were 18.3-43.9 d and 260-738 d, respectively. The CIP could be absorbed by the roots of all the four vegetables and allocated to their aboveground parts, and the CIP residues in the vegetables in creased with the concentration of CIP in soil. The CIP concentration in flowering Chinese cabbage roots was higher than that in the cabbage aboveground parts, that in radish showed a higher concentration in aboveground parts than in roots, and the CIP concentration in tomato and long bean was in the same order of root > stem > leaf.

Formation of platelet-binding von Willebrand factor strings on non-endothelial cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) forms strings on activated vascular endothelial cells that recruit platelets and initiate clot formation. Alterations in VWF strings may disturb hemostasis. This study was aimed at developing a flexible model system for structure-function studies of VWF strings.

METHODS

VWF strings were generated by inducing exocytosis of pseudo-Weibel-Palade bodies from VWF-transfected HEK293 cells, and the properties of these strings under static conditions and under flow were characterized.

RESULTS

Upon exocytosis, VWF unfurled into strings several hundred micrometers in length. These strings could form bundles and networks, and bound platelets under flow, resembling authentic endothelial VWF strings. Anchorage of the platelet-decorated VWF strings was independent of P-selectin and integrin α(V) β(3). Translocation of platelets along the strings, elongation and fragmentation of the strings frequently occurred under flow. Furthermore, VWF variants with the p.Tyr87Ser and p.Cys2773Ser mutations, which are defective in multimer assembly, did not give rise to VWF strings. Also, insertion of the green fluorescent protein into VWF inhibited string formation.

CONCLUSIONS

HEK293 cells provide a flexible and useful model system for the study of VWF string formation. Our results suggest that structural changes in VWF may modulate string formation and function, and contribute to hemostatic disorders.