Stress-related hormone norepinephrine induces interleukin-6 expression in GES-1 cells

In the current literature, there is evidence that psychological factors can affect the incidence and progression of some cancers. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is known to be elevated in individuals experiencing chronic stress and is also involved in oncogenesis and cancer progression. However, the precise mechanism of IL-6 induction by the stress-related hormone norepinephrine (NE) is not clear, and, furthermore, there are no reports about the effect of NE on IL-6 expression in gastric epithelial cells. In this study, we examined the effect of NE on IL-6 expression in immortalized human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1 cells). Using real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunoassay, we demonstrated that NE can induce IL-6 mRNA and protein expression in GES-1 cells. The induction is through the β-adrenergic receptor-cAMP-protein kinase A pathway and mainly at the transcriptional level. Progressive 5'-deletions and site-directed mutagenesis of the parental construct show that, although activating-protein-1 (AP-1), cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein-β (C/EBP-β), and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) binding sites are all required in the basal transcription of IL-6, only AP-1 and CREB binding sites in the IL-6 promoter are required in NE-induced IL-6 expression. The results suggest that chronic stress may increase IL-6 secretion of human gastric epithelial cells, at least in part, by the stress-associated hormone norepinephrine, and provides basic data on stress and gastric cancer progression.

Roles of pyrolysis on availability, species and distribution of Cu and Zn in the swine manure: chemical extractions and high-energy synchrotron analyses

Animal manures generally contain high levels of heavy metals that may pose a significant threat to soil and groundwater qualities. Pyrolysis as means of reducing metal availability in such feed stocks is recently encouraged, but systematic studies are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of pyrolysis temperature on the availability of Cu and Zn by chemical extraction, to determine the speciation of Cu and Zn by synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy, and finally to investigate the phase distribution of metal species in the carbonaceous materials by combining acid-base extractions and absorption spectroscopy data. The results showed that both Cu and Zn in the swine manure were mainly bound to organic functional groups. Cu (II) reduction and Cu (I)-S complexes were observed during the pyrolysis process. Zn species resembling ZnAc2 was still dominant, being 60.8-69.2%, and ZnS increased by 6.6-21.8% in the carbonaceous materials. The distribution of Cu and Zn in the mineral, carbonized and non-carbonized organic phases varied greatly with the pyrolysis temperature. The higher the temperature, the more the metals existed in the mineral phase and carbonized organic phase. The decrease of EDTA extractable Cu and Zn with pyrolysis temperature was due to the increase of metals in the carbonized organic phase and mineral phase. It is suggested that pyrolysis at the relatively higher temperature is a better choice for metal-containing manure according to the metal speciation, solubility and availability.

Identification of osteoarthritis biomarkers by proteomic analysis of synovial fluid

OBJECTIVE

To use proteomic analysis to identify novel candidate biomarker proteins in synovial fluid for the differential diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Synovial fluid samples were analysed using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Data were used to generate an artificial neural network (ANN). The identification of one protein peak was confirmed via Western blotting.

RESULTS

Fluid samples were analysed from 36 patients with osteoarthritis and 24 with rheumatoid arthritis. In total, three protein peaks (mass-to-charge ratio [m/z] 3893, 10,576 and 14,175 Da) were identified as potential biomarkers for osteoarthritis. The ANN differentiated between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis with a sensitivity of 89.4% and a specificity of 91.2%. The protein peak at m/z 10 576 was identified as S100 calcium binding protein A12 (S100A12).

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of SELDI-TOF-MS and ANN identified osteoarthritis biomarkers. SELDI-TOF-MS may be a useful tool in the screening of synovial fluid for osteoarthritis diagnosis.

The clinical application of absorbable intramedullary nail and claw plate on treating multiple rib fractures

AIM

The absorption intramedullary nail and claw plate indications and efficacy were investigated in the treatment of a life-threatening multiple rib fractures.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 248 surgically treated rib fracture patients was performed who admitted to our hospital from March 2007 to December 2012. Intramedullary nailing was performed in 28 cases, a claw-type bone plate was fixed in 141 cases, and a combination of both was fixed in 79 cases.

RESULTS

All internal fixation patients were clinically cured except 1 patient died 14 days after a massive pulmonary embolism. The patients with flail chest and floating chest wall causing respiratory and circulatory disorders were promptly corrected. Routine follow-up was from 1 to 2 years, displaced fractures were in 2 cases, and there were 11 cases of internal fixation and extraction.

CONCLUSION

Internal fixation is a simple and reliable method for the treatment of multiple rib fractures. Both internal fixation materials have their pros and cons but the claw bone plate is more robust. The actual selection of appropriate treatment options helps to improve the treatment efficacy.

Limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from 225 live days of XENON100 data

We present new experimental constraints on the elastic, spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross section using recent data from the XENON100 experiment, operated in the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. An analysis of 224.6 live days×34 kg of exposure acquired during 2011 and 2012 revealed no excess signal due to axial-vector WIMP interactions with 129Xe and 131Xe nuclei. This leads to the most stringent upper limits on WIMP-neutron cross sections for WIMP masses above 6 GeV/c², with a minimum cross section of 3.5×10(-40) cm² at a WIMP mass of 45 GeV/c², at 90% confidence level.

Micromechanical PDGF recognition via lab-on-a-disc aptasensor arrays

A plug-and-play CD-like platform is used to perform a statistical detection of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) proteins through aptamer-based surface functionalization of multiple microcantilever arrays. When PDGF proteins bind to aptamer coatings, the cantilevers deflect. The deflection response is monitored by optical read-out units from a commercial DVD-ROM device. We report on the use of an improved sensing platform which facilitates measurements under continuous liquid flow and with temperature control. Also, the mechanical wobbling of the DVD-ROM platform has been minimized and the scanning system has been optimized in order to detect cantilever deflections in liquid with nanometer scale resolution. The capability of the sensing platform is demonstrated by detection of clinically relevant concentrations of PDGF proteins. We present statistical measurements on 100 microcantilevers at different concentrations of PDGF, ranging from 10 nM to 400 nM. Hereby it is possible to reliably characterize the averaged mechanical response of cantilevers as a function of protein concentration.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits nuclear factor kappa B activation by stabilizing inhibitor IκBα via mRNA stability and reduced phosphorylation in passively sensitized human airway smooth muscle cells

Excessive activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) is involved in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) activities in asthma. We investigated the effects of 1,25 - dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25 - (OH) 2D3] on the NF- κB signaling pathway in passively sensitized HASMCs and the molecular mechanisms involved. HASMCs were treated with either healthy controls' serum, asthma patients' serum or pretreated with 1,25 - (OH) 2D3 prior to treatment with asthmatics' serum. At 1 h after serum treatment: electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to detect NF-κB DNA binding activity; immunocytochemical staining was used to observe the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65; Western blots were used for NF-κB p65, IκBα, and phospho-IκBα protein levels and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65; real-time quantitative PCR was used for NF-κB p65 and IκBα mRNA expressions; and actinomycin D treatment was used to determine IκBα mRNA stability. Our major findings were: (1) 1,25 - (OH) 2D3 significantly reduced asthma serum passively sensitized HASMCs NF-κB DNA binding activity and inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65; (2) 1,25 - (OH) 2D3 increased the stability of IκBα mRNA with reduced IκBα phosphorylation in asthma serum passively sensitized HASMCs and significantly increased IκBα expression in these HASMCs. Inhibiting NF-κB signalling with 1,25 - dihydroxyvitamin D3 may be a therapeutic approach for controlling HASMC-related remodelling in asthma.

A structured framework for assessing sensitivity to missing data assumptions in longitudinal clinical trials

The objective of this research was to demonstrate a framework for drawing inference from sensitivity analyses of incomplete longitudinal clinical trial data via a re-analysis of data from a confirmatory clinical trial in depression. A likelihood-based approach that assumed missing at random (MAR) was the primary analysis. Robustness to departure from MAR was assessed by comparing the primary result to those from a series of analyses that employed varying missing not at random (MNAR) assumptions (selection models, pattern mixture models and shared parameter models) and to MAR methods that used inclusive models. The key sensitivity analysis used multiple imputation assuming that after dropout the trajectory of drug-treated patients was that of placebo treated patients with a similar outcome history (placebo multiple imputation). This result was used as the worst reasonable case to define the lower limit of plausible values for the treatment contrast. The endpoint contrast from the primary analysis was - 2.79 (p = .013). In placebo multiple imputation, the result was - 2.17. Results from the other sensitivity analyses ranged from - 2.21 to - 3.87 and were symmetrically distributed around the primary result. Hence, no clear evidence of bias from missing not at random data was found. In the worst reasonable case scenario, the treatment effect was 80% of the magnitude of the primary result. Therefore, it was concluded that a treatment effect existed. The structured sensitivity framework of using a worst reasonable case result based on a controlled imputation approach with transparent and debatable assumptions supplemented a series of plausible alternative models under varying assumptions was useful in this specific situation and holds promise as a generally useful framework.

Dark matter results from 225 live days of XENON100 data

We report on a search for particle dark matter with the XENON100 experiment, operated at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso for 13 months during 2011 and 2012. XENON100 features an ultralow electromagnetic background of (5.3 ± 0.6) × 10(-3) events/(keV(ee) × kg × day) in the energy region of interest. A blind analysis of 224.6 live days × 34 kg exposure has yielded no evidence for dark matter interactions. The two candidate events observed in the predefined nuclear recoil energy range of 6.6-30.5 keV(nr) are consistent with the background expectation of (1.0 ± 0.2) events. A profile likelihood analysis using a 6.6-43.3 keV(nr) energy range sets the most stringent limit on the spin-independent elastic weakly interacting massive particle-nucleon scattering cross section for weakly interacting massive particle masses above 8 GeV/c(2), with a minimum of 2 × 10(-45) cm(2) at 55 GeV/c(2) and 90% confidence level.

Perianal necrotizing fasciitis treated with a loose-seton technique

AIM

The study evaluated the effect of a loose-seton technique for perianal necrotizing fasciitis.

METHOD

The medical records of seven patients with perianal necrotizing fasciitis treated by the loose-seton technique between December 2005 and June 2010 were reviewed. Age, gender, status of diabetes mellitus, duration of symptoms, the length of hospital stay and number of debridements were investigated.

RESULTS

Five of the patients were men. The mean age was 53 years and the range was 43-79 years. All seven patients had a past history of acute perianal abscess. Six (85.7%) patients had diabetes mellitus. The mean time for removal of the seton was 24 (14-32) days and the mean hospitalization time was 31 (23-45) days. All patients had primary wound healing. There was no mortality. At a median follow-up 18 (6-60) months one patient required inpatient treatment with cutting-seton for complex anal fistula after 11 months. All patients had normal faecal continence and none of them required a reconstructive procedure during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The loose-seton technique is an effective treatment for perianal necrotizing fasciitis. The advantages include inhibiting the spread of inflammation, reducing the frequency of debridements, decreasing the area of the wound and limiting extensive scar formation.

Effects of semen processing on the generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential of human spermatozoa

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of semen processing on the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in spermatozoa, and to develop reliable indexes for the evaluation of sperm quality during sperm preparation. Swim-up and density gradient centrifugation methods were used to separate semen in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), leucocytospermia (LC) and normozoospermia groups. Levels of ROS and MMP were measured by flow cytometry. Before preparation, the patients with abnormal semen parameters had a lower MMP and higher ROS, and there was a negative correlation between MMP and ROS. The levels of MMP and ROS increased significantly, especially ROS produced by swim-up. A significant difference was found between the correlation of MMP and total normal motile sperm count after preparation in the OAT group. The level of ROS was associated with the amount of white blood cells in the LC group. The MMP can be used as an objective index to evaluate the sperm quality of OAT patients, and the combination of MMP and ROS can be used to assess the efficiency of sperm preparation in LC patients. These findings can guide selection of the ideal sperm separation technique for different sperm samples.

Involvement of fatty acid metabolism in the hepatotoxicity induced by divalproex sodium

Divalproex sodium is an antiepileptic drug. Hepatotoxicity is one of the most common side effects induced by divalproex sodium. Impaired fatty acid metabolism is considered to play an important role in the drug-induced hepatotoxicity. The sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) are two key transcription factors involved, respectively, in fatty acid synthesis and degradation in liver. In the present study, we investigated the hepatotoxicity induced by divalproex sodium and its potential mechanism. The results indicated that divalproex sodium significantly decreased the cell viability and increased lactate dehydrogenase leakage in hepatocytes. The activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were increased in hepatocytes treated with divalproex sodium. Furthermore, divalproex sodium activated SREBP-1c and increased the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. Divalproex sodium also inhibited PPARα and decreased the messenger RNA expressions of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A. These results suggest that the hepatotoxicity induced by divalproex sodium may be related with fatty acid synthesis and degradation mediated by SREBP-1c and PPARα in hepatocytes.

Effects of ozone on sciatic nerve in rat

This study evaluated the influence of ozone on rat sciatic nerve structure and function. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 5). In groups I to IV, 1ml of ozone (O(3)) 10 μg/ml, 30 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml, 8 0 μg/ml was injected at the junction of gluteus maximus margin and lateral edge of the long head of biceps femoris respectively, in group V, 1 ml of pure O(2) was injected at the same point, and group V had puncture without any injection. Ozone was manufactured by an ozone generator (Ozone Line Co, Italy). The rats were investigated by both gross measurement and behavioral changes. One day, one week and three weeks after injection, rat hindlimb footprints were measured and the sciatic nerve function index (SFI) was calculated, and after three weeks, all right sciatic nerves were exposed under anesthesia. Near neural stimulation of the rat sciatic nerve was calculated and nerve conduction velocity, latency and maximum amplitude recorded. Animals were sacrificed for pathology, and ipsilateral triceps surae were taken for wet weight. No serious behavioral abnormalities were observed in any animal. SFI comparison in the various times and various groups showed no significant differences (p<0.05), and nerve conduction velocity, latency and maximum amplitude difference amongst the groups was not significant (p<0.05). There were no abnormalities in peripheral nerves pathologically after injection. Our initial study suggests that ozone concentrations from 10 μg/ml to 80 μg/ml injected around rat's peripheral nerve will not cause serious sequelae or serious damage to the structure and function of peripheral nerve. This finding provides evidence of the safety of ozone injected around the peripheral nerve.

Experimental study on the atlanto-axial joint and related structures with regional anatomy and medical imaging

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the anatomy and medical imaging characteristics in a study observing the atlanto-axial joint (AAJ) and related structures.

METHODS

Eight cadaveric specimens of the AAJ segment were studied with both anatomical and imaging methods. The vertebral arteries of the AAJ segment (VA-A), the first and second cervical nerves (CN1, CN2) and synovial fold (SF) of the AAJ were observed and measured.

RESULT

After extending from the vertebral canal, the CN1 goes between the posterior arch of the atlas and VA-A, and the CN2 passes between the posterior arch of the atlas and axis, and is posterior to VA-A. Among the eight cases, six were found in the SF in the central anterior AAJ and five in lateral. The vertebral arteries of the AAJ segment go along the AAJ with four curves, of which the second and fourth are away from the bone structure of the AAJ. The distance from CN1, CN2 to VA-A and that from the second, fourth curve of VA-A to AAJ is 0.0-2.2 mm, 0.0-3.6 mm and 0.0-4.8 mm, 2.0-7.9 mm respectively. There is no significant difference between the measurements made anatomically and those by the imaging method (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The anatomical method has advantages in observing the CN and SF, while the imaging method shows clearly and directly the VA-A and AAJ. Both are mutually complementary with consistent measurements. The combined use of the two provides a new way to study the complicated anatomy in this region.

Dark matter results from 100 live days of XENON100 data

We present results from the direct search for dark matter with the XENON100 detector, installed underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN, Italy. XENON100 is a two-phase time-projection chamber with a 62 kg liquid xenon target. Interaction vertex reconstruction in three dimensions with millimeter precision allows the selection of only the innermost 48 kg as the ultralow background fiducial target. In 100.9 live days of data, acquired between January and June 2010, no evidence for dark matter is found. Three candidate events were observed in the signal region with an expected background of (1.8 ± 0.6) events. This leads to the most stringent limit on dark matter interactions today, excluding spin-independent elastic weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) nucleon scattering cross sections above 7.0 × 10(-45) cm(2) for a WIMP mass of 50 GeV/c(2) at 90% confidence level.

Characterization of Baylisascaris schroederi from Qinling subspecies of giant panda in China by the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of nuclear ribosomal DNA

In the present study, a total of 20 nematode isolates, (including 10 male and 10 female worms) representing Baylisascaris schroederi from 5 Qinling subspecies of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Shaanxi Province of China, were characterized and grouped genetically by the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The rDNA fragment spanning 3' end of 18S rDNA, complete ITS-1 rDNA, and 5' end of 5.8S rDNA were amplified and sequenced. The sequence variability in ITS-1 rDNA was examined within B. schroederi and among parasites in order Ascaridata available in GenBank™, and their phylogenetic relationships were also reconstructed. The sequences of ITS-1 rDNA for all the B. schroederi isolates were 427 bp in length, with no genetic variation detected among these isolates. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS-1 rDNA sequences revealed that all the male and female B. schroederi isolates sequenced in the present study were posited into the clade of genus Baylisascaris, sistered to zoonotic nematodes in genus Ascaris, and the ITS-1 rDNA sequence could distinguish different species in order Ascaridata. These results showed that the ITS-1 rDNA provides a suitable molecular marker for the inter-species phylogenetic analysis and differential identification of nematodes in order Ascaridata.

Effect of DEM mesh size on AnnAGNPS simulation and slope correction

The objective of this paper is to study the impact of the mesh size of the digital elevation model (DEM) on terrain attributes within an Annualized AGricultural NonPoint Source pollution (AnnAGNPS) Model simulation at watershed scale and provide a correction of slope gradient for low resolution DEMs. The effect of different grid sizes of DEMs on terrain attributes was examined by comparing eight DEMs (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 m). The accuracy of the AnnAGNPS stimulation on runoff, sediments, and nutrient loads is evaluated. The results are as follows: (1) Rnoff does not vary much with decrease of DEM resolution whereas soil erosion and total nitrogen (TN) load change prominently. There is little effect on runoff simulation of AnnAGNPS modeling by the amended slope using an adjusted 50 m DEM. (2) A decrease of sediment yield and TN load is observed with an increase of DEM mesh size from 30 to 60 m; a slight decrease of sediment and TN load with the DEM mesh size bigger than 60 m. There is similar trend for total phosphorus (TP) variation, but with less range of variation, the simulation of sediment, TN, and TP increase, in which sediment increase up to 1.75 times compared to the model using unadjusted 50 m DEM. In all, the amended simulation still has a large difference relative to the results using 30 m DEM. AnnAGNPS is less reliable for sediment loading prediction in a small hilly watershed. (3) Resolution of DEM has significant impact on slope gradient. The average, minimum, maximum of slope from the various DEMs reduced obviously with the decrease of DEM precision. For the grade of 0∼15°, the slopes at lower resolution DEM are generally bigger than those at higher resolution DEM. But for the grade bigger than 15°, the slopes at lower resolution DEM are generally smaller than those at higher resolution DEM. So it is necessary to adjust the slope with a fitting equation. A cubic model is used for correction of slope gradient from lower resolution to that from higher resolution. Results for Dage watershed showed that fine meshes are desired to avoid large underestimates of sediment and total nitrogen loads and moderate underestimates of total phosphorus loads even with the slopes for the 50 m DEM adjusted to be more similar to the slopes from the 30 m DEM. Decreasing the mesh size beyond this threshold does not substantially affect the computed runoff flux but generated prediction errors for nitrogen and sediment yields. So the appropriate DEM will control error and make simulation at acceptable level.

Abstract P4-06-23: KLF8 Is Regulated by Its Novel Interacting Protein PARP-1

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) plays an important role in the progression of breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Using mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation, we identified PARP-1, a chromatin-associated enzyme that catalyzes protein poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), as a novel KLF8 interacting protein. Co-IP and western blotting indicated that KLF8 is a PARylation substrate. Mutation of the cystein residues in the first and second zinc-finger motifs of KLF8 abolishes its interaction with PARP-1. Luciferase assays showed KLF8 activation on the cyclin D1 promoter was significantly reduced when PARP-1 was physically deleted or functionally inhibited or when KLF8-PARP-1 interaction was disrupted. Surprisingly, immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that KLF8 was localized in the nuclei of wide type MEFs, but was mislocalized in the perinuclear cytoplasm of the PARP-1-/- cells, which could be rescued by re-expression of PARP-1. The detection of γH2A.X, comet assay and clonogenic assay indicated KLF8 play a DNA repair role in a PARP-1- dependent matter. Cychloheximade-chase assay revealed the stability of KLF8 dramatically reduced by loss of PARP-1 or when KLF8-PARP-1 interaction was disrupted, meanwhile ubiquitination assay showed heavier ubiquitin chains of KLF8. This work has identified PARP-1 as a novel binding partner and post-translational modifier of KLF8 and a critical regulator of KLF8 localization, functions and stability in the cells and suggested a critical role of the interaction between KLF8 and PARP1 during metastatic progression of breast cancer. Support by: NIH, ACS and Komen grants to J.Z.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-06-23.