Clinical features of atopic dermatitis in a hospital-based setting in China

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. There have been few detailed reports of the clinical evaluation of Chinese patients with AD.

OBJECTIVES

To give a profile of the clinical features of Chinese AD patients in a university hospital setting.

METHODS

A total of 1008 cases met Hanifin and Rajka diagnostic criteria of AD were recruited at Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China.

RESULTS

In our survey, 22.7% patients were mild, 66.6% were moderate and 10.7% were severe according to the SCORAD index. Both the frequency and severity of the male patients were slightly higher. The frequency of asthma among the AD patients was 16.7% and it was increased with the age (χ2 = 205.20, P = 0.000). The frequencies of objective minor signs were demonstrated with age-related changes. Besides, three localized variants including eyelid eczema (49.8%), scalp dermatitis (49.7%), infra-auricular and retroauricular fissuring (44.8%) were commonly observed, especially in the infantile phase (P < 0.01). It was showed significant differences in serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels of different age groups. The positive rate of Phadiatop was raised after 3 years old and that of the common food allergens were decreased after 6 years old.

CONCLUSIONS

More males than females had ongoing AD in our survey. Most AD debuted in the first year of the cases. High incidence of the three clinical signs: eyelid eczema, scalp dermatitis and infra-auricular and retroauricular fissuring among the patients suggests it can be a potential valuable diagnostic clue to AD.

Exercise impacts brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasticity by engaging mechanisms of epigenetic regulation

We have evaluated the possibility that the action of voluntary exercise on the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule important for rat hippocampal learning, could involve mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. We focused the studies on the Bdnf promoter IV, as this region is highly responsive to neuronal activity. We have found that exercise stimulates DNA demethylation in Bdnf promoter IV, and elevates levels of activated methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, as well as BDNF mRNA and protein in the rat hippocampus. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that exercise increases acetylation of histone H3, and protein assessment showed that exercise elevates the ratio of acetylated :total for histone H3 but had no effects on histone H4 levels. Exercise also reduces levels of the histone deacetylase 5 mRNA and protein implicated in the regulation of the Bdnf gene [N.M. Tsankova et al. (2006)Nat. Neurosci., 9, 519-525], but did not affect histone deacetylase 9. Exercise elevated the phosphorylated forms of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and cAMP response element binding protein, implicated in the pathways by which neural activity influences the epigenetic regulation of gene transcription, i.e. Bdnf. These results showing the influence of exercise on the remodeling of chromatin containing the Bdnf gene emphasize the importance of exercise on the control of gene transcription in the context of brain function and plasticity. Reported information about the impact of a behavior, inherently involved in the daily human routine, on the epigenome opens exciting new directions and therapeutic opportunities in the war against neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Knocking out of tailoring genes eryK and eryG in an industrial erythromycin-producing strain of Saccharopolyspora erythraea leading to overproduction of erythromycin B, C and D at different conversion ratios

AIMS

 To overproduce erythromycin C, B or D and evaluate the effect of disruption of tailoring genes eryK and eryG in an industrial erythromycin producer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

  The tailoring genes eryG and eryK were inactivated individually or simultaneously by targeted gene disruption in an industrial strain Saccharopolyspora erythraea HL3168 E3, resulting in the overproduction of erythromycin C (2·48 g l(-1) ), B (1·70 g l(-1) ) or D (2·15 g l(-1) ) in the mutant strain QL-G, QL-K or QL-KG, respectively. Analysis of the erythromycin congeners throughout the fermentation indicated that, at the end of fermentation, comparatively large amount of erythromycin D (0·67 g l(-1) ) was accumulated in QL-G, whereas only small amount of erythromycin D (0·10 g l(-1) ) was produced in QL-K.

CONCLUSIONS

Inactivation of tailoring genes eryG and eryK in the high producer did not affect the biosynthesis of erythromycin. However, erythromycin D could be more efficiently methylated by EryG than be hydroxylated by EryK.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Development of the mutant strains provides a method for the economical large-scale production of potent lead compounds. The information about the accumulation and conversion of erythromycins in the industrial strains may contribute to further improving erythromycin production.

Expansion of mouse sertoli cells on microcarriers

BACKGROUND

Sertoli cells (SCs) have been described as the 'nurse cells' of the testis whose primary function is to provide essential growth factors and create an appropriate environment for development of other cells [for example, germinal and nerve stem cells (NSCs), used here]. However, the greatest challenge at present is that it is difficult to obtain sufficient SCs of normal physiological function for cell transplantation and biological medicine, largely due to traditional static culture parameter difficult to be monitored and scaled up.

OBJECTIVE

Operational stirred culture conditions for in vitro expansion and differentiation of SCs need to be optimized for large-scale culture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the culturing process for primary SC expansion and maintaining lack of differentiation was optimized for the first time, by using microcarrier bead technology in spinner flask culture. Effects of various feeding/refreshing regimes, stirring speeds, seed inoculum levels of SCs, and concentrations of microcarrier used for expansion of mouse SCs were also explored. In addition, pH, osmotic pressure and metabolic variables including consumption rates of glucose, glutamine, amino acids, and formation rates of lactic acid and ammonia, were investigated in culture.

RESULTS

After 6 days, maximal cell densities achieved were 4.6 x 10(6) cells/ml for Cytodex-1 in DMEM/FBS compared to 4.8 x 10(5) cells/ml in static culture. Improved expansion was achieved using an inoculum of 1 x 10(5) cells/ml and microcarrier concentration of 3 mg/ml at stirring speed of 30 rpm. RESULTS indicated that medium replacement (50% changed everyday) resulted in supply of nutrients and removal of waste products inhibiting cell growth, that lead to maintenance of cultures in steady state for several days. These conditions favoured preservation of SCs in the undifferentiated state and significantly increased their physiological activity and trophic function, which were assessed by co-culturing with NSCs and immunostaining.

CONCLUSION

Data obtained in this study demonstrate the vast potential of this stirred culture system for efficient, reproducible and cost-effective expansion of SCs in vitro. The system has advantages over static culture, which has major obstacles such as lower cell density, is time-consuming and susceptible to contamination.

Preclinical development of orally available sphingosine kinase inhibitors

e14615

Background: Sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes control the dynamic balance of important bioactive lipids, including apoptotic ceramide and proliferative sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Several growth factors and inflammatory cytokines promote the cleavage of sphingomyelin and ceramide leading to rapid elevation of S1P levels through the action of sphingosine kinases (SKs). SK1 is oncogenic and is markedly overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, making this enzyme a potential molecular target for cancer therapy. Methods: SK inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated in a variety of cellular and in vivo models. Antitumor activity was assessed in an allogeneic model utilizing murine JC mammary adenocarcinoma cells growing in Balb/c mice, and a xenograft model of human Bxpc pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells growing in scid-mice. Results: The lead SK inhibitors, called ABC294640 and ABC294735, inhibit SK1 and SK2 at low micromolar concentrations, and are nontoxic to rodents at acute doses up to at least 1000 mg/kg (po). ABC294640 is orally-available, and has excellent pharmacokinetics, with serum levels exceeding the effective SK inhibitory concentration for at least 8 hours. Acute- and chronic- toxicology studies indicate that ABC294640 induces a transient minor decrease in the hemotocrit of rats and mice receiving 100 and 250 mg/kg/day; however, this normalizes by 28 days of treatment. No other changes in hematology parameters, or gross or microscopic tissue pathology result from treatment with ABC294640. Oral administration of ABC294640 to mice bearing JC adenocarcinomas results in dose-dependent antitumor activity associated with depletion of S1P levels in the tumors and progressive tumor cell apoptosis. ABC294735 is also orally-active in both JC and Bxpc tumor models, and demonstrates synergistic antitumor activity when combined with cisplatin or gemcitabine. Conclusions: These newly developed SK inhibitors provide orally-available drug candidates for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and other diseases. IND-enabling CMC and toxicology work is currently underway, and an SK inhibitor is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2010.

[Table: see text]

[Safety analysis of dust mite allergen for diagnosis and immunotherapy of asthma and rhinitis]

AIM

To make a retrieval investigation of safety in using Dermatophagoides farinae extract in diagnosis and immunotherapy with patients of asthma and rhinitis.

METHODS

A questionnaire evaluation of the safety use of D. farinae extract (SMU-Df) during diagnosis and immunotherapy of patients from 1974 to 1995 was carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 8,46,342 injections were statistically analysed, among whom 142 systemic adverse reactions occurred involving urticaria 0.82@10000, severe attack of asthma 0.77@10000, anaphylactic shock 0.07@10000 (CL = 1.4-12.0/million), and angioedma 0.02@10000. The time of onset of systemic reactions of immediate type was < 30 min in 32 cases-times, and 1 h and 2 h in 6 cases-times; the time to onset of late response type was 3 h-48 h in 23 cases-times with highest incidence of severe asthmatic attacks. The systemic reactions occurred in 18 subjects during skin test, in 96 cases-times during increasing dose phase, and in 14 cases-times during. Among them 6 cases were of anaphylactic shock, and none of it after emergency treatment. The major cause of manifestation of systemic reactions for 41 cases after immunotherapy with SMU-Df extract was due to over dosage errors.

CONCLUSION

The application of SMU-Df extract in skin test and immunotherapy of asthma and rhinitis sensitive to mite for the past 22 years in this country indicated that the efficacy and safety have been high.

Dietary curcumin supplementation counteracts reduction in levels of molecules involved in energy homeostasis after brain trauma

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is followed by an energy crisis that compromises the capacity of the brain to cope with challenges, and often reduces cognitive ability. New research indicates that events that regulate energy homeostasis crucially impact synaptic function and this can compromise the capacity of the brain to respond to challenges during the acute and chronic phases of TBI. The goal of the present study is to determine the influence of the phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin on molecular systems involved with the monitoring, balance, and transduction of cellular energy, in the hippocampus of animals exposed to mild fluid percussion injury (FPI). Young adult rats were exposed to a regular diet (RD) without or with 500 ppm curcumin (Cur) for four weeks, before an FPI was performed. The rats were assigned to four groups: RD/Sham, Cur/Sham, RD/FPI, and Cur/FPI. We found that FPI decreased the levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) and cytochrome c oxidase II (COX-II) in RD/FPI rats as compared to the RD/sham rats. The curcumin diet counteracted the effects of FPI and elevated the levels of AMPK, uMtCK, COX-II in Cur/FPI rats as compared to RD/sham rats. In addition, in the Cur/sham rats, AMPK and uMtCK increased compared to the RD/sham. Results show the potential of curcumin to regulate molecules involved in energy homeostasis following TBI. These studies may foster a new line of therapeutic treatments for TBI patients by endogenous upregulation of molecules important for functional recovery.

Efficient generation of multi-copy strains for optimizing secretory expression of porcine insulin precursor in yeast Pichia pastoris

AIMS

This study attempted to fully explore the expression potentials of Pichia pastoris for producing porcine insulin precursor (PIP) through PIP copy number optimization.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Multi-copy strains were screened employing a highly efficient improved in vivo method and their copy numbers were quantified by real-time qPCR. A range of Mut(+)P. pastoris strains harbouring 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 29, 52 copies of PIP were obtained. After 96 h methanol induction, a bell-shaped correlation curve was observed between gene dosage and protein yield, and the maximum PIP expression level of 181 mg l(-1) was achieved by a 12-copy strain. Specific growth rate and methanol utilization capacity were found to decrease remarkably for high copy strains (>12 copies). Transcriptional analysis of KAR2 suggested higher copy strains were suffering more from ER stress.

CONCLUSIONS

A copy number around 12 is optimal for secretory expression of PIP in P. pastoris. Excess PIP gene dosage (>12 copies) significantly impaired the growth of P. pastoris hosts.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The methods developed and the discoveries made by this systematical investigation will be helpful to the application and understanding of Pichia pastoris expression system for heterologous overexpression.

Quitting cigarettes completely or switching to smokeless tobacco: do US data replicate the Swedish results?

BACKGROUND

Swedish male smokers are more likely than female smokers to switch to smokeless tobacco (snus) and males' smoking cessation rate is higher than that of females. These results have fuelled international debate over promoting smokeless tobacco for harm reduction. This study examines whether similar results emerge in the United States, one of few other western countries where smokeless tobacco has long been widely available.

METHODS

US DATA SOURCE: national sample in Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey, 2002, with 1-year follow-up in 2003. Analyses included adult self-respondents in this longitudinal sample (n = 15,056). Population-weighted rates of quitting smoking and switching to smokeless tobacco were computed for the 1-year period.

RESULTS

Among US men, few current smokers switched to smokeless tobacco (0.3% in 12 months). Few former smokers turned to smokeless tobacco (1.7%). Switching between cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, infrequent among current tobacco users (<4%), was more often from smokeless to smoking. Men quit smokeless tobacco at three times the rate of quitting cigarettes (38.8% vs 11.6%, p<0.001). Overall, US men have no advantage over women in quitting smoking (11.7% vs 12.4%, p = 0.65), even though men are far likelier to use smokeless tobacco.

CONCLUSION

The Swedish results are not replicated in the United States. Both male and female US smokers appear to have higher quit rates for smoking than have their Swedish counterparts, despite greater use of smokeless tobacco in Sweden. Promoting smokeless tobacco for harm reduction in countries with ongoing tobacco control programmes may not result in any positive population effect on smoking cessation.

A novel blocking monoclonal antibody recognizing a distinct epitope of human CD40 molecule

CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is an important costimulatory molecule during the immune response. Here, we report a blocking mouse antihuman CD40 monoclonal antibody, mAb 3G3, of which the specificity was verified by flow cytometry and Western blot. It was shown by competition test that 3G3 bound to a different site (epitope) of CD40 from the reported CD40 mAbs, including clone mAb89, 3B2, and 5C11. It was also found that mAb 3G3 could inhibit homotypic aggregation of Daudi cells induced by the agonistic anti-CD40 mAb 5C11. Furthermore, mAb 3G3 effectively inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. Finally, a sensitive and specific soluble CD40 (sCD40) ELISA kit was established by matching mAb 3G3 with 5C11, and it was found that the levels of sCD40 in sera from patients with immune disorders such as hyperthyroidism, chronic nephritis, and rheumatoid arthritis were obviously higher than those from normal individuals. Thus, this blocking anti-CD40 mAb provides a novel tool for the study of CD40.

Characterization and application of two novel monoclonal antibodies against CD40L: epitope and functional studies on cell membrane CD40L and studies on the origin of soluble serum CD40L

CD40 ligand, a 33-kDa cell membrane molecule, a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, is an important costimulatory molecule during immune response. Here, we report on two functional mouse anti-human CD40L monoclonal antibodies 1B1 and 4F1 characterized by flow cytometry, Western blotting, and competition assay. The antibodies bound to distinct CD40L epitopes and therefore resulted in different bioactivity. Both antibodies could induce CD4+ T-cell alloantigenic hyporesponsiveness ex vivo. The antibodies were matched to develop a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for soluble CD40L (sCD40L). Using this ELISA assay, we found major differences between plasma and serum sCD40L levels. Because the count of platelet sharply decreased in aplastic anemia (AA) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), we further analyzed the sCD40L concentration in the plasma of AA and ITP patients. The results showed that the sCD40L in serum was much lower than that of healthy subjects. These data demonstrate that platelets seem to be a major contributor to sCD40L, though not the only source of sCD40L in serum.

Efficient propagation of TM polarized light in photonic crystal components exhibiting band gaps for TE polarized light

We have investigated the properties of TM polarized light in planar photonic crystal waveguide structures, which exhibit photonic band gaps for TE polarized light. Straight and bent photonic crystal waveguides and couplers have been fabricated in silicon-on-insulator material and modelled using a 3D finite-difference-time-domain method. The simulated spectra are in excellent agreement with the experimental results, which show a propagation loss as low as 2.5+/-4 dB/mm around 1525 nm and bend losses at 2.9+/-0.2 dB for TM polarized light. We demonstrate a high coupling for TM polarized light in a simple photonic crystal coupler with a size of ~ 20 m x 20 m. These promising features may open for the realization of ultra-compact photonic crystal components, which are easily integrated in optical communication networks.

Relationship between endogenous estrogen concentrations and serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein concentrations in Chinese women

BACKGROUND

CETP plays an important role in HDL metabolism and in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway.

METHODS

The relationship between the changes of endogenous estrogen and the concentration of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in the serum of Chinese women was investigated. Serum concentrations of estradiol (E(2)), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), CETP and lipid profile were determined in 196 Chinese women (52 premenopausal with ages ranging from 18 to 40 years, 57 perimenopausal from 41 to 60 years, and 87 postmenopausal from 61 to 81 years).

RESULTS

Serum CETP concentration was significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with those in perimenopausal and premenopausal women (1.39+/-1.06, 2.36+/-1.50 and 2.31+/-1.25 mg/l, respectively, P<0.0001). Even in the women around the menopausal, CETP concentration in postmenopause was significantly lower than that in premenopause (1.93+/-1.33 vs. 3.42+/-1.35 mg/l, P<0.01). In addition, CETP concentration had a highly positive correlation with serum concentration of E(2) (r=0.243, P<0.001), while negative correlation of CETP concentration with serum concentration of FSH was found (r=-0.273, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Estrogen may affect the concentration of CETP.

Inhibitory effects of rosa roxburghii tratt juice on in vitro oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein and on the macrophage growth and cellular cholesteryl ester accumulation induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein

BACKGROUND

Rosa roxburghii tratt juice (RRTJ) administration has been shown to significantly ameliorate atherosclerotic diseases in cholesterol-fed animals. However, the mechanism for the antiatherogenic effect of RRTJ is not clear.

METHODS

We investigated the effects of RRTJ on in vitro oxidative modification of LDL and on LDL-induced macrophage growth and cellular cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation. The effects of RRTJ on LDL oxidative modification were assessed by relative electrophoretic migration, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) content, and the formation of conjugated dienes. The inhibition of RRTJ on oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL)-induced murine peritoneal macrophage growth was evaluated by a cell-counting assay and an MTT assay. The effect of RRTJ on Ox-LDL-induced cellular CE accumulation was examined after macrophages were incubated with Ox-LDL in the presence of RRTJ. To clarify the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of RRTJ on Ox-LDL-induced CE accumulation in macrophages, its capacity for cholesterol efflux from macrophage-derived foam cells were examined.

RESULTS

We showed that RRTJ significantly reduced LDL oxidative susceptibility. In addition, RRTJ effectively suppressed Ox-LDL-induced macrophage growth and especially Ox-LDL-induced CE accumulation in murine peritoneal macrophages by promoting cellular cholesterol efflux.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that RRTJ exerted its antiatherogenic effects largely due to its ability to inhibit the oxidative modification of LDL and to suppress the formation of foam cells.