A High-throughput Screening of a Chemical Compound Library in Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells

BACKGROUND

Epithelial ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis, mostly due to its late diagnosis and the development of drug resistance after a first platinum-based regimen. The presence of a specific population of "cancer stem cells" could be responsible of the relapse of the tumor and the development of resistance to therapy. For this reason, it would be important to specifically target this subpopulation of tumor cells in order to increase the response to therapy.

METHOD

We screened a chemical compound library assembled during the COST CM1106 action to search for compound classes active in targeting ovarian stem cells. We here report the results of the high-throughput screening assay in two ovarian cancer stem cells and the differentiated cells derived from them.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Interestingly, there were compounds active only on stem cells, only on differentiated cells, and compounds active on both cell populations. Even if these data need to be validated in ad hoc dose response cytotoxic experiments, the ongoing analysis of the compound structures will open up to mechanistic drug studies to select compounds able to improve the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.

Refractory Hypotension during Combined General and Epidural Anaesthesia in a Patient on Tricyclic Antidepressants

We report a case of refractory hypotension that occurred after epidural injection of local anaesthetic, in a patient who was receiving tricyclic antidepressant therapy and was under general anaesthesia. The patient failed to respond to repeated injections of appropriate doses of sympathomimetics, but did respond to high-dose catecholamine infusions. We suggest that epidural anaesthesia should be used with care when combined with general anaesthesia for patients on long-standing tricyclic antidepressant therapy. If refractory hypotension should occur in such patients, the use of direct-acting vasoconstrictors such as noradrenaline should be considered.

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station: Results from the First Two Years of Operation

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) space experiment, which has been developed by Japan in collaboration with Italy and the United States, is a high-energy astroparticle physics mission on the International Space Station (ISS). The primary goals of the CALET mission include investigation of possible nearby sources of high-energy electrons, detailed study of galactic cosmic-ray acceleration and propagation, and search for dark matter signatures. With a long-term observation onboard the ISS, the CALET experiment measures the flux of cosmic-ray electrons (including positrons) up to 20 TeV, gamma-rays to 10 TeV, and nuclei up to 1,000 TeV based on its charge separation capability from Z = 1 to 40. Since the start of science operation in mid-October, 2015, a continuous observation has been maintained without any major interruptions. The number of triggered events over 10 GeV is nearly 20 million per month. By using the data obtained during the first two-years, here we present a summary of the CALET observations: 1) Electron+positron energy spectrum, 2) Nuclei analysis, 3) Gamma-ray observation with a characterization of the on-orbit performance. The search results for the electromagnetic counterparts of LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave events are also discussed.

A Rare Case of Fetal Onset, Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. The pathological mechanism of FPIES is intestinal inflammation, and cell-mediated hypersensitivity is presumed to play an important role in its development.

CASE REPORT

The first case in which significant fetal intestinal distension suggested fetal onset of FPIES is reported. A 2,334-g male was born at 34 weeks by vaginal delivery.

RESULTS

In utero, he had significant intestinal distension on ultrasonography and MRI. A few hours after the first feeding, he produced bloody stool and showed abdominal distension. In this case, FPIES was not only caused by cow's milk protein diagnosed clinically and by an allergen-specific lymphocyte stimulation test, but also by breast milk diagnosed by oral food challenge. The clinical course and laboratory results strongly suggested not only fetal sensitization but also fetal onset.

CONCLUSION

This report might be helpful for prompt diagnosis and treatment and, furthermore, lead to elucidation of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of FPIES.

Cross-Sectional Inverse Association of Regular Soy Intake with Insulin Resistance in Japanese Elderly

Levels of isoflavones, biomarkers of soy intake, in 24-hour urine (24U) were inversely related to coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in the World Health Organization's Cardiovascular Disease and Alimentary Comparison Study. Considering 24 U isoflavone levels were highest and CHD mortality was lowest in the Japanese, who maintained the world's longest life expectancy, the association of regular soy intake with cardiometabolic risk was investigated in Japanese adults (20-49 years old) and elderly (50-79 years old). In multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and drug treatments, mean 24 U isoflavone excretion was significantly inversely associated with insulin resistance in the elderly and significantly associated with blood folate and potassium in the elderly, but also positively associated with 24 U salt in the elderly. These findings indicate that low-salt soy should be recommended to improve glucose metabolism in elderly Japanese.

Taurine Intake with Magnesium Reduces Cardiometabolic Risks

WHO-CARDIAC (Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison) Study revealed the quintile analyses of 24-h urinary (24 U) taurine (T) and magnesium (Mg) excretions were inversely related with cardiometabolic risks (CMR) such as obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in 50 population samples in the world. To exclude the influence of ethnicity in the study, 24 U T and Mg excretions were analyzed for the association with CMR in one ethnicity, Japanese population.24 U T/creatinine (C) ratios were divided into 5 quintiles and the ratios of Japanese to the total of each quintile were analyzed from CARDIAC Study samples. The highest 24 U T quintile consisted of 60% Japanese, indicating high seafood consumption in Japanese.Over 600 Japanese aged 30-79 were invited to a health examination for blood pressure measurement and for fasting blood and 24 U samplings. Tertile analysis of 24 U T/C ratios in relation to CMR indicated the third tertile had significantly higher HDL cholesterol, 24 U potassium (K) and 24 U salt than the first (lowest) tertile. Tertile analysis of 24 U Mg/C ratios indicated the third tertile had significantly lower body mass index and significantly higher folic acid, 24 U isoflavones, K and salt than the first tertile after age and gender adjustment. The third tertile of both T/C and Mg/C had significantly lower body mass index, LDL/HDL and Na/K ratios, and significantly higher HDL cholesterol and folic acid than the first tertile, indicating seafood eaters taking Mg rich diets had lower risks of obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension and higher folic acid, beneficial for healthy longevity.

Combination of exome sequencing and immune testing confirms Aicardi-Goutières syndrome type 5 in a challenging pediatric neurology case

Exome sequencing is increasingly being used to help diagnose pediatric neurology cases when clinical presentations are not specific. However, interpretation of equivocal results that include variants of uncertain significance remains a challenge. In those cases, follow-up testing and clinical correlation can help clarify the clinical relevance of the molecular findings. In this report, we describe the diagnostic odyssey of a 4-year-old girl who presented with global developmental delay and seizures, with leukodystrophy seen on MRI. Clinical evaluation, MRI, and comprehensive metabolic testing were performed, followed by whole-exome sequencing (WES), parental testing, follow-up testing, and retrospective detailed clinical evaluation. WES identified two candidate causative pathogenic variants in SAMHD1, a gene associated with the recessive condition Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) type 5 (OMIM 612952): a previously reported pathogenic variant NM_015474 c.602T>A (p.I201N), maternally inherited, and a rare missense variant of uncertain significance, c.1293A>T(p.L431F). Analysis of type I interferon-related biomarkers demonstrated that the patient has an interferon signature characteristic of AGS. Retrospective detailed clinical evaluation showed that the girl has a phenotype consistent with AGS5, a rare neurological condition. These results further define the phenotypic spectrum associated with specific SAMHD1 variants, including heterozygous variants in AGS carriers, and support the idea that autoinflammatory dysregulation is part of the disease pathophysiology. More broadly, this work highlights the issues and methodology involved in ascribing clinical relevance to interpretation of variants detected by WES.

Interleukin-18 is associated with the presence of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels are increased in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In addition, IL-18 levels are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with arthritis activity. We determined whether increased IL-18 levels are associated with ILD in RA.

METHOD

RA patients were enrolled using an RA cohort database. Plasma IL-18 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ILD was determined by a pulmonologist and a radiologist based on chest radiography and computed tomography findings. IL-18 levels for RA with ILD and RA without ILD were compared. Associations between ILD and various markers including IL-18 and confounding factors (e.g. smoking history) were investigated by logistic regression analysis. Diagnostic values of IL-18 for the presence of ILD were investigated using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis.

RESULTS

ILD was complicated in 8.2% (n = 26) of the study population (N = 312). Plasma IL-18 levels were higher for RA patients with ILD than for RA patients without ILD (721.0 ± 481.4 vs 436.8 ± 438.9 pg/mL, p < 0.001). IL-18, Krebs von den Lungen-6, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody titre and glucocorticoid doses were independently associated with the presence of ILD during multivariate logistic regression analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of IL-18 levels for the detection of ILD in RA patients were 65.3% and 76.3%, respectively (area under the curve = 0.73).

CONCLUSION

Plasma IL-18 levels were higher for RA patients with ILD than for those without ILD. Increased IL-18 levels were associated with the presence of ILD.