Selection signature analysis reveals genes associated with tail type in Chinese indigenous sheep

Fat-tailed sheep have commercial value because consumers prefer high-protein and low-fat food and producers care about feed conversion rate. However, fat-tailed sheep still have some scientific significance, as the fat tail is commonly regarded as a characteristic of environmental adaptability. Finding the candidate genes associated with fat tail formation is essential for breeding and conservation. To identify these candidate genes, we applied FST and hapFLK approaches in fat- and thin-tailed sheep with available 50K SNP genotype data. These two methods found 6.24 Mb of overlapped regions and 43 genes that may associated with fat tail development. Gene annotation showed that HOXA11, BMP2, PPP1CC, SP3, SP9, WDR92, PROKR1 and ETAA1 may play important roles in fat tail formation. These findings provide insight into tail fat development and a guide for molecular breeding and conservation.

Triterpenoid saponin flaccidoside II from Anemone flaccida triggers apoptosis of NF1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors via the MAPK-HO-1 pathway

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive soft tissue neoplasms that are extremely rare and are frequently associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. MPNSTs are typically fatal, and there is no effective treatment so far. In our previous study, we showed that flaccidoside II, one of the triterpenoid saponins isolated from Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt, has antitumor potential by inducing apoptosis. In the present study, we found that flaccidoside II inhibits proliferation and facilitates apoptosis in MPNST cell lines ST88-14 and S462. Furthermore, this study provides a mechanism by which the downregulation of heme oxygenase-1 via extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways is involved in the apoptotic role of flaccidoside II. This study suggested the potential of flaccidoside II as a novel pharmacotherapeutic approach for MPNSTs.

Abstract AS20: DNA-PKcs is amplified in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), correlates with poor outcome and drives resistance to platinum therapy via the AKT signaling pathway

High grade serous ovarian cancer is typified by p53 mutation, high degrees of genomic instability and the development of chemo-resistance. Genomic translocations result from incorrectly repaired DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). DNA-PKcs is a central catalytic component of the error prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) DSB repair mechanism. We report here that DNA-PKcs is frequently amplified in copy number in HGSC and that amplification correlates with higher DNA-PKcs gene expression and poorer patient outcome (PFS/OS) using both in-house and publicly available datasets (TCGA). Targeting DNA-PKcs, pharmacologically or by RNAi, enhances apoptosis in response to platinum treatment in platinum resistant cell lines and primary models. Furthermore we report that inhibition of DNA-PK restores response to cisplatin in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells in vivo. SKOV-3 tumor xenografts were implanted subcutaneously into Balb/c Nu/Nu mice and treated with DNA-PKcs inhibitor NU7441 for 2 weeks alone or in combination with cisplatin. DNA-PK inhibition or cisplatin treatment alone were ineffective however in combination they decreased tumor growth at 14 days by 90%, relative to platinum only treatment. On investigating the mechanism of DNA-PKcs mediated chemoresistance we revealed that, in response to DNA damage, DNA-PKcs phosphorylates AKT on serine residue 473 in the nucleus of platinum resistant ovarian tumor cells, but not sensitive cells from the same patient. Phosphorylation at AKT threonine 308 is unaffected and DNA-PK inhibition does not interfere with insulin-mediated phosphorylation of AKT S473. DNA-PK mediated AKT activation in chemoresistant cells results in inhibitory phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD and stabilisation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein resulting in the observed attenuation of apoptotic response to platinum treatment. DNA-PK inhibition is an attractive therapeutic strategy for resensitising resistant tumors to platinum based therapy, directly linking the DNA damage caused by platinum to the pro-survival AKT pathway, without interfering with normal physiological roles of AKT.

Citation Format: Curry E, Cheraghchi-Bashi-Astaneh A, Chen M, Cunnea P, De Sousa C, Maginn E, Dai Y, Liu E, Wasan H, Mills G, Bowtell D, Gabra H & Stronach EA. DNA-PKcs is amplified in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), correlates with poor outcome and drives resistance to platinum therapy via the AKT signaling pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr AS20.

Review of critical incidents in a university department of anaesthesia

In 2011, our hospital started a new system of 100% procedural audit of anaesthesia work, in which we incorporated the reporting of critical incidents. This monitoring of critical incidents has enabled identification of the spectrum of incidents and risk factors and helped in the education of trainees and specialists. In this review, we analyse 379 incidents that had been reported among 44,915 anaesthetics administered in a two-year period. The risk of incidents was higher in patients of lower American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, anaesthesia of long duration and anaesthesia carried out after-hours. The most common incidents were airway problems and drug administration problems. Fifty-nine percent of incidents were evaluated to be preventable and adverse outcomes occurred in 48% of cases. Human factors were the major contributors to incidents. We suggest that incorporating critical incident reporting as part of a 100% procedural audit facilitated, rather than discouraged, the reporting of critical incidents, even though reporting was not anonymous. The rate of incident reporting increased from 0.37% to 0.84%.