Comparative responses in rare minnow exposed to 17beta-estradiol during different life stages

Present in the excrement of humans and animals, 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) has been detected in the aquatic environment in a range from several nanograms to several hundred nanograms per liter. In this study, the sensitivities of rare minnows during different life stages to E(2) at environmentally relevant (5, 25, and 100 ng l(-1)) and high (1000 ng l(-1)) concentrations were compared using vitellogenin (VTG) and gonad development as biomarkers under semistatic conditions. After 21 days of exposure, VTG concentrations in whole-body homogenates were analyzed; the results indicated that the lowest observed effective concentration for VTG induction was 25 ng l(-1) E(2) in the adult stage, but 100 ng l(-1) E(2) in the larval and juvenile stages. After exposure in the early life stage, the larval and juvenile fish were transferred to clean water until gonad maturation. No significant difference in VTG induction was found between the exposure and control groups in the adults. However, a markedly increased proportion of females and appearance of hermaphrodism were observed in the juvenile-stage group exposed to 25 ng l(-1) E(2). These results showed that VTG induction in the adult stage is more sensitive than in larval and juvenile stages following exposure to E(2). The juvenile stage may be the critical period of gonad development. Sex ratio could be a sensitive biomarker indicating exposure to xenoestrogens in early-life-stage subchronic exposure tests. The results of this study provide useful information for selecting sensitive biomarkers properly in aquatic toxicology testing.

Radiosensitization effect of luteolin on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

The radiosensitizing effects of luteolin were studied in the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. SGC-7901 cells were treated with luteolin or/and irradiation, and radiosensitizing effects were assessed by colony-forming assay with cells and nude mice. In order to study the underlying mechanism, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, the activities of caspase-3 and -9, and the production of PGE2 were measured. The results showed that luteolin could enhance irradiation-induced colonogenic inhibition and the activities of Caspase-3 and -9. The remarkable down-regulation of Bcl-2 and release of cytochrome C were also observed. In addition, significantly reduced production of PGE(2) was observed in luteolin plus radiation treatment by ELISA, as well as decreased expression levels of VEGF and HIF-1 alpha. Finally, luteolin significantly enhances the radioresponse of human tumors transplanted into nude mice. Our results indicate that luteolin may be a promising radiosensitizer for use in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Simultaneous occurrence of structure-directed and particle-resonance-induced phononic gaps in colloidal films

We report on the observation of two hypersonic phononic gaps of different nature in three-dimensional colloidal films of nanospheres using Brillouin light scattering. One is a Bragg gap occurring at the edge of the first Brillouin zone along a high-symmetry crystal direction. The other is a hybridization gap in crystalline and amorphous films, originating from the interaction of the band of quadrupole particle eigenmodes with the acoustic effective-medium band, and its frequency position compares well with the computed lowest eigenfrequency. Structural disorder eliminates the Bragg gap, while the hybridization gap is robust.

Non-invasive prediction of the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C using an ultrasound contrast agent. A pilot study

It has been shown that the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C can be predicted non-invasively by measuring intrahepatic circulatory time (IHCT) using a microbubble agent with spectral Doppler analysis. The aim of this study was to assess whether this technique is reproducible using a third-generation microbubble agent and contrast harmonic imaging, which are becoming the standard ultrasound techniques in all radiology departments. Twenty-three untreated patients with hepatitis C, who had undergone a recent liver biopsy, were studied prospectively. Based on their histological fibrosis score, patients were divided into four groups (fibrosis levels 1-4). Contrast harmonic imaging was carried out after an intravenous bolus of a microbubble agent (Optison; Amersham Health, Milwaukee, WI, USA). IHCT was calculated by measuring the difference between the hepatic vein and hepatic artery microbubble arrival times. The IHCT was compared with the degree of fibrosis. Significant differences were shown between the groups for IHCT. There were significant differences between fibrosis levels 1 and 3 and between fibrosis levels 1 and 4. This study has shown that calculation of IHCT using a third-generation microbubble agent and contrast harmonic imaging can differentiate mild fibrosis from more severe degrees of fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C.

Phonon dispersion and nanomechanical properties of periodic 1D multilayer polymer films

We report on the first systematic study of phonon propagation in nanostructured composite polymer multilayer films as a function of periodicity and composition using Brillouin light scattering and numerical simulations. The high sensitivity of phonon dispersion to structure and composition allows the probing of the mechanical properties down to the single-layer level. We observe a strikingly different dependence of the longitudinal and shear moduli on confinement effects in the polymer nanolayers. In addition, temperature dependent measurements of sound velocities reveal the presence of distinct glass transition temperatures, indicative of phonon localization in films with large layer thicknesses in agreement with theoretical predictions.

Small-for-size syndrome secondary to outflow block of the segments V and VIII anastomoses--successful treatment with trans-splenic artery embolization: a case report

Despite the rapid expansion of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the adult population over the last few years, small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) has emerged as an important clinical problem. We have herein reported a patient who developed clinical evidence of prolonged cholestasis and intractable ascites after a small-for-size right lobe LDLT. The SFSS was attributed to outflow block of segments V and VIII anastomoses with severe portal overperfusion injury. It was successfully treated by reduction of portal pressure and blood flow after trans-splenic arterial ligation. We recommend that trans-splenic artery embolization, a technically simple procedure, be applied to treat portal overperfusion injury in SFSS.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the bladder in children: what can be expected?

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the bladder is an uncommon condition of unknown neoplastic potential. In adults the tumor is seen in association with instrumentation of the lower genitourinary tract, while in children it appears to run an idiopathic course. Its clinical and radiological presentation in children resembles sarcoma. The case of a 10-year-old girl with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is presented, outlining the histological and immunhistochemical features to allow differentiation between sarcomas, the most important differential diagnosis. An outcome meta-analysis of the literature identified 35 cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the bladder of children. Conservative surgery is the strategy of choice. There is no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at a median follow up of 1.5 years.

Impairment of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in CD95(APO-1)-induced human T-cell leukemia cell apoptosis mediated by glutathione depletion and generation of hydrogen peroxide

Human T-cell leukemia is a malignant disease that needs various regimens of cytotoxic chemotherapy to overcome drug resistance. Recently, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy. However, its exact signaling pathway in human T-cell leukemia cell death has not been well defined. In the current study, we found CD95(APO-1) was able to trigger the internalization of plasma membrane Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in Jurkat cells or primary T cells as a mechanism to suppress its activity. This internalization was closely relevant to intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion in Jurkat cells downstream of Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase 8. GSH depletion in Fas L-treated Jurkat cells induced the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), which subsequently increased the serine phosphorylation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha1 subunit. Exogenous H(2)O(2) even mimicked the effect of Fas L to upregulate the serine phosphorylation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha1 subunit and suppress Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. Overall, our results indicate that CD95(APO-1) induces the FADD- and caspase 8-dependent internalization of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase through intracellular GSH loss, and the subsequent generation of H(2)O(2)-mediated serine phosphorylation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha1 subunit. Taken together, this study presents a novel regulatory mechanism of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in CD95(APO-1)-mediated human T-leukemia cell apoptosis.

T helper cell population and eosinophilia in nasal polyps

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the immunological pattern of nasal polyposis in patients with and without allergy, the percentages of CD4+ cells expressing intracellular interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 (T helper [T(H)] type 1 and 2 cells) were measured by flow cytometry in samples from patients with nasal polyps.

METHODS

Samples from 32 patients (16 atopic, 16 nonatopic) were studied. The fresh nasal polyp samples were prepared in single cell suspension for flow cytometry. Eosinophils were counted in hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained sections of all the samples.

RESULTS

T(H)1 cells were predominant in all the nasal polyps, with no significant differences in the mean (+/-SD) percentages of T(H)1 cells between the 2 groups (46.28% +/- 14.95% vs 38.25% +/- 9.16%, P > .05). The mean percentage of T(H)2 cells in the polyps from the atopic patient group was significantly greater than in polyps from nonatopic group (7.34% +/- 2.54% vs 0.63% +/- 0.31%, respectively; P < .01); the eosinophil count was significantly higher in atopic patient polyp samples (54.5 +/- 15.76 eosinophils/HPF) than in nonatopic ones (14.38 +/- 5.6 eosinophils/HPF, P < .01). The mean percentage of T(H)1 cell correlated with eosinophil count in the polyp samples overall (r = 0.80, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

T(H)1 cells were predominant in nasal polyp tissue. Polyps from atopic patients had more T(H)2 cells and eosinophils than nonatopic patients' polyps did. Eosinophil recruitment in nasal polyposis is probably associated with T(H)2 cell infiltration. Nonatopic and atopic patients' polyps have different immunological patterns.