β-Glucan attenuates inflammatory responses in oxidized LDL-induced THP-1 cells via the p38 MAPK pathway

AIM

To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of β-(1,3/1,6)-d-glucan on atherosclerosis as well as on the molecular mechanisms of its transition.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were differentiated into the macrophage phenotype by incubation with oxLDL in the absence or presence of β-glucan. β-glucan attenuated CD86 and CD80 expression and simultaneously reduced secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Western blot analysis showed that oxLDL treatment induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. However, β-glucan inhibited p38 MAPK activation. In experiments with monocytes derived from healthy donors, β-glucan inhibited IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α production. The anti-inflammatory effects of β-glucan were also observed in atherosclerotic plaque cells.

CONCLUSIONS

β-glucan inhibited oxLDL-induced pro-inflammatory effects in macrophages via regulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. This novel finding may provide insight for new therapeutic strategies.

Treatment outcomes of various types of tuberculosis in Pakistan, 2006 and 2007

Measuring treatment outcome is important for successful tuberculosis (TB) control programmes. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of various types of TB cases registered in Pakistan over a 2-year period and compare those outcomes among the different provinces and regions of the country. A retrospective, cohort study was conducted in which TB treatment outcome reports were reviewed. Of the 349 694 pulmonary TB cases registered in Pakistan during 2006 and 2007, 309154 (88.4%) were treated successfully. Treatment success was significantly higher in new smear-positive cases and lower in retreatment cases. Among the provinces and regions, treatment success was significantly higher in 4 out of 8 provinces. Treatment success needs to be improved, particularly in retreatment cases. The national TB control programme should review the provincial and regional programmes and learn lessons from well-performing programmes. Patient factors that may affect the treatment outcome should be also studied.

Forty-eight-week retrospective study of telbivudine and lamivudine treatment in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine 600 mg/day compared with lamivudine 100 mg/day for 48 weeks of treatment in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis. Data were reviewed retrospectively from 165 hepatitis B-related cirrhotic patients (55 compensated patients and 110 decompensated) who received antiviral therapy with telbivudine or lamivudine. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss and seroconversion, histological improvement and various adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. Baseline characteristics were comparable. ALT levels declined but showed no significant difference in treatment with telbivudine or lamivudine (P > 0.05). Reduction in serum HBV DNA levels was evident by week 4 in compensated HBV-related cirrhosis patients (telbivudine, 2.34 log10 copies/mL; lamivudine, 2.07 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.02) and persisted by week 8. Patients administrated with telbivudine had slightly greater HBeAg loss and seroconversion than patients with lamivudine, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Accumulative HBeAg loss was seen at week 48 (25.0% vs 25.0% and 13.3% vs 10.0% for telbivudine vs lamivudine in compensated and decompensated cirrhotic groups, respectively), as well as HBeAg seroconversion (15.0% vs 8.3% and 8.9% vs 6.7%). Mean Knodell Histologic Activity Index scores decreased in both compensated and decompensated cirrhotic patients (3.92 vs 3.64, 3.85 vs 3.73, for telbivudine vs lamivudine). Telbivudine and lamivudine were both well tolerated with minor AEs. The results of this study support telbivudine as an effective therapy for patients with both compensated and decompensated HBV-related cirrhosis.

Efficacy of sequential use of telbivudine in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with partial responses to pegylated interferon: a pilot study

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of sequential use of telbivudine in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with partial responses to pegylated interferon. Patients with partial responses to 48 weeks of pegylated interferon treatment were divided into two groups. In group A, patients stopped pegylated interferon directly without sequential treatment. In group B, patients received sequential treatment with telbivudine 600 mg/day. HBeAg, HBeAb, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase levels were determined at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, 36 and 48. Responses and safety were assessed after 48 weeks of telbivudine treatment. Thirty-six patients were recruited. Eighteen of these patients stopped pegylated interferon without sequential treatment (group A). After 48 weeks of follow-up, five patients (28%) had undergone HBeAg seroconversion, nine patients (50%) had undetectable levels of HBV DNA, and 11 patients (61%) achieved normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The other 18 patients received sequential telbivudine treatment (group B). After 48 weeks of treatment, 11 patients (61%) had undergone HBeAg seroconversion, and all patients had undetectable levels of HBV DNA and normal ALT levels. All patients tolerated sequential telbivudine treatment, and only slightly elevated creatine kinase levels were observed. Switching to telbivudine therapy was efficient and safe in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with partial responses to 48 weeks of pegylated interferon. Sequential treatment with telbivudine resulted in an HBeAg seroconversion rate of 61% and an HBV DNA loss rate of 100% after 48 weeks. This promising strategy warrants further investigation.

Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma with severe facial disfigurement in a 37-year-old male

Nasal-type extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) is a rare malignancy that usually presents as a destructive midline lesion in the nasal region. The incidence of nasal-type extranodal NK/TCL has been reported to be much higher in Asia and South America than in North America and Europe. Its diagnosis mainly relies on histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Most patients demonstrate rapid disease progression and short survival. This report concerns a 37-year-old male with nasal-type extranodal NK/TCL showing severe facial disfigurement who was initially misdiagnosed as having Aspergillus infection. The report emphasizes the clinical manifestations and the importance of pathological diagnosis.

High dose compressive loads attenuate bone mineral loss in humans with spinal cord injury

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) lose bone and muscle integrity after their injury. Early doses of stress, applied through electrically induced muscle contractions, preserved bone density at high-risk sites. Appropriately prescribed stress early after the injury may be an important consideration to prevent bone loss after SCI.

INTRODUCTION

Skeletal muscle force can deliver high compressive loads to bones of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The effective osteogenic dose of load for the distal femur, a chief site of fracture, is unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare three doses of bone compressive loads at the distal femur in individuals with complete SCI who receive a novel stand training intervention.

METHODS

Seven participants performed unilateral quadriceps stimulation in supported stance [150% body weight (BW) compressive load-"High Dose" while opposite leg received 40% BW-"Low Dose"]. Five participants stood passively without applying quadriceps electrical stimulation to either leg (40% BW load-"Low Dose"). Fifteen participants performed no standing (0% BW load-"Untrained") and 14 individuals without SCI provided normative data. Participants underwent bone mineral density (BMD) assessment between one and six times over a 3-year training protocol.

RESULTS

BMD for the High Dose group significantly exceeded BMD for both the Low Dose and the Untrained groups (p < 0.05). No significant difference existed between the Low Dose and Untrained groups (p > 0.05), indicating that BMD for participants performing passive stance did not differ from individuals who performed no standing. High-resolution CT imaging of one High Dose participant revealed 86% higher BMD and 67% higher trabecular width in the High Dose limb.

CONCLUSION

Over 3 years of training, 150% BW compressive load in upright stance significantly attenuated BMD decline when compared to passive standing or to no standing. High-resolution CT indicated that trabecular architecture was preserved by the 150% BW dose of load.

Follow-up study of 25 Chinese children with PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration

BACKGROUND

To perform a follow-up of 25 Chinese children with gene-confirmed PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration (PLAN).

METHODS

We recruited patients with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) according to the criteria proposed by Nardocci et al. Follow-up was conducted from 7 months to 8 years after the first visit. The PLA2G6 gene was sequenced, and copy number variation (CNV) was detected in patients with only one mutant allele and in mutation-negative patients. Patients with late-onset PLAN until 2012 were reviewed.

RESULTS

All patients with INAD exhibited rapid decline in motor and mental function, consistent with previous reports from other populations. Epileptic seizures occurred in 16.7%. One teenager with late-onset PLAN was diagnosed and followed up. The age of disease onset in published late-onset PLAN ranged between 18 months and 37 years. Initial presentations included gait instability (79.0%), mood/behavior changes (10.5%), dysarthria (5.26%) and cognitive deterioration (5.3%). Compared with INAD, cerebellar atrophy (42.1%) was less frequent in the late-onset cases, with cerebral atrophy more common (71.4%). Brain iron accumulation was seen in 52.6%. PLA2G6 mutations were identified by DNA sequencing in 92.3% of clinically diagnosed INAD cases and in the late-onset case. Twenty-seven different mutations were found, of which 13 were novel. No CNVs were detected. Maternal uniparental disomy was confirmed in one INAD case.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest report on PLAN in the Chinese population. We suggest that PLA2G6 should be screened in any patient exhibiting progressive gait disturbance, bradykinesia, dysarthria, tremors, mood/behavior changes or cognitive decline, especially when associated with cerebellar atrophy and/or iron accumulation and/or cerebral atrophy.

Changes in seroprevalence to hepatitis A in Victoria, Australia: a comparison of three time points

Serological data provide an important measure of past exposure and immunity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in a population. National serosurveys from developed countries have typically indicated a decline in HAV seroprevalence over time as sanitation levels improve. We examined trends in the seroepidemiology of HAV antibodies in Victoria, Australia, drawing on cross-sectional samples taken at three time points over a 20-year period. Stored sera from 1988 (n=753), 1998 (n=1091), and 2008 (n=791) from persons aged 1-69 years were obtained from the state of Victoria, Australia. The within-year population adjusted results show a significant trend of increasing population HAV seroprevalence over time from 34.3% (95% CI 31.7-36.9) in 1988, to 40.0% (95% CI 37.1-42.8) in 1998 and 55.1% (95% CI 52.1-58.1) in 2008, P<0.0001. A particularly noticeable rise in population seroprevalence was observed between 1998 and 2008 for those aged 5-39 years. The increase in HAV seropositivity over time is in contrast to the declining rates of disease notification in Australia. Based on comparisons with other Australian data, it appears the increase in population seroprevalence over the last two decades is unlikely to be due to endemic transmission of infection. Instead, other factors, including increases in travel to HAV endemic regions, migration to Australia from HAV endemic regions and vaccine uptake are more likely causes. Ongoing monitoring of serological HAV profiles in the population is required to determine future policy direction to prevent increased burden.

Fiber ring laser interrogated zeolite-coated singlemode-multimode-singlemode structure for trace chemical detection

Zeolite thin films were synthesized on the claddingless multimode portion of a singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) fiber structure to construct a chemical vapor sensor. The zeolite-coated SMS structure was inserted into a fiber ring amplifier to produce a laser line. Combining the strong molecular adsorption capability of the nanoporous zeolite and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the fiber laser, the device was demonstrated for chemical vapor sensing with a low detection limit.

SU-E-J-28: Comparison of IGRT Shift Data Between Prostate Gland and Prostate Bed Obtained from Ct-On-Rails

PURPOSE

The daily shifts of prostate gland have been intensively reported in literatures. However, few papers reported daily shifts of prostate bed due to several practical difficulties (e.g. limited soft tissue contrast in MVCT and CBCT and significant deformation of prostate cavity). We have routinely performed IGRT for both prostate gland and bed with ct-on-rails, and the superior image quality allows us not only to differentiate both bony anatomy and soft tissue contrast of prostate gland and bed. In this study, we investigated if the shift of prostate bed is signifiant difference from that of prostate gland.

METHODS

we reviewed shift data of 50 prostate gland patients who underwent 43 fractions and 22 patients of prostatectomy underwent 37 fractions. In total 2150 CT scans were reviewed for prostate gland and 814 scans for prostate bed.

RESULTS

Of the reviewed 814 CT images from 22 prostate bed patients, the standard deviation of shift was found to be 5.9 mm in AP direction (ranges from -22.4mm to 22mm), 3.2mm in SI direction (ranges from -14mm to 14mm), and 4.1mm in lateral direction (ranges from -15mm to 22mm). Of the 2150 CT images of prostate gland from 50 patients, the standard deviation of the shift was found to be 5.4 mm in AP direction (-20mm to 18 mm), 5.0mm in SI direction (-26mm to 20mm), and 4.3mm in lateral direction (range from-15 to 30mm). F tests of systematic /random shift distribution in three orthogonal directions between prostate gland and prostate bed were subsequently performed, it was found that the systematic shift in SI direction for prostate bed is smaller than for prostate gland (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Our result suggests no significant difference existing in shift between prostate bed and gland. Therefore strategies for daily prostate gland motion can be directly applied to prostate bed.