1
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O'Connell E, McDevitt J, Hill ADK, McNamara DA, Burke JP. Centralisation of rectal cancer care has improved patient survival in the republic of Ireland. Eur J Surg Oncol 2021; 48:890-895. [PMID: 34774395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2021.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centralisation of rectal cancer surgery to designated centres was a key objective of the Irish national cancer control program. A national audit of rectal cancer surgery indicated centralisation was associated with improved early surgical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the impact of implementation of the national cancer strategy on survival from rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland to include all patients with Stage I-III rectal cancer undergoing rectal cancer surgery with curative intent between 2003 and 2012. Five-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival was compared between patients in the pre-centralisation (2003-2007) and post-centralisation period (2008-2012) and between patients receiving surgery in designated cancer centres and non-cancer centres. RESULTS The proportion of rectal cancer surgery performed in a designated cancer centre increased from 42% during 2003-2007 to 58% during 2008-2012. Five-year overall survival increased from 66.1% in 2003-2007 to 73.5% in 2008-2012 (p < 0.001). Five-year cancer-specific survival increased from 75.3% in 2003-2007 to 81.9% in 2008-2012 (p < 0.001). Surgery in a cancer centre and surgery post-centralisation were significantly associated with overall and cancer specific survival using Cox proportional hazards regression. CONCLUSION Survival following resection of rectal cancer was significantly improved following implementation of a national cancer strategy incorporating centralisation of rectal cancer surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O'Connell
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - J McDevitt
- National Cancer Registry of Ireland, Kinsale Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - A D K Hill
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Cancer Control Program Ireland, King's Inn House, Dublin 1, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - D A McNamara
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - J P Burke
- Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Cancer Control Program Ireland, King's Inn House, Dublin 1, Ireland
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2
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Kelly C, O'Connell E. SARS-CoV-2 in a long-term care facility: lessons learnt and importance of repeated mass testing. Eur J Public Health 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on long-term care facilities worldwide. Reflecting on public health management of COVID-19 outbreaks in these settings is crucial to identify lessons learnt and improve outbreak control strategies for the future. A confirmed case of COVID-19 in a private nursing home facility was notified to the Department of Public Health West on December 30th 2020. Immediate actions included case investigation, contact tracing, implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and mass testing of all residents and staff. On December 31st 2 more confirmed cases were notified. A multidisciplinary outbreak control team was convened. Testing of SARS-CoV-2 samples was via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. IPC site visits were made. Seven further mass testing rounds were completed at 5-7-day intervals. Data collation and descriptive analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel. There were 56 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases associated with the outbreak (28 residents, 28 staff). Overall attack rate was 52.8% (66.7% for residents, 44.0% for staff). Over half of all cases (51.7%) were detected from the first and second mass testing rounds (positivity rates 34.2% and 27.8% respectively) in the first week of the outbreak. Mean age of resident cases was 81.5 years. The majority (96.4%) were symptomatic (diarrhoea 64.3%, fever 57.1% and anorexia 25%). Hospitalisation and case fatality rates for residents were 21.4% and 41.4% respectively. Mean age of staff cases was 35.5 years. One-quarter were asymptomatic, with no hospitalisations or deaths. The outbreak was declared over on February 16th 2021. Residents of long-term care facilities are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. Mass testing is a critically important outbreak control strategy which can facilitate rapid case finding and contact tracing in these settings, minimising the potential for further spread of infection and harm to residents and staff.
Key messages
Residents of long-term care facilities are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19, and may present with atypical clinical symptoms and signs of this disease. A low threshold for testing is required. Mass testing is a crucial COVID-19 outbreak control strategy in long-term care facilities to enable rapid case finding and contact tracing, minimising the potential for further spread of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Kelly
- Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive West, Galway, Ireland
| | - E O'Connell
- Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive West, Galway, Ireland
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3
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Bowe A, Doyle F, Stanistreet D, Durcan M, Major E, O'Connell E, Kavanagh P, O'Donovan D. E-Cigarette-Only and Dual Use among Adolescents: Emerging Behaviours with Different Risk Profiles. Eur J Public Health 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
E-cigarette-only use and dual-use are emerging behaviours among adolescent nicotine product users which have not yet been sufficiently explored. This study examines the epidemiology of, and the factors associated with, nicotine product use in adolescence, specifically defined as e-cigarette only, conventional cigarette only and dual-use.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 Planet Youth survey completed by 15-16 year olds in the West of Ireland. Current nicotine product use, defined by use at least once in the past 30 days, was categorised as e-cigarette only, conventional cigarette only, and dual-use. The characteristics and risk factor profiles of the population are described, according to nicotine product use, using chi-square tests for categorical data and t-tests for continuous data. A main effects multinomial logistic regression model was used to compare the association between potential risk and protective factors across categories of use.
Results
Among 4422 adolescents 22.1% were current nicotine product users, consisting of 5.1% e-cigarette only users, 7.7% conventional cigarette only users, and 9.3% dual-users. Risk factor profiles differed across categories of use. Frequent participation in team sport significantly reduced the odds of conventional cigarette and dual use but had no association with e-cigarette only use (Cig only: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-0.90; Dual-use: AOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.93, E-Cig only: AOR 1.31, 95% CI 0.87-1.97, p = 0.199). Similarly, having higher value for conventional social norms reduced the odds of conventional cigarette and dual use but not e-cigarette only use.
Conclusions
This is the first study to show, among a generalisable sample, that dual-use is the most prevalent behaviour among adolescent nicotine product users in Ireland. Risk factor profiles differed significantly across categories of use with important implications for youth tobacco control policy.
Key messages
This is the first study to show that dual use of conventional and electronic cigarettes, an under-researched behaviour, is the most prevalent form of nicotine product use among adolescents in Ireland. Risk factor profiles of e-cigarette only, conventional cigarette only, and dual users differ significantly, and this has important implications for prevention initiatives and tobacco control policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bowe
- Department of Public Health West, Health Service Executive, Merlin Park, Galway, Ireland
| | - F Doyle
- Department of Health Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - D Stanistreet
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M Durcan
- Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Health Service Executive, Parkmore, Galway, Ireland
| | - E Major
- Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Galway Roscommon Education Training Board, Parkmore, Galway, Ireland
| | - E O'Connell
- Department of Public Health West, Health Service Executive, Merlin Park, Galway, Ireland
| | - P Kavanagh
- Health Intelligence, Strategic Planning and Transformation, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland
| | - D O'Donovan
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Centr, Queens University, Belfast, UK
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4
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O'Connell E, Reynolds IS, Salvucci M, McNamara DA, Burke JP, Prehn JHM. Mucinous and non-mucinous colorectal cancers show differential expression of chemotherapy metabolism and resistance genes. Pharmacogenomics J 2021; 21:510-519. [PMID: 33731881 DOI: 10.1038/s41397-021-00229-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has identified differences in mutation frequency in genes implicated in chemotherapy resistance between mucinous and non-mucinous colorectal cancers (CRC). We hypothesized that outcomes in mucinous and non-mucinous CRC may be influenced by expression of genes responsible for chemotherapy resistance. Gene expression data from primary tumor samples were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas PanCancer Atlas. The distribution of clinical, pathological, and gene expression variables was compared between 74 mucinous and 521 non-mucinous CRCs. Predictors of overall survival (OS) were assessed in a multivariate analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to compare survival according to gene expression using the log rank test. The median expression of 5-FU-related genes TYMS, TYMP, and DYPD was significantly higher in mucinous CRC compared to non-mucinous CRC (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, respectively). The median expression of oxaliplatin-related genes ATP7B and SRPK1 was significantly reduced in mucinous versus non-mucinous CRC (p = 0.004, p = 0.007, respectively). At multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio (OR) = 0.96, p < 0.001), node positive disease (OR = 0.49, p = 0.005), and metastatic disease (OR = 0.32, p < 0.001) remained significant negative predictors of OS, while high SRPK1 remained a significant positive predictor of OS (OR = 1.59, p = 0.037). Subgroup analysis of rectal cancers demonstrated high SRPK1 expression was associated with significantly longer OS compared to low SRPK1 expression (p = 0.011). This study highlights that the molecular differences in mucinous CRC and non-mucinous CRC extend to chemotherapy resistance gene expression. SRPK1 gene expression was associated with OS, with a prognostic role identified in rectal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O'Connell
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - I S Reynolds
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - M Salvucci
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - D A McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J P Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - J H M Prehn
- Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland. .,Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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5
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Patil V, O'Connell E, Quinlan LR, Fearnhead H, McMahon S, Pandit A. A robust platform for high-throughput screening of therapeutic strategies for acute and chronic spinal cord injury. iScience 2021; 24:102182. [PMID: 33718834 PMCID: PMC7921603 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes and microglia are critical regulators of inflammatory cascade after spinal cord injury (SCI). Existing glial in vitro studies do not replicate inflammatory phases associated with SCI. Here, we report an in vitro model of mixed glial culture where inflammation is induced by the administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) to promote pathologically relevant “acute” and “chronic” inflammatory phases. We observed SCI relevant differential modulation of inflammatory pathways, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors over 21 days. Mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with a cytokine combination treatment. Highly expressed cytokine induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC-3) chemokine was used as a biomarker to establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based high-throughput screening (HTS) platform. We screened a 786-compound drug library to demonstrate the efficacy of the HTS platform. The developed model is robust and will facilitate in vitro screening of anti-reactive glial therapeutics for the treatment of SCI. An in vitro MGC model replicates the inflammatory phases associated with SCI Differential modulation in NF-κB, MAPK, and immunomodulatory pathways over 21 days Change in mitochondrial bioenergetics over seven days ELISA-based HTS platform using CINC-3 as a biomarker is established
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Patil
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- Genomics and Screening Core Facility, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.,Physiology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Howard Fearnhead
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Siobhan McMahon
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.,Anatomy, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Abhay Pandit
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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6
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O'Connell E, Galvin R, McNamara DA, Burke JP. The utility of preoperative radiological evaluation of early rectal neoplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Colorectal Dis 2020; 22:1076-1084. [PMID: 32052545 DOI: 10.1111/codi.15015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM The diagnostic role for preoperative imaging of clinically benign rectal adenomas is unclear. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative imaging in distinguishing benign adenomas from rectal cancer. METHOD A systematic search was performed for all studies published that correlated staging of clinically benign rectal adenomas with endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) or MRI and histology. Imaging was compared with postoperative histology and data on the numbers of true positives, false positives, true negatives and false negatives were extracted. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated using a bivariate random effects model. The QUADAS2 tool was used to determine the methodological quality of included studies. RESULTS Eleven studies describing 1511 patients were retrieved. A total of 1134 patients underwent local excision and 377 had a formal proctectomy. A benign rectal adenoma was diagnosed in 840 and 214 had a T1 rectal cancer. For confirming benign adenomas, the pooled sensitivity of ERUS was 0.81 (95% CI 0.69-0.89) and specificity was 0.85 (95% CI 0.68-0.93). For detecting occult T1 tumours, the pooled sensitivity of ERUS was 0.50 (95% CI 0.33-0.66) and specificity was 0.89 (95% CI 0.82-0.94). Quantitative analysis of MRI could not be performed due to insufficient studies. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the limited accuracy of preoperative ERUS in distinguishing benign adenomas from T1 rectal cancer. Preoperative imaging must be interpreted with caution to prevent over-staging and unnecessary proctectomy. We propose that clinically benign lesions may undergo local excision, with subsequent management based on final histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O'Connell
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - R Galvin
- School of Allied Health, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - D A McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J P Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
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7
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Marchese P, Garzoli L, Gnavi G, O'Connell E, Bouraoui A, Mehiri M, Murphy JM, Varese GC. Diversity and bioactivity of fungi associated with the marine sea cucumber Holothuria poli: disclosing the strains potential for biomedical applications. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 129:612-625. [PMID: 32274883 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Identification of the mycobiota associated to the marine echinoderm Holothuria poli and investigation of cytotoxic and pro-osteogenic potential of isolated strains. METHODS AND RESULTS Fungal strains were isolated from the animal's body-wall, intestine and faeces. The species identification was based on DNA barcoding and morphophysiological observations. Forty-seven species were identified, all are Ascomycota and mainly belonging to Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Sixteen strains were grown on three media for chemical extraction. Cytotoxic activity was tested on a hepatic cancer cell line (HepG2), the cells viability was evaluated after treatment using a resazurin based assay (AlamarBlue). Pro-osteogenic activity was tested on human Mesenchymal stem cell, differentiation was measured as the alkaline phosphatase production through reaction with p-nitrophenylphosphate or as the cells ability to mineralize calcium using a colorimetric kit (StanBio). Cytotoxic activity was recorded for four fungal species while five of 48 extracts highlighted bioactivity towards human mesenchymal stem cells. CONCLUSIONS The presence of relevant animal-associated mycobiota was observed in H. poli and selected strains showed cytotoxic potential and pro-osteogenic activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Our work represents the first report of a Mediterranean Sea cucumber mycobiota and highlights the isolates potential to synthetize compounds of pharmaceutical interest for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Marchese
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - L Garzoli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - G Gnavi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - E O'Connell
- Genomics and Screening Core, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - A Bouraoui
- Laboratoire de dévelopement chimique, galénique et pharmacologique des médicaments, Universite de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - M Mehiri
- Marine Natural Products Team, Institute of Chemistry of Nice, University Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - J M Murphy
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - G C Varese
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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8
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O'Connell E, Reynolds IS, McNamara DA, Prehn JHM, Burke JP. Microsatellite instability and response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Oncol 2020; 34:57-62. [PMID: 32891354 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer is variable. Identification of biomarkers to predict response is desirable in order to provide prognostic information and targeted therapy. Several studies have investigated microsatellite instability (MSI) as a predictor of response to CRT with contradictory results. This study aims to clarify the effect of MSI status on response to CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed for all studies relating to MSI and response to CRT in rectal cancer using the search algorithm (Microsatellite Instability) AND (Chemoradiotherapy) AND (Rectal Cancer). From each included study the number of patients with MSI tumors and Microsatellite Stable (MSS) tumors and the numbers achieving pathological complete response (pCR) were recorded. Pooled outcome measures were determined using a random effects model and the odds ratio estimated with variance and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Nine published studies were identified reporting data on MSI and its effect on outcome after CRT for locally advanced rectal cancer. Five studies describing 5,877 patients included data on MSI and the number of patients achieving pCR. There was no significant association between MSI and pCR (MSI Vs MSS: 10.1% Vs 6.6%, OR 1.38, 95% CI: 0.7-2.72, p = 0.35). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis concludes that there appears to be no significant difference in pCR rate following CRT in patients with MSI versus MSS rectal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O'Connell
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - I S Reynolds
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - D A McNamara
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J H M Prehn
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J P Burke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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9
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Cliffe FE, Lyons M, Murphy DC, McInerney L, Hurley N, Galvin MA, Mulqueen J, Bible LB, Marella C, Kelleher M, O'Sullivan A, Fearnhead HO, O'Connell E, Davies M. Droplet Combinations: A Scalable Microfluidic Platform for Biochemical Assays. SLAS Technol 2019; 25:140-150. [PMID: 31665958 DOI: 10.1177/2472630319883830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics holds enormous potential for transforming high-throughput drug screening. Miniaturization through droplets in combination with automation contributes to reduce reagent use and analysis time as well as minimizing or eliminating labor-intensive steps leading to associated reductions in cost. In this paper, we demonstrate the potential of automated and cost-effective microfluidic droplet-generating technology in the context of an enzymatic activity assay for screening collagenase inhibitors. Experimental results show reproducible and accurate creation and mixing of droplet combinations resulting in biochemical data comparable to data produced by an industry standard instrument. This microfluidic platform that can generate and combine multiple droplets represents a promising tool for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Lyons
- Hooke Bio Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Michael A Galvin
- Hooke Bio Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.,University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jane Mulqueen
- Hooke Bio Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.,University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Lorraine B Bible
- Hooke Bio Ltd, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.,University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Howard O Fearnhead
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Biomedical Sciences, Dangan, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Biomedical Sciences, Dangan, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Mark Davies
- University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland
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10
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Tashakor A, H-Dehkordi M, O'Connell E, Gomez Ganau S, Gozalbes R, Eriksson LA, Hosseinkhani S, Fearnhead HO. A new split-luciferase complementation assay identifies pentachlorophenol as an inhibitor of apoptosome formation. FEBS Open Bio 2019; 9:1194-1203. [PMID: 31033240 PMCID: PMC6609562 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The expense and time required for in vivo reproductive and developmental toxicity studies have driven the development of in vitro alternatives. Here, we used a new in vitro split luciferase‐based assay to screen a library of 177 toxicants for inhibitors of apoptosome formation. The apoptosome contains seven Apoptotic Protease‐Activating Factor‐1 (Apaf‐1) molecules and induces cell death by activating caspase‐9. Apaf‐1‐dependent caspase activation also plays an important role in CNS development and spermatogenesis. In the in vitro assay, Apaf‐1 fused to an N‐terminal fragment of luciferase binds to Apaf‐1 fused to a C‐terminal fragment of luciferase and reconstitutes luciferase activity. Our assay indicated that pentachlorophenol (PCP) inhibits apoptosome formation, and further investigation revealed that PCP binds to cytochrome c. PCP is a wood preservative that reduces male fertility by ill‐defined mechanisms. Although the data show that PCP inhibited apoptosome formation, the concentration required suggests that other mechanisms may be more important for PCP's effects on spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, the data demonstrate the utility of the new assay in identifying apoptosome inhibitors, and we suggest that the assay may be useful in screening for reproductive and developmental toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Tashakor
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Enda O'Connell
- Genomics and Screening Core, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, Ireland
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bone
- Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection, Public Health England Honorary Associate Clinical Professor, University of Exeter Medical School
| | - E O'Connell
- Consultant in Public Health, Extreme Events and Health Protection, Public Health England.
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12
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Dadson SJ, Hall JW, Murgatroyd A, Acreman M, Bates P, Beven K, Heathwaite L, Holden J, Holman IP, Lane SN, O'Connell E, Penning-Rowsell E, Reynard N, Sear D, Thorne C, Wilby R. A restatement of the natural science evidence concerning catchment-based 'natural' flood management in the UK. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2017; 473:20160706. [PMID: 28413336 PMCID: PMC5378234 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Flooding is a very costly natural hazard in the UK and is expected to increase further under future climate change scenarios. Flood defences are commonly deployed to protect communities and property from flooding, but in recent years flood management policy has looked towards solutions that seek to mitigate flood risk at flood-prone sites through targeted interventions throughout the catchment, sometimes using techniques which involve working with natural processes. This paper describes a project to provide a succinct summary of the natural science evidence base concerning the effectiveness of catchment-based ‘natural’ flood management in the UK. The evidence summary is designed to be read by an informed but not technically specialist audience. Each evidence statement is placed into one of four categories describing the nature of the underlying information. The evidence summary forms the appendix to this paper and an annotated bibliography is provided in the electronic supplementary material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Dadson
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Jim W Hall
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Anna Murgatroyd
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Mike Acreman
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Paul Bates
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK
| | - Keith Beven
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Louise Heathwaite
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Joseph Holden
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Ian P Holman
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Stuart N Lane
- Faculté des géosciences et de l'environnement, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Edmund Penning-Rowsell
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.,Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK
| | - Nick Reynard
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - David Sear
- Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Colin Thorne
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Rob Wilby
- Department of Geography, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK
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Monné Rodríguez J, O'Connell E, Silvestrini P, McConnell F, Verin R. Osteopetrosis-like Syndrome in an English Cocker Spaniel. J Comp Pathol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2016.11.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Murphy TM, Waterhouse DF, James S, Casey C, Fitzgerald E, O'Connell E, Watson C, Gallagher J, Ledwidge M, McDonald K. A comparison of HFrEF vs HFpEF's clinical workload and cost in the first year following hospitalization and enrollment in a disease management program. Int J Cardiol 2016; 232:330-335. [PMID: 28087180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.12.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Admission with heart failure (HF) is a milestone in the progression of the disease, often resulting in higher intensity medical care and ensuing readmissions. Whilst there is evidence supporting enrolling patients in a heart failure disease management program (HF-DMP), not all reported HF-DMPs have systematically enrolled patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and there is a scarcity of literature differentiating costs based on HF-phenotype. METHODS 1292 consenting, consecutive patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of HF were enrolled in a hospital based HF-DMP and categorized as HFpEF (EF≥45%) or HFrEF (EF<45%). Hospitalizations, primary care, medications, and DMP workload with associated costs were evaluated assessing DMP clinic-visits, telephonic contact, medication changes over 1year using a mixture of casemix and micro-costing techniques. RESULTS The total average annual cost per patient was marginally higher in patients with HFrEF €13,011 (12,011, 14,078) than HFpEF, €12,206 (11,009, 13,518). However, emergency non-cardiovascular admission rates and average cost per patient were higher in the HFpEF vs HFrEF group (0.46 vs 0.31 per patient/12months) & €655 (318, 1073) vs €584 (396, 812). In the first 3months of the outpatient HF-DMP the HFrEF population cost more on average €791 (764, 819) vs €693 (660, 728). CONCLUSION There are greater short-term (3-month) costs of HFrEF versus HFpEF as part of a HF-DMP following an admission. However, long-term (3-12month) costs of HFpEF are greater because of higher non-cardiovascular rehospitalisations. As HFpEF becomes the dominant form of HF, more work is required in HF-DMPs to address prevention of non-cardiovascular rehospitalisations and to integrate hospital based HF-DMPs into primary healthcare structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Murphy
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - D F Waterhouse
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - S James
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - C Casey
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - E Fitzgerald
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - E O'Connell
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - C Watson
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland; Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - J Gallagher
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - M Ledwidge
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - K McDonald
- Heart Failure Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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O'Connell E, Mihu R, Mohan H, Fulton G, Manning B. Intervention for Superficial Venous Insufficency in Patients with Venous Ulcers: Early Experience from an Ambulatory Venous Clinic. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2016.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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O'Caoimh R, Cornally N, Svendrovski A, Weathers E, FitzGerald C, Healy E, O'Connell E, O'Keeffe G, O'Herlihy E, Gao Y, O'Donnell R, O'Sullivan R, Leahy-Warren P, Orfila F, Paúl C, Clarnette R, Molloy DW. Measuring the Effect of Carers on Patients' Risk of Adverse Healthcare Outcomes Using the Caregiver Network Score. J Frailty Aging 2016; 5:104-10. [PMID: 27224501 DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2016.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although caregivers are important in the management of frail, community-dwelling older adults, the influence of different caregiver network types on the risk of adverse healthcare outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between caregiver type and the caregiver network subtest of The Risk Instrument for Screening in the Community (RISC), a five point Likert scale scored from one ("can manage") to five ("absent/liability"). To measure the association between caregiver network scores and the one-year incidence of institutionalisation, hospitalisation and death. DESIGN Observational cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling adults, aged >65, attending health centres in Ireland, (n=779). PROCEDURE AND MEASUREMENTS: The caregiver network subtest of the RISC was scored by public health nurses. Caregivers were grouped dichotomously into low-risk (score of one) or high-risk (scores two-five). RESULTS The majority of patients had a primary caregiver (582/779; 75%), most often their child (200/582; 34%). Caregiver network scores were highest, indicating greatest risk, when patients had no recognised primary caregiver and lowest when only a spouse or child was available. Despite this, patients with a caregiver were significantly more likely to be institutionalised than those where none was required or identified (11.5% versus 6.5%, p=0.047). The highest one-year incidence of adverse outcomes occurred when state provided care was the sole support; the lowest when private care was the sole support. Significantly more patients whose caregiver networks were scored high-risk required institutionalisation than low-risk networks; this association was strongest for perceived difficulty managing medical domain issues, odds ratio (OR) 3.87:(2.22-6.76). Only perceived difficulty managing ADL was significantly associated with death, OR 1.72:(1.06-2.79). There was no association between caregiver network scores and risk of hospitalisation. CONCLUSION This study operationalizes a simple method to evaluate caregiver networks. Networks consisting of close family (spouse/children) and those reflecting greater socioeconomic privilege (private supports) were associated with lower incidence of adverse outcomes. Caregiver network scores better predicted institutionalisation than hospitalisation or death.
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Affiliation(s)
- R O'Caoimh
- Dr Rónán O'Caoimh, , Telephone: +353214901461, Facsimile: +3534901635
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17
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Leahy-Warren P, O'Caoimh R, FitzGerald C, Cochrane A, Svendrovski A, Cronin U, O'Herlihy E, Cornally N, Gao Y, Healy E, O'Connell E, O'Keeffe G, Coveney S, McGlynn J, Fitzgerald C, Clarnette R, Molloy DW. Components of the Risk Instrument for Screening in the Community (RISC) that Correlate with Public Health Nurses' Perception of Risk. J Frailty Aging 2016; 4:149-54. [PMID: 27030943 DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2015.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional decline and frailty are common in community-dwelling older adults, leading to an increased risk of adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE To examine the factors that public health nurses perceive to cause risk of three adverse outcomes: institutionalisation, hospitalisation, and death, in older adults, using the Risk Instrument for Screening in the Community (RISC). DESIGN A quantitative, correlational, descriptive design was used. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A sample of 803 community-dwellers, aged over 65 years receiving regular follow-up by public health nurses. Procedure and Measurements: Public health nurses (n=15) scored the RISC and the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on patients in their caseload. We examined and compared correlations between the severity of concern and ability of the caregiver network to manage these concerns with public health nurses' perception of risk of the three defined adverse outcomes. RESULTS In total, 782 RISC scores were available. Concern was higher for the medical state domain (686/782,88%) compared with the mental state (306/782,39%) and activities of daily living (595/782,76%) domains. Concern was rated as severe for only a small percentage of patients. Perceived risk of institutionalisation had the strongest correlation with concern over patients mental state,(r=0.53), while risk of hospitalisation,(r=0.53) and death,(r=0.40) correlated most strongly with concern over the medical state. Weaker correlations were found for the other domains and RISC scores. The CFS most strongly correlated with the ADL domain,(r=0.78). CONCLUSION Although the prevalence of concern was high, it was mostly rated as mild. Perceived risk of institutionalisation correlated most with concern over the ability of caregiver networks to manage patients' mental state, while risk of hospitalisation and death correlated with patients' medical state. The findings suggest the importance of including an assessment of the caregiver network when examining community-dwelling older adults. Validation of the RISC and public health nurses' ratings are now required.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Leahy-Warren
- Dr Rónán O'Caoimh, Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarr's Hospital, Douglas road, Cork City, Ireland, , Phone: +353214901461, Fax: +3534901635
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18
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Burke AJ, Ali H, O'Connell E, Sullivan FJ, Glynn SA. Sensitivity Profiles of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines to an 80 Kinase Inhibitor Panel. Anticancer Res 2016; 36:633-641. [PMID: 26851018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taxanes and anti-androgen therapies are routinely used for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, however the majority of patients eventually develop resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty kinase inhibitors were screened regarding their ability to inhibit cell viability in CWR22, 22Rv1, PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells using automated toxicity assays. Four kinase inhibitors were selected for further investigation. RESULTS No significant difference in sensitivity patterns was found between the androgen receptor wild-type CWR22 and its androgen receptor mutant variant 22Rv1, indicating that androgen receptor mutation did not impact on kinase inhibitor sensitivity in this model. Metastatic PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cell lines were less sensitive to kinase inhibitors than the non-metastatic CWR22 and 22Rv1. All four cell lines responded to GSK-3 inhibitor BIO, and MEK inhibitor PD198306. DU145 cells were resistant to p75NTR/TrkA and CHK4 inhibitors, RO-082750 and Ryuvidine. CONCLUSION Kinase inhibition may be an appropriate strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Burke
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Husnain Ali
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- Screening Core, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Francis J Sullivan
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland HRB Clinical Research Facilities Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sharon A Glynn
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland Discipline of Pathology, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland Apoptosis Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Chandran S, Cairns MT, O'Brien M, O'Connell E, Mashayekhi K, Smith TJ. Effects of combined progesterone and 17β-estradiol treatment on the transcriptome of cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Physiol Genomics 2015; 48:50-61. [PMID: 26534934 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00021.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A transcriptomic analysis of cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells (hUtSMCs) was performed to examine gene expression profiles in smooth muscle in an environment containing the two major steroid hormones that regulate the human myometrium in physiological states associated with estrous, pregnancy, labor, and pathophysiological states such as leiomyoma and endometrial cancer. hUtSMCs were treated with progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) individually and in combination, in the presence and absence of RU486 (mifepristone). Transcription of many genes was modulated in the presence of P4 or E2 alone, but almost six times more genes were transcriptionally modulated in the presence of the P4/E2 hormone combination. In total 796 annotated genes were significantly differentially expressed in the presence of both P4 and E2 relative to their expression in untreated cells. Functional withdrawal of P4 by addition of RU486 effectively reversed almost all transcriptional changes caused by P4/E2 treatment. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed a strong association between P4/E2 treatment and downregulated expression of genes involved in cell communication, signal transduction, channel activity, inflammatory response, and differentiation. Upregulated processes included cell survival, gene transcription, steroid hormone biosynthesis, muscle development, insulin receptor signaling, and cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenath Chandran
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Michael T Cairns
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Brien
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Enda O'Connell
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Kaveh Mashayekhi
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Terry J Smith
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Monaghan M, Travers B, Kinsella M, Gallagher J, O'Connell E, Watson C, O'Hanlon R, Ledwidge M, Mailey J, Henderson JA, Dixon L, McDonald K. 30 Lack of specialist involvement in heart failure diagnosis leave concerning gaps in management: an all ireland analysis: Abstract 30 Table 1. Heart 2015. [DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308621.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Ali H, Burke A, O'Connell E, Sullivan F, Giles F, Glynn S. Abstract 4370: GSK3α/β inhibition as a drug target in prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-4370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Despite what its namesake suggests, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) is a kinase that is implicated in a myriad of signalling pathways and has recently received considerable interest due to its conflicting roles oncogenesis. Though GSK3 has classically been regarded as a tumour suppressor due to in role in supressing WNT signalling, emerging evidence suggests that GSK3 also functions as a tumor promoter by facilitating tumor cell survival and conferring drug resistance in cancer. These tumor promoting effects have been partly linked to the expression of certain NFκB target genes, whose expression in some cancers are influenced by direct GSK3 phosphorylation of NFκB's p65 subunit. Given the complex interplay between GSK3 and the androgen receptor in prostate cancer (PCa), and the inverse correlation between the androgen receptor status and NFκB, we investigate the potential of GSK3 inhibitors to treat and overcome drug resistance in PCa.
A kinase inhibitor screen for 80 compounds and additional chemical inhibitors for GSK3 was carried out using the JANUS Automated Workstation at the robotics facility at NUI Galway, Ireland. The cellular fractions for treated cells were separated and assessed for differences in expression between the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments using western blotting. Flow cytometry and western blotting using antibodies for markers of apoptosis were used to assess for mode of cell death. Differences in gene expression of NFκB target genes were assessed using gene specific primers for SYBR green RT-PCR. RNAi using siRNA directed against each of the GSK3 isoforms, α and β, was utilised for target validation
The kinase inhibitor screen demonstrated significant growth inhibition among all the tested PCa cell lines to the GSK3 inhibitor, BIO. This result was validated using two additional chemical GSK3 inhibitors, LiCl and CHIR99021. Expression analysis demonstrated aberrant NFκB and GSK3 expression in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of the cell lines that varied upon treatment with GSK3 inhibitors. siRNA directed against GSK3 confirmed that the effects of the inhibitors were GSK3 specific and demonstrated that both isoforms distinguished between the effects of each of the two isoforms.
Our results suggest that GSK3 has a role in the pathogenesis of PCa. This notion is supported by the findings that GSK3 inhibition reduces the viability of PCa cells via a mechanism that is consistent with apoptosis. Furthermore, both NFκB and GSK3 are shown to be active and aberrantly co-expressed in our PCa model. Collectively, these results suggest that GSK3 has an effect on NFκB that may be independent of WNT signalling.
Citation Format: Husnain Ali, Amy Burke, Enda O'Connell, Frank Sullivan, Frank Giles, Sharon Glynn. GSK3α/β inhibition as a drug target in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4370. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4370
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy Burke
- 1Prostate Cancer Institute, Galway, Ireland
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22
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Purvey S, Lu K, Mukkamalla SK, Anandi P, Dumitriu B, Kranick S, Hammoud DA, O'Connell E, Oh AL, Barrett J, Mahanty S, Battiwalla M. Conservative management of neurocysticercosis in a patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report and review. Transpl Infect Dis 2015; 17:456-62. [PMID: 25850995 DOI: 10.1111/tid.12392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis, an infection of the central nervous system with the larval stage of the cestode Taenia solium, is common in developing countries but its occurrence and management in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been reported previously, to our knowledge. We report the case of an immigrant female patient who underwent a matched-related allogeneic HSCT for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was incidentally found to have a solitary viable neurocysticercosis lesion. However, despite severe immunosuppression, the size of the cyst did not increase. More importantly, restoration of the immune system did not induce significant inflammation or seizures. Subsequent follow-up demonstrated complete resolution of the neurocysticercosis lesion. Thus, in the setting of HSCT, an asymptomatic patient with a single neurocysticercosis lesion was successfully managed without the use of anthelmintics, steroids, or anti-epileptics.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Purvey
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - K Lu
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - S K Mukkamalla
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - P Anandi
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - B Dumitriu
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - S Kranick
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - D A Hammoud
- Center for Infectious Disease Imaging (CIDI), Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - E O'Connell
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - A L Oh
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J Barrett
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - S Mahanty
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - M Battiwalla
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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O'Reilly P, Ortutay C, Gernon G, O'Connell E, Seoighe C, Boyce S, Serrano L, Szegezdi E. Co-acting gene networks predict TRAIL responsiveness of tumour cells with high accuracy. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1144. [PMID: 25527049 PMCID: PMC4378270 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Identification of differentially expressed genes from transcriptomic studies is one of the most common mechanisms to identify tumor biomarkers. This approach however is not well suited to identify interaction between genes whose protein products potentially influence each other, which limits its power to identify molecular wiring of tumour cells dictating response to a drug. Due to the fact that signal transduction pathways are not linear and highly interlinked, the biological response they drive may be better described by the relative amount of their components and their functional relationships than by their individual, absolute expression. Results Gene expression microarray data for 109 tumor cell lines with known sensitivity to the death ligand cytokine tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) was used to identify genes with potential functional relationships determining responsiveness to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The machine learning technique Random Forest in the statistical environment “R” with backward elimination was used to identify the key predictors of TRAIL sensitivity and differentially expressed genes were identified using the software GeneSpring. Gene co-regulation and statistical interaction was assessed with q-order partial correlation analysis and non-rejection rate. Biological (functional) interactions amongst the co-acting genes were studied with Ingenuity network analysis. Prediction accuracy was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operator curve using an independent dataset. We show that the gene panel identified could predict TRAIL-sensitivity with a very high degree of sensitivity and specificity (AUC = 0 · 84). The genes in the panel are co-regulated and at least 40% of them functionally interact in signal transduction pathways that regulate cell death and cell survival, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis. Importantly, only 12% of the TRAIL-predictor genes were differentially expressed highlighting the importance of functional interactions in predicting the biological response. Conclusions The advantage of co-acting gene clusters is that this analysis does not depend on differential expression and is able to incorporate direct- and indirect gene interactions as well as tissue- and cell-specific characteristics. This approach (1) identified a descriptor of TRAIL sensitivity which performs significantly better as a predictor of TRAIL sensitivity than any previously reported gene signatures, (2) identified potential novel regulators of TRAIL-responsiveness and (3) provided a systematic view highlighting fundamental differences between the molecular wiring of sensitive and resistant cell types. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1144) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eva Szegezdi
- Apoptosis Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, University Rd, Galway, Ireland.
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Islam N, Whitehouse M, Mehendale S, Hall M, Tierney J, O'Connell E, Blom A, Bannister G, Hinde J, Ceredig R, Bradley BA. Post-traumatic immunosuppression is reversed by anti-coagulated salvaged blood transfusion: deductions from studying immune status after knee arthroplasty. Clin Exp Immunol 2014; 177:509-20. [PMID: 24749651 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Major trauma increases vulnerability to systemic infections due to poorly defined immunosuppressive mechanisms. It confers no evolutionary advantage. Our objective was to develop better biomarkers of post-traumatic immunosuppression (PTI) and to extend our observation that PTI was reversed by anti-coagulated salvaged blood transfusion, in the knowledge that others have shown that non-anti-coagulated (fibrinolysed) salvaged blood was immunosuppressive. A prospective non-randomized cohort study of patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty included 25 who received salvaged blood transfusions collected post-operatively into acid-citrate-dextrose anti-coagulant (ASBT cohort), and 18 non-transfused patients (NSBT cohort). Biomarkers of sterile trauma included haematological values, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), cytokines and chemokines. Salvaged blood was analysed within 1 and 6 h after commencing collection. Biomarkers were expressed as fold-changes over preoperative values. Certain biomarkers of sterile trauma were common to all 43 patients, including supranormal levels of: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1-receptor-antagonist, IL-8, heat shock protein-70 and calgranulin-S100-A8/9. Other proinflammatory biomarkers which were subnormal in NSBT became supranormal in ASBT patients, including IL-1β, IL-2, IL-17A, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and annexin-A2. Furthermore, ASBT exhibited subnormal levels of anti-inflammatory biomarkers: IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13. Salvaged blood analyses revealed sustained high levels of IL-9, IL-10 and certain DAMPs, including calgranulin-S100-A8/9, alpha-defensin and heat shock proteins 27, 60 and 70. Active synthesis during salvaged blood collection yielded increasingly elevated levels of annexin-A2, IL-1β, Il-1-receptor-antagonist, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α. Elevated levels of high-mobility group-box protein-1 decreased. In conclusion, we demonstrated that anti-coagulated salvaged blood reversed PTI, and was attributed to immune stimulants generated during salvaged blood collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Islam
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, 1st Floor Learning & Research Building, Southmead Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway; Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Institute of Technology Tralee, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland
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Toner AP, McLaughlin F, Giles FJ, Sullivan FJ, O'Connell E, Carleton LA, Breen L, Dunne G, Gorman AM, Lewis JD, Glynn SA. The novel toluidine sulphonamide EL102 shows pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo activity against prostate cancer and circumvents MDR1 resistance. Br J Cancer 2013; 109:2131-41. [PMID: 24052043 PMCID: PMC3798953 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Taxanes are routinely used for the treatment of prostate cancer, however the majority of patients eventually develop resistance. We investigated the potential efficacy of EL102, a novel toluidine sulphonamide, in pre-clinical models of prostate cancer. Methods: The effect of EL102 and/or docetaxel on PC-3, DU145, 22Rv1 and CWR22 prostate cancer cells was assessed using cell viability, cell cycle analysis and PARP cleavage assays. Tubulin polymerisation and immunofluorescence assays were used to assess tubulin dynamics. CWR22 xenograft murine model was used to assess effects on tumour proliferation. Multidrug-resistant lung cancer DLKPA was used to assess EL102 in a MDR1-mediated drug resistance background. Results: EL102 has in vitro activity against prostate cancer, characterised by accumulation in G2/M, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of Hif1α, and inhibition of tubulin polymerisation and decreased microtubule stability. In vivo, a combination of EL102 and docetaxel exhibits superior tumour inhibition. The DLKP cell line and multidrug-resistant DLKPA variant (which exhibits 205 to 691-fold greater resistance to docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine and doxorubicin) are equally sensitive to EL102. Conclusion: EL102 shows potential as both a single agent and within combination regimens for the treatment of prostate cancer, particularly in the chemoresistance setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Toner
- Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Flynn A, Chen X, O'Connell E, O'Brien T. A comparison of the efficacy of transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and unrestricted somatic stem cells on outcome after acute myocardial infarction. Stem Cell Res Ther 2012; 3:36. [PMID: 22974654 PMCID: PMC3580427 DOI: 10.1186/scrt127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 09/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction A number of questions remain unanswered in the field of cell therapy for acute myocardial infarction, including what is the optimal cell type, and can therapeutic efficacy be enhanced by conditioning regimens. In this study, we sought to address these questions by directly comparing the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and unrestricted somatic stem cells delivered 24 hours post-myocardial infarction and by determining if the therapeutic efficacy of unrestricted somatic stem cells could be enhanced by exposing the cells to guiding factors before cell transplantation. Methods Unrestricted somatic stem cells were guided by exposure to 50 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor, 20 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor and 20 ng/mL bone morphogenetic protein-2 for 24 hours. Using a Sprague-Dawley rat model of acute myocardial infarction, we transplanted cells by intramyocardial injection 24 hours post-myocardial infarction. Cardiac function was serially measured using echocardiography, and histological analyses of infarct morphology, angiogenesis and apoptosis were obtained. Transcriptomic and proteomic changes were assessed using microarray and real-time quantitative PCR. Results When assessed 28 days after the myocardial infarction, the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells 24 hours post-myocardial infarction did not improve ejection fraction (P = 0.19), and did not prevent the decline in ejection fraction observed in the absence of cell therapy (P = 0.17). The administration of unrestricted somatic stem cells also did not improve ejection fraction (P = 0.11), but did prevent a further decline in ejection fraction (P = 0.001). Delivery of guided unrestricted somatic stem cells significantly improved ejection fraction (P = 0.03). Guided unrestricted somatic stem cells restored function to a greater extent than mesenchymal stem cells (P = 0.03). The infarct area (P = 0.2), apoptosis (P = 0.07) and angiogenesis (P = 0.09) did not differ between groups. Microarray analysis revealed that, following pre-implantation guiding, the gene groupings of mitosis, signalling and angiogenesis were highly overrepresented, mediators of apoptosis were overrepresented, and cardiomyocyte-associated genes were not differentially expressed. Conclusions These results suggest that guided unrestricted somatic stem cells have a moderate capacity to repair cardiac damage and that they are more effective than mesenchymal stem cells in restoring cardiac function after a myocardial infarction. The mechanism of the benefit was not fully elucidated in this study, but these observations may be mediated by favorable dysregulation of angiogenic and apoptotic gene groupings.
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Stocca A, O'Toole D, Hynes N, Hynes SO, Mashayekhi K, McGinley L, O'Connell E, Coleman C, Sultan S, Duffy A, Tunev S, O'Brien T. A role for MRP8 in in stent restenosis in diabetes. Atherosclerosis 2012; 221:325-32. [PMID: 22381691 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2010] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The most common cause of death in diabetes mellitus is cardiovascular disease. Patients frequently undergo vascular intervention such as stenting. The occurrence of in stent restenosis (ISR) has been reduced by the use of drug eluting stents in non-diabetic patients but the incidence of restenosis and stent thrombosis remains higher in diabetic patients. We investigated the pathogenesis of in stent restenosis in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS Stents were placed in Zucker Fatty rat (ZFR) and wild type rat carotid arteries, and tissues were harvested 14 days post surgery for morphometric analysis. Unstented carotid arteries from both groups were harvested for microarray analysis. In vitro apoptosis, proliferation and migration assays were performed on rat and human aortic endothelial cells (EC). ZFRs developed an exaggerated intimal response to stent placement compared to wild type controls 14 days post stent placement. MRP8 and MRP14 were up-regulated in unstented ZFR carotid arteries in comparison to controls. Expression of MRP8/14 was also elevated in EC exposed to high glucose conditions. EC function was impaired by high glucose concentrations, and this effect could be mimicked by MRP8 over-expression. MRP8 knockdown by shRNA significantly restored EC function after exposure to high glucose concentrations. MRP8 expression in glucose exposed cells was also inhibited using pharmacological blockade of glucose-induced pathways. CONCLUSIONS EC dysfunction caused by elevated glucose levels could be mimicked by MRP8/14 over-expression and reversed/prevented by MRP8 knockdown. Thus, MRP8/14 likely plays a role in exaggerated ISR in diabetes mellitus, and MRP8 inhibition may be useful in improving outcome after stent placement in diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stocca
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, REMEDI, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
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Prasad BR, O'Connell E, Smith TJ, Gérard VA, Gun'ko YK, Rochev Y. Evaluating the potential of quantum dots for in vitro biological studies: effects on gene expression using microarray analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 906:171-183. [PMID: 22791431 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-953-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Quantum dots have potential applications in the biomedical field and especially in bioimaging owing to their tunable fluorescent properties. Although many phenotypic studies have been carried out using QDs on different cell lines, only very few of them involved the analysis of the effect of QDs on gene expression. Here, we describe the application of microarray gene expression analysis for studying the differential expression of genes in the cells treated with QDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babu R Prasad
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Flynn A, Chen X, O'Connell E, Barry F, O'Brien T. THE PRE-CONDITIONING OF UNRESTRICTED SOMATIC STEM CELLS ALTERS THEIR GENOTYPE, BUT DOES NOT ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO REPAIR CARDIAC DAMAGE. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(11)60209-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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31
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Cunnea P, McMahon J, O'Connell E, Mashayekhi K, Fitzgerald U, McQuaid S. Gene expression analysis of the microvascular compartment in multiple sclerosis using laser microdissected blood vessels. Acta Neuropathol 2010; 119:601-15. [PMID: 19967542 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0618-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Revised: 11/24/2009] [Accepted: 11/24/2009] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The blood brain barrier (BBB) is formed by capillary endothelial cells with inter-endothelial cell tight junctions and other cells such as pericytes and astrocytes present. Previous studies have shown a role for tight junction abnormalities in BBB leakage in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain. This marks a key stage in the development of inflammatory demyelination in MS. The aim of this study was to identify aberrantly expressed genes involved in BBB changes in MS lesions. A focused endothelial cell biology microarray, capable of detecting changes in expression of 113 endothelial cell-specific genes, was employed to analyse endothelial cell mRNA extracted from post-mortem control white matter, MS normal appearing white matter (NAWM), chronic active or inactive lesions by laser capture microdissection. Microarray analysis found 52 genes out of 113 analysed, predominantly in the activation functional group, to be differentially expressed in lesions compared to control or NAWM (p < 0.01). The majority of the differentially expressed genes were validated by quantitative real time PCR. In addition, the protein expression profiles of ICAM2, MMP2, and VEGFR1 were examined by immunofluorescent staining of selected tissue blocks. ICAM-2 was expressed at a higher level in chronic inactive lesions than control or NAWM, corresponding with the increased mRNA measured by microarray and real time PCR. The data shown, presenting a number of differentially expressed genes in the microvascular compartment of MS lesions, may shed light on the molecular mechanisms that are involved in the breakdown of the BBB. This moves us a step closer to the identification of potential therapeutic targets for repair of the compromised BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Cunnea
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Lisburn Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Evans DS, O'Connell E, O'Donnell M, Hurley L, Glacken M, Murphy AW, Dinneen SF. The current state of general practicediabetes care in the West of Ireland. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/pdi.1410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Aspinall PA, Hill AR, Nelson P, O'Brien C, O'Connell E, McCloughan L, Azuara-Blanco A, Brice R, Green S, Steeds C. Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma: A Conjoint Analysis Approach. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/13882350590956411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Gundy S, Manning G, O'Connell E, Ellä V, Harwoko MS, Rochev Y, Smith T, Barron V. Human coronary artery smooth muscle cell response to a novel PLA textile/fibrin gel composite scaffold. Acta Biomater 2008; 4:1734-44. [PMID: 18599374 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2008.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2007] [Revised: 04/18/2008] [Accepted: 05/09/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of fibrin as a cell carrier for cardiovascular tissue engineering applications. Unfortunately, fibrin exhibits poor mechanical properties. One method of addressing this issue is to incorporate a textile in fibrin to provide structural support. However, it is first necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the effect of the textile on cell response. In this study, the cytotoxicity of a polylactic acid (PLA) warp-knit textile was assessed with human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC). Subsequently, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to examine the gene expression of HCASMC embedded in fibrin with and without the textile. Five genes were examined over a 3-week period: smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMalphaA), myosin heavy chain 11 smooth muscle (SM1/SM2), calponin, myosin heavy chain 10 non-muscle (SMemb) and collagen. Additionally, a microarray analysis was performed to examine a wider range of genes. The knitting process did not adversely affect the cell response; there was no dramatic change in cell number or metabolic rate compared to the negative control. After 3 weeks, there was no significant difference in gene expression, except for a slight decrease of 10% in SMemb in the fibrin with textile. After 3 weeks, there were no obvious cytotoxic effects observed as a result of the knitting process and the gene expression profile did not appear to be altered in the presence of the mesh in the fibrin gel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Gundy
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.
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35
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Bustamante M, Zhang G, O'Connell E, Rodriguez D, Borroto-Ponce R. Motor Vehicle Crashes and Injury among High School and College Aged Drivers. Miami-Dade County, FL 2005. Ann Epidemiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2007.07.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Morris D, Pelly H, O'Connell E, Hanahoe B, Chambers C, Biernacka K, Gray S, Cormican M. Outbreak of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in a long stay facility in Ireland. J Infect 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2007.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Khan MI, Flynn T, O'Connell E, Stack J, Beatty S. The impact of new regulations on the incidence and severity of ocular injury sustained in hurling. Eye (Lond) 2006; 22:475-8. [PMID: 17139274 DOI: 10.1038/sj.eye.6702659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To prospectively evaluate, and compare, the incidence of hurling-related eye injuries in the South East of Ireland before and after implementation of new rules rendering the use of protective head gear and face masks compulsory for players aged 18 years or under. METHODS Details relating to patients attending the regional ophthalmic department with injuries sustained during hurling were prospectively recorded between 1 October 2003 and 31 March 2006. RESULTS Sixty players attended with hurling-related ocular injuries during the study period. Of these, 43 (71.6%) and 17 (28.3%) sustained the ocular injuries during the 15-month period before, and after implementation of the new rules (1 January 2005), respectively. Restricting our analysis to players aged 18 years or under, and, for statistical validity, to the 12-month period immediately before and immediately after implementation of the new rules, a statistically significant reduction in the number of hurling-related injuries was seen (1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004: 11; 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005: 2; chi(2) test P<0.05) in this age group. A permanent visual deficit was seen in 11 (18.3%) patients. Of these, one (9%) was aged 18 years or under, and this injury was sustained before the new regulations. CONCLUSION New rules rendering the use of protective eye wear compulsory for players aged 18 years or under have resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of hurling-related eye injuries in this age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Khan
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland.
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38
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Pelly H, Morris D, O'Connell E, Hanahoe B, Chambers C, Biernacka K, Gray S, Cormican M. Outbreak of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli in a nursing home in Ireland, May 2006. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 11:E060831.1. [PMID: 16966793 DOI: 10.2807/esw.11.35.03036-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In May 2006, a consultant microbiologist noted two isolates of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli associated with urinary tract infections in a single week in two residents in a nursing home in Ireland
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Affiliation(s)
- H Pelly
- Department Public Health, Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical characteristics of ocular injuries sustained in hurling in the south of Ireland and to investigate reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear. METHODS Retrospective review of the case notes of 310 patients who attended Cork University Hospital or Waterford Regional Hospital between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2002 with ocular injuries sustained during a hurling match. A confidential questionnaire on reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear was completed by 130 players. RESULTS Hurling related eye injuries occurred most commonly in young men. Fifty two patients (17%) required hospital admission, with hyphaema accounting for 71% of admissions. Ten injuries required intraocular surgical INTERVENTION retinal detachment repair (5); macular hole surgery (1); repair of partial thickness corneal laceration (1); repair of globe perforation (1); enucleation (1); trabeculectomy for post-traumatic glaucoma (1). Fourteen eyes (4.5%) had a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <6/12 and six (2%) had BCVA <3/60. In the survey, 63 players (48.5%) reported wearing no protective facemask while playing hurling. Impairment of vision was the most common reason cited for non-use. CONCLUSIONS Hurling related injury is a significant, and preventable, cause of ocular morbidity in young men in Ireland. The routine use of appropriate protective headgear and faceguards would result in a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of these injuries, and should be mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- T H Flynn
- Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES This Internet-based survey questioned middle-aged women (age 35-69) regarding their current attitudes, beliefs, symptoms, and treatment choices surrounding the climacteric. METHODS 448 respondents completed the 189 item, WEB-based survey that included measures of quality of life, lifestyle habits, anxiety symptoms, and questions regarding attitude toward and sources of information about menopause. RESULTS Three relationships were hypothesized and supported: frequency of self-reported menopause symptoms would be: (1) negatively associated with healthy behaviors; (2) positively associated with anxiety; (3) positively associated with stress. All measures were self-report. Fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and impatience were the most commonly reported symptoms. No particular symptom was strongly correlated (r > 0.4) to lifestyle behaviors. Questions regarding information exchange reveal that many women are not consulting with their healthcare providers about HRT or frequently discussing alternatives. Many receive health information from lay sources. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for improved information exchange on this subject. Our results are similar to those found using large randomized telephone survey methods, which supports the use of the Internet as a reliable and convenient venue for gathering data regarding health issues. It is important to consider healthy lifestyle behaviors toward the regulation of the climacteric syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Conboy
- Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA.
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41
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Nelson N, Kanno Y, Hong C, Contursi C, Fujita T, Fowlkes BJ, O'Connell E, Hu-Li J, Paul WE, Jankovic D, Sher AF, Coligan JE, Thornton A, Appella E, Yang Y, Ozato K. Expression of IFN regulatory factor family proteins in lymphocytes. Induction of Stat-1 and IFN consensus sequence binding protein expression by T cell activation. The Journal of Immunology 1996. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.156.10.3711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP) is a transcription factor of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family. Evidence indicates that this family has a function in the immune system. Unlike other members of the family, ICSBP is expressed exclusively in the immune system. In this work, immunoblot analysis was performed to study expression of ICSBP and other members of the family in various murine lymphocytes. The results show that all IRF family members are expressed constitutively in B cells throughout development, and in resting and activated cells. In contrast, ICSBP expression was undetectable in thymocytes and resting T cells, while all other IRF proteins tested (IRF-1, IRF-2, and ISGF3-gamma) were detected in these cells. Induction of ICSBP (and weakly IRF-1, but not other members) was observed upon activation of T cells following anti-CD3 Ab binding or Con A stimulation. Once T cells were activated, ICSBP was expressed stably in both Th1 and Th2 cells. We show that Stat-1, which binds to the IFN-gamma-responsive element of the ICSBP promoter, was induced following anti-CD3 Ab and Con A stimulation. Stat-1 induction was found in T cells of IFN-gamma+/+, but not of IFN-gamma-/- mice, indicating that T cell activation stimulates the Stat pathway of transcription that is mediated through IFN-gamma. IFN-gamma-activated Stat-1 partly accounted for ICSBP induction in activated T cells, as levels of induction were lower in IFN-gamma-/- than in IFN+/+ T cells. Taken together, these results show that activation of ICSBP is coupled with T cell activation that is partly due to IFN-gamma-induced Stat-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nelson
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Y Kanno
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - C Hong
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - C Contursi
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - T Fujita
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - B J Fowlkes
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - E O'Connell
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J Hu-Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - W E Paul
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - D Jankovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - A F Sher
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - J E Coligan
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - A Thornton
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - E Appella
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Y Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - K Ozato
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Nelson N, Kanno Y, Hong C, Contursi C, Fujita T, Fowlkes BJ, O'Connell E, Hu-Li J, Paul WE, Jankovic D, Sher AF, Coligan JE, Thornton A, Appella E, Yang Y, Ozato K. Expression of IFN regulatory factor family proteins in lymphocytes. Induction of Stat-1 and IFN consensus sequence binding protein expression by T cell activation. J Immunol 1996; 156:3711-20. [PMID: 8621906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP) is a transcription factor of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family. Evidence indicates that this family has a function in the immune system. Unlike other members of the family, ICSBP is expressed exclusively in the immune system. In this work, immunoblot analysis was performed to study expression of ICSBP and other members of the family in various murine lymphocytes. The results show that all IRF family members are expressed constitutively in B cells throughout development, and in resting and activated cells. In contrast, ICSBP expression was undetectable in thymocytes and resting T cells, while all other IRF proteins tested (IRF-1, IRF-2, and ISGF3-gamma) were detected in these cells. Induction of ICSBP (and weakly IRF-1, but not other members) was observed upon activation of T cells following anti-CD3 Ab binding or Con A stimulation. Once T cells were activated, ICSBP was expressed stably in both Th1 and Th2 cells. We show that Stat-1, which binds to the IFN-gamma-responsive element of the ICSBP promoter, was induced following anti-CD3 Ab and Con A stimulation. Stat-1 induction was found in T cells of IFN-gamma+/+, but not of IFN-gamma-/- mice, indicating that T cell activation stimulates the Stat pathway of transcription that is mediated through IFN-gamma. IFN-gamma-activated Stat-1 partly accounted for ICSBP induction in activated T cells, as levels of induction were lower in IFN-gamma-/- than in IFN+/+ T cells. Taken together, these results show that activation of ICSBP is coupled with T cell activation that is partly due to IFN-gamma-induced Stat-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nelson
- Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Cao X, Kozak CA, Liu YJ, Noguchi M, O'Connell E, Leonard WJ. Characterization of cDNAs encoding the murine interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) gamma chain: chromosomal mapping and tissue specificity of IL-2R gamma chain expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1993; 90:8464-8. [PMID: 8378320 PMCID: PMC47377 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.18.8464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The IL-2R gamma chain (IL-2R gamma) is an essential component of high- and intermediate-affinity IL-2Rs, playing critical roles for ligand binding and internalization. Recently, our laboratory has demonstrated that IL-2R gamma mutation results in X chromosome-linked severe combined immunodeficiency in humans, suggesting that IL-2R gamma plays a vital role in thymic maturation of human T cells. We now report the isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding murine IL-2R gamma. The open reading frame encodes 369 aa, identical in length to that encoded by the human IL-2R gamma cDNA. Murine IL-2R gamma and human IL-2R gamma have 69% and 70% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. As expected, the murine IL-2R gamma retains the WSXWS motif and four cysteine residues characteristic of cytokine receptor superfamily members. IL-2R gamma mRNA distribution shows significant tissue specificity, with particularly high-level expression in spleen and thymus, and higher expression in single-positive (CD4+8- or CD4-8+)-enriched thymocytes than in double-negative (CD4-8-) thymocytes. Finally, we have localized the murine IL-2R gamma gene, Il2rg, to the X chromosome between Rsvp and Plp and demonstrated that a defect in IL-2R gamma is not responsible for the X chromosome-linked xid mutation, which maps to this same region. The cloning of the murine IL-2R gamma cDNA will facilitate the investigation of the role of this protein in lymphocyte function and thymic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Cao
- Section on Pulmonary and Molecular Immunology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
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Cullen S, O'Connell E, Blake NS, Ward OC. Atlantoaxial instability in Down's syndrome: clinical and radiological screening. Ir Med J 1989; 82:64-5. [PMID: 2527213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
One hundred and thirty children with Down's syndrome were screened for the presence of atlantoaxial instability, using both clinical examination and radiographs of the cervical spine taken in flexion and hyperextension views. Seven children were found to have radiological evidence of atlantoaxial instability, with an atlanto-dens interval greater than 5.0 mm in one or all positions. Although a full clinical history was obtained from the attending parent and each child underwent a complete neurological examination, there were no factors detected which differentiated between those with radiological evidence of atlantoaxial instability and those with a normal atlantodens distance. It is recommended that children with Down's syndrome be screened twice, at the ages of 5-10 years and at 15 years.
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Blake NS, O'Connell E. Endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux by subureteric Teflon injection: follow-up ultrasound and voiding cystography. Br J Radiol 1989; 62:443-6. [PMID: 2653551 DOI: 10.1259/0007-1285-62-737-443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The technique of subureteric Teflon injection for the correction of vesico-ureteric reflux was first described by Puri and O'Donnell in 1984. The Teflon granuloma that occurs after the injection anchors the submucosal ureter, thereby preventing reflux. This paper reviews the ultrasound and cystographic findings in 88 patients with 115 refluxing ureters followed-up for periods ranging from 3 months to 3 years. Reflux disappeared in 91 ureters (79.1%) and the degree of reflux improved in 22 ureters (19.1%). In this follow-up study, the size of the granuloma on ultrasound was assessed in relation to the number of injections, the total volume of Polytef paste used and the outcome of the procedure. A well circumscribed granuloma was seen at the orifices of 92 ureters. There was no ureteric granuloma evident in 23 ureters and Teflon plaques were found at the trigone in six patients. Complications were rare. One large granuloma caused severe obstruction requiring re-implantation. The size of the granuloma appears to depend on individual tissue reaction rather than on the other factors. The presence or the size of the granuloma bears no direct relationship to the success of the procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Blake
- Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Eire
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Wilkins MF, O'Connell E, Te Punga WA. Toxoplasmosis in sheep III. Further evaluation of the ability of a liveToxoplasma gondiivaccine to prevent lamb losses and reduce congenital infection following experimental oral challenge. N Z Vet J 1988; 36:86-9. [PMID: 16031449 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1988.35489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the ability of a live incomplete strain (Strain 48) and a live complete strain (Strain 89) of Toxoplasma gondii to protect against abortion and congenital infection following an oral challenge of T. gondii oocysts. Sixty-nine two-tooth ewes were immunised pre-tupping with live Strain 48 of T. gondii tachyzoites and seventy ewes were immunised with Strain 89. Eighty-two serologically negative ewes served as controls. At mid-pregnancy half of the ewes were challenged orally with T. gondii oocysts (2x10(5)/ewe). The ewes vaccinated with Strain 48 were significantly (p<0.05) protected against the effects of experimental challenge and the rate of congenital infection was also significantly (p<0.15) reduced. The ewes vaccinated with Strain 89 were also significantly (p<0.05) protected. The serological response to challenge as measured by both the Dye test and the Indirect Haemagglutination test varied considerably between the two vaccinated groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Wilkins
- Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, MAFTech, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Private Bag, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
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O'Connell E, Wilkins MF, Te Punga WA. Toxoplasmosis in sheep II. The ability of a live vaccine to prevent lamb losses after an intravenous challenge withToxoplasma gondii. N Z Vet J 1988; 36:1-4. [PMID: 16031421 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1988.35461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Two-tooth ewes (n=48) were immunized pre-tupping with a live Toxoplasma gondii vaccine. At midpregnancy these ewes were challenged intravenously with 1 x 105 live T. gondii tachyzoites. The strain of T. gondii used for vaccination was an incomplete strain that did not produce oocysts. It was derived by continuous twice weekly passage in mice. The lambing percentage for ewes immunized with the live vaccine was significantly higher (P<0.001 normal score) than non-vaccinated control ewes. However, vaccination did not prevent foetal or placental infection. The serological response to vaccination and challenge was measured by both the Dye test and the Indirect Haemagglutination test. No significant relationship between titre of antibody and protection in the vaccinated ewes was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O'Connell
- Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Private Bag, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
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Wilkins MF, O'Connell E, Te Punga WA. Toxoplasmosis in sheep I. Effect of a killed vaccine on lambing losses caused by experimental challenge withToxoplasma gondii. N Z Vet J 1987; 35:31-4. [PMID: 16031364 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1987.35371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A total of 50 two-tooth ewes were immunized pre-tupping using a killed vaccine of disintegrated Toxoplasma tachyzoites with Freunds incomplete adjuvant. At mid-pregnancy, the ewes were challenged intravenously with 1 x 10(4) live T. gondii tachyzoites. There was no difference in the lambing percentage between ewes vaccinated once and unvaccinated ewes. The lambing percentage for ewes vaccinated twice was significantly lower (p<0.05 normal score) than unvaccinated ewes. The serological response to vaccination and challenge was measured by the Toxoplasma dye test. The level of dye test antibodies at the time of challenge suggests that effective immunity to Toxoplasma n abortion is not dependent on dye test antibody titre. These results suggest that a killed vaccine would Toxoplasma on fertility and lambing performance in not be an effective tool to estimate the effects of commercial flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Wilkins
- Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Private Bag, Upper Hutt
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Geden E, Beck N, Brouder G, O'Connell E. Identifying procedural components for analogue research of labor pain. Nurs Res 1983; 32:80-3. [PMID: 6551768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify procedural components to be used in analogue studies of preparatory techniques for childbirth. The questions asked were (a) which of four laboratory pain stimuli (modified submaximum effort tourniquet technique. Forgione-Barber pain stimulator, cold water stimulus, faradic shock) is most similar to the pain associated with the transition phase of labor? and (b) what is the patterning and duration of contractions and intercontraction intervals in this phase? Forty primiparous women rated their contractions (within 48 hours following delivery) and rated the four laboratory stimuli (six to eight weeks postpartum) using the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Significant correlational relationships were found between each laboratory stimulus and contraction ratings. Uterine monitor records were scored to obtain contraction and intercontraction data: mean number and duration of contractions, mean duration of intercontraction intervals. The general patterning of these variables was relatively stable. In a subsequent laboratory trial using the above parameters, the Forgione-Barber pain stimulator was found to be the stimulus of choice.
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