Association between cerebral blood flow changes and blood-brain barrier compromise in spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage

AIM

To quantitatively evaluate blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the perihaematomal region of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and investigate the association between the alterations in cerebral blood flow and BBB permeability around the haematoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Spontaneous ICH patients underwent unenhanced computed tomography (CT) and CT perfusion (CTP) simultaneously. Haematoma volume was measured on CT. The values of cerebral haemodynamic parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP), and permeability-surface area product (PS) were measured in the perihaematomal region and the contralateral mirror region, and then relative values were calculated for statistical analysis. Linear regression was used to evaluate associations between BBB permeability and variables.

RESULTS

A total of 87 ICH patients were included in this study. The focally elevated BBB permeability was observed in the perihaematomal region in ICH patients. Linear regression showed that reduced rCBF (β = -0.379, p=0.001) and increased rCBV (β = 0.412, p=0.000) correlated independently with increased relative PS (rPS) value in deep ICH, while only increased rCBV (β = 0.423, p=0.071) correlated to increased rPS value in patients with lobar ICH.

CONCLUSIONS

BBB permeability is focally elevated in the region around the haematoma. Cerebral haemodynamic alterations are associated with increased BBB permeability. Cerebral hypoperfusion may aggravate BBB compromise, and a compensatory increase in CBV may lead to reperfusion injury on BBB.

Alisol B 23-Acetate Ameliorates Azoxymethane/Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Male Murine Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer via Modulating the Composition of Gut Microbiota and Improving Intestinal Barrier

Hunting for natural compounds that can modulate the structure of the intestinal flora is a new hotspot for colitis‐associated cancer (CAC) prevention or treatment. Alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) is a natural tetracyclic triterpenoid found in Alismatis rhizoma which is well known for dietary herb. Alismatis rhizoma is often used clinically to treat gastrointestinal diseases in China. In this study, we investigated the potential prevention of AB23A in male mouse models of azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced CAC. AB23A intervention alleviated the body weight loss, disease activity index, colon tumor load, tissue injury, and inflammatory cytokine changes in CAC mice. AB23A intervention leads to remarkable reductions in the activation of TLR, NF-κB and MAPK. AB23A significantly decreased the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK and up-regulated mucin-2 and the expression of tight junction proteins. The gut microbiota of AB23A-interfered mice was characterized with high microbial diversity, the reduced expansion of pathogenic bacteria, such as Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Akkermansia, and the increased growth of bacteria including Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Alloprevotella. These data reveal that AB23A has the potential to be used to treat CAC in the future.

Axillary lymph node dissection versus sentinel lymph node biopsy alone for early breast cancer with sentinel node metastasis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In early breast cancer patients with sentinel node metastasis, the effect of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone versus ALND in patients with early breast cancer and sentinel node metastasis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from 1965 to February 2014. All data were analyzed using Review Manager Software 5.2.

RESULTS

12 studies, which included 130,575 patients from five randomized controlled trials and seven observational studies, met our inclusion criteria. 26,870 early breast cancer patients underwent SLNB alone and 103,705 underwent ALND. Patients underwent ALND had more paresthesia (risk ratio [RR] 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.33; p < 0.01) and lymphedema (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.20-0.41; p < 0.01) than those had SLNB alone. There were no significant differences in overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.85-1.06; p = 0.35), disease-free survival (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02, p = 0.96), and locoregional recurrence (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.59-1.44; p = 0.73).

CONCLUSION

Current evidence indicates that axillary dissection may be omitted in early breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph metastasis.

The effects of Mn2+ doping on the luminescence properties of 12CaO 7Al2O:Eu2+ nanocrystal phosphor

The long lasting blue phosphorescence (LLP) and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) after ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature in 12CaO 7Al2O3:xEu2+, yMn2+ (x = 0, 0.001; y = 0, 0.01) prepared by the chemical co-precipitation method were observed. It was shown that novel oxide 12CaO 7Al2O3:Eu2+, Mn2+ (C12A7:Eu2+, Mn2+) with unique nanocage structure can store energy when irradiated with 365 nm photons. And photon energy can be subsequently released by exposed to 980 nm light. The codopant Mn2+ enhances the intensity of the persistent phosphorescence and PSL due to the existence of more shallow and new deeper electron traps in C12A7: Eu2+, Mn2+. A model for energy storing and recovering and the detailed mechanism of PSL are presented through comparing with the luminescence properties of the co-doped C12A7:Eu2+, Mn2+ and C12A7:Eu2+.

Luminescence and energy transfer characteristics of Ce3+- and Tb3+-codoped nanoporous 12CaO 7Al2O3 phosphors

The novel green-emitting phosphors of 12CaO 7Al2O3:Ce3+ , Tb3+ (C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction. Upon the excitation of Ce3+ at 350 nm, the C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor shows intense green emissions located at 543 nm assigning to 5D4-7F5 transitions of Tb3+ ions, and weak blue emissions centered at 434 nm due to the transitions of Ce3+ 5d-4f. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Ce3+ decrease with increasing Tb3+ concentration, indicating the effective energy transfer (ET) occurred from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+. The ET efficiency between Ce3+ and Tb3+ in the optimum composition reaches to 99%. Based on Dexter's ET theory, we have demonstrated that the efficient ET is a resonant type via dipole-dipole mechanism with an energy transfer critical distance of 4.02 A. Our results suggested that C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor would be a promising green-emitting phosphor for UV-converting white light-emitting diodes.

Effects of annealing on the ferromagnetism and photoluminescence of Cu-doped ZnO nanowires

Room temperature ferromagnetic Cu-doped ZnO nanowires have been synthesized using the chemical vapor deposition method. By combining structural characterizations and comparative annealing experiments, it has been found that both extrinsic (CuO nanoparticles) and intrinsic (Zn(1-x)Cu(x)O nanowires) sources are responsible for the observed ferromagnetic ordering of the as-grown samples. As regards the former, annealing in Zn vapor led to a dramatic decrease of the ferromagnetism. For the latter, a reversible switching of the ferromagnetism was observed with sequential annealings in Zn vapor and oxygen ambience respectively, which agreed well with previous reports for Cu-doped ZnO films. In addition, we have for the first time observed low temperature photoluminescence changed with magnetic properties upon annealing in different conditions, which revealed the crucial role played by interstitial zinc in directly mediating high T(c) ferromagnetism and indirectly modulating the Cu-related structured green emission via different charge transfer transitions.

[In vitro culture of modified neonatal pig islets]

A cell-isolation-and-cell-culture-in-vitro method which can produce a mass of new-born pig islet-like clusters was introduced. The new-born pig pancreas were incubated in V-type collagenase (0.5-1.0 mg.ml-1) for 8-12 minutes, and then cultured in vitro for 7 days before large amount of highly purified porcine islets were produced. The neonatal pig islets had good insulin secretion and normal sub-cell structure. The results suggest that the neonatal pig islets are probably a fine donor source for clinical xenotransplantation of islets.

[Studies on bioconversion conditions and stereoselectivity of Arthrobacter K1108 hydantoinase]

The bioconversion conditions of hydantoinase of Arthrobacter K1108 were studied. It was shown that the optimum temperature of the enzyme is 55 degrees C, and the optimum pH is 7.0. The enzyme can be activated by Co2+ and Fe2+, while inhibited by Ca2+. The optimal substrate of the hydantoinase is 5-benzylhydantoin, while 5-phenylhydantoin and 5-indolylmethylhydantoin cannot effectively digested, showing a high specificity on the substrates. An investigation on the hydantoinase stereoselectivity mechanism showed that the N-carbamoylamino acid hydrolase is stereoselective but the hydantoin hydrolase is not.

[High cell density culture of phosphotransacetylase mutants of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)]

Cell culture, organic acid production and foreign protein (TNF) expression of E. coli BL21(DE3) and its pta mutant were investigated. Under shaking conditions, TNF expression in pta mutant increased by 23%. During the fed-batch culture without limitation of specific growth rates, the mutant reached a cell density as high as 32.5 g(DCW)/L and total TNF expression at 2.8 g/L, while the parental strain only obtained 19.5 g(DCW)/L and 0.84 g/L. The results indicate that utility of pta mutant as a host is advantageous in foreign protein expression and high cell density culture. Meanwhile, the analysis data of organic acids accumulated during fed-batch culture showed that as the decrease of acetate production(42% of the parental strain), the accumulation of other organic acids(mainly pyruvate, lactate and succinate) obviously increased. As a result, the amount of total organic acids increased by 123% over its parent. The lactate production may be the main obstacle in further growth of the cells.

[Characteristics of an established cervical carcinoma cell line HCE1]

This paper deals with a new cell line established from 5 carcinoma specimens of hysterectomy and designated as HCE1. This cell line has been passaged more than 80 times(more than 18 months). It has the characteristics: 1. The pathological features of the tumor transplanted in nude mice were similar to that of the original inoculated lesion; 2. Electromicroscopically, there were rich microvilli on the surface of the cells. Abundant ribosomes were also observed; 3. The growth curves of the 25th passage were determined, the population doubline time calculated in the log phase of growth was 45.8 h; 4. The cloning efficiency in soft agar averaged 14.8% after counting 6 plates; 5. Karyo-type analysis showed aneuploidy with the modal chromosomal number 64-97.

Geological controls to the indoor radon distribution in southern Belgium

Soils and rocks are the predominant source of indoor radon (Rn) in southern Belgium. We have studied the correlations between geological features and indoor Rn concentrations using an indoor Rn data set of approx. 1700 short-term measurements. The sediments in the study region are divided into 11 geological series or 43 stages and 16 rock types. The results show a striking relation between indoor Rn concentration and the geological factors.

Expression of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial tumor cell line

An epithelial tumor cell line was recently established from a biopsy specimen of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and designated HONE-I. Uncloned (parental) HONE-I and HONE-I clone (C)-40 cells were found to contain latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the latent EBV genome in HONE-I C-40 cells has been examined. It was possible to detect a small percentage of cells spontaneously synthesizing EBV early antigen (EA) and virus capsid antigen (VCA) by immunofluorescence (IF). In addition, the EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA-I and EBNA-2), as well as the EBV latent membrane protein (LMP) were detected in the HONE-I cells. Attempts were made to induce the latent EBV genome in these cells with iododeoxyuridine (IUdR). We observed a significant increase in the number of EA/VCA-positive cells, an increase in EBV DNA, the synthesis of virus particles, and the rescue of infectious virus after treatment of HONE-I C-40 cells with IUdR. The HONE-I C-40 cells should facilitate studies of the expression and regulation of the EBV genome in NPC epithelial tumor cells, which have not previously been available.

Establishment and characterization of two epithelial tumor cell lines (HNE-1 and HONE-1) latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus and derived from nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Two epithelial tumor cell lines were established from biopsy specimens of 2 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) and designated HNE-1 and HONE-1. Uncloned HNE-1 cells were found to be Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA-positive when examined by Southern blot analysis up to passage 35, after which the EBV genome could no longer be detected. A similar loss of EBV DNA took place in uncloned HONE-1 cells. However, HONE-1 clone 40 cells are still EBV DNA-positive up to passage 42 thus far and cell cultures contain 85-90% EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)-positive cells. The HNE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 100 times and the uncloned HONE-1 cells more than 90 times. The tumorigenicity of the HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells was demonstrated by tumor induction in nude mice. Karyotypic analysis of the HNE-1 cells demonstrated an aneuploidy with a modal chromosomal number of 74 at passages 5 and 101 at passage 20; 18 marker chromosomes were identified. We have continued to map the EBV genome latently associated with the HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells using the Bam HI, EcoRI or Hind III restriction enzymes. Using EcoRI fragments A-K as probes, we found that HNE-1 EBV DNA is different from B95-8 and HR-1 EBV DNA in the EcoRI-C region. The Bam HI map for HONE-1 EBV DNA is very similar to the B95-8 map; it contains the Bam HI-Y fragment but without Bam HI B' and WI'. Differences were observed between HONE-1 EBV DNA and B95-8 DNA using the Hind III restriction enzyme. There was no evidence of spontaneous expression of the latent EBV genome in HNE-1 cells, and attempts to induce replication of the latent EBV genome and rescue infectious virus have failed, suggesting a tightly restricted virus genome.

Two epithelial tumor cell lines (HNE-1 and HONE-1) latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus that were derived from nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Two epithelial tumor cell lines were established from biopsy specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). The specimens were taken from poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the nasopharynx. The tissues were prepared for cell culture and eventually two continuous epithelial cell lines were obtained and designated HONE-1 and HNE-1. Light and electron microscopic examination of these two cell lines demonstrated cells with an epithelial morphology including the presence of desmosomes. The HNE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 100 times and the HONE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 90 times. It was found that early-passage uncloned HNE-1 cells (passage 23) could be superinfected with the B95-8 and NPC-EBV isolates as demonstrated by the induction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific early antigen(s) in a small percentage of the cells; HONE-1 cells could also be superinfected with EBV. Southern blot analysis detected EBV DNA in samples from uncloned HNE-1 cells at passages 12, 17, 21, 27, and 35. However, by passage 45, EBV DNA could no longer be detected in HNE-1 cells by Southern blot analysis. The EBV genome was detected in parental HONE-1 cells at subculture 9 and in clone 40 cells up to passage 40 thus far. When HNE-1 cells were examined for the expression of the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA) at passage 12, only about 10% of the cells were found to be positive. The percentage of EBNA-positive HNE-1 cells decreased as the cells were passaged. A similar loss of EBNA was observed in uncloned HONE-1 cells, but not in HONE-1 clone 40 cells. In clone 40, which has been passaged 40 times thus far, 85-90% of the cells are still EBNA-positive. The data suggest that EBV genome-positive HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells were lost as the cells were cultivated in vitro and that cloning the cells at an early passage level may be critical in maintaining EBV genome-positive epithelial NPC cells. These EBV genome-positive epithelial NPC cell lines will be useful for studying the association of EBV and NPC.