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Duan R, Kwan M, Kordon A, Hu C, Vanjani N, Thomas TO, Patel JD, Yadav P, Abazeed M, Gharzai LA. Stage IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment and Outcomes: A Single Institution Retrospective Analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:e16. [PMID: 37784754 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.681] [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: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains challenging, with a multitude of treatment options available for Stage III patients. We hypothesized that Stage IIIA outcomes differ by treatment received. MATERIALS/METHODS We performed a retrospective review of NSCLC patients ≥18 years old with Stage IIIA disease treated 1/1/2010-03/01/2022. Demographics, treatment received, treatment outcomes, and failure patterns were collected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to compare groups. RESULTS Of 352 patients identified, 160 had Stage IIIA NSCLC with a median follow-up of 29.1 months. Patients had a median age of 63 years, 79 (49.4%) were male, and 137 (85.6%) were current/former smokers (with 30 median pack-years). Patients were treated as follows: 17 (11%) surgery alone (S), 91 (57%) definitive radiation ± chemotherapy (CRT), 52 (33%) neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery (Neo). 6 (12%) of the Neo group received chemoimmunotherapy, and 21 (51%) of the 41 CRT patients received adjuvant immunotherapy. Between the three groups, there were no significant differences in tumor size as measured by T-staging (p = 0.83) and baseline FEV1/FVC (p = 0.92). Median PFS was 33.5mo (95% CI 13.2-NA) for group S, 18.4mo (95% CI 12.7-42.2) for CRT, and 19.7mo (95% CI 13.9-NA) for Neo with no significant intergroup difference (p = 0.72). Median OS was 33.5mo (95% CI 13.2-NA) for S, 48.7mo (95% CI 36.0-88.9) for CRT, and 50.9mo (95% CI 41.9-NA) for Neo with no significant intergroup difference (p = 0.94). Among the 17 primary surgical patients, 11 (65%) experienced failure: 6 (35%) local, 5 (29%) regional, and 7 (41%) distant. Among the 91 CRT patients, 57 (63%) experienced failure: 40 (44%) local, 35 (38%) regional, and 28 (31%) distant. Among the 52 Neo patients, 26 (50%) experienced failure: 14 (27%) local, 15 (29%) regional, and 17 (33%) distant. There were no significant differences in rates of local failure (p = 0.26), regional failure (p = 0.59), distant failure (p = 0.79), or any failure (p = 0.41) among the three treatment groups. The most common locations for distant failure were pleural effusions (n = 15, 29%), CNS (n = 14, 27%), and bone (n = 11, 21%). CONCLUSION In this single institution retrospective study, we find no significant differences in PFS, OS, and failure patterns between patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC treated with definitive (chemo)radiation and neoadjuvant therapy. Numeric improvement in PFS in surgery-only patients is consistent with expected patient selection of this group. Further work in the immunotherapy era is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Duan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - M Kwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - A Kordon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - C Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - N Vanjani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - T O Thomas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - J D Patel
- Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - P Yadav
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - M Abazeed
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - L A Gharzai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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Chelales E, Kwan M, Crouch B, Katz D, Sag A, Ramanujam N. Abstract No. 101 Ethanol gel enhances percutaneous intratumoral chemotherapy injection: in vitro and in vivo studies of drug retention, tumor destruction, and overall survival. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2022.03.182] [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: 10/18/2022] Open
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Dunk C, Kwan M, Hazan A, Walker S, Wright JK, Harris LK, Jones RL, Keating S, Kingdom JCP, Whittle W, Maxwell C, Lye SJ. Failure of Decidualization and Maternal Immune Tolerance Underlies Uterovascular Resistance in Intra Uterine Growth Restriction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:160. [PMID: 30949130 PMCID: PMC6436182 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure of uterine vascular transformation is associated with pregnancy complications including Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). The decidua and its immune cell populations play a key role in the earliest stages of this process. Here we investigate the hypothesis that abnormal decidualization and failure of maternal immune tolerance in the second trimester may underlie the uteroplacental pathology of IUGR. Placental bed biopsies were obtained from women undergoing elective caesarian delivery of a healthy term pregnancy, an IUGR pregnancy or a pregnancy complicated by both IUGR and preeclampsia. Decidual tissues were also collected from second trimester terminations from women with either normal or high uterine artery Doppler pulsatile index (PI). Immunohistochemical image analysis and flow cytometry were used to quantify vascular remodeling, decidual leukocytes and decidual status in cases vs. controls. Biopsies from pregnancies complicated by severe IUGR with a high uterine artery pulsatile index (PI) displayed a lack of: myometrial vascular transformation, interstitial, and endovascular extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion, and a lower number of maternal leukocytes. Apoptotic mural EVT were observed in association with mature dendritic cells and T cells in the IUGR samples. Second trimester pregnancies with high uterine artery PI displayed a higher incidence of small for gestational age fetuses; a skewed decidual immunology with higher numbers of; CD8 T cells, mature CD83 dendritic cells and lymphatic vessels that were packed with decidual leukocytes. The decidual stromal cells (DSCs) failed to differentiate into the large secretory DSC in these cases, remaining small and cuboidal and expressing lower levels of the nuclear progesterone receptor isoform B, and DSC markers Insulin Growth Factor Binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and CD10 as compared to controls. This study shows that defective progesterone mediated decidualization and a hostile maternal immune response against the invading endovascular EVT contribute to the failure of uterovascular remodeling in IUGR pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Dunk
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Caroline Dunk
| | - Melissa Kwan
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aleah Hazan
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sierra Walker
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julie K. Wright
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lynda K. Harris
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Lee Jones
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Keating
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John C. P. Kingdom
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wendy Whittle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cynthia Maxwell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J. Lye
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Murphy C, Rek J, Kwan M, Kunavarapu C. Comparison of IgG SAB and C1q Assay: A Matter of Complement Fixing or Sensitivity. J Heart Lung Transplant 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2018.01.538] [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: 10/17/2022] Open
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Yu R, Woo J, Lum T, Lou V, Ma C, Kwan M, Au A, Lai D. BUILDING HONG KONG INTO AN AGE-FRIENDLY CITY: RESULTS FROM A BASELINE ASSESSMENT. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.3985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R. Yu
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, Shatin, Hong Kong,
| | - J. Woo
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, Shatin, Hong Kong,
| | - T. Lum
- Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,
| | - V. Lou
- Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,
| | - C. Ma
- Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong,
| | - M. Kwan
- Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong,
| | - A. Au
- Institute of Active Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - D.W. Lai
- Institute of Active Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
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Houde M, Wang X, Ferguson SH, Gagnon P, Brown TM, Tanabe S, Kunito T, Kwan M, Muir DCG. Spatial and temporal trends of alternative flame retardants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in ringed seals (Phoca hispida) across the Canadian Arctic. Environ Pollut 2017; 223:266-276. [PMID: 28131476 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of alternative flame retardants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) blubber collected across the Canadian Arctic during subsistence hunts between 1998 and 2013. More than 80% of sampled animals were females and juvenile males. The highest mean ΣPBDE concentrations (sum of 13 congeners) were found in seals from Nain (Nunatsiavut) as well as Inukjuaq and Arviat (Hudson Bay) and the lowest mean levels were found in seals from Lancaster Sound. BDE-47 and -99 were the predominant PBDE congeners quantified in ringed seals. The most frequently detected non-PBDE flame retardants were polybrominated biphenyl 101 (BB-101, 57% of samples analyzed for this chemical), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD; 38%), hexabromobenzene (HBB, 30%), and 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTeBB, 23%). The relative trophic position of seals, estimated using stable isotopes, did not vary over time and did not influence flame retardant blubber concentrations. The relative carbon source increased over time at Arviat and Resolute Bay and weak relationships were observed with ΣPBDEs in blubber of seals. ΣPBDEs increased significantly from 1998 to 2008 in ringed seals from East Baffin and subsequently decreased in recent years. PBDE levels at other sites fluctuated slightly over time. HBCDD concentrations increased at several sites over the past decade. The presence of flame retardants in ringed seals suggests their persistence and their continuous inputs in the Canadian Arctic environment. Monitoring and research on the effects of these contaminants in seals are warranted given the importance of this species in Arctic marine food webs and for local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Houde
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 105 McGill Street, Montreal, QC H2Y 2E7, Canada.
| | - X Wang
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - S H Ferguson
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Arctic Aquatic Research Division, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - P Gagnon
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 105 McGill Street, Montreal, QC H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - T M Brown
- Memorial University, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - S Tanabe
- Ehime University, Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan
| | - T Kunito
- Shinshu University, Department of Environmental Sciences, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan
| | - M Kwan
- Nunavik Research Centre, Kuujjuaq, QC J0M 1C0, Canada
| | - D C G Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
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Kwan M, Dunk C, Kibschull M, Harris L, Lee Jones R, Lye S. Decidua-driven differentiation of angiogenic phenotype in second trimester peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy and preeclamptic women. Placenta 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.06.205] [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: 11/28/2022]
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Ip WM, Woo J, Yue SY, Kwan M, Sum SMW, Kwok T, Hui SSC. Evaluation of the effect of energy conservation techniques in the performance of activity of daily living tasks. Clin Rehabil 2016; 20:254-61. [PMID: 16634345 DOI: 10.1191/0269215506cr908oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether energy conservation techniques during common activity of daily living tasks actually result in lower energy expenditure, and to document subjective comments regarding any differences in the perceived level of effort. Design: Descriptive study comparing energy expenditure in three tasks with and without energy conservation techniques, taking into account the effect of age. Setting: Occupational therapy department of a rehabilitation hospital in Hong Kong. Subjects: One hundred and eight subjects (30 < 60 years; 78 ≥ 60 years) were recruited from staff and members of an elderly social centre in the community. Measurements: Energy expenditure was measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system for three tasks (shopping, washing clothes and hanging laundry) with and without energy conservation techniques. Dyspnoea, fatigue and perceived exertion were measured using visual analogue scales. Results: Reduction in energy expenditure using energy conservation techniques for shopping and hanging laundry was documented in younger subjects only (O2 consumption fell from 13.89±3.7 to 12.29±3.8 mL/min per kg for shopping, P < 0.001 and 5.9±1.2 to 5.0±1.2 mL/min per kg, P < 0.001 for hanging laundry), although the older subjects experienced less perceived exertion with the energy conservation techniques. For washing clothes, no reduction in energy expenditure was observed in either age groups. Conclusion: Measurable benefits were observed with use of labour-saving equipment and avoidance of overhead reaching in younger subjects only.
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Affiliation(s)
- W M Ip
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Shatin Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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Kwan M, Dunk C, Kibschull M, Amsalem H, Jones R, Harris L, Lye S. Decidua-driven differentiation of angiogenic phenotype in second trimester peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy and pre-eclamptic women. J Reprod Immunol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2016.04.132] [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: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Zhang J, Dunk CE, Kwan M, Jones RL, Harris LK, Keating S, Lye SJ. Human dNK cell function is differentially regulated by extrinsic cellular engagement and intrinsic activating receptors in first and second trimester pregnancy. Cell Mol Immunol 2015; 14:203-213. [PMID: 26277900 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2015.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Decidual natural killer (dNK) cells express an array of activation receptors to regulate placental immunity and development during early pregnancy. We investigated the functional character of human dNK cells during the first and second trimester of gestation and the interaction between dNK and trophoblast cells. Although the frequency of CD56+CD16- dNK among the total CD45+ leukocytes did not change over this period, the expression of the activating receptors, NKp80 and NKG2D, was greatly upregulated. We observed a significantly higher number of extravillous trophoblast cells in proximity to the dNK cells in the first trimester in comparison with the second trimester decidua. NKG2D expression by first trimester dNK cells was decreased when co-cultured with the HTR-8 trophoblast cell line. In the second trimester, functional markers of dNK activation, i.e., angiogenic factor production (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8, interferon-gamma), remained stable despite an increase in NKp80 or NKG2D surface expression. Furthermore, the degranulation capacity of dNK cells, as assessed by CD107a, was decreased in the second trimester. We suggest that in the first trimester, trophoblast-dNK interactions generate a population of dNK cells with a suppressed activating phenotype. In the second trimester, the loss of trophoblast-dNK interactions led to the inhibition of dNK cell function, although their activating receptor expression was increased. We speculate that during pregnancy, two mechanisms operate to modulate the dNK cell activation:suppression of activating receptor levels in the first trimester by trophoblasts and disengagement of receptor-ligand coupling in the second trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Zhang
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Caroline E Dunk
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L4, Canada
| | - Melissa Kwan
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L4, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Jones
- Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St. Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Lynda K Harris
- Institute of Human Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St. Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Sarah Keating
- Department of Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L4, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 3H7, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L4, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L4, Canada
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Kunavarapu C, Menchaca B, Lonning A, Lopez M, Mehr A, Kwan M. Long-Term Ventricular Assist Device vs. Inotropic Therapy as a Bridge to Transplant in Heart Failure Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension and High Pulmonary Vascular Resistance: Pulmonary Hemodynamic and Post-Transplant Outcomes. J Heart Lung Transplant 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2015.01.633] [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: 11/25/2022] Open
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Lemire M, Kwan M, Laouan-Sidi AE, Muckle G, Pirkle C, Ayotte P, Dewailly E. Local country food sources of methylmercury, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids in Nunavik, Northern Quebec. Sci Total Environ 2015; 509-510:248-59. [PMID: 25135671 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Country foods are central to Inuit culture and replete in selenium (Se) and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). However, some marine country foods bioaccumulate high concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg). Se and n-3 are associated with several health benefits in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, but, recent studies show that prenatal MeHg exposure is associated with visual, cognitive and behavioral deficit later in childhood. The study objectives are to identify contemporary country food sources of MeHg, Se and long-chain n-3 PUFA in Nunavik, particularly among childbearing-age women, taking into account regional differences in consumption profiles. The contribution of different country foods to daily MeHg, Se, long-chain n-3 PUFA intake (μg/kg body weight/day) was estimated using: (i) country food consumption and blood biomarkers data from the 2004 Nunavik Health Survey (387 women, 315 men), and (ii) data on MeHg, Se, long-chain n-3 PUFA concentrations found in Nunavik wildlife species. In the region where most traditional beluga hunting takes place in Nunavik, the prevalence of at-risk blood Hg (≥ 8 μg/L) in childbearing-age women was 78.4%. While most country foods presently consumed contain low MeHg, beluga meat, not a staple of the Inuit diet, is the most important contributor to MeHg: up to two-thirds of MeHg intake in the beluga-hunting region (0.66 of MeHg intake) and to about one-third in other regions. In contrast, seal liver and beluga mattaaq - beluga skin and blubber - only mildly contributed to MeHg (between 0.06 and 0.15 of MeHg intake), depending on the region. Beluga mattaaq also highly contributed to Se intake (0.30 of Se intake). Arctic char, beluga blubber and mattaaq, and seal blubber contributed to most long-chain n-3 PUFA intake. This study highlights the importance of considering interconnections between local ecosystems and dietary habits to develop recommendations and interventions promoting country foods' benefits, while minimizing the risk of MeHg from beluga meat, especially for childbearing-age women.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
| | - M Kwan
- Nunavik Research Center, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, Canada.
| | - A E Laouan-Sidi
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
| | - G Muckle
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
| | - C Pirkle
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
| | - P Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique, Québec, Canada.
| | - E Dewailly
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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Amsalem H, Kwan M, Hazan A, Zhang J, Jones RL, Whittle W, Kingdom JCP, Croy BA, Lye SJ, Dunk CE. Identification of a novel neutrophil population: proangiogenic granulocytes in second-trimester human decidua. J Immunol 2014; 193:3070-9. [PMID: 25135830 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1303117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The maternal leukocytes of the first-trimester decidua play a fundamental role in implantation and early development of the fetus and placenta, yet little is known regarding the second-trimester decidual environment. Our multicolor flow cytometric analyses of human decidual leukocytes detected an elevation in tissue resident neutrophils in the second trimester. These cells in both human and murine samples were spatially restricted to decidua basalis. In comparison with peripheral blood neutrophils (PMNs), the decidual neutrophils expressed high levels of neutrophil activation markers and the angiogenesis-related proteins: vascular endothelial growth factor-A, Arginase-1, and CCL2, similarly shown in tumor-associated neutrophils. Functional in vitro assays showed that second-trimester human decidua conditioned medium stimulated transendothelial PMN invasion, upregulated VEGFA, ARG1, CCL2, and ICAM1 mRNA levels, and increased PMN-driven in vitro angiogenesis in a CXCL8-dependent manner. This study identified a novel neutrophil population with a physiological, angiogenic role in human decidua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagai Amsalem
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Melissa Kwan
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aleah Hazan
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jianhong Zhang
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Jones
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy Whittle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E2, Canada; and
| | - John C P Kingdom
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E2, Canada; and
| | - B Anne Croy
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E2, Canada; and
| | - Caroline E Dunk
- Research Centre for Women's and Infants' Health, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E2, Canada; and
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Eshelbrenner C, Murphey C, Robinson S, Kwan M, Pal J, Kunavarapu C. Clinical Significance of a Positive Cross Match in the Setting of Non-Complement Fixing Donor Specific Antibodies in Adult Heart Transplant Recipients. J Heart Lung Transplant 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2013.01.503] [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: 10/27/2022] Open
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Chen SF, Du CW, Yang P, Zhang HW, Kwan M, Zhang GJ. The molecular and clinicopathologic characteristics of bilateral breast cancer. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2590. [PMID: 24005135 PMCID: PMC3763252 DOI: 10.1038/srep02590] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we compared the clinicopathologic characteristics between the bilateral breast cancer (BiBC) and unilateral breast cancer (UBC) and investigated the role of CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in BiBC. 48 BiBC and 1650 UBC were studied. We found BiBC patients were associated with family history of cancer, invasive lobular histology in the first tumor and an advanced nodal status as compared with UBC patients with. Survival analysis indicated that BiBC was not associated with impaired survival. The time interval between the development of first breast cancer and the contralateral cancer did not correlate with the prognosis. Patients with BiBC were more likely to have bone metastasis (P = 0.011) and visceral metastasis (P < 0.001) than those with UBC. However, CXCR4 was not found in any association with poor clinical outcome and increasing visceral metastasis in BiBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. F. Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - C. W. Du
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - P. Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
| | - H. W. Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
| | - M. Kwan
- Department of Pathology, Liver Cancer and Hepatitis Research Laboratory, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - G. J. Zhang
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, PR China
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Yang P, Du CW, Kwan M, Liang SX, Zhang GJ. The impact of p53 in predicting clinical outcome of breast cancer patients with visceral metastasis. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2246. [PMID: 23873310 PMCID: PMC3718193 DOI: 10.1038/srep02246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the study, we analyzed role of p53 in predicting outcome in visceral metastasis breast cancer (VMBC) patients. 97 consecutive VMBC patients were studied. P53 positivity rate was 29.9%. In the p53-negative group, median disease free survival (DFS), and time from primary breast cancer diagnosis to death (OS1), time from metastases to death (OS2) were 25, 42.5, and 13.5 months, respectively. In the p53-positive group, they were 10, 22, and 8 months, respectively. Statistically significant differences in DFS and OS1 were detected between the p53-negative and p53-positive subtypes. However, p53 appears to have no influence on OS2. In Cox regression analysis, p53 expression and TNM stage were predictive factors of DFS. In the multivariate analysis, p53 expression and the duration of DFS correlated with OS1, but not for OS2. Taken together, our data indicate p53 showing predicting role in OS1 for VMBC, but not for OS2.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - C. W. Du
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - M. Kwan
- Department of Pathology, Liver Cancer and Hepatitis Research Laboratory, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - S. X. Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
| | - G. J. Zhang
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou 515031, PR China
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, PR China
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Kwan M, Habel L, Song J, Weltzien E, Chung J, Sun Y, Fletcher S, Haque R. Abstract P3-07-05: Bisphosphonate use after primary breast cancer and risk of contralateral breast cancer using pharmacy data. Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.sabcs12-p3-07-05] [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
Background: It is not clear if bisphosphonates (BP) are associated with improved breast cancer prognosis in women with early breast cancer. Clinical trials have reported mixed results, yet BPs may be most beneficial in patients with low estrogen levels. However, BPs and risk of second (contralateral) breast cancer has been minimally studied. We examined the association of oral BP use (ever/never and duration) on risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in 17,224 women with early stage breast cancer treated with tamoxifen.
Materials and Methods: A cohort was assembled of women diagnosed with their first primary breast cancer (Stage 0, I, II) from 1996 to 2007 on tamoxifen and followed through 31 December 2009 at Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California. Demographic, tumor, pharmacy, and cancer treatment information was extracted from electronic medical records and SEER-affiliated cancer registries at each site. Second (contralateral) tumors were identified from the cancer registries. Detailed information on oral BP use (before and after initial breast cancer diagnosis) was obtained from pharmacy databases. A record of >90 days supply was considered the minimum exposure. Initiation and duration of post-diagnosis use was categorized as 1) non-use (≤90 days supply) and use (>90 days supply) and 2) non-use (≤90 days supply), 91 days–<1 year supply, 1-<2 years supply, and ≥2 years supply. Delayed entry Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with BP use modeled as a time-varying covariate. Women were followed through CBC, health plan disenrollment, death, or end of study, whichever occurred first. We adjusted for age, stage and year of diagnosis; race/ethnicity; income; comorbidity; tumor factors; primary and adjuvant cancer treatments; previous BP use, and study site.
Results: Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.4 (6.3) years, 586 women (3.4%) were diagnosed with CBC after their initial breast cancer diagnosis. Around 19.2% (n = 3303) of the cohort used a BP post-initial breast cancer diagnosis (>93% alendronate). To minimize confounding by indication, all models were adjusted for prior use of BPs before breast cancer diagnosis (n = 1047, 6.1%) and excluded women with prior 5-year history of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures (n = 1808, 10.5%). Compared to non-users, ever use (>90 days supply) was associated with a modestly lower CBC risk (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.16). However, stratified analyses by age at breast cancer diagnosis (<50 years vs. ≥50 years) suggested lower risk among older women (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.57, 1.12) compared with younger women (HR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.39, 2.52). Increasing duration of use was not associated with CBC risk compared to non-use and possibly reflective of some residual confounding by indication: <1 year (HR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.30, 1.02), 1-<2 years (HR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.72), ≥2 years (HR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.58, 1.42).
Discussion: While we found modestly lower CBC risk with BP use after diagnosis of primary breast cancer, the protective effects were perhaps confined to older women compared with younger women. Next steps include adding BMD to further explore confounding by indication and examining BP use and breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-05.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kwan
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - L Habel
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - J Song
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - E Weltzien
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - J Chung
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - Y Sun
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - S Fletcher
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
| | - R Haque
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Harvard Medical School
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Dunk C, Amsalem H, Kwan M, Zhang J, Jones R, Lye S. Decidual neutrophils: a novel angiogenic population in the 2nd trimester. J Reprod Immunol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2012.03.436] [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: 11/17/2022]
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Rasmussen J, Holmberg L, Sørensen K, Kwan M, Andersen M, de Zee M. Performance optimization by musculoskeletal simulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1051/sm/2011122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 11/14/2022]
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Umali AP, LeBoeuf SE, Newberry RW, Kim S, Tran L, Rome WA, Tian T, Taing D, Hong J, Kwan M, Heymann H, Anslyn EV. Discrimination of flavonoids and red wine varietals by arrays of differential peptidic sensors. Chem Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1039/c0sc00487a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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21
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Kwan M, Allen I, Brickey W, Hernandez M, Peden D, Ting J. The Nlrp3 Inflammasome Affects Airway Inflammation, IgE/IL-13 Production And Mast Cell Function In A Subchronic Model Of Asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.12.927] [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: 10/19/2022]
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22
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Kwan M, Kushi L, Weltzien E, Castillo A, Caan B. Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival among Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2009. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.sabcs-09-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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
Purpose: To describe alcohol consumption and examine its association with breast cancer recurrence and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) study, a prospective cohort study of early-stage breast cancer survivors.Methods: Patients included 1897 participants diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 1997 and 2000 and recruited primarily from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cancer Registry. Alcohol consumption (beer, wine, and liquor) was assessed at cohort entry using a food frequency questionnaire. A total of 349 breast cancer recurrences and 332 overall deaths were ascertained after an average follow-up of 5.93 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.Results: A total of 958 women (51%) were considered drinkers (>0.5 g of alcohol per day), and the majority drank wine (90%), followed by liquor (43%), and beer (36%). Drinking ≥6 g/day of alcohol compared to minimal or no drinking (≤0.5 g/day) was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence (HR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.82) and death (HR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.28). The increased risk of recurrence appeared to be greater among postmenopausal (P for trend = .03) and overweight or obese women (P for trend = .03). No associations were observed for risk of overall mortality and alcohol use.Conclusions: Consuming 3 to 4 alcoholic drinks or more per week might be related to an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence, particularly among postmenopausal and heavier women, regardless of other prognostic factors. While additional prospective studies are needed, these observations suggest that after a breast cancer diagnosis, women should consider limiting their consumption of alcohol.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 17.
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Kwan M, Woo J, Kwok T. The standard oxygen consumption value equivalent to one metabolic equivalent (3.5 ml/min/kg) is not appropriate for elderly people. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2009; 55:179-82. [PMID: 15223593 DOI: 10.1080/09637480410001725201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In epidemiological studies, estimation of total energy expenditure can only be carried out from using metabolic equivalent (MET) units calculated physical activity questionnaires, where 1 MET is generally assumed to be 3.5 ml/min/kg resting oxygen consumption (VO2 resting). Since the basal metabolic rate varies with age, the energy expenditure equivalent to 1 MET is likely to vary with age. The objective of this study was to determine the energy value for 1 MET in elderly Chinese people compared with younger subjects, using a cross-sectional study. The participants were 138 young adults (88 female, 50 male) aged 16-64 years and 70 elderly adults (35 female, 35 male) aged 65-89 years. VO2 resting was determined by indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac; Datex Division Instrumentraium Corp, Helsinki, Finland). The height and weight were measured. The body fat percentage and lean mass was estimated by body mass index, tricep and bicep skinfold thickness and Bio-impedance analysis. Both VO2 resting and VO2 resting/kg body weight were significantly lower in elderly than young subjects in both gender groups (P<0.01). The significant age difference in VO2 resting remained after adjustment for weight, height and lean mass in both the male group (P<0.001) and the female group (P<0.01). In conclusion, age had an independent effect on VO2 resting, independent of the change of body composition. The present study suggested that the assumption of 1 MET=3.5 ml/min/kg VO2 resting may over-estimate energy expenditure when apply to elderly people.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kwan
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
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Kwan M, Wiser J, Brickey W, Alexis N, Robinette C, Roubey R, Ting J, Peden D. Gamma-tocopherol Treatment Alters Expression of Cytokine and Major Histocompatibility Molecules. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.12.764] [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: 12/01/2022]
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Kwan M, Hubbard M. Effects of actuation methods on dynamic walking. J Biomech 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(06)85091-8] [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: 10/24/2022]
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Braune BM, Outridge PM, Fisk AT, Muir DCG, Helm PA, Hobbs K, Hoekstra PF, Kuzyk ZA, Kwan M, Letcher RJ, Lockhart WL, Norstrom RJ, Stern GA, Stirling I. Persistent organic pollutants and mercury in marine biota of the Canadian Arctic: an overview of spatial and temporal trends. Sci Total Environ 2005; 351-352:4-56. [PMID: 16109439 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2004] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes and synthesizes the significant amount of data which was generated on mercury (Hg) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Canadian Arctic marine biota since the first Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Report (CACAR) was published in 1997. This recent body of work has led to a better understanding of the current levels and spatial and temporal trends of contaminants in biota, including the marine food species that northern peoples traditionally consume. Compared to other circumpolar countries, concentrations of many organochlorines (OCs) in Canadian Arctic marine biota are generally lower than in the European Arctic and eastern Greenland but are higher than in Alaska, whereas Hg concentrations are substantially higher in Canada than elsewhere. Spatial coverage of OCs in ringed seals, beluga and seabirds remains a strength of the Arctic contaminant data set for Canada. Concentrations of OCs in marine mammals and seabirds remain fairly consistent across the Canadian Arctic although subtle differences from west to east and south to north are found in the proportions of various chemicals. The most significant development since 1997 is improvement in the temporal trend data sets, thanks to the use of archived tissue samples from the 1970s and 1980s, long-term studies using archeological material, as well as the continuation of sampling. These data cover a range of species and chemicals and also include retrospective studies on new chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers. There is solid evidence in a few species (beluga, polar bear, blue mussels) that Hg at some locations has significantly increased from pre-industrial times to the present; however, the temporal trends of Hg over the past 20-30 years are inconsistent. Some animal populations exhibited significant increases in Hg whereas others did not. Therefore, it is currently not possible to determine if anthropogenic Hg is generally increasing in Canadian Arctic biota. It is also not yet possible to evaluate whether the recent Hg increases observed in some biota may be due solely to increased anthropogenic inputs or are in part the product of environmental change, e.g., climate warming. Concentrations of most "legacy" OCs (PCBs, DDT, etc.) significantly declined in Canadian Arctic biota from the 1970s to the late 1990s, and today are generally less than half the levels of the 1970s, particularly in seabirds and ringed seals. Chlorobenzenes and endosulfan were among the few OCs to show increases during this period while summation operatorHCH remained relatively constant in most species. A suite of new-use chemicals previously unreported in Arctic biota (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs)) has recently been found, but there is insufficient information to assess species differences, spatial patterns or food web dynamics for these compounds. Concentrations of these new chemicals are generally lower than legacy OCs, but there is concern because some are rapidly increasing in concentration (e.g., PBDEs), while others such as PFOS have unique toxicological properties, and some were not expected to be found in the Arctic because of their supposedly low potential for long-range transport. Continuing temporal monitoring of POPs and Hg in a variety of marine biota must be a priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Braune
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Carleton University (Raven Road), Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0H3.
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Yeung F, Kwok T, Helmer C, Woo J, Kwan M, Yuan HJ. Nutritional status of older Tibetans in rural Sichuan China. J Nutr Health Aging 2004; 8:220-4. [PMID: 15316585] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the nutritional status of older Tibetans in rural China. DESIGN Cross sectional study. SETTING Remote mountainous region of Sichuan province of Western China. SUBJECTS AND METHOD Forty four male and forty six female Tibetans, over 60 years old were recruited. Body weight, standing height, triceps and bicep skinfold thicknesses (TSF, BSF), mid arm circumference (MAC) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Dietary intakes were assessed by a twenty-four hour dietary recall. Based on skinfold thicknesses and MAC, total body fat and corrected arm muscle area (CAMA) were calculated by published equations. Their nutritional status and dietary intakes were compared with those of normal older people in Hong Kong and a rural area near Tianjin in the east coast of China. RESULTS Compared with Hong Kong older women, the Tibetan older women had similar BMI and total body fat, but their CAMA was significantly greater (p<0.01). The Tibetan older men had lower BMI, total body fat (p<0.05), and higher CAMA than the Hong Kong older men (p<0.05). The average calorie intake in the Tibetans was lower than that of older people in Hong Kong and rural Tianjin. Intakes of protein, vitamins and minerals were the lowest in Tibetans and the highest in older people in Hong Kong. CONCLUSIONS Older Tibetans had more lean mass than Hong Kong older Chinese despite having lower caloric and protein intakes. Older Tibetan women were fatter than their male counterparts, and they were as fat as the older people in Hong Kong, despite having low caloric intakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Yeung
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Kwan M. When the client is king. Plan Parent Chall 2002:37-9. [PMID: 12318917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
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Kwok T, Woo J, Kwan M. Does low lactose milk powder improve the nutritional intake and nutritional status of frail older Chinese people living in nursing homes? J Nutr Health Aging 2001; 5:17-21. [PMID: 11250664] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malnutrition is prevalent among nursing home residents in Hong Kong. Nutrient dense oral supplements and yoghurt are unpopular among the Chinese older people because of their unfamiliar tastes and relatively high costs. Vitamin and mineral supplements do not address the problem of protein calorie undernutrition. Milk powder may be a suitable alternative supplement, but diarrhoea resulting from lactase deficiency is common in Chinese people. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that a low lactose milk powder would be better tolerated in Chinese nursing home residents and result in improvement in nutritional intake without reducing habitual intake. DESIGN Forty-seven residents were randomized to receive milk powder twice daily, or no supplement for seven weeks. Twenty-four hour food record, body weight, upper limb skinfold thicknesses and midarm circumference, grip strength, Barthel Index, and abbreviated mental test score were carried out at baseline and at seven weeks. RESULTS The overall compliance was nearly 100%, and no subjects developed diarrhoea. Compared with controls, milk supplementation increased intake of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, riboflavin and potassium. There was no significant reduction in habitual dietary intake in supplemented subjects. There was a trend of weight gain in supplemented subjects, though this did not reach statistical significance. There was no change in handgrip strength, mental function and disability level. CONCLUSION The study shows that low lactose milk powder is a well-accepted nutritional supplement without reducing habitual dietary intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kwok
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Gale NW, Baluk P, Pan L, Kwan M, Holash J, DeChiara TM, McDonald DM, Yancopoulos GD. Ephrin-B2 selectively marks arterial vessels and neovascularization sites in the adult, with expression in both endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. Dev Biol 2001; 230:151-60. [PMID: 11161569 DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2000.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their membrane-tethered ephrin ligands provide critical guidance cues at points of cell-to-cell contact. It has recently been reported that the ephrin-B2 ligand is a molecular marker for the arterial endothelium at the earliest stages of embryonic angiogenesis, while its receptor EphB4 reciprocally marks the venous endothelium. These findings suggested that ephrin-B2 and EphB4 are involved in establishing arterial versus venous identity and perhaps in anastamosing arterial and venous vessels at their junctions. By using a genetically engineered mouse in which the lacZ coding region substitutes and reports for the ephrin-B2 coding region, we demonstrate that ephrin-B2 expression continues to selectively mark arteries during later embryonic development as well as in the adult. However, as development proceeds, we find that ephrin-B2 expression progressively extends from the arterial endothelium to surrounding smooth muscle cells and to pericytes, suggesting that ephrin-B2 may play an important role during formation of the arterial muscle wall. Furthermore, although ephrin-B2 expression patterns vary in different vascular beds, it can extend into capillaries about midway between terminal arterioles and postcapillary venules, challenging the classical conception that capillaries have neither arterial nor venous identity. In adult settings of angiogenesis, as in tumors or in the female reproductive system, the endothelium of a subset of new vessels strongly expresses ephrin-B2, once again contrary to earlier views that such new vessels lack arterial/venous characteristics and derive from postcapillary venules. While earlier studies had focused on a role for ephrin-B2 during the earliest embryonic stages of arterial/venous determination, our current findings using ephrin-B2 as an arterial marker in the adult challenge prevailing views of the arterial/venous identity of quiescent as well as remodeling adult microvessels and also highlight a possible role for ephrin-B2 in the formation of the arterial muscle wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- N W Gale
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York, 10591-6707, USA.
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Abstract
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Since the discovery of sleep onset REM periods (SOREMPs) in narcoleptic patients, narcolepsy has often been regarded as a disorder of REM sleep generation: REM sleep intrudes in active wake or at sleep onset, resulting in cataplexy, sleep paralysis, or hypnagogic hallucinations. However, this hypothesis has not been experimentally verified. In the current study, we characterized the sleep abnormalities of genetically narcoleptic-cataplectic Dobermans, a naturally occurring animal model of narcolepsy, in order to verify this concept. Multiple sleep latency tests during the daytime revealed that narcoleptic Dobermans exhibit a shorter sleep latency and a higher frequency of SOREMPs, compared to control Dobermans. The total amount of time spent in wake and sleep during the daytime is not altered in narcoleptic dogs, but their wake and sleep patterns are fragmented, and state transitions into and from wake and other sleep stages are altered. A clear 30 min REM sleep cyclicity exists in both narcoleptic and control dogs, suggesting that generation of the ultradian rhythm of REM sleep is not altered in narcoleptics. In contrast, cataplexy displays no cyclicity and can be elicited in narcoleptic animals anytime with emotional stimulation and displays no cyclicity. Stimulation of a cholinoceptive site in the basal forebrain induces a long-lasting attack of cataplexy in narcoleptic dogs; however, bursts of rapid eye movements during this state still occur with a 30 min cyclicity. Sites and mechanisms for triggering cataplexy may therefore be different from those for REM sleep. Cataplexy and a dysfunction in the maintenance of vigilance states, but not abnormal REM sleep generation, may therefore be central to narcolepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nishino
- Center for Narcolepsy, Stanford Sleep Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, MSLS Building Room P113, Palo Alto, CA 94304-5485, USA.
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Hural JA, Kwan M, Henkel G, Hock MB, Brown MA. An intron transcriptional enhancer element regulates IL-4 gene locus accessibility in mast cells. J Immunol 2000; 165:3239-49. [PMID: 10975840 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.165.6.3239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The cell type-specific expression of a gene is dependent on developmentally regulated modifications in chromatin structure that allow accessibility of basal and inducible transcription factors. In this study, we demonstrate that a cis-acting element in the second intron of the murine IL-4 gene has a dual function in regulating transcription in mast cells as well as chromatin accessibility of the IL-4 gene locus through its influence on the methylation state of the gene. Previous studies have shown that mast cell-restricted transcription factors GATA-1/2 and PU.1 associate with the intron element and regulate its activity. In this study, we use DNase I footprinting and mutational analyses to identify two additional sites that contribute to the element's ability to enhance transcription. One of these sites associates preferentially with STAT5a and STAT5b. We also demonstrate that deletion of the element or mutation of the GATA binding site in the context of a stably integrated IL-4 genomic construct prevents maintenance of a demethylated locus in IL-4-producing mast cells. These data indicate that, analogous to Ig and TCR intron regulatory elements, the intron enhancer has an essential role in maintaining developmentally regulated demethylation at the IL-4 gene locus. In addition, they indicate that members of the GATA family of transcription factors likely play an important role in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Hural
- Graduate Program in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Riehl J, Honda K, Kwan M, Hong J, Mignot E, Nishino S. Chronic oral administration of CG-3703, a thyrotropin releasing hormone analog, increases wake and decreases cataplexy in canine narcolepsy. Neuropsychopharmacology 2000; 23:34-45. [PMID: 10869884 DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(99)00159-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The effects on cataplexy and daytime sleep of acute and chronic oral administration of CG-3703, a potent TRH analog were assessed in canine narcolepsy. CG-3703 was found to be orally active and to reduce cataplexy (0.25 to 16 mg/kg) and sleep (8 and 16 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. Two-week oral administration of CG-3703 (16 mg/kg) significantly reduced cataplexy and daytime sleep. The anticataplectic effects of CG-3703 were not associated with changes in general behavior, heart rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature, blood chemistry and thyroid function. Although drug tolerance for the effects on cataplexy and sleep were observed during the second week of chronic drug administration, therapeutic efficacy on cataplexy was improved with individual dose adjustment (final dose range: 16 to 28 mg/kg, p.o.). These results suggest that TRH analogs could be a promising new form of treatment for human narcolepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Riehl
- Stanford Sleep Disorders Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 94304., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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35
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Abstract
1. Human CYP2D6 is present in brain, metabolizes many drugs and has been implicated in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and some cancers. It is still unclear which of the six known rat CYP2D subfamily members is/are homologous to human CYP2D6. 2. In this study, RT-PCR, Southern and Western blotting and immunohistochemical techniques were used to study the distribution of CYP2D subfamily member mRNA and proteins across 10 rat brain regions. CYP2D subfamily mRNA and protein levels were correlated with brain dextromethorphan O-demethylation (DOD), a measure of human CYP2D6 and rat CYP2D1 activities. 3. The data showed a strong relationship between CYP2D1 and CYP2D1-18 with brain DOD activity. In addition, it was shown that CYP2D proteins are present in brain mitochondrial as well as microsomal membranes. CYP2D subfamily member mRNA and proteins varied across brain regions and were highly concentrated in specific cell types. 4. These data strongly suggest that CYP2D1 and not CYP2D5 mediates DOD activity in rat brain, and may be the rat homologue of human CYP2D6. The highly localized nature of CYP2D indicates that in specific neurones enzyme levels may approach hepatic levels and, hence, contribute to local alterations in brain drug metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Miksys
- Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, and Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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36
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Schmidt KA, Deal CD, Kwan M, Thattassery E, Schneider H. Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11mkC opacity protein expression in vitro and during human volunteer infectivity studies. Sex Transm Dis 2000; 27:278-83. [PMID: 10821601 DOI: 10.1097/00007435-200005000-00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11mkC harbors 11 independently expressed opacity (Opa) protein genes with distinct in vitro expression frequencies. In experimental infections in which human male volunteers were inoculated with transparent (Opa), piliated (P+) strains, the authors associate onset of symptoms with recovery of opaque (Opa+) gonococci. GOALS In vitro and recovered (Opa) protein expression rates were compared to determine if the human host influences Opa expression. STUDY DESIGN Opa expression was determined using Western immunoblot analysis; Opa sizes were determined using a scanning densitometer. RESULTS Seven of 10 Opa proteins were identified in gonococci recovered from all of the volunteers at frequencies consistent with in vitro results (Opa C, 29.5 kDa; Opa K, 30 kDa; Opa G, 31 kDa; Opa I, 32 kDa; Opa J, 33 kDa; Opa D, 34 kDa; and Opa H, 37 kDa) (P > or = 0.01, Fisher exact test). Opa B (30.5 kDa) was identified at lower than expected frequencies, whereas Opa E (31.2) and F (31.5) were identified at higher' than expected frequencies. When recovered gonococci were reanalyzed for in vitro expression frequencies, they were consistent with preinfection frequencies. CONCLUSIONS The host may influence the prevalence of some Opa proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Schmidt
- Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington DC, USA.
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Charest A, Wagner J, Kwan M, Tremblay ML. Coupling of the murine protein tyrosine phosphatase PEST to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor through a Src homology 3 (SH3) domain-mediated association with Grb2. Oncogene 1997; 14:1643-51. [PMID: 9135065 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1201008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [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] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The involvement of murine protein tyrosine phosphatase-PEST (MPTP-PEST) in signal transduction pathways is suggested by its ability to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosine residues, its interaction with the adaptor protein SHC and by the presence of five proline-rich stretches in its non-catalytic carboxyl terminus. Proline-rich sequences have been identified as binding sites for Src homology 3 (SH3) domains found in proteins associated with signal transduction events. The ability of these sequences to act as SH3 domain recognition motifs was investigated using bacterially expressed SH3 domains derived from several different signalling proteins. In vitro binding assays indicate that four of these proline-rich sequences constitute specific binding sites for both SH3 domains of the adaptor molecule Grb2. Wild type Grb2, but not Grb2 proteins corresponding to loss-of-function mutants in the Caenorhabditis elegans sem-5 protein, associate with MPTP-PEST in vivo. Experiments in EGF receptor expressing cells show that the interaction between MPTP-PEST and Grb2 results in the binding of this complex to activated EGF receptors. In addition, identification of putative substrate(s) of MPTP-PEST have revealed a candidate protein of approximately 120 kDa which is tyrosine phosphorylated upon EGF stimulation. Together, these results describe a novel SH3 domain-dependent recruitment of a protein tyrosine phosphatase to an activated receptor tyrosine kinase and establish a potential role for MPTP-PEST in signalling pathways at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Charest
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Abstract
Advances in tissue engineering have led to the development of artificially grown dermal tissues for use in burn and ulcer treatments. An example of such an engineered tissue is Dermagraft, which is grown using human neonatal fibroblasts on rectangular sheets of biodegradable mesh. Using small angle light scattering (SALS), we quantified the collagen fiber architecture of Dermagraft with the mesh scaffold contributions removed through the use of a structurally based optical model. Dermagraft collagen fibers were found to have a preferred direction nearly parallel to the long dimension of the kite-shaped mesh opening with small spatial variations over the mesh. This study demonstrated the utility of SALS as a rapid and inexpensive technique for the evaluation of gross collagen fiber architecture in engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Sacks
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gobles, FL 33124-0621, USA.
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Kennedy BP, Payette P, Mudgett J, Vadas P, Pruzanski W, Kwan M, Tang C, Rancourt DE, Cromlish WA. A natural disruption of the secretory group II phospholipase A2 gene in inbred mouse strains. J Biol Chem 1995; 270:22378-85. [PMID: 7673223 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.270.38.22378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [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: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The synovial fluid or group II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) has been implicated as an important agent involved in a number of inflammatory processes. In an attempt to determine the role of sPLA2 in inflammation, we set out to generate sPLA2-deficient mice. During this investigation, we observed that in a number of inbred mouse strains, the sPLA2 gene was already disrupted by a frameshift mutation in exon 3. This mutation, a T insertion at position 166 from the ATG of the cDNA, terminates out of frame in exon 4, resulting in the disruption of the calcium binding domain in exon 3 and loss of both activity domains coded by exons 4 and 5. The mouse strains C57BL/6, 129/Sv, and B10.RIII were found to be homozygous for the defective sPLA2 gene, whereas outbred CD-1:SW mice had variable genotype at this locus. BALB/c, C3H/HE, DBA/1, DBA/2, NZB/BIN, and MRL lpr/lpr mice had a normal sPLA2 genotype. The sPLA2 mRNA was expressed at very high levels in the BALB/c mouse small intestine, whereas in the small intestine of the sPLA2 mutant mouse strains, sPLA2 mRNA was undetectable. In addition, PLA2 activity in acid extracts of the small intestine were approximately 40 times higher in BALB/c than in the mutant mice. Transcription of the mutant sPLA2 gene resulted in multiple transcripts due to exon skipping. None of the resulting mutant mRNAs encoded an active product. The identification of this mutation should not only help define the physiological role of sPLA2 but also has important implications in mouse inflammatory models developed by targeted mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- B P Kennedy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Merck Frosst Center for Therapeutic Research, Pointe Claire-Dorval, Quebec, Canada
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40
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Abstract
(-)-Deprenyl, a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor, has been shown to increase neuronal survival and to alter protein synthesis and gene expression in astrocytic or PC12 cells independently of MAO-B inhibition. We used serum and nerve growth factor withdrawal to induce apoptotic death in PC12 cells to determine whether (-)-deprenyl increases neuronal survival by reducing apoptosis. (-)-Deprenyl reduced both cell death and internucleosomal DNA degradation in a concentration-dependent manner and was effective at concentrations too low to inhibit MAO (< 10(-9) M). (+)-Deprenyl did not increase PC12 cell survival, and, with the exception of pargyline, other MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitors did not alter apoptotic death. Transcriptional and translational inhibition showed that the reduction in apoptosis required the induction of new protein synthesis by (-)-deprenyl. Increased survival was induced if transcription was maintained for 4 h and translation for 6 h after (-)-deprenyl addition. The findings suggest that transcriptional induction may underlie the other MAO-independent actions of (-)-deprenyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- W G Tatton
- Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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41
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Brown R, Pedowitz R, Rydevik B, Woo S, Hargens A, Massie J, Kwan M, Garfin SR. Effects of acute graded strain on efferent conduction properties in the rabbit tibial nerve. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1993:288-94. [PMID: 8222440] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examines effects of acute stretch on electrophysiologic properties of rabbit tibial nerve. Compound motor action potentials (CMAP) were measured in 30 rabbits, during and after two hours of acute, graded strain. The rabbits were assigned to one of three groups defined by the degree of stretch (0%, 8%, or 15%) beyond original resting length. These groups were subdivided according to ankle position during nerve strain (ankle dorsiflexion or ankle plantar flexion). Two hours of 8% strain did not significantly decrease CMAP amplitude. Fifteen percent strain with the ankle in dorsiflexion produced a significant and profound drop (99%) in CMAP amplitude. These findings are clinically relevant to nerve stretch injuries and to surgical procedures that induce acute nerve strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Brown
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, San Diego 92013
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von Schroeder HP, Kwan M, Amiel D, Coutts RD. The use of polylactic acid matrix and periosteal grafts for the reconstruction of rabbit knee articular defects. J Biomed Mater Res 1991; 25:329-39. [PMID: 1818562 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820250305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In order to find a material that would improve cartilage repair, we investigated the use of porous polylactic acid matrix (PLA) with and without periosteal grafts in large articular defects in the medial femoral condyles of 18 New Zealand white rabbit knees. The right knee defect was filled with PLA, the left defect was filled with PLA and a periosteal graft. All animals were killed at 12 weeks. PLA allowed for the de novo growth of neocartilage at the articular surface in all specimens and appeared to serve as a scaffolding for cell migration and matrix formation. Histologically, small amounts of PLA remained under the neocartilage with the majority being replaced by bone. PLA was a suitable carrier for periosteal grafts with a high graft survival rate (89%) and proliferation of a neocartilage which was thicker and more closely resembled articular cartilage than PLA alone knees. Biochemically, there was more type II collagen in the grafted knees (83%) than in the PLA alone knees (65%). Biomechanical tests of the neocartilage included equilibrium displacement, aggregate modulus, and apparent permeability. These tests were not statistically different between PLA alone and grafted knees. Comparison to normal cartilage indicated that the neocartilage was less stiff but had similar permeability. A consistent repair of the articular defects was achieved with and without periosteal grafts resulting in a tissue that closely resembled hyaline articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- H P von Schroeder
- Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Diego
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Wong AW, Ho PC, Kwan M, Ma HK. Factors affecting the success of artificial insemination by frozen donor semen. Int J Fertil 1989; 34:25-9. [PMID: 2565300] [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: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The records of 227 couples who received artificial insemination by frozen donor semen in 984 treatment cycles were analysed to find out the factors affecting the pregnancy rates. The cumulative pregnancy rate at 6 months was 46.8% and the pregnancy rate per cycle was 10%. The pregnancy rates were adversely affected by (1) increase in the recipient age above 30 years, (2) irregularity of menstrual cycles, (3) the use of clomiphene citrate for induction of ovulation, and (4) low cervical mucus scores. Among our donor semen samples selected with a set of criteria, the sperm counts and initial and post-thaw motility did not affect the pregnancy rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A W Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong
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44
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McKeon C, Thiele CJ, Ross RA, Kwan M, Triche TJ, Miser JS, Israel MA. Indistinguishable patterns of protooncogene expression in two distinct but closely related tumors: Ewing's sarcoma and neuroepithelioma. Cancer Res 1988; 48:4307-11. [PMID: 3390826] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Genetic characterization of human tumors promises new insights of biological importance and clinical relevance. We have found that two solid tumors, peripheral neuroepithelioma and Ewing's sarcoma of bone, which share a common cytogenetic rearrangement, are characterized by an indistinguishable and highly reproducible pattern of protooncogene expression. c-myc, N-myc, c-myb, and c-mil/raf-1 are all expressed at similar levels in these tumors. c-fes and c-sis expression was not detected in any specimens of either tumor. In contrast, the protooncogene c-ets-1, located near the breakpoint of the chromosomal translocation in these tumors, is variable in its expression. We also detected high levels of choline acetyltransferase in these tumors, which suggests a common neural origin. Since it is likely that the clinical behavior and therapeutic responsiveness of tumors relate closely to their biological and genetic features, the pattern of protooncogene expression of individual tumors may provide a novel basis for their characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- C McKeon
- Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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45
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Abstract
Sterilization has become a popular means of birth control and many methods have been developed to meet the needs of different groups of women. In a pilot study, non-surgical sterilization using phenol-mucilage was found to be extremely acceptable to a group of Chinese women despite its failure rate. The method is simple, safe and inexpensive. It is suggested that this method would be suitable for women who are afraid of surgical sterilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- G W Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong
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46
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Abstract
The authors utilized the principle of functional bracing in the management of 307 fractures and/or dislocations of the upper limb. There were 29 humeral fractures, 111 fracture-dislocations around the elbow, 32 fractures of the forearm, and 135 fractures of the distal radius. The average follow-up was 9 months. The results showed that more than 95% of the patients regained good range of motion and power. The details of the technique and the protocols are described. The conclusion drawn from an analysis of the results is that functional bracing is a safe and effective method in the management of upper limb fracture dislocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Leung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin
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Wang C, Chan SY, Leung A, Ng RP, Ng M, Tang LC, Ma HK, Tsoi WL, Kwan M. Cross-sectional study of semen parameters in a large group of normal Chinese men. Int J Androl 1985; 8:257-74. [PMID: 4077284 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1985.tb00840.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Testicular size, semen characteristics and serum reproductive hormone levels were studied in 1239 normal Chinese men. The mean testicular size of 17 ml in this group of subjects was similar to other reports in Orientals but was smaller than that reported in Caucasians. Semen volume, and the sperm count, motility and morphology were comparable to those described for Caucasian subjects. The cervical mucus penetration test (Kremer's test) and the zona-free hamster egg penetration test were also studied in some of the subjects. Age showed a positive correlation with the serum levels of FSH and LH, which were highly correlated with each other. Sperm concentration and the total sperm count were positively correlated with testicular volume, the length of abstinence, the % of sperm with an oval head, and the zona-free hamster egg penetration test, but were negatively correlated with serum FSH. Sperm motility was negatively correlated with the duration of abstinence but was positively correlated with the % normal sperm. The results constitute a normal data base from Chinese men for comparison with studies in male infertility and fertility regulation.
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49
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Abstract
The results of the cervical mucus score (CMS), basal body temperature (BBT) and a rapid urine luteinizing hormone (LH) assay by haemagglutination immunoassay were compared with plasma LH radioimmunoassay in 28 ovulatory cycles. There was good correlation of the CMS peak with the plasma LH peak while the urine LH peak usually occurred one day later. The first day when the CMS was greater than or equal to 8 occurred within +/- 1 day of the plasma LH peak in 89.3% of cycles. The first day when the urine LH was greater than or equal to 100 iu/l occurred within +/- 1 day of the plasma LH peak in all the cycles. BBT nadir could be identified in only 82% of cycles and it coincided with the plasma LH peak in only 28.6% of cases. These findings suggest that both the CMS and the rapid urine LH assay are acceptable methods for determining the time of ovulation while the BBT is not useful.
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Abstract
The effects of chlorpromazine on various properties of the F1-ATPases from bovine heart mitochondria (MF1), the plasma membranes of Escherichia coli (EF1), and plasma membranes of the thermophilic bacterium PS3 (TF1) have been examined. While chlorpromazine inhibited MF1 with an I0.5 of about 50 microM and EF1 with an I0.5 of about 150 microM at 23 degrees C, the ATPase activity of TF1 was stimulated by chlorpromazine concentrations up to 0.6 mM at this temperature. Maximal activation of about 20% was observed at 0.2 mM chlorpromazine at 23 degrees C. Chlorpromazine concentrations greater than 0.6 mM inhibited TF1 at 23 degrees C. At 37 degrees C the ATPase activity of TF1 was doubled in the presence of 0.5 mM chlorpromazine, the concentration at which maximal stimulation was observed at this temperature. Chlorpromazine inhibited the rate of inactivation of EF1 by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) at 23 degrees C and pH 6.5. Concentrations of chlorpromazine which inhibited the ATPase activity of TF1 at pH 7.0 accelerated the rate of inactivation of the enzyme by DCCD at pH 6.5, while lower concentrations of the phenothiazine, which stimulated the ATPase, had no effect on DCCD inactivation. Chlorpromazine concentrations up to 1.0 mM had no effect on the rate of inactivation of TF1 by DCCD at 37 degrees C and pH 6.5. Chlorpromazine at 0.5 mM accelerated the rate of inactivation of MF1 by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA), while it slowed the rate of inactivation of EF1 by FSBA. The inactivation of TF1 by FSBA in the absence of chlorpromazine was complex and was not included in this comparison. Chlorpromazine protected MF1 and EF1 against cold inactivation. Whereas 100 microM chlorpromazine afforded about 90% stabilization of MF1 at 4 degrees C, only about 30% stabilization of EF1 was observed under the same conditions in the presence of 400 microM chlorpromazine. Each of the ATPases was inactivated by the structural analog of chlorpromazine, quinacrine mustard. Whereas 5 mM ATP and 5 mM ADP protected MF1 and TF1 against inactivation by 0.5 mM quinacrine mustard, the rate of inactivation of EF1 by quinacrine mustard was accelerated fourfold by 5 mM ATP and slightly accelerated by 5 mM ADP.
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