Dynamics changes in metabolites and pancreatic lipase inhibitory ability of instant dark tea during liquid-state fermentation by Aspergillus niger

Instant dark tea (IDT), prepared by liquid-state fermentation using Aspergillus niger, is known for its high theabrownins content and lipid-lowering effect. To explore the impact of fungal fermentation on IDT compositions and its pancreatic lipase inhibitory ability (PLIA), untargeted and targeted metabolomic analysis were applied to track the changes of metabolites over a 9-day fermentation period, and correlation analysis was then conducted between metabolites and PLIA of IDT. There were 54 differential metabolites exhibited significant changes from day 3 to day 5 of fermentation. The concentrations of theabrownins and caffeine increased during fermentation, while phenols and free amino acids decreased. The PLIA of IDT samples significantly increased from day 5 to day 9 of fermentation. Theabrownins not only positively correlated with the PLIA but also exhibited a high inhibition rate. These findings provide a theoretical basis to optimize the production of IDT as functional food ingredient.

Sensomics-Assisted Characterization of Fungal-Flowery Aroma Components in Fermented Tea Using Eurotium cristatum

Fermented tea (FT) using a single Eurotium cristatum strain can produce a pleasant fungal-flowery aroma, which is similar to the composite aroma characteristic of minty, flowery, and woody aromas, but its molecular basis is not yet clear. In this study, solvent-assisted flavor evaporation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry were applied to isolate and identify volatiles from the FT by E. cristatum. The application of an aroma extract dilution analysis screened out 43 aroma-active compounds. Quantification revealed that there were 11 odorants with high odor threshold concentrations. Recombination and omission tests revealed that nonanal, methyl salicylate, decanoic acid, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, α-terpineol, phenylacetaldehyde, and coumarin were the major odorants in the FT. Addition tests further verified that methyl salicylate, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, and coumarin were the key odorants for fungal-flowery aroma, each corresponding to minty, woody, and flowery aromas, respectively. 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde and coumarin were newly found odorants for fungal-flowery aroma in FT, and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde had not been reported as a tea volatile compound before. This finding may guide future industrial production optimization of FT with improved flavor.

[The comparison between endoscopic and surgical treatment of delayed iatrogenic bile duct injury by propensity score matching]

Objective: To compare the safety and clinical efficacy of endoscopic and surgical treatment of patients with delayed iatrogenic bile duct injury (DBDI) with severity (SG) grade 1 to 2. Methods: The clinical data of 129 patients with SG grade 1 to 2 DBDI who received endoscopic or surgical treatment in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from November 2007 to November 2021 were retrospectively collected. There were 46 males and 83 females,aged (M(IQR)) 54(22)years(range: 21 to 82 years). The baseline data of the two groups were matched 1∶1 by propensity score matching(caliper value was 0.2). Independent sample t test,rank sum test,χ2 test or Fisher exact probability test were used to analyze the data of the two matched groups. Results: There were 48 patients in each of the endoscopic treatment and surgical groups after matching,and there was no difference in general information between the two groups(both P>0.05). The bile duct injury-repair interval and intraoperative anesthesia complications were not statistically significant between the two groups after matching(all P>0.05). Compared with the surgical group, patients in the endoscopic treatment group had significantly shorter operative time(50 (30) minutes vs. 185 (100) minutes, Z=7.675,P<0.01) and postoperative hospital stay(5 (5) days vs. 12 (7) days, Z=5.848, P<0.01).For safety,there was no statistical difference in the incidence of immediate postoperative complications between the two groups with Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications<Ⅲ;the incidence of serious postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications≥Ⅲ) was significantly higher in the surgical group than in the endoscopic treatment group(P=0.012). The incidence of long-term postoperative complications was not statistically different between the two groups(28.1% vs. 20.7%,P=0.562). In terms of efficacy,the postoperative liver function indexes of patients in both groups improved significantly compared with the preoperative period and returned to normal or near normal levels; the postoperative infection indexes of both groups showed an increasing trend,but were within the normal range. Of the 96 patients in both groups,61 obtained follow-up,and the follow-up time was (89.4±48.0)months(range: 3 to 165 months),and there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.079). The probability of excellent long-term follow-up (78.1% vs. 86.2%) was not statistically different between the two groups(P=0.412).In patients with Strasberg-Bismuth type E1,the probability of excellent long-term follow-up was higher in the endoscopic treatment group compared with the surgical group(13/14 vs. 2/5,P=0.037). Conclusions: For DBDI patients with SG grade 1 to 2 and bile duct continuity,endoscopy can be used as the first deterministic treatment. The advantages of endoscopic therapy compared to surgery are the lower incidence of postoperative serious complications,and the shorter duration of surgery and postoperative hospital stay.

A two-ward acute care hospital outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant including a point-source outbreak associated with the use of a mobile vital signs cart and sub-optimal doffing of personal protective equipment

BACKGROUND

The arrival of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with increased transmissibility and illness of greater severity. Reports of nosocomial outbreaks of Delta variant COVID-19 in acute care hospitals have been described but control measures varied widely.

AIM

Epidemiological investigation of a linked two-ward COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak was conducted to elucidate its source, risk factors, and control measures.

METHODS

Investigations included epidemiologic analysis, detailed case review serial SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing of patients and healthcare workers (HCWs), viral culture, environmental swabbing, HCW-unaware personal protective equipment (PPE) audits, ventilation assessments, and the use of whole genome sequencing (WGS).

FINDINGS

This linked two-ward outbreak resulted in 17 patient and 12 HCW cases, despite an 83% vaccination rate. In this setting, suboptimal adherence and compliance to PPE protocols, suboptimal hand hygiene, multi-bedded rooms, and a contaminated vital signs cart with potential fomite or spread via the hands of HCWs were identified as significant risk factors for nosocomial COVID-19 infection. Sudden onset of symptoms, within 72 h, was observed in 79% of all Ward 2 patients, and 93% of all cases (patients and HCWs) on Ward 2 occurred within one incubation period, consistent with a point-source outbreak. RT-PCR assays showed low cycle threshold (C_T) values, indicating high viral load from environmental swabs including the vital signs cart. WGS results with ≤3 SNP differences between specimens were observed.

CONCLUSION

Outbreaks on both wards settled rapidly, within 3 weeks, using a `back-to-basics' approach without extraordinary measures or changes to standard PPE requirements. Strict adherence to recommended PPE, hand hygiene, education, co-operation from HCWs, including testing and interviews, and additional measures such as limiting movement of patients and staff temporarily were all deemed to have contributed to prompt resolution of the outbreak.

Untargeted and targeted metabolomics reveal changes in the chemical constituents of instant dark tea during liquid-state fermentation by Eurotium cristatum

Instant green tea powder was used as raw material to prepare an instant dark tea via liquid-state fermentation by Eurotium cristatum. To understand how the chemical constituents present in fermented green tea develop during fermentation, samples were collected on different days during fermentation for qualitative analyses by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive Orbitrap/Mass spectrometry. Untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that the levels of original secondary metabolites in the instant green tea changed significantly from day 3 to day 5 during fermentation. Targeted metabolomics indicated that the levels of galloylated catechins (GCs) and free amino acids (FAAs) significantly decreased, but the nongalloylated catechins (NGCs), alkaloids, thearubigins and theabrownins increased dramatically after fermentation. The changes in the contents of catechins, gallic acid and free amino acids in the instant dark tea samples were positively related to the DPPH radical scavenging activities in vitro, and the phenolic acids and FAAs were positively related to the inhibitory effects towards α-glucosidase. These results showed that fermentation by Eurotium cristatum is critical to the formation of certain qualities of instant dark tea.

Influence of Eurotium cristatum and Aspergillus niger individual and collaborative inoculation on volatile profile in liquid-state fermentation of instant dark teas

The three instant dark teas were produced from instant green tea (IGT) by liquid-state fermentations using the microorganisms Eurotium cristatum (EFT), Aspergillus niger (AFT), and sequential inoculation of E. cristatum/A. niger (EAFT), respectively. The volatile compounds of four tea samples were extracted by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with chemometrics. A total of 97 volatile compounds were tentatively identified to distinguish three fermented instant dark from IGT. Alcohols, acids, esters, ketones, aldehydes, and heterocyclics could be clearly distinguished by principal component analysis (PCA), venn diagram, heatmap analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Descriptive sensory analysis revealed that AFT had a moldy, woody and herbal aroma; EFT showed woody and herbal aroma; and EAFT smelled an herbal, sweet, minty and floral aroma. This study indicates that fermentation using different microorganisms is critical in forming unique aroma characteristics of instant dark teas.

Development and usability test of an intelligent cardiovascular risk elimination application for patients with coronary heart disease

Background

The mortality of coronary heart disease (CHD) can be largely reduced by improving CHD risk factors through facilitating adherence to unhealthy lifestyle modification (UhLM) and secondary preventive medications (SPMs). Current interventions, however, have been unsatisfactory worldwide.

Purpose

To develop an Individualized, Intelligent and Integrated Cardiovascular Application for Risk Elimination system (iCARE) for facilitating adherence to UhLM and SPMs, and test its usability and feasibility for implementation.

Methods

Based on a set of individualized interventions formulated in our preliminary work, we developed iCARE using mHealth techniques and a user-centred approach, which included 3 phases: (1) identifying patient preferences regarding formats for providing interventions; (2) designing the functions, architecture, and user interface (UI); (3) developing the iCARE using prototyping techniques. Usability test was conducted in patients with acute coronary syndromes and/or underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from January to March 2019 in two University affiliated hospitals in our city. The iCARE was implemented in 4 cardiac units of the same hospitals thereafter.

Results

The iCARE architecture and UI are displayed in Fig 1. Different from most current available mHealth CHD management system, the iCARE has a set of interventions and IF-THEN algorithms triggering interventions to ensure that patients receive individualized recommendations for UhLM and SPMs adherence. To improve effectiveness of iCARE interventions, visualization was used to augment patients' perceptions of risks of non-adherence to UhLM and SPMs, and effectiveness of adopting healthy lifestyles etc. Interventions are triggered by results of initial assessment and health data from daily monitoring. The initial assessment is conducted before patients are discharged, and a health report as well as individualized goals for risk reduction are formulated automatically. Daily diet, physical activities, smoking, medication adherence, blood pressure, blood sugar, and symptoms are monitored either through wearable devices or manual entry. Instant and individualized feedbacks as well as recommended actions are sent to patients automatically. A build-in artificial intelligent Q-A function was also included in iCARE. For the usability test, 88 patients with 71.3% male and mean age of 60 (SD 9.9) were recruited, 87.5% were satisfied with iCARE; 89.5% and 81.4% reported that iCARE was useful and easy to use, respectively. Currently, a total of 201 patients with 83.1% male and mean age of 54 (SD 10.2) were recruited from June 2019 to January 2020, and 46 of them have been followed up for 3 months.

Conclusions

The iCARE has achieved its functions of serving as an individualized and intelligent CHD management tool to improve adherence to UhLM and SPMs. The usability is satisfactory and it is feasible to implement in clinical settings.

Figure 1. The iCARE system. iCARE, Individualized, Intelligent and Integrated Cardiovascular Applicaton for Risk Elimination (iCARE) system, CHD, coronary heart disease.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Funding of China

[Renal angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts: a clinicopathological analysis of four cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features,diagnosis and differential diagnosis of renal angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts(AMLEC). Methods: Four cases of renal AMLEC diagnosed between January 2014 and June 2019 at the Department of Pathology,Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital were subjected to clinicopathological, histological and immunohistochemistry analyses along with a literature review. Results: All the four patients were females and aged from 19 to 52 years (mean 34.5 years). Three cases were accidentally discovered by physical examination, and the medical history was 1 to 6 years. The preoperative imaging Bosniak classification was grade Ⅲ in 3 and grade Ⅳ in 1 case. The maximum diameter of the tumor ranged from 2.5 to 9.0 cm (average 5.0 cm). Histologically, all of the 4 tumors showed three histological components: (1) simple epithelial cysts lined by a layer of cuboidal/low-columnar to occasionally, hobnailcells; (2) a thin, compact subepithelial "cambium-like" layer of cellular, mullerian-like short spindle cell stromas with prominent admixedchronic inflammation; (3) a outermost layer of thick, long-fascicles of smooth muscle-like stromas, often surrounded by dysplastic, tortuous thick-walled blood vessels. There was often a prominent lymphatic channel network in the smooth muscle component forming slit like branched and curvilinear spaces. None of the 4 tumors had fat content.Immunohistochemically, the epithelial cells lining the cysts strongly expressed PAX8 and CK7. The subepithelial "cambium-like" stromas strongly expressed melanocytic markers (HMB45, Melan A, Cathspin K, MiTF) and mullerian markers (ER,PR,CD10), and were negative for smooth-muscle markers(SMA,desmin,calponin). The outermost layer of smooth muscle-like stromas strongly expressed smooth-muscle markers, and were only focally positive for melanocytic and mullerian markers. Follow-up information was obtained in 3 cases, among which no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis was found at 3, 5, and 66 months of follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: Renal AMLEC is a rare histological subtype of angiomyolipoma with benign biological behavior, and has characteristic histological and immunophenotypic characteristics.Pathologists should be familiar with the clinicopathological appearances of AMLEC and include it in the differential diagnostic spectrums of renal tumors with biphasic epithelial and mesenchymal features.

Anti-obesity effects of instant fermented teas in vitro and in mice with high-fat-diet-induced obesity

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder that is associated with higher risks of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Chinese dark tea is a fermented beverage with many biological effects and could be considered for the management of obesity. This study is aimed to assess the possible anti-obesity properties of instant dark tea (IDT) and instant pu-erh tea (PET) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups. They received low-fat diet (LFD), HFD, HFD supplemented with drinking IDT infusion (5 mg mL-1), PET infusion (5 mg mL-1) or water for 8 weeks. The results showed IDT exhibited better inhibitory effect than PET on body weight gain and visceral fat weights. IDT also improved the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, but decreased the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leptin levels more effectively than PET. Both IDT and PET lowered the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the plasma and significantly increased the ratio of albumin to globin (A/G) in the serum compared to the control group. IDT treatment reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver. Histomorphology evidenced that the liver tissue architecture was well preserved by IDT administration. Moreover, IDT regulated the expression of obesity-related genes more effectively than PET. Overall, the present findings have provided the proof of concept that dietary IDT could provide a safer and cost-effective option for people with HFD-induced obesity.

288Thrombotic events in bleeding patients treated with andexanet alpha: an ANNEXA-4 sub-study

Background/Introduction

Andexanet alfa (“andexanet”) was developed as a specific reversal agent for patients with major bleeding while using factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors. While thrombotic events (TEs) have been reported in patients receiving andexanet, the scope, nature, and timing of these events have not been fully characterized.

Purpose

The ANNEXA-4 study was a prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of andexanet in patients with acute major bleeding. In this secondary analysis, the occurrence of TEs was investigated.

Methods

Patients presenting with acute major bleeding within 18 hours after their last dose of FXa inhibitor were treated with andexanet. Safety outcomes, including TEs (reviewed by an adjudication committee), were evaluated at 30 days.

Results

Among 352 patients treated with andexanet, 34 (9.7%) experienced one or more TEs (Table). Strokes and deep vein thromboses were the most frequent TE types. Compared to patients with arterial TEs, patients with venous TEs were more likely to have been originally anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism. Median time to first TE was 10.5 days (Figure); time to event was shorter for arterial TEs than for venous TEs. TEs were nonfatal for most patients. Subgroups by age, bleed type, baseline anti-fXa activity, FXa inhibitor dose, and andexanet dose were not associated with the occurrence of TEs. Of the 34 TE patients, 26 (76.4%) had TEs before restart of any (full or prophylactic) anticoagulation; all first TEs occurred in patients not receiving oral anticoagulation. No TEs occurred after resumption of oral anticoagulation (N=100).

Table 1. Thrombotic event characteristics Characteristic Result (n/N [%]) TE type   Strokes 14/352 (4.0%)   Deep vein thromboses 13/352 (3.7%)   Myocardial infarctions 7/352 (2.0%)   Pulmonary embolisms 5/352 (1.4%)   Transient ischemic attacks 1/352 (0.3%) Bleed type   Intracranial 23/227 (10.1%)   Gastrointestinal 7/90 (7.8%)   Other 4/35 (11.4%) Arterial TEs   Anticoagulated for AF 17/22 (77.3%)   Anticoagulated for VTE 6/22 (27.3%) Venous TEs   Anticoagulated for AF 11/18 (61.1%)   Anticoagulated for VTE 8/18 (44.4%)   Median time to first TE 10.5 days   Arterial 6 days   Venous 15 days Outcome   Fatal 7/34 (20.6%)   Nonfatal 27/34 (79.4%) AF = atrial fibrillation; n = number of patients with TEs; N = total number of patients for each characteristic; TE = thrombotic event; VTE = venous thromboembolism.

Figure 1. Thrombotic Events Over Time

Conclusions

In patients with FXa inhibitor-associated acute major bleeding treated with andexanet, TEs occurred a rate not unexpected given the high thrombotic risk of the population. No factors predictive of TEs were identified. Resumption of anticoagulation was associated with fewer TEs.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Study funded by Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Multiple responses optimization of instant dark tea production by submerged fermentation using response surface methodology

In this study, submerged fermentation mode for preparing instant dark tea production was developed through utilizing industrial low grade green tea as raw material and Aspergillus niger as fermentation microbe starter. The fermentation parameters (inoculum size, liquid-solid ratio and rotation speed) were optimized by using Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology (RSM) with desirability function, the theabrownins content, redness and turbidity value as responses. The optimal conditions were set as follow: inoculum size of 5.3% (v/v), liquid-solid ratio of 27.78 mL/g, and rotation speed of 182 r/min. The optimized conditions model showed a good correlation between the predicted and experimental values. Further, the optimum product of instant dark was achieved in a 3-L laboratory fermenter, and the main parameters of product were theabrownins content of 140.92 g/kg and redness value of 40.78 and turbidity of 90.98 NTU. Sensory evaluation showed that the instant dark tea infusion approached mellow mouthfeel, an aroma of mint and a good overall acceptance.

[Traditional nasal therapy in Uighur medicine]

Nasal therapy, extensively documented in the ancient Uighur medical literature, is one of the external therapies of Uighur medicine. Based on the relevant records of 14 Uighur medical works, the application, classification, clinical features, and medications characteristics of nasal therapy were preliminarily sorted out. The results show that the nasal therapy can be divided into 7 categories, covering more than 200 kinds of common medicinal herbs, 8 kinds of processing methods and 10 kinds of preparations. Clinically, there is a large number of nasal therapy prescriptions, with flexible administration of prescriptions and medications, significant features of comprehensive therapy, with significance of application for further development.

High-theabrownins instant dark tea product by Aspergillus niger via submerged fermentation: α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibition and antioxidant activity

BACKGROUND

Theabrownins (TB) are bioactive components that are usually extracted from Chinese dark tea, in which they are present at low concentrations. The present study aimed to produce an instant dark tea high in theabrownins via submerged fermentation by the fungus Aspergillus niger. Three fermentation parameters that affect theabrownins content (i.e. inoculum size, liquid-solid ratio and rotation speed) were optimized using response surface methodology.

RESULT

Optimum fermentation conditions were modeled to be an inoculum of 5.40% (v/v), a liquid-solid ratio of 27.45 mL g^-1 and a rotation speed of 184 rpm and were predicted to yield 292.99 g kg^-1 TB. Under these experimentally conditions, the TB content of the instant dark tea was 291.93 g kg^-1 . The antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of the high-TB instant black tea were higher than four other typical instant dark tea products.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study show that careful management of culture conditions can produce a dark tea high in theabrownins. Furthermore, high-theabrownins instant dark tea could serve as a source of bioactive products and be used in functional foods as an ingredient imparting antioxidant properties and the ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Epidemiology, diagnosis, surgical treatment and prognosis of the pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Report of 125 patients from one single center

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the following study is to summarize the epidemiology of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (p-NETs) in our single institution, analyze the diagnostic characteristics, share the experience of surgical treatments and discuss the prognostic factors.

METHODS

A retrospective collection and analysis of clinical data of 125 patients with p-NETs which were pathologically confirmed in our hospital from January 2002 to December 2012.

RESULTS

A total of 125 patients of which 52 were males and 73 were females. Totally 92 patients had functional p-NETs, while non-functional p-NETs were diagnosed in 33 patients. The most common operative procedures performed were local resection of pancreatic tumor (47.2%), followed by distal pancreatectomy (29.6%). Thirty patients (28%) had post-operative complications, the most common of which was pancreatic fistula (22.4%). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 68.4%. The 5-year survival rate for patients with functional tumors was 75.1%, compared with 50.0% for those with non-functional tumors (P = 0.021). The survival time of patients with R0 resection was statistically longer than that of patients with Not R0 resection (P < 0.005). In univariate analysis, the most powerful predictors of poor outcome were gender, age, tumor size, functional status, surgical margins, lymph node invasion and distant metastasis. However only surgical margin and distant metastasis were significant predictors in multivariate analysis (P = 0.001, 0.047, respectively).

CONCLUSION

p-NETs are an uncommon and heterogeneous group of tumors, with a rising incidence. Surgery is the most effective treatment. Surgical margin and distant metastasis were the most significant prognostic factors. Radical resection should be taken more into considerations.

[Abnormality of TOP2A expression and its gene copy number variations in neuroblastic tumors]

Objective: To detect TOP2A protein expression and gene copy number alterations, and to analyze related clinical and pathological implications in pediatric neuroblastic tumors (NT). Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect TOP2A protein expression. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect numerical aberrations of TOP2A. Results: TOP2A protein was expressed in 59.1%(52/88) of cases, which was associated with differentiation (P=0.006), Ki-67 index (P<0.01) and MKI (P=0.001). Twenty-eight cases (35.0%, 28/88) showed TOP2A gene amplification, which was correlated with the age (P<0.01), clinical stage (P=0.028), high risk group (P=0.001), Ki-67 index (P=0.040) and differentiation (P=0.014). Survival analysis showed that TOP2A expression was related to survival rate. Multivariate analyses showed that TOP2A expression was an independent predictor for poor prognosis (P=0.010). Conclusions: More than half of the cases show TOP2A expression, which is more likely associated with NB, high Ki-67 index and high MKI. Cases with TOP2A expression have shorter survivals and poorer prognosis. TOP2A amplification is seen in 35% and likely occurs in patients older than 18 months and at advanced INSS stages (Ⅲ and Ⅳ). As a target of the anthracycline-based adjuvant drugs, TOP2A test can be used to select patient with NT for the therapy.

Loading of anthocyanins on chitosan nanoparticles influences anthocyanin degradation in gastrointestinal fluids and stability in a beverage

The optimal preparation parameters to create anthocyanin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles was predicted using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was used to determine the preparation parameters that would achieve the preferred particle size and high encapsulation efficiency. The result suggested that the optimized conditions were 2.86mg/mL carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), 0.98mg/mL chitosan hydrochloride (CHC) and 5.97mg anthocyanins. Using the predicted amounts, the experimentally prepared particles averaged 219.53nm with 63.15% encapsulation efficiency. The result was less than 5% different than the predicted result of 214.83nm particle size and 61.80% encapsulation efficiency. Compared with the free anthocyanin solution, the anthocyanin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles showed a slowed degradation in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. Compared with the free anthocyanin solutions in a model beverage system, the stability of the anthocyanins was increased in the anthocyanin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles.

Inhibition of mTOR complex 2 induces GSK3/FBXW7-dependent degradation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and suppresses lipogenesis in cancer cells

Cancer cells feature increased de novo lipogenesis. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), when presented in its mature form (mSREBP1), enhances lipogenesis through increasing transcription of several of its target genes. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, are master regulators of cellular survival, growth and metabolism. A role for mTORC1 in the regulation of SREBP1 activity has been suggested; however the connection between mTORC2 and SREBP1 has not been clearly established and hence is the focus of this study. mTOR kinase inhibitors (e.g., INK128), which inhibit both mTORC1 and mTORC2, decreased mSREBP1 levels in various cancer cell lines. Knockdown of rictor, but not raptor, also decreased mSREBP1. Consistently, reduced mSREBP1 levels were detected in cells deficient in rictor or Sin1 compared to parent or rictor-deficient cells with re-expression of ectopic rictor. Hence it is mTORC2 inhibition that causes mSREBP1 reduction. As a result, expression of the mSREBP1 target genes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase was suppressed, accompanied with suppressed lipogenesis in cells exposed to INK128. Moreover, mSREBP1 stability was reduced in cells treated with INK128 or rictor knockdown. Inhibition of proteasome, GSK3 or the E3 ubiquitin ligase, FBXW7, prevented mSREBP1 reduction induced by mTORC2 inhibition. Thus mTORC2 inhibition clearly facilitates GSK3-dependent, FBXW7-mediated mSREBP1 degradation, leading to mSREBP1 reduction. Accordingly, we conclude that mTORC2 positively regulates mSREBP1 stability and lipogenesis. Our findings reveal a novel biological function of mTORC2 in the regulation of lipogenesis and warrant further study in this direction.

Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic anterior 180° partial versus 360° Nissen fundoplication: 5-year results

Anterior partial fundoplication (AF) has been popularized by a lower risk of mechanical side effects. The question then emerges whether anterior partial wrap has a similar antireflux effect with Nissen fundoplication (NF). We therefore conducted a randomized study to compare the long-term outcome of anterior fundoplication with NF. One hundred patients who enrolled in the trial from May 2003 to March 2005 were randomized to laparoscopic AF or laparoscopic NF. Endoscopy, pH monitoring, manometry, a detailed questionnaire, and a visual analog symptom score were completed preoperative at 6, 12, 24, and 60 months after surgical procedures. The postoperative adverse effects such as dysphagia and flatulence were compared between the two groups. Revision surgery or maintenance proton pump inhibitor therapy was defined as failure. Fifty procedures were performed in each group. The outcome at 5 years follow-up was determined for 96 patients (96%; 49 patients in the AF group and 47 in the NF group). Three patients (3%) died of unrelated causes during follow-up, and one patient changed address. Both fundoplications were found to provide good control of reflux-related symptoms in most of the patients. For 96 patients followed up more than 5 years, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were well controlled in 81 patients (84.38%); the mean DeMeester scores in the AF group decreased from 106.89 ± 14.12 to 12.67 ± 3.14 and in the NF group from 109.51 ± 17.98 to 10.81 ± 2.65, and the esophagitis was ameliorated visibly. Moreover, there were significantly fewer patients in the AF group who complained of flatulence. Compared with NF, anterior 180° partial fundoplication is an effective treatment of gastroesophageal reflux and associates with fewer postoperative adverse effects.

Molecular characterization of highly tumorigenic cell lines used in a xenograph model to investigate cellular therapy for the treatment of refractory ovarian cancer

e16516

Background: Because current therapies for ovarian cancer (OC) have little impact on the long-term survival, there is a compelling need to develop innovative strategies. Our aim was to characterize OC cell lines which can be utilized to test cellular therapy in combination with cytokines or chemotherapies to elicit a graph versus tumor response to treat refractory OC patients. Methods: SKOV-3-RFP, a red fluorescent protein (RFP) expressing line, was passaged through nude mice to create more tumorigenic lines compared to parental SKOV-3 cells. Three SKOV-3-derived lines were established and characterized for IFNα-2b sensitivity, E-cadherinand CCN1gene expression, and STAT3 activation. The cells were grown in the presence of IFNα-2b to determine proliferative effects. Tumors were harvested when mice became moribund; ascitic fluid (AF) and solid tumor (ST) tissue were snap-frozen. Expression of E-cadherinand CCN1, which have been implicated to play role(s) in OC pathobiology, were analyzed in ST harvested from the mice and from SKOV3-derived lines (SKOV3-RFP, AF1, AF2, and AF3). We investigated the activation status in the SKOV3-derived cells of STAT3, which has been associated with malignant transformation and tumor progression. Results: Parental SKOV3-RFP cells when injected at a dose of 5x106 gave a tumor incidence of 4/6 in 14 weeks. AF1 and AF2, when injected at a dose of 1x106 resulted in 100% tumor incidence in 5-weeks (n = 5). These two lines were also more resistant to IFNα-2b compared to RFP. All SKOV3-derived lines and ST expressed E-cadherin by RT-PCR. None of the SKOV3-derived lines expressed CCN1; however, one of the two AF1 ST tested expressed CCN1. Both AF2 ST evaluated showed weak expression of CCN1. In vitro DNA-binding with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), showed AF1 and AF3 cells harbor constitutively-active STAT3, whereas the RFP line does not. Conclusions: The SKOV3-derived lines that we developed will be a better model to test novel OC treatment regiments because these lines exhibit increased resistance to IFNα-2b, are more tumorigenic in a xenograph model, show aberrant STAT3 activation, and tumors harvested from these lines express genes that make these lines more aggressive.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia: genetics and metabolism

Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL), an autosomal dominant disorder, is defined as <5th percentile LDL-cholesterol or apolipoprotein (apo) B in the plasma. FHBL subjects are generally heterozygous and asymptomatic. Three genetic forms exist: (i) premature stop codon specifying mutations of APOB; (ii) FHBL linked to a susceptibility locus on the chromosome 3p21; and (iii) FHBL linked neither to APOB nor to the chromosome 3p21. In heterozygous apoB-defective FHBL, the hepatic VLDL export system is defective because apoB 100, the product of the normal allele, is produced at approximately 25% of normal rate, and truncated apoB is cleared too rapidly. The reduced capacity for hepatic triglyceride export increases hepatic fat three-fold. Indexes of adiposity and insulin action are similar to controls. 'Knock-in' mouse models of apoB truncations resemble human FHBL phenotypes. Liver fat in the chromosome 3p21-linked FHBL is normal. Elucidation of the genetic basis of the non-apoB FHBL could uncover attractive targets for lipid-lowering therapy. (See note added in proof.).

Evidence that the death receptor DR4 is a DNA damage-inducible, p53-regulated gene

DR4 (TRAIL-R1), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is a cell surface receptor that triggers the apoptotic machinery upon binding to its ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Although three other TRAIL receptors DR5, DcR1, and DcR2 are induced by DNA damage and are regulated by the wild-type p53 tumor suppressor, it was not known whether these factors also affect DR4 expression. In this study, we found that DR4 expression is also enhanced by DNA damage whether induced by ionizing radiation or by chemotherapeutic agents. The induction was observed predominantly in cells containing wild-type p53 and was similar to the regulation patterns of DR5 and Fas, two other members of the family which are known to be regulated by p53. Transfection of HPV 16 E6 gene into cells with wild-type p53, which decreased the level of p53 protein, resulted in suppression of DR4 induction by DNA-damaging agents. Conversely, introduction of exogenous wild-type p53 through adenovirus infection has led to upregulation of endogenous DR4 in cells with mutant p53. Moreover, the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D abolished DNA-damaging agent-induced DR4 expression. Thus, DR4 appears to be a DNA damage-inducible, p53-regulated gene.

Diminished molecular response to doxorubicin and loss of cardioprotective effect of dexrazoxane in Egr-1 deficient female mice

Doxorubicin (DOX) and VP16 are DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors yet only DOX induces an irreversible cardiotoxicity, likely through DOX-induced oxidative stress. Egr-1 is overexpressed after many stimuli that increase oxidative stress in vitro and after DOX-injection into adult mice in vivo. To investigate Egr-1 function in the heart, we compared the molecular and histological responses of wild type (+/+) and Egr-1 deficient (-/-) female mice to saline, DOX, VP16, the cardioprotectant dexrazoxane (DZR), or DOX+DZR injection. DOX, and to a lesser extent VP16, induced characteristic increases in cardiac muscle and non-muscle genes typical of cardiac damage in +/+ mice, whereas only beta-MHC and Sp1 were increased in -/- mice. DZR-alone treated +/+ mice showed increased cardiomyocyte transnuclear width without a change to the heart to body weight (HW/BW) ratio. However, DZR-alone treated -/- mice had an increased HW/BW, increased cardiomyocyte transnuclear width, and gene expression changes similar to DOX-injected +/+ mice. DZR pre-injection alleviated DOX-induced gene changes in +/+ mice; in DZR+DOX injected -/- mice the increases in cardiac and non-muscle gene expression were equal to, or exceeded that, detected after DOX-alone or DZR-alone injections. We conclude that Egr-1 is required for DOX-induced molecular changes and for DZR-mediated cardioprotection.

Identification of retinamides that are more potent than N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide in inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis of human head and neck and lung cancer cells

The synthetic retinoid, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR), which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for cancer prevention and therapy, inhibits the growth of a variety of malignant cells through induction of apoptosis. However, in the majority of tumor cells, this inhibitory effect of 4HPR requires high concentrations (>1 microM), which exceed the peak plasma level measured in humans. In the present study, we compared and contrasted the effects of several synthetic retinamides on the growth of human lung and head and neck cancer cells in vitro. We found that some retinamides, especially N-(2-carboxyphenyl)retinamide (2CPR), exhibited better growth inhibitory effects than 4HPR in some of the cell lines. 2CPR exerted potent growth inhibitory effects in 5 of 10 head and neck cancer cell lines and in 1 of 10 lung cancer cell lines (IC(50), <0.8 microM). 2CPR (1 microM) induced apoptosis ranging from 10 to 60% in four of five cell lines, whereas 4HPR was ineffective at the same concentration. Unlike 4HPR, 2CPR (up to 10 microM) failed to induce reactive oxygen species production in these sensitive cell lines but could activate caspases 3 and 7 as well as increase poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase cleavage. Interestingly, the effect of 2CPR on cell growth could be suppressed by the specific retinoic acid receptor pan antagonist AGN193109. Our results suggest that 2CPR acts via retinoic acid receptors and may be a good candidate for prevention and treatment of some head and neck and lung cancers.

Overexpression of BCL2 blocks TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or Apo2L) and its receptors are members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. TRAIL triggers apoptosis by binding to its two proapoptotic receptors DR4 and DR5, a process which is negatively regulated by binding of TRAIL to its two decoy receptors TRID and TRUNDD. Here, we show that TRAIL effectively induces apoptosis in H460 human non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells via cleavage of caspases 8, 9, 7, 3, and BID, release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). However, overexpression of Bcl2 blocked TRAIL-induced apoptosis in H460 cells, which correlated with the Bcl2 protein levels. Importantly, the release of cytochrome c and cleavage of caspase 7 triggered by TRAIL were considerably blocked in Bcl2 overexpressing cells as compared to vector control cells. Moreover, inhibition of TRAIL-mediated cytochrome c release and caspase 7 activation by Bcl2 correlated with the inability of PARP to be cleaved and the inability of the Bcl2 transfectants to undergo apoptosis. Thus, these results suggest that Bcl2 can serve an anti-apoptotic function during TRAIL-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase 7, thereby blocking caspase 7-dependent cleavage of cellular substrates.

Augmentation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis by the synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) through up-regulation of TRAIL receptors in human lung cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis via the death receptors DR4 and DR5 in different transformed cells in vitro and exhibits potent antitumor activity in vivo with minor side effects. The synthetic retinoid CD437 is a potent inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells through increased levels of death receptors. We demonstrate that treatment of human lung cancer cells with a combination of suboptimal concentrations of CD437 and TRAIL enhanced induction of apoptosis in tumor cell lines with wild-type p53 but not in normal lung epithelial cells. CD437 up-regulated DR4 and DR5 expression. The CD437 and TRAIL combination enhanced activation of caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and the subsequent cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and DNA fragmentation factor 45. Caspase inhibitors blocked the induction of apoptosis by this combination. Moreover, this combination induced Bid cleavage and increased cytochrome c release from mitochondria. These results suggest that the mechanism of enhanced apoptosis by this combination involves p53-dependent increase of death receptors by CD437, activation of these receptors by TRAIL, enhanced Bid cleavage, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-8, and caspase-9. These findings suggest a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of human lung cancer with the CD437 and TRAIL combination.

Induction of Fas expression and augmentation of Fas/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis by the synthetic retinoid CD437 in human lung cancer cells

The synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Recently, we demonstrated that CD437 induces apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells expressing wild-type p53 by increasing the level of the death domain-containing cell surface receptor Killer/DR5. In the present study, we investigated whether CD437 induced the expression of Fas (CD95/APO-1), a cell surface protein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, which induces apoptosis upon interaction with Fas ligand (FasL) or agonistic antibodies. We found that CD437 increased the level of Fas mRNA in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in NSCLC H460 cells. The increased Fas expression was also identified at the protein level. CD437 induced Fas expression in three NSCLC cell lines with wild-type p53 but not in six NSCLC cell lines containing mutant p53. Moreover, enhanced degradation of wild-type p53 protein in NSCLC cells expressing human papillomavirus-16 E6 oncoprotein blocked CD437-induced Fas expression. These results implicate the involvement of wild-type p53 in CD437-induced Fas expression in human NSCLC cells. CD437 did not change Fas mRNA stability, and actinomycin D abolished CD437-induced expression of Fas mRNA, suggesting that CD437 induces Fas expression at the transcriptional level. The combination of CD437 and FasL or CD437 and agonistic anti-Fas antibody caused synergistic induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, CD437 augmented Fas/ FasL-induced apoptosis in cell lines with wild-type p53 but not in cell lines having mutant p53, indicating that a p53-dependent mechanism is also involved in this effect. Taken together, these results demonstrate that increased Fas expression may play an important role in CD437-induced, p53-dependent apoptosis in human NSCLC cells.

Implication of multiple mechanisms in apoptosis induced by the synthetic retinoid CD437 in human prostate carcinoma cells

The synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) induces apoptosis in several types of cancer cell. CD437 inhibited the growth of both androgen-dependent and -independent human prostate carcinoma (HPC) cells in a concentration-dependent manner by rapid induction of apoptosis. CD437 was more effective in killing androgen-independent HPC cells such as DU145 and PC-3 than the androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. The caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK blocked apoptosis induced by CD437 in DU145 and LNCaP cells, in which increased caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage were observed, but not in PC-3 cells, in which CD437 did not induce caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Thus, CD437 can induce either caspase-dependent or caspase-independent apoptosis in HPC cells. CD437 increased the expression of c-Myc, c-Jun, c-Fos, and death receptors DR4, DR5 and Fas. CD437's potency in apoptosis induction in the different cell lines was correlated with its effects on the expression of oncogenes and death receptors, thus implicating these genes in CD437-induced apoptosis in HPC cells. However, the importance and contribution of each of these genes in different HPC cell lines may vary. Because CD437 induced the expression of DR4, DR5 and Fas, we examined the effects of combining CD437 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Fas ligand, respectively, in HPC cells. We found synergistic induction of apoptosis, highlighting the importance of the modulation of these death receptors in CD437-induced apoptosis in HPC cells. This result also suggests a potential strategy of using CD437 with TRAIL for treatment of HPC. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4513 - 4522.

Dual mechanisms of action of the retinoid CD437: nuclear retinoic acid receptor-mediated suppression of squamous differentiation and receptor-independent induction of apoptosis in UMSCC22B human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

The synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437), which can bind to and activate the nuclear retinoic acid receptors beta and gamma (RARbeta/gamma), is a potent inducer of apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, this effect was reported to be independent of RARs. In this study, we compared and contrasted the potencies and mechanisms of action of CD437 and several other receptor-selective retinoids in induction of apoptosis and modulation of squamous differentiation in UMSCC22B human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line. CD437 and the structurally related retinoid CD2325 exhibited almost equal potency in inducing apoptosis, whereas several other retinoids failed to induce apoptosis. The RAR-specific pan antagonist AGN193109 failed to suppress CD437-induced apoptosis, indicating that the induction of apoptosis by CD437 was RAR-independent. c-Fos expression was induced by CD437 and CD2325 that induced apoptosis in the cell line but not by other retinoids that failed to induce apoptosis, suggesting a role for c-Fos in CD437-induced apoptosis. At low concentration (0.01 microM), CD437 shared with several other receptor-selective retinoids the ability to suppress the mRNA levels of the squamous differentiation markers Spr1, involucrin, and cytokeratin 1. This effect of CD437 could be blocked by AGN193109. We conclude that CD437 can exert its effects in UMSCC22B human human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by at least two mechanisms: RAR-mediated suppression of squamous differentiation and RAR-independent induction of apoptosis.

Evidence that retinoic acid receptor beta induction by retinoids is important for tumor cell growth inhibition

Retinoic acid receptor beta (RARbeta) is thought to be involved in suppressing cell growth and tumorigenicity. Many premalignant and malignant cells exhibit a reduced RARbeta expression. However, in some of these cells (e.g. H157 human squamous cell carcinoma cells), RARbeta can be induced by retinoids (e.g. all-trans-retinoic acid, ATRA) because its promoter contains a retinoic acid response element. To examine the hypothesis that RARbeta induction is important for inhibition of cell proliferation by retinoids, we blocked ATRA-induced RARbeta expression in H157 cells using a retroviral vector harboring multiple copies of antisense RARbeta2 sequences. Antisense RARbeta-transfected cells showed not only decreased expression of ATRA-induced RARbeta protein but also reduced ATRA-induced RARE binding activity and transactivation. Importantly, all antisense RARbeta transfectants of H157 cells were less responsive than vector-transfected cells to the growth inhibitory effects of the retinoids ATRA and Ch55 in vitro. These results demonstrate that RARbeta induction may play an important role in mediating growth inhibitory effects of retinoids in cancer cells.

Identification of receptor-selective retinoids that are potent inhibitors of the growth of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

Retinoids modulate the growth and differentiation of cancer cells presumably by activating gene transcription via the nuclear retinoic acid receptor (RAR) alpha, beta, and gamma and retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha, beta, and gamma. We analyzed the effects of 38 RAR-selective and RXR-selective retinoids on the proliferation of 10 human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. All of these cell lines expressed constitutively all of the receptor subtypes except RARbeta, which was detected in only two of them. Most of the RAR-selective retinoids inhibited the growth of HNSCC cells to varying degrees, whereas the RXR-selective retinoids showed very weak or no inhibitory effects. Three RAR antagonists suppressed growth inhibition by RAR-selective agonists, as well as by RAR/RXR panagonists such as 9-cis-retinoic acid. Combinations of RXR-selective and RAR-selective retinoids exhibited additive growth-inhibitory effects. Furthermore, we found that CD437, the most potent growth-inhibitory retinoid induced apoptosis and up-regulated the expression of several apoptosis-related genes in HNSCC cells. These results indicate that: (a) retinoid receptors are involved in the growth-inhibitory effects of retinoids; (b) RXR-RAR heterodimers rather than RXR-RXR homodimer are the major mediators of growth inhibition by retinoids in HNSCC cells; and (c) induction of apoptosis can account for one mechanism by which retinoids such as CD437 inhibit the growth of HNSCC cells. Finally, these studies identified several synthetic retinoids, which are much more effective than the natural RAs and can be good candidates for chemoprevention and therapy of head and neck cancers.

Implication of c-Myc in apoptosis induced by the retinoid CD437 in human lung carcinoma cells

The novel synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (CD437) has been recently identified to be a potent inducer of apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells through a nuclear retinoic acid receptor independent mechanism. To approach the mechanism by which CD437 induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells, we investigated the involvement of c-Myc in CD437-induced apoptosis. CD437 (1 microM) up-regulated the expression of c-Myc and of its downstream target genes ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and cdc25A in all three NSCLC cell lines (i.e., H460, SK-MES-1 and H1792) used. These effects were correlated with cellular susceptibilities to induction of apoptosis by CD437. Furthermore, CD437-induced apoptosis could be blocked by the ODC inhibitor difluoromethylornithine, the caspase inhibitors Z-VAD FMK and Z-DEVD FMK, and c-Myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, respectively. These data indicate that c-Myc gene plays an important role in mediating CD437-induced apoptosis in human NSCLC cells.