Orexin-A attenuated motion sickness through modulating neural activity in hypothalamus nuclei

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We evaluated the hypothesis that central orexin application could counteract motion sickness responses through regulating neural activity in target brain areas.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Thec effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of orexin-A and SB-334867 (OX1 antagonist) on motion sickness-induced anorexia, nausea-like behaviour (conditioned gaping), hypoactivity and hypothermia were investigated in rats subjected to Ferris wheel-like rotation. Orexin-A responsive brain areas were identified using Fos immunolabelling and were verified via motion sickness responses after intranucleus injection of orexin-A, SB-334867 and TCS-OX2-29 (OX2 antagonist). The efficacy of intranasal application of orexin-A versus scopolamine on motion sickness symptoms in cats was also investigated.

KEY RESULTS

Orexin-A (i.c.v.) dose-dependently attenuated motion sickness-related behavioural responses and hypothermia. Fos expression was inhibited in the ventral part of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMV) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), but was enhanced in the ventral part of the premammillary nucleus ventral part (PMV) by orexin-A (20 μg) in rotated animals. Motion sickness responses were differentially inhibited by orexin-A injection into the DMV (anorexia and hypoactivity), the PVN (conditioned gaping) and the PMV (hypothermia). SB-334867 and TCS-OX2-29 (i.c.v. and intranucleus injection) inhibited behavioural and thermal effects of orexin-A. Orexin-A (60 μg·kg-1) and scopolamine inhibited rotation-induced emesis and non-retching/vomiting symptoms, while orexin-A also attenuated anorexia with mild salivation in motion sickness cats.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Orexin-A might relieve motion sickness through acting on OX1 and OX2 receptors in various hypothalamus nuclei. Intranasal orexin-A could be a potential strategy against motion sickness.

[The characteristics of plasma lipids in silicosis rat models were studied based on lipid metabolomics]

Objective: To screen the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in silicosis model by analyzing plasma metabolomics of silicosis rats. Methods: In May 2021, twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (C), 1-week silicosis group (S1W), 2-week silicosis group (S2W) and 4-week silicosis group (S4W), with 5 rats in each group. Rats were intratracheally instillated with 1ml crystalline SiO(2) suspension (50 mg/ml) or normal saline and were sacrificed after 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks, HE staining was used to observe the lung pathology of rats. The plasma samples were analyzed by UPLC-IMS-QTOF mass spectrometer to screen out potential differential metabolites in silicosis models and analyze their lipid enrichment. Results: HE results showed that nodules formed in the silicosis model group, and with the extension of time, nodules gradually increased and alveolar structure was gradually destroyed. Metabolomics screened out 14 differential metabolites in S1W, 24 in S2W, and 28 in S4W, and found that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the metabolism of glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid degradation, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) -anchor biosynthesis, fatty acid elongation and other metabolic pathways. Conclusion: There are significant changes in plasma lipid metabolites in silicosis rat models.

New Role of D-Cycloserine: Shorten Adaptation Process and Extend Maintenance Time of Motion Sickness

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of D-cycloserine (DCS) in the adaptation process and maintenance of motion sickness (MS).

METHODS

In experiment 1, 120 SD rats were used to study the promoting effect of DCS on the adaptation process of MS in rats. They were randomly divided into four groups, DCS-rotation (DCS-Rot), DCS-static, saline-rotation (Sal-Rot), and saline-static, and further divided into three subgroups according to the adaptation time (4 days, 7 days, and 10 days) in each group. After being given DCS (0.5 mg/kg) or 0.9% saline, they were rotated or kept static according to the group. Their fecal granules, total distance, and total activity of spontaneous activity were recorded and analyzed. In experiment 2, other 120 rats were used. The experimental grouping and specific experimental method were the same as experiment 1. According to the grouping of the adaptive maintenance duration, the animals of 14 days, 17 days, and 21 days groups were measured on the corresponding date of the changes in the animals' exploratory behavior.

RESULTS

In experiment 1, the fecal granules, total distance, and total activity of spontaneous activity of Sal-Rot returned to the control level on 9 days, and the DCS-Rot group returned to the control level on 6 days, indicating that DCS could shorten the adaptation time of MS rats from 9 days to 6 days. In experiment 2, the Sal-Rot could not maintain the adaptive state after 14 days' absence from the seasickness environment. The fecal granules of DCS-Rot increased significantly, and total distance and total activity of spontaneous activity of DCS-Rot decreased significantly from 17 days. These illustrate that DCS can prolong the adaptive maintenance time from within 14 days to 17 days in MS rats.

CONCLUSION

0.5 mg/kg DCS injected intraperitoneally can shorten the MS adaptation process and extend the maintenance time of adaptation of SD rats.

Stroboscopic lighting with intensity synchronized to rotation velocity alleviates motion sickness gastrointestinal symptoms and motor disorders in rats

Motion sickness (MS) is caused by mismatch between conflicted motion perception produced by motion challenges and expected “internal model” of integrated motion sensory pattern formed under normal condition in the brain. Stroboscopic light could reduce MS nausea symptom via increasing fixation ability for gaze stabilization to reduce visuo-vestibular confliction triggered by distorted vision during locomotion. This study tried to clarify whether MS induced by passive motion could be alleviated by stroboscopic light with emitting rate and intensity synchronized to acceleration–deceleration phase of motion. We observed synchronized and unsynchronized stroboscopic light (SSL: 6 cycle/min; uSSL: 2, 4, and 8 cycle/min) on MS-related gastrointestinal symptoms (conditioned gaping and defecation responses), motor disorders (hypoactivity and balance disturbance), and central Fos protein expression in rats receiving Ferris wheel-like rotation (6 cycle/min). The effects of color temperature and peak light intensity were also examined. We found that SSL (6 cycle/min) significantly reduced rotation-induced conditioned gaping and defecation responses and alleviated rotation-induced decline in spontaneous locomotion activity and disruption in balance beam performance. The efficacy of SSL against MS behavioral responses was affected by peak light intensity but not color temperature. The uSSL (4 and 8 cycle/min) only released defecation but less efficiently than SSL, while uSSL (2 cycle/min) showed no beneficial effect in MS animals. SSL but not uSSL inhibited Fos protein expression in the caudal vestibular nucleus, the nucleus of solitary tract, the parabrachial nucleus, the central nucleus of amygdala, and the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, while uSSL (4 and 8 cycle/min) only decreased Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. These results suggested that stroboscopic light synchronized to motion pattern might alleviate MS gastrointestinal symptoms and motor disorders and inhibit vestibular-autonomic pathways. Our study supports the utilization of motion-synchronous stroboscopic light as a potential countermeasure against MS under abnormal motion condition in future.

Near-GeV Electron Beams at a Few Per-Mille Level from a Laser Wakefield Accelerator via Density-Tailored Plasma

A simple, efficient scheme was developed to obtain near-gigaelectronvolt electron beams with energy spreads of few per-mille level in a single-stage laser wakefield accelerator. Longitudinal plasma density was tailored to control relativistic laser-beam evolution, resulting in injection, dechirping, and a quasi-phase-stable acceleration. With this scheme, electron beams with peak energies of 780-840 MeV, rms energy spreads of 2.4‰-4.1‰, charges of 8.5-23.6 pC, and rms divergences of 0.1-0.4 mrad were experimentally obtained. Quasi-three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations agreed well with the experimental results. The dechirping strength was estimated to reach up to 11  TeV/mm/m, which is higher than previously obtained results. Such high-quality electron beams will boost the development of compact intense coherent radiation sources and x-ray free-electron lasers.

Rapid responses of adipocytes to iron overload increase serum TG level by decreasing adiponectin

Iron overload is tightly connected with metabolic disorders. Excess iron in the adipose and its roles in dyslipidemia are of interest to be identified. In acute iron overload mice receiving intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg/day dextran-iron for 5 days, the epididymis adipose showed a remarkable increase in iron. Serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were increased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was decreased, while serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, and insulin were not affected. The serum-cytokine-microarray showed that adipocytokines, including adiponectin, leptin, and resistin were significantly decreased. Other serum cytokines, including pro-insulin cytokines, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were not changed, except that ghrelin and chemokine RANTES were increased. Iron overload decreased expressions of adiponectin and leptin both in vivo and in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of recombinant leptin at 1 μg/g in acute iron overload mice had no significant effects on serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C, while intraperitoneal injection of recombinant adiponectin at 3 μg/g partially restored serum TG level through improving activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase, but abnormal serum LDL-C and HDL-C were not redressed, suggesting other mechanisms also existed. In conclusion, the adipose responds to iron overload at an early stage to interfere with lipid metabolism by secreting adipocytokines, which may further affect glucose metabolism, inflammation, and other iron overload-induced effects on the body.

miRNA-21 promotes gastric cancer growth by adjusting prostaglandin E2

OBJECTIVE

It is to study the stimulation and possible active mechanism of miRNA-21 on AGS proliferation of gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AGS gastric cancer cells were cultivated in vitro and then divided into the blank control group, the PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) group, the anti-miRNA-21 group and the PGE2 + anti-miRNA-21 group and the MTT and the flow cytometry methods were adopted to test the effect of PGE2 or/and anti-miRNA-21 intervention on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis and the differences to miRNA-21 expression. In addition, the cells were also divided into the blank control group, the PGE2 group, the PGE2 + Perifosine group, the PGE2 + anti-miRNA-21 group and the PGE2 + anti-miRNA-21 + Perifosine group and the MTT and flow cytometry methods were adopted to test the effect of Perifosine intervention on AGS cell proliferation and apoptosis and on PTEN and p-AktmRNA and protein expressions.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, AGS cell proliferation activity increased significantly, the apoptosis rate decreased and the miRNA-21tmRNA and protein expression increased in the PGE2 group (p < 0.05); compared with the PGE2 group, the AGS cell proliferation rate decreased, the apoptosis rate increased and the miRNA-21mRNA and protein expressions decreased (p < 0.05) in the anti-miRNA-21 group and the PGE2 + anti-miRNA-21 group. In addition, after intervention of Perifosine, the AGS cell proliferation rate decreased, the apoptosis rate increased, the PTEN mRNA and protein expressions increased and the pAktmRNA and protein expressions decreased (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

miRNA-21 may promote the growth of gastric cancer cells by adjusting and controlling PTEN/Akt signal passage mediated PEG2.

Inhibition of Sumoylation Alleviates Oxidative Stress-induced Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Senescence and Represses Proinflammatory Gene Expression

PURPOSE

Advanced age is the largest risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Sumoylation is a reversible post-translational modification that conjugates small peptide, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), to a target protein. Dysregulation of sumoylation is recently found to be critically involved in several age-related disorders. However, the effects of sumoylation during retina senescence and aging remains elusive. This study is aimed to investigate the function and regulation of sumoylation pathway in the aging retina and premature senescent retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

METHODS

1.5- and 10-month C57/B6 mice were used for comparative aging study. Both ARPE primary cultures and ARPE-19 cells were used for assay systems. The qRT-PCR was used for analysis of mRNA expression. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the protein expression. Cell flow cytometry was used for cell cycle progression analysis. RPE barrier function and senescent-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) activity were analyzed to measure cellular senescence.

RESULTS

We show that the expression of SUMO enzymes and global protein sumoylation were downregulated in the aging mouse retina, and in the oxidative stress (OS) -induced premature senescent RPE cells. Dramatical altered distribution of SUMO E1, E2 and E3 enzymes were observed during RPE senescence. Inhibition of sumoylation alleviated OS-induced cell senescence in RPE cells, as indicated by decreased p21 and p53 expression and decreased percentage of cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Intriguingly, inhibition of SUMO E1 repressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine in the premature senescent RPE cells. However, inhibition of sumoylation did not prevent DNA damage during the OS-induced RPE senescence process.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate sumoylation critically regulates retina and RPE aging and that targeting sumoylation process may provide potential therapeutic strategy for AMD treatment.

[Mechanism of angiotensin II (Ang II) on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells]

Objective: To study the effect and mechanism of angiotensin (Ang II) on the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods: The effects of different concentrations of Ang II's (10(-8)-10(-4) mol/L) on proliferated hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were detected by CCK-8 assay. The expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) protein and activation of ERK1/2 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells after processing with Ang II were assayed by Western blot. The cells were pretreated with candesartan (AT1 receptor antagonist), sorafenib (Raf kinase inhibitor) and PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) for 1.5 h and then Ang II (10(-6) mol/L) was added. CCK-8 assay was used to determine whether it could reverse the proliferation of Ang II, and ERK phosphorylation levels were detected by Western blot. The changes in Bcl-2 and c-myc gene expression before and after Ang II processing were detected by Rt-PCR. According to different data, t-test, one-way analysis of variance or SNK method were used for statistical analysis. Results: HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of Ang II promoted cell proliferation after 24h and 48h. After 24 h, cell vitality was strongest with Ang II concentration 10(-5) mol/L and the absorbance value was 0.990 8±0.097 8; and again after 48 h, the cell viability was strongest with Ang II concentration 10(-6) mol/L and the absorbance value was 1.302 7 ± 0.030 9. Moreover, the pro-proliferation effect of Ang II on HepG2 cells blocked candesartan, sorafenib and ERK1/2 isolated inhibitors. After treatment with 10(-6) mol/L Ang II, Western blot showed that Ang II significantly promoted AT1 receptor expression and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 protein confirmed that Ang II activated the AT1/RAF/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, Rt-PCR detection showed that the downstream of Bcl-2 and c-myc genes expressions rose significantly when the concentration of Ang II ranged from 10(-8) to 10(-6) mol/L. Conclusion: Ang II can promote the proliferation of HepG2 cells by activating AT1/Raf /ERK1/2 signaling pathway and enhance the downstream of Bcl-2 and c-myc gene expression.

Reduction of hemoglobin, not iron, inhibited maturation of red blood cells in male rats exposed to high intensity endurance exercises

The existence of sports anemia, induced by strenuous or long-term exercise and characterized by decreases of red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin and iron content, remains to be doubtful. To observe the effects of endurance exercise on RBCs and explain the underlying reason, we designed this study by observing RBCs parameters and iron metabolism in 8-weeks training rats and effects of iron supplement or protein supplement on RBCs. Results showed that erythrocyte counts, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin content decreased while RBC distribution width increased in exercised rats at later stage during 8 weeks training. But the contents of serum iron and ferritin decreased only at 1-week and 2-week and returned to normal at 4-week and 8-week. Same as iron content, apparent iron absorption rate was declined at early stage but restored to normal level at 8-week, as well as serum adrenaline, cortisol and insulin levels. Instead, the contents of total protein and albumin in serum were decreased at later stage during 8-weeks training. Furthermore, we observed that protein supplement ameliorated RBCs parameters in rats exposed to 8 weeks swimming exercise, but iron supplement had no effects on RBCs, though it obviously increased iron content of serum and the liver. Based on these results, we drew a conclusion that transient changes of iron metabolism, which may be induced by stress hormone changes, was not the reason for RBCs decrease in endurance exercises but hemoglobin reduction, induced by defects in protein supplement, impeded development of RBCs.

CCL2 is Upregulated by Decreased miR-122 Expression in Iron-Overload-Induced Hepatic Inflammation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Iron overload (IO) is accompanied by hepatic inflammation. The chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) mediates inflammation, and its overexpression is associated with IO. However, whether IO results in CCL2 overexpression in the liver and the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

METHODS

We subjected mice to IO by administering intraperitoneal injections of dextran-iron or by feeding mice a 3% dextran-iron diet to observe the effects of IO on miR-122/CCL2 expression through real-time qPCR and Western blot analysis. We also used indicators, including the expression of the inflammatory cytokine, the inflammation score based on H&E staining and the serum content of ALT and AST to evaluate the effects of IO on hepatic inflammation. Meanwhile, we observed the effects of vitamin E on IO-induced hepatic inflammation. In cells, we used 100 µΜ FeSO4 or 30 µΜ Holo-Tf to produce IO and observed the roles of miR-122 in regulating CCL2 expression by using miR-122 mimics or inhibitors to overexpress or inhibit miR-122. Then, we used a dual-luciferase reporter assay to prove that miR-122 regulates CCL2 expression through direct binding to its complementary sequence in the CCL2 mRNA 3'UTR.

RESULTS

IO induces the downregulation of miR-122 and the upregulation of CCL2, as well as inflammatory responses both in vitro and in vivo. Although IO-induced oxidative stress is eliminated by the antioxidant vitamin E, IO-induced hepatic inflammation still exists, which probably can be explained by the fact that vitamin E has no effects on the miR-122/CCL2 pathway. In in vitro experiments, the overexpression and inhibition of miR-122 significantly reduced and increased CCL2 expression, respectively. The dual-luciferase reporter assay indicates that miR-122 binds CCL2 mRNA 3'UTR.

CONCLUSION

We propose the roles of miR-122/CCL2 in IO-induced hepatic inflammation. Our studies should provide a new clue for developing clinical strategies for patients with IO.

Novel coronaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses and circoviruses in insectivorous bats from northern China

Bats are considered as the reservoirs of several emerging infectious disease, and novel viruses are continually found in bats all around the world. Studies conducted in southern China found that bats carried a variety of viruses. However, few studies have been conducted on bats in northern China, which harbours a diversity of endemic insectivorous bats. It is important to understand the prevalence and diversity of viruses circulating in bats in northern China. In this study, a total of 145 insectivorous bats representing six species were collected from northern China and screened with degenerate primers for viruses belonging to six families, including coronaviruses, astroviruses, hantaviruses, paramyxoviruses, adenoviruses and circoviruses. Our study found that four of the viruses screened for were positive and the overall detection rates for astroviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses and circoviruses in bats were 21.4%, 15.9%, 20% and 37.2%, respectively. In addition, we found that bats in northern China harboured a diversity of novel viruses. Common Serotine (Eptesicus serotinu), Fringed long‐footed Myotis (Myotis fimriatus) and Peking Myotis (Myotis pequinius) were investigated in China for the first time. Our study provided new information on the ecology and phylogeny of bat‐borne viruses.

Sex and Age Differences in Motion Sickness in Rats: The Correlation with Blood Hormone Responses and Neuronal Activation in the Vestibular and Autonomic Nuclei

Many studies have demonstrated sex and age differences in motion sickness, but the underlying physiological basis is still in controversy. In the present study, we tried to investigate the potential correlates of endocrine and/or neuronal activity with sex and age differences in rats with motion sickness. LiCl-induced nausea symptom was evaluated by conditioned gaping. Motion sickness was assessed by measurement of autonomic responses (i.e., conditioned gaping and defecation responses), motor impairments (i.e., hypoactivity and balance disturbance) after Ferris wheel-like rotation, and blood hormone levels and central Fos protein expression was also observed. We found that rotation-induced conditioned gaping, defecation responses and motor disorders were significantly attenuated in middle-aged animals (13- and 14-month-age) compared with adolescents (1- and 2-month-age) and young-adults (4- and/or 5-month-age). LiCl-induced conditioned gapings were also decreased with age, but was less pronounced than rotation-induced ones. Females showed greater responses in defecation and spontaneous locomotor activity during adolescents and/or young-adult period. Blood adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone significantly increased in 4-month-old males after rotation compared with static controls. No significant effect of rotation was observed in norepinephrine, epinephrine, β-endorphin and arginine-vasopressin levels. The middle-aged animals (13-month-age) also had higher number of rotation-induced Fos-labeled neurons in the spinal vestibular nucleus, the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), the central and medial nucleus of amygdala (CeA and MeA) compared with adolescents (1-month-age) and young-adults (4-month-age) and in the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) compared with adolescents (1-month-age). Sex difference in rotation-induced Fos-labeling was observed in the PBN, the NTS, the locus ceruleus and the paraventricular hypothalamus nucleus at 4 and/or 13 months of age. These results suggested that the sex and age differences in motion sickness may not correlate with stress hormone responses and habituation. The age-dependent decline in motion sickness susceptibility might be mainly attributed to the neuronal activity changes in vestibulo-autonomic pathways contributing to homeostasis regulation during motion sickness.

High-Brightness High-Energy Electron Beams from a Laser Wakefield Accelerator via Energy Chirp Control

By designing a structured gas density profile between the dual-stage gas jets to manipulate electron seeding and energy chirp reversal for compressing the energy spread, we have experimentally produced high-brightness high-energy electron beams from a cascaded laser wakefield accelerator with peak energies in the range of 200-600 MeV, 0.4%-1.2% rms energy spread, 10-80 pC charge, and ∼0.2  mrad rms divergence. The maximum six-dimensional brightness B_{6D,n} is estimated as ∼6.5×10^{15}  A/m^{2}/0.1%, which is very close to the typical brightness of e beams from state-of-the-art linac drivers. These high-brightness high-energy e beams may lead to the realization of compact monoenergetic gamma-ray and intense coherent x-ray radiation sources.

Evidence for a Role of Orexin/Hypocretin System in Vestibular Lesion-Induced Locomotor Abnormalities in Rats

Vestibular damage can induce locomotor abnormalities in both animals and humans. Rodents with bilateral vestibular loss showed vestibular deficits syndrome such as circling, opisthotonus as well as locomotor and exploratory hyperactivity. Previous studies have investigated the changes in the dopamine system after vestibular loss, but the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. Numerous evidences indicate that the orexin system is implicated in central motor control. We hypothesized that orexin may be potentially involved in vestibular loss-induced motor disorders. In this study, we examined the effects of arsanilate- or 3,3′-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN)-induced vestibular lesion (AVL or IVL) on the orexin-A (OXA) labeling in rat hypothalamus using immunohistochemistry. The vestibular lesion-induced locomotor abnormalities were recorded and verified using a histamine H4 receptor antagonist JNJ7777120 (20 mg/kg, i.p.). The effects of the orexin receptor type 1 antagonist SB334867 (16 μg, i.c.v.) on these behavior responses were also investigated. At 72 h post-AVL and IVL, animals exhibited vestibular deficit syndrome and locomotor hyperactivity in the home cages. These responses were significantly alleviated by JNJ7777120 which also eliminated AVL-induced increases in exploratory behavior in an open field. The numbers of OXA-labeled neurons in the hypothalamus were significantly increased in the AVL animals at 72 h post-AVL and in the IVL animals at 24, 48, and 72 h post-IVL. SB334867 significantly attenuated the vestibular deficit syndrome and locomotor hyperactivity at 72 h post-AVL and IVL. It also decreased exploratory behavior in the AVL animals. These results suggested that the alteration of OXA expression might contribute to locomotor abnormalities after acute vestibular lesion. The orexin receptors might be the potential therapeutic targets for vestibular disorders.

Abnormal Amygdala Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Functional neuroimaging studies in irritable bowel syndrome have revealed abnormalities in the corticolimbic regions, specifically, hyperactivity of the amygdala during visceral and somatic stimulation. This study investigated changes in the neural circuitry of the amygdala in patients with irritable bowel syndrome based on resting-state functional connectivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Functional MR imaging data were acquired from 31 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 32 healthy controls (matched for age, sex, and educational level) during rest, and the resting-state functional connectivity of bilateral amygdalae was compared. Multiple regression was performed to investigate the relationship between clinical indices of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and resting-state functional connectivity.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, patients with irritable bowel syndrome had higher positive resting-state functional connectivity between the amygdala and insula, midbrain, parahippocampal gyrus, pre- and postcentral gyri, and supplementary motor area. The inclusion of anxiety and depression as covariates did not alter amygdala resting-state functional connectivity differences between the study groups. Multiple covariate regression results showed that the pain intensity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome positively correlated with resting-state functional connectivity between the amygdala and supplementary motor area, pre- and postcentral gyri, and insula, while the Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Symptom Severity Score positively correlated with resting-state functional connectivity between the amygdala and insula and midbrain.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome showed disturbed amygdala resting-state functional connectivity with the corticolimbic regions, which could partly account for the enhanced emotional arousal and visceral information processing associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Abnormal regional homogeneity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A resting-state functional MRI study

BACKGROUND

Task-related brain imaging research has implicated abnormal central processing of visceral sensation in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, how brain function of IBS patients is altered during resting-state remains to be determined. We investigated spontaneous brain activity of patients with IBS using regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

METHODS

Thirty-one patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS and 32 age- and sex- matched healthy controls underwent clinical assessments and rs-fMRI scanning. ReHo maps were acquired by calculating the Kendall's coefficient of concordance and compared between the IBS group and the control group. The effects of psychological disturbance on group differences were assessed by including anxiety and depression levels as covariates in the statistical analyses. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between ReHo values and disease duration, symptom severity, and pain intensity.

KEY RESULTS

Compared with controls, IBS patients showed increased ReHo in the postcentral gyrus and thalamus and decreased ReHo in the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex. The inclusion of anxiety and depression as covariates did not alter ReHo differences between the two groups. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between clinical indices and ReHo values in some brain regions in the IBS group.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

IBS patients have abnormal local synchronization of spontaneous brain activity in regions involved in visceral afferent processing, emotional arousal, and cognitive modulation. Combining rs-fMRI and ReHo analysis seems to be a valuable approach to investigate the neural basis of IBS.

[Effects of simvastatin nano-liposomes on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of liposomal formulation on simvastatin nano-liposomes (SMV-liposome) promoting the osteogenic differentiation of mice bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) analyzed by the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

METHODS

Primary BMDC were cultured in vitro using adherence and culture of whole bone marrow method. SMV dosage was set as control group and had two different dosages in this group on the basis of the concentration of SMV. 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L SMV concentration were represented by SMV low dosage group (S1) and SMV high dosage group (S2), respectively. Similarly, SMV-liposome dosage was set as experimental group including two different dosages, 1 μmol/L SMV capsuled concentration as SMV-liposome low dosage group (SL1) and 2 μmol/L SMV capsuled concentration as SMV-liposome high dosage group (SL2). Besides, groups with no drug intervention in the experiments were set as blank. BMSC were treated with different concentrations of SMV and SMV-liposome for 48 h, the activity of ALP was measured using p-nitropheny-phosate method, and ALP expression in the BMSC cells was stained by BCIP/NBT alkaline phosphatase color development kit (BCIP/NBT Kit). Furthermore, BMP-2 expression in the BMSC was determined by Western Blot.

RESULTS

MTT assay showed, after incubated with different concentrations of SMV and SMV-liposome, the cell viabilities of BMSC were all above 85% and had no significant difference in the groups. Compared with the same dosage of SMV in these groups, control group and experimental group had significantly elevated the specific activity of ALP, the staining of BCIP/NBTKit as well as the protein expression of BMP-2. Besides, the data showed dose-dependent elevation in the control group and experimental group, namely the high dose group had better results than the low dose group.

CONCLUSION

Nano-liposomal formulation significantly enhanced SMV effects on the osteogenetic differentiation of BMSC.

The superior aspect of the perirenal space: could it be depicted by dual-source CT in vivo in adults

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to observe whether the renal fascias could be effectively shown by dual-source CT (DSCT) and to explore the superior communication of the perirenal space (PS) in vivo in adults.

METHODS

275 cases were included in the normal group and 124 cases in the acute pancreatitis group in this study; all images obtained by DSCT were observed; the superior adherence of the renal fascias and the pattern of superior communication of the PS were judged; and the consistency between the two groups was compared.

RESULTS

The superior adherence of the renal fascias was reliably displayed in 57.8% of the normal group and 69.4% of the acute pancreatitis group, the anterior renal fascia (ARF) did not fuse with the posterior renal fascia superiorly. The left ARF fused with the posterior parietal peritoneum in 57.9% of the normal group and 45.3% of the pancreatitis group, where the left PS communicated with the subdiaphragmatic retroperitoneal space (SDRS). The left ARF fused with the peritoneum laterally and simultaneously with the inferior phrenic fascia medially in 42.1% and 54.7% of each group, respectively, where the left PS was open towards the SDRS laterally but sealed off from the SDRS medially. The right ARF fused with the peritoneum in all cases; and the right PS was open towards the bare area of the liver.

CONCLUSION

To some extent, DSCT can display renal fascia and its superior adherence and reflect the superior communication of the PS.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This study was conducted in vivo in adults by high-resolution DSCT, and more samples could be provided.

Abnormalities in whole-brain functional connectivity observed in treatment-naive post-traumatic stress disorder patients following an earthquake

BACKGROUND

Convergent studies have highlighted the dysfunction of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, only a few studies have investigated the functional connectivity between brain regions in PTSD patients during the resting state, which may improve our understanding of the neuropathophysiology of PTSD. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of whole-brain functional connectivity in treatment-naive PTSD patients without co-morbid conditions who experienced the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in the Sichuan province of China.

METHOD

A total of 72 PTSD patients and 86 trauma-exposed non-PTSD controls participated in the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. All these subjects were recruited from the disaster zone of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Functional connectivities between 90 paired brain regions in PTSD patients were compared with those in trauma-exposed non-PTSD controls. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between significantly abnormal connectivities in PTSD patients and their clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) scores.

RESULTS

Compared with non-PTSD controls, PTSD patients showed weaker positive connectivities between the middle prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and rectus, as well as between the inferior orbitofrontal cortex and the hippocampus. In addition, PTSD patients showed stronger negative connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the insula. The CAPS scores in PTSD patients correlated negatively with the connectivity between the amygdala and the mPFC.

CONCLUSIONS

PTSD patients showed abnormalities in whole-brain functional connectivity, primarily affecting the connectivities between the mPFC and limbic system, and connectivity between the PCC and insula.

Losartan reverses glomerular podocytes injury induced by AngII via stabilizing the expression of GLUT1

Podocyte impairment is a key pathogenic even in the initiation and development of glomerular diseases associated with proteinuria. The type 2 diabetic patients is characterized by progressive increases in albuminuria which are associated with the development of characteristic histopathological features. Losartan had a benefit in decreasing albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients,suggesting that losartan may have another effect other than blockade of the traditional renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, the mechanism has remained undetermined. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is the predominant basal glucose transporter. In the kidney, GLUT1 was overexpressed predominantly in glomerular mesangial cells and in small vessels, rather than in podocytes. The increased glomerular GLUT1 mimicked diabetes-induced glomerular GLUT1 expression. In this study, we hypothesized that increased GLUT1 expression induced by angiotensinII (AngII) contributes to the progression of podocytes injury, losartan can block the effect of AngII and protect podocytes via stabilizing the expression of GLUT1, our results strongly suggest that losartan has a direct and protective effect on podocytes. This represents a novel mechanism by which losartan may protect podocyte from apoptotic death and improve podocyte function via stabilizing the expression of GLUT1. This finding underlines the crucial role of GLUT1 in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury and proteinuria.

12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid levels link to coronary artery disease in Type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND

12(S)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE) is a metabolite of arachidonic acid. 12(S)-HETE is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetes. However, the correlation between 12(S)-HETE and coronary artery disease (CAD) in the diabetic patient is unclear.

AIMS

The study investigated the relationship between 12(S)-HETE and CAD in Type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

Plasma 12(S)- HETE levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 103 healthy controls (control), 109 diabetic patients without CAD (diabetic), and 152 diabetic patients with CAD (diabetic-CAD).

RESULTS

12(S)-HETE levels were higher in both diabetic and diabetic-CAD groups compared to control and in the diabetic-CAD group compared to the diabetic group. In the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, 12(S)-HETE levels correlated independently with CAD, systolic blood pressure, and glycated hemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that 12(S)-HETE levels are increased in diabetic patients with CAD, suggesting a role for atherosclerosis in T2D.

Disruption of PF4/H multimolecular complex formation with a minimally anticoagulant heparin (ODSH)

Recent studies have shown that ultra-large complexes (ULCs) of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin (H) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an immune-mediated disorder caused by PF4/H antibodies. Because antigenic PF4/H ULCs assemble through non-specific electrostatic interactions, we reasoned that disruption of charge-based interactions can modulate the immune response to antigen. We tested a minimally anticoagulant compound (2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin, ODSH) with preserved charge to disrupt PF4/H complex formation and immunogenicity. We show that ODSH disrupts complexes when added to pre-formed PF4/H ULCs and prevents ULC formation when incubated simultaneously with PF4 and UFH. In other studies, we show that excess ODSH reduces HIT antibody (Ab) binding in immunoassays and that PF4/ODSH complexes do not cross-react with HIT Abs. When ODSH and unfractionated heparin (UFH) are mixed at equimolar concentrations, we show that there is a negligible effect on amount of protamine required for heparin neutralisation and reduced immunogenicity of PF4/UFH in the presence of ODSH. Taken together, these studies suggest that ODSH can be used concurrently with UFH to disrupt PF4/H charge interactions and provides a novel strategy to reduce antibody mediated complications in HIT.

Do associations between staff and inpatient feedback have the potential for improving patient experience? An analysis of surveys in NHS acute trusts in England

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether staff feedback on quality, safety and workforce issues is reflected in patient-reported experience.

SETTING

166 NHS acute trusts in England.

PARTICIPANTS

Respondents to the 2006 surveys of adult inpatients and staff in 166 NHS acute trusts in England.

METHODS

Multiple linear regression was used to model the relationship between responses by "frontline" staff and inpatients at trust level. Staff survey items were the explanatory variables and inpatient responses the dependent variables. Adjustments were made for location (London and non-London) and trust type.

RESULTS

69 500 staff and 81 000 patients responded to the surveys. There were several significant associations between staff and patients' responses, including that staff availability of hand-washing materials was positively associated with patient feedback on cleanliness and hand washing by doctors/nurses (p<0.00). It was a significant predictor of patient experience also in several other models. Other significant predictors of patient experience were managerial support, witnessing and reporting of errors (positively associated with patient experience), working extra hours and stress (negatively associated). London trusts performed worse on patient experience than trusts outside London and specialist trusts performed better than other acute trusts.

CONCLUSIONS

Staff feedback was associated with patient-reported experience. Positive staff feedback on availability of hand-washing materials was broadly reflective of positive patient experience. Negative staff experience was reflected in poorer patient experience and vice versa. Although we cannot demonstrate causality, the consistent direction of the findings is indicative of it. Management boards of trusts and clinicians and other staff should monitor and act on the results of their staff surveys. This has the potential for improving quality, safety and patient experience.

Optimization of a murine immunization model for study of PF4/heparin antibodies

SUMMARY BACKGROUND

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening thrombotic illness caused by drug-dependent antibodies recognizing complexes of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. Little is known about the immune pathogenesis of HIT, in particular factors influencing PF4/heparin antibody formation. To gain insight into the biologic basis of heparin sensitization, we have recently developed an animal model using wild-type (WT) mice in which murine PF4/heparin antibodies (anti-mPF4/H) arise de novo after antigen challenge.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

This report describes technical refinements to the murine model and describes additional biologic features of the immune response to mPF4/heparin.

RESULTS

Our studies indicate that antibody responses to mPF4/heparin are dependent on murine strain, injection routes and doses of mPF4 and heparin. C57BL/6 mice are more immunologically responsive to mPF4/heparin antigen than BALB/c mice and robust immunization can be achieved with intravenous, but not intraperitoneal, administration of antigen. We also observe a direct relationship between initial concentrations of mPF4 and antibody levels. Additionally, we demonstrate that mPF4/H immune response in mice decays with time, is not associated with thrombocytopenia and displays characteristics of immune recall on re-exposure to antigen.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies describe and characterize a murine model for studying the immunologic basis of PF4/heparin sensitization.

Gastrointestinal absorption enhancement of insulin by administration of enteric microspheres and SNAC to rats

The preparation and characteristics of insulin enteric microspheres (EMS) were studied and the gastrointestinal absorption enhancement of insulin by co-administering EMS with sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC) was determined. The w/o/w and o(1)/o(2) emulsion solvent evaporation methods were used to prepare insulin-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) EMS. High-performance liquid chormatography determined the drug loading, entrapment efficiency, stability to pepsin, and drug dissolution rate in hydrochloric acid solution (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8). The hypoglycaemic effect was studied by orally administrating the insulin EMS and SNAC to rats. The particle size of EMS (o(1)/o(2)) and EMS (w/o/w) was about 500 and 30 micro m respectively, and drug loading was 7 and 3% respectively. After being incubated with 18 micro g/mL pepsin solution (pH 1) at 37 degrees C, only 20% of insulin in EMS (o(1)/o(2)) was digested within 4 h, while 60% of the insulin in EMS (w/o/w) was digested within 1 h. In hydrochloric acid solution (pH 1.2), EMS (o(1)/o(2)) had less drug dissolution than EMS (w/o/w). In phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8), the entire drug release time of EMS (o(1)/o(2)) and EMS (w/o/w) was 75 and 10 min, respectively. After orally administering with SNAC, EMS (o(1)/o(2)) could decrease the blood glucose level of rats remarkably and maintain the hypoglycaemic effect for 4 h, while EMS (w/o/w) had just a weakly hypoglycaemic effect. The results showed that the characteristics-optimized EMS, i.e. EMS (o(1)/o(2)) incorporating SNAC, could enhance insulin absorption significantly in the gastrointestional tract by taking advantage of both protection from enzyme degradation and improvement of drug permeability.

The do-not-resuscitate order: associations with advance directives, physician specialty and documentation of discussion 15 years after the Patient Self-Determination Act

BACKGROUND

Since the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act, numerous policy mandates and institutional measures have been implemented. It is unknown to what extent those measures have affected end-of-life care, particularly with regard to the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study to assess associations of the frequency and timing of DNR orders with advance directive status, patient demographics, physician's specialty and extent of documentation of discussion on end-of-life care.

RESULTS

DNR orders were more frequent for patients on a medical service than on a surgical service (77.34% vs 64.20%, p = 0.02) and were made earlier in the hospital stay for medicine than for surgical patients (adjusted mean ratio of time from DNR orders to death versus total length of stay 0.30 for internists vs 0.21 for surgeons, p = 0.04). 22.18% of all patients had some form of an advance directive in their chart, yet this variable had no impact on the frequency or timing of DNR ordering. Documentation of DNR discussion was significantly associated with the frequency of DNR orders and the time from DNR to death (2.1 days with no or minimal discussion vs 2.8 days with extensive discussion, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The physician's specialty continues to have a significant impact on the frequency and timing of DNR orders, while advance directive status still has no measurable impact. Additionally, documentation of end-of-life discussions is significantly associated with varying DNR ordering rates and timing.

Predictors of outcome in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been shown to improve survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIM

To identify pretreatment factors that predicts increased mortality in HCC patients receiving TACE.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all patients who underwent TACE for HCC from January 1999 to November 2004. Patient demographics, aetiology of liver disease, laboratory and imaging data regarding tumour characteristics were obtained.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients (57 +/- 1 years age) received 1-4 sessions of TACE (1.4 +/- 0.1). Tumour size was 3.3 +/- 0.2 cm (range 1-13 cm, median 3 cm) with mean number of lesions 1.9 +/- 0.1 (range 1-7). Mean model for the end stage liver disease score: 11 +/- 0.4; cancer of the liver Italian program score: 1.3 +/- 0.1. Survival post-TACE (excluding those underwent orthotopic liver transplantation) was 12 +/- 0.3 months. By multivariate analysis, tumour size (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.11-1.68, P = 0.003), hypovascularity (HR = 12.62, 95% CI: 1.79-88.92, P = 0.01) and elevated international normalized ratio (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.10-1.92 P = 0.008) are shown to be significant risk factors for increased mortality.

CONCLUSION

TACE therapy leads to a mean survival of 12 months in patients not receiving orthotopic liver transplantation. Tumour size, hypovascularity on imaging, and elevated international normalized ratio are predictors of increased mortality after TACE therapy for HCC.

DNR patterns in cancer patients (pts) 16 years after the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA)

6582

Background: In 1991, the PSDA required institutions receiving federal funding to inform pts about the right to refuse life prolonging treatments such as CPR. Studies conducted around 1991 suggest that most DNR orders are written by oncologists less than 3 days prior to death in hospitalized pts, raising ethical concerns. 16 years later, are oncology clinicians writing DNR orders earlier in cancer pts’ hospital course compared to non-cancer pts? Methods: We conducted a chart review of 284 of the 296 total adult deaths during 2005 at Indiana University Hospital. Demographic, diagnostic, and attending service info was collected from hospital billing records. Pts’ DNR status, timing of DNR orders, and presence of a written advanced directive (AD) were assessed through chart review. Results: 76 of 284 (26.8%) patients had cancer diagnoses. Of these, 59 had documented DNR orders. There was no difference in presence or absence of DNR orders at the time of death for cancer vs. non-cancer pts (77.6 vs 72.7%, p=0.35). Mean time from writing of the DNR order to death was 3.51 ± 4.61 days for cancer pts compared to 3.26 ±3.81 days for non-cancer pts (p=0.40), however, the majority of DNR orders written by oncologists were written less than 2 days prior to death. We calculated a ratio of the time between DNR order writing and death to the overall length of stay for cancer and non-cancer pts, excluding pts with very short lengths of stay ( = 5 days). In univariate analyses, this ratio trended toward statistical significance (p=0.08). In multivariate analyses, cancer pts had a higher ratio of the time between DNR order and death to LOS (0.30 vs 0.21, p=0.05). Existence of an AD had no significant impact on this ratio. Surgical specialists wrote DNR orders less frequently (64.2 vs 77.3%, p=0.02) and later than non-surgical specialists (mean 21 vs 10 days from admission, p=0.0008). Conclusions: In this study, DNR ordering patterns among hospitalized cancer and non-cancer pts have changed little since the PSDA. Although cancer pts on average had DNR orders written relatively earlier in their terminal hospital stay than non-cancer pts, the timing varied little from pts in prior studies. Although the majority of hospitalized pts in this sample died with DNR orders, these orders were written very late in their hospital stay.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Potent antitumor efficacy of XAF1 delivered by conditionally replicative adenovirus vector via caspase-independent apoptosis

XAF1 is a newly identified tumor-suppressor gene that can antagonize XIAP and sensitize cells to other cell death triggers. In this study, we utilized ZD55, a conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd) similar to ONYX-015 as the vector to transfer XAF1 into the tumor cells to evaluate its antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Potent and specific cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed upon infection with ZD55-XAF1 in tumor cell lines. Importantly, ZD55-XAF1 exhibited a superior suppression of tumor growth in an animal model of colorectal carcinoma in nude mice compared with Ad-XAF1 (E1-deleted replication-defective viral) and ONYX-015. Complete eradication of the established tumors was observed in four of eight mice. Our data also showed that infection with ZD55-XAF1 resulted in caspase-independent apoptosis. Although caspase-3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase were mildly activated in response to ZD55-XAF1 infection, pretreatment with pan-caspase inhibitor hardly influence its apoptosis-inducing activity. In summary, our study strongly suggested that ZD55-XAF1 could serve as an effective gene-virotherapy strategy and has highly potential against human cancers.

Effects of admission hyperglycemia on mortality and costs in acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia at the time of acute ischemic stroke has been linked to worse outcome in both human and animal studies.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence and severity of hyperglycemia on hospital admission among acute ischemic stroke patients, to examine the independent relationship of admission hyperglycemia to all-cause mortality, and to document the inpatient management of hyperglycemia.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke at one hospital from July 1993 to June 1998 (n = 656) were identified. Demographic data, diagnoses, and blood glucose (BG) values were retrieved from the electronic medical record system. Admission stroke severity, fingerstick BG results, and new diabetes diagnoses were obtained by chart review. Hyperglycemia was defined as admitting random serum BG > or = 130 mg/dL. Hazard ratios (HR) for 30-day, 1-year, and 6-year mortality were calculated using multivariable Cox regression models.

RESULTS

Hyperglycemia at admission to hospital was present in 40% of patients with acute stroke. Patients with hyperglycemia were more often women and more likely to have prior diagnoses of diabetes and heart failure. Almost all of these patients remained hyperglycemic during their hospital stay (mean BG = 206 mg/dL), and 43% received no inpatient hypoglycemic drugs. Hyperglycemic patients had longer hospital stay (7 vs 6 days, p = 0.015) and higher inpatient hospital charges ($6,611 vs $5,262, p < 0.001). Hyperglycemia independently increased the risk for death at 30 days (HR 1.87, p < or = 0.01), 1 year (HR 1.75, p < or = 0.01), and 6 years after stroke (HR 1.41, p </= 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Admitting hyperglycemia was common among patients with acute ischemic stroke and was associated with increased short- and long-term mortality and with increased inpatient charges. Inpatient blood glucose management was suboptimal in this hospital. A trial of intensive treatment of hyperglycemia should be considered.

Treatment of antibiotics wastewater utilizing successive hydrolysis, denitrification and nitrification

A process consisting of anaerobic hydrolysis, denitrification, and oxidation/nitrification was proposed for simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen from terramycin crystallizing mother solution (TCMS), and its performance was investigated by treating diluted TCMS in a lab-scale continuous flow column system. Direct denitrification-nitrification of diluted TCMS produced a significant residual of nitrate and nitrite, which disappeared 44 days after startup of anaerobic hydrolysis column. The electron donors available to denitrification were increased by 6 times after diluted TCMS was treated in the hydrolysis column under an HRT of 2.5 h or longer. The reaction rates of organics decomposition, nitrification, and denitrification were also significantly increased due to reduction of terramycin and decomposition of complicated molecules to small molecules during anaerobic hydrolysis. The specific denitrification rate and nitrification rate increased from 0.033 d(-1) and 0.01 d(-1) to 0.045 d(-1) and 0.021 d(-1) respectively after diluted TCMS (dilution ratio: 1:4) was hydrolyzed in anaerobic hydrolysis column at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 h.

Identification of tumor markers in models of human colorectal cancer using a 19,200-element complementary DNA microarray

Metastasis represents a crucial transition in disease development and progression and has a profound impact on survival for a wide variety of cancers. Cell line models of metastasis have played an important role in developing our understanding of the metastatic process. We used a 19,200-element human cDNA microarray to profile transcription in three paired cell-line models of colorectal tumor metastasis. By correlating expression patterns across these cell lines, we have identified 176 genes that appear to be differentially expressed (greater than 2-fold) in all highly metastatic cell lines relative to their reference. An analysis of these genes reiterates much of our understanding of the metastatic process and suggests additional genes, many of previously uncharacterized function, that may be causatively involved in, or at least prognostic of, metastasis. Northern analysis of a limited number of these genes validates the observed pattern of expression and suggests that further investigation and functional characterization of the identified genes is warranted.

A membrane protein enriched in endoplasmic reticulum exit sites interacts with COPII

Although all mammalian COPII components have now been cloned, little is known of their interactions with other regulatory proteins involved in exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We report here that a mammalian protein (Yip1A) that is about 31% identical to S. cerevisiae and which interacts with and modulates COPII-mediated ER-Golgi transport. Yip1A transcripts are ubiquitously expressed. Transcripts of a related mammalian homologue, Yip1B, are found specifically in the heart. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that Yip1A is localized to vesicular structures that are concentrated at the perinuclear region. The structures marked by Yip1A co-localized with Sec31A and Sec13, components of the COPII coat protein complex. Immunoelectron microscopy also showed that Yip1A co-localizes with Sec13 at ER exit sites. Overexpression of the hydrophilic N terminus of Yip1A arrests ER-Golgi transport of the vesicular stomatitis G protein and causes fragmentation and dispersion of the Golgi apparatus. A glutathione S-transferase fusion protein with the hydrophilic N terminus of Yip1A (GST-Yip1A) is able to bind to and deplete vital components from rat liver cytosol that is essential for in vitro vesicular stomatitis G transport. Peptide sequence analysis of cytosolic proteins that are specifically bound to GST-Yip1A revealed, among other proteins, mammalian COPII components Sec23 and Sec24. A highly conserved domain at the N terminus of Yip1A is required for Sec23/Sec24 interaction. Our results suggest that Yip1A is involved in the regulation of ER-Golgi traffic at the level of ER exit sites.

The cAMP-mediated protein kinase signal transduction pathway is involved in the pyrogenic effect of CRH in rats

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) mediated protein kinase signal transduction pathway is involved in the pyrogenic action of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in rats.

METHODS

Corticotropin releasing hormone, 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA) and adenosine-3',5'-(cyclic) monophosphorothionate, Rp-Isomer (Rp-cAMPS), were administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). The colonic temperature was measured using a thermistor, and the content of cAMP in the hypothalamus was determined by radioimmunoassay. Hypothalamic incubation was used to assess the effects of CRH on the content of cAMP in the hypothalamus in vitro.

RESULTS

Microinjection (i.c.v.) of CRH (2.5 micrograms, 5.0 micrograms and 10 micrograms) caused increases in colonic temperature and the hypothalamus cAMP level in conscious rats. CRH increased hypothalamus cAMP level in vitro. The pyrogenic effects of CRH were abolished or markedly inhibited by prior injection (i.c.v.) of an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, DDA (30 micrograms), or an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, Rp-cAMPS (15 micrograms).

CONCLUSION

cAMP mediates the pyrogenic action of centrally administered of CRH in rats, and protein kinase A may play an important role in the central CRH-induced fever. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase signal transduction pathway may be involved in the central mechanisms of the pyrogenic action of CRH in rats.

Shotgun optical maps of the whole Escherichia coli O157:H7 genome

We have constructed NheI and XhoI optical maps of Escherichia coli O157:H7 solely from genomic DNA molecules to provide a uniquely valuable scaffold for contig closure and sequence validation. E. coli O157:H7 is a common pathogen found in contaminated food and water. Our approach obviated the need for the analysis of clones, PCR products, and hybridizations, because maps were constructed from ensembles of single DNA molecules. Shotgun sequencing of bacterial genomes remains labor-intensive, despite advances in sequencing technology. This is partly due to manual intervention required during the last stages of finishing. The applicability of optical mapping to this problem was enhanced by advances in machine vision techniques that improved mapping throughput and created a path to full automation of mapping. Comparisons were made between maps and sequence data that characterized sequence gaps and guided nascent assemblies.

[Anaerobic hydrolysis of terramycin crystallizing mother solution]

The terramycin crystallizing mother solution contained high organics and high nitrogen. There were many kinds of bioinhibition in it but not enough electronic donor. Anaerobic hydrolysis of terramycin crystallizing mother solution was completed with up anarobic sludge bed in order to improve the biodegradability of wastewater and electronic donor in it. The variations of pH, COD, NH4+, and SO4(2-) were monitored. The COD removal was in a narrow range between 10% and 16.4% even when the HRT of the reactor was changed from 1.5 h to 6 h. pH increased because of formation of NH3 and reduction of SO4(2-). Most of SO4(2-) was reduced to S2- when the HRT was longer than 2 h. Batch experiments on hydrolyzed wastewater demonstrated that reaction rates of nitrification and denitrification increased by 90.9% and 45.2%, respectively.

Effects of ischemia on gene expression

Microarray gene expression technology has recently made it feasible to characterize the RNA expression of thousands of genes across numerous tissue samples. We hypothesized that the warm ischemia commonly associated with the surgical extirpation of human tissue would have significant effects on gene expression profiles. To quantitate the effects of warm ischemia on human tissue, we rapidly dissected normal mucosa from a human colon cancer specimen. The specimen was divided and maintained at room temperature until snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Aliquots of tissue were frozen at times 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 60 min after extirpation. Spotted microarrays composed of 2400 distinct elements were used to assay mRNA derived from each time point in triplicate. Eisen's hierarchical clustering methodology and Bayesean statistical methods were then used to assay the effects of warm ischemia on gene expression. Application of time-course statistical models suggest that three patterns were induced by ischemia, accounting for 68.2, 17.8, and 13.4% of the evaluable genes, respectively. Pattern I corresponds to an average change of 27% over 60 min from 5 min baseline level of expression and 63.8% of the genes with at least 80% probability of membership in this pattern show average increases in expression over 60 min. The remainder decrease on average. Pattern II genes show the least ischemia-related effects, demonstrating an average change of only 12% over 60 min. In contrast to pattern I, we find that 67.5% of the genes with at least 80% probability of membership in this pattern are decreasing in expression on average over time. The remaining 32.5% in this pattern increase an average of 12% over 60 min. Finally, pattern III genes (13.4% of the sample) show the greatest sensitivity to ischemia, changing an average of 50% over 60 min, with about the same number increasing as are decreasing. Fold changes in RNA over- or under-expression were observed up to greater than 20-fold. Warm ischemia associated with the surgical extirpation of human tissues has significant effects on gene expression. These data support the careful monitoring of ischemic time for tissues harvested for the purpose of gene profiling.