Integrin-driven monocyte to dendritic cell conversion in modified extracorporeal photochemotherapy

Due to clinical efficacy and safety profile, extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is a commonly used cell treatment for patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The capacity of ECP to induce dendritic antigen-presenting cell (DC)-mediated selective immunization or immunosuppression suggests a novel mechanism involving pivotal cell signalling processes that have yet to be clearly identified as related to this procedure. In this study we employ two model systems of ECP to dissect the role of integrin signalling and adsorbed plasma proteins in monocyte-to-DC differentiation. We demonstrate that monocytes that were passed through protein-modified ECP plates adhered transiently to plasma proteins, including fibronectin, adsorbed to the plastic ECP plate and activated signalling pathways that initiate monocyte-to-DC conversion. Plasma protein adsorption facilitated 54·2 ± 4·7% differentiation, while fibronectin supported 29·8 ± 7·2% differentiation, as detected by DC phenotypic expression of membrane CD80 and CD86, as well as CD36, human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR) and cytoplasmic CD83. Further, we demonstrate the ability of fibronectin and other plasma proteins to act through cell adhesion via the ubiquitous arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD) motif to drive monocyte-to-DC differentiation, with high-density RGD substrates supporting 54·1 ± 5·8% differentiation via αVβ3 and α5β1integrin signalling. Our results demonstrate that plasma protein binding integrins and plasma proteins operate through specific binding domains to induce monocyte-to-DC differentiation in ECP, providing a mechanism that can be harnessed to enhance ECP efficacy.

DNA copy number aberrations in small-cell lung cancer reveal activation of the focal adhesion pathway

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive subtype of lung cancer in its clinical behavior, with a 5-year overall survival as low as 5%. Despite years of research in the field, molecular determinants of SCLC behavior are still poorly understood, and this deficiency has translated into an absence of specific diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. We hypothesized that tumor DNA copy number alterations would allow the identification of molecular pathways involved in SCLC progression. Array comparative genomic hybridization was performed on DNA extracted from 46 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded SCLC tissue specimens. Genomic profiling of tumor and sex-matched control DNA allowed the identification of 70 regions of copy number gain and 55 regions of copy number loss. Using molecular pathway analysis, we found a strong enrichment in these regions of copy number alterations for 11 genes associated with the focal adhesion pathway. We verified these findings at the genomic, gene expression and protein level. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), one of the central genes represented in this pathway, was commonly expressed in SCLC tumors and constitutively phosphorylated in SCLC cell lines. Those were poorly adherent to most substrates but not to laminin-322. Inhibition of FAK phosphorylation at Tyr(397) by a small-molecule inhibitor, PF-573,228, induced a dose-dependent decrease of adhesion and an increase of spreading in SCLC cell lines on laminin-322. Cells that tended to spread also showed a decrease in focal adhesions, as demonstrated by a decreased vinculin expression. These results support the concept that pathway analysis of genes in regions of copy number alterations may uncover molecular mechanisms of disease progression and demonstrate a new role of FAK and associated adhesion pathways in SCLC. Further investigations of FAK at the functional level may lead to a better understanding of SCLC progression and may have therapeutic implications.

Optical Absorbance of Colloidal Suspensions of Silver Polyhedral Nanoparticles

The optical absorption of colloidal suspensions made of silver nanoparticles with polyhedral shapes is studied experimentally and theoretically. The influence of the shape on the optical response is investigated by comparing the measured absorbance with theoretical results for icosahedral, decahedral, and cuboctahedral silver nanoparticles. The theoretical spectra are obtained within the discrete dipole approximation. We find that colloidal suspensions of silver nanoparticles with a small dispersion of size distribution show very few structural shapes.

Energy response of an imaging plate exposed to standard beta sources

Imaging plates (IPs) are a reusable media, which when exposed to ionizing radiation, store a latent image that can be read out with a red laser as photostimulated luminescence (PSL). They are widely used as a substitute for X-ray films for diagnostic studies. In diagnostic radiology this technology is known as computed radiography. In this work, the energy response of a commercial IP to beta-particle reference radiation fields used for calibrations at the National Institute of Standards and Technology was investigated. The absorbed dose in the active storage phosphor layer was calculated following the scaling procedure for depth dose for high Z materials with reference to water. It was found that the beta particles from Pm-147 and Kr-85 gave 68% and 24% higher PSL responses than that induced by Sr-90, respectively, which was caused by the different PSL detection efficiencies. In addition, normalized response curves of the IPs as a function of depth in polystyrene were measured and compared with the data measured using extrapolation chamber techniques. The difference between both sets of data resulted from the continuous energy change as the beta particle travels across the material, which leads to a different PSL response.

Variations in avoidable mortality in relation to health care resources and urbanization level

"Avoidable" mortality may be defined as causes of death whose occurrence is closely related to medical intervention. Areas with particular health care delivery problems can be identified through a geographical comparison of these "avoidable deaths." Mortality data for Valencia from 1982 to 1990 were examined to determine whether or not the availability of medical care resources in the area influenced the occurrence of avoidable deaths. We identified variations in mortality from avoidable causes, grouped according to the differences in levels of urbanization and health care resources, in the 537 municipalities of the Valencian community. (In Spain, the municipality is the lowest administrative division.) Linear regression analysis was performed to predict or estimate this relationship. Only in a small number of avoidable causes did the mortality trend for males differ significantly from 0 (p < 0.005) in relation to different levels of urbanization and health care resources. A direct association between these two variables was observed in males with regards to pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic rheumatic heart disease, and bacterial infection. In females, a relationship between "avoidable" mortality rates and the differences in urbanization and health care resources was found in cervical cancer, pneumonia, abdominal hernias, and cholecystitis. Mortality from asthma and cardiovascular disease (in both males and females) declined faster in urbanized, high income areas than in rural areas. The results clearly demonstrate the considerable mortality risk associated with living in urban areas. On the contrary, we found very little correlation between health service access and mortality.

[Does the gender of the fetus determine the severity of preeclampsia-eclampsia?]

326 patients with the diagnosis of Preeclampsia-Eclampsia, were analyzed. There were 326 new born; 172 of them were female, and 154 male with a ratio 1.2/l. There is the probability of 1.6 times more for Eclampsia if the fetus is male. This report is in disagreement with other reports in world literature.

Non-melanoma skin cancer: a case-control study on risk factors and protective measures

There is considerable evidence that exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of many dermatological conditions, such as non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). In order to better understand this relationship, we examined the connection between quantitative measures of individual sun exposure and the risk of NMSC, and the benefits of some protective measures against sunlight, analyzing the differences by sex. A case-control study was conducted in Valencia, Spain during 1990 to 1992 that included 276 cases of histologically confirmed NMSC and 552 control subjects matched by age, sex, and area of residence. Quantitative ultraviolet exposure, phenotypic features, and protective measures from sunlight were estimated by means of a history questionnaire administered by interview. Logistic regression analysis was carried out for each variable and level of quantitative measures. We observed a statistically significant increase in the risk of NMSC proportional to an increase in the hours of occupational exposure to the sun (OR = 1.2, 2.5, and 5.3, respectively). An increased risk of NMSC was observed in men with high nonoccupational exposure (OR = 1.7; p < 0.05 in open-air activities in the sun, OR = 2.1; p < 0.05 in the sun while on vacation). In women, we found instances of OR > 1, but without significance (p > 0.05). Wearing a hat at work appeared to be an important protective measure for men. Light phenotypic features predominated in our study, especially in women, and seems to be the major risk factor involved. It seems reasonable to presume that differences between the sexes are basically sociocultural, (i.e., different work activities and different use of leisure time.

A comparative study of mortality in agricultural and industrial areas in Spain

The three main causes of contamination in the industrialized world are energy production, and industrial and agricultural activities. The aim of the present study was to examine changes in cause of death in order to contrast causes of death between agricultural and industrial areas. To this effect we have selected four zones--two predominantly industrial and two mainly agricultural--within the Valencian Community. Mortality figures were gathered corresponding to the same period 1976-1989, published by the Conselleria de Sanitat i Consum of the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian Community health authorities). Thirty large groups of causes of death were established for posterior analysis. Mortality rate was defined as the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, standardizing the data by the direct method. A simple regression analysis was performed for each cause of death and in each health coverage area studied, to determine the tendencies characterizing each area in time. A statistical significance test was also carried out. A statistically significant increase (95% confidence interval) was observed for digestive cancer, respiratory cancer, benign tumors and non-specific neoplastic diseases in the industrial areas. In the agricultural areas, a significant decrease (95% confidence interval) was observed in tuberculosis and respiratory diseases and infections. Relative risk (RR) was calculated and thus, tuberculosis, mental and central nervous system disorders, respiratory infections and diseases, and male genital disorders were more frequent in agricultural areas.

Concentration of nitrates in drinking water and its relationship with bladder cancer

Environmental contamination is a characteristic of industrialized nations. The quality of public drinking water, particularly from underground reserves, has increasingly deteriorated. The fundamental cause of the contamination of underground water layers has been the growing worldwide use of nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides since the 1960s. The Valencian Community comprises three provinces on the East Mediterranean coast of Spain. Public drinking water in this community is obtained chiefly from underground sources. As a result, this area suffers the highest nitrates contamination of public drinking water recorded not only in Spain but in all of Europe. The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of differences in the occurrence of bladder cancer between the population of Valencia province and the rest of the country. We studied the differences in bladder cancer incidence among populations exposed to different levels of nitrates in drinking water in the province of Valencia, as expressed in terms of relative risk. We found a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the occurrence of bladder cancer in the Valencia province and the rest of Spain, as reflected by the analysis of the corresponding regression curve slopes. Our analytical study revealed relative risks of over 1 in Valencia province in men and women, associated with the consumption of water containing a mean concentration of > 50 mg/L.

Subjective annoyance caused by environmental noise

We developed an acoustic study implemented throughout a neighborhood of Valencia (Spain). Acoustic recordings were made during the months of November and December 1989, on workdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. We also directly interviewed individuals living in this city area to determine their perception of noise and to evaluate the discomfort caused by it in daily life. A personal interview in the form of a questionnaire was employed to poll the neighborhood inhabitants on the magnitude of environmental noise and the distress it caused. The results showed that 40% of those interviewed considered environmental noise to cause considerable distress. On a 1 to 10 scale, over half of those interviewed rated noise in the neighborhood of 5 or higher. Traffic was considered the major source of noise, followed by noise from neighbors and factories. Of those interviewed, 9% changed the location of their bedroom as a result of noise, whereas 11% were forced to sleep with the windows closed for the same reason.

Autoimmune syndrome after induction of neonatal tolerance to I-E antigens

Neonatal injection of semiallogeneic spleen cells induces a state of specific tolerance to the parental alloantigens, but also the development of an autoimmune syndrome known as host-versus-graft disease (HVGD). The autoimmune features are a consequence of the allogeneic cooperation between persisting alloreactive host T helper type 2 (TH2) cells and donor semiallogeneic B cells. It has been established that I-A alloantigens play a central role in the triggering of this HVGD. Here it was investigated if I-E antigens, which have shown functional differences, regarding autoimmunity and alloreactivity, with respect to I-A antigens, are also able to trigger this autoimmune syndrome. The injection of spleen cells from [B10.A(4R) x B10.A(2R)]F1 (I-E+) hybrid mice into newborn B10.A(4R) (I-E-) mice was accompanied by the establishment of chimerism and also by the development of a characteristic, but moderated, HVGD. The weak intensity of this HVGD is likely due to the moderation of the alloreactive responses induced against I-E molecules. Moreover, the marked increase in the levels of IgE and in the titers of anti-DNA IgG1 antibodies strongly suggest that alloreactive TH2 cells play also a main role in the autoimmune syndrome following tolerization to I-E antigens. Therefore, it is concluded that the I-E and I-A isotypes are functionally similar with respect to the allogeneic cellular interactions that account for the HVGD.

Noise in the city of Valencia: its relation to other air level contaminants

We measured environmental noise in the Spanish Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia. Simultaneously, we made a count of the passing vehicle sat the same points. We calculated the mean of traffic intensity in the points recorded in each year of the study. The recorded noise was extrapolated to the traffic recordings of previous years to establish a relation between noise and traffic intensity. The information concerning chemical contamination was obtained from 1979 to 1989 in the same points. A statistical analysis was carried out in order to determine the evolution of various atmospheric contaminants over the last decade (SO2, smoke, NO2, lead, sedimentable material) in each point and the possible relationship between acoustic contamination and the main chemical contaminants.

[Iodine levels in water for public consumption in the province of Valencia]

A descriptive study has been carried out on the iodine content in the drinking water of the Valencia province, where very low levels were found in almost all the public water supplies of the province. The levels of iodine are similar in water originating from the different types of water sources. A slightly higher level is observed in industrialized areas, the same as in the water supplies that are near solid and liquid waste dumps located on land which is vulnerable to contamination and in areas close to the ocean.