Differentially expressed genes associated with high metabolic tumor volume served as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

The lack of distinct biomarkers for pancreatic cancer is a major cause of early-stage detection difficulty. The pancreatic cancer patient group with high metabolic tumor volume (MTV), one of the values measured from positron emission tomography-a confirmatory method and standard care for pancreatic cancer, showed a poorer prognosis than those with low MTV. Therefore, MTV-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may be candidates for distinctive markers for pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of MTV-related DEGs as markers or therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Tumor tissues and their normal counterparts were obtained from patients undergoing preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT. The tissues were classified into MTV-low and MTV-high groups (7 for each) based on the MTV2.5 value of 4.5 (MTV-low: MTV2.5 < 4.5, MTV-high: MTV2.5 ≥ 4.5). Gene expression fold change was first calculated in cancer tissue compared to its normal counter and then compared between low and high MTV groups to obtain significant DEGs. To assess the suitability of the DEGs for clinical application, the correlation of the DEGs with tumor grades and clinical outcomes was analyzed in TCGA-PAAD, a large dataset without MTV information.

RESULTS

Total RNA-sequencing (MTV RNA-Seq) revealed that 44 genes were upregulated and 56 were downregulated in the high MTV group. We selected the 29 genes matching MTV RNA-seq patterns in the TCGA-PAAD dataset, a large clinical dataset without MTV information, as MTV-associated genes (MAGs). In the analysis with the TCGA dataset, MAGs were significantly associated with patient survival, treatment outcomes, TCGA-PAAD-suggested markers, and CEACAM family proteins. Some MAGs showed an inverse correlation with miRNAs and were confirmed to be differentially expressed between normal and cancerous pancreatic tissues. Overexpression of KIF11 and RCC1 and underexpression of ADCY1 and SDK1 were detected in ~ 60% of grade 2 pancreatic cancer patients and associated with ~ 60% mortality in stages I and II.

CONCLUSIONS

MAGs may serve as diagnostic markers and miRNA therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer. Among the MAGs, KIF11, RCC1, ADCY, and SDK1 may be early diagnostic markers.

MET overexpression in ovarian cancer via CD24-induced downregulation of miR-181a: A signalling for cellular quiescence-like state and chemoresistance in ovarian CSCs

Increased expression of CD24 and MET, markers for cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), are each associated with ovarian cancer severity. However, whether CD24 and MET are co-expressed in ovarian CSCs and, if so, how they are related to CSC phenotype manifestation remains unknown. Our immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the co-expression of CD24 and MET was associated with poorer patient survival in ovarian cancer than those without. In addition, analyses using KM plotter and ROC plotter presented that the overexpression of CD24 or MET in ovarian cancer patients was associated with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. In our miRNA transcriptome and putative target genes analyses, miR-181a was downregulated in CD24-high ovarian cancer cells compared to CD24-low and predicted to bind to CD24 and MET 3'UTRs. In OV90 and SK-OV-3 cells, CD24 downregulated miR-181a expression by Src-mediated YY1 activation, leading to increased expression of MET. And, CD24 or MET knockdown or miR-181a overexpression inhibited the manifestation of CSC phenotypes, cellular quiescence-like state and chemoresistance, in OV90 and SK-OV-3 cells: increased colony formation, decreased G0/G1 phase cell population and increased sensitivity to Cisplatin and Carboplatin. Our findings suggest that CD24-miR-181a-MET may consist of a signalling route for ovarian CSCs, therefore being a combinatory set of markers and therapeutic targets for ovarian CSCs.

CD24 induced cellular quiescence-like state and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells via miR-130a/301a-dependent CDK19 downregulation

Cancer stem-like cell (CSC) is thought to be responsible for ovarian cancer recurrence. CD24 serves as a CSC marker for ovarian cancer and regulates the expression of miRNAs, which are regulators of CSC phenotypes. Therefore, CD24-regulated miRNAs may play roles in manifesting the CSC phenotypes in ovarian cancer cells. Our miRNA transcriptome analysis showed that 94 miRNAs were up or down-regulated in a CD24-high clone from an ovarian cancer patient compared to a CD24-low one. The CD24-dependent expression trend of the top 7 upregulated miRNAs (miR-199a-3p, 34c, 199a-5p, 130a, 301a, 214, 34b*) was confirmed in other 8 clones (4 clones for each group). CD24 overexpression upregulated the expression of miR-199a-3p, 34c, 199a-5p, 130a, 301a, 214, and 34b* in TOV112D (CD24-low) cells compared to the control, while CD24 knockdown downregulated the expression of miR-199a-3p, 199a-5p, 130a, 301a, and 34b* in OV90 (CD24-high) cells. miR-130a and 301a targeted CDK19, which induced a cellular quiescence-like state (increased G0/G1 phase cell population, decreased cell proliferation, decreased colony formation, and decreased RNA synthesis) and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. CD24 regulated the expression of miR-130a and 301a via STAT4 and YY1 phosphorylation mediated by Src and FAK. miR-130a and 301a were positively correlated in expression with CD24 in ovarian cancer patient tissues and negatively correlated with CDK19. Our results showed that CD24 expression may induce a cellular quiescence-like state and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents in ovarian cancer via miR-130a and 301a upregulation. CD24-miR-130a/301a-CDK19 signaling axis could be a prognostic marker for or a potential therapeutic target against ovarian cancer recurrence.

Deciphering the Role of ERBB3 Isoforms in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis

ERBB3, a key member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family, is implicated in the progression and development of various human cancers, affecting cellular proliferation and survival. This study investigated the expression of ERBB3 isoforms in renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC), utilizing data from 538 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Firehose Legacy dataset. Employing the SUPPA2 tool, the activity of 10 ERBB3 isoforms was examined, revealing distinct expression patterns in RCC. Isoforms uc001sjg.3 and uc001sjh.3 were found to have reduced activity in tumor tissues, while uc010sqb.2 and uc001sjl.3 demonstrated increased activity. These variations in isoform expression correlate with patient survival and tumor aggressiveness, indicating their complex role in RCC. The study, further, utilizes CIBERSORTx to analyze the association between ERBB3 isoforms and immune cell profiles in the tumor microenvironment. Concurrently, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was applied, establishing a strong link between elevated levels of ERBB3 isoforms and critical oncogenic pathways, including DNA repair and androgen response. RT-PCR analysis targeting the exon 21-23 and exon 23 regions of ERBB3 confirmed its heightened expression in tumor tissues, underscoring the significance of alternative splicing and exon utilization in cancer development. These findings elucidate the diverse impacts of ERBB3 isoforms on RCC, suggesting their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. This study emphasizes the need for further exploration into the specific roles of these isoforms, which could inform more personalized and effective treatment modalities for renal clear cell carcinoma.

Stent expansion evaluated by optical coherence tomography and subsequent outcomes

Background

Regarding stent expansion indexes, previous optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies have shown minimal stent area (MSA) to be most predictive of adverse events.

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the impact of various stent expansion indexes by post-stent OCT on long-term clinical outcomes, and hence to find OCT-defined optimal stent expansion criteria.

Methods

Of the patients registered in the Yonsei OCT registry, a total of 1071 patients with 1123 native coronary artery lesions treated with new-generation drug-eluting stents under the OCT guidance and analyzable final post-stent OCT were included. Stent expansion indexes and different suboptimal stent expansion criteria were evaluated for their association with device-oriented clinical endpoints (DoCE) including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TVMI) or stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization. Major safety events (MSE) included cardiac death, TVMI or stent thrombosis.

Results

The median follow-up period was 40.6 (interquartile range 22.0–50.0) months. As a continuous variable, MSA, adaptive volumetric stent expansion (stent volume/adaptive reference lumen volume) and overall volumetric stent expansion (stent volume/post-stent lumen volume) were significantly predictive of DoCE. As a categorical criteria, MSA &lt;5.0 mm2 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–9.45), MSA/distal reference lumen area &lt;90% (HR 2.13; 95% CI 1.10–4.14), and overall volumetric stent expansion ≥96.6% (HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.09–5.22) were independently associated with DoCE after adjusting for confounders, and a total malapposition volume ≥7.0 mm3 (HR 3.38; 95% CI 1.05–10.93) was linked to MSE.

Conclusions

This OCT study highlights that sufficient stent expansion to achieve adequate absolute MSA and relative MSA by distal reference lumen area and alleviate significant malapposition is important to improve clinical outcome, but overall stent overexpansion may have deleterious effect.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Effect of early hysterectomy on a risk of incident cardiovascular disease in women: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Aim

Women who inevitably underwent surgical hysterectomy before natural menopause may have an earlier increase in hematocrit and storage iron than women who continue menstruation, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) early. We aimed to evaluate the association of women with hysterectomy vs. without hysterectomy before their 50s with the risk of incident CVD.

Methods

This was a retrospective-cohort study, 135,575 women aged 40 to 50 years in 2011–2014 were extracted from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data and after propensity score matching, 55,539 pairs were included in hysterectomy and non-hysterectomy group respectively. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and coronary artery revascularization.

Results

After adjustment for confounding factors, hysterectomy group had an increased risk of MACCE compared with non-hysterectomy group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–1.44). Regarding individual outcomes, cardiovascular death, MI, and coronary revascularization were comparable between the groups, whereas, the risk of stroke was significantly higher in hysterectomy group than non-hysterectomy group (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.12–1.53). Even after excluding women who underwent oophorectomy, hysterectomy group had a higher risk of MACCE than non-hysterectomy group (HR, 1.24; 95% CI 1.06–1.44).

Conclusions

Early surgical menopause due to hysterectomy, not hormonal menopause, was associated with an increased risk for a composite of CVD, especially stroke. This suggest that the role of “uterus” as well as sex hormones may be important for the sharp increase in the risk of CVD in women after menopause.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Optimal strategy for antiplatelet therapy after endovascular revascularization in patients with lower extremity artery disease

Background

The duration of antiplatelet therapy after endovascular revascularization in patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) has not been well established. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome according to the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in real practice.

Methods

From April 2009 to June 2019, 376 patients with LEAD underwent successful endovascular revascularization. After the procedure, the received single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) or DAPT of various durations were classified into two groups (SAPT or DAPT &lt;6 months vs. DAPT ≥6 months). The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and major adverse limb events (MALEs). The safety outcome was moderate-to-severe bleeding according to the Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Arteries (GUSTO) criteria.

Results

Over the 40-month follow-up period, MACE occurred less frequently in the DAPT ≥6 months group than that in the SAPT or DAPT &lt;6 months group (12.4% vs. 23.8%; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35–0.89; p=0.014) after inverse probability-weighted adjustment and propensity-score matching analysis (HR: 0.55, 95% CI; 0.30–0.99, p=0.048). The incidence of MALE did not show significant difference between the two groups (DAPT ≥6 months group: 17.1% vs. SAPT or DAPT &lt;6 months group: 13.1%; HR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.62–1.78; p=0.846). A significant difference between the DAPT ≥6 months group and the SAPT or DAPT &lt;6 months group was not observed regarding the incidence of moderate-to-severe GUSTO bleeding.

Conclusions

In patients with LEAD, DAPT for ≥6 months after endovascular revascularization was associated with a lower incidence of MACE.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the government of Korea (MSIT) (No. 2019R1G1A1100442).

Response After Repeated Ketamine Injections in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, reduces pain by decreasing central sensitization and pain windup. However, chronic ketamine use can cause tolerance, dependency, impaired consciousness, urinary symptoms, and abdominal pain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated ketamine injections and ketamine readministration after discontinuation in a rat model of neuropathic pain. To induce neuropathic pain, partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) was performed in 15 male Wistar rats, and these animals were divided into three groups: PSNL (control), PSNL + ketamine 5 mg/kg (K5), and PSNL + ketamine 10 mg/kg (K10; n=5 each). Ketamine was injected intraperitoneally daily for 4 weeks, discontinued for 2 weeks, and then readministered for 1 week. Following PSNL, the mechanical withdrawal threshold was determined weekly using the Von Frey. The K10 group showed a significant increase in the mechanical withdrawal threshold, presented here as the target force (in g), at 21 and 28 days compared to the time point before ketamine injection (mean±SE, 276.0±24.0 vs. 21.6±2.7 and 300.0±0.0 vs. 21.6±2.7, respectively; P<0.01) and at 14, 21, and 28 days compared to the control group (108.2±51.2 vs. 2.7±1.3, 276.0±24.0 vs. 2.5±1.5, and 300.0±0.0 vs. 4.0±0.0, respectively; P<0.05). However, in the K10 group, the ketamine effects decreased significantly at 7 days after readministration compared to those after 28 days of repeated injections (P<0.05). In the K10 group, repeated ketamine injections showed a significant increase in antinociceptive effect for >2 weeks, but this ketamine effect decreased after drug readministration.

Prospective randomized comparison of cerebrospinal fluid aspiration and conventional popping methods using 27-gauge spinal needles in patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia

Background

Performing spinal anaesthesia using the conventional popping method with a 27-gauge (27G) spinal needle is technically difficult. In this study, we compared the aspiration and conventional popping method for spinal anaesthesia using 27G Quincke-type needles.

Methods

This prospective, randomized study enrolled 90 patients, aged 19 to 65 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III, who were undergoing spinal anaesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups using a computer-generated random number table: patients receiving spinal anaesthesia using the aspiration method, in which the needle is advanced with continuous aspiration, or the conventional popping method. The primary outcome measure was the success rate of the first attempt to perform dural puncture. Number of attempts and passages, withdrawal cases, successful attempt time, total procedure time, and actual depth of dural puncture were recorded.

Results

Eighty-eight patients were included in the study. In the aspiration group, the success rate of first attempt for dural puncture was 93.3%, compared with 72.1% in the popping group (P = 0.019). Success involving needle withdrawal was recorded in 4 (8.9%) patients in the aspiration group and 13 (30.2%) in the popping group (P = 0.024). In the popping group, the number of attempts was significantly higher (P = 0.044), and total procedure time was significantly longer (P = 0.023). Actual depths of dural puncture were deeper in the popping group than in the aspiration group (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

The aspiration method using a 27G Quincke-type needle offers clinical benefits for dural puncture compared with the conventional popping method for spinal anaesthesia.

Trial registration

Clinical research information service number: KCT0002815, registered 21/Apr/2018. Retrospectively registered.

Prevalence of measles IgG antibodies among immigrant workers in South Korea

Background

After the national vaccination for measles was introduced in 1985, the measles has been controlled in South Korea despite the epidemic in 2000-2001. Current cases in Korea were assumed to be transmitted from outside the country. Because the dynamics and social changes of the population has emerged as important factors in the measles epidemic, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of measles IgG antibodies among immigrant workers.

Methods

The cross sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted in Gyeongsangnamdo province, Korea. Because the representative sampling frame could not be possible, the voluntary foreign workers who have agreed informed consents with a translated format into the native language, participated in this study. IgG antibodies of measles was examined by ELISA using the automation equipment (BEP III- ELISA). This study obtained the approval of Dong-A University Clinical Research Ethics Review Committee.

Results

364 people of foreign workers participated in the study. Regional distribution for study participants was composed of 30 people in Vietnam (16.5%), Uzbekistan 71 people (19.5%), Thailand 70 people (19.2%), China 60 people (16.5%), Philippines 36 people (9.9%), and Indonesia 32 people (8.8%). The average age was 33.0 ± 6.9 years old and 86.5% of the total was men. High school or higher education accounted for 74%. 93.7% showed positivity (95% CI: 95.7-98.9%) for measles IgG antibody and 3.6% showed equivocal.

Conclusions

The measles seropositivity among immigrant workers in Korea was considered to be at the recommended level.

Key messages

The measles seropositivity among immigrant workers in Korea was considered to be at the recommended level. International cooperation is needed to prevent global measles epidemic.

Compression-induced expression of glycolysis genes in CAFs correlates with EMT and angiogenesis gene expression in breast cancer

Tumor growth increases compressive stress within a tissue, which is associated with solid tumor progression. However, very little is known about how compressive stress contributes to tumor progression. Here, we show that compressive stress induces glycolysis in human breast cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) cells and thereby contributes to the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT)- and angiogenesis-related genes in breast cancer cells. Lactate production was increased in compressed CAF cells, in a manner dependent on the expression of metabolic genes ENO2, HK2, and PFKFB3. Conditioned medium from compressed CAFs promoted the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the expression of EMT and/or angiogenesis-related genes. In patient tissues with high compressive stress, the expression of compression-induced metabolic genes was significantly and positively correlated with EMT and/or angiogenesis-related gene expression and metastasis size. These findings illustrate a mechanotransduction pathway involving stromal glycolysis that may be relevant also for other solid tumours.

Abstract 1456: Integrin beta4-induced mitophagy promotes the lactate production of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer

Integrin beta4 neoexpression is induced in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) by some triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and BT-20) through a contact-dependent manner. Integrin beta4 expression is well known to contribute to the migration and survival of cancer cells. However, there is very little known about the role of integrin beta4 expression in CAFs, especially in the aspect of tumor progression. In our study, we found that the exogenous expression of integrin beta4 increased the lactate production of CAFs. The observation made us to hypothesize that integrin beta4 neoexpression is associated with the mitophagy, a cause for aerobic glycolysis, in CAFs. To confirm the assumption, the expression alteration of mitophagy-related genes was first screened in the CAF transfected with integrin beta4 overexpression plasmid. BCL2 interacting protein 3 like (BNIP3L) and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha-II (LC3-II) were significantly upregulated in the integrin beta4 overexpressing CAFs, which was reversed both in the knockdown of integrin beta4 expression and the treatment with an integrin beta4 inhibitor. Autophagosome maturation and lysosomal fusion were also increased in the integrin beta4 overexpressing CAFs compared to the control. Phosphorylation level of c-Jun was upregulated by integrin beta4 overexpression in CAFs and was able to bind to the putative promoter regions of BNIP3L and LC3-II. Taken together, these results demonstrate that integrin beta4 neoexpression induces upregulation of BNIP3L and LC3-II ultimately leading to mitophagy in CAFs, contributing to cancer metabolism via mitophagy-induced lactate production, namely reverse Warburg effect.

Citation Format: Jin Sol Sung, Suki Kang, Joo Hyun Lee, Seong Gyeong Mun, Baek Gil Kim, Nam Hoon Cho. Integrin beta4-induced mitophagy promotes the lactate production of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1456.

Transcriptome-wide analysis of compression-induced microRNA expression alteration in breast cancer for mining therapeutic targets

Tumor growth–generated mechanical compression may increase or decrease expression of microRNAs, leading to tumor progression. However, little is known about whether mechanical compression induces aberrant expression of microRNAs in cancer and stromal cells. To investigate the relationship between compression and microRNA expression, microRNA array analysis was performed with breast cancer cell lines and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) exposed to different compressive conditions. In our study, mechanical compression induced alteration of microRNA expression level in breast cancer cells and CAFs. The alteration was greater in the breast cancer cells than CAFs. Mechanical compression mainly induced upregulation of microRNAs rather than downregulation. In a parallel mRNA array analysis, more than 25% of downregulated target genes were functionally involved in tumor suppression (apoptosis, cell adhesion, and cell cycle arrest), whereas generally less than 15% were associated with tumor progression (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis). Of all cells examined, MDA-MB-231 cells showed the largest number of compression-upregulated microRNAs. miR-4769-5p and miR-4446-3p were upregulated by compression in both MDA-MB-231 cells and CAFs. Our results suggest that mechanical compression induces changes in microRNA expression level, which contribute to tumor progression. In addition, miR-4769-5p and miR-4446-3p may be potential therapeutic targets for incurable cancers, such as triple negative breast cancer, in that this would reduce or prevent downregulation of tumor-suppressing genes in both the tumor and its microenvironment simultaneously.

Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy and safety of oltipraz, a liver X receptor alpha-inhibitory dithiolethione in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Oltipraz is a synthetic dithiolethione with an antisteatotic effect by inhibiting the activity of liver X receptor alpha (LXR-α). Recent studies demonstrated the disruptive role of oltipraz on LXR-α-dependent lipogenesis in hepatocytes and a high-fat diet mouse model.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oltipraz for reducing liver fat in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

We performed a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study. Subjects with a liver fat >20% and hypertransaminasemia were randomised to the three groups: placebo (n = 22), 30 mg of oltipraz (n = 22) or 60 mg of oltipraz (n = 24) twice daily for 24 weeks. Changes in the liver fat from baseline to 24 weeks quantified using magnetic resonance spectroscopy were the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Compared with the placebo group (-3.2 ± 11.1%), absolute changes in the liver fat content increased in a dose-dependent manner: -7.7 ± 7.0% and -13.9 ± 10.7% for the low-dose and high-dose groups (P = 0.13 and P < 0.01). Per cent reduction in the liver fat content was also significantly greater in the high-dose group than in the placebo group (-34.6 ± 29.4% vs. -0.6 ± 62.9%, P = 0.046). Body mass indices (-1.0 ± 0.9% vs. -0.5 ± 1.4%, P = 0.04) significantly decreased in the high-dose group compared to the placebo group. However, absolute changes in insulin resistance, liver enzymes, lipids and cytokines were not significantly different among groups. The incidence of adverse events was comparable among groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-four-week oltipraz treatment significantly reduced the liver fat content in patients with NAFLD. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01373554).

Characteristics of extracellular cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase as a biomarker of cancer in dogs

OBJECTIVE

Early and proper diagnosis of cancer is the most critical factor for the survival and treatment of veterinary cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated extracellular cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (ECPKA) level in serum as a useful cancer biomarker in dogs.

METHODS

ECPKA levels were detected in sera from dogs with cancers (n = 48), benign tumours (n = 18), and non-tumour diseases (n = 102) as well as healthy control dogs (n = 54) utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Sera from dogs bearing various types of cancer exhibited markedly increased levels of ECPKA by up to 7.1-, 8.8-, and 10.9-fold compared with those from dogs harbouring benign tumours, dogs with non-tumour diseases, and healthy control dogs, respectively (P < .0001). In addition, serum ECPKA level did not show statistically significant correlation with gender, breed, or age of dogs or their non-cancerous disease conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our data strongly propose that detection of serum ECPKA level is a potential and specific diagnostic tool for cancer in dogs.

Effects of ileal digesta collection time on standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in corn, soybean meal, and distiller's dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

The objective of this experiment was to determine the minimum collection time needed to obtain representative samples of ileal digesta from pigs fed different types of diets. Eight barrows with an initial BW of 34.6 kg (SD 2.1) were individually fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and randomly allotted to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 diets and 4 periods per square. Three diets contained corn, soybean meal (SBM), or distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as the sole source of CP. An N-free diet was also prepared. All diets contained 0.5% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Equal meals were provided at 0800 and 2000 h. Ileal digesta samples were collected in 2-h intervals from 0800 to 2000 h during the last 3 d of each 7-d period. When pigs were fed the corn diet, the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of most indispensable AA and dispensable AA increased and then decreased (quadratic, < 0.05) during each of the six 2-h periods. The SID of most AA were less ( < 0.05) if the ileal digesta samples were collected from 1800 to 2000 h or from 1600 to 2000 h compared with the SID values from the ileal samples collected over the entire 12-h period. When pigs were fed the SBM diet, the SID of Ile, Leu, Thr, Trp, Val, Ala, and Cys increased and then decreased (quadratic, < 0.05) but the SID of all other AA linearly decreased ( < 0.05) during the six 2-h periods. The SID of almost all AA were greater ( < 0.05) if the ileal samples were collected from 0800 to 1000 h, from 0800 to 1200 h, from 1000 to 1400 h, or from 0800 to 1400 h but less ( < 0.05) if collected from 1600 to 1800 h, from 1800 to 2000 h, from 1600 to 2000 h, or from 1400 to 2000 h compared with the SID values from the ileal samples collected over the entire 12-h period. When pigs were fed the DDGS-based diet, the SID of Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Trp, Val, and Tyr increased and then decreased (quadratic, < 0.05) during the six 2-h periods. The SID of most AA were less ( < 0.05) if the ileal samples were collected from 1800 to 2000 h compared with the SID values from the ileal samples collected over the entire 12-h period. In conclusion, diurnal variations in SID of AA in pigs indicate that 6 h of ileal sample collection starting 4 or 6 h after feeding may provide representative samples of ileal digesta from pigs fed different types of diets.

Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Sub-Typing by ARID1A Expression

PURPOSE

Loss of AT-rich DNA-interacting domain 1A (ARID1A) has been identified as a driving mutation of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (O-CCC), a triple-negative ovarian cancer that is intermediary between serous and endometrioid subtypes, in regards to molecular and clinical behaviors. However, about half of O-CCCs still express BAF250a, the protein encoded by ARID1A. Herein, we aimed to identify signatures of ARID1A-positive O-CCC in comparison with its ARID1A-negative counterpart.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy cases of O-CCC were included in this study. Histologic grades and patterns of primary tumor, molecular marker immunohistochemistry profiles, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Forty-eight (69%) O-CCCs did not express BAF250a, which were designated as "ARID1A-negative." The other 22 (31%) O-CCCs were designated as "ARID1A-positive." ARID1A-positive tumors were more likely to be histologically of high grades (41% vs. 10%, p=0.003), ERβ-positive (45% vs. 17%, p=0.011), and less likely to be HNF1β-positive (77% vs. 96%, p=0.016) and E-cadherin-positive (59% vs. 83%, p=0.028) than ARID1A-negative tumors. Patient age, parity, tumor stage were not significantly different in between the two groups. Cancer-specific survival was not significantly different either.

CONCLUSION

We classified O-CCCs according to ARID1A expression status. ARID1A-positive O-CCCs exhibited distinct immunohistochemical features from ARID1A-negative tumors, suggesting a different underlying molecular event during carcinogenesis.

Effects of collection time on flow of chromium and dry matter and on basal ileal endogenous losses of amino acids in growing pigs

The objectives of this experiment were to examine the diurnal patterns of chromium and DM flow at the distal ileum of pigs and to determine the effect of collection time on basal ileal endogenous losses (BEL) of CP and AA. Eight barrows with an initial BW of 34.6kg (SD = 2.1) were individually fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and randomly allotted to a replicated 4× 4 Latin square design with 4 diets and 4 periods in each square. Three diets contained either corn, soybean meal, or distillers dried grains with solubles as the sole source of CP and AA. An N-free diet was also prepared. All diets contained 0.5% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Equal meals were provided at 0800 and 2000 h. Ileal digesta samples were collected in 2-h intervals from 0800 to 2000 h during the last 3 d of each 7-d period. The concentration of Cr in ileal digesta samples collected in each of the six 2-h periods exhibited a quadratic effect ( < 0.01) that increased and then decreased in pigs fed the CP containing diets. However, the concentration of Cr in ileal digesta collected in each of the six 2-h periods from pigs fed the N-free diet increased (linear, < 0.01). These differences were possibly related to differences in DM flow, because DM flow to the distal ileum had a pattern that was opposite of that observed for the concentration of Cr in the ileal digesta samples. The BEL of all indispensable AA and the sum of indispensable AA from pigs fed the N-free diet decreased (linear, < 0.05) in each of the six 2-h periods, with the exception that the BEL of Arg increased and then decreased (quadratic, < 0.05). The BEL of Asp, Cys, Glu, Ser, and Tyr also decreased (linear, < 0.05) during each of the six 2-h periods, whereas the BEL of Pro and the sum of dispensable AA increased and then decreased (quadratic, < 0.05) over the 12 h. Collection time did not affect BEL of CP. No differences were observed in the concentration of Cr, flow of DM, or basal endogenous loss of all AA if ileal digesta samples were collected over 6-, 8-, or 10-h periods, compared with collection over a 12-h period. In conclusion, diurnal variation of Cr concentration, DM flow, and the BEL of all AA were observed, but 4 to 6 h of ileal sample collection starting 4 or 6 h after feeding may provide representative samples that allow for calculation of accurate values for CP and AA digestibility.

Different Coefficients and Exponents for Metabolic Body Weight in a Model to Estimate Individual Feed Intake for Growing-finishing Pigs

Estimation of feed intake (FI) for individual animals within a pen is needed in situations where more than one animal share a feeder during feeding trials. A partitioning method (PM) was previously published as a model to estimate the individual FI (IFI). Briefly, the IFI of a pig within the pen was calculated by partitioning IFI into IFI for maintenance (IFI_m) and IFI for growth. In the PM, IFI_m is determined based on the metabolic body weight (BW), which is calculated using the coefficient of 106 and exponent of 0.75. Two simulation studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that the use of different coefficients and exponents for metabolic BW to calculate IFI_m improves the accuracy of the estimates of IFI for pigs, and that PM is applied to pigs fed in group-housing systems. The accuracy of prediction represented by difference between actual and estimated IFI was compared using PM, ratio (RM), or averaging method (AM). In simulation studies 1 and 2, the PM estimated IFI better than the AM and RM during most of the periods (p<0.05). The use of 0.60 as the exponent and the coefficient of 197 to calculate metabolic BW did not improve the accuracy of the IFI estimates in both simulation studies 1 and 2. The results imply that the use of 197 kcal×kg BW^0.60 as metabolizable energy for maintenance in PM does not improve the accuracy of IFI estimations compared with the use of 106 kcal×kg BW^0.75 and that the PM estimates the IFI of pigs with greater accuracy compared with the averaging or ratio methods in group-housing systems.

STAT3-induced WDR1 overexpression promotes breast cancer cell migration

WD repeat domain 1 (WDR1), a protein that assists cofilin-mediated actin filament disassembly, is overexpressed in the invading front of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), but its implication of overexpression and how to be regulated have not been studied. In our study, we demonstrated that STAT3 bound to the 5' upstream sequence (-1971 to -1964), a putative promoter region, of WDR1 gene, and its activation induced WDR1 overexpression in breast cancer cells. The exogenous overexpression of WDR1 increased the migration of MDA-MB-231, which was attenuated by WDR1 knockdown. In the analysis of breast cancer patients, WDR1 overexpression was associated with a shorter distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), more specifically in basal-like tumors.

Angiopoietin-2 promotes ER+ breast cancer cell survival in bone marrow niche

In estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, it is recognized that metastases may develop after a long period of dormancy. Bone marrow (BM) vascular niche is where the dormant tumor cells are most likely to reside. So far, it is not fully understood why the dormant tumor cells become proliferative and eventually generate tumor. We hypothesized that therapeutic or menopause-related estrogen depletion may be the switch behind dormant ER+ tumor cell awakening in BM. We utilized an existing experimental model of BM endothelial niche that can simulate ER+ tumor cell dormancy to test our hypothesis. In results, estrogen depletion paradoxically promoted ER+ tumor cell proliferation in the BM endothelial niche, and their molecular phenotype shifted from dormant to awaken. Following estrogen depletion, the BM niche cells produced angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2), which destabilized niche endothelium by interfering ANGPT1/Tie2 signaling, and promoted ER+ tumor cell survival under estrogen deficiency via cell surface integrin &1. Knockdown of ANGPT2 completely negated ER+ tumor cell awakening in the niche. Furthermore, ANGPT2 expression in ER+ tumor human samples was associated with increased risk of distant metastasis only in those who underwent adjuvant estrogen depletion therapy, not in those who did not undergo adjuvant therapy. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ANGPT2 signaling activated after estrogen depletion paradoxically triggers ER+ tumor cell awakening from dormancy in their BM niche, partly indirectly via endothelial Tie2 receptor and partly directly via tumor cell surface integrin &1.

In vitro Solubility of Copper(II) Sulfate and Dicopper Chloride Trihydroxide for Pigs

This study was conducted to determine the solubility of copper (Cu) in two sources of copper(II) sulfate (CuSO₄) including monohydrate and pentahydrate and three sources of dicopper chloride trihydroxide (dCCTH) including α-form (dCCTH-α), β-form (dCCTH-β), and a mixture of α- and β-form (dCCTH-αβ) at different pH and a 3-step in vitro digestion assay for pigs. In Exp. 1, Cu sources were incubated in water-based buffers at pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.8, and 6.8 for 4 h using a shaking incubator at 39°C. The CuSO₄ sources were completely dissolved within 15 min except at pH 6.8. The solubility of Cu in dCCTH-α was greater (p<0.05) than dCCTH-β but was not different from dCCTH-αβ during 3-h incubation at pH 2.0 and during 2-h incubation at pH 3.0. At pH 4.8, there were no significant differences in solubility of Cu in dCCTH sources. Copper in dCCTH sources were non-soluble at pH 6.8. In Exp. 2, the solubility of Cu was determined during the 3-step in vitro digestion assay for pigs. All sources of Cu were completely dissolved in step 1 which simulated digestion in the stomach. In Exp. 3, the solubility of Cu in experimental diets including a control diet and diets containing 250 mg/kg of additional Cu from five Cu sources was determined during the in vitro digestion assay. The solubility of Cu in diets containing additional Cu sources were greater (p<0.05) than the control diet in step 1. In conclusion, the solubility of Cu was influenced by pH of digesta but was not different among sources based on the in vitro digestion assay.

MicroRNA alteration and putative target genes in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer: STAT3 and ZEB1 are upregulated during prostate carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

We aimed to identify alteration of cancer-related miRNAs in HGPIN and PCa, and to investigate the clinical implications of HGPIN as a precancerous lesion of PCa.

METHODS

Clinicopathologic analysis based on the status of HGPIN was performed in 388 patients who received radical prostatectomy between January 2005 and December 2008 in Severance Hospital. Among them, 10 paired HGPIN and PCa were prepared to perform miRNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR. Fifty-two prostatectomy specimens were used to further validation of protein expression that was assessed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in matched non-neoplastic prostatic tissue (NPT), HGPIN, and PCa. Functional analysis was performed using a prostate normal cell line (RWPE-1) and two prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3) for comparison of expression of miR-155 and STAT3 mRNA before and after treatment of miR-155 mimetics/antagomir into each cell line.

RESULTS

Patients with HGPIN had significantly less lymphovascular invasion, less lymph node metastasis, lower tumor volume, lower Gleason score, lower incidence of death, and longer overall survival compared to patients without HGPIN. MiR-155, miR-210, miR-153, and miR-200c were downregulated in HGPIN and PCa in common, compared to NPT. As putative target mRNAs, mRNA expression level of STAT3, ZEB1, and BACH1 was increased in PCa and HGPIN compared to NPT. mRNA expression level of ephrin-A3 was increased in PCa compared to NPT, and FGFRL1 was decreased in PCa compared to HGPIN and NPT. Protein expression assessed by IHC showed correlated results in STAT3, ZEB1, and ephrin-A3. Moreover, STAT3 and ZEB1 increased in a stepwise manner, from NPT to PCa. Treatment of miR-155 antagomir increased STAT3 mRNA expression in RWPE-1 cells, whereas treatment of miR-155 mimetics into PC-3 cells significantly decreased STAT3 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

STAT3 and ZEB1 could be the key molecules altered at the early stages of carcinogenesis, especially in HGPIN. Prostate 76:937-947, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Resistance to hypertension and high Cl- excretion in humans with SLC26A4 mutations

Pendrin is a membrane transporter encoded by solute carrier family26A4 (SLC26A4). Mutations in this gene are known to cause hearing loss, and recent data from animal studies indicate a link between pendrin expression and hypertension; although, this association in humans is unclear. To clarify this issue, we investigated the influence of pendrin on blood pressure by analyzing demographic and biochemical data - including blood pressure and urinary electrolyte excretion - in patients with bi-allelic SLC26A4 mutations. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the left ventricular hypertrophy index were lower in subjects with pendrin mutations than in controls. In addition, fractional excretion of Na⁺ and Cl^- was increased and serum renin, angiotensin I and II levels were higher in subjects with pendrin mutations as compared to controls. Thus, patients with impaired pendrin function are likely to be resistant to high blood pressure due to enhanced urinary Na⁺ /Cl^- excretion. These results suggest that pendrin may regulate blood pressure through increased urinary salt excretion.

Lymphangiogenesis in Breast Cancer Correlates with Matrix Stiffness on Shear-Wave Elastography

PURPOSE

To correlate tumor stiffness and lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer and to find its clinical implications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 140 breast cancer patients were evaluated. Tumor stiffness was quantitatively measured by shear-wave elastography in preoperative ultrasound examination, calculated as mean elasticity value (kPa). Slides of resected breast cancer specimens were reviewed for most fibrotic area associated with tumor. D2-40 immunohistochemical staining was applied for fibrotic areas to detect the lymphatic spaces. Microlymphatic density, tumor stiffness, and clinicopathologic data were analyzed.

RESULTS

Higher elasticity value was associated with invasive size of tumor, microlymphatic density, histologic grade 3, absence of extensive intraductal component, presence of axillary lymph node metastasis, and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) in univariate regression analysis, and associated with Ki-67 LI and axillary lymph node metastasis in multivariate regression analysis. Microlymphatic density was associated histologic grade 3, mean elasticity value, and Ki-67 LI in univariate regression analysis. In multivariate regression analysis, microlymphatic density was correlated with mean elasticity value.

CONCLUSION

In breast cancer, tumor stiffness correlates with lymphangiogenesis and poor prognostic factors.

Effects of intraoperative protective lung ventilation on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients with laparoscopic surgery: prospective, randomized and controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Respiratory functions are usually impaired during pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic surgery. This randomized, controlled and single-blinded study was performed to evaluate whether intraoperative protective lung ventilation influences postoperative pulmonary complications after laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients were randomized to receive either conventional ventilation with alveolar recruitment maneuver (tidal volume of 10 ml/kg with inspiratory pressure of 40 cmH2O for 30 s after the end of pneumoperitoneum, group R), or protective lung ventilation (low tidal volume of 6 ml/kg with positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] of 5 cmH2O, group P). Induction and maintenance of anesthesia were done with balanced anesthesia. Respiratory complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia or desaturation were observed postoperatively. The length of hospital stay, arterial blood gas analysis, peak inspiratory pressure and hemodynamic variables were also recorded. Results are presented as mean ± SD or number of patients (%).

RESULTS

Postoperative pulmonary complications (P = 0.023) and desaturation below 90 % (P = 0.016) occurred less frequently in group P than in group R. Eight patients of group R and 3 patients of group P showed atelectasis. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 1 patient of group R. No differences were observed in the length of hospital stay, arterial blood gas analysis (pH, PaO2, PaCO2 and PAO2) and hemodynamic variables except PAO2, AaDO2 and peak inspiratory pressure between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Protective lung ventilation (low tidal volume with PEEP) during pneumoperitoneum was associated with less incidences of pulmonary complications than conventional ventilation with alveolar recruitment maneuver after laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery.

Estrogen Receptor Status Predicts Late-Onset Skeletal Recurrence in Breast Cancer Patients

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer (BCa) often recurs after long latency, and is known to favor bone as a metastatic site. We hypothesized that skeletal recurrence of ER+ BCa follows a different chronological pattern from that of nonskeletal recurrence.We retrospectively evaluated 434 matched pairs of ER+ and ER- female patients who underwent surgery for clinically localized BCa between 2005 and 2009. Patient age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and adjuvant treatment biases were adjusted by the propensity score method. We conducted competing risk analysis to determine the prognostic significance of ER expression status on the risk of overall recurrence and late recurrence (after 3 years). We also compared chronological patterns of ER+ and ER- tumor recurrence, stratified by the first metastatic site (skeletal vs nonskeletal).After 3 postoperative years, ER+ tumor had a significantly higher risk of overall distant recurrence than ER- tumor (P = 0.02). When further stratified by first site of metastasis, only late skeletal recurrence was significantly associated with ER status (P = 0.029). In multivariate analysis, ER and lymph node involvement status were significant prognostic factors for late skeletal recurrence, with adjusted hazard ratios of 5.2 (95% CI = 1.2-22.4, P = 0.025) and 5.2 (1.7-16.3, P = 0.005), respectively. For nonskeletal distant recurrence, tumor size (>2 cm) was the only significant risk factor with adjusted hazard ratio of 2.8 (1.4-5.7, P = 0.005). Annual hazard of skeletal recurrence events of ER+ tumors continued to exist up to 10 years, while annual hazard of nonskeletal recurrences decreased after peaking at 5 years. ER- tumor recurrences exhibited similar annual hazard patterns across skeletal and nonskeletal sites.ER expression and lymph node involvement status were strong predictors of BCa late-onset (>3 years) recurrences, especially in skeletal sites. Therefore, skeletal system surveillance is mandatory for long-term follow-up of this subpopulation.

Interaction between hypertension and cerebral hypoperfusion in the development of cognitive dysfunction and white matter pathology in rats

Hypertension is the most significant modifiable risk factor for vascular cognitive impairment. However, influence of hypertension on the development of ischemic white matter injury and cognitive dysfunction is not fully understood. We compared cognitive functions and neuropathological outcomes of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) between normotensive rats (NRs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs developed earlier and more severe deficits in spatial memory performance than NRs following BCCAO. Although no significant changes in the gross structure of myelinated white matter or oligodendrocyte number were noted, BCCAO resulted in subtle myelin degeneration and paranodal structural alterations at the nodes of Ranvier, regardless of hypertension. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was predominantly observed in the white matter of SHRs following BCCAO, implying a role of hypertension in BBB dysfunction in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. In chronic cerebral ischemia, long-standing hypertension may aggravate impairment of BBB integrity, and the leaky BBB may in turn exacerbate dysfunction in the white matter leading to worsening of spatial cognitive performance.

Effects of Supplemental Beta-mannanase on Digestible Energy and Metabolizable Energy Contents of Copra Expellers and Palm Kernel Expellers Fed to Pigs

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of β-mannanase supplementation on digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of copra expellers (CE) and palm kernel expellers (PKE) fed to pigs. Six barrows with an initial body weight of 38.0 kg (standard deviation = 1.5) were randomly allotted to a 6×6 Latin square design with 6 dietary treatments and 6 periods. Six experimental diets were prepared in a 3×2 factorial treatment arrangement with 3 diets of a corn-soybean meal-based diet, a CE 30% diet, and a PKE 30% diet and with 2 concentrations of supplemental β-mannanase at 0 or 2,400 U/kg. All diets had the same proportion of corn:soybean meal ratio at 2.88:1. The marker-to-marker procedure was used for fecal and urine collection with 4-d adaptation and 5-d collection periods. No interactive effects were observed between diet and β-mannanase on energy digestibility and DE and ME contents of experimental diets. However, diets containing CE or PKE had less (p<0.05) DE and ME contents compared with the corn-soybean meal-based diet. The DE and ME contents in CE and PKE were not affected by supplemental β-mannanase. Taken together, we failed to find the effect of β-mannanase supplementation on energy utilization in CE and PKE fed to pigs.

Effects of Feeding Barley Naturally Contaminated with Fusarium Mycotoxins on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Chemistry of Gilts and Growth Recoveries by Feeding a Non-contaminated Diet

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of feeding barley naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on growth performance, vulva swelling, and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein of gilts and the recovery of gilts fed normal diets immediately after the exposure to contaminated diets by measuring growth performance and vulva swelling. In Exp. 1, four diets were prepared to contain 0%, 15%, 30%, or 45% contaminated barley containing 25.7 mg/kg deoxynivalenol and 26.0 μg/kg zearalenone. Sixteen gilts with an initial body weight (BW) of 33.3 kg (standard deviation = 3.0) were individually housed in a metabolism crate and assigned to 4 diets with 4 replicates in a randomized complete block design based on BW. During the 14-d feeding trial, individual BW and feed consumption were measured weekly and the vertical and horizontal lengths of vulva were measured every 3 d. From d 10, feces were collected by the maker-to-marker method for 4 d. Blood samples were collected on d 14. During the overall period, the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain:feed of pigs linearly decreased (p<0.01) as the dietary concentration of contaminated barley increased. However, the digestibility of crude protein was linearly increased (p = 0.011) with the increasing amounts of contaminated barley. Increasing dietary Fusarium mycotoxin concentrations did not influence vulva size, blood characteristic as well as immunoglobulin level of pigs. In the Exp. 2, a corn-soybean meal-based diet was formulated as a recovery diet. Pigs were fed the recovery diet immediately after completion of the Exp. 1. During the 14-d of recovery period, the individual BW and feed consumption were measured weekly and the vertical and horizontal length of vulva were measured every 3 d from d 0. On d 7, the feed intake of pigs previously fed contaminated diets already reached that of pigs fed a diet with 0% contaminated barley and no significant difference in growth performance among treatments was observed during d 7 to 14 of the recovery period. In conclusion, increasing levels of mycotoxins in diets linearly decreased the growth performance of pigs, and these damages can be recovered in 7 d after the diet was replaced with a normal diet. The vulva size, blood characteristic, immune responses were not affected by increasing level of contaminated barley in the diets fed to pigs.

Effects of Palonosetron on Perioperative Cardiovascular Complications in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery With General Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

We retrospectively investigated whether palonosetron administered during the induction of general anesthesia is associated with an increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications in a single tertiary center cohort consisting of 4,517 palonosetron-exposed patients and 4,517 propensity score-matched patients without palonosetron exposure. The primary endpoint was a composite of perioperative cardiovascular complications, including intraoperative cardiac arrhythmia, intraoperative cardiac death, and myocardial injury within the first postoperative week, and there was no significant difference between the groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92-1.19). As secondary endpoints, intraoperative cardioversion, cardiac compression, use of cardiovascular drugs, postoperative hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality showed no differences between the groups. However, the palonosetron group showed decreased intraoperative hypotension (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.79-0.97) and length of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay (4.26 ± 9.86 vs. 6.14 ± 16.75; P = 0.026). Palonosetron did not increase the rate of perioperative cardiovascular complications, and can therefore be used safely during anesthetic induction.

Effects of dietary cellulose on the Basal endogenous loss of phosphorus in growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cellulose concentration in diets containing no phosphorus (P) on the basal endogenous loss (BEL) of P in growing pigs. Twelve barrows (an initial mean body weight = 49.6±3.2 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates. Pigs were allotted to 4 experimental diets according to a cross-over design with 12 animals and 2 periods. Four P-free diets were mainly based on corn starch, sucrose, and gelatin, and were formulated to contain 0%, 4%, 8%, or 12% cellulose. Each period consisted of a 5-d adaptation and a 5-d collection period. The marker-to-marker method was used for fecal collection. The feed intake (p<0.05, linear and quadratic) and dry feces output (p<0.01, linear and quadratic) were increased with increasing dietary cellulose concentration. However, P concentration in the feces was decreased (p<0.01, linear and quadratic) with increasing dietary cellulose concentration. There was no significant difference in total P output and the BEL of P as mg per kg DMI (ranging from 157 to 214 mg/kg of dry matter intake) among experimental diets. However, values for the apparent total tract digestibility of energy, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and calcium were linearly decreased (p<0.01) with increasing cellulose concentration in the diet. In conclusion, dietary cellulose affected the amount of feces and digestibility of energy and nutrients, but did not affect the endogenous loss of P.

Energy concentration and phosphorus digestibility in yeast products produced from the ethanol industry, and in brewers' yeast, fish meal, and soybean meal fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the DE, ME, and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in 2 novel sources of yeast (C-yeast and S-yeast) and in brewers' yeast, fish meal, and soybean meal fed to growing pigs. The 2 new sources of yeast are coproducts from the dry-grind ethanol industry. The concentrations of DM, GE, and P were 94.8%, 5,103 kcal/kg, and 1.07% in C-yeast; 94.4%, 4,926 kcal/kg, and 2.01% in S-yeast; 93.6%, 4,524 kcal/kg, and 1.40% in brewers' yeast; 91.4%, 4,461 kcal/kg, and 3.26% in fish meal; and 87.7%, 4,136 kcal/kg, and 0.70% in soybean meal, respectively. The DE and ME in each of the ingredients were determined using 42 growing barrows (28.9±2.18 kg BW). A corn-based basal diet and 5 diets containing corn and 24% to 40% of each test ingredient were formulated. The total collection method was used to collect feces and urine, and the difference procedure was used to calculate values for DE and ME in each ingredient. The concentrations of DE in corn, C-yeast, S-yeast, brewers' yeast, fish meal, and soybean meal were 4,004, 4,344, 4,537, 4,290, 4,544, and 4,362 kcal/kg DM (SEM=57), respectively, and the ME values were 3,879, 3,952, 4,255, 3,771, 4,224, and 4,007 kcal/kg DM (SEM=76), respectively. The ME in S-yeast and fish meal were greater (P<0.05) than the ME in corn and brewers' yeast, whereas the ME in C-yeast and soybean meal were not different from those of any of the other ingredients. The STTD of P in the 5 ingredients was determined using 42 barrows (28.3±7.21 kg BW) that were placed in metabolism cages. Five diets were formulated to contain each test ingredient as the sole source of P, and a P-free diet was used to estimate the basal endogenous loss of P. Feces were collected for 5 d using the marker to marker method after a 5-d adaptation period. The STTD of P in brewers' yeast (85.2%) was greater (P<0.05) than the STTD of P in all the other ingredients except S-yeast (75.7%). The STTD of P in C-yeast (73.9%) was not different from the STTD of P in S-yeast and fish meal (67.3%) but was greater (P<0.05) than the STTD of P in soybean meal (56.7%). In conclusion, the 2 novel sources of yeast contain similar or greater concentrations of energy compared with brewers' yeast, corn, fish meal, and soybean meal, and the STTD of P in the 2 yeast products is not different from the STTD of P in fish meal.

Effects of dietary sulfur and distillers dried grains with solubles on carcass characteristics, loin quality, and tissue concentrations of sulfur, selenium, and copper in growing-finishing pigs

Inclusion of up to 0.38% S in diets that contain 30% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) has no negative effect on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs, but there is no information about the effects of dietary S on accumulation of S in tissues in pigs. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to determine if the concentration of S in diets containing DDGS affects carcass characteristics, loin quality, or tissue mineral concentrations in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 120 barrows (34.2 ± 2.3 kg BW) were allotted to 3 dietary treatments with 10 replicate pens and 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were fed grower diets for 42 d and finisher diets for 42 d. At the conclusion of the experiment, the pig in each pen with the BW closest to the pen average was slaughtered. The control diet was based on corn and soybean meal and the finisher diet contained 0.14% S, 0.19 mg/kg Se, and 15.3 mg/kg Cu. The DDGS diet was formulated with corn, soybean meal, and 30% DDGS and the finisher diet with DDGS contained 0.16% S, 0.32 mg/kg Se, and 14.0 mg/kg Cu. The DDGS plus S (DDGS-S) diet was similar to the DDGS diet, except that 1.10% CaSO4 (16.2% S) was included in this diet, and the finisher diet with DDGS-S contained 0.37% S, 0.35 mg/kg Se, and 13.8 mg/kg Cu. Results indicated that organ weights and loin quality, 24-h pH, drip loss, loin subjective color, marbling, and firmness did not differ among treatments, but loin a* was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the control diet than for pigs fed the DDGS-S diet. Concentrations of S in hair, liver, heart, loin, and all other tissues did not differ among treatments, but urinary S concentration was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the DDGS-S diet than for pigs fed the other diets. Pigs fed the DDGS diet or the DDGS-S diet had greater (P < 0.01) concentrations of Se in hair, liver, heart, and loin than pigs fed the control diet, but liver concentrations of Cu did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, inclusion of 30% DDGS in diets fed to growing-finishing pigs did not influence carcass characteristics or tissue S concentrations regardless of S concentration in the diet, and excess dietary S was excreted in the urine. However, because of the greater concentration of Se in DDGS than in corn and soybean meal and, therefore, greater concentrations in DDGS-containing diets, tissue concentrations of Se were increased in pigs fed diets that contained DDGS. In contrast, dietary DDGS did not influence liver concentrations of Cu.

Ileal digestibility of amino acids in meat meal and soybean meal fed to growing pigs

The objective of this experiment was to determine the concentration and digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acid (AA) in meat meal (MM), and to compare these values with the respective values in soybean meal (SBM). Six barrows (initial body weight = 66.9±3.8 kg) surgically fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum were allotted to a replicated 3×3 balanced Latin square design with 3 diets and 3 periods. Two experimental diets containing test ingredients as the sole source of AA were prepared to estimate the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) for CP and AA by the direct method. An N-free diet was also prepared to estimate basal endogenous losses of CP and AA. All experimental diets contained 5% chromic oxide as an indigestible index. Each period consisted of a 5-d adaptation period and a 2-d of ileal digesta collection period. Ileal digesta samples were collected from 0900 to 1700 on d 6 and 7 of each period. The concentrations of CP, Lys, Met, and Trp in MM and SBM were analyzed to be 64.1, 3.5, 1.1 and 0.6, and 45.6, 2.8, 0.8, and 0.3%, respectively. The AID of all AA except Gly in MM was less (p<0.05) than in SBM. The AID of Lys, Met, and Trp in MM was estimated to be 56.0, 71.7, and 47.1%, respectively. The SID of all AA in MM was less (p<0.05) than in SBM. The SID of Lys, Met, and Trp was 65.1, 79.2, and 78.5%, respectively. In conclusion, the CP and AA contents in MM were greater than those in SBM whereas the ileal digestibility of all AA in MM was less than in SBM.

Feed energy evaluation for growing pigs

Pigs require energy for maintenance and productive purposes, and an accurate amount of available energy in feeds should be provided according to their energy requirement. Available energy in feeds for pigs has been characterized as DE, ME, or NE by considering sequential energy losses during digestion and metabolism from GE in feeds. Among these energy values, the NE system has been recognized as providing energy values of ingredients and diets that most closely describes the available energy to animals because it takes the heat increment from digestive utilization and metabolism of feeds into account. However, NE values for diets and individual ingredients are moving targets, and therefore, none of the NE systems are able to accurately predict truly available energy in feeds. The DE or ME values for feeds are important for predicting NE values, but depend on the growth stage of pigs (i.e., BW) due to the different abilities of nutrient digestion, especially for dietary fiber. The NE values are also influenced by both environment that affects NE requirement for maintenance (NE_m) and the growth stage of pigs that differs in nutrient utilization (i.e., protein vs. lipid synthesis) in the body. Therefore, the interaction among animals, environment, and feed characteristics should be taken into consideration for advancing feed energy evaluation. A more mechanistic approach has been adopted in Denmark as potential physiological energy (PPE) for feeds, which is based on the theoretical biochemical utilization of energy in feeds for pigs. The PPE values are, therefore, believed to be independent of animals and environment. This review provides an overview over current knowledge on energy utilization and energy evaluation systems in feeds for growing pigs.

Comparison of growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of korean local chickens and silky fowl

This study was conducted to compare growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of 4 breeds of local chicken. A total of 480 1-d-old chicks were distributed to 16 pens, with 4 treatments of breed, 4 replicates and 30 chicks per pen. Three Korean local breeds of white-mini broiler, Hanhyup-3-ho, and Woorimatdag, and a breed of silky fowl were raised under identical rearing and feeding conditions for 31-d, 37-d, 36-d, and 59-d, respectively. The BW and feed consumption on a pen basis were weekly measured for all pens, and ADFI, ADG and gain:feed were calculated for each pen. The ADFI and ADG of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken were greater than those of silky fowl (p<0.05). Within the Korean local breeds, ADFI of white-mini broiler was the highest (p<0.05), and ADG of Hanhyup-3-ho and white-mini broiler was the highest (p<0.05). Gain:feed of silky fowl was less than that of the 3 breeds of Korean local chicken. The carcass and breast yield of white-mini broiler were the greater than those of other breeds (p<0.05). The breast meat color (CIE L*, a*, and b*) of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken were higher than that of silky fowl (p<0.05). The breast meat of Hanhyup-3-ho had greater cooking loss (p<0.05), whereas water holding capacity and pH were less than those of other breeds (p<0.05). The color score of 3 breeds of Korean local chicken was higher than that of silky fowl (p<0.05). Woorimatdag had a higher score on tenderness (p<0.05), whereas flavor score was less than that of other breeds (p<0.05). In conclusion, 4 local breeds of chicken have some unique features and seem to have more advantages, and this information can help consumers who prefer healthy and premium chicken meat.

Snail1 induced in breast cancer cells in 3D collagen I gel environment suppresses cortactin and impairs effective invadopodia formation

Although an in vitro 3D environment cannot completely mimic the in vivo tumor site, embedding tumor cells in a 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) allows for the study of cancer cell behaviors and the screening of anti-metastatic reagents with a more in vivo-like context. Here we explored the behaviors of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells embedded in 3D collagen I. Diverse tumor environmental conditions (including cell density, extracellular acidity, or hypoxia as mimics for a continuous tumor growth) reduced JNKs, enhanced TGFβ1/Smad signaling activity, induced Snail1, and reduced cortactin expression. The reduced JNKs activity blocked efficient formation of invadopodia labeled with actin, cortactin, or MT1-MMP. JNKs inactivation activated Smad2 and Smad4, which were required for Snail1 expression. Snail1 then repressed cortactin expression, causing reduced invadopodia formation and prominent localization of MT1-MMP at perinuclear regions. MDA-MB-231 cells thus exhibited less efficient collagen I degradation and invasion in 3D collagen I upon JNKs inhibition. These observations support a signaling network among JNKs, Smads, Snail1, and cortactin to regulate the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells embedded in 3D collagen I, which may be targeted during screening of anti-invasion reagents.

Cancer-associated fibroblast promote transmigration through endothelial brain cells in three-dimensional in vitro models

Brain metastases are associated with high morbidity as well as with poor prognosis and survival in breast cancer patients. Despite its clinical importance, metastasis of breast cancer cells through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is poorly understood. The objective of our study was to investigate whether cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play crucial roles in breast cancer brain metastasis. Using a cell adhesion assays, in vitro BBB permeability and transmigration assays and soft agar colony formation assays, we investigated the physical roles of CAFs in breast cancer brain metastasis. We also performed immunofluorescence, flow cytometric analysis, Droplet Digital PCR and Simon™ Simple Western System to confirm changes in expression levels. We established two novel three-dimensional (3D) culture systems using a perpendicular slide chamber and applying 3D embedded culture method to reflect brain metastasis conditions. With a newly developed device, CAFs was proven to promote cell adhesion to human brain microvascular endothelial cells, in vitro BBB permeability and transmigration and colony formation of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, CAFs enhanced the invasive migration of breast cancer cells in two kinds of 3D cultures. These 3D models also reliably recapitulate the initial steps of BBB transmigration, micro-metastasis and colonization. Expression of integrin α5β1 and αvβ3, c-MET and α2,6-siayltransferase was increased in breast cancer cells that migrated through the BBB. In conclusion, based on our in vitro BBB and co-culture models, our data suggest that CAFs may play a role in breast cancer brain metastasis.

A simple novel endoscopic successive suture device: a validation study for closure strength and reproducibility

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic surgical technology has been developing rapidly. Although several successful endoscopic closure devices have already been introduced, only a few of them have demonstrated improvements in closure strength and reproducibility over conventional endoscopic clip closures or hand sutures. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of a novel successive suturing device (SSD) by measuring closure strength and reproducibility.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Porcine stomach models were used in this study. Endoclips, full-thickness hand sutures, and the novel SSD sutures were used to close a perforation in the stomach wall, with 10 stomachs being tested for each closure method. Endoclips and SSD sutures were performed using a two-channel endoscope, and the hand sutures were performed from outside of the stomach wall. Air leakage pressure was measured to determine the closure strength and reproducibility of each method.

RESULTS

The mean air leakage pressure of the SSD closure was 62.7 ± 8.2 mmHg. SSD-treated stomachs exhibited significantly greater air leakage pressure than Endoclip-treated stomachs. The standard deviation of bursting pressure in SSD stomachs was found to be significantly smaller than that of hand-sewn stomachs but was not different from that of Endoclip stomachs.

CONCLUSIONS

The consistent closure strength of SSD stomachs demonstrated the reliability and reproducibility of this new closure method. These promising results in closure strength and reproducibility suggest the feasibility of the proposed device for clinical applications.

Digestible and metabolizable energy concentrations in copra meal, palm kernel meal, and cassava root fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to measure DE and ME in copra (Cocos nucifera) meal (CM), palm kernel meal (PKM), and cassava (Manihot esculenta) root (CR) in growing pigs. Eight boars with an initial BW of 67.3 ± 5.8 kg were individually housed in metabolism crates that were equipped with a feeder and a nipple drinker. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was used with 4 dietary treatments, 4 periods, and 8 animals. A basal diet mainly contained corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) meal. Three additional diets were formulated to contain 30% of CM, PKM, and CR. All diets contained the same proportion of corn:soybean meal ratio at 4.14:1. The apparent total tract digestibility of energy was 89.5, 84.1, 82.4, and 87.9% (P < 0.001) in the basal, CM, PKM, and CR diets, respectively. The DE in CM and PKM were greater (P < 0.05) than in CR (3440 and 3238 vs. 2966 kcal/kg as-fed). The ME in CM was greater (P < 0.05) than in CR (3340 vs. 2935 kcal/kg as-fed) but not different from the ME in PKM (3168 kcal/kg as-fed). In conclusion, CM and PKM have a higher DE value than CR, and CM has a higher ME value than CR.

Human breast cancer-associated fibroblasts enhance cancer cell proliferation through increased TGF-α cleavage by ADAM17

We demonstrate here increased expression of ADAM17 protein in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) extracted from human breast carcinomas compared with donor-matched normal fibroblasts, and TGF-α secretion positively correlates with ADAM17 expression in these cells. In SK-BR-3 cells co-cultured with CAFs, CAF-secreted TGF-α promotes cell proliferation by activation of EGFR, Akt, and ERK, but it does not promote cell migration. Furthermore, anti-TGF-α neutralizing antibodies antagonize the CAF-dependent increase in proliferation and activation of EGFR, Akt and ERK. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of ADAM17 and TGF-α may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of breast cancer when fibroblast-directed therapy is considered.

CD24⁺ ovary cancer cells exhibit an invasive mesenchymal phenotype

We recently reported that the subset of CD24(+) cells in ovarian cancer possesses various cancer stem cell properties. In this study, we further show that this subpopulation of ovarian cancer cells exhibits an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, high invasive capacity, and CXCR4/SDF-1-mediated chemotactic migration. We evaluated CD24 expression in various ovarian cancer cell lines by flow cytometric analysis. CAOV3 and a primary ovarian cancer cell line Clone 4 were sorted into CD24(+) and CD24(-) subpopulations by FACS and Western blot, cell invasion, adhesion, and in vitro chemotaxis assays were performed with these two subpopulations. We also assessed the effects of shRNA depletion of CD24 in CAOV3 and Clone 4 cells by Western blot and cell invasion assays. CD24 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines correlated with aggressive histologic subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer. The CD24(+) subpopulation was also more invasive than the CD24(-) subpopulation and showed higher CXCR4/SDF-1-mediated chemotactic migration. CD24(+) cells exhibited an EMT phenotype as characterized by loss of E-cadherin expression and gain of vimentin, Twist, and Snail1 expression. In addition, CD24(+) cells stimulated cell attachment to fibronectin through the activation of β1 integrin. Depletion of CD24 expression by CD24 shRNA efficiently suppressed cell invasion and induced downregulation of CXCR4 as well as loss of the EMT phenotype. In conclusion, CD24 expression in ovarian cancer may be related to tumor aggressiveness, in particular cell invasion and chemotactic migration. Therefore, CD24 may be a good candidate for a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Abstract B15: Invasive breast cancer amplifies lymphangiogenic signals in tumor microenvironment through integrin beta4 expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts

Lymphangiogensis is widely acknowledged as a major route of breast cancer metastasis and a critical alteration of tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor progression. But, most of it has remained still unknown. Previously, we found that invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), not ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), upregulates integrin alpha6beta4 in the fibrosis adjacent to tumor burden, and that MDA-MB-231 induces integrin beta4 neoexpression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) via cell-to-cell contract. Integrin (alpha6)beta4 overexpression is often detected in malignant tumors and negatively associated with patient survivor. In addition, integrin alpha6beta4 was reported to regulate eIF-4E activity leading to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) translation in cancer cells. It is, therefore, plausible that invasive breast cancer cells increase lymphangiogenic signals in TME through driving integrin beta4 expression in CAFs. To verify our hypothesis, we induced integrin beta4 overexpression in CAFs using co-culture with MDA-MB-231 or transfection with pRK5_beta4 plasmid, and then observed tube formation of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLEC) by integrin beta4-expressing CAFs in 3D co-culture model. VEGF-D, known as a major factor of lymphangiogenesis, was highly upregulated in integrin beta4-expressing CAFs, which promoted tube formation of HDLEC compared to normal CAFs and MDA-MB-231. Interestingly, the level of VEGF-D expression in MDA-MB-231 was much lower than that of integrin beta4-expressing CAFs before and after co-culture. Taken together, invasive breast cancer may amplify lymphangiogenic signals in TME by inducing integrin beta4-expressing CAFs, and integrin beta4 neoexpression in CAFs by breast cancer may be a pivotal process for lymphangiogensis.

Citation Format: Baek Gil Kim, Yoon Pyo Choi, Suki Kang, Joo Hyun Lee, Nam Hoon Cho. Invasive breast cancer amplifies lymphangiogenic signals in tumor microenvironment through integrin beta4 expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B15.

Comparison of values for standardized total tract digestibility and relative bioavailability of phosphorus in dicalcium phosphate and distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to compare values for the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) and the relative bioavailability of P in dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) when fed to growing pigs. In Exp. 1, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), the basal endogenous P loss (EPL), and the STTD of P in DCP and DDGS were determined. Eighteen pigs (initial BW: 34.93±1.04 kg) were allotted to 3 cornstarch-based diets in a randomized complete block design and housed individually in metabolism cages. Two diets contained DCP and DDGS, respectively, as the sole source of P and the last diet was a P-free diet that was used to measure EPL from the pigs. Results indicated that the ATTD of P in DCP and DDGS were 86.1 and 58.8%, respectively, and the STTD of P in DCP and DDGS were 93.1 and 63.1%, respectively. The EPL was determined at 174 mg/kg DMI. In Exp. 2, 42 pigs (initial BW: 29.02±2.03 kg) were allotted to 7 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were housed individually and allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. A basal diet (0.22% P) based on corn, casein, cornstarch, and potato protein concentrate was formulated. Three additional diets were formulated by adding 0.04, 0.08, or 0.12% P from DCP to the basal diet to create diets containing 0.26, 0.30, or 0.34% P. The last 3 diets were formulated by adding 0.04, 0.08, or 0.12% P from DDGS to the basal diet at the expense of cornstarch. Pigs were fed experimental diets for 28 d. They were then euthanized and the third and fourth metacarpals from the right front foot were collected. Metacarpal bone ash and bone P were regressed against P intake for each ingredient and via slope ratio methodology, it was determined that the bioavailability of P in DDGS was 87% relative to that in DCP. It was concluded from this work that the value for relative bioavailability of P in DDGS overestimates the digestibility of P in DDGS and values for the STTD of P, therefore, can not be accurately calculated from values for the relative bioavailability of P. As a consequence, it is necessary to determine the STTD of P in feed ingredients included in diets fed to pigs.

Prediction of response to entecavir therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B based on on-treatment HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels

Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) assays are emerging as effective tools of on-treatment predictors of response to antiviral agents, in addition to monitoring serum HBV DNA levels. However, the dynamic relationship between quantitative HBsAg, as well as HBeAg and HBV DNA, and the predictability of subsequent clinical outcomes during entecavir (ETV) therapy remain unclear. Eighty-two patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) received ETV therapy for ≥3 years. Virologic response (VR) after 3 years of ETV therapy was achieved in 73 (89.0%) patients. Among baseline and on-treatment factors, on-treatment HBV DNA levels performed better with respect to the prediction of response than HBsAg and HBeAg levels. Especially, the performance of absolute values of HBV DNA with respect to response was superior to HBV DNA decline from the baseline. The best predictive value was an absolute HBV DNA level of 2.3 log(10) IU/mL at month 6 (areas under the curve [AUROC], 0.977; 95% CI, 0.940-1.000; P < 0.001). HBeAg seroconversion after 3 years of therapy was achieved in 26 (31.7%) patients. On-treatment HBeAg levels performed better with respect to the prediction of seroconversion than HBsAg and HBV DNA levels. The best cut-off value for the HBeAg level at month 12 for the prediction of seroconversion was 0.62 log(10) PEIU/mL. Although the HBsAg level at baseline is often used to predict the antiviral potency of entecavir, on-treatment HBV DNA and HBeAg levels are more helpful for prediction of subsequent clinical outcomes in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with entecavir treatment.

Prediction of response to entecavir therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B based on on-treatment HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels

Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) assays are emerging as effective tools of on-treatment predictors of response to antiviral agents, in addition to monitoring serum HBV DNA levels. However, the dynamic relationship between quantitative HBsAg, as well as HBeAg and HBV DNA, and the predictability of subsequent clinical outcomes during entecavir (ETV) therapy remain unclear. Eighty-two patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) received ETV therapy for ≥3 years. Virologic response (VR) after 3 years of ETV therapy was achieved in 73 (89.0%) patients. Among baseline and on-treatment factors, on-treatment HBV DNA levels performed better with respect to the prediction of response than HBsAg and HBeAg levels. Especially, the performance of absolute values of HBV DNA with respect to response was superior to HBV DNA decline from the baseline. The best predictive value was an absolute HBV DNA level of 2.3 log(10) IU/mL at month 6 (areas under the curve [AUROC], 0.977; 95% CI, 0.940-1.000; P < 0.001). HBeAg seroconversion after 3 years of therapy was achieved in 26 (31.7%) patients. On-treatment HBeAg levels performed better with respect to the prediction of seroconversion than HBsAg and HBV DNA levels. The best cut-off value for the HBeAg level at month 12 for the prediction of seroconversion was 0.62 log(10) PEIU/mL. Although the HBsAg level at baseline is often used to predict the antiviral potency of entecavir, on-treatment HBV DNA and HBeAg levels are more helpful for prediction of subsequent clinical outcomes in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with entecavir treatment.

Targeting ILK and β4 integrin abrogates the invasive potential of ovarian cancer

Integrins and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) are essential to cancerous invasion because they mediate physical interactions with the extracellular matrix, and regulate oncogenic signaling pathways. The purpose of our study is to determine whether deletion of β1 and β4 integrin and ILK, alone or in combination, has antitumoral effects in ovarian cancer. Expression of β1 and β4 integrin and ILK was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 196 ovarian cancer tissue samples. We assessed the effects of depleting these molecules with shRNAs in ovarian cancer cells by Western blot, conventional RT-PCR, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and in vitro Rac1 activity assays, and in vivo xenograft formation assays. Overexpression of β4 integrin and ILK in human ovarian cancer specimens was found to correlate with tumor aggressiveness. Depletion of these targets efficiently suppresses ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and xenograft tumor formation in vivo. We also demonstrated that single depletion of ILK or combination depletion of β4 integrin/ILK inhibits phosphorylation of downstream signaling targets, p-Ser 473 Akt and p-Thr202/Tyr204 Erk1/2, and activation of Rac1, as well as reduce expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and increase expression of caspase-3 in vitro. In conclusion, targeting β4 integrin combined with ILK can instigate the latent tumorigenic potential and abrogate the invasive potential in ovarian cancer.

In situ identification and localization of IGHA2 in the breast tumor microenvironment by mass spectrometry

Modifications in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a major role in the establishment, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a powerful technique that enables the simultaneous identification and localization of biological compounds within tissues. To detect markers of early TME remodeling in invasive breast cancer, we used MALDI-MSI to compare the molecular profiles of tissues from the breast cancer interface zone, tumor zone, and normal-tissue zone. Using direct-tissue MALDI tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), we identified immunoglobulin heavy constant alpha 2 (IGHA2) as a new, zone-specific protein in the breast TME. The zone-specific expression of IGHA2 was verified by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis. IGHA2 expression was consistently positive in tumor cells that were metastatic to regional nodes, with intense expression along the cytoplasmic borders. As a factor related to an increased percentage of nodes with tumor metastasis, IGHA2 expression was upregulated 3.745-fold in cases with an increased number of cancerous nodes (p = 0.0468). Our results provide the first evidence of IGHA2 as a marker of the early process of TME remodeling in invasive breast cancer. Furthermore, IGHA2 may be a novel marker for regional metastases in the lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer.