Brain charts for the human lifespan

Over the past few decades, neuroimaging has become a ubiquitous tool in basic research and clinical studies of the human brain. However, no reference standards currently exist to quantify individual differences in neuroimaging metrics over time, in contrast to growth charts for anthropometric traits such as height and weight1. Here we assemble an interactive open resource to benchmark brain morphology derived from any current or future sample of MRI data ( http://www.brainchart.io/ ). With the goal of basing these reference charts on the largest and most inclusive dataset available, acknowledging limitations due to known biases of MRI studies relative to the diversity of the global population, we aggregated 123,984 MRI scans, across more than 100 primary studies, from 101,457 human participants between 115 days post-conception to 100 years of age. MRI metrics were quantified by centile scores, relative to non-linear trajectories2 of brain structural changes, and rates of change, over the lifespan. Brain charts identified previously unreported neurodevelopmental milestones3, showed high stability of individuals across longitudinal assessments, and demonstrated robustness to technical and methodological differences between primary studies. Centile scores showed increased heritability compared with non-centiled MRI phenotypes, and provided a standardized measure of atypical brain structure that revealed patterns of neuroanatomical variation across neurological and psychiatric disorders. In summary, brain charts are an essential step towards robust quantification of individual variation benchmarked to normative trajectories in multiple, commonly used neuroimaging phenotypes.

Neuroprotection in relation to retinal ischemia and relevance to glaucoma

Management of glaucoma is directed at the control of intraocular pressure (IOP), yet it is recognized now that increased IOP isjust an important risk factor in glaucoma. Therapy that prevents the death of ganglion cells is the main goal of treatment, but an understanding of the causes of ganglion cell death and precisely how it occurs remains speculative. Present information supports the working hypothesis that ganglion cell death may result from a particular form of ischemia. Support for this view comes from the fact that not all types of retinal ischemia lead to the pathologic findings seen in glaucomatous retinas or to cupping in the optic disk area. Moreover, in animal experiments in which ischemia is caused by elevated IOP, a retinal abnormality similar to that seen in true glaucoma is produced, whereas after occlusion of the carotid arteries a different pattern of damage is found. In ischemia, glutamate is released, and this initiates the death of neurons that contain ionotropic glutamate (NMDA) receptors. Elevated glutamate levels exist in the vitreous humor of patients with glaucoma, and NMDA receptors exist on ganglion cells and a subset of amacrine cells. Experimental studies have shown that a variety of agents can be used to prevent the death of retinal neurons (particularly ganglion cells) induced by ischemia. These agents are generally those that block NMDA receptors to prevent the action of the released glutamate or substances that interfere with the subsequent cycle of events that lead to cell death. The major causes of cell death after activation of NMDA receptors are the influx of calcium into cells and the generation of free radicals. Substances that prevent this cascade of events are, therefore, often found to act as neuroprotective agents. For a substance to have a role as a neuroprotective agent in glaucoma, it would ideally be delivered topically to the eye and used repeatedly. It is, therefore, of interest that betaxolol, a beta-blocker presently used to reduce IOP in humans, also has calcium channel-blocking functions. Moreover, experimental studies show that betaxolol is an efficient neuro protective agent against retinal ischemia in animals, when injected directly into the eye or intraperitoneally.

Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia impairs endothelial function by enhanced oxidant stress

AIMS

it appears that hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a risk factor of atherosclerosis as demonstrated by recent studies. In this study, we analyzed the effects of acute HTG on endothelial function and oxidative stress, which are important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

in a high fat meal group (n = 11), serum triglycerides and PMA-activated leukocyte O(2)(-)* production were significantly (P < 0.005) increased from 146 +/- 69 mg/dl and 4.09 +/- 0.93 nmol/10(6) cells/min preprandially to 198 +/- 88 mg/dl and 5.49 +/- 1.19 nmol/10(6) cells/min, respectively, 2 h after eating a high-fat meal. The flow-mediated endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilation (FMD; high-resolution ultrasound) was decreased from 13.7 +/- 3.3% preprandially to 8.2 +/- 3.7%, 2 h after eating a high-fat meal (P < 0.005). However, following a low-fat meal (n = 9), there were no significant changes in triglycerides, leukocyte O(2)(-)* production and FMD. Changes of serum triglycerides were correlated negatively (r = -0.650, P < 0.005) with changes of FMD, but were correlated positively (r = 0.798, P < 0.001) with changes of leukocyte O(2)(-)* production, which - in turn - were correlated negatively (r = -0.784, P < 0.001) with changes of FMD in all study subjects (mean age: 56 years, n = 20).

CONCLUSIONS

this study suggests that acute HTG causes endothelial dysfunction via enhanced oxidant stress and this may pave the way for the development of atherosclerosis under chronic conditions.

MCL-1S, a splicing variant of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 family member MCL-1, encodes a proapoptotic protein possessing only the BH3 domain

MCL-1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1) is an antiapoptotic BCL-2 family protein discovered as an early induction gene during myeloblastic leukemia cell differentiation. This survival protein has the BCL-2 homology (BH) domains 1, 2, and 3 and a C-terminal transmembrane region. We identified a short splicing variant of the MCL-1 mRNA in the human placenta encoding a protein, termed MCL-1 short (MCL-1S), with an altered C terminus as compared with the full-length MCL-1 long (MCL-1L), leading to the loss of BH1, BH2, and the transmembrane domains. Analysis of the human MCL-1 gene indicated that MCL-1S results from the splicing out of exon 2 during mRNA processing. MCL-1S, unlike MCL-1L, does not interact with diverse proapoptotic BCL-2-related proteins in the yeast two-hybrid system. In contrast, MCL-1S dimerizes with MCL-1L in the yeast assay and coprecipitates with MCL-1L in transfected mammalian cells. Overexpression of MCL-1S induces apoptosis in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, and the MCL-1S action was antagonized by the antiapoptotic MCL-1L. Thus, the naturally occurring MCL-1S variant represents a new proapoptotic BH3 domain-only protein capable of dimerizing with the antiapoptotic MCL-1L. The fate of MCL-1-expressing cells could be regulated through alternative splicing mechanisms and interactions of the resulting anti- and proapoptotic gene products.

The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate attenuates beta-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons

Previous evidence has indicated that the neuronal toxicity of amyloid beta (betaA) protein is mediated through oxygen free radicals and can be attenuated by antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Recent studies have shown that green tea polyphenols reduced free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) would prevent or reduce the death of cultured hippocampal neuronal cells exposed to betaA because EGCG has a potent antioxidant property as a green tea polyphenol. Following exposure of the hippocampal neuronal cells to betaA for 48 hours, a marked hippocampal neuronal injuries and increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level and caspase activity were observed. Co-treatment of cells with EGCG to betaA exposure elevated the cell survival and decreased the levels of MDA and caspase activity. Proapoptotic (p53 and Bax), Bcl-XL and cyclooxygenase (COX) proteins have been implicated in betaA-induced neuronal death. However, in this study the protective effects of EGCG seem to be independent of the regulation of p53, Bax, Bcl-XL and COX proteins. Taken together, the results suggest that EGCG has protective effects against betaA-induced neuronal apoptosis through scavenging reactive oxygen species, which may be beneficial for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Human neural stem cells: electrophysiological properties of voltage-gated ion channels

We have characterized the profile of membrane currents in an immortalized human neural stem cell line, HB1.F3 cells, using whole-cell patch clamp technique. Human neural stem cell line generated from primary cell cultures of embryonic human telencephalon using a replication-incompetent retroviral vector containing v-myc expresses nestin, a cell type-specific marker for neural stem cells. The human neural stem cells expressed both outward and inward K(+) currents with no evidence for Na(+) currents. The density of the outward, delayed rectifying type K(+) current was 1.8 +/- 0.015 nA/pF, and that of the inwardly rectifying K(+) current was 0.37 +/- 0.012 nA/pF (at 30 mM of [K(+)](o)). In order to induce neuronal differentiation of the neural stem cells, a full-length coding region of NeuroD, a neurogenic transcription factor, was transfected into HB1.F3 cells. Introduction of NeuroD induced expression of Na(+) currents with the current density of 0.042 +/- 0.011 nA/pF. The presence of two types of K(+) currents and expression of Na(+) currents induced by NeuroD appear to reflect the characteristic physiological features of human neural stem cells.

Topically applied betaxolol attenuates NMDA-induced toxicity to ganglion cells and the effects of ischaemia to the retina

The present results show that topically applied Betoptic(R)(0.5% betaxolol) to the rabbit or rat eye reaches the retina and can counteract the detrimental effects caused by ischaemia/reperfusion or N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-induced insults to the retina. Betaxolol is a beta(1)-adrenergic blocker but its neuroprotective action is generally thought to be due to its calcium channel blocking properties. Support for this view comes from studies on cultures of cortical neurones where it was found that betaxolol attenuated the NMDA-induced influx of(45)Ca(2+)while beta-adrenoreceptor agonists were ineffective. Topically applied Betoptic(R)to the rabbit eye was observed to reach the retina in maximal amounts within 60 min. Some of the substance was also found in the contralateral retina of the untreated eye suggesting that the agent reaches the retina by local systemic and retinal circulation. Concurrent treatment with Latanoprost(R)did not result in a greater amount of betaxolol reaching the retina. An ophthalmodynamometric procedure, which raises the intraocular pressure, was used to apply an ischaemic insult to the rabbit retina. After three days of reperfusion the b-wave of the electroretinogram was reduced by an average of 59% and the choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity in the retina was almost obliterated. However, when experiments were carried out on animals which had been treated with one drop of Betoptic(R) twice daily for 4 weeks before ischaemia and also during the reperfusion phase, the reductions in both the b-wave of the electroretinogram and retinal choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity due to ischaemia/reperfusion were greatly attenuated. Intravitreal injection of NMDA into the rat eye caused a decrease in the immunostaining for Thy-1 antigen which is associated with ganglion cells. The Thy-1 mRNA level was also reduced as was the mRNA for the common subunit of the NMDA receptor, the NR1 subunit. However, in animals subjected to a topical Betoptic(R)regime, before and after intravitreal injection of NMDA, the decreases in the mRNA levels of Thy-1 and NR1 were significantly attenuated.

Expression of Fas and Fas-related molecules in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Many tumor cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), express both Fas and its ligand on their surfaces, and it has remained a mystery why such cells do not spontaneously become apoptotic. In the current study, we analyzed the alterations of Fas structure and the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) and of Fas pathway inhibitors, including soluble Fas (sFas), Fas-associated phosphatase-1 (FAP-1), and bcl-2, in 50 cases of human HCC. Monoallelic loss of the Fas gene, as determined by loss of heterozygosity with intragenic polymorphisms, was observed in 5 of the 34 informative cases (15%), but none of the 50 cases showed Fas gene mutation. Expression of Fas and FasL was detected in 44 (88%) and 50 (100%) cases, respectively. sFas messenger RNA, as analyzed by in situ reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was expressed in 42 of the 50 cases (84%), and FAP-1 expression was observed in 40 of the 50 cases (80%). In contrast, none of the 50 cases showed bcl-2 expression. Our results showed that the majority of the HCCs (88%) coexpressed a death receptor, Fas and its cognate ligand, FasL, but all HCCs showed one or more alterations of the Fas pathway molecules known to inhibit Fas-mediated apoptosis. These findings suggest that the expression of sFas and FAP-1 and, in part, loss of Fas expression, rather than Fas gene alteration or bcl-2 expression, may be involved in the Fas resistance of HCC in vivo and that these mechanisms may play important roles in the pathogenesis of human HCC. HUM PATHOL 32:250-256.

Multiple predictors of coronary restenosis after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with diabetes

OBJECTIVES

To identify parameters influencing the likelihood of restenosis after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

Stented patients (n = 840) with DES were retrospectively reviewed for inclusion in the study from the Multicenter PCI Database Registry. From this database, 211 (25.1%) of 840 patients with six-month angiographic follow up had diabetes. Predictors of coronary restenosis were identified with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Restenosis occurred in 92 of 629 (14.6%) patients without diabetes and in 44 (20.9%) of 211 patients with diabetes (p < 0.001). Multivariate parameters for predicting restenosis in the diabetic group were current smoking (odds ratio (OR) 1.923, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.055 to 4.725, p = 0.036), higher C reactive protein concentration (OR 1.031, 95% CI 1.011 to 1.075, p = 0.043), use of the paclitaxel-eluting stent (OR 2.638, 95% CI 1.338 to 5.200, p = 0.005), longer stent length (OR 1.065, 95% CI 1.021 to 1.119, p = 0.033), smaller reference diameter before DES implantation (OR 0.501, 95% CI 0.110 to 0.965, p = 0.040), smaller reference diameter (OR 0.455, 95% CI 0.120 to 0.814, p = 0.026) and minimum lumen diameter (OR 0.447, 95% CI 0.068 to 0.876, p = 0.039) after DES implantation.

CONCLUSION

Even with the introduction of DES, diabetes remains a significant predictor of coronary restenosis, especially in cases of a small baseline vessel size, small vessel size after percutaneous coronary intervention, longer stent length, use of the paclitaxel-eluting stent, current smoking and high C reactive protein concentration.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Multiplex Real-Time Quantitative PCR to Detect and Quantify Verticillium dahliae Colonization in Potato Lines that Differ in Response to Verticillium Wilt

ABSTRACT Potato early dying (PED), also known as Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, is a seasonal yield-limiting disease of potato worldwide, and PED-resistant cultivars currently represent only a small percentage of potato production. In this study, we developed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) approach to detect and quantify V. dahliae. The efficiency of the designed primer pair VertBt-F/VertBt-R, derived from the sequence of the beta-tubulin gene, was greater than 95% in monoplex Q-PCR and duplex (using Plexor technology) procedures with primers PotAct-F/PotAct-R, obtained from the sequence of the actin gene, designed for potato. As few as 148 fg of V. dahliae DNA were detected and quantified, which is equivalent to five nuclei. Q-PCR detected V. dahliae in naturally infected air-dried potato stems and fresh stems of inoculated plants. Spearman correlations indicated a high correlation (upward of 80%) between V. dahliae quantifications using Q-PCR and the currently used plating assays. Moreover, Q-PCR substantially reduced the variability compared with that observed in the plating assay, and allowed for the detection of V. dahliae in 10% of stem samples found to be pathogen free on the culture medium. The described Q-PCR approach should provide breeders with a more sensitive and less variable alternative to time-consuming plating assays to distinguish response of breeding lines to colonization by V. dahliae.

Biphasic modifying effect of indole-3-carbinol on diethylnitrosamine-induced preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive liver cell foci in Sprague-Dawley rats

The biphasic modifying effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a naturally occurring constituent of edible cruciferous vegetables, on the development of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive liver cell foci were investigated by using a medium-term liver bioassay system and a newborn rat hepatocarcinogenesis system. In Experiment 1, a total of 65 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 5 groups. Animals were given a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 200 mg/kg diethylnitrosamine (DEN) dissolved in saline for groups 1, 2, and 3 or a single i.p. injection of saline for groups 4 and 5. Group 1 was given the diet containing 0.25% I3C for 2 weeks prior to DEN initiation and then basal diet for 8 weeks. Group 2 was given basal diet for 4 weeks prior to and after DEN initiation and then the diet containing 0.25% I3C for 6 weeks. The rats of group 3 were placed on basal diet during the experiment. Animals of groups 4 and 5 were treated in the same manner as those of groups 1 and 2 except for injection with saline instead of DEN solution. All rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3 and were killed at week 8 after DEN or saline injection. In Experiment 2, a total of 45 female SD rats were dosed with DEN (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline at 24 h after birth. After weaning at week 3, the rats were fed diet containing 0.25% I3C for 9 weeks and then were killed at week 12. In Experiment 1, preinitiation exposure to 0.25% I3C caused a significant decrease in numbers of GST-P-positive liver cell foci (P < 0.05), while postinitiation exposure to 0.25% I3C caused significant increases in both number (No./cm2) and area (mm2/cm2) of GST-P-positive liver cell foci (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In Experiment 2, the relative liver weight in the DEN + I3C group was significantly increased (P < 0.001). The numbers and areas of GST-P-positive liver cell foci in the DEN + I3C group were significantly increased as compared to the values of the DEN-alone group (P < 0.001). These results clearly demonstrated that I3C exerts a promoting effect on the postinitiation stage as well as an inhibitory effect on the preinitiation stage in the medium-term liver bioassay.

CagA-producing Helicobacter pylori and increased risk of gastric cancer: a nested case-control study in Korea

In a nested-case control study of 100 cases of gastric cancer and 400 matched controls in relation to virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori in a Korean cohort, CagA seropositivity was significantly associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer among H. pylori-infected subjects (OR=3.57, 95% CI 1.05–12.14).

Influenza vaccines: recent advances in production technologies

In spite of ongoing annual vaccination programs, the seasonal influenza epidemics remain a major cause of high morbidity and mortality. The currently used "inactivated" vaccines provide very short-term and highly specific humoral immunity due to the frequent antigenic variations in the influenza virion. These intra-muscularly administered vaccines also fail to induce protective mucosal immunity at the portal of viral entry and destruction of the virally infected cells by induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop immunologically superior vaccines. This article highlights some of the recent developments in investigational influenza vaccines. The most notable recent developments of interest include the use of immunopotentiators, development of DNA vaccines, use of reverse genetics, and the feasibility of mammalian cell-based production processes. Presently, due to their safety and efficacy, the cold-adapted "live attenuated" vaccines are seen as viable alternatives to the "inactivated vaccines". The DNA vaccines are gaining importance due to the induction of broad-spectrum immunity. In addition, recent advances in recombinant technologies have shown the possibility of constructing pre-made libraries of vaccine strains, so that adequately preparations can be made for epidemics and pandemics.

Laparoscopic and laparotomic staging in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer: a comparison of feasibility and safety

The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic and laparotomic surgical staging in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer in terms of feasibility and safety. A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all patients with apparent stage I epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic (laparoscopy group) or laparotomic (laparotomy group) surgical staging at the Center for Uterine Cancer, National Cancer Center, Korea, between January 2001 and August 2006. During the study period, 19 patients underwent laparotomic surgical staging and 17 patients underwent laparoscopic surgical staging. No cases were converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy. The two groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, procedures performed, number of lymph nodes retrieved, and operating time. The laparoscopy group had less estimated blood loss (P = 0.001), faster return of bowel movement (P < 0.001), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.002) compared to the laparotomy group. Transfusions were required only in two laparotomy patients, and postoperative complications occurred only in four laparotomy patients. However, two patients with stage IA grade 1 and 2 disease in laparoscopy group had recurrence with one patient dying of disease. The accuracy and adequacy of laparoscopic surgical staging were comparable to laparotomic approach, and the surgical outcomes were more favorable than laparotomic approach. However, the oncologic safety of laparoscopic staging was not certain. This is the first report on the possible hazards of laparoscopic staging in early-stage ovarian cancer. In the absence of a large prospective trial, this technique should be performed cautiously.

A multiepitope of XBP1, CD138 and CS1 peptides induces myeloma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in T cells of smoldering myeloma patients

We evaluated a cocktail of HLA-A2-specific peptides including heteroclitic XBP1 US184-192 (YISPWILAV), heteroclitic XBP1 SP367-375 (YLFPQLISV), native CD138260-268 (GLVGLIFAV) and native CS1239-247 (SLFVLGLFL), for their ability to elicit multipeptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (MP-CTLs) using T cells from smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients. Our results demonstrate that MP-CTLs generated from SMM patients' T cells show effective anti-MM responses including CD137 (4-1BB) upregulation, CTL proliferation, interferon-γ production and degranulation (CD107a) in an HLA-A2-restricted and peptide-specific manner. Phenotypically, we observed increased total CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells (>80%) and cellular activation (CD69(+)) within the memory SMM MP-CTL (CD45RO(+)/CD3(+)CD8(+)) subset after repeated multipeptide stimulation. Importantly, SMM patients could be categorized into distinct groups by their level of MP-CTL expansion and antitumor activity. In high responders, the effector memory (CCR7(-)CD45RO(+)/CD3(+)CD8(+)) T-cell subset was enriched, whereas the remaining responders' CTL contained a higher frequency of the terminal effector (CCR7(-)CD45RO(-)/CD3(+)CD8(+)) subset. These results suggest that this multipeptide cocktail has the potential to induce effective and durable memory MP-CTL in SMM patients. Therefore, our findings provide the rationale for clinical evaluation of a therapeutic vaccine to prevent or delay progression of SMM to active disease.

Predictors of slow flow during primary percutaneous coronary intervention: an intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology study

OBJECTIVES

Slow flow phenomenon is a serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with a poor prognosis. We sought to evaluate the characteristics of lesions predisposing to the slow/no-reflow phenomenon during primary PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

The study subjects consisted of 57 consecutive patients (mean age 58.5 (SD 14.5) years, 45 males) who underwent primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction and intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology (IVUS-VH) examination. Slow flow was defined as <or= thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade 2 after PCI.

RESULTS

Slow flow developed in 12 patients (eight males). Patients with slow flow were likely to be older (67.5 (13.8) years vs 56.2 (13.9) years, p = 0.015), had more cardiogenic shock (16.7% vs 2.2%, p = 0.046), larger fibrofatty volume over the entire lesion length (36.7 (25.5) mm(3) vs 18.0 (18.6) mm(3), p = 0.006), higher remodelling index (1.10 (0.17) vs 0.99 (0.16), p = 0.043), larger plaque area (16.2 (5.4) mm(2) vs 12.5 (4.9) mm(2), p = 0.025), fibrous area (8.0 (3.3) mm(2) vs 5.4 (3.0) mm(2), p = 0.014) and fibrofatty area (2.7 (2.2) mm(2) vs 1.3 (1.6) mm(2), p = 0.016) at the minimal lumen site than those without slow flow (37 males). Multivariate analysis revealed that the fibrofatty volume over the entire lesion length was the only independent factor (beta = 0.359, 95% confidence interval 0.002 to 0.012, p = 0.006) for slow flow during primary PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that slow flow may be dependent on the tissue characterisation (fibrofatty volume) of the underlying lesion at the time of the primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction.

Interaction of heparin with synthetic antithrombin III peptide analogues

Heparin-binding proteins may contain specific patterns of basic amino acids, called consensus sequences, that interact with heparin. Small peptides were synthesized that contained consensus sequences (i.e. FAKLNCRLYRKANKSSK) or disrupted consensus sequences (i.e. K136-->A) based on the known sequence of antithrombin III (amino acid residues 123-139). These peptides were then examined in both competitive and non-competitive binding experiments using bioassays, fluorescence spectroscopy, affinity chromatography and n.m.r. spectroscopy. Both the consensus and disrupted-consensus peptide bound to heparin. Peptides with consensus sequences bound specifically to the pentasaccharide antithrombin III-binding site within heparin. In contrast, peptides with disrupted consensus sequences showed no specificity, binding to any sequence within heparin. Proton nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy demonstrated the proximity of leucine and tyrosine (within the consensus sequence) to the N-acetyl moiety found primarily within the pentasaccharide antithrombin III-binding site of heparin. This experiment confirmed the findings of the other techniques and helped to localize the binding sites in both peptides and heparin. A model is proposed for both specific and non-specific heparin interaction with consensus and disrupted-consensus peptides.

Persistence of human papillomavirus as a predictor for treatment failure after loop electrosurgical excision procedure

We aimed to investigate whether postconization human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing can predict treatment failure and improve the accuracy of conventional follow-up in women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Between March 2001 and October 2005, 120 patients with confirmed CIN 2 or 3 were treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and were enrolled. Six patients were lost to the follow-up. Postconization follow-up was performed at every 3-6 months during the first year and then annually. Specimens were tested for the presence of HPV, using the Hybrid Capture 2 (Digene Co, Gaithersburg, MD) and HPV DNA chip (Mygene Co, Seoul, Korea) test. Persistent HPV infection was defined as persistently (two times or more) positive HPV tests with the same HPV subtype(s) at initial diagnosis. Twenty-two (19.3%) patients showed treatment failure after conization. The only significant risk factor for redevelopment of CIN after conization was persistence of the same HPV subtype (P < 0.0001). And women with recurrent or residual CIN had higher HPV load during the 6-month follow-up postconization. In conclusion, the persistence of the same HPV subtype after LEEP conization was an important predictor of treatment failure. The follow-up protocol after conization of CIN should include both cervical cytology and HPV test, and HPV DNA chip test is needed to detect a persistent HPV infection.

Identification of two proline transport systems in Staphylococcus aureus and their possible roles in osmoregulation

The food-borne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is distinguished from other food-borne pathogens by its ability to grow at water activity values below 0.90. Previous studies have indicated that proline accumulation mediated by transport represents a primary osmoregulatory strategy utilized by this bacterium (C. B. Anderson and L. D. Witter, Appl. Environ, Microbiol. 43:1501-1503, 1982; I. Koujima, H. Hayashi, K. Tomochika, A. Okabe, and Y. Kanemasa, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 35:467-470, 1978; K. J. Miller, S. C. Zelt, and J.-H. Bae, Curr. Microbiol. 23:131-137, 1991). In this study, we demonstrate the presence of two proline transport systems within whole cells of S. aureus, a high-affinity transport system (Km, 7 microM) and a low-affinity transport system (Km, 420 microM). Our results indicate that the low-affinity proline transport system is osmotically activated and is the primary system responsible for the accumulation of proline by this pathogen during growth at low water activity.

Modifying responses of allyl sulfide, indole-3-carbinol and germanium in a rat multi-organ carcinogenesis model

The modifying potential of allyl sulfide (AS), indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (GE) on lesion development was examined in a wide-spectrum initiation model. Groups 1-4 were treated sequentially with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (100 mg/kg, i.p., single dose), N-methylnitrosourea (MNU) (20 mg/kg, i.p., four doses at days 2, 5, 8 and 11), and N,N-dibutylnitrosamine (DBN) (0.05% in drinking water during weeks 3 and 4). Groups 5-7 received vehicles without carcinogens during the initiation period. Group 8 served as the untreated control. After this initiating procedure, groups 2-7 were administered a diet containing 0.5% AS or I3C and 0.05% GE. All surviving animals were killed 40 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and the target organs were examined. The induction of GST-P+ hepatic foci in rats treated with carcinogens was significantly inhibited by treatment with all three compounds. AS treatment significantly decreased the incidence of hepatic hyperplastic nodules, adenoma of the lung and thyroid, and papillary or nodular hyperplasia of the urinary bladder. Administration of GE also significantly inhibited the development of hepatic nodules and adenoma of the lung and thyroid. However, I3C only inhibited the hyperplastic nodules of the liver. These results demonstrated that this multi-organ initiation model could be useful in confirming organ-specific modification potential and, in addition, the inhibitory effect of AS, I3C and GE on liver, lung, thyroid and urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Acute actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on intracellular Ca(2+) and K(+) currents in human microglia

The effects of acute application of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) on levels of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) and on whole-cell outward and inward K(+) currents were studied in cultured human microglia. TNFalpha elicited a linear increase in [Ca(2+)]i to a plateau level in microglia bathed in either standard physiological saline solution or Ca(2+)-free physiological saline solution. The rate of increase of [Ca(2+)]i or the level of [Ca(2+)]i attained was not significantly altered in the absence of external Ca(2+) indicating that Ca(2+) influx did not contribute appreciably to the cytokine-induced rise in [Ca(2+)]i. This point was directly confirmed using Mn(2+) quenching where no change in signal fluorescence was observed with TNFalpha treatment of microglia in Ca(2+)-free physiological saline solution. The rate of increase of [Ca(2+)]i induced by TNFalpha in Ca(2+)-free physiological saline solution was not altered by prior application of ATP to deplete inositol triphosphate stores indicating that these stores did not contribute to the cytokine response. In whole-cell patch clamp recordings, the acute treatment of human microglia with TNFalpha led to the expression of an outward K(+) current in one-third (14 of 41) of cells. This current was activated at potentials positive to -30 mV, showed rapid kinetics of activation with no evident inactivation and had an I-V relation exhibiting outward rectification. Analysis of tail currents showed reversal of the outward K(+) current near -70 mV and tetraethylammonium (10 mM) inhibited the outward K(+) current to 24% of control level. Acute application of TNFalpha had no effect to alter inward rectifier currents generated from voltage ramps. The signaling pathways involving TNFalpha modulation of [Ca(2+)]i and K(+) channels in human microglia may contribute to functional and pathological actions of the cytokine in the brain.

FOXO3 is essential for CD44 expression in pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal types of cancer and the 5-year survival rate is only 5%. Several studies have suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be involved in recurrence and metastasis and so it is essential to establish an approach targeting CSCs. Here we have demonstrated that cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) suppressed CD44 expression and the properties of CSCs in PDAC. Microarray analysis suggested that cGMP inhibited Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), which is known as a tumor suppressor. Surprisingly, our data demonstrated that FOXO3 is essential for CD44 expression and the properties of CSCs. Our data also indicated that patients with high FOXO3 activation signatures had poor prognoses. This evidence suggested that cGMP induction and FOXO3 inhibition could be ideal candidates for pancreatic CSC.