Invited review: Inflammation during the transition to lactation: New adventures with an old flame

For dairy cattle, the first several weeks of lactation represent the highest-risk period in their lives after their own neonatal period. Although more than 50% of cows during this period are estimated to suffer from at least one subclinical disorder, the complicated admixture of normal adaptations to lactation, infectious challenges, and metabolic disorders has made it difficult to determine which physiological processes are adaptive and which are pathological during this time. Subacute inflammation, a condition that has been well documented in obesity, has been a subject of great interest among dairy cattle physiologists in the past decade. Many studies have now clearly shown that essentially all cows experience some degree of systemic inflammation in the several days after parturition. The magnitude and likely persistence of the inflammatory state varies widely among cows, and several studies have linked the degree of postpartum inflammation to increased disease risk and decreased whole-lactation milk production. In addition to these associations, enhancing postpartum inflammation with repeated subacute administration of cytokines has impaired productivity and markers of health, whereas targeted use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during this window of time has enhanced whole-lactation productivity in several studies. Despite these findings, many questions remain about postpartum inflammation, including which organs are key initiators of this state and what signaling molecules are responsible for systemic and tissue-specific inflammatory states. Continued in vivo work should help clarify the degree to which mild postpartum inflammation is adaptive and whether the targeted use of anti-inflammatory drugs or nutrients can improve the health and productivity of dairy cows.

An activated ErbB3/NRG1 autocrine loop supports in vivo proliferation in ovarian cancer cells

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Treatment for advanced-stage disease remains limited and, to date, targeted therapies have been incompletely explored. By systematically suppressing each human tyrosine kinase in ovarian cancer cell lines by RNAi, we found that an autocrine signal-transducing loop involving NRG1 and activated ErbB3 operates in a subset of primary ovarian cancers and ovarian cancer cell lines. Perturbation of this circuit with ErbB3-directed RNAi decreased cell growth in three-dimensional culture and resulted in decreased disease progression and prolonged survival in a xenograft mouse model of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, a monoclonal ErbB3-directed antibody (MM-121) also significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. These findings identify ErbB3 as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of neovascularization in tumor xenografts

Angiogenesis, or neovascularization, is known to play an important role in the neoplastic progression leading to metastasis. CD31 or Factor VIII-related antigen (F VIII RAg) immunohistochemistry is widely used in experimental studies for quantifying tumor neovascularization in immunocompromised animal models implanted with transformed human cell lines. Quantification, however, can be affected by variations in the methodology used to measure vascularization including antibody selection, antigen retrieval (AR) pretreatment, and evaluation techniques. To examine this further, we investigated the microvessel density (MVD) and the intensity of microvascular staining among five different human tumor xenografts and a mouse syngeneic tumor using anti-CD31 and F VIII RAg immunohistochemical staining. Different AR methods also were evaluated. Maximal retrieval of CD31 was achieved using 0.5 M Tris (pH 10) buffer, while maximum retrieval of F VIII RAg was achieved using 0.05% pepsin treatment of tissue sections. For each optimized retrieval condition, anti-CD31 highlighted small vessels better than F VIII RAg. Furthermore, the MVD of CD31 was significantly greater than that of F VIII RAg decorated vessels (p<0.001). The choice of antibody and AR method has a significant affect on immunohistochemical findings when studying angiogenesis. One also must use caution when comparing studies in the literature that use different techniques and reagents.

Intramolecular (directed) electrophilic C-H borylation

The intramolecular C-H borylation of (hetero)arenes and alkenes using electrophilic boranes is a powerful transition metal free methodology for forming C-B bonds. These C-H borylation reactions are preceded by intermolecular bond (both dative and covalent) formation, with examples proceeding via initial C-B and N-B bond formation dominating this field thus both are discussed in depth herein. Less prevalent intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation reactions that proceed by intermolecular O-B, S-B and P-B bond formation are also summarised. Mechanistic studies are presented that reveal two mechanisms for C-H borylation, (i) electrophilic aromatic substitution (prevalent with B-X electrophiles); (ii) σ-bond metathesis mediated (prevalent with B-H and B-R electrophiles). To date, intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation is utilised mainly for accessing boron containing conjugated organic materials, however recent developments, summarized herein alongside early studies, have highlighted the applicability of this methodology for forming synthetically versatile organo-boronate esters and boron containing bioactives. The multitude of synthetic procedures reported for intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation contain many common features and this enables key requirements for successful C-H borylation and the factors effecting regioselectivity and substrate scope to be identified, discussed and summarized.

The detection and comparison of angiogenesis-associated factors in pyogenic granuloma by immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND

Pyogenic granuloma is a benign inflammatory lesion demonstrating obvious activity of angiogenesis. Female steroid hormones are believed to play important roles in the etiology because the lesion is frequently found in females with high levels of sex hormones. Few molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis have been proposed and proven. The purpose of this study was to detect and compare the expression of angiogenesis-associated factors among healthy gingiva, gingiva from periodontitis, and pyogenic granuloma to clarify the pathogenesis of pyogenic granuloma.

METHODS

Fifteen specimens were collected from each of 3 groups of gingiva (healthy gingiva, periodontitis, and pyogenic granuloma). The subjects were age and gender matched. The specimens were processed for immunohistochemistry to detect and compare the expression of 2 angiogenesis enhancers, i.e., vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), 2 angiogenesis inhibitors, i.e., angiostatin and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and estrogen receptor (ER). Using the subject as the unit of statistical analysis, either analysis of variance or chi-square analysis was employed to show the statistically significant difference at a level P <0.05.

RESULTS

The pyogenic granuloma group expressed significantly more VEGF and bFGF than healthy gingiva and periodontitis. The positive staining of VEGF was mostly localized in the cytoplasm of macrophages and fibroblasts while that of bFGF was in the extracellular matrix of lamina propria. Angiostatin was expressed significantly less in pyogenic granuloma than the other 2 groups and was mostly localized in the nuclei of endothelial cells and epithelial cells. There was no significant difference in the expression of TSP-1 and ER among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this research suggest that the etiology of pyogenic granuloma is due to the imbalance between angiogenesis enhancers and inhibitors. Whether and how the angiogenesis-associated factors are regulated by female steroid hormones remain to be answered.

HBV-induced ROS accumulation promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through Snail-mediated epigenetic silencing of SOCS3

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been demonstrated to be involved in Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocarcinogenesis through activation of the STAT3 pathway. The sustained activation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway is frequently associated with repression of SOCS3, which is both a target gene and a negative regulator of STAT3. However, the silencing mechanism of SOCS3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be elucidated. Here, we showed that the repression of SOCS3 and sustained activation of IL-6/STAT3 pathway in HBV-producing HCC cells were caused by HBV-induced mitochondrial ROS accumulation. Mechanistic studies revealed that ROS-mediated DNA methylation resulted in the silencing of SOCS3. Decreased SOCS3 expression significantly promoted the proliferation of HCC cells and growth of tumor xenografts in mice. Further studies revealed that HBV-induced ROS accumulation upregulated the expression of the transcription factor, Snail, which bound to the E-boxes of SOCS3 promoter and mediated the epigenetic silencing of SOCS3 in association with DNMT1 and HDAC1. In addition, we found that the expression of Snail and SOCS3 were inversely correlated in HBV-associated HCC patients, suggesting that SOCS3 and/or Snail could be used as prognostic markers in HCC pathogenesis. Taken together, our data show that HBV-induced mitochondrial ROS production represses SOCS3 expression through Snail-mediated epigenetic silencing, leading to the sustained activation of IL-6/STAT3 pathway and ultimately contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis.

The genetics of phytate and phosphate accumulation in seeds and leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana, using natural variation

Phytate (myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate, InsP6) is the most abundant P-containing compound in plants, and an important anti-nutritional factor, due to its ability to complex essential micro-nutrients, e.g. iron and zinc. Analysis of natural variation for InsP6 and Pi accumulation in seeds and leaves for a large number of accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, using a novel method for InsP6 detection, revealed a wide range of variation in InsP6 and Pi levels, varying from 7.0 mg to 23.1 mg of InsP6 per gram of seed. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of InsP6 and Pi levels in seeds and leaves, using an existing recombinant inbred line population, was performed in order to identify a gene(s) that is (are) involved in the regulation of InsP6 accumulation. Five genomic regions affecting the quantity of the InsP6 and Pi in seeds and leaves were identified. One of them, located on top of chromosome 3, affects all four traits. This QTL appears as the major locus responsible for the observed variation in InsP6 and Pi contents in the L er/Cvi RIL population; the L er allele decreases the content of both InsP6 and Pi in seeds and in leaves. The InsP6/Pi locus was further fine-mapped to a 99-kb region, containing 13 open reading frames. The maternal inheritance of the QTL and the positive correlation between InsP6 and total Pi levels both in seeds and in leaves indicate that the difference in InsP6 level between L er and Cvi is likely to be caused by a difference in transport rather than by an alteration in the biosynthesis. Therefore, we consider the vacuolar membrane ATPase subunit G, located in the region of interest, as the most likely candidate gene for InsP6/Pi.

Detection of putative periodontal pathogens in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes mellitus by polymerase chain reaction

It has been assumed that there is a relationship between periodontal diseases and diabetes mellitus, however the putative periodontal microorganisms in non-diabetes mellitus (non-DM) individuals and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients have not been well studied. In this study, the detection rates of 5 putative periodontal pathogens: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eikenella corrodens, Treponema denticola, and Candida albicans by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between NIDDM and non-DM adults were compared. A total of 246 adults were randomly recruited and periodontal parameters including: plaque index (P1I), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and attachment level (AL) were recorded. Subgingival plaque samples were collected by sterile curettes from the most diseased and healthy sites based on PD and AL. The differences in periodontal parameters and microbiological data in healthy and diseased sites between non-DM and NIDDM patients were compared by chi-square analysis. The results showed no significant differences in age, gender, GI, P1I, PD, and prevalence of the 5 microorganisms between the NIDDM and the non-diabetic groups. However, except for A. actinomycetemcomitans, the prevalence of the periodontal microorganisms tested was significantly higher (p <0.001) in diseased sites than in the healthy sites in both groups. The P1I, GI, PD and AL were significantly higher in T. denticola positive sites than in negative sites. The results suggested that P. gingivalis, T. denticola, E. corrodens and C. albicans may play important roles in the periodontitis of both NIDDM and non-DM individuals, however the etiology of periodontitis in both groups may not be different from each other.

Effect of rumen-protected niacin on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and performance of transition dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a rumen-protected niacin product (RPN; 65% nicotinic acid; NiaShure, Balchem Corp., New Hampton, NY) on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and performance of transition dairy cows. Thirty nonlactating multiparous Holstein cows in late gestation were paired according to expected calving date and randomly assigned to 12 g/cow per day of RPN product or to an unsupplemented control (CON) diet. Treatment diets were fed from 21 d before expected calving through 21 d after parturition. Blood samples were taken on d -21, -14, -7, 1, 7, 14, and 21 relative to calving for plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) analyses. Liver samples were taken by biopsy on d 1 and 21 relative to calving for triglyceride (TG) analysis. Data were analyzed for a randomized complete block design with repeated measures. Pre- and postpartum dry matter intake, milk yield, and protein were unaffected by treatment. Milk fat percentage (5.08 vs. 4.44%) and somatic cell score (3.93 vs. 2.48) were reduced for RPN. Treatment × time interactions were observed for energy-corrected milk (ECM) and fat-corrected milk (FCM) yields; RPN reduced ECM and FCM yields by 8.5 and 8.9 kg/cow per day, respectively, in the first week of lactation. Although body weight and condition score decreased during the experimental period, no differences due to treatment were observed. However, calculated postpartum energy balance tended to be improved for RPN because of the reduction in ECM yield. Time and treatment × time effects were observed for plasma NEFA. On d 1 postpartum, NEFA reached 1,138±80 μEq/L for CON compared with 698±80 μEq/L for RPN. Cows supplemented with RPN tended to have lower plasma NEFA concentrations than CON cows on d 7 and 14 postpartum. Plasma BHBA, glucose, and SOD and liver TG concentrations were unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, supplementation with 12 g/cow per day of the RPN product provided a bioavailable source of niacin that modified lipid metabolism but did not affect milk yield over the first 3 wk of lactation or oxidative stress of transition dairy cows.

Expression of Tie-2, angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, ephrinB2 and EphB4 in pyogenic granuloma of human gingiva implicates their roles in inflammatory angiogenesis

Tie-2, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), ephrin-B2 and Eph-B4 are all important vascular morphogenesis factors which exhibit their functions in angiogenesis and blood vessel remodeling in embryonic stage. However, their roles in post-natal inflammatory angiogenesis are still unclear. Pyogenic granuloma is a benign inflammatory lesion that mostly occurs on the gingiva of females with high levels of steroid hormones. Prominent capillary growth in hyperplastic granulation tissue is characteristic histopathologically in pyogenic granuloma. The purpose of this study was to detect and compare the expressions of Tie-2, Ang-1, Ang-2, ephrin-B2 and Eph-B4 among pyogenic granuloma on human gingiva, gingiva diagnosed with periodontitis and healthy gingiva by immunohistochemistry. The immunostaining revealed that all of the endothelial cells and some mesenchymal cells expressed Tie-2. The cells which expressed Ang-1 and Ang-2 were mainly macrophage- or monocyte-like mesenchymal cells and smooth muscle cells surrounding blood vessels. The expression of ephrin-B2 and Eph-B4 was not exclusively limited to the endothelial cells of arteries and veins, respectively, as in mice embryo. Eph-B4 was expressed in the endothelial cells of newly budding capillaries and venules while ephrin-B2 was expressed in macrophage-like mesenchymal cells. Some of the ephrin-B2 positive cells were in direct contact with endothelial cells. The statistical analysis demonstrated that all of the five factors were upregulated in pyogenic granuloma compared to healthy gingiva. In conclusion, the 5 polypeptides mentioned above may play important roles in the process of adult inflammatory neovascularization, especially in pyogenic granuloma. It is highly plausible that most of the new capillaries in inflammatory angiogenesis originated from venules instead of arterioles.

Adherence of oral microorganisms to guided tissue membranes: an in vitro study

Microorganisms can adhere and colonize on an exposed guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane thus developing a nidus of infection. The purpose of this study was to compare early bacterial adhesion to three different GTR membranes. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, polyglactin 910, and collagen were used as the test membranes. In part I of this study 15 different oral microbes were used to compare their relative ability to adhere to the membranes. Six of the most strongly adherent bacteria (Actinomyces viscosus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Selenomonas sputigena) were selected for part II of this study. The membranes were placed in tubes containing broth cultures containing identical concentrations (1 x 10(8) cells/ml) of these bacteria at 37 degrees C. Membranes were placed in tubes of media without bacteria as controls. At 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours, the bacterial cultures were decanted and the membranes in the tubes were agitated gently in reduced transfer fluid (RTF) 4 times to remove non-adherent bacteria. Each tube was then sonicated for 30 seconds in 10 ml RTF to detach adherent bacteria. The detached adherent bacteria were counted using a Petroff-Hausser chamber. Data were analyzed by using the SAS program. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences between multiple means. Results showed S. mutans had the strongest attachment to the collagen membrane at 4 and 6 hours. Selenomonas sputigena had the lowest adherence capability to all test membranes. Polyglactin 910 had significantly (P < 0.05) lower S. mutants adherence than either the ePTFE or the collagen membrane at 4 and 6 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mismatch repair proteins MSH2, MLH1, and EXO1 are important for class-switch recombination events occurring in B cells that lack nonhomologous end joining

In the absence of core nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) factors, Ab gene class-switch recombination (CSR) uses an alternative end-joining (A-EJ) pathway to recombine switch (S) region DNA breaks. Previous reports showing decreased S-junction microhomologies in MSH2-deficient mice and an exonuclease 1 (EXO1) role in yeast microhomology-mediated end joining suggest that mismatch repair (MMR) proteins might influence A-EJ-mediated CSR. We have directly investigated whether MMR proteins collectively or differentially influence the A-EJ mechanism of CSR by analyzing CSR in mice deficient in both XRCC4 and individual MMR proteins. We find CSR is reduced and that Igh locus chromosome breaks are reduced in the MMR/XRCC4 double-deficient B cells compared with B cells deficient in XRCC4 alone, suggesting MMR proteins function upstream of double-strand break formation to influence CSR efficiency in these cells. Our results show that MLH1, EXO1, and MSH2 are all important for efficient A-EJ-mediated CSR, and we propose that MMR proteins convert DNA nicks and point mutations into dsDNA breaks for both C-NHEJ and A-EJ pathways of CSR. We also find Mlh1-XRCC4(-) B cells have an increased frequency of direct S junctions, suggesting that MLH1 proteins may have additional functions that influence A-EJ-mediated CSR.

The synthesis of brominated-boron-doped PAHs by alkyne 1,1-bromoboration: mechanistic and functionalisation studies

The synthesis of a range of brominated-B n -containing (n = 1, 2) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is achieved simply by reacting BBr3 with appropriately substituted alkynes via a bromoboration/electrophilic C-H borylation sequence. The brominated-B n -PAHs were isolated as either the borinic acids or B-mesityl-protected derivatives, with the latter having extremely deep LUMOs for the B2-doped PAHs (with one example having a reduction potential of E 1/2 = -0.96 V versus Fc+/Fc, Fc = ferrocene). Mechanistic studies revealed the reaction sequence proceeds by initial alkyne 1,1-bromoboration. 1,1-Bromoboration also was applied to access a number of unprecedented 1-bromo-2,2-diaryl substituted vinylboronate esters directly from internal alkynes. Bromoboration/C-H borylation installs useful C-Br units onto the B n -PAHs, which were utilised in Negishi coupling reactions, including for the installation of two triarylamine donor (D) groups onto a B2-PAH. The resultant D-A-D molecule has a low optical gap with an absorption onset at 750 nm and emission centered at 810 nm in the solid state.

Recent insights into the epidemiology and genetics of Ascaris in China using molecular tools

Ascaris is a large parasitic roundworm (nematode) of the small intestine of humans and pigs, which causes the socio-economically important disease, ascariasis. To better understand the relationship of Ascaris between the 2 host species, recent studies in China have focused on investigating the genetics and epidemiology of Ascaris from humans and pigs using a mutation scanning-based approach. Findings provided support for a low level of gene flow between the human and porcine Ascaris populations. Extending the studies of genotypic variability within Ascaris from humans and pigs, experimental infections of mice and pigs with selected genotypes of Ascaris were carried out. Initial results indicate that there is a significant difference in the ability of Ascaris eggs of genotype G1 (derived from human) and G3 (derived from pig) to infect and establish as adults in pigs, supporting the difference in the frequencies of these genotypes in natural Ascaris populations between pigs and humans in China. Taken together, current information supports that there is limited cross-infection of Ascaris between humans and pigs in endemic regions and that pigs are not a significant reservoir of human infection with the adult nematode in such areas.

The roles of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 in the regression of pregnancy pyogenic granuloma

OBJECTIVES

The molecular mechanism for the regression of pregnancy pyogenic granuloma after parturition remains unclear. It has been proposed that, in the absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) causes blood vessels to regress. Therefore, we investigated the roles of Ang-2 and VEGF in the regression of pregnancy pyogenic granuloma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the transcription of Ang-2 were tested in endothelial cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 15 specimens, including granulomas taken from five gravidas during pregnancy, five after parturition, and five from normal gingiva were compared by immunoblot assays for their relative expressions of Ang-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, VEGF, and beta-actin. Double staining, immunohistochemistry for Ang-2, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling for apoptotic cells, were used to evaluate their regression. Finally, a fibrin gel culture system was used to investigate whether the withdrawal of VEGF and addition of Ang-2 could cause newly grown microvessels to regress.

RESULTS

TNF-alpha upregulated the expression of Ang-2 in all endothelial cell types tested. The protein levels of Ang-2 and Tie-2 were highest in the granulomas in pregnancy, followed by those after parturition and normal gingiva, while Ang-1 and beta-actin exhibited no significant differences. The amount of VEGF was high in the granulomas in pregnancy and almost undetectable after parturition. Double staining on granulomas after parturition revealed more apoptotic cells and less Ang-2 than did those in pregnancy. In the fibrin gel assay, VEGF alone or in combination with Ang-2 could protect microvessels from apoptosis, while Ang-2 alone had no effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that a lack of VEGF is associated with apoptosis of endothelial cells and regression of granuloma. The roles of Ang-2 require additional study.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates chronic arthritis in mice by modulating neutrophil activities

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune inflammatory disease mediated by the influx of immune cells into the synovial joint space. As Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, we used the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) murine model of RA to investigate the impact of TIIA on RA and immune cell activation. The anti-arthritic activity of TIIA was investigated in an adjuvant-induced arthritis model of RA in mice. Myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase expression levels were assessed in ankle joints by immunohistochemistry analysis. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated in air pouch experiments. Proinflammatory cytokines expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were assessed by immunostaining and confocal microscopy. Treatment with TIIA alleviated cartilage erosion and neutrophil infiltration in the ankle joints of AA mice and reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression levels in sera. TIIA suppressed interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α expression and release in neutrophils and promoted neutrophil apoptosis. TIIA also inhibited the NET formation of neutrophils. Our findings demonstrated that TIIA can ameliorate RA effectively by targeting neutrophils, indicating that TIIA may act as a potential therapeutic for RA.

Diagnostic and prognostic implications of serum miR-101 in osteosarcoma

Blood-circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be used as potential biomarkers in various cancers. MiR-101 has been found to act as a tumor suppressor in many tumor types, but little is known for osteosarcoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate miR-101 expression in osteosarcoma patients and assess its correlation with clinical features and prognosis. Serum samples from 152 osteosarcoma patients and 70 healthy controls were detected using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The data showed that miR-101 expression levels were remarkably underexpressed in serum samples from osteosarcoma patients compared to controls, and the post-treatment serum miR-101 expression was significantly higher than that in the pre-treatment expression. Low serum miR-101 expression was positively associated with advanced clinical stage and distant metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that serum miR-101 could serve as a useful marker for osteosarcoma diagnosis, with a high sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, patients with high miR-101 expression had longer overall survival and recurrence free survival than those with low miR-101 expression. In addition, both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that serum miR-101 downregulation was associated with shorter overall survival and recurrence free survival. Our present results implicated serum miR-101 might be a useful biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of osteosarcoma.

Comparison of various properties of low-molecular-weight proteins from dormant spores of several Bacillus species

Several properties of the major proteins degraded during germination of spores of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis have been compared. All of the proteins had low molecular weights (6,000 to 13,000) and lacked cysteine, cystine, and tryptophan. The proteins could be subdivided into two groups: group I (B. megaterium A and C proteins, B. cereus A protein, and B. subtilis alpha and beta proteins) and group II (B. cereus and B. megaterium B proteins and B. subtilis gamma protein). Species in group II had lower levels of (or lacked) the amino acids isoleucine, leucine, methionine, and proline. Similarly, proteins in each group were more closely related immunologically. However, antisera against a B. megaterium group I protein cross-reacted more strongly with the B. megaterium group II protein than with group I proteins from other spore species, whereas antisera against the B. megaterium group II protein cross-reacted most strongly with B. megaterium group I proteins. Analysis of the primary sequences at the amino termini and in the regions of the B. cereus and B. subtilis proteins cleaved by the B. megaterium spore protease revealed that the B. cereus A protein was most similar to the B. megaterium A and C proteins, and the B. cereus B protein and the B. subtilis gamma protein were most similar to the B. megaterium B protein. However, amino terminal sequences within one group of proteins varied considerably, whereas the spore protease cleavage sites were more highly conserved.

A new approach to the treatment of true-combined endodontic-periodontic lesions by the guided tissue regeneration technique

Clinicians often have difficulty in the diagnosis and treatment of the combined endodontal and periodontal (endo-perio) lesion. A case of an endo-perio true-combined lesion on a maxillary premolar was first treated with conventional endodontic therapy. Periodontal surgery was then completed, which included scaling and root planing and apical curettage on the tooth. The facial bony defect was then filled with a decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft mixed with tetracycline powder. A non-resorbable Teflon membrane was then used to cover the bone material and the periodontal flap sutured over this. This combined treatment resulted in minimal probing depth (2 mm), maximal clinical attachment gain (8 mm), as well as radiographic evidence of alveolar bone gain. This case report demonstrates that proper diagnosis, followed by removal of etiological factors and utilizing the guided tissue regeneration technique combined with osseous grafting, will restore health and function to a tooth with severe attachment loss caused by an endo-perio lesion.

A new strategy for regulating the immunological liver injury--effectiveness of DTH-inhibiting agents on DTH-induced liver injury to picryl chloride

Aqueous extracts from various crude drugs showing a selective inhibition on the induction or effector phase of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction were applied to the new model of liver injury induced in mice by picryl chloride(PCl)-induced DTH. The inhibiting drugs to the induction phase of DTH, Fructus Triburi (FT) and Er-Miao-San (EMS), showed a remarkable improvement against the elevation in serum transaminase levels as well as in histopathological changes when given during this phase. The administration in the effector phase by Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) and Cortex Dictamni (CD), selectively inhibiting the phase of DTH, also significantly improved the liver damage. In addition, RSG and CD showed an almost complete recovery of serum alkaline phosphatase from a persistent decrease in the sustaining process of liver injury when given consecutively for 4 weeks after the elicitation of liver injury. Cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressive agent, significantly inhibited the enzymatic elevation given in either phase, while it did not affect the ability to sustain liver injury. When the above extracts were given in a combined manner to the same mouse during these two phases, respectively, FT with RSG and EMS with CD showed a distinct synergism against the liver injury. RSG or CD also enhanced the activity of prednisolone in suppressing PCl-induced ear contact sensitivity. These findings suggest that this immunological liver injury may be regulated by a set of selective suppressants to DTH reaction and the suitable application of such agents may pave the way for a new strategy in treating liver damage.

Class switch recombination efficiency and junction microhomology patterns in Msh2-, Mlh1-, and Exo1-deficient mice depend on the presence of mu switch region tandem repeats

The Msh2 mismatch repair (MMR) protein is critical for class switch recombination (CSR) events that occur in mice that lack the Smu tandem repeat (SmuTR) region (SmuTR(-/-) mice). The pattern of microhomology among switch junction sites in Msh2-deficient mice is also dependent on the presence or absence of SmuTR sequences. It is not known whether these CSR effects reflect an individual function of Msh2 or the function of Msh2 within the MMR machinery. In the absence of the SmuTR sequences, Msh2 deficiency nearly ablates CSR. We now show that Mlh1 or Exo1 deficiencies also eliminate CSR in the absence of the SmuTR. Furthermore, in SmuTR(-/-) mice, deficiencies of Mlh1 or Exo1 result in increased switch junction microhomology as has also been seen with Msh2 deficiency. These results are consistent with a CSR model in which the MMR machinery is important in processing DNA nicks to produce double-stranded breaks, particularly in sequences where nicks are infrequent. We propose that double-stranded break paucity in MMR-deficient mice leads to increased use of an alternative joining pathway where microhomologies are important for CSR break ligation. Interestingly, when the SmuTR region is present, deficiency of Msh2 does not lead to the increased microhomology seen with Mlh1 or Exo1 deficiencies, suggesting that Msh2 might have an additional function in CSR. It is also possible that the inability to initiate MMR in the absence of Msh2 results in CSR junctions with less microhomology than joinings that occur when MMR is initiated but then proceeds abnormally due to Mlh1 or Exo1 deficiencies.