Antioxidant and antipromotional effects of the soybean isoflavone genistein

Antioxidant and antipromotional effects of the soybean isoflavone genistein have been studied in HL-60 cells and the mouse skin tumorigenesis model. Effects of structure-related flavone/isoflavones on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-activated HL-60 cells and superoxide anion (O2-) generation by xanthine/xanthine oxidase were compared. Of tested isoflavones, genistein is the most potent inhibitor among TPA-induced H2O2 formation by (dimethyl sulfoxide) DMSO-differentiated HL-60 cells, daidzein is second, and apigenin and biochanin A show little effect. In contrast, genistein, apigenin, and prunectin are equally potent in inhibiting O2- generation by xanthine/xanthine oxidase, with daidzein showing a moderate inhibitory effect and biochanin A exhibiting no effect. These results suggest that the antioxidant properties of isoflavones are structurally related and the hydroxy group at Position 4' is crucial in both systems. Dietary administration of 250 ppm genistein for 30 days significantly enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the skin and small intestine of mice. Further studies show that genistein significantly inhibits TPA-induced proto-oncogene expression (c-fos) in mouse skin in a dose-dependent manner. In a two-stage skin carcinogenesis study, low levels of genistein (1 and 5 mumol) significantly prolong tumor latency and decrease tumor multiplicity by approximately 50%. We conclude that genistein's antioxidant properties and antiproliferative effects may be responsible for its anticarcinogenic effect. Its high content in soybeans and relatively high bioavailability favor genistein as a promising candidate for the prevention of human cancers.

Infectivity, transmission, and pathology of human-isolated H7N9 influenza virus in ferrets and pigs

The emergence of the H7N9 influenza virus in humans in Eastern China has raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic could occur. Here, we used a ferret model to evaluate the infectivity and transmissibility of A/Shanghai/2/2013 (SH2), a human H7N9 virus isolate. This virus replicated in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the ferrets and was shed at high titers for 6 to 7 days, with ferrets showing relatively mild clinical signs. SH2 was efficiently transmitted between ferrets via direct contact, but less efficiently by airborne exposure. Pigs were productively infected by SH2 and shed virus for 6 days but were unable to transmit the virus to naïve pigs or ferrets. Under appropriate conditions, human-to-human transmission of the H7N9 virus may be possible.

Trends in overall survival and costs of multiple myeloma, 2000-2014

Little real-world evidence is available to describe the recent trends in treatment costs and outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Using the Truven Health MarketScan Research Databases linked with social security administration death records, this study found that the percentage of MM patients using novel therapy continuously increased from 8.7% in 2000 to 61.3% in 2014. Compared with MM patients diagnosed in earlier years, those diagnosed after 2010 had higher rates of novel therapy use and better survival outcomes; patients diagnosed in 2012 were 1.25 times more likely to survive 2 years than those diagnosed in 2006. MM patients showed improved survival over the study period, with the 2-year survival gap between MM patients and matched controls decreasing at a rate of 3% per year. Total costs among MM patients have increased in all healthcare services over the years; however, the relative contribution of drug costs has remained fairly stable since 2009 despite new novel therapies coming to market. Findings from this study corroborate clinical data, suggesting a paradigm shift in MM treatment over the past decade that is associated with substantial survival gains. Future studies should focus on the impact on specific novel agents on patients' outcomes.

Alterations of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damage to macromolecules in different organs of rats during aging

Oxygen free radicals have been hypothesized to play an important role in the aging process. To investigate the correlation between the oxidative stress and aging, we have determined the levels of oxidative protein damage and lipid peroxidation in the brain and liver, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the brain, liver, heart, kidney, and serum from the Fisher 344 rats at ages of 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The results showed that the level of oxidative protein damage (measured as carbonyl content) in the brain and liver was significantly higher in older animals than in young animals. No statistical difference was observed in the lipid peroxidation of the liver and brain between young and old animals. The activities of antioxidant enzymes in most tissues displayed an age-dependent decline. Superoxide dismutases in the heart, kidney, and serum, glutathione peroxidase activities in the serum and kidney, and catalase activities in the brain, liver, and kidney, significantly decreased during aging. Cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme involved in electron transport in mitochondria, initially increased, but subsequently decreased in the aged brain, whereas no significant alteration was observed in the liver mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes. The present studies suggest that the accumulation of oxidized proteins during aging is most likely to be linked with an age-related decline of antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas lipid peroxidation is less sensitive to predict the aging process.

Mixed-backbone oligonucleotides as second generation antisense oligonucleotides: in vitro and in vivo studies

Antisense oligonucleotides are being evaluated in clinical trials as novel therapeutic agents. To further improve the properties of antisense oligonucleotides, we have designed mixed-backbone oligonucleotides (MBOs) that contain phosphorothioate segments at the 3' and 5' ends and have a modified oligodeoxynucleotide or oligoribonucleotide segment located in the central portion of the oligonucleotide. Some of these MBOs indicate improved properties compared with phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides with respect to affinity to RNA, RNase H activation, and anti-HIV activity. In addition, more acceptable pharmacological, in vivo degradation and pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained with these MBOs.

Association of oral microbiome with type 2 diabetes risk

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The oral microbiome may help to maintain systemic health, including how it affects blood glucose levels; however, direct evidence linking the oral microbiome with diabetes is lacking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We compared the oral microbiome profiles of 98 participants with incident diabetes, 99 obese non-diabetics and 97 normal weight non-diabetics, via deep sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS

We found that the phylum Actinobacteria was present significantly less abundant among patients with diabetes than among the controls (p = 3.9 × 10^-3 ); the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.27 (0.11-0.66) for those individuals who had relative abundance higher than the median value. Within this phylum, five families and seven genera were observed, and most of them were less abundant among patients with diabetes. Notably, genera Actinomyces and Atopobium were associated with 66% and 72% decreased risk of diabetes with p-values of 8.9 × 10^-3 and 7.4 × 10^-3 , respectively. Stratified analyses by race showed that most taxa in this phylum were associated with diabetes in both black and white participants. This phylum was also less abundant among non-diabetic obese subjects compared to normal weight individuals, particularly genera Mobiluncus, Corynebacterium and Bifidobacterium, which showed p < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that multiple bacteria taxa in the phylum Actinobacteria are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Some are also associated with the prevalence of obesity, suggesting that the oral microbiome may play an important role in diabetes etiology.

Effect of dietary genistein on antioxidant enzyme activities in SENCAR mice

Dietary administration of the soybean isoflavone genistein (50 and 250 ppm) for 30 days significantly increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in various organs of SENCAR mice. Feeding a 250-ppm genistein diet to SENCAR mice significantly increases the activities of catalase in small intestine, liver, and kidney, the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in skin, and the activity of glutathione reductase in skin and small intestine. Feeding 50 ppm genistein to SENCAR mice results in elevated catalase activity in the small intestine and increases glutathione-S-transferase activities in skin, small intestine, liver, kidney, and lung. Dietary genistein's greatest enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities occurred in skin and small intestine. Our results suggest that dietary genistein enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes in various organs, which may be a mechanism(s) of genistein's chemopreventive action.

Inhibition of UV light- and Fenton reaction-induced oxidative DNA damage by the soybean isoflavone genistein

We have investigated the effect of the soybean isoflavone genistein on 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) formation in calf thymus DNA exposed to either UV irradiation or the Fenton reaction system. Under the conditions used we observed that UV light and the Fenton reaction significantly increase 8-OHdG formation in DNA. Co-incubation with genistein inhibits the formation of 8-OHdG induced by either UV light irradiation or the Fenton reaction in a dose-dependent manner. The quenching effect of genistein on 8-OHdG formation induced by UV light is much more potent than that by the Fenton reaction, suggesting that the mechanisms of 8-OHdG formation may differ between the two systems. We further compared the antioxidant activities and quenching effect on 8-OHdG formation of genistein with biochanin A. Genistein potently scavenges both hydrogen peroxide in the medium and superoxide anion generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase, whereas biochanin A has either a weak or no scavenging effect on these reactive oxygen species. However, both genistein and biochanin A display a similar quenching effect on UV light-induced 8-OHdG formation. These results suggest that the quenching effect of genistein and biochanin A on UV light-induced 8-OHdG formation is different from their ability to scavenge hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. The potent inhibition of UV light-induced oxidative DNA damage by genistein suggests its potential anticarcinogenic role in photocarcinogenesis.

Vitamin D and adaptation to dietary calcium and phosphate deficiencies increase intestinal plasma membrane calcium pump gene expression

The effect of vitamin D and other variables on the synthesis of the chicken intestinal plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) mRNA was assessed. The DNA probe for Northern analysis was obtained by reverse transcription and PCR with intestinal poly(A)+ RNA, using two 20-mer oligonucleotide primers homologous to the 3' coding region of the human teratoma PMCA. An EcoRI restriction fragment of the PCR product was cloned into the pBluescript II KS(-) phagemid vector, and the chimeric plasmid was used to transform Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide DNA sequence of the PCR product and the cloned DNA were 96% homologous with the teratoma sequence. Northern blots of intestinal poly(A)+ RNA with 32P-labeled DNA showed the presence of three major species of chicken PMCA mRNAs at about 6.6, 5.4, and 4.5 kb. Northern analysis with the chicken PMCA DNA indicated that repletion of vitamin D-deficient chickens with vitamin D increased PMCA mRNAs in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon. After injection of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 intravenously into vitamin D-deficient chickens, duodenal PMCA mRNA tended to increase by 2 hr, reached a maximum at about 16 hr, and returned to baseline levels at 48 hr. Adaptation of chickens to either a calcium- or phosphorus-deficient diet resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in duodenal PMCA mRNA. These results indicate that vitamin D and specific variables that affect calcium absorption through the vitamin D-endocrine system increase intestinal PMCA gene expression.

Purine-rich foods, protein intake, and the prevalence of hyperuricemia: the Shanghai Men's Health Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Diet may play an important role in the development of hyperuricemia and gout. However, the association between dietary factors and hyperuricemia remains unclear, and few studies have investigated direct links between food intake and hyperuricemia. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between high purine-content foods and protein intake with the prevalence of hyperuricemia by using data from a cross-sectional study of 3978 men aged 40-74 yrs living in Shanghai, China.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Hyperuricemia was defined as blood uric acid level >7.0 mg/dl. One quarter of this population had hyperuricemia. Dietary information was collected by using a food frequency questionnaire. We collected information on anthropometric measurements and lifestyle factors and other potential confounding factors and disease history via interviews. Total protein consumption was not associated with hyperuricemia. We found a positive association between protein from animal sources and prevalence of hyperuricemia and an inverse association between protein from plant sources and hyperuricemia. However, these associations failed to reach significance in mutually adjusted analysis. Seafood intake was associated with higher prevalence of hyperuricemia. The ORs for quintiles of seafood intake (including fish and shellfish) were 1.00, 1.49, 1.35, 1.34, and 1.56 (p for trend: 0.01). An inverse association approaching significance between soy food consumption and hyperuricemia was observed (ORs: 1.00, 0.90, 0.70, 0.89, and 0.77 for quintiles of intake; p for trend: 0.07). No associations between consumption of purine-rich vegetables or meat and prevalence of hyperuricemia were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest a direct association between seafood consumption and hyperuricemia and an inverse association between consumption of soy food and hyperuricemia among middle-aged, Chinese men.

Construction and characterization of retroviral vectors expressing biologically active human interleukin-12

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine originally defined by its ability to induce the maturation of cytolytic lymphocytes and by its capacity to effectively synergize with IL-2 in the induction of cytolytic activity. Recent studies in mice have demonstrated the ability of IL-12 to cause tumor regression and stimulate long-term antitumor immunity in treated animals. To examine the antitumor effect of direct gene transfer of IL-12 into tumors, we have developed retroviral vectors that coordinately express both subunits of IL-12. An MFG-based retroviral vector was used to generate a recombinant retrovirus in which a long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven polycistronic transcript encodes both subunits of human IL-12: hp35 and hp40 cDNAs are linked and coexpressed using the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) from the encephalomyocarditis virus (DFG-hIL-12). In addition, two IRES sequences were used to express both subunits of IL-12 and a neomycin resistance (neoR) selectable marker gene from the same polycistronic message (TFG-hIL-12). The amphotropic DFG-hIL-12 and TFG-hIL-12 viruses were used to infect both human and murine cell lines as well as primary tumor cultures. The production of human IL-12 by the nonselected, infected cells was measured in both a PHA blast proliferation bioassay and an ELISA and ranged from 15 to 40 ng/10(6) cells per 24 hr. Following G418 selection of TFG-hIL-12-infected cells, the level of expression of IL-12 was significantly higher (up to 120 ng/10(6) cells per 24 hr). The IL-12 protein secreted by the infected cells exhibited all of the biologic activities of recombinant hIL-12: proliferation of activated natural killer (NK) and T cells, stimulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induction by NK and T cells, and enhancement of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity. These retroviral vectors expressing human IL-12 should be useful in evaluating the biological properties of IL-12 as well as for use in clinical trials for gene therapy of patients with cancer.

Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics of a mixed-backbone antisense oligonucleotide targeted to the RIalpha subunit of protein kinase A after oral administration

Overexpression of the RIalpha subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) has been demonstrated in various human cancers. PKA has been suggested as a potential target for cancer therapy. The goal of the present study was to evaluate an anti-PKA antisense oligonucleotide (mixed-backbone oligonucleotide) as a therapeutic approach to human cancer treatment. The identified oligonucleotide inhibited the growth of cell lines of human colon cancer (LS174T, DLD-1), leukemia (HL-60), breast cancer (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468), and lung cancer (A549) in a time-, concentration-, and sequence-dependent manner. In a dose-dependent manner, the oligonucleotide displayed in vivo antitumor activity in severe combined immunodeficient and nude mice bearing xenografts of human cancers of the colon (LS174T), breast (MDA-MB-468), and lung (A549). The routes of drug administration were intraperitoneal and oral. Synergistic effects were found when the antisense oligonucleotide was used in combination with the cancer chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. The pharmacokinetics of the oligonucleotide after oral administration of (35)S-labeled oligonucleotide into tumor-bearing mice indicated an accumulation and retention of the oligonucleotide in tumor tissue. This study further provides a basis for clinical studies of the antisense oligonucleotide targeted to the RIalpha subunit of PKA (GEM 231) as a cancer therapeutic agent used alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy.

Anoikis resistance is a critical feature of highly aggressive ovarian cancer cells

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGS-OvCA) is an aggressive form of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and accounts for the majority of deaths due to EOC. The critical cellular processes and underlying molecular mechanisms that define this malignancy remain poorly understood. Using a syngeneic murine model, we investigated the changes that accompanied the progression to increased aggressiveness induced by in vivo passage of mouse EOC cells. We found that enhanced anoikis resistance was a key cellular process associated with greater aggressiveness and tumorigenicity in vivo. Biochemical studies revealed that the enhanced anoikis resistance was associated with the activation of the Src/Akt/Erk signaling pathway. A higher rate of metabolism and autophagy were also associated with increased anoikis resistance. Blocking these pathways with specific inhibitors and/or genetic modifications significantly increased anoikis in vitro and inhibited tumor development in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated that similar signaling pathways were also involved in a human EOC cell line model. Collectively, our data suggest that anoikis resistance represents a critical and a distinguishing feature underlying the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer cells.

Cytokine-mediated protection of human dendritic cells from prostate cancer-induced apoptosis is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, and second in cancer-induced mortality. It is likely that tumour-induced immunosuppression is one of the reasons for low treatment efficacy in patients with advanced prostate cancer. It has been recently demonstrated that prostate cancer tissue is almost devoid of dendritic cells (DC), the major antigen-presenting cells responsible for the induction of specific antitumour immune responses. In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that prostate cancer induces progressive suppression of the DC system. We found that co-incubation of human DC with three prostate cancer cell lines led to the high levels of premature apoptosis of DC, which were significantly higher than in DC cultures co-incubated with normal prostate cells or blood leucocytes. Stimulation of DC for 24 hours with CD40 ligand (CD154), IL-12 or IL-15 prior to their co-incubation with prostate cancer cells resulted in a significant increase in DC survival in the tumour microenvironment. Furthermore, activation of DC with these cytokines was also accompanied by increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x(L) in DC, suggesting a possible mechanism involved in DC protection from apoptotic death. In summary, our data demonstrate that prostate cancer induces active elimination of DC in the tumour microenvironment. Stimulation of DC by CD154, IL-12 or IL-15 leads to an increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x(L) and increased resistance of DC to prostate cancer-induced apoptosis. These results suggest a new mechanism of tumour escape from immune recognition and demonstrate the cytokine-based approaches which might significantly increase the efficacy of DC-based therapies for cancer.

Singlet oxygen involvement in ultraviolet (254 nm) radiation-induced formation of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine in DNA

In the present article, we report that ultraviolet (UV 254 nm) radiation substantially induced the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in purified DNA. The formation of 8-OHdG, a hallmarker of oxidative DNA damage, increased linearly up to 25 kJ/m2 and was dependent on the presence of oxygen in the solution. Deoxygenation by nitrogen significantly reduced the yield of 8-OHdG by UV radiation, whereas oxygenation with 100% oxygen substantially enhanced the yield. The hydroxyl radical (HO.) scavenger dimethysulfoxide (DMSO) dramatically quenched the formation of 8-OHdG by the ionizing radiation and Fenton reaction, but enhanced the formation of UV-induced 8-OHdG. Further studies showed that DMSO and mannitol, two predominant HO. scavengers, enhanced the levels of UV-induced 8-OHdG in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that UV-induced 8-OHdG is independent of the generation of HO.. The use of deuterium oxide (D2O), which prolongs the half life of singlet oxygen (1O2), substantially enhanced the yield of 8-OHdG by UV radiation, but not that by Fenton reaction. In contrast, sodium azide, a more and less specific 1O2 quencher, substantially reduced the levels of 8-OHdG by both UV radiation and Fenton reaction, indicating that sodium azide lacks the quenching specificity of 1O2 and HO.. It is proposed that UV induced 8-OHdG proceeds through a singlet oxygen involvement mechanism, rather than the generation of hydroxyl radicals.

Homeobox gene IRX1 is a tumor suppressor gene in gastric carcinoma

The IRX1 tumor suppressor gene is located on 5p15.33, a cancer susceptibility locus. Loss of heterozygosity of 5p15.33 in gastric cancer was identified in our previous work. In this study, we analyzed the molecular features and function of IRX1. We found that IRX1 expression was lost or reduced in gastric cancer. However, no mutations were identified in IRX1-encoding regions. IRX1 transcription was suppressed by hypermethylation, and the expression of IRX1 mRNA was partially restored in gastric cancer cells after 5-Aza-dC treatment. Restoring IRX1 expression in SGC-7901 and NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells inhibited growth, invasion and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. We identified a number of target genes by global microarray analysis after IRX1 transfection combined with real-time PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. BDKRB2, an angiogenesis-related gene, HIST2H2BE and FGF7, cell proliferation and invasion-related genes, were identified as direct IRX1 target genes. The hypermethylation of IRX1 was not only detected in primary gastric cancer tissues but also in the peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients, suggesting IRX1 could potentially serve as a biomarker for gastric cancer.

Synthesis and degradation of a tri-component copolymer derived from glycolide, L-lactide, and epsilon-caprolactone

A series of tri-component copolymers was synthesized by ring opening copolymerization of cyclic lactones, i.e. glycolide, L-lactide, and caprolactone, using stannous octoate as a catalyst. Various techniques, including FT-IR, 1H NMR, DSC, X-ray diffraction, tensile strength, and contact angle measurements, were used to elucidate structural characteristics, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and hydrophilicity of the resulting copolymers. Data showed that the properties of these copolymers could be modulated by adjusting the composition of the copolymers. The DSC and X-ray analysis demonstrated amorphous structures for most of the PGLC copolyesters. The degradation behavior of these PGLC copolymers had been studied in vitro, i.e. in 0.10 M pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The degradation was monitored by intrinsic viscosity and weight loss measurements. SEM and GPC were also used to monitor the morphology and molecular weight change during degradation. The PGLC copolymers were shown to have variable degradation rates, and most of them could disappear within a few months due to their amorphous structure and low glass transition temperature.

Preclinical pharmacology of the natural product anticancer agent 10-hydroxycamptothecin, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I

PURPOSE

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is an indole alkaloid isolated from a Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata, and has a wide spectrum of anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo mainly through inhibitory effects on topoisomerase I. HCPT has been shown to be more potent and less toxic than camptothecin and has recently undergone clinical trials. To determine how HCPT might be best used as an anticancer agent, preclinical studies of the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, metabolism and elimination of HCPT in rats were undertaken.

METHODS

HCPT was administered to rats by i.v. bolus injection at doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg body weight. HCPT (lactone and carboxylate) and its metabolites in plasma, urine, feces, and various tissues were quantitated by reversed-phase HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were then estimated.

RESULTS

Following i.v. administration at doses of 3 or 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentration-time profile for lactone HCPT could be best described by a three-compartment model, with terminal elimination half-lives of 140.4 and 428.6 min, respectively. A two-compartment model was used to fit the plasma concentration-time curve at 1 mg/kg, with a terminal elimination half-life of 30.5 min. Carboxylate HCPT had a longer half-life than the lactone form of HCPT. During the initial 6 h after dosing, urinary excretion was the major route of elimination, and fecal excretion became the major route of elimination thereafter. HCPT was widely distributed to various tissues including the enterohepatic system, kidney, and bone marrow. The lactone form of HCPT was detectable in various tissues examined up to 72 h after dosing at all the three test doses. HCPT glucuronides were present in plasma, urine, feces and various tissues. No significant toxicity was observed at doses of 1 or 3 mg/kg. Polyuria and hematuria were observed only during the initial 3 h after dosing at 10 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged elimination of HCPT in vivo may have a significant impact on its therapeutic effects. HCPT is metabolized to its carboxylate form and glucuronides. Dose-dependent toxicity was observed with i.v. administration of HCPT. The results of this study should be useful in the design of future human trials with this anticancer drug.

Timing of HPV16-E6 antibody seroconversion before OPSCC: findings from the HPVC3 consortium

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-E6 antibodies are detectable in peripheral blood before diagnosis in the majority of HPV16-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), but the timing of seroconversion is unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We formed the HPV Cancer Cohort Consortium which comprises nine population cohorts from Europe, North America and Australia. In total, 743 incident OPSCC cases and 5814 controls provided at least one pre-diagnostic blood sample, including 111 cases with multiple samples. Median time between first blood collection and OPSCC diagnosis was 11.4 years (IQR = 6-11 years, range = 0-40 years). Antibodies against HPV16-E6 were measured by multiplex serology (GST fusion protein based Luminex assay).

RESULTS

HPV16-E6 seropositivity was present in 0.4% of controls (22/5814; 95% CI 0.2% to 0.6%) and 26.2% (195/743; 95% CI 23.1% to 29.6%) of OPSCC cases. HPV16-E6 seropositivity increased the odds of OPSCC 98.2-fold (95% CI 62.1-155.4) in whites and 17.2-fold (95% CI 1.7-170.5) in blacks. Seropositivity in cases was more frequent in recent calendar periods, ranging from 21.9% pre-1996 to 68.4% in 2005 onwards, in those with blood collection near diagnosis (lead time <5 years). HPV16-E6 seropositivity increased with lead time: 0.0%, 13.5%, 23.7%, and 38.9% with lead times of >30 years (N = 24), 20-30 years (N = 148), 10-20 years (N = 228), and <10 years (N = 301 cases) (p-trend < 0.001). Of the 47 HPV16-E6 seropositive cases with serially-collected blood samples, 17 cases seroconverted during follow-up, with timing ranging from 6 to 28 years before diagnosis. For the remaining 30 cases, robust seropositivity was observed up to 25 years before diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The immune response to HPV16-driven tumorigenesis is most often detectable several decades before OPSCC diagnosis. HPV16-E6 seropositive individuals face increased risk of OPSCC over several decades.

Differential expression of apoptosis-related genes in the cochlea of noise-exposed rats

Exposure to intense noise induces apoptosis in hair cells in the cochlea. To identify the molecular changes associated with noise-induced apoptosis, we used quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate the changes in 84 apoptosis-related genes in cochlear samples from the sensory epithelium and lateral wall. Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a continuous noise at 115 dB SPL for 2 h. The exposure caused a 40-60 dB threshold shift 4 h post-exposure that decreased to 20-30 dB 7 days post-exposure. These functional changes were associated with apoptotic markers including nuclear condensation and fragmentation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Immediately after the noise exposure, 12 genes were downregulated, whereas only one gene (Traf4) was upregulated. At 4 h post-exposure, eight genes were upregulated; three (Tnrsf1a, Tnfrsf1b, Tnfrst5) belonged to the Tnfrsf family, three (Bir3, Mcl1 and Prok2) have anti-apoptotic properties and one (Gadd45a) is a target of p53. At 7 days post-exposure, all the upregulated genes returned to pre-noise levels. Interestingly, the normal control cochlea had high constitutive levels of several apoptosis-related genes. These constitutively expressed genes, together with the inducible genes, may participate in the induction of cochlear apoptotic activity.

A sensitive aptasensor for adenosine based on the quenching of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-doped silica nanoparticle ECL by ferrocene

A reusable signal on aptasensor for adenosine based on the quenching of Ru-SNPs electrochemiluminescence by ferrocene was developed.

Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) as a salvage therapy for refractory gastroparesis: a case series of different subtypes

BACKGROUND

Gastroparesis is a poorly understood, chronic, debilitating motility disorder with very limited medical therapeutic options. Gastric peroral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) is an emerging novel endoscopic technique as an incisionless pyloroplasty for refractory cases. Effective information of G-POEM on different types of gastroparesis is sparse.

METHODS

Cases of G-POEM using selective circular myotomy as a salvage therapy for refractory symptoms were retrospective studied. The G-POEM procedures were performed by a single expert endoscopist under a certain protocol. Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptoms Index (GCSI) and gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) were evaluated before and after the procedure. Procedures related adverse event were also recorded.

KEY RESULTS

All procedures were successfully completed without complications. Each case in this series was different in demography and etiology of gastroparesis, namely postsurgical, postinfectious, and idiopathic gastroparesis in an elderly male and two young female adults. All cases were refractory to conventional treatment but demonstrated obvious success after G-POEM as a salvage therapy both clinically and on GES.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

G-POEM as a salvage therapy improves symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with different types of refractory gastroparesis. Our cases are also the firsts to show success of G-POEM in postinfectious gastroparesis and in elderly male patient. More data are needed to determine which subgroup of patients would benefit most from this novel procedure.

Anoxia-induced gene expression in turtle heart. Upregulation of mitochondrial genes for NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 5 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1

A cDNA library constructed from heart of anoxia-exposed adult turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) was differentially screened with 32P-labeled single-stranded cDNA probes from heart of control versus anoxic animals to clone genes induced by anoxia stress. Four cDNA clones, pBTaR20, pBTaR34, pBTaR63 and pBTaR914 were obtained and confirmed to be upregulated in response to anoxic submergence (20 h in N2-bubbled water at 7 degrees C). Two clones, pBTaR20 and pBTaR63, were characterized by sequence analysis and in vivo expression. The clone pBTaR20 had a 1597-bp cDNA sequence and pBTaR63 contained a 1837-bp sequence. The pBTaR20 sequence contained a single open reading frame that was very close to full length and could potentially encode a polypeptide with 508 amino acids. The deduced polypeptide sequence showed approximately 83% of the residues identical with the sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) that is encoded by a mtDNA gene Cox1. The clone pBTaR63 contained a single potentially full-length open reading frame that could encode a polypeptide of 591 residues. This was similar to another mitochondrial protein, NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 5 (ND5), which is encoded by mtDNA gene Nad5. Analysis of the time course of expression of Cox1 and Nad5 by northern hybridization analysis showed that mRNA transcripts for both accumulated rapidly (within 1 h) in response to anoxia exposure. Both showed similar increases in their transcript content after 1 h of anoxia but with longer anoxia exposures (5 or 20 h) Nad5 mRNA levels remained high whereas Cox1 mRNA content declined somewhat. Northern-blot hybridization also revealed differential expression of these two genes in five other organs of T. s. elegans during anoxia exposure (brain, kidney, liver, red and white skeletal muscle), with a particularly large increase in mRNA transcript levels of both genes in anoxic red muscle. Organ-specific analysis of these genes in a freeze-tolerant turtle species (Chrysemys picta marginata) also showed that differential expression of these genes occurred in response to the ischemia induced by plasma freezing.

Anterior intervertebral disc excision and bone grafting in cervical spondylotic myelopathy

An analysis of 121 cases of cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated by anterior excision of the disc and fusion was undertaken. All patients were followed at least six months, and follow-up averaged 22 months. Results showed that 97.5% of patients had no aggravation of symptoms, 90.9% were improved, and 72.6% were able to resume normal activity. Surgical intervention can greatly improve the prospects of patients with severe cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and its use should not be lightly ruled out. Autografts yield higher fusion rates and better overall results than homografts. Selection of the number and level of discs to be excised depends upon clinical and roentgenographic indications, as well as the myelogram and the amount of fluid injected into the discs.