Novel monoclonal antibodies to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens for ELISA-based diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the potential of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) and early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis.

DESIGN

We generated and characterised monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10 by immunising BALB/c mice with an ESAT-6/CFP-10 fusion protein. Stable hybridoma cell lines were established and mAbs were specifically identified by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. The mouse mAbs were used to coat plates, and biotin-labelled polyclonal antibodies were used to detect the antigens. One hundred and seventy-three samples of sputum culture supernatants and pleural effusion aspirates have been tested.

RESULTS

The ESAT-6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected the culture supernatants and pleural effusion specimens that were positive for M. tuberculosis, but failed to identify M. tuberculosis-positive specimens in the non-M. tuberculosis culture supernatants or control specimens. This yielded a sensitivity of 95.4% and a specificity of 100% for the ESAT-6-specific ELISA. The CFP-10 ELISA presented less satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, of respectively 81.6% and 92.2%. Results showed positive detection rates of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 of 86.8% (33/38) and 76.3% (29/38) for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in patients bacteriologically negative for M. tuberculosis culture.

CONCLUSION

The ESAT-6 and CFP-10 ELISAs incorporating mAbs generated in this study serve as potential tools in the laboratory diagnosis of TB.

Pachyman treatment improves CD4+CD25+ Treg counts and serum interleukin 4 and interferon γ levels in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of pachyman, a mushroom extract, on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), serum interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) levels in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease. Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract was diluted to 1 mg/ml in PBS and administered to mice by intraperitoneal injection to establish a model of Kawasaki disease. Sixty female mice were used in this study, 40 of which were randomly assigned to a model (normal saline by gavage, n=20) or experimental group (200 mg/kg/day pachyman by gavage, n=20). The remaining 20 mice were disease and treatment-free, and were used as the control group. Compared to the control mice, mice in the model group exhibited a significantly lower percentage of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and significantly higher serum IL-4 and IFN-γ levels (P<0.05). However, CD4+CD25+ Tregs significantly increased and IL-4 and IFN-γ levels significantly decreased in experimental mice following pachyman treatment (P<0.05). Further analysis showed a negative correlation between CD4+CD25+ Tregs and IL-4/IFN-γ levels (P<0.05). In conclusion, pachyman improves immune function in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease by upregulating CD4+CD25+ Tregs, which may inhibit the cytokine secretion of Th1 and Th2 cells.

A dual-cathode electro-Fenton oxidation coupled with anodic oxidation system used for 4-nitrophenol degradation

The degradation of 4-nitrophenol was investigated using a novel electrochemical oxidation system, in which the anodic oxidation at Ti/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(5)-IrO(2) electrode and the electro-Fenton oxidation with two cathodes were involved. In this system, gas diffusion electrode (GDE) was used to generate H(2)O(2) by O(2) reduction and graphite electrode was employed for the reduction of Fe(3+) regenerating Fe(2+). When the potential values of GDE and graphite cathode were controlled at -0.80 and -0.10 V/SCE respectively, the optimum Fe(2+) concentration for 4-nitrophenol degradation was about 0.10mM, much lower than the concentration of 0.25 mM obtained in the single-cathode system. Due to the combination of electro-Fenton oxidation and anodic oxidation, an effective degradation and a high mineralization current efficiency (MCE) were achieved. After 600 min treatment, 74.5% of the original TOC was removed by the dual-cathode oxidation system. Moreover, it was confirmed that 57.0% of the original nitrogen could be removed in gaseous form from the simulated wastewater. These results indicate that this electrochemical oxidation process might provide an alternative for the degradation of organic pollutants.

Effect of saccular aneurysm and parent artery morphology on hemodynamics of cerebral bifurcation aneurysms

Morphological descriptors of aneurysms have been used to assess aneurysm rupture. This study investigated the relation between the morphological parameters and the flow related parameter of energy loss (EL). Four size indices and one shape index were assessed in idealized middle cerebral artery models with various aneurysm morphologies. Four patient-specific aneurysms (2 ruptured, 2 unruptured) were virtually manipulated by removing the aneurysms from their parent arteries and merging them with the idealized bifurcation models. EL was calculated from the energy difference between inflow and outflow. The results indicate that among size indices, EL is mostly dependent on bottleneck factor and less dependent on the aspect ratio. Results also showed that there is a direct relationship between nonsphericity index (NSI) and EL in manipulated models. No specific correlation was found between EL and NSI in patient-specific models.

Cell permeability, migration, and reactive oxygen species induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in human microvascular endothelial cells

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have elicited great interest in biomedical applications due to their extraordinary physical, chemical, and optical properties. Intravenous administration of MWCNT-based medical imaging agents and drugs in animal models was utilized. However, the potential harmful health effects of MWCNT administration in humans have not yet been elucidated. Furthermore, to date, there are no apparent reports regarding the precise mechanisms of translocation of MWCNT into target tissues and organs from blood circulation. This study demonstrates that exposure to MWCNT leads to an increase in cell permeability in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). The results obtained from this study also showed that the MWCNT-induced rise in endothelial permeability is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and actin filament remodeling. In addition, it was found that MWCNT promoted cell migration in HMVEC. Mechanistically, MWCNT exposure elevated the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in HMVEC. Taken together, these results provide new insights into the bioreactivity of MWCNT, which may have implications in the biomedical application of MWCNT in vascular targeting, imaging, and drug delivery. The results generated from this study also elucidate the potential adverse effects of MWCNT exposure on humans at the cellular level.

Cell permeability, migration, and reactive oxygen species induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in human microvascular endothelial cells

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have elicited great interest in biomedical applications due to their extraordinary physical, chemical, and optical properties. Intravenous administration of MWCNT-based medical imaging agents and drugs in animal models was utilized. However, the potential harmful health effects of MWCNT administration in humans have not yet been elucidated. Furthermore, to date, there are no apparent reports regarding the precise mechanisms of translocation of MWCNT into target tissues and organs from blood circulation. This study demonstrates that exposure to MWCNT leads to an increase in cell permeability in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). The results obtained from this study also showed that the MWCNT-induced rise in endothelial permeability is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and actin filament remodeling. In addition, it was found that MWCNT promoted cell migration in HMVEC. Mechanistically, MWCNT exposure elevated the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in HMVEC. Taken together, these results provide new insights into the bioreactivity of MWCNT, which may have implications in the biomedical application of MWCNT in vascular targeting, imaging, and drug delivery. The results generated from this study also elucidate the potential adverse effects of MWCNT exposure on humans at the cellular level.

Study of in vitro interaction between tetrabromobisphenol A and bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

The interaction between tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in simulated physiological conditions (pH = 7.4) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that TBBPA caused the fluorescence quenching of BSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants (K) of TBBPA with BSA at 277, 298, and 310 K were obtained as 4.75 × 10(5) L/mol, 5.63 × 10(5) L/mol, and 6.66 × 10(5) L/mol, respectively. There may be two binding sites of TBBPA on BSA. The enthalpy change (ΔH), free energy change (ΔG), and entropy change (ΔS) of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the interaction between TBBPA and BSA was driven mainly by hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. Synchronous fluorescence spectra showed TBBPA binding slightly changed the conformation of BSA by decreasing its polarity and increasing its hydrophobicity. The results of the present study may provide valuable information for studying the distribution and toxicity mechanisms of TBBPA in vivo.

Defluoridation of water via electrically controlled anion exchange by polyaniline modified electrode reactor

A polyaniline (PANI) modified electrode reactor was designed for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. The innovative concept behind the reactor design is that the uptake and elute of fluoride could be well controlled by modulating the potential of the PANI film. The maximum fluoride removal capacity of PANI is more than 20 mg/g at a positive voltage based on the electrically controlled anion-exchange mechanism. The results of batch tests showed that terminal potential values had a major impact on fluoride removal by this PANI, with optimal removal occurring at 1.5 V. The fluoride removal capacity (q(e)) increased rapidly within 5 min and reached equilibrium within 10 min, which indicated a rapid removal velocity of fluoride by PANI under this condition. The applicability of defluoridation using the PANI reactor to treat fluoride-contaminated tap water was also tested through flow cell breakthrough studies. At initial fluoride concentrations of 5 mg/L and 10 mg/L, the breakthrough capacities were 20.08 mg/g and 19.24 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, during the first half of the period before the breakthrough point, the fluoride concentration of the treated solution was below the WHO's recommended levels (1.5 mg/L). The results of the five consecutive treatment-regeneration studies also showed that the PANI films could be reused. Taken together, these results implied that the electrically controlled anion exchange by the PANI-modified electrode reactor may be an effective technique for the removal of fluoride from water.

Effect of denosumab versus zoledronic acid on health-related quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer

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Background: Patients with breast cancer and bone metastases often experience skeletal-related events (SREs) and pain, which can impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Denosumab is superior to zoledronic acid (ZA) in preventing SREs and more effective in delaying moderate or severe pain in patients with advanced breast cancer. We now describe the effect of denosumab or ZA treatment on HRQoL in these patients.

Methods: Patients enrolled in this double-blind, double-dummy study were randomized to receive denosumab (120 mg SC) or ZA (4 mg IV) every 4 weeks. Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire at baseline (BL), day 8, and each monthly visit to assess overall HRQoL. Higher scores (range 0 to 108) reflect a better HRQoL. Changes in HRQoL were summarized through month 18, when 30% of patients had died or dropped out due to disease progression or withdrawal of consent. Increases or decreases of ≥ 5 points in the FACT-G total score were considered clinically meaningful. Pain was evaluated by the Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form (BPI-SF). HRQoL was assessed in subgroups with no/mild pain or moderate/severe pain at BL.

Results: The BL mean (SD) FACT-G score was similar for denosumab (n = 956) 72.7 (16.4) and ZA (n = 952) 73.6 (16.5) groups and increased from BL to month18 for both groups reflecting improved HRQoL. An average of 3.2% more (range 0.9% to 6.8%) denosumab-treated patients than ZA-treated patients experienced a ≥ 5-point increase in HRQoL from months 1 to 18. Fewer denosumab than ZA-treated patients reported a ≥ 5-point decrease in HRQoL (average 2.7% fewer; range 0.6% to 5.8%). Among patients with no/mild pain at BL, an average of 4.1% more (range -0.6% to 9.3%) denosumab-treated patients had a ≥ 5-point increase in FACT-G score from month 4 to 18. In this same subgroup, fewer denosumab-treated patients had a ≥ 5-point decrease in HRQoL over 18 months (average 2.4% fewer; range -4.4% to 6.3%). Similar patterns in FACT-G scores were noted for the subgroup with moderate/severe pain at BL.

Conclusions: In patients with advanced breast cancer, a greater proportion treated with denosumab than ZA had a meaningful improvement in HRQoL regardless of BL pain level.

Risk analysis of unruptured aneurysms using computational fluid dynamics technology: preliminary results

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The decision as to the treatment of incidental IAs is complex. There are no certain quantitative methods that can be used to evaluate the risk of rupture in IAs. In recent years, CFD technology has been recognized as a potential risk-analysis tool. The aim of this article was to propose a hemodynamic parameter, EL, to determine the effects of stable unruptured aneurysms and of those that ruptured during the subsequent observation period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four incidentally found ICA-PcomA aneurysms ruptured during the period of observation (ruptured-IAs). Another 26 unruptured aneurysms (stable-IAs) with similar location, size, and morphology were compared for the differences in hemodynamic factors, such as EL and WSS.

RESULTS

The EL calculated at the ruptured-IAs was nearly 5 times higher on average than that at the stable-IAs (ruptured, 0.00374 ± 0.0011; stable, 0.000745 ± 0.0001 mW/mm(3), P < .001). However, there was no difference between the ruptured and stable groups according to the results of time-averaged WSS (P = .8) for ruptured- and stable-IAs. According to flow visualization, though the mean average inflow speed of ruptured-IAs was 2 times higher than that of the stable-IAs, the flow inside ruptured-IAs appeared to undergo longer resident tracks, with stronger impact on the aneurysm wall. On the contrary, the flow inside stable-IAs passed smoothly through the aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results indicated that EL may be a useful parameter for the quantitative estimation of the risks of rupture for IAs.

Development of a novel monoclonal antibody to B7-H4: characterization and biological activity

Objective

B7-H4, a member of the B7 family of immunoregulatory receptors, may participate in the negative regulation of cell-mediated immunity. Aberrant B7-H4 expression is detected in some tumors and it plays a role in the occurrence and development of tumors. The aim of this study was to elucidate the functional and structural properties of B7-H4.

Methods

We developed a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the extracellular domain of B7-H4 through immunization of Balb/c mice with 3T3-mB7-H4 cells which expressed extrinsic B7-H4. A stable hybridoma cell line was established. Then, we analysised the characterization of the mAb through Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Immunoprecipitation (IP), western blotting, Immunohistochemical (IHC), and tested the biological activity of the mAb.

Results

ELISA, IP, and western blotting analyses indicated that the mAb specifically recognized B7-H4. In addition, flow cytometry demonstrated that the mAb exhibits excellent reactivity when applied to leukemic cells. IHC staining revealed that the mAb stained in a predominantly diffuse plasmalemmal or cytoplasmic pattern when applied to certain tumor tissues. The preliminary results of the mAb's biological activity showed that the mAb could effectively inhibit the function of B7-H4 in the inhibition of T cell, while promotingg the growth of T cells and the secretion of Interleukin-2 (lL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Interleukin10 (IL-10) and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ).

Conclusion

This mAb will be a valuable tool for the further investigation of B7-H4 function.

[Evaluation of risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) through a prospective multicenter study.

METHODS

Eleven children's or maternal & child hospitals participated in a collective network. All infants of birth weight < 2000 g, born in or transferred to one of the participating centers from January 1st 2005 to February 28th 2006 were recruited. Timely ophthalmologic examinations were performed. The relevant data at baseline and endpoints were collected at each unit.

RESULTS

A total of 882 preterm infants fulfilled the screening criteria and 752 finished a followup. And 123 infants (16.4%) had some degree of ROP. Infants with ROP had a lower gestational age, birth weight and a longer duration of oxygen versus those without ROP [(30.82 +/- 0.20) weeks vs (32.56 +/- 0.09) weeks, (1430 +/- 25) g vs (1636 +/-10) g, (11.6 +/- 1.4) d vs (4.4 +/- 0.3) d]. Through a univariate analysis, birth weight, gestational age, asphyxia, oxygen duration > 5 days, apnea, surfactant usage, pneumonia, anemia, blood transfusion, acidosis and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) were associated with ROP (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that birth weight (OR = 0.998), apnea (OR = 1.653) and blood transfusion (OR = 1.763) were independent risk factors for ROP.

CONCLUSION

Asphyxia, oxygen duration > 5 days, surfactant usage, anemia, acidosis and NRDS, lower birth weight, apnea and blood transfusion may improve the risks of ROP.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced gene expression in the mouse lung: association with lung pathology

Due to the fibrous shape and durability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), concerns regarding their potential for producing environmental and human health risks, including carcinogenesis, have been raised. This study sought to investigate how previously identified lung cancer prognostic biomarkers and the related cancer signaling pathways are affected in the mouse lung following pharyngeal aspiration of well-dispersed MWCNT. A total of 63 identified lung cancer prognostic biomarker genes and major signaling biomarker genes were analyzed in mouse lungs (n=80) exposed to 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80μg of MWCNT by pharyngeal aspiration at 7 and 56days post-exposure using quantitative PCR assays. At 7 and 56days post-exposure, a set of 7 genes and a set of 11 genes, respectively, showed differential expression in the lungs of mice exposed to MWCNT vs. the control group. Additionally, these significant genes could separate the control group from the treated group over the time series in a hierarchical gene clustering analysis. Furthermore, 4 genes from these two sets of significant genes, coiled-coil domain containing-99 (Ccdc99), muscle segment homeobox gene-2 (Msx2), nitric oxide synthase-2 (Nos2), and wingless-type inhibitory factor-1 (Wif1), showed significant mRNA expression perturbations at both time points. It was also found that the expression changes of these 4 overlapping genes at 7days post-exposure were attenuated at 56days post-exposure. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) found that several carcinogenic-related signaling pathways and carcinogenesis itself were associated with both the 7 and 11 gene signatures. Taken together, this study identifies that MWCNT exposure affects a subset of lung cancer biomarkers in mouse lungs.