Heteronanostructure of Ag particle on titanate nanowire membrane with enhanced photocatalytic properties and bactericidal activities

A novel seed induced method has been developed for syntheses of Ag particles on titanate nanowires, and then the heteronanostructured Ag/titanate nanowires were assembled into porous, flexible membranes. These titanate nanowires were about several hundreds micrometers in length and about 80 nm in diameter. The size of the Ag particle can be tuned within 300-700 nm. The pore size and thickness of the heteronanostructured membrane were easily controlled. An Ag/titanate nanowire membrane reactor has been developed to study the photocatalytic degradation of methamidophos in aqueous solution, and 87.0% of the methamidophos can be degraded in a concurrent filtration and photocatalytic oxidation process. The antibacterial activity was also investigated on the heteronanostructured membrane with UVA light (365 nm) irradiation, and a 99.99% satisfactory antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli was achieved.

Socio-economic factors affecting the success of tuberculosis treatment in six counties of Shandong Province, China

SETTING

Tuberculosis (TB) control in rural China is of high priority in health policy making.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate treatment success among rural TB patients and the determinants of patient and case management and to explore the current status of DOTS implementation in rural China.

METHODS

A patient-based study was conducted in six counties of Shandong Province, China. Study sites were selected by multi-stage random sampling. Subjects were rural smear-positive pulmonary TB patients registered with the county TB dispensaries at study sites who completed treatment during the period October 2006 to September 2007.

RESULTS

This study observed a success rate of 74.5% among 501 participants. The cure rate, of 50.5%, was much lower than the national level. There was a difference in treatment success rates across counties. Factors independently affecting treatment success were patient income, study site, and home visits and supervision by town and village health workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing financial resources for TB control and effective involvement of human resources are crucial to achieving success with the DOTS strategy in rural China.

Viral response to chemotherapy in endemic burkitt lymphoma

PURPOSE

Some EBV-directed therapies are predicted to be effective only when lytic viral replication occurs. We studied whether cyclophosphamide chemotherapy induces EBV to switch from latent to lytic phases of infection in a series of EBV-associated Burkitt lymphomas.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Children with first presentation of an expanding, solid maxillary or mandibular mass consistent with Burkitt lymphoma underwent fine-needle aspiration just prior to the initiation of cyclophosphamide therapy and again 1 to 5 days later. Aspirated cells were examined for latent and lytic EBV infection using in situ hybridization to EBV-encoded RNA (EBER), immunohistochemical analysis of the lytic EBV proteins BZLF1 and BMRF1, reverse transcription PCR targeting BZLF1 transcripts, and EBV viral load measurement by quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

Among 21 lymphomas expressing EBER prior to chemotherapy, 9 of 10 still expressed EBER on day 1 after therapy whereas only 2 of 11 (18%) specimens still expressed EBER at days 3 to 5, implying that chemotherapy was fairly effective at eliminating latently infected cells. Neither of the lytic products, BZLF1 or BMRF1, were significantly upregulated at the posttherapy time points examined. However, EBV genomic copy number increased in 5 of 10 samples 1 day after treatment began, suggesting that viral replication occurs within the first 24 hours.

CONCLUSION

Cyclophosphamide may induce the lytic phase of EBV infection and is fairly effective in diminishing EBER-expressing tumor cells within 5 days. These findings provide the rationale for a trial testing synergistic tumor cell killing using cyclophosphamide with a drug like ganciclovir targeting lytically infected cells.

Efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells with poly[2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-alt-bithiophene] and 6,6-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester blends and their application in tandem cells

We present herein efficient bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells via mixing poly[2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-alt-bithiophene] (F6T2) and 6,6-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with variable weight ratios. The photo-physics and morphology of F6T2:PCBM blend films and the electrical characteristics of their corresponding single cells were studied in details by changing PCBM concentration. The complete photoluminescence quenching of F6T2 emission occurs with only a small fraction of PCBM blended, demonstrating effective photoinduced charge transfer between F6T2 and PCBM. Morphology images from atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveal that the phase separation in F6T2:PCBM blend films becomes pronounced with the increase of PCBM concentration, resulting in the increased fill factor from 25.2% (1:1) to 56.9% (1:6). A SEM image also shows the phase separation is within the range of 10 - 20 nm. With the optimized F6T2:PCBM weight ratio (1:2), the single cell exhibits a highest power conversion efficiency of 2.46% due to the balance of light absorption and charge transport. Finally, the polymer-small molecule tandem cells are constructed using F6T2:PCBM BHJ as the bottom cell and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc):fullerene (C(60)) as the top cell. The open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of tandem cell (1.27 V) is equal to the summation of the V(oc) values of the bottom cell (0.86 V) and the top cell (0.43 V).

Development of a laser synthetic wavelength interferometer for large displacement measurement with nanometer accuracy

A laser synthetic wavelength interferometer that is capable of achieving large displacement measurement with nanometer accuracy is developed. The principle and the signal processing method of the interferometer are introduced. The displacement measurement experiments and the comparisons with a commercial interferometer both in small and large ranges are performed in order to verify the performance of the interferometer. Experimental results show that the average errors and standard deviations of the interferometer are in accordance with those obtained from the commercial interferometer. The resolution and the nonlinearity of the interferometer are also discussed in detail. These results show that the development of the interferometer is reasonable and feasible.

Prostate cancer genes associated with TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence in multiple cohorts

Background:

Recent studies have indicated that prostate cancer patients with the TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusion have a higher risk of recurrence. To identify markers associated with TMPRSS2–ERG fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence, we analysed a cohort of 139 men with prostate cancer for 502 molecular markers.

Methods:

RNA from radical prostatectomy tumour specimens was analysed using cDNA-mediated, annealing, selection, extension and ligation (DASL) to determine mRNAs associated with TMPRSS2–ERG T1/E4 fusion and prognostic of biochemical recurrence. Differentially expressed mRNAs in T1/E4-positive tumours were determined using significance analysis of microarrays (false discovery rate (FDR) <5%). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression determined genes, gene signatures and clinical factors prognostic of recurrence (P-value <0.05, log–rank test). Analysis of two prostate microarray studies (GSE1065 and GSE8402) validated the findings.

Results:

In the 139 patients from this study and from a 455-patient Swedish cohort, 15 genes in common were differentially regulated in T1/E4 fusion-positive tumours (FDR <0.05). The most significant mRNAs in both cohorts coded ERG. Nine genes were found prognostic of recurrence in this study and in a 596-patient Minnesota cohort. A molecular recurrence score was significant in prognosticating recurrence (P-value 0.000167) and remained significant in multivariate analysis of a mixed clinical model considering Gleason score and TMPRSS2–ERG fusion status.

Conclusions:

TMPRSS2–ERG T1/E4 fusion-positive tumours had differentially regulated mRNAs observed in multiple studies, the most significant one coded for ERG. Several mRNAs were consistently associated with biochemical recurrence and have potential clinical utility but will require further validation for successful translation.

Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 is not associated with vessel density nor with hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and the neo-angiogenic factors induced as a result of hypoxia-inducible factor transcriptional activation may contribute to tumorigenesis by inducing vessel formation that in turn provides oxygen and nutrients promoting tumor expansion. In vitro studies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an aggressive malignancy that is nearly always infected by Epstein-Barr virus, show HIF-1alpha is upregulated by viral latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). The current study used immunohistochemistry to examine the extent to which HIF-1alpha and LMP1 are co-expressed in naturally infected NPC tissues. Analytic procedures were optimized for sensitive localization of HIF-1alpha and LMP1 in fixed tissue sections using immunohistochemistry with sensitive fluorescent and signal amplification technologies. Vessel density was quantified by CD31 immunohistochemistry. LMP1 was expressed focally in all 18 NPCs examined, including 7/8 in situ lesions. There was no consistent co-localization with HIF-1alpha which was usually only weakly expressed in a subset of neoplastic cells. Neither LMP1 nor HIF-1alpha expression correlated with vessel density, and degree of vascularization varied widely among cases. Advanced immunohistochemical technologies reveal that LMP1 is expressed more commonly than previously reported in NPC. There is no consistent relationship between LMP1 and either HIF-1alpha expression or degree of microvasculature. The biologic basis for the wide variation in vessel density deserves further investigation.

Surgical extraction of migrated coils via proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery: an emergency alternative

Coil migration is a severe complication in endovascular treatment. We report our experience of prompt surgical extraction of migrated coils via excised proximal A1 following endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms in two patients. Both patients had to undergo coiling or stent-assisted coiling for cerebral aneurysms, and while operating the coils protruded and migrated to the bifurcation of internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery. Immediate craniotomy was performed after unsuccessful or unfeasible endovascular retrieval. The migrated coils were removed via excised proximal A1, and the patients recovered well without any neurological deficits. We suggest that this surgical procedure might be an alternative route in selected patients with good cross circulation in emergency. In addition, a rare occasion of coil migration after stent-assisted coiling is also described in one patient, which might have resulted from unsatisfactory wall apposition of the stent due to a curved vessel.

Expression of KL-6 mucin, a human MUC1 mucin, in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its potential involvement in tumor cell adhesion and invasion

AIMS

Aberrant expressions of KL-6 mucin were proved to be associated with worse tumor behaviors of many carcinomas. This study was to evaluate the expression KL-6 mucin, a human MUC1 mucin, in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and its significance in tumor progression.

MAIN METHODS

KL-6 mucin expressions in 21 patients with CC, 12 with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC), and 78 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The effects of two glycosylation inhibitors (tunicamycin and benzyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine (BAG)) on CC cell proliferations were assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. KL-6 mucin expressions were detected by immunocytochemical staining and western blotting after tunicamycin or BAG treatment. Cell adhesive and invasive properties were evaluated by adhesion tests and transwell chamber assays after tunicamycin or BAG treatment.

KEY FINDINGS

Positive KL-6 mucin staining was observed in all CC tissues and CC areas of cHCC-CC tissues. Immunocytochemical staining and western blotting showed that KL-6 mucin expressions were significantly reduced after both inhibitors treatment. Cell adhesive properties were significantly decreased after both inhibitors treatment, while cell invasive abilities were significantly decreased after BAG but not tunicamycin treatment.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study indicated that KL-6 mucin might be a specific tumor target for CC. Therapeutic strategies that target glycosylation of KL-6 mucin may be useful to control aggressive behaviors of CC.

Isolated intracranial Rosai?-?Dorfman disease mimicking meningioma in a child

A 9-year-old boy presented with a 12-month history of headaches and recent grand mal seizures. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an enhancing right frontal convexity lesion. The preoperative diagnosis was meningioma. However, histological examination was diagnostic of Rosai-Dorfman disease. Rosai-Dorfman disease confined to the intracranial compartment is very rare, of 34 reported cases only one presented in the first decade. Optimal treatment has not been established, but complete surgical resection alone seems effective and allows histological distinction from meningioma.

Hole transport in Poly[2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-alt-bithiophene] and high-efficiency polymer solar cells from its blends with PCBM

We report herein a detailed study of the thermal and hole-transport properties of poly[2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-alt-bithiophene] (F6T2) and its photovoltaic performance in a bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cell. This crystalline polymer has a high weight-average molecular weight (M(w) = 52 400) with a polydispersity index of 1.99. With a band gap of 2.36 eV, F6T2 exhibits strong absorption in the 300-500 nm region. BHJ solar cells blending F6T2 with [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (1:3 weight ratio) as the active layer present a high open-circuit voltage (V(oc) approximately 0.9 V) and a promising power conversion efficiency of 2.4% under simulated solar light AM1.5G (100 mW/cm(2)). Furthermore, F6T2 shows sufficient hole mobility [ca. 8.4 x 10(-5) cm(2)/(V s) at 310 K and 2.5 x 10(5) V/cm applied electric field] by a time-of-flight transient photocurrent technique, allowing efficient charge extraction and a good fill factor for solar cell application. Nanoscale phase separation was observed in F6T2/PCBM films with a surface roughness lower than 60 nm.

Polychlorinated biphenyls affect thyroid function and induce autoimmunity in Sprague-Dawley rats

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been reported to cause a variety of toxic effects. In order to assess the thyroid function after exposure to PCBs and investigate whether PCBs induce autoimmune process in the thyroid gland, we determined the levels of serum thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4, and T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with a commercial mixture of PCBs, Aroclor 1,254 (PCBs group), or the antithyroid drug, propylthiouracil (PTU group). The histopathology of the thyroid was also examined. Serum FT3, FT4, and T4 concentrations were significantly reduced, while TSH values were dramatically increased in PCBs group and PTU group compared with control rats (p < 0.05). TPOAb levels were significantly elevated in PCBs-treated rats (p < 0.05) but not in PTU group (p > 0.05). In contrast to the controls, treatment with PCBs lead to distinct histopathological changes in the thyroid gland, such as hyperplasia of the epithelia in follicles, colloid content reduction, vascularization, and lymphocytic infiltration in the perifollicular areas, whereas the major changes in the thyroid in PTU-treated rats were follicles shrinkage or collapse and colloid content reduction compatible with induced hypothyroidism. The results indicate that PCBs affect thyroid function via the induction of autoimmunity, which is a mechanism different from the effect of antithyroid drug on the thyroid gland.

Sodium-glucose cotransport inhibition with dapagliflozin in type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Dapagliflozin, a novel inhibitor of renal sodium-glucose cotransporter 2, allows an insulin-independent approach to improve type 2 diabetes hyperglycemia. In this multiple-dose study we evaluated the safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin in type 2 diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to one of five dapagliflozin doses, metformin XR, or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary objective was to compare mean change from baseline in A1C. Other objectives included comparison of changes in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), weight, adverse events, and laboratory measurements.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, dapagliflozin induced moderate glucosuria (52-85 g urinary glucose/day) and demonstrated significant glycemic improvements versus placebo (DeltaA1C -0.55 to -0.90% and DeltaFPG -16 to -31 mg/dl). Weight loss change versus placebo was -1.3 to -2.0 kg. There was no change in renal function. Serum uric acid decreased, serum magnesium increased, serum phosphate increased at higher doses, and dose-related 24-h urine volume and hematocrit increased, all of small magnitude. Treatment-emergent adverse events were similar across all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin improved hyperglycemia and facilitates weight loss in type 2 diabetic patients by inducing controlled glucosuria with urinary loss of approximately 200-300 kcal/day. Dapagliflozin treatment demonstrated no persistent, clinically significant osmolarity, volume, or renal status changes.

A grid-based Bader analysis algorithm without lattice bias

A computational method for partitioning a charge density grid into Bader volumes is presented which is efficient, robust, and scales linearly with the number of grid points. The partitioning algorithm follows the steepest ascent paths along the charge density gradient from grid point to grid point until a charge density maximum is reached. In this paper, we describe how accurate off-lattice ascent paths can be represented with respect to the grid points. This improvement maintains the efficient linear scaling of an earlier version of the algorithm, and eliminates a tendency for the Bader surfaces to be aligned along the grid directions. As the algorithm assigns grid points to charge density maxima, subsequent paths are terminated when they reach previously assigned grid points. It is this grid-based approach which gives the algorithm its efficiency, and allows for the analysis of the large grids generated from plane-wave-based density functional theory calculations.

A grid-based Bader analysis algorithm without lattice bias

A computational method for partitioning a charge density grid into Bader volumes is presented which is efficient, robust, and scales linearly with the number of grid points. The partitioning algorithm follows the steepest ascent paths along the charge density gradient from grid point to grid point until a charge density maximum is reached. In this paper, we describe how accurate off-lattice ascent paths can be represented with respect to the grid points. This improvement maintains the efficient linear scaling of an earlier version of the algorithm, and eliminates a tendency for the Bader surfaces to be aligned along the grid directions. As the algorithm assigns grid points to charge density maxima, subsequent paths are terminated when they reach previously assigned grid points. It is this grid-based approach which gives the algorithm its efficiency, and allows for the analysis of the large grids generated from plane-wave-based density functional theory calculations.

Differential Wnt pathway activation in triple negative breast cancers comparative to HER2 and hormone positive breast cancers identified from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues

Abstract #43

Background: Patients afflicted with triple negative (TN) breast cancer (BC) are typically younger and have the worst prognosis of any BC subtype as a result of its aggressive and invasive phenotype. TN BC has been well studied with respect to the associative and prognostic values of its mRNA expression profiles. We have used the Illumina DASL (cDNA mediated, Annealing, Selection, Extension, and Ligation) platform to characterize 502 genes from 96 BC patients sourced from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. RNA extracted from FFPE tissues is highly fragmented and typically unsuited for expression platforms, but recent advances have allowed for accurate expression profiling of RNA from FFPE tissues. This 96 patient cohort included 21 TN BC patients identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC); differential analysis of TN expression was integrated with known pathway mechanisms and identified activation of the Wnt pathway in TN tumors.&#x2028; Material and Methods: The Illumina DASL assay was used to measure mRNA expression levels from BC patients obtained from St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, Quebec. RNA was extracted from three 5µm tissue sections from FFPE blocks using the RNA High Pure Kit (Roche). Differential mRNA regulation was identified by Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) software using a false discover rate (FDR, q-value &lt; 0.01) or a Bonferroni corrected two-tailed student's t-test (p-value &lt; 0.05). IHC concordance was measured by mRNA expression fold-change for positive versus negative IHC categories.&#x2028; Results: 165 samples from 96 patients were characterized for mRNA expression on 1,488 probes across 502 genes in the DASL assay. Quality control limited the analysis to 150 samples from 91 patients over 500 genes. Comparison of the TN subtype relative to HER2 positive and hormone positive breast carcinomas identified up-regulation [fold-change] of MMP7 [2.9], MMP9 [2.0], MMP1 [1.8], NOTCH1 [1.5], FZD7 [1.5], PPARD [1.3], CCND2 [1.2], MET [1.3], MYC [1.5], and MYCN [2.0] in the TN subtype. Most of these genes are either a component or downstream target of the Wnt signaling pathway. Down-regulated relevant genes included ESR1 [-8.4], PGR [-3.9], ERBB2 [-3.4] as expected, as well as ERRB3, ERBB4, GLI3, TFF1, LAF4/AFF3, and AR.&#x2028; Discussion: Down-regulation of TFF1 suggests inhibition of the ERK/MAPK pathways which have complex effects on cell-cell adhesion. In combination with over-expression of MMPs 1, 7, and 9, these changes may contribute to the invasive nature of TN BCs. GLI3 down-regulation may attenuate Hedgehog signaling potentially contributing to Wnt activation, further leading to cell migration, invasion, and decrease in cell adhesion to cognate integrin-matrix interaction Up-regulation of both the FZD7 receptor as well as the Wnt targets MMP7, MYC, MYCN, PPARD, and CCND2 strongly suggest Wnt pathway activation in the TN subtype.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 43.

Molecular differences in triple negative breast cancer between race/ethnicities

Abstract #2089

Background: A disparity in prognosis of triple negative (TN) breast cancer (BC) has been observed between African American (AA) and Caucasian (CAU) race/ethnicities afflicted with this aggressive and invasive BC subtype. Etiological understanding of these differences involves accounting for several factors associated with phenotype and genotype. Here, we address the latter using the Illumina DASL (cDNA mediated, Annealing, Selection, Extension, and Ligation) assay to quantify mRNA expression of 512 breast cancer related genes in a cohort of 24 CAU and 56 AA TN BC tissues sourced from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks.&#x2028; Material and Methods: The DASL assay was used to measure mRNA expression levels from FFPE sourced tissues in both cohorts of self-identified patients. CAU BC patients were obtained from St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, Quebec and AA BC patients were obtained from Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia. RNA extraction used the RNA High Pure Kit (Roche) and was taken from archival FFPE tissues either 5µm tissue sections or cores. Differential mRNA regulation was identified by Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) software using a false discover rate (FDR) less than 1% and a two fold-change criteria to determine differential regulation.&#x2028; Results: In all, 33 genes were found differentially expressed between AA and CAU TN BC tumor samples, 32 of which were upregulated in the AA cohort, only 1 of which was upregulated in the CAU group. The upregulated gene in CAU TN BC was TFF1. Upregulated genes in the AA cohort (order of statistical significance according to SAM software) were KIF20A, EP300, AURKB, FGF4, C14orf155, USP22, EPOR, ZNF668, SCNN1G, MAPT, FLNB, EP400, LTA, ACOT11, RBP3, CSF3, E2F2, TGFB1, CCNE1, L1CAM, NDP, VWF, RHOB, FEN1, BIN1, KRT17, CDC42EP4, SERPINF1, CHI3L2, NES, BCL2, and RERG.&#x2028; Discussion: TFF1 upregulated in the CAU population, has been indicated as biomarker of favorable prognosis in endocrine therapy in clinical studies which is consistent with race/ethnicity disparities. The remaining genes upregulated in the AA cohort include transcription factors E2F2 and RBP3/E2F1 both with cyclin binding domains which may interact with CCNE1, extracellular and adhesion related genes KRT17, L1CAM and FGF4, genes associated with cell cycle AURKB, EP400, and EP300 (activator of HIF-1A). Several RAS related genes were also found differentially expressed in the AA cohort including RHOB, RERG, BIN1, and EPOR. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that BCL2 which is expressed in the aggressive mammary cancer cell line MCF-7 was also found upregulated in the AA cohort. These initial findings suggest that several differentially regulated genes between AA and CAU race/ethnicities may account for the disparity in outcomes resultant in these populations. These initial data warrant further investigation which is currently ongoing.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 2089.