Increased expression of microRNA-21and its association with chemotherapeutic response in human colorectal cancer

The expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) was determined in 42 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The level of miR-21 in CRC tumour tissue was compared with paired normal adjacent tissue (NAT) and the relationships of miR-21 levels to clinicopathological characteristics and pathological tumour response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were investigated. There was a significantly higher level of miR-21 in CRC tumour tissue than in NAT and high expression of miR-21 was significantly correlated with advanced clinical stage and poor cell differentiation. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated a maximum optimal cut-off cycle threshold value of 10.32 for differentiating pathological responders from non-responders, with a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 88.2%. These data showed that miR-21 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tumour tissue and was associated with advanced CRC, and that miR-21 may be a potential candidate biomarker for predicting pathological tumour response to chemotherapy.

Phase Ib study of open-label AMG 386 plus paclitaxel (P) and trastuzumab (T) or capecitabine (C) and lapatinib (L) in patients (pts) with HER2+ locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

529

Background: AMG 386, an investigational peptibody, reduces tumor angiogenesis by blocking interaction of angiopoietins 1 and 2 with the Tie2 receptor. This interim analysis evaluates the tolerability and efficacy of AMG 386 + P/T or C/L in HER2+ MBC. Methods: In part 1, pts in cohorts A1 and A3 (no prior 1st-line MBC T or L ) received AMG 386 IV QW plus P 80 mg/m2 IV QW and T 8 mg/kg loading dose, then 6 mg/kg Q3W; pts in cohorts B1 and B3 (history of failed 1st-line MBC T treatment; no prior L or C) received AMG 386 IV QW plus C 1000 mg/m2 PO Q12 hrs, days 1-14 Q21D and L 1250 mg PO QD. A1 and B1 received AMG 386 at 10 mg/kg; A3 and B3 received AMG 386 at 30 mg/kg. In part 2, cohorts were expanded to n = 20 if ≤ 1 of 6 or ≤ 2 of 9 pts had dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Primary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) and DLTs; secondary endpoints included efficacy and pharmacokinetics (PK). Interim results from A1, A3, and B1 will be presented. Results: 46 pts were enrolled at interim analysis; all received ≥ 1 dose of study treatment (A1, A3, B1; n = 20, 6, 20). The median follow-up for A1, A3, and B1 was 39.6, 22.7, and 31.3 wks. Across cohorts, there was 1 DLT in A1. AEs > 50% were peripheral edema, diarrhea, fatigue and alopecia in A1 and A3 combined, and diarrhea, nausea, palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (PPES), and peripheral edema in B1. AEs grade ≥3 occurring in > 2 pts were peripheral neuropathy, peripheral sensory neuropathy, dyspnea (n = 5, 4, 3, respectively, in A1 and A3 combined); PPES, diarrhea, and neutropenia (n = 6, 5, 3, respectively, in B1). Objective response rates were 80% in A1, 50% in A3, and 50% in B1. Median (95% CI) progression-free survival was 14.5 mo (6.8-20.5) in A1 and 10.1 mo (3.7-14.7) in B1. Median duration of response (DOR) was 12.6 mo (4.3-20.2) in A1 and 8.5 mo (4.1-not evaluable) in B1. PFS and DOR were not yet evaluable in A3. No changes were apparent in any PK parameters in these combinations relative to within study or historical monotherapy PK data. Conclusions: In this ongoing phase 1b study of pts with HER2+ MBC, interim results suggest that adding AMG 386 to P/T or C/L is tolerable and has antitumor activity. Updated data will be presented.

Phase Ib study of AMG 386 in combination with paclitaxel (P) and carboplatin (C) in high-risk stage I and stages II-IV epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancers

5038

Background: AMG 386 is a first-in-class investigational peptibody that inhibits angiopoietin-1/-2 binding to Tie2. We report on an ongoing, 2-part, open-label phase 1b study of AMG 386 + PC as first-line treatment of high-risk ovarian cancer. Methods: Part 1 enrolled women, GOG performance status 0/1, with newly diagnosed, FIGO high-risk stage I or stages II, IIIA-B (primary debulking surgery; PDS) or IIIC & IV (PDS or interval debulking surgery; IDS) ovarian cancer. Patients (pts) received AMG 386 at 15 mg/kg QW IV + P at 175 mg/m2 Q3W + C at AUC 6 Q3W for 6 cycles (or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity); AMG 386 was withheld 4 weeks pre-/post-debulking. Pts completing 6 cycles continued AMG 386 QW as maintenance for up to 18 months. Part 1: incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) dictated expansion to 25 pts (part 2). Primary endpoint: DLT incidence; secondary: adverse events (AEs), PK and efficacy measures. Results: At the time of analysis, 16 pts had received ≥1 dose of AMG 386 + PC and completed ≥2 cycles of therapy (PDS, n=8; IDS, n=8). No DLTs occurred in part 1. 15 pts continue on-study; 6 pts have received a median of 6 doses of maintenance AMG 386. One pt discontinued due to progression. AEs are tabulated below. One serious AE (decreased appetite; maintenance phase) required hospitalization. AE incidence and type were similar for PDS or IDS. Combination therapy did not affect the PK of AMG 386 or PC. Non-neutralizing antibodies against AMG 386 were detected in 2 pts. Conclusions: AMG 386 at 15 mg/kg QW + PC is tolerable in pts with high-risk ovarian cancer. AMG 386 maintenance was tolerated and associated with few AEs. Updated toxicity and efficacy data will be presented. [Table: see text]

NELL-1 increases pre-osteoblast mineralization using both phosphate transporter Pit1 and Pit2

NELL-1 is a potent osteoinductive molecule that enhances bone formation in multiple animal models through currently unidentified pathways. In the present manuscript, we hypothesized that NELL-1 may regulate osteogenic differentiation accompanied by alteration of inorganic phosphate (Pi) entry into the osteoblast via sodium dependent phosphate (NaPi) transporters. To determine this, MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were cultured in the presence of recombinant human (rh)NELL-1 or rhBMP-2. Analysis was performed for intracellular Pi levels through malachite green staining, Pit-1 and Pit-2 expression, and forced upregulation of Pit-1 and Pit-2. Results showed rhNELL-1 to increase MC3T3-E1 matrix mineralization and Pi influx associated with activation of both Pit-1 and Pit-2 channels, with significantly increased Pit-2 production. In contrast, Pi transport elicited by rhBMP-2 showed to be associated with increased Pit-1 production only. Next, neutralizing antibodies against Pit-1 and Pit-2 completely abrogated the Pi influx effect of rhNELL-1, suggesting rhNELL-1 is dependent on both transporters. These results identify one potential mechanism of action for rhNELL-1 induced osteogenesis and highlight a fundamental difference between NELL-1 and BMP-2 signaling.

Radiological and clinical findings of 25 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: retrospective analysis of 2150 liver transplantation cases

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiological and clinical findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) after liver transplantation.

METHODS

This study included 25 consecutive liver transplant recipients with histologically confirmed IPA after liver transplantation. Radiological examinations performed for diagnosis were available in all patients. Clinical findings and changes in clinical response and radiological findings after treatment were also evaluated.

RESULTS

3 main radiological findings were identified: nodules, 64% (16/25); masses, 36% (9/25); and consolidations in a patchy pattern, 20% (5/25). A tree-in-bud pattern was found in 12% (3/25) of patients. In 8 (32%) of 25 patients, we found a combination of 2 or more of these signs: 5 (20%) patients presented with concurrent nodules accompanied by patchy consolidations and/or tree-in-bud, and 3 (12%) patients showed masses accompanied by large consolidations. A halo sign was observed in 20 (80%) of 25 patients. Hypodense sign and cavitary lesions were encountered in 17 (68%) of 25 patients. Follow-up radiological findings after treatment showed improvement in 18 patients, no change in 4 patients and progression in 3 patients. There were three aspergillosis-associated deaths during the follow-up period. The onset time of IPA was a median of 31 days after transplantation. The most common symptom at diagnosis was fever (n=15). None of the 25 patients had leukopaenia at the time of the diagnosis of IPA.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common radiological findings of IPA after liver transplantation are multiple nodules with or without halo sign, masses and consolidations, which usually appear about 1 month after transplantation.

Up-regulation of Anxa2 gene promotes proliferation and invasion of breast cancer MCF-7 cells

OBJECTIVE

The metastatic ability of breast cancer cells with chemoresistant properties is higher when compared to that of their parental wild-type cells. Expression of AnnexinA2 (Anxa2), a 36-kDa calcium-dependent phospholipid binding protein, is increased in metastatic tumours and has been found to be associated with the phenotype of drug resistance and metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS AND RESULTS

In the present study, we found that up-regulation of Anxa2 correlates with enhanced migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis revealed that exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs may induce elevated expression of Anxa2. In addition, our data have shown that Anxa2 might influence proliferation, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells by increasing expression of c-myc and cyclin D1 via activation of Erk1/2 signalling pathways.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that up-regulation of Anxa2 may play an important role in modulating proliferation and invasion of breast cancer MCF-7 cells through regulation of many relevant downstream target genes.

Micro-duplications of 1q32.1 associated with neurodevelopmental delay

Distal partial trisomies involving the region 1q32 have been associated with dysmorphic features and developmental delay [1-11]. To further define the critical region for developmental delay and to investigate the genotype-phenotype association of 1q trisomy syndrome, we report two patients with much smaller (3 Mb and 3.5 Mb in size) trisomic regions on 1q32.1. The two micro-duplications largely overlap and both patients exhibited cognitive and motor delays. Case 1 is a 5-year-old boy with global developmental delay, behavioral problems, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), staring spells, headaches, and paresthesias. Case 2 is a 14-year-old girl with seizures, cognitive and motor difficulties, and minor dysmorphic features. These two cases suggest that 1q32.1 region on distal arm of 1q and genes involved are critical to cognitive and motor development in a gene dosage sensitive manner and that other neurological features are variable within this syndrome.

A pilot study of social competence assessment using interaction rating scale advanced

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the validity of the Interaction Rating Scale Advanced (IRSA) as an evidence-based practical index of social skills. Methods. The participants in our study were 17 high school students. The participants completed the five-minute interaction session and were observed using the IRSA. Their teacher evaluated their social competence based on regular observation in school. Results. The results indicated the high correlation between IRSA scores and teacher's practical evaluation. IRSA can measure social competence with high validity. Conclusion. The IRSA provides further evidence of the fact that in order to study social competence development, it is important to evaluate various features of the interaction like IRSA subscales.

Investigation of the mechanism of clearance of AMG 386, a selective angiopoietin-1/2 neutralizing peptibody, in splenectomized, nephrectomized, and FcRn knockout rodent models

Purpose

To investigate the mechanisms of clearance of AMG 386, an investigational recombinant peptide-Fc fusion protein (peptibody) that blocks tumor angiogenesis by neutralizing the interaction between angiopoietin-1 and -2 and the Tie2 receptor.

Methods

The role of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in AMG 386 clearance was assessed in wild-type and FcRn-knockout mice; the roles of the spleen and kidneys were assessed in splenectomized and 5/6th nephrectomized rats, respectively, compared with sham-operated rats. Animals were administered AMG 386 as a single intravenous dose of 3 or 10 mg/kg. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected periodically throughout a 504-hour postdose period.

Results

Compared with wild-type mice, AMG 386 clearance in FcRn-knockout mice was 18-fold faster at the 3-mg/kg dose (FcRn knockout, 13.2 mL/h/kg; wild-type, 0.728 mL/h/kg) and 14-fold faster at the 10-mg/kg dose (FcRn knockout, 10.7 mL/h/kg; wild-type, 0.777 mL/h/kg). Clearance in nephrectomized rats was slower than in sham-operated rats at both the 3-mg/kg dose (nephrectomized, 1.23 mL/h/kg; sham-operated, 1.75 mL/h/kg) and the 10-mg/kg dose (nephrectomized, 1.14 mL/h/kg; sham-operated, 1.65 mL/h/kg). Splenectomy had no apparent effect on the pharmacokinetics of AMG 386.

Conclusions

The FcRn is integral to maintaining circulating levels of AMG 386 in mice. Renal clearance contributed approximately 30% to total AMG 386 clearance in rats.

Enhance beef cattle improvement by embryo biotechnologies

Embryo biotechnology has become one of the prominent high businesses worldwide. This technology has evolved through three major changes, that is, traditional embryo transfer (in vivo embryo production by donor superovulation), in vitro embryo production by ovum pick up with in vitro fertilization and notably current cloning technique by somatic cell nuclear transfer and transgenic animal production. Embryo biotechnology has widely been used in dairy and beef cattle industry and commercial bovine embryo transfer has become a large international business. Currently, many developed biotechnologies during the period from early oocyte stage to pre-implantation embryos can be used to create new animal breeds and accelerate genetic progression. Based on recent advances in embryo biotechnologies and authors current studies, this review will focus on a description of the application of this technology to beef cattle improvement and discuss how to use this technology to accelerate beef cattle breeding and production. The main topics of this presentation include the following: (i) how to increase calf production numbers from gametes including sperm and oocyte; (ii) multiple ovulation and embryo transfer breeding schemes; (iii) in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasm sperm injection in bovine; (iv) pronuclear development and transgenic animals; (v) sex selection from sperm and embryos; (vi) cloning and androgenesis; (vii) blastocyst development and embryonic stem cells; (viii) preservation of beef cattle genetic resources; and (ix) conclusions.

Combination of differentiation and T stage can predict unresponsiveness to neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer

AIM

The study aimed to identify the factors predictive for extreme unresponsiveness to neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

METHOD

Ninety-six patients with rectal cancer received neoadjuvant therapy (41 were treated with radiotherapy and 55 with chemoradiotherapy) before surgery. Tumour response, downstaging, pathological complete response (pCR) and disease-free survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

Tumour response, downstaging and pCR occurred in 70 (72.9%), 47 (49.0%) and 14 (14.6%) patients, respectively. Univariate analyses showed that a large tumour size, T4 stage, elevated serum tumour markers, poor differentiation, radiotherapy alone and mucinous tumour were indicators of poor tumour response and/or downstaging. On multivariate analysis, chemoradiotherapy was found to be predictive for tumour response and downstaging, whereas mucinous type and T4 stage negatively affected tumour response. No variable was found to be associated with pCR, but poor differentiation and T4 stage together predicted extreme unresponsiveness with a high specificity and a high positive predictive value. Very poor disease-free survival was also observed in patients simultaneously carrying these phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in producing a response of rectal cancer. Unresponsiveness was most likely to occur in patients with poor differentiation and T4 disease.

Coherence properties of individual femtosecond pulses of an x-ray free-electron laser

Measurements of the spatial and temporal coherence of single, femtosecond x-ray pulses generated by the first hard x-ray free-electron laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source, are presented. Single-shot measurements were performed at 780 eV x-ray photon energy using apertures containing double pinholes in "diffract-and-destroy" mode. We determined a coherence length of 17  μm in the vertical direction, which is approximately the size of the focused Linac Coherent Light Source beam in the same direction. The analysis of the diffraction patterns produced by the pinholes with the largest separation yields an estimate of the temporal coherence time of 0.55 fs. We find that the total degree of transverse coherence is 56% and that the x-ray pulses are adequately described by two transverse coherent modes in each direction. This leads us to the conclusion that 78% of the total power is contained in the dominant mode.

Efficacy of statin pretreatment for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common cause of acute kidney injury. Whether additional benefits can be achieved with the use of statin in decreasing the risk of CIN remains undetermined. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of statin pretreatment for the prevention of CIN. PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE and EBM Reviews databases were searched for randomised controlled trials comparing statin pretreatment with non-statin pretreatment for the prevention of CIN. Two reviewers independently assessed studies and performed data extraction. Risk ratio (RR) or weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. Four trials with 751 subjects were included. Pooled analyses showed that the incidence of CIN was not significantly lower in statin pretreatment group, as compared with control group (RR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.44-1.29, p = 0.30). Similarly, none of 276 patients in statin pretreatment group needed renal replacement therapy (RRT), which was not significantly less than 2 of 275 patients assigned to control group during 1-month follow up (RR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.03-3.17, p = 0.34). Moreover, statin pretreatment was associated with mild reduction of serum creatinine (SCr) (WMD = -0.06 mg/dl, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.00 mg/dl, p = 0.05). The current cumulative evidence suggests that statin pretreatment may neither prevent CIN nor reduce the need for RRT. However, it may slightly decrease the level of SCr.

Nuclear physics: quantitative single-cell approaches to nuclear organization and gene expression

The internal workings of the nucleus remain a mystery. A list of component parts exists, and in many cases their functional roles are known for events such as transcription, RNA processing, or nuclear export. Some of these components exhibit structural features in the nucleus, regions of concentration or bodies that have given rise to the concept of functional compartmentalization--that there are underlying organizational principles to be described. In contrast, a picture is emerging in which transcription appears to drive the assembly of the functional components required for gene expression, drawing from pools of excess factors. Unifying this seemingly dual nature requires a more rigorous approach, one in which components are tracked in time and space and correlated with onset of specific nuclear functions. In this chapter, we anticipate tools that will address these questions and provide the missing kinetics of nuclear function. These tools are based on analyzing the fluctuations inherent in the weak signals of endogenous nuclear processes and determining values for them. In this way, it will be possible eventually to provide a computational model describing the functional relationships of essential components.

Pharmacometrics in dose finding or dose optimization of anti-retroviral and anti-tubercular drugs

Drug development continues to be time consuming, expensive and less efficient, while drug therapy is often administered at suboptimal levels. This is particularly true with anti-infectives for HIV and tuberculosis. The application of pharmacometric principles and models to drug development and pharmacotherapy will improve the drug approval process and selection of optimal dosage regimens or therapeutic combinations. In this review we mainly focus on the utilities of pharmacometrics in the dose selections of anti-retroviral and anti-tubercular drugs. We will examine how pharmacometrics have been useful in the area of dose selections, preclinical to clinical scaling, subpopulation selections, combination therapies, adherence assessments, and resistance prevention dosing strategies.