Study of heat shock response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using cDNA microarray

Genetic response of human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) to heat shock was studied using gene expression analysis. HUVECs were subjected to heat treatment at 44 degrees C and 55 degrees C for 1 h, respectively. Four hours after the treatment, gene expression of the treated cells and control cells (37 degrees C) were profiled using cDNA microarray. Data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools, and the results were verified by real-time quantitative PCR experiment. It has been shown that a large number of genes were regulated indicating global response to heat treatment at the genetic level.

A covariance-based algorithm: a novel technique for rhythm discrimination in ICDs

Inappropriate shocks due to misclassification of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias remain a major problem in the care of patients with Implantable Cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). In this study we have investigated the ability of a new covariance-based algorithm, to distinguish Ventricular Tachycardia from other rhythms such as Supraventricular Tachycardia. The proposed algorithm has a low computational demand and with a small adjustment is applicable on both single-chamber and dual-chamber ICDs. The results are promising and suggest that the new covariance-based algorithm may be an effective method for ICD rhythm classification and may decrease inappropriate shocks.

Expression of ER-a36, a novel variant of estrogen receptor a, and resistance to tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer

Abstract #3037

Background: Recently, a 36 kDa variant of estrogen receptor a (ER-a66), ER-a36, has been identified and cloned. ER-a36 predominantly localizes on the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm and mediates a membrane-initiated “nongenomic” signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the association between ER-a36 expression and tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients.
 Methods: ER-a36 protein expression in tumors from 710 breast cancer patients with a median follow-up of 7.9 years was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Survival curves were compared using the log-rank test and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox model. All statistical tests were two-sided.
 Results: Among the patients with ER-a66 positive tumors who received tamoxifen treatment (n=307), overexpression of ER-a36 was associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) and remained as an unfavorable independent factor of survival in multivariate analyses (DFS: HR=2.27; 95% CI= 1.40 to 3.68; P=. 001; DSS: HR=2.42; 95% CI= 1.37 to 4.28; P= .002). In contrast, among patients with ER-a66 positive tumors who did not receive tamoxifen (n=129), ER-a36 expression was not associated with survival, indicating a correlation between ER-a36 expression and tamoxifen resistance. Furthermore, ER-a36 expression was not associated with survival in ER-a66 negative tumors whether the patients received tamoxifen (n=73) or not (n=149). Our in vitro experiments with MCF7/ER36 cells also confirmed that high ER-a36 expression resulted in tamoxifen resistance.
 Conclusions: Patients with ER-a66 positive tumors that also express high levels of ER-a36 are less likely to benefit from tamoxifen treatment. ER-a36 is an important predictive marker for tamoxifen therapy in ER-a66 positive breast cancer patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3037.

A new approach for ICD rhythm classification based on support vector machines

Inappropriate shocks due to misclassification of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias remain a major problem in the care of patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of a new covariance-based support vector machine classifier, to distinguish ventricular tachycardia from other rhythms such as supraventricular tachycardia. The proposed algorithm is applicable on both single and dual chamber ICDs and has a low computational demand. The results demonstrate that suggested algorithm has considerable promise and merits further investigation.

Electrical and rheological percolation of polymer nanocomposites prepared with functionalized copper nanowires

The morphological, electrical and rheological characterization of polystyrene nanocomposites containing copper nanowires (CuNWs) functionalized with 1-octanethiol is presented. Characterization by SEM and TEM shows that surface functionalization of the nanowires resulted in significant dispersion of CuNWs in the PS matrix. The electrical characterization of the nanocomposites indicates that functionalized CuNWs start to form electrically conductive networks at lower concentrations (0.25 vol% Cu) than using unfunctionalized CuNWs (0.5 vol% Cu). The organic coating on the nanowires prevents significant changes in the electrical resistivity in the vicinity of the percolation threshold. Percolated nanocomposites showed electrical resistivity in the range of 10(6)-10(7) Ω cm. The transition from liquid-like to solid-like behavior (rheological percolation) of the nanocomposites was studied using dynamic rheology at 200 °C. Unfunctionalized CuNWs result in electrical and rheological percolation at similar concentrations. Functionalized CuNWs show rheological percolation at higher concentration (1.0-2.0 vol%) than that required for electrical percolation. This is attributed to the decrease in the interfacial tension between nanowires and polymer chains and its effect on the viscoelastic behavior of the combined polymer-nanowire networks.

A phase II study of sequential neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus doxorubicin followed by gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with operable breast cancer: prediction of response using molecular profiling

This study examined the pathological complete response (pCR) rate and safety of sequential gemcitabine-based combinations in breast cancer. We also examined gene expression profiles from tumour biopsies to identify biomarkers predictive of response. Indian women with large or locally advanced breast cancer received 4 cycles of gemcitabine 1200 mg m(-2) plus doxorubicin 60 mg m(-2) (Gem+Dox), then 4 cycles of gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) plus cisplatin 70 mg m(-2) (Gem+Cis), and surgery. Three alternate dosing sequences were used during cycle 1 to examine dynamic changes in molecular profiles. Of 65 women treated, 13 (24.5% of 53 patients with surgery) had a pCR and 22 (33.8%) had a complete clinical response. Patients administered Gem d1, 8 and Dox d2 in cycle 1 (20 of 65) reported more toxicities, with G3/4 neutropenic infection/febrile neutropenia (7 of 20) as the most common cycle-1 event. Four drug-related deaths occurred. In 46 of 65 patients, 10-fold cross validated supervised analyses identified gene expression patterns that predicted with >or=73% accuracy (1) clinical complete response after eight cycles, (2) overall clinical complete response, and (3) pCR. This regimen shows strong activity. Patients receiving Gem d1, 8 and Dox d2 experienced unacceptable toxicity, whereas patients on other sequences had manageable safety profiles. Gene expression patterns may predict benefit from gemcitabine-containing neoadjuvant therapy.

Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome and syndactyly type IV are caused by genomic duplications involving the long range, limb-specific SHH enhancer

BACKGROUND

The Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein produced in the zone of polarising activity (ZPA) is a major determinant of the identity and numbers of digits in early limb development. Preaxial polydactyly types II (PPD2) and III (PPD3) have been mapped to a critical region at 7q36, and subsequently shown to be caused by point mutations in the ZPA regulatory sequence (ZRS), a long range cis-regulator for the SHH gene. Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome (TPTPS) and syndactyly type IV (SD4) were also mapped to the 7q36 region but pathogenic mutations in ZRS have not yet been affirmed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed linkage and haplotype analysis in six Han Chinese families with TPTPS and/or SD4, and refined the disease locus to an interval of 646 kb containing ZRS. In all families, the affected individuals heterozygous at rs10254391 (a single nucleotide polymorphism within ZRS) revealed a remarkable allele imbalance on sequence chromatogram. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we identified duplication of ZRS and found that this duplication segregated with the limb phenotypes in all families but was not detected in unaffected family members or in unrelated control individuals. The duplication was also confirmed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in an affected individual. We designed 17 additional qPCR assays and defined the minimum duplications in all six families, ranging from 131kb to 398kb.

CONCLUSION

Both TPTPS and SD4 are due to duplications involving ZRS, the limb specific SHH enhancer. Point mutations in the ZRS and duplications encompassing the ZRS cause distinctive limb phenotypes.

Association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival of breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen treatment

BACKGROUND

Human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotype may affect the efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in Caucasian women with breast cancer. The most common polymorphism of CYP2D6 in Chinese women is variant 10 (188 C to T).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHtam) were measured in the serum of 37 women with breast cancer who were receiving tamoxifen treatment. The association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival was determined in a cohort of 293 women with breast cancer who received tamoxifen (n = 152) or who did not (n = 141).

RESULTS

The serum 4OHtam concentrations were significantly lower in women with the CYP2D6 *10 homozygous variant T/T genotype than in those with the homozygous wild-type C/C genotype (P = 0.04). Among tamoxifen-treated women, women with the T/T genotype had a significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) than those with the C/C or C/T genotype, and the T/T genotype remained an independent prognostic factor of DFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 4.7; 95% confidence interval = 1.1-20.0; P = 0.04). Among women who did not receive tamoxifen, there was no significant association between CYP2D6 *10 genotype and survival.

CONCLUSION

In tamoxifen-treated patients, women with the CYP2D6 *10 T/T genotype have a lower 4OHtam level in the serum and a worse clinical outcome.

Effects of dietary methionine and lysine sources on nutrient digestion, nitrogen utilization, and duodenal amino acid flow in growing goats

This study investigated the effects of supplementation of various sources of Met and Lys on nutrient digestion, N utilization, and duodenal AA flows in growing goats. Four 4-mo-old Liuyang Black wether goats were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment and were assigned to 4 dietary treatments: (1) control, (2) control + lipid-coated Met-Zn chelate and Lys-Mn chelate (PML), (3) control + Met-Zn chelate and Lys-Mn chelate (CML), and (4) control + dl-Met, l-Lys-HCl, ZnSO(4).7H(2)O, and MnSO(4).H(2)O (FML). Compared with control, PML reduced (P < 0.05) ruminal NH(3) concentration, urinary N excretion, and plasma urea N concentration and increased (P < 0.05) the activity of ruminal endo-1,4-beta-d-glucanase and beta-glucosidase, the duodenal flow of N, N retention (g/d as well as % of absorbed N), the duodenal flows of Met, Lys, His, Val, and total essential AA, and plasma concentrations of Lys, Val, Phe, and total essential AA. Supplementing Zn-Met and Mn-Lys chelates had similar (P > 0.05) but lesser effects on these measures compared with PML, and the effects on most of the measures were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) when compared with control. Supplementing free-form Met and Lys had no effects compared with control (P > 0.05). The results indicate that lipid coating and chelating of AA provide a protection, and to a lesser extent by only chelating, of the AA from microbial degradation in the rumen and possibly has effects on rumen fermentation, which increases MP supply. This technology could improve productive performance and be of potential benefit to ruminant production if cost-effective products are developed.

Discovery of antiandrogen activity of nonsteroidal scaffolds of marketed drugs

Finding good drug leads de novo from large chemical libraries, real or virtual, is not an easy task. High-throughput screening is often plagued by low hit rates and many leads that are toxic or exhibit poor bioavailability. Exploiting the secondary activity of marketed drugs, on the other hand, may help in generating drug leads that can be optimized for the observed side-effect target, while maintaining acceptable bioavailability and toxicity profiles. Here, we describe an efficient computational methodology to discover leads to a protein target from safe marketed drugs. We applied an in silico "drug repurposing" procedure for identification of nonsteroidal antagonists against the human androgen receptor (AR), using multiple predicted models of an antagonist-bound receptor. The library of marketed oral drugs was then docked into the best-performing models, and the 11 selected compounds with the highest docking score were tested in vitro for AR binding and antagonism of dihydrotestosterone-induced AR transactivation. The phenothiazine derivatives acetophenazine, fluphenazine, and periciazine, used clinically as antipsychotic drugs, were identified as weak AR antagonists. This in vitro biological activity correlated well with endocrine side effects observed in individuals taking these medications. Further computational optimization of phenothiazines, combined with in vitro screening, led to the identification of a nonsteroidal antiandrogen with improved AR antagonism and marked reduction in affinity for dopaminergic and serotonergic receptors that are the primary target of phenothiazine antipsychotics.

Differing Neurochemical and Morphological Sequelae of Global Ischemia: Comparison of Single- and Multiple-Insult Paradigms

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate pathomechanisms responsible for the deleterious effects of repeated episodes of brief forebrain ischemia. Halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to either (a) a single 15-min period or (b) three 5-min periods (separated by 1 h) of global forebrain ischemia by bilateral carotid artery occlusions plus hypotension (50 mm Hg), followed by various periods of recirculation. Brain temperature was normothermic throughout. In one series of rats, extracellular levels of glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured in the dorsolateral striatum (n = 6-8 per group) and lateral thalamus (n = 4-6 per group) by microdialysis and HPLC before and during ischemia and during 3-5 h of recirculation. In a parallel series of rats (n = 6 per group), ischemic cell change was quantified at 2 (dark neurons), 24, or 72 h following either single or multiple ischemic insults. A single 15-min ischemic period led to massive glutamate release (13-fold increase; p = 0.001), which returned to normal by 20-30 min of recirculation and remained normal thereafter. By contrast, in rats with three 5-min periods of ischemia, the glutamate level rise with each repeated insult (four- to 4.5-fold; p < or = 0.02) was smaller than that observed during the single 15-min insult, but a late sustained rise (five- to six-fold; p < 0.05) occurred at 2-3 h of recirculation. Brief ischemia-induced elevations of glycine and GABA levels were detected in both the single- and multiple-insult groups, with normalization during recirculation. In contrast, the excitotoxic index, a composite measure of neurotransmitter release ([glutamate] x [glycine]/[GABA]), differed markedly following single versus multiple insults (p = 0.002 by repeated-measures analysis of variance) and increased by seven- to 12-fold (p < 0.05) at 1-3 h following the third insult. The total amount of glutamate released was 3.3-fold higher in the multiple-insult than in the single-insult group (p < 0.02). At 2 h of recirculation, histopathological analysis of dorsolateral striatum showed a significantly greater frequency of dark neurons in the multiple- than in the single-insult group (p < 0.05 by analysis of variance). In the thalamus, a higher frequency of ischemic neurons was seen in the multiple-than in the single-insult group at all intervals studied. Thus, in rats with multiple ischemic insults, accelerated ischemic damage was found in the striatum, and severe ischemic injury was documented in the thalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A comparative map of macrochromosomes between chicken and Japanese quail based on orthologous genes

In order to develop a comparative map between chicken and quail, we identified orthologous gene markers based on chicken genomic sequences and localized them on the Japanese quail Kobe-NIBS linkage map, which had previously been constructed with amplified fragment length polymorphisms. After sequencing the intronic regions of 168 genes located on chicken chromosomes 1-8, polymorphisms among Kobe-NIBS quail family parents were detected in 51 genes. These orthologous markers were mapped on eight Japanese quail linkage groups (JQG), and they allowed the comparison of JQG to chicken macrochromosomes. The locations of the genes and their orders were quite similar between the two species except within a previously reported inversion on quail chromosome 2. Therefore, we propose that the respective quail linkage groups are macrochromosomes and designated as quail chromosomes CJA 1-8.

Regulation of Nur77 nuclear export by c-Jun N-terminal kinase and Akt

Proapoptotic nuclear receptor family member Nur77 translocates from the nucleus to the mitochondria, where it interacts with Bcl-2 to trigger apoptosis. Nur77 translocation is induced by certain apoptotic stimuli, including the synthetic retinoid-related 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (AHPN)/CD437 class. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which AHPN/CD437 analog (E)-4-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-3-chlorocinnamic acid (3-Cl-AHPC) induces Nur77 nuclear export. Our results demonstrate that 3-Cl-AHPC effectively activated Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which phosphorylates Nur77. Inhibition of JNK activation by a JNK inhibitor suppressed 3-Cl-AHPC-induced Nur77 nuclear export and apoptosis. In addition, several JNK upstream activators, including the phorbol ester TPA, anisomycin and MAPK kinase kinase-1 (MEKK1), phosphorylated Nur77 and induced its nuclear export. However, Nur77 phosphorylation by JNK, although essential, was not sufficient for inducing Nur77 nuclear export. Induction of Nur77 nuclear export by MEKK1 required a prolonged MEKK1 activation and was attenuated by Akt activation. Expression of constitutively active Akt prevented MEKK1-induced Nur77 nuclear export. Conversely, transfection of dominant-negative Akt or treatment with a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor accelerated MEKK1-induced Nur77 nuclear export. Furthermore, mutation of an Akt phosphorylation residue Ser351 in Nur77 abolished the effect of Akt or the PI3-K inhibitor. Together, our results demonstrate that both activation of JNK and inhibition of Akt play a role in translocation of Nur77 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

A novel rationally designed agonist antibody fragment that functionally mimics thrombopoietin

2541

Background: Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, is a significant clinical problem associated with ITP, cancer chemotherapy, or other clinical settings. To avoid transfusions, agents that stimulate platelet production are in development. Clinical trials with recombinant versions of thrombopoietin (TPO), which stimulates platelet production in a lineage specific manner by binding to cMpl receptor (cMpl-R) on megakaryocytic progenitors, were demonstrated to increase platelet counts in humans. However, the possible generation of an anti-TPO immune response that cross-reacts with and impairs the function of the endogenous cytokine is a significant disadvantage of this treatment approach. Alternate thrombopoietic agents that lack native TPO primary sequences have been developed to address this concern. Methods: Using rational design, antibody fragments (Fabs) that mimic TPO were created. A peptide with cMpl-R binding capability was grafted into different CDRs of a fully human Fab scaffold. Functional presentation of the peptide was optimized using phage display and cell-based panning. Select antibodies and fragments containing two grafted peptides were assayed for their ability to stimulate cMpl-R in vitro. In vivo stimulation of platelet production was tested in normal mice injected daily for five days with either rhTPO (90 μg/kg) or Fab59 (0.2 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) or negative control Fab (5mg/kg). Results: Several candidates demonstrated agonist activity in an in vitro cMpl-R signaling reporter assay, including Fab59 which was estimated to be equipotent to TPO. In vivo, a rise in peripheral platelet counts comparable to rhTPO was seen with Fab59 at 2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. Serum antibodies generated in response to dosing with Fab59 did not cross-react with murine or human TPO. Conclusion: These rationally-designed mimetic Fabs may provide a therapeutic intervention for thrombocytopenia while avoiding the potential generation of neutralizing antibodies to endogenous TPO.

[Table: see text]

Enzastaurin safety review: Data from phase I and phase II trials

13077

Background: Enzastaurin, an oral inhibitor of PKC and PI3K/AKT pathways, blocks tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and induces tumor cell death. Enzastaurin has demonstrated promise in phase I and II trials in patients (pts) with various advanced cancers. We report preliminary analysis of safety data of enzastaurin, obtained in previous trials, with particular consideration to long-term therapy. Methods: Data available to date from 3 different non-randomized, single-arm trials in pts with advanced cancers, diffuse large B cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma, were analyzed with regards to treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Severities were defined by NCI guidelines and investigators assessed the relatedness of AEs to enzastaurin. Results: A total of 135 pts (58 F; 77 M), mean age 64 years (range: 24–87) received 20–700 mg oral enzastaurin daily (103 pts at 525 mg). 36 pts were dosed for 0–30 days, 45 for 31–60 days, 35 for 61–180 days and 19 for ≥ 180 days. No deaths were related to enzastaurin. Chromaturia was the most common drug-related event (14%). No drug-related bone marrow suppression, Gr 3 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia or anemia was reported. TEAEs in ≥ 15% pts, or drug-related events ≥ Gr 3 reported in > 1 pt, are listed in the table . Other Gr 3 AEs, including edema, migraine and peripheral motor neuropathy were observed in 1 pt, each. Pts on therapy for ≤ 30 D reported highest number of AEs, consistent with the severity of their disease. Pts with exposure ≥ 180 days did not experience any drug related AE ≥ Gr 3. Conclusions: Enzastaurin is well tolerated across all doses and for extended durations with minimal AEs. In the 19 patients who received oral enzastaurin for ≥ 180 days, there was no indication of increased severity of any event. Given the severity of the disease and the absence of controlled studies for comparison, no event other than chromaturia or fecal discoloration (due to reddish-orange color of the active ingredient) appears to be definitively attributable to enzastaurin by this analysis.

[Table: see text]

[Table: see text]

Modelling the fate of faecal indicators in a coastal basin

The paper describes a modelling study of near-shore coastal waters, undertaken to assess the impact of various bacterial input loads on the receiving waters in a coastal basin in the UK. Total and faecal coliforms, used as the indicators for bathing water quality under the European Union (EU) Bathing Water Directive, were numerically modelled using a 2D depth integrated hydro-environmental model. Details are given of the governing equations and solution methods used in the numerical model, together with a discussion of the recent development in faecal bacterial indicator modelling. Details are also given of a field data collection exercise, which involved initially collecting existing information on effluent input loads and followed by an intensive field survey. Using the water quality model, the mortality rate of the pathogen bacteria was investigated. Three methods were used to represent the relationship between the decay rate and the level of solar radiation including: a constant decay rate, day- and night-time decay rates and a solar radiation related time varying decay rate. Relatively close agreement between model predicted and measured total and faecal coliform concentration distributions were obtained for different day- and night-time decay rates and time varying decay rates. No significant differences were found in the optimum decay rates for total and faecal coliform levels. Finally, the impact of the individual inputs on the bathing water quality of the basin was also statistically and numerically investigated. Results showed that the River Irvine was the most significant input during high river flows, and that under these conditions the bathing waters were likely to fail to comply with the European Union Bathing Water Directive. For base river flow conditions the Meadowhead effluent input was found to be critical for both total and faecal coliform level predictions.

Surveillance of transcriptomes in basic military trainees with normal, febrile respiratory illness, and convalescent phenotypes

Gene expression profiles permit analysis of host immune response at the transcriptome level. We used the Pax gene Blood RNA (PAX) System and Affymetrix microarrays (HG-U133A&B) to survey profiles in basic military trainees and to classify them as healthy, febrile respiratory illness (FRI) without adenovirus, FRI with adenovirus, and convalescent from FRI with adenovirus. We assessed quality metrics of RNA processing for microarrays. Class prediction analysis discovered nested sets of transcripts that could categorize the phenotypes with optimized accuracy of 99% (nonfebrile vs febrile, P<0.0005), 87% (healthy vs convalescent, P=0.001), and 91% (febrile without vs with adenovirus, P<0.0005). The discovered set for classification of nonfebrile vs febrile patients consisted of 40 transcripts with functions related to interferon induced genes, complement cascades, and TNF and IL1 signaling. The set of seven transcripts for distinguishing healthy vs convalescent individuals included those associated with ribosomal structure, humoral immunity, and cell adhesion. The set of 10 transcripts for distinguishing FRI without vs with adenovirus had functions related to interferon induced genes, IL1 receptor accessory protein, and cell interactions. These results are the first in vivo demonstration of classification of infectious diseases via host signature transcripts and move us towards using the transcriptome in bio-surveillance.

Phototransformations of advanced glycation end products in the human eye lens due to ultraviolet A light irradiation

Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that ultraviolet A (UVA) light can bleach the yellow advanced glycation end products (AGEs) of aged and cataractous human lenses. The AGEs OP-lysine and argpyrimidine are two UVA-absorbing posttranslational modifications that are abundant in the eye lens. The purpose of this study was to outline the changes in these two AGEs due to UVA irradiation. The changes of OP-lysine, OP-phenethylamine (a phenethylamine analogue of OP-lysine), and argpyrimidine due to irradiation with UVA light in the presence or absence of air and ascorbic acid were followed by different spectral methods. Aged human lenses were similarly irradiated in artificial aqueous humor. The amounts of OP-lysine in the irradiated lenses and in the corresponding dark controls were determined by HPLC. Both OP-lysine and argpyrimidine decreased 20% when irradiated with UVA light in the absence of ascorbic acid. Under the same conditions, OP-lysine was bleached 80% in the presence of ascorbic acid during irradiation experiments. In contrast, argpyrimidine UVA light bleaching was not affected by the presence of ascorbic acid. Interestingly the major product of OP-phenethylamine after UVA irradiation in the presence of ascorbic acid was phenethylamine, which indicates that the entire heterocycle of this AGE was cleaved and the initial amino group was restored. Some AGEs in the human eye lens can be transformed by UVA light.

Toxicity, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of a newly formulated colistin sulfate solution

We formulated a new colistin sulfate injectable solution and tested its effectiveness, toxicity and pharmacokinetics in vivo on mice, rabbits, and piglets. When intramuscularly injected (i.m.) into rabbits at 0.5 mL per site, the 2.5% colistin sulfate solution caused no reaction at the injection site, but the 5.0% solution caused the muscle circumference to appear erythematic. Tested LD50 in CD-1 mice were 38.72 mg/kg for i.m. and 431.95 mg/kg for oral administration, respectively. At 15.0 mg/kg/day (i.m.) for 5 days, colistin sulfate caused obvious neurotoxicity to piglets with moderate granular degenerations in the epithelial tissues from kidney and liver. These toxic responses were not seen when colistin sulfate was injected at 10.0 mg/kg/day for 5 days. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed Cmax of 3.73 +/- 0.28 and 6.40 +/- 0.18 microg/mL, Tmax of 32 +/- 1.5 and 34 +/- 1.8 min, t(1/2beta) of 256 +/- 14 and 264 +/- 29 min, and absolute bioavailability of 95.94 and 88.45% for colistin sulfate intramuscularly injected to piglets at 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively. Serum colistin sulfate concentration followed a two-compartment open model showing first-order absorption. The high bioavailability and the long-lasting serum retention time indicated that the new solution is suitable for i.m. in piglets with a recommended dose of 2.5 mg/kg injected twice daily.

Polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen-DRB1, -DQB1, and -DPB1 genes of Shandong Han population in China

In the present study, polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) was used to analyze human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1, -DQB1, and -DPB1 alleles of 98 unrelated healthy Shandong Han individuals. A total of 60 alleles, in which 28 in DRB1, 15 in DQB1 and 17 in DPB1 were found. Among the 28 detected DRB1 alleles, DRB1*150101, DRB1*070101, DRB1*090102, DRB1*120201, and DRB1*080302 were commonly observed, with frequencies of 16.3%, 11.2%, 10.2%, 8.2%, and 5.6%, respectively. The most predominant DQB1 allele was DQB1*030101/0309 with the frequency of 20.4%, followed by DQB1*0201/0202 (14.8%), DQB1*0602 (14.3%), DQB1*030302 (12.2%), and DQB1*060101/060103 (10.7%). Of the 17 detected DPB1 alleles, DPB1*0501 was the most frequent allele with the frequency of 37.2%. DPB1*020102 (18.4%), DPB1*040101 (11.2%), DPB1*0402 (7.1%), and DPB1*1701 (6.6%) were also very frequent alleles. A total of 53 estimated DRB1-DQB1 two-locus haplotypes were observed in Shandong Han population, of which DRB1*150101-DQB1*0602 was the most predominant, followed by DRB1*090102-DQB1*030302, DRB1*070101-DQB1*0201/0202 DRB1*120201-DQB1*030101/0309, and DRB1*080302- DQB1*060101/060103. The distribution of the HLA class II alleles and haplotypes frequencies as well as the dendrogram showed that the Shandong Han population belongs to the northern group of Chinese. The data have implications for anthropological studies and disease associations.

Molecular networks perturbed in a developmental animal model of brain injury

Methylazoxymethanol (MAM) is widely used as a developmental neurotoxin and exposure to its glucoside (i.e., cycasin) is associated with the prototypical neurological disorder western Pacific ALS/PDC. However, the specific molecular targets that play a key role in MAM-induced brain injury remain unclear. To reveal potential molecular networks targeted by MAM in the developing nervous system, we examined characteristic phenotypic changes (DNA damage, cytoarchitecture) induced by MAM and their correlation with gene expression differences using microarray assays (27,648 genes). Three day-old postnatal C57BL/6 mice (PND3) received a single injection of MAM and the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of PND4, 8, 15, and 22 mice were analyzed. DNA damage was detected in both the cerebellum (N7-mGua, TUNEL labeling) and cerebral cortex (N7-mGua) of PND4 mice, but progressive disruption of the cytoarchitecture was restricted to the cerebellum. A majority (>75%) of the genes affected (cerebellum 636 genes, cortex 1080 genes) by MAM were developmentally regulated, with a predominant response early (PND4) in the cerebellum and delayed (PND8 and 15) in the cerebral cortex. The genes and pathways (e.g., proteasome) affected by MAM in the cerebellum are distinct from cortex. The genes perturbed in the cerebellum reflect critical cellular processes such as development (17%), cell cycle (7%), protein metabolism (12%), and transcriptional regulation (9%) that could contribute to the observed cytoarchitectural disruption of the cerebellum. This study demonstrates for the first time that specific genes and molecular networks are affected by MAM during CNS development. Further investigation of these targets will help to understand how disruption of these developmental programs could contribute to chronic brain injury or neurodegenerative disease.

A dominant form of congenital stationary night blindness (adCSNB) in a large Chinese family

Summary A pedigree of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) is described in a large Chinese family. The clinical description, pedigree, dark adaptation and elctroretinogram (ERG) studies indicate that the patients have an autosomal dominant form (ad) of CSNB. The disorder has been transmitted through at least 12 generations with over 40 affected individuals identified. The ERG data reveal that affected persons have severely diminished b-wave responses to dim light, but normal a-wave and subnormal b-wave responses to maximum light stimuli. The dark adaptation curves of three patients show a monophase curve, typical for night blindness. We have excluded the five previously known mutations in the three genes (RHO, PDE6B and GNAT1) associated with adCSNB, and linkage studies have excluded tight linkage between the disease locus and markers associated with these three genes. Thus, this family has adCSNB caused by a different gene from the previously identified RHO, PDE6B, and GNAT1.

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication in 2.2.15 cells by expressed shRNA

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem. To determine whether RNA interference (RNAi) could inhibit ongoing HBV replication in 2.2.15 cells, we constructed shRNA-producing vector pU6P based on the mouse U6 RNA promoter and cloned 12 targeted sequences against HBV into the vector, resulting in a series of pU6-siHBV vectors. The recombinant vectors were transfected into 2.2.15 cells, HBsAg and HBeAg in cultured media were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at various days after transfection. The amount of HBV DNA in the culture medium was quantitated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. HBsAg and HBeAg expression were inhibited by 72.8 +/- 5.4% (P = 0.00003) and 55.8 +/- 6.2% (P = 0.000026), respectively, 4 days after transfection with pU6-siHBV5. The greatest inhibition of HBV DNA was decreased by approximately 1.9-fold (P = 0.013) on day 6 post transfection with pU6-siHBV11 compared with that of empty vector. No change was found for HBV protein expression and DNA replication on pU6-siGFP (negative control) transfected cells. Our data demonstrate that the transfection of HBV-targeted shRNA-producing vector in 2.2.15 cells could inhibit the HBV protein expression and HBV DNA replication specifically. RNAi may be considered as a potential antiviral approach for human HBV infection.

Decay of intestinal enterococci concentrations in high-energy estuarine and coastal waters: towards real-time T90 values for modelling faecal indicators in recreational waters

Intestinal enterococci are the principal 'health-evidence-based' parameter recommended by WHO for the assessment of marine recreational water compliance. Understanding the survival characteristics of these organisms in nearshore waters is central to public health protection using robust modelling to effect real-time prediction of water quality at recreation sites as recently suggested by WHO and the Commission of the European Communities Previous models have more often focused on the coliform parameters and assumed two static day-time and night-time T90 values to characterise the decay process. The principal driver for enterococci survival is the received dose of irradiance from sunlight. In the water column, transmission of irradiance is determined by turbidity produced by suspended material. This paper reports the results of irradiated microcosm experiments using simulated sunlight to investigate the decay of intestinal enterococci in relatively turbid estuarine and coastal waters collected from the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel, UK. High-turbidity estuarine waters produced a T90 value of 39.5 h. Low-turbidity coastal waters produced a much shorter T90 value of 6.6 h. In experiments receiving no irradiation, high-turbidity estuarine waters also produced a longer T90 of 65.1 h compared with corresponding low-turbidity coastal waters, T90 24.8 h. Irradiated T90 values were correlated with salinity, turbidity and suspended solids (r>0.8, p<0.001). The results suggest that enterococci decay in irradiated experiments with turbidity >200 NTU is similar to decay observed under dark conditions. Most significantly, these results suggest that modelling turbidity and or suspended solids offers a potential means of predicting T90 values in 'real-time' for discrete cells of a hydrodynamic model.

Modelling hydroenvironmental and health risk assessment parameters along the South Wales Coast

This paper highlights the increasing concerns relating to hydroenvironmetal issues and cites recent examples of the challenges now being regularly faced by hydroenvironmetal scientists and engineers. The limitations and restrictions of both physical (or laboratory) and numerical (or computer based) hydraulic models used in the planning and management of aquatic basins are discussed. General details are given of numerical models used for flow and water quality concentration predictions in estuarine waters, with particular application to the challenges occurring along the South Wales coast. A highly accurate and non-diffusive finite difference scheme that solves the transport equation for predicting water quality indicators and suspended sediment concentration distributions is also discussed. In particular, details are outlined of the extension of the water quality indicators of faecal coliforms, as required to comply with the EU Bathing Water Directive, to predict health risk assessment, in the form of predicting the risk of gastroenteritis. Three example research projects along the South Wales coast are described; the projects involve the application of two-dimensional and three-dimensional hydroenvironmetal models to predict flow patterns and water quality indicator organism distributions in the coastal receiving waters. These studies include: (i) a curvilinear finite difference approach to modelling flows in the Bristol Channel, (ii) coastal health risk predictions in Swansea Bay using combined water quality and epidemiological models, and (iii) combined sewer overflow discharges into Cardiff Bay.

The Escherichia coli GTPase CgtAE cofractionates with the 50S ribosomal subunit and interacts with SpoT, a ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase

CgtA(E)/Obg(E)/YhbZ is an Escherichia coli guanine nucleotide binding protein of the Obg/GTP1 subfamily whose members have been implicated in a number of cellular functions including GTP-GDP sensing, sporulation initiation, and translation. Here we describe a kinetic analysis of CgtA(E) with guanine nucleotides and show that its properties are similar to those of the Caulobacter crescentus homolog CgtA(C). CgtA(E) binds both GTP and GDP with moderate affinity, shows high guanine nucleotide exchange rate constants for both nucleotides, and has a relatively low GTP hydrolysis rate. We show that CgtA(E) is associated predominantly with the 50S ribosomal subunit. Interestingly, CgtA(E) copurifies with SpoT, a ribosome-associated ppGpp hydrolase/synthetase involved in the stress response. The interaction between CgtA(E) and SpoT was confirmed by reciprocal coprecipitation experiments and by two-hybrid assays. These studies raise the possibility that the ribosome-associated CgtA(E) is involved in the SpoT-mediated stress response.

A novel HLA-DRB1 allele, DRB1*0449, with a rare point mutation found in the Han population of Guangdong China

Anovel HLA-DRB1 allele, DRB1*0449, has been identified in the Han population of Guangdong Province of China. Compared with DRB1*0406, it has only one single-nucleotide mutation from G to A at position 18 of exon 2, which causes a change in the protein sequence from valine to isoleucine at codon 11 of DR beta chain.

Predicting near-shore coliform bacteria concentrations using ANNS

Details are given of the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to predicting the compliance of bathing waters along the coastline of the Firth of Clyde, situated in the south west of Scotland, UK. Water quality data collected at 7 locations during 1990-2000 were used to set up the neural networks. In this study faecal coliforms were used as a water quality indicator, i.e. output, and rainfall, river discharge, sunlight and tidal condition were used as input of these networks. In general, river discharge and tidal ranges were found to be the most important parameters that affect the coliform concentration levels. For compliance points close to the meteorological station, the influence of rainfall was found to be relatively significant to the concentration levels.

Immunomodulatory analogs of thalidomide inhibit growth of Hs Sultan cells and angiogenesis in vivo

We have previously shown that thalidomide and its potent immunomodulatory derivatives (IMiDs) inhibit the in vitro growth of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and patient MM cells that are resistant to conventional therapy. In this study, we further characterize the effect of these drugs on growth of B cell malignancies and angiogenesis. We established a beige-nude-xid (BNX) mouse model to allow for simultaneous in vivo measurement of both anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of thalidomide and its analogs. Daily treatment (50 mg/kg/d) with thalidomide or IMiDs was nontoxic. The IMiDs were significantly more potent than thalidomide in vivo in suppressing tumor growth, evidenced by decreased tumor volume and prolonged survival, as well as mediating anti-angiogenic effects, as determined by decreased microvessel density. Our results therefore show that the IMiDs have more potent direct anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects than thalidomide in vivo, providing the framework for clinical protocols evaluating these agents in MM and other B cell neoplasms.

The Internet and hospital marketing strategy: a survey

This project, which was conducted in the U.S. using a large number of healthcare organizations, is an attempt to discover if we can find any evidence of the impact of marketing theories on the real world of healthcare organizations. This paper addresses three major themes: Do healthcare organizations have an Internet strategy? Are they using the Internet in a strategic fashion? Can we identify any difference among the sectors concerning the strategic use of the Internet? Finally, implications for further research and health care practices are highlighted as well.

Hydro-environmental modelling for bathing water compliance of an estuarine basin

In recent years, considerable investment has been committed to sewerage infrastructure and new sewage treatment plants in the catchment surrounding an estuarine basin along the north-west coast of England. Although this capital investment has resulted in a marked reduction in the input of bacterial loads, relatively high counts of faecal indicator organisms are still being encountered in the coastal receiving waters, and the local bathing waters continue to fail on occasions to comply with the European Community (EC) Bathing Water Directive (1976) mandatory standards. Details are given herein of a comprehensive modelling study aimed at quantifying the impact of various bacterial inputs into the estuary and surrounding coastal waters on the bathing water quality. The model domain includes the coastal area and the entire estuary (namely the Ribble) up to the tidal limits of its tributaries. Faecal coliforms have been used as the main water quality indicator organisms. The numerical model developed for this study combines a depth integrated two-dimensional coastal model and a cross-sectionally integrated one-dimensional river model, and is capable of predicting water surface elevations, velocity fields and faecal coliform concentration distributions across the entire model domain. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated using water level and velocity measurements from three surveys and then validated against measured data from three other surveys. In order to predict the faecal coliform concentration distributions, variable faecal coliform decay rates were used, i.e. different values of decay rates were applied to the coastal and riverine waters, for day- and nighttime, and for wet and dry weather conditions. The maximum and minimum decay rates used were 2.32/day and 0.71/day for the dry and wet weather surveys, respectively. The model was then applied to (i) assess the impact of previous discharge strategies and investigate the effectiveness of future capital investment works and (ii) predict the impact of a range of strategic options, including: the effects of adding UV treatment, constructing storm water storage tanks and incorporating various combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharge scenarios for different weather conditions.

Adherence of multiple myeloma cells to bone marrow stromal cells upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor secretion: therapeutic applications

Increased angiogenesis has recently been recognized in active multiple myeloma (MM). Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are two key mediators of angiogenesis, we characterized the production of VEGF, b-FGF and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (a MM growth and survival factor) in MM cell lines and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B cell lines from MM patients, patient MM cells, as well as bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from normal healthy donors and MM patients. We detected secretion of VEGF, but no bFGF and IL-6, in MM cell lines (MM.1S, RPMI 8226 and U266); EBV transformed B cell lines from MM patients (IM-9, HS-Sultan and ARH77); MM cell lines resistant to doxorubicin (RPMI-DOX40), mitoxantrone (RPMI-MR20), melphalan (RPMI-LR5) and dexamethasone (MM.1R); and patient MM cells (MM1 and MM2). BMSCs from MM patients and normal donors secreted VEGF, b-FGF and IL-6. Importantly, when MM cells were adhered to BMSCs, there was a significant increase in VEGF (1.5- to 3.1-fold) and IL-6 (1.9- to 56-fold) secretion. In contrast, the bFGF decreased in co-cultures of BMSCs and MM cells. Paraformaldehyde fixation of BMSCs or MM cells prior to adhesion revealed that VEGF was produced both from BMSCs and MM cells, though it may come primarily from BMSCs in some cultures. IL-6 was produced exclusively in BMSCs, rather than MM cells. Moreover, when MM cells were placed in Transwell insert chambers to allow their juxtaposition to BMSCs without cell to cell contact, induction of VEGF and IL-6 secretion persisted, suggesting the importance of humoral factors. Addition of exogenous IL-6 (10 ng/ml) increased VEGF secretion by BMSCs. Conversely, VEGF (100 ng/ml) significantly increased IL-6 secretion by BMSCs. Moreover, anti-human VEGF (1 microg/ml) and anti-human IL-6 (10 microg/ml) neutralizing antibodies reduced IL-6 and VEGF secretion, respectively, in cultures of BMSCs alone and co-cultures of BMSCs and MM cells. Finally, thalidomide (100 microM) and its immunomodulatory analog IMiD1-CC4047 (1 microM) decreased the upregulation of IL-6 and VEGF secretion in cultures of BMSCs, MM cells and co-cultures of BMSCs with MM cells. These data demonstrate the importance of stromal-MM cell interactions in regulating VEGF and IL-6 secretion, and suggest additional mechanisms whereby thalidomide and IMiD1-CC4047 act against MM cells in the BM millieu.

Spatial temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis for DNA mutation detection

A continuous spatial temperature gradient was established in capillary electrophoresis by using a simple temperature control device. The temperature profile along the capillary was predicted by theoretical calculations. A nearly linear spatial temperature gradient was established and applied to DNA mutation detection. By spanning a wide temperature range, it was possible to perform simultaneous heteroduplex analysis for various mutation types that have different melting temperatures.

Survey of the distribution of red tide toxins (okadaic acid and dinophytoxin-1) in the Dalian Bay sea area of China by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Two kinds of diarrhoetic shellfish toxins, okadaic acid (OA) and dinophytoxin-1 (DTX-1) were determined by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with ultraviolet detection. A detection limit of 3.25 microg/mL for both of them was achieved. The UV absorbance of these toxins measured at 200 nm showed good linearity in the range of 6.25-200 microg/mL with R = 0.992 for OA and 0.997 for DTX-1. Three kinds of shellfish (Chlamys farreri, Mytilus edulis and Ruditaps philippinarum) collected from eight locations (sampling in the intertidal zone) along the Dalian Bay sea area of China were surveyed in February and May of 2000. Results indicated that three kinds of shellfish were contaminated by OA and DTX-1. Based on per gram of hepatopancreas in February, the contamination contents ranged from 0 to 1.26 microg for OA and from 0 to 1.82 microg for DTX-1, and in May, the contents ranged from 0 to 1.45 microg for OA and 0 to 2.56 microg for DTX-1. Among the eight locations, Hei Shi Jiao and Long Wang Tang were the most contaminated areas. Of the three kinds of shellfish, Mytilus edulis was the most significant species in accumulating OA and DTX-1.

Multi-photon fluorescence microscopy--the response of plant cells to high intensity illumination

Multi-photon fluorescence microscopy has been cited for its advantage in increased depth penetration due to low linear absorption and scattering coefficient of biological specimen in the near infrared (NIR) range. Because of the need of high peak power for efficiently exciting two-photon fluorescence, the relationship between cell damage and peak power has become an interesting and much debated topic in the applications of multi-photon fluorescence microscopy. It is conceivable that at high illumination intensity, non-linear photochemical processes have impacts on cell physiology and viability in ways much different from low illumination in the linear domain. In this article, we discuss some of the issues in two-photon fluorescence microscopy, including the degree of transparency of the specimen, a comparison of single- and two-photon excited fluorescence spectra, and the cell damage under high intensity illumination, using plant cells as a model.

The mechanism of oxidation-induced low-density lipoprotein aggregation: an analogy to colloidal aggregation and beyond?

Atherosclerosis is a disease initiated by lipoprotein aggregation and deposition in artery walls. In this study, the de novo low-density lipoprotein aggregation process was examined. Nine major intermediates were identified in two stages of the aggregation process. In the aggregation stage, low-density lipoprotein molecules aggregate and form nucleation units. The nucleation units chain together and form linear aggregates. The linear aggregates branch and interact with one another, forming fractals. In the fusion stage, spatially adjacent nucleation units in the fractal fuse into curved membrane surfaces, which, in turn, fuse into multilamellar or unilamellar vesicles. Alternatively, some adjacent nucleation units in the fractals assemble in a straight line and form rods. Subsequently, the rods flatten out into rough and then into smooth ribbons. Occasionally, tubular membrane vesicles are formed from the fractals. The aggregation stage seems to be analogous to colloidal aggregation and amyloid fiber formation. The fusion stage seems to be characteristic of the lipid-rich lipoproteins and is beyond colloidal aggregation and amyloid fiber formation.