Role of five-fold twin boundary on the enhanced mechanical properties of fcc Fe nanowires

The role of 5-fold twin boundary on the structural and mechanical properties of fcc Fe nanowire under tension is explored by classical molecular dynamics. Twin-stabilized fcc nanowire with various diameters (6-24 nm) are examined by tension tests at several temperatures ranging from 0.01 to 1100 K. Significant increase in the Young's modulus of the smaller nanowires is revealed to originate from the central area of quinquefoliolate-like stress-distribution over the 5-fold twin, rather than from the surface tension that is often considered as the main source of such size-effects found in nanostructures. Because of the excess compressive stress caused by crossing twin-boundaries, the atoms in the center behave stiffer than those in bulk and even expand laterally under axial tension, providing locally negative Poisson's ratio. The yield strength of nanowire is also enhanced by the twin boundary that suppresses dislocation nucleation within a fcc twin-domain; therefore, the plasticity of nanowire is initiated by strain-induced fcc→bcc phase transformation that destroys the twin structure. After the yield, the nucleated bcc phase immediately spreads to the entire area, and forms a multigrain structure to realize ductile deformation followed by necking. As temperature elevated close to the critical temperature between bcc and fcc phases, the increased stability of fcc phase competes with the phase transformation under tension, and hence dislocation nucleations in fcc phase are observed exclusively at the highest temperature in our study.

Photoprotective potential of Cordyceps polysaccharides against ultraviolet B radiation-induced DNA damage to human skin cells

BACKGROUND

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes DNA damage resulting in photoageing and skin cancer. UVB (290-320 nm) interacts directly with DNA, inducing two major photoproducts: cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and (6-4) pyrimidine-pyrimidone photoproducts. Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. is a medicinal fungus with reported anticancer and cytoprotective effects.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate genoprotective effects of polysaccharide-rich Cordyceps mycelial components against UVB-induced damage in normal human fibroblast cells.

METHODS

Cultured human fibroblasts (BJ cells) were treated for 30 min and, separately, for 24 h with hot water extract of Cordyceps fungal mycelia or exopolysaccharides. Cells were washed, irradiated with UVB (302 nm), and immediately lysed, after which DNA damage, as strand breaks, was measured using an enzyme-assisted comet assay that detects CPDs.

RESULTS

DNA damage in UVB-irradiated cells was significantly lowered (P < 0·01) with Cordyceps pretreatment. Similar results were seen with 30 min and 24 h pretreatment. Specifically, and in comparison with irradiated cells with no Cordyceps pretreatment, there was a 27% reduction in CPDs in irradiated cells with 24 h pretreatment with 200 μg mL(-1) of the hot water Cordyceps extract, and a 34% reduction with 24 h pretreatment with 200 μg mL(-1) of the exopolysaccharide extract.

CONCLUSIONS

Clear evidence of protection against UVB-induced CPDs was seen with Cordyceps mycelial extracts. Results indicate that Cordyceps may offer photoprotection and lower the risk of basal cell carcinoma, the main skin cancer caused by CPDs. Further study is needed to identify protective mechanisms.

Electronic and optical properties of monolayer and bilayer graphene

The electronic and optical properties of monolayer and bilayer graphene are investigated to verify the effects of interlayer interactions and external magnetic field. Monolayer graphene exhibits linear bands in the low-energy region. Then the interlayer interactions in bilayers change these bands into two pairs of parabolic bands, where the lower pair is slightly overlapped and the occupied states are asymmetric with respect to the unoccupied ones. The characteristics of zero-field electronic structures are directly reflected in the Landau levels. In monolayer and bilayer graphene, these levels can be classified into one and two groups, respectively. With respect to the optical transitions between the Landau levels, bilayer graphene possesses much richer spectral features in comparison with monolayers, such as four kinds of absorption channels and double-peaked absorption lines. The explicit wave functions can further elucidate the frequency-dependent absorption rates and the complex optical selection rules. These numerical calculations would be useful in identifying the optical measurements on graphene layers.

Removing interictal fast ripples on electrocorticography linked with seizure freedom in children

BACKGROUND

Fast ripples (FR, 250-500 Hz) detected with chronic intracranial electrodes are proposed biomarkers of epileptogenesis. This study determined whether resection of FR-containing neocortex recorded during intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) was associated with postoperative seizure freedom in pediatric patients with mostly extratemporal lesions.

METHODS

FRs were retrospectively reviewed in 30 consecutive pediatric cases. ECoGs were recorded at 2,000 Hz sampling rate and visually inspected for FR, with reviewer blinded to the resection and outcome.

RESULTS

Average age at surgery was 9.1 ± 6.7 years, ECoG duration was 11.8 ± 8.1 minutes, and postoperative follow-up was 27 ± 4 months. FRs were undetected in 6 ECoGs with remote or extensive lesions. FR episodes (n = 273) were identified in ECoGs from 24 patients, and in 64% FRs were independent of spikes, sharp waves, voltage attenuation, and paroxysmal fast activity. Of these 24 children, FR-containing cortex was removed in 19 and all became seizure-free, including 1 child after a second surgery. The remaining 5 children had incomplete FR resection and all continued with seizures postoperatively. In 2 ECoGs, the location of electrographic seizures matched FR location. FR-containing cortex was found outside of MRI and FDG-PET abnormalities in 6 children.

CONCLUSION

FRs were detected during intraoperative ECoG in 80% of pediatric epilepsy cases, and complete resection of FR cortex correlated with postoperative seizure freedom. These findings support the view that interictal FRs are excellent surrogate markers of epileptogenesis, can be recorded during brief ECoG, and could be used to guide future surgical resections in children.

The neuronal repellent SLIT2 is a target for repression by EZH2 in prostate cancer

The neuronal repellent SLIT2 is repressed in a number of cancer types primarily through promoter hypermethylation. SLIT2, however, has not been studied in prostate cancer. Through genome-wide location analysis we identified SLIT2 as a target of Polycomb group (PcG) protein EZH2. The EZH2-containing Polycomb repressive complexes bound to the SLIT2 promoter inhibiting its expression. SLIT2 was down-regulated in a majority of metastatic prostate tumors exhibiting a negative correlation with EZH2. This repressed expression could be restored by methylation inhibitors or EZH2-suppressing compounds. In addition, a low level of SLIT2 expression was associated with aggressive prostate, breast and lung cancers. Functional assays showed that SLIT2 inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Thus, this study demonstrated for the first time epigenetic silencing of SLIT2 in prostate tumors, and supported SLIT2 as a potential biomarker for aggressive solid tumors. Importantly, PcG-mediated repression may serve as a precursor for the silencing of SLIT2 by DNA methylation in cancer.

Improved outcomes in pediatric epilepsy surgery: the UCLA experience, 1986-2008

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy neurosurgery is a treatment option for children with refractory epilepsy. Our aim was to determine if outcomes improved over time.

METHODS

Pediatric epilepsy surgery patients operated in the first 11 years (1986-1997; pre-1997) were compared with the second 11 years (1998-2008; post-1997) for differences in presurgical and postsurgical variables.

RESULTS

Despite similarities in seizure frequency, age at seizure onset, and age at surgery, the post-1997 series had more lobar/focal and fewer multilobar resections, and more patients with tuberous sclerosis complex and fewer cases of nonspecific gliosis compared with the pre-1997 group. Fewer cases had intracranial EEG studies in the post-1997 (0.8%) compared with the pre-1997 group (9%). Compared with the pre-1997 group, the post-1997 series had more seizure-free patients at 0.5 (83%, +16%), 1 (81%, +18%), 2 (77%, +19%), and 5 (74%, +29%) years, and more seizure-free patients were on medications at 0.5 (97%, +6%), 1 (88%, +9%), and 2 (76%, +29%), but not 5 (64%, +8%) years after surgery. There were fewer complications and reoperations in the post-1997 series compared with the pre-1997 group. Logistic regression identified post-1997 series and less aggressive medication withdrawal as the main predictors of becoming seizure-free 2 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved technology and surgical procedures along with changes in clinical practice were likely factors linked with enhanced and sustained seizure-free outcomes in the post-1997 series. These findings support the general concept that clearer identification of lesions and complete resection are linked with better outcomes in pediatric epilepsy surgery patients.

Noninvasive testing, early surgery, and seizure freedom in tuberous sclerosis complex

BACKGROUND

The unambiguous identification of the epileptogenic tubers in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) can be challenging. We assessed whether magnetic source imaging (MSI) and coregistration of (18)fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET) with MRI could improve the identification of the epileptogenic regions noninvasively in children with TSC.

METHODS

In addition to standard presurgical evaluation, 28 children with intractable epilepsy from TSC referred from 2000 to 2007 had MSI and FDG-PET/MRI coregistration without extraoperative intracranial EEG.

RESULTS

Based on the concordance of test results, 18 patients with TSC (64%) underwent surgical resection, with the final resection zone confirmed by intraoperative electrocorticography. Twelve patients are seizure free postoperatively (67%), with an average follow-up of 4.1 years. Younger age at surgery and shorter seizure duration were associated with postoperative seizure freedom. Conversely, older age and longer seizure duration were linked with continued seizures postoperatively or prevented surgery because of nonlateralizing or bilateral independent epileptogenic zones. Complete removal of presurgery MSI dipole clusters correlated with postoperative seizure freedom.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic source imaging and (18)fluorodeoxyglucose PET/MRI coregistration noninvasively localized the epileptogenic zones in many children with intractable epilepsy from tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), with 67% seizure free postoperatively. Seizure freedom after surgery correlated with younger age and shorter seizure duration. These findings support the concept that early epilepsy surgery is associated with seizure freedom in children with TSC and intractable epilepsy.

The effects of the modulated magnetic fields on electronic structures of graphene nanoribbons

The low-energy magnetoelectronic structures of nanographene ribbons under a modulated magnetic field are investigated by the Peierls tight-binding model. They are dominated by the field strength, period, phase, the ribbon width, and edge structure. The modulated magnetic field could add state degeneracy, modify energy dispersions, alter subband spacings, affect carrier-density distributions, create additional band-edge states, and cause semiconductor-metal transitions. The main features of energy bands are directly reflected in density of states, such as the position, height, structure, and number of the prominent peaks. These results immensely differ from those in a uniform magnetic field. Significant differences between a 1D graphene ribbon and a 2D electron gas are also found.

FDG-PET/MRI coregistration improves detection of cortical dysplasia in patients with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Patients with cortical dysplasia (CD) are difficult to treat because the MRI abnormality may be undetectable. This study determined whether fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/MRI coregistration enhanced the recognition of CD in epilepsy surgery patients.

METHODS

Patients from 2004-2007 in whom FDG-PET/MRI coregistration was a component of the presurgical evaluation were compared with patients from 2000-2003 without this technique. For the 2004-2007 cohort, neuroimaging and clinical variables were compared between patients with mild Palmini type I and severe Palmini type II CD.

RESULTS

Compared with the 2000-2003 cohort, from 2004-2007 more CD patients were detected, most had type I CD, and fewer cases required intracranial electrodes. From 2004-2007, 85% of type I CD cases had normal non-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) MRI scans. UCLA MRI identified CD in 78% of patients, and 37% of type I CD cases had normal UCLA scans. EEG and neuroimaging findings were concordant in 52% of type I CD patients, compared with 89% of type II CD patients. FDG-PET scans were positive in 71% of CD cases, and type I CD patients had less hypometabolism compared with type II CD patients. Postoperative seizure freedom occurred in 82% of patients, without differences between type I and type II CD cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/MRI coregistration into the multimodality presurgical evaluation enhanced the noninvasive identification and successful surgical treatment of patients with cortical dysplasia (CD), especially for the 33% of patients with nonconcordant findings and those with normal MRI scans from mild type I CD.

[Meiotic abnormality in dominant genic male sterile Brassica napus]

Rs1046AB is a dominant genic male sterile (DGMS) Brassica napus line derived from Yi-3A. Until now the molecular mechanism of its male sterility is still unknown. In this paper, cytological observations demonstrated that all cells in sterile plants contained condensed nuclei at the beginning stage of meiosis; this implied that meiotic cells were degenerating. Although 31% (93/300) cells escaped from the state of nuclei condensation in buds about 3 mm in length (in such length, normal plants are at tetrade stage), no cells could pass the pachytene stage. Then pachytene or zygotene like chromatin/chromosomes sometimes congregated into two or more groups with different size, which resulted in the formation of micronuclei. Nucleoplasmic bridge could also be found in some meiotic cells. Even when the "microspore's analogue" appeared in sterile buds about 4 mm in length (in such length, mature pollens could be detected in normal buds), the nuclei condensation and escaped cells with pachytene like chromosome still could be found in the sterile anthers. So it could be concluded that male sterility was caused by meiotic abnormality. According to our previous research, four genes related to cell cycle/DNA processing were identified in fertile plants. RT-PCR further confirmed that three DNA repair genes were partially or completely repressed in the sterile plants, and were only expressed in the early stage fertile flower buds, i.e. the buds <3 mm in length. Therefore, DGMS of rapeseed was probably caused by the abnormality in DNA damage repair system during meiosis. According to these results, some possible mechanisms of fertility control were discussed.

Orally delivered foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid protomer vaccine displayed on T4 bacteriophage surface: 100% protection from potency challenge in mice

An orally delivered foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine has not previously been reported. By using a T4 bacteriophage nanoparticle surface gene-protein display system (T4-S-GPDS), we created a foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) entire capsid protein vaccine candidate. On the T4 phage surface SOC site, a full length FMDV capsid precursor polyprotein (P1, 755 aa) and proteinase 3C (213 aa) derived from an infected pig of serotype O strain GD-10 (1999), were separately displayed on different T4 phage particle surfaces through inserting their coding region DNAs into the T4 phage genome, yielding phage strains T4-P1 and T4-3C. We also constructed a series of FMDV sub-full length capsid structural protein (subunit) containing T4 phage recombinant vaccines. Both sucking and young BALB/c mice were used as two kinds of FMDV vaccine potency evaluation models. Many groups of both model mice were vaccinated orally or by subcutaneous injection with varying FMDV-T4 phage recombinant vaccines, with and without addition of adjuvant, then challenged with a lethal dose of cattle source virulent FMDV. In the case of immunization with a mixture of phage T4-P1 and phage T4-3C particles without any adjuvant added, all mice were 100% protected following either oral or injection immunization, whereas 100% of the control, non-immunized mice and mice immunized with only T4 phage vector Z1/Zh(-) or wild-type T4(+)D phage died; in contrast, with FMDV subunit vaccine, less than 75% protection followed the same potency challenge in both mice model groups. In addition, two pigs immunized with a phage T4-P1 and phage T4-3C mix were protected upon housing together with infected pigs. This study represents a clear example of how FMD and other pathogenic disease vaccines can be prepared by a simple and efficient bacteriophage route.

More evidence supports the association of PPP3CC with schizophrenia

Calcineurin is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase composed of two subunits, a regulatory subunit of calcineurin B (CNB) and a catalytic subunit of calcineurin A (CNA). PPP3CC is the gamma isoform of CNA located at the chromosome 8p21.3 region. To evaluate the association between PPP3CC and schizophrenia in the Taiwanese population, 10 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers across the gene were genotyped by the method of MALDI-TOF in 218 schizophrenia families with at least two affected siblings. One SNP (rs2272080) located around the exon 1 untranslated region was nominally associated with schizophrenia (P=0.024) and significantly associated with the expression of PPP3CC in lymphoblast cell line; the TT and TG genotype had significantly higher relative expression levels than the GG genotype (P=0.0012 and 0.015, respectively). In further endophenotype stratification, the single locus of rs2272080 and the haplotypes of both two-SNP haplotype (rs7833266-rs2272080) and seven-SNP haplotype (rs2461491-rs2469758-rs2461489-rs2469770-rs2449340-rs1482337-rs2252471) showed significant associations with the subgroup of schizophrenia with deficits of the sustained attention as tested by the continuous performance test (CPT, P<0.05) and the executive functioning as tested by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST, P<0.05). The results suggest that PPP3CC gene may be a true susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.

Prednisolone oral solution plus inhaled procaterol for acute asthma in children: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy of prednisolone sodium phosphate oral solution plus inhaled procaterol in the treatment of acute asthma in children.

METHODS

Forty-three patients aged 6 to 12 years with an acute exacerbation of asthma were double-blind randomized into one of two treatment groups in a 1:1 ratio:1) prednisolone oral solution +placebo tablets + procaterol MDI or 2) prednisolone tablets +placebo oral solution + procaterol MDI, all given three times daily for 7 days. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), 24-hour reflective asthma symptom scores, spirometry and pulmonary index score (PIS) were recorded before and after treatment. Net changes in PEFR, symptom score, PIS, Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 percent of the forced vital capacity (FEF(25-75%)) (before and after treatment) and global assessment by the investigator and the subjects or their parents were analyzed.

RESULTS

The two groups were statistically similar at baseline values of these parameters. After a 7-day course of treatment, the net change of PEFR before and after treatment was significantly improved in both groups, but there was no significant difference in the net change of PEFR between the two groups (57.27+/-31.44 L/min vs. 54.29 +/-30.04 L/min, difference 2.99 +/-30.76 L/min, mean +/-SD, P=0.752). The net change in PIS and total symptom score did not differ between the two groups (P=0.091 and 0.827, respectively). Similarly, the FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% all improved with either treatment, and neither group was significantly superior to the other group (P=0.162, 0.48 and 0.081, respectively). Global assessment by the investigator and the subjects or their parents at the end of study indicated an essentially comparable result.

CONCLUSIONS

Prednisolone sodium phosphate oral solution plus inhaled procaterol is as efficacious as prednisolone tablets plus inhaled procaterol in the management of acute asthma in children.

Use of n-hexadecane as an oxygen vector to improve Phaffia rhodozyma growth and carotenoid production in shake-flask cultures

AIMS

To identify beneficial oxygen vectors for Phaffia rhodozyma in liquid cultures, and to evaluate their use to improve the oxygen transfer and carotenoid production in the yeast cultures.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Several liquid hydrocarbons were tested as oxygen vectors for improving the yeast growth and carotenoid production in shake-flask cultures of P. rhodozyma. While all nontoxic organic liquids (Log P: > or =5.6) showed a positive effect, n-hexadecane was proved to be the most beneficial for the yeast growth and carotenoid production. The addition of 9% (v/v) n-hexadecane to the liquid medium at the time of inoculation was found to be optimal, increasing the carotenoid yield by 58% (14.5 mg l(-1) vs 9.2 g l(-1) in the control) and the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) by 90%.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of n-hexadecane to shake-flask cultures of P. rhodozyma significantly improved the oxygen transfer in culture, thus increasing the carotenoid production.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Use of organic oxygen vectors such as n-hexadecane may be a simple and useful means for enhancing oxygen transfer and carotenoid production in liquid fermentation of P. rhodozyma.

Hereditary angioedema: a Taiwanese family with a novel gene mutation

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). Affected individuals have attacks of swelling involving almost any part of the body. We studied a family with 15 living members, including a 16-year-old girl who had 3 attacks of angioedema in 2 years. Her paternal uncle had died of asphyxiation during an attack 15 years previously. We analyzed the blood of each family member for C3, C4, and C1-INH levels and sequenced the SERPING1 (formerly C1NH) gene that codes for C1-INH. Six individuals had decreased serum levels of C4 and C1-INH, and they were all found to have a single nucleotide A deletion at codon 210 of the gene, 1210fsX210, a novel mutation that accounts for the HAE in this family.

Heavy metal monitoring using bivalved shellfish from Zhejiang coastal waters, East China Sea

The interest of culturing bivalved shellfish (including mussels, clams, oysters etc.), has increased in recent years, but the consumption has been hampered both by high levels of heavy metals and toxic algae. The levels of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and As) were determined in soft tissues of different shellfish from Zhejiang coastal waters, East China Sea. The average concentrations of the heavy metals analyzed exhibited the following decreasing order: Zn > Cu > As > Cd > Pb > Hg. Comparison of heavy metals concentrations among species indicated that Bivalves clearly have significant potential as useful bioindicators; however, the results indicated that no one species is universally suitable, as is true of any organism used in these studies. The distribution of the metals was also investigated along the Zhejiang coast, which the results showed the mean concentration of Hg and Cd detected did not vary greatly and presented a similar spatial pattern at different sampling stations, the concentrations of Zn and Pb were highly variable at different sampling sites. The amounts of heavy metals in soft tissue of shellfish were also compared with those from the related species from other seas in China and world marine waters. The results suggested that the coastal area might be considered relatively unpolluted with heavy metals and the concentrations of metals in shellfish also below the seafood safety limits for human consumption.

Indiscernible benefit of high-resolution HLA typing in improving long-term clinical outcome of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant

The success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation depends in part on the accuracy of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching between the donor-recipient pair. The higher the number of matching HLA alleles, the smaller the chance that the transplant recipient will develop complications. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation was noted to result in a remarkably low frequency and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and graft rejection compared to that in unrelated bone marrow transplant recipients. At present most banks match UCB donors for respective recipients by HLA-A, -B low-resolution typing and -DRB1 high-resolution typing. We retrospectively conducted high-resolution sequence-based HLA typing on DNA samples available from 65 Chinese UCB-recipient pairs typed previously by using low-resolution sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes and sequence-specific primers, and evaluated the clinical outcome. High-resolution typing revealed imperceptible HLA alleles that were hardly identified in low-resolution typing. Univariate analyses demonstrated no significant correlation between the extents of high-resolution HLA disparity with engraftment, graft failure, acute GvHD, transplant-related mortality and long-term 6-year overall survival. Data from the study suggest that high-resolution typing for HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 contributed no substantial improvement to UCB transplant outcome. Low-resolution typing appears to be amenable to matching UCB-recipient pairs without compromising the quality of transplant.

Banking and transplantation of umbilical cord blood in Guangzhou, China

BACKGROUND

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for transplantation of patients with hematologic malignancies or hereditary diseases.

METHODS

We developed a provincial UCB bank in Guangzhou, China, using good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures to address donor eligibility, collection, characterization, processing, storage and release from quarantine. The banking activities were analyzed.

RESULTS

From June 1998 to May 2005, 8623 UCB units of Han ethnic origin were collected; 4147 (48.1%) were stored, while 4476 (51.9%) were discarded as a result of pre-determined exclusion criteria. A median volume of 95.5 mL (range 60-227.7) and 1.2 x 10(9) (0.8-9.3) nucleated cells were collected. The cell viability was 97.8% (90-100%). The CD34+ cell count of 3691 (89.0%) UCB units was 5.2 x 10(6) (0.3-131.6) and clonogenic assays of 4036 (97.3%) UCB units demonstrated 9.8 x 10(5) (0.04-135.8) CFU-GM, 0.3 x 10(5) (0.0-18.6) CFU-GEMM and 8.8 x 10(5) (0.0-74.2) BFU-E. A total of 0.4% (15/3863) UCB derived from babies known to have health problems at age 6 months was discarded. Up to May 2005, 151 units were issued for transplantation to 127 patients [90 (70.9%) children and 37 (29.1%) adults]. The infused nucleated cells in unrelated single-unit recipients were 3.4 x 10(7)/kg (1.7-14.9) for adults (n=19) and 5.7 x 10(7)/kg (2.0-20.5) for children (n=71), respectively. The numbers of days for the engraftment of neutrophils among 65 children and 22 adults were 17 (7-41) and 20 (10-42), respectively.

DISCUSSION

Data of this study show that stringent procedures and comprehensive policies are requisite for pursuing the banking and release of quality UCB for successful transplantation.

Randomized comparison of two rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Bismuth salts are not available worldwide. It remains unknown whether clarithromycin can replace bismuth salts as an adjuvant agent in the rescue regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection. We therefore designed the prospective study to compare the efficacies of two rescue therapies for H. pylori infection after standard triple therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-three patients who failed H. pylori eradication using proton pump inhibitor plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin were randomly assigned to undergo rescue therapy with esomeprazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline and metronidazole (ECTM group, n = 46) or esomeprazole, bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline and metronidazole (EBTM group, n = 47). Follow-up endoscopy was performed at 8 weeks after the end of treatment to assess the treatment response.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated both groups had similar eradication rates (ECTM 74% vs. EBTM 77%; P = 0.76) and drug compliance (ECTM 94% vs. EBTM 96%; P = 0.68). However, the frequency of adverse events in the ECTM group was higher than that in EBTM group (ECTM 57% vs. EBTM 36%, P = 0.05). In the EBTM group, eradication rate of metronidazole-resistant strains was lower than that of metronidazole-susceptible strains (67%[8/12] vs. 100%[9/9], P = 0.05). However, eradication rates were similar between metronidazole-susceptible and metronidazole-resistant strains in ECTM group (69%[9/13] vs. 70%[7/10], P = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

The new ECTM second-line therapy can achieve similar eradication rate as standard EBTM therapy. It may be very useful in countries where bismuth salts are not available.

Mycelium cultivation, chemical composition and antitumour activity of a Tolypocladium sp. fungus isolated from wild Cordyceps sinensis

AIMS

To examine and illustrate the morphological characteristics and growth kinetics of Cs-HK1, a Tolypocladium fungus, isolated from wild Cordyceps sinensis in solid and liquid cultures, and the major chemical constituents and antitumour effects of Cs-HK1 mycelium.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Cs-HK1 fungus was isolated from the fruiting body of a wild C. sinensis and identified as a Tolypocladium sp. fungus. It grew rapidly at 22-25 degrees C on a liquid medium containing glucose, yeast extract, peptone and major inorganic salts, with a specific growth rate of 1.1 day(-1), reaching a cell density of 23.0 g dw l(-1) in 7-9 days. Exopolysaccharides accumulated in the liquid culture to about 0.3 g l(-1) glucose equivalent. In comparison with natural C. sinensis, the fungal mycelium had similar contents of protein (11.7-microg) and carbohydrate (654.6-microg) but much higher contents of polysaccharide (244.2 mg vs 129.5 mg), adenosine (1116.8-microg vs 264.6 microg) and cordycepin (65.7 microg vs 20.8 microg) (per gram dry weight). Cyclosporin A, an antibiotic commonly produced by Tolypocladium sp., was also detected from the mycelium extract. The hot water extract of mycelium showed low cytotoxic effect on B16 melanoma cells in culture (about 25% inhibition) but significant antitumour effect in animal tests, causing 50% inhibition of B16 cell-induced tumour growth in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The Tolypocladium sp. fungus, Cs-HK1, can be easily cultivated by liquid fermentation. The mycelium biomass contained the major bioactive compounds of C. sinensis, and the mycelium extract had significant antitumour activity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The Cs-HK1 fungus may be a new and promising medicinal fungus and an effective and economical substitute of the wild C. sinensis for health care.

Hyperthermia engages the intrinsic apoptotic pathway by enhancing upstream caspase activation to overcome apoptotic resistance in MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells

Febrile hyperthermia enhanced TNF-stimulated apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and overcame resistance in a TNF-resistant, MCF-7 variant (3E9), increasing their TNF-sensitivity by 10- and 100-fold, respectively. In either cell line, the hyperthermic potentiation was attributable to increased apoptosis that was totally quenched by caspase inhibition. In MCF-7 cells, hyperthermic potentiation of apoptosis was associated with sustained activation of upstream caspases in response to TNF and more prominent engagement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Apoptotic enhancement by hyperthermia was primarily mediated by caspase-8 activation, as the specific inhibitor, Z-IETD, blocked cell death, whereas direct engagement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway (with doxorubicin) was not affected. In 3E9 cells, hyperthermia alone induced activation of caspase-8, and was further enhanced by TNF. In 3E9 cells, hyperthermia caused TNF-dependent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of capspase-9 that was initiated and dependent on upstream caspases. MCF-7 and 3E9 cells were equally sensitive to exogenous C(6)-ceramide, but mass spectroscopic analysis of ceramide species indicated that total ceramide content was not enhanced by TNF and/or hyperthermia treatment, and that the combination of TNF and hyperthermia caused only modest elevation of one species (dihydro-palmitoyl ceramide). We conclude that febrile hyperthermia potentiates apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and overcomes TNF-resistance by sustained activation of caspase-8 and engagement of the intrinsic pathway that is independent of ceramide flux. This report provides the first evidence for regulation of caspase-dependent apoptosis by febrile hyperthermia.

Ex vivo expansion of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic effector cells as adoptive immunotherapy for myeloma

BACKGROUND

PBMC can be expanded ex vivo into aggressive cytotoxic effector cells (CEC) comprising T, NK and NKT cells. We identified the phenotype, cytotoxicity and mechanisms of killing of these CEC.

METHODS

CY- and G-CSF-mobilized PBMC from myeloma patients were placed in Aim-V serum-free medium, IL-2 (50 IU/mL) and OKT-3 (50 ng/mL). Cytotoxicity was evaluated by selectively blocking the TCR, MHC class I or NKG2D receptor.

RESULTS

The CEC expanded three-fold by day 7 and aggressively lysed myeloma cells (41.9%) compared with day 0 (4%; P=0.012). CD8+ CD56+ NKT cells performed the majority of lysis. The CD8+ cells greatly increased NKG2D expression during culture (P=0.005). Cytotoxicity correlated with target NKG2D ligand expression (P=0.0002). Blocking the TCR or MHC class I did not affect cytotoxicity (P>0.22). CD8+ cell-mediated lysis dropped 48% when the NKG2D receptor was blocked. Day 7 CEC aggressively lysed myeloma cells in an MHC- and non-MHC-restricted fashion, through the NKG2D receptor.

DISCUSSION

Because MHC expression is often down-regulated on tumor cells and the NKG2D ligands are generally specific to malignant cells, the adoptive transfer of CEC that kill through different pathways may circumvent tumor-resistant mechanisms and improve outcomes.

Synthesis, DNA binding and cytotoxicity of new pyrazole emodin derivatives

A series of new anthrapyrazoles were derived from emodin by attaching various cationic alkyl amino side chains onto a pyrazole ring which had been incorporated into the anthraquinone chromophore. Compared with emodin, the derivatives had significantly higher DNA binding affinity based on interaction with calf thymus DNA, and much more potent cytotoxicity against different tumor cells. The derivatives with a mono-cationic alkyl side chain exhibited the highest DNA binding affinity and cytotoxicity.

Magnetic source imaging localizes epileptogenic zone in children with tuberous sclerosis complex

The authors assessed whether magnetoencephalography/magnetic source imaging (MEG/MSI) identified epileptogenic zones in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). In six TSC children with focal seizures, ictal video-EEG predicted the region of resection with 56% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and 77% accuracy (p = 0.02), whereas interictal MEG/MSI fared better (100%, 94%, and 95%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Interictal MEG/MSI seems to identify epileptogenic zones more accurately in children with TSC and focal intractable epilepsy.