Search for patterns by combining cosmic-ray energy and arrival directions at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Energy-dependent patterns in the arrival directions of cosmic rays are searched for using data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. We investigate local regions around the highest-energy cosmic rays with [Formula: see text] eV by analyzing cosmic rays with energies above [Formula: see text] eV arriving within an angular separation of approximately 15[Formula: see text]. We characterize the energy distributions inside these regions by two independent methods, one searching for angular dependence of energy-energy correlations and one searching for collimation of energy along the local system of principal axes of the energy distribution. No significant patterns are found with this analysis. The comparison of these measurements with astrophysical scenarios can therefore be used to obtain constraints on related model parameters such as strength of cosmic-ray deflection and density of point sources.

Risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis in patients with colorectal cancer treated with open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Whether the incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery the same or not were under the debated without conclusion. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery by meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The open published articles comparing the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer were collected in the data bases of Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and CNKI. The relative risk (RR) was pooled by using random or fixed effect mode to evaluate the incidence of DVT between laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery.

RESULTS

After searching the databases, 9 randomized clinical studies with 2606 colorectal cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The mean operation time was 201.8 ± 17.28 min with its range of 180.0-224.4 min in the laparoscopic surgery group and 148.1 ± 18.8 min with its range of 135.0-184.0 min in the open surgery group. The operation time for laparoscopic surgery group were significant lower than in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). The RR of DVT between the laparoscopy and open surgery groups was 0.71 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.35-1.45 (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The operation time in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was statistical longer than in the open colorectal cancer surgery, but the DVT risk of the two surgery approach was not different according to this meta-analysis.

Emergency endovascular stent-grafting for acute type B aortic dissection with symptomatic malperfusion

AIM

The aim of this paper was to analyze the durability and efficacy of emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) with malperfusion syndrome.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of acute TBAD with spinal cord, kidney, viscera, and extremity malperfusion was performed. Emergency TEVAR to cover primary tear site by stent-graft was strongly suggested to included candidates. Computed tomography (CT) scans and clinical findings were carried out in diagnosis and follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven TBAD patients (101 men, 46.1±11.4 year, range 34~76) who presented with acute end-organ malperfusion, including sudden paraplegia (N.=4), acute renal failure (N.=26), acute viscera ischemia (N.=61) and limb ischemia (N.=36), received aortic stent-grafting 2~48 hours after onset. Technical success was achieved in all primary TEVAR. The overall endoleak rate was 7.1% (9/127; typeI:3; typeII: 4; typeIV: 2). The 30-day mortality was 0.8% (2/127). 125 patients were followed for 19.1±14.5 (1~86) months, one patient died 50 days post-TEVAR due to myocardial infarction. Four patients required reintervention with additional stent grafts. Follow-up CT angiography showed enlargement of the true lumen and different degrees of thrombosis in the distal false lumen (complete thrombosis in 48, partial thrombosis in 52 and patency in 24).

CONCLUSION

Emergency TEVAR is an effective method to treat acute TBAD complicated with end-organ malperfusion. Covering of the proximal entry site of TBAD by stent-graft leads to flow increased in the true lumen and thrombosis of the false lumen of varying degree, which may improve end-organ perfusion and restore branch vessels patency.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for the prediction of the depletion of methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid, the marker residue of olaquindox, in the edible tissues of pigs

To estimate the consumer exposure to olaquindox (OLA) residues in porcine edible tissues, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), the marker residue of OLA, was developed in pigs based on the assumptions of the flow-limited distribution, hepatic metabolism, and renal excretion. The model included separate compartments corresponding to blood, muscle, liver, kidney, adipose, and an extra compartment representing the remaining carcass. Physiological parameters were determined from literatures. Plasma protein binding, partition coefficients, and renal clearance for MQCA were determined in in vitro and in vivo studies. The metabolic conversion of OLA to MQCA was assumed as a simple, one-step process, and an apparent first-order rate constant (k) was employed to describe this metabolic process. The PBPK model was optimized and validated with plasma and tissue data from literatures and our study. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were also implemented to estimate the influence of model parameters on the goodness of fit. When compared with the observed data, the PBPK model underestimated the MQCA level in all compartments at the early time points, whereas gave excellent predictions of MQCA concentration in porcine edible tissues at later time points. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and observed values were over 0.88. The consistency between the model predictions and the real residues of OLA in pigs proved the good applicability of our model in food safety risk assessment.

MicroRNAs as regulators in normal hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells: current concepts and clinical implications

Relapse after current treatment is one of the main limitations to the complete cure of leukemia, and a concept that leukemia stem cell (LSC) is the major cause of relapse has been proposed. LSCs are derived from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), residing at the apex of leukemia cells and hiding in the bone marrow (BM) niche to evade chemotherapy. Novel therapy is strongly needed based on the unique features of LSCs to directly target these cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are now known to play important roles on cancer stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Because of the ability of miRNAs to inactivate either specific genes or entire gene families, strategies based on differential expression levels of miRNAs in LSCs as dominant activators or suppressors of gene activity have emerged as promising new candidate approaches for eradicating LSCs. In this review, we highlight new findings regarding the roles of miRNAs in LSC maintenance of quiescence repression, self-renewal, surface marker targeting, and the LSCBM niche interaction. We also discuss recent advances and future challenges to use LSC specific miRNAs as potential therapeutic molecules in eradicating LSCs.

Increased expression of alpha 1-anti-trypsin in the synovial tissues of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES

Evidence indicates that the hyperplasia and inflammation of synovial tissues are significantly related to the pathogenic process of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Using a proteomics approach, we detected a significantly increased expression of alpha 1-anti-trypsin (ATA1) in synovial membranes of patients with AS.

METHODS

We continued to investigate the expression level and location of ATA1 in synovial tissue of AS. We also investigated the genetic effect of the gene encoding ATA1 on AS. Western blot analysis was applied to determine the expression of ATA1 in synovial tissues by comparing the expression profiles of AS (n=8), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n=9) and osteoarthritis (OA, n=9) samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to localise the expression of ATA1 in the synovial membrane. Taqman method was used to genotype tag SNPs (rs2753934, rs2749531 and rs6575424) with 56 AS cases, 260 RA cases and 160 healthy controls.

RESULTS

We detected an increased expression of ATA1 in synovial membranes of AS as compared with samples from RA and OA. We immuno-localised the significant expression of ATA1 in AS tissues. No significant association was found between the ATA1 polymorphism and AS or RA. Haplotype analysis did not reveal a haplotype to be associated with AS or RA.

CONCLUSIONS

It has been reported that ATA1 is related with inflammation and new bone formation, two important features of AS. The current findings suggest that ATA1 contributes to the pathogenesis of AS by up-regulating the gene expression in the synovial tissues.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis with multisystem involvement in an adult

A 32-year-old Chinese woman presented for further investigation with a 6-year history of polyuria and polydipsia, a 4-year history of vulva ulceration and a 2-year history of gingival swelling. A biopsy of the vulva lesion showed diffuse infiltration of medium-sized cells with lobulated, grooved, vesicular nuclei. Occasional mitoses were present. The infiltrate of the cells showed reactivity with antibody to S-100 protein and CD1a, confirming the diagnosis of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH). Cephalic magnetic resonance imaging scanning revealed that an 8 x 7 x 8 mm3 large mass was located at the pituitary stalk. An X-ray film of the jaw showed sharply demarcated rarefaction of the right posterior portion of the mandible. In women with diabetes insipidus and genital ulcer, LCH should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

The suppressed proliferation and premature senescence by ganciclovir in p53-mutated human non-small-lung cancer cells acquiring herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase cDNA

The concerted actions of molecular networks determine how cells undergo proliferation, death or aging. Here we show that the highly invasive, tumorigenic human non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) cells carrying mutated p53 alleles were transfected with herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) cDNA and the selected clone was susceptible to exogenous ganciclovir (GCV). The work further indicated that, in the stable HSV-tk transfectants, GCV suppressed cell proliferation by inducing G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and premature senescence and the potency can be amplified through bystander effect. The growth suppression of the established tumor xenografts in nude mice can be successfully targeted by GCV. These data showed that the GCV-suppressed tumor cell proliferation can be coordinated by cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence in HSV-tk transfectant lacking wild-type p53.

Familial atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis: case report and pedigree analysis

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis (AVMC) was first described in 1918, as a rarely reported form of idiopathic macular atrophy on the cheeks. Nineteen patients have been reported in the past 86 years. Recently we diagnosed a 25-year-old woman as AMVC and investigated her family history. We collected the clinical data of the pedigree and presumed that AVMV is in a autosomal dominant inheritance.

Etoposide (VP-16) sensitizes p53-deficient human non-small cell lung cancer cells to caspase-7-mediated apoptosis

Human non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) cells of (p)53-null genotype were exposed to low-dosage topoisomearse II inhibitor etoposide (VP-16). The cellular proliferation rate could be effectively inhibited by VP-16 in dose-dependent manner. The effective drug concentration for growth inhibition could be as low as 0.5 microM and the apoptotic phenotype became evident 48 h later. In H1299 cells, VP-16-induced cytotoxic effect was demonstrated associated with apoptosis that disappeared when restored with wild-type p53. Cell cycle analysis revealed that, upon VP-16 induction, cell death began with growth arrest by accumulating cells at the G(2)-M phase. The cells at sub-G(1) phase increased at the expense of those at G(2)-M transition state. To assess the regulation of cell cycle modulators, western blot analysis of H1299 cell lysates showed the release of apoptosis initiator, cytochrome c and apaf-1 hours following drug induction. The cleavage of downstream effectors, procaspase-9 and procaspase-7, but not procaspase-3, was accompanied with proteolysis of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). VP-16-activated procaspase-7 cleavage was abrogated in cells with ectopically expressed p53. On the other hand, the inhibited procaspase-7 fragmentation by caspase-specific inhibitor reversed apoptotic phenotype caused by drug induction. Thus, VP-16-induced apoptotic cell death was contributed by caspase-7 activation in(p)53-deficient human NSCLC cells.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with generalized systemic involvement

We describe a 33-year-old woman with a 2-year history of rheumatoid arthritis-like joint changes and a 1-year history of papulonodules on the fingers, ears, oral mucosa, forearm, elbows and thighs, and erythematous plaques on the buttocks. Six months after the onset of the cutaneous lesions she had dyspnoea, 3 months later she developed a husky sound. Biopsies from the nodules on the ear and left forearm revealed multinucleated giant cells with eosinophilic 'ground-glass' cytoplasm. Bronchoscopy revealed that there were nodules in the bronchus. A biopsy taken from a nodule from the bronchus was consistent with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Fibrostic laryngoscopy showed a mass 1.5 x 2.0 cm(2) in size on the left aryepiglottic fold and posterior commissure. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large pleural effusion and pericardiac effusion. Ultrasound revealed splenomegaly and peritoneal fluid. Combination therapy with prednisone, cyclophosphamide and methotrexate significantly improved cutaneous and joint symptoms. The huge cutaneous erythematous plaques and the generalized systemic involvement make this case interesting.

Genetic testing in spinocerebellar ataxia in Taiwan: expansions of trinucleotide repeats in SCA8 and SCA17 are associated with typical Parkinson's disease

DNA tests in normal subjects and patients with ataxia and Parkinson's disease (PD) were carried out to assess the frequency of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to document the distribution of SCA mutations underlying ethnic Chinese in Taiwan. MJD/SCA3 (46%) was the most common autosomal dominant SCA in the Taiwanese cohort, followed by SCA6 (18%) and SCA1 (3%). No expansions of SCA types 2, 10, 12, or dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) were detected. The clinical phenotypes of these affected SCA patients were very heterogeneous. All of them showed clinical symptoms of cerebellar ataxia, with or without other associated features. The frequencies of large normal alleles are closely associated with the prevalence of SCA1, SCA2, MJD/SCA3, SCA6, and DRPLA among Taiwanese, Japanese, and Caucasians. Interestingly, abnormal expansions of SCA8 and SCA17 genes were detected in patients with PD. The clinical presentation for these patients is typical of idiopathic PD with the following characteristics: late onset of disease, resting tremor in the limbs, rigidity, bradykinesia, and a good response to levodopa. This study appears to be the first report describing the PD phenotype in association with an expanded allele in the TATA-binding protein gene and suggests that SCA8 may also be a cause of typical PD.

Establishment of cell lines from a tropical grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel), and their susceptibility to grouper irido- and nodaviruses

Four tropical marine fish cell lines have been established from the eye, fin, heart and swim bladder of grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel). Optimum media and temperature conditions for maximum growth were standardized. The eye and swim bladder cells were mostly epithelial, but the fin and heart cells were mostly fibroblastic. The viability of cells was 95% after 1 year of storage in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C). Besides these four cell lines, previously established grouper brain, kidney and liver cell lines were also used for a viral susceptibility study which showed that all the cell lines were sensitive to grouper iridovirus, whereas only brain, fin and liver cell lines were susceptible to the yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (a nodavirus). Electron microscopy studies of the grouper irido- and nodaviruses in ultrathin sections of infected cells showed an abundance of viral particles in the cytoplasm of the virus-infected cells indicating the effective replication of these two viruses. It is suggested that these cell lines can be used for the isolation of putative fish specific viruses and provide a valuable tool to study the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions. Furthermore, these cell lines upon transfection, using pEGFP-C1 and pEGFP-aMT2.5 (ayu metallothionein promoter), produced significant fluorescent signals indicating their utility for exogenous studies.

New biotransformation products of nemadectins

Selected nemadectins (formerly LL-F28249 series) have been fed to a panel of microorganisms with the aim of generating new derivatives. In addition to products resulting from the oxidation of the terminal methyl group (C-29), a unique phosphorylated nemadectin was isolated. The phosphate group was determined to be at C-23 by HMBC between phosphorus and H-23. Milbemycin or nemadectin derivatives with natural substituents involving the 23-hydroxyl group were hitherto unknown.

S-Nitrosylation of mitochondrial caspases

Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease located in both the cytoplasm and mitochondrial intermembrane space that is a central effector of many apoptotic pathways. In resting cells, a subset of caspase-3 zymogens is S-nitrosylated at the active site cysteine, inhibiting enzyme activity. During Fas-induced apoptosis, caspases are denitrosylated, allowing the catalytic site to function. In the current studies, we sought to identify the subpopulation of caspases that is regulated by S-nitrosylation. We report that the majority of mitochondrial, but not cytoplasmic, caspase-3 zymogens contain this inhibitory modification. In addition, the majority of mitochondrial caspase-9 is S-nitrosylated. These studies suggest that S-nitrosylation plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial caspase function and that the S-nitrosylation state of a given protein depends on its subcellular localization.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for a non-chromophore-containing phosphatidyl inositol analog, 1-[(1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero)-phospho]-1D-3-deoxy-myo-inositol, using indirect UV detection

Phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase (PI3 kinase) is an important constituent of growth factor regulation. It is also involved in oncogene signaling pathways. An ether-containing phosphatidyl inositol(PI) analog, OMDPI, 1-[(1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero)-phospho]-1D-3-deoxy-myo-inositol, is a potent inhibitor of this pathway and may be clinically useful in the treatment of a variety of neoplasms. OMDPI is currently being investigated as an anti-tumor agent by the National Cancer Institute, NIH. OMDPI, a non-chromophore-containing PI analog, is not directly adaptable to the commonly used UV detection of HPLC. This paper reports the development and validation of an HPLC assay for OMDPI based on indirect UV detection, in which a UV-absorbing ion-pair reagent (the probe), protriptyline, is added to the mobile phase to induce a signal for the compound. The method is sensitive (limit of detection <5 microl of 1 microg/ml or 5 ng), precise (R.S.D.<2.5%), linear (r2=0.9995) and accurate (error<0.7%). It is superior to refractive index detection and evaporative light scattering detection in either sensitivity or linearity and does not require special equipment.

Elevated nitric oxide metabolite levels in chronic sinusitis

Decreased exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is found in chronic sinusitis. NO metabolites (nitrates, nitrites, and S-nitrosothiols) were measured in sinus lavages with a rabbit model of chronic sinusitis. NO metabolite levels (mean +/- SD) were 3.0+/-1.6 micromol/L in uninfected rabbits, 10.7+/-11.4 micromol/L in infected animals, and 7.6+/-5.4 micromol/L in postantrostomy recovering animals. Infected sinuses had elevated levels of NO metabolites that were statistically significant (P<0.01) when compared with uninfected sinuses. Mucociliary transport velocity was measured in uninfected (16.0+/-5.7 mm/minute), infected (5.2+/-1.3 mm/minute), and recovery phases (3.0 mm/minute). Endoscopic appearance, light and electron microscopy, and bacterial cultures improved during recovery. Elevated levels of NO metabolites were found during chronic sinusitis and began to return to normal levels during recovery. The possible link between NO in epithelial autotoxicity and host defense mechanisms warrants further investigation.