Identification of serum miRNAs as novel non-invasive biomarkers for detection of high risk for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Many micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa and in gastric cancer tissue and previous reports have suggested the possibility of serum miRNAs as complementary tumour markers. The aim of the study was to investigate serum miRNAs and pepsinogen levels in individuals at high risk for gastric cancer both before and after H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

Patients with recent history of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer and the sex- and age-matched controls were enrolled. Serum was collected from subjects before or after eradication and total RNA was extracted to analyse serum levels of 24 miRNAs. Serum pepsinogen (PG) I and II levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS

Using miR-16 as an endogenous control, the relative levels of miR-106 and let-7d before and after H. pylori eradication and miR-21 after eradication were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the controls. H. pylori eradication significantly decreased miR-106b levels and increased let-7d only in the control group. After eradication, the combination MiR-106b with miR-21 was superior to serum pepsinogen and the most valuable biomarker for the differentiating high-risk group from controls.

CONCLUSION

Serum miR-106b and miR-21 may provide a novel and stable marker of increased risk for early gastric cancer after H. pylori eradication.

The Coprinopsis cinerea septin Cc.Cdc3 is involved in stipe cell elongation

We have identified and characterized a Coprinopsis cinerea mutant defective in stipe elongation during fruiting body development. In the wild-type, stipe cells elongate at the maturation stage of fruiting, resulting in very slender cells. In the mutant, the stipe cells fail to elongate, but become rather globular at the maturation stage. We found that the mutant phenotype is rescued by a gene encoding a homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC3 septin, Cc.Cdc3. The C. cinerea genome includes 6 septin genes, 5 of which, including Cc.cdc3, are highly transcribed during stipe elongation in the wild type. In the mutant, the level of Cc.cdc3 transcription in the stipe cells remains the same as that in the mycelium, and the level of Cc.cdc10 transcription is approximately 100 times lower than that in the wild-type stipe cells. No increase in transcription of Cc.cdc3 in the mutant may be due to the fact that the Cc.cdc3 gene has a 4-base pair insertion in its promoter and/or that the promoter region is methylated in the mutant. Overexpressed EGFP-Cc.Cdc3 fusion protein rescues the stipe elongation in the transformants, localizes to the cell cortex and assembles into abundant thin filaments in the elongating stipe cells. In contrast, in vegetative hyphae, EGFP-Cc.Cdc3 is localized to the hyphal tips of the apical cells of hyphae. Cellular defects in the mutant, combined with the localization of EGFP-Cc.Cdc3, suggest that septin filaments in the cell cortex provide the localized rigidity to the plasma membrane and allow cells to elongate cylindrically.

fosB-null mice display impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spontaneous epilepsy with depressive behavior

Patients with epilepsy are at high risk for major depression relative to the general population, and both disorders are associated with changes in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, although the mechanisms underlying disease onset remain unknown. The expression of fosB, an immediate early gene encoding FosB and ΔFosB/Δ2ΔFosB by alternative splicing and translation initiation, is known to be induced in neural progenitor cells within the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and subgranular zone of the hippocampus, following transient forebrain ischemia in the rat brain. Moreover, adenovirus-mediated expression of fosB gene products can promote neural stem cell proliferation. We recently found that fosB-null mice show increased depressive behavior, suggesting impaired neurogenesis in fosB-null mice. In the current study, we analyzed neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of fosB-null and fosB(d/d) mice that express ΔFosB/Δ2ΔFosB but not FosB, in comparison with wild-type mice, alongside neuropathology, behaviors, and gene expression profiles. fosB-null but not fosB(d/d) mice displayed impaired neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus and spontaneous epilepsy. Microarray analysis revealed that genes related to neurogenesis, depression, and epilepsy were altered in the hippocampus of fosB-null mice. Thus, we conclude that the fosB-null mouse is the first animal model to provide a genetic and molecular basis for the comorbidity between depression and epilepsy with abnormal neurogenesis, all of which are caused by loss of a single gene, fosB.

New Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Bornean Red Alga, Laurencia similis (Ceramiales)

A Bornean red algal population of Laurencia simlis Nam et Saito was analyzed for its secondary metabolite composition. Seven compounds were identified: ent -1(10)-aristolen-9β-ol (1), (+)-aristolone (2), axinysone B (3), 9-aristolen-1α-ol (4), 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (5), 1-methyl-2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (6), and 1-methyl-2,3,5-tribromoindole (7). Compound 1 was identified as a new optical isomer of 1(10)-aristolen-9β-ol. Compounds 1, 4 and 5 exhibited good antibacterial activity against antibiotic resistant clinical bacteria and cytotoxic effects against selected cancer cell lines.

New bioactive secondary metabolites from Bornean red alga, Laurencia similis (Ceramiales)

A Bomean red algal population of Laurencia similis Nam et Saito was analyzed for its secondary metabolite composition. Seven compounds were identified: ent-1(10)-aristolen-9beta-ol (1), (+)-aristolone (2), axinysone B (3), 9-aristolen-1alpha-ol (4), 2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (5), 1-methyl-2,3,5,6-tetrabromoindole (6), and 1-methyl-2,3,5-tribromoindole (7). Compound 1 was identified as a new optical isomer of 1(10)-aristolen-9beta-ol. Compounds 1, 4 and 5 exhibited good antibacterial activity against antibiotic resistant clinical bacteria and cytotoxic effects against selected cancer cell lines.

[A case of medulla oblongata compression by tortuous vertebral arteries presenting with spastic quadriplegia]

We report a 58-year-old man showing spastic paraparesis due to medulla oblongata compression by tortuous vertebral arteries. He noticed weakness of both legs and gait disturbance at the age of 58 years and his symptoms progressively worsened during the following several months. General physical findings were normal. Blood pressure was normal and there were no signs of arteriosclerosis. Neurological examination on admission revealed lower-limb-dominant spasticity in all four extremities, lower-limb weakness, hyperreflexia in all extremities with positive Wartenberg's, Babinski's and Chaddock's signs, mild hypesthesia and hypopallesthesia in both lower limbs, and spastic gait. Cranial nerves were all normal. Serum was negative for antibodies against human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 antibody. Nerve conduction and needle electromyographic studies of all four limbs revealed normal findings. Cervical, thoracic and lumbo-sacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were all normal. Brain MRI and magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated bilateral tortuous vertebral arteries compressing the medulla oblongata. Neurovascular decompression of the right vertebral artery was performed because compression of the right side was more severe than that of the left side. Post-operative MRI revealed outward translocation of the right vertebral artery and relieved compression of the medulla oblongata on the right side. The patient's symptoms and neurological findings improved gradually after the operation. Bilateral pyramidal tract signs without cranial nerve dysfunction due to compression of the medulla oblongata by tortuous vertebral arteries are extremely rare and clinically indistinguishable from hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Although we did not perform a genetic test for HSP, we consider that the spastic paraparesis and mild lower-limb hypesthesia were caused by compression of the medulla oblongata by bilateral tortuous vertebral arteries based on the post-operative improvement in symptoms. Given the favorable effects of surgery, tortuous vertebral arteries should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with progressive spastic paraparesis.

Cc.snf5, a gene encoding a putative component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, is essential for sexual development in the agaricomycete Coprinopsis cinerea

We characterized a Coprinopsis cinerea mutant strain, Spe20, defective in fruiting initiation, which was isolated after restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) mutagenesis of a homokaryotic fruiting strain, 326. A plasmid rescue followed by complementation experiments, RACE, and cDNA analyses revealed that the gene, a mutation of which is responsible for the phenotype, is predicted to encode a protein that exhibits a high similarity to yeast Snf5p, a key component of the chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF, and named Cc.snf5. Cc.Snf5 is, however, different from Snf5p in that the former has, in addition to an Snf5 domain comprising N-terminal repeat1 (rp1) and C-terminal repeat2 (rp2) subdomains in a middle region, a GATA Zn-finger domain in a C-terminal region. In strain Spe20, plasmid pPHT1 used for REMI is inserted in the ORF encoding rp2. This raised the possibility that in strain Spe20, the disrupted Cc.Snf5 is functionally active albeit incompletely because it retains rp1. Thus, we disrupted the whole SNF5 domain and its downstream peptide and found that the disruption results in inhibition of not only fruiting initiation but also dikaryon development, a prerequisite for fruiting. We also found that specific disruption of the Zn-finger domain results in inhibition of fruiting initiation. These results indicate that Cc.Snf5 plays an essential role in sexual development of C. cinerea.

Dietary supplementation with 5-aminolevulinic acid modulates growth performance and inflammatory responses in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on the immune system, inflammatory response, and growth performance of broiler chickens. The levels of cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) mRNA in the spleens of chickens gradually increased with dietary 5-ALA concentration, while the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2 decreased. Mitogen-induced proliferation of splenic mononuclear cells and blood mononuclear cell phagocytosis in chickens fed 0.001 and 0.01% 5-ALA-supplemented diets were significantly greater than in chickens fed a basal diet (control). Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration gradually increased along with 5-ALA supplement concentration. These results provide the first evidence that the use of dietary 0.001 and 0.01% 5-ALA supplementation induces the T-cell immune system via mild oxidative stress in chickens. Three hours after Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stimulation, the levels of mRNA encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A), in chickens fed a 0.001% 5-ALA-supplemented diet were significantly lower than those in chickens exposed to other treatments. The plasma caeruloplasmin concentration in chickens fed a 0.001% 5-ALA-supplemented diet was significantly lower than in controls or in chickens fed diets supplemented with other concentrations of 5-ALA 24 h after injection of LPS. In addition, BW at 21 and 50 d of age was significantly higher in chickens fed a 0.001% 5-ALA-supplemented diet than in control chickens. The findings suggest that supplementation of diets with 0.001% 5-ALA could prevent the catabolic changes induced by immunological stimulation. These results show that 5-ALA might be useful as an immunomodulator to stimulate T-cells via mild oxidative stress in growing broiler chickens, thereby improving the growth performance.

Therapeutic efficacy of acotiamide in patients with functional dyspepsia based on enhanced postprandial gastric accommodation and emptying: randomized controlled study evaluation by real-time ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Improvement in subjective symptoms has been reported in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients administered with acotiamide. Improvement was confirmed in meal-related symptoms, such as postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiety. We examined the mechanism underlying the effects of acotiamide on gastric accommodation reflex (GAR) and gastroduodenal motility in FD patients.

METHODS

Thirty-four FD patients (mean age, 40.4 years) were examined ultrasonographically before and after 14-18 days of acotiamide (100 mg t.i.d.) or placebo administration. To assess GAR, expansion rate in cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured after every 100-mL ingestion, using a straw, of up to 400 mL of a liquid meal (consommé soup, 13.1 kcal; 400 mL) in a supine position. Next, we measured gastric emptying rate (GER), motility index (MI, antral contractions), and reflux index (RI, duodenogastric reflux) to assess gastroduodenal motility. Patients also completed a survey based on the seven-point Likert scale both before and after drug administration.

KEY RESULTS

Of the 37 cases, 19 and 18 were administered with acotiamide and placebo A respectively, significant difference was observed in GAR between the acotiamide and placebo groups (21.7%vs 4.4%) after 400 mL ingestion. GER significantly accelerated after treatment in the acotiamide group (P = 0.012), no significant differences were observed in MI and RI between the two groups. Improvement rates were 35.3 and 11.8% for the acotiamide and placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Acotiamide significantly enhances GAR and GER in FD patients. Acotiamide may have therapeutic potential for FD patients.