Lipid peroxidation levels, total oxidant status and superoxide dismutase in serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid in chronic periodontitis patients before and after periodontal therapy

BACKGROUND

Recent data have demonstrated increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and oxidative stress in periodontitis. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are both increased during oxidative stress. Furthermore, this study examined SOD concentration, total oxidative status (TOS) and MDA levels in periodontal patients and investigated the longitudinal effect of periodontal therapy on the index levels of chronic periodontitis (CP) patients.

METHODS

Serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained from 48 CP patients and 35 healthy control subjects prior to, as well as after 16 weeks following non-surgical post-periodontal therapy. MDA, TOS and SOD and clinical parameters were determined pre- and post-therapy.

RESULTS

The levels of TOS and SOD values were significantly higher in the CP group than in the control group (p < 0.05), but only MDA in GCF. Post-periodontal therapy, serum, saliva and GCF TOS and SOD levels significantly decreased compared to basal levels (p < 0.05), but only MDA in GCF.

CONCLUSIONS

LPO was higher in the periodontal region, with TOS and SOD increasing both locally and peripherally. Non-surgical therapy can restore and control the subject antioxidant capacity by locally and systemically modifying the levels of MDA, TOS and SOD.

T cells require Foxo1 to populate the peripheral lymphoid organs

Forkhead transcription factors play critical roles in leukocyte homeostasis. To study further the immunological functions of Foxo1, we generated mice that selectively lack Foxo1 in T cells (Foxo1(flox/flox) Lck.cre(+)conditional knockout mice (cKO)). Although thymocyte development appeared relatively normal, Foxo1 cKO mice harbored significantly increased percentages of mature single positive T cells in the thymus as compared with WT mice, yet possessed smaller lymph nodes and spleens that contained fewer T cells. Foxo1 cKO T cells were not more prone to apoptosis, but instead were characterized by a CD62L(lo) CCR7(lo) CD44(hi) surface phenotype, a poorly populated lymphoid compartment in the periphery, and were relatively refractory to TCR stimulation, all of which were associated with reduced expression of Sell, Klf2, Ccr7, and S1pr1. Thus, Foxo1 is critical for naïve T cells to populate the peripheral lymphoid organs by coordinating a molecular program that maintains homeostasis and regulates trafficking.

Magnetic field assisting DC electrodeposition: general methods for high-performance Ni nanowire array fabrication

One-dimensional magnetic nanowires are generally thought to show fine axial magnetism for their special high aspect ratio of the shape. However, the magnetic nanowire arrays fabricated by DC electrodeposition in template pores always show a low squareness in parallel to the nanowire direction. We developed two general and simple methods to improve the squareness of the as-fabricated Ni nanowire arrays parallel to the nanowire direction. The nanowires are found to be polycrystalline. The magnetism of the nanowire is also analyzed based on the microstructure.

Current Production by a Deep-Sea Strain Shewanella sp. DS1

Electricity-generating bacteria have attracted intensive studies in recent years as an important resource for energy generation. In this investigation, a bacterial isolate capable of producing electric current during fermentation processes was obtained from a deep-sea hydrothermal field in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. The strain, assigned to Shewanella sp. DS1 based on its 16S-rRNA sequence analysis, grew at the optimum temperature of 30 degrees C and optimum pH of 6.5. The results showed that the electric current generated by the strain increased during the first few hours and eventually reached the maximum (0.29 mA) at approximately 15 hours after inoculation. The electric current, however, decreased slowly as time increased. Thus, our study demonstrated that the deep sea promises to be a good reservoir for screening electricity-generating microbes.

GPR54 polymorphisms in Chinese girls with central precocious puberty

AIMS

The GPR54 gene has been proved to be important in the process of puberty onset, yet no association study has been performed to evaluate the effect of polymorphisms in the gene on central precocious puberty (CPP). This study was designed to scan for polymorphisms in the GPR54 gene and to investigate the relationships between the genotypes of GPR54 and the disease.

METHODS

272 Chinese Han girls diagnosed to be CPP patients were recruited as the case group and 288 unrelated normal Chinese Han girls as the control group. The whole GPR54 gene was directly sequenced in randomly selected case samples, and the polymorphisms identified were genotyped by ligase detection reaction in both groups. Distributions of the polymorphisms and haplotypes were calculated for statistical evaluation.

RESULTS

Totally 6 polymorphisms were found in sequencing, one of which is a nonsynonymous mutation, while genotyping declared that another SNP located in the promoter region was statistically related to the disease (p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

One polymorphism in GPR54 gene might be correlated with some cases of CPP, likely by changes in expression of the receptor, but the moderate p value and the lack of functional data make it hard to confirm the correlation. Further studies on the polymorphisms are needed for the exact mechanism.

Phase I dose and schedule finding study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (D) and weekly docetaxel (T)

12012

Background: The combination of D and T has many potential applications, particularly in breast and ovarian cancers. A phase 3 trial is examining D + T versus T in first-line metastatic breast cancer ( NCT00091442 ). D has better tumor localization and penetration in solid tumors than conventional doxorubicin. In previous studies, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination was identified as D 30 mg/m2 and T 75 mg/m2 q4 weeks (wks), with a recommended dose and schedule of D 30 mg/m2 and T 60 mg/m2 q3wks without G-CSF. We conducted a phase I study to determine the MTD of D with weekly T. Our hypothesis was that the lower incidence of myelosuppression with weekly T would allow for higher doses of both drugs. Methods: There were 2 schedules. Arm A: D q4wks starting at 25 mg/m2 with weekly T for 3 wks starting at 30 mg/m2. Arm B: D q2wks starting at 15 mg/m2 with weekly T for 3 wks starting at 30 mg/m2. One cycle was 28 days. Standard 3+3 design was used with MTD defined as the highest dose level causing dose limiting toxicity (DLT) in ≥ 2/6 patients (pts). Results: 32 pts were treated; 13 females, 19 males, median age of 60 years. Median number of cycles administered was 2 (1–13) with a median follow-up of 11.5 months. Tumor types included lung (16%), thyroid (9%), esophagus (9%), nasopharynx, breast, colorectal, stomach and kidney (6% each). Arm A (13 pts) was closed after 2/7 evaluable pts at dose level 2 (D 33mg/m2; T 30 mg/m2) experienced DLT in the form of grade 3 stomatitis. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (3/13), stomatitis (3/13) and fatigue (3/13). Arm B accrued 19 pts. The trial was closed at the highest planned dose in Arm B (D 20mg/m2 q2wks and T 35 mg/m2 weekly) with only 1/6 evaluable pts experiencing DLT in the form of grade 4 fatigue and weakness. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities in Arm B included neutropenia (5/19 pts), fatigue (5/19 pts) and stomatitis (2/19 pts). There was no grade 3/4 hand-foot syndrome or cardiotoxicity. 2 partial responses were observed in nasopharyngeal and salivary gland carcinomas, with 13 pts achieving stable disease. Conclusions: The combination of D q2 wks and T weekly for 3/4 wks is well tolerated and results in a higher dose intensity of both drugs than in previously evaluated regimens.

[Table: see text]

Chemical-chemical interaction between cyanogenic toxicants and aldehydes: a mechanism-based QSAR approach to assess toxicological joint effects

A QSAR approach was proposed to assess toxicological joint effects based on the mechanism of chemical-chemical interactions between cyanogenic toxicants and aldehydes. It has been observed that the chemical-chemical interaction between cyanogenic toxicants and aldehydes resulted in the formation of carbanion intermediates, and therefore this interaction led to different toxicological joint effects between cyanogenic toxicants and aldehydes. Analysis of this chemical-chemical interaction showed that the formation of carbanion intermediate highly depended on the charge of the carbon atom in the -CHO of aldehydes and this of the carbon atom (C*) in the carbochain of cyanogenic toxicant. By using the Hammett Constant (sigma(p)) to measure the charge of carbon atom in the -CHO of aldehydes, a mechanism-based QSAR approach (M = 0.316 - 4.386sigma(p) with r2 = 0.933, SE = 0.082, F = 55.389, p = 0.002, M = sum of toxic units) was proposed to assess the toxicological joint effects between alpha-hydroxy-isobutyronitrile and individual aliphatic aldehydes. Another one (M = 0.978 - 0.720sigma(p) with r2 = 0.852, SE = 0.152, F = 40.148, p = 0.0001) was also proposed to assess the toxicological joint effects between alpha-hydroxy-isobutyronitrile and individual aromatic aldehydes. Lastly, by using the charge of carbon atom (C*) in the carbochain of cyanogenic toxicant, a mechanism-based QSAR model (M = -0.161 - 7.721C* with r2 = 0.847, SE = 0.227, F = 27.657, p = 0.003) was derived to assess toxicological joint effects between p-nitrobenzaldehyde and cyanogenic toxicants.

T Cell Development in Mice Expressing CD1d Directed by a Classical MHC Class II Promoter

CD1d and nonclassical MHC molecules differ markedly from classical MHC ligands in their ability to promote the selection and differentiation of developing T cells. Whereas classical MHC-restricted T cells have a predominantly naive phenotype and a broad TCR repertoire, most other T cells have a memory and/or NKT phenotype with a restricted repertoire. Because the nonclassical ligands selecting these memory-type cells are expressed by bone marrow-derived cells, it has been suggested that the development of large repertoires of naive-type cells was dependent on the classical MHC expression pattern in the thymus cortex, high on epithelial cells and low on cortical thymocytes. We redirected CD1d expression using the classical MHC II Ealpha promoter. pEalpha-CD1d mice lacked memory-type NKT cells, but, surprisingly, they did not acquire the reciprocal ability to select a diverse population of naive CD1d-restricted cells. These findings suggest that, whereas the development of NKT cells is dependent on the pattern of CD1d expression, the absence of a broad, naive CD1d-restricted T cell repertoire may reflect intrinsic limitations of the pool of TCR genes or lipid Ags.

Reversal of cancer multidrug resistance by tea polyphenol in KB cells

Tea polyphenols, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in particular, were examined for their modulating effects on the drug resistance KB-A-1 cells and drug sensitive KB-3-1 cells. Both KB-3-1 and KB-A-1 cells were equally sensitive to tea polyphenol and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate. When 10 microgram/ml (-)-epigallocatechin gallate or 40 microgram/ml tea polyphenol were present simultaneously with doxorubicin, the IC50 of doxorubicin on KB-A-1 cells decreased from 10.3 +/- 0.9 microgram/ml to 4.2 +/- 0.2 or 2.0 +/- 0.1 microgram/ml. Tea polyphenol and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin on KB-A-1 cells by 5.2 and 2.5 times, respectively, but did not show a modulating effect on KB-3-1 cells. Both tea polyphenol and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate showed reversal effects on the multidrug resistance phenotype.

Chiral synthesis and enzymatic resolution of (S)-(-)piperazine-2-carboxylic acid using enzyme alcalase

Enantiomerically pure (S)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid was synthesized by kinetic resolution of methyl-4-(tert-butyroxycarbonyl)-piperazine-2-carboxylate using a low cost enzyme alcalase.

[Expression of HLA-I antigens in primary hepatocellular carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To find out whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells express HLA-I antigens.

METHODS

LSAB assay of immunohistochemistry was used to detect six frozen HCC specimens.

RESULTS

All the HCC cells have strong expression of HLA-I antigens.

CONCLUSION

In view of these data on the expression of HLA-I antigens, the authors deem it practical to develop HCC CTL vaccine.

Photosonochemical degradation of phenol in water

The combination of ultrasound (US) and photochemistry has been used to degrade an aqueous solution of phenol. It was considerably more effective than ultrasound or ultraviolet (UV) light alone. Based on the results of total organic carbon (TOC) removal, it was shown that the synergistic action of ultrasound and ultraviolet light existed. Identification of the first intermediates of the reaction (hydroquinone, catechol, benzoquinone and resorcin) indicates that OH radicals are involved in the photosonochemical degradation mechanisms. The effects of parameters such as pH, saturating gases, and Fe2+ on the photosonochemical degradation have been studied. The experimental results have shown that lower pH and higher concentration of dissolved oxygen favor the phenol degradation and that the presence of Fe2+ enhanced TOC removal of phenol solutions.

[Combined gene therapy for murine liver cancer with interleukin-18 and cytosine deaminase genes]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the synergistic antitumor effects of murine IL-18 and CD/5FC gene therapy on mice bearing liver cancer.

METHODS

A retrovirus vector pGCEN/IL-18 containing murine interleukin-18 gene was constructed. The retrovirus carrying IL-18 gene was used to infect murine liver cancer cell MM45T.Li, and proved to secret biological active IL-18. In mice bearing liver cancer, (60)Co-irradiated MM45T.Li/IL-18 vaccine was inoculated subcutaneously once a week for two weeks, and/or AdCD was injected intratumorally with 5FC injected i.p. for 8 days.

RESULTS

Thirty days from the treatment, the tumor volume of control group was 1580 approximately 1625 mm(3), MM45T.Li/IL-18 vaccine group was 366 +/- 159 mm(3), AdCD/5FC group was 438 +/- 65 mm(3), and combined IL-18 and AdCD/ 5FC therapy group was 15 +/- 7 mm(3) (P<0.05). The tumor volume in single gene therapy group reduced to the smallest after three-week treatment, but grew large again, while the tumor volume in combined therapy group still remained small. The median survival time in control group was 50.0 approximately 51.5 days, MM45T.Li/IL-18 group was 65 days, AdCD/5FC group was 57 days versus 75 days for combined gene therapy group (P<0.05), and with more abundant infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes around the tumor in combined gene therapy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined gene therapy with IL-18 and CD/5FC can reduce the tumor volume and elicit the antitumor immunity of the host, which is superior to the single gene therapy for murine liver cancer.

Progressive study and robustness test of QSAR model based on quantum chemical parameters for predicting BCF of selected polychlorinated organic compounds (PCOCs)

Systematic analyses on the effects of chemical structures of 31 polychlorinated organic compounds (PCOCs) on their bioconcentration behavior in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were conducted using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) techniques. The cluster analyses of individual variables as well as the quality control chart of QSAR model implies the existence of outliers, while the simulation model excluding such samples showed an extreme robustness even if it was tested with different methods. Furthermore, the quantum chemical parameters entering into QSAR model were used to describe the bioconcentration pathways, and the results indicated that bioconcentration behaviors of selected compounds were complicated processes involving permeation stages as well as bio-chemical reaction stages.

[The effect of rIFN alpha-2b on mice NK cell activity]

OBJECTIVE

This animal experiment was made to study the effect of the recombined interferon alpha-2b(rIFN alpha-2b) on natural killer cells activity of mice spleen in vivo, and by way of this, to test the activity of rIFN alpha-2b.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were given rIFN alpha-2b subcutaneously. The inhibiting 3H-TdR intaking method was used to test the NK activity of spleen cells of BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

The NK cell activity levels of the high-dose group, the mid-dose group and the low-dose group were 65.19 +/- 17.56, 44.19 +/- 14.30 and 35.46 +/- 17.49, respectively.

CONCLUSION

rIFN a-2b can enhance NK cells activity observably and its effect is dose dependent.

[Tumor targeted expression of adenovirus mediated CDglyTK gene regulated by irradiation via Egr-1 promoter]

OBJECTIVE

To construct adenoviral vecter of AdEgr-CD/TK in which CDglyTK gene was driven by Egr-1 promoter, and control the tumor targeted expression of CDglyTK gene by gamma irradiation so as to observe the effects of gene-radiotherapy of liver cancer.

METHODS

Adenoviral vector of AdEgr-CD/TK was generated through homologous recombination in bacteria. The expression of CDglyTK gene in MM45T. Li cells infected with AdEgr-CD/TK and exposed to different doses of gamma irradiation were analyzed, and the relative survival rate of the cells in presence of prodrugs 5-FC and GCV was tested. In addition, the tumor suppression effects of different treatments were investigated in 64 mice bearing liver cancer by observing the size of tumor at interval of four days.

RESULTS

In vitro experiment showed that gamma irradiation markedly and dose-dependently induced CDglyTK expression in MM45T. Li tumor cells, and significantly enhanced the sensitivity of MM45T. Li cells infected with AdEgr-CD/TK to prodrugs 5-FC or GCV resulting in cell being killed (P < 0.01). A synergetic cytotoxic effect was found when both 5-FC and GCV were added. In vivo experiment revealed that, compared with other control treatments, intratumoral injection of AdEgr-CD/TK combined with intraperitoneal injection of GCV + 5-FC and TLI obviously suppressed tumor growth (P < 0.01), with 30% of the tumor eradicated completely while without causing the increase of whole body cytotoxic effect.

CONCLUSION

Tumor targeted expression of CDglyTK gene under the control of irradiation represents a novel strategy for safe and effective gene therapy of cancer and might have wide application in the future.