Cocaine withdrawal enhances long-term potentiation in rat hippocampus via changing the activity of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 2

The neural plasticity mechanisms that underlie learning and memory may also be engaged when drug addiction occurs. It was reported that long-lasting neuroadaptations induced by cocaine use and withdrawal require the participation of hippocampus. However, the role of corticotrophin-releasing factor receptors in this process remains unclear. In the present study, the effects of chronic cocaine treatment (a 14-day cocaine administration, 20 mg/kg i.p., daily) and short-term cocaine withdrawal (a 3-day cocaine extinction following a 14-day cocaine administration) on long-term potentiation (LTP), one prominent cellular mechanism for learning and memory, were assessed in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slices. We found that cocaine withdrawal, but not the chronic cocaine administration itself, significantly enhanced the magnitude of LTP in hippocampal slices, as compared with that in saline controls. Selective blockade of corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1 (CRF(1)) with the specific antagonist NBI 27914 (100 nM in vitro) attenuated the magnitude of LTP in hippocampal slices from cocaine withdrawal rats, and intriguingly, also from saline control rats, while specific blockade of corticotrophin-releasing factor receptor subtype 2 (CRF(2)) with astressin2-B (100 nM in vitro) selectively attenuated the magnitude of LTP in hippocampal slices from cocaine withdrawal rats. Our data suggest that short-term cocaine withdrawal treatment may cause synaptic plasticity in hippocampus partially via changing the activity of CRF(2) in the hippocampus.

Improved measurement of B+ --> rho+ rho0 and determination of the quark-mixing phase angle alpha

We present improved measurements of the branching fraction B, the longitudinal polarization fraction f{L}, and the direct CP asymmetry A{CP} in the B meson decay channel B;{+}-->rho;{+}rho;{0}. The data sample was collected with the BABAR detector at SLAC. The results are B(B;{+}-->rho;{+}rho;{0})=(23.7+/-1.4+/-1.4) x 10;{-6}, f{L}=0.950+/-0.015+/-0.006, and A{CP}=-0.054+/-0.055+/-0.010, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. Based on these results, we perform an isospin analysis and determine the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase angle alpha=arg(-V{td}V{tb};/V{ud}V{ub}) to be (92.4{-6.5};{+6.0}) degrees.

Radiosensitivity of canine osteosarcoma cells transfected with wild-type p53 in vitro

The p53 gene is one of the important tumour suppressor genes that are involved with the cell survival signal pathway. One of the major functions of the p53 protein is to organize cell cycle regulation and induction of apoptosis for cellular genetic stability. It has been documented that more than 50% of all human cancers include a p53 mutation. We evaluated the difference in radiosensitivity between upregulating the expression of canine wild-type p53 (cp53) in cultured osteosarcoma (D17) cells and naive D17 cells in vitro. We found that upregulating transfected cp53 D17 cells increased their radiation sensitivity in vitro, and there was a significant decrease (P < 0.009) in survival between cp53-transfected D17 cells and naive D17 cells. In this experiment, a p53 enhancement ratio (p53ER) reached approximately 3.0 at high doses. The transfected cp53 D17 cells were significantly more radiosensitive at all doses evaluated than naive D17 cells, except at 1 Gy where too few data points were available. The p53ER increased rapidly at doses less than 4 Gy, achieving a maximum of about 3.0 for doses of 4 Gy and above. This study shows the enhanced radiosensitivity of the transfected p53 at clinically relevant doses.

Evidence for X(3872)-->psi(2S)gamma in B(+/-)-->X(3872)K(+/-) decays and a study of B-->cc[over ]gammaK

In a search for B-->cc[over ]gammaK decays with the BABAR detector, where cc[over ] includes J/psi and psi(2S), and K includes K(+/-), K(S)(0), and K(*)(892), we find evidence for X(3872)-->J/psigamma and X(3872)-->psi(2S)gamma with 3.6sigma and 3.5sigma significance, respectively. We measure the product of branching fractions B(B(+/-)-->X(3872)K(+/-))xB(X(3872)-->J/psigamma)=[2.8+/-0.8(stat)+/-0.1(syst)]x10(-6) and B(B(+/-)-->X(3872)K(+/-))xB(X(3872)-->psi(2S)gamma)=[9.5+/-2.7(stat)+/-0.6(syst)]x10(-6).

Interleukin-10 delivery via mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury in lung transplantation (141.46)

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IR) is an important cause for lung graft loss (~30%). In this study, MSC & viral interleukin-10 (vIL-10) engineered MSC were tested for their ability to prevent lung IR injury. Bone marrow derived MSC from Lewis rat were transduced with rvIL-10-retrovirus & selected on neomycin. Following 120 min of left lung ischemia induction, Group A, rats received vIL-10-MSC (~15 x 106; i.v.); Group B, empty vector engineered MSC; Group C, MSC; Group D, saline; and Group E, no ischemia or MSC. Mean blood oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2 ratio, mmHg) was reduced (P&lt;0.05) at 24h post-IR injury in Group B (138±86; n=9) & Group D (87±39; n=10), compared to MSC-vIL10 (353±105; Group A; n=10) group. By days 3 & 7 with MSC-vIL10 oxygenation was normal (475±55 & 435±33; n&gt;9); by 4h it was 319±94 (n=7). MSC (passage ≤6) increased PaO2/FiO2 (454 ± 59; n=5) by 24h post-IR. Bronchoalveolar lavage at 24h post-MSC-vIL10 therapy reduced (P&lt;0.05) granulocytes, CD4 & CD8 T cells. Lung injury score (histopathology) was higher (P&lt;0.05) with no treatment (3.5 ± 1.3; n=5) compared to MSC-vIL10 (1.21± 0.6; n=7) & MSC (1.6±0.9; n=6) treated groups. Lung microvascular permeability & wet:dry ratio were lower (P&lt;0.05) in MSC-vIL10 group. IL-1α, MCP-1α, MIP-1α, & IL1-β were increased in IR injured lung. ISOL (in situ staining for DNA fragmentation) & CASPACE-3 demonstrated reduced (p&lt;0.05) number of apoptotic cells in MSC-vIL10 treated lungs. Ex vivo, expanded MSC were CD34-, CD31+ & CD45+ (5-10%), CD29+, CD90+ & CD44+ (65-95%), CD80 (0%), CD 86 (8%), MHC Class I+ (23-57%), & MHC Class II-. MSC & IL-10 delivery via MSC to prevent lung transplant IR injury seems promising.

Expression of Estrogen Sulfotransferase 1E1 and Steroid Sulfatase in Breast Cancer: A Immunohistochemical Study

It is known that the steroid sulfatase (STS) and the estrogen sulfotransferase (EST1E1) are commonly expressed in human breast carcinomas. STS and EST1E1 combined action could maintain the equilibrium between sulfated (inactive) and unconjugated (active) estrogens, which might have effects on development of hormone dependent breast cancer.

We studied the expression of the STS and EST1E1 in 88 breast carcinomas and 57 adjacent non-malignant tissues by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with the tumor expression of estrogen receptor α (ER-α) and β (ER-β), progesterone receptor A (PR-A) and B (PR-B) and the proliferation marker CDC47, the tumoral type and stage and the age at surgery.

STS expression was higher in carcinoma specimens than in adjacent normal tissues, although not to a significant level (p = 0.064) and it was positively associated with CDC47 expression (p < 0.05). These observations support the hypothesis that STS is overexpressed in breast cancer and associated with a worse prognosis.

EST1E1 was observed for the first time in the nuclei of epithelial and tumoral cells. Tumor expression of EST1E1 was positively correlated with ER-β (p < 0.01) and PR-B (p < 0.05), two steroid receptors already associated with an improve prognosis for breast cancer.

Controlling the STS overexpression in carcinomas could be a way to inhibit cancer growth. The significance of the association between EST1E1 and ER-β or PR-B should be further studied since these two receptors are transcription activators and may regulate the expression of protective enzymes like EST1E1.

Primary structure of goat myoglobin

Color stability attributes of goat meat are different from those of sheep meat, possibly due to species-specific differences in myoglobin (Mb) biochemistry. An examination of post-genomic era protein databases revealed that the primary structure of goat Mb has not been determined. Therefore, our objective was to characterize the primary structure of goat Mb. Goat Mb was isolated from cardiac muscles employing ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel-filtration chromatography, and Edman degradation was utilized to determine the amino acid sequence. Sequence analyses of intact Mb as well as tryptic- and cyanogen bromide-peptides yielded the complete primary structure of goat Mb, which shared 98.7% similarity with sheep Mb. Similar to other livestock myoglobins goat Mb has 153 residues. Comparison of the sequences of goat and sheep myoglobins revealed two amino acid substitutions - THRgoat8GLNsheep and GLYgoat52GLUsheep. Goat Mb contains 12 histidine residues. As observed in other meat-producing livestock species, distal and proximal histidines, responsible for stabilizing the heme group and coordinating oxygen-binding, are conserved in goat Mb.

Direct CP, lepton flavor, and isospin asymmetries in the decays B-->K(*)l+l-

We measure branching fractions and integrated rate asymmetries for the rare decays B-->K(*)l+l-, where l+l- is either e+e- or micro+micro-, using a sample of 384x10(6) BB events collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+e- collider. We find no evidence for direct CP or lepton-flavor asymmetries. However, for dilepton masses below the J/psi resonance, we find evidence for unexpectedly large isospin asymmetries in both B-->Kl+l- and B-->K*l+l- which differ, respectively, by 3.2sigma and 2.7sigma, including systematic uncertainties, from the standard model expectations.

Factors associated with bed and room sharing in Chinese school-aged children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Co-sleeping (bed or room sharing) has potential implications for children's development. Previous studies showed that co-sleeping was more prevalent in non-Western countries than in Western countries, which demonstrated that co-sleeping was marked with ethnic and socio-cultural background characteristics. The purpose of this study was to survey the prevalence of bed and room sharing and to examine related factors among school-aged children in an Asian country - China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 10 districts of Shanghai, China from November to December 2005. A total of 4108 elementary school children, 49.2% boys and 50.8% girls with a mean age of 8.79 years, participated. Parent-administered questionnaires were used to collect information about children's sleeping arrangements and socio-demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

The prevalence of routine bed sharing, room sharing and sleeping alone in Chinese school-aged children was 21.0%, 19.1% and 47.7%, respectively. Bed and room sharing didn't show significant gender difference but gradually decreased with increasing age. Multivariate logistic regression identified those factors associated with bed and room sharing: younger age, large family, children without their own bedroom and parents' approval of a co-sleeping arrangement.

CONCLUSION

Co-sleeping arrangement was a common practice in Chinese school-aged children. Associated factors were characterized by intrinsic socio-cultural values and socio-economic status in China.

White organic light-emitting diodes combining vacuum deposited blue electrophosphorescent devices with red surface color conversion layers

We report white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) combining vacuum deposited blue electrophosphorescent devices with red surface color conversion layers (CCLs). With an iridium (III) [bis(4,6-di-fluoropheny)- pyridinato-N,C(2')] picolinate (FIrpic) doped 4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl)-2,2'-dimethyl-biphenyl (CDBP) blue electrophosphorescent light emitting layer, and an appropriate red surface CCL containing 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-tert-butyl-6-(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran (DCJTB), the WOLED generate high efficiency and very pure white light with a peak luminous (power) efficiency of 18.1 cd/A (9.5 lm/W) and CIE coordinates of (0.32, 0.31), very close to the equal-energy white, respectively. Moreover, the output spectra and CIE coordinates of the WOLED show no significant change at a wide range of current density.

Long-term follow-up study on peer-led school-based HIV/AIDS prevention among youths in Shanghai

SUMMARY

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a major problem around the world and an increasing percentage of new HIV cases is reported to be by sexual transmission. Many studies have been carried out in the field of peer education on HIV/AIDS among young people, however, few studies focused on the long-term effect of this education. To evaluate both the short- and long-term effects of the peer education programme, we conducted a follow-up study to evaluate the related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour intention to HIV/AIDS among senior high-school students in Shanghai, China. We selected 1950 students from 10 senior high schools in Shanghai, from whom 968 students were selected at random for the intervention group and 982 students for the control group. The same questionnaires were carried out before intervention, one month and one year later in both the groups. In the intervention group, the knowledge score of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease rose from 21.66 to 31.72 one month later (P < 0.001). After one year it was still 30.97, and there was no significant difference between one month and one year (P > 0.05). The behaviour intention to HIV/AIDS prevention, such as condom use during sexual intercourse also changed before and after the intervention. After both the one month and one-year follow-up intervention, we found that more students declared that they would use condoms during sexual intercourse when compared with the control group (P < 0.001). No change was seen in either knowledge or behaviour intention in the control group. These results showed that peer education on HIV/AIDS prevention among high-school students is both effective in promoting knowledge and in changing behaviour intention long term.

A comparative genomic analysis between human breast cancer and paired tumor lines derived from transplanation of tumor biopsies into NOD/SCID mice

Abstract #41

Background: Successful preclinical studies of experimental anticancer agents require model systems that recapitulate breast cancer biology and genomic abnormalities as accurately as possible. The use of primary human tumor explants engrafted into the humanized mammary fat pad of NOD SCID mice (HIM technique for "human in mouse") is promising in this regard, but the evidence that the genomic profile of the tumor is stable during serial translatation of human tumors into mice and between mouse passages has not beeen clearly demonstrated.&#x2028; Methods: 4th mammary glands of NOD/SCID mice were humanized by removing mouse mammary epithelia and implanting immortalized human breast fibroblasts. Human breast tumor tissues were dissociated into single cell suspensions and injected into the “humanized” mammary fat pads of NOD/SCID mice. Patient tumors were micro-dissected from the surrounding normal tissue by laser capture microdissection and tumor RNA and DNA was isolated. In addition, tumor RNA and DNA was isolated from xenografts at passage 1, 2, and 3. Agilent 4 x 44K whole genome expression array and 244K array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed on established xenografts (passage 1-3) as well as the original tumor samples. Exon 9 and 20 of PIK3CA and exon 4 to 9 of TP53 were targeted for mutation detection since these genes are commonly mutated in human breast cancer.&#x2028; Results: To date, eight HIM tumor lines have been successfully established and serially passaged. The HIM number and source of tumor are as follows: HIM2 (primary tumor); HIM 3 (primary tumor); HIM 4 (abdominal wall metastasis); HIM 5 (brain metastasis from the patient used to establish HIM 2); HIM6 (primary breast cancer); HIM7 (chest wall metastasis); HIM 8 (chest wall metastasis); HIM9 (chest wall metastasis). Passage 3 HIM tumors serially transplanted in NOD/SCID mice have similar histopathological features to their original human counterparts (HCP). Sequence analyses of the eight HIM lines reveals mutations in the TP53 gene in three tumor lines and a mutation in PIK3CA gene in one tumor line that are also present in the HCP. aCGH analysis, where available, also demonstated that the positions of the major gene amplifications and deletions in HIM lines are also consistent with the HCP. Furthermore, aCGH shows that genomic structure of the grafts are stable with passage. Immunohistochemistry shows that HIM8 and its HCP are positive for HER2. Molecular subtyping by PAM50 gene list indicates that HIM 2 – 8 tumor lines and their HCP are basal type breast cancer. HIM9 tumor line and its HCP are luminal subtypes, although the proliferation signature was activated in the mouse graft.&#x2028; Conclusions: The HIM mouse system faithfully reproduces the genotypic features of the respective HCP's and is therefore a valuable research engine for the preclinical development of biomarkers, imaging techniques and for the assessment of novel therapeutic approaches, particularly for Basal-type breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 41.

Targeted therapies for triple negative breast cancer based on TP53 status

Abstract #403

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC: negative for ER, PR and HER2) presents a significant clinical challenge. The frequent occurrence of mutations in TP53, the gene encoding the p53, in TNBC provides an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. p53 is required for cells to respond to DNA damage in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Tumors with a defective p53 pathway fail to arrest (or undergo apoptosis) in G1 and rely on p53-independent pathways at S and G2 for their survival following DNA damage. Therefore, a potential therapeutic strategy for TP53 mutant tumors is to inhibit the S- and G2-checkpoints. Chk1 is a key regulator of both the S- and G2- checkpoints as such, p53 mutant cells are absolutely dependent on Chk1 activity to respond to DNA damage. This property makes Chk1 a potential therapeutic target in p53 defective tumors. Therefore, we tested the combination of irinotecan (DNA damaging agent) and UCN-01 (non-specific Chk1 inhibitor) in a preclinical model of TNBC. This combination was chosen based on preliminary results obtained in patients with TNBC on a Phase I trial conducted at our institution. UCN-01 is also a potent inhibitor of PDK1 and therefore inhibits the PI3K pathway. Given that PTEN is frequently deficient in TNBC, we also monitored components of the PI3K pathway in our preclinical model of TNBC.&#x2028; Material and Method: Tumor biopsies from patients with TNBC were engrafted into the humanized mammary fat pad of immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice. TP53 was sequenced in each engrafted tumor explant and the integrity of the p53 pathway was determined by monitoring p53 stabilization and p21 induction following DNA damage. Three independent TNBC tumor explants, one wild-type and two mutant for TP53 were analyzed for their response to irinotecan and UCN-01 either as single agents or in combination. UCN-01 was administered 24h post irinotecan in mice treated with the combination. Mice were sacrificed 48 h later and tumors were harvested and analyzed for cell cycle arrest (geminin, pCdk1), DNA damage (pChk1, gamma H2AX), apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3), checkpoint bypass (pHistone H3) and the PI3K pathway (pS6) by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.&#x2028; Results: Expression profiling revealed that the characteristics of the tumor are preserved in the tumor explants suggesting this is a valid model system to study experimental therapy for TNBC. Irinotecan induced similar levels of DNA damage in TP53 wild-type and TP53 mutant TNBCs. UCN-01 potently inhibited levels of pS6 independent of p53 status. Strikingly, the combination of irinotecan and UCN-01 selectively induced checkpoint bypass and apoptosis in p53 mutant TNBCs.&#x2028; Conclusion: p53 status is a significant predictor of response to combination therapies involving DNA damage followed by Chk1 inhibition. Tumors, like TNBC, that frequently lack a functional p53 pathway may be effectively treated using this strategy. Studies are underway to test different chemotherapy agents and more selective Chk1 and PI3K inhibitors in this preclinical model of TNBC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 403.