The tumor affinity of chlorin e6 and its sonodynamic effects on non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising new approach for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the tumor affinity of chlorin e6, a photosensitizer, and its sonodynamic effects on NSCLC.

METHODS

Human lung adenocarcinoma cells SPCA-1 and mice bearing SPCA-1 tumor xenograft were exposed to ultrasound in the presence or absence of chlorin e6. Chlorin e6 distribution was detected by laser scan confocal microscope. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were studied by flow cytometry analysis. Tumor size and weight were measured after different treatments.

RESULTS

The concentration of chlorin e6 in tumor tissue was remarkably higher than that in normal muscle near tumor, and the difference was greatest at 18h (the fluorescence intensity was 5.38-fold higher in tumor than in muscle, P<0.05). In vivo, ultrasound (0.4-1.6W/cm(2)) or chlorin e6 (10-40mg/kg) alone had no remarkable anti-tumor effects, but the combination of ultrasound (1.6W/cm(2)) with chlorin e6 (SDT) hampered tumor growth significantly (P<0.05). Intraperitoneal injection of 40mg/kg chlorin e6 exerted no notable side effect on blood, liver and kidney function. Flow cytometry analysis showed that chlorin e6-mediated sonodynamic effect was mainly through the induction of cell necrosis.

CONCLUSION

Chlorin e6 is a promising sonosensitizer and chlorin e6-mediated SDT may provide a new approach for NSCLC therapy.

Upregulation of DLX2 confers a poor prognosis in glioblastoma patients by inducing a proliferative phenotype

The human Distal-less Homeobox (DLX) gene family encodes homeobox transcription factors involved in the control of morphogenesis and tissue homeostasis, which is primarily expressed in embryonic development. Recently, DLX gene family was reported to have essential roles in carcinogenesis. We have profiled whole genome expressed genes in 83 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) Group. Two major groups of samples were identified in mRNA expression profiles (referred to as Cluster 1 (C1) and Cluster 2 (C2)). We identified 7 out of the top 10 Gene Ontology terms in the C1 group were associated with differentiation and development of neuronal cell. The most significant prognostic gene was DLX2 (P < 0.001, OR = 1.744); overexpression of DLX2 indicated poor survival in the 83 GBM patients (low DLX2 vs high DLX2, 77.6 vs 44.7 weeks, P < 0.001). Annotation of mRNA profiling data on GBM from The Cancer Genome Atlas and MD Anderson Cancer Center showed the proneural and neural subtypes highly correlated with low and high DLX2 expression, respectively. Knocking down of DLX2 in GBM cell line-LN229 results in decreased cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation. Collectively, these data identified high expression of DLX2 as a poor prognostic marker to GBM patients.

Silver diamine fluoride and education to prevent and arrest root caries among community-dwelling elders

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Root caries among elderly communities is of growing public health concern globally. This controlled clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride and oral health education in preventing and arresting root caries.

METHODS

Two hundred sixty-six elderly subjects who had at least 5 teeth with exposed root surfaces and did not have serious life-threatening medical diseases were allocated to 3 groups according to a computer-generated random list: group 1 (the control group) received oral hygiene instructions (OHI) annually; group 2 received OHI and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application annually, and group 3 was given OHI and SDF application annually, plus an oral health education (OHE) programme every 6 months.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-seven elderly subjects were followed for 24 months. The mean numbers of new root caries surfaces in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 1.33, 1.00 and 0.70, respectively (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Group 3 had fewer root surfaces with new caries than group 1 (Scheffé multiple-comparison test, p < 0.05). The mean numbers of arrested root caries surfaces in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 0.04, 0.28 and 0.33, respectively (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Group 3 and group 2 had a greater number of active root caries surfaces which became arrested than group 1 (Scheffé multiple-comparison test, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Annual application of SDF together with biannual OHE was effective in preventing new root caries and arresting root caries among community-dwelling elderly subjects.

Exome sequencing-driven discovery of coding polymorphisms associated with common metabolic phenotypes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Human complex metabolic traits are in part regulated by genetic determinants. Here we applied exome sequencing to identify novel associations of coding polymorphisms at minor allele frequencies (MAFs) >1% with common metabolic phenotypes.

METHODS

The study comprised three stages. We performed medium-depth (8×) whole exome sequencing in 1,000 cases with type 2 diabetes, BMI >27.5 kg/m(2) and hypertension and in 1,000 controls (stage 1). We selected 16,192 polymorphisms nominally associated (p < 0.05) with case-control status, from four selected annotation categories or from loci reported to associate with metabolic traits. These variants were genotyped in 15,989 Danes to search for association with 12 metabolic phenotypes (stage 2). In stage 3, polymorphisms showing potential associations were genotyped in a further 63,896 Europeans.

RESULTS

Exome sequencing identified 70,182 polymorphisms with MAF >1%. In stage 2 we identified 51 potential associations with one or more of eight metabolic phenotypes covered by 45 unique polymorphisms. In meta-analyses of stage 2 and stage 3 results, we demonstrated robust associations for coding polymorphisms in CD300LG (fasting HDL-cholesterol: MAF 3.5%, p = 8.5 × 10(-14)), COBLL1 (type 2 diabetes: MAF 12.5%, OR 0.88, p = 1.2 × 10(-11)) and MACF1 (type 2 diabetes: MAF 23.4%, OR 1.10, p = 8.2 × 10(-10)).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We applied exome sequencing as a basis for finding genetic determinants of metabolic traits and show the existence of low-frequency and common coding polymorphisms with impact on common metabolic traits. Based on our study, coding polymorphisms with MAF above 1% do not seem to have particularly high effect sizes on the measured metabolic traits.

Infection of cattle with Cryptosporidium parvum: mast cell accumulation in small intestine mucosa

Mast cells might play an important role as the major effector cells in the immune response against Cryptosporidium parvum. C. parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis in animals and humans worldwide. To investigate the interaction between C. parvum and mast cells during infection, nine 3-day-old male calves were orally challenged with 10(6) oocysts of C. parvum per calf. The distribution of mast cells in the mucosa of the small intestine was analyzed by toluidine blue staining. The concentrations of histamine and the cytokines interferon-γ, interleukin-4, interleukin-2, and interleukin-12 were measured in the serum, and the histamine levels were also determined from the intestinal contents. The following clinical signs were monitored: nausea, watery diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss. Oocysts were shed in the feces during the infection period. C. parvum infection induced an increase in mast cell numbers in the mucosa of the small intestine in distinct temporal and spatial patterns. Infection with C. parvum can induce mastocytosis in the entire small intestinal mucosa in immune-competent calves, and the presence of the parasites influences the distribution profile of the mast cells.

A phase 1, randomized ascending single-dose study of antagonist anti-human CD40 ASKP1240 in healthy subjects

This first-in-human, phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of ASKP1240 in healthy subjects. Twelve sequential groups (each 6 active and 3 placebo) were randomly assigned to placebo or single ascending doses of intravenous ASKP1240 (0.00003-10 mg/kg). ASKP1240 exhibited nonlinear pharmacokinetics, with mean maximal serum concentrations and area under the serum concentration-time curves ranging from 0.7 to 251.6 μg/mL and 6.5 to 55409.6 h·μg/mL following doses 0.1 mg/kg-10 mg/kg, respectively. CD40 receptor occupancy by ASKP1240, which was dose-dependent, reached a maximum at doses above 0.01 mg/kg. ASKP1240 was well tolerated, with no evidence of cytokine release syndrome or thromboembolic events. Treatment emergent antibodies to ASKP1240 were detected in 5/70 (7.1%) ASKP1240 recipients. In conclusion, antagonism of the CD40/CD154 interaction with ASKP1240 was safe and well tolerated at the doses tested.

Gadd45a suppresses tumor angiogenesis via inhibition of the mTOR/STAT3 protein pathway

Gadd45a, a p53-regulated and DNA damage-inducible gene, is implicated in protection against tumor malignancy, although the underlying mechanism remains to be defined further. Here we demonstrate that Gadd45a plays an important role in suppression of tumor angiogenesis. Gadd45a deletion significantly increases microvessel density in tumors and stimulates an angiogenic response in a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay. Disruption of endogenous Gadd45a promotes tube formation and migration of endothelial cells. We further show that Gadd45a deletion increases phosphorylation of STAT3 at Ser-727 and, in turn, elevates the STAT3 transcriptional activity. This process substantially induces both expression and secretion of VEGFa, a STAT3 responsive gene, and promotes tumor angiogenesis. Interestingly, Gadd45a is able to physically associate with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase that mediates Ser-727 phosphorylation of STAT3. The interaction of Gadd45a with mTOR suppresses STAT3 phosphorylation at Ser-727 and leads to down-regulated expression of VEGFa. Further analysis reveals that Gadd45a overexpression attenuates the association between mTOR and STAT3, whereas Gadd45a disruption strengthens this interaction, indicating that Gadd45a suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation is mainly through the dissociation of mTOR with STAT3. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence that Gadd45a inhibits tumor angiogenesis via blocking of the mTOR/STAT3 pathway.

Experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis does not alter the onset or severity of diabetes in mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Diabetes mellitus is believed to increase the risk and severity of periodontitis. However, less evidence is available on the converse effects of periodontitis on diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate to what degree experimental periodontitis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis might influence the onset and severity of diabetes in different mouse models.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-eight male Tallyho/JngJ mice (type 2 diabetes), 20 male streptozotocin-induced diabetes C57BL/6J mice (type 1 diabetes) and 20 male C57BL/6J mice at 4 wks of age were evenly divided into two groups: periodontal infection and sham infection. Periodontitis was induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 (P. gingivalis) oral inoculation before the development of diabetes. Sham-infected mice received vehicle as control. P. gingivalis in the oral cavity were identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fasting glucose, body weight and food intake levels were monitored and glucose tolerance tests were performed to assess glucose homeostasis for the onset and progression of diabetes. The level of alveolar bone loss and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were determined in week 20 when mice were killed.

RESULTS

Mice in the infection groups developed more alveolar bone loss than those in sham-infection groups (Tallyho p = 0.021; C57-STZ p = 0.014; C57 p = 0.035). Hyperglycemic mice exhibited significantly more bone loss compared to those normal glucose mice (Tallyho vs. C57 p = 0.029; C57-STZ vs. C57 p = 0.024). The level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was consistent with that of periodontal bone loss and hyperglycemia. There was no significant effect of mouse species on the amount of bone loss at the same level of blood glucose. No statistically significant difference or trend in glucose metabolism was found between the infection and sham-infection group.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes enhanced the risk for periodontal disease induced by P. gingivalis. However, no converse impact was found between this periodontal infection and onset and severity of diabetes in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mice.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of local prostate cancer recurrence after external beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy

AIMS

To carry out a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the follow-up of patients with prostate cancer after undergoing external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or radical prostatectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and other databases were searched for relevant original articles published from January 1995 to October 2011. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool. Pooled estimation and subgroup analysis data were obtained by statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 768 initially identified studies were included in the meta-analysis. Seven studies examining patient after radical prostatectomy had a pooled sensitivity and specificity on the patient level of 82% (95% confidence interval 78-86%) and 87% (95% confidence interval 81-92%), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, compared with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI showed higher pooled sensitivity (85%, 95% confidence interval 78-90%) and specificity (95%, 95% confidence interval 88-99%). DCE MRI combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) had the highest pooled sensitivity (92%, 95% confidence interval 83-97%). Nine studies examining men after EBRT had a pooled sensitivity and specificity on the patient level of 82% (95% confidence interval 75-88%) and 74% (95% confidence interval 64-82%), respectively. Compared with T2WI, DCE MRI showed higher pooled sensitivity (90%, 95% confidence interval 77-97%) and specificity (81%, 95% confidence interval 64-93%). DCE combined with 1H-MRSI had the highest pooled specificity (90%, 95% confidence interval 56-100%). The pooled sensitivity and specificity on sextant analysis was 58% (95% confidence interval 53-64%) and 85% (95% confidence interval 82-88%), respectively. DCE MRI showed the highest pooled sensitivity: 71% (95% confidence interval 60-80%).

CONCLUSION

A limited number of small studies suggest that MRI can accurately detect local recurrences after EBRT and radical prostatectomy. DCE MRI is particularly accurate. The addition of MRSI to DCE MRI can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of local prostate cancer recurrence. The eventual role of 1H-MRSI alone remains controversial and needs to be defined further.

The effect of locoregional transarterial infusion chemotherapy on liver metastasis after gastric cancer resection

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective clinical study to evaluate the effect of transarterial infusion (TAI) chemotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on liver metastasis after gastric cancer resection.

METHODS

The study recruited patients who underwent surgical resection for stage T(2)N(2)M(0) gastric adenocarcinoma without liver metastasis. Patients chose to receive either TAI or systemic chemotherapy, based on the advantages and disadvantages of each regimen as explained by physicians. Both regimens comprised 100 mg/m2 oxaliplatin and 500 mg/m2 fluorodeoxy uridine, administered via TAI or a peripheral vein, commencing 30 days postsurgery. Patients who developed liver metastasis during the 3-year follow-up period were offered TACE.

RESULTS

Mean time from gastric cancer diagnosis to liver metastasis was significantly longer in the TAI group (n = 13) than in the systemic chemotherapy group (n = 29); 944 ± 231 days versus 506 ± 77 days. Patients who received TACE (n = 32) had a partial remission rate of 46.9% and a median survival of 14.7 months after diagnosis of liver metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Locoregional TAI chemotherapy was more effective in reducing liver metastasis after gastric cancer resection than conventional systemic chemotherapy. TACE is an effective treatment for liver metastasis.

Immunohistochemical investigation of the correlation between LIM kinase 1 expression and development and progression of human ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) is implicated in cellular mechanisms regulating tumour cell invasion and may be involved in ovarian carcinoma progression. This retrospective study, therefore, investigated expression of the LIMK1 gene in primary ovarian tumour tissue samples and evaluated the correlation between LIMK1 gene expression and progression of ovarian carcinoma.

METHODS

LIMK1 protein levels were detected by immunohistochemistry in ovarian tissue samples from 57 patients with primary ovarian epithelial tumours (benign, n = 13; borderline, n = 14; carcinoma, n = 30) and 10 patients with normal ovaries. LIMK1 protein levels were evaluated by calculating the product of the scores for stain intensity and percentage of cells stained.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between increasing LIMK1 protein levels and increasing disease severity, from normal ovarian tissues through benign and borderline tumours to ovarian carcinoma. There was also a significant correlation between increasing LIMK1 protein levels and increasingly poor levels of differentiation of ovarian carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

LIMK1 is associated with the development of ovarian cancer and with the level of tumour differentiation in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Determination of multilayer thicknesses of GaAs/AlAs superlattice by grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity

The grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity is used to determine the multilayer thickness of GaAs/AlAs supperlattice. The measurement process includes the fitting model and the measurement conditions (different powers of 45 kV × 40 mA, 40 kV × 40 mA and 35 kV × 40 mA, different step sizes of 0.005°, 0.008° and 0.010°, and different times per step of 1 s, 2 s, 3 s). In order to obtain the valid measurement process, the combined standard deviation is used as the normal of the fitting results selection. As a result, the measurement condition of 0.008° step size and 2 s time per step with the power 40 kV × 40 mA is selectable with the operation stability of facilities and smaller error.

Gestational hypertension risk evaluation based on epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors

PURPOSE

Gestational hypertension (GH) is a serious health hazard for pregnant women and fetuses. The incidence of GH involves many epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors.

METHODS

The current study investigated the GH risk under the influence of epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors, and designed corresponding GH risk evaluation methods and apparatus.

RESULTS

The evaluation method has 74.15% sensitivity and 81.84% specificity. The ROC area under the curve is 0.841. The apparatus automatically imports epidemiological, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors, and then expresses the GH risk as numbers, bar codes, and colors through logic array analysis.

CONCLUSION

The GH risk value can effectively give the risk level of GH. The GH risk barcode can improve the degree of automation of information storage, transmission, and identification in GH monitoring. The GH risk color can also improve the GH macro description.

Diagnosis value of hysteroscopy for chronic endometritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of chronic endometritis (CE) with histology and assess its reliability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred eleven patients with CE diagnosed by hysteroscopy were selected as the case group, and 30 cases without endometritis diagnosed by hysteroscopy were selected as the control group. Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy were carried out in all patients with endometrial hyperplasia.

RESULTS

Among 211 patients with CE diagnosed by hysteroscopy, 200 cases were confirmed histologically. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.001) between characterization of CE by hysteroscopy and pathological grading. In 173 cases (86.5%), both histological and hysteroscopic grading were consistent (Kappa value = 0.62).

CONCLUSION

Hysteroscopy is reliable in diagnosing CE and it can assess clinical effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.