Improvement in bacterial cellulose production by co-culturing Bacillus cereus and Komagataeibacter xylinus

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a bio-produced nanostructure material widely used in biomedical, food, and paper-manufacturing industries. However, low production efficiency and high-cost have limited its industrial applications. This study aimed to examine the level of improvement in BC production by co-culturing Bacillus cereus and Komagataeibacter xylinus. The BC yield in corn stover enzymatic hydrolysate was found to be obviously enhanced from 1.2 to 4.4 g/L after the aforementioned co-culturing. The evidence indicated that acetoin (AC) and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) produced by B. cereus were the key factors dominating BC increment. The mechanism underlying BC increment was that AC and 2,3-BD increased the specific activity of AC dehydrogenase and the contents of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), thus promoting the growth and energy level of K. xylinus. Meanwhile, the immobilization of BC could also facilitate oxygen acquisition in B. cereus under static conditions. This study was novel in reporting that the co-culture could effectively enhance BC production from the lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysate.

Marital status and living apart affect sleep quality in male military personnel: a study of the China's Navy during COVID-19

Background

Marital status is a robust sociodemographic predictor of sleep. Having to live apart from spouse may have different implications than those of cohabitants or singles, especially in military personnel. Further research on this group will help provide knowledge in advance and facilitate early targeted interventions.

Methods

An online questionnaire study was conducted from July to November 2021. A total of 1,832 male military personnel completed the questionnaire. The marital status was measured by a self-reported single choice question. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and The Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about sleep scale (DBAS-16) were used to measure sleep-related outcomes. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) was applied to reduce the effects of confounding. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between marital status and sleep and explore the impact of living together or not.

Results

After inverse probability weighting, the prevalence of poor sleep quality, sleepiness and dysfunctional beliefs were 16.1, 20.1 and 7.1%, respectively. One-way ANOVA results for the means of both groups were statistically significantly different, except for the sleep latency and sleep disturbance dimensions of PSQI. Participants who were married were more likely to have poor sleep quality (OR: 1.408, 95% CI: [1.10, 1.80]), to have daytime sleepiness (OR: 1.560, 95% CI: [1.27, 1.92]) and to develop dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes (OR: 2.497, 95% CI: [1.65, 3.80]) than those who were unmarried. Further analysis showed that the odds of developing poor sleep quality and DBAS in participants who married but living apart were significantly bigger than those unmarried (OR: 1.548 and 3.991, respectively.), while there were no significant differences in the odds of daytime sleepiness (OR: 0.738, p = 0.050). Age was a protective factor for the development of bad sleep outcomes, while family economic was an independent risk factor.

Conclusion

Marital status appear important for sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and sleep beliefs. The effect of living apart or not should be considered separately as an important predictor of sleep.

A novel technique of penetrating keratoplasty to prevent intraocular contents extrusion for infectious keratitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of our novel penetrating keratoplasty for infectious keratitis.

METHODS

Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series of patients with infectious keratitis who received the novel penetrating keratoplasty technique were analyzed. A prepared plastic sheet was located between the diseased cornea and iris-lens diaphragm. After the diseased lesions were removed, the graft was positioned on the plastic sheet and sutured to the recipient bed. The plastic sheet was pulled out from the anterior chamber before the all interrupted sutures were placed. The intra- and post-operative complications, the outcome of the graft and the number of corneal endothelial cells were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 82 eyes of 82 patients was included. The mean follow-up period was 29 ± 16 months (range from 13 to 45 months). No intraocular content extrusion, simultaneous cataract extraction and suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred. Direct contact between the infectious cornea and the graft was successfully avoided. Greater than expected endothelial cell reduction or complications were not found.

CONCLUSIONS

This modified technique effectively prevents the extrusion of intraocular contents while avoiding the direct contact with donor endothelium during the procedure. The occurrence rate of complications such as endothelial cell loss is not higher than the conventional methods.

Non-inductive plasma vertical position measurement for the 1056 s discharge on EAST

Vertical position stability plays a crucial role in maintaining safe and reliable plasma operation for long-pulse fusion devices. In general, the vertical position is measured by using inductive magnetic coils installed inside the vacuum vessel; however, the integration drift effects are inherent for steady-state or long-pulse plasma operation. Developing a non-magnetic approach provides a fusion reactor-relevant steady-state solution that avoids the negative impact of integration drift. In this paper, we compare the non-inductively determined vertical position achieved by line-integrated interferometer and polarimeter measurements to that employing an inductive flux loop for a 1056 s discharge recently achieved on EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak). Experimental results show that the non-inductive measurement is more robust than flux loops after 300 s if the integrator is not reset to suppress integrator drift. Real-time vertical position control using the non-inductive system is proposed for the next EAST experimental campaign.

DNA Damage Response Evaluation Provides Novel Insights for Personalized Immunotherapy in Glioma

Background

DNA damage response (DDR) proficiency is the principal mechanism of temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in glioma. Accumulating evidence has also suggested the determining role of DDR in anticancer immunity. We propose that a comprehensive investigation of the DDR landscape can optimize glioma treatment.

Methods

We identified the pronounced enrichment of DDR in TMZ-resistant glioma cells by RNA sequencing. Nine differentially expressed genes between TMZ-sensitive/resistant glioma cells were selected to construct the DDR score through lasso regression analysis. Two glioma cohorts from TCGA and CGGA were interrogated to evaluate the predictive ability of DDR score. Multiple algorithms were applied to estimate the immunotherapeutic responses of two DDR phenotypes. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein levels of PD-L1 and TGFβ in glioma specimens. The oncoPredict package was employed to predict the candidate chemotherapy agents.

Results

DDR score exhibited a robust prognostic capability in TCGA and CGGA cohorts and served as an independent predictive biomarker in glioma patients. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that high and low DDR score groups were characterized by distinct immune activity and metabolic processes. Elevated levels of infiltrating immune cells (including CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and dendritic cells) were observed in the high DDR score glioma. Further, high DDR scores correlated with increased mutation burden, up-regulated immune checkpoints, and tumor immunity activation, indicating a profound interplay between DDR score and glioma immunogenicity. In addition, PD-L1 and TGFβ were overexpressed in recurrent glioma specimens compared with primary ones. Finally, we estimated that PI3K inhibitors may serve as latent regimens for high DDR score patients.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted the promising prognostic role of DDR score in glioma. Individual assessment of DDR status for patients with glioma may provide new clues for developing immunotherapeutic strategies.

Flap endonuclease 1 and DNA-PKcs synergistically participate in stabilizing replication fork to encounter replication stress in glioma cells

Background

Selectively utilizing alternative mechanisms to repair damaged DNA in essential factors deficient cancer facilitates tumor genetic evolution and contributes to treatment resistance. Synthetic lethality strategies provide a novel scenario to anticancer therapy with DNA repair protein mutation, such as glioma with DNA-PKcs-deficiency, a core factor crucial for non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) mediated DNA damage repair. Nevertheless, the clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of synthetic lethality function by interfering tumor DNA replication remain largely unexplored.

Methods

Cancer clinic treatment resistance-related replication core factors were identified through bioinformatics analysis and RNA-sequencing and verified in clinical specimens by immunoblotting and in situ Proximity Ligation Analysis (PLA). Then, in vitro and in vivo experiments, including visible single molecular tracking system were performed to determine functional roles, the molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of synthetic lethality on glioma tumors.

Results

Hyperactive DNA replication and regulator Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) provides high efficiency DNA double strand breaks (DSB) repair abilities preventing replication forks collapse during DNA replication which facilitate adaptation to selective pressures. DNA-PKcs deficient glioma cells are highly dependent on FEN1/BRCA1/RAD51 to survival and counteract replication stress. FEN1 protects perturbed forks from erroneous over-resection by MRE11 through regulating of BRCA1-RAD51 and WRN helicase, uncovering an essential genetic interaction between FEN1 and DNA-PKcs in mitigating replication-stress induced tumor genomic instability. Therapeutically, genetic depletion or molecular inhibition of FEN1 and DNA-PKcs perturb glioma progression.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight an unanticipated synthetic interaction between FEN1/BRCA1/RAD51 and DNA-PKcs when dysfunction leads to incompatible with cell survival under conditions of interrupted replication progression by disrupting addictive alternative tumor evolution and demonstrate the applicability of combined FEN1 and DNA-PKcs targeting in the treatment of glioma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02334-0.

Experimental Evidence of Intrinsic Current Generation by Turbulence in Stationary Tokamak Plasmas

High-β_{θe} (a ratio of the electron thermal pressure to the poloidal magnetic pressure) steady-state long-pulse plasmas with steep central electron temperature gradient are achieved in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. An intrinsic current is observed to be modulated by turbulence driven by the electron temperature gradient. This turbulent current is generated in the countercurrent direction and can reach a maximum ratio of 25% of the bootstrap current. Gyrokinetic simulations and experimental observations indicate that the turbulence is the electron temperature gradient mode (ETG). The dominant mechanism for the turbulent current generation is due to the divergence of ETG-driven residual flux of current. Good agreement has been found between experiments and theory for the critical value of the electron temperature gradient triggering ETG and for the level of the turbulent current. The maximum values of turbulent current and electron temperature gradient lead to the destabilization of an m/n=1/1 kink mode, which by counteraction reduces the turbulence level (m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode number, respectively). These observations suggest that the self-regulation system including turbulence, turbulent current, and kink mode is a contributing mechanism for sustaining the steady-state long-pulse high-β_{θe} regime.

Genomic Analysis Uncovers Immune Microenvironment Characteristics and Drug Sensitivity of Ferroptosis in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis

Background: The role of ferroptosis in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is unclear. This study aimed to explore the ferroptosis-related genes (FRG) relations with the tumor microenvironment, as well as evaluate their values in predicting survival and drug sensitivity in patients with BCBM.

Materials and Methods: Genes expression and clinical data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the independent prognostic factors. Consensus cluster principal component analysis (PCA) was used to establish the ferroptosis score. Immunological signatures were analyzed by the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Drug sensitivity was evaluated through the estimated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Finally, results were validated in external cohorts.

Results: Fourteen significantly different FRG were identified between breast cancer (BC) and BCBM tissues. Survival analysis demonstrated HMOX1, PEBP1, KEAP1, and LPCAT3 were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (all p < 0.05). High ferroptosis score was correlated with iron ion homeostasis, iron metabolism, higher stromal cells and immune cells scores. Patients with high- and low-ferroptosis scores were characterized by different drug sensitivities. Following external validations, the ferroptosis had distinct expression profiles between the BC and BCBM, and could serve as biomarkers for OS and drug response.

Conclusion: Our findings suggested that ferroptosis may be involved in the process of BCBM, and ferroptosis could serve as prognostic biomarkers. Evaluation of ferroptosis may deepen our understanding about the tumor microenvironment, and could help clinicians to make individualized therapy.

An Integrated Analysis of Tumor Purity of Common Central Nervous System Tumors in Children Based on Machine Learning Methods

Background: Tumor purity is defined as the proportion of cancer cells in the tumor tissue, and its effects on molecular genetics, the immune microenvironment, and the prognosis of children’s central nervous system (CNS) tumors are under-researched.

Methods: We applied random forest machine learning, the InfiniumPurify algorithm, and the ESTIMATE algorithm to estimate the tumor purity of every child’s CNS tumor sample in several published pediatric CNS tumor sample datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), aiming to perform an integrated analysis on the tumor purity of children’s CNS tumors.

Results: Only the purity of CNS tumors in children based on the random forest (RF) machine learning method was normally distributed. In addition, the children’s CNS tumor purity was associated with primary clinical pathological and molecular indicators. Enrichment analysis of biological pathways related to the purity of medulloblastoma (MB) revealed some classical signaling pathways associated with MB biology and development-related pathways. According to the correlation analysis between MB purity and the immune microenvironment, three immune-related genes, namely, CD8A, CXCR2, and TNFRSF14, were negatively related to MB purity. In contrast, no significant correlation was detected between immunotherapy-associated markers, such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4; most infiltrating immune cells; and MB purity. In the tumor purity–related survival analysis of MB, ependymoma (EPN), and children’s high-grade glioma, we discovered a minor effect of tumor purity on the survival of the aforementioned pediatric patients with CNS tumors.

Conclusion: Our purity pediatric pan-CNS tumor analysis provides a deeper understanding and helps with the clinical management of pediatric CNS tumors.

Integrative Analysis to Uncover the Molecular Mechanisms of Caesalpinia sappan L. for Anti-Cancer Activity

Objectives: Caesalpinia Sappan L. is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. Recent studies have confirmed that Sappan has an antitumor effect, but its specific mechanism is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used network pharmacology to predict the target and signal pathway of Sappan. In addition, the Cancer Genome Atlas and cancer cell lines encyclopedia large-scale genomic databases were used to analyze the relationship between different subtypes of Akt. Based on molecular docking technology, the interaction mode between small molecule compounds and protein targets was explored. Finally, we studied the effect of Sappan on Akt protein expression by Western blot in vitro. Results: AKT1 and AKT2 were significantly expressed in breast cancer cells, but they were significantly different from AKT3. Finally, molecular docking analysis showed that (3R,5R)-1,3,4,5-tetrakis(((E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acryloyl)oxy)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid had a very ideal binding mode with Akt. Subsequent experiments showed that Sappan extract could induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and down regulate the phosphorylation level of Akt protein thr308 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: This study provides new ideas for Sappan's anticancer research through the strategy of system pharmacology.

Capicua Regulates Dendritic Morphogenesis Through Ets in Hippocampal Neurons in vitro

Capicua (Cic), a transcriptional repressor frequently mutated in brain cancer oligodendroglioma, is highly expressed in adult neurons. However, its function in the dendritic growth of neurons in the hippocampus remains poorly understood. Here, we confirmed that Cic was expressed in hippocampal neurons during the main period of dendritogenesis, suggesting that Cic has a function in dendrite growth. Loss-of-function and gain-of function assays indicated that Cic plays a central role in the inhibition of dendritic morphogenesis and dendritic spines in vitro. Further studies showed that overexpression of Cic reduced the expression of Ets in HT22 cells, while in vitro knockdown of Cic in hippocampal neurons significantly elevated the expression of Ets. These results suggest that Cic may negatively control dendrite growth through Ets, which was confirmed by ShRNA knockdown of either Etv4 or Etv5 abolishing the phenotype of Cic knockdown in cultured neurons. Taken together, our results suggest that Cic inhibits dendritic morphogenesis and the growth of dendritic spines through Ets.

RECQ1 Promotes Stress Resistance and DNA Replication Progression Through PARP1 Signaling Pathway in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common aggressive primary malignant brain tumor, and patients with GBM have a median survival of 20 months. Clinical therapy resistance is a challenging barrier to overcome. Tumor genome stability maintenance during DNA replication, especially the ability to respond to replication stress, is highly correlated with drug resistance. Recently, we identified a protective role for RECQ1 under replication stress conditions. RECQ1 acts at replication forks, binds PCNA, inhibits single-strand DNA formation and nascent strand degradation in GBM cells. It is associated with the function of the PARP1 protein, promoting PARP1 recruitment to replication sites. RECQ1 is essential for DNA replication fork protection and tumor cell proliferation under replication stress conditions, and as a target of RECQ1, PARP1 effectively protects and restarts stalled replication forks, providing new insights into genomic stability maintenance and replication stress resistance. These findings indicate that tumor genome stability targeting RECQ1-PARP1 signaling may be a promising therapeutic intervention to overcome therapy resistance in GBM.

Two machine learning methods identify a metastasis-related prognostic model that predicts overall survival in medulloblastoma patients

Approximately 30% of medulloblastoma (MB) patients exhibit metastasis at initial diagnosis, which often leads to a poor prognosis. Here, by using univariate Cox regression analysis, two machine learning methods (Lasso-penalized Cox regression and random survival forest-variable hunting (RSF-VH)), and multivariate Cox regression analysis, we established two metastasis-related prognostic models, including the 47-mRNA-based model based on the Lasso method and the 21-mRNA-based model based on the RSF-VH method. In terms of the results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, we selected the 47-mRNA metastasis-associated model with the higher area under the curve (AUC). The 47-mRNA-based prognostic model could classify MB patients into two subgroups with different prognoses. The ROC analyses also suggested that the 47-mRNA metastasis-associated model may have a better predictive ability than MB subgroup. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the 47-mRNA-based model was independent of other clinical characteristics. In addition, a nomogram comprising the 47-mRNA-based model was built. The results of ROC analyses suggested that the nomogram had good discrimination ability. Our 47-mRNA metastasis-related prognostic model and nomogram might be an efficient and valuable tool for overall survival (OS) prediction and provide information for individualized treatment decisions in patients with MB.

[Effect of integrated schistosomiasis control measures in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of the integrated schistosomiasis control measures in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, so as to provide insights into the development of the schistosomiasis elimination strategy.

METHODS

The integrated schistosomiasis control measures implemented by the health, agriculture, water resources, forestry, land and resources sectors were retrospectively collected in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, and the completion of each measure, cost of control measures, Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and bovines, and snail status were analyzed each year. An index system for assessing the integrated schistosomiasis control effect was constructed using the Delphi method to calculate the integrated schistosomiasis control effect index. In addition, a cost-effect analysis was performed in terms of the decline in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans and bovines, areas with snails in inner embankments, and areas with infected snails.

RESULTS

A total of 7 110 926 500 Yuan were invested into the integrated schistosomiasis control program of Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019. During the 16-year period, a total of 277 437.12 hm² snail habitats received molluscicidal treatments, 6 927 230 person-times given expanded chemotherapy, 2 116 247 bovine-times given expanded chemotherapy, 954 850 harmless toilets built, 290 359 bovines fenced, 136 666 bovines eliminated, 141 905 machines used to replace bovines, 39 048.63 hm² water lands improved as dry lands, 724.12 km irrigation regions improved, 3 994 300 populations covered with safe water, 191 102.89 hm² forests planted and 38 535.27 hm² lands leveled. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 4.29% in humans and 4.48% in bovines in Hunan Province in 2004, with 2 449.37 hm² snail habitats in inner embankments and 3 423.74 hm² infected snail areas. In 2019, the prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced to 0 in both humans and bovines, and areas of snail habitats reduced to 540.92 hm² (77.92% reductions), while the areas with infected snails reduced to 0. The overall integrated schistosomiasis control effect index appeared a tendency towards a rise over years since 2004, and the integrated schistosomiasis control effect index was 97.35 in 2019; the annual mean costs for a 1% reduction in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in 100 populations and 100 bovines were 70.11 Yuan and 4 204.78 Yuan, and the annual mean costs for a 1% reduction in the snail areas in inner embankments and infected snail areas were 2 010.20 Yuan and 1 298.09 Yuan, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated control measures achieve remarkable effectiveness for schistosomiasis control in Hunan Province, with a remarkable decline in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans and bovines and great shrinking of snail areas in inner embankments and infected snail areas. Adequate fund investment is required to improve the integrated schistosomiasis control measures and consolidate the control achievements.

Exosomes derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate viral myocarditis through activating AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy flux pathway

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell‐derived exosomes (hucMSC‐exosomes) have been implicated as a novel therapeutic approach for tissue injury repair and regeneration, but the effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)‐induced myocarditis remain unknown. The object of the present study is to investigate whether hucMSC‐exosomes have therapeutic effects on CVB3‐induced myocarditis (VMC). HucMSC‐exosomes were identified using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot. The purified hucMSC‐exosomes tagged with PKH26 were tail intravenously injected into VMC model mice in vivo and used to administrate CVB3‐infected human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) in vitro, respectively. The effects of hucMSC‐exosomes on myocardial pathology injury, proinflammatory cytokines and cardiac function were evaluated through haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Doppler echocardiography. The anti‐apoptosis role and potential mechanism of hucMSC‐exosomes were explored using TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, Ad‐mRFP‐GFP‐LC3 transduction and Western blot. In vivo results showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg iv) significantly alleviated myocardium injury, shrank the production of proinflammatory cytokines and improved cardiac function. Moreover, in vitro data showed that hucMSC‐exosomes (50 μg/mL) inhibited the apoptosis of CVB3‐infected HCM through increasing pAMPK/AMPK ratio and up‐regulating autophagy proteins LC3II/I, BECLIN‐1 and anti‐apoptosis protein BCL‐2 as well as decreasing pmTOR/mTOR ratio, promoting the degradation of autophagy flux protein P62 and down‐regulating apoptosis protein BAX. In conclusion, hucMSC‐exosomes could alleviate CVB3‐induced myocarditis via activating AMPK/mTOR‐mediated autophagy flux pathway to attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which will be benefit for MSC‐exosome therapy of myocarditis in the future.

Integrative analysis of gene expression and DNA methylation through one-class logistic regression machine learning identifies stemness features in medulloblastoma

Most human cancers develop from stem and progenitor cell populations through the sequential accumulation of various genetic and epigenetic alterations. Cancer stem cells have been identified from medulloblastoma (MB), but a comprehensive understanding of MB stemness, including the interactions between the tumor immune microenvironment and MB stemness, is lacking. Here, we employed a trained stemness index model based on an existent one‐class logistic regression (OCLR) machine‐learning method to score MB samples; we then obtained two stemness indices, a gene expression‐based stemness index (mRNAsi) and a DNA methylation‐based stemness index (mDNAsi), to perform an integrated analysis of MB stemness in a cohort of primary cancer samples (n = 763). We observed an inverse trend between mRNAsi and mDNAsi for MB subgroup and metastatic status. By applying the univariable Cox regression analysis, we found that mRNAsi significantly correlated with overall survival (OS) for all MB patients, whereas mDNAsi had no significant association with OS for all MB patients. In addition, by combining the Lasso‐penalized Cox regression machine‐learning approach with univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, we identified a stemness‐related gene expression signature that accurately predicted survival in patients with Sonic hedgehog (SHH) MB. Furthermore, positive correlations between mRNAsi and prognostic copy number aberrations in SHH MB, including MYCN amplifications and GLI2 amplifications, were detected. Analyses of the immune microenvironment revealed unanticipated correlations of MB stemness with infiltrating immune cells. Lastly, using the Connectivity Map, we identified potential drugs targeting the MB stemness signature. Our findings based on stemness indices might advance the development of objective diagnostic tools for quantitating MB stemness and lead to novel biomarkers that predict the survival of patients with MB or the efficacy of strategies targeting MB stem cells.

Non-prescription cold and flu medication-induced transient myopia with uveal effusion: case report

Background

To report a case of non-prescription cold and flu medication-induced transient myopia with uveal effusion.

Case presentation

Bilateral high intraocular pressure, shallow anterior chambers, uveal effusion, and a myopic shift were encountered in a 39-year-old Chinese male 1 night after taking a non-prescription flu medicine three times than the recommended dose. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) showed bilateral ciliochoroidal effusions, disappearance of the ciliary sulcus, closure of the angle of the anterior chamber, and anterior displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm. Treatment with aqueous suppressants was given. Within a week, the uncorrected vision restored, and the myopia had disappeared. UBM revealed major resolution of the ciliochoroidal effusions in both eyes, deepening of the anterior chamber, return of the lens-iris diaphragm to a more posterior position.

Conclusions

Overdose of non-prescription cold and flu medication may cause bilateral uveal effusions inducing acute angle-closure glaucoma and acute myopia.

Incidence of metastatic disease and survival among patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS tumors in the United States from 2004-2013

Background: Population-based estimates of the incidence and prognosis of metastatic disease at the initial diagnosis of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are currently lacking.

Methods: A total of 43,455 patients diagnosed with a primary CNS tumor were enrolled to evaluate metastatic rates utilizing the data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. We used multivariate logistic regression to analyze the risk factors associated with the presence of metastasis at the first visit of patients with metastatic medulloblastoma (MB), atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), or pilocytic astrocytoma (PA). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer-specific death (CSD) of patients with these four CNS tumors were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression.

Results: In patients with primary CNS embryonal tumors, the metastatic rates of patients with MB and ATRT were 14.51% and 19.25%, respectively. The metastatic rate for MB patients aged 0 to 18 years was 16.69%. In the patients with glioma, the metastatic rates of patients with PA and GBM were 1.55% and 1.39%, respectively. On multivariate logistic regression among patients with glioma, GBM (vs PA; OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.37 to 3.30; P=0.001) was associated with greater odds of having metastatic disease at diagnosis. On multivariate logistic regression among patients with GBM, MB, or ATRT, MB (vs GBM; OR, 4.66; 95% CI, 2.81 to 7.72; P<0.001) and ATRT (vs GBM; OR, 5.65; 95% CI, 3.27 to 9.75; P<0.001) were associated with greater odds of having metastatic disease at diagnosis. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model for CSD among patients with metastatic GBM or MB at diagnosis, gross total resection/total lobectomy (vs partial resection/partial lobectomy) was not related to a decreased or an increased risk of CSD. In patients with metastatic ATRT, compared to no surgery, gross total resection/total lobectomy or partial resection/partial lobectomy was not associated with a decreased risk of CSD.

Conclusions: The findings in this study provide a population-based estimate of the incidence and prognosis of metastatic disease at the initial diagnosis of primary CNS tumors. These survival outcomes are relevant because they will help to prioritize future research directions to improve the treatment strategies of these metastatic CNS tumors.

Eliciting α7-nAChR exerts cardioprotective effects on ischemic cardiomyopathy via activation of AMPK signalling

Our previous studies have reported that agonist of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors prevented electrophysiological dysfunction of rats with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) by eliciting the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway (CAP). Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling is widely recognized exerting cardioprotective effect in various cardiomyopathy. Here, we aimed to investigate whether the protective effects of the CAP are associated with AMPK signalling in ICM. In vivo, coronary artery of rats was ligated for 4 weeks to induce the ICM and then treated with PNU‐282987 (CAP agonist) and BML‐275 dihydrochloride (AMPK antagonist) for 4 weeks. In vitro, primary macrophages harvested from rats were induced inflammation by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and then treated with PNU‐282987 and BML‐275 dihydrochloride. In vivo, exciting CAP by PUN‐282987 elicited an activation of AMPK signalling, alleviated ventricular remodeling, modified the cardiac electrophysiological function, reduced the cardiac expression of collagens and inflammatory cytokines and maintained the integrity of ultrastructure in the ischemic heart. However, the benefits of CAP excitation were blunted by AMPK signaling antagonization. In vitro, excitation of the CAP was observed inhibiting the nuclear transfer of NF‐κB p65 of macrophages and promoting the transformation of Ly‐6C^high macrophages into Ly‐6C^low macrophages. However, inhibiting AMPK signalling by BML‐275 dihydrochloride reversed the CAP effect on LPS‐treated macrophages. Finally, our findings suggest that eliciting the CAP modulates the inflammatory response in ICM through regulating AMPK signalling.

Error correction associated with stray light for Faraday-effect polarimetry system on EAST

The polarimeter-interferometer system with 11 double-pass radial-view measurement chords has the ability to provide electron density and plasma current profiles, making it exceptionally useful in daily operation on the Experiment Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. However, due to limited optical access and intrinsic feedback, the stray lights arising from spurious reflections along the optical path (unwanted reflections from various optical components/mounts and transmissive optical elements such as windows, waveplates, and lenses as well as the detectors) distort the Faraday rotation measurements. Furthermore, the feedback light from the retro-reflector which is used to realize the double-pass configuration makes it even worse. A data processing approach to decrease the stray light influence is reported in this paper. Based on the theoretical model developed, the Faraday rotation angle is extracted by subtracting the deviation term which can be calculated with a simplified model. With this approach, the Faraday rotation oscillation during density ramp-up can be reduced from 2°-5° to 0.5°-1.5°, which reduces the Faraday rotation measurement errors significantly.

Bench test of phase measurement on dispersion interferometer for EAST

In recent years, different traditional interferometers have been the necessary diagnostic of electronic density measurement on fusion devices. Until now, two main problems always influence the density measurement: the mechanical vibration and fringe jump in the calculation. The dispersion interferometer (DI) with a long-wavelength infrared wavelength is a good choice because mechanical vibrations can be canceled and the fringe jump can be inhibited. This paper describes the bench test of phase measurement using a wedge instead of plasma on the DI. The results show good agreement with the theoretical calculations. In the background measurement, this DI without a vibration isolation system has good performance, and the drift of the baseline is less than 2 × 10¹⁷ m^-2 in 3 s and less than 5 × 10¹⁷ m^-2 in 400 s. Plasma data will be obtained during the next campaign on EAST (Experimental and Advanced Superconducting Tokamak).

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound attenuates cardiac inflammation of CVB3-induced viral myocarditis via regulation of caveolin-1 and MAPK pathways

The aggressive immunological activity elicited by acute viral myocarditis contributes to a large amount of cardiomyocytes loss and poor prognosis of patients in clinic. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), which is an effective treatment modality for osteoarthropathy, has been recently illustrated regulating the overactive inflammatory response in various diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate whether LIPUS could attenuate coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection-induced injury by coordinating the inflammatory response. Male BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with CVB3 to establish the model of acute viral myocarditis. LIPUS treatment was given on Day 1, Day 1, 3 and Day 1, 3, 5 post-inoculation, respectively. All mice were followed up for 14 days. Day 1, 3, 5 LIPUS treatment significantly improved the survival rate, attenuated the ventricular dysfunction and ameliorated the cardiac histopathological injury of CVB3-infected mice. Western blotting analysis showed Day 1, 3, 5 LIPUS treatment decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased the activation of caveolin-1 and suppressed p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signallings in heart tissue. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to simulate the augmented inflammatory response in vivo. LIPUS treatment on RAW264.7 inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activated caveolin-1 and suppressed p38 MAPK and ERK signallings. Transfecting RAW264.7 with caveolin-1 siRNA blunted the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MAPK signallings by LIPUS treatment. Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that LIPUS treatment attenuated the aggressive inflammatory response during acute viral myocarditis. The underlying mechanism may be activating caveolin-1 and suppressing MAPK signallings.

Fasudil exerts a cardio-protective effect on mice with coxsackievirus B3-induced acute viral myocarditis

AIMS

To investigate whether there exists a cardio-protective effect of Fasudil, a selective Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, in an experimental murine model of acute viral myocarditis.

METHODS

Male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to three groups: control, myocarditis treated with placebo and myocarditis treated with Fasudil (n = 40 animals per group). Myocarditis was established by intraperitoneal injection with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). Twenty-four hours after infection, Fasudil was intraperitoneally administered for 14 consecutive days. Twenty mice were randomly selected from each group to monitor a 14-day survival rate. On day 7 and day 14, eight surviving mice from each group were sacrificed and their hearts and blood were obtained to perform serological and histological examinations. Expression of ROCKs, IL-17, IL-1b, TNFα, RORgt, and Foxp3 were quantified with RT-PCR. Plasma levels of TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-17 were measured by ELISA. In addition, protein levels of IL-17 and ROCK2 in cardiac tissues were analyzed with Western blot.

RESULTS

Fasudil treatment significantly increased survival, attenuated myocardial necrotic lesions, reduced CVB3 replication and expression of ROCK2 and IL-17 in the infected hearts. This treatment also imposed a T-cell subpopulation shift, from Th17 to Treg, in cardiac tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

ROCK pathway inhibition was cardio-protective in viral myocarditis with increased survival, decreased viral replication, and inflammatory response. These findings suggest that Fasudil might be a potential therapeutic agent for patients with viral myocarditis.

Sodium Houttuyfonate Alleviates Post-infarct Remodeling in Rats via AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

With the chronic ischemia persisting after acute myocardial infarction, the accompanying low-degree inflammation and subsequent fibrosis result in progression of cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Recently, Sodium Houttuyfonate (SH), a pure compound extracted from Houttuynia cordata, has been confirmed exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects under diseased situations. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SH could reverse the cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction by alleviating cardiac inflammation and fibrosis. Left anterior descending coronary artery of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was ligated to elicit myocardial infarction. Low and high dose of SH was administered by oral gavage for four consecutive weeks post-myocardial infarction. Long-term SH treatment decreased heart rate, heart weight/ body weight (HW/BW), and left ventricle weight/body weight (LVW/BW), reduced cardiac expression of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), improved left ventricular heart function, and ameliorated the histopathological changes caused by myocardial infarction. Western blotting revealed the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), collagen I, and collagen III of the infarcted ventricle were reduced by SH treatment. Meanwhile, we found that SH treatment post-myocardial infarction activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and suppressed nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65). Furthermore, on H9C2 cells induced hypoxic injury with cobalt chloride (CoCl₂), the reduction of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β), activation of AMPK, and suppression of NF-κB p65 were also observed by SH treatment. However, transfection of H9C2 with AMPKα siRNA blunted the suppression of NF-κB p65 and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β) by SH post-hypoxia. Taken together, these findings suggested that long-term administration of SH post-myocardial infarction reduced cardiac inflammatory and fibrotic responses, and reversed cardiac remodeling process. The underlying mechanism may be activating AMPK and suppressing NF-κB pathway.

Case presentation: implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker via the coronary sinus in a patient with triple valve replacement

Background

In patients with triple valve replacement developing third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB), the most appropriate approach for permanent pacemaker implantation remains questionable.

Case presentation

In this case presentation, we first described the approach of implantation of the cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) via one bipolar pacing lead in middle cardiac vein (MCV) and one quadripolar pacing lead in anterior interventricular vein (AIV) in a patient developing complete AVB, who had been previously diagnosed with rheumatic valvular heart disease with triple valve replaced. After the CRT-P implantation, the two pacing leads in coronary sinus (CS) provided a dual-site ventricular pacing from the anterior septum and posterior septum, which resulted in a narrow QRS complex and an increased ventricular synchrony. During the long-term follow-up, no deterioration of heart function was documented and pacing parameters remained good.

Conclusion

In this patient developing complete AVB with triple valve replaced, our approach of CRT-P implantation provides an effective and reliable ventricular pacing, and is an alternative option when transvenous right ventricular pacing, transseptal left ventricular pacing and transpericardial epicardium pacing are not possible. Further prospective randomized trials are required to confirm the efficiency of our approach of dual-site ventricular pacing by CRT-P in this kind patients.

Deciphering the Epitranscriptome in Cancer

Technological and methodological advancements have recently revolutionized our understanding of widespread epitranscriptome including RNA modifications and editing. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) represents the most prevalent internal modification in mammalian RNAs. Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is an important mechanism underlying RNA generation and protein diversity through the post-transcriptional modification of single nucleotides in RNA sequences. In this review, we attempt to summarize its functional importance in various fundamental bioprocesses of m⁶A and A-to-I editing. We also highlight some of the key findings that have helped shape our understanding of epitranscriptome in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Finally, we discuss conceivable targets and future directions of m⁶A and A-to-I editing in cancer therapeutics.

Effects of stray lights on Faraday rotation measurement for polarimeter-interferometer system on EAST

A double-pass radially view 11 chords polarimeter-interferometer system has been operated on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak and provides important current profile information for plasma control. Stray light originating from spurious reflections along the optical path (unwanted reflections from various optical components/mounts and transmissive optical elements such as windows, waveplates, and lens as well as the detectors) and also direct feedback from the retro-reflector used to realize the double-pass configuration can both contribute to contamination of the Faraday rotation measurement accuracy. Modulation of the Faraday rotation signal due to the interference from multiple reflections is observable when the interferometer phase (plasma density) varies with time. Direct reflection from the detector itself can be suppressed by employing an optical isolator consisting of a λ/4-waveplate and polarizer positioned in front of the mixer. A Faraday angle oscillation during the density ramping up (or down) can be reduced from 5°-10° to 1°-2° by eliminating reflections from the detector. Residual modulation arising from misalignment and stray light from other sources must be minimized to achieve accurate measurements of Faraday rotation.

Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots with Renal Clearance Property for Efficient Photodynamic Therapy

Black phosphorus (BP) nanomaterials have emerged as rapidly rising stars in the field of nanomedicine. In this work, BP quantum dots (BPQDs) are synthesized and their potential as photosensitizers is investigated for the first time. The BPQDs present good stability in physiological medium and no appreciable cytotoxicity. More importantly, the BPQDs can be rapidly eliminated from the body in their intact form via renal clearance due to their ultrasmall hydrodynamic diameter (5.4 nm). Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the BPQDs have excellent photodynamic effect under light irradiation that can effectively generate reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells. The BPQDs thus can serve as biocompatible and powerful photosensitizers for efficient photodynamic therapy.

Initial measurements of plasma current and electron density profiles using a polarimeter/interferometer (POINT) for long pulse operation in EAST (invited)

A double-pass, radially viewing, far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique has been implemented for diagnosing the plasma current and electron density profiles in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). POINT has been operated routinely during the most recent experimental campaign and provides continuous 11 chord line-integrated Faraday effect and density measurement throughout the entire plasma discharge for all heating schemes and all plasma conditions (including ITER relevant scenario development). Reliability of both the polarimetric and interferometric measurements is demonstrated in 25 s plasmas with H-mode and 102 s long-pulse discharges. Current density, safety factor (q), and electron density profiles are reconstructed using equilibrium fitting code (EFIT) with POINT constraints for the plasma core.

Optical configuration optimization and calibration for the POINT system on EAST

Calibration of the polarimeter system is one of the key elements to determine the overall measurement accuracy. The anisotropic reflection and transmission properties of the mesh beam splitters can easily distort the polarization state of the circularly polarized beams. Using a rotating crystal quartz λ/2-waveplate to replace the plasma can effectively allow us to obtain the ratio of the measured Faraday rotation angle to the known rotation angle of the waveplate. This ratio is used to estimate the calibration factor for each chord to be accurately determined and help to minimize distortions introduced by the wire-mesh beam splitters. With the novel configuration optimization, the distortion of polarization state is effectively eliminated.

Raf-kinase inhibitor protein attenuates microglia inflammation in an in vitro model of intracerebral hemorrhage

Microglia mediated neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), a member of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family, is a negative regulator of inflammatory responses. However, the expression and anti-inflammatory effects of RKIP in microglia after ICH have not been reported. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the effects of RKIP on inflammatory responses in erythrocyte lysate-treated BV2 microglia. Furthermore, we analyzed the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of RKIP in microglia. Our results showed that the expression level of RKIP was significantly decreased by erythrocyte lysate treatment in BV2 microglia. Overexpression of RKIP inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. In addition, overexpression of RKIP attenuated neuronal cell death induced by activated microglia. Moreover, RKIP suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in erythrocyte lysis-treated BV2 cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that overexpression of RKIP attenuated microglia inflammation through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway in erythrocyte lysis-treated BV2 cells. The present study provides evidence that RKIP may be used as an effective molecular target for the treatment of ICH.

Efficacy of early bundle therapy on moderate to severe aspiration pneumonia after cervical esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer

AIM

The aim of this paper was to investigate the methodology and clinical efficacy of early bundle therapy for complicated moderate to severe aspiration pneumonia after cervical esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data from 49 patients who developed complicated moderate to severe aspiration pneumonia after cervical esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer. Among them, 27 patients underwent a bundle therapy-tracheostomy followed by ventilator-assisted breathing with reverse trendelenburg position, early goal-directed hemodynamic support, enteral nutrition by nasointestinal tube, effective antibiotic usage and large doses of expectorants in addition to the conventional treatments. The remaining 22 patients underwent conventional treatment (controls). The hospital fatality rates, incidence of serious complications, mechanical ventilation time and ICU length of stay of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

Patients in the bundle therapy group had higher cure rate of pneumonia than the control group (P=0.041), significantly lower fatality rate than the controls (P=0.005), lower incidence of complications than the controls (P<0.05), shorter ICU length of stay than the control group (P=0.017), significantly shorter mechanical ventilation time (P=0.032), lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II Score (P=0.036) and lower Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (P=0.047).

CONCLUSION

Early bundle therapy can effectively improve the treatment efficacy for moderate to severe aspiration pneumonia after cervical esophagogastrostomy for esophageal cancer.

Processing of lignin in urea–zinc chloride deep-eutectic solvent and its use as a filler in a phenol-formaldehyde resin

The main goal of our research deals with a new greener and more efficient lignin modification method to optimize its structural performance as a phenol-formaldehyde resin filler.

Transgenic common carp do not have the ability to expand populations

The ecological safety of transgenic organisms is an important issue of international public and political concern. The assessment of ecological risks is also crucial for realizing the beneficial industrial application of transgenic organisms. In this study, reproduction of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, CC) in isolated natural aquatic environments was analyzed. Using the method of paternity testing, a comparative analysis was conducted on the structure of an offspring population of "all-fish" growth hormone gene-transgenic common carp (afgh-CC) and of wild CC to evaluate their fertility and juvenile viability. Experimental results showed that in a natural aquatic environment, the ratio of comparative advantage in mating ability of afgh-CC over wild CC was 1∶1, showing nearly identical mating competitiveness. Juvenile viability of afgh-CC was low, and the average daily survival rate was less than 98.00%. After a possible accidental escape or release of transgenic CC into natural aquatic environments they are unable to monopolize resources from eggs of natural CC populations, leading to the extinction of transgenic CC. Transgenic CC are also unlikely to form dominant populations in natural aquatic environments due to their low juvenile viability. Thus, it is expected that the proportion of afgh-CC in the natural environment would remain low or gradually decline, and ultimately disappear.

Association of the genetic polymorphisms of the ACE gene and the eNOS gene with lupus nephropathy in northern Chinese population

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene are associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the progression of nephropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between six SNPs (A-5466C, T-3892C, A-240T, C1237T, G2215A and A2350G) of the ACE gene and two SNPs (T-786C and G894T) of the eNOS gene with lupus nephropathy in a northern Chinese population.

METHODS

In this study, 225 patients with lupus nephropathy were compared to 232 healthy controls, matched by gender, age and ethnicity. Following the extraction of genomic DNA from the leukocytes in the peripheral blood, the genotypes of the eight selected SNPs were determined by the method of PCR-RFLP; the haplotypes were inferred using PHASE 2.1. The associations between the SNPs and the risk of lupus nephropathy were analyzed using Chi-square test and Logistic regression with SPSS13.0 software.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences of the allele frequency distribution of three SNPs (A-5466C, A2350G and G894T) were observed between cases and controls (P<0.05). Among the 53 haplotypes identified, the frequencies of five haplotypes (CTTCGA, ACTTAA, ACATGG, ACACGG and ATTCGA) were significantly different between cases and controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated an association between the risk of lupus nephropathy and the sequence variations of both the ACE gene and the eNOS gene, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephropathy in the northern Chinese population. Further studies are warranted to validate our findings.

Interferon-gamma-modified dendritic cells suppress B cell function and ameliorate the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of interferon (IFN)-gamma-modulated dendritic cells (DC) in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). We induced EAMG in Lewis rats by immunization with Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and adjuvant. On day 33 post-immunization (p.i.), splenic DC were prepared, exposed to IFN-gamma alone (IFN-gamma-DC) or to IFN-gamma in combination with 1-methyl-DL-tryptophan (1-MT), the specific inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) (IFN-gamma + 1-MT-DC), and injected subcutaneously into rats with incipient EAMG on day 5 p.i. A control group of EAMG rats received naive DC on day 5 p.i., while another group received 1-MT every other day, intraperitoneally (p.i.), from days 5 to 41 p.i. The severity of clinical signs of EAMG was reduced dramatically in IFN-gamma-DC-treated rats compared to rats receiving naive DC, IFN-gamma + 1-MT-DC or 1-MT alone. The number of plasma cells secreting nAChR antibodies was reduced and the expression of B cell activation factor (BAFF) on splenic and lymph node mononuclear cells (MNC) was down-regulated in rats treated with IFN-gamma-DC. In vitro co-culture of MNC derived from EAMG rats with IFN-gamma-DC produced relatively few cells secreting nAChR antibodies. Addition of 1-MT to the co-culture significantly increased the number of cells secreting nAChR antibodies. We conclude that IFN-gamma-DC reduced the number of plasma cells secreting nAChR antibodies in an IDO-dependent manner and ameliorated the development of EAMG in Lewis rats.

CD8alpha dendritic cells and immune protection from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Dendritic cells (DC) represent a phenotypically heterogeneous population endowed with two important biological functions, immunity and tolerance. Here we report that the injection of splenic CD8alpha(+) DC, derived from rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), delayed the onset and suppressed the severity of EAE in Lewis rats. This was accompanied by the lack of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in the brain and spinal cord and by reduced numbers of inflammatory cells within the central nervous system. Injection of CD8(alpha+) DC inhibited T cell proliferation that may relate to increased interferon (IFN)-gamma and nitric oxide production. Although CD8(+)CD28(-) suppressor T cells, apoptotic cells and co-stimulatory molecules were not altered, CD4(+) T cells expressing interleukin (IL)-10 were augmented in rats receiving CD8alpha(+) DC compared to rats receiving total DC or medium. These results demonstrate that rat splenic CD8alpha(+) DC could provide a cellular basis for a novel, individualized immunotherapy using autologous DC as a complement to conventional therapy in diseases with an autoimmune background such as multiple sclerosis.

Disruption of the Cockayne syndrome B gene impairs spontaneous tumorigenesis in cancer-predisposed Ink4a/ARF knockout mice

Cells isolated from individuals with Cockayne syndrome (CS) have a defect in transcription-coupled DNA repair, which rapidly corrects certain DNA lesions located on the transcribed strand of active genes. Despite this DNA repair defect, individuals with CS group A (CSA) or group B (CSB) do not exhibit an increased spontaneous or UV-induced cancer rate. In order to investigate the effect of CSB deficiency on spontaneous carcinogenesis, we crossed CSB(-/-) mice with cancer-prone mice lacking the p16(Ink4a)/p19(ARF) tumor suppressor locus. CSB(-/-) mice are sensitive to UV-induced skin cancer but show no increased rate of spontaneous cancer. CSB(-/-) Ink4a/ARF(-/-) mice developed 60% fewer tumors than Ink4a/ARF(-/-) animals and demonstrated a longer tumor-free latency time (260 versus 150 days). Moreover, CSB(-/-) Ink4a/ARF(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) exhibited a lower colony formation rate after low-density seeding, a lower rate of H-Ras-induced transformation, slower proliferation, and a lower mRNA synthesis rate than Ink4a/ARF(-/-) MEFs. CSB(-/-) Ink4a/ARF(-/-) MEFs were also more sensitive to UV-induced p53 induction and UV-induced apoptosis than were Ink4a/ARF(-/-) MEFs. In order to investigate whether the apparent antineoplastic effect of CSB gene disruption was caused by sensitization to genotoxin-induced (p53-mediated) apoptosis or by p53-independent sequelae, we also generated p53(-/-) and CSB(-/-) p53(-/-) MEFs. The CSB(-/-) p53(-/-) MEFs demonstrated lower colony formation efficiency, a lower proliferation rate, a lower mRNA synthesis rate, and a higher rate of UV-induced cell death than p53(-/-) MEFs. Collectively, these results indicate that the antineoplastic effect of CSB gene disruption is at least partially p53 independent; it may result from impaired transcription or from apoptosis secondary to environmental or endogenous DNA damage.

A self-complementary, self-assembling microsphere system: application for intravenous delivery of the antiepileptic and neuroprotectant compound felbamate

Felbamate (FBM) is a novel antiepileptic drug (AED) and neuroprotectant (NP) compound that interacts with strychnine-insensitive (SI) glycine receptors in brain (IC(50) = 374 microM). FBM concentrations required to interact with SI glycine receptors are consistent with brain levels following oral and intraperitoneal administration of AED and NP doses. Because of the solubility limits of FBM, an intravenous (iv) form has not been developed. Nevertheless, an iv form could be important for the treatment of disorders such as status epilepticus and neuronal damage due to hypoxic/ischemic events. Substituted diketopiperazines precipitate in acid to form microspherical particles of uniform size ( approximately 2 microm). The microsphere system entraps drugs on precipitation and dissolves near physiological pH to release the drug cargo. Therefore, microspheres were used to produce an iv formulation of FBM. Mice were administered the FBM/microsphere (20-60 mg/kg FBM) and tested for protection against tonic extension seizures using maximal electroshock. The FBM/microsphere was effective in a time- and dose-dependent manner following iv administration. The median effective dose (ED(50)) for protection against MES seizures at 30 min was 27.2 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI) = 20.8-33.4, slope = 6.5]. The ED(50) for minimal motor impairment at 30 min was 167 mg/kg (95% CI = 155-177, slope = 28.1). Thus, the feasibility of encapsulating FBM or similar aqueous insoluble compounds in a microsphere system with delivery by the iv route for treatment of epilepsy and various central nervous system disorders has been clearly demonstrated. Studies were performed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

[Malonaldehyde, superoxide dismutase and human cataract]

UV-spectrophotometry and fluorometry were used to study Malonaldehyde (MDA) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in normal, cataractous human lenses and red blood cells of the patients with cataract. MDA content of senile and complicated cataractous lenses was significantly higher than that of normal human lenses, while that of complicated cataract was significantly higher than that of senile cataract. SOD activity of senile and complicated cataractous lenses was significantly lower than that of normal human lenses, while there was no marked difference between senile and complicated cataractous lenses. Significant correlation between cataractous lenses and red blood cells was not found in MDA content and SOD activity. There was a negative correlation between SOD and MDA in normal human lenses, but no correlation between SOD and MDA in cataractous lenses. The study shows that lipid peroxidation may be one of the possible mechanisms of cataractogenesis in human, and emphasizes the role of SOD in prevention of photoperoxidative damages to the tissues.