Korean red ginseng extract prevents bone loss in an oral model of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis in mice

The gut microbiota and barrier function play important roles in bone health. We previously demonstrated that chronic glucocorticoid (GC)-induced bone loss in mice is associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition and impaired gut barrier function. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Panax Ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) extract has been shown to prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) in a subcutaneous pellet model in mice, but its effect on gut microbiota and barrier function in this context is not known. The overall goal of this study was to test the effect of KRG extract in a clinically relevant, oral model of GIO and further investigate its role in modulating the gut-bone axis. Growing male mice (CD-1, 8 weeks) were treated with 75 μg/mL corticosterone (∼9 mg/kg/day) or 0.4% ethanol vehicle in the drinking water for 4 weeks. During this 4-week period, mice were treated daily with 500 mg/kg/day KRG extract dissolved in sterile water or an equal amount of sterile water via oral gastric gavage. After 4 weeks of treatment, we assessed bone volume, microbiota composition, gut barrier integrity, and immune cells in the bone marrow (BM) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). 4 weeks of oral GC treatment caused significant distal femur trabecular bone loss, and this was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition, impaired gut barrier function and altered immune cell composition. Importantly, KRG extract prevented distal femur trabecular bone loss and caused significant alterations in gut microbiota composition but had only modest effects on gut barrier function and immune cell populations. Taken together, these results demonstrate that KRG extract significantly modulates the gut microbiota-bone axis and prevents glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in mice.

Lactobacillus Reuteri 6475 Prevents Bone Loss in a Clinically Relevant Oral Model of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis in Male CD-1 Mice

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used anti-inflammatory medications with significant side effects, including glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). We have previously demonstrated that chronic subcutaneous GC treatment in mice leads to gut barrier dysfunction and trabecular bone loss. We further showed that treating with probiotics or barrier enhancers improves gut barrier function and prevents GIO. The overall goal of this study was to test if probiotics could prevent GC-induced gut barrier dysfunction and bone loss in a clinically relevant oral-GC model of GIO. Eight-week-old male CD-1 mice were treated with vehicle or corticosterone in the drinking water for 4 weeks and administered probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 6475 (LR 6475) or VSL#3 thrice weekly via oral gavage. As expected, GC treatment led to significant gut barrier dysfunction (assessed by measuring serum endotoxin levels) and bone loss after 4 weeks. Serum endotoxin levels significantly and negatively correlated with bone volume. Importantly, LR 6475 treatment effectively prevented both GC-induced increase in serum endotoxin and trabecular bone loss. VSL#3 had intermediate results, not differing from either control or GC-treated animals. GC-induced reductions in femur length, cortical thickness, and cortical area were not affected by probiotic treatment. Taken together, these results are the first to demonstrate that LR 6475 effectively prevents the detrimental effects of GC treatment on gut barrier, which correlates with enhanced trabecular bone health in an oral mouse model of GIO. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Korean Red Ginseng extract treatment prevents post-antibiotic dysbiosis-induced bone loss in mice

Background

The intestinal microbiota is an important regulator of bone health. In previous studies we have shown that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, induced by treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics (ABX) followed by natural repopulation, results in gut barrier dysfunction and bone loss. We have also shown that treatment with probiotics or a gut barrier enhancer can inhibit dysbiosis-induced bone loss. The overall goal of this project was to test the effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract on bone and gut health using antibiotics (ABX) dysbiosis-induced bone loss model in mice.

Methods

Adult male mice (Balb/C, 12-week old) were administered broad spectrum antibiotics (ampicillin and neomycin) for 2 weeks followed by 4 weeks of natural repopulation. During this 4-week period, mice were treated with vehicle (water) or KRG extract. Other controls included mice that did not receive either antibiotics or KRG extract and mice that received only KRG extract. At the end of the experiments, we assessed various parameters to assess bone, microbiota and in vivo intestinal permeability.

Results

Consistent with our previous results, post-ABX- dysbiosis led to significant bone loss. Importantly, this was associated with a decrease in gut microbiota alpha diversity and an increase in intestinal permeability. All these effects including bone loss were prevented by KRG extract treatment. Furthermore, our studies identified multiple genera including Lactobacillus and rc4-4 as well as Alistipes finegoldii to be potentially linked to the effect of KRG extract on gut-bone axis.

Conclusion

Together, our results demonstrate that KRG extract regulates the gut-bone axis and is effective at preventing dysbiosis-induced bone loss in mice.

Effects of genomic estimated breeding value and dietary energy to protein ratio on growth performance, carcass trait, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo steer

"Genome-based precision feeding" is a concept that involves the application of customised diets to different genetic groups of cattle. We investigated the effects of the genomic estimated breeding value (gEBV) and dietary energy to protein ratio (DEP) on growth performance, carcass traits, and lipogenic gene expression in Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers. Forty-four Hanwoo steers (BW = 636 kg, age = 26.9 months) were genotyped using the Illumina Bovine 50 K BeadChip. The gEBV was calculated using genomic best linear unbiased prediction. Animals were separated into high gEBV of marbling score or low-gMS groups based on the upper and lower 50% groupings of the reference population, respectively. Animals were assigned to one of four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: high gMS/high DEP (0.084 MJ/g), high gMS/low DEP (0.079 MJ/g), low gMS/high DEP, and low gMS/low DEP. Steers were fed concentrate with a high or low DEP for 31 weeks. The BW tended to be higher (0.05 < P < 0.1) in the high-gMS groups compared to the low-gMS groups at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks. The average daily gain (ADG) tended to be lower (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Final BW and measured carcass weight (CW) were positively correlated with the gEBV of carcass weight (gCW). The DEP did not affect ADG. Neither the gMS nor the DEP affected the MS and beef quality grade. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the longissimus thoracis (LT) tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in the high-gMS groups than in the low-gMS groups. The mRNA levels of lipogenic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid binding protein 4 genes in the LT were higher (P < 0.05) in the high-gMS group than in the low-gMS group. Overall, the IMF content tended to be affected by the gMS, and the genetic potential (i.e., gMS) was associated with the functional activity of lipogenic gene expression. The gCW was associated with the measured BW and CW. The results demonstrated that the gMS and the gCW may be used as early prediction indexes for meat quality and growth potential of beef cattle.

Prasugrel-based de-escalation vs. conventional therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention in ACS patients according to the renal function

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): A consortium of six companies in Korea (Daiichi Sankyo, Boston Scientific, Terumo, Biotronik, Qualitech Korea, and Dio).

Background

Patients with coronary artery disease and impaired renal function are at higher risk for both bleeding and ischemic adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Purpose

We assessed the efficacy and safety of a prasugrel based de-escalation strategy in patients with impaired renal function.

Methods

We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS study. Patients with available estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (n=2,311) were categorized into three groups. (high eGFR: ≥90 mL/min; intermediate eGFR: ≥60 and &lt;90 mL/min; low eGFR: &lt;60 mL/min). The endpoints were bleeding outcomes (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, or higher), ischemic outcomes (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, repeat revascularization, and ischemic stroke), and net adverse clinical events (all cause death, BARC 2 or greater bleeding, MI, stent thrombosis, repeat revascularization, and ischemic stroke) at 1 year follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% Confidence interval (CI) were calculated from the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Covariates that were considered clinically meaningful were included. The probability risk ratio was obtained by dividing ischemic hazard function from the bleeding hazard function.

Results

With respect to net adverse clinical events, prasugrel de-escalation was beneficial regardless of baseline renal function (p for interaction = 0.508). The relative reduction in bleeding risk from prasugrel de-escalation was higher in the low eGFR group compared with that from both the intermediate and high eGFR groups (relative reduction: 64% [HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.83] vs. 50% [HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.90] and 52% [HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.21-1.13] for low, intermediate, and high eGFR groups, p for interaction=0.646). Ischemic risk from prasgurel de-escalation was not significant in all eGFR groups ([HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.47-2.98], [HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.53-1.69], and [HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.26-1.39)], respectively, p for interaction=0.119). The probability risk ratio was highest in low eGFR group (1.06 vs. 1.26 vs. 1.36, for high, intermediate, and low eGFR groups, respectively, p for trend&lt;0.001), suggesting higher relative bleeding risk above ischemic risk. Within those randomized to the de-escalation strategy, the mean probability risk ratio was not significantly different according to renal function (0.89, vs. 0.84 vs. 0.80 respectively, p for trend = 0.053), which was in contrast to those randomized to the conventional strategy where the mean probability risk ratio increased significantly as renal function decreased (1.24 vs. 1.67 vs. 1.94 respectively, p for trend&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

The beneficial effect of prasugrel-based de-escalation strategy was consistent regardless of the baseline renal function, which was mostly driven by a reduction in bleeding risk which was greatest in those with low eGFR.

A novel index reflecting both anatomical and physiologic parameters in coronary artery disease, the FFR adjusted SYNTAX score (FaSs)

Background

Various physiology-based indices have been proposed to predict adverse clinical events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), such as the sum of three vessel-fractional flow reserve (3v-FFR), and the functional SYNTAX score (fSS). However, these values could not fully reflect the anatomical factors, which remains as a barrier for clinical application of these indices.

Purpose

To propose a novel index which can reflect both anatomical and physiologic features in CAD patients, and evaluate the additional predictive value for cardiovascular adverse events compared to previous indices.

Methods

For an index which can reflect both anatomical and physiologic features, we proposed the FFR adjusted SYNTAX score (FaSs). The FaSs is calculated by adding the product of the SYNTAX score and `1-FFR', for all three major coronary arteries. Among the 1136 patients who enrolled at 3V FFR-FRIENDS study, we investigated 866 patients, after excluding those who had missing variables. The 3v-FFR, fSS and FaSs were calculated, derived from the baseline FFR and SYNTAX score. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median value of each index. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and ischemia-driven revascularization) at 2 years follow-up.

Results

Among the total population, MACE occurred in 35 (4.04%) patients. Using the median value in a multivariable COX regression model, only FaSs was associated with an increased risk of MACE, (Hazard Ratio [HR] 5.256, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.014–13.720), while 3v-FFR (HR 1.383, 95% CI 0.685–2.790) and fSS (HR 1.640, 95% CI 0.830–3.243) were not significantly associated with a higher risk of MACE. This was also observed in the Kaplan Meier survival curve analysis (log-rank p value: p&lt;0.001 for FaSs, 0.153 for 3v-FFR, and 0.061 for fSS; Figure 1) The sensitivity and specificity of the FaSs was 85.7% and 51.6%, which was higher compared to the 3v-FFR (62.9% and 49.3%, respectively) and fSS (57.1% and 58.5%, respectively). When these indices were combined with clinical risk factors (age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, chronic renal failure, LVEF&lt;40%), FaSs was superior compared with 3v-FFR and fSS assessed in regards of the predictive accuracy for MACE (Figure 2).

Conclusion

The FaSs, which is a novel index calculated by a formula using the SYNTAX score and FFR, showed a superior predictive value for MACE compared to previous indices. Our results confirm the importance of considering both anatomical and physiologic parameters in evaluating the patient's risk for cardiovascular adverse outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Involvement of the Gut Microbiota and Barrier Function in Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent immune-modulating drugs with significant side effects, including glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). GCs directly induce osteoblast and osteocyte apoptosis but also alter intestinal microbiota composition. Although the gut microbiota is known to contribute to the regulation of bone density, its role in GIO has never been examined. To test this, male C57/Bl6J mice were treated for 8 weeks with GC (prednisolone, GC-Tx) in the presence or absence of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment (ABX) to deplete the microbiota. Long-term ABX prevented GC-Tx-induced trabecular bone loss, showing the requirement of gut microbiota for GIO. Treatment of GC-Tx mice with a probiotic (Lactobacillus reuteri [LR]) prevented trabecular bone loss. Microbiota analyses indicated that GC-Tx changed the abundance of Verrucomicobiales and Bacteriodales phyla and random forest analyses indicated significant differences in abundance of Porphyromonadaceae and Clostridiales operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between groups. Furthermore, transplantation of GC-Tx mouse fecal material into recipient naïve, untreated WT mice caused bone loss, supporting a functional role for microbiota in GIO. We also report that GC caused intestinal barrier breaks, as evidenced by increased serum endotoxin level (2.4-fold), that were prevented by LR and ABX treatments. Enhancement of barrier function with a mucus supplement prevented both GC-Tx-induced barrier leakage and trabecular GIO. In bone, treatment with ABX, LR or a mucus supplement reduced GC-Tx-induced osteoblast and osteocyte apoptosis. GC-Tx suppression of Wnt10b in bone was restored by the LR and high-molecular-weight polymer (MDY) treatments as well as microbiota depletion. Finally, we identified that bone-specific Wnt10b overexpression prevented GIO. Taken together, our data highlight the previously unappreciated involvement of the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function in trabecular GIO pathogenesis (including Wnt10b suppression and osteoblast and osteocyte apoptosis) and identify the gut as a novel therapeutic target for preventing GIO. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Loss of interleukin-10 exacerbates early Type-1 diabetes-induced bone loss

Type-1 diabetes (T1D) increases systemic inflammation, bone loss, and risk for bone fractures. Levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) are decreased in T1D, however their role in T1D-induced osteoporosis is unknown. To address this, diabetes was induced in male IL-10 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Analyses of femur and vertebral trabecular bone volume fraction identified bone loss in T1D-WT mice at 4 and 12 weeks, which in T1D-IL-10-KO mice was further reduced at 4 weeks but not 12 weeks. IL-10 deficiency also increased the negative effects of T1D on cortical bone. Osteoblast marker osterix was decreased, while osteoclast markers were unchanged, suggesting that IL-10 promotes anabolic processes. MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cultured under high glucose conditions displayed a decrease in osterix which was prevented by addition of IL-10. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-10 is important for promoting osteoblast maturation and reducing bone loss during early stages of T1D.

A Case of Recurrent Supratentorial Extraventricular Anaplastic Ependymoma in Adult

Supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma (SEAE) in adults is a relatively rare intracranial tumor. Because of the very low prevalence, only a few cases have been reported. According to a recent study, SEAE is associated with a poor prognosis and there is no definite consensus on optimal treatment. We report a case of an adult SEAE patient who had no recurrence until seven years after a gross total resection (GTR) followed by conventional radiotherapy. A 42-year-old male had a persistent mild headache, left facial palsy, dysarthria, and left hemiparesis. Preoperative neuroimaging revealed an anaplastic astrocytoma or supratentorial ependymoma in the right frontal lobe. A GTR was performed, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Histologic and immunohistochemical results revealed anaplastic ependymoma. After seven years of initial therapy, a regular follow-up MRI showed a 3-cm-sized partially cystic mass in the same area as the initial tumor. The patient underwent a craniotomy, and a GTR was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed recurrence of the SEAE. External radiotherapy was performed. The patient has been stable without any disease progression or complications for 12 months since the surgery for recurrent SEAE.

Relation of Various Parameters Used to Estimate Cardiac Vagal Activity and Validity of pNN50 in Anesthetized Humans

Objectives Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has been used as a measure of cardiac autonomic function. According to the pNN50 statistic, the percentage of differences between successive normal RR intervals (RRI) that exceed 50 ms, has been known to reflect cardiac vagal modulation. Relatively little is known about the validity of pNN50 during general anesthesia (GA). Therefore, we evaluated the correlation of pNN50 with other variables such as HF, RMSSD, SD1 of HRV reflecting the vagal tone, and examined the validity of pNN50 in anesthetized patients. Methods: We assessed changes in RRI, pNN50, root mean square of successive differences of RRI (RMSSD), high frequency (HF) and standard deviation 1 (SD1) of Poincaré plots after GA using sevoflurane anesthesia. We also calculated the probability distributions for the family of pNNx statistics (x: 2-50 ms). Results All HRV variables were significantly decreased during GA. HF power was not correlated with pNN50 during GA (r = 0.096, P = 0.392). Less than pNN47 was shown to have a correlation with other variables. Conclusions These data suggest that pNN50 can not reflect the level of vagal tone during GA.

G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2-deficient mice are protected from dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is a serine/threonine kinase and plays a key role in different disease processes. Previously, we showed that GRK2 knockdown enhances wound healing in colonic epithelial cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that ablation of GRK2 would protect mice from dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis. To test this, we administered DSS to wild-type (GRK2^+/+) and GRK2 heterozygous (GRK^+/-) mice in their drinking water for 7 days. As predicted, GRK2^+/- mice were protected from colitis as demonstrated by decreased weight loss (20% loss in GRK2^+/+ vs. 11% loss in GRK2^+/-). lower disease activity index (GRK2^+/+ 9.1 vs GRK2^+/- 4.1), and increased colon lengths (GRK2^+/+ 4.7 cm vs GRK2^+/- 5.3 cm). To examine the mechanisms by which GRK2^+/- mice are protected from colitis, we investigated expression of inflammatory genes in the colon as well as immune cell profiles in colonic lamina propria, mesenteric lymph node, and in bone marrow. Our results did not reveal differences in immune cell profiles between the two genotypes. However, expression of inflammatory genes was significantly decreased in DSS-treated GRK2^+/- mice compared with GRK2^+/+. To understand the mechanisms, we generated myeloid-specific GRK2 knockout mice and subjected them to DSS-induced colitis. Similar to whole body GRK2 heterozygous knockout mice, myeloid-specific knockout of GRK2 was sufficient for the protection from DSS-induced colitis. Together our results indicate that deficiency of GRK2 protects mice from DSS-induced colitis and further suggests that the mechanism of this effect is likely via GRK2 regulation of inflammatory genes in the myeloid cells.

TRIENNIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM: Molecular mechanisms related to bovine intramuscular fat deposition in the longissimus muscle

The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of the LM, also known as marbling, is particularly important in determining the price of beef in Korea, Japan, and the United States. Deposition of IMF is influenced by both genetic (e.g., breed, gender, and genotype) and nongenetic factors (e.g., castration, nutrition, stressors, animal weight, and age). Castration of bulls markedly increases deposition of IMF, resulting in improved beef quality. Here, we present a comparative gene expression approach between bulls and steers. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies have demonstrated that the combined effects of increases in lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, and fatty acid esterification and decreased lipolysis are associated with increased IMF deposition in the LM. Several peripheral tissues (LM, adipose tissues, and the liver) are involved in lipid metabolism. Therefore, understanding the significance of the tissue network in lipid metabolism is important. Here, we demonstrate that lipid metabolism in LM tissues is crucial for IMF deposition, whereas lipid metabolism in the liver plays only a minor role. Metabolism of body fat and IMF deposition in bovine species has similarities with these processes in metabolic diseases, such as obesity in humans and rodents. Extensive studies on metabolic diseases using epigenome modification (DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA), microbial metagenomics, and metabolomics have been performed in humans and rodents, and new findings have been reported using these technologies. The importance of applying "omics" fields (epigenomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics) to the study of IMF deposition in cattle is described. New information on the molecular mechanisms of IMF deposition may be used to design nutritional or genetic methods to manipulate IMF deposition and to modify fatty acid composition in beef cattle. Applying nutrigenomics could maximize the expression of genetic potential of economically important traits (e.g., marbling) in animals.

Immunology of Gut-Bone Signaling

In recent years a link between the gastrointestinal tract and bone health has started to gain significant attention. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota has been linked to the pathology of a number of diseases which are associated with bone loss. In addition modulation of the intestinal microbiota with probiotic bacteria has revealed to have both beneficial local and systemic effects. In the present chapter, we discuss the intestinal and bone immune systems, explore how intestinal disease affects the immune system, and examine how these pathologic changes could adversely impact bone health.

Xanthohumol inhibits cellular proliferation in a breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB231) through an intrinsic mitochondrial-dependent pathway

AIMS

Xanthohumol isolated from hops has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects in diverse human cancers. However, its effect on breast cancer has not yet been clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of xanthohumol on breast cancer cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After treatment with 5 μM, 10 μM, and 20 μM xanthohumol for 48 h, cells from the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were studied using colony assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting.

RESULTS

The survival rate of the MDA-MB231 cells treated with 10 μM and 20 μM xanthohumol for 48 h decreased significantly by 64.7 ± 1.8% and 40.1 ± 1.8%, respectively. The numbers of SubG0/G1 cells in the group treated with 10 μM and 20 μM xanthohumol increased significantly to 11.3 ± 0.2 and 18.4 ± 0.1, respectively. A ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation was also observed. Xanthohumol increased the expression of Bax in the mitochondria, which correspondingly decreased in the cytoplasm. The activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 was shown to increase significantly in the treated groups but not in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Xanthohumol inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells through a mitochondria- and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. This result suggests that xanthohumol might serve as a novel therapeutic drug for breast cancer.

ULTRASOUND SPECTROSCOPY

We introduce the concept of "Ultrasound Spectroscopy". The premise of ultrasound spectroscopy is that by acquiring ultrasound RF data at multiple power and frequency settings, a rich set of features can be extracted from that RF data and used to characterize the underlying tissues. This is beneficial for a variety of problems, such as accurate tissue classification, application-specific image generation, and numerous other quantitative tasks. These capabilities are particularly relevant to point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) applications, where operator experience with ultrasound may be limited. Instead of displaying B-mode images, a POCUS application using ultrasound spectroscopy can, for example, automatically detect internal abdominal bleeding. In this paper, we present ex vivo tissue phantom studies to demonstrate the accuracy of ultrasound spectroscopy over previous approaches. Our studies suggest that ultrasound spectroscopy provides exceptional accuracy and informative features for classifying blood versus other tissues across image locations and body habitus.

Effects of Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Immune Cell Populations in Korean Cattle Steers

Exposure to cold may affect growth performance in accordance with the metabolic and immunological activities of animals. We evaluated whether ambient temperature affects growth performance, blood metabolites, and immune cell populations in Korean cattle. Eighteen Korean cattle steers with a mean age of 10 months and a mean weight of 277 kg were used. All steers were fed a growing stage-concentrate diet at a rate of 1.5% of body weight and Timothy hay ad libitum for 8 weeks. Experimental period 1 (P1) was for four weeks from March 7 to April 3 and period 2 (P2) was four weeks from April 4 to May 1. Mean (8.7°C) and minimum (1.0°C) indoor ambient temperatures during P1 were lower (p<0.001) than those (13.0°C and 6.2°C, respectively) during P2. Daily dry matter feed intake in both the concentrate diet and forage groups was higher (p<0.001) during P2 than P1. Average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.001) during P2 (1.38 kg/d) than P1 (1.13 kg/d). Feed efficiency during P2 was higher (p = 0.015) than P1. Blood was collected three times; on March 7, April 4, and May 2. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher on March 7 than April 4 and May 2. Blood cortisol, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations did not differ among months. Blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ T cell percentages were higher, while CD8+CD25+ T cell percentage was lower, during the colder month of March than during May, suggesting that ambient temperature affects blood T cell populations. In conclusion, colder ambient temperature decreased growth and feed efficiency in Korean cattle steers. The higher circulating NEFA concentrations observed in March compared to April suggest that lipolysis may occur at colder ambient temperatures to generate heat and maintain body temperature, resulting in lower feed efficiency in March.

The Reliability of Histoculture Drug Response Assay (HDRA) in Chemosensitivity Tests for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

Cancers are highly individual in their response to chemotherapy, however attempts to predict tumor response to drugs using in vitro cell culture have largely failed. A new technology, the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA), appears to have solved many previous problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of HDRA in a chemosensitivity test for breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumor specimens from breast cancer patients were evaluated by HDRA using different chemotherapeutic agents. Each specimen was tested using a blind method in order to determine the reproducibility of HDRA results for the same tissue and with a triplicated assay in order to determine reproducibility by different examiners. The evaluative power of this assay and the chemosensitivity of drugs for each specimen was determined.

RESULTS

Specimens of 92.9% (65/70) were successfully cultured and evaluated for chemosensitivity. The reproducibility of HDRA for the same tissue was 75% (100% agreement) and 100% (over 70% agreement), respectively. And the reproducibility by different examiners was 78.9% (100% agreement) and 94.7% (over 70% agreement), respectively. Each specimen demonstrated a response to at least one agent.

CONCLUSION

The evaluative power and reproducibility of HDRA were high, therefore it might serve as a reliable clinical method for chemosensitivity testing. However, there is a need for clinical trial in which patients are initially randomized for treatment either by HDRA direction or by clinician's choice.

Long-term control of diabetes in immunosuppressed nonhuman primates (NHP) by the transplantation of adult porcine islets

Pig islets are an alternative source for islet transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D), but reproducible curative potential in the pig-to-nonhuman primate (NHP) model has not been demonstrated. Here, we report that pig islet grafts survived and maintained normoglycemia for >6 months in four of five consecutive immunosuppressed NHPs. Pig islets were isolated from designated pathogen-free (DPF) miniature pigs and infused intraportally into streptozotocin-induced diabetic rhesus monkeys under pretreatment with cobra venom factor (CVF), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction and maintenance with anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody and low-dose sirolimus. Ex vivo expanded autologous regulatory T cells were adoptively transferred in three recipients. Blood glucose levels were promptly normalized in all five monkeys and normoglycemia (90-110 mg/dL) was maintained for >6 months in four cases, the longest currently up to 603 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests during the follow-up period showed excellent glucose disposal capacity and porcine C-peptide responses. Adoptive transfer of autologous regulatory T cells was likely to be associated with more stable and durable normoglycemia. Importantly, the recipients showed no serious adverse effects. Taken together, our results confirm the clinical feasibility of pig islet transplantation to treat T1D patients without the need for excessive immunosuppressive therapy.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre phase III trial of XELIRI/FOLFIRI plus simvastatin for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Background:

The purpose of this randomised phase III trial was to evaluate whether the addition of simvastatin, a synthetic 3-hydroxy-3methyglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, to XELIRI/FOLFIRI chemotherapy regimens confers a clinical benefit to patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods:

We undertook a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial of 269 patients previously treated for metastatic colorectal cancer and enrolled in 5 centres in South Korea. Patients were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to one of the following groups: FOLFIRI/XELIRI plus simvastatin (40 mg) or FOLFIRI/XELIRI plus placebo. The FOLFIRI regimen consisted of irinotecan at 180 mg m⁻² as a 90-min infusion, leucovorin at 200 mg m⁻² as a 2-h infusion, and a bolus injection of 5-FU 400 mg m⁻² followed by a 46-h continuous infusion of 5-FU at 2400 mg m⁻². The XELIRI regimen consisted of irinotecan at 250 mg m⁻² as a 90-min infusion with capecitabine 1000 mg m⁻² twice daily for 14 days. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included response rate, duration of response, overall survival (OS), time to progression, and toxicity.

Results:

Between April 2010 and July 2013, 269 patients were enrolled and assigned to treatment groups (134 simvastatin, 135 placebo). The median PFS was 5.9 months (95% CI, 4.5–7.3) in the XELIRI/FOLFIRI plus simvastatin group and 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.4–8.6) in the XELIRI/FOLFIRI plus placebo group (P=0.937). No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to OS (median, 15.9 months (simvastatin) vs 19.9 months (placebo), P=0.826). Grade ⩾3 nausea and anorexia were noted slightly more often in patients in the simvastatin arm compared with with the placebo arm (4.5% vs 0.7%, 3.0% vs 0%, respectively).

Conclusions:

The addition of 40 mg simvastatin to the XELIRI/FOLFIRI regimens did not improve PFS in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer nor did it increase toxicity.

Effects of Dietary Restriction on the Expression of Lipid Metabolism and Growth Hormone Signaling Genes in the Longissimus dorsi Muscle of Korean Cattle Steers

This study determined the effects of dietary restriction on growth and the expression of lipid metabolism and growth hormone signaling genes in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of Korean cattle. Thirty-one Korean cattle steers (average age 10.5 months) were allocated to normal (N; n = 16) or dietary restriction (DR; n = 15) groups. The feeding trial consisted of two stages: for the 8-month growing period, the DR group was fed 80% of the food intake of the normal diet, and for the 6-month growth-finishing period, the DR group was fed a DR total mixed ration with 78.4% of the crude protein and 64% of the net energy for gain of the normal diet. The LM was biopsied 5 months (period 1 [P1] at 15.5 months of age) and 14 months (period 2 [P2] at 24.5 months of age) after the start of feeding. The mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Body weight, daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were lower in the DR group compared with the normal group at both P1 and P2. At P1, the lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) mRNA levels were lower (p<0.05) in the DR group compared with the normal group. The DR group tended (p = 0.06) to have higher of levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA than the normal group. At P2, the DR group tended to have lower (p = 0.06) androgen receptor (AR) mRNA levels than the normal group. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that dietary restriction partially decreases the transcription of lipogenic FASN and growth hormone signaling AR genes, but increases transcription of the GHR gene. These changes in gene transcription might affect body fat accumulation and the growth of the animals.

[A case of pleomorphic liposarcoma originating from mesentery]

Liposarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas that occurs in adults and is currently divided into five main subgroups: well-differentiated, myxoid, round cell, pleomorphic, and dedifferentiated. Primary mesenteric liposarcoma is extremely rare, and the treatment strategy is surgical resection with a wide free margin, often followed by radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy if distant metastasis is not detected. A 73-year-old male patient presented with lower abdominal distension. Abdominal CT scan revealed a large homogeneously enhancing mass lesion abutting the sigmoid colon and urinary bladder. At laparotomy, the solid mass measured 28×26×12 cm in size, was well-demarcated, and originated from the mesentery of the middle ileum. It was removed along with some small intestine (ileocecal valve upper 50-150 cm) and ileal mesentery because of adhesion. Histologically, the tumor proved to be pleomorphic liposarcoma. The patient did not undergo any adjuvant treatment following surgery, but he remains disease free until 33 months after surgery. Herein, we report a case of pleomorphic liposarcoma arising from small bowel mesentery.

Blockade of CD40-CD154 costimulatory pathway promotes long-term survival of full-thickness porcine corneal grafts in nonhuman primates: clinically applicable xenocorneal transplantation

The porcine cornea may be a good solution for the shortage of human donor corneas because its size and refractive properties are comparable to those of the human cornea. However, antigenic differences need to be overcome to apply xenocorneal transplantation in actual clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of full-thickness porcine corneas as human corneal substitutes using a CD40-CD154 costimulatory pathway blocking strategy in a clinically applicable pig-to-nonhuman primate corneal transplantation model. As a result, the mean survival time of the xenocorneal grafts in recipients who received anti-CD154 antibody-based immunosuppressants (POD318 (n = 4); >933, >243, 318 and >192) was significantly longer than that in controls (POD28 (n = 3); 21, 28 and 29; p = 0.010, log-rank test). Administration of anti-CD154 antibodies markedly reduced inflammatory cellular infiltrations (predominantly CD8 T cells and macrophages) into the xenocorneal grafts and almost completely blocked xenoantigen-triggered increases in Th1-associated cytokines, chemokines and C3a in the aqueous humor. Moreover, systemic expansion of memory T cells was effectively controlled and responses of anti-Gal/donor pig-specific antibodies were considerably diminished by programmed injection of anti-CD154 antibodies. Consequently, porcine corneas might be promising human corneal substitutes when the transplantation is accompanied by potent immunosuppression such as a CD40-CD154 costimulatory pathway blockade.

Association of DNA Methylation Levels with Tissue-specific Expression of Adipogenic and Lipogenic Genes in Longissimus dorsi Muscle of Korean Cattle

Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation status, may regulate adipogenesis and lipogenesis, thus affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) of beef cattle. In Korean cattle steers, the LM consists mainly of muscle tissue. However, the LM tissue also contains IMF. We compared the gene expression levels between the IMF and muscle portions of the LM after tissue separation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the mRNA levels of both adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma isoform 1 (PPARG1) and lipogenic fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) were higher (p<0.01) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. We determined DNA methylation levels of regulatory regions of the PPARG1 and FABP4 genes by pyrosequencing of genomic DNA. DNA methylation levels of two of three CpG sites in the PPARG1 gene promoter region were lower (p<0.05) in the IMF than in the muscle portion of the LM. DNA methylation levels of all five CpG sites from the FABP4 gene promoter region were also lower (p<0.001) in the IMF than in the muscle portion. Thus, mRNA levels of both PPARG1 and FABP4 genes were inversely correlated with DNA methylation levels in regulatory regions of CpG sites of the corresponding gene. Our findings suggest that DNA methylation status regulates tissue-specific expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in the IMF and muscle portions of LM tissue in Korean cattle.

Efficacy and safety of micafungin for the prophylaxis of invasive fungal infection during neutropenia in children and adolescents undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic SCT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micafungin for the prevention of invasive fungal infection (IFI) during the neutropenic phase of allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT) in children and adolescents. This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study. Micafungin was administered i.v. at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day (max 50 mg) from the beginning of conditioning until neutrophil engraftment. Treatment success was defined as the absence of proven, probable, possible or suspected IFI through to 4 weeks after therapy. From April 2010 to December 2011, 155 patients were enrolled from 11 institutions in Korea, and 147 patients were analyzed. Of the 147 patients, 121 (82.3%) completed the protocol without premature interruption. Of the 132 patients in whom micafungin efficacy could be evaluated, treatment success was achieved in 119 patients (90.2%). There was no proven fungal infection in any patient. The number of patients with probable, possible and suspected IFI was two, two and nine, respectively. Thirty-five patients (23.8%) experienced 109 adverse events (AEs) possibly related to micafungin. No patients experienced grade IV AEs. Two patients (1.4%) discontinued micafungin administration due to adverse effects. None of the deaths were related to the study drug.

Oct4 is a critical regulator of stemness in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been suggested as responsible for the initiation and progression of cancers. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) is an important regulator of embryonic stem cell fate. Here, we investigated whether Oct4 regulates stemness of head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) CSCs. Our study showed that ectopic expression of Oct4 promotes tumor growth through cyclin E activation, increases chemoresistance through ABCC6 expression and enhances tumor invasion through slug expression. Also, Oct4 dedifferentiates differentiated HNSC cells to CSC-like cells. Furthermore, Oct4(high) HNSC CSCs have more stem cell-like traits compared with Oct4(low) cells, such as self-renewal, stem cell markers' expression, chemoresistance, invasion capacity and xenograft tumorigeneity in vitro and in vivo. In addition, knockdown of Oct4 led to markedly lower HNSC CSC stemness. Finally, there was a significant correlation between Oct4 expression and survival of 119 HNSC patients. Collectively, these data suggest that Oct4 may be a critical regulator of HNSC CSCs and its targeting may be potentially valuable in the treatment of HNSC CSCs.

A macrophage-specific synthetic promoter for therapeutic application of adiponectin

Foam cell formation from macrophage is a major cause of atherosclerosis. An efficient macrophage-specific promoter is required for the targeting to macrophages. In this study, we develop a macrophage-specific synthetic promoter for the therapeutic application of adiponectin (APN), an antiatherogenic gene. Synthetic promoter-146 (SP146), registered on the NCBI website (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/DQ107383), was tested for promoter activities in two non-macrophage cell lines (293 T, HeLa) and a macrophage cell line (RAW264.7, bone marrow-derived macrophages). To enforce macrophage specificity, partial elements of p47(phox) including the PU.1 site with various lengths (-C1, -C2 and -C3) were inserted next to the synthetic promoters. SP146-C1 showed the highest specificity and efficacy in RAW264.7 cells and was selected for development of an APN-carrying macrophage-specific promoter. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)- or APN-expressing lentivirus under SP146-C1 (Lenti-SP-GFP or Lenti-SP-APN, respectively) showed the highest expression efficacy in RAW264.7 cells compared with the non-macrophage cell lines. APN overexpression in RAW264.7 cells successfully inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation, and atherosclerotic lesions and lipid accumulation were significantly reduced by Lenti-SP-APN in ApoE-/- atherosclerosis mice. In conclusion, the synthetic promoter SP146-C1, combined with a p47(phox) promoter element, was successfully developed to target macrophage, and macrophage-specific introduction of APN under SP146-C1 was shown to ameliorate the atherosclerotic pathology.

Endoscopic versus open release in patients with de Quervain's tenosynovitis: a randomised trial

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome and complications of endoscopic versus open release for the treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Patients with this condition were randomised to undergo either endoscopic (n = 27) or open release (n = 25). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores were measured at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Scar satisfaction was measured using a VAS scale. The mean pain and DASH scores improved significantly at 12 weeks and 24 weeks (p < 0.001) in both groups. The scores were marginally lower in the endoscopic group compared to the open group at 12 weeks (p = 0.012 and p = 0.002, respectively); however, only the DASH score showed a clinically important difference. There were no differences between the groups at 24 weeks. The mean VAS scar satisfaction score was higher in the endoscopic group at 24 weeks (p < 0.001). Transient superficial radial nerve injury occurred in three patients in the endoscopic group compared with nine in the open release group (p = 0.033). We conclude that endoscopic release for de Quervain's tenosynovitis seems to provide earlier improvement after surgery, with fewer superficial radial nerve complications and greater scar satisfaction, when compared with open release.

Genetic variants of AICDA/CASP14 associated with childhood brain tumor

We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Korea to investigate whether apoptosis- and cell cycle control-related genes are associated with childhood brain tumor. Incident brain tumor cases (N = 70) and non-cancer controls (N = 140), frequency-matched by age and gender, were selected from 3 teaching hospitals in Seoul between 2003 and 2006. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (N = 297) in 30 genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle control were selected using a pairwise linkage-disequilibrium-based algorithm. Five tag SNPs in 2 genes (AICDA and CASP14) remained significant after adjusted multiple tests. The most significant association with childhood brain tumor risk was for IVS1-401G>C in the AICDA gene [odds ratio (OR) = 2.8; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.25-6.46]; the polymorphism *9276A>C of CASP14 was associated with decreased brain tumor risk (OR = 0.4; 95%CI = 0.19-0.95). We concluded that genetic polymorphisms in AICDA and CASP14 are associated with risk for brain tumor in Korean children.

Epigenetic regulation of myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix production in nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Nasal polyposis is a multi-factorial disease associated with chronic inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses. Myofibroblast differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation are involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to study the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and ECM accumulation in nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs).

METHODS

Nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts were isolated from nasal polyps of patients who have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp. TSA was treated in TGF-β1-induced NPDFs. Expression levels of HDAC2, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), TGF-β1, collagen type I, acetylated Histone H3, acetylated Histone H4, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and Smad7 were determined by RT-PCR, western blot and/or immunofluorescent staining. The total collagen amount production was analysed by Sircol soluble collagen assay and contractile activity was measured by collagen gel contraction assay. HDAC2 inhibition by TSA or HDAC2 silencing was established by RT-PCR and western blot. The epigenetic effect on α-SMA gene inactivation was examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Proliferation was determined by Ki67-positive cell staining and cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTS

The expression levels of HDAC2, α-SMA and TGF-β1 were increased in nasal polyp tissues compared to normal inferior turbinate tissues. TSA and HDAC2 silencing inhibited expression levels α-SMA, collagen and HDAC2. TSA induced hyperacetylation of histone and suppressed opening of α-SMA gene promoter in TGF-β1-induced NPDFs. TSA inhibited TGF-β1-induced Smad 2/3 and rescued TGF-β1-suppressed Smad7 signalling pathway. Finally, TSA blocked proliferation in TGF-β1-induced NPDFs and has no cytotoxic effect in NPDFs.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These results suggest that HDAC inhibition is associated with myofibroblast differentiation and extracelluar matrix accumulation in nasal polyposis. TSA may be useful as an inhibitor of nasal polyp growth, and thus has potential to be used as a novel treatment option for nasal polyposis.

Comparison of erythrocyte membrane fatty acid contents in renal transplant recipients and dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Alterations of erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (FA) composition play important roles in cellular function because they change the membrane microenvironment, including transmembrane receptors. The erythrocyte membrane oleic acid content is higher among patients with acute coronary syndrome and also in dialysis patients. However, available data are limited concerning erythrocyte membrane FA content in kidney transplant recipients (KTP). We sought to test the hypothesis that erythrocyte membrane FA content among KTP were different from those in dialysis patients.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 35 hemodialysis, 33 peritoneal dialysis 49 KTP, and 33 normal control subjects (CTL). Their erythrocyte membrane FA content were measured by gas chromatography.

RESULTS

The mean ages of the enrolled dialysis patients, KTP, and CTL were 56.4 ± 10.1, 48.9 ± 10.4, and 49.5 ± 8.3 years, respectively. Mean kidney transplant duration was 89.8 ± 64.8 months and mean dialysis duration, 49.0 ± 32.6 months. The intakes of vegetable lipid and vegetable protein including total calories were significantly increased among KTP versus dialysis patients. Total cholesterol (P < .001) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL; P < .001) levels were significantly higher and C-reactive protein was significantly lower among KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane content of palmitoleic acid (P < .001) was significantly higher but oleic acid (P < .001) significantly lower in KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane contents of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly higher, and linoleic acid and the omega-6 FA to omega-3 FA ratio (P < .001) significantly lower in KTP compared with dialysis patients. The erythrocyte membrane content of oleic acid was independently associated with monounsaturated fatty acid (beta = 0.771, P < .001), eicosapentaeonic acid (beta = -0.244, P = .010), and HDL (beta = -0.139, P = .049) in KTP.

CONCLUSIONS

FA contents of erythrocyte membranes were significantly different in KTP compared with dialysis patients. These differences may have been associated with improved dietary intake and immunosuppression after kidney transplantation.

Magnetic field splitting of the spin resonance in CeCoIn5

Neutron scattering in strong magnetic fields is used to show the spin resonance in superconducting CeCoIn(5) (T(c)=2.3 K) is a doublet. The underdamped resonance (ħΓ=0.069±0.019 meV) Zeeman splits into two modes at E(±)=ħΩ(0)±αμ(B)μ(0)H with α=0.96±0.05. A linear extrapolation of the lower peak reaches zero energy at 11.2±0.5 T, near the critical field for the incommensurate "Q phase." Kenzelmann et al. [Science 321, 1652 (2008)] This, taken with the integrated weight and polarization of the low-energy mode (E(-)), indicates that the Q phase can be interpreted as a Bose condensate of spin excitons.

Effects of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise on body composition and vascular compliance in obese boys

AIM

This study tested the hypothesis that 12 weeks of air board exercise would enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and vascular compliance and reduce % body fat in obese Korean boys.

METHODS

Twenty-two obese boys (>30% body fat) were studied. They were divided into 2 groups- an aerobic exercise group (N.=12), which trained 3 days/week, 50 min/day for 12 weeks, and a control group (N.=10). Control subjects only performed activities involved in their physical education classes. Body composition, cardiovascular fitness (20 m multistage endurance test performance) and vascular compliance were assessed before and after the completion of exercise training.

RESULTS

The % changes in body fat (-4.6±0.9 vs. -1.5±1.0%), fat mass (-5.4±1.5 vs. -0.1±1.6%) and performance on the cardiovascular fitness test (14.3±2.5 vs. 3.7±1.6%) were greater in the exercise group than in the controls Compared to controls, % increases in vascular compliance were greater in the arms and legs of the exercise group (left arm: 2.8±0.5 vs. 2.0±2.9%; left leg: 2.6±1.2 vs. -0.5±2.0%; right arm: 2.9±0.9 vs. 0.3±2.9%; right leg: 4.8±1.8 vs. 1.5±2.0%).

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that exercise training can reduce % body fat and enhance vascular compliance in obese male adolescents; changes that may reduce the risk for later development of cardiovascular disease.

From incommensurate correlations to mesoscopic spin resonance in YbRh2Si2

Spin fluctuations are reported near the magnetic field-driven quantum critical point in YbRh(2)Si(2). On cooling, ferromagnetic fluctuations evolve into incommensurate correlations located at q(0) = ±(δ,δ), with δ = 0.14 ± 0.04 r.l.u. At low temperatures, an in-plane magnetic field induces a sharp intradoublet resonant excitation at an energy E(0) = gμ(B)μ(0)H with g = 3.8 ± 0.2. The intensity is localized at the zone center, indicating precession of spin density extending ξ = 6 ± 2 Å beyond the 4f site.

A ganglion cyst generated by non-absorbable meniscal repair suture material

Arthroscopic meniscal repair has been a common procedure for the treatment of a torn meniscus, since the importance of meniscal preservation is widely understood. Over the years, the complications associated with suture material have been reported. Meniscal cyst is also one of those things. But ganglion cyst triggered by non-absorbable suture material was not documented in the literature. We report the case of a 19-year-old boy who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and repair of the medial meniscus by inside-out technique using 2-0 non-absorbable polyester sutures. The patient returned to our clinic at 4-year F/U with right knee pain due to medial meniscus tear and ganglion cyst. We suspect non-absorbable suture materials itself might have caused soft tissue irritation with repetitive trauma that lead to mucoid degeneration which results in ganglion cyst formation in the end.

Development of an automated region of interest selection method for 3D surface monitoring of head motion

PURPOSE

To simplify the often complex and user-dependent manual region of interest (ROI) selection process for head motion monitoring, an automatic ROI selection method was developed.

METHODS

The automatic ROI selection algorithm calculated the displacements and velocities of 3D surface points between a temporally correlated 3D image series and a reference image. Only facial surfaces satisfying certain spatial and temporal criteria were selected. The algorithm was tested on five healthy volunteers instructed to perform different types of facial movements for a total of 27 real-time image sets (40-120 images for each image set).

RESULTS

The algorithm detected and excluded surface areas affected by different types of local facial movements that were independent of actual net head motion. Eye, eyebrow, and mandible motion were most commonly detected as being independent of head motion and were excluded from the final ROI. For 3D images taken with substantial facial or whole head motion, either most of the facial area was excluded or only small areas with random patterns were included in the final ROI. Surface image registration using iterative closest point (ICP) methods showed more stable real-time head tracking using the automatically selected ROI than manual user defined ROIs.

CONCLUSIONS

The automatic selection method successfully found ROIs stable over time for tracking head motion by excluding locally varying facial motions. By automating the ROI selection process, it is feasible that the time and complexity of current ROI definition can be reduced, together with user-dependent registration errors.

BRCA1 negatively regulates IGF-1 expression through an estrogen-responsive element-like site

The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling pathway is critical for both normal mammary gland development and malignant transformation. It has been reported that the IGF-1 stimulates breast cancer cell proliferation and is upregulated in tumors with BRCA1/2 mutations. We report here that IGF-1 is negatively regulated by BRCA1 at the transcriptional level in human breast cancer cells. BRCA1 knockdown (BRCA1-KD) induces the expression of IGF-1 mRNA in MCF7 cells in an estrogen receptor α (ERα)-dependent manner. We found that both BRCA1 and ERα bind to the endogenous IGF-1 promoter region containing an estrogen-responsive element-like (EREL) site. BRCA1-KD does not significantly affect ERα binding on the IGF-1 promoter. Reporter analysis demonstrates that BRCA1 could regulate IGF-1 transcripts via this EREL site. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that de-repression of IGF-1 transcription by BRCA1-KD increases the level of extracellular IGF-1 protein, and secreted IGF-1 seems to increase the phospho-IGF-1Rβ and activate its downstream signaling pathway. Blocking the IGF-1/IGF-1R/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway either by a neutralizing antibody or by small-molecule inhibitors preferentially reduces the proliferation of BRCA1-KD cells. Furthermore, the IGF-1-EREL-Luc reporter assay demonstrates that various inhibitors, which can inhibit the IGF-1R pathway, can suppress this reporter activity. These findings suggest that BRCA1 defectiveness keeps turning on IGF-1/PI3K/AKT signaling, which significantly contributes to increase cell survival and proliferation.

P2-15-11: Outcomes of Corrective Procedure with Vicryl Mesh as an Oncoplastic Surgery of the Breast

Background: Both cosmetic and oncologic outcomes are becoming more important for breast cancer patients. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has an acceptable cosmetic result compared with mastectomy, but BCS is also associated with cosmetic failure. In this study, we evaluated the cosmetic outcome of reconstructive surgery with the absorbable implant vicryl mesh after BCS compared with the outcome of BCS alone.

Methods: From May 2007 to December 2009, 101 patients were involved in this study at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. We used absorbable implants made of folding vicryl mesh and wrapped them with Interceed. In 79 cases, BCS with vicryl mesh implantation was performed; in the other 56 cases, only BCS was performed. Patient satisfaction with cosmetic outcomes was evaluated. We also analyzed other factors that affected cosmetic outcomes, including patient ages, body mass indices, tumor locations, and removed breast tissue.

Results: In the vicryl mesh implantation group, 65 of 79 patients (82.3%) were satisfied; in the BCS-only group, 24 of 56 patients (43%) were satisfied (P &lt; 0.05). In the vicryl mesh implantation group, patient ages, body mass indices, and removed breast tissue did not affect cosmetic outcomes. When the tumor was located in the upper outer quadrant, the patients were more satisfied (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Reconstructive procedures with vicryl mesh are simple, safe, and less expensive than other plastic reconstruction techniques. This study suggests that the procedure was superior to BCS alone in cosmetic outcomes. We believe that the procedure could become a favorable technique in oncoplastic surgery.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-15-11.

A gene-specific primer extension and liquid bead array system for killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genotyping

A simple and accurate method for killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotyping is developed using KIR gene-specific primer extension (GSPE) followed by bead array hybridization (GSPE method). After amplification of exons 4, 5, and 9, KIR GSPE and bead array hybridization were performed to verify the presence or absence of 16 KIR subfamilies. GSPE method was validated with natural killer/KIR reference panel I consisting of 48 cell types provided by 13th International Histocompatibility Working Group (IHWG) and genomic DNA from 17 peripheral blood cells, 8 cell lines, and 8 buccal cells. The results of reference panel from GSPE method were 100% concordant with the IHWG reference typing information. All genomic DNAs except reference panel were typed for KIR genes with sequence-specific primer methods and showed 100% identical typing results using this novel system. In addition, GSPE method can obtain results in 8 h from DNA with 10 ng genomic DNA in a 96-well-based assay format.

Room-temperature charge stability modulated by quantum effects in a nanoscale silicon island

We report on transport measurement performed on a room-temperature-operating ultrasmall Coulomb blockade devices with a silicon island of sub5 nm. The charge stability at 300K exhibits a substantial change in slopes and diagonal size of each successive Coulomb diamond, but remarkably its main feature persists even at low temperature down to 5.3K except for additional Coulomb peak splitting. This key feature of charge stability with additional fine structures of Coulomb peaks are successfully modeled by including the interplay between Coulomb interaction, valley splitting, and strong quantum confinement, which leads to several low-energy many-body excited states for each dot occupancy. These excited states become enhanced in the sub5 nm ultrasmall scale and persist even at 300K in the form of cluster, leading to the substantial modulation of charge stability.