ID: 130: NOVEL ROLE FOR LYSOCARDIOLIPIN ACYLTRANSFERASE (LYCAT) IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is the leading cause of deaths in United States and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ∼85% of all lung cancers with a 5-year survival rate of approximately ∼16%. Therefore there is an immediate need to develop new strategies for early detection and more effective treatments options. Mitochondrial dysfunction including but not limited to defects in mitochondrial genomics and dynamics has long been implicated to play a role in human health and disease particularly in cancer initiation, progression and treatment options since it plays a pivotal role in cell death and survival. Lysocardiolipin acyltransferase (LYCAT), a Cardiolipin remodeling enzyme regulating the 18:2 linoleic acid pattern of mammalian mitochondrial cardiolipin, plays a crucial role in maintaining normal mitochondrial function and vascular development. LYCAT was shown to be up-regulated in cancers; however, the role of LYCAT in lung cancer is yet unclear. Probing the protein expression of LYCAT in lung cancer specimens, non-transformed bronchial epithelial cell lines and 5 lung cancer cell lines revealed increased LYCAT expression and activity in all the lung cancer samples and cell lines tested in comparison to the control lung tissues and non-transformed epithelial cell lines. To determine the role of LYCAT in lung cancer, NSCLC cell lines H2122 and H23 were transfected with either scrambled or LYCAT shRNA and differences in serum-induced cell proliferation, migration, clonogenecity and mitochondrial dynamics were determined. Our results demonstrated that down-regulation of LYCAT by shRNA significantly attenuated cell migration, proliferation, and invasion in NSCLC cell lines compared to control cell lines. Furthermore knockdown of LYCAT expression in NSCLC cell lines inhibited mitochondrial fragmentation and enhanced mitochondrial fusion. Taken together, these data demonstrate a strong association between increased LYCAT expression and cell proliferation, motility, invasion and mitochondrial dynamics in NSCLC cells. Thus, development of targeted therapies to reduce LYCAT expression in NSCLC should be beneficial. This work in part was supported by funds from the College of Medicine, UIC and NIH HL98050 to VN.

A prospective observational study of emergency caesarean section rates and the effect of the labour ward experience

The National Sentinel Audit found that one in five births in England and Wales was by caesarean section. The reasons for the increase in caesarean section rates are multi-factorial. Anecdotally, it is suggested that obstetric intervention rates and caesarean section rates vary among obstetricians without a difference in fetal and maternal outcomes. The aim of this prospective observational study of 817 deliveries was to assess the effect of experience on the caesarean section rates for different obstetricians. Obstetricians with greater than 3 years of 2nd on-call labour ward experience had a statistically significant lower caesarean rate than less experienced obstetricians 10.25% vs 25.49%, respectively (p < 0.05). Differences in instrument deliveries was also studied.

Survey of antenatal women's knowledge of maternal and fetal risks of tobacco smoking and acceptability of nicotine replacement products in pregnancy

A survey was carried out of 145 pregnant women in the third trimester in pregnancy to assess motivators to stop tobacco smoking and assess women's knowledge of fetal and maternal risk of smoking. In addition, the survey was to assess the acceptability of nicotine replacement products use in pregnancy. The findings of this survey show that pregnant women tend to know about the maternal risks of smoking but their knowledge is deficient about fetal risks. The knowledge of the association of cot death risk and tobacco smoking appears to be the greatest motivator to stop smoking. Overall, 74% wished to stop smoking in pregnancy and 68% would accept a nicotine replacement product.