Multimodal analysis of methylomics and fragmentomics in plasma cell-free DNA for multi-cancer early detection and localization

Despite their promise, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based assays for multi-cancer early detection face challenges in test performance, due mostly to the limited abundance of ctDNA and its inherent variability. To address these challenges, published assays to date demanded a very high-depth sequencing, resulting in an elevated price of test. Herein, we developed a multimodal assay called SPOT-MAS (screening for the presence of tumor by methylation and size) to simultaneously profile methylomics, fragmentomics, copy number, and end motifs in a single workflow using targeted and shallow genome-wide sequencing (~0.55×) of cell-free DNA. We applied SPOT-MAS to 738 non-metastatic patients with breast, colorectal, gastric, lung, and liver cancer, and 1550 healthy controls. We then employed machine learning to extract multiple cancer and tissue-specific signatures for detecting and locating cancer. SPOT-MAS successfully detected the five cancer types with a sensitivity of 72.4% at 97.0% specificity. The sensitivities for detecting early-stage cancers were 73.9% and 62.3% for stages I and II, respectively, increasing to 88.3% for non-metastatic stage IIIA. For tumor-of-origin, our assay achieved an accuracy of 0.7. Our study demonstrates comparable performance to other ctDNA-based assays while requiring significantly lower sequencing depth, making it economically feasible for population-wide screening.

Spatial metapopulation dynamics with local and global colonization

We revisit a spatial metapopulation model on continuous space as a stochastic point pattern dynamics. In the model, local patches as points are distributed with a certain spatial configuration and status of each patch changes stochastically between occupied and empty: an occupied patch becomes empty by local extinction and an empty patch becomes occupied both by local and global colonization. We carry out simulation analysis and derive an analytical model in terms of singlet, pair and triplet probabilities that describe the stochastic dynamics. Using a simple closure that approximates triplet probabilities by singlet and pair probabilities, we show that equilibrium singlet and pair probabilities can be analytically derived. The derived equilibrium properties successfully describe simulation results under a certain condition where the range of local colonization and the proportion of global colonization play key roles. Our model is an extension of the classical non-spatial Levins model to a spatially explicit metapopulation model. We appeal the advantage of point pattern approach to study spatial dynamics in general ecology and call for the need to deepen our understanding of mathematical tools to explore point pattern dynamics.

Ocular motor nerve palsy in patients with diabetes: High-resolution MR imaging of nerve enhancement

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the extent of signal abnormality in impaired ocular motor nerves using high signal and spatial resolution MRI sequences and to discuss the involvement of inflammatory or microvascular impairment in patients with diabetic ophthalmoplegia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 10 patients referred for acute ocular motor nerve palsy in the context of diabetes mellitus from September 15th, 2021 to April 24th, 2022. 3T MRI evaluation included diffusion, 3D TOF, FLAIR, coronal STIR and post-injection 3D T1 SPACE DANTE sequences.

RESULTS

Ten patients were included: 9 males and 1 female aged from 46 to 79 years. Five patients presented with cranial nerve (CN) III palsy, and 5 presented with CN VI palsy. Third nerve palsy was pupil-sparing in 4 patients and pupil-involved in 1 patient. Pain was associated in all patients with CN III deficiencies and in 2 patients CN VI deficiencies. In all patients, MRI sequences ruled out mass effect and vascular pathology, such as acute stroke or aneurysm. Eight patients presented with STIR hypersignals, some with enlargement of the involved nerve. The diagnosis was confirmed through a post-injection 3D T1 SPACE DANTE sequence, which showed extended enhancement along the abnormal portion of the nerve.

CONCLUSION

High-resolution MRI evaluation of diplopia in diabetic patients is used to rule out a diagnosis of acute stroke and contributes to the positive diagnosis of ocular motor nerve impairment, possibly combining the influences of inflammatory and microvascular phenomena. Dedicated MR imaging should be included in the initial diagnosis and longitudinal follow-up of patients with diabetic ophthalmoplegia.

Multimodal analysis of genome-wide methylation, copy number aberrations, and end motif signatures enhances detection of early-stage breast cancer

Introduction

Breast cancer causes the most cancer-related death in women and is the costliest cancer in the US regarding medical service and prescription drug expenses. Breast cancer screening is recommended by health authorities in the US, but current screening efforts are often compromised by high false positive rates. Liquid biopsy based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a potential approach to screen for cancer. However, the detection of breast cancer, particularly in early stages, is challenging due to the low amount of ctDNA and heterogeneity of molecular subtypes.

Methods

Here, we employed a multimodal approach, namely Screen for the Presence of Tumor by DNA Methylation and Size (SPOT-MAS), to simultaneously analyze multiple signatures of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma samples of 239 nonmetastatic breast cancer patients and 278 healthy subjects.

Results

We identified distinct profiles of genome-wide methylation changes (GWM), copy number alterations (CNA), and 4-nucleotide oligomer (4-mer) end motifs (EM) in cfDNA of breast cancer patients. We further used all three signatures to construct a multi-featured machine learning model and showed that the combination model outperformed base models built from individual features, achieving an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.95), a sensitivity of 65% at 96% specificity.

Discussion

Our findings showed that a multimodal liquid biopsy assay based on analysis of cfDNA methylation, CNA and EM could enhance the accuracy for the detection of early- stage breast cancer.

Fragment length profiles of cancer mutations enhance detection of circulating tumor DNA in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Late detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results in an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 16%. Liquid biopsy (LB) assays based on detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) might provide an opportunity to detect HCC early noninvasively. Increasing evidence indicates that ctDNA detection using mutation-based assays is significantly challenged by the abundance of white blood cell-derived mutations, non-tumor tissue-derived somatic mutations in plasma, and the mutational tumor heterogeneity.

METHODS

Here, we employed concurrent analysis of cancer-related mutations, and their fragment length profiles to differentiate mutations from different sources. To distinguish persons with HCC (PwHCC) from healthy participants, we built a classification model using three fragmentomic features of ctDNA through deep sequencing of thirteen genes associated with HCC.

RESULTS

Our model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88, a sensitivity of 89%, and a specificity of 82% in the discovery cohort consisting of 55 PwHCC and 55 healthy participants. In an independent validation cohort of 54 PwHCC and 53 healthy participants, the established model achieved comparable classification performance with an AUC of 0.86 and yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 81%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides a rationale for subsequent clinical evaluation of our assay performance in a large-scale prospective study.

Clinical validation of a ctDNA-Based Assay for Multi-Cancer Detection: An Interim Report from a Vietnamese Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study of 2795 Participants

The SPOT-MAS assay "Screening for the Presence Of Tumor by Methylation And Size" detects the five most common cancers in Vietnam by evaluating circulating tumor DNA in the blood. Here, we validated its performance in a prospective multi-center clinical trial, K-DETEK. Our analysis of 2795 participants from 14 sites across Vietnam demonstrates its ability to detect cancers in asymptomatic individuals with a positive predictive value of 60%, with 83.3% accuracy in detecting tumor location. We present a case report to support further using SPOT-MAS as a complementary method to achieve early cancer detection and provide the opportunity for early treatment.

Multimodal analysis of ctDNA methylation and fragmentomic profiles enhances detection of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer

Aims: Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) provides substantially better survival rates. This study aimed to develop a blood-based screening assay named SPOT-MAS ('screen for the presence of tumor by DNA methylation and size') for early CRC detection with high accuracy. Methods: Plasma cell-free DNA samples from 159 patients with nonmetastatic CRC and 158 healthy controls were simultaneously analyzed for fragment length and methylation profiles. We then employed a deep neural network with fragment length and methylation signatures to build a classification model. Results: The model achieved an area under the curve of 0.989 and a sensitivity of 96.8% at 97% specificity in detecting CRC. External validation of our model showed comparable performance, with an area under the curve of 0.96. Conclusion: SPOT-MAS based on integration of cancer-specific methylation and fragmentomic signatures could provide high accuracy for early-stage CRC detection.

Increasing sample diversity in psychiatric genetics - Introducing a new cohort of patients with schizophrenia and controls from Vietnam - Results from a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of Schizophrenia (SCZ) have provided new biological insights; however, most cohorts are of European ancestry. As a result, derived polygenic risk scores (PRS) show decreased predictive power when applied to populations of different ancestries. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a large-scale data collection in Hanoi, Vietnam, contribute to international efforts to diversify ancestry in SCZ genetic research and examine the transferability of SCZ-PRS to individuals of Vietnamese Kinh ancestry.

METHODS

In a pilot study, 368 individuals (including 190 SCZ cases) were recruited at the Hanoi Medical University's associated psychiatric hospitals and outpatient facilities. Data collection included sociodemographic data, baseline clinical data, clinical interviews assessing symptom severity and genome-wide SNP genotyping. SCZ-PRS were generated using different training data sets: (i) European, (ii) East-Asian and (iii) trans-ancestry GWAS summary statistics from the latest SCZ GWAS meta-analysis.

RESULTS

SCZ-PRS significantly predicted case status in Vietnamese individuals using mixed-ancestry (R² liability = 4.9%, p = 6.83 × 10^-8), East-Asian (R² liability = 4.5%, p = 2.73 × 10^-7) and European (R² liability = 3.8%, p = 1.79 × 10^-6) discovery samples.

DISCUSSION

Our results corroborate previous findings of reduced PRS predictive power across populations, highlighting the importance of ancestral diversity in GWA studies.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antartica, Cladosporium austrolitorale from coastal sea sand. Australia, Austroboletus yourkae on soil, Crepidotus innuopurpureus on dead wood, Curvularia stenotaphri from roots and leaves of Stenotaphrum secundatum and Thecaphora stajsicii from capsules of Oxalis radicosa. Belgium, Paraxerochrysium coryli (incl. Paraxerochrysium gen. nov.) from Corylus avellana. Brazil, Calvatia nordestina on soil, Didymella tabebuiicola from leaf spots on Tabebuia aurea, Fusarium subflagellisporum from hypertrophied floral and vegetative branches of Mangifera indica and Microdochium maculosum from living leaves of Digitaria insularis. Canada, Cuphophyllus bondii from a grassland. Croatia, Mollisia inferiseptata from a rotten Laurus nobilis trunk. Cyprus, Amanita exilis on calcareous soil. Czech Republic, Cytospora hippophaicola from wood of symptomatic Vaccinium corymbosum. Denmark, Lasiosphaeria deviata on pieces of wood and herbaceous debris. Dominican Republic, Calocybella goethei among grass on a lawn. France (Corsica), Inocybe corsica on wet ground. France (French Guiana), Trechispora patawaensis on decayed branch of unknown angiosperm tree and Trechispora subregularis on decayed log of unknown angiosperm tree. Germany, Paramicrothecium sambuci (incl. Paramicrothecium gen. nov.) on dead stems of Sambucus nigra. India, Aureobasidium microtermitis from the gut of a Microtermes sp. termite, Laccaria diospyricola on soil and Phylloporia tamilnadensis on branches of Catunaregam spinosa. Iran, Pythium serotinoosporum from soil under Prunus dulcis. Italy, Pluteus brunneovenosus on twigs of broadleaved trees on the ground. Japan, Heterophoma rehmanniae on leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa f. hueichingensis. Kazakhstan, Murispora kazachstanica from healthy roots of Triticum aestivum. Namibia, Caespitomonium euphorbiae (incl. Caespitomonium gen. nov.) from stems of an Euphorbia sp. Netherlands, Alfaria junci, Myrmecridium junci, Myrmecridium juncicola, Myrmecridium juncigenum, Ophioceras junci, Paradinemasporium junci (incl. Paradinemasporium gen. nov.), Phialoseptomonium junci, Sporidesmiella juncicola, Xenopyricularia junci and Zaanenomyces quadripartis (incl. Zaanenomyces gen. nov.), from dead culms of Juncus effusus, Cylindromonium everniae and Rhodoveronaea everniae from Evernia prunastri, Cyphellophora sambuci and Myrmecridium sambuci from Sambucus nigra, Kiflimonium junci, Sarocladium junci, Zaanenomyces moderatricis-academiae and Zaanenomyces versatilis from dead culms of Juncus inflexus, Microcera physciae from Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium dactylidis from dead culms of Dactylis glomerata, Neochalara spiraeae and Sporidesmium spiraeae from leaves of Spiraea japonica, Neofabraea salicina from Salix sp., Paradissoconium narthecii (incl. Paradissoconium gen. nov.) from dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum, Polyscytalum vaccinii from Vaccinium myrtillus, Pseudosoloacrosporiella cryptomeriae (incl. Pseudosoloacrosporiella gen. nov.) from leaves of Cryptomeria japonica, Ramularia pararhabdospora from Plantago lanceolata, Sporidesmiella pini from needles of Pinus sylvestris and Xenoacrodontium juglandis (incl. Xenoacrodontium gen. nov. and Xenoacrodontiaceae fam. nov.) from Juglans regia. New Zealand, Cryptometrion metrosideri from twigs of Metrosideros sp., Coccomyces pycnophyllocladi from dead leaves of Phyllocladus alpinus, Hypoderma aliforme from fallen leaves Fuscopora solandri and Hypoderma subiculatum from dead leaves Phormium tenax. Norway, Neodevriesia kalakoutskii from permafrost and Variabilispora viridis from driftwood of Picea abies. Portugal, Entomortierella hereditatis from a biofilm covering a deteriorated limestone wall. Russia, Colpoma junipericola from needles of Juniperus sabina, Entoloma cinnamomeum on soil in grasslands, Entoloma verae on soil in grasslands, Hyphodermella pallidostraminea on a dry dead branch of Actinidia sp., Lepiota sayanensis on litter in a mixed forest, Papiliotrema horticola from Malus communis, Paramacroventuria ribis (incl. Paramacroventuria gen. nov.) from leaves of Ribes aureum and Paramyrothecium lathyri from leaves of Lathyrus tuberosus. South Africa, Harzia combreti from leaf litter of Combretum collinum ssp. sulvense, Penicillium xyleborini from Xyleborinus saxesenii, Phaeoisaria dalbergiae from bark of Dalbergia armata, Protocreopsis euphorbiae from leaf litter of Euphorbia ingens and Roigiella syzygii from twigs of Syzygium chordatum. Spain, Genea zamorana on sandy soil, Gymnopus nigrescens on Scleropodium touretii, Hesperomyces parexochomi on Parexochomus quadriplagiatus, Paraphoma variabilis from dung, Phaeococcomyces kinklidomatophilus from a blackened metal railing of an industrial warehouse and Tuber suaveolens in soil under Quercus faginea. Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Inocybe nivea associated with Salix polaris. Thailand, Biscogniauxia whalleyi on corticated wood. UK, Parasitella quercicola from Quercus robur. USA, Aspergillus arizonicus from indoor air in a hospital, Caeliomyces tampanus (incl. Caeliomyces gen. nov.) from office dust, Cippumomyces mortalis (incl. Cippumomyces gen. nov.) from a tombstone, Cylindrium desperesense from air in a store, Tetracoccosporium pseudoaerium from air sample in house, Toxicocladosporium glendoranum from air in a brick room, Toxicocladosporium losalamitosense from air in a classroom, Valsonectria portsmouthensis from air in men's locker room and Varicosporellopsis americana from sludge in a water reservoir. Vietnam, Entoloma kovalenkoi on rotten wood, Fusarium chuoi inside seed of Musa itinerans, Micropsalliota albofelina on soil in tropical evergreen mixed forests and Phytophthora docyniae from soil and roots of Docynia indica. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Osieck ER, Jurjević Ž, et al. 2021. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382. Persoonia 47: 178-374. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.06.

Mathematical models to describe the growth curves of Vietnamese Ri chicken

Ri chicken is the most popular backyard chicken breed in Vietnam, but little is known about the growth curve of this breed. This study compared the performances of models with three parameters (Gompertz, Brody, and Logistic) and models containing four parameters (Richards, Bridges, and Janoschek) for describing the growth of Ri chicken. The bodyweight of Ri chicken was recorded weekly from week 1 to week 19. Growth models were fitted using minpack.lm package in R software and Akaike's information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and root mean square error (RMSE) were used for model comparison. Based on these criteria, the models having four parameters showed better performance than the ones with three parameters, and the Richards model was the best one for males and females. The lowest and highest value of asymmetric weights (α) were obtained by Bridges and Brody models for each of sexes, respectively. Age and weight estimated by the Richard model were 8.46 and 7.51 weeks and 696.88 and 487.58 g for males and for females, respectively. Differences in the growth curves were observed between males and female chicken. Overall, the results suggested using the Richards model for describing the growth curve of Ri chickens. Further studies on the genetics and genomics of the obtained growth parameters are required before using them for the genetic improvement of Ri chickens.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antartica, Cladosporium austrolitorale from coastal sea sand. Australia, Austroboletus yourkae on soil, Crepidotus innuopurpureus on dead wood, Curvularia stenotaphri from roots and leaves of Stenotaphrum secundatum and Thecaphora stajsicii from capsules of Oxalis radicosa. Belgium, Paraxerochrysium coryli (incl. Paraxerochrysium gen. nov.) from Corylus avellana. Brazil, Calvatia nordestina on soil, Didymella tabebuiicola from leaf spots on Tabebuia aurea, Fusarium subflagellisporum from hypertrophied floral and vegetative branches of Mangifera indica and Microdochium maculosum from living leaves of Digitaria insularis. Canada, Cuphophyllus bondii from a grassland. Croatia, Mollisia inferiseptata from a rotten Laurus nobilis trunk. Cyprus, Amanita exilis on calcareous soil. Czech Republic, Cytospora hippophaicola from wood of symptomatic Vaccinium corymbosum. Denmark, Lasiosphaeria deviata on pieces of wood and herbaceous debris. Dominican Republic, Calocybella goethei among grass on a lawn. France (Corsica), Inocybe corsica on wet ground. France (French Guiana), Trechispora patawaensis on decayed branch of unknown angiosperm tree and Trechispora subregularis on decayed log of unknown angiosperm tree. Germany, Paramicrothecium sambuci (incl. Paramicrothecium gen. nov.) on dead stems of Sambucus nigra. India, Aureobasidium microtermitis from the gut of a Microtermes sp. termite, Laccaria diospyricola on soil and Phylloporia tamilnadensis on branches of Catunaregam spinosa. Iran, Pythium serotinoosporum from soil under Prunus dulcis. Italy, Pluteus brunneovenosus on twigs of broadleaved trees on the ground. Japan, Heterophoma rehmanniae on leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa f. hueichingensis. Kazakhstan, Murispora kazachstanica from healthy roots of Triticum aestivum. Namibia, Caespitomonium euphorbiae (incl. Caespitomonium gen. nov.) from stems of an Euphorbia sp. Netherlands, Alfaria junci, Myrmecridium junci, Myrmecridium juncicola, Myrmecridium juncigenum, Ophioceras junci, Paradinemasporium junci (incl. Paradinemasporium gen. nov.), Phialoseptomonium junci, Sporidesmiella juncicola, Xenopyricularia junci and Zaanenomyces quadripartis (incl. Zaanenomyces gen. nov.), from dead culms of Juncus effusus, Cylindromonium everniae and Rhodoveronaea everniae from Evernia prunastri, Cyphellophora sambuci and Myrmecridium sambuci from Sambucus nigra, Kiflimonium junci, Sarocladium junci, Zaanenomyces moderatricis-academiae and Zaanenomyces versatilis from dead culms of Juncus inflexus, Microcera physciae from Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium dactylidis from dead culms of Dactylis glomerata, Neochalara spiraeae and Sporidesmium spiraeae from leaves of Spiraea japonica, Neofabraea salicina from Salix sp., Paradissoconium narthecii (incl. Paradissoconium gen. nov.) from dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum, Polyscytalum vaccinii from Vaccinium myrtillus, Pseudosoloacrosporiella cryptomeriae (incl. Pseudosoloacrosporiella gen. nov.) from leaves of Cryptomeria japonica, Ramularia pararhabdospora from Plantago lanceolata, Sporidesmiella pini from needles of Pinus sylvestris and Xenoacrodontium juglandis (incl. Xenoacrodontium gen. nov. and Xenoacrodontiaceae fam. nov.) from Juglans regia. New Zealand, Cryptometrion metrosideri from twigs of Metrosideros sp., Coccomyces pycnophyllocladi from dead leaves of Phyllocladus alpinus, Hypoderma aliforme from fallen leaves Fuscopora solandri and Hypoderma subiculatum from dead leaves Phormium tenax. Norway, Neodevriesia kalakoutskii from permafrost and Variabilispora viridis from driftwood of Picea abies. Portugal, Entomortierella hereditatis from a biofilm covering a deteriorated limestone wall. Russia, Colpoma junipericola from needles of Juniperus sabina, Entoloma cinnamomeum on soil in grasslands, Entoloma verae on soil in grasslands, Hyphodermella pallidostraminea on a dry dead branch of Actinidia sp., Lepiota sayanensis on litter in a mixed forest, Papiliotrema horticola from Malus communis, Paramacroventuria ribis (incl. Paramacroventuria gen. nov.) from leaves of Ribes aureum and Paramyrothecium lathyri from leaves of Lathyrus tuberosus. South Africa, Harzia combreti from leaf litter of Combretum collinum ssp. sulvense, Penicillium xyleborini from Xyleborinus saxesenii, Phaeoisaria dalbergiae from bark of Dalbergia armata, Protocreopsis euphorbiae from leaf litter of Euphorbia ingens and Roigiella syzygii from twigs of Syzygium chordatum. Spain, Genea zamorana on sandy soil, Gymnopus nigrescens on Scleropodium touretii, Hesperomyces parexochomi on Parexochomus quadriplagiatus, Paraphoma variabilis from dung, Phaeococcomyces kinklidomatophilus from a blackened metal railing of an industrial warehouse and Tuber suaveolens in soil under Quercus faginea. Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Inocybe nivea associated with Salix polaris. Thailand, Biscogniauxia whalleyi on corticated wood. UK, Parasitella quercicola from Quercus robur. USA, Aspergillus arizonicus from indoor air in a hospital, Caeliomyces tampanus (incl. Caeliomyces gen. nov.) from office dust, Cippumomyces mortalis (incl. Cippumomyces gen. nov.) from a tombstone, Cylindrium desperesense from air in a store, Tetracoccosporium pseudoaerium from air sample in house, Toxicocladosporium glendoranum from air in a brick room, Toxicocladosporium losalamitosense from air in a classroom, Valsonectria portsmouthensis from air in men's locker room and Varicosporellopsis americana from sludge in a water reservoir. Vietnam, Entoloma kovalenkoi on rotten wood, Fusarium chuoi inside seed of Musa itinerans, Micropsalliota albofelina on soil in tropical evergreen mixed forests and Phytophthora docyniae from soil and roots of Docynia indica. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Osieck ER, Jurjević Ž, et al. 2021. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382. Persoonia 47: 178-374. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.06.

Janus kinase inhibitors for atopic dermatitis: a promising treatment modality

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is chronic, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease that affects a significant portion of the population in industrialized nations. For nonresponders to conventional therapies, AD can significantly reduce sleep quality and quality of life. AD pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves multiple immune pathways, with recent evidence of T helper (Th)2, Th17 and Th22 axis attenuation in various AD endotypes and racial subtypes. Inhibition of the conserved Janus kinase (JAK) signalling pathway represents a promising therapeutic avenue to reduce the activation of multiple proinflammatory mediators involved in AD pathogenesis. JAK inhibitors exist in both oral and topical forms with variable specificity for the receptor tyrosine kinases JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and tyrosine kinase 2. Oral formulations include abrocitinib, upadacitinib, baricitinib and gusacitinib, and are most appropriate for patients with moderate to severe AD. Emerging topical formulation in development include ruxolitinib and deglocitinib, which may be used in patients with localized AD and also adjunctively with systemic therapy in patients with more severe disease. With observed rapidity in itch relief and accompanying dramatic reduction in inflammatory lesion count, JAK inhibitors represent a promising new treatment to revolutionize the management of AD.

Kinetics of Organic Biodegradation and Biogas Production in the Pilot-Scale Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) for Piggery Wastewater Treatment

In this research, the kinetics of COD biodegradation and biogas production in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) at pilot scale (10 m³) for piggery wastewater treatment were investigated. Polyethylene (PE) was used as a carrying material, with organic loading rates (OLRs) of 10, 15, and 18 kgCOD/m³ day in accordance to hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 0.56, 0.37, and 0.3 day. The results showed that a high COD removal efficiency was obtained in the range of 68-78% with the influent COD of 5.2-5.8 g/L at all 3 HRTs. About COD degradation kinetics, in comparison to the first- and second-order kinetics and the Monod model, Stover-Kincannon model showed the best fit with R ² 0.98 and a saturation value constant (K _B ) and a maximum utilization rate (U _max) of 52.40 g/L day and 82.65 g/L day, respectively. The first- and second-order kinetics with all 3 HRTs and Monod model with the HRT of 0.56 day also obtained high R ² values. Therefore, these kinetics and models can be further considered to be used for predicting the kinetic characteristics of the MBBR system in piggery wastewater treatment process. The result of a 6-month operation of the MBBR was that biogas production was mostly in the operating period of days 17 to 80, around 0.2 to 0.3 and 0.15-0.20 L/gCOD_converted, respectively, and then reduction at an OLR of 18 kgCOD/m³. After the start-up stage, day 35 biogas cumulative volume fluctuated from 20 to 30 m³/day and reached approximately 3500 m³ for 178 days during the whole digestive process. Methane is accounted for about 65-70% of biogas with concentration around 400 mg/L.

Medicare for All: Considerations for Neuroradiologists

The year 2019 featured extensive debates on transforming the United States multipayer health care system into a single-payer system. At a time when reimbursement structures are in flux and potential changes in government may affect health care, it is important for neuroradiologists to remain informed on how emerging policies may impact their practices. The purpose of this article is to examine potential ramifications for neuroradiologist reimbursement with the Medicare for All legislative proposals. An institution-specific analysis is presented to illustrate general Medicare for All principles in discussing issues applicable to practices nationwide.

P813Iatrogenic takotsubo syndrome: incidence and impact

Background

Although Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) was once considered to be rare and largely benign, it is now recognised to represent a major cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality, especially in aging women. The biochemical precipitant of attacks of TTS is an increase in catecholamine concentrations within the myocardium, engendering inflammatory activation via biased post-receptor signalling at myocardial β2-adrenoceptor level. Cases of TTS have been reported in patients treated with catecholamines, and with antidepressants which limit catecholamine re-uptake. In the current investigation, we sought to delineate the extent and potential impact of this “iatrogenic” form of TTS.

Methods/Results

Patients' data from a regional registry of 272 consecutive cases of TTS were evaluated. After exclusion of patients (n=14) in whom TTS has occurred in association with life threatening extracardiac disease states, a total of 47 (18%) of patients were identified as having antecedent exposure to potentially “iatrogenic” agents (antidepressants in 29 cases, β2-adrenoceptor agonists in 14). Demographics, including proportion of male patients, did not differ significantly between patients with and without “iatrogenic” TTS, but plasma concentrations of the catecholamine metabolite normetanephrine tended to be greater (median 1160 vs. 950 pmol/L; p=0.07). Long-term survival (median follow-up 3.5 years) was marginally (p=0.09) worse for patients with “iatrogenic” TTS.

Conclusion

(1) A potentially iatrogenic component of precipitation (via iatrogenic elevation of catecholamine levels and β2-adrenoceptor stimulation) is present in a substantial proportion of patients.

(2) In such patients there is an implication of increased long-term mortality risk, potentially accentuated by continued administration of the precipitating agent(s).

P6006Pathogenesis of symptomatic crises in patients with coronary artery spasm: evidence for acute damage to vascular glycocalyx and to circulating platelets

Background

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is known to occur commonly even in a “pure culture”, but little is known regarding the precipitation of the symptomatic crises which characterize this disorder. There have been recent reports of the occurrence of plaque erosion and intracoronary thrombosis during CAS crises. We have recently shown that (1) the anti-aggregatory effects of nitric oxide (NO) are impaired in CAS patient and (2) release into plasma of the endothelial glycocalyx component syndecan-1 (SD-1) occurs during acute episodes of CAS, suggesting glycocalyx erosion by inflammatory enzyme release.

Objective

In the current study, we sought to determine whether this phenomenon is accompanied by damage to circulating platelets and whether activation of mast cells may represent a possible precipitant.

Methods

In patients with acute episodes and chronic phases of CAS (n=10), as well as normal subjects (n=12), plasma concentrations of SD-1, of platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs), of the mast cell enzyme tryptase and of malondialdehyde (MDA), a measure of oxidative stress, were evaluated.

Results

The results are summarized in the table. Symptomatic crises were associated with substantial elevation of SD-1 concentrations and also those of PMPs and of tryptase, relative to chronic status. However, MDA concentrations did not vary significantly during acute episodes.

Impact of acute exacerbation of CAS on markers of glycocalyx shedding (SD-1), platelet activation (PMP counts), mast cell activation (tryptase) and oxidative stress (MDA) Parameter Acute CAS Chronic CAS p* Normal subjects** SD-1 (μg/L) 50.3±3.9 14.3±4.7 <0.0001 12.7±2.4 PMPs (counts) 24200±8100 4800±1010 0.02 10400±2900 Tryptase (μg/L) 4.4±0.4 4.1±0.4 0.03 <12.0 MDA (μM) 3.2±0.2 3.1±0.1 NS 3.09±0.15 *Acute vs. chronic; **provided for reference only.

Conclusion

(1) The combination of SD-1 release and formation of PMPs suggests that CAS crises reflect both glycocalyx “shedding” and platelet activation/apoptosis, a combination which would facilitate coronary thrombosis.

(2) CAS crises are associated with mast cell activation, which may contribute to the above vascular/platelet damage.

P6003Coronary artery spasm: a consequence of impaired nitric oxide/hydrogen sulphide signalling?

Background

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) represents a major cause of patient morbidity, with variable clinical response to prophylaxis with calcium antagonists and generally poor symptomatic relief with organic nitrates. The precipitation of CAS with acetylcholine may reflect impaired nitric oxide (NO) release and/or signalling. We have recently demonstrated that platelets from patients with CAS exhibit markedly impaired anti-aggregatory responses to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (“NO resistance”).

Purpose

In the current experiments we sought to determine whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is known to potentiate haemodynamic responses to organic nitrates, reverses NO resistance in platelets from CAS patients.

Methods

Patients with CAS were studied during acute (n=11) and chronic (n=24) phases of symptoms. NAC (10 g/24 hours) was infused together with low dose NTG (2.5 μg/min) in patients presenting with acute exacerbations, and platelets were studied ex vivo. In blood samples taken from chronic CAS patients, in vitro studies were performed to evaluate the possible role of H2S release (via cysteine formation) from NAC in putative potentiation of NO effect.

Results

(1) In acute patients, NTG/NAC infusion resulted in increases in platelet response to SNP (p=0.003);

(2) In vitro studies showed that incubation with NAC or the H2S donor NaHS potentiated SNP responses (Figure 1A);

(3) Effects of NAC were reversed by co-incubation with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) and D, L-propargylglycine (PAG), inhibitors of enzymatic cysteine bioconversion to release H2S (Figure 1B).

Figure 1

Conclusion

CAS-associated impairment of platelet NO signaling reflects a deficiency of the H2S/NO interaction, and can be reversed using exogenous H2S donors, including NAC.

Botulinum neurotoxin injection for the treatment of epiphora in nasolacrimal duct obstruction

PURPOSE

Retrospective long-term study to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) therapy for epiphora due to non-surgical nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

INTRODUCTION

BoNT/A has been used successfully since 2000 in axillary hyperhidrosis to reduce secretory disorders. Some isolated cases of hyperlacrimation or crocodile tear syndrome have been treated on this basis. We used BoNT/A to decrease lacrimal secretion in cases of epiphora.

METHODS

We reviewed the qualitative and quantitative degree of improvement of epiphora after botulinum neurotoxin injections in the palpebral lobe of the lacrimal gland, carried out in an ophthalmic centre between 2009 and 2016. Epiphora was graded using a questionnaire, Munk scores and Schirmer tests before and after injections. Severity of side effects was recorded.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven palpebral lacrimal glands of twenty patients with epiphora, mean age 65±13, were treated with BoNT/A (Botox^® or Xeomin^®) from April 2009 to April 2016. The epiphora was induced by persistent nasolacrimal duct stenosis after surgical treatment. No conventional medical nor surgical treatment was effective at this time. The technique of injection, dilution and dosage were specific. We re-injected 14/27 cases on an as-needed basis, 7/27 cases three times, 3/27 cases four times, and 2/27 cases (same patient both glands) five times. The Schirmer test measured a decrease of lacrimal secretion in 24/27 (89%) lacrimal glands after neurotoxin injection. Side effects were ptosis in 4 cases and transient esotropia in 2 cases. The authors describe the injection techniques, the dosage, the volume and concentration of BoNT/A.

CONCLUSION

Patients with epiphora can be treated effectively with BoNT/A to reduce lacrimal secretion of the principal lacrimal gland in its palpebral portion. Ninety percent of the patients were very satisfied, with few side effects (ptosis or mild diplopia lasting from 3 days to 3 weeks). More studies are needed to delineate which types of epiphora can be treated with BoNT/A.

Characterization and Applications of Marine Microbial Enzymes in Biotechnology and Probiotics for Animal Health

Marine microorganisms have been recognized as potential sources of novel enzymes because they are relatively more stable than the corresponding enzymes derived from plants and animals. Enzymes from marine microorganisms also differ from homologous enzymes in terrestrial microorganisms based on salinity, pressure, temperature, and lighting conditions. Marine microbial enzymes can be used in diverse industrial applications. This chapter will focus on the biotechnological applications of marine enzymes and also their use as a tool of marine probiotics to improve host digestion (food digestion, food absorption, and mucus utilization) and cleave molecular signals involved in quorum sensing in pathogens to control disease in aquaculture.

Species composition and level of infestation of cockroaches in three areas in Hanoi

A study on the species composition and the level of infestation of cockroaches was carried out from April 2013 to October 2014 in three localities of Hanoi, Vietnam, namely the Lan Ong-Old Town, Linh Dam condominium and Tan Da Resort. Out of the 187 units of premises examined, 44.9% of units were infested with cockroaches. A total of 576 cockroaches were trapped, of which six species were identified: Periplaneta americana (L.) was the most dominant species (72.1%), followed by Blattella germanica (L.) (14.8%), Pycnoscelus surinamensis (L.) (7.3%), Periplaneta australasiae (Fabricius) (2.9%), Periplaneta fuliginosa (Serville) (1.9%) and Supella longipalpa (Fabricius) (1.0%). Infestation was the highest in Lan Ong (74.0%), followed by Linh Dam (40.5%) and Tan Da (25.9%). Cockroaches were abundantly found in warehouses (100%), electrical distribution room (56.3%), and kitchens (46.7%).

Liver regeneration following repeated reversible portal vein embolization in an experimental model

BACKGROUND

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is used routinely to prevent postoperative liver failure as a result of anticipated insufficient future liver remnant volume following resection. The authors have recently developed a technique for temporary PVE. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of repeated reversible PVE on hepatocyte proliferation and subsequent liver hypertrophy in rodents.

METHODS

Four treatments were compared (n = 21 rats per group): single reversible PVE, two PVEs separated by 14 days, partial portal vein ligation or sham procedure. The feasibility and tolerance of the procedure were assessed. Volumetric imaging by CT was used to estimate the evolution of liver volumes. After death, the weight of liver lobes was measured and hepatocyte proliferation evaluated by immunostaining.

RESULTS

Embolization of portal branches corresponding to 70 per cent of total portal flow was performed successfully in all animals. Repeated PVE induced additional hepatocyte proliferation. Repeated embolization resulted in superior hepatocyte proliferation in the non-occluded segments compared with portal vein ligation (31·1 versus 22·2 per cent; P = 0·003). The non-occluded to total liver volume ratio was higher in the repeated PVE group than in the single PVE and sham groups (P = 0·050 and P = 0·001 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Repeated reversible PVE successfully induced additional hepatocyte proliferation and subsequent liver hypertrophy. Surgical relevance Portal vein embolization (PVE) is used routinely to prevent postoperative liver failure as a result of anticipated insufficient future liver remnant volume following resection. In the present study, a technique of repeated temporary PVE was developed in a rat model; this induced additional hepatocyte proliferation and an increase in liver volume compared with single embolization. This novel approach might help induce major hypertrophy of the future remnant liver, which could increase the rate of patients amenable to major liver resections.

The transfer and decay of maternal antibody against Shigella sonnei in a longitudinal cohort of Vietnamese infants

•

Shigella sonnei is an emergent and highly drug resistant diarrheal pathogen.

•

The half-life of maternal S. sonnei IgG in infants is 43 days.

•

Maternal titer, antibody transfer ratio and gestational age influence birth titer.

•

Incidence of seroconversion in infants in southern Vietnam is 4/100 infant years.

•

Children should be vaccinated after 5 months of age if a candidate is licensed.

Background

Shigella sonnei is an emergent and major diarrheal pathogen for which there is currently no vaccine. We aimed to quantify duration of maternal antibody against S. sonnei and investigate transplacental IgG transfer in a birth cohort in southern Vietnam.

Methods and results

Over 500-paired maternal/infant plasma samples were evaluated for presence of anti-S. sonnei-O IgG and IgM. Longitudinal plasma samples allowed for the estimation of the median half-life of maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG, which was 43 days (95% confidence interval: 41–45 days). Additionally, half of infants lacked a detectable titer by 19 weeks of age. Lower cord titers were associated with greater increases in S. sonnei IgG over the first year of life, and the incidence of S. sonnei seroconversion was estimated to be 4/100 infant years. Maternal IgG titer, the ratio of antibody transfer, the season of birth and gestational age were significantly associated with cord titer.

Conclusions

Maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG is efficiently transferred across the placenta and anti-S. sonnei-O maternal IgG declines rapidly after birth and is undetectable after 5 months in the majority of children. Preterm neonates and children born to mothers with low IgG titers have lower cord titers and therefore may be at greater risk of seroconversion in infancy.

Antinociceptive activity of the new triple reuptake inhibitor NS18283 in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic neuropathic pain can lead to anxiety and depression. Drugs that block reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and/or dopamine are widely used to treat depression, and have emerged as useful drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain. This study compared the acute antinociceptive effects of NS18283, a novel triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor (MRI) with indatraline, venlafaxine and escitalopram in a mouse model of neuropathic pain.

METHOD

Neuropathic pain-like behaviours were induced in mice by repeated injections of oxaliplatin (OXA), and assessed using the von Frey hair test, the cold plate test and the thermal preference plate test. Anxio/depressive phenotype and antidepressant-like properties of compounds were assessed by the novelty suppressed feeding test and the tail suspension test, respectively.

RESULTS

In vivo microdialysis experiments showed that each MRI increased extracellular serotonin, norepinephrine and/or dopamine levels in the cingulate cortex, in agreement with their in vitro reuptake inhibitory properties. Indatraline (3 mg/kg) reversed the full repertoire of OXA-induced neuropathic hypersensitivity. NS18283 (10 mg/kg) reversed OXA-induced mechano-hypersensitivity and cold allodynia. Venlafaxine (16 mg/kg) and escitalopram (4 mg/kg) only reversed cold allodynia and mechano-hypersensitivity, respectively. All MRIs produced antidepressant-like activity in anxio/depressive phenotype of OXA mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute administration of drugs that enhance the activity of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmission within nociceptive pathways may provide a broader spectrum of antinociception than dual or selective reuptake inhibitors in animal models of neuropathic pain. Whether similar observations would occur after repeated administration of such compounds in an attempt to simulate dosing in humans, or be compromised by dopaminergic-mediated adverse effects warrants further investigation.

Common isolation of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a large surgical hospital in Vietnam

This study sought to monitor the presence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and the proportion New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1)-producing bacteria between August 2010 and December 2012 in a surgical hospital in Vietnam. We identified 47 CRE strains from a total of 4,096 Enterobacteriaceae isolates (1.1 %) that were NDM-1-positive from 45 patients admitted to 11 different departments, with the majority being from the urology department. The NDM-1 gene was found in seven different species. Genotyping revealed limited clonality of NDM-1-positive isolates. Most of the isolates carried the NDM-1 gene on a plasmid and 17.8 % (8/45) of those were readily transferable. We found five patients at admission and one patient at discharge with NDM-1-positive bacteria in their stool. From 200 screening environmental hospital samples, five were confirmed to be NDM-1-positive and included Acinetobacter species (n = 3) and Enterobacter aerogenes (n = 2). The results reveal that NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae are commonly isolated in patients admitted to a Vietnamese surgical hospital and are also detected in the hospital environment.

Antibody landscapes after influenza virus infection or vaccination

We introduce the antibody landscape, a method for the quantitative analysis of antibody-mediated immunity to antigenically variable pathogens, achieved by accounting for antigenic variation among pathogen strains. We generated antibody landscapes to study immune profiles covering 43 years of influenza A/H3N2 virus evolution for 69 individuals monitored for infection over 6 years and for 225 individuals pre- and postvaccination. Upon infection and vaccination, titers increased broadly, including previously encountered viruses far beyond the extent of cross-reactivity observed after a primary infection. We explored implications for vaccination and found that the use of an antigenically advanced virus had the dual benefit of inducing antibodies against both advanced and previous antigenic clusters. These results indicate that preemptive vaccine updates may improve influenza vaccine efficacy in previously exposed individuals.

Quantitative phase imaging with partially coherent illumination

In this Letter, we formulate a mathematical model for predicting experimental outcomes in quantitative phase imaging (QPI) when the illumination field is partially spatially coherent. We derive formulae that apply to QPI and discuss expected results for two classes of QPI experiments: common path and traditional interferometry, under varying degrees of spatial coherence. In particular, our results describe the physical relationship between the spatial coherence of the illuminating field and the halo effect, which is well known in phase-contrast microscopy. We performed experiments relevant to this common situation and found that our theory is in excellent agreement with the data. With this new understanding of the effects of spatial coherence, our formulae offer an avenue for removing halo artifacts from phase images.

An intrauterine catch-up growth regimen increases food intake and post-natal growth in rats

Nutritional conditions during the intrauterine stage are an important developmental programming factor that can affect the growth and metabolic status during foetal development and permanently alter the phenotypes of newborn offspring and adults. This study was performed to examine the effects of intrauterine catch-up growth (IUCG) on food intake, post-natal body growth and the metabolic status of offspring and growing rats. Control pregnant rats were fed ad libitum during the entire gestation period. For the IUCG regimen, pregnant rats were fed 50% of the food of the controls from pregnancy days 4 through 11 (8 days), followed by ad libitum feeding from pregnancy days 12 through parturition. The birth weight of offspring was not affected by the IUCG regimen. At weaning, offspring from each treatment group were assigned to two groups and given either a normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks until 103 days of age. In the normal diet group, the IUCG offspring showed a 9.0% increase (P < 0.05) in total food intake, were 11.2% heavier (p < 0.05) at 103 days of age and had an 11.0% greater (p < 0.05) daily weight gain compared with control offspring. The IUCG regimen did not affect body glucose and lipid metabolism. After exposure to the HFD, the IUCG regimen has not exacerbated metabolic disorders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the IUCG nutritional regimen during pregnancy can increase the food intake and post-natal body growth of offspring without inducing metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance. The IUCG nutritional regimen might be used to improve the food intake and post-natal body growth of domestic animals.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling and adipogenic genes are associated with intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Korean cattle

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important trait that influences beef quality. In two studies, we examined the possible involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in IMF deposition in Korean cattle. In study 1, using a group of bulls and steers, we found that castration, a non-genetic factor, decreased (P < 0.01) the expression of both the WNT10B and CTNNB1 genes, whereas it increased the expression of the Wnt antagonist secreted frizzled-related proteins 4 (SFRP4, P < 0.001) and the adipogenic CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EPB), alpha (CEBPA, P < 0.001) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG, P < 0.05) genes in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) tissue. The WNT10B and CTNNB1 mRNA levels showed strong (P < 0.001) negative correlations (r = -0.68 and r = -0.73 respectively) with the IMF content, whereas the SFRP4, CEBPA and PPARG mRNA levels showed strong (P < 0.01) positive correlations (r = 0.70, 0.70 and 0.64 respectively) with the IMF content. Large variation still exists in the IMF content of steers, implying that genetic factors affect IMF deposition. Using a different group of steers, a correlation analysis in study 2 also showed that the expression of the WNT10B and CTNNB1 genes, and SFRP4 and adipogenic genes was negatively and positively associated with the IMF content respectively. Our findings suggest that downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway genes, but upregulation of Wnt antagonist SFRP4 and adipogenic gene expression following castration, contributes to increased IMF deposition in the LM. Our results demonstrate that both non-genetic factors (castration) and genetic variation within the steer group affect the gene expression pattern of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Abstract P2-05-22: Preferential Activation of BP1 and c-Myc in Breast Cancer of African American Women Compared with Caucasian American Women

Introduction: BP1 is a member of the homeobox gene family of transcription factors. BP1 is activated in 80% of breast tumors, including 89% of the tumors of African American women (AAW) compared with 57% of the tumors of Caucasian American women (CAW). AAW with breast cancer have larger tumors and an almost 50% higher mortality rate than CAW. BP1 expression is also associated with larger and more aggressive tumors, suggesting BP1 may contribute to the aggressiveness of tumors of AAW. Our goal is to identify molecular pathways underlying the discrepancy of breast cancer aggressiveness in AAW and CAW with particular attention to BP1 regulated pathways.

Materials and Methods: Gene expression analysis using RNA from cell lines derived from tumors of AAW or CAW was performed using Illumina microarrays. Changes in c-Myc mRNA were measured by real-time PCR and levels of c-Myc protein by immunoblotting. Knock down of c-Myc and BP1 expression was performed using their respective siRNA. Chromatin immunoprecipation (ChIP) analysis was used to determine potential BP1 and c-Myc binding sites in vivo. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a commercial rabbit polyclonal antibody to c-Myc and a rabbit polyclonal antibody to BP1 developed by the laboratory of one of the authors (PB).

Results: To study differential gene expression related to racial disparities and BP1 expression, we used breast cancer cell lines derived from tumors of AAW and cell lines derived from tumors of CAW. Microarray analysis was performed on three cell lines from AAW and two cell lines from CAW. The oncogene c-Myc was overly represented in the cell lines derived from AAW compared to their CAW derived counterparts; these cell lines also overexpress BP1. The data was verified by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Knock down of BP1 and c-Myc in separate experiments using siRNA showed a significant decrease of BP1 protein and c-Myc protein, respectively. ChIP analysis revealed binding of BP1 protein to DNA upstream of the c-Myc gene and of BP1 DNA by c-Myc protein, suggesting reciprocal activation.

Clinical studies. Age and stage matched cases of ductal breast cancers from AAW (n = 15) and CAW (n = 15) were immunostained and evaluated for nuclear c-Myc and nuclear BP1. In CAW, there was a linear correlation between BP1 and c-Myc staining. However, in AAW there was not a linear correlation due to extensive variability in individual results.

Conclusions: c-Myc is a potent oncogene known to increase transformation and proliferation. We show here that c-Myc is upregulated by BP1, a gene which is preferentially activated in breast tumors of AAW. Furthermore, we have identified an interesting mechanism by which BP1 and c-Myc may co-activate transcription involving a positive feedback loop, an attractive therapeutic target. The proposed mechanism could partially explain the aggressiveness of tumors of AAW.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-22.

The associative and limbic thalamus in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder: an experimental study in the monkey

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a frequent psychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety, leading to compulsive behaviors. Although medical treatment is effective in most cases, resistance is observed in about 30% of patients. In this context, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the caudate or subthalamic nuclei has been recently proposed with encouraging results. However, some patients were unimproved or exhibited awkward side effects. Therefore, exploration of new targets for DBS remains critical in OCD. In the latter, functional imaging studies revealed overactivity in the limbic and associative cortico-subcortical loops encompassing the thalamus. However, the role of the thalamus in the genesis of repetitive behaviors and related anxiety is unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that pharmacological-induced overactivity of the medial thalamus could give rise to abnormal behaviors close to that observed in OCD. We modulated the ventral anterior (VA) and medial dorsal (MD) nuclei activity by in situ bicuculline (GABA(A) antagonist) microinjections in subhuman primates and assessed their pharmacological-induced behavior. Bicuculline injections within the VA caused significant repetitive and time-consuming motor acts whereas those performed within the MD induced symptoms of dysautonomic dysregulation along with abnormal vocalizations and marked motor hypoactivity. These findings suggest that overactivation of the VA and MD nuclei of the thalamus provokes compulsive-like behaviors and neurovegetative manifestations usually associated with the feeling of anxiety in OCD patients. In further research, this translational approach should allow us to test the effectiveness and side effects of these thalamic nuclei DBS in monkey and perhaps, in a second step, to propose a transfer of this technique to severely disabled OCD patients.

Quantitative assessment of macrophages in the muscularis externa of mouse intestines

Quantification of intestinal cells is challenging for several reasons: The cell densities vary throughout the intestines and may be age dependent. Some cell types are ramified and/or can change shape and size. Additionally, immunolabeling is needed for the correct identification of cell type. Immunolabeling is dependent on both up- and down-regulation of the antigen being labeled as well as on the primary and secondary antibodies, the fixation, and the enhancement procedures. Here, we provide a detailed description of immunolabeling of CD169(+) cells and major histocompatibility class II antigen (MHCII(+) ) cells and the subsequent quantification of these cells using design-based stereology in the intestinal muscularis externa. We used young (5-weeks-old) and adult (10-weeks-old) mice. Cell densities were higher in jejunum-ileum, when compared with colon. In jejunum/ileum, the cell densities increased in oral-anal direction in adults, whereas the densities were highest in the midpart in young animals. In colon, the cell densities decreased in oral-anal direction in both groups of animals. Except for the density of MHCII(+) cells in colon, the cell densities were highest in young animals. Densities of CD169(+) and MHCII(+) cells did not differ, except in the colon of young animals where the CD169(+) density was almost twice as high as the MHCII(+) density. CD169 and MHCII antigens seem to be expressed simultaneously by the same cell in jejunum/ileum. We conclude that cell densities depend on both the age of the mouse and on the location in the intestines.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in four continents: the International Agency for Research on Cancer HPV Prevalence Surveys

BACKGROUND

Few human papillomavirus (HPV) seroprevalence studies have been carried out in women from low-resource countries.

METHODS

Seroprevalence of antibodies against HPV16 and HPV18 was assessed in 7,074 women ≥15 years of age (median 44 years) from eight world areas. Serum antibodies against HPV16 and HPV18 were tested for using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HPV DNA was assessed using a general primer GP5+/6+-mediated PCR.

RESULTS

HPV16 and HPV18 seroprevalence both ranged from <1% (Hanoi, Vietnam) to >or=25% (Nigeria). Of women who were HPV16 or HPV18 DNA-positive, seropositivity for the same type was 39.8% and 23.2%, respectively. Seropositivity for either type was directly associated with markers of sexual behavior. HPV16 and/or 18 (HPV16/18)-seropositive women had an increased risk of having cytologic abnormalities only if they were also HPV DNA-positive. A high international correlation was found between HPV16/18 seroprevalence and overall HPV DNA prevalence (r = 0.81; P = 0.022). However, HPV16/18 seroprevalence was substantially higher than the corresponding DNA prevalence in all study areas (although to different extents) and, contrary to DNA, tended to increase from young to middle age, and then decline or remain fairly constant. In all study areas, the vast majority of the information on the burden of exposure to HPV16/18 derived from serology.

CONCLUSIONS

The correlation between HPV DNA and HPV serology was not very good at an individual woman level, but high at a population level.

IMPACT

HPV serology is a poor marker of current infection or related lesions, but it can contribute, together with DNA, in evaluating the variations in the burden of HPV infection worldwide.

IC261 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of human cancer cells via CK1δ/ɛ and Wnt/β-catenin independent inhibition of mitotic spindle formation

Casein kinase 1 delta and epsilon (CK1δ/ɛ) are key regulators of diverse cellular growth and survival processes including Wnt signaling, DNA repair and circadian rhythms. Recent studies suggest that they have an important role in oncogenesis. RNA interference screens identified CK1ɛ as a pro-survival factor in cancer cells in vitro and the CK1δ/ɛ-specific inhibitor IC261 is remarkably effective at selective, synthetic lethal killing of cancer cells. The recent development of the nanomolar CK1δ/ɛ-selective inhibitor, PF670462 (PF670) and the CK1ɛ-selective inhibitor PF4800567 (PF480) offers an opportunity to further test the role of CK1δ/ɛ in cancer. Unexpectedly, and unlike IC261, PF670 and PF480 were unable to induce cancer cell death. PF670 is a potent inhibitor of CK1δ/ɛ in cells; nanomolar concentrations are sufficient to inhibit CK1δ/ɛ activity as measured by repression of intramolecular autophosphorylation, phosphorylation of disheveled2 proteins and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Likewise, small interfering RNA knockdown of CK1δ and CK1ɛ reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling without affecting cell viability, further suggesting that CK1δ/ɛ inhibition may not be relevant to the IC261-induced cell death. Thus, while PF670 is a potent inhibitor of Wnt signaling, it only modestly inhibits cell proliferation. In contrast, while sub-micromolar concentrations of IC261 neither inhibited CK1δ/ɛ kinase activity nor blocked Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer cells, it caused a rapid induction of prometaphase arrest and subsequent apoptosis in multiple cancer cell lines. In a stepwise transformation model, IC261-induced killing required both overactive Ras and inactive p53. IC261 binds to tubulin with an affinity similar to colchicine and is a potent inhibitor of microtubule polymerization. This activity accounts for many of the diverse biological effects of IC261 and, most importantly, for its selective cancer cell killing.

Coulomb energy determination of a single Si dangling bond

Determination of the Coulomb energy of single point defects is essential because changing their charge state critically affects the properties of materials. Based on a novel approach that allows us to simultaneously identify a point defect and to monitor the occupation probability of its electronic state, we unambiguously measure the charging energy of a single Si dangling bond with tunneling spectroscopy. Comparing the experimental result with tight-binding calculations highlights the importance of the particular surrounding of the localized state on the effective charging energy.

New lines of GFP transgenic rats relevant for regenerative medicine and gene therapy

Adoptive cell transfer studies in regenerative research and identification of genetically modified cells after gene therapy in vivo require unequivocally identifying and tracking the donor cells in the host tissues, ideally over several days or for up to several months. The use of reporter genes allows identifying the transferred cells but unfortunately most are immunogenic to wild-type hosts and thus trigger rejection in few days. The availability of transgenic animals from the same strain that would express either high levels of the transgene to identify the cells or low levels but that would be tolerant to the transgene would allow performing long-term analysis of labelled cells. Herein, using lentiviral vectors we develop two new lines of GFP-expressing transgenic rats displaying different levels and patterns of GFP-expression. The "high-expresser" line (GFP(high)) displayed high expression in most tissues, including adult neurons and neural precursors, mesenchymal stem cells and in all leukocytes subtypes analysed, including myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, cells that have not or only poorly characterized in previous GFP-transgenic rats. These GFP(high)-transgenic rats could be useful for transplantation and immunological studies using GFP-positive cells/tissue. The "low-expresser" line expressed very low levels of GFP only in the liver and in less than 5% of lymphoid cells. We demonstrate these animals did not develop detectable humoral and cellular immune responses against both transferred GFP-positive splenocytes and lentivirus-mediated GFP gene transfer. Thus, these GFP-transgenic rats represent useful tools for regenerative medicine and gene therapy.

Investigation of structural transition of dsDNA on various substrates studied by atomic force microscopy

Structural transition of single dsDNA molecule which is immobilized on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) treated substrate (APTES/substrate) or alkylthiol treated substrate (alkylthiol/substrate) has been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The obtained force versus distance (F-D) curves are used to dissect the transition from B-form to S-form, the melting from double stranded (ds) to single stranded (ss) DNA, and its Young's modulus as well as persistence length. The melt from dsDNA to ssDNA is evidenced by fitting with freely jointed chain (FJC) model. FJC fit and Young's modulus or persistence length values when the molecules are fixed on alkylthiol/substrate are more agreeable with other studies than those on APTES. We have clarified the different results of those experiments by analyzing the binding force between DNA molecules and APTES or alkylthiol linkers on the substrate. The DNA binding to APTES linker is much stronger than that on alkylthiol/substrate.

Honeybee venom secretory phospholipase A2 induces leukotriene production but not histamine release from human basophils

The role of basophils in an anaphylactic response is well recognized but is usually masked by mast cells, which contain similar mediators for the induction of generalized vasodilatation and laryngeal constriction. The rapid onset of systemic anaphylactic symptoms, particularly in insect stings and ingested food, suggest that basophils, a circulating pool of cells containing histamine and other potent mediators such as leukotrienes, may be more involved in systemic anaphylaxis than originally thought. We wished to examine if secretory phospholipase A2, a systemic allergen found in honey bee venom (HBV-sPLA2) may activate basophils directly leading to rapid systemic mediator release. Basophils were isolated from human blood and stimulated with increasing concentrations of HBV-sPLA2. We found that physiological concentrations of HBV-sPLA2 induce rapid leukotriene C4 production from purified human basophils within 5 min, while interleukin (IL)-4 expression and production was induced at later time-points. Histamine release was not induced, signifying that HBV-sPLA2 did not induce generalized degranulation. Surface expression of CD63, CD69 and CD11b were up-regulated following HBV-sPLA2 treatment. Stimulation of basophils with anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) following treatment with HBV-sPLA2 did not induce more leukotriene release. To investigate the mechanism of leukotriene production, 9-12 octadecadiynioc acid, a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor, was used and this abrogated leukotriene production. These results indicate that HBV-sPLA2 can directly activate human basophils in vitro to induce leukotriene production.

Functional patency of autogenous AV fistulas for hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Although AV fistulas are the preferred access for hemodialysis and have low complication rates, failure to function remains high and time to first dialysis may be several months.

METHODS

Data from a Computerized Patient Record System of patients undergoing AV fistula from October 2000 to March 2006 were reviewed for type of fistula, interval from AV fistula construction to first hemodialysis, patency period, and complication rate.

RESULTS

129 patients were identified who underwent 155 autogenous AV fistula constructions. The average age was 62.1 (range 40-84) years old. 114 radiocephalic and 41 brachiocephalic fistulas were performed. 57 (50%) radiocephalic fistulas allowed successful hemodialysis after an average length of 13+/-5 weeks with a primary patency of 13+/-4 months. 24 (42%) fistulas subsequently thrombosed, 7 (12%) developed fistula stenosis, and 2 (4%) developed steal syndrome. 28 (68%) brachiocephalic fistulas reached successful hemodialysis after 6+/-2 weeks with a primary patency of 16+/-7 months. Eleven (42%) of the brachiocephalic fistulas that reached hemodialysis remained patent while four (15%) thrombosed. Two (8%) brachiocephalic fistulas thrombosed before reaching hemodialysis. There were two incidences (5%) of steal syndrome in the brachiocephalic group with one case being severe leading to tissue loss in the hand.

CONCLUSION

Brachiocephalic fistulas were superior to radiocephalic in both time to maturity, primary patency, and functional primary patency. Brachiocephalic fistulas had a higher maturation rate and were less likely to fail once hemodialysis began. Vascular surgeons should develop better patient selection to predict which fistulas will function successfully rather than risk complications of prolonged central catheters.

Critical assessment of lifelong phenotype correction in hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rats after retroviral mediated gene transfer

Among inherited diseases of the liver, Crigler-Najjar type 1 disease (CN-1), which results from complete deficiency in bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity (B-UGT1), is an attractive target for gene therapy studies. Hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rats, a model of CN-1, were injected at 2 days of age with lentiviral or oncoretroviral vectors encoding the human B-UGT1. After injection, bilirubinemia was normalized for up to 95 weeks. Bilirubin conjugates were present in the bile, demonstrating liver transduction. PCR and enzyme activity analysis confirmed gene and phenotype correction in liver. We observed that when using a strong viral promoter, a complete correction was achieved with less than 5% of B-UGT1 copy per haploid genome and after a reconstitution of 12% B-UGT1 normal activity. Liver histology remained normal throughout the experiment and tissue distribution analysis revealed preferential hepatocyte transduction after systemic delivery. Finally, no adverse immune response occurred even after induction of nonspecific liver inflammation, suggesting immune ignorance to the therapeutic protein. Our present results document the lifelong safety of gene therapy for CN-1 with retroviral vectors. They offer a better delineation of liver gene correction level required to achieve complete correction of bilirubinemia and pave the way for future clinical application of gene therapy for inherited liver disorders.

Factors influencing caspofungin plasma concentrations in patients of a surgical intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Co-morbidity, medical and surgical interventions often cause alterations to drug plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters in critically ill patients. In the present study, we investigated parameters influencing plasma caspofungin concentrations in patients of a surgical intensive care unit (SICU).

METHODS

In a monocentre open study, caspofungin trough concentrations (C(24)) were determined for a group of SICU patients. A linear-mixed model was then used to assess factors influencing caspofungin plasma concentrations.

RESULTS

A total of 40 SICU patients were enrolled. Age and body weight ranged from 22 to 76 years and 47 to 108 kg, respectively. All participants received a caspofungin loading dose of 70 mg and a maintenance dose of 50 mg/day. The median duration of therapy was 10 days. Caspofungin C(24) in SICU patients varied more than those determined for healthy subjects reported in previous studies (0.52-4.08 microg/mL versus 1.12-1.78 microg/mL). According to our model, caspofungin C(24) were predicted to be significantly higher in patients with body weight <75 kg (P=0.019) and patients with albumin concentration >23.6 g/L (P=0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that body weight and albumin concentration influence caspofungin C(24) in SICU patients and should therefore be considered prognostic factors.

Long-term effects of a plant-based dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods on blood pressure

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect on blood pressure of dietary advice to consume a combination of plant-based cholesterol-lowering foods (dietary portfolio).

METHODS

For 1 year, 66 hyperlipidemic subjects were prescribed diets high in plant sterols (1.0 g/1000 kcal), soy protein (22.5 g/1000 kcal), viscous fibers (10 g/1000 kcal) and almonds (22.5 g/1000 kcal). There was no control group. Seven-day diet record, blood pressure and body weight were monitored initially monthly and later at 2-monthly intervals throughout the study.

RESULTS

Fifty subjects completed the 1-year study. When the last observation was carried forward for non-completers (n=9) or those who changed their blood pressure medications (n=7), a small mean reduction was seen in body weight 0.7+/-0.3 kg (P=0.036). The corresponding reductions from baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 1 year (n=66 subjects) were -4.2+/-1.3 mm Hg (P=0.002) and -2.3+/-0.7 mm Hg (P=0.001), respectively. Blood pressure reductions occurred within the first 2 weeks, with stable blood pressures 6 weeks before and 4 weeks after starting the diet. Diastolic blood pressure reduction was significantly related to weight change (r=0.30, n=50, P=0.036). Only compliance with almond intake advice related to blood pressure reduction (systolic: r=-0.34, n=50, P=0.017; diastolic: r=-0.29, n=50, P=0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

A dietary portfolio of plant-based cholesterol-lowering foods reduced blood pressure significantly, related to almond intake. The dietary portfolio approach of combining a range of cholesterol-lowering plant foods may benefit cardiovascular disease risk both by reducing serum lipids and also blood pressure.

[Predictive factors of dengue shock syndrome at the children Hospital No. 1, Ho-chi-Minh City, Vietnam]

The dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is primarily a complication of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) among children in South East Asia. A case-control study was carried out at the children hospital no 1 (Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam) in May-July 2005, to identify the predictive factors of the DSS among 1-15 year patients with DHE Forty consecutive admitted cases and forty controls were studied. The associated features of DSS were the 7-12 year age group and the re-infection by the dengue virus. The vaccination against the Japanese encephalitis B was not associated statistically significantly with the shock syndrome. The clinical predictors of DSS gathered an abdominal tenderness, an hepatomegaly, a lethargy, a cold extremity presentation. DSS associated laboratory features were a value of hematocrit a 50 % and a platelet cell count < or = 75,000/mm3.

Septischer Schock durch Vancomycin-resistente Enterokokken

Adequate antimicrobial therapy is of crucial importance for the survival of critically ill patients with severe nosocomial infections. Tigecycline is an important therapeutic option for the treatment of infections caused by multi-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). A large randomised study (patients with APACHE-II-score >30 excluded/mean APACHE-II-score 6) demonstrated that tigecycline is not inferior to imipenem/cilastatin for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections. However, no case has been reported with microbiological eradication and clinical cure in a patient with septic shock due to peritonitis caused by VRE and treatment with tigecycline monotherapy. Clinical details of a patient suffering from postoperative peritonitis are presented. The patient developed severe septic shock after pancreatic surgery (multiple organ failure, APACHE-II-score 34). As the site of anastomotic leakage was very small and could not be exactly identified, irrigation-suction drains were placed followed by closed postoperative continuous lavage. The pathogen responsible was identified as a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, therefore monotherapy with tigecycline was started which resulted in microbiological response and clinical cure. Tigecycline is a new therapeutic option for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections and from an economic point of view financially rewarding when used as monotherapy.