Beamline simulations using monochromators with high d-spacing crystals

Monochromators for synchrotron radiation beamlines typically use perfect crystals for the hard X-ray regime and gratings for soft X-rays. There is an intermediate range, typically 1-3 keV (tender X-rays), which common perfect crystals have difficulties covering and gratings have low efficiency, although some less common crystals with high d-spacing could be suitable. To evaluate the suitability of these crystals for a particular beamline, it is useful to evaluate the crystals' performance using tools such as ray-tracing. However, simulations for double-crystal monochromators are only available for the most used crystals such as Si, Ge or diamond. Here, an upgrade of the SHADOW ray-tracing code and complementary tools in the OASYS suite are presented to simulate high d-spacing crystals with arbitrary, and sometimes complex, structures such as beryl, YB₆₆, muscovite, etc. Isotropic and anisotropic temperature factors are also considered. The YB₆₆ crystal with 1936 atomic sites in the unit cell is simulated, and its applicability for tender X-ray monochromators is discussed in the context of new low-emittance storage rings.

Unravelling strong electronic interlayer and intralayer correlations in a transition metal dichalcogenide

Electronic correlations play important roles in driving exotic phenomena in condensed matter physics. They determine low-energy properties through high-energy bands well-beyond optics. Great effort has been made to understand low-energy excitations such as low-energy excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), however their high-energy bands and interlayer correlation remain mysteries. Herewith, by measuring temperature- and polarization-dependent complex dielectric and loss functions of bulk molybdenum disulphide from near-infrared to soft X-ray, supported with theoretical calculations, we discover unconventional soft X-ray correlated-plasmons with low-loss, and electronic transitions that reduce dimensionality and increase correlations, accompanied with significantly modified low-energy excitons. At room temperature, interlayer electronic correlations, together with the intralayer correlations in the c-axis, are surprisingly strong, yielding a three-dimensional-like system. Upon cooling, wide-range spectral-weight transfer occurs across a few tens of eV and in-plane p-d hybridizations become enhanced, revealing strong Coulomb correlations and electronic anisotropy, yielding a two-dimensional-like system. Our result shows the importance of strong electronic, interlayer and intralayer correlations in determining electronic structure and opens up applications of utilizing TMDCs on plasmonic nanolithrography.

[Preoperative diagnostic value of 99mTc- MIBI SPECT/CT imaging combined with semiquantitative analysis in hyperparathyroidism and factors affecting its efficacy]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission/ computed tomography (^99mTc- MIBI SPECT/CT), ^99mTc- MIBI double- phase scintigraphy (DPS) DPS and ultrasound (US) in preoperative localization of hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and explore the factors affecting the diagnostic efficacy of ^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 104 patients with HPT undergoing surgical resection between January, 2015 and July, 2019. Preoperative ^99mTc-MIBI imaging was performed in all the patients, and 82 patients also received US examination preoperatively. Semi-quantitative analysis was used to draw the region of interest and calculate the lesion/ ipsilateral deltoid muscle (T/NT) uptake ratio. The sensitivity and detection performance of ^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT, DPS and US in the diagnosis of HPT patients were compared, and the correlations of the T/NT ratios of parathyroid adenoma (PA) and parathyroid hyperplasia (PH) with the expression levels of COX-2 and Bcl-2 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The diagnostic sensitivity of ^99mTc- MIBI SPECT/CT, DPS and US for HPT was 95.19% (99/104), 91.3% (95/104) and 81.71% (67/82), respectively, demonstrating a significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity of ^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT than US (χ²=9.59, P=0.008). For PH lesions, ^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT had the highest diagnostic sensitivity, followed by DPS and then by US (P < 0.05), but their sensitivity did not differ significantly for PA (P>0.05). The T/NT ratio in fatty hyperplastic glands was significantly lower than that in fat-free hyperplastic glands (P=0.009). In PA, Bcl-2 expression was significantly lower in false negative lesions than in true positive lesions (P=0.046), but Cox-2 expression did not show such a difference (P>0.05). In PH lesions, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Cox- 2 did not differ significantly between false negative than true positive lesions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT has a high sensitivity for HPT localization, and the T/NT ratio is positively correlated with the lesion volume. An increased expression of Bcl-2 in PA lesions and a decreased cell fat content in PH lesions can facilitate the detection of HPT glands by ^99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT.

[Analysis of brain perfusion single-photon emission tomography images using an easy Zscore imaging system for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) images of cerebral blood flow perfusion using an easy Z-score imaging system (eZIS) and explore the value of SPECT and eZIS in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 71 subjects undergoing brain perfusion SPECT examination in our department from September, 2018 to September, 2020 and identified 31 eligible subjects for this study. Among these subjects, according to the NIA-AA criteria (2011 edition), 12 were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI) and 11 with AD dementia stage (AD); 8 elderly subjects were healthy without cognitive impairment (NC). All these subjects underwent brain perfusion SPECT, and eZIS-assisted analysis was used to obtain the index values (severity, range and ratio). The differences in the severity, extent and ratio among the 3 groups were compared, and the diagnostic efficacy of single and joint analysis of the 3 indexes for early AD was analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in gender, age and education level among the 3 groups (P>0.05). Compared with those in NC group, the Mini Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE) scores were significantly lowered in AD group and MCI group; the MMSE score was significantly lower in AD group than in MCI group (P < 0.05). The patients with AD had significantly greater disease severity and extent than those with MCI group; the severity, range and ratio in both AD group and MCI group were significantly higher than those of NC group, but the ratio did not differ significantly between AD group and MCI group (P>0.05). In single index analysis, severity had the highest diagnostic performance (AUC=0.911) and sensitivity (87.0%); the diagnostic performance and sensitivity of joint analysis were better than those of single analysis, and joint analysis of range and ratio showed high diagnostic performance (AUC=0.948) and sensitivity (87.0%).

CONCLUSION

The analysis of brain perfusion SPECT using an eZIS program can be useful for early diagnosis of AD.

Antioxidative stress of oral administration of tea extract granule in chickens

The present study was to evaluate antioxidative effect of tea extract granule (TEG) on oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) in chickens. In experiment 1, chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 birds in each. Groups 3 to 5 were orally administered TEG in drinking water for 7 D at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg body weight, respectively. After that, groups 2 to 5 received intramuscular injection of Cy (100 mg/kg BW) for 3 D. Group 1 was not treated as a control. In experiment 2, chickens were grouped in the same way as in experiment 1. Groups 2 to 5 received intramuscular injection of Cy (100 mg/kg BW) for 3 D. After that, groups 3 to 5 were orally administered TEG in drinking water for 7 D at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg BW, respectively. Results showed that Cy injection induced significantly decreased body weight and oxidative stress. Oral administration of TEG before or after Cy injection increased body weight, the thymus, bursa, and spleen indices, total antioxidant capacity, and the levels of glutathione; elevated the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; as well as decreased the protein carbonyl content, lipid peroxide, and malondialdehyde. In addition, TEG administration reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species. Therefore, TEG could be a promising agent against oxidative stress in the poultry industry.

Echocardiography in nonclinical studies: Where are we?

Echocardiography is a powerful, noninvasive tool used both in clinical and nonclinical settings, including in drug development. When used appropriately, it can provide valuable translational information about pharmacodynamics, safety pharmacology, or toxicology, helping to define no-observed-adverse-effect levels and providing guidance for clinical monitoring and dose selection. Echocardiography is advantageous in conducting longitudinal studies and reducing the number of animals used in safety assessments. To this end, there has been no clear enunciation of what constitutes appropriate use of this imaging technology in a nonclinical drug development setting. In this review, we describe the use of echocardiography in nonclinical studies in regulatory submissions to the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. In addition, we discuss three main areas: the operator, image acquisition, and image analysis, where variability may affect the reliability of information generated in an echocardiography study. As a path forward, our recommendation is for a multi-disciplinary expert working group to establish guidelines for education and credentialing of nonclinical echocardiographers as well as quality assurance standards for nonclinical echocardiography labs.

Combined adjuvant effect of ginseng stem-leaf saponins and selenium on immune responses to a live bivalent vaccine of Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus in chickens

Vaccination with a live bivalent vaccine of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a routine practice in poultry industry in China. This study was designed to evaluate ginseng stem-leaf saponins (GSLS) in combination with selenium (Se) for their adjuvant effect on the immune response to vaccination against NDV and IBV in chickens. A live bivalent vaccine of NDV and IBV was diluted in saline solution containing GSLS or Se or both and used to immunize chickens via a intraocular-and-intranasal route. Results showed that GSLS promoted significantly higher NDV- and IBV-specific antibody responses with the highest antibody response detected in GSLS-Se group. The increased antibody was capable of neutralizing NDV and IBV. In addition, GSLS-Se enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and production of IFN-γ and IL-4. More importantly GSLS-Se was found to promote early production and prolong the duration of the antibody responses. In order to improve the efficacy of vaccination in chicken flocks, the diluent containing GSLS-Se deserves further studies to evaluate its effect on other chicken vaccines.

Comparison of the gut microbiota composition between the wild and captive Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang)

Aims

The gut microbiota has a great effect on the health and nutrition of the host. Manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may improve animal health and growth performance. The objectives of our study were to characterize the faecal microbiota between wild and captive Tibetan wild asses and discuss the differences and their reasons.

Methods and Results

Through high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4‐V5 region, we studied the gut microbiota composition and structure of Tibetan wild asses in winter, and analysed the differences between wild and captive groups. The results showed that the most common bacterial phylum in Tibetan wild ass faeces samples was Bacteroidetes, while the phylum Firmicutes was dominant in captive Tibetan wild ass faecal samples. The relative abundance of Firmicutes, Tenericutes and Spirochaetes were significantly higher (P < 0·01) than in the wild groups.

Conclusions

Captivity reduces intestinal microbial diversity, evenness and operational taxonomic unit number due to the consumption of industrial food, therefore, increasing the risk of disease prevalence and affecting the health of wildlife.

Significance and Impact of the Study

We studied the effect of the captive environment on intestinal micro‐organisms. This article provides a theoretical basis for the ex‐situ conservation of wild animals in the future.

Ginsenoside Rg1 enhanced immune responses to infectious bursal disease vaccine in chickens with oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of oral administration of ginsenoside Rg1 on oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide in chickens. Ninety-six chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 24 birds. Groups 2 and 3 received intramuscular injection of cyclophosphamide at 100 mg/kg body weight for 3 d to induce oxidative stress and immune suppression. Groups 1 and 4 were injected with saline in the same way as groups 2 and 3. Then chickens in group 3 were orally administrated Rg1 of 1 mg/kg body weight in drinking water for 7 d. After that, groups 1 to 3 were orally vaccinated with attenuated infectious bursal disease vaccine (Strain B87). Blood samples were collected for determination of infectious bursal disease virus-specific antibodies, cytokines, and oxidative parameters. Splenocytes were prepared for lymphocyte proliferation assay. The results showed that oral administration of ginsenoside Rg1 significantly enhanced specific antibody, IFN-γ, and IL-6 responses, and lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide in chickens injected with cyclophosphamide. Antioxidant activity of ginsenoside Rg1 was also observed in chickens by increased total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol, as well as decreased malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl. Therefore, oral administration of Rg1 was shown to improve the immune responses to infectious bursal disease vaccine in chickens suffering from oxidative stress.

Oral administration of tea saponins to relive oxidative stress and immune suppression in chickens

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of tea saponins on oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide in chickens. One hundred twenty chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups. Groups 3 to 4 received intramuscular injection of cyclophosphamide to induce oxidative stress and immunosuppression. After that, groups 2 and 4 were orally administered tea saponins in drinking water for 7 d. Then, groups 1 to 4 were immunized with a live, bivalent vaccine of Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus. Blood samples were collected for analysis of oxidative parameters and specific antibody titers, and splenocytes were prepared for lymphocyte proliferative assay. The results showed that administration of tea saponins significantly increased total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol, and decreased malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl. Enhanced immune responses, such as lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharides, and serum Newcastle disease virus- and infectious bronchitis virus-specific antibodies were also observed in chickens injected with or without cyclophosphamide. In addition, no side effects were found in chickens throughout the study. Therefore, tea saponins may be a potential agent to improve imunosuppression induced by oxidative stress in chickens.

Risk factors for mortality in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

OBJECTIVE

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a severe autoimmune disorder with a mortality of 5%-7%, but few studies have focused on the predictors of death in this disease. In this study, we aim to investigate predictors and causes of death in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

METHODS

In this cohort study, patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were enrolled at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University between June 2011 and October 2015. The outcomes of patients were evaluated by long-term follow-up. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between potential predictors and death.

RESULTS

Altogether 96 patients were included in this study, and 11 died after median 24.5 (7-57) months of follow-up. The mortality of anti-NMDAR encephalitis was 11.46%. Multivariate analysis results showed that Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤8 at admission (HR=15.917, 95% CI=1.729-146.562; P=.015), the number of complications (HR=7.772, 95% CI=1.944-31.072; P=.004), and admission to an intensive care unit (HR=70.158, 95% CI=2.395-2055.459; P=.014) were significantly associated with increased risk of mortality. Twelve patients received second-line immunotherapy, and the cohort was relatively under-treated compared with other studies. The main causes of death were severe pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and refractory status epilepticus.

CONCLUSION

GCS score ≤8 at admission, number of complications, and admission to an intensive care unit are predictors of death. Management of complications may improve the prognosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

The antisense expression of

Although phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases (PEPCs) are reported to be involved in fatty acid accumulation, nitrogen assimilation, and salt and drought stresses, knowledge regarding PEPC gene functions is still limited, particularly in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). In this study, the antisense expression of the peanut PEPC isoform 1 (AhPEPC1) gene increased the lipid content by 5.7%–10.3%. This indicated that AhPEPC1 might be related to plant lipid accumulation. The transgenic plants underwent more root elongation than the wild-type under salinity stress. Additionally, the specific down regulation of the AhPEPC1 gene improved the salt tolerance in peanuts. This is the first report on the role of PEPC in lipid accumulation and salt tolerance in peanuts.

Host platelets and, in part, neutrophils mediate lung accumulation of transfused UVB-irradiated human platelets in a mouse model of acute lung injury

We previously reported that ultraviolet light B (UVB)-treated human platelets (hPLTs) can cause acute lung injury (ALI) in a two-event SCID mouse model in which the predisposing event was Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and the second event was infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs. To delineate contributions of host mouse platelets (mPLTs) and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of ALI in this mouse model, we depleted mPLTs or neutrophils and measured hPLT accumulation in the lung. We also assessed lung injury by protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). LPS injection followed by infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs resulted in sequestration of both mPLTs and hPLTs in the lungs of SCID mice, although the numbers of neutrophils in the lung were not significantly different from the control group. Depletion of mouse neutrophils caused only a mild reduction in UVB-hPLTs accumulation in the lungs and a mild reduction in protein content in BALF. In comparison, depletion of mPLTs almost completely abolished hPLTs accumulation in the lung and significantly reduced protein content in BALF. UVB-treated hPLTs bound to host mPLTs, but did not bind to neutrophils in the lung. Aspirin treatment of hPLTs in vitro abolished hPLT accumulation in the lung and protected mice from lung injury. Our data indicate that host mPLTs accumulated in the lungs in response to an inflammatory challenge and subsequently mediated the attachment of transfused UVB-hPLTs. Neutrophils also recruited a small percentage of platelets to the lung. These findings may help develop therapeutic strategies for ALI which could potentially result from transfusion of UV illuminated platelets.

Learning Chronobiology by Improving Wikipedia

Although chronobiology is of growing interest to scientists, physicians, and the general public, access to recent discoveries and historical perspectives is limited. Wikipedia is an online, user-written encyclopedia that could enhance public access to current understanding in chronobiology. However, Wikipedia is lacking important information and is not universally trusted. Here, 46 students in a university course edited Wikipedia to enhance public access to important discoveries in chronobiology. Students worked for an average of 9 h each to evaluate the primary literature and available Wikipedia information, nominated sites for editing, and, after voting, edited the 15 Wikipedia pages they determined to be highest priorities. This assignment ( http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/courses/Bio4030/wikipedia_project.html ) was easy to implement, required relatively short time commitments from the professor and students, and had measurable impacts on Wikipedia and the students. Students created 3 new Wikipedia sites, edited 12 additional sites, and cited 347 peer-reviewed articles. The targeted sites all became top hits in online search engines. Because their writing was and will be read by a worldwide audience, students found the experience rewarding. Students reported significantly increased comfort with reading, critiquing, and summarizing primary literature and benefited from seeing their work edited by other scientists and editors of Wikipedia. We conclude that, in a short project, students can assist in making chronobiology widely accessible and learn from the editorial process.

FGF8 is essential for formation of the ductal system in the male reproductive tract

During development of the urogenital tract, fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8) is expressed in mesonephric tubules, but its role in this tissue remains undefined. An evaluation of previously generated T-Cre-mediated Fgf8-deficient mice (T-Cre; Fgf8(flox/Δ2,3) mice), which lack Fgf8 expression in the mesoderm, revealed that the cranial region of the Wolffian duct degenerated prematurely and the cranial mesonephric tubules were missing. As a result, the epididymis, vas deferens and efferent ductules were largely absent in mutant mice. Rarb2-Cre was used to eliminate FGF8 from the mesonephric tubules but to allow expression in the adjacent somites. These mutants retained the cranial end of the Wolffian duct and formed the epididymis and vas deferens, but failed to elaborate the efferent ductules, indicating that Fgf8 expression by the mesonephric tubules is required specifically for the formation of the ductules. Ret knockout mice do not form the ureteric bud, a caudal outgrowth of the Wolffian duct and progenitor for the collecting duct network in the kidney, but they do develop the cranial end normally. This indicates that Fgf8, but not Ret, expression is essential to the outgrowth of the cranial mesonephric tubules from the Wolffian duct and to the development of major portions of the sex accessory tissues in the male reproductive tract. Mechanistically, FGF8 functions upstream of Lhx1 expression in forming the nephron, and analysis of Fgf8 mutants similarly shows deficient Lhx1 expression in the mesonephric tubules. These results demonstrate a multifocal requirement for FGF8 in establishing the male reproductive tract ducts and implicate Lhx1 signaling in tubule elongation.

Immunohistochemical staining of dpERK staining during early kidney development

Signaling through the ERK/MAPK pathway within the Wolffian duct and ureteric bud epithelium is critical for kidney induction and branching morphogenesis. ERK signaling is activated by receptor tyrosine kinase such as RET and FGFR2. This protocol describes a method to detect the diphosphorylated form of ERK (dpERK) on paraffin embedded tissue of early mouse embryo.

Imaging kidney development

Development of the kidney involves interactions between several cell lineages and complex morphogenetic processes, such as branching of the ureteric bud (UB) to form the collecting duct system and condensation and differentiation of the mesenchymal progenitors to form the nephron epithelia. One of the advantages of the mouse kidney as an experimental system is that it can develop in culture, from the stage of initial branching of the UB (E11.5) for up to a week (although it achieves the size and degree of development of only an E13.5-E14.5 kidney in vivo). The availability of fluorescent proteins (FPs) has provided powerful tools for visualizing the morphogenesis of specific renal structures in organ cultures. Two categories of genetically modified mice that express FPs are useful for visualizing different cell lineages and developmental processes in these organ cultures: (1) transgenic mice that express a fluorescent reporter in the pattern of a specific gene; and (2) Cre reporter mice, which turn on an FP in cells with Cre recombinase activity (and their daughter cells), used in conjunction with cell type-specific Cre transgenic mice. Here, we describe some of the currently available Cre and FP transgenic lines that are useful for the study of kidney development.

Dissection of embryonic mouse kidney, culture in vitro, and imaging of the developing organ

INTRODUCTION

In this article, we outline procedures for the dissection of intact kidneys and the isolation of the ureteric bud (UB) and the metanephric mesenchyme (MM) from mouse embryos. The apparatus required for the culture of these tissues in vitro is described in detail as well as the equipment necessary for performing time-lapse imaging studies of the developing kidney.

Abstract P3-14-20: Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study of the Investigational HER2/EGFR Inhibitor TAK-285 in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Background and Objectives: TAK-285 is a novel, orally active, dual HER2/EGFR inhibitor. Nonclinical data show that TAK-285 has high selectivity and specificity for binding to HER family kinases, and has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a BT-474 mouse xenograft model of breast cancer. Nonclinical data also indicate that TAK-285 is not a substrate for the efflux transporters P-gp and BCRP and penetrates an intact blood-brain barrier in rats. This phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with advanced cancer aimed to determine the safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile.

Methods: Adults had advanced histologically confirmed non-hematologic malignancies, life expectancy &gt;12 weeks, adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function, ECOG PS 0-2, and were refractory to other treatments. Oral TAK-285 was escalated from 50 to 500 mg QD or BID for 21 or 28 consecutive days of a 28-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity was observed.

Results: At the data cut-off of 04/23/10, the dose-escalation portion was complete, and the RP2D expansion cohort is ongoing. Preliminary data from the dose-escalation cohorts are reported. 43 patients (median age 60 years [43-76]) were enrolled: 30% ≥65 years, 51% female, and 86% white. Dose levels were 50 mg QD (N=4), 50 mg BID (N=7), and 75 mg BID (N=6) on d 1-21; and 150 mg (N=6), 225 mg (N=4), 325 mg (N=3), 400 mg (N=6), and 500 mg (N=7) BID on d 1-28. Median duration of exposure across all cohorts was 52 days (3-267). Four patients experienced a DLT in Cycle 1: 1 patient (50 mg BID) had Grade 3 pancreatitis; 1 patient (150 mg BID) had Grade 3 chest pain and Grade 3 hypoxia; 1 patient (500 mg BID) had Grade 3 increased ALT; and 1 patient (500 mg BID) had Grade 3 diarrhoea and Grade 3 hypokalaemia. The MTD was 400 mg BID d 1-28. 30 patients (70%) discontinued TAK-285, primarily due to disease progression (n=19, 44%) or an AE (n=9, 21%). Most frequent AEs were fatigue (37%), diarrhoea (35%), nausea (26%), anorexia (21%), vomiting (16%), and elevated AST (16%). 58% of patients had a drug-related AE; the most frequent were diarrhoea (21%), fatigue (19%), and rash (includes rash, rash maculo-papular and rash macular; 12%). 35% of patients had a grade 3/4 AE; the most common were hypokalaemia (7%), ileus, abdominal pain, and hypoxia (5% each). Grade 3/4 AEs related to TAK-285 were the DLTs in Cycle 1 and Grade 4 rhabdomyolysis in 1 patient (400 mg BID, d 1-28) in Cycle 3. 42% of patients experienced a serious AE (SAE); the only SAE seen in &gt;1 patient was ileus (n=2). 4 (9%) patients had fatal AEs; none were considered related to TAK-285. Absorption was fast: plasma concentrations peaked 2-3 hours post-dose. Steady-state plasma exposures increased with dose in a greater than dose-proportional manner, with PK steady-state achieved by Day 8. Accumulation was noted with BID dosing (mean accumulation ratio, 2.4 at MTD); there was moderate fluctuation in plasma concentrations over the steady-state dosing interval (mean Cmax:Cmin ratio, 2.4 at MTD).

Conclusions: The MTD for TAK-285 was 400 mg BID d 1-28. The RP2D cohort is ongoing and includes CSF collection to assess the CNS distribution of TAK-285. Updated safety as well as efficacy data for the dose escalation cohorts will be presented.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-14-20.

Actin depolymerizing factors cofilin1 and destrin are required for ureteric bud branching morphogenesis

The actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) play important roles in several cellular processes that require cytoskeletal rearrangements, such as cell migration, but little is known about the in vivo functions of ADFs in developmental events like branching morphogenesis. While the molecular control of ureteric bud (UB) branching during kidney development has been extensively studied, the detailed cellular events underlying this process remain poorly understood. To gain insight into the role of actin cytoskeletal dynamics during renal branching morphogenesis, we studied the functional requirements for the closely related ADFs cofilin1 (Cfl1) and destrin (Dstn) during mouse development. Either deletion of Cfl1 in UB epithelium or an inactivating mutation in Dstn has no effect on renal morphogenesis, but simultaneous lack of both genes arrests branching morphogenesis at an early stage, revealing considerable functional overlap between cofilin1 and destrin. Lack of Cfl1 and Dstn in the UB causes accumulation of filamentous actin, disruption of normal epithelial organization, and defects in cell migration. Animals with less severe combinations of mutant Cfl1 and Dstn alleles, which retain one wild-type Cfl1 or Dstn allele, display abnormalities including ureter duplication, renal hypoplasia, and abnormal kidney shape. The results indicate that ADF activity, provided by either cofilin1 or destrin, is essential in UB epithelial cells for normal growth and branching.

Development of the ureter and collecting ducts of the kidney requires extensive growth and branching of an epithelial tube, the ureteric bud. While many genes that control this process are known, the cellular events that underlie renal morphogenesis remain poorly understood. Many cellular changes that might contribute to ureteric bud morphogenesis, such as migration and changes in shape, involve the actin cytoskeleton. Actin depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are important for changes in the organization of the cytoskeleton in cultured cells, but the roles of the ADF genes in vivo remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we examine the importance of the ADFs cofilin1 and destrin in ureteric bud branching and find that lack of both genes arrests this process at an early stage, while lesser reductions in ADF gene dosage cause more subtle defects in kidney development. This finding may help us to understand the origins of certain congenital malformations in humans.

The transcription factors Etv4 and Etv5 mediate formation of the ureteric bud tip domain during kidney development

Signaling by the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase promotes cell movements in the Wolffian duct that give rise to the first ureteric bud tip, initiating kidney development. Although the ETS transcription factors Etv4 and Etv5 are known to be required for mouse kidney development and to act downstream of Ret, their specific functions are unclear. Here, we examine their role by analyzing the ability of Etv4 Etv5 compound mutant cells to contribute to chimeric kidneys. Etv4(-/-);Etv5(+/-) cells show a limited distribution in the caudal Wolffian duct and ureteric bud, similar to Ret(-/-) cells, revealing a cell-autonomous role for Etv4 and Etv5 in the cell rearrangements promoted by Ret. By contrast, Etv4(-/-);Etv5(-/-) cells display more severe developmental limitations, suggesting a broad role for Etv4 and Etv5 downstream of multiple signals, which are together important for Wolffian duct and ureteric bud morphogenesis.

Ret-dependent cell rearrangements in the Wolffian duct epithelium initiate ureteric bud morphogenesis

While the genetic control of renal branching morphogenesis has been extensively described, the cellular basis of this process remains obscure. GDNF/RET signaling is required for ureter and kidney development, and cells lacking Ret are excluded from the tips of the branching ureteric bud in chimeric kidneys. Here, we find that this exclusion results from earlier Ret-dependent cell rearrangements in the caudal Wolffian duct, which generate a specialized epithelial domain that later emerges as the tip of the primary ureteric bud. By juxtaposing cells with elevated or reduced RET activity, we find that Wolffian duct cells compete, based on RET signaling levels, to contribute to this domain. At the same time, the caudal Wolffian duct transiently converts from a simple to a pseudostratified epithelium, a process that does not require Ret. Thus, both Ret-dependent cell movements and Ret-independent changes in the Wolffian duct epithelium contribute to ureteric bud formation.

A transgenic mouse that reveals cell shape and arrangement during ureteric bud branching

Understanding the cellular events that underlie epithelial morphogenesis is a key problem in developmental biology. Here, we describe a new transgenic mouse line that makes it possible to visualize individual cells specifically in the Wolffian duct and ureteric bud, the epithelial structures that give rise to the collecting system of the kidney. myr-Venus, a membrane-associated form of the fluorescent protein Venus, was expressed in the ureteric bud lineage under the control of the Hoxb7 promoter. In Hoxb7/myr-Venus mice, the outlines of all Wolffian duct and ureteric bud epithelial cells are strongly labeled at all stages of urogenital development, allowing the shapes and arrangements of individual cells to be readily observed by confocal microscopy of freshly excised or cultured kidneys. This strain should be extremely useful for studies of cell behavior during ureteric bud branching morphogenesis in wild type and mutant mouse lines.

Morphology effectively controls singlet-triplet exciton relaxation and charge transport in organic semiconductors

We present a comparative study of ultrafast photoconversion dynamics in tetracene (Tc) and pentacene (Pc) single crystals and Pc films using optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Photoinduced absorption in Tc and Pc crystals is activated and temperature-independent, respectively, demonstrating dominant singlet-triplet exciton fission. In Pc films (as well as C60-doped films) this decay channel is suppressed by electron trapping. These results demonstrate the central role of crystallinity and purity in photogeneration processes and will constrain the design of future photovoltaic devices.

Gata3 acts downstream of beta-catenin signaling to prevent ectopic metanephric kidney induction

Metanephric kidney induction critically depends on mesenchymal–epithelial interactions in the caudal region of the nephric (or Wolffian) duct. Central to this process, GDNF secreted from the metanephric mesenchyme induces ureter budding by activating the Ret receptor expressed in the nephric duct epithelium. A failure to regulate this pathway is believed to be responsible for a large proportion of the developmental anomalies affecting the urogenital system. Here, we show that the nephric duct-specific inactivation of the transcription factor gene Gata3 leads to massive ectopic ureter budding. This results in a spectrum of urogenital malformations including kidney adysplasia, duplex systems, and hydroureter, as well as vas deferens hyperplasia and uterine agenesis. The variability of developmental defects is reminiscent of the congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) observed in human. We show that Gata3 inactivation causes premature nephric duct cell differentiation and loss of Ret receptor gene expression. These changes ultimately affect nephric duct epithelium homeostasis, leading to ectopic budding of interspersed cells still expressing the Ret receptor. Importantly, the formation of these ectopic buds requires both GDNF/Ret and Fgf signaling activities. We further identify Gata3 as a central mediator of β-catenin function in the nephric duct and demonstrate that the β-catenin/Gata3 pathway prevents premature cell differentiation independently of its role in regulating Ret expression. Together, these results establish a genetic cascade in which Gata3 acts downstream of β-catenin, but upstream of Ret, to prevent ectopic ureter budding and premature cell differentiation in the nephric duct.

In humans, kidney development originates during embryonic development by the sprouting of an epithelial bud—called the ureteric bud—from a simple epithelial structure—the nephric duct. The ureteric bud quickly grows and branches in a treelike fashion to form the kidney collecting duct system, while the emerging ureteric tips induce nephron differentiation. One of the most important steps during kidney development is the positioning of a single ureteric bud along the nephric duct, since mutations of genes implicated in this process lead to severe urogenital malformations. In this study, we identified the Gata3 protein as a crucial regulator of ureteric bud positioning by using genetically modified mice. Deleting the Gata3 gene in the mouse resulted in the development of multiple kidneys emerging at improper positions. We show that this defect was caused by a hypersensitivity of nephric duct cells in their response to local growth signals. Interestingly, this phenomenon was partly triggered by premature differentiation of a subset of nephric duct cells. Furthermore, we report a genetic pathway in which Wnt/β-catenin signaling activates the Gata3 gene, which in turn positively regulates the Ret gene. In summary, we introduce a mouse model system that can be used to study human birth defects affecting the urogenital system.

Intercomparison of measurement techniques for black or elemental carbon under urban background conditions in wintertime: influence of biomass combustion

A generally accepted method to measure black carbon (BC) or elemental carbon (EC) still does not exist. An earlier study in the Vienna area comparing practically all measurement methods in use in Europe gave comparable BC and EC concentrations under summer conditions (Hitzenberger et al., 2006a). Under summer conditions, Diesel traffic is the major source for EC or BC in Vienna. Under winter conditions, space heating (also with biomass as fuel) is another important source (Caseiro et al., 2007). The present study compares the response of thermal methods (a modified Cachier method, Cachier et al., 1989; a thermal-optical method, Schmid et al., 2001; and two thermal-optical (TOT) methods using Sunset instruments, Birch and Cary, 1996 and Schauer et al., 2003) and optical methods (a light transmission method, Hansen et al., 1984; the integrating sphere method, Hitzenberger et al., 1996; and the multiangle absorption photometer MAAP, Petzold and Schönlinner, 2004). Significant differences were found between the TOT methods on the one hand and all other methods on the other. The TOT methods yielded EC concentrations that were lower by 44 and 17% than the average of all measured concentrations (including the TOT data). The largest discrepancy was found when the contribution of brown carbon (measured with the integrating sphere method) was largest.

Determination of isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene oxidation products in boreal forest aerosols from Hyytiälä, Finland: diel variations and possible link with particle formation events

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene, are photo-oxidized in the atmosphere to non-volatile species resulting in secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The goal of this study was to examine time trends and diel variations of oxidation products of isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene in order to investigate whether they are linked with meteorological parameters or trace gases. Separate day-night aerosol samples (PM(1)) were collected in a Scots pine dominated forest in southern Finland during 28 July-11 August 2005 and analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, inorganic trace gases (SO(2), CO, NO(x), and O(3)), meteorological parameters, and the particle number concentration were monitored. The median total concentration of terpenoic acids (i.e., pinic acid, norpinic acid, and two novel compounds, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid and 2-hydroxy-4-isopropyladipic acid) was 65 ng m(-3), while that of isoprene oxidation products (i.e., 2-methyltetrols and C(5) alkene triols) was 17.2 ng m(-3). The 2-methyltetrols exhibited day/night variations with maxima during day-time, while alpha-/beta-pinene oxidation products did not show any diel variation. The sampling period was marked by a relatively high condensation sink, caused by pre-existing aerosol particles, and no nucleation events. In general, the concentration trends of the SOA compounds reflected those of the inorganic trace gases, meteorological parameters, and condensation sink. Both the isoprene and alpha-/beta-pinene SOA products were strongly influenced by SO(2), which is consistent with earlier reports that acidity plays a role in SOA formation. The results support previous proposals that oxygenated VOCs contribute to particle growth processes above boreal forest.

Complex cardiac Nkx2-5 gene expression activated by noggin-sensitive enhancers followed by chamber-specific modules

We previously reported that an Nkx2-5-GFP bacterial artificial chromosome in transgenic mice recapitulated the endogenous gene activity in the heart. Here, we identified three additional previously uncharacterized distal enhancer modules of Nkx2-5: UH6, which directed transgene expression in the right ventricle, interventricular septum, and atrial ventricular canal; UH5, which directed expression in both atria; and UH4, which directed transgene expression in tongue muscle. Nkx2-5 enhancers drive cardiogenic gene activity from the earliest progenitors to the late-stage embryonic heart, reside within its 27 kb of 5' flanking sequences, organized in a tandem array. Nkx2-5 enhancers involved with stomach-, tongue-, and chamber-restricted expression displayed lacZ transgene activity and chromatin histone acetylation patterns consistent with tissue-specific expression. An examination of Nkx2-5 gene activity in murine embryonic stem cells converted to beating embryoid bodies showed that only the proximal active region 2 and GATA-Smad enhancers were chromatin-remodeled. Chromatin remodeling of active region 2 and GATA-Smad enhancers were blunted by noggin coexpression, which indicated dependence on bone morphogenetic protein signaling for their chromatin activation during activation of Nkx2-5 expression.

Landau quantization effects in the charge-density-wave system (Per)2M(mnt)2 (where M = Au and Pt)

A finite transfer integral t(a) orthogonal to the conducting chains of a highly one-dimensional metal gives rise to empty and filled bands that simulate an indirect-gap semiconductor upon formation of a charge-density wave (CDW). In contrast to semiconductors such as Ge and Si with band gaps approximately 1 eV, the CDW system possesses an indirect gap with a greatly reduced energy scale, enabling moderate laboratory magnetic fields to have a major effect. The consequent variation of the thermodynamic gap with magnetic field due to Zeeman splitting and Landau quantization enables the electronic band structure parameters (transfer integrals, Fermi velocity) to be determined accurately. These parameters reveal the orbital quantization limit to be reached at approximately 20 T in (Per)2M(mnt)(2) salts, making them highly unlikely candidates for a recently proposed cascade of field-induced CDW states.

Amorphouslike density of gap states in single-crystal pentacene

We show that optical and electrical measurements on pentacene single crystals can be used to extract the density of states in the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital band gap. It is found that these highly purified crystals possess band tails broader than those typically observed in inorganic amorphous solids. Results on field-effect transistors fabricated from similar crystals imply that the gap state density is much larger within 5-10 nm of the gate dielectric. Thus, organic thin-film transistors for such applications as flexible displays might be significantly improved by reducing these defects.

Charge-density waves survive the Pauli paramagnetic limit

Measurements of the resistance of single crystals of (Per)2Au(mnt)2 have been made at magnetic fields B of up to 45 T, exceeding the anticipated Pauli paramagnetic limit of Bp approximately 37 T. The continued presence of nonlinear charge-density wave electrodynamics at B> or =37 T establishes the survival of the charge-density wave state above this limit, and the probable emergence of an inhomogeneous phase analogous to that anticipated to occur in superconductors.

Bias-dependent generation and quenching of defects in pentacene

We describe a defect generation phenomenon that is new to organic semiconductors. A defect in pentacene single crystals can be created by bias-stress and persists at room temperature for an hour in the dark but only seconds with 420 nm illumination. The defect gives rise to a hole trap at Ev+0.38 eV and causes metastable transport effects at room temperature. Creation and decay rates of the hole trap have a 0.67 eV activation energy with a small (10(8) s(-1)) prefactor, suggesting that atomic motion plays a key role in the generation and quenching process.

Cardiac muscle plasticity in adult and embryo by heart-derived progenitor cells

The evidence of cardiomyocyte proliferation in damaged heart implied cardiac regeneration might occur by resident or extra cardiac stem cells. However, the specification and origin of these cells remain unknown. Here, we report using fluorescence-activated cell sorting that cardiac progenitor cells resided in adult heart and colocalized with small capillary vessels, within the stem cell antigen (Sca-1) population expressing high telomerase activity. Notably, hematopoietic stem cells capable of efflux Hoechst 33342, termed side population cells, also were identified within the heart-derived cells. The cardiac progenitor cells (CD45(-)/CD34(-)) express neither cardiac muscle nor endothelial cell markers at an undifferentiated stage. The exposure of 5-azacytidine induced cardiac differentiation, which depends, in part, on Bmpr1a, a type IA receptor for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). The capability of adult Sca1(+) cells to adopt a cardiac muscle in embryogenesis was substantiated by blastocyst injection, using progenitors from the adult hearts of transgenic mice that harbor a bacterial artificial chromosome expressing GFP via the Nkx-2.5 locus. Intravenously injected progenitors, shortly after ischemic/reperfusion, homed and functionally differentiated 3.5% of total left ventricle in the host myocardium. Differentiation included both fusion-independent and fusion-associated components, proved by the Cre/loxP donor/recipient system. Our studies suggest that endogenous cardiac progenitors reside in the adult heart, regenerate cardiomyocytes functionally, and integrate into the existing heart circuitry.