Alteration of DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Scores Associated With Features of Schizophrenia and Common Variant Genetic Risk

BACKGROUND

Unpacking molecular perturbations associated with features of schizophrenia is a critical step toward understanding phenotypic heterogeneity in this disorder. Recent epigenome-wide association studies have uncovered pervasive dysregulation of DNA methylation in schizophrenia; however, clinical features of the disorder that account for a large proportion of phenotypic variability are relatively underexplored.

METHODS

We comprehensively analyzed patterns of DNA methylation in a cohort of 381 individuals with schizophrenia from the deeply phenotyped Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. Epigenetic changes were investigated in association with cognitive status, age of onset, treatment resistance, Global Assessment of Functioning scores, and common variant polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia. We subsequently explored alterations within genes previously associated with psychiatric illness, phenome-wide epigenetic covariance, and epigenetic scores.

RESULTS

Epigenome-wide association studies of the 5 primary traits identified 662 suggestively significant (p < 6.72 × 10-5) differentially methylated probes, with a further 432 revealed after controlling for schizophrenia polygenic risk on the remaining 4 traits. Interestingly, we uncovered many probes within genes associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions as well as significant epigenetic covariance with phenotypes and exposures including acute myocardial infarction, C-reactive protein, and lung cancer. Epigenetic scores for treatment-resistant schizophrenia strikingly exhibited association with clozapine administration, while epigenetic proxies of plasma protein expression, such as CCL17, MMP10, and PRG2, were associated with several features of schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings collectively provide novel evidence suggesting that several features of schizophrenia are associated with alteration of DNA methylation, which may contribute to interindividual phenotypic variation in affected individuals.

Electroacupuncture stimulation ameliorates cognitive impairment induced by long-term high-fat diet by regulating microglial BDNF

Long-term high-fat diet (HFD) in adolescents leads to impaired hippocampal function and increases the risk of cognitive impairment. Studies have shown that HFD activates hippocampal microglia and induces hippocampal inflammation, which is an important factor for cognitive impairment. Electroacupuncture stimulation (ES), a nerve stimulation therapy, is anti-inflammatory. This study explored its therapeutic potential and mechanism of action in obesity-related cognitive impairment. 4-week-old C57 mice were given either normal or HFD for 22 weeks. At 19 weeks, some of the HFD mice were treated with ES and nigericin sodium salt. The cognitive behavior was assessed through Morris water maze test at 23 weeks. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of pro-inflammatory molecules IL-1β and IL-1R, synaptic plasticity related proteins synaptophysin and Postsynaptic Density-95 (PSD-95), and apoptotic molecules (Caspase-3 and Bcl-2), in the hippocampus. The number, morphology, and status of microglia, along with the brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） content, were analyzed using immunofluorescence. ES treatment improved cognitive deficits in HFD model mice, and decreased the expressions of microglial activation marker, CD68, and microglial BDNF. Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and IL-1R promoted PSD-95 and synaptophysin expressions. Peripheral NLRP3 inflammasome agonist injections exacerbated the cognitive deficits in HFD mice and promoted the expressions of IL-1β and IL-1R in the hippocampus. The microglia showed obvious morphological damage and apoptosis. Collectively, our findings suggest that ES inhibits inflammation, regulates microglial BDNF, and causes remodeling of hippocampal function in mice to counteract obesity-like induced cognitive impairment. Overexcitation of peripheral inflammasome complexes induces hippocampal microglia apoptosis, which hinders the effects of ES.

Exome sequencing in the pediatric neuromuscular clinic leads to more frequent diagnosis of both neuromuscular and neurodevelopmental conditions

INTRODUCTION/AIMS

Exome sequencing (ES) has proven to be a valuable diagnostic tool for neuromuscular disorders, which often pose a diagnostic challenge. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical outcomes associated with utilization of ES in the pediatric neuromuscular clinic and to determine if specific phenotypic features or abnormal neurodiagnostic tests were predictive of a diagnostic result.

METHODS

This was a retrospective medical record review of 76 pediatric neuromuscular clinic patients who underwent ES. Based upon clinical assessment prior to ES, patients were divided into two groups: affected by neuromuscular (n = 53) or non-neuromuscular (n = 23) syndromes.

RESULTS

A diagnosis was made in 28/76 (36.8%), with 29 unique disorders identified. In the neuromuscular group, a neuromuscular condition was confirmed in 78% of those receiving a genetic diagnosis. Early age of symptom onset was associated with a significantly higher diagnostic yield. The most common reason neuromuscular diagnoses were not detected on prior testing was due to causative genes not being present on disease-specific panels. Changes to medical care were made in 57% of individuals receiving a diagnosis on ES.

DISCUSSION

These data further support ES as a powerful diagnostic tool in the pediatric neuromuscular clinic and highlight the advantages of ES over gene panels, including the ability to identify diagnoses regardless of etiology, identify genes newly associated with disease, and identify multiple confounding diagnoses. Rapid and accurate diagnosis by ES can not only end the patient's diagnostic odyssey, but often impacts patients' medical management and genetic counseling of families.

Efficient separation of impurities Fe/Al/Ca and recovery of Zn from electroplating sludge using glucose as reductant

Electroplating sludge (ES), a hazardous waste containing heavy metals and Fe/Al/Ca impurities, is conventionally disposed of in landfills. In this study, a pilot-scale vessel with an effective capacity of 20 L was applied to recycle Zn from real ES. The sludge contained 6.3 wt% Fe, 6.9 wt% Al, 2.6 wt% Si, 6.1 wt% Ca, and 17.6 wt% Zn and was treated using a four-step method. First, ES was dissolved in nitric acid after washing in a water bath at 75 °C for 3 h to produce an acidic solution with Fe, Al, Ca, and Zn concentrations of 4527.2, 3116.1, 3357.7, and 21,275 mg/L, respectively. Second, the acidic solution was added with glucose at an Mglucose/Mnitrate ratio of 0.08 and hydrothermally treated at 160 °C for 4 h. During this step, nearly 100 % Fe and 100 % Al were simultaneously removed as a mixture containing 53.1 wt% Fe2O3 and 45.7 wt% Al2O3. This process was repeated five times, during which the Fe/Al removal and Ca/Zn loss rates remained unchanged. Third, the residual solution was adjusted with sulfuric acid, and over 99 % Ca was removed as gypsum. The residual Fe, Al, Ca, and Zn concentrations were 0.44, 0.88, 52.59, and 31,177.1 mg/L, respectively. Finally, Zn in the solution was precipitated as ZnO with a concentration of 94.3 %. Economic calculations showed that each 1 t of ES processed created revenue of about $122. This is the first study of high-value metal resource recovery using real electroplating sludge at the pilot scale. This work highlights the pilot-scale application of resource utilization of real ES and provides new insights into the recycling of heavy metals from hazardous waste.

Epithelioid Sarcoma of the Spine: A Review of Literature and Case Report

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor that represents less than 1% of soft-tissue sarcomas. Despite its slow growth, the overall prognosis is poor with a high rate of local recurrence, lymph-node spread, and hematogenous metastasis. Primary epithelioid sarcoma arising from the spine is extremely rare, with limited data in the literature. We review the existing literature regarding spinal epithelioid sarcoma and report a case of epithelioid sarcoma arising from the spinal cord. A 54 year old male presented with a 1-month history of progressive left upper-limb weakness and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed an enhancing intramedullary mass at the level of T1 also involving the left T1 nerve root. Systemic radiological examination revealed no other lesion at presentation. Surgical excision of the mass was performed, and histology was consistent with epithelioid sarcoma of the spine. Despite adjuvant radiotherapy, there was aggressive local recurrence and development of intracranial metastatic spread. The patient died of the disease within 5 months from presentation. To the best of our knowledge, spinal epithelioid sarcoma arising from the spinal cord has not yet been reported. We review the challenges in diagnosis, surgical treatment, and oncologic outcome of this case.

Whole-Exome and Transcriptome Sequencing Expands the Genotype of Majewski Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism Type II

Microcephalic Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism type II (MOPDII) represents the most common form of primordial dwarfism. MOPD clinical features include severe prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, postnatal severe microcephaly, hypotonia, and an increased risk for cerebrovascular disease and insulin resistance. Autosomal recessive biallelic loss-of-function genomic variants in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22 cause MOPDII. Over the past decade, exome sequencing (ES) and massive RNA sequencing have been effectively employed for both the discovery of novel disease genes and to expand the genotypes of well-known diseases. In this paper we report the results both the RNA sequencing and ES of three patients affected by MOPDII with the aim of exploring whether differentially expressed genes and previously uncharacterized gene variants, in addition to PCNT pathogenic variants, could be associated with the complex phenotype of this disease. We discovered a downregulation of key factors involved in growth, such as IGF1R, IGF2R, and RAF1, in all three investigated patients. Moreover, ES identified a shortlist of genes associated with deleterious, rare variants in MOPDII patients. Our results suggest that Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies can be successfully applied for the molecular characterization of the complex genotypic background of MOPDII.

Linking land degradation and restoration to ecosystem services balance by identifying landscape drivers: insights from the globally largest loess deposit area

Land degradation is one of the most serious environmental challenges that profoundly affects ecosystem services (ESs), which further threaten ecosystem sustainability. However, few studies have been committed to sufficiently explore the relationship between land degradation neutrality (LDN) and the ES balance of supply and demand sides, as well as their spatial disparities and determinants. To fill the knowledge gaps, this study quantifies land dynamics and ES balance through biophysical models and an expert knowledge matrix, respectively, and explores the spatial determinants through an integrated regression method. From 1990 to 2018, the ecosystem restoration projects in the Loess Plateau substantially reduced soil loss and maintained ES surplus patterns for the entire regional scale, except for individual urban agglomerations, which suffered from ES deficits. Spatial panel models and geographically and temporally weighted regression revealed that the ES balance and soil loss were concurrently determined by socioeconomic indicators, landscape composition, and structure. In addition, the spatial determinants presented remarkable regional heterogeneities and spillover effects depending on individual environmental and socioeconomic conditions, which should be taken into account in landscape monitoring, simulation, forecasting, and planning. Therefore, ecosystem restoration and landscape management should not solely depend on individual indicators in local units, but also rely on integrated frameworks and coordinated collaborations from cross-border areas that appropriately link LDN and ES balance maintenance targets by considering common critical determinants and their external effects. This study enriches the understanding of ecosystem evolution and sustaining ES balance. The findings are expected to further support policy formulations and implementations to address land degradation challenges and enhance ecosystem sustainability.

Germline rare variants of lectin pathway genes predispose to asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly individuals

PURPOSE

Emerging evidence suggest that infection-dependent hyperactivation of complement system (CS) may worsen COVID-19 outcome. We investigated the role of predicted high impact rare variants - referred as qualifying variants (QVs) - of CS genes in predisposing asymptomatic COVID-19 in elderly individuals, known to be more susceptible to severe disease.

METHODS

Exploiting exome sequencing data and 56 CS genes, we performed a gene-based collapsing test between 164 asymptomatic subjects (aged ≥60 years) and 56,885 European individuals from the Genome Aggregation Database. We replicated this test comparing the same asymptomatic individuals with 147 hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

RESULTS

We found an enrichment of QVs in 3 genes (MASP1, COLEC11, and COLEC10), which belong to the lectin pathway, in the asymptomatic cohort. Analyses of complement activity in serum showed decreased activity of lectin pathway in asymptomatic individuals with QVs. Finally, we found allelic variants associated with asymptomatic COVID-19 phenotype and with a decreased expression of MASP1, COLEC11, and COLEC10 in lung tissue.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that genetic rare variants can protect from severe COVID-19 by mitigating the activity of lectin pathway and prothrombin. The genetic data obtained through ES of 786 asymptomatic and 147 hospitalized individuals are publicly available at http://espocovid.ceinge.unina.it/.

Integration of metabolomics with genomics: Metabolic gene prioritization using metabolomics data and genomic variant (CADD) scores

The integration of metabolomics data with sequencing data is a key step towards improving the diagnostic process for finding the disease-causing genetic variant(s) in patients suspected of having an inborn error of metabolism (IEM). The measured metabolite levels could provide additional phenotypical evidence to elucidate the degree of pathogenicity for variants found in genes associated with metabolic processes. We present a computational approach, called Reafect, that calculates for each reaction in a metabolic pathway a score indicating whether that reaction is deficient or not. When calculating this score, Reafect takes multiple factors into account: the magnitude and sign of alterations in the metabolite levels, the reaction distances between metabolites and reactions in the pathway, and the biochemical directionality of the reactions. We applied Reafect to untargeted metabolomics data of 72 patient samples with a known IEM and found that in 81% of the cases the correct deficient enzyme was ranked within the top 5% of all considered enzyme deficiencies. Next, we integrated Reafect with Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD) scores (a measure for gene variant deleteriousness) and ranked the metabolic genes of 27 IEM patients. We observed that this integrated approach significantly improved the prioritization of the genes containing the disease-causing variant when compared with the two approaches individually. For 15/27 IEM patients the correct affected gene was ranked within the top 0.25% of the set of potentially affected genes. Together, our findings suggest that metabolomics data improves the identification of affected genes in patients suffering from IEM.

Effective separation and recovery of Zn, Cu, and Cr from electroplating sludge based on differential phase transformation induced by chlorinating roasting

Heavy metals in electroplating sludge (ES) are usually amorphous and easily released in the environment. Especially for the ES containing multiple heavy metals, owing to the complex composition and lack of effective disposal method, it has been storage for a long time. In order to avoid environmental pollution, effective treatment methods are very urgent and necessary. Here, chlorinating roasting method was developed to enlarge the phase difference of heavy metals to fulfill the utilization of ES containing multiple heavy metals (Zn, Cr, and Cu). When CaCl₂ was used as additive, Zn and Cu were volatilized to the gas phase, while Cr was oxidized to Cr(V)/(VI) and retained in the solid phase with readily leachable state. The recovery percentage of Zn, Cu, and Cr can reach 99%, 98%, and 96% respectively by chlorinating roasting for 4 h at 1000 °C with the CaCl₂ addition proportion of 100%. After further extraction and purification, the purity of Cr and Zn can reach 92% and 99% respectively. Moreover, the mechanism of the differential phase transformation induced by chlorinating roasting was analyzed by the method of thermodynamics and kinetics. The kinetic reaction equation of the ZnCl₂ and CuCl₂ volatilization process can be described by phase boundary reaction and the function is G(α) = 1-(1-α)^1/3. This work provides a simple and effective method for the treatment of ES containing multiple heavy metals.

Clinical, Epidemiological, and Epizootic Features of Sporothrix brasiliensis in Espírito Santo, Brazil

We verified the clinical-epidemiological, microbiological, and molecular aspects of feline sporotrichosis in Espírito Santo, Brazil, as well as demonstrated the degree of reliability of the cytopathological examination in diagnosis, when compared to fungal culture. From March 2019 to April 2020, 154 suspicious cats were evaluated by collecting data and biological samples. The Cohen's kappa coefficient and the Chi-square independence defined the degree of agreement and the accuracy parameters, respectively. The interobserver agreement was high (Kappa coefficient = 0.96). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive (positive and negative), and accuracy values were 95.0, 97.0, 99.1, 84.2, and 95.5%, respectively. All isolates evaluated were identified as Sporothrix brasiliensis by species-specific PCR. A digital image bank (Padlet) was created with different types of clinical forms and positive slide profiles. We concluded that the cytopathological technique used demonstrated a high degree of reliability. We report an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis during epizooties in ES.

Electroacupuncture Stimulation Regulates Adipose Lipolysis via Catecholamine Signaling Mediated by NLRP3 Suppression in Obese Rats

Chronic low-grade inflammation of visceral adipose tissue can cause obesity-associated insulin resistance, leading to metabolic syndrome. However, anti-inflammatory drugs and those for obesity management can lead to serious side effects such as abnormal heart rate and blood pressure. Consequently, this study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of electroacupuncture stimulation (ES) for obesity and associated chronic inflammation. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for ten weeks to build an obesity model, and half of the diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats were received ES. The levels of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA and qPCR analysis. The nerve-associated macrophages were marked with immunofluorescence staining. The molecular mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in ES was determined by the NLRP3 inflammasome activation model. Compared to HDF rats, ES showed decreased body weight and chronic inflammatory damage. Specifically, this occurred via a decrease in monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) expression, which suppressed noradrenaline degradation. MAOA is expressed in nerve-associated macrophages (NAMs), and ES attenuated NAMs by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 agonist blocked the noradrenaline degradation-reducing effect of ES, and an increase in lipolysis via the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome attenuated NAMs. Thus, our findings suggest that ES induced lipolysis via activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in nerve-associated macrophages (NAMs), independently of sympathetic nervous system activity.

Early Post-Stroke Seizures in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction

Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy in the adult population. Post-stroke seizures (PSSs) are classified into early-onset seizures (ES) and late-onset (LS). ES can significantly affect the clinical outcome and occurrence of LS.

Methods

We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients between June 2018 and May 2020 in a neurology unit at a tertiary hospital. We screened all acute stroke patients and included consecutive patients older than 18 years of age, presenting with acute, first-ever neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. We excluded patients with a previous stroke, transient ischemic attacks, hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, prior history of seizures, or any other epileptogenic comorbidity. ES were classified as spontaneous seizures occurring within 1 week of the stroke. The main outcome assessed was the occurrence of ES. The secondary outcome was to determine predictors of ES and create an ES prediction score.

Results

We screened 432 patients; of them, 291 were enrolled. ES occurred in 37 patients (12.7%). Cortical location (OR: 4.2), large artery disease subtype (OR: 2.9), mRS at presentation (OR: 1.4), use of anticoagulants (OR: 2.6), and hypertension (OR: 0.3) were significantly associated with the occurrence of ES. Patients with ES had a statistically significant worse clinical outcome at 3 months follow-up (P = 0.0072).

Conclusion

We could formulate an ES prediction tool using the following components: (a) cortical location, (b) large vessel stroke, (c) mRS at admission, (d) anticoagulant use, and (e) presence of hypertension. This tool might help in treating patients at high risk for ES with prophylactic ASD, thereby preventing seizures and their complications.

The rate of secondary genomic findings in the Saudi population

Secondary findings (SF) are defined as genetic conditions discovered unintentionally during an evaluation of raw data for another disease. We aimed to identify the rate of secondary genetic findings in the Saudi population in the 59 genes of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) list. In our study, the raw data of 1254 individuals, generated from exome sequencing for clinical purposes, were studied. Variants detected in the 59 genes on the ACMG list of secondary findings were investigated. Pathogenicity classifications were assigned to those variants based on the ACMG scoring system. We identified 2409 variants in the 59 gene list, 45 variants were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants according to the ACMG classification. The LDLR gene had the greatest number of pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants 12%. Cardiovascular genetic diseases had the highest frequency of disorders detected as secondary findings. In this study, the overall rate of positive cases identified with secondary findings in the Saudi population was 8%. The different in our current study and the previous studies in Saudi Arabia can be explained by the differences between the sequencing method, the criteria used for variant classification, the availability of newer evidence at the time of the publication, and the fact that we identified Saudi novel variants never reported in other populations.

Expanding the Differentiation Potential of Already-Established Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have proven to be an essential tool in many research fields including basic cell biology, development, or human disease. In addition, we are only starting to see their potential in regenerative medicine. Manipulation and culture of PSCs, however, imposes limitations in the quality of these cells and their ability to differentiate into functional cells with physiological function. Here we propose a novel and simple technique based on the transient expression of a single microRNA molecule to expand the differentiation potency of a wide range of PSCs including induced PSCs (iPSCs) as well as embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This method requires no genetic modification of PSCs and achieves stable improvement of the differentiation potential of these cells through several cell passages both in vitro and in vivo.

Deciphering the mutational signature of congenital limb malformations

Congenital limb malformations (CLMs) affect 1 in 500 live births. However, the value of exome sequencing (ES) for CLM is lacking. The purpose of this study was to decipher the mutational signature of CLM on an exome level. We enrolled a cohort of 66 unrelated probands (including 47 families) with CLM requiring surgical correction. ES was performed for all patients and available parental samples. A definite molecular diagnosis was achieved in 21 out of 66 (32%) patients. We identified 19 pathogenic or likely pathogenic single-nucleotide variants and three copy number variants, of which 11 variants were novel. We identified four variants of uncertain significance. Additionally, we identified RPL9 and UBA2 as novel candidate genes for CLM. By comparing the detailed phenotypic features, we expand the phenotypic spectrum of diastrophic dysplasia and chromosome 6q terminal deletion syndrome. We also found that the diagnostic rate was significantly higher in patients with a family history of CLM (p = 0.012) or more than one limb affected (p = 0.034). Our study expands our understanding of the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of CLM and provides novel insights into the genetic basis of these syndromes.

Epileptic Spasms in a Large Hypothalamic Hamartoma Cohort

INTRODUCTION

Hypothalamic hamartoma is rarely associated with epileptic spasms. We describe epileptic spasms in a large cohort of hypothalamic hamartoma patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review between March 2011 and March 2020 to identify patients with hypothalamic hamartoma and epilepsy.

RESULTS

We identified 114 patients with hypothalamic hamartoma and epilepsy, only 3 male patients (2.6%) also had epileptic spasms. The epileptic spasms developed between 6 and 18 months of age. Epileptic spasms resolved with oral prednisolone in 1 and with vigabatrin in the second patient. The third patient continued epileptic spasms despite multiple antiepileptic drugs and partial resection of hypothalamic hamartoma. All 3 patients underwent laser-ablation of hypothalamic hamartoma at the age of 14, 29, and 63 months. The seizure burden decreased by 100%, 84%, and 93% at follow-up (3-47 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Epileptic spasms are rare in hypothalamic hamartoma patients and early laser-ablation could potentially treat epileptic spasms and all other seizure types associated with hypothalamic hamartoma.

Prenatal Exome Sequencing: Background, Current Practice and Future Perspectives-A Systematic Review

The introduction of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies has exerted a significant impact on prenatal diagnosis. Prenatal Exome Sequencing (pES) is performed with increasing frequency in fetuses with structural anomalies and negative chromosomal analysis. The actual diagnostic value varies extensively, and the role of incidental/secondary or inconclusive findings and negative results has not been fully ascertained. We performed a systematic literature review to evaluate the diagnostic yield, as well as inconclusive and negative-result rates of pES. Papers were divided in two groups. The former includes fetuses presenting structural anomalies, regardless the involved organ; the latter focuses on specific class anomalies. Available findings on non-informative or negative results were gathered as well. In the first group, the weighted average diagnostic yield resulted 19%, and inconclusive finding rate 12%. In the second group, the percentages were extremely variable due to differences in sample sizes and inclusion criteria, which constitute major determinants of pES efficiency. Diagnostic pES availability and its application have a pivotal role in prenatal diagnosis, though more homogeneity in access criteria and a consensus on clinical management of controversial information management is envisageable to reach widespread use in the near future.

Consecutive Treatment with Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Electrical Stimulation Has a Protective Effect on Primary Auditory Neurons

Degeneration of neurons, such as the inner ear spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), may be decelerated or even stopped by neurotrophic factor treatment, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as electrical stimulation (ES). In a clinical setting, drug treatment of the SGN could start directly during implantation of a cochlear implant, whereas electrical stimulation begins days to weeks later. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of consecutive BDNF and ES treatments on SGN density and electrical responsiveness. An electrode drug delivery device was implanted in guinea pigs 3 weeks after deafening and five experimental groups were established: two groups received intracochlear infusion of artificial perilymph (AP) or BDNF; two groups were treated with AP respectively BDNF in addition to ES (AP + ES, BDNF + ES); and one group received BDNF from the day of implantation until day 34 followed by ES (BDNF ⇨ ES). Electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses were recorded. After one month of treatment, the tissue was harvested and the SGN density was assessed. The results show that consecutive treatment with BDNF and ES was as successful as the simultaneous combined treatment in terms of enhanced SGN density compared to the untreated contralateral side but not in regard to the numbers of protected cells.

Urban sprawl decreases the value of ecosystem services and intensifies the supply scarcity of ecosystem services in China

Land use and land cover changes, particularly land take by urbanization, can degrade ecosystems and their capacity to provide humans with numerous benefits, namely, ecosystem services (ES). Many studies on the relationship between urbanization and the supply and demand of ES have been conducted. However, studies on the process and trend of the conflict between ES supply and demand, as well as the spatial differences, are lacking. Developing countries around the world are experiencing rapid urbanization. The aim of this study was to summarize the relationship between urbanization and the supply and demand of ES in China. China has experienced rapid urbanization since the reform and opening up, and the urban population reached 56.10% in 2015. Urban sprawl was twice that of population expansion, and led to a loss in value of ES. We calculated the loss in value of the five ES (food production, water conservation, climate regulation, habitat support and cultural service) due to the increase in construction area by means of spatial analysis. The total loss was US $110.95 billion in China from 1985 to 2015. This result indicated that the increases in construction land area had a negative impact on ES. At the same time, there was a conflict between the scarcity index of ES and their loss in value. The leading cause of this conflict was that economic development was highly dependent on the area of urban construction land. The results suggested that we should adopt "intensive" and "compact" strategic development models, quantify the value of ES, focus on the conflict between the loss in value and ES supply, and try our best to reduce the decline in ES in the future.

Decoding the Function of Expansion Segments in Ribosomes

Expansion segments (ESs) are enigmatic insertions within the eukaryotic ribosome, the longest of which resemble tentacle-like extensions that vary in length and sequence across evolution, with a largely unknown function. By selectively engineering rRNA in yeast, we find that one of the largest ESs, ES27L, has an unexpected function in translation fidelity. Ribosomes harboring a deletion in the distal portion of ES27L have increased amino acid misincorporation, as well as readthrough and frameshifting errors. By employing quantitative mass spectrometry, we further find that ES27L acts as an RNA scaffold to facilitate binding of a conserved enzyme, methionine amino peptidase (MetAP). We show that MetAP unexpectedly controls the accuracy of ribosome decoding, which is coupled to an increase in its enzymatic function through its interaction with ES27L. These findings reveal that variable ESs of the ribosome serve important functional roles and act as platforms for the binding of proteins that modulate translation across evolution.

Interchromosomal template-switching as a novel molecular mechanism for imprinting perturbations associated with Temple syndrome

Background

Intrachromosomal triplications (TRP) can contribute to disease etiology via gene dosage effects, gene disruption, position effects, or fusion gene formation. Recently, post-zygotic de novo triplications adjacent to copy-number neutral genomic intervals with runs of homozygosity (ROH) have been shown to result in uniparental isodisomy (UPD). The genomic structure of these complex genomic rearrangements (CGRs) shows a consistent pattern of an inverted triplication flanked by duplications (DUP-TRP/INV-DUP) formed by an iterative DNA replisome template-switching mechanism during replicative repair of a single-ended, double-stranded DNA (seDNA), the ROH results from an interhomolog or nonsister chromatid template switch. It has been postulated that these CGRs may lead to genetic abnormalities in carriers due to dosage-sensitive genes mapping within the copy-number variant regions, homozygosity for alleles at a locus causing an autosomal recessive (AR) disease trait within the ROH region, or imprinting-associated diseases.

Methods

Here, we report a family wherein the affected subject carries a de novo 2.2-Mb TRP followed by 42.2 Mb of ROH and manifests clinical features overlapping with those observed in association with chromosome 14 maternal UPD (UPD(14)mat). UPD(14)mat can cause clinical phenotypic features enabling a diagnosis of Temple syndrome. This CGR was then molecularly characterized by high-density custom aCGH, genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and methylation arrays, exome sequencing (ES), and the Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing technology.

Results

We confirmed the postulated DUP-TRP/INV-DUP structure by multiple orthogonal genomic technologies in the proband. The methylation status of known differentially methylated regions (DMRs) on chromosome 14 revealed that the subject shows the typical methylation pattern of UPD(14)mat. Consistent with these molecular findings, the clinical features overlap with those observed in Temple syndrome, including speech delay.

Conclusions

These data provide experimental evidence that, in humans, triplication can lead to segmental UPD and imprinting disease. Importantly, genotype/phenotype analyses further reveal how a post-zygotically generated complex structural variant, resulting from a replication-based mutational mechanism, contributes to expanding the clinical phenotype of known genetic syndromes. Mechanistically, such events can distort transmission genetics resulting in homozygosity at a locus for which only one parent is a carrier as well as cause imprinting diseases.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13073-019-0633-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Inhibition of constructed SEC3-ES lentiviral vector to proliferation, migration of Hela cells

AIM

To construct a lentiviral vector with endostatin (ES) and staphylococcal enterotoxin C₃(SEC3) gene, and investigate its capacities of inhibition on proliferation and migration of Hela cells.

METHODS

By inserting ES and SEC3 gene into the plasmid and then transfect 293 T cell, the co-expressed (SEC3-ES) vector were constructed. A series of experiments in vitro were carried out to detect its anti-tumor capacity.

RESULTS

SEC3 expression of the vector is about 3 times of GV365-SEC3 vector, and ES expression is over 22.5-fold compared with GV365-ES vector. Moreover, OD490 value of CO group (1.212 ± 0.003) was notably lower than NC (negative control) group (1.124 ± 0.01) (P < 0.05) in MTT assay. Cell cycle analysis showed it could block Hela cells in S phase. Meanwhile, in wound healing assay, cells of CO group migrated at a slower rate (0.59 ± 0.02) compared with NC group (0.65 ± 0.02)(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The successful construction of co-expressed vector lays the foundation for further studies in vivo. These promising results suggest a new strategy to treating cervical cancer.

Putting genome-wide sequencing in neonates into perspective

PURPOSE

Several studies have reported diagnostic yields up to 57% for rapid exome or genome sequencing (rES/GS) as a single test in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients, but the additional yield of rES/GS compared with other available diagnostic options still remains unquantified in this population.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated all genetic NICU consultations in a 2-year period.

RESULTS

In 132 retrospectively evaluated NICU consultations 27 of 32 diagnoses (84.4%) were made using standard genetic workup. Most diagnoses (65.6%) were made within 16 days. Diagnostic ES yield was 5/29 (17.2%). Genetic diagnoses had a direct effect on clinical management in 90.6% (29/32) of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that exome sequencing has a place in NICU diagnostics, but given the associated costs and the high yield of alternative diagnostic strategies, we recommend to first perform clinical genetic consultation.

Differentiation of female Oct4-GFP embryonic stem cells into germ lineage cells

Due to high infertility ratio nowadays, it is essential to explore efficient ways of enhancing mammalian reproductivity, in particular female reproductivity. Using female Oct4-GFP embryonic stem cells, we mimic the in vivo development procedure to induce ES cells into epiblast cell-like cells (EpiLCs) and then primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). GFP positive PGCLCs that showed typical PGC markers and epigenetic modification were efficiently obtained. Further transplantation of the GFP positive PGCLC and native ovary cell mixture into ovary of infertile mice revealed that both MVH and GFP positive cells could be developed in ovary, but no later developmental stage germ cells were observed. This study suggested that Oct4-GFP ES cells may be only suitable for tracing early germ cell development.

Wnt Signaling in Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: A Tale of Two Coactivators

Wnt signaling in stem cells plays critical roles in development, normal adult physiology, and disease. In this chapter, we focus on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in somatic stem cell biology and its critical role in normal tissue homeostasis and cancer. Wnt signaling can both maintain potency and initiate differentiation in somatic stem cells, depending on the cellular and environmental context. Based principally on studies from our lab, we will explain the dichotomous behavior of this signaling pathway in determining stem cell fate decisions, placing special emphasis on the interaction of β-catenin with either of the two highly homologous Kat3 coactivator proteins, CBP and p300. We will also discuss our results, both preclinical and clinical, demonstrating that small molecule modulators of the β-catenin/Kat3 coactivator interaction can be safely utilized to shift the balance between maintenance of potency and initiation of differentiation.

Scarcity of ecosystem services: an experimental manipulation of declining pollination rates and its economic consequences for agriculture

Ecosystem services (ES) such as pollination are vital for the continuous supply of food to a growing human population, but the decline in populations of insect pollinators worldwide poses a threat to food and nutritional security. Using a pollinator (honeybee) exclusion approach, we evaluated the impact of pollinator scarcity on production in four brassica fields, two producing hybrid seeds and two producing open-pollinated ones. There was a clear reduction in seed yield as pollination rates declined. Open-pollinated crops produced significantly higher yields than did the hybrid ones at all pollination rates. The hybrid crops required at least 0.50 of background pollination rates to achieve maximum yield, whereas in open-pollinated crops, 0.25 pollination rates were necessary for maximum yield. The total estimated economic value of pollination services provided by honeybees to the agricultural industry in New Zealand is NZD $1.96 billion annually. This study indicates that loss of pollination services can result in significant declines in production and have serious implications for the market economy in New Zealand. Depending on the extent of honeybee population decline, and assuming that results in declining pollination services, the estimated economic loss to New Zealand agriculture could be in the range of NZD $295-728 million annually.

Results of an attempt to reproduce the STAP phenomenon

In 2014, Obokata and colleagues reported their observation of a novel cell reprogramming phenomenon they named ‘stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency’ (STAP). The most conclusive evidence for the pluripotency of so-called STAP cells was the purported ability of such cells to contribute to chimera formation. Here, I report the results of an attempt by Haruko Obokata to replicate the phenomenon under the supervision of the Scientific Validity Examination Team of RIKEN. In this follow-up study, putative STAP cells prepared by Haruko Obokata were injected into 1051 embryos, of which 591 were recovered. However, the injected cells made no significant contribution in any of the embryos that developed.

Vitamin D3 dose requirement to raise 25-hydroxyvitamin D to desirable levels in adolescents: results from a randomized controlled trial

Several organizations issued recommendations on desirable serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and doses of vitamin D needed to achieve them. Trials allowing the formulation of evidence-based recommendations in adolescents are scarce. We investigated the ability of two doses of vitamin D3 in achieving recommended vitamin D levels in this age group. Post hoc analyses on data from a 1-year double-blind trial that randomized 336 Lebanese adolescents, aged 13 ± 2 years, to placebo, vitamin D3 at 200 IU/day (low dose), or 2000 IU/day (high dose). Serum 25(OH)D level and proportions of children achieving levels ≥ 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL were determined. At baseline, mean 25(OH)D was 15 ± 7 ng/mL, 16.4 ± 7 ng/mL in boys, and 14 ± 8 ng/mL in girls, p=0.003, with a level ≥ 20 ng/mL in 18% and ≥ 30 ng/mL in 5% of subjects. At 1 year, mean levels were 18.6 ± 6.6 ng/mL in the low-dose group, 17.1 ± 6 ng/mL in girls, and 20.2 ± 7 ng/mL in boys, p=0.01, and 36.3 ± 22.3 ng/mL in the high-dose group, with no sex differences. 25(OH)D increased to ≥ 20 ng/mL in 34% of children in the low-dose and 96% in the high-dose group, being higher in boys in the low-dose arm only; it remained ≥ 30 ng/mL in 4% of children in the low-dose arm but increased to 64% in the high-dose arm. Baseline 25(OH)D level, body mass index (BMI), and vitamin D dose assigned were the most significant predictors for reaching a 25(OH)D level ≥ 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL. A daily dose of 2000 IU raised 25(OH)D level ≥ 20 ng/mL in 96% of adolescents (98% boys versus 93% girls). Dose-response studies are needed to determine in a definitive manner the daily allowance of vitamin D for Middle Eastern adolescents with a similar profile.

Validated liquid chromatographic determination of a novel ACE inhibitor in the presence of its hydrolytic and oxidative degradation products as per ICH guidelines

Imidapril hydrochloride (IMD) is a recently developed prodrug-type angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Due to its instability under both hydrolytic and oxidative conditions, development of rapid, simple and sensitive methods for its determination in the presence of its possible degradation products is essential. We proposed two simple liquid chromatographic methods associated with ultraviolet detection. The first method is an HPTLC-densitometric one in which separation of IMD from its degradation products was achieved followed by densitometric scanning at 220 nm using silica gel F254 plates and chloroform:ethanol:acetic acid (3:0.5:0.1, v/v/v) as the developing system. The second method was based on RP-HPLC in which the separation was performed using C18 analytical column and isocratic elution system with acetonitrile: 0.15% triethylamine (pH=2.2) (40:60, v/v). The optimum flow rate was 1.5 mL min(-1) and the detection was at 220 nm. Validation was conducted in compliance with the ICH guidelines and the methods were successfully applied for IMD determination in its commercial tablets. The obtained results were statistically compared to those obtained by applying reported HPLC method where no significant difference was found in accordance with accuracy and precision.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) using transcriptome analysis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with an average length between 16 nt and 26 nt, are small non-coding RNAs that can repress gene expression on the post-transcriptional level. Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis), one of the most important nonhuman primate animal models, is widely used in basic and applied preclinical research, especially in studies that involve neuroscience and disease. However, due to the lack of a complete genome sequence, the miRNAs in M. fascicularis have not been completely characterized. In this study, 86 putative M. fascicularis miRNAs were identified using a strategy of our design. The expression of some of these miRNAs in the tissue was confirmed by qRT-PCR. The function and pathway of their targeted genes were analyzed to reveal the potential relevance of miRNA regulation on diseases and physiological processes. The current study provides insight into potential miRNAs and forms a useful knowledge base for the future understanding of the function of miRNAs in M. fascicularis.

Ecological screening indicators of stress and risk for the Llobregat river water

The objective of this article is to develop and apply several simple and rough indicators for river aquatic ecosystems assessment in order to screen potential chemical stressors. Several indicators, based on toxicity (PNEC) and on legislation levels (EQS) have been developed. All these indicators are ratios that were calculated by using public and private data of concentrations of a large list of compounds during a period of five years, including metals and organic compounds in the lower part of the Llobregat river basin at the intake of the drinking water treatment plant. Additionally, new campaigns were executed for increasing the information available on the presence of compounds not routinely analyzed, such as some other pesticides and pharmaceuticals. In the case of inorganic pollutants, the indicators obtained in this river section showed significant risk especially for zinc, but also for copper, nickel and barium. For organic pollutants, the pesticides terbuthylazine, diazinon, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic (MCPA), and in a few cases, chlorpyrifos and lindane, also showed indexes above the threshold. Among the pharmaceuticals, the antibiotics clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin were the only ones with risk indicators adverse to ecosystems. The specific values of the indexes obtained rely on the quantity and quality of the data available, so their interpretation should take into account that some values can be high due to the use of too conservative toxicological information.

Process engineering of high voltage alginate encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells

Encapsulation of stem cells in alginate beads is promising as a sophisticated drug delivery system in treatment of a wide range of acute and chronic diseases. However, common use of air flow encapsulation of cells in alginate beads fails to produce beads with narrow size distribution, intact spherical structure and controllable sizes that can be scaled up. Here we show that high voltage encapsulation (≥ 15 kV) can be used to reproducibly generate spherical alginate beads (200-400 μm) with narrow size distribution (± 5-7%) in a controlled manner under optimized process parameters. Flow rate of alginate solution ranged from 0.5 to 10 ml/h allowed producing alginate beads with a size of 320 and 350 μm respectively, suggesting that this approach can be scaled up. Moreover, we found that applied voltages (15-25 kV) did not alter the viability and proliferation of encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells post-encapsulation and cryopreservation as compared to air flow. We are the first who employed a comparative analysis of electro-spraying and air flow encapsulation to study the effect of high voltage on alginate encapsulated cells. This report provides background in application of high voltage to encapsulate living cells for further medical purposes. Long-term comparison and work on alginate-cell interaction within these structures will be forthcoming.

Carbon nanotubes for delivery of small molecule drugs

In the realm of drug delivery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained tremendous attention as promising nanocarriers, owing to their distinct characteristics, such as high surface area, enhanced cellular uptake and the possibility to be easily conjugated with many therapeutics, including both small molecules and biologics, displaying superior efficacy, enhanced specificity and diminished side effects. While most CNT-based drug delivery system (DDS) had been engineered to combat cancers, there are also emerging reports that employ CNTs as either the main carrier or adjunct material for the delivery of various non-anticancer drugs. In this review, the delivery of small molecule drugs is expounded, with special attention paid to the current progress of in vitro and in vivo research involving CNT-based DDSs, before finally concluding with some consideration on inevitable complications that hamper successful disease intervention with CNTs.

Typology and indicators of ecosystem services for marine spatial planning and management

The ecosystem services concept provides both an analytical and communicative tool to identify and quantify the link between human welfare and the environment, and thus to evaluate the ramifications of management interventions. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) are a form of management intervention that has become increasingly popular and important globally. The ecosystem service concept is rarely applied in marine planning and management to date which we argue is due to the lack of a well-structured, systematic classification and assessment of marine ecosystem services. In this paper we not only develop such a typology but also provide guidance to select appropriate indicators for all relevant ecosystem services. We apply this marine-specific ecosystem service typology to MSP and EBM. We thus provide not only a novel theoretical construct but also show how the ecosystem services concept can be used in marine planning and management.

Enhanced in vitro and in vivo skin deposition of apigenin delivered using ethosomes

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel topical delivery system for apigenin by using ethosomes. An optimal apigenin-loaded ethosome formulation was identified by means of uniform design experiments. Skin deposition and transdermal flux of apigenin loaded in ethosomes, liposomes, and deformable liposomes were compared in vitro and in vivo. The efficiency of apigenin encapsulation increased with an increase in the amount of phospholipids in ethosome formulations. Moreover, skin deposition and transdermal flux of apigenin improved with an increase in the levels of phospholipids (Lipoid S 75) and short-chain alcohols (propylene glycol and ethanol), but decreased with an increase in the ratio of propylene glycol to ethanol. Profiles of skin deposition versus time for ethosomes varied markedly between in vivo and in vitro studies compared with those of liposomes or deformable liposomes. Optimized ethosomes showed superior skin targeting both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they had the strongest effect on reduction of cyclooxygenase-2 levels in mouse skin inflammation induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Therefore, apigenin-loaded ethosomes represent a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of UVB-induced skin inflammation.

Comparison of chemical compositions and osteoprotective effects of different sections of velvet antler

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Velvet antlers (VA) have been claimed for centuries to have numerous medical benefits including strengthen bones. To investigate and compare the anti-osteoporotic activities from different sections of VA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fresh VA prepared from farmed sika deers (Cervus nippon) was divided into upper (VAU), middle (VAM), and basal (VAB) sections. The chemical constituents and anti-osteoporotic effect of different sections from VA were evaluated using ovariectomized rats.

RESULTS

Levels of water-soluble extracts, diluted alcoholic extract, amino acids, testosterone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and testosterone plus estradiol significantly differed among the different sections. Levels of these constituents were significantly higher in the upper section than in the basal section. Moreover, levels of testosterone and IGF-1 of the VAM were also significantly higher than those of the VAB. Calcium level increased downward from the tip with statistical significance. The strength of vertebrae increased in all VA-treated groups compared to the control, but only treatment with VAU and VAM increased the strength of the femur and the microarchitecure of the trabecular bone. Alkaline phosphatase levels of VAU- and VAM-treated groups significantly decreased, but osteocalcin did not significantly change. Moreover, VAU and VAM dose-dependently increased proliferation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides strong evidence for the regional differences in the effectiveness of velvet antler in treating osteoporosis. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the bioactive chemical constituents associated with the anti-osteoporotic effects of velvet antler.

DYRK1A overexpression decreases plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and apolipoprotein A-I levels

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Down syndrome is caused by trisomy of all or part of human chromosome 21. Individuals with Down syndrome present some metabolic abnormalities involving lipoproteins, notably lower high-density lipoprotein levels associated with altered lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and apolipoprotein A-I levels. DYRK1A is a kinase overexpressed in Down syndrome that can activate the STAT3 pathway, which is involved in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase expression. Therefore, we characterized the role of DYRK1A overexpression on lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and expression in mouse models.

METHODS

Effects of Dyrk1a overexpression were examined in mice overexpressing Dyrk1a by ELISA, chemical analyses and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Overexpression of DYRK1A decreased plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and hepatic STAT3 activation, which was associated with activation of SHP2, a tyrosine phosphatase. Although hepatic apolipoprotein E and D levels were increased in mice overexpressing DYRK1A, decreased plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was associated with decreased hepatic and plasma apolipoprotein A-I levels. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were also decreased in plasma despite similar total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified the role of DYRK1A overexpression on altered lipoprotein metabolism.

Strategies for lead discovery: application of footprint similarity targeting HIVgp41

A highly-conserved binding pocket on HIVgp41 is an important target for development of anti-viral inhibitors. Holden et al. (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.2012, 22, 3011) recently reported 7 experimentally-verified leads identified through a computational screen to the gp41 pocket in conjunction with a new DOCK scoring method (termed FPS scoring) developed in our laboratory. The method employs molecular footprints based on per-residue van der Waals interactions, electrostatic interactions, or the sum. In this work, we critically examine the gp41 screening results, prioritized using different scoring methods, in terms of two main criteria: (1) ligand pose properties which include footprint and energy score decompositions, MW, number of rotatable bonds, ligand efficiency, formal charge, and volume overlap, and (2) ligand pose stability which includes footprint stability (changes in footprint overlap) and rmsd stability (changes in geometry). Relative to standard DOCK scoring, pose property analyses demonstrate how FPS scoring can be used to identify ligands that mimic a known reference (derived here from the native gp41 substrate), while pose stability analyses demonstrate how FPS scoring can be used to enrich for compounds with greater overall stability during molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Compellingly, of the 115 compounds tested experimentally, the 7 active compounds, as a group, more closely mimic the footprints made by the reference and show greater MD stability compared to the inactive group. Extensive studies using 116 protein-ligand complexes as controls reveal that ligands in their crystallographic binding pose also maintain higher FPS scores and smaller rmsds than do accompanying decoys, confirming that native poses are indeed 'stable' under the same conditions and that monitoring FPS variability during compound prioritization is likely to be beneficial. Overall, the results suggest the new scoring method will complement current virtual screening approaches for both the identification (FPS-ranking) and prioritization (FPS-stability) of target-compatible molecules in a quantitative and logical way.

Compensatory responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) under ammonia exposure: additional effects of feeding and exercise

Ammonia is an environmental pollutant that is toxic to all aquatic animals. The toxic effects of ammonia can be modulated by other physiological processes such as feeding and swimming. In this study, we wanted to examine these modulating effects in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish were either fed (2% body weight) or starved (unfed for seven days prior to the sampling), and swimming at a sustainable, routine swimming speed or swum to exhaustion, while being exposed chronically (up to 28 days) to high environmental ammonia (HEA, 1 mg/L ~58.8 μmol/L as NH4Cl at pH 7.9). Swimming performance (critical swimming speed, Ucrit) and metabolic responses such as oxygen consumption rate (MO2), ammonia excretion rate (Jamm), ammonia quotient, liver and muscle energy budget (glycogen, lipid and protein), plasma ammonia and lactate, as well as plasma ion concentrations (Na(+), Cl(-), K(+) and Ca(2+)) were investigated in order to understand metabolic and iono-regulatory consequences of the experimental conditions. Cortisol plays an important role in stress and in both the regulation of energy and the ion homeostasis; therefore plasma cortisol was measured. Results show that during HEA, Jamm was elevated to a larger extent in fed fish and they were able to excrete much more efficiently than the starved fish. Consequently, the build-up of ammonia in plasma of HEA exposed fed fish was much slower. MO2 increased considerably in fed fish after exposure to HEA and was further intensified during exercise. During exposure to HEA, the level of cortisol in plasma augmented in both the feeding regimes, but the effect of HEA was more pronounced in starved fish. Energy stores dropped for both fed and the starved fish with the progression of the exposure period and further declined when swimming to exhaustion. Overall, fed fish were less affected by HEA than starved fish, and although exercise exacerbated the toxic effect in both feeding treatments, this was more pronounced in starved fish. This suggests that fish become more vulnerable to external ammonia during exercise, and feeding protects the fish against the adverse effects of high ammonia and exercise.

Organic matter humification in vermifiltration process for domestic sewage sludge treatment by excitation-emission matrix fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Performance of a conventional biofilter (BF) and two vermifilters (VFs, different heights) containing earthworms was investigated for domestic sewage sludge (DWS) treatment. Humic-acid like (HAL) fraction isolated from the influent sludge (IS) and effluent sludge of BF (ESBF) and VFs (ESVFs) were determined the elemental and functional composition, and structural characteristics using various analytical approaches. Results showed that performance of DWS treatment in the VFs was preferable to that in the BF. With respect to IS-HAL and ESBF-HAL, ESVFs-HAL had low C, H and N contents and C/O ratio, and high O, carboxyl and phenolic OH group contents, and C/N, C/H and E4/E6 ratios, and large molecular weight. The excitation-emission (Ex/Em) matrix spectra revealed that an additional peak was found at Ex/Em wavelength pairs of 345/435 nm in ESVFs-HAL. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that vermifiltration led to the loss of aliphatic materials and carbohydrates, and the enrichment of carbonyl and phenolic OH groups in HAL fractions. Additionally, the increase in VF height seemed to accelerate humification degree of organic matter in the effluent sludge. In summary, vermifiltration is alternate technology for transformation of organic matter into humic substances, and thus improves quality of DWS as soil organic fertilizer.

Increased quality of life among hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with radioembolization, compared with chemoembolization

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Quality of life (QoL) is an important aspect of any palliative treatment. However, few data are available from studies comparing how embolotherapy affects QoL for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed a health-related QoL study in patients with HCC treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or (90)Y radioembolization.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of patients undergoing (90)Y radioembolization (n = 29) or TACE (n = 27) for HCC. We assessed patients before treatment and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) survey. We compared differences in health-related QoL between the treatment groups using linear regression repeated-measures analysis.

RESULTS

At baseline, the groups had comparable baseline Child-Pugh class and performance statuses, although patients undergoing TACE had lower tumor burdens (P = .018) and less-advanced disease, based on United Network for Organ Sharing and Barcelona stage (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively), permitting injections at segmental arteries (P < .0001). There were no significant differences between groups in overall FACT-Hep health-related QoL scores (P = .055, effect size [ES], .54), owing to a limited sample size. Despite the more advanced disease of patients who received (90)Y radioembolization, they had a significantly better QoL, based on social well being (P = .019; ES, .65), functional well-being (P = .031; ES, .60), and embolotherapy-specific scores (P = .018; ES, .67). They also had a trend toward better overall QoL (P = .055; ES, .54) and higher Trial Outcome Index (P = .05; ES, .56) and FACT-Hep scores (P = .071; ES, .52).

CONCLUSIONS

In a prospective study, although (90)Y radioembolization was used to treat patients with more advanced disease, those who received this treatment had significant increases in several features of QoL, whereas patients who received TACE had decreases in QoL scores. However, because of the limited sample size, there was no significant difference in overall FACT-Hep health-related QoL scores. The increase was greatest in the embolotherapy-specific score. ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00739167.

BMP4 is required for the initial expression of MITF in melanocyte precursor differentiation from embryonic stem cells

Although the differentiation of melanoblasts to melanocytes is known to depend on many distinct factors, it is still poorly understood which factors lead to the induction of melanoblasts. To determine which factors might induce melanoblasts, we examined a set of candidate factors for their ability to induce expression of MITF, a master regulator of melanoblast development, in an ES cell-based melanocyte differentiation system. It appears that BMP4 is capable of inducing MITF expression in stem cells. In contrast, a number of other factors normally implicated in the development of the melanocyte lineage, including WNT1, WNT3a, SCF, EDN3, IGF1, PDGF, and RA, cannot induce MITF expression. Nevertheless, BMP4 alone does not allow MITF-expressing precursors to become differentiated melanocytes, but the addition of EDN3 further promotes differentiation of the precursors into mature melanocytes. Our results support a model in which BMP4 induces MITF expression in pluripotent stem cells and EDN3 subsequently promotes differentiation of these MITF expressing cells along the melanocyte lineage.

Cannabinoid receptor signaling in progenitor/stem cell proliferation and differentiation

Cannabinoids, the active components of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) extracts, have attracted the attention of human civilizations for centuries, much earlier than the discovery and characterization of their substrate of action, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The latter is an ensemble of endogenous lipids, their receptors [in particular type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) cannabinoid receptors] and metabolic enzymes. Cannabinoid signaling regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, with different outcomes depending on the molecular targets and cellular context involved. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed and functional from the very early developmental stages, when they regulate embryonic and trophoblast stem cell survival and differentiation, and thus may affect the formation of manifold adult specialized tissues derived from the three different germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm). In the ectoderm-derived nervous system, both CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in neural progenitor/stem cells and control their self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. CB1 and CB2 show opposite patterns of expression, the former increasing and the latter decreasing along neuronal differentiation. Recently, endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling has also been shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation of mesoderm-derived hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, with a key role in determining the formation of several cell types in peripheral tissues, including blood cells, adipocytes, osteoblasts/osteoclasts and epithelial cells. Here, we will review these new findings, which unveil the involvement of eCB signaling in the regulation of progenitor/stem cell fate in the nervous system and in the periphery. The developmental regulation of cannabinoid receptor expression and cellular/subcellular localization, together with their role in progenitor/stem cell biology, may have important implications in human health and disease.

Summarizing techniques that combine three non-parametric scores to detect disease-associated 2-way SNP-SNP interactions

Identifying susceptibility genes that influence complex diseases is extremely difficult because loci often influence the disease state through genetic interactions. Numerous approaches to detect disease-associated SNP-SNP interactions have been developed, but none consistently generates high-quality results under different disease scenarios. Using summarizing techniques to combine a number of existing methods may provide a solution to this problem. Here we used three popular non-parametric methods-Gini, absolute probability difference (APD), and entropy-to develop two novel summary scores, namely principle component score (PCS) and Z-sum score (ZSS), with which to predict disease-associated genetic interactions. We used a simulation study to compare performance of the non-parametric scores, the summary scores, the scaled-sum score (SSS; used in polymorphism interaction analysis (PIA)), and the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). The non-parametric methods achieved high power, but no non-parametric method outperformed all others under a variety of epistatic scenarios. PCS and ZSS, however, outperformed MDR. PCS, ZSS and SSS displayed controlled type-I-errors (<0.05) compared to GS, APDS, ES (>0.05). A real data study using the genetic-analysis-workshop 16 (GAW 16) rheumatoid arthritis dataset identified a number of interesting SNP-SNP interactions.

Smoking and Crohn's disease: active modification of an independent risk factor (education alone is not enough)

INTRODUCTION

Smoking can induce the onset of Crohn's disease in genetically susceptible patients and may accelerate progression and disease severity. There is a paucity of information as to patient knowledge of the impact of smoking on disease progression. The aim of this study was to assess patient awareness, initiate smoking cessation therapy and monitor the effectiveness of an active smoking cessation programme in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

All patients with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease over a ten year period were identified from a prospectively managed database. Details of smoking history and patient knowledge of the link between Crohn's disease and smoking were collected through a telephone questionnaire. Current smokers who wished to quit were enrolled in a smoking cessation programme and followed prospectively for 12 months.

RESULTS

340 patients were identified with 281 eligible for inclusion. 181 patients agreed to a telephone survey (64.4% patient uptake). Smokers had an increased incidence of surgical intervention (OR 2.2; CI 1.02, 4.78 P=0.043). Awareness of the link between smoking and Crohn's disease was highest in the current smoking cohort and lowest in the non-smoking cohort (CS:NS; 79.5%:43% p<0.001). 29% of patients with a smoking history had previously been offered smoking cessation therapy. 77% of current smokers opted for smoking cessation therapy. At 6 months 53% of these patients remained smoke free and 37% at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

In patients with Crohn's disease, information alone is ineffective at achieving smoking cessation. Good cessation rates are achievable if information is supported by active smoking cessation therapy.

Feedback regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase: new insight into the evolving field of telomerase in cancer

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytic component of telomerase, especially the rate-limiting determinant of telomerase activity. So far, TERT has been reported to be over-expressed in more than 90% of cancers, thereby playing a critical role in sustained proliferation and survival potentials of various cancer cells. Over the past decade, a comprehensive network of transcription factors has been shown to be involved in the regulation of TERT. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has suggested that TERT could modulate the expression of numerous genes involved in diverse group of cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation and cellular signaling. Therefore, it indicates that TERT is both an effector and a regulator in carcinoma. However, the mechanisms of the interaction between TERT and its target genes are still not fully understood. Thus, it is necessary to consolidate and summarize recent developments of the cross-talk between TERT and related genes in cancer cells or other cells with cancer cell characteristics, and elucidate these relevant mechanisms. In this review, we focus on various signaling pathways and genes that participate in the feedback regulation of TERT and the underlying feedback loop mechanism of TERT, further providing new insights into non-telomeric functions of telomerase and potentially to be used as a novel therapeutic target for cancer.

Brugia pahangi: immunization with early L3 ES alters parasite migration, and reduces microfilaremia and lymphatic lesion formation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Previous studies have shown that intradermally (ID) injected Brugia pahangi L3 s migrate through various tissues and into the lymphatics of gerbils in a distinct pattern. Excretory/secretory products (ES) produced at the time of invasion of B. pahangi are likely to be important in this early migration phase of the parasite life cycle in their rodent host. Hence, early L3 ES was collected from 24h in vitro cultures of B. pahangi L3 larvae and used in immunization experiments to investigate the effect of immunity to early L3 ES on worm migration, survival and development of B. pahangi. Immunization of gerbils with ES in RIBI adjuvant produced antibodies to numerous ES proteins eliciting a strong humoral response to ES and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay using anti-ES serum recognized the ES proteins on the surface of B. pahangi L3 larvae. Following ES immunization, gerbils were challenged either ID or intraperitoneally (IP) with 100 L3 s of B. pahangi and euthanized at 3 or 106 days post inoculation (DPI). Immunization with early ES slowed the migration of ID inoculated L3 at 3 DPI and significantly altered the locations of adult worms at 106 DPI. Immunization did not induce protection in any treatment group. However, immunized animals had significantly fewer microfilariae per female worm suggesting the antigens in ES are important in microfilariae development or survival in the host. The number of lymphatic granulomas was also significantly reduced in ES immunized animals. It is important to note that microfilariae serve as a nidus in these granulomas. Our results shows immunization with early Brugia malayi L3 ES alters the worm migration, affects circulating microfilarial numbers and reduces lymphatic granulomas associated with B. pahangi infection in gerbils.

Social and environmental contexts modulate sleep deprivation-induced c-Fos activation in rats

People often sleep deprive themselves voluntarily for social and lifestyle reasons. Animals also appear to stay awake longer as a result of their natural curiosity to explore novel environments and interact socially with conspecifics. Although multiple arousal systems in the brain are known to act jointly to promote and maintain wakefulness, it remains unclear whether these systems are similarly engaged during voluntary vs. forced wakefulness. Using c-Fos immunohistochemistry, we compared neuronal responses in rats deprived of sleep for 2 h by gentle sensory stimulation, exploration under social isolation, or exploration with social interaction, and rats under undisturbed control conditions. In many arousal, limbic, and autonomic nuclei examined (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex and locus coeruleus), the two sleep deprivation procedures involving exploration were similarly effective, and both were more effective than sleep deprivation with sensory stimulation, in increasing the number of c-Fos immunoreactive neurons. However, some nuclei (e.g., paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and select amygdala nuclei) were more responsive to exploration with social interaction, while others (e.g., histaminergic tuberomammillary nucleus) responded more strongly to exploration in social isolation. In the rostral basal forebrain, cholinergic and GABAergic neurons responded preferentially to exploration with social interaction, whereas resident neurons in general responded most strongly to exploration without social interaction. These results indicate that voluntary exploration with/without social interaction is more effective than forced sleep deprivation with gentle sensory stimulation for inducing c-Fos in arousal and limbic/autonomic brain regions, and suggest that these nuclei participate in different aspects of arousal during sustained voluntary wakefulness.

Retinoids induce stem cell differentiation via epigenetic changes

Vitamin A (all-trans retinol) and its active metabolites, collectively called retinoids, exert potent effects on stem cell differentiation and thus, the formation of the entire organism, in part via the modulation of the epigenome. All-trans retinoic acid (RA), through binding to the retinoic acid receptors (RARs), alters interactions of the RARs with various protein components of the transcription complex at numerous genes in stem cells, and some of these protein components of the transcription complex then either place or remove epigenetic marks on histones or on DNA, altering chromatin structure and leading to an exit from the self-renewing, pluripotent stem cell state. Different epigenetic mechanisms, i.e. first, primarily H3K27me3 marks and then DNA methylation, may be employed by embryonic stem cells and other stem cells for control of early vs. late stages of cell differentiation. Creating these stable epigenetic changes requires the actions of many molecules, including tet1, polycomb protein complexes (PRCs), miRNAs, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), and telomerase reverse transcriptase. A more complete understanding of retinoid-dependent stem cell differentiation should reward us with new insights into the failure to maintain a differentiated state that is an essential part of neoplastic cell transformation and cancer.