Comparison of three different lactic acid bacteria-fermented proteins on RAW 264.7 osteoclast and MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation

Osteoporosis is a state of bone weakening caused by an imbalance in osteoblast and osteoclast activity. In this study, the anti-osteoporotic effects of three proteins fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were assessed. Commercial proteins sodium caseinate (SC), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI) were fermented by LAB strains for 48 h. The fermented products (F-SC, F-WPI, and F-SPI, respectively) were used in an in vitro osteoclast and osteoblast-like cell model to assess their effects on bone health. Despite no difference in the results of TRAP staining of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, F-WPI and F-SPI were effective in normalizing the altered gene expression of osteoclastogenesis markers such as TRAP, Nfatc1, RANK, and ATP6v0d. F-SPI was also effective in modulating osteoblasts by enhancing the expression of the osteoblastogenesis markers T1Col, Col2a, and OSX to levels higher than those in the SPI group, indicating that protein characteristics could be enhanced through bacterial fermentation. Moreover, these boosted effects of F-SPI may be involved with isoflavone-related metabolism during LAB-fermentation of SPI. These results demonstrate the potential of LAB-fermented proteins as dietary supplements to prevent bone loss. However, further understanding of its effects on balancing osteoblasts and osteoclasts and the underlying mechanisms is needed.

Impact of antimicrobial treatment duration on outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) according to factors associated with necessity for longer treatment in conjunction with the duration of treatment.

METHODS

We prospectively collected the data of patients with SAB consecutively during 12 to 39 months from 11 hospitals. If multiple episodes of SAB occurred in one patient, only the first episode was enrolled. Factors associated with necessity for longer treatment were defined as follows: persistent bacteraemia, metastatic infection, prosthesis and endocarditis. If any of the factors were present, then the case was defined as longer antibiotic treatment warranted (LW) group; those without any factors were defined as shorter antibiotic treatment sufficient (SS) group. Poor outcome was defined as a composite of 90-day mortality or 30-day recurrence. Duration of antibiotic administration was classified as <14 or ≥14 days in the SS group and <28 or ≥28 days in the LW group.

RESULTS

Among 2098 cases, the outcome was analysed in 1866 cases, of which 591 showed poor outcome. The SS group accounted for 964 cases and the LW group for 852. On multivariate analysis, age over 65 years, pneumonia, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and chronic liver diseases were risk factors for poor outcome. Administration of antibiotics less than the recommendation was associated with poor outcome, but this significance was observed only in the LW group (adjusted odds ratio = 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.83; p 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Inappropriately short antibiotic treatment was associated with poor outcome in the LW group. Vigilant evaluation for risk factors to determine the duration of treatment may improve the outcome among patients with SAB.

Stimuli-responsive magneto-/electro-chromatic color-tunable hydrophobic surface modified Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles for reflective display approaches

Magneto-/electro-chromatic reflective color tunability is confirmed using hydrophobic surface modified magnetite nanoparticles. The optical reflective color spectra and color gamut demonstrate the promising applications in reflective displays.

Phase I trial of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy with S-1 and weekly irinotecan in locally advanced rectal cancer

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Background: S-1 is a novel, orally administered 5-FU analogue and is known of radiosensitizer. The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility and efficacy of S-1 in combination with weekly irionotecan with concurrent pelvic radiotherapy (RT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: Clinical stage T3–4 or N+(on MRI) rectal adenocarcinoma patients received weekly irinotecan 40mg/m2(day1,8,15,22,29) and S-1 at dose levels of 40, 50, 60 and 70mg/m2 (5days a week from day 1 to 38) according to phase I methodology. Concurrently conventional RT was given at daily fractions of 1.8 Gy on 5 days a week for a total dose of 50.4 (45 + 5.4)Gy. Surgery was performed 4–8 weeks following completion of chemoradiation. Results: A total 16 patients (10M/7F, median age 46 years, ECOG PS0–1) were enrolled between August 2005 and July 2006. One pt withdrew the consent during CCRT. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) occurred at 50mg/m2 of S-1 in one of six pts (G4 cerebral infarction). At dose of 60, 70mg/m2 of S-1, no DLT occurred. G3/4 toxicties were rare. Fifthteen pts underwent surgery and R0 resection was achieved in 13 pts. Four pts (25.0%) had a pathological complete response. Conclusions: The recommended dose (RD) for further study is S-1 70mg/m2 with irinotecan and radiotherapy. Neoadjuvant S-1/irinotecan/RT is feasible and well tolerated. Phase II trial is being conducted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Topotecan and etoposide as salvage chemotherapy in patients with irinotecan- and platinum-failed small-cell lung cancer: A phase II study

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Background: The efficacy and safety of a combined regimen of topotecan and etoposide was tested in patients with relapsed or refractory small-cell lung cancer. Methods: From October 2003 to May 2005, 23 patients who have failed to the previous irinotecan and platinum chemotherapy received intravenous topotecan 1mg/m2 (day 1–5) followed by intravenous etoposide 80mg/m2 (day 1–3). Treatment was repeated every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles. Results: Twelve patients were refractory to first-line chemotherapy. Seventeen patients (73.9%) were male and the median age was 63 years. ECOG performance status was 0–1 in 13 (56.5%) patients. The median cycles of chemotherapy was 3. Twenty one patients were assessable for response evaluation. The overall response rate was 17.4% (0 CR, 4 PR, 7 SD, 10 PD) under the intent-to-treat analysis. After a median follow- up of 20.8 months, median progression free survival was 4.7 months and median overall survival was 9.5 months. The estimated 1-year survival rate was 38.7%. In sensitive relapsed patients, 2 achieved tumor response and median progression free survival and overall survival were 5.5 months and 14.5 months. All patients were assessable for toxicity and major toxicities were myelosuppression. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 18 (78.3%) and 12 (52.2%) patients, respectively. Grade 3/4 febrile neutropenia occurred in 2 patients (8.7 %) and infection in 3 patients (13.0%). There was one treatment-related death due to pneumonia. Conclusions: This salvage regimen failed to demonstrate a considerable response rate compared with monotherapy for relapsed or refractory SCLC. However, the combination of topotecan and etoposide could be further studied for sensitive relapsed patients pretreated with irinotecan and platinum

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Implication of co-measured platelet factor 4 in the reliability of the results of the plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 measurement

We examined the possible alteration of circulating transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) concentrations in a time-dependent fashion in human plasma. Plasma TGF-beta1 was measured three times at 2 week-intervals from each of 12 healthy participants. Platelet factor 4 (PF4) was measured in parallel with TGF-beta1 to estimate the degree of platelet degranulation. TGF-beta1 levels of the second and third plasma samples, in which PF4s were measured as < approximately 1000 IU/ml, were relatively low and fell in a narrow range. However, TGF-beta1 levels of the first samples, in most of which PF4s were > approximately 1000 IU/ml, appeared much higher and more variable than those of the second or third samples. These results indicate that the platelet degranulation accounted for the higher TGF-beta1 levels in the first samples, and thus did not support our initial assumption. We, nevertheless, could propose a useful guidance in the assessment of TGF-beta1 levels in plasma. When the PF4 level is measured as < approximately 1000 IU/ml under our assay conditions, the TGF-beta1 level in a given plasma sample might be accepted as a reliable value considering the effect of platelet degranulation on TGF-beta1 level.

Cyclooxygenase-two (COX-2) modulates proliferation in aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor)

Aggressive fibromatosis is a locally invasive soft tissue lesion. Seventy-five per cent of cases harbor a somatic mutation in either the APC or beta-catenin genes, resulting in beta-catenin protein stabilization. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme involved in prostaglandin synthesis that modulates the formation of colonic neoplasia, especially in cases due to mutations resulting in beta-catenin stabilization. Human aggressive fibromatoses and lesions from the Apc+/Apc1638N mouse (a murine model for Apc-driven fibromatosis) demonstrated elevated COX-2 levels. COX-2 blockade either by the selective agent DFU or by non-selective COX blocking agents results in reduced proliferation in human tumor cell cultures. Breeding mice with Cox-2-/- mice resulted in no difference in number of aggressive fibromatoses formed, but in a smaller tumor size, while there was a decrease in number of GI lesions by 50%. Mice fed various COX blocking agents also showed a decline in tumor size. COX-2 expression was regulated by tcf-dependent transcription in this lesion. COX-2 partially regulates proliferation due to beta-catenin stabilization in aggressive fibromatosis. Although COX blockade alone does not cause tumor regression, this data suggests that it may have a role as an adjuvant therapy to slow tumor growth in this lesion.