'Battling my biology': psychological effects of genetic testing for risk of weight gain.

The availability of genetic tests for multifactorial conditions such as obesity raises concerns that higher-risk results could lead to fatalistic reactions or lower-risk results to complacency. No study has investigated the effects of genetic test feedback for the risk of obesity in non-clinical samples. The present study explored psychological and behavioral reactions to genetic test feedback for a weight related gene (FTO) in a volunteer sample (n = 18) using semi-structured interviews. Respondents perceived the gene test result as scientifically objective; removing some of the emotion attached to the issue of weight control. Those who were struggling with weight control reported relief of self-blame. There was no evidence for either complacency or fatalism; all respondents emphasized the importance of lifestyle choices in long-term weight management, although they recognized the role of both genes and environment. Regardless of the test result, respondents evaluated the testing positively and found it motivating and informative. Genetic test feedback for risk of weight gain may offer psychological benefits beyond its objectively limited clinical utility. As the role of genetic counselors is likely to expand, awareness of reasons for genetic testing for common, complex conditions and reactions to the test result is important.

Identification of Bacillus anthracis via Raman spectroscopy and chemometric approaches.

Raman micro-spectroscopy was applied to compile a large-scale database of Raman spectra of single Bacillus endospores and to calculate classification functions, which were trained to discriminate between endospores of 66 strains from 13 Bacillus and Bacillus-related species including B. anthracis. The developed two-stage classification system comprising two support vector machines and one linear discriminant analysis classifier was then challenged by a test set of 27 samples to simulate the case of a real-world-scenario, when "unknown samples" are to be identified. In the end, all 27 test set samples including six B. anthracis strains were identified correctly. The samples thereby covered a diverse selection of species within the phylogenetically broad Bacillus genus and also included strains, which were not incorporated in the database before. All of them were correctly identified on the species level with accuracies between 88 and 100%. The sample analysis itself requires no biomass enrichment step prior to the analysis and qualifies the presented Raman spectroscopic approach to be a rapid analysis system in term of Bacillus endospore typing.

Social appearance anxiety and bulimia nervosa.

Social appearance anxiety is an unexplored concept in eating disorders (ED). It refers to social anxiety surrounding overall appearance, including body shape, and fear of negative evaluation by others. It is potentially relevant to those with bulimia nervosa (BN) as both social anxiety and body image disturbance are commonly experienced by patients. Thirty women with BN and forty healthy controls (HC) completed the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS), a 16-item self-report questionnaire. ED cognitions and behaviours were assessed with the Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire. Women with BN have significantly higher SAAS scores than HC (z=-6.79, p<0.001). In BN, SAAS scores show significant positive correlation with global ED subscales and dietary restraint. In HC, SAAS scores are correlated with shape, weight, eating concern, and global eating disturbance subscales. Preliminary findings suggest the SAAS is potentially useful in future research concerning overall risk factors for eating disturbance and treatment outcome in BN.

Raman spectroscopy-compatible inactivation method for pathogenic endospores.

Micro-Raman spectroscopy is a fast and sensitive tool for the detection, classification, and identification of biological organisms. The vibrational spectrum inherently serves as a fingerprint of the biochemical composition of each bacterium and thus makes identification at the species level, or even the subspecies level, possible. Therefore, microorganisms in areas susceptible to bacterial contamination, e.g., clinical environments or food-processing technology, can be sensed. Within the scope of point-of-care-testing also, detection of intentionally released biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) agents, such as Bacillus anthracis endospores, or their products is attainable. However, no Raman spectroscopy-compatible inactivation method for the notoriously resistant Bacillus endospores has been elaborated so far. In this work we present an inactivation protocol for endospores that permits, on the one hand, sufficient microbial inactivation and, on the other hand, the recording of Raman spectroscopic signatures of single endospores, making species-specific identification by means of highly sophisticated chemometrical methods possible. Several physical and chemical inactivation methods were assessed, and eventually treatment with 20% formaldehyde proved to be superior to the other methods in terms of sporicidal capacity and information conservation in the Raman spectra. The latter fact has been verified by successfully using self-learning machines (such as support vector machines or artificial neural networks) to identify inactivated B. anthracis-related endospores with adequate accuracies within the range of the limited model database employed.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein regulates matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its tissue inhibitor in human monocyte-derived macrophages.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages in human atherosclerotic plaques produce a family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which may influence vascular remodeling and plaque disruption. Because oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is implicated in many proatherogenic events, we hypothesized that ox-LDL would regulate expression of MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in monocyte-derived macrophages. MWRHOSA AND RESULTS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from normal human subjects with Ficoll-Paque density gradient centrifugation, and adherent cells were allowed to differentiate into macrophages during 7 days of culture in plastic dishes. On day 7, by use of serum-free medium, the macrophages were incubated with various concentrations of native LDL (n-LDL) and copper-oxidized LDL. Exposure to ox-LDL (10 to 50 microg/mL) increased MMP-9 mRNA expression as analyzed by Northern blot, protein expression as measured by ELISA and Western blot, and gelatinolytic activity as determined by zymography. The increase in MMP-9 expression was associated with increased nuclear binding of transcription factor NF-kappaB and AP-1 complex on electromobility shift assay. In contrast, ox-LDL (10 to 50 microg/mL) decreased TIMP-1 expression. Ox-LDL-induced increase in MMP-9 expression was abrogated by HDL (100 microg/mL). n-LDL had no significant effect on MMP-9 or TIMP-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that unlike n-LDL, ox-LDL upregulates MMP-9 expression while reducing TIMP-1 expression in monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, HDL abrogates ox-LDL-induced MMP-9 expression. Thus, ox-LDL may contribute to macrophage-mediated matrix breakdown in the atherosclerotic plaques, thereby predisposing them to plaque disruption and/or vascular remodeling.

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase expression in human atherosclerotic plaques: evidence for activation by proinflammatory mediators.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in atherosclerotic plaques, where in their active form, they may contribute to vascular remodeling and plaque disruption. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP), a novel transmembrane MMP that activates pro-MMP-2 (gelatinase A), is expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques and that its expression is regulated by proinflammatory molecules. METHODS AND RESULTS: MT1-MMP expression was examined in normal and atherosclerotic human arteries by immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies. MT1-MMP expression in human saphenous vein-derived smooth muscle cells (SMCs) maintained in tissue culture was determined under basal conditions and in response to proinflammatory molecules (interleukin [IL]-1alpha, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, and oxidized LDL [ox-LDL]) by use of Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assays for mRNA, Western blot and immunoprecipitation for protein, and gelatin zymography for catalytic activity. Medial SMCs of normal vessel wall expressed MT1-MMP. In atherosclerotic arteries, MT1-MMP expression was noted within the complex atheroma colocalizing with SMCs and macrophages (Mphi). Cultured SMCs constitutively expressed MT1-MMP mRNA and protein, which increased 2- to 4-fold over control in a time-dependent manner within 4 to 8 hours of exposure to IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, and ox-LDL (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, 13.4 nmol/mg LDL protein), whereas native LDL had no effect. Flow cytometry revealed MT1-MMP expression by human monocyte-derived Mphi, which increased 3.8-fold over baseline within 6 hours after exposure to 10 ng/mL TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that MT1-MMP, an activator of pro-MMP-2, is expressed by SMCs and Mphi in human atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, proinflammatory molecules upregulate MT1-MMP expression in vascular SMCs and Mphi. Thus, activation of SMCs and Mphi by proinflammatory molecules may influence extracellular matrix remodeling in atherosclerosis by regulating MT1-MMP expression.

Increased expression of neutrophil and monocyte adhesion molecules LFA-1 and Mac-1 and their ligand ICAM-1 and VLA-4 throughout the acute phase of myocardial infarction: possible implications for leukocyte aggregation and microvascular plugging.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate expression of adhesion molecules on neutrophils and monocytes throughout the acute phase of myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Neutrophil and monocyte counts increase within days from onset of acute myocardial infarction. Because leukocytes are recruited to the involved myocardial region, we postulated that these activated cells would display an increased expression of adhesion molecules necessary for effective endothelial transmigration. METHODS: We measured the expression of neutrophil and monocyte lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), Mac-1, very late after activation antigen-4 (VLA-4) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by flow cytometry throughout the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction in 25 patients and 10 age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Expression of Mac-1 on neutrophils increased significantly, whereas no expression of VLA-4 and ICAM-1 was detected. The expression of LFA-1, Mac-1, VLA-4 and ICAM-1 on the monocyte cell membrane in patients with an acute myocardial infarction was increased compared with that in control subjects by 22% (on day 7), 67%, 13% and 44% (all on day 4), respectively (all p < 0.001). Elevated density of monocyte-specific CD14 in the AMI versus the control group was also shown (30%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of neutrophil and monocyte adhesion molecules may contribute to their adhesion to endothelium in the ischemic territory. This adhesion could feasibly precipitate vasoconstriction or add a local thrombotic effect due to tissue factor expression secondary to Mac-1 engagement. In addition, the manifestation of increased density of LFA-1 and Mac-1 by activated leukocytes with monocytes also expressing ICAM-1 suggests that leukocytes may form microaggregates that could cause microvascular plugging. This mechanism may facilitate the occurrence of the "no-reflow" phenomenon or slow coronary filling after acute myocardial infarction.

Production of follistatin in porcine endothelial cells: differential regulation by bacterial compounds and the synthetic glucocorticoid RU 28362.

Follistatin (FS) is the specific binding protein of activin; it has a broad tissue distribution and is also found in serum. The ovary has the highest level of FS expression, but ovariectomy does not cause a permanent reduction in the serum FS level. Therefore, the source of FS in serum is still elusive. As a regulatable, nongonadal source of serum FS could influence ovarian and pituitary-derived hormone secretion and thus reproductive function, we searched for a source of extragonadal FS expression that might contribute to the FS protein level in serum. We found that endothelial cells from blood vessels express FS messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein; therefore, we studied the regulation of steady state levels of FS mRNA in porcine endothelial cells from aorta (AEC) and brain microvessels (BMVEC) in tissue culture. For detection of FS mRNA, a specific 32P-radiolabeled antisense probe and a S1-nuclease protection assay were used. FS steady state levels of AEC decreased with time in culture, i.e. postconfluent AEC had lower FS mRNA levels than confluent cultures, which, in turn, had lower FS mRNA levels than subconfluent cell cultures. FS mRNA levels in AEC were induced by increasing concentrations of FCS and stimulated by 30 micrograms/ml endothelial cell growth supplement. FS mRNA levels in AEC and BMVEC increased approximately 20-fold within 4 h during incubation of the cells with 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate, whereas 0.5 nmol/ml forskolin tested in AEC for between 4-48 h had no significant effect. Furthermore, 0.1 microM ocadaic acid, an inhibitor of serine/threonine phosphatases 1 and 2A, caused a significant increase in FS mRNA levels. FS mRNA levels in AEC were not significantly affected by various concentrations of porcine FSH, epidermal growth factor, or retinoic acid for between 4-48 h. Treatment of the cells with 0.01-10 micrograms/ml bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) caused a dose-dependent increase (up to 10-fold) in FS mRNA steady state level in AEC, whereas 1-1000 nM RU 28362, a synthetic glucocorticoid, inhibited FS mRNA steady state levels in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of FS mRNA with 1 microgram/ml LPS was completely blocked by 100 nM RU 28362, and the stimulatory effects of LPS were only visible after 4 h of treatment, not after 24 or 48 h. The same effects were observed with BMVEC. We, furthermore, analyzed FS protein secretion of AEC by Western blotting and demonstrated that FS proteins were secreted into the culture medium upon stimulation with LPS. None of these treatments had an obvious effect on the ratio of the two different forms of FS mRNA (FS 344:FS 317). Besides the expression of FS mRNA in AEC and BMVEC, FS mRNA is also expressed in uncultured plexus choroideus epithel and meninges, and FS protein is found in human cerebrospinal fluid. From this study it is concluded that 1) endothelial cells from different tissues produce FS mRNA; 2) the FS mRNA levels of AEC and BMVEC are subjected to regulation by FCS, endothelial cell growth supplement, bacterial LPS, and the glucocorticoid RU 28362; 3) phosphatases and the protein kinase C-dependent, but not the protein kinase A-dependent, pathway are involved in regulating the steady state levels of FS mRNA in AEC and BMVEC; and 4) endothelial cells produce and secrete FS protein and are thus a likely source of FS in serum.