125I seed implantation enhances arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis in lung cancer xenograft mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) exerts anticancer effects on lung cancer. However, the clinical use of ATO is limited due to its systemic toxicity and resistance of lung cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ATO, alone and in combination with 125I seed implantation on tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer xenograft mice, and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The transmission electron microscope observed the tumor ultrastructure of lung cancer xenograft mice. The proliferation index of Ki-67 and the number and morphology of tumor microvessels were detected with immunohistochemical staining. The protein and mRNA expression were examined by western blot and real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: The in vivo results demonstrated that ATO combined with 125I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation, as well as promoted apoptosis, and decreased the Ki-67 index and microvessel density in lung cancer xenograft mice. Moreover, ATO combined with 125I seed decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and BCL-2, and increased those of BAX and P53. CONCLUSIONS: ATO combined with 125I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer, which may be accomplished by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis.

Effects of warming yang and invigorating qi prescription on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction

This study investigated the effects of warming yang and invigorating qi prescription on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction. 126 rats were randomly divided into model group, sham operation, warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi, digoxin and captopril group for respective treatment. After intervention for 6, 8 and 10 weeks, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated, and the plasma renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels were measured. Results showed that, after 6, 8 and 10 weeks, LVEF in warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril group was significantly higher than model group (P < 0.05), and the plasma renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in warming yang, invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril groups were significantly lower than model group (P < 0.05). Renin angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in invigorating qi, warming yang+invigorating qi and captopril groups after 10 weeks was significantly lower than after 6 weeks (P < 0.05); aldosterone level in captopril groups after 10 weeks was significantly lower than after 6 weeks (P < 0.05). Warming yang and invigorating qi prescription can improve LVEF in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction, which may be related with the inhibition of RAAS activation.(AU)

Chronic hepatitis virus infection in patients with multiple myeloma: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic agents and steroids are used to treat lymphoid malignancies, but these compounds may exacerbate chronic viral hepatitis. For patients with multiple myeloma, the impact of preexisting hepatitis virus infection is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and outcomes of myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 155 myeloma patients were examined to determine their chronic hepatitis virus infection statuses using serologic tests for the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV). Clinical parameters and outcome variables were retrieved via a medical chart review. RESULTS: The estimated prevalences of chronic HBV and HCV infections were 11.0% (n = 17) and 9.0% (n = 14), respectively. The characteristics of patients who were hepatitis virus carriers and those who were not were similar. However, carrier patients had a higher prevalence of conventional cytogenetic abnormalities (64.3% vs. 25.0%). The cumulative incidences of grade 3-4 elevation of the level of alanine transaminase, 30.0% vs. 12.0%, and hyperbilirubinemia, 20.0% vs. 1.6%, were higher in carriers as well. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, carrier patients had worse overall survival (median: 16.0 vs. 42.4 months). The prognostic value of carrier status was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis, but an age of more than 65 years old, the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, a beta-2-microglobulin level of more than 3.5 mg/L, and a serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/ dL were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infections might be a distinct subgroup, and close monitoring of hepatic adverse events should be mandatory.

Chronic hepatitis virus infection in patients with multiple myeloma: clinical characteristics and outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic agents and steroids are used to treat lymphoid malignancies, but these compounds may exacerbate chronic viral hepatitis. For patients with multiple myeloma, the impact of preexisting hepatitis virus infection is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and outcomes of myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 155 myeloma patients were examined to determine their chronic hepatitis virus infection statuses using serologic tests for the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV). Clinical parameters and outcome variables were retrieved via a medical chart review. RESULTS: The estimated prevalences of chronic HBV and HCV infections were 11.0 percent (n = 17) and 9.0 percent (n = 14), respectively. The characteristics of patients who were hepatitis virus carriers and those who were not were similar. However, carrier patients had a higher prevalence of conventional cytogenetic abnormalities (64.3 percent vs. 25.0 percent). The cumulative incidences of grade 3-4 elevation of the level of alanine transaminase, 30.0 percent vs. 12.0 percent, and hyperbilirubinemia, 20.0 percent vs. 1.6 percent, were higher in carriers as well. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, carrier patients had worse overall survival (median: 16.0 vs. 42.4 months). The prognostic value of carrier status was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis, but an age of more than 65 years old, the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, a beta-2-microglobulin level of more than 3.5 mg/L, and a serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/ dL were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infections might be a distinct subgroup, and close monitoring of hepatic adverse events should be mandatory.

Improved affinity selection using phage display technology and off-rate based selection

Flow systems such as a BIAcore biosensor can be very efficient tools to isolate high affinity antibody fragments from affinity matured phage display libraries. Here we show that using flow based selection, we can readily isolate a variant with a 35-fold higher affinity, especially with a 7 fold better off-rate, compared to the parent clone after only a single round of selection from a second generation affinity matured phage display library. The flow system represents a fast method to isolate affinity improved antibody fragments and can be particularly useful for isolating antibodies to antigens that have poor solubility, are toxic to the host cell, or prone to aggregation.