Self-Assembled Silica Nanostructures: Simultaneous Discrimination of Handedness, Pitch and Diameter of Helical Silica Nanotubes.

The left- and right-handed helical silica nanostructures were obtained with the aid of organic templates, the formation of the nanostructures might follow a co-operation self-assembly mechanism. The chirality of the organogel self-assemblies was successfully transcribed in to the silica. The helical pitch and pore size of the silica nanotubes sensitively depended on the optical purity of the neutral gelator in the reaction mixtures.

Quantification of Blautia wexlerae and Blautia luti in human faeces by real-time PCR using specific primers.

The Clostridium coccoides group, including the genus Blautia and other genera, is one of the predominant bacterial groups in the human intestine. We re-examined 266 human faecal clones and 58 isolates in the C. coccoides group isolated by Hayashi et al. (2002) in order to elucidate the detailed distribution of Blautia wexlerae and Blautia luti in human faeces. Subsequently, we designed a primer pair specific for B. wexlerae and B. luti based on the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequence. The number of B. wexlerae and B. luti in faecal samples of 12 healthy Japanese subjects was examined by real-time PCR assay. The number of the C. coccoides group in the 12 faecal samples was also determined using C. coccoides group-specific primers. Re-examination of the human faecal clones and isolates revealed that B. wexlerae and B. luti accounted for 19.5% of the clones and 25.9% of the isolates. B. wexlerae and B. luti were detected in all faecal samples with 5.3±3.2×10(9) cells/g faeces (wet weight, average ± standard deviation) as assessed by real-time PCR. Furthermore, B. wexlerae and B. luti constituted 32.3±12.7% (average ± standard deviation) of the C. coccoides group (1.7±0.8×10(10) cells/g faeces). This demonstrates that B. wexlerae and B. luti were presented in human faeces with a high frequency as the dominant bacteria.

Rubi Fructus (Rubus coreanus) activates the expression of thermogenic genes in vivo and in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-obesity effect of Rubi Fructus (RF) extract using brown adipose tissue (BAT) and primary brown preadipocytes in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 J mice (n=5 per group) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks with or without RF. Brown preadipocytes from the interscapular BAT of mice (age, post-natal days 1-3) were cultured with differentiation media (DM) including isobutylmethylxanthine, dexamethasone, T3, indomethacin and insulin with or without RF. RESULTS: In HFD-induced obese C57BL/6 J mice, long-term RF treatment significantly reduced weight gain as well as the weights of the white adipose tissue, liver and spleen. Serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also reduced in the HFD group which received RF treatment. Furthermore, RF induced thermogenic-, adipogenic- and mitochondria-related gene expressions in BAT. In primary brown adipocytes, RF effectively stimulated the expressions of thermogenic- and mitochondria-related genes. In addition, to examine whether LIPIN1, a regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is regulated by RF, Lipin1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and RF were pretreated in primary brown adipocytes. Pretreatment with Lipin1 siRNA and RF downregulated the DM-induced expression levels of thermogenic- and mitochondria-related genes. Moreover, RF markedly upregulated AMP-activated protein kinase. Our study shows that RF is capable of stimulating the differentiation of brown adipocytes through the modulation of thermogenic genes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that RF prevents the development of obesity in mice fed with a HFD and that it is also capable of stimulating the differentiation of brown adipocytes through the modulation of thermogenic genes, which suggests that RF has potential as a therapeutic application for the treatment or prevention of obesity.

Anticancer effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in esophageal squamous cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

The effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, have not been studied in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Cell viability assay; flow cytometry for cell cycle and annexin V apoptosis assays; assays for cell migration, invasion, and adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM); and immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed in three ESCC cell lines. Tumor xenograft with semiquantitative immunohistochemistry was used to study the effects of SAHA in vivo. SAHA effectively inhibited growth of ESCC cells with half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50 ) ranging from 2.6 to 6.5 µmol/L. SAHA restored acetylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9Ac) and histone 4 lysine 12 (H4K12Ac) with an induction of G1 or G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Expression of cell cycle checkpoint regulatory proteins including cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins was decreased, whereas expression of cell cycle suppressors, p21, p27, and Rb was increased in ESCC cells after SAHA treatment. SAHA inhibited migration, invasion, and ECM adhesion in ESCC cells with an induction of E-cadherin expression. SAHA significantly inhibited growth of ESCC tumors with increased expression of p21, p27, Rb, and E-cadherin while decreasing expression of CDK4 and cyclin D1 within the murine tumors. In conclusion, SAHA had antigrowth activity against ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo while inhibiting cell migration, cell invasion, and ECM adhesion, suggesting its potential as an epigenetic therapeutic agent for ESCC.

Analysis of the human intestinal microbiota from 92 volunteers after ingestion of identical meals.

The intestinal microbiota composition of 92 volunteers living in Japan was identified following the consumption of 'identical meals' (1,879 kcal/day) for 3 days. When faecal samples were analysed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism with several primer-restriction enzyme systems and then clustered, the patterns could be divided into 2 clusters. Contribution tests and partition modelling showed that OTU211 of the 35f-MspI system and OTU237 of the 35f-AluI system were key factors in the distribution of these groups. However, significant differences among these groups in terms of body mass index and age were not observed.

Cortactin, fascin, and survivin expression associated with clinicopathological parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Cortactin, fascin, and survivin have been documented in several human cancers and play important roles in tumor progression. We collected 57 surgical specimens, including esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SqCC; 7 well-differentiated, 15 moderately differentiated, and 24 poorly differentiated), 3 dysplasias, and 8 normal esophageal tissues. Tissue microarrays were constructed and the immunostaining scores for cortactin, fascin, and survivin were assessed. In 46 SqCC specimens, we examined the relationship between the expression of three biomarkers and tumor differentiation or clinical parameters. Higher immunostaining scores for cortactin, fascin, and survivin correlated positively with tumor differentiation of esophageal SqCC. Univariate survival analysis showed significantly worse prognosis in patients with high scores of cortactin (>or=290), fascin (>or=245), and survivin (score >or= 175), poor differentiation, T4 stage, positive for lymph node metastasis, and positive for distant metastasis. In multivariate survival analysis, high scores of survivin (>or=175) and poor differentiation were independent risk factors for worse prognosis. Our results demonstrated that higher expression of survivin may be related to tumor progression and it is an independent risk factor for poor survival time of esophageal SqCC. Survivin may be a good biomarker to be applied in clinic to predict the prognosis of esophageal SqCC.

Hospital outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis bacteraemia related to contaminated chlorhexidine in haematological malignancy patients with indwelling catheters.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an opportunistic pathogen that occasionally causes hospital outbreaks. This paper describes an outbreak of BCC bacteraemia in haematological malignancy patients related to a contaminated chlorhexidine gluconate solution. Eight BCC isolates were obtained from patients hospitalised in the same ward of a cancer centre in a Korean hospital. A further three BCC isolates were obtained from 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate used in the same ward. The isolates were identified as B. stabilis and exhibited identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. All patients with B. stabilis bacteraemia had indwelling intravenous catheters, which were treated with chlorhexidine to disinfect the catheters. Following identification of the source of contamination, strict controls regarding surveillance cultures for disinfectants have been enforced. No further B. stabilis infections have been found in the hospital.

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii carrying bla(OXA-23), bla(PER-1) and armA in a Korean hospital.

Forty-two multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were obtained during outbreaks in a Korean hospital. The co-carriage of bla(OXA-23), bla(OXA-51), bla(PER-1) and armA was observed in 23 isolates, and they were susceptible only to colistin and minocycline. The MDR A. baumannii isolates were found to belong to sequence group 1 using sequence-based typing.

Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of hepatitis B virus polymerase by ß-l-D4A-TP.

ß-L-enantiomer of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (ß-L-D4A-TP) has previously been proven to inhibit the replication of viral DNA in the Hep G2 2.2.15 cells and in transgenic mouse harboring 1.3-fold-overlength genome of Hepatitis B virus (HBV). To study the inhibition mechanism of the nucleoside analog ß-L-D4A-TP, a polymerase reaction in vitro with the recombinant HBV nucleocapsids was conducted to determine the exact mode of inhibition of the HBV replication by ß-L-D4A-TP. The HBV viral DNA and viral DNA-polymerase complex formed in the polymerase reaction were assayed. The results of this study showed that ß-L-D4A-TP inhibited the replication of HBV DNA by inactivating the reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The kinetics of ß-L-D4A-TP inhibition of the RT activity was the result of an apparent competitive inhibition with dATP.

Detection of diverse SCCmec variants in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and comparison of SCCmec typing methods.

Non-duplicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates (n = 436), collected from four hospitals located in three Korean cities between 2001 and 2005, were investigated by SCCmec typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Variations within SCCmec, especially type II, were detected in 165 (37.8%) isolates, and these variants were characterised using four different SCCmec typing methods. The predominant SCCmec type was a type II variant that differed from type II by the absence of a pUB110 insertion. MLST analysis showed that most of the isolates carrying SCCmec variants belonged to ST5.

Expression of fascin in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas has prognostic significance - a tissue microarray study of 129 cases.

AIMS: To elucidate the role of fascin in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by correlation with clinical parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: Paraffin sections using tissue microarrays of 129 patients with OSCC were investigated immunohistochemically. Fascin protein was overexpressed in OSCC cells compared with their non-neoplastic epithelial counterparts. For evaluating the intensity of fascin, 39 (30.2%) were classified as weakly immunoreactive, 76 (58.9%) as moderate reactive and 14 (10.9%) as intensely reactive. For evaluating the distribution of fascin, 64 (49.6%) were classified as < 55% and 65 (50.4%) were classified as >/= 55%. Fascin protein expression was correlated with size or extent of the tumour (P < 0.001), positive lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P = 0.014) and clinical staging (P < 0.001). The immunoreactivity scores of fascin in OSCC were variable but showed significant correlation with histological grade, clinical TNM system and stage. CONCLUSION: Expression of fascin protein may play an important role in progression of OSCC. Overexpression of fascin contributes to a more aggressive clinical course and suggests the potential of fascin as a new molecular target for therapeutic intervention.

Expression of the serine protease, matriptase, in breast ductal carcinoma of Chinese women: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

Matriptase is a serine protease expressed by cells of surface epithelial origin, including epithelial breast tumor cells. Matriptase cleaves and activates proteins implicated in the progression of cancer and represents a potential prognostic and therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to examine matriptase expression in breast tumors of Chinese women and to identify its clinicopathological correlations. Immunohistochemical analysis of matriptase was performed in tissue microarrays of 251 breast tumors including 30 fibroadenomas, 59 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), 38 grade I invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), 79 grade II IDC, and 45 grade III IDC. The matriptase scores were significantly higher in the tumors than their non-tumor counterparts (178+/-12 for fibroadenoma; 275+/-11 for DCIS; 299+/-10 for grade I IDC; 251+/-10 for grade II IDC; and 314+/-11 for grade III IDC). In cases of IDC, matriptase scores were significantly correlated with tumor staging and nodal staging. Our findings demonstrate that matriptase is over-expressed in breast ductal carcinoma of Chinese women. It therefore may be a good biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of malignant breast tumors.

Expression of EMMPRIN and matriptase in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and the type II transmembrane serine protease, matriptase, are expressed in several human cancers and play an important role in tumor progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immuno-staining patterns of EMMPRIN and matriptase in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and correlate the percentage tumor staining with tumor differentiation and clinical parameters. EMMPRIN and matriptase immunoreactivity was seen on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in all 41 cases of esophageal SCC evaluated. The percentage tumor staining of EMMPRIN was 48 +/- 3% for well differentiated, 73 +/- 3% for moderately differentiated, and 92 +/- 3% for poorly differentiated esophageal SCC. Higher percentage tumor staining with EMMPRIN correlated significantly with poorly differentiated esophageal SCC (P < 0.05). The percentage tumor staining with matriptase correlated significantly with tumor differentiation (52 +/- 3% for well differentiated, 85 +/- 2% for moderately differentiated, and 88 +/- 3% for poorly differentiated esophageal SCC). Additionally, higher percentage tumor staining with matriptase was significantly correlated with the advanced N and M stages (P < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that EMMPRIN and matriptase are over-expressed in esophageal SCC and are correlated with advanced clinicopathological stages. Pharmacological agents targeting EMMPRIN and matriptase expressions may be beneficial in the treatment of esophageal SCC.

Increasing EMMPRIN and matriptase expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: tissue microarray analysis of immunohistochemical scores with clinicopathological parameters.

AIMS: To examine the expression of extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (EMMPRIN) and matriptase in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to correlate this with tumour progression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis of EMMPRIN and matriptase was performed on tissue microarrays of 122 cases of HCC with various histological grades and/or clinical parameters. The expression of EMMPRIN and matriptase was undetectable in normal liver parenchyma of all eight control cases. However, among the 122 HCC cases, EMMPRIN and matriptase immunoreactivity was seen on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm. The average immunostaining scores of EMMPRIN were 88 for grade I HCC, 195 for grade II HCC and 293 for grade III HCC. Of 85 HCC cases in 122 with detailed clinical TNM stages, the average immunostaining scores of EMMPRIN were 75 for stage T1, 177 for stage T2, 260 for stage T3 and 313 for stage T4 cases of HCC. In addition, the average immunostaining scores of matriptase were 84 for grade I HCC, 187 for grade II HCC, 302 for grade III HCC, and 72 for stage T1, 181 for stage T2, 224 for stage T3 and 284 for stage T4 cases of HCC. More advanced M and N stages of HCC were associated with higher intensity, greater percentages of tumour staining and immunostaining scores of EMMPRIN and matriptase. Higher EMMPRIN and matriptase immunostaining scores in HCCs also correlated significantly with tumour grading and TNM stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate for the first time that EMMPRIN and matriptase are overexpressed in HCC. These may be novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Increasing expression of fascin in renal cell carcinoma associated with clinicopathological parameters of aggressiveness.

AIM: To determine whether higher expression of fascin, an actin-bundling protein associated with motility, in conventional renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with more advanced stages of the disease. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of fascin expression was performed in tissue microarrays of 108 RCCs including 55 clear cell RCCs (CRCCs), 39 CRCCs with granular cell differentiation (GRCCs), 8 CRCCs with sarcomatoid differentiation (SRCCs) and 6 metastatic RCCs. RESULTS: The expression of fascin was undetectable in normal renal tubules of all control cases. However, among the 108 RCC cases, fascin immunoreactivity was seen on the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The average immunostaining score for fascin was 128/400 in grade I, 170/400 in grade II, 207/400 in grade III, and 323/400 in grade IV RCC. The average immunostaining score of fascin was 187/400 for stage T1, 205/400 for stage T2, 288/400 for stage T3, and 355/400 for stage T4 cases of RCCs. Higher fascin scores in RCC were significantly correlated with higher T and N stages and nuclear grade. In addition, the fascin scores in GRCC (368+/-19) and SRCC (263+/-21) were significantly higher than in CRCC (95+/-18). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate for the first time that increased expression of fascin is associated with clinicopathological parameters of aggressiveness in patients with RCC. Fascin may be a novel biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of RCC.

[Cardiac arrhythmias in pilots under positive (+Gz) acceleration].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between cardiac arrhythmias and autonomic nervous regulation in pilots under +Gz acceleration. METHOD: Dynamic ECG during +Gz exposures in 36 orthostatic intolerance pilots and 62 healthy pilots were analysed and compared. RESULT: The orthostatic intolerance pilots had obviously lower +Gz tolerance and more cardiac arrhythmias. The cardiac arrhythmias could affect +Gz tolerance. CONCLUSION: The cardiac arrhythmias under +Gz acceleration could be taken as an index of evaluating cardiovascular compensatory function and warning against acceleration (+Gz) induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC).