Selective Inhibition of Cell Proliferation by Lycopene in MCF‐7 Breast Cancer Cells In vitro: A Proteomic Analysis

Lycopene, a red pigmented carotenoid present in many fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, has been associated with the reduced risk of breast cancer. This study sought to identify proteins modulated by lycopene during cell proliferation of the breast cancer cell line MCF‐7 to gain an understanding into its mechanism of action. MCF‐7 breast cancer cells and MCF‐10 normal breast cells were treated with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 μM of lycopene for 72 h. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tetrazolium reduction assay was used to measure cell proliferation and two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis to assess the changes in protein expression, which were identified using MALDI‐ToF/ToF (matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time‐of‐flight) and Mascot database search. MTT and cell proliferation assays showed that lycopene selectively inhibited the growth of MCF‐7 but not MCF‐10 cells. Difference gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that proteins in the MCF‐7 cells respond differently to lycopene compared with the MCF‐10 cells. Lycopene altered the expression levels of proteins such as Cytokeratin 8/18 (CK8/18), CK19 and their post translational status. We have shown that lycopene inhibits cell proliferation in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells but not in the MCF‐10 mammary epithelial cells. Lycopene was shown to modulate cell cycle proteins such as beta tubulin, CK8/18, CK19 and heat shock proteins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Outcomes of upper extremity interventions for chronic critical ischemia

Background

Critical hand ischemia owing to below-the-elbow atherosclerotic occlusive disease is relatively uncommon. The aim of this study was to examine the outcomes in patients presenting with critical ischemia owing to below-the-elbow arterial atherosclerotic disease who underwent nonoperative and operative management.

Correction to: Association of rheumatoid arthritis-related autoantibodies with pulmonary function test abnormalities in a rheumatoid arthritis registry

Clinical Rheumatology - The publisher regrets that the two sections under the Results omitted inadvertently on the original published version of the above article.     

Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) in a rabbit model of spina bifida

Purpose

Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) with select mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to induce partial or complete skin coverage of spina bifida in rodents. Clinical translation of this emerging therapy hinges on its efficacy in larger animal models. We sought to study TRASCET in a model requiring intra-amniotic injections 60 times larger than those performed in the rat.

Involvement of the Amygdala in Memory and Psychosocial Functioning in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis

Youth with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience cognitive impairment and psychosocial disturbances. We describe the relationship between memory function, psychosocial skills, and brain volume in 32 patients with pediatric-onset MS and 30 controls. Amygdala volume was significantly lower in patients compared with controls. In general, poorer memory was associated with reduced functional communication skills and reduced amygdala volume. Greater amygdala volume in patients correlated with parent-reported functional communication and social skills. Adjusting for whole-brain volume, right amygdala volume was positively associated with visual memory; left amygdala volume was a stronger predictor of parent-reported social skills.     

Quantification of the area and shunt volume of multiple,circular, and noncircular ventricular septal defects: A 2D/3D echocardiography comparison and real time 3D color Doppler feasibility determination study

Background

Quantification of defect size and shunt flow is an important aspect of ventricular septal defect (VSD) evaluation. This study compared three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) with the current clinical standard two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE) for quantifying defect area and tested the feasibility of real time 3D color Doppler echocardiography (RT3D‐CDE) for quantifying shunt volume of irregular shaped and multiple VSDs.

Methods

Latex balloons were sutured into the ventricles of 32 freshly harvested porcine hearts and were connected with tubing placed in septal perforations. Tubing was varied in area (0.13–5.22 cm²), number (1–3), and shape (circle, oval, crescent, triangle). A pulsatile pump was used to pump “blood” through the VSD (LV to RV) at stroke volumes of 30–70 mL with a stroke rate of 60 bpm. Two‐dimensional echocardiography (2DE), 3DE, and RT3D‐CDE images were acquired from the right side of the phantom.

Results

For circular VSDs, both 2DE and 3DE area measurements were consistent with the actual areas (R² = 0.98 vs 0.99). For noncircular/multiple VSDs, 3DE correlated with the actual area more closely than 2DE (R² = 0.99 vs 0.44). Shunt volumes obtained using RT3D‐CDE positively correlated with pumped stroke volumes (R² = 0.96).

Conclusions

Three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is a feasible method for determining VSD area and is more accurate than 2DE for evaluating the area of multiple or noncircular VSDs. Real‐time 3D color Doppler echocardiography (RT3D‐CDE) is a feasible method for quantifying the shunt volume of multiple or noncircular VSDs.