The EF-hand calcium-binding protein tescalcin is a potential oncotarget in colorectal cancer

Tescalcin (TESC) is an EF-hand calcium binding protein that is differentially expressed in several tissues, however it is not reported that the expression and functional roles of TESC in colorectal cancer. Levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of TESC in colorectal cancer tissues were assessed using RT-PCR, real time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and clinicopathologic analyses. Quantitative analysis of TESC levels in serum specimens was performed using sandwich ELISA. Colorectal cancer cells transfected with TESC small interfering RNA and short hairpin RNA were examined in cell proliferation assays, phospho-MAPK array, and mouse xenograft models. Here we demonstrated that TESC is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), but was not expressed in normal mucosa and premalignant dysplastic lesions. Furthermore, serum TESC levels were elevated in patients with CRC. Knockdown of TESC inhibited the Akt-dependent NF-κB pathway and decreased cell survival in vitro. Depletion of TESC reduced tumor growth in a CRC xenograft model. Thus, TESC is a potential diagnostic marker and oncotarget in colorectal cancer.     

Diagnosis of vivax malaria using an IgM capture ELISA is a sensitive method,even for low levels of parasitemia

Although diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria has been difficult when it is present at a low parasite density, it was recently revealed that an antibody assay was a good method of screening for malaria in blood banks. However, the use of this method for the diagnosis of malaria is limited due to the persistence of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Therefore, we evaluated specific IgM antibody responses against the C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein 1 of P. vivax (PvMSP1c) in sera obtained from patients with vivax malaria using various assays. The IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed good sensitivity (97.7%; 308/315) and specificity (99.1%, 446/450). In addition, the results of this assay were not related to parasite density, and a high reactivity was observed when there was a low level of parasitemia. Furthermore, we found that patients with cases of malaria that had relapsed still had the IgM titers against PvMSP1c. Therefore, the use of IgM ELISA for the detection of specific IgM that was not involved in memorial immune activity could be an alternative tool for the diagnosis of malaria and blood screening, even in areas in which malaria is endemic.     

Are Clinically Insignificant Prostate Cancers Really Insignificant among Korean Men?

Purpose

We aimed to determine whether 12 core-extended biopsies of the prostate could predict insignificant prostate cancer (IPCa) in Koreans reliably enough to recommend active surveillance.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred and ninety-seven patients who underwent radical prostatectomy after 12 core-extended prostate biopsies were retrospectively reviewed. 38 cases (12.8%) were shown to be IPCa.

Results

The average age was 65.2 years, serum PSA was 5.49 ng/dL, and the PSA density was 0.11. The Gleason scores (GS) were 6 (3+3) in 31, 5 (3+2) in 4, and 4 (2+2) in 3. After radical prostatectomy, higher GS was given in 16 (42.1%), whereas lower GS was given in 1 case (2.6%), as compared with the GS obtained from biopsy. 11 (28.9%) had GS of 7 (3+4) and 5 (13.2%) had GS of 7 (4+3). 6 in GS 7 (4+3) and 1 in GS 7 (3+4) showed prostate capsule invasion and 1 in GS 7 (4+3) had seminal vesicle invasion. Prostate capsule invasion was observed in 1 with GS 6 (3+3). The rate of inaccuracy of the contemporary Epstein criteria was 42.1%. Only PSA density was a reliable indicator of clinically IPCa (odds ratio=1.384, 95% CI, 1.103 to 2.091).

Conclusion

Diagnosis of IPCa from a prostate biopsy underestimated the true nature of prostate cancer in as many as 42.1% of Koreans.     

Adverse events associated with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination and the vaccination coverage rate in health care workers

We prospectively examined the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination coverage rate and the adverse events related to the monovalent vaccine in Korean health care workers. The H1N1 vaccination coverage rate was 91.7%. There were no significant adverse events discouraging the vaccination.     

A study on platelet function in idiopathic scoliosis

Because platelets and muscle cells share the same contractile proteins--actin and myosin--platelets may serve as a model for muscle research. To study the functional abnormalities and ultrastructural changes of platelets and to determine whether or not abnormalities in muscle contractile proteins and collagen play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis, the bleeding time, the platelet aggregation test, and the titers of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitors were measured and the electron microscopic findings were examined in 52 idiopathic scoliosis patients aged 7 to 28 years and in 49 normal individuals aged 8 to 38 years as a control group. We found no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the bleeding time, the platelet aggregation test, and the titers of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitors. In the electron microscopic findings, no specific abnormalities were found in platelets of idiopathic scoliosis patients. We concluded that idiopathic scoliotic patients have normal morphology and function of platelets, and there is no important role of contractile proteins in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. In addition, since the bleeding time was in the normal range, no evidence of subendothelial collagen dysfunction was found in the idiopathic scoliosis patients.     

Role of epidermal γδ T‐cell‐derived interleukin 13 in the skin‐whitening effect of Ginsenoside F1

Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a metabolite of ginsenoside Rg1. Although GF1 has several benefits for skin physiology, the effect of GF1 on skin pigmentation has not been reported. We found that a cream containing 0.1% GF1 showed a significant whitening effect on artificially tanned human skin after 8 weeks of application. However, GF1 did not inhibit mRNA expression of tyrosinase or dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) in normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEMs) or cocultured NHEMs/normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Interestingly, GF1 enhanced production of interleukin 13 (IL‐13) from human epidermal γδ T cells. IL‐13 significantly reduced the mRNA expression and protein amount of both tyrosinase and DCT and reduced melanin synthesis activities in NHEMs, resulting in visible brightening of NHEM pellet. These results suggest that enhancement of IL‐13 production by GF1 from epidermal γδ T cells might play a role in the skin‐whitening effect of GF1 via the suppression of tyrosinase and DCT.     

Structure-related inhibition of human hepatic caffeine N3-demethylation by naturally occurring flavonoids

The effects of flavonoids on caffeine N3-demethylation, a marker activity of CYP1A2, in human liver microsomes were investigated to elucidate the inhibition mechanism and the structure-activity relationship. Caffeine N3-demethylase activity was inhibited by the presence of various flavonoids, whose structures seem to be closely related to the degree of inhibition. Among twenty-one compounds tested, the most active was chrysin with an IC50 value of 0.2 microM. Others had IC50 values ranging from 1 to more than 500 microM. Kinetic analysis revealed that the mechanism of inhibition varied among the flavonoids. The inhibitory effect was postulated to be governed by factors such as the number of hydroxyl groups and glycosylation of these free hydroxyl groups. An increase in the number of free hydroxyl groups reduced the inhibitory effect on P450 activity. Analysis of the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) showed that the volume to surface area ratio was the most effective factor on the inhibition of caffeine N3-demethylation, and the electron densities on the C3 and C4' atoms exercised significant influence on the inhibitory effect. The calculated inhibitory effect of flavonoids on CYP1A2 activity was highly correlated with the antimutagenicity of flavonoids in 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-flquinoline (MelQ)-induced umu response.