Pioglitazone promotes peripheral nerve remyelination after crush injury through CD36 upregulation

In our previous study, we found that CD36-deficient mice showed significant delays in peripheral nerve remyelination after sciatic nerve crush injury and suggested that CD36 played an important role in the restoration of injured peripheral nerves. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CD36 upregulation can promote peripheral nerve remyelination. We made crush injury that caused demyelination and mild axonal degeneration to sciatic nerves and investigated the effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on the remyelination post-injury in C57Bl/6 wild-type and CD36-deficient mice. The immunohistochemistry with anti-CD36 antibody showed that CD36 was upregulated in macrophages infiltrating peripheral nerves from the wild-type mice by PIO administration at 1 week post-injury. The lectin histochemistry represented that infiltrating macrophages lessened in the wild-type mice at 3 weeks post-injury by PIO administration. General histopathology and morphometry indicated that thinly myelinated fibers and naked axons diminished in PIO-treated wild-type mice compared with non-treated wild-type mice at 3 weeks post-injury. No significant differences were observed in remyelination and number of infiltrating macrophages between PIO-treated and non-treated CD36-deficient mice. These results indicate that PIO promotes peripheral nerve remyelination possibly through CD36. It may be possible to apply PIO to the remedy against demyelinating neuropathies.     

MSR1 variants and the risks of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia: a population-based study in China

Data from epidemiologic and twin studies suggest an important role of genetic susceptibility in prostate cancer. Variants of the macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) gene have been linked to both hereditary and sporadic prostate cancer, although the evidence is inconclusive. Most studies have been conducted on Caucasians. The role of MSR1 in prostate cancer development among Asians, for whom rates of prostate cancer are low but rising rapidly, is unclear. To evaluate further the relationship between MSR1 variants and prostate cancer risk, we sequenced all the 11 MSR1 exons, exon-intron junctions, promoter regions, as well as 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) in 86 individuals from Shanghai, China. We identified a total of 21 sequence variants, including three novel variants that have not been reported previously. To balance genotyping cost and the capacity to capture sufficient genetic variation, we genotyped four haplotype-tagging variants (P275A, INDEL7, P346P and 3' UTR 70006), which capture 85% of the genetic variation in MSR1 in this population. These four variants, plus two other variants (PRO3 and INDEL1) that have been linked to prostate cancer risk in the previous studies, were typed for all study subjects, which included 130 prostate cancer cases, 130 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 150 controls randomly selected from the population. Three of the six variants were associated with prostate cancer. Men with a P346P (a novel variant) G allele (AG + GG) had a significantly reduced risk of total prostate cancer [odds ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.96], whereas those with a P275A G allele had a 37% reduced risk of prostate cancer (95% CI 0.39-1.02), with more pronounced reduction in risk seen for localized cancer cases (odds ratio = 0.25, 95% CI 0.12-0.52; P = 0.001). In addition, men with the INDEL7 variant had a 67% reduced risk of localized cancer (95% CI 0.16-0.68). Based on the four tagging variants, we inferred four major haplotypes that accounted for >90% of the haplotype variation in this population. The haplotype frequencies were significantly different between localized prostate cancer cases and controls, with a global P value of 0.004, and the haplotype containing the minor alleles of the P275A and INDEL7 variants was associated with a significantly reduced risk of localized prostate cancer (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% CI 0.13-0.59), relative to the most common haplotype. These results, although modest and confined mainly to localized prostate cancer, suggest that MSR1 polymorphisms may play a role in prostate cancer etiology in Chinese men. The role of MSR1 warrants further investigation in larger studies and other populations.     

Long-term outcome and quality of life of patients treated in surgical intensive care: a comparison between sepsis and trauma

Introduction  

Our aim was to determine long-term survival and quality of life of patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) because of sepsis or trauma.     

High Non‐Specific T Lymphocyte Response to the Adjuvanted H1N1 Vaccine in Comparison with the H1N1/H3N2/B‐Brisbane Vaccine without Adjuvant

Shortly after the report of pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1), vaccine manufacturers, in conjunction with public agencies, started developing a H1N1 vaccine. In 2009, various approaches were implemented around the globe. The United States and Australia finally approved only non‐adjuvanted H1N1 influenza vaccines, whereas Canada and the EU also approved adjuvanted vaccines. In 2010, seasonal influenza vaccine without adjuvant was again widely accepted in both hemispheres. The addition of adjuvant to the vaccine enhances the immunogenity of the vaccine in the presence of a relatively low amount of antigen. However, it might also induce undesirable non‐specific immune response. For this reason, we conducted a prospective observational study to monitor T cell absolute count and H1N1‐specific immunogenicity after 2009 and 2010 immunization. Fourteen healthy volunteers received the monovalent H1N1 AS03 adjuvanted influenza vaccine (3.5 μg of H1N1 and squalene‐based adjuvant) in October 2009. The immunization was associated with a significant increase in T lymphocyte absolute count (P < 0.0001), reaching abnormal values in 57% of subjects. During this period, none of the subject showed any manifestation of severe viral infection or inflammation. Acute infection by CMV or EBV viruses was also excluded. In October 2010, the same subjects received a seasonal non‐adjuvanted influenza vaccine (15 μg of each: H1N1, H3N2, and B‐Brisbane). However, after 2010 immunization, no change in T lymphocyte absolute count was observed. H1N1‐induced immunogenicity was good for both vaccines. Our results suggest a pronounced non‐specific T cell response after AS03‐adjuvanted 2009 H1N1 vaccination.     

Japanese cedar pollen in house dust]

Caring for oneself against Japanese cedar pollinosis is important as well as receiving medical-care. Although the importance of avoiding pollen is described in the guideline for nasal allergy medical treatment, however, there is no information for effective dust cleaning for the home. This study examined how many cedar pollens were included in indoor dust in order to obtain basic data whether dust removal for cedar pollen is available for pollinosis suffers. As a result, the study found that there were many Japanese cedar pollens in indoor dust even before the pollen season. Cedar pollen increased with the increasing number of airborne pollen. The highest number of pollen found in one week was approximately 450 pollens in a square meter of a living room floor. The study concluded that cleaning is one of the best way to remove Japanese cedar pollens found in indoor dust.     

Mutation analysis of adenomas and carcinomas of the colon: Early and late drivers

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for about 8% of all new cancer cases diagnosed in the US. We used whole exome sequence data from triplet samples (colon carcinoma, colon adenoma, and normal tissue) from 18 individuals to assess gene mutation rates. Of the 2 204 genes that were mutated, APC, TTN, TP53, KRAS, OBSCN, SOX9, PCDH17, SIGLEC10, MYH6, and BRD9 were consistent with genes being an early driver of carcinogenesis, in that they were mutated in multiple adenomas and multiple carcinomas. Fifty‐two genes were mutated in ≥12.5% of microsatellite stable (MSS) carcinomas but not in any of the adenomas, in line with the profile of a late driver event involved in tumor progression. Thirty‐eight genes were sequenced in a larger independent set of 148 carcinoma/normal tissue pairs to obtain more precise mutation frequencies. Eight of the genes, APC, TP53, ATM, CSMD3, LRP1B, RYR2, BIRC6, and MUC17, contained mutations in >20% of the carcinomas. Interestingly, mutations in four genes in addition to APC that are associated with dysregulation of Wnt signaling, were all classified as early driver events. Most of the genes that are commonly associated with colon cancer, including APC, TP53, and KRAS, were all classified as being early driver genes being mutated in both adenomas and carcinomas. Classifying genes as potential early and late driver events points to candidate genes that may help dissect pathways involved in both tumor initiation and progression.     

Variants of DNA repair genes and the risk of biliary tract cancers and stones: a population-based study in china

Biliary tract cancers, which encompass tumors of the gallbladder, extrahepatic ducts, and ampulla of Vater, are relatively rare tumors with a high fatality rate. Other than a close link with gallstones, the etiology of biliary tract cancers is poorly understood. We conducted a population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China, to examine whether genetic variants in several DNA repair genes are associated with biliary tract cancers or biliary stones. Genomic DNA from 410 patients with biliary tract cancers (236 gallbladder, 127 bile duct, and 47 ampulla of Vater), 891 patients with biliary stones, and 786 healthy subjects randomly selected from the Shanghai population were genotyped for putative functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in four DNA repair genes (MGMT, RAD23B, CCNH, and XRCC3). Of the five single nucleotide polymorphisms examined, only one (MGMT EX5-25C>T, rs12917) was associated with biliary tract cancer. Independent of gallstones, subjects carrying the CT genotype of the MGMT EX5-25C>T marker had a significantly reduced risk of gallbladder cancer [odds ratio (OR), 0.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.41-0.97; P = 0.02] and nonsignificant reduced risks of bile duct (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.35-1.06) and ampulla of Vater (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.39-1.87) cancers. However, this marker was not associated with biliary stones, and the other markers examined were not significantly associated with either biliary tract cancers or stones. Findings from this population-based study in Shanghai suggest that MGMT gene variants may alter susceptibility to biliary tract cancer, particularly gallbladder cancer. Confirmation in future studies, however, is required.     

Potency of an inactivated influenza vaccine prepared from A/duck/Hong Kong/960/1980 (H6N2) against a challenge with A/duck/Vietnam/OIE-0033/2012 (H6N2) in mice

H6 influenza viruses are prevalent in domestic and wild birds in Eurasian countries and have been isolated from pigs and a human. To prepare for an influenza pandemic, we have established an influenza virus library consisting of more than 1,300 influenza virus strains, including 144 combinations of 16 hemagglutinin and 9 neuraminidase subtypes. H6 viruses in the library were classified into Early, Group II, Group III, and W312 sublineages and the North America lineage on the basis of their phylogenetic features. Chicken antisera to A/duck/Hong Kong/960/1980 (H6N2) of the Early sublineage broadly reacted with viruses of different sublineages in a hemagglutinin inhibition test. A whole inactivated virus particle vaccine was prepared from A/duck/Hong Kong/960/1980 (H6N2) which was stocked in the influenza virus library. The potency of this vaccine against A/duck/Vietnam/OIE-0033/2012 (H6N2), which belongs to a different sublineage, was evaluated in mice. The test vaccine was sufficiently potent to induce an immune response that reduced the impact of disease caused by a challenge with A/duck/Vietnam/OIE-0033/2012 (H6N2) in mice. The present results indicate that the whole inactivated virus particle vaccine prepared from a virus strain in the influenza virus library is useful as a vaccine against pandemic influenza.     

FTY720 enhances the activation-induced apoptosis of donor T cells and modulates graft-versus-host disease

FTY720 is a novel immunosuppressant that improves the outcomes after solid organ and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) due to the sequestration of T cells into LN. We tested the hypothesis that the sequestration of donor T cells in LN by FTY720 would enhance their interaction with host APC, thus causing a greater degree of activation-induced apoptosis of alloreactive T cells, and thereby resulting in a reduction of graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD). The short-term administration of FTY720 improved the recipient survival after allogeneic BMT. FTY720 treatment facilitated a rapid contraction of the donor T cell pool in association with an increased degree of apoptosis of donor T cells. The donor T cell reactivity to host alloantigens was diminished in host's LN and adoptive transfer of donor T cells isolated from LN of FTY720-treated recipients of allogeneic BMT induced less severe GVHD in secondary recipients than the transfer from controls. Caspase-dependent apoptosis was involved in this mechanism because FTY720-induced protection was abrogated when a pan-caspase inhibitor was administered. These findings thus demonstrate the presence of a novel mechanism by which FTY720 modulates the allogeneic T cell responses: namely, by the induction of activation-induced apoptosis of alloreactive T cells in LN.