Intraperitoneal leptin modifies macronutrient choice in self-selecting rats

This study aimed to evaluate the consequences on food intake and body weight (BW) of leptin administration in rats receiving a choice between the three macronutrients. Two studies were performed: during the first, rats received an acute intraperitoneal (IP) leptin administration (1 mg/kg) twice (at 8 and 14 weeks of age), at the beginning of the nocturnal cycle, while during the second, they received a chronic leptin infusion (osmotic minipump, 7 days). The total 24-h food intake after acute leptin injections was reduced by 14% and 17%, respectively. Body weight gain (BWG) after leptin injections was about half that seen on control days. Chronic leptin infusion reduced total intake, affecting mainly protein (P). Fat intake increased slightly since day 2 and became significant on the fourth day. After the leptin infusion, carbohydrate (CHO) eaters (>35% carbohydrate/total energy) significantly reduced the carbohydrate proportion in their total energy intake. There was no difference concerning macronutrient selection by fat eaters (Hfat). Leptin infusion reduced the number of mixed meals on the first day. In addition, the thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) was higher in leptin than in control (C) rats. Consequently, leptin injections reduced food intake and BWG and increased thermogenesis, thus acting on the two terms of the energy balance. Moreover, leptin has different effects on macronutrient preferences, dependent upon age (tests 1 and 2) and the type (acute or chronic) of injection. High leptinemia level related to age or to minipump infusion lead to leptin resistance as found in old or obese subjects. It could explain our results.     

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein-deficient mice have a normal defense against pulmonary mycobacterial infection

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein (LBP) facilitates the transfer of LPS of Gram-negative bacteria to the pattern recognition receptor CD14, resulting in activation of immunocompetent cells. LBP can also facilitate the binding of lipoarabinomannan, a major cell wall component of mycobacteria, to immune cells. To determine the role of LBP in the immune response to pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, LBP gene-deficient (-/-) and normal wild-type (WT) mice were intranasally infected with M. tuberculosis. LBP-/- mice displayed a similar survival and mycobacterial outgrowth in lungs and liver, although they demonstrated a reduced lymphocyte recruitment and activation during the early stages of infection. The clearance of pulmonary infection with the non-pathogenic M. smegmatis was also unaltered in LBP-/- mice. These data suggest that LBP does not contribute to an effective host response in M. tuberculosis infection.     

Bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway plays multiple roles during gastrointestinal tract development.

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway plays an essential role during gastrointestinal (GI) tract development in vertebrates. In the present study, we use an antibody that recognizes the phosphorylated and activated form of Smad1, 5, and 8 to examine (by immunohistochemistry) the endogenous patterns of BMP signaling pathway activation in the developing GI tract. We show that the endogenous BMP signaling pathway is activated in the mesoderm, the endoderm, and the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the developing chick GI tract and is more widespread than BMP ligand expression patterns. Using an avian-specific retroviral misexpression technique to activate or inhibit BMP signaling pathway activity in the mesoderm of the gut, we show that BMP activity is required for the pattern, the development, and the differentiation of all three tissue types of the gut: mesoderm (that forms the visceral smooth muscle), endoderm (that forms the epithelium), and ectoderm (that forms the ENS). These results demonstrate that BMP signaling is activated in all the tissue layers of the GI tract during the development and plays a role during interactions and reciprocal communications of these tissue layers.     

Analysis of breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 in Thai familial and isolated early-onset breast and ovarian cancer

Here we report the study on BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in 12 Thai breast and/or ovarian cancer families and 6 early-onset breast or breast/ovarian cancer cases without a family history of cancer. Five distinct rare alterations were identified in each gene: four introducing premature stop codons, one in-frame deletion, two missense changes, two intronic alterations and one silent rare variant. The BRCA1 or BRCA2 truncating mutations were detected in four of seven patients with familial or personal history of breast and ovarian cancer, in one of four isolated early onset breast cancer cases and in none of seven breast cancer site specific families. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation yield in Thai patients is consistent with that reported from Europe and North America in similar groups of patients, being particularly high in individuals with personal or family history of breast and ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations found in this series are different from those identified in other Asian studies, and all but two have never been reported before. We report at least three novel deleterious mutations, the BRCA1 3300delA, BRCA1 744ins20 and BRCA2 6382delT. One in-frame deletion was also found, the BRCA2 5527del9, which seggregated within family members of breast-only cancer patients and was thought to be a cancer-related mutation. BRCA1 3300delA and Asp67Glu alterations were detected each in at least two families and thus could represent founder mutations in Thais.     

Changes in galectin-7 and cytokeratin-19 expression during the progression of malignancy in thyroid tumors: diagnostic and biological implications.

Galectin-7 is associated with p53-dependent onset of apoptosis and proliferation control/differentiation in keratinocyte development. It is also up-regulated in chemically induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Because the levels of expression of galectin-7 have never been investigated in thyroid tumors (in contrast to those of galectin-1 and -3 associated with malignancy), we initiated analysis of the expression of galectin-7 in benign and malignant thyroid lesions together with that of cytokeratin-19 (CK19), a marker already demonstrated to be useful in diagnosing this kind of lesion. The immunohistochemical expression levels were quantitatively determined by means of computer-assisted microscopy on a series of 84 thyroid lesions including 10 multinodular goiters, 32 adenomas, and 42 carcinomas. Our data clearly indicate a marked down-regulation of galectin-7 expression in a large proportion of adenomas (including the normomacrofollicular, microfollicular, and trabecular variants) if compared with carcinomas. In accordance with results of previous studies, a marked up-regulation of CK19 expression was observed in the thyroid carcinomas, and this contrasted in particular with the low CK19 expression observed in the microfollicular adenomas. Of importance for diagnostic implications, the combination of these two markers enabled our series of microfollicular adenomas (characterized by low galectin-7 and CK19 expression) to be efficiently distinguished from the encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas (high galectin-7 and CK19 expression).     

Polysomy 8 defines a clinico-cytogenetic entity representing a subset of myeloid hematologic malignancies associated with a poor prognosis: report on a cohort of 12 patients and review of 105 published cases

Tetrasomy, pentasomy, and hexasomy 8 (polysomy 8) are relatively rare compared to trisomy 8. Here we report on a series of 12 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) associated with polysomy 8 as detected by conventional cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In an attempt to better characterize the clinical and hematological profile of this cytogenetic entity, our data were combined with those of 105 published patients. Tetrasomy 8 was the most common presentation of polysomy 8. In 60.7% of patients, polysomy 8 occurred as part of complex changes (16.2% with 11q23 rearrangements). No cryptic MLL rearrangements were found in cases in which polysomy 8 was the only karyotypic change. Our study demonstrates the existence of a polysomy 8 syndrome, which represents a subtype of AML, MDS, and MPD characterized by a high incidence of secondary diseases, myelomonocytic or monocytic involvement in AML and poor overall survival (6 months). Age significantly reduced median survival, but associated cytogenetic abnormalities did not modify it. Cytogenetic results further demonstrate an in vitro preferential growth of the cells with a high level of aneuploidy suggesting a selective advantage for polysomy 8 cells.     

Replication of respiratory viruses, particularly influenza virus, rhinovirus, and coronavirus in HuH7 hepatocarcinoma cell line

Detection of viral antigens and isolation methods has long been used for the diagnosis of respiratory virus infections. The objective was to determine the ability of HuH7 cells to support the replication of prototype and wild strains of respiratory viruses. The cell culture-adapted strains of influenza viruses A and B, parainfluenza viruses 1-4, respiratory syncytial viruses A and B, both strains of the human metapneumoviruses, numerous rhinoviruses, most of the adenoviruses, coronaviruses 229E and OC43, and a number of enteroviruses (poliovirus type 3, coxsackie virus B1, echovirus type 30) replicate in HuH7. The kinetic study of the replication of influenza A and B viruses showed that there were infected cells in HuH7 and MDCK lines as early as 24 hr post-infection. However, the replication of influenza A and B viruses was more rapid and intense on MDCK cells than on HuH7 cells. During the three winters of 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002, of the 1,226 (23.3%) direct fluorescent assay-positive nasal aspirates from children admitted to hospital, 788 were positive for respiratory syncytial virus, 228 for influenza virus, 133 for parainfluenza virus, and 77 for adenovirus. Of the 4,032 direct fluorescent assay-negative nasal aspirates, 571 virus isolates were identified by using HuH7 cell culture; 272 rhinoviruses, 100 influenza viruses A and B, 85 enteroviruses, 40 adenoviruses, 35 coronaviruses, 31 parainfluenza viruses, and 10 respiratory syncytial viruses. Interestingly, 100/328 (30.5%) influenza viruses A and B, 40/189 (21.1%) adenoviruses, and 31/164 (19%) parainfluenza viruses type 1-3, not detected by direct fluorescent assay, were identified by isolation in HuH7 cell culture.     

Contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germ-line mutations to the incidence of breast cancer in young women: results from a prospective population-based study in France

The prevalence of BRCA1/2 germ-line mutations was assessed in a prospective population-based series of early-onset breast cancer (BC) patients in France, and the usefulness of a clinical assessment of hereditary BC risk, based on multiple criteria including pedigree structure, was evaluated. Through the Rhone region BC registry, 232 women diagnosed with BC before 46 years of age were included. They were tested for BRCA1/2 mutations an average of 10 months after diagnosis. All the women were classified according to their family history of cancer: high risk of hereditary breast cancer (HBC), low risk of HBC, isolated BC, and unknown HBC risk. Deleterious mutations were observed in 21 women (9.1%): 15 (6.5%) BRCA1 and 6 (2.6%) BRCA2. Mutations were more prevalent in women who developed BC before age 41 than in women who developed BC between ages 41 and 45 (12.8% versus 5.2%, respectively, P = 0.04). A high prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations was found among women in the high-risk category with particular family features (i.e., small family size, predominantly male pedigree, specific cancers; 23.5%) and among women with isolated BC before age 41 and with five or fewer close adult female relatives (16.6%). According to the 10% probability level recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines for genetic testing of cancer, BRCA1/2 mutation screening should be considered for all women diagnosed before age 41, except for those with isolated BC in a large pedigree including multiple unaffected female relatives. The clinical assessment of HBC risk that we have developed should help in the decision to perform genetic testing.     

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for identification of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis

Candida dubliniensis was first established as a novel yeast species in 1995. It is particularly associated with recurrent episodes of oral candidosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but it has also been detected at other anatomical sites and at a low incidence level in non-HIV-infected patients. It shares so many phenotypic characteristics with C. albicans that it is easily misidentified as such. No rapid, simple, and commercial test that allows differentiation between C. dubliniensis and C. albicans has been developed, until now. Accurate species identification requires the use of genotype-based techniques that are not routinely available in most clinical microbiology diagnostic laboratories. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of a new test (the immunochromatographic membrane [ICM] albi-dubli test; SR2B, Avrille, France) to differentiate between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. The organisms evaluated were strains whose identities had previously been confirmed by PCR tests and freshly isolated clinical strains and included 58 C. albicans isolates, 60 C. dubliniensis isolates, and 82 isolates belonging to other species of yeast. The ICM albi-dubli test is based on the principle of immunochromatographic analysis and involves the use of two distinct monoclonal antibodies that recognize two unrelated epitopes expressed by both species or specific to only one species. The assay requires no complex instrumentation for analysis and can be recommended for routine use in clinical microbiology laboratories. Results are obtained within 2 h and 30 min and are easy to interpret. This evaluation demonstrated the good performance of this immunochromatographic test for C. albicans and C. dubliniensis isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, CHOROMagar Candida, and CandidaSelect, with sensitivities and specificities ranging from 93.1 to 100%. These parameters decreased, however, to 91.4% when the test was performed with yeast isolated with Candida ID.