OBJECTIVETo study the effects of wild-type PTEN on gene expressions of glioblastomas.

METHODSGlioblastoma U87MG cells, which express inactivated PTEN, were transfected with wild-type PTEN constructs and stable transfected clones were selected. Then, cDNA microarray analyses were used to identify differentially expressed genes in wild-type PTEN transfected cells and control cells.

RESULTSTransfected wild-type PTEN inhibited the proliferation of U87MG. By cDNA microarray analyses, 89 cDNA clones were identified, which were differentially expressed in wild-type PTEN transfected cells and control cells. Among these genes, 13 genes were unknown and 76 genes were known genes, including glial fibrillary acidic protein, p21/WAF1, human TGF-beta inducible early protein, human DNA fragmentation factor 45 etc.

CONCLUSIONWild-type PTEN can affect the expressions of multiple genes, by which it regulates the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of glioblastomas.

Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glioblastoma ; genetics ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; genetics ; physiology ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of different intensity and directions of ambient light and adjacent tooth in anterior tooth color measurement by using colorimeter.

METHODSFiber lite MI-150 was used as ambient illuminant and it irradiated from three or twelve o'clock direction through 45 degrees angle above. The light magnitude 0, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 W were applied in this experiment. The values of CIE L* a* b* were measured by Minolta Chroma meter CR-321 colorimeter on the center labial surface of ten extracted human maxillary central incisors with or without adjacent teeth, then those data were analyzed statistically by using SPSS 11.5.

RESULTSNeither different intensities nor different directions of ambient light could influence the results of color measurement by using Minolta Chroma meter CR-321 colorimeter, so did the adjacent teeth whether those were exist or not.

CONCLUSIONThere is no influence of ambient light and adjacent teeth in the color measurement of anterior teeth under this experiment condition, and Minolta Chroma meter CR-321 colorimeter can be used to measure the color directly aside the chair with light.

Color ; Colorimetry ; Humans ; Incisor ; Tooth

Background:Excessive drinkers(ED)and patients with alcoholic liver disease(ALD)are several times more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and have a decrease in antibody responses to vacci-nations.Follicular helper T(TFH)cells are essential to select B cells in the germinal center and to produce antibodies.TFH cells express both a membrane-associated and a soluble form of CD40 ligand(sCD40L),in which the latter form is released to circulation upon T cell activation.The effect of alcohol on TFH cells has not been studied. Objectives:The goals of this study are to determine the levels of TFH and T helper 1(Th1)cells in ED and those with alcoholic cirrhosis(AC)when compared to healthy controls and to determine the prognostic significance of sCD40L in a cohort of patients with AC. Methods:Controls,ED,and those with AC were enrolled.Baseline demographic,laboratory tests,and peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)were isolated and assessed via flow cytometry for TFH cells.In vitro study was performed to determine the ability of PBMCs to secrete interferon(IFN)-? upon stimulation.Serum sCD40L was also determined and its prognostic significance was tested in a cohort of AC patients. Results:The levels of circulating TFH(cTFH)cells were significantly lower in peripheral blood of subjects with ED and AC compared to controls(P＜0.05).IFN-? secretion from PBMCs upon stimulation was also lower in ED and those with cirrhosis.Serum sCD40L was significantly lower in ED and AC when compared to that in controls(P＜0.0005).Its level was an independent predictor of mortality. Conclusions:Patients with AC had significantly lower level of cTFH and sCD40L.The level of sCD40L was an independent predictor of mortality in these patients.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection results in debilitating cardiomyopathy, which is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the endemic regions of Chagas disease (CD). The pathogenesis of Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCM) has been intensely studied as a chronic inflammatory disease until recent observations reporting the role of cardio-metabolic dysfunctions. In particular, we demonstrated accumulation of lipid droplets and impaired cardiac lipid metabolism in the hearts of cardiomyopathic mice and patients, and their association with impaired mitochondrial functions and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in CD mice. In the present study, we examined whether treating infected mice with an ER stress inhibitor can modify the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy during chronic stages of infection. T. cruzi infected mice were treated with an ER stress inhibitor 2-Aminopurine (2AP) during the indeterminate stage and evaluated for cardiac pathophysiology during the subsequent chronic stage. Our study demonstrates that inhibition of ER stress improves cardiac pathology caused by T. cruzi infection by reducing ER stress and downstream signaling of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor (P-elF2α) in the hearts of chronically infected mice. Importantly, cardiac ultrasound imaging showed amelioration of ventricular enlargement, suggesting that inhibition of ER stress may be a valuable strategy to combat the progression of cardiomyopathy in Chagas patients.
2-Aminopurine ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathies ; Chagas Disease ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heart ; Humans ; Lipid Droplets ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Mortality ; Pathology ; Peptide Initiation Factors ; Trypanosoma cruzi ; Ultrasonography

Clostridium (C.) difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in horses. Vancomycin and metronidazole have been used as standard treatments but are only moderately effective, which highlights the need for a novel alternative therapy. In the current study, we prepared antiserum of equine origin against both C. difficile toxins A and B as well as whole-cell bacteria. The toxin-neutralizing activities of the antibodies were evaluated in vitro and the prophylactic effects of in vivo passive immunotherapy were demonstrated using a conventional mouse model. The data demonstrated that immunized horses generated antibodies against both toxins A and B that possessed toxin-neutralizing activity. Additionally, mice treated with the antiserum lost less weight without any sign of illness and regained weight back to a normal range more rapidly compared to the control group when challenged orally with 10(7) C. difficile spores 1 day after serum injection. These results indicate that intravenous delivery of hyperimmune serum can protect animals from C. difficile challenge in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, immunotherapy may be a promising prophylactic strategy for preventing C. difficile infection in horses.
Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood/*immunology/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Proteins/immunology/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Toxins/immunology/therapeutic use ; Clostridium Infections/microbiology/prevention & control/*veterinary ; Clostridium difficile/*immunology ; Enterotoxins/immunology/therapeutic use ; Female ; Horse Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Horses ; Immune Sera/*immunology ; Immunization, Passive/*veterinary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Spores, Bacterial/immunology

Humans ; Extremities ; Sarcoma/radiotherapy* ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local