Sample records for t1-t2 oral squamous

  1. Clinicopathological parameters, recurrence, locoregional and distant metastasis in 115 T1-T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    The incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma remains high. Oral and oro-pharyngeal carcinomas are the sixth most common cancer in the world. Several clinicopathological parameters have been implicated in prognosis, recurrence and survival, following oral squamous cell carcinoma. In this retrospective analysis, clinicopathological parameters of 115 T1/T2 OSCC were studied and compared to recurrence and death from tumour-related causes. The study protocol was approved by the Joint UCL/UCLH committees of the ethics for human research. The patients' data was entered onto proformas, which were validated and checked by interval sampling. The fields included a range of clinical, operative and histopathological variables related to the status of the surgical margins. Data collection also included recurrence, cause of death, date of death and last clinic review. Causes of death were collated in 4 categories (1) death from locoregional spread, (2) death from distant metastasis, (3) death from bronchopulmonary pneumonia, and (4) death from any non-tumour event that lead to cardiorespiratory failure. The patients' population comprised 65 males and 50 females. Their mean age at the 1st diagnosis of OSCC was 61.7 years. Two-thirds of the patients were Caucasians. Primary sites were mainly identified in the tongue, floor of mouth (FOM), buccal mucosa and alveolus. Most of the identified OSCCs were low-risk (T1N0 and T2N0). All patients underwent primary resection ± neck dissection and reconstruction when necessary. Twenty-two patients needed adjuvant radiotherapy. Pathological analysis revealed that half of the patients had moderately differentiated OSCC. pTNM slightly differed from the cTNM and showed that 70.4% of the patients had low-risk OSCC. Tumour clearance was ultimately achieved in 107 patients. Follow-up resulted in a 3-year survival of 74.8% and a 5-year survival of 72.2%. Recurrence was identified in 23 males and 20 females. The mean age of 1st diagnosis of the

  2. Definitive Radiotherapy for T1-T2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Pyriform Sinus

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rabbani, Anna; Amdur, Robert J.; Mancuso, Anthony A.

    2008-10-01

    Purpose: To report the long-term results after definitive radiotherapy (RT) for T1-T2 pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma. Patients and Methods: The data from 123 patients with T1-T2 pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with RT with or without neck dissection between November 1964 and June 2003 were analyzed. The median follow-up for all patients was 3.2 years, and the median follow-up for living patients was 10.7 years. Results: The 5-year local control, locoregional control, freedom from distant metastasis, cause-specific survival, and overall survival rate was 85%, 70%, 75%, 61%, and 35%, respectively. The ultimate local control rate, including successful salvagemore » of RT failure, for T1 and T2 cancer patients was 96% and 94%, respectively. The overall local control rate with a functional larynx was 83%. Pretreatment computed tomography tumor volume data were available for 55 patients. The median computed tomography tumor volume was 4.2 cm{sup 3} (range, 0-22.4). Local control was worse for patients with a tumor volume >6.5 cm{sup 3} compared with those with a smaller tumor volume. Of the 123 patients, 16% developed moderate to severe acute (2%), late (9%), or postoperative (5%) complications. Conclusions: Local control with larynx preservation after definitive RT for T1-T2 pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma likely results in local control and survival similar to that after total laryngectomy or larynx-conserving surgery. Two-thirds of our living patients retained a functional larynx.« less

  3. Is there a role for neck dissection in T1 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma? The UCLA experience.

    PubMed

    Peng, Kevin A; Chu, Alan C; Lai, Chi; Grogan, Tristan; Elashoff, David; Abemayor, Elliot; St John, Maie A

    2014-01-01

    We sought to examine prognostic and therapeutic implications, including cost-effectiveness, of elective neck dissection in the management of patients with clinically-determined T1N0 oral tongue carcinoma. A retrospective review of patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgical extirpation of primary tumor, with or without elective neck dissection, at UCLA Medical Center from 1990 to 2009 was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess effects of variables on time to first loco-regional recurrence. A healthcare costs analysis of elective neck dissection was performed by querying the SEER-Medicare linked database. Of the 123 patients identified with cT1N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, 88 underwent elective neck dissection at the time of tumor resection while 35 did not. For all patients, disease-free survival at 3, 5, and 10 years was 93%, 82%, and 79%. Of the 88 patients undergoing elective neck dissection, 20 (23%) demonstrated occult metastatic disease. Male gender, tumor size, perineural invasion, and occult metastatic disease were individually associated with higher rates of loco-regional recurrence. There was no significant difference in loco-regional recurrence between those who underwent elective neck dissection and those who did not (HR=0.76, p=0.52). On cost analysis, neck dissection was not associated with any significant difference in Medicare payments. The high rate of occult metastasis (23%) following elective neck dissection, which did not confer additional healthcare costs, leads to the recommendation of elective neck dissection in patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Cervical node metastasis in T1 squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue- pattern and the predictive factors.

    PubMed

    S, Vishak; Rohan, Vinayak

    2014-06-01

    The squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue is a common cancer in India. Elective lymphadenectomy is generally performed in all patients with T2-T4 tumors. In this study we have tried to analyze the pattern and risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis in T1 tongue cancers. A retrospective review of the records of 57 patients undergoing surgery for treatment of T1 sqamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue was carried out. The clinicopatological features of the tumor, pattern of nodal metastasis and the risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis were studied. Totally 57 patients with T1 tumor underwent excision of the primary and modified neck dissection (MND). Lymph node metastasis was found in 36.8 % of the patients. Level I to Level II was the commonest site of metastasis. Skip metastasis at level III and IV was found in 8.5 % of the patients and isolated skip metastasis at level IV in 1.5 % of the patients. The risk factors associated with the lymph node metastasis on univariete analysis were; higher grade, tumor size >1 cm and tumor thickness >3 mm. On multivariate analysis only the tumor thickness was found to be a risk factor for the lymph node metastasis (hazard ratio of 21.59). T1 sqamous cell carcinoma of tongue is associated with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis. Elective neck dissection should be considered in all patients with tumors more than 3 mm in thickness.

  5. Phase II Study of Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy With S-1 in Patients With T4 Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nomura, Tomoko; Murakami, Ryuji, E-mail: murakami@kumamoto-u.ac.j; Toya, Ryo

    Purpose: To determine the feasibility and efficacy of preoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative, in patients with T4 oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods and Materials: Only patients with histologically proven T4 oral SCC were included. Radiotherapy (total dose, 30 Gy) was delivered in 2-Gy daily fractions over a period of 3 weeks. Concurrently, S-1 (80 mg/m{sup 2}/day) was administered orally twice daily for 14 consecutive days. Results: We enrolled 46 patients. All underwent radiotherapy as planned; however, oral S-1 was discontinued in 3 patients who manifested acute toxicity. Grade 3 toxicities were mucositis (20%),more » anorexia (9%), and neutropenia (4%). We encountered no Grade 4 adverse events or serious postoperative morbidity requiring surgical intervention. After CCRT, 32 of the 46 patients underwent radical resection; in 17 (53%) of the operated patients, the pathologic response was complete. During follow-up ranging from 7 to 58 months (median, 22 months), tumor control failed in 5 (16%) of the 32 operated patients; there were 3 local and 2 regional failures. Of the 14 non-operated patients, 8 (57%) manifested local (n = 7) or regional failure (n = 1). The 3-year overall survival rate for all 46 patients was 69%; it was significantly higher for operated than for non-operated patients (82% vs. 48%; p = 0.0288). Conclusion: Preoperative CCRT with S-1 is feasible and effective in patients with T4 oral SCC. Even in inoperable cases, CCRT with S-1 provides adequate tumor control.« less

  6. Transoral bisected resection for T1-2 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma to secure adequate deep margin.

    PubMed

    Choi, Nayeon; Cho, Jae-Keun; Lee, Eun Kyu; Won, Sung Jun; Kim, Bo Young; Baek, Chung-Hwan

    2017-10-01

    To investigate the clinical usefulness of transoral bisected resection (TBR) asa new method to secure adequate deep resection margin in T1-2 oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Among 75 patients with cT1-2N0 oral tongue SCCs, 45 (60%) received transoral en-bloc resection (TER) while 30 (40%) received patients underwent TBR. Primary tumor resection was performed with 1.5-cm surgical resection margin for both groups. Mucosal and deep resection margins, adjuvant treatments including re-resection of the tongue and cheomoradiotherapy, local and regional recurrence free survival, and overall survival were compared between the two groups. Mean deep resection margin in the TBR group was 9.9mm (95% CI: 8.4-11.4mm), which was significantly (P<0.001) wider than that of the TER group (mean: 5.4mm, 95% CI: 4.5-6.3mm). However, mucosal resection margins were not significantly (P=0.153) different between the two groups. Re-resection of tongue was performed for 6 (13.3%) of 17 (37.8%) patients with inadequate deep resection margin in the TER group and none (0%) in 4 (13.3%) patients with inadequate deep resection margin in the TBR group. Adjuvant radiation due to inadequate deep resection margin was performed for 6.7% of patients in both groups. The TBR group had better local recurrence free survival than the TER group. However, regional recurrence free survival and overall survival were not significantly different between the two groups. TBR could provide adequate deep resection margin for early stage tongue cancers with better local tumor control than TER. It can decrease the necessity of adjuvant treatment for re-resection of the tongue. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Preoperative predictors of occult nodal disease in cT1N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Review of 2623 cases.

    PubMed

    Zhan, Kevin Y; Morgan, Patrick F; Neskey, David M; Kim, Joanne J; Huang, Andrew T; Garrett-Mayer, Elizabeth; Day, Terry A

    2018-05-14

    Nodal disease predicts survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Currently, no large studies on predictors of occult nodal disease in cT1N0 oral cavity SCC exist. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) review for cT1N0 oral cavity SCC with surgical resection and elective neck dissection (END). The number of patients found with occult nodal disease was 2623 (15.1%). In multivariable regression, female sex and tumor differentiation predict occult nodal disease. Occult nodal disease incidence was 5.9% in well-differentiated tumors, 17.4% in moderately differentiated tumors, and 28.5% in poorly differentiated tumor (P < .001). Women with oral tongue tumors had higher occult nodal disease (19.1%) than men (12%; P = .001). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for occult nodal disease in women were: aOR 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.59; P = .045; moderately differentiated aOR 3.52; 95% CI 2.47-5.01; P < .001; and poorly differentiated aOR 6.25; 95% CI 4.17-9.38; P < .001. Sex and tumor differentiation significantly predict occult nodal disease. END is recommended for all moderately and poorly differentiated cT1N0 oral cavity SCC, regardless of the depth of invasion. One can consider not performing END in well-differentiated tumors. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. A worldwide comparison of the management of T1 and T2 anterior floor of the mouth and tongue squamous cell carcinoma - Extent of surgical resection and reconstructive measures.

    PubMed

    Kansy, Katinka; Mueller, Andreas Albert; Mücke, Thomas; Koersgen, Friederike; Wolff, Klaus Dietrich; Zeilhofer, Hans-Florian; Hölzle, Frank; Pradel, Winnie; Schneider, Matthias; Kolk, Andreas; Smeets, Ralf; Acero, Julio; Haers, Piet; Ghali, G E; Hoffmann, Jürgen

    2017-12-01

    Microvascular surgery following tumor resection has become an important field of oral maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). Following the results on general aspects of current reconstructive practice in German-speaking countries, Europe and worldwide, this paper presents specific concepts for the management of resection and reconstruction of T1/T2 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anterior floor of the mouth and tongue. The DOESAK questionnaire was distributed in three different phases to a growing number of maxillofacial units worldwide. Within this survey, clinical patient settings were presented to participants and center-specific treatment strategies were evaluated. A total of 188 OMFS units from 36 different countries documented their treatment strategies for T1/T2 anterior floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma and tongue carcinoma. For floor of mouth carcinoma close to the mandible, a wide variety of concepts are presented: subperiosteal removal of the tumor versus continuity resection of the mandible and reconstruction ranging from locoregional closure to microvascular bony reconstruction. For T2 tongue carcinoma, concepts are more uniform. These results demonstrate the lack of evidence and the controversy of different guidelines for the extent of safety margins and underline the crucial need of global prospective randomized trials on this topic to finally obtain evidence for a common guideline based on a strong community of OMFS units. Copyright © 2017 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. All rights reserved.

  9. Positive Margins by Oropharyngeal Subsite in Transoral Robotic Surgery for T1/T2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Persky, Michael J; Albergotti, William G; Rath, Tanya J; Kubik, Mark W; Abberbock, Shira; Geltzeiler, Mathew; Kim, Seungwon; Duvvuri, Umamaheswar; Ferris, Robert L

    2018-04-01

    Objective To compare positive margin rates between the 2 most common subsites of oropharyngeal transoral robotic surgery (TORS), the base of tongue (BOT) and the tonsil, as well as identify preoperative imaging characteristics that predispose toward positive margins. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care referral center. Subjects and Methods We compared the final and intraoperative positive margin rate between TORS resections for tonsil and BOT oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), as well as the effect of margins on treatment. A blinded neuroradiologist examined the preoperative imaging of BOT tumors to measure their dimensions and patterns of spread and provided a prediction of final margin results. Results Between January 2010 and May 2016, a total of 254 patients underwent TORS for OPSCC. A total of 140 patients who underwent TORS for T1/T2 OPSCC met inclusion criteria. A final positive margin is significantly more likely for BOT tumors than tonsil tumors (19.6% vs 4.5%, respectively, P = .004) and likewise for intraoperative margins of BOT and tonsil tumors (35.3% vs 12.4%, respectively; P = .002). A positive final margin is 10 times more likely to receive chemoradiation compared to a negative margin, controlling for extracapsular spread and nodal status (odds ratio, 9.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-59.6; P = .02). Preoperative imaging characteristics and subjective radiologic examination of BOT tumors did not correlate with final margin status. Conclusion Positive margins are significantly more likely during TORS BOT resections compared to tonsil resections. More research is needed to help surgeons predict which T1/T2 tumors will be difficult to completely extirpate.

  10. NEDD 4 binding protein 2-like 1 promotes cancer cell invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sasahira, Tomonori; Kurihara, Miyako; Nishiguchi, Yukiko; Fujiwara, Rina; Kirita, Tadaaki; Kuniyasu, Hiroki

    2016-08-01

    Head and neck cancer, including oral squamous cell carcinoma, is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Although cancer cell invasion and metastasis are crucial for tumor progression, detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma are unclear. Comparison of transcriptional profiles using a cDNA microarray demonstrated that N4BP2L1, a novel oncogene expressed by neural precursor cells, is involved in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Expression of N4BP2L1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma is regulated by activation of miR-448 and is higher than in normal oral mucosa. Knockdown of N4BP2L1 and upregulation of miR-448 significantly reduced the invasive potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. We studied N4BP2L1 expression in 187 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and found its overexpression to be significantly associated with nodal metastasis (P = 0.0155) and poor prognosis (P = 0.0136). Expression of miR-448 was found to be inversely associated with that of N4BP2L1 (P = 0.0019). Cox proportional hazards analysis identified N4BP2L1 expression as an independent predictor of disease-free survival (P = 0.0349). Our results suggest that N4BP2L1 plays an important role in tumor cell invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Further studies on expression of N4BP2L1 may provide new insight into its function and clarify its potential as biomarker in human oral cancer.

  11. Immunochemoradiotherapy for Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Augmentation of OK-432-Induced Helper T Cell 1 Response by 5-FU and X-ray Irradiation1

    PubMed Central

    Tano, Tomoyuki; Okamoto, Masato; Kan, Shin; Bando, Takashi; Goda, Hiroyuki; Nakashiro, Koh-ichi; Shimodaira, Shigetaka; Koido, Shigeo; Homma, Sadamu; Fujita, Tomonobu; Sato, Mitsunobu; Yamashita, Naomi; Hamakawa, Hiroyuki; Kawakami, Yutaka

    2013-01-01

    Eighty-one patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) received oral fluoropyrimidine UFT and radiotherapy (RT) with or without an immunotherapeutic agent OK-432. Both overall survival and progression-free survival of patients who received RT + UFT + OK-432 were significantly longer than those of patients who received RT + UFT (P = .0075 and P = .0175, respectively). Clinical response was also more favorable in RT + UFT + OK-432 group than in RT + UFT group (P = .0066). Next, in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and X-ray irradiation in OK-432-induced immunity. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with OK-432 produced helper T cell 1 (Th1)-type cytokines as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which are produced by Th2 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively, and are inhibitory in antitumor immunity. OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β but not Th1 cytokines were significantly inhibited by 5-FU and/or X-ray. 5-FU and X-ray also inhibited the expression of mRNAs for GATA-3 and Foxp3, which are transcription factors for Th2 and Tregs, respectively, but not for T-bet, a transcription factor for Th1. In addition, 5-FU and X-ray decreased the expression of mRNAs for suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3. Antisense oligonucleotides for SOCS1 and SOCS3 markedly reduced OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β. This is the first report clearly demonstrating that OK-432-based immunotherapy significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of chemoradiotherapy in patients with OSCC as well as elucidating the mechanism of the synergistic effect of immunochemoradiotherapy in which 5-FU and radiation enhanced OK-432-induced Th1 response mediated by the inhibition of SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression. PMID:23814492

  12. Salivary mRNA markers having the potential to detect oral squamous cell carcinoma segregated from oral leukoplakia with dysplasia.

    PubMed

    Michailidou, Evangelia; Tzimagiorgis, Georgios; Chatzopoulou, Fani; Vahtsevanos, Konstantinos; Antoniadis, Konstantinos; Kouidou, Sofia; Markopoulos, Anastasios; Antoniades, Dimitrios

    2016-08-01

    In the current study the presence of extracellular IL-1B, IL-8, OAZ and SAT mRNAs in the saliva was evaluated as a tool in the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. 34 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma stage T1N0M0/T2N0M0, 20 patients with oral leukoplakia and dysplasia (15 patients with mild dysplasia and 5 with severe dysplasia/in situ carcinoma) and 31 matched healthy-control subjects were included in the study. The presence of IL-1B, IL-8, OAZ and SAT mRNA was evaluated in extracellular RNA isolated from saliva samples using sequence-specific primers and real-time RT-PCR. ROC curve analysis was used to estimate the ability of the biomarkers to detect oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The data reveal that the combination of these four biomarkers provides a good predictive probability of up to 80% (AUC=0.799, p=0.002) for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma but not patients suffering from oral leukoplakia with dysplasia. Moreover, the combination of only the two biomarkers (SAT and IL-8) also raises a high predictive ability of 75.5% (AUC=0.755, p=0.007) approximately equal to the four biomarkers suggesting the use of the two biomarkers only in the prediction model for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients limiting the economic and health cost in half. SAT and IL-8 mRNAs are present in the saliva in high quality and quantity, with a good discriminatory ability for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients only but not for patients with oral leukoplakia and dysplasia an oral potentially malignant disorder. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  13. Interaction between CYP1A2-T2467DELT polymorphism and smoking in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

    PubMed

    Pavanello, Sofia; B'chir, Fatma; Pulliero, Alessandra; Saguem, Saâd; Ben Fraj, Radhia; El Aziz Hayouni, Abed; Clonfero, Erminio; Mastrangelo, Giuseppe

    2007-09-01

    This study aimed to identify new genetic characteristics contributing to individual susceptibility to smoke-induced lung cancer. Despite functional evidence of a possible role of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) in lung cancer susceptibility, no studies have evaluated the influence of CYP1A2 genotypes on lung cancer risk. We investigated the interaction between CYP1A2-T2467delT (allele*1D) polymorphism and smoking in Tunisian lung cancer cases (n=101 male smokers) separately for the histological types squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=60) and adenocarcinoma (n=41), and in controls (n=98 male smokers) using a case-only study design. A significant interaction between CYP1A2-T/delT or delT/delT genotypes and tobacco consumption (pack-years) adjusted for age was evident (OR (95% CI) 7.78 (1.52-42.8)) in the SCC cases who smoked relatively less (< or =33 pack-years, I quartile value), but not in adenocarcinoma and controls. Our results suggest that CYP1A2-T2467delT polymorphism has an important role in lung carcinogenesis, especially SCC, among smokers.

  14. Forkhead box-P3+ regulatory T cells and toll-like receptor 2 co-expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Hussaini, H M; Parachuru, V P B; Seymour, G J; Rich, A M

    2017-04-01

    The function of forkhead box-P3 (FoxP3) regulatory T cells (Treg) and toll-like receptor (TLR)2 protein in the oral cancer microenvironment is not fully understood, but evidence from other malignancies suggests it is likely they are involved with tumour development and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of FoxP3 + cells, TLR2 + cells and double-labelled FoxP3 + TLR2 + immune cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). 25 archival cases of OSCC were immunostained with anti-FoxP3 and anti-TLR2 antibodies. Inflamed hyperplastic oral mucosal tissues were used as controls. The proportion of single-labelled, double-labelled and negative cells was determined. A higher frequency of double-labelled FoxP3 + TLR2 + Tregs was observed within the immune cells of OSCC compared to inflamed controls using IHC (p<0.05). Cell-to-cell contact between single-stained TLR2 + cells and FoxP3 + cells was noted. Double IF studies validated demonstration of co-expression of FoxP3 + /TLR2 + immune cells in OSCC. The presence of FoxP3 + TLR2 + cells within the OSCC microenvironment may represent a dendritic cell-dependent pathway capable of inhibiting Treg suppressive activity, potentially enhancing the anti-tumour response. Modulation of TLR2-Treg interactions should be further explored to determine if they have a role in the therapeutic management of OSCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  15. Silencing of long non-coding RNA CCAT2 depressed malignancy of oral squamous cell carcinoma via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

    PubMed

    Ma, Yuji; Hu, Xuanhao; Shang, Chao; Zhong, Ming; Guo, Yan

    2017-07-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a common and lethal malignancy affecting the head and neck region. CCAT2 (colon cancer-associated transcript 2) gene is affiliated with long non-coding RNAs, which are often found to have important regulatory roles in cancers. This study aims to assess the expression and clinical significance of CCAT2 gene, identify its malignant biological behaviors, and explore the possible mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CCAT2 expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and its relationship with clinical factors was assayed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The biological behaviors of CCAT2 and its potential mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma were explored by the combined use of CCAT2 knockdown technology and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist lithium chloride (LiCl). Our results showed that CCAT2 functioning as a potential oncogene was upregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CCAT2 with high expression level was correlated with poor differentiation, higher T stage, and clinical stage, which made CCAT2 to be a prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma. LiCl-activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could partly restore the CCAT2-mediated malignant biological behaviors of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by suppressing β-catenin, CCND1, and MYC and activating glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta expression. These findings might assist in the discovery of novel potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma, thereby improve the effects of clinical treatment in patients.

  16. Obtaining T1-T2 distribution functions from 1-dimensional T1 and T2 measurements: The pseudo 2-D relaxation model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williamson, Nathan H.; Röding, Magnus; Galvosas, Petrik; Miklavcic, Stanley J.; Nydén, Magnus

    2016-08-01

    We present the pseudo 2-D relaxation model (P2DRM), a method to estimate multidimensional probability distributions of material parameters from independent 1-D measurements. We illustrate its use on 1-D T1 and T2 relaxation measurements of saturated rock and evaluate it on both simulated and experimental T1-T2 correlation measurement data sets. Results were in excellent agreement with the actual, known 2-D distribution in the case of the simulated data set. In both the simulated and experimental case, the functional relationships between T1 and T2 were in good agreement with the T1-T2 correlation maps from the 2-D inverse Laplace transform of the full 2-D data sets. When a 1-D CPMG experiment is combined with a rapid T1 measurement, the P2DRM provides a double-shot method for obtaining a T1-T2 relationship, with significantly decreased experimental time in comparison to the full T1-T2 correlation measurement.

  17. Immunochemoradiotherapy for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: augmentation of OK-432-induced helper T cell 1 response by 5-FU and X-ray irradiation.

    PubMed

    Tano, Tomoyuki; Okamoto, Masato; Kan, Shin; Bando, Takashi; Goda, Hiroyuki; Nakashiro, Koh-ichi; Shimodaira, Shigetaka; Koido, Shigeo; Homma, Sadamu; Fujita, Tomonobu; Sato, Mitsunobu; Yamashita, Naomi; Hamakawa, Hiroyuki; Kawakami, Yutaka

    2013-07-01

    Eighty-one patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) received oral fluoropyrimidine UFT and radiotherapy (RT) with or without an immunotherapeutic agent OK-432. Both overall survival and progression-free survival of patients who received RT + UFT + OK-432 were significantly longer than those of patients who received RT + UFT (P = .0075 and P = .0175, respectively). Clinical response was also more favorable in RT + UFT + OK-432 group than in RT + UFT group (P = .0066). Next, in vitro experiments were conducted to examine the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and X-ray irradiation in OK-432-induced immunity. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with OK-432 produced helper T cell 1 (Th1)-type cytokines as well as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which are produced by Th2 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), respectively, and are inhibitory in antitumor immunity. OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β but not Th1 cytokines were significantly inhibited by 5-FU and/or X-ray. 5-FU and X-ray also inhibited the expression of mRNAs for GATA-3 and Foxp3, which are transcription factors for Th2 and Tregs, respectively, but not for T-bet, a transcription factor for Th1. In addition, 5-FU and X-ray decreased the expression of mRNAs for suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3. Antisense oligonucleotides for SOCS1 and SOCS3 markedly reduced OK-432-induced IL-10 and TGF-β. This is the first report clearly demonstrating that OK-432-based immunotherapy significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of chemoradiotherapy in patients with OSCC as well as elucidating the mechanism of the synergistic effect of immunochemoradiotherapy in which 5-FU and radiation enhanced OK-432-induced Th1 response mediated by the inhibition of SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression.

  18. Simultaneous acquisition for T2 -T2 Exchange and T1 -T2 correlation NMR experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Montrazi, Elton T.; Lucas-Oliveira, Everton; Araujo-Ferreira, Arthur G.; Barsi-Andreeta, Mariane; Bonagamba, Tito J.

    2018-04-01

    The NMR measurements of longitudinal and transverse relaxation times and its multidimensional correlations provide useful information about molecular dynamics. However, these experiments are very time-consuming, and many researchers proposed faster experiments to reduce this issue. This paper presents a new way to simultaneously perform T2 -T2 Exchange and T1 -T2 correlation experiments by taking the advantage of the storage time and the two steps phase cycling used for running the relaxation exchange experiment. The data corresponding to each step is either summed or subtracted to produce the T2 -T2 and T1 -T2 data, enhancing the information obtained while maintaining the experiment duration. Comparing the results from this technique with traditional NMR experiments it was possible to validate the method.

  19. Mitochondrial assembly receptor expression is an independent prognosticator for patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Su, Yan-Ye; Chen, Chang-Han; Chien, Chih-Yen; Lin, Wei-Che; Huang, Wan-Ting; Li, Shau-Hsuan

    2017-01-01

    Recent evidence suggests that the local renin-angiotensin system has been implicated in various malignancies. The mitochondrial assembly receptor is a newly identified receptor for angiotensin peptides, angiotensin-(1-7), and has an important role in the renin-angiotensin system. However, the role of the mitochondrial assembly receptor in the prognosis of cancer patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of mitochondrial assembly receptor signaling in the prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Mitochondrial assembly receptor immunohistochemistry was examined in 151 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients and was correlated with treatment outcome. The functional relevance of the mitochondrial assembly receptor in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assays. Mitochondrial assembly receptor overexpression was significantly correlated with early pathological T classification ( p=0.029) and the absence of extracapsular spread ( p=0.039). Univariate analyses demonstrated that mitochondrial assembly receptor overexpression was significantly associated with superior overall survival ( p=0.012). In multivariate comparison, mitochondrial assembly receptor overexpression remained independently associated with superior overall survival ( p=0.008, hazard ratio=1.862). In vitro, angiotensin-(1-7) suppressed the cell growth in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells, and this response was reversed by the mitochondrial assembly receptor antagonist, A779. Mitochondrial assembly receptor expression is independently associated with the prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients. These findings suggest that mitochondrial assembly receptor signaling may be a promising novel target for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

  20. Nuclear factor κB and cyclooxygenase-2 immunoexpression in oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Pontes, Hélder Antônio Rebelo; Pontes, Flávia Sirotheau Corrêa; Fonseca, Felipe Paiva; de Carvalho, Pedro Luiz; Pereira, Erika Martins; de Abreu, Michelle Carvalho; de Freitas Silva, Brunno Santos; dos Santos Pinto, Décio

    2013-02-01

    Oral leukoplakia is the main potentially malignant oral lesion, and oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts for more than 95% of all malignant neoplasms in the oral cavity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the immunoexpression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in dysplastic oral lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed on 6 inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, 28 oral leukoplakia, and 15 oral squamous cell carcinoma paraffin-embedded samples. Immunoperoxidase reaction for NF-κB and COX-2 was applied on the specimens, and the positivity of the reactions was calculated for 1000 epithelial cells. Using the analysis of variance and the Tukey post hoc statistical analyses, a significantly increased immunoexpression for NF-κB was observed when oral squamous cell carcinoma samples were compared with the other groups studied. However, using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Dunn post hoc tests, a statistically significant result for COX-2 expression was obtained only when the moderate dysplasia group was compared with the inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia group. Nuclear factor κB may participate in the malignant phenotype acquisition process of the oral squamous cell carcinoma in its late stages, whereas COX-2 may be involved in the early stages of oral carcinogenesis process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Expression and associations of TRAF1, BMI-1, ALDH1, and Lin28B in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wu, Tian-Fu; Li, Yi-Cun; Ma, Si-Rui; Bing-Liu; Zhang, Wen-Feng; Sun, Zhi-Jun

    2017-04-01

    Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1, an adaptor protein of tumor necrosis factor 2, is involved in classical nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and lymphocyte recruitment. However, less is known about the expression and association of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 with cancer stem cell markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma. This study aimed to investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 and stem cell characteristic markers (lin28 homolog B, B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma and analyze their relations. Paraffin-embedded tissues of 78 oral squamous cell carcinomas, 39 normal oral mucosa, and 12 oral dysplasia tissues were employed in tissue microarrays, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1, B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, and lin28 homolog B was measured by immunohistostaining and digital pathological analysis. The expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 was higher in the oral squamous cell carcinoma group as compared with the expression in the oral mucosa (p < 0.01) and oral dysplasia (p < 0.001) groups. In addition, the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 was associated with those of B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, and lin28 homolog B (p = 0.032, r 2  = 0.109; p < 0.0001, r 2  = 0.64; and p < 0.001, r 2  = 0.16) in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The patient survival rate was lower in the highly expressed tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 group, although the difference was not significant. The clustering analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 was most related to aldehyde dehydrogenase 1. These findings suggest

  2. Sugar-induced cephalic-phase insulin release is mediated by a T1r2+T1r3-independent taste transduction pathway in mice

    PubMed Central

    Stano, Sarah; Holter, Marlena; Azenkot, Tali; Goldman, Olivia; Margolskee, Robert F.; Vasselli, Joseph R.; Sclafani, Anthony

    2015-01-01

    Sensory stimulation from foods elicits cephalic phase responses, which facilitate digestion and nutrient assimilation. One such response, cephalic-phase insulin release (CPIR), enhances glucose tolerance. Little is known about the chemosensory mechanisms that activate CPIR. We studied the contribution of the sweet taste receptor (T1r2+T1r3) to sugar-induced CPIR in C57BL/6 (B6) and T1r3 knockout (KO) mice. First, we measured insulin release and glucose tolerance following oral (i.e., normal ingestion) or intragastric (IG) administration of 2.8 M glucose. Both groups of mice exhibited a CPIR following oral but not IG administration, and this CPIR improved glucose tolerance. Second, we examined the specificity of CPIR. Both mouse groups exhibited a CPIR following oral administration of 1 M glucose and 1 M sucrose but not 1 M fructose or water alone. Third, we studied behavioral attraction to the same three sugar solutions in short-term acceptability tests. B6 mice licked more avidly for the sugar solutions than for water, whereas T1r3 KO mice licked no more for the sugar solutions than for water. Finally, we examined chorda tympani (CT) nerve responses to each of the sugars. Both mouse groups exhibited CT nerve responses to the sugars, although those of B6 mice were stronger. We propose that mice possess two taste transduction pathways for sugars. One mediates behavioral attraction to sugars and requires an intact T1r2+T1r3. The other mediates CPIR but does not require an intact T1r2+T1r3. If the latter taste transduction pathway exists in humans, it should provide opportunities for the development of new treatments for controlling blood sugar. PMID:26157055

  3. Sugar-induced cephalic-phase insulin release is mediated by a T1r2+T1r3-independent taste transduction pathway in mice.

    PubMed

    Glendinning, John I; Stano, Sarah; Holter, Marlena; Azenkot, Tali; Goldman, Olivia; Margolskee, Robert F; Vasselli, Joseph R; Sclafani, Anthony

    2015-09-01

    Sensory stimulation from foods elicits cephalic phase responses, which facilitate digestion and nutrient assimilation. One such response, cephalic-phase insulin release (CPIR), enhances glucose tolerance. Little is known about the chemosensory mechanisms that activate CPIR. We studied the contribution of the sweet taste receptor (T1r2+T1r3) to sugar-induced CPIR in C57BL/6 (B6) and T1r3 knockout (KO) mice. First, we measured insulin release and glucose tolerance following oral (i.e., normal ingestion) or intragastric (IG) administration of 2.8 M glucose. Both groups of mice exhibited a CPIR following oral but not IG administration, and this CPIR improved glucose tolerance. Second, we examined the specificity of CPIR. Both mouse groups exhibited a CPIR following oral administration of 1 M glucose and 1 M sucrose but not 1 M fructose or water alone. Third, we studied behavioral attraction to the same three sugar solutions in short-term acceptability tests. B6 mice licked more avidly for the sugar solutions than for water, whereas T1r3 KO mice licked no more for the sugar solutions than for water. Finally, we examined chorda tympani (CT) nerve responses to each of the sugars. Both mouse groups exhibited CT nerve responses to the sugars, although those of B6 mice were stronger. We propose that mice possess two taste transduction pathways for sugars. One mediates behavioral attraction to sugars and requires an intact T1r2+T1r3. The other mediates CPIR but does not require an intact T1r2+T1r3. If the latter taste transduction pathway exists in humans, it should provide opportunities for the development of new treatments for controlling blood sugar. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

  4. Cardiac Iron Determines Cardiac T2*, T2, and T1 in the Gerbil Model of Iron Cardiomyopathy

    PubMed Central

    Wood, John C.; Otto-Duessel, Maya; Aguilar, Michelle; Nick, Hanspeter; Nelson, Marvin D.; Coates, Thomas D.; Pollack, Harvey; Moats, Rex

    2010-01-01

    Background Transfusional therapy for thalassemia major and sickle cell disease can lead to iron deposition and damage to the heart, liver, and endocrine organs. Iron causes the MRI parameters T1, T2, and T2* to shorten in these organs, which creates a potential mechanism for iron quantification. However, because of the danger and variability of cardiac biopsy, tissue validation of cardiac iron estimates by MRI has not been performed. In this study, we demonstrate that iron produces similar T1, T2, and T2* changes in the heart and liver using a gerbil iron-overload model. Methods and Results Twelve gerbils underwent iron dextran loading (200 mg · kg−1 · wk−1) from 2 to 14 weeks; 5 age-matched controls were studied as well. Animals had in vivo assessment of cardiac T2* and hepatic T2 and T2* and postmortem assessment of cardiac and hepatic T1 and T2. Relaxation measurements were performed in a clinical 1.5-T magnet and a 60-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometer. Cardiac and liver iron concentrations rose linearly with administered dose. Cardiac 1/T2*, 1/T2, and 1/T1 rose linearly with cardiac iron concentration. Liver 1/T2*, 1/T2, and 1/T1 also rose linearly, proportional to hepatic iron concentration. Liver and heart calibrations were similar on a dry-weight basis. Conclusions MRI measurements of cardiac T2 and T2* can be used to quantify cardiac iron. The similarity of liver and cardiac iron calibration curves in the gerbil suggests that extrapolation of human liver calibration curves to heart may be a rational approximation in humans. PMID:16027257

  5. Genotype-Specific Regulation of Oral Innate Immunity by T2R38 Taste Receptor

    PubMed Central

    Gil, Sucheol; Coldwell, Susan; Drury, Jeanie L.; Arroyo, Fabiola; Phi, Tran; Saadat, Sanaz; Kwong, Danny; Chung, Whasun Oh

    2015-01-01

    The bitter taste receptor T2R38 has been shown to regulate mucosal innate immune responses in the upper airway epithelium. Furthermore, SNPs in T2R38 influence the sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and are associated with caries risk/protection. However, no study has been reported on the role of T2R38 in the innate immune responses to oral bacteria. We hypothesize that T2R38 regulates oral innate immunity and that this regulation is genotype-specific. Primary gingival epithelial cells carrying three common genotypes, PAV/PAV (PROP super-taster), AVI/PAV (intermediate) and AVI/AVI (non-taster) were stimulated with cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis or non-pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum. QRT-PCR analyzed T2R38 mRNA, and T2R38-specific siRNA and ELISA were utilized to evaluate induction of hBD-2 (antimicrobial peptide), IL-1α and IL-8 in various donor-lines. Experiments were set up in duplicate and repeated three times. T2R38 mRNA induction in response to S. mutans was highest in PAV/PAV (4.3-fold above the unstimulated controls; p<0.05), while lowest in AVI/AVI (1.2-fold). In PAV/PAV, hBD-2 secretion in response to S. mutans was decreased by 77% when T2R38 was silenced. IL-1α secretion was higher in PAV/PAV compared to AVI/PAV or AVI/AVI with S. mutans stimulation, but it was reduced by half when T2R38 was silenced (p<0.05). In response to P. gingivalis, AVI/AVI showed 4.4-fold increase (p<0.05) in T2R38 expression, whereas the levels in PAV/PAV and AVI/PAV remained close to that of the controls. Secretion levels of IL-1α and IL-8 decreased in AVI/AVI in response to P. gingivalis when T2R38 was silenced (p<0.05), while the changes were not significant in PAV/PAV. Our data suggest that the regulation of gingival innate immunity by T2R38 is genotype-dependent and that the ability to induce a high level of hBD-2 by PAV/PAV carriers may be a reason for protection against caries in this group. PMID

  6. Local T1-T2 distribution measurements in porous media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vashaee, S.; Li, M.; Newling, B.; MacMillan, B.; Marica, F.; Kwak, H. T.; Gao, J.; Al-harbi, A. M.; Balcom, B. J.

    2018-02-01

    A novel slice-selective T1-T2 measurement is proposed to measure spatially resolved T1-T2 distributions. An adiabatic inversion pulse is employed for slice-selection. The slice-selective pulse is able to select a quasi-rectangular slice, on the order of 1 mm, at an arbitrary position within the sample. The method does not employ conventional selective excitation in which selective excitation is often accomplished by rotation of the longitudinal magnetization in the slice of interest into the transverse plane, but rather a subtraction based on CPMG data acquired with and without adiabatic inversion slice selection. T1 weighting is introduced during recovery from the inversion associated with slice selection. The local T1-T2 distributions measured are of similar quality to bulk T1-T2 measurements. The new method can be employed to characterize oil-water mixtures and other fluids in porous media. The method is beneficial when a coarse spatial distribution of the components is of interest.

  7. Phospho-T356RB1 predicts survival in HPV-negative squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

    PubMed Central

    Handorf, Elizabeth; Nikonova, Anna; Dubyk, Cara; Peri, Suraj; Lango, Miriam; Ridge, John A.; Serebriiskii, Ilya G.; Burtness, Barbara; Golemis, Erica A.; Mehra, Ranee

    2015-01-01

    Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that is not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) has a poor prognosis in contrast to HPV-positive disease. To better understand the importance of RB1 activity in HPV-negative SCCHN, we investigated the prognostic value of inhibitory CDK4/6 phosphorylation of RB1 on threonine 356 (T356) in archival HPV-negative tumor specimens from patients who underwent surgical resection and adjuvant radiation. We benchmarked pT356RB1 to total RB1, Ki67, pT202/Y204ERK1/2, and TP53, as quantified by automatic quantitative analysis (AQUA), and correlated protein expression with tumor stage and grade. High expression of pT356RB1 but not total RB1 predicted reduced overall survival (OS; P = 0.0295), indicating the potential relevance of post-translational phosphorylation. Paired analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data for regulators of this RB1 phosphorylation identified loss or truncating mutation of negative regulator CDKN2A (p16) and elevated expression of the CDK4/6 activator CCND1 (cyclin D) as also predicting poor survival. Given that CDK4/6 inhibitors have been most effective in the context of functional RB1 and low expression or deletion of p16 in other tumor types, these data suggest such agents may merit evaluation in HPV-negative SCCHN, specifically in cases associated with high pT356RB1. PMID:26265441

  8. Functionalized PLA-PEG nanoparticles targeting intestinal transporter PepT1 for oral delivery of acyclovir.

    PubMed

    Gourdon, Betty; Chemin, Caroline; Moreau, Amélie; Arnauld, Thomas; Baumy, Philippe; Cisternino, Salvatore; Péan, Jean-Manuel; Declèves, Xavier

    2017-08-30

    Targeting intestinal di- and tri-peptide transporter PepT1 with prodrugs is a successful strategy to improve oral drug bioavailability, as demonstrated with valacyclovir, a prodrug of acyclovir. The aim of this new drug delivery strategy is to over-concentrate a poorly absorbed drug on the intestinal membrane surface by targeting PepT1 with functionalized polymer nanoparticles. In the present study, poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-ligand (PLA-PEG-ligand) nanoparticles were obtained by nanoprecipitation. A factorial experimental design allowed us to identify size-influent parameters and to obtain optimized ≈30nm nanoparticles. Valine, Glycylsarcosine, Valine-Glycine, and Tyrosine-Valine were chemically linked to PLA-PEG. In Caco-2 cell monolayer model, competition between functionalized nanoparticles and [ 3 H]Glycylsarcosine, a strong substrate of PepT1, reduced [ 3 H]Glycylsarcosine transport from 22 to 46%. Acyclovir was encapsulated with a drug load of ≈10% in valine-functionalized nanoparticles, resulting in a 2.7-fold increase in permeability as compared to the free drug. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study in mice compared oral absorption of acyclovir after administration of 25mg/kg of valacyclovir, free or encapsulated acyclovir in functionalized nanoparticles. Acyclovir encapsulation did not statistically modify AUC or C max , but increased t 1/2 and MRT 1.3-fold as compared to free acyclovir. This new strategy is promising for poorly absorbed drugs by oral administration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Oral dendritic cells mediate antigen-specific tolerance by stimulating TH1 and regulatory CD4+ T cells.

    PubMed

    Mascarell, Laurent; Lombardi, Vincent; Louise, Anne; Saint-Lu, Nathalie; Chabre, Henri; Moussu, Hélène; Betbeder, Didier; Balazuc, Anne-Marie; Van Overtvelt, Laurence; Moingeon, Philippe

    2008-09-01

    A detailed characterization of oral antigen-presenting cells is critical to improve second-generation sublingual allergy vaccines. To characterize oral dendritic cells (DCs) within lingual and buccal tissues from BALB/c mice with respect to their surface phenotype, distribution, and capacity to polarize CD4(+) T-cell responses. In situ analysis of oral DCs was performed by immunohistology. Purified DCs were tested in vitro for their capacity to capture, process, and present the ovalbumin antigen to naive CD4(+) T cells. In vivo priming of ovalbumin-specific T cells adoptively transferred to BALB/c mice was analyzed by cytofluorometry in cervical lymph nodes after sublingual administration of mucoadhesive ovalbumin. Three subsets of oral DCs with a distinct tissue distribution were identified: (1) a minor subset of CD207(+) Langerhans cells located in the mucosa itself, (2) a major subpopulation of CD11b(+)CD11c(-) and CD11b(+)CD11c(+) myeloid DCs at the mucosal/submucosal interface, and (3) B220(+)120G8(+) plasmacytoid DCs found in submucosal tissues. Purified myeloid and plasmacytoid oral DCs capture and process the antigen efficiently and are programmed to elicit IFN-gamma and/or IL-10 production together with a suppressive function in naive CD4(+) T cells. Targeting the ovalbumin antigen to oral DCs in vivo by using mucoadhesive particles establishes tolerance in the absence of cell depletion through the stimulation of IFN-gamma and IL-10-producing CD4(+) regulatory T cells in cervical lymph nodes. The oral immune system is composed of various subsets of tolerogenic DCs organized in a compartmentalized manner and programmed to induce T(H)1/regulatory T-cell responses.

  10. Salvage Surgery after Radiation Failure in T1/T2 Larynx Cancer: Outcomes following Total versus Conservation Surgery.

    PubMed

    Cheraghlou, Shayan; Kuo, Phoebe; Mehra, Saral; Yarbrough, Wendell G; Judson, Benjamin L

    2018-03-01

    Objective After radiation failure for early T-stage larynx cancer, national guidelines recommend salvage surgery. Total laryngectomy and conservation laryngeal surgery with an open or endoscopic approach are both used. Beyond single-institution studies, there is a lack of evidence concerning the outcomes of these procedures. We aim to study whether treatment with conservation laryngeal surgery is associated with poorer outcomes than treatment with total laryngectomy as salvage surgery after radiation failure for T1/T2 larynx cancers. Study Design A retrospective study was conducted of adult squamous cell larynx cancer cases in the National Cancer Database diagnosed from 2004 to 2012. Setting Commission on Cancer cancer programs in the United States. Methods Demographic, facility, tumor, and survival variables were included in the analyses. Multivariate survival regressions as well as univariate Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted. Results Slightly more than 7% of patients receiving radiotherapy for T1/T2 larynx cancers later received salvage surgery. Salvage with partial laryngectomy was not associated with diminished survival as compared with total laryngectomy. However, positive surgical margins were associated with worse outcomes (hazard ratio, 1.782; P = .001), and a larger percentage of patients receiving partial laryngectomy had positive margins than those receiving total laryngectomy. Facility characteristics were not associated with differences in salvage surgery type or outcomes. Conclusion In recognition of the inherent selection bias, patients who experienced recurrences after radiation for T1/T2 larynx cancer and underwent conservation salvage laryngeal surgery demonstrated clinical outcomes similar to those of patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy. Increased rates of positive surgical margins were observed among patients undergoing salvage conservation surgery.

  11. Treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma using anti-HER2 immunonanoshells

    PubMed Central

    Fekrazad, Reza; Hakimiha, Neda; Farokhi, Enice; Rasaee, Mohammad Javad; Ardestani, Mehdi Shafiee; Kalhori, Katayoun AM; Sheikholeslami, Farzaneh

    2011-01-01

    Background Worldwide, oral squamous cell carcinoma (potentially mediated by HER2) is recognized as the most commonly occurring malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. Anti-HER2 nanobodies conjugated to gold-silica nanoshells and used as photothermal treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma may provide a novel therapeutic alternative to current treatment for this disease. Methods KB epithelial or HeLaS3 cell cultures (controls) were exposed to these immunonanoshells, and plasmon resonance electron initiation specific to gold was employed to burn the tumor cells. Results Following this treatment, significant cell death occurred in the KB tumor cell cultures while there was no evidence of cellular damage or death in the HeLaS3 cell cultures. Conclusion These findings suggest that photothermal treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma has considerable advantages. PMID:22131825

  12. Treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma using anti-HER2 immunonanoshells.

    PubMed

    Fekrazad, Reza; Hakimiha, Neda; Farokhi, Enice; Rasaee, Mohammad Javad; Ardestani, Mehdi Shafiee; Kalhori, Katayoun A M; Sheikholeslami, Farzaneh

    2011-01-01

    Worldwide, oral squamous cell carcinoma (potentially mediated by HER2) is recognized as the most commonly occurring malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. Anti-HER2 nanobodies conjugated to gold-silica nanoshells and used as photothermal treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma may provide a novel therapeutic alternative to current treatment for this disease. KB epithelial or HeLaS3 cell cultures (controls) were exposed to these immunonanoshells, and plasmon resonance electron initiation specific to gold was employed to burn the tumor cells. Following this treatment, significant cell death occurred in the KB tumor cell cultures while there was no evidence of cellular damage or death in the HeLaS3 cell cultures. These findings suggest that photothermal treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma has considerable advantages.

  13. Electronic properties of in-plane phase engineered 1T'/2H/1T' MoS2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thakur, Rajesh; Sharma, Munish; Ahluwalia, P. K.; Sharma, Raman

    2018-04-01

    We present the first principles studies of semi-infinite phase engineered MoS2 along zigzag direction. The semiconducting (2H) and semi-metallic (1T') phases are known to be stable in thin-film MoS2. We described the electronic and structural properties of the infinite array of 1T'/2H/1T'. It has been found that 1T'phase induced semi-metallic character in 2H phase beyond interface but, only Mo atoms in 2H phase domain contribute to the semi-metallic nature and S atoms towards semiconducting state. 1T'/2H/1T' system can act as a typical n-p-n structure. Also high holes concentration at the interface of Mo layer provides further positive potential barriers.

  14. Inorganic nanoparticle-based T1 and T1/T2 magnetic resonance contrast probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hu, Fengqin; Zhao, Yong Sheng

    2012-09-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) yields high spatially resolved contrast with anatomical details for diagnosis, deeper penetration depth and rapid 3D scanning. To improve imaging sensitivity, adding contrast agents accelerates the relaxation rate of water molecules, thereby greatly increasing the contrast between specific issues or organs of interest. Currently, the majority of T1 contrast agents are paramagnetic molecular complexes, typically Gd(iii) chelates. Various nanoparticulate T1 and T1/T2 contrast agents have recently been investigated as novel agents possessing the advantages of both the T1 contrast effect and nanostructural characteristics. In this minireview, we describe the recent progress of these inorganic nanoparticle-based MRI contrast agents. Specifically, we mainly report on Gd and Mn-based inorganic nanoparticles and ultrasmall iron oxide/ferrite nanoparticles.

  15. Cervical lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and floor of mouth.

    PubMed

    Ehsan-ul-Haq, Muhammad; Warraich, Riaz Ahmed; Abid, Hina; Sajid, Malik Ali Hassan

    2011-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma has high chances of cervical lymph node metastasis. This case series describes the distribution of cervical lymph nodes in 50 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue and floor of mouth. The mean age was 47.28±10.5 years. Thirty positive metastatic lymph nodes were found; 90% occurring at level I-II mostly in T4 size but also in T1 and T2 cases. The distribution of involved lymph nodes in oral cancer affects the neck dissection extent and is, therefore, an important pre-operative feature.

  16. Can T1 w/T2 w ratio be used as a myelin-specific measure in subcortical structures? Comparisons between FSE-based T1 w/T2 w ratios, GRASE-based T1 w/T2 w ratios and multi-echo GRASE-based myelin water fractions.

    PubMed

    Uddin, Md Nasir; Figley, Teresa D; Marrie, Ruth Ann; Figley, Chase R

    2018-03-01

    Given the growing popularity of T 1 -weighted/T 2 -weighted (T 1 w/T 2 w) ratio measurements, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the concordance between T 1 w/T 2 w ratios obtained using conventional fast spin echo (FSE) versus combined gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequences for T 2 w image acquisition, and to compare the resulting T 1 w/T 2 w ratios with histologically validated myelin water fraction (MWF) measurements in several subcortical brain structures. In order to compare these measurements across a relatively wide range of myelin concentrations, whole-brain T 1 w magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE), T 2 w FSE and three-dimensional multi-echo GRASE data were acquired from 10 participants with multiple sclerosis at 3 T. Then, after high-dimensional, non-linear warping, region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed to compare T 1 w/T 2 w ratios and MWF estimates (across participants and brain regions) in 11 bilateral white matter (WM) and four bilateral subcortical grey matter (SGM) structures extracted from the JHU_MNI_SS 'Eve' atlas. Although the GRASE sequence systematically underestimated T 1 w/T 2 w values compared to the FSE sequence (revealed by Bland-Altman and mountain plots), linear regressions across participants and ROIs revealed consistently high correlations between the two methods (r 2 = 0.62 for all ROIs, r 2 = 0.62 for WM structures and r 2 = 0.73 for SGM structures). However, correlations between either FSE-based or GRASE-based T 1 w/T 2 w ratios and MWFs were extremely low in WM structures (FSE-based, r 2 = 0.000020; GRASE-based, r 2 = 0.0014), low across all ROIs (FSE-based, r 2 = 0.053; GRASE-based, r 2 = 0.029) and moderate in SGM structures (FSE-based, r 2 = 0.20; GRASE-based, r 2 = 0.17). Overall, our findings indicated a high degree of correlation (but not equivalence) between FSE-based and GRASE-based T 1 w/T 2 w ratios, and low correlations between T 1 w/T 2 w ratios and MWFs. This

  17. Transoral laser microsurgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma: Oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors

    PubMed Central

    Sinha, Parul; Hackman, Trevor; Nussenbaum, Brian; Wu, Ningying; Lewis, James S.; Haughey, Bruce H.

    2014-01-01

    Background Modest survival rates are published for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using conventional approaches. Few cohort studies are available for transoral resection of OSCC. Methods Analysis for recurrence, survival, and prognosis of patients with OSCC treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) ± neck dissection was obtained from a prospective database. Results Ninety-five patients (71 patients had stages T1T2 and 24 had stages T3–T4 disease) with minimum follow-up of 24 months met criteria and demonstrated negative margins in 95%. Five-year local control (LC) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 78% and 76%, respectively. Surgical salvage achieved an absolute final locoregional control of 92%. Immune compromise and final margins were prognostic for LC, whereas T classification, N classification, TNM stage, comorbidity, and perineural invasion were also significant for DSS. Conclusion We document a large series of patients with OSCC treated with TLM, incorporating T1 to T4 primaries. A significant proportion of stage III/IV cases demonstrates feasibility of TLM in higher stages, with final margin positivity of 5%, LC greater than 90%, and comparable survival outcomes. PMID:23729304

  18. Evaluation of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in actinic keratosis, in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

    PubMed

    Stravodimou, Aristea; Tzelepi, Vassiliki; Papadaki, Helen; Mouzaki, Athanasia; Georgiou, Sophia; Melachrinou, Maria; Kourea, Eleni P

    2018-05-01

    Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent important regulators of carcinogenesis. Cutaneous invasive squamous cell carcinoma (inSCC) develops through precursor lesions, namely in situ squamous cell carcinoma (isSCC) and actinic keratosis (AK), representing a natural model of carcinogenesis. The study evaluates TIL subpopulations in inSCC and its precursors by comparing 2 semiquantitative scoring systems, and assesses the presence of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in these lesions. Paraffin sections from 33 cases of AK, 19 isSCCs and 34 inSCCs with adjacent precursor lesions or normal skin (NS) were immunostained for CD3, CD4, CD8 and Foxp3. TIL subgroups were evaluated by the semiquantitative Klintrup-Mäkinen (K-M) score, and by a more detailed modification of this system. Treg counts were assessed by image analysis quantification. An increase of all TIL subpolulations from precursor lesions toward inSCC was shown by both scoring systems. Treg counts progressively increased from NS to AK and isSCC, but decreased in inSCC. Tregs were more numerous in pT2 and around indolent inSCCs compared to T1 and aggressive subtypes. T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells progressively increase in cutaneous squamous cell carcinogenesis, while Treg counts diminish in inSCC. The K-M score is an appropriate, easily applicable TIL scoring system in cutaneous inSCC. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  19. Sentinel node localization in oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell cancer.

    PubMed

    Taylor, R J; Wahl, R L; Sharma, P K; Bradford, C R; Terrell, J E; Teknos, T N; Heard, E M; Wolf, G T; Chepeha, D B

    2001-08-01

    To evaluate the feasibility and predictive ability of the sentinel node localization technique for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx and clinically negative necks. Prospective, efficacy study comparing the histopathologic status of the sentinel node with that of the remaining neck dissection specimen. Tertiary referral center. Patients with T1 or T2 disease and clinically negative necks were eligible for the study. Nine previously untreated patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Unfiltered technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid injections of the primary tumor and lymphoscintigraphy were performed on the day before surgery. Intraoperatively, the sentinel node(s) was localized with a gamma probe and removed after tumor resection and before neck dissection. The primary outcome was the negative predictive value of the histopathologic status of the sentinel node for predicting cervical metastases. Sentinel nodes were identified in 9 previously untreated patients. In 5 patients, there were no positive nodes. In 4 patients, the sentinel nodes were the only histopathologically positive nodes. In previously untreated patients, the sentinel node technique had a negative predictive value of 100% for cervical metastasis. Our preliminary investigation shows that sentinel node localization is technically feasible in head and neck surgery and is predictive of cervical metastasis. The sentinel node technique has the potential to decrease the number of neck dissections performed in clinically negative necks, thus reducing the associated morbidity for patients in this group.

  20. Role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in pT1-T2 N0 deep tongue cancers.

    PubMed

    Gokavarapu, Sandhya; Parvataneni, Nagendra; Rao S, L M Chandrasekhara; Reddy, Rammohan; Raju, K V V N; Chander, Ravi

    2015-12-01

    Carcinoma of tongue is associated with a high risk of occult metastasis and mortality despite early-stage detection and therapy; the critical tumor thickness at which this risk increases has been demonstrated as 4 mm or greater. There are no sufficient data in the published literature to evaluate the role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in the treatment of pT1-T2 N0 oral tongue cancers with depth of invasion 4 mm or greater. Historical cohorts of patients with primary pT1-T2 N0 oral tongue cancer of depth of invasion 4 mm or greater treated surgically from January 2010 to December 2012 were included in the study, and negative margins on initial resection were filtered. Locoregional recurrence and death were analyzed among the patients who received PORT and those who did not. A total of 103 patients fulfilled the above-mentioned criteria, with 62 patients receiving PORT and 41 patients not receiving PORT; median period of follow-up was 41.3 months. Logistic and Cox regression models showed no significant difference in locoregional recurrences (P = .078) and survival (P = .339) between patients who received PORT and those who did not receive PORT. PORT did not influence survival of patients with stage I and stage II deep tongue cancers, with 4 mm or greater tumor invasion depth. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Modeling T1 and T2 relaxation in bovine white matter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barta, R.; Kalantari, S.; Laule, C.; Vavasour, I. M.; MacKay, A. L.; Michal, C. A.

    2015-10-01

    The fundamental basis of T1 and T2 contrast in brain MRI is not well understood; recent literature contains conflicting views on the nature of relaxation in white matter (WM). We investigated the effects of inversion pulse bandwidth on measurements of T1 and T2 in WM. Hybrid inversion-recovery/Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill experiments with broad or narrow bandwidth inversion pulses were applied to bovine WM in vitro. Data were analysed with the commonly used 1D-non-negative least squares (NNLS) algorithm, a 2D-NNLS algorithm, and a four-pool model which was based upon microscopically distinguishable WM compartments (myelin non-aqueous protons, myelin water, non-myelin non-aqueous protons and intra/extracellular water) and incorporated magnetization exchange between adjacent compartments. 1D-NNLS showed that different T2 components had different T1 behaviours and yielded dissimilar results for the two inversion conditions. 2D-NNLS revealed significantly more complicated T1/T2 distributions for narrow bandwidth than for broad bandwidth inversion pulses. The four-pool model fits allow physical interpretation of the parameters, fit better than the NNLS techniques, and fits results from both inversion conditions using the same parameters. The results demonstrate that exchange cannot be neglected when analysing experimental inversion recovery data from WM, in part because it can introduce exponential components having negative amplitude coefficients that cannot be correctly modeled with nonnegative fitting techniques. While assignment of an individual T1 to one particular pool is not possible, the results suggest that under carefully controlled experimental conditions the amplitude of an apparent short T1 component might be used to quantify myelin water.

  2. MAD2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship to tumor grade and proliferation.

    PubMed

    Rizzardi, Clara; Torelli, Lucio; Schneider, Manuela; Giudici, Fabiola; Zandona, Lorenzo; Biasotto, Matteo; Di Lenarda, Roberto; Melato, Mauro

    2014-12-01

    Defects in the cell-cycle surveillance mechanism, called the spindle checkpoint, might contribute to the chromosomal instability observed in human cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma. MAD2 and BUBR1 are key components of the spindle checkpoint, whose role in oral carcinogenesis and clinical relevance still need to be elucidated. We analyzed the expression of MAD2 in 49 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and compared the findings with clinicopathological parameters, proliferative activity, BUBR1 expression and DNA ploidy. MAD2 was over-expressed in 18 (36.7%) cases. Tumors with over-expression of MAD2 were associated with the progression of histological grade from well to poor differentiation (p<0.001), the extent of lymph nodes involvement (PN) (p=0.0339) and Ki-67 labeling index (p<0.001). MAD2 may be involved in oral carcinogenesis and may represent an important prognostic factor associated with a more malignant phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

  3. Detection of maltodextrin and its discrimination from sucrose are independent of the T1R2 + T1R3 heterodimer.

    PubMed

    Smith, Kimberly R; Spector, Alan C

    2017-10-01

    Maltodextrins, such as Maltrin and Polycose, are glucose polymer mixtures of varying chain lengths that are palatable to rodents. Although glucose and other sugars activate the T1R2 + T1R3 "sweet" taste receptor, recent evidence from T1R2- or T1R3-knockout (KO) mice suggests that maltodextrins, despite their glucose polymer composition, activate a separate receptor mechanism to generate a taste percept qualitatively distinguishable from that of sweeteners. However, explicit discrimination of maltodextrins from prototypical sweeteners has not yet been psychophysically tested in any murine model. Therefore, mice lacking T1R2 + T1R3 and wild-type controls were tested in a two-response taste discrimination task to determine whether maltodextrins are 1 ) detectable when both receptor subunits are absent and 2 ) perceptually distinct from that of sucrose irrespective of viscosity, intensity, and hedonics. Most KO mice displayed similar Polycose sensitivity as controls. However, some KO mice were only sensitive to the higher Polycose concentrations, implicating potential allelic variation in the putative polysaccharide receptor or downstream pathways unmasked by the absence of T1R2 + T1R3. Varied Maltrin and sucrose concentrations of approximately matched viscosities were then presented to render the oral somatosensory features, intensity, and hedonic value of the solutions irrelevant. Although both genotypes competently discriminated Maltrin from sucrose, performance was apparently driven by the different orosensory percepts of the two stimuli in control mice and the presence of a Maltrin but not sucrose orosensory cue in KO mice. These data support the proposed presence of an orosensory receptor mechanism that gives rise to a qualitatively distinguishable sensation from that of sucrose. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

  4. Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in oral cavity and lower lip squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Alaeddini, Mojgan; Etemad-Moghadam, Shahroo

    2016-01-01

    Tumors of the lip and oral cavity differ in various aspects; therefore a clarification of the distinctions among these sites may help to better understand the biologic behavior of neoplasms occurring in these locations. Considering that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are two major elements that can influence various aspects of tumor biology, we aimed to compare these factors between squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip and oral cavity. A total of 84 primary squamous cell carcinomas including 45 oral and 39 lower lip tumors were selected and immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibody against D2-40 and CD105. Mean microvessel density was assessed in tumoral tissue, while lymphatic vessel density was calculated in both neoplastic tissue and invasion front. Data were statistically analyzed using t-test and p-values of <0.05 were considered significant. We found a mean microvessel density±standard deviation of 31.94±18.9 in oral cavity and 27.54±20.8 in lower lip squamous cell carcinomas, with no significant difference (p=0.32). Mean lymphatic vessel density±standard deviation was 13.05±8.2 and 16.57±10.79 in of oral cavity and lower lip neoplastic tissue, respectively. The corresponding values were 9.94±5.59 and 12.50±7.8 in the invasive front. Significant differences were not observed in either of the lymphatic vessel density variables between the two sites. According to our results, it seems that the search for additional factors other than those related to the vasculature should continue, to help clarify the differences in biologic behavior between lower lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. Copyright © 2015 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  5. Hybridized 1T/2H MoS2 Having Controlled 1T Concentrations and its use in Supercapacitors.

    PubMed

    Thi Xuyen, Nguyen; Ting, Jyh-Ming

    2017-12-06

    Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) nanoflowers consisting of hybridized 1T/2H phases have been synthesized by using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MTH) method. The concentration of the 1T phase, ranging from 40 % to 73 %, is controlled by simply adjusting the ratio of the Mo and S precursors. By using the hybridized 1T/2H MoS 2 as an electrode material, it was demonstrated that the resulting supercapacitor performance is dominated by the 1T phase concentration. It was found that a supercapacitor with 73 % 1T phase exhibits excellent capacitance of 259 F g -1 and great cyclic stability after 1000 cycles. The formation mechanism of the MHT-synthesized hybridized 1T/2H MoS 2 is also reported. More importantly, the mechanism also explains the observed relationship between the 1T phase concentration and the ratio of the Mo and S precursors. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  6. Glottic and supraglottic pT3 squamous cell carcinoma: outcomes with transoral laser microsurgery.

    PubMed

    Pantazis, Dimitrios; Liapi, Georgia; Kostarelos, Dimitrios; Kyriazis, Georgios; Pantazis, Theodoros-Leonidas; Riga, Maria

    2015-08-01

    Patients diagnosed with T3 squamous cell laryngeal carcinomas are nowadays offered either organ-preserving surgical or non-surgical treatment, with the optimum approach remaining undefined. No direct comparison of organ-preserving therapeutical options, stratified by anatomical subsites is available in the literature. The aim of this study is to present institutional treatment outcomes for laser-assisted microsurgery (TLM) of laryngeal T3 squamous cell carcinomas and review the relevant literature. Sixty-four consecutive, previously untreated patients were evaluated. Twenty-four supraglottic and 19 glottic patients were treated with TLM and neck dissection, tumor exposure and postoperative upstaging of the tumors through pathology evaluation of the specimens being the only exclusion criteria. Five-year disease-specific survival and organ preservation rates for supraglottic carcinomas were both 91.7 %. The respective values for glottic carcinomas were 63.2 and 73.3 %. TLM-treated T3 supraglottic tumors seem to attribute better outcomes than T3 glottic tumors in terms of recurrence-free survival, organ preservation and local control (p = 0.01, <0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). The results of this study suggest that TLM-treated T3 supraglottic tumors have a good prognosis, substantially better than that of glottic tumors. A literature review, on the other hand, attributes to chemo-radiation-treated T3 supraglottic tumors a considerably poorer prognosis. Further studies of homogenous populations in terms of anatomical subsites are needed in order to reach a consensus regarding treatment of T3 laryngeal tumors.

  7. Discovery of orally efficacious RORγt inverse agonists, part 1: Identification of novel phenylglycinamides as lead scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Shirai, Junya; Tomata, Yoshihide; Kono, Mitsunori; Ochida, Atsuko; Fukase, Yoshiyuki; Sato, Ayumu; Masada, Shinichi; Kawamoto, Tetsuji; Yonemori, Kazuko; Koyama, Ryoukichi; Nakagawa, Hideyuki; Nakayama, Masaharu; Uga, Keiko; Shibata, Akira; Koga, Keiko; Okui, Toshitake; Shirasaki, Mikio; Skene, Robert; Sang, BiChing; Hoffman, Isaac; Lane, Wes; Fujitani, Yasushi; Yamasaki, Masashi; Yamamoto, Satoshi

    2018-01-15

    A series of novel phenylglycinamides as retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gamma t (RORγt) inverse agonists were discovered through optimization of a high-throughput screen hit 1. (R)-N-(2-((3,5-Difluoro-4-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl) amino)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxy-N-methylisoxazole-5-carboxamide (22) was identified as one of the best of these compounds. It displayed higher subtype selectivity and specificity over other nuclear receptors and demonstrated in vivo potency to suppress the transcriptional activity of RORγt in a mouse PD (pharmacodynamic) model upon oral administration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. AgNORs in hyperplasia, papilloma and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Fonseca, L M; do Carmo, M A

    2000-01-01

    Ten inflammatory fibrous hyperplasias, ten papillomas, and nineteen oral squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed by the AgNOR technique to determine if different disturbances of oral epithelia presented different AgNOR counts. The papilloma group showed higher mean AgNOR counts (3.15 +/- 0.58) than the hyperplasia group (1.98 +/- 0.24) and smaller than the well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma group (6.56 +/- 1.25) and poorly differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma group (7.07 +/- 1.60). The differences among the groups of lesions were statistically significant (P < 0.05) except between the well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma group and the poorly differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma group. Our findings suggest that the cellular proliferation ratio in papillomas is greater than hyperplasias and smaller than carcinomas.

  9. External validation of the proposed T and N categories of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

    PubMed

    Al-Najar, Amr; Alkatout, Ibrahim; Al-Sanabani, Sakhr; Korda, Joanna Beate; Hegele, Axel; Bolenz, Christian; Jünemann, Klaus-Peter; Naumann, Carsten Maik

    2011-04-01

    The aim of this study was to validate recently proposed modifications to the current TNM classification of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) by using data from four German urological centers. We identified 89 patients treated for histologically confirmed PSCC between 1996 and 2008 and reclassified them according to the proposed TNM staging revisions. The proposed changes restricted T2 to tumoral invasion of the corpus spongiosum, whereas invasion of the corpus cavernosum was considered as T3. No changes were made to T1 and T4. Furthermore, N1 was limited to unilateral and N2 to bilateral inguinal lymph node involvement regardless of their number. Pelvic lymph node involvement and fixed lymph node were considered as N3 tumors. The range of follow up after initial treatment was 1-142 months (mean 38). Node-negative cases following the current classification were 65.2% (30/46), 48.5% (16/33) and 87.5% (7/8) for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. According to the proposed classification, N0 cases were markedly reduced in the T3 group (55.5%, 10/18) and relatively changed in the T2 group (56.5%, 13/23). T4 patients had no negative disease status. The 3-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for the proposed categories were 85.4%, 71.6% and 62.4% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. For the current categories, the 3-year DSS rates were 85.4%, 66.9% and 100% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The 3-year DSS of the current N categories was 78.7%, 51% and 13.3% for N1, N2 and N3, respectively. According to the newly proposed categories, the 3-year DSS was 70%, 50% and 13.3% for N1, N2 and N3, respectively. Tumor and nodal staging of the newly proposed TNM classification show a more distinctive survival compared to the current one. However, a multi-institutional validation is still required to further corroborate the proposed modifications. © 2011 The Japanese Urological Association.

  10. Elevated frequencies of CD8 T cells expressing PD-1, CTLA-4 and Tim-3 within tumour from perineural squamous cell carcinoma patients.

    PubMed

    Linedale, Richard; Schmidt, Campbell; King, Brigid T; Ganko, Annabelle G; Simpson, Fiona; Panizza, Benedict J; Leggatt, Graham R

    2017-01-01

    Perineural spread of tumour cells along cranial nerves is a severe complication of primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region. While surgical excision of the tumour is the treatment of choice, removal of all the tumour is often complicated by the neural location and recurrence is frequent. Non-invasive immune treatments such as checkpoint inhibitor blockade may be useful in this set of tumours although little is understood about the immune response to perineural spread of squamous cell carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry studies suggest that perineural tumour contains a lymphocyte infiltrate but it is difficult to quantitate the different proportions of immune cell subsets and expression of checkpoint molecules such as PD-1, Tim-3 and CTLA-4. Using flow cytometry of excised perineural tumour tissue, we show that a T cell infiltrate is prominent in addition to less frequent B cell, NK cell and NKT cell infiltrates. CD8 T cells are more frequent than other T cells in the tumour tissue. Amongst CD8 T cells, the frequency of Tim-3, CTLA-4 and PD-1 expressing cells was significantly greater in the tumour relative to the blood, a pattern that was repeated for Tim-3, CTLA-4 and PD-1 amongst non-CD8 T cells. Using immunohistochemistry, PD-1 and PD-L1-expression could be detected in close proximity amongst perineural tumour tissue. The data suggest that perineural SCC contains a mixture of immune cells with a predominant T cell infiltrate containing CD8 T cells. Elevated frequencies of tumour-associated Tim-3+, CTLA-4+ and PD-1+ CD8 T cells suggests that a subset of patients may benefit from local antibody blockade of these checkpoint inhibitors.

  11. Prognostic factors and relative risk for survival in N1-3 oral squamous cell carcinoma: a multivariate analysis using Cox's hazard model.

    PubMed

    Noguchi, M; Kido, Y; Kubota, H; Kinjo, H; Kohama, G

    1999-12-01

    The records of 136 patients with N1-3 oral squamous cell carcinoma treated by surgery were investigated retrospectively, with the aim of finding out which factors were predictive of survival on multivariate analysis. Four independent factors significantly influenced survival in the following order: pN stage; T stage; histological grade; and N stage. The most significant was pN stage, the five-year survival for patients with pN0 being 91% and for patients with pN1-3 41%. A further study was carried out on the 80 patients with pN1-3 to find out their prognostic factors for survival and the independent factors identified by multivariate analysis were T stage and presence or absence of extracapsular spread to metastatic lymph nodes.

  12. Correlation study between facet joint cartilage and intervertebral discs in early lumbar vertebral degeneration using T2, T2* and T1ρ mapping

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yi; Hu, Jianzhong; Duan, Chunyue; Hu, Ping; Lu, Hongbin; Peng, Xianjing

    2017-01-01

    Recent advancements in magnetic resonance imaging have allowed for the early detection of biochemical changes in intervertebral discs and articular cartilage. Here, we assessed the feasibility of axial T2, T2* and T1ρ mapping of the lumbar facet joints (LFJs) to determine correlations between cartilage and intervertebral discs (IVDs) in early lumbar vertebral degeneration. We recruited 22 volunteers and examined 202 LFJs and 101 IVDs with morphological (sagittal and axial FSE T2-weighted imaging) and axial biochemical (T2, T2* and T1ρ mapping) sequences using a 3.0T MRI scanner. IVDs were graded using the Pfirrmann system. Mapping values of LFJs were recorded according to the degeneration grades of IVDs at the same level. The feasibility of T2, T2* and T1ρ in IVDs and LFJs were analyzed by comparing these mapping values across subjects with different rates of degeneration using Kruskal-Wallis tests. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to compare T2, T2* and T1ρ values of discs and LFJs. We found excellent reproducibility in the T2, T2* and T1ρ values for the nucleus pulposus (NP), anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus (PAF), and LFJ cartilage (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.806–0.955). T2, T2* and T1ρ mapping (all P<0.01) had good Pfirrmann grade performances in the NP with IVD degeneration. LFJ T2* values were significantly different between grades I and IV (PL = 0.032, PR = 0.026), as were T1ρ values between grades II and III (PL = 0.002, PR = 0.006) and grades III and IV (PL = 0.006, PR = 0.001). Correlations were moderately negative for T1ρ values between LFJ cartilage and NP (rL = −0.574, rR = −0.551), and between LFJ cartilage and PAF (rL = −0.551, rR = −0.499). T1ρ values of LFJ cartilage was weakly correlated with T2 (r = 0.007) and T2* (r = −0.158) values. Overall, we show that axial T1ρ effectively assesses early LFJ cartilage degeneration. Using T1ρ analysis, we propose a link between LFJ degeneration and IVD NP or

  13. IgA response of BALB/c mice to orally administered Salmonella typhimurium flagellin-displaying T2 bacteriophages.

    PubMed

    Synnott, Aidan; Ohshima, Kazuhito; Nakai, Yutaka; Tanji, Yasunori

    2009-01-01

    Salmonella typhimurium antigens were displayed on the capsid of a T2 bacteriophage to explore the potential of phage display for an oral vaccine. Segments of the flagellin proteins FliC (H1 antigen) and FljB (H2) were fused to the N-terminal of T2 phage SOC to give two recombinant phages, T2FliCm and T2FljBm. Over 14 days, 19 BALB/c mice were orally administered twice, either with purified recombinant FliCm and FljBm protein, or T2FliCm and T2FljBm with or without host Escherichia coli. Feces were sampled over 10 weeks and examined for phage by plaque assay and for the presence of mucosal IgA by ELISA. Relatively few phages were detected relative to the amount administered (up to 8.21 x 10(3) PFU/g faeces) and none were detected five days after initial administration. The administration of a large number of phages appeared to cause no clinical symptoms. IgA concentration in feces peaked around four weeks after the second administration and subsided after eight weeks. The highest relative titers were observed in the protein group (0.37% for anti-FliCm and 0.22% for anti-FljBm) and the mouse group which received no E. coli (0.33% and 0.35%) despite the theoretical amount of protein contained in a phage dose being at least 80-465 times lower than the protein dose administered. The possibility that the immuno-stimulatory properties of the phage create an adjuvant effect to enhance the immunogenic properties of the displayed proteins is discussed. We conclude that phage may be valuable as a vector for oral vaccines. (c) 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol.

  14. Tyms double (2R) and triple repeat (3R) confers risk for human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Bezerra, Alexandre Medeiros; Sant'Ana, Thalita Araújo; Gomes, Adriana Vieira; de Lacerda Vidal, Aurora Karla; Muniz, Maria Tereza Cartaxo

    2014-12-01

    The oral cancer is responsible for approximately 3 % of cases of cancer in Brazil. Epidemiological studies have associated low folate intake with an increased risk of epithelial cancers, including oral cancer. Folic acid has a key role in DNA synthesis, repair, methylation and this is the basis of explanations for a putative role for folic acid in cancer prevention. The role of folic acid in carcinogenesis may be modulated by polymorphism C677T in MTHFR and tandem repeats 2R/3R in the promoter site of TYMS gene that are related to decreased enzymatic activity and quantity and availability of the enzyme, respectively. These events cause a decrease in the synthesis, repair and DNA methylation, which can lead to a disruption in the expression of tumor suppressor genes as TP53. The objective of this study was investigate the distribution of polymorphisms C677T and tandem repeats 2R/3R associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). 53 paraffin-embedded samples from patients who underwent surgery but are no longer at the institution and 43 samples collected by method of oral exfoliation by cytobrush were selected. 132 healthy subjects were selected by specialists at the dental clinics of the Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco-FOP. The MTHFR genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP, and the TYMS genotyping was performed by conventional PCR. Fisher's Exact test at significant level of 5 %. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the strength of association between genotype frequency and OSCC development. The results were statistically significant for the tandem repeats of the TYMS gene (p = 0.015). The TYMS 2R3R genotype was significantly associated with the development of OSCC (OR = 3.582; 95 % CI 1.240-10.348; p = 0.0262) and also the genotype 3R3R (OR = 3.553; 95 % CI 1.293-9.760; p = 0.0345). When analyzed together, the TYMS 2R3R + 3R3R genotypes also showed association (OR = 3.518; 95 % CI 11.188-10.348; p

  15. Preoperative detection of malignant liver tumors: Comparison of 3D-T2-weighted sequences with T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and single shot T2 at 1.5 T.

    PubMed

    Barat, Maxime; Soyer, Philippe; Dautry, Raphael; Pocard, Marc; Lo-Dico, Rea; Najah, Haythem; Eveno, Clarisse; Cassinotto, Christophe; Dohan, Anthony

    2018-03-01

    To assess the performances of three-dimensional (3D)-T2-weighted sequences compared to standard T2-weighted turbo spin echo (T2-TSE), T2-half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (T2-HASTE), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and 3D-T1-weighted VIBE sequences in the preoperative detection of malignant liver tumors. From 2012 to 2015, all patients of our institution undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination for suspected malignant liver tumors were prospectively included. Patients had contrast-enhanced 3D-T1-weighted, DWI, 3D-T2-SPACE, T2-HASTE and T2-TSE sequences. Imaging findings were compared with those obtained at follow-up, surgery and histopathological analysis. Sensitivities for the detection of malignant liver tumors were compared for each sequence using McNemar test. A subgroup analysis was conducted for HCCs. Image artifacts were analyzed and compared using Wilcoxon paired signed rank-test. Thirty-three patients were included: 13 patients had 40 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 20 had 54 liver metastases. 3D-T2-weighted sequences had a higher sensitivity than T2-weighted TSE sequences for the detection of malignant liver tumors (79.8% versus 68.1%; P < 0.001). The difference did not reach significance for HCC. T1-weighted VIBE and DWI had a higher sensitivity than T2-weighted sequences. 3D-T2-weighted-SPACE sequences showed significantly less artifacts than T2-weitghted TSE. 3D-T2-weighted sequences show very promising performances for the detection of liver malignant tumors compared to T2-weighted TSE sequences. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Differential Impact of Close Surgical Margin on Local Recurrence According to Primary Tumor Size in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Jang, Jeon Yeob; Choi, Nayeon; Ko, Young-Hyeh; Chung, Man Ki; Son, Young-Ik; Baek, Chung-Hwan; Baek, Kwan-Hyuck; Jeong, Han-Sin

    2017-06-01

    The extent of surgical safety margin (gross tumor border to resection margin) in oral cancer surgery remains unclear, and no study has determined the differential impact of close surgical margin and microscopic extension according to primary tumor size in oral cancers. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 325 patients with surgically treated oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas to determine the effect of a close surgical margin (<5 mm) (cSM 5 ) on local recurrence. In addition, the depth of microscopic tumor infiltration was determined in 90 available surgical specimens. The cSM 5 was not related to the risk of local tumor recurrence in early-stage oral cancer, while it significantly increased the rate of local tumor recurrence in resectable advanced-stage oral cancers (hazard ratio 3.157, 95 % confidence interval 1.050-9.407, p = 0.041). Addition of postoperative adjuvant radiation to early-stage tumors with cSM 5 did not further reduce the local recurrence rate compared to surgery alone. The depth of microscopic tumor extension from the gross tumor border was significantly associated with primary tumor thickness (ρ = 0.390, p < 0.001) and tumor sizes (ρ = 0.308, p = 0.003), which was a median (range) of 0.84 (0.14-2.32) mm in T1, 1.06 (0.20-4.34) mm in T2, and 1.77 (0.13-4.70) mm in T3-4. The cSM 5 was a significant risk factor for local recurrence only in advanced oral cancers, but not in early-stage tumors, where microscopic tumor extension was not beyond 3 mm in T1 tumors. Thus, the extent of surgical safety margin can be redefined according to the primary tumor size.

  17. Measurement of T1 of the Ultrashort T2* Components in White Matter of the Brain at 3T

    PubMed Central

    Du, Jiang; Sheth, Vipul; He, Qun; Carl, Michael; Chen, Jun; Corey-Bloom, Jody; Bydder, Graeme M.

    2014-01-01

    Recent research demonstrates that white matter of the brain contains not only long T2 components, but a minority of ultrashort T2* components. Adiabatic inversion recovery prepared dual echo ultrashort echo time (IR-dUTE) sequences can be used to selectively image the ultrashort T2* components in white matter of the brain using a clinical whole body scanner. The T2*s of the ultrashort T2* components can be quantified using mono-exponential decay fitting of the IR-dUTE signal at a series of different TEs. However, accurate T1 measurement of the ultrashort T2* components is technically challenging. Efficient suppression of the signal from the majority of long T2 components is essential for robust T1 measurement. In this paper we describe a novel approach to this problem based on the use of IR-dUTE data acquisitions with different TR and TI combinations to selectively detect the signal recovery of the ultrashort T2* components. Exponential recovery curve fitting provides efficient T1 estimation, with minimized contamination from the majority of long T2 components. A rubber phantom and a piece of bovine cortical bone were used for validation of this approach. Six healthy volunteers were studied. An averaged T2* of 0.32±0.09 ms, and a short mean T1 of 226±46 ms were demonstrated for the healthy volunteers at 3T. PMID:25093859

  18. Impact of concomitant chemoradiation on survival for patients with T1-2N1 head and neck cancer.

    PubMed

    Zumsteg, Zachary S; Kim, Sungjin; David, John M; Yoshida, Emi J; Tighiouart, Mourad; Shiao, Stephen L; Scher, Kevin; Mita, Alain; Sherman, Eric J; Lee, Nancy Y; Ho, Allen S

    2017-05-01

    Single-modality radiotherapy is considered a standard-of-care option for certain stage III, T1-2N1 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). The role of concomitant chemoradiation is not well established because there have been no studies comparing chemoradiation with radiation alone in this population. This study analyzed patients in the National Cancer Data Base with cT1-2N1M0 invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2012 and were undergoing definitive radiation. Patients who were undergoing surgery before radiation with unknown follow-up or for whom either the receipt or timing of chemotherapy was unknown were excluded. In all, 5030 patients with T1-2N1 oropharyngeal, laryngeal, or hypopharyngeal cancer were included. The median follow-up was 56.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.7-58.6 months). Overall, 68% of the patients received concomitant chemoradiation (CCRT). The use of CCRT significantly increased during the time period of this study from 53% in 2004 to 78% in 2012 (P < .001). CCRT was associated with improved overall survival (OS) in comparison with radiation alone in a multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.88; P < .001). In propensity score-adjusted analyses, CCRT remained significantly associated with improved OS, with 5-year OS rates of 63.5% (95% CI, 60.7%-66.2%) and 55.6% (95% CI, 52.7%-58.4%; P < .001) with CCRT and radiation alone, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed a benefit across the majority of subgroups, including patients with oropharyngeal cancer (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.85; P < .001). Concomitant chemoradiation is associated with improved survival for patients with T1-2N1 HNSCC. Prospective trials in this population should be pursued. Cancer 2017;123:1555-1565. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

  19. White Matter Fiber-based Analysis of T1w/T2w Ratio Map.

    PubMed

    Chen, Haiwei; Budin, Francois; Noel, Jean; Prieto, Juan Carlos; Gilmore, John; Rasmussen, Jerod; Wadhwa, Pathik D; Entringer, Sonja; Buss, Claudia; Styner, Martin

    2017-02-01

    To develop, test, evaluate and apply a novel tool for the white matter fiber-based analysis of T1w/T2w ratio maps quantifying myelin content. The cerebral white matter in the human brain develops from a mostly non-myelinated state to a nearly fully mature white matter myelination within the first few years of life. High resolution T1w/T2w ratio maps are believed to be effective in quantitatively estimating myelin content on a voxel-wise basis. We propose the use of a fiber-tract-based analysis of such T1w/T2w ratio data, as it allows us to separate fiber bundles that a common regional analysis imprecisely groups together, and to associate effects to specific tracts rather than large, broad regions. We developed an intuitive, open source tool to facilitate such fiber-based studies of T1w/T2w ratio maps. Via its Graphical User Interface (GUI) the tool is accessible to non-technical users. The framework uses calibrated T1w/T2w ratio maps and a prior fiber atlas as an input to generate profiles of T1w/T2w values. The resulting fiber profiles are used in a statistical analysis that performs along-tract functional statistical analysis. We applied this approach to a preliminary study of early brain development in neonates. We developed an open-source tool for the fiber based analysis of T1w/T2w ratio maps and tested it in a study of brain development.

  20. White matter fiber-based analysis of T1w/T2w ratio map

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Haiwei; Budin, Francois; Noel, Jean; Prieto, Juan Carlos; Gilmore, John; Rasmussen, Jerod; Wadhwa, Pathik D.; Entringer, Sonja; Buss, Claudia; Styner, Martin

    2017-02-01

    Purpose: To develop, test, evaluate and apply a novel tool for the white matter fiber-based analysis of T1w/T2w ratio maps quantifying myelin content. Background: The cerebral white matter in the human brain develops from a mostly non-myelinated state to a nearly fully mature white matter myelination within the first few years of life. High resolution T1w/T2w ratio maps are believed to be effective in quantitatively estimating myelin content on a voxel-wise basis. We propose the use of a fiber-tract-based analysis of such T1w/T2w ratio data, as it allows us to separate fiber bundles that a common regional analysis imprecisely groups together, and to associate effects to specific tracts rather than large, broad regions. Methods: We developed an intuitive, open source tool to facilitate such fiber-based studies of T1w/T2w ratio maps. Via its Graphical User Interface (GUI) the tool is accessible to non-technical users. The framework uses calibrated T1w/T2w ratio maps and a prior fiber atlas as an input to generate profiles of T1w/T2w values. The resulting fiber profiles are used in a statistical analysis that performs along-tract functional statistical analysis. We applied this approach to a preliminary study of early brain development in neonates. Results: We developed an open-source tool for the fiber based analysis of T1w/T2w ratio maps and tested it in a study of brain development.

  1. Exclusive radiotherapy for stage T1-T2N0M0 lanryngeal cancer: retrospective study of 59 patients at CFB and CHU de Caen.

    PubMed

    Cuny, F; Géry, B; Florescu, C; Clarisse, B; Blanchard, D; Rame, J-P; Babin, E; De Raucourt, D

    2013-11-01

    Study of patients with stage T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 glottic cancer treated by exclusive radiotherapy and comparison of the survival and functional results of this series with those of the literature. Retrospective study of stage T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 glottic cancers diagnosed between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2010 and treated by exclusive radiotherapy. Evaluation of survival, recurrence and larynx preservation rates. CLCC François-Baclesse and CHU de Caen. Fifty-nine patients (53 men and sixwomen) treated for glottic cancer (57 squamous cell carcinomas, two verrucous carcinomas) comprising 51 T1N0M0 and eight T2N0M0 tumours. Treatment with exclusive radiotherapy (mean dose of 70 Grays limited to the thyroid cartilage for 57 patients, with lymph node irradiation for two patients). In this series, five (9.8%) patients with stage T1N0M0 glottic cancer and three patients (37.5%) with stage T2N0M0 glottic cancer relapsed, corresponding to a global recurrence rate of 13.6%. Three of the eight recurrences involved lymph nodes exclusively (N), two patients relapsed exclusively at the primary tumour site (T) and three patients presented local and lymph node recurrence (T and N). Treatment consisted of salvage total laryngectomy with bilateral cervical lymph node dissection in three cases, bilateral cervical lymph node dissection and sensitized radiotherapy in two cases, exclusive chemotherapy in one case, cervical lymph node dissection and cervical radiotherapy in one case. The last patient with recurrence died prior to salvage therapy. The larynx preservation rate was 94.9%. In comparison with the literature, treatment of stage T1-T2N0M0 glottic cancer by exclusive radiotherapy gives very good results, with a larynx preservation rate of 95%. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  2. [Correlations between serine hydroxymethyltransferase1 C1420T polymorphisms and susceptibilities to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma].

    PubMed

    Wang, Yi-Min; Guo, Wei; Zhang, Xiu-Feng; Li, Yan; Wang, Na; Ge, Hui; Wei, Li-Zhen; Wen, Deng-Gui; Zhang, Jian-Hui

    2006-03-01

    Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), a key enzyme in the folate metabolism, affects gene methylation and DNA synthesis through providing one-carbon units for purine, thymidylate, and methionine. It is closely related to the development and progression of tumors. This study was to investigate the correlations between SHMT1 C1420T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and susceptibilities to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA). SHMT1 C1420T SNP was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP) analysis in 584 ESCC patients, 467 GCA patients, and 540 healthy controls. The correlations between SHMT1 C1420T SNP polymorphisms and susceptibilities to ESCC and GCA were analyzed with Logistic regression model. Family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) significantly enhanced the risk of developing ESCC and GCA [the age, gender, smoking status, and family history of UGIC adjusted odds ratio (OR)=2.89, 95% confident interval (CI)=2.23-3.73; OR =1.68, 95% CI=1.28-2.23]. The frequency of 1420C/T genotype was significantly lower in ESCC and GCA patients than in healthy controls (12.0% vs. 16.5%, P<0.05; 10.9% vs. 16.5%, P<0.01). Compared with C/C genotype, C/T genotype significantly reduced susceptibilities to ESCC and GCA, with adjusted OR of 0.70 (95% CI=0.50-0.98) for ESCC and 0.55 (95% CI=0.38-0.81) for GCA. Stratification analysis showed that C/T genotype significantly reduced susceptibilities to ESCC and GCA among non-smokers, with adjusted OR of 0.54 (95% CI=0.33-0.90) for ESCC and 0.56 (95% CI=0.33-0.95) for GCA. In addition, C/T genotype significantly reduced susceptibility to GCA among individuals with or without UGIC history, with adjusted OR of 0.46 (95%CI=0.24-0.90) and 0.62 (95% CI=0.38-0.99) respectively, and reduced susceptibility to ESCC only among individuals with UGIC history, with adjusted OR of 0.51 (95% CI=0.29-0.89). SHMT1 1420C/T genotype could significantly

  3. [Frequency of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral epithelial dysplasia in oral and oropharyngeal mucosa in Chile].

    PubMed

    Martínez, Carolina; Hernández, Marcela; Martínez, Benjamín; Adorno, Daniela

    2016-02-01

    Oral cancer in Chile corresponds approximately to 1.6% of all cancer cases. There are few studies about oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma in the Chilean population. To determine the frequency of hyperkeratosis, mild, moderate and severe oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa in a registry of the Oral Pathology Reference Institute of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, in a ten years period. Review of clinical records and pathological plates of 389 patients, obtained between 1990 and 2009. Cases were selected according to their pathological diagnosis, including hyperkeratosis, oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma. Forty four percent of cases were squamous cell carcinoma, followed by hyperkeratosis in 37% and mild epithelial dysplasia in 11%. Squamous cell carcinoma was more common in men aged over 50 years. Most of the potentially malignant disorders presented clinically as leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma were clinically recognized as cancer. In this study, men aged over 50 years are the highest risk group for oral cancer. Early diagnosis is deficient since most of these lesions were diagnosed when squamous cell carcinoma became invasive. Leukoplakia diagnosis is mostly associated with hyperkeratosis and epithelial dysplasia, therefore biopsy of these lesions is mandatory to improve early diagnosis.

  4. Treatment Outcomes for T4 Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Zenga, Joseph; Wilson, Michael; Adkins, Douglas R; Gay, Hiram A; Haughey, Bruce H; Kallogjeri, Dorina; Michel, Loren S; Paniello, Randal C; Rich, Jason T; Thorstad, Wade L; Nussenbaum, Brian

    2015-12-01

    Little is known about treatment outcomes for T4 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), particularly in the era of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease. To evaluate oncologic outcomes for T4 OPSCC treated with primary surgical and nonsurgical therapies. Retrospective cohort study of 131 patients from a single academic hospital, who were treated for T4a or T4b OPSCC (with any N stage and without distant metastatic disease at presentation) between 1998 and 2012 and had a minimum 2-year follow-up (the median follow-up time was 34.6 months). This study was conducted between January 1, 1998, and November 1, 2012. Sixty-nine patients underwent nonsurgical therapy, 47 (68%) of whom had p16-positive tumors. Nonsurgical treatment paradigms included induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (n = 36 [54%]), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n = 29 [43%]), and induction chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy alone (n = 2 [3%]). Sixty-two patients underwent surgical treatment, 50 (81%) of whom had p16-positive tumors. Fifty-seven surgical patients (92%) received adjuvant therapy. Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures included disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), 2-year gastrostomy and tracheostomy tube rates, and major complication rates. Significant baseline differences between the surgical vs nonsurgical groups included age (mean 59.8 vs 55.4 years [P = .005]), sex (male, 95% vs 84% [P = .04]), body mass index (<18.5 [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared], 3% vs 16% [P = .02]), and smoking history of 10 or more pack-years (48% vs 77% [P = .003]). For p16-positive patients, Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS, DSS, and DFS were significantly higher for surgically treated patients than for the nonsurgical group (χ(2)(1) = 7.335 for log-rank P = .007, χ(2)(1) = 8.607 for log-rank P = .003, and χ(2)(1) = 7.763 for log-rank P = .005, respectively

  5. Distinct human and mouse membrane trafficking systems for sweet taste receptors T1r2 and T1r3.

    PubMed

    Shimizu, Madoka; Goto, Masao; Kawai, Takayuki; Yamashita, Atsuko; Kusakabe, Yuko

    2014-01-01

    The sweet taste receptors T1r2 and T1r3 are included in the T1r taste receptor family that belongs to class C of the G protein-coupled receptors. Heterodimerization of T1r2 and T1r3 is required for the perception of sweet substances, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying this heterodimerization, including membrane trafficking. We developed tagged mouse T1r2 and T1r3, and human T1R2 and T1R3 and evaluated membrane trafficking in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. We found that human T1R3 surface expression was only observed when human T1R3 was coexpressed with human T1R2, whereas mouse T1r3 was expressed without mouse T1r2 expression. A domain-swapped chimera and truncated human T1R3 mutant showed that the Venus flytrap module and cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of human T1R3 contain a region related to the inhibition of human T1R3 membrane trafficking and coordinated regulation of human T1R3 membrane trafficking. We also found that the Venus flytrap module of both human T1R2 and T1R3 are needed for membrane trafficking, suggesting that the coexpression of human T1R2 and T1R3 is required for this event. These results suggest that the Venus flytrap module and CRD receive taste substances and play roles in membrane trafficking of human T1R2 and T1R3. These features are different from those of mouse receptors, indicating that human T1R2 and T1R3 are likely to have a novel membrane trafficking system.

  6. S100A8 as potential salivary biomarker of oral squamous cell carcinoma using nanoLC-MS/MS.

    PubMed

    Jou, Yu-Jen; Hua, Chun-Hung; Lin, Chia-Der; Lai, Chih-Ho; Huang, Su-Hua; Tsai, Ming-Hsui; Kao, Jung-Yie; Lin, Cheng-Wen

    2014-09-25

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) shows low 5-year survival; early treatment greatly reduces mortality and morbidity. Saliva is a non-invasive sample, with good potential to discover biomarkers for early detection. NanoLC-MS/MS served to analyze saliva proteome from control subjects (n=35) and OSCC patients T1 (n=29), T2 (n=36), T3 (n=14) and T4 (n=21) stages. Identified biomarkers were verified by Western blot and ELISA assays. NanoLC-MS/MS analysis of salivary proteins between 10 and 15kDa identified S100A8, hemoglobin delta and gamma-G globin in T3 and T4 stage OSCC as well as S100A7 in T1 and T2 stage OSCC. Western blot and ELISA indicated positive correlation between salivary S100A8 increment and tumor size stage. High level of S100A8 appeared in 3.4, 13.9, 92.9, and 100% of saliva OSCC patients with T1, T2, T3, and T4 stages, respectively. Significant increase of salivary S100A7 was observed in 20.7% and 11.1% of those with T1 and T2, respectively. AUROC curve indicated high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of S100A8-based ELISA as a detector. NanoLC-MS/MS, Western blot and ELISA manifested salivary S100A8 as a specific and sensitive marker for detection of OSCC patients. Salivary S100A8 protein could be applicable in developing OSCC diagnostics. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Blockade of adenosine A2A receptor enhances CD8+ T cells response and decreases regulatory T cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ma, Si-Rui; Deng, Wei-Wei; Liu, Jian-Feng; Mao, Liang; Yu, Guang-Tao; Bu, Lin-Lin; Kulkarni, Ashok B; Zhang, Wen-Feng; Sun, Zhi-Jun

    2017-06-07

    Cancer immunotherapy offers a promising approach in cancer treatment. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) could protect cancerous tissues from immune clearance via inhibiting T cells response. To date, the role of A2AR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been investigated. Here, we sought to explore the expression and immunotherapeutic value of A2AR blockade in HNSCC. The expression of A2AR was evaluated by immunostaining in 43 normal mucosae, 48 dysplasia and 165 primary HNSCC tissues. The immunotherapeutic value of A2AR blockade was assessed in vivo in genetically defined immunocompetent HNSCC mouse model. Immunostaining of HNSCC tissue samples revealed that increased expression of A2AR on tumor infiltrating immune cells correlated with advanced pathological grade, larger tumor size and positive lymph node status. Elevated A2AR expression was also detected in recurrent HNSCC and HNSCC tissues with induction chemotherapy. The expression of A2AR was found to be significantly correlated with HIF-1α, CD73, CD8 and Foxp3. Furthermore, the increased population of CD4 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cells (Tregs), which partially expressed A2AR, was observed in an immunocompetent mouse model that spontaneously develops HNSCC. Pharmacological blockade of A2AR by SCH58261 delayed the tumor growth in the HNSCC mouse model. Meanwhile, A2AR blockade significantly reduced the population of CD4 + Foxp3 + Tregs and enhanced the anti-tumor response of CD8 + T cells. These results offer a preclinical proof for the administration of A2AR inhibitor on prophylactic experimental therapy of HNSCC and suggest that A2AR blockade can be a potential novel strategy for HNSCC immunotherapy.

  8. Evaluation of neonatal brain myelination using the T1- and T2-weighted MRI ratio.

    PubMed

    Soun, Jennifer E; Liu, Michael Z; Cauley, Keith A; Grinband, Jack

    2017-09-01

    To validate the T1- and T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) MRI ratio technique in evaluating myelin in the neonatal brain. T1w and T2w MR images of 10 term neonates with normal-appearing brain parenchyma were obtained from a single 1.5 Tesla MRI and retrospectively analyzed. T1w/T2w ratio images were created with a postprocessing pipeline and qualitatively compared with standard clinical sequences (T1w, T2w, and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]). Quantitative assessment was also performed to assess the ratio technique in detecting areas of known myelination (e.g., posterior limb of the internal capsule) and very low myelination (e.g., optic radiations) using linear regression analysis and the Michelson Contrast equation, a measure of luminance contrast intensity. The ratio image provided qualitative improvements in the ability to visualize regional variation in myelin content of neonates. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between the ratio intensity values and ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the optic radiations (R 2  = 0.96 and P < 0.001). The Michelson Contrast equation showed that contrast differences between these two regions for the ratio images were 1.6 times higher than T1w, 2.6 times higher than T2w, and 1.8 times higher than ADC (all P < 0.001). Finally, the ratio improved visualization of the corticospinal tract, one of the earliest myelinated pathways. The T1w/T2w ratio accentuates contrast between myelinated and less myelinated structures and may enhance our diagnostic ability to detect myelination patterns in the neonatal brain. 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage2 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:690-696. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  9. The pathological significance of Notch1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Yoshida, Ryoji; Nagata, Masashi; Nakayama, Hideki; Niimori-Kita, Kanako; Hassan, Wael; Tanaka, Takuji; Shinohara, Masanori; Ito, Takaaki

    2013-10-01

    Notch signaling has been reported to be involved in several types of malignant tumors; however, the role and activation mechanism of Notch signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the pathological significance of Notch signaling and its activation mechanism in the development and progression of OSCC. In this study, we showed that the expression of Notch1 and intracellular Notch domain (NICD) are upregulated in OSCCs. In addition, Notch1 and NICD were found to be characteristically localized at the invasive tumor front. TNF-α, a major inflammatory cytokine, significantly activated Notch signaling in vitro. In a clinicopathological analysis, Notch1 expression correlated with both the T-stage and the clinical stage. Furthermore, loss of Notch1 expression correlated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and TNF-α-dependent invasiveness in an OSCC cell line. In addition, γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) prevented cell proliferation and TNF-α-dependent invasion of OSCC cells in vitro. These results indicate that altered expression of Notch1 is associated with increased cancer progression and that Notch1 regulates the steps involved in cell metastasis in OSCC. Moreover, inactivating Notch signaling with GSI could therefore be a useful approach for treating patients with OSCC.

  10. Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa: Correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading

    PubMed Central

    Vieira, Fabricio LD; Vieira, Beatriz J; Guimaraes, Marco AM; Aarestrup, Fernando M

    2008-01-01

    Background Squamous cells carcinoma is the most important malignant tumor with primary site in the oral cavity and, given the great exposure of mucosa and lips to the etiologic factors of this neoplasm, its incidence is high. Investigation of the prognostic determinants is significant for the expectations of treatment proposal and cure of the patient. The local immune response represented by peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate is a possible prognostic factor. Methods In this study, oral mucosa samples of squamous cells carcinoma were analyzed, separated according to their histological classification as well as the phenotypical profile of the cells comprising the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate was investigated by immunohistochemical method, in addiction, the cell proliferation index via protein Ki67 expression was determinated. Results The T lymphocytes made up most of this inflammatory infiltrate, and among these cells, there was a predominance of T CD8 lymphocytes relative to the T CD4 lymphocytes. The B lymhocytes were the second most visualized leucocyte cell type followed by macrophages and neutrophils. The immunohistochemical assessment of Ki-67 positive cells revealed a greater expression of this protein in samples of undifferentiated squamous cells carcinoma. Conclusion The results suggest that the cellular immune response is the main defense mechanism in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa, expressed by the large number of T lymphocytes and macrophages, and that the greatest intensity of local response may be associated with the best prognosis. PMID:18764952

  11. The interplay of T1- and T2-relaxation on T1-weighted MRI of hMSCs induced by Gd-DOTA-peptides.

    PubMed

    Cao, Limin; Li, Binbin; Yi, Peiwei; Zhang, Hailu; Dai, Jianwu; Tan, Bo; Deng, Zongwu

    2014-04-01

    Three Gd-DOTA-peptide complexes with different peptide sequence are synthesized and used as T1 contrast agent to label human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for magnetic resonance imaging study. The peptides include a universal cell penetrating peptide TAT, a linear MSC-specific peptide EM7, and a cyclic MSC-specific peptide CC9. A significant difference in labeling efficacy is observed between the Gd-DOTA-peptides as well as a control Dotarem. All Gd-DOTA-peptides as well as Dotarem induce significant increase in T1 relaxation rate which is in favor of T1-weighted MR imaging. Gd-DOTA-CC9 yields the maximum labeling efficacy but poor T1 contrast enhancement. Gd-DOTA-EM7 yields the minimum labeling efficacy but better T1 contrast enhancement. Gd-DOTA-TAT yields a similar labeling efficacy as Gd-DOTA-CC9 and similar T1 contrast enhancement as Gd-DOTA-EM7. The underlying mechanism that governs T1 contrast enhancement effect is discussed. Our results suggest that T1 contrast enhancement induced by Gd-DOTA-peptides depends not only on the introduced cellular Gd content, but more importantly on the effect that Gd-DOTA-peptides exert on the T1-relaxation and T2-relaxation processes/rates. Both T1 and particularly T2 relaxation rate have to be taken into account to interpret T1 contrast enhancement. In addition, the interpretation has to be based on cellular instead of aqueous longitudinal and transverse relaxivities of Gd-DOTA-peptides. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. T1r3 taste receptor involvement in gustatory neural responses to ethanol and oral ethanol preference.

    PubMed

    Brasser, Susan M; Norman, Meghan B; Lemon, Christian H

    2010-05-01

    Elevated alcohol consumption is associated with enhanced preference for sweet substances across species and may be mediated by oral alcohol-induced activation of neurobiological substrates for sweet taste. Here, we directly examined the contribution of the T1r3 receptor protein, important for sweet taste detection in mammals, to ethanol intake and preference and the neural processing of ethanol taste by measuring behavioral and central neurophysiological responses to oral alcohol in T1r3 receptor-deficient mice and their C57BL/6J background strain. T1r3 knockout and wild-type mice were tested in behavioral preference assays for long-term voluntary intake of a broad concentration range of ethanol, sucrose, and quinine. For neurophysiological experiments, separate groups of mice of each genotype were anesthetized, and taste responses to ethanol and stimuli of different taste qualities were electrophysiologically recorded from gustatory neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. Mice lacking the T1r3 receptor were behaviorally indifferent to alcohol (i.e., ∼50% preference values) at concentrations typically preferred by wild-type mice (5-15%). Central neural taste responses to ethanol in T1r3-deficient mice were significantly lower compared with C57BL/6J controls, a strain for which oral ethanol stimulation produced a concentration-dependent activation of sweet-responsive NTS gustatory neurons. An attenuated difference in ethanol preference between knockouts and controls at concentrations >15% indicated that other sensory and/or postingestive effects of ethanol compete with sweet taste input at high concentrations. As expected, T1r3 knockouts exhibited strongly suppressed behavioral and neural taste responses to sweeteners but did not differ from wild-type mice in responses to prototypic salt, acid, or bitter stimuli. These data implicate the T1r3 receptor in the sensory detection and transduction of ethanol taste.

  13. Expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha in early-stage and in metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ribeiro, Maisa; Teixeira, Sarah R; Azevedo, Monarko N; Fraga, Ailton C; Gontijo, Antônio Pm; Vêncio, Eneida F

    2017-04-01

    To investigate hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha expression in distinct oral squamous cell carcinoma subtypes and topographies and correlate with clinicopathological data. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 93 cases of OSCC. Clinical and histopathological data were reviewed from medical records. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha status was distinct according to tumor location, subtype and topography affect. In superficial oral squamous cell carcinomas, most tumor cells overexpressed hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha, whereas hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha was restricted to the intratumoral region in conventional squamous cell carcinomas. All basaloid squamous cell carcinomas exhibited downregulation of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha. Interestingly, metastatic lymph nodes (91.7%, p = 0.001) and the intratumoral regions of corresponding primary tumors (58.3%, p = 0.142) showed hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha-positive tumor cells. Overall survival was poor in patients with metastatic lymph nodes. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha has distinct expression patterns in different oral squamous cell carcinoma subtypes and topographies, suggesting that low oxygen tension promotes the growth pattern of superficial and conventional squamous cell carcinoma, but not basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. Indeed, a hypoxic environment may facilitate regional metastasis, making it a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in primary tumors.

  14. Tim-3-expressing macrophages are functionally suppressed and expanded in oral squamous cell carcinoma due to virus-induced Gal-9 expression.

    PubMed

    Dong, Jianfeng; Cheng, Lijun; Zhao, Minchao; Pan, Xiangfeng; Feng, Zhiqiang; Wang, Dawei

    2017-05-01

    Oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a common malignant tumor in the oral cavity. High-risk human papillomavirus 16 infection is a major cause of oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma development. Strong antitumor immune responses, especially CD8 + T cell responses, are thought to be essential to effective cancer treatment and are associated with better prognosis in oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, we examined the role of the Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway in oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. We found that Gal-9 expression by CD4 + T cells was increased in human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, but not in human papillomavirus-negative oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Increased Gal-9 secretion by CD4 + T cells presented multiple immunosuppressive effects. Coculturing monocytes with high Gal-9-expressing CD4 + T cells resulted in the expansion of Tim-3 + monocytes, which suppressed interferon gamma production by activated CD8 + T cells. Subsequently, total monocytes incubated with exogenous Gal-9, or high Gal-9-expressing CD4 + T cells, suppressed the expression of interferon gamma by CD8 + T cells. Exogenous Gal-9 and high Gal-9-expressing CD4 + T cells also suppressed the secretion of both interleukin 10 and interleukin 12 by monocytes. These effects are Tim-3/Gal-9-dependent because blocking Tim-3 and/or Gal-9 could enhance the support of CD8 + T cell interferon gamma production and the interleukin 10 and interleukin 12 secretion by monocytes. Together, these data suggest that the high Tim-3 expression in monocytes could be utilized by tumor-promoting Gal-9 expression on CD4 + T cells. Immunotherapy in human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients therefore faces an additional challenge posed by Tim-3 and Gal-9 and likely requires the blockade of these

  15. CD44 and ALDH1 immunoexpression as prognostic indicators of invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ortiz, Rafael Carneiro; Lopes, Nathália Martins; Amôr, Nadia Ghinelli; Ponce, José Burgos; Schmerling, Cláudia Kliemann; Lara, Vanessa Soares; Moyses, Raquel Ajub; Rodini, Camila Oliveira

    2018-05-23

    Tumour metastasis has been associated with cancer stem cells, a small population with stem-like cells properties, higher rate of migration and metastatic potential compared to cells from the tumour bulk. Our aim was to evaluate the immunoexpression of the putative cancer stem cell biomarkers ALDH1 and CD44 in primary tumour and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes. Tumour tissue specimens (n=50) and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes (n=25) were surgically obtained from 50 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and submitted to immunohistochemistry. CD44 and ALDH1 were semi-quantitatively scored according to the proportion and intensity of positive cells within the invasive front and metastatic lymph nodes as a whole. A combined score was obtained by multiplying both parameters and later dichotomized into a final score classified as low (≤ 2) or high (> 2) immunoexpression. ALDH1 and CD44 immunoexpression was detected in both tumour sites, although the means of ALDH1 (P = 0.0985) and CD44 (P = 0.4220) cells were higher in metastasis compared to primary tumours. ALDH1 high was positively associated (P = 0.0184) with angiolymphatic invasion, while CD44 high was positively associated (P = 0.0181) with metastasis (N+). At multivariate analysis, CD44 significantly increased the odds of lymph node metastasis, regardless of T stage (OR=8,24; 1,64-65,64, p=0,0088). CD44 immunoexpression was a significant predictor of lymph node metastasis, while ALDH1 high immunostaining was associated with angiolymphatic invasion. Altogether, it suggests that immunoexpression of CD44 and ALDH1 links the cancer stem cell phenotype with oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  16. Comparison of T1 and T2 metabolite relaxation times in glioma and normal brain at 3 T

    PubMed Central

    Li, Yan; Srinivasan, Radhika; Ratiney, Helene; Lu, Ying; Chang, Susan M.; Nelson, Sarah J.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose To measure T1 and T2 relaxation times of metabolites in glioma patients at 3T and to investigate how these values influence the observed metabolite levels. Materials and Methods Twenty-three patients with gliomas and ten volunteers were studied with single voxel 2D J-resolved PRESS using a 3T MR scanner. Voxels were chosen in normal appearing white matter and in regions of tumor. The T1 and T2 of choline containing compounds (Cho), creatine (Cr) and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) were estimated. Results Metabolite T1 relaxation values in gliomas were not significantly different from values in normal white matter. The T2 of Cho and Cr were statistically significantly longer for Grade 4 gliomas than for normal white matter but the T2 of NAA was similar. These differences were large enough to impact the corrections of metabolite levels for relaxation times with tumor grade in terms of metabolite ratios (P<0.001). Conclusion The differential increase in T2 for Cho and Cr relative to NAA means that the ratios of Cho/NAA and Cr/NAA are higher in tumor at longer echo times relative to values in normal appearing brain. Having this information may be useful in defining the acquisition parameters for optimizing contrast between tumor and normal tissue in MRSI data, where limited time is available and only one echo time can be used. PMID:18666155

  17. Predictors of clinical-pathologic stage discrepancy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: A National Cancer Database study.

    PubMed

    Kılıç, Sarah S; Kılıç, Suat; Crippen, Meghan M; Varughese, Denny; Eloy, Jean Anderson; Baredes, Soly; Mahmoud, Omar M; Park, Richard Chan Woo

    2018-04-01

    Few studies have examined the frequency and survival implications of clinicopathologic stage discrepancy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Oral cavity SCC cases with full pathologic staging information were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Clinical and pathologic stages were compared. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with stage discrepancy. There were 9110 cases identified, of which 67.3% of the cases were stage concordant, 19.9% were upstaged, and 12.8% were downstaged. The N classification discordance (28.5%) was more common than T classification discordance (27.6%). In cases of T classification discordance, downstaging is more common than upstaging (15.4% vs 12.1% of cases), but in cases of N classification discordance, the reverse is true; upstaging is much more common than downstaging (20.1 vs 8.4% of cases). Clinicopathologic stage discrepancy in oral cavity SCC is a common phenomenon that is associated with a number of clinical factors and has survival implications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Postoperative radiotherapy for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with intermediate risk of recurrence: A case match study.

    PubMed

    Barry, Conor P; Wong, Daniel; Clark, Jonathan R; Shaw, Richard J; Gupta, Ruta; Magennis, Patrick; Triantafyllou, Asterios; Gao, Kan; Brown, James S

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on recurrence and survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of intermediate recurrence risk. Intermediate risk patients, defined as pT1, pT2, pN0, or pN1 with at least one adverse pathological feature (eg, lymphovascular/perineural invasion), were identified from the head and neck databases of the Liverpool Head and Neck Cancer Unit and the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute. Patients who received surgery and PORT were case matched with patients treated by surgery alone based on pN, pT, margins, and pathological features. Ninety patients were matched into 45 pairs. There was significant improvement (P = .039) in locoregional control with PORT (84%) compared with surgery alone (60%), which was concentrated in the pN1 subgroup (P = .036), but not the pN0 subgroup (P = .331). PORT significantly improves locoregional control for intermediate risk OSCC. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. Hybrid nanotrimers for dual T 1 and T 2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

    DOE PAGES

    Cheng, Kai; Yang, Meng; Zhang, Ruiping; ...

    2014-10-04

    Development of multifunctional nanoparticle-based probes for dual T 1- and T 2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could allow us to image and diagnose the tumors or other abnormalities in an exceptionally accurate and reliable manner. In this study, by fusing distinct nanocrystals via solid-state interfaces, we built hybrid heteronanostructures to combine both T 1 and T 2- weighted contrast agents together for MRI with high accuracy and reliability. The resultant hybrid heterotrimers showed high stability in physiological conditions and could induce both simultaneous positive and negative contrast enhancements in MR images. Small animal positron emission tomography imaging study revealed thatmore » the hybrid heterostructures displayed favorable biodistribution and were suitable for in vivo imaging. Furthermore, their potential as dual contrast agents for T 1 and T 2-weighted MRI was further demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo imaging and relaxivity measurements.« less

  20. Isolated perifacial lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma with clinically node-negative neck.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, Sangeet Kumar; Arora, Sowrabh Kumar; Kumar, Gopal; Sarin, Deepak

    2016-10-01

    The incidence of occult perifacial nodal disease in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is not well reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of isolated perifacial lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with a clinically node-negative neck. The study will shed light on current controversies and will provide valuable clinical and pathological information in the practice of routine comprehensive removal of these lymph node pads in selective neck dissection in the node-negative neck. Prospective analysis. This study was started in August 2011 when intraoperatively we routinely separated the lymph node levels from the main specimen for evaluation of the metastatic rate to different lymph node levels in 231 patients of oral squamous cell cancer with a clinically node-negative neck. The current study demonstrated that 19 (8.22%) out of 231 patients showed ipsilateral isolated perifacial lymph node involvement. The incidence of isolated perifacial nodes did not differ significantly between the oral tongue (7.14%) and buccal mucosa (7.75%). Incidence was statistically significant in cases with lower age group (<45 years), advanced T stage, and higher depth of tumor invasion. Isolated perifacial node metastasis is high in oral squamous cell carcinoma with a clinically node-negative neck. The incidence of isolated perifacial involvement is high in cases of buccal mucosal and tongue cancers. A meticulous dissection of the perifacial nodes seems prudent when treating the neck in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2252-2256, 2016. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  1. Methionine Regulates mTORC1 via the T1R1/T1R3-PLCβ-Ca2+-ERK1/2 Signal Transduction Process in C2C12 Cells.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Yuanfei; Ren, Jiao; Song, Tongxing; Peng, Jian; Wei, Hongkui

    2016-10-11

    The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates amino acid (AA) availability to support protein synthesis and cell growth. Taste receptor type 1 member (T1R) is a G protein-coupled receptor that functions as a direct sensor of extracellular AA availability to regulate mTORC1 through Ca 2+ stimulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activation. However, the roles of specific AAs in T1R1/T1R3-regulated mTORC1 are poorly defined. In this study, T1R1 and T1R3 subunits were expressed in C2C12 myotubes, and l-AA sensing was accomplished by T1R1/T1R3 to activate mTORC1. In response to l-AAs, such as serine (Ser), arginine (Arg), threonine (Thr), alanine (Ala), methionine (Met), glutamine (Gln), and glycine (Gly), Met induced mTORC1 activation and promoted protein synthesis. Met also regulated mTORC1 via T1R1/T1R3-PLCβ-Ca 2+ -ERK1/2 signal transduction. Results revealed a new role for Met-regulated mTORC1 via an AA receptor. Further studies should be performed to determine the role of T1R1/T1R3 in mediating extracellular AA to regulate mTOR signaling and to reveal its mechanism.

  2. High phase-purity 1T'-MoS2- and 1T'-MoSe2-layered crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Yifu; Nam, Gwang-Hyeon; He, Qiyuan; Wu, Xue-Jun; Zhang, Kang; Yang, Zhenzhong; Chen, Junze; Ma, Qinglang; Zhao, Meiting; Liu, Zhengqing; Ran, Fei-Rong; Wang, Xingzhi; Li, Hai; Huang, Xiao; Li, Bing; Xiong, Qihua; Zhang, Qing; Liu, Zheng; Gu, Lin; Du, Yonghua; Huang, Wei; Zhang, Hua

    2018-06-01

    Phase control plays an important role in the precise synthesis of inorganic materials, as the phase structure has a profound influence on properties such as conductivity and chemical stability. Phase-controlled preparation has been challenging for the metallic-phase group-VI transition metal dichalcogenides (the transition metals are Mo and W, and the chalcogens are S, Se and Te), which show better performance in electrocatalysis than their semiconducting counterparts. Here, we report the large-scale preparation of micrometre-sized metallic-phase 1T'-MoX2 (X = S, Se)-layered bulk crystals in high purity. We reveal that 1T'-MoS2 crystals feature a distorted octahedral coordination structure and are convertible to 2H-MoS2 following thermal annealing or laser irradiation. Electrochemical measurements show that the basal plane of 1T'-MoS2 is much more active than that of 2H-MoS2 for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in an acidic medium.

  3. Whole brain myelin mapping using T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging data

    PubMed Central

    Ganzetti, Marco; Wenderoth, Nicole; Mantini, Dante

    2014-01-01

    Despite recent advancements in MR imaging, non-invasive mapping of myelin in the brain still remains an open issue. Here we attempted to provide a potential solution. Specifically, we developed a processing workflow based on T1-w and T2-w MR data to generate an optimized myelin enhanced contrast image. The workflow allows whole brain mapping using the T1-w/T2-w technique, which was originally introduced as a non-invasive method for assessing cortical myelin content. The hallmark of our approach is a retrospective calibration algorithm, applied to bias-corrected T1-w and T2-w images, that relies on image intensities outside the brain. This permits standardizing the intensity histogram of the ratio image, thereby allowing for across-subject statistical analyses. Quantitative comparisons of image histograms within and across different datasets confirmed the effectiveness of our normalization procedure. Not only did the calibrated T1-w/T2-w images exhibit a comparable intensity range, but also the shape of the intensity histograms was largely corresponding. We also assessed the reliability and specificity of the ratio image compared to other MR-based techniques, such as magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), fractional anisotropy (FA), and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). With respect to these other techniques, T1-w/T2-w had consistently high values, as well as low inter-subject variability, in brain structures where myelin is most abundant. Overall, our results suggested that the T1-w/T2-w technique may be a valid tool supporting the non-invasive mapping of myelin in the brain. Therefore, it might find important applications in the study of brain development, aging and disease. PMID:25228871

  4. Expression of GLUT-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma in tobacco and non-tobacco users

    PubMed Central

    Azad, Neha; Kumari Maurya, Malti; Kar, Meenakshi; Goel, Madhu Mati; Singh, Ajay Kumar; Sagar, Mala; Mehrotra, Divya; Kumar, Vijay

    2016-01-01

    Background GLUTs are a family of proteins that mediate glucose transport through the membrane, expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. GLUT-1 positivity in malignant cells indicates increased proliferative activity, energy requirements, aggressive behaviour and poor radiation response. Aim To observe the expression of GLUT-1 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma in tobacco and non-tobacco users and to correlate the expression with histopathological grading and pathological staging. Methods 50 cases (25 tobacco and 25 non-tobacco) of oral squamous cell carcinoma, selected during period of August 2014 to July 2015. Histopathological grading, TNM and staging were done. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using standard protocol for paraffin embedded sections. Analysis was performed on SPSS software (Windows version 17.0). Results Significant association of GLUT-1 expression was found with history of tobacco (p < 0.001), Bryne's grade (p < 0.001), tumour size (p = 0.001), nodal metastasis (p = 0.022) and stage (p < 0.001). Higher GLUT-1 expression in stage II, stage III and stage IV was found as compared to stage I. GLUT-1 immunoexpression also shows progressive switch from membranous to cytoplasmic to combined location correlating with histopathologic grade and pTNM stage. Conclusion GLUT-1 expression correlates significantly with histological grade and pTNM staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma. It also significantly correlates with tobacco addiction. Thus, GLUT-1 expression may serve as a biomarker for patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma. PMID:26937365

  5. MR fingerprinting for rapid quantification of myocardial T1 , T2 , and proton spin density.

    PubMed

    Hamilton, Jesse I; Jiang, Yun; Chen, Yong; Ma, Dan; Lo, Wei-Ching; Griswold, Mark; Seiberlich, Nicole

    2017-04-01

    To introduce a two-dimensional MR fingerprinting (MRF) technique for quantification of T 1 , T 2 , and M 0 in myocardium. An electrocardiograph-triggered MRF method is introduced for mapping myocardial T 1 , T 2 , and M 0 during a single breath-hold in as short as four heartbeats. The pulse sequence uses variable flip angles, repetition times, inversion recovery times, and T 2 preparation dephasing times. A dictionary of possible signal evolutions is simulated for each scan that incorporates the subject's unique variations in heart rate. Aspects of the sequence design were explored in simulations, and the accuracy and precision of cardiac MRF were assessed in a phantom study. In vivo imaging was performed at 3 Tesla in 11 volunteers to generate native parametric maps. T 1 and T 2 measurements from the proposed cardiac MRF sequence correlated well with standard spin echo measurements in the phantom study (R 2  > 0.99). A Bland-Altman analysis revealed good agreement for myocardial T 1 measurements between MRF and MOLLI (bias 1 ms, 95% limits of agreement -72 to 72 ms) and T 2 measurements between MRF and T 2 -prepared balanced steady-state free precession (bias, -2.6 ms; 95% limits of agreement, -8.5 to 3.3 ms). MRF can provide quantitative single slice T 1 , T 2 , and M 0 maps in the heart within a single breath-hold. Magn Reson Med 77:1446-1458, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  6. Outcomes of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection vs Esophagectomy for T1 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Real-world Cohort.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yiqun; Ding, Han; Chen, Tao; Zhang, Xiaocen; Chen, Wei-Feng; Li, Quanlin; Yao, Liqing; Korrapati, Praneet; Jin, Xue-Juan; Zhang, Yong-Xing; Xu, Mei-Dong; Zhou, Ping-Hong

    2018-04-25

    Esophagectomy is the standard treatment for early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EESCC), but patients who undergo this procedure have high morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a less-invasive procedure for treatment of EESCC, but is considered risky because this tumor frequently metastasizes to the lymph nodes. We aimed to directly compare outcomes of patients with EESCC treated with ESD vs esophagectomy. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with T1a-m2/m3, or T1b EESCCs who underwent ESD (n=322) or esophagectomy (n=274) from October 1, 2011 through September 31, 2016 at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, China. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at the end of follow up (minimum of 6 months). Secondary outcomes included operation time, hospital stay, cost, perioperative mortalities/severe non-fatal adverse events, requirement for adjuvant therapies, and disease-specific mortality and cancer recurrence or metastasis at the end of the follow up period. Patients who underwent ESD were older (mean 63.5 years vs 62.3 years for patients receiving esophagectomy; P=.006) and a greater proportion was male (80.1% vs 70.4%; P=.006) and had a T1a tumor (74.5% vs 27%; P=.001). A lower proportion of patients who underwent ESD had perioperative mortality (0.3% vs 1.5% of patients receiving esophagectomy; P=.186) and non-fatal severe adverse events (15.2% vs 27.7%; P=.001)-specifically lower proportions of esophageal fistula (0.3% of patients receiving ESD vs 16.4% for patients receiving esophagectomy; P=.001) and pulmonary complications (0.3% vs 3.6%; P=.004). After a median follow-up time of 21 months (range, 6-73 months), there were no significant differences between treatments in all-cause mortality (7.4% for ESD vs 10.9%; P=.209) or rate of cancer recurrence or metastasis (9.1% for ESD vs 8.9%; P=.948). Disease-specific mortality was lower among patients who received ESD (3.4%) vs patients who patients who

  7. Immunohistochemical study of p21 and Bcl-2 in leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sutariya, Rakesh V; Manjunatha, Bhari Sharanesha

    2016-11-01

    Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) results from genetic damage, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation of damaged cells and the cell death. In the course of its progression, visible changes are taking place at the cellular level (atypical) and the resultant at the tissue level (epithelial dysplasia). The Aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the expressions of intensity of p21 and Bcl-2 in Leukoplakia, oralsubmucous fibrosis (OSMF) and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Total 60 cases, 30 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma, 15 cases of oral submucous fibrosis and 15 cases of Leukoplakia were evaluated immunohistochemically for p21 and Bcl-2 expression. p21 showed positive expression in 13 (86.67%) cases out of 15 cases of OSMF, 12 (80%) cases of leukoplakia out of 15 cases and 24 (80%) cases out of 30 cases of OSCC. The Bcl-2 expression was positive in 13 (86.67%) cases of OSMF, all cases of Leukoplakia and 25 (83.33%) cases of OSCC. No statistical significance was noted in the expression of p21 and Bcl-2 positive expression between OSMF, Leukoplakia and OSCC. Statistical analysis for comparison of intensity of p21 expression in different grades of OSCC showed no significance. Statistical significance difference was found between the expressions of Bcl-2 in moderately and poorly differentiated SCC. The intensity of p21 and Bcl-2 expressions in different grades of OSCC indicates a key role in progression of oral neoplasia.

  8. The Absence of Interleukin 1 Receptor–Related T1/St2 Does Not Affect T Helper Cell Type 2 Development and Its Effector Function

    PubMed Central

    Hoshino, Katsuaki; Kashiwamura, Shin-ichiro; Kuribayashi, Kozo; Kodama, Taku; Tsujimura, Tohru; Nakanishi, Kenji; Matsuyama, Tomohiro; Takeda, Kiyoshi; Akira, Shizuo

    1999-01-01

    T1/ST2, an orphan receptor with homology with the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor family, is expressed constitutively and stably on the surface of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells, but not on Th1 cells. T1/ST2 is also expressed on mast cells, which are critical for Th2-mediated effector responses. To evaluate whether T1/ST2 is required for Th2 responses and mast cell function, we have generated T1/ST2-deficient (T1/ST2−/−) mice and examined the roles of T1/ST2. Naive CD4+ T cells isolated from T1/ST2−/− mice developed to Th2 cells in response to IL-4 in vitro. T1/ST2−/− mice showed normal Th2 responses after infection with the helminthic parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis as well as in the mouse model of allergen-induced airway inflammation. In addition, differentiation and function of bone marrow–derived cultured mast cells were unaffected. These findings demonstrate that T1/ST2 does not play an essential role in development and function of Th2 cells and mast cells. PMID:10562328

  9. Human papillomavirus-mediated carcinogenesis and HPV-associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Part 2: Human papillomavirus associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the mouth and oropharynx can be acquired by a variety of sexual and social forms of transmission. HPV-16 genotype is present in many oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomata. It has an essential aetiologic role in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a subset of subjects who are typically younger, are more engaged with high-risk sexual behaviour, have higher HPV-16 serum antibody titer, use less tobacco and have better survival rates than in subjects with HPV-cytonegative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this subset of subjects the HPV-cytopositive carcinomatous cells have a distinct molecular profile. In contrast to HPV-cytopositive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the causal association between HPV-16 and other high-risk HPV genotypes and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa is weak, and the nature of the association is unclear. It is likely that routine administration of HPV vaccination against high-risk HPV genotypes before the start of sexual activity will bring about a reduction in the incidence of HPV-mediated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This article focuses on aspects of HPV infection of the mouth and the oropharynx with emphasis on the link between HPV and squamous cell carcinoma, and on the limitations of the available diagnostic tests in identifying a cause-and-effect relationship of HPV with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx. PMID:20633288

  10. Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type-2 (HAI-2)/SPINT2 contributes to invasive growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Yamamoto, Koji; Kawaguchi, Makiko; Shimomura, Takeshi; Izumi, Aya; Konari, Kazuomi; Honda, Arata; Lin, Chen-Yong; Johnson, Michael D; Yamashita, Yoshihiro; Fukushima, Tsuyoshi; Kataoka, Hiroaki

    2018-02-20

    Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)-1/ SPINT1 and HAI-2/ SPINT2 are membrane-anchored protease inhibitors having homologous Kunitz-type inhibitor domains. They regulate membrane-anchored serine proteases, such as matriptase and prostasin. Whereas HAI-1 suppresses the neoplastic progression of keratinocytes to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) through matriptase inhibition, the role of HAI-2 in keratinocytes is poorly understood. In vitro homozygous knockout of the SPINT2 gene suppressed the proliferation of two oral SCC (OSCC) lines (SAS and HSC3) but not the growth of a non-tumorigenic keratinocyte line (HaCaT). Reversion of HAI-2 abrogated the growth suppression. Matrigel invasion of both OSCC lines was also suppressed by the loss of HAI-2. The levels of prostasin protein were markedly increased in HAI-2-deficient cells, and knockdown of prostasin alleviated the HAI-2 loss-induced suppression of OSCC cell invasion. Therefore, HAI-2 has a pro-invasive role in OSCC cells through suppression of prostasin. In surgically resected OSCC tissues, HAI-2 immunoreactivity increased along with neoplastic progression, showing intense immunoreactivities in invasive OSCC cells. In summary, HAI-2 is required for invasive growth of OSCC cells and may contribute to OSCC progression.

  11. Steady-State Serum T3 Concentrations for 48 Hours Following the Oral Administration of a Single Dose of 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine Sulfate (T3S).

    PubMed

    Santini, Ferruccio; Giannetti, Monica; Ricco, Ilaria; Querci, Giorgia; Saponati, Giorgio; Bokor, Daniela; Rivolta, Giovanni; Bussi, Simona; Braverman, Lewis E; Vitti, Paolo; Pinchera, Aldo

    2014-07-01

    Sulfate conjugation of thyroid hormones is an alternate metabolic pathway that facilitates the biliary and urinary excretion of iodothyronines and enhances their deiodination rate, leading to the generation of inactive metabolites. A desulfating pathway reverses this process, and thyromimetic effects have been observed following the parenteral administration of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) sulfate (T3S) in rats. The present study investigated whether T3S is absorbed after oral administration in humans and if it represents a source of T3. Twenty-eight hypothyroid patients (7 men and 21 women; mean age, 44 ± 11 years) who had a thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma were enrolled. Replacement thyroid hormone therapy was withdrawn (42 days for thyroxine, 14 days for T3) prior to 131I remnant ablation. A single oral dose of 20, 40, 80 (4 patients/group), or 160 μg (16 patients/group) of T3S was administered 3 days before the planned administration of 131I. Blood samples for serum T3S and total T3 (TT3) concentrations were obtained at various times up to 48 hours after T3S administration. At all T3S doses, serum T3S concentrations increased, reaching a peak at 2 to 4 hours and progressively returning to basal levels within 8 to 24 hours. The T3S maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the 0- to 48-hour concentration-time curve (AUC0-48h) were directly and significantly related to the administered dose. An increase in serum TT3 concentration was observed (significant after 1 hour), and the concentration increased further at 2 and 4 hours and then remained steady up to 48 hours after T3S administration. There was a significant direct correlation between the TT3 AUC0-48h and the administered dose of T3S. No changes in serum free thyroxine (T4) concentrations during the entire study period were observed, whereas serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels increased slightly at 48 hours, but this was not related to the dose of T3S. No adverse events were reported. (1) T3S is

  12. Core/shell Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes as T1-T2 dual modal MRI contrast agents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Fenfen; Zhi, Debo; Luo, Yufeng; Zhang, Jiqian; Nan, Xiang; Zhang, Yunjiao; Zhou, Wei; Qiu, Bensheng; Wen, Longping; Liang, Gaolin

    2016-06-01

    T1-T2 dual modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has attracted considerable interest because it offers complementary diagnostic information, leading to more precise diagnosis. To date, a number of nanostructures have been reported as T1-T2 dual modal MR contrast agents (CAs). However, hybrids of nanocubes with both iron and gadolinium (Gd) elements as T1-T2 dual modal CAs have not been reported. Herein, we report the synthesis of novel core/shell Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes as T1-T2 dual-modal CAs and their application for enhanced T1-T2 MR imaging of rat livers. A relaxivity study at 1.5 T indicated that our Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes have an r1 value of 45.24 mM-1 s-1 and an r2 value of 186.51 mM-1 s-1, which were about two folds of those of Gd2O3 nanoparticles and Fe3O4 nanocubes, respectively. In vivo MR imaging of rats showed both T1-positive and T2-negative contrast enhancements in the livers. We envision that our Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes could be applied as T1-T2 dual modal MR CAs for a wide range of theranostic applications in the near future.T1-T2 dual modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has attracted considerable interest because it offers complementary diagnostic information, leading to more precise diagnosis. To date, a number of nanostructures have been reported as T1-T2 dual modal MR contrast agents (CAs). However, hybrids of nanocubes with both iron and gadolinium (Gd) elements as T1-T2 dual modal CAs have not been reported. Herein, we report the synthesis of novel core/shell Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes as T1-T2 dual-modal CAs and their application for enhanced T1-T2 MR imaging of rat livers. A relaxivity study at 1.5 T indicated that our Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes have an r1 value of 45.24 mM-1 s-1 and an r2 value of 186.51 mM-1 s-1, which were about two folds of those of Gd2O3 nanoparticles and Fe3O4 nanocubes, respectively. In vivo MR imaging of rats showed both T1-positive and T2-negative contrast enhancements in the livers. We envision that our Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes

  13. Early postnatal myelin content estimate of white matter via T1w/T2w ratio

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Kevin; Cherel, Marie; Budin, Francois; Gilmore, John; Zaldarriaga Consing, Kirsten; Rasmussen, Jerod; Wadhwa, Pathik D.; Entringer, Sonja; Glasser, Matthew F.; Van Essen, David C.; Buss, Claudia; Styner, Martin

    2015-03-01

    To develop and evaluate a novel processing framework for the relative quantification of myelin content in cerebral white matter (WM) regions from brain MRI data via a computed ratio of T1 to T2 weighted intensity values. We employed high resolution (1mm3 isotropic) T1 and T2 weighted MRI from 46 (28 male, 18 female) neonate subjects (typically developing controls) scanned on a Siemens Tim Trio 3T at UC Irvine. We developed a novel, yet relatively straightforward image processing framework for WM myelin content estimation based on earlier work by Glasser, et al. We first co-register the structural MRI data to correct for motion. Then, background areas are masked out via a joint T1w and T2 foreground mask computed. Raw T1w/T2w-ratios images are computed next. For purpose of calibration across subjects, we first coarsely segment the fat-rich facial regions via an atlas co-registration. Linear intensity rescaling based on median T1w/T2w-ratio values in those facial regions yields calibrated T1w/T2wratio images. Mean values in lobar regions are evaluated using standard statistical analysis to investigate their interaction with age at scan. Several lobes have strongly positive significant interactions of age at scan with the computed T1w/T2w-ratio. Most regions do not show sex effects. A few regions show no measurable effects of change in myelin content change within the first few weeks of postnatal development, such as cingulate and CC areas, which we attribute to sample size and measurement variability. We developed and evaluated a novel way to estimate white matter myelin content for use in studies of brain white matter development.

  14. Individual T1-weighted/T2-weighted ratio brain networks: Small-worldness, hubs and modular organization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Huijun; Wang, Hao; Lü, Linyuan

    Applying network science to investigate the complex systems has become a hot topic. In neuroscience, understanding the architectures of complex brain networks was a vital issue. An enormous amount of evidence had supported the brain was cost/efficiency trade-off with small-worldness, hubness and modular organization through the functional MRI and structural MRI investigations. However, the T1-weighted/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratio brain networks were mostly unexplored. Here, we utilized a KL divergence-based method to construct large-scale individual T1w/T2w ratio brain networks and investigated the underlying topological attributes of these networks. Our results supported that the T1w/T2w ratio brain networks were comprised of small-worldness, an exponentially truncated power-law degree distribution, frontal-parietal hubs and modular organization. Besides, there were significant positive correlations between the network metrics and fluid intelligence. Thus, the T1w/T2w ratio brain networks open a new avenue to understand the human brain and are a necessary supplement for future MRI studies.

  15. Impact of Peptide Transporter 1 on the Intestinal Absorption and Pharmacokinetics of Valacyclovir after Oral Dose Escalation in Wild-Type and PepT1 Knockout Mice

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Bei; Hu, Yongjun

    2013-01-01

    The primary objective of this study was to determine the in vivo absorption properties of valacyclovir, including the potential for saturable proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter 1 (PepT1)-mediated intestinal uptake, after escalating oral doses of prodrug within the clinical dose range. A secondary aim was to characterize the role of PepT1 on the tissue distribution of its active metabolite, acyclovir. [3H]Valacyclovir was administered to wild-type (WT) and PepT1 knockout (KO) mice by oral gavage at doses of 10, 25, 50, and 100 nmol/g. Serial blood samples were collected over 180 minutes, and tissue distribution studies were performed 20 minutes after a 25-nmol/g oral dose of valacyclovir. We found that the Cmax and area under the curve (AUC)0–180 of acyclovir were 4- to 6-fold and 2- to 3-fold lower, respectively, in KO mice for all four oral doses of valacyclovir. The time to peak concentration of acyclovir was 3- to 10-fold longer in KO compared with WT mice. There was dose proportionality in the Cmax and AUC0–180 of acyclovir in WT and KO mice over the valacyclovir oral dose range of 10–100 nmol/g (i.e., linear absorption kinetics). No differences were observed in the peripheral tissue distribution of acyclovir once these tissues were adjusted for differences in perfusing drug concentrations in the systemic circulation. In contrast, some differences were observed between genotypes in the concentrations of acyclovir in the distal intestine. Collectively, the findings demonstrate a critical role of intestinal PepT1 in improving the rate and extent of oral absorption for valacyclovir. Moreover, this study provides definitive evidence for the rational development of a PepT1-targeted prodrug strategy. PMID:23924683

  16. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and p120-catenin and elevated expression of PLC-γ1 and PIKE are associated with aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Jiang, Yi; Liao, Liyan; Shrestha, Chandrama; Ji, Shangli; Chen, Ying; Peng, Jian; Wang, Larry; Liao, Eryuan; Xie, Zhongjian

    2015-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumors. The cadherin/catenin cell-cell adhesion complex plays a major role in cancer development and progression. p120-catenin (p120) is a cytoplasmic molecule closely associated with E-cadherin which activates phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1). Our previous studies indicate that activation of PLC-γ1 plays a critical role in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced migration and proliferation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase enhancer (PIKE) is highly expressed in SCC cells and mediates EGFR-dependent SCC cell proliferation. Our current study was to determine whether the expression of E-cadherin, p120, PLC-γ1, and PIKE, is associated with OSCC. To address this issue, we assessed levels and localization of E-cadherin, p120, PLC-γ1, and PIKE in specimen of 92 patients with OSCC by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the expression of E-cadherin, and p120 negatively correlated with the tumor differentiation and the expression of PLC-γ1 and PIKE positively correlated with the tumor differentiation. The expression of PLC-γ1 and PIKE in OSCC stage T3 + T4 or in OSCC with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in OSCC stage T1 + T2 or in OSCC without lymph node metastasis. The expression of p120 positively correlated with levels of E-cadherin but negatively correlated with levels of PLC-γ1 and PIKE in OSCC. These data indicate that increased expression of PLC-γ1 and PIKE and decreased expression of E-cadherin and p120 are associated with the aggressiveness of OSCC. PMID:26464646

  17. Role of T1 mapping as a complementary tool to T2* for non-invasive cardiac iron overload assessment.

    PubMed

    Torlasco, Camilla; Cassinerio, Elena; Roghi, Alberto; Faini, Andrea; Capecchi, Marco; Abdel-Gadir, Amna; Giannattasio, Cristina; Parati, Gianfranco; Moon, James C; Cappellini, Maria D; Pedrotti, Patrizia

    2018-01-01

    Iron overload-related heart failure is the principal cause of death in transfusion dependent patients, including those with Thalassemia Major. Linking cardiac siderosis measured by T2* to therapy improves outcomes. T1 mapping can also measure iron; preliminary data suggests it may have higher sensitivity for iron, particularly for early overload (the conventional cut-point for no iron by T2* is 20ms, but this is believed insensitive). We compared T1 mapping to T2* in cardiac iron overload. In a prospectively large single centre study of 138 Thalassemia Major patients and 32 healthy controls, we compared T1 mapping to dark blood and bright blood T2* acquired at 1.5T. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association of T2* and T1. A "moving window" approach was taken to understand the strength of the association at different levels of iron overload. The relationship between T2* (here dark blood) and T1 is described by a log-log linear regression, which can be split in three different slopes: 1) T2* low, <20ms, r2 = 0.92; 2) T2* = 20-30ms, r2 = 0.48; 3) T2*>30ms, weak relationship. All subjects with T2*<20ms had low T1; among those with T2*>20ms, 38% had low T1 with most of the subjects in the T2* range 20-30ms having a low T1. In established cardiac iron overload, T1 and T2* are concordant. However, in the 20-30ms T2* range, T1 mapping appears to detect iron. These data support previous suggestions that T1 detects missed iron in 1 out of 3 subjects with normal T2*, and that T1 mapping is complementary to T2*. The clinical significance of a low T1 with normal T2* should be further investigated.

  18. Interleukin-37 expression and its potential role in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lin, Lin; Wang, Jiayi; Liu, Dongjuan; Liu, Sai; Xu, Hao; Ji, Ning; Zhou, Min; Zeng, Xin; Zhang, Dunfang; Li, Jing; Chen, Qianming

    2016-05-26

    Interleukin 37 (IL-37) has been reported to play a significant role in innate immune response and to be involved in several kinds of cancers. However, the investigation of association between IL-37 and oral mucosa carcinogenesis hasn't been clearly established. The aim of the study was to assess IL-37 expression and explore its role in oral mucosa carcinogenesis. The expression of IL-37 increased from normal control (NC) to Oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Moreover, statistically highly significant difference was present between scores of OLK with and without mild/moderate dysplasia (P < 0.001). In addition, IL-37 expression was lower in OSCC with lymph node metastasis than those without metastasis (P < 0.01). What's more, overexpression of IL-37 in RAW264.7 cells remarkably reduced the pseudopodia, vacuolization and the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Finally, we found IL-37 and its receptor IL-18Rα but not its binding partner IL-18BP have similar tissue location and expression trend in different stages of oral mucosa carcinogenesis. Overall, IL-37 can be used as a biomarker for early oral tumorigenesis and for malignant transformation risk assessment of premalignant lesions.

  19. Spatial Distribution and Relationship of T1ρ and T2 Relaxation Times in Knee Cartilage With Osteoarthritis

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xiaojuan; Pai, Alex; Blumenkrantz, Gabrielle; Carballido-Gamio, Julio; Link, Thomas; Ma, Benjamin; Ries, Michael; Majumdar, Sharmila

    2009-01-01

    T1ρ and T2 relaxation time constants have been proposed to probe biochemical changes in osteoarthritic cartilage. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial correlation and distribution of T1ρ and T2 values in osteoarthritic cartilage. Ten patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 10 controls were studied at 3T. The spatial correlation of T1ρ and T2 values was investigated using Z-scores. The spatial variation of T1ρ and T2 values in patellar cartilage was studied in different cartilage layers. The distribution of these relaxation time constants was measured using texture analysis parameters based on gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM). The mean Z-scores for T1ρ and T2 values were significantly higher in OA patients vs. controls (P < 0.05). Regional correlation coefficients of T1ρ and T2 Z-scores showed a large range in both controls and OA patients (0.2– 0.7). OA patients had significantly greater GLCM contrast and entropy of T1ρ values than controls (P < 0.05). In summary, T1ρ and T2 values are not only increased but are also more heterogeneous in osteoarthritic cartilage. T1ρ and T2 values show different spatial distributions and may provide complementary information regarding cartilage degeneration in OA. PMID:19319904

  20. Salivary zinc finger protein 510 peptide as a novel biomarker for detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma in early stages.

    PubMed

    Jou, Yu-Jen; Lin, Chia-Der; Lai, Chih-Ho; Tang, Chih-Hsin; Huang, Su-Hua; Tsai, Ming-Hsui; Chen, Shih-Yin; Kao, Jung-Yie; Lin, Cheng-Wen

    2011-07-15

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide. Early diagnosis can mean adequate treatment and increase survival. This study uses ClinProt technique to identify salivary biomarkers for early diagnosis of OSCC. A total of 77 salivary samples from both OSCC patients (n=47) and healthy donors (n=30) were analyzed with MALDI-TOF MS technology. Salivary peptides from OSCC patients were separated, using C8-functionalized magnetic beads. Three signals (2918.57 Da, 5592.64 Da, and 4372.66 Da) distinguished OSCC patients from controls. Among them, unique peptide 2918.57 Da, identified as a 24-mer peptide of zinc finger protein 510 (ZNF510), was found in 0% of saliva from healthy individuals, versus 25.0% and 60% from OSCC patients with T1+T2 and T3+T4 stages, respectively (P<0.001). ELISA analysis with rabbit anti-ZNF510 peptide sera shows a starkly higher 24-mer ZNF510 peptide level in saliva from OSCC patients than that in controls (P<0.001). Also, in immunohistochemical analysis of oral tissues, a significantly higher level of ZNF510 was observed in OSCC tissues than in the OSCC free control tissues. Analysis of areas under receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves in OSCC early (T1+T2) and late stages (T3+T4) shows greater than 0.95. Identifying 24-mer ZNF510 peptide as OSCC-related salivary biomarkers via proteomic approach proved useful in adjunct diagnosis for early detection rather than specific diagnosis marker for progression of OSCC patients. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Current Aspects on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Markopoulos, Anastasios K

    2012-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant epithelial neoplasm affecting the oral cavity. This article overviews the essential points of oral squamous cell carcinoma, highlighting its risk and genomic factors, the potential malignant disorders and the therapeutic approaches. It also emphasizes the importance of the early diagnosis. PMID:22930665

  2. [Expression and correlation of Fra-1 and HMGA1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Y L; Song, X F; Duan, Y J; Zhao, R L

    2017-12-07

    Objective: To investigate the expressions of Fra -1 and HMGA 1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and their correlation . Methods: Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of HMGA 1 and Fra -1 in laryngeal squamous carcinoma tissues in 47 cases and para - carcinoma tissues in 21 cases ( the First Hospital of Shijiazhuang ). The relationship between the gene expressions in carcinoma tissues and clinopathological parameters such as pathological grade, clinical stage, lymph metastasis, age and anatomic site and the relevance of the two gene expressions were analyzed . SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data . Results: The positive expression rates of Fra-1 and HMGA1 proteins in laryngeal squamous cancer tissue were 48.9% and 53.2%, which were respectively higher than the rates of 19.0% for Fra-1 (χ(2)=5.416, P <0.05) and of 23.8% for HMGA1 (χ(2)=5.083, P <0.05) in adjacent tissues. The expression of Fra -1 gene was correlation with pathological grade, clinical stage and lymph metastasis (t values were -1.079, -1.066 and -1.067, all P<0.05), but not with age and anatomic site (t values were -1.068 and -1.054, both P>0.05). The expression of HMGA 1 gene was correlation with pathological grade, clinical stage, lymph metastasis and age (t values were -1.112, -1.065, -1.009 and -1.066, all P<0.05), but not with anatomic site (t=-1.036, P>0.05). The expressions of Fra -1 and HMGA 1 gene were positively correlation (r=0.672, P<0.05). Conclusions: In laryngeal squamous cancer, Fra -1 and HMGA 1 are excessive expression, with a positive correlation between the expressions of both genes .

  3. [Laser debulking surgery prior to radiotherapy for T1T2 carcinoma of the hypopharynx].

    PubMed

    Mori, K; Chijiwa, K; Umeno, H; Umeno, T; Sakamoto, K

    2000-09-01

    The local control rate for T1-T2 carcinomas of the hypopharynx is rather high whereas the overall survival rate is unsatisfactory, irrespective of treatment modalities. Radical radiotherapy has yielded a local control rate of 40-70% and an overall 5-year survival of 30-50%, while surgical treatment with or without postoperative radiotherapy has yielded a local control rate of 60-90% and an overall 5-year survival rate of 30-60%. Based on these reasons, for the patients with minor hypopharyngeal lesions, such as T1-T2 carcinomas, in the Kurume University Hospital radiotherapy has often been selected as a first choice instead of partial pharyngectomy. If the primary lesion is exophytic and has a large volume, laser debulking surgery has been employed prior to radiotherapy to improve the local control rate. The purpose of the present study is to describe the details of laser debulking surgery prior to radiotherapy (LDSR) for the treatment of T1-T2 carcinomas of the hypopharynx. In addition, the preliminary results for this treatment procedure will also be compared with the results of partial pharyngectomies preserving the larynx (PPPL) that were performed in the Kurume University Hospital. In this study 20 patients (T1: 4, T2: 16) who had undergone PPPL and 16 patients (T1: 4, T2: 12) who had undergone LDSR were included. For patients undergoing PPPL, the 5-year local control rate, 5-year larynx conservation rate and disease specific 5-year survival rate were 83.6%, 70.4%, and 75.0%, respectively, whereas for patients undergoing LDSR these were 87.1%, 93.8%, 87.5% respectively. Although the treatment outcomes by LDSR did not show a significant drastic improvement compared with those by PPPL, the quality of life of the patients undergoing LDSR was not aggravated. LDSR may thus be preferable to PPPL for selected cases of T1-T2 carcinomas of the hypopharynx.

  4. Bitter taste receptor T2R1 activities were compatible with behavioral sensitivity to bitterness in chickens.

    PubMed

    Hirose, Nozomi; Kawabata, Yuko; Kawabata, Fuminori; Nishimura, Shotaro; Tabata, Shoji

    2015-05-01

    Clarification of the mechanism of the sense of taste in chickens will provide information useful for creating and improving new feedstuffs for chickens, because the character of the taste receptors in oral tissues affects feeding behavior in animals. In this study, we focused on the sensitivity to bitterness in chickens. We cloned one of the bitter taste receptors, T2R1, from the chicken palate, constructed several biosensor-cells expressing chicken T2R1 (cT2R1), and determined a highly sensitive biosensor of cT2R1 among them. By using Ca(2+) imaging methods, we identified two agonists of cT2R1, dextromethorphan (Dex) and diphenidol (Dip). Dex was a new agonist of cT2R1 that was more potent than Dip. In a behavioral drinking study, the intake volumes of solutions of these compounds were significantly lower than that of water in chickens. These aversive concentrations were identical to the concentrations that could activate cT2R1 in a cell-based assay. These results suggest that the cT2R1 activities induced by these agonists are linked to behavioral sensitivity to bitterness in chickens. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Molecular characterization of oral squamous cell carcinoma using targeted next-generation sequencing.

    PubMed

    Er, Tze-Kiong; Wang, Yen-Yun; Chen, Chih-Chieh; Herreros-Villanueva, Marta; Liu, Ta-Chih; Yuan, Shyng-Shiou F

    2015-10-01

    Many genetic factors play an important role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess the mutational profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors from a Taiwanese population by performing targeted sequencing of 26 cancer-associated genes that are frequently mutated in solid tumors. Next-generation sequencing was performed in 50 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens obtained from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Genetic alterations in the 26 cancer-associated genes were detected using a deep sequencing (>1000X) approach. TP53, PIK3CA, MET, APC, CDH1, and FBXW7 were most frequently mutated genes. Most remarkably, TP53 mutations and PIK3CA mutations, which accounted for 68% and 18% of tumors, respectively, were more prevalent in a Taiwanese population. Other genes including MET (4%), APC (4%), CDH1 (2%), and FBXW7 (2%) were identified in our population. In summary, our study shows the feasibility of performing targeted sequencing using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. Additionally, this study also reports the mutational landscape of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the Taiwanese population. We believe that this study will shed new light on fundamental aspects in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and may aid in the development of new targeted therapies. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Low-dose retinoic acid enhances in vitro invasiveness of human oral squamous-cell-carcinoma cell lines

    PubMed Central

    Uchida, D; Kawamata, H; Nakashiro, K; Omotehara, F; Hino, S; Hoque, M O; Begum, N-M; Yoshida, H; Sato, M; Fujimori, T

    2001-01-01

    Retinoids inhibit the proliferation of several types of tumour cells, and are used for patients with several malignant tumours. In this study, we examined the effect of retinoic acids (RAs) on the invasive potentials of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells, BHY and HNt. BHY cells expressed all of retinoid nuclear receptors (RARα, β, γ, and RXRα) and cytoplasmic retinoic acid binding proteins (CRABP1 and CRABP2). HNt cells lacked the expression of RARβ, but expressed other nuclear receptors and CRABPs. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cisRA) (10−6and 10−7M) inhibited the growth of the cells, but low-dose ATRA and 13-cisRA (10−8M) marginally affected the growth of the cells. Surprisingly, low-dose RAs enhanced the activity of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and activated pro-matrix metalloproteinases (proMMP2 and proMMP9). Activation of proMMP2 and proMMP9 was inhibited by aprotinin, a serine-proteinase, tPA inhibitor. Furthermore, low-dose RAs enhanced the in vitro invasiveness of BHY cells. These results indicate that low-dose RAs enhances the in vitro invasiveness of oral SCC cells via an activation of proMMP2 and proMMP9 probably mediated by the induction of tPA. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com PMID:11437413

  7. Inflammation promotes oral squamous carcinoma immune evasion via induced programmed death ligand-1 surface expression.

    PubMed

    Lu, Wanlu; Lu, Libing; Feng, Yun; Chen, Jiao; Li, Yan; Kong, Xiangli; Chen, Sixiu; Li, Xiaoyu; Chen, Qianming; Zhang, Ping

    2013-05-01

    The association between inflammation and cancer provides a new target for tumor biotherapy. The inflammatory cells and molecules within the tumor microenvironment have decisive dual roles in antitumor immunity and immune evasion. In the present study, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to simulate the tumor inflammatory microenvironment. The effect of immune cells and inflammatory cytokines on the surface expression of programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor immune evasion was investigated using flow cytometry (FCM) and an in vivo xenotransplantation model. Based on the data, PHA-activated, but not resting, immune cells were able to promote the surface expression of PD-L1 in Tca8113 oral squamous carcinoma cells via the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, but not by cell-cell contact. The majority of the inflammatory cytokines had no significant effect on the proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis of the Tca8113 cells, although they each induced the expression of PD-L1 in a dose-dependent manner. In total, 99% of the Tca8113 cells expressed PD-L1 following treatment with the supernatant of PHA-stimulated PBMCs. The PHA-supernatant pretreated Tca8113 cells unusually induced Tca8113 antigen-specific CD8 + T cell apoptosis in vitro and the evasion of antigen-specific T cell attraction in a nude mouse tumor-bearing model. These results indicate a new mechanism for the promotion of tumor immune evasion by the tumor inflammatory microenvironment.

  8. Inflammation promotes oral squamous carcinoma immune evasion via induced programmed death ligand-1 surface expression

    PubMed Central

    LU, WANLU; LU, LIBING; FENG, YUN; CHEN, JIAO; LI, YAN; KONG, XIANGLI; CHEN, SIXIU; LI, XIAOYU; CHEN, QIANMING; ZHANG, PING

    2013-01-01

    The association between inflammation and cancer provides a new target for tumor biotherapy. The inflammatory cells and molecules within the tumor microenvironment have decisive dual roles in antitumor immunity and immune evasion. In the present study, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to simulate the tumor inflammatory microenvironment. The effect of immune cells and inflammatory cytokines on the surface expression of programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor immune evasion was investigated using flow cytometry (FCM) and an in vivo xenotransplantation model. Based on the data, PHA-activated, but not resting, immune cells were able to promote the surface expression of PD-L1 in Tca8113 oral squamous carcinoma cells via the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, but not by cell-cell contact. The majority of the inflammatory cytokines had no significant effect on the proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis of the Tca8113 cells, although they each induced the expression of PD-L1 in a dose-dependent manner. In total, 99% of the Tca8113 cells expressed PD-L1 following treatment with the supernatant of PHA-stimulated PBMCs. The PHA-supernatant pretreated Tca8113 cells unusually induced Tca8113 antigen-specific CD8+ T cell apoptosis in vitro and the evasion of antigen-specific T cell attraction in a nude mouse tumor-bearing model. These results indicate a new mechanism for the promotion of tumor immune evasion by the tumor inflammatory microenvironment PMID:23761816

  9. Comparison of post-contrast 3D-T1-MPRAGE, 3D-T1-SPACE and 3D-T2-FLAIR MR images in evaluation of meningeal abnormalities at 3-T MRI.

    PubMed

    Jeevanandham, Balaji; Kalyanpur, Tejas; Gupta, Prashant; Cherian, Mathew

    2017-06-01

    This study was to assess the usefulness of newer three-dimensional (3D)-T 1 sampling perfection with application optimized contrast using different flip-angle evolutions (SPACE) and 3D-T 2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences in evaluation of meningeal abnormalities. 78 patients who presented with high suspicion of meningeal abnormalities were evaluated using post-contrast 3D-T 2 -FLAIR, 3D-T 1 magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) and 3D-T 1 -SPACE sequences. The images were evaluated independently by two radiologists for cortical gyral, sulcal space, basal cisterns and dural enhancement. The diagnoses were confirmed by further investigations including histopathology. Post-contrast 3D-T 1 -SPACE and 3D-T 2 -FLAIR images yielded significantly more information than MPRAGE images (p < 0.05 for both SPACE and FLAIR images) in detection of meningeal abnormalities. SPACE images best demonstrated abnormalities in dural and sulcal spaces, whereas FLAIR was useful for basal cisterns enhancement. Both SPACE and FLAIR performed equally well in detection of gyral enhancement. In all 10 patients, where both SPACE and T 2 -FLAIR images failed to demonstrate any abnormality, further analysis was also negative. The 3D-T 1 -SPACE sequence best demonstrated abnormalities in dural and sulcal spaces, whereas FLAIR was useful for abnormalities in basal cisterns. Both SPACE and FLAIR performed holds good for detection of gyral enhancement. Post-contrast SPACE and FLAIR sequences are superior to the MPRAGE sequence for evaluation of meningeal abnormalities and when used in combination have the maximum sensitivity for leptomeningeal abnormalities. The negative-predictive value is nearly 100%, where no leptomeningeal abnormality was detected on these sequences. Advances in knowledge: Post-contrast 3D-T 1 -SPACE and 3D-T 2 -FLAIR images are more useful than 3D-T 1 -MPRAGE images in evaluation of meningeal abnormalities.

  10. Yang-Baxter deformations of W2,4 × T1,1 and the associated T-dual models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakamoto, Jun-ichi; Yoshida, Kentaroh

    2017-08-01

    Recently, for principal chiral models and symmetric coset sigma models, Hoare and Tseytlin proposed an interesting conjecture that the Yang-Baxter deformations with the homogeneous classical Yang-Baxter equation are equivalent to non-abelian T-dualities with topological terms. It is significant to examine this conjecture for non-symmetric (i.e., non-integrable) cases. Such an example is the W2,4 ×T 1 , 1 background. In this note, we study Yang-Baxter deformations of type IIB string theory defined on W2,4 ×T 1 , 1 and the associated T-dual models, and show that this conjecture is valid even for this case. Our result indicates that the conjecture would be valid beyond integrability.

  11. Neuropilin 1 Receptor Is Up-Regulated in Dysplastic Epithelium and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Shahrabi-Farahani, Shokoufeh; Gallottini, Marina; Martins, Fabiana; Li, Erik; Mudge, Dayna R; Nakayama, Hironao; Hida, Kyoko; Panigrahy, Dipak; D'Amore, Patricia A; Bielenberg, Diane R

    2016-04-01

    Neuropilins are receptors for disparate ligands, including proangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibitory class 3 semaphorin (SEMA3) family members. Differentiated cells in skin epithelium and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma highly express the neuropilin-1 (NRP1) receptor. We examined the expression of NRP1 in human and mouse oral mucosa. NRP1 was significantly up-regulated in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). NRP1 receptor localized to the outer suprabasal epithelial layers in normal tongue, an expression pattern similar to the normal skin epidermis. However, dysplastic tongue epithelium and OSCC up-regulated NRP1 in basal and proliferating epithelial layers, a profile unseen in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. NRP1 up-regulation is observed in a mouse carcinogen-induced OSCC model and in human tongue OSCC biopsies. Human OSCC cell lines express NRP1 protein in vitro and in mouse tongue xenografts. Sites of capillary infiltration into orthotopic OSCC tumors correlate with high NRP1 expression. HSC3 xenografts, which express the highest NRP1 levels of the cell lines examined, showed massive intratumoral lymphangiogenesis. SEMA3A inhibited OSCC cell migration, suggesting that the NRP1 receptor was bioactive in OSCC. In conclusion, NRP1 is regulated in the oral epithelium and is selectively up-regulated during epithelial dysplasia. NRP1 may function as a reservoir to sequester proangiogenic ligands within the neoplastic compartment, thereby recruiting neovessels toward tumor cells. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Repeatability of magnetic resonance fingerprinting T1 and T2 estimates assessed using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Yun; Ma, Dan; Keenan, Kathryn E; Stupic, Karl F; Gulani, Vikas; Griswold, Mark A

    2017-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy and repeatability of T 1 and T 2 estimates of a MR fingerprinting (MRF) method using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom. The ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom contains multiple compartments with standardized T 1 , T 2 , and proton density values. Conventional inversion-recovery spin echo and spin echo methods were used to characterize the T 1 and T 2 values in the phantom. The phantom was scanned using the MRF-FISP method over 34 consecutive days. The mean T 1 and T 2 values were compared with the values from the spin echo methods. The repeatability was characterized as the coefficient of variation of the measurements over 34 days. T 1 and T 2 values from MRF-FISP over 34 days showed a strong linear correlation with the measurements from the spin echo methods (R 2  = 0.999 for T 1 ; R 2  = 0.996 for T 2 ). The MRF estimates over the wide ranges of T 1 and T 2 values have less than 5% variation, except for the shortest T 2 relaxation times where the method still maintains less than 8% variation. MRF measurements of T 1 and T 2 are highly repeatable over time and across wide ranges of T 1 and T 2 values. Magn Reson Med 78:1452-1457, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  13. T1 and T2 Mapping in Cardiology: "Mapping the Obscure Object of Desire".

    PubMed

    Mavrogeni, Sophie; Apostolou, Dimitris; Argyriou, Panayiotis; Velitsista, Stella; Papa, Lilika; Efentakis, Stelios; Vernardos, Evangelos; Kanoupaki, Mikela; Kanoupakis, George; Manginas, Athanassios

    The increasing use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is based on its capability to perform biventricular function assessment and tissue characterization without radiation and with high reproducibility. The use of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) gave the potential of non-invasive biopsy for fibrosis quantification. However, LGE is unable to detect diffuse myocardial disease. Native T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) provide knowledge about pathologies affecting both the myocardium and interstitium that is otherwise difficult to identify. Changes of myocardial native T1 reflect cardiac diseases (acute coronary syndromes, infarction, myocarditis, and diffuse fibrosis, all with high T1) and systemic diseases such as cardiac amyloid (high T1), Anderson-Fabry disease (low T1), and siderosis (low T1). The ECV, an index generated by native and post-contrast T1 mapping, measures the cellular and extracellular interstitial matrix (ECM) compartments. This myocyte-ECM dichotomy has important implications for identifying specific therapeutic targets of great value for heart failure treatment. On the other hand, T2 mapping is superior compared with myocardial T1 and ECM for assessing the activity of myocarditis in recent-onset heart failure. Although these indices can significantly affect the clinical decision making, multicentre studies and a community-wide approach (including MRI vendors, funding, software, contrast agent manufacturers, and clinicians) are still missing. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  14. T1-T2 dual-modal MRI of brain gliomas using PEGylated Gd-doped iron oxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Ning; Gu, Wei; Wang, Hao; Deng, Yunlong; Shi, Xin; Ye, Ling

    2014-03-01

    To overcome the negative contrast limitations of iron oxide-based contrast agents and to improve the biocompatibility of Gd-chelate contrast agents, PEGylated Gd-doped iron oxide (PEG-GdIO) NPs as a T1-T2 dual-modal contrast agent were synthesized by the polyol method. The transverse relaxivity (r2) and longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of PEG-GdIO were determined to be 66.9 and 65.9 mM(-1) s(-1), respectively. The high r1 value and low r2/r1 ratio make PEG-GdIO NPs suitable as a T1-T2 dual-modal contrast agent. The in vivo MRI demonstrated a brighter contrast enhancement in T1-weighted image and a simultaneous darken effect in T2-weighted MR image compared to the pre-contrast image in the region of glioma. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of PEG-GdIO NPs was confirmed by the in vitro MTT cytotoxicity and in vivo histological analyses (H&E). Therefore, PEG-GdIO NPs hold great potential in T1-T2 dual-modal imaging for the diagnosis of brain glioma. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Induction of lymphomas on implantation of human oral squamous cell carcinomas in nude mice.

    PubMed

    Teni, T R; Saranath, D; Mahale, A M; Pai, S A; Ahire, S D; Ingle, A D

    2001-02-01

    Cancer cells from five oral cancer patients and pleomorphic adenoma cells from one individual were inoculated as single cell suspension into subcutis of 30 Swiss nude mice and tail vein of additional 30 mice. Further, tumor tissue pieces from three oral cancer patients were xenografted s.c. in 18 nude mice, and 10 mice were kept as controls. In animals implanted with tumor pieces, 7/18 (39%) mice, developed squamous cell carcinoma at the site of inoculation within 8-15 days, while tumors were not observed in mice inoculated with single cell suspension, up to 60/90 days. In 8/68 (12%) mice, white foci were observed in several tissues, with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly noted in 27/68 (39%) mice. Histopathological examination of various tissues revealed presence of large cell lymphoma in several organs in 14/68 (21%) mice. No regional or distant metastasis of the implanted oral tumor cells was detected. Mice injected with cells from pleomorphic adenoma, also demonstrated large cell lymphoma in 2/10 (20%) mice, whereas none of the 10 control animals showed any gross abnormalities or microscopic abnormalities in several organs. 2/16 (12%) lymphomas exhibited positive reaction with mouse B cell antibodies illustrating the murine origin of the lymphomas, and these were immunophenotyed as B cell lymphomas. The lymphomas were also examined with mouse T cell antibodies and none reacted positively with the mouse T cell antibodies. The lymphomas also failed to react with human T cell, B cell and human Leucocyte common antigen (LCA) antibodies, indicating that the induced lymphomas were not of human origin. The tumor specimens from seven of eight oral cancer patients and the pleomorphic adenoma patient induced lymphomas in nude mice. Thus it appears that xenografting oral tumor cells into nude mice may cause induction of the murine lymphomas, and this needs further investigation.

  16. The prognostic implication of the expression of EGFR, p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and p16 in primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma cases: a tissue microarray study.

    PubMed

    Solomon, Monica Charlotte; Vidyasagar, M S; Fernandes, Donald; Guddattu, Vasudev; Mathew, Mary; Shergill, Ankur Kaur; Carnelio, Sunitha; Chandrashekar, Chetana

    2016-12-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinomas comprise a heterogeneous tumor cell population with varied molecular characteristics, which makes prognostication of these tumors a complex and challenging issue. Thus, molecular profiling of these tumors is advantageous for an accurate prognostication and treatment planning. This is a retrospective study on a cohort of primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas (n = 178) of an Indian rural population. The expression of EGFR, p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and p16 in a cohort of primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas was evaluated. A potential biomarker that can predict the tumor response to treatment was identified. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks of (n = 178) of histopathologically diagnosed cases of locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas were selected. Tissue microarray blocks were constructed with 2 cores of 2 mm diameter from each tumor block. Four-micron-thick sections were cut from these tissue microarray blocks. These tissue microarray sections were immunohistochemically stained for EGFR, p53, Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and p16. In this cohort, EGFR was the most frequently expressed 150/178 (84%) biomarker of the cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant association (p = 0.038) between expression of p53 and a poor prognosis. A Poisson regression analysis showed that tumors that expressed p53 had a two times greater chance of recurrence (unadjusted IRR-95% CI 2.08 (1.03, 4.5), adjusted IRR-2.29 (1.08, 4.8) compared with the tumors that did not express this biomarker. Molecular profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas will enable us to categorize our patients into more realistic risk groups. With biologically guided tumor characterization, personalized treatment protocols can be designed for individual patients, which will improve the quality of life of these patients.

  17. Glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2 are differentially modulated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β.

    PubMed

    Jiménez, Esperanza; Núñez, Enrique; Ibáñez, Ignacio; Zafra, Francisco; Aragón, Carmen; Giménez, Cecilio

    2015-02-01

    Inhibitory glycinergic neurotransmission is terminated by the specific glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2 which actively reuptake glycine from the synaptic cleft. GlyT1 is associated with both glycinergic and glutamatergic pathways, and is the main regulator of the glycine levels in the synapses. GlyT2 is the main supplier of glycine for vesicle refilling, a process that is vital to preserve the quantal glycine content in synaptic vesicles. Therefore, to control glycinergic neurotransmission efficiently, GlyT1 and GlyT2 activity must be regulated by diverse neuronal and glial signaling pathways. In this work, we have investigated the possible functional modulation of GlyT1 and GlyT2 by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3β). This kinase is involved in mood stabilization, neurodegeneration and plasticity at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The co-expression of GSK3β with GlyT1 or GlyT2 in COS-7 cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes, leads to inhibition and stimulation of GlyT1 and GlyT2 activities, respectively, with a decrease of GlyT1, and an increase in GlyT2 levels at the plasma membrane. The specificity of these changes is supported by the antagonism exerted by a catalytically inactive form of the kinase and through inhibitors of GSK3β such as lithium chloride and TDZD-8. GSK3β also increases the incorporation of 32Pi into GlyT1 and decreases that of GlyT2. The pharmacological inhibition of the endogenous GSK3β in neuron cultures of brainstem and spinal cord leads to an opposite modulation of GlyT1 and GlyT2.Our results suggest that GSK3β is important for stabilizing and/or controlling the expression of functional GlyTs on the neural cell surface. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. [Evaluation of combination chemotherapy with oral S-1 administration followed by docetaxel by superselective intra-arterial infusion for patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas].

    PubMed

    Nagai, Hirokazu; Takamaru, Natsumi; Ohe, Go; Uchida, Daisuke; Tamatani, Tetsuya; Fujisawa, Kenji; Iwamoto, Seiji; Miyamoto, Youji

    2011-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse events of combination chemotherapy with oral S-1 administration following docetaxel (DOC) treatment by superselective intra-arterial infusion as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Thirteen patients were enrolled in this study (9 men and 4 women, with a mean age of 61. 0 years). All patients were given S-1 65mg/m(2) per day for 14 days, and DOC 40-50mg/m(2) by intraarterial infusion was administered. The locoregional response evaluated 3 weeks after administration was 100%, including a 69. 2% complete response. According to Oboshi and Shimosato's classification, histological evaluation of surgical specimens revealed that 3 cases were Grade II a, 4 cases Grade II b, 1 case Grade IV a, and 4 cases Grade IV c. The severe side effects were neutropenia and cerebral infarction. The present study suggests that combination chemotherapy with S-1 and DOC by superselective intra-arterial infusion would be an effective and safe regimen in NAC for oral squamous cell carcinomas.

  19. Haploinsufficiency of VGluT1 but not VGluT2 impairs extinction of spatial preference and response suppression.

    PubMed

    Callaerts-Vegh, Zsuzsanna; Moechars, Diederik; Van Acker, Nathalie; Daneels, Guy; Goris, Ilse; Leo, Sandra; Naert, Arne; Meert, Theo; Balschun, Detlef; D'Hooge, Rudi

    2013-05-15

    The excitatory neurotransmitter l-glutamate is transported into synaptic vesicles by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluTs) to transmit glutamatergic signals. Changes in their expression have been linked to various brain disorders including schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Deleting either the VGluT1 or VGluT2 gene leads to profound developmental and neurological complications and early death, but mice heterozygous for VGluT1 or VGluT2 are viable and thrive. Acquisition, retention and extinction of conditioned visuospatial and emotional responses were compared between VGluT1(+/-) and VGluT2(+/-) mice, and their wildtype littermates, using different water maze procedures, appetitive scheduled conditioning, and conditioned fear protocols. The distinct brain expression profiles of the VGluT1 and -2 isoforms particularly in telencephalic structures, such as neocortex, hippocampus and striatum, are reflected in very specific behavioral changes. VGluT2(+/-) mice were unimpaired in spatial learning tasks and fear extinction. Conversely, VGluT1(+/-) mice displayed spatial extinction learning deficits and markedly impaired fear extinction. These data indicate that VGluT1, but not VGluT2, plays a role in the neural processes underlying inhibitory learning. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Is Human Oxoguanine Glycosylase 1 Genetic Variant Successful Even on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

    PubMed

    Aydemir, Levent; Bireller, Elif Sinem; Avci, Hakan; Boy Metin, Zeynep; Deger, Kemal; Unur, Meral; Cakmakoglu, Bedia

    2017-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most widespread cancer types that arise from different sites of oral cavity and has a 5-year survival rate. This study is aimed at investigating the human oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1)-Ser326Cys and APE-Asp148Glu polymorphisms of DNA repair genes in OSCC. We investigated the hOGG1-Ser326Cys and APE-Asp148Glu polymorphisms of DNA repair genes in the oral cavity. Genotyping was conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis based on 132 patients who were diagnosed as having OSCC and 160 healthy subjects. Individuals with the genotype hOGG1-Ser326Cys, Cys allele carriers, were found significantly more frequently in the patient group compared to the control group as increase in risk (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was observed that there were significantly more individuals with the Ser allele in the control group (p < 0.001). Individuals with genotype APE-Asp148Glu were not statistically significant; however, they were still more in the control group and provided protection against the disease. Our findings showed that hOGG1-Ser326Cys Cys allele is statistically important and relevant with respect to the development of oral squamous cancer. In view of our results, further studies including expression levels are required in which hOGG1-Ser326Cys should be investigated as molecular biomarkers for the early prediction of squamous cell carcinoma. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  1. Longitudinal evaluation of T1ρ and T2 spatial distribution in osteoarthritic and healthy medial knee cartilage.

    PubMed

    Schooler, J; Kumar, D; Nardo, L; McCulloch, C; Li, X; Link, T M; Majumdar, S

    2014-01-01

    To investigate longitudinal changes in laminar and spatial distribution of knee articular cartilage magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1ρ and T2 relaxation times, in individuals with and without medial compartment cartilage defects. All subjects (at baseline n = 88, >18 years old) underwent 3-Tesla knee MRI at baseline and annually thereafter for 3 years. The MR studies were evaluated for presence of cartilage defects (modified Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring - mWORMS), and quantitative T1ρ and T2 relaxation time maps. Subjects were segregated into those with (mWORMS ≥2) and without (mWORMS ≤1) cartilage lesions at the medial tibia (MT) or medial femur (MF) at each time point. Laminar (bone and articular layer) and spatial (gray level co-occurrence matrix - GLCM) distribution of the T1ρ and T2 relaxation time maps were calculated. Linear regression models (cross-sectional) and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) (longitudinal) were used. Global T1ρ, global T2 and articular layer T2 relaxation times at the MF, and global and articular layer T2 relaxation times at the MT, were higher in subjects with cartilage lesions compared to those without lesions. At the MT global T1ρ relaxation times were higher at each time point in subjects with lesions. MT T1ρ and T2 became progressively more heterogeneous than control compartments over the course of the study. Spatial distribution of T1ρ and T2 relaxation time maps in medial knee OA using GLCM technique may be a sensitive indicator of cartilage deterioration, in addition to whole-compartment relaxation time data. Copyright © 2013 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Utility of PET-CT in detecting nodal metastasis in cN0 early stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Han; Seikaly, Hadi; Biron, Vincent L; Jeffery, Caroline C

    2018-05-01

    Management of the clinically node-negative neck (cN0) in patients with early stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is challenging. Accurate imaging alternatives to elective neck dissections would help reduce surgical morbidity. While pooled studies suggest that imaging modalities have similar accuracy in predicting occult nodal disease, no study has examined the utility of PET-CT in this specific population of low-volume, clinically T1 and T2 OCSCC patients. A retrospective review of patients in the Alberta Cancer Registry who were diagnosed with cT1 or T2N0M0 OCSCC who underwent elective unilateral or bilateral neck dissections was performed. Pre-operative PET-CT and CT necks were reviewed for number of radiographically suspicious lymph nodes. Surgical pathology reports were reviewed to obtain the total number of nodes sampled and number of malignant nodes. Between 2009 and 2013, 148 patients were diagnosed with cT1 or T2N0M0 OCSCC. Of these, 96 patients underwent elective neck dissections. All patients underwent preoperative CT of the neck with 32 patients having undergone additional preoperative PET-CT. Based on finally surgical pathology, the overall rate of occult metastasis was 13.5% (13/96). The overall sensitivity and specificity of PET-CT in this cohort was 21.4% and 98.4%, respectively with a negative predictive value of 99.1%. Although sensitivity improved in patients with tumors ≥2 cm and depth ≥4 mm, specificity remained unchanged. In patients with cT1 and T2N0 OCSCC, PET-CT has high negative predictive value. These patients can be considered for treatment with single modality surgical resection and elective neck dissection. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Magnetic resonance evaluation of cardiac thrombi and masses by T1 and T2 mapping: an observational study.

    PubMed

    Caspar, Thibault; El Ghannudi, Soraya; Ohana, Mickaël; Labani, Aïssam; Lawson, Aubrietia; Ohlmann, Patrick; Morel, Olivier; De Mathelin, Michel; Roy, Catherine; Gangi, Afshin; Germain, Philippe

    2017-04-01

    The purpose of this work was to evaluate CMR T1 and T2 mapping sequences in patients with intracardiac thrombi and masses in order to assess T1 and T2 relaxometry usefulness and to allow better etiological diagnosis. This observational study of patients scheduled for routine CMR was performed from September 2014 to August 2015. All patients referred to our department for a 1.5 T CMR were screened to participate. T1 mapping were acquired before and after Gadolinium injection; T2 mapping images were obtained before injection. 41 patients were included. 22 presented with cardiac thrombi and 19 with cardiac masses. The native T1 of thrombi was 1037 ± 152 ms (vs 1032 ± 39 ms for myocardium, p = 0.88; vs 1565 ± 88 ms for blood pool, p < 0.0001). T2 were 74 ± 13 ms (vs 51 ± 3 ms for myocardium, p < 0.0001; vs 170 ± 32 ms for blood pool, p < 0.0001). Recent thrombi had a native T1 shorter than old thrombi (911 ± 177 vs 1169 ± 107 ms, p = 0.01). The masses having a shorter T1 than the myocardium were lipomas (278 ± 29 ms), calcifications (621 ± 218 ms), and melanoma (736 ms). All other masses showed T1 values higher than myocardial T1, with T2 consistently >70 ms. T1 and T2 mapping CMR sequences can be useful and represent a new approach for the evaluation of cardiac thrombi and masses.

  4. GLUT-1 immunoexpression in oral epithelial dysplasia, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and verrucous carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Angadi, Vidya C; Angadi, Punnya V

    2015-06-01

    Glucose transporters, such as GLUT-1, mediate the important mechanisms involved in cellular glucose influx, allowing cells to proliferate and survive. The significance of GLUT-1 expression in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been less explored, and no study has investigated it in relation to verrucous carcinoma (VC). We evaluated 30 cases each of OED, OSCC, and VC, graded further on the basis of their differentiation, immunohistochemically for GLUT-1 expression, along with 10 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM) as controls. In OSCC, GLUT-1 expression increased with the degree of dysplasia and increasing grade (P < 0.001). The expression in VC was predominantly membranous and intense, resembling well differentiated OSCC. This increase of GLUT-1 expression in OSCC along with the degree of dysplasia and the histologic grade reflects the expanding glycolytic response to hypoxia. This is the first study to have revealed prominent GLUT-1 expression in VC, highlighting its inherent metabolic capacity.

  5. Evaluation of MR imaging with T1 and T2* mapping for the determination of hepatic iron overload.

    PubMed

    Henninger, B; Kremser, C; Rauch, S; Eder, R; Zoller, H; Finkenstedt, A; Michaely, H J; Schocke, M

    2012-11-01

    To evaluate MRI using T1 and T2* mapping sequences in patients with suspected hepatic iron overload (HIO). Twenty-five consecutive patients with clinically suspected HIO were retrospectively studied. All underwent MRI and liver biopsy. For the quantification of liver T2* values we used a fat-saturated multi-echo gradient echo sequence with 12 echoes (TR = 200 ms, TE = 0.99 ms +  n × 1.41 ms, flip angle 20°). T1 values were obtained using a fast T1 mapping sequence based on an inversion recovery snapshot FLASH sequence. Parameter maps were analysed using regions of interest. ROC analysis calculated cut-off points at 10.07 ms and 15.47 ms for T2* in the determination of HIO with accuracy 88 %/88 %, sensitivity 84 %/89.5 % and specificity 100 %/83 %. MRI correctly classified 20 patients (80 %). All patients with HIO only had decreased T1 and T2* relaxation times. There was a significant difference in T1 between patients with HIO only and patients with HIO and steatohepatitis (P = 0.018). MRI-based T2* relaxation diagnoses HIO very accurately, even at low iron concentrations. Important additional information may be obtained by the combination of T1 and T2* mapping. It is a rapid, non-invasive, accurate and reproducible technique for validating the evidence of even low hepatic iron concentrations. • Hepatic iron overload causes fibrosis, cirrhosis and increases hepatocellular carcinoma risk. • MRI detects iron because of the field heterogeneity generated by haemosiderin. • T2* relaxation is very accurate in diagnosing hepatic iron overload. • Additional information may be obtained by T1 and T2* mapping.

  6. Oral squamous papilloma occurring on the palate with review of literature.

    PubMed

    Nayak, Anjali; Nayak, Meghanand T

    2016-11-01

    Squamous papillomas are common lesions occurring on skin, oral and nasal mucosa and male and female genital organs. Oral squamous cell papilloma (OSP) is a benign proliferation of the stratified squamous epithelium and is generally believed to be caused by Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV). It constitutes around 2.5% of all oral verruco-papillary lesions. We here, report a case of palatal OSP occurring in a 55-year-old male. The aetiological, clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects of OSP are discussed here. © 2016 Old City Publishing, Inc.

  7. Glutaminolysis and carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Cetindis, Marcel; Biegner, Thorsten; Munz, Adelheid; Teriete, Peter; Reinert, Siegmar; Grimm, Martin

    2016-02-01

    Glutaminolysis is a crucial factor for tumor metabolism in the carcinogenesis of several tumors but has not been clarified for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) yet. Expression of glutaminolysis-related solute carrier family 1, member 5 (SLC1A5)/neutral amino acid transporter (ASCT2), glutaminase (GLS), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) was analyzed in normal oral mucosa (n = 5), oral precursor lesions (simple hyperplasia, n = 11; squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, SIN I-III, n = 35), and OSCC specimen (n = 42) by immunohistochemistry. SLC1A5/ASCT2 and GLS were significantly overexpressed in the carcinogenesis of OSCC compared with normal tissue, while GLDH was weakly detected. Compared with SIN I-III SLC1A5/ASCT2 and GLS expression were significantly increased in OSCC. GLDH expression did not significantly differ from SIN I-III compared with OSCC. This study shows the first evidence of glutaminolysis-related SLC1A5/ASCT2, GLS, and GLDH expression in OSCC. The very weak GLDH expression indicates that glutamine metabolism is rather related to nucleotide or protein/hexosamine biosynthesis or to the function as an antioxidant (glutathione) than to energy production or generation of lactate through entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Overcoming glutaminolysis by targeting c-Myc oncogene (e.g. by natural compounds) and thereby cross-activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 or SLC1A5/ASCT2, GLS inhibitors may be a useful strategy to sensitize cancer cells to common OSCC cancer therapies.

  8. Short-term stability of T1 and T2 relaxation measures in multiple sclerosis normal appearing white matter.

    PubMed

    Liang, Alice L W; Vavasour, Irene M; Mädler, Burkhard; Traboulsee, Anthony L; Lang, Donna J; Li, David K B; MacKay, Alex L; Laule, Cornelia

    2012-06-01

    The presence of diffuse and widespread abnormalities within the 'normal appearing' white matter (NAWM) of multiple sclerosis (MS) brain has been established. T(1) histogram analysis has revealed increased T(1) (related to water content) in segmented NAWM, while quantitative assessment of T(2) relaxation measures has demonstrated decreased myelin water fraction (MWF, related to myelin content) and increased geometric mean T(2) (GMT(2)) of the intra/extracellular water pool. Previous studies with follow-up periods of 1-5 years have demonstrated longitudinal changes in T(1) histogram metrics over time; however, longitudinal changes in MWF and GMT(2) of segmented NAWM have not been examined. We examined the short-term evolution of MWF, GMT(2) and T(1) in MS NAWM based on monthly scanning over 6 months in 18 relapsing remitting (RR) MS subjects. Histogram metrics demonstrated short-term stability of T(1), MWF and remitting (RR) MS subjects. We observed no change in MWF, GMT(2) or T(1) histogram metrics in NAWM in RRMS over the course of 6 months. Longer follow-up periods may be required to establish demonstrable changes in NAWM based on of MWF, GMT(2) and T(1) metrics.

  9. Protease-activated receptor 2 modulates proliferation and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Al-Eryani, Kamal; Cheng, Jun; Abé, Tatsuya; Maruyama, Satoshi; Yamazaki, Manabu; Babkair, Hamzah; Essa, Ahmed; Saku, Takashi

    2015-07-01

    Based on our previous finding that protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) regulates hemophagocytosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells, which induces their heme oxygenase 1-dependent keratinization, we have formulated a hypothesis that PAR-2 functions in wider activities of SCC cells. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigated immunohistochemical profiles of PAR-2 in oral SCC tissues and its functional roles in cell proliferation and invasion in SCC cells in culture. The PAR-2 expression modes were determined in 48 surgical tissue specimens of oral SCC. Using oral SCC-derived cell systems, we determined both gene and protein expression levels of PAR-2. SCC cell proliferation and invasive properties were also examined in conditions in which PAR-2 was activated by the synthetic peptide SLIGRL. PAR-2 was immunolocalized in oral SCC and carcinoma in situ cells, especially in those on the periphery of carcinoma cell foci (100% of cases), but not in normal oral epithelia. Its expression at both gene and protein levels was confirmed in 3 oral SCC cell lines including ZK-1. Activation of PAR-2 induced ZK-1 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. PAR-2-activated ZK-1 cells invaded faster than nonactivated ones. The expression of PAR-2 is specific to oral malignancies, and PAR-2 regulates the growth and invasion of oral SCC cells. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Cervical level IIb metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Kou, Yurong; Zhao, Tengfei; Huang, Shaohui; Liu, Jie; Duan, Weiyi; Wang, Yunjing; Wang, Zechen; Li, Delong; Ning, Chunliu; Sun, Changfu

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to clarify whether level IIb dissection should be performed or avoided in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma by meta-analysis. Articles that were published before June 2017 were searched electronically in four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Ovid and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) without any date or language restrictions by two independent reviewers. Abstracts and full-text papers which investigated the cervical metastases to level IIb from primary head and neck cancers and were deemed potentially relevant were screened. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3. Four hundred and fifty-five abstracts and 129 full-text papers were screened, and 22 studies were included in the analysis. Among the 2001 patients included, 112 patients had level IIb metastases, the pooled frequency of which was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.0-7.0). Among the 400 patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma from 12 studies, 37 patients had level IIb metastases, the pooled incidence of which was 7% (95% CI: 5.0-10.0). Metastases to level IIb always went together with level IIa, and only three patients were found to have isolated level IIb metastases without involving the other levels. Due to the low frequency of level IIb nodal metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and rare occurrence of isolated level IIb, level IIb dissection could be avoided when the primary lesions were in early stages (T1 and T2), with the exception of tongue cancer. It is recommended to dissect level IIb tongue cancers without considering the stages of primary lesions and the lymph nodes status. It is also suggested that level IIb dissection should be performed in patients preoperatively or intraoperatively found with multilevel neck metastasis, especially level IIa metastasis.

  11. In Vivo Absorption and Disposition of Cefadroxil after Escalating Oral Doses in Wild-Type and PepT1 Knockout Mice

    PubMed Central

    Posada, Maria M.; Smith, David E.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose To determine the effect of PepT1 on the absorption and disposition of cefadroxil, including the potential for saturable intestinal uptake, after escalating oral doses of drug. Methods The absorption and disposition kinetics of [3H]cefadroxil was determined in wild-type and PepT1 knockout mice after 44.5, 89.1, 178, and 356 nmol/g oral doses of drug. The pharmacokinetics of [3H]cefadroxil was also determined in both genotypes after 44.5 nmol/g intravenous bolus doses. Results PepT1 deletion reduced the area under the plasma concentration-time profile (AUC0-120) of cefadroxil by 10-fold, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) by 17.5-fold, and increased the time to reach a maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) by 3-fold. There was no evidence of nonlinear intestinal absorption since AUC0-120 and Cmax values changed in a dose-proportional manner. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil was not different between genotypes after intravenous bolus doses, indicating that PepT1 did not affect drug disposition. Finally, no differences were observed in the peripheral tissue distribution of cefadroxil (i.e., outside gastrointestinal tract) once these tissues were corrected for differences in perfusing blood concentrations. Conclusions The findings demonstrate convincingly the critical role of intestinal PepT1 in both the rate and extent of oral administration for cefadroxil and potentially other aminocephalosporin drugs. PMID:23959853

  12. SU-E-T-352: Why Is the Survival Rate Low in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Huang, Z; Feng, Y; Rasmussen, K

    2014-06-01

    Purpose: Tumors are composed of a large number of clonogens that have the capability of indefinite reproduction. Even when there is complete clinical or radiographic regression of the gross tumor mass after treatment, tumor recurrence can occur if the clonogens are not completely eradicated by radiotherapy. This study was to investigate the colonogen number and its association with the tumor control probability (TCP) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCCA). Methods: A literature search was conducted to collect clinical information of patients with OSCCA, including the prescription dose, tumor volume and survival rate. The linear-quadratic (LQ) model was incorporated into TCPmore » model for clinical data analysis. The total dose ranged from 60 to 70 Gy and tumor volume ranged from 10 to 50 cc. The TCP was calculated for each group according to tumor size and dose. The least χ{sup 2} method was used to fit the TCP calculation to clinical data while other LQ model parameters (α, β) were adopted from the literature, due to the limited patient data. Results: A total of 190 patients with T2T4 OSCCA were included. The association with HPV was not available for all the patients. The 3-year survival rate was about 82% for T2 squamous cell carcinoma and 40% for advanced tumors. Fitting the TCP model to the survival data, the average clonogen number was 1.56×10{sup 12}. For the prescription dose of 70 Gy, the calculated TCP ranged from 40% to 90% when the tumor volume varied from 10 to 50 cc. Conclusion: Our data suggests variation between the clonogen number and TCP in OSCCA. Tumors with larger colonogen number tend to have lower TCP and therefore dose escalation above 70 Gy may be indicated in order to improve the TCP and survival rate. Our result will require future confirmation with a large number of patients.« less

  13. Three-dimensional quantitative T1 and T2 mapping of the carotid artery: Sequence design and in vivo feasibility.

    PubMed

    Coolen, Bram F; Poot, Dirk H J; Liem, Madieke I; Smits, Loek P; Gao, Shan; Kotek, Gyula; Klein, Stefan; Nederveen, Aart J

    2016-03-01

    A novel three-dimensional (3D) T1 and T2 mapping protocol for the carotid artery is presented. A 3D black-blood imaging sequence was adapted allowing carotid T1 and T2 mapping using multiple flip angles and echo time (TE) preparation times. B1 mapping was performed to correct for spatially varying deviations from the nominal flip angle. The protocol was optimized using simulations and phantom experiments. In vivo scans were performed on six healthy volunteers in two sessions, and in a patient with advanced atherosclerosis. Compensation for patient motion was achieved by 3D registration of the inter/intrasession scans. Subsequently, T1 and T2 maps were obtained by maximum likelihood estimation. Simulations and phantom experiments showed that the bias in T1 and T2 estimation was < 10% within the range of physiological values. In vivo T1 and T2 values for carotid vessel wall were 844 ± 96 and 39 ± 5 ms, with good repeatability across scans. Patient data revealed altered T1 and T2 values in regions of atherosclerotic plaque. The 3D T1 and T2 mapping of the carotid artery is feasible using variable flip angle and variable TE preparation acquisitions. We foresee application of this technique for plaque characterization and monitoring plaque progression in atherosclerotic patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. A systematic evaluation of three different cardiac T2-mapping sequences at 1.5 and 3T in healthy volunteers.

    PubMed

    Baeßler, Bettina; Schaarschmidt, Frank; Stehning, Christian; Schnackenburg, Bernhard; Maintz, David; Bunck, Alexander C

    2015-11-01

    Previous studies showed that myocardial T2 relaxation times measured by cardiac T2-mapping vary significantly depending on sequence and field strength. Therefore, a systematic comparison of different T2-mapping sequences and the establishment of dedicated T2 reference values is mandatory for diagnostic decision-making. Phantom experiments using gel probes with a range of different T1 and T2 times were performed on a clinical 1.5T and 3T scanner. In addition, 30 healthy volunteers were examined at 1.5 and 3T in immediate succession. In each examination, three different T2-mapping sequences were performed at three short-axis slices: Multi Echo Spin Echo (MESE), T2-prepared balanced SSFP (T2prep), and Gradient Spin Echo with and without fat saturation (GraSEFS/GraSE). Segmented T2-Maps were generated according to the AHA 16-segment model and statistical analysis was performed. Significant intra-individual differences between mean T2 times were observed for all sequences. In general, T2prep resulted in lowest and GraSE in highest T2 times. A significant variation with field strength was observed for mean T2 in phantom as well as in vivo, with higher T2 values at 1.5T compared to 3T, regardless of the sequence used. Segmental T2 values for each sequence at 1.5 and 3T are presented. Despite a careful selection of sequence parameters and volunteers, significant variations of the measured T2 values were observed between field strengths, MR sequences and myocardial segments. Therefore, we present segmental T2 values for each sequence at 1.5 and 3T with the inherent potential to serve as reference values for future studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Comparison of T2, T1rho, and diffusion metrics in assessment of liver fibrosis in rats.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hui; Yang, Qihua; Yu, Taihui; Chen, Xiaodong; Huang, Jingwen; Tan, Cui; Liang, Biling; Guo, Hua

    2017-03-01

    To evaluate the value of T 2 , T 1 rho, and diffusion metrics in assessment of liver fibrosis in rats. Liver fibrosis in a rat model (n = 72) was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) at 3T. T 2 , T 1 rho, and diffusion parameters (apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), D true ) via spin echo (SE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) DWI with three diffusion times (DT: 80, 106, 186 msec) were obtained in surviving rats with hepatic fibrosis (n = 52) and controls (n = 8). Liver fibrosis stage (F0-F6) was identified based on pathological results using the traditional liver fibrosis staging method for rodents. Nonparametric statistical methods and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were employed to determine the diagnostic accuracy. Mean T 2 , T 1 rho, ADC, and D true with DT = 186 msec correlated with the severity of fibrosis with r = 0.73, 0.83, -0.83, and -0.85 (all P < 0.001), respectively. The average areas under the ROC curve at different stages for T 1 rho and diffusion parameters (DT = 186 msec) were larger than those of T 2 and SE DWI (0.92, 0.92, and 0.92 vs. 0.86, 0.82, and 0.83). The corresponding average sensitivity and specificity for T 1 rho and diffusion parameters with a long DT were larger (89.35 and 88.90, 88.36 and 89.97, 90.16 and 87.13) than T 2 and SE DWI (90.28 and 79.93, 85.30 and 77.64, 78.21 and 82.41). The performances of T 1 rho and D true (DT = 186 msec) were comparable (average AUC: 0.92 and 0.92). Among the evaluated sequences, T 1 rho and STEAM DWI with a long DT may serve as superior imaging biomarkers for assessing liver fibrosis and monitoring disease severity. 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:741-750. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  16. Role of distinct CD4(+) T helper subset in pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

    PubMed

    Wang, Hui; Zhang, Dunfang; Han, Qi; Zhao, Xin; Zeng, Xin; Xu, Yi; Sun, Zheng; Chen, Qianming

    2016-07-01

    Oral lichen planus (OLP) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory oral mucosal diseases with T-cell-mediated immune pathogenesis. In subepithelial and lamina propria of OLP local lesions, the presence of CD4(+) T helper (CD4(+) Th) cells appeared as the major lymphocytes. These CD4(+) T lymphocytes can differentiate into distinct Th cell types such as Th1, Th2, Treg, Th17, Th22, Th9, and Tfh within the context of certain cytokines environment. Growing evidence indicated that Th1/Th2 imbalance may greatly participate into the cytokine network of OLP immunopathology. In addition, Th1/Th2 imbalance can be regulated by the Treg subset and also greatly influenced by the emerging novel CD4(+) Th subset Th17. Furthermore, the presence of novel subsets Th22, Th9 and Tfh in OLP patients is yet to be clarified. All these Th subsets and their specific cytokines may play a critical role in determining the character, extent and duration of immune responses in OLP pathogenesis. Therefore, we review the roles of distinct CD4(+) Th subsets and their signature cytokines in determining disease severity and susceptibility of OLP and also reveal the novel therapeutic strategies based on T lymphocytes subsets in OLP treatment. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  17. Leptin acts on neoplastic behavior and expression levels of genes related to hypoxia, angiogenesis, and invasiveness in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sobrinho Santos, Eliane Macedo; Guimarães, Talita Antunes; Santos, Hércules Otacílio; Cangussu, Lilian Mendes Borborema; de Jesus, Sabrina Ferreira; Fraga, Carlos Alberto de Carvalho; Cardoso, Claudio Marcelo; Santos, Sérgio Henrique Souza; de Paula, Alfredo Maurício Batista; Gomez, Ricardo Santiago; Guimarães, André Luiz Sena; Farias, Lucyana Conceição

    2017-05-01

    Leptin, one of the main hormones controlling energy homeostasis, has been associated with different cancer types. In oral cancer, its effect is not well understood. We investigated, through in vitro and in vivo assays, whether leptin can affect the neoplastic behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Expression of genes possibly linked to the leptin pathway was assessed in leptin-treated oral squamous cell carcinoma cells and also in tissue samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral mucosa, including leptin, leptin receptor, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha, E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Col1A1, Ki67, and mir-210. Leptin treatment favored higher rates of cell proliferation and migration, and reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, leptin-treated oral squamous cell carcinoma cells show decreased messenger RNA caspase-3 expression, and increased levels of E-cadherin, Col1A1, matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and mir-210. In tissue samples, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha messenger RNA and protein expression of leptin and leptin receptor were high in oral squamous cell carcinoma cases. Serum leptin levels were increased in first clinical stages of the disease. In animal model, oral squamous cell carcinoma-induced mice show higher leptin receptor expression, and serum leptin level was increased in dysplasia group. Our findings suggest that leptin seems to exert an effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells behavior and also on molecular markers related to cell proliferation, migration, and tumor angiogenesis.

  18. Outcomes and prognostic factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue in young adults: a single-institution case-matched analysis.

    PubMed

    Blanchard, Pierre; Belkhir, Farid; Temam, Stéphane; El Khoury, Clément; De Felice, Francesca; Casiraghi, Odile; Patrikidou, Anna; Mirghani, Haitham; Levy, Antonin; Even, Caroline; Gorphe, Philippe; Nguyen, France; Janot, François; Tao, Yungan

    2017-03-01

    There is controversy regarding prognosis and treatment of young patients with oral cavity cancer compared to their older counterparts. We conducted a retrospective case-matched analysis of all adult patients younger than 40 years and treated at our institution for a squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Only non-metastatic adult patients (age >18) with oral tongue cancer were eventually included and matched 1:1 with patients over 40 years of age, at least 20 years older than the cases, with same T and N category and treatment period. Sixty-three patients younger than 40 had an oral cavity squamous cell cancer out of which 57 had an oral tongue primary during the period 1999-2012, and 50 could be matched with an older control. No difference could be seen between younger and older patients with regard to overall, cancer-specific, or progression-free survival. The patterns of failure were similar, although in young patients, almost all failures occurred during the first 2 years following treatment. Although overall survival shows a trend toward lower survival in older patients, cancer-specific survival and analysis of pattern failure suggest that disease prognosis is similar between young and older adults with oral tongue cancer. Further work is needed to identify the younger patients with poorer prognosis who overwhelmingly fail during the first year after treatment and could benefit from treatment intensification. Until then, young adults ought to be treated using standard guidelines.

  19. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting using echo-planar imaging: Joint quantification of T1 and T2∗ relaxation times.

    PubMed

    Rieger, Benedikt; Zimmer, Fabian; Zapp, Jascha; Weingärtner, Sebastian; Schad, Lothar R

    2017-11-01

    To develop an implementation of the magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) paradigm for quantitative imaging using echo-planar imaging (EPI) for simultaneous assessment of T 1 and T2∗. The proposed MRF method (MRF-EPI) is based on the acquisition of 160 gradient-spoiled EPI images with rapid, parallel-imaging accelerated, Cartesian readout and a measurement time of 10 s per slice. Contrast variation is induced using an initial inversion pulse, and varying the flip angles, echo times, and repetition times throughout the sequence. Joint quantification of T 1 and T2∗ is performed using dictionary matching with integrated B1+ correction. The quantification accuracy of the method was validated in phantom scans and in vivo in 6 healthy subjects. Joint T 1 and T2∗ parameter maps acquired with MRF-EPI in phantoms are in good agreement with reference measurements, showing deviations under 5% and 4% for T 1 and T2∗, respectively. In vivo baseline images were visually free of artifacts. In vivo relaxation times are in good agreement with gold-standard techniques (deviation T 1 : 4 ± 2%, T2∗: 4 ± 5%). The visual quality was comparable to the in vivo gold standard, despite substantially shortened scan times. The proposed MRF-EPI method provides fast and accurate T 1 and T2∗ quantification. This approach offers a rapid supplement to the non-Cartesian MRF portfolio, with potentially increased usability and robustness. Magn Reson Med 78:1724-1733, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  20. Gallic acid modulates phenotypic behavior and gene expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by interfering with leptin pathway.

    PubMed

    Santos, Eliane Macedo Sobrinho; da Rocha, Rogério Gonçalves; Santos, Hércules Otacílio; Guimarães, Talita Antunes; de Carvalho Fraga, Carlos Alberto; da Silveira, Luiz Henrique; Batista, Paulo Ricardo; de Oliveira, Paulo Sérgio Lopes; Melo, Geraldo Aclécio; Santos, Sérgio Henrique; de Paula, Alfredo Maurício Batista; Guimarães, André Luiz Sena; Farias, Lucyana Conceição

    2018-01-01

    Gallic acid is a polyphenolic compost appointed to interfere with neoplastic cells behavior. Evidence suggests an important role of leptin in carcinogenesis pathways, inducing a proliferative phenotype. We investigated the potential of gallic acid to modulate leptin-induced cell proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. The gallic acid effect on leptin secretion by oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, was also assessed. For this, we performed proliferation, migration, immunocytochemical and qPCR assays. The expression levels of cell migration-related genes (MMP2, MMP9, Col1A1, and E-cadherin), angiogenesis (HIF-1α, mir210), leptin signaling (LepR, p44/42 MAPK), apoptosis (casp-3), and secreted leptin levels by oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were also measured. Gallic acid decreased proliferation and migration of leptin-treated oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, and reduced mRNA expression of MMP2, MMP9, Col1A1, mir210, but did not change HIF-1α. Gallic acid decreased levels of leptin secreted by oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, accordingly with downregulation of p44/42 MAPK expression. Thus, gallic acid appears to break down neoplastic phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by interfering with leptin pathway. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  1. Human MutL homolog 1 immunoexpression in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective study in Indian population

    PubMed Central

    Chaudhari, Narendra T; Tupkari, Jagdish V; Joy, Tabita; Ahire, Manisha S

    2016-01-01

    Background: Mammalian mismatch repair system is responsible for maintaining genomic stability during repeated duplications, and human MutL homolog 1 (hMLH1) protein constitutes an important part of it. Various isolated studies have reported the altered expression of hMLH1 in oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Research is lacking in the quantitative estimation and comparison of hMLH1 expression in OL and OSCC. Aims: To evaluate, quantify and compare hMLH1 immunoexpression in normal oral mucosa, OL and OSCC. Settings and Design: Thirty patients of OL and thirty patients of OSCC formed the study group and thirty patients were included in the control group (normal oral mucosa). Formalin-fixed paraffin wax blocks were prepared from the tissue samples. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry for hMLH1 was performed, and the total number of positive cells was counted in high-power fields, and based on that percentage positivity of hMLH1 was calculated in all the cases. Statistical Analysis: Kruskal–Wallis and t-test were used. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The mean hMLH1 value in control group, leukoplakia and OSCC was 78.26, 54.33 and 40.97 respectively. hMLH1 immunoexpression showed decreasing indexes from control group to leukoplakia and then further to OSCC. hMLH1 expression was significantly lower in OSCC as compared to leukoplakia. There was no significant correlation of mean hMLH1 expression between different clinical and histopathological stages of leukoplakia and OSCC. Conclusions: hMLH1 immunoexpression was inversely related to the degree of dysplasia. These findings suggest that there is a progressive decrease in hMLH1 expression from control to leukoplakia and further to OSCC. Thus, it can be concluded that hMLH1 can be used as a reliable biomarker for malignant transformation. PMID:27721611

  2. The relationships between half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) in the two-compartment open body model.

    PubMed

    Sobol, Eyal; Bialer, Meir

    2004-05-01

    In the one-compartment model following i.v. administration the mean residence time (MRT) of a drug is always greater than its half-life (t(1/2)). However, following i.v. administration, drug plasma concentration (C) versus time (t) is best described by a two-compartment model or a two exponential equation:C=Ae(-alpha t)+Be(-beta t), where A and B are concentration unit-coefficients and alpha and beta are exponential coefficients. The relationships between t(1/2) and MRT in the two-compartment model have not been explored and it is not clear whether in this model too MRT is always greater than t(1/2). In the current paper new equations have been developed that describe the relationships between the terminal t(1/2) (or t(1/2 beta)) and MRT in the two-compartment model following administration of i.v. bolus, i.v. infusion (zero order input) and oral administration (first order input). A critical value (CV) equals to the quotient of (1-ln2) and (1-beta/alpha) (CV=(1-ln2)/(1-beta/alpha)=0.307/(1-beta/alpha)) has been derived and was compared with the fraction (f(1)) of drug elimination or AUC (AUC-area under C vs t curve) associated with the first exponential term of the two-compartment equation (f(1)=A/alpha/AUC). Following i.v. bolus, CV ranges between a minimal value of 0.307 (1-ln2) and infinity. As long as f(1)t(1/2) and vice versa, and when f(1)=CV, then MRT=t(1/2). Following i.v. infusion and oral administration the denominator of the CV equation does not change but its numerator increases to (0.307+beta T/2) (T-infusion duration) and (0.307+beta/ka) (ka-absorption rate constant), respectively. Examples of various drugs are provided. For every drug that after i.v. bolus shows two-compartment disposition kinetics the following conclusions can be drawn (a) When f(1)<0.307, then f(1)t(1/2). (b) When beta/alpha>ln2, then CV>1>f(1) and thus(,) MRT>t(1/2). (c) When ln2>beta/alpha>(ln4-1), then 1>CV>0.5 and thus, in order for t(1/2)>MRT, f(1

  3. The attentional blink is not affected by backward masking of T2, T2-mask SOA, or level of T2 impoverishment.

    PubMed

    Jannati, Ali; Spalek, Thomas M; Lagroix, Hayley E P; Di Lollo, Vincent

    2012-02-01

    Identification of the second of two targets (T2) is impaired when presented shortly after the first (T1). This attentional blink (AB) is thought to arise from a delay in T2 processing during which T2 is vulnerable to masking. Conventional studies have measured T2 accuracy which is constrained by the 100% ceiling. We avoided this problem by using a dynamic threshold-tracking procedure that is inherently free from ceiling constraints. In two experiments we examined how AB magnitude is affected by three masking-related factors: (a) presence/absence of T2 mask, (b) T2-mask stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA), and (c) level of T2 impoverishment (signal-to-noise ratio [SNR]). In Experiment 1, overall accuracy decreased with T2-mask SOA. The magnitude of the AB, however, was invariant with SOA and with mask presence/absence. Experiment 2 further showed that the AB was invariant with T2 SNR. The relationship among mask presence/absence, SOA, and T2 SNR and the AB is encompassed in a qualitative model.

  4. Photodynamic Therapy With HPPH in Treating Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-04-19

    Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage I Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage II Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage II Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage II Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

  5. 26 CFR 1.860G-2T - Other rules (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 26 Internal Revenue 9 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Other rules (temporary). 1.860G-2T Section 1.860G-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Real Estate Investment Trusts § 1.860G-2T Other rules (temporary). (a...

  6. 26 CFR 1.860G-2T - Other rules (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 26 Internal Revenue 9 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Other rules (temporary). 1.860G-2T Section 1.860G-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED) Real Estate Investment Trusts § 1.860G-2T Other rules (temporary). (a...

  7. Tumor budding as a novel predictor of occult metastasis in cT2N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sakata, Junki; Yamana, Keisuke; Yoshida, Ryoji; Matsuoka, Yuichiro; Kawahara, Kenta; Arita, Hidetaka; Nakashima, Hikaru; Nagata, Masashi; Hirosue, Akiyuki; Kawaguchi, Sho; Gohara, Shunsuke; Nagao, Yuka; Hiraki, Akimitsu; Shinohara, Masanori; Toya, Ryo; Murakami, Ryuji; Nakayama, Hideki

    2018-06-01

    Occult neck metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) who are deemed clinically negative for neck metastasis. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for occult neck metastasis arising from TSCC and to determine patient prognosis. Ninety-seven patients with cT2N0 TSCC who underwent surgical resection of their primary lesion as initial therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Cutoff values for depth of invasion (≥3.3 mm) and the tumor budding score (≥4) were determined using receiver operator characteristic analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that a tumor budding score ≥4 is a significant independent predictive factor for the occurrence of occult neck metastasis, which in turn is a significant independent prognostic factor. When evaluating tumor budding, we demonstrated greater interobserver and intraobserver agreement when using immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 than with hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE). We conclude that the evaluation of tumor budding is effective for identifying populations at high risk of occult neck metastasis, which will enable the planning of appropriate therapeutic strategies for patients with cT2N0 TSCC. Furthermore, cytokeratin staining is recommended over HE staining for simpler and more accurate evaluation of tumor budding. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. IL-6 inhibits upregulation of membrane-bound TGF-beta 1 on CD4+ T cells and blocking IL-6 enhances oral tolerance

    PubMed Central

    Kuhn, Chantal; Rezende, Rafael Machado; M'Hamdi, Hanane; da Cunha, Andre Pires; Weiner, Howard L.

    2016-01-01

    Oral administration of antigen induces regulatory T cells that express latent membrane-bound TGF-beta (LAP) and that have been shown to play an important role in the induction of oral tolerance. We developed an in vitro model to study modulation of LAP+ on CD4+ T cells. The combination of anti-CD3 mAb, anti-CD28 mAb and recombinant IL-2 induced expression of LAP on naïve CD4+ T cells, independent of FoxP3 or exogenous TGF-β. In vitro generated CD4+LAP+FoxP3− T cells were suppressive in vitro, inhibiting proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells and IL-17A secretion by Th17 cells. Assessing the impact of different cytokines and neutralizing antibodies against cytokines we found that LAP induction was decreased in the presence of IL-6 and IL-21, and to a lesser extent by IL-4 and TNFα. IL-6 abrogated the in vitro induction of CD4+LAP+ T cells by STAT3 dependent inhibition of Lrrc32 (GARP), the adapter protein that tethers TGF-beta to the membrane. Oral tolerance induction was enhanced in mice lacking expression of IL-6R by CD4+ T cells and by treatment of wild-type mice with neutralizing anti-IL-6 mAb. These results suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines interfere with oral tolerance induction and that blocking the IL-6 pathway is a potential strategy for enhancing oral tolerance in the setting of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. PMID:28039301

  9. Cluster analysis of quantitative MRI T2 and T1ρ relaxation times of cartilage identifies differences between healthy and ACL-injured individuals at 3T.

    PubMed

    Monu, U D; Jordan, C D; Samuelson, B L; Hargreaves, B A; Gold, G E; McWalter, E J

    2017-04-01

    To identify focal lesions of elevated MRI T 2 and T 1ρ relaxation times in articular cartilage of an ACL-injured group using a novel cluster analysis technique. Eighteen ACL-injured patients underwent 3T MRI T 2 and T 1ρ relaxometry at baseline, 6 months and 1 year and six healthy volunteers at baseline, 1 day and 1 year. Clusters of contiguous pixels above or below T 2 and T 1ρ intensity and area thresholds were identified on a projection map of the 3D femoral cartilage surface. The total area of femoral cartilage plate covered by clusters (%CA) was split into areas above (%CA+) and below (%CA-) the thresholds and the differences in %CA(+ or -) over time in the ACL-injured group were determined using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. %CA+ was greater in the ACL-injured patients than the healthy volunteers at 6 months and 1 year with average %CA+ of 5.2 ± 4.0% (p = 0.0054) and 6.6 ± 3.7% (p = 0.0041) for T 2 and 6.2 ± 7.1% (p = 0.063) and 8.2 ± 6.9% (p = 0.042) for T 1ρ , respectively. %CA- at 6 months and 1 year was 3.0 ± 1.8% (p > 0.1) and 5.9 ± 5.0% (p > 0.1) for T 2 and 4.4 ± 4.9% (p > 0.1) and 4.5 ± 4.6% (p > 0.1) for T 1ρ , respectively. With the proposed cluster analysis technique, we have quantified cartilage lesion coverage and demonstrated that the ACL-injured group had greater areas of elevated T 2 and T 1ρ relaxation times as compared to healthy volunteers. Copyright © 2016 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. TERT promoter hot spot mutations are frequent in Indian cervical and oral squamous cell carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Vinothkumar, Vilvanathan; Arunkumar, Ganesan; Revathidevi, Sundaramoorthy; Arun, Kanagaraj; Manikandan, Mayakannan; Rao, Arunagiri Kuha Deva Magendhra; Rajkumar, Kottayasamy Seenivasagam; Ajay, Chandrasekar; Rajaraman, Ramamurthy; Ramani, Rajendren; Murugan, Avaniyapuram Kannan; Munirajan, Arasambattu Kannan

    2016-06-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix and oral cavity are most common cancers in India. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) overexpression is one of the hallmarks for cancer, and activation through promoter mutation C228T and C250T has been reported in variety of tumors and often shown to be associated with aggressive tumors. In the present study, we analyzed these two hot spot mutations in 181 primary tumors of the uterine cervix and oral cavity by direct DNA sequencing and correlated with patient's clinicopathological characteristics. We found relatively high frequency of TERT hot spot mutations in both cervical [21.4 % (30/140)] and oral [31.7 % (13/41)] squamous cell carcinomas. In cervical cancer, TERT promoter mutations were more prevalent (25 %) in human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative cases compared to HPV-positive cases (20.6 %), and both TERT promoter mutation and HPV infection were more commonly observed in advanced stage tumors (77 %). Similarly, the poor and moderately differentiated tumors of the uterine cervix had both the TERT hot spot mutations and HPV (16 and 18) at higher frequency (95.7 %). Interestingly, we observed eight homozygous mutations (six 228TT and two 250TT) only in cervical tumors, and all of them were found to be positive for high-risk HPV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from India reporting high prevalence of TERT promoter mutations in primary tumors of the uterine cervix and oral cavity. Our results suggest that TERT reactivation through promoter mutation either alone or in association with the HPV oncogenes (E6 and E7) could play an important role in the carcinogenesis of cervical and oral cancers.

  11. Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expression in histologically normal margins of oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Itoiz, María E.; Guiñazú, Natalia; Piccini, Daniel; Gea, Susana; López-de Blanc, Silvia

    2014-01-01

    The activity of Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (NOS2) was found in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) but not in normal mucosa. Molecular changes associated to early carcinogenesis have been found in mucosa near carcinomas, which is considered a model to study field cancerization. The aim of the present study is to analyze NOS2 expression at the histologically normal margins of OSCC. Study Design: Eleven biopsy specimens of OSCC containing histologically normal margins (HNM) were analyzed. Ten biopsies of normal oral mucosa were used as controls. The activity of NOS2 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Salivary nitrate and nitrite as well as tobacco and alcohol consumption were also analyzed. The Chi-squared test was applied. Results: Six out of the eleven HNM from carcinoma samples showed positive NOS2 activity whereas all the control group samples yielded negative (p=0.005). No statistically significant association between enzyme expression and tobacco and/or alcohol consumption and salivary nitrate and nitrite was found. Conclusions: NOS2 expression would be an additional evidence of alterations that may occur in a state of field cancerization before the appearance of potentially malignant morphological changes. Key words:Field cancerization, oral squamous cell carcinoma, Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (NOS2), malignity markers. PMID:24316703

  12. Evaluation of multimodal segmentation based on 3D T1-, T2- and FLAIR-weighted images - the difficulty of choosing.

    PubMed

    Lindig, Tobias; Kotikalapudi, Raviteja; Schweikardt, Daniel; Martin, Pascal; Bender, Friedemann; Klose, Uwe; Ernemann, Ulrike; Focke, Niels K; Bender, Benjamin

    2018-04-15

    Voxel-based morphometry is still mainly based on T1-weighted MRI scans. Misclassification of vessels and dura mater as gray matter has been previously reported. Goal of the present work was to evaluate the effect of multimodal segmentation methods available in SPM12, and their influence on identification of age related atrophy and lesion detection in epilepsy patients. 3D T1-, T2- and FLAIR-images of 77 healthy adults (mean age 35.8 years, 19-66 years, 45 females), 7 patients with malformation of cortical development (MCD) (mean age 28.1 years,19-40 years, 3 females), and 5 patients with left hippocampal sclerosis (LHS) (mean age 49.0 years, 25-67 years, 3 females) from a 3T scanner were evaluated. Segmentation based on T1-only, T1+T2, T1+FLAIR, T2+FLAIR, and T1+T2+FLAIR were compared in the healthy subjects. Clinical VBM results based on the different segmentation approaches for MCD and for LHS were compared. T1-only segmentation overestimated total intracranial volume by about 80ml compared to the other segmentation methods. This was due to misclassification of dura mater and vessels as GM and CSF. Significant differences were found for several anatomical regions: the occipital lobe, the basal ganglia/thalamus, the pre- and postcentral gyrus, the cerebellum, and the brainstem. None of the segmentation methods yielded completely satisfying results for the basal ganglia/thalamus and the brainstem. The best correlation with age could be found for the multimodal T1+T2+FLAIR segmentation. Highest T-scores for identification of LHS were found for T1+T2 segmentation, while highest T-scores for MCD were dependent on lesion and anatomical location. Multimodal segmentation is superior to T1-only segmentation and reduces the misclassification of dura mater and vessels as GM and CSF. Depending on the anatomical region and the pathology of interest (atrophy, lesion detection, etc.), different combinations of T1, T2 and FLAIR yield optimal results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier

  13. CD30-Positive T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disease of the Oral Mucosa in Children: A Manifestation of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated T-Lymphoproliferative Disorder.

    PubMed

    Hong, Mineui; Ko, Young Hyeh

    2015-11-01

    Eosinophilic ulcer of the oral mucosa (EUOM) is a very rare, benign, self-limiting ulcerative lesion of the oral cavity of unknown pathogenesis, and belongs to the same spectrum of CD30(+) T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) of the oral mucosa. The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are unknown. We report two cases in children who were initially diagnosed with EUOM and CD30(+) T-cell LPD, respectively. However, retrospective analysis revealed that a majority of infiltrated atypical T cells were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The present cases suggest that the pathogenesis and etiology of EUOM or CD30(+) T-cell LPD occurring in children are different from those in adults. EUOM or CD30(+) T-cell LPD in children is a manifestation of EBV-positive T-cell LPD, and should therefore be distinguished from the disease in adults.

  14. T1- or T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: what is the best choice to evaluate atrophy of the hippocampus?

    PubMed

    Fischbach-Boulanger, C; Fitsiori, A; Noblet, V; Baloglu, S; Oesterle, H; Draghici, S; Philippi, N; Duron, E; Hanon, O; Dietemann, J-L; Blanc, F; Kremer, S

    2018-05-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging is part of the diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the evaluation of hippocampal atrophy. The objective of this study was to evaluate which sequence of T1-weighted (T1WI) and T2-weighted (T2WI) imaging allowed the best visual evaluation of hippocampal atrophy. Visual qualitative ratings of the hippocampus of 100 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 50 patients with AD were made independently by four operators according to the medial temporal lobe atrophy score based either on T1WI or T2WI. These two evaluations were compared in terms of interobserver reproducibility, concordance with a quantitative volumetric measure, discrimination power between AD and MCI groups, and correlation with several neuropsychological tests. The medial temporal lobe atrophy score evaluated on either T1WI or T2WI exhibited similar interobserver variability and accordance with quantitative volumetric evaluation. However, the visual evaluation on T2WI seemed to provide better discrimination power between AD and MCI groups for both left (T1WI, P = 0.0001; T2WI, P = 7.072 × 10 -5 ) and right (T1WI, P = 0.008; T2WI, P = 0.001) hippocampus, and a higher overall correlation with neuropsychological tests. The present study suggests that T2WI provides a more adequate visual rating of hippocampal atrophy. © 2018 EAN.

  15. The Attentional Blink Is Not Affected by Backward Masking of T2, T2-Mask SOA, or Level of T2 Impoverishment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jannati, Ali; Spalek, Thomas M.; Lagroix, Hayley E. P.; Di Lollo, Vincent

    2012-01-01

    Identification of the second of two targets (T2) is impaired when presented shortly after the first (T1). This "attentional blink" (AB) is thought to arise from a delay in T2 processing during which T2 is vulnerable to masking. Conventional studies have measured T2 accuracy which is constrained by the 100% ceiling. We avoided this problem by using…

  16. Simultaneous T1 and T2 Brain Relaxometry in Asymptomatic Volunteers using Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting.

    PubMed

    Badve, Chaitra; Yu, Alice; Rogers, Matthew; Ma, Dan; Liu, Yiying; Schluchter, Mark; Sunshine, Jeffrey; Griswold, Mark; Gulani, Vikas

    2015-12-01

    Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a method of image acquisition that produces multiple MR parametric maps from a single scan. Here, we describe the normal range and progression of MRF-derived relaxometry values with age in healthy individuals. 56 normal volunteers (ages 11-71 years, M:F 24:32) were scanned. Regions of interest were drawn on T 1 and T 2 maps in 38 areas, including lobar and deep white matter, deep gray nuclei, thalami and posterior fossa structures. Relaxometry differences were assessed using a forward stepwise selection of a baseline model including either gender, age, or both, where variables were included if they contributed significantly (p<0.05). Additionally, differences in regional anatomy, including comparisons between hemispheres and between anatomical subcomponents, were assessed by paired t-tests. Using this protocol, MRF-derived T 1 and T 2 in frontal WM regions were found to increase in with age, while occipital and temporal regions remained relatively stable. Deep gray nuclei, including substantia nigra, were found to have age-related decreases in relaxometry. Gender differences were observed in T 1 and T 2 of temporal regions, cerebellum and pons. Males were also found to have more rapid age-related changes in frontal and parietal WM. Regional differences were identified between hemispheres, between genu and splenium of corpus callosum, and between posteromedial and anterolateral thalami. In conclusion, MRF quantification can measure relaxometry trends in healthy individuals that are in agreement with current understanding of neuroanatomy and neurobiology, and has the ability to uncover additional patterns that have not yet been explored.

  17. Simultaneous T1 and T2 Brain Relaxometry in Asymptomatic Volunteers using Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting

    PubMed Central

    Badve, Chaitra; Yu, Alice; Rogers, Matthew; Ma, Dan; Liu, Yiying; Schluchter, Mark; Sunshine, Jeffrey; Griswold, Mark; Gulani, Vikas

    2016-01-01

    Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a method of image acquisition that produces multiple MR parametric maps from a single scan. Here, we describe the normal range and progression of MRF-derived relaxometry values with age in healthy individuals. 56 normal volunteers (ages 11-71 years, M:F 24:32) were scanned. Regions of interest were drawn on T1 and T2 maps in 38 areas, including lobar and deep white matter, deep gray nuclei, thalami and posterior fossa structures. Relaxometry differences were assessed using a forward stepwise selection of a baseline model including either gender, age, or both, where variables were included if they contributed significantly (p<0.05). Additionally, differences in regional anatomy, including comparisons between hemispheres and between anatomical subcomponents, were assessed by paired t-tests. Using this protocol, MRF-derived T1 and T2 in frontal WM regions were found to increase in with age, while occipital and temporal regions remained relatively stable. Deep gray nuclei, including substantia nigra, were found to have age-related decreases in relaxometry. Gender differences were observed in T1 and T2 of temporal regions, cerebellum and pons. Males were also found to have more rapid age-related changes in frontal and parietal WM. Regional differences were identified between hemispheres, between genu and splenium of corpus callosum, and between posteromedial and anterolateral thalami. In conclusion, MRF quantification can measure relaxometry trends in healthy individuals that are in agreement with current understanding of neuroanatomy and neurobiology, and has the ability to uncover additional patterns that have not yet been explored. PMID:26824078

  18. Engineered contrast agents in a single structure for T1-T2 dual magnetic resonance imaging.

    PubMed

    Cabrera-García, Alejandro; Checa-Chavarria, Elisa; Pacheco-Torres, Jesús; Bernabeu-Sanz, Ángela; Vidal-Moya, Alejandro; Rivero-Buceta, Eva; Sastre, Germán; Fernández, Eduardo; Botella, Pablo

    2018-04-05

    The development of contrast agents (CAs) for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with T1-T2 dual-mode relaxivity requires the accurate assembly of T1 and T2 magnetic centers in a single structure. In this context, we have synthesized a novel hybrid material by monitoring the formation of Prussian Blue analogue Gd(H2O)4[Fe(CN)6] nanoparticles with tailored shape (from nanocrosses to nanorods) and size, and further protection with a thin and homogeneous silica coating through hydrolysis and polymerization of silicate at neutral pH. The resulting Gd(H2O)4[Fe(CN)6]@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles are very stable in biological fluids. Interestingly, this combination of Gd and Fe magnetic centers closely packed in the crystalline network promotes a magnetic synergistic effect, which results in significant improvement of longitudinal relaxivity with regards to soluble Gd3+ chelates, whilst keeping the high transversal relaxivity inherent to the iron component. As a consequence, this material shows excellent activity as MRI CA, improving positive and negative contrasts in T1- and T2-weighted MR images, both in in vitro (e.g., phantom) and in vivo (e.g., Sprague-Dawley rats) models. In addition, this hybrid shows a high biosafety profile and has strong ability to incorporate organic molecules on the surface with variable functionality, displaying great potential for further clinical application.

  19. IL-6 Inhibits Upregulation of Membrane-Bound TGF-β 1 on CD4+ T Cells and Blocking IL-6 Enhances Oral Tolerance.

    PubMed

    Kuhn, Chantal; Rezende, Rafael Machado; M'Hamdi, Hanane; da Cunha, Andre Pires; Weiner, Howard L

    2017-02-01

    Oral administration of Ag induces regulatory T cells that express latent membrane-bound TGF-β (latency-associated peptide [LAP]) and have been shown to play an important role in the induction of oral tolerance. We developed an in vitro model to study modulation of LAP + on CD4 + T cells. The combination of anti-CD3 mAb, anti-CD28 mAb, and recombinant IL-2 induced expression of LAP on naive CD4 + T cells, independent of Foxp3 or exogenous TGF-β. In vitro generated CD4 + LAP + Foxp3 - T cells were suppressive in vitro, inhibiting proliferation of naive CD4 + T cells and IL-17A secretion by Th17 cells. Assessing the impact of different cytokines and neutralizing Abs against cytokines, we found that LAP induction was decreased in the presence of IL-6 and IL-21, and to a lesser extent by IL-4 and TNF-α. IL-6 abrogated the in vitro induction of CD4 + LAP + T cells by STAT3-dependent inhibition of Lrrc32 (glycoprotein A repetitions predominant [GARP]), the adapter protein that tethers TGF-β to the membrane. Oral tolerance induction was enhanced in mice lacking expression of IL-6R by CD4 + T cells and by treatment of wild-type mice with neutralizing anti-IL-6 mAb. These results suggest that proinflammatory cytokines interfere with oral tolerance induction and that blocking the IL-6 pathway is a potential strategy for enhancing oral tolerance in the setting of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

  20. Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Glucose Transporter Type 1 in Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Pereira, Karuza Maria Alves; Feitosa, Sthefane Gomes; Lima, Ana Thayssa Tomaz; Luna, Ealber Carvalho Macedo; Cavalcante, Roberta Barroso; de Lima, Kenio Costa; Chaves, Filipe Nobre; Costa, Fábio Wildson Gurgel

    2016-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity and some of these have been documented in association or preceded by oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). Aggressive cancers with fast growth have demonstrated overexpression of some glucose transporters (GLUTs). Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of the glucose transporter, GLUT-1, in OEDs and OSCCs, seeking to better elucidate the biological behavior of neoplasias. Fifteen cases were selected this research of both lesions. Five areas were analyzed from each case by counting the percentage of positive cells at 400x magnification. Immunoreactivity of GLUT-1 was observed in 100% of the samples ranging from 54.2% to 86.2% for the OSCC and 73.9% to 97.4% for the OED. Statistical test revealed that there was greater overexpression of GLUT-1 in OED than the OSCC (p=0.01). It is believed the high expression of GLUT-1 may reflect the involvement of GLUT-1 in early stages of oral carcinogenesis.

  1. Europium-engineered iron oxide nanocubes with high T1 and T2 contrast abilities for MRI in living subjects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Lijiao; Zhou, Zijian; Liu, Hanyu; Wu, Changqiang; Zhang, Hui; Huang, Guoming; Ai, Hua; Gao, Jinhao

    2015-04-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with both positive (T1) and negative (T2) contrast abilities are needed in clinical diagnosis for fault-free accurate detection of lesions. We report a facile synthesis of europium-engineered iron oxide (EuIO) nanocubes as T1 and T2 contrast agents for MRI in living subjects. The Eu(iii) oxide-embedded iron oxide nanoparticles significantly increase the T1 relaxivity with an enhanced positive contrast effect. EuIO nanocubes with 14 nm in diameter showed a high r1 value of 36.8 mM-1 s-1 with respect to total metal ions (Fe + Eu), which is about 3 times higher than that of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with similar size. Moreover, both r1 and r2 values of EuIO nanocubes can be tuned by varying their sizes and Eu doping ratios. After citrate coating, EuIO nanocubes can provide enhanced T1 and T2 contrast effects in small animals, particularly in the cardiac and liver regions. This work may provide an insightful strategy to design MRI contrast agents with both positive and negative contrast abilities for biomedical applications.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with both positive (T1) and negative (T2) contrast abilities are needed in clinical diagnosis for fault-free accurate detection of lesions. We report a facile synthesis of europium-engineered iron oxide (EuIO) nanocubes as T1 and T2 contrast agents for MRI in living subjects. The Eu(iii) oxide-embedded iron oxide nanoparticles significantly increase the T1 relaxivity with an enhanced positive contrast effect. EuIO nanocubes with 14 nm in diameter showed a high r1 value of 36.8 mM-1 s-1 with respect to total metal ions (Fe + Eu), which is about 3 times higher than that of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with similar size. Moreover, both r1 and r2 values of EuIO nanocubes can be tuned by varying their sizes and Eu doping ratios. After citrate coating, EuIO nanocubes can provide enhanced T1 and T2 contrast effects in small animals, particularly in the cardiac and liver

  2. NMR relaxation in natural soils: Fast Field Cycling and T1-T2 Determination by IR-MEMS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haber-Pohlmeier, S.; Pohlmeier, A.; Stapf, S.; van Dusschoten, D.

    2009-04-01

    Soils are natural porous media of highest importance for food production and sustainment of water resources. For these functions, prominent properties are their ability of water retainment and transport, which are mainly controlled by pore size distribution. The latter is related to NMR relaxation times of water molecules, of which the longitudinal relaxation time can be determined non-invasively by fast-field cycling relaxometry (FFC) and both are obtainable by inversion recovery - multi-echo- imaging (IR-MEMS) methods. The advantage of the FFC method is the determination of the field dependent dispersion of the spin-lattice relaxation rate, whereas MRI at high field is capable of yielding spatially resolved T1 and T2 times. Here we present results of T1- relaxation time distributions of water in three natural soils, obtained by the analysis of FFC data by means of the inverse Laplace transformation (CONTIN)1. Kaldenkirchen soil shows relatively broad bimodal distribution functions D(T1) which shift to higher relaxation rates with increasing relaxation field. These data are compared to spatially resolved T1- and T2 distributions, obtained by IR-MEMS. The distribution of T1 corresponds well to that obtained by FFC.

  3. Transcriptomic characterization of MRI contrast with focus on the T1-w/T2-w ratio in the cerebral cortex.

    PubMed

    Ritchie, Jacob; Pantazatos, Spiro P; French, Leon

    2018-07-01

    Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain are of immense clinical and research utility. At the atomic and subatomic levels, the sources of MR signals are well understood. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the macromolecular correlates of MR signal contrast. To address this gap, we used genome-wide measurements to correlate gene expression with MR signal intensity across the cerebral cortex in the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA). We focused on the ratio of T1-weighted and T2-weighted intensities (T1-w/T2-w ratio image), which is considered to be a useful proxy for myelin content. As expected, we found enrichment of positive correlations between myelin-associated genes and the ratio image, supporting its use as a myelin marker. Genome-wide, there was an association with protein mass, with genes coding for heavier proteins expressed in regions with high T1-w/T2-w values. Oligodendrocyte gene markers were strongly correlated with the T1-w/T2-w ratio, but this was not driven by myelin-associated genes. Mitochondrial genes exhibit the strongest relationship, showing higher expression in regions with low T1-w/T2-w ratio. This may be due to the pH gradient in mitochondria as genes up-regulated by pH in the brain were also highly correlated with the ratio. While we corroborate associations with myelin and synaptic plasticity, differences in the T1-w/T2-w ratio across the cortex are more strongly linked to molecule size, oligodendrocyte markers, mitochondria, and pH. We evaluate correlations between AHBA transcriptomic measurements and a group averaged T1-w/T2-w ratio image, showing agreement with in-sample results. Expanding our analysis to the whole brain results in strong positive T1-w/T2-w correlations for immune system, inflammatory disease, and microglia marker genes. Genes with negative correlations were enriched for neuron markers and synaptic plasticity genes. Lastly, our findings are similar when performed on T1-w or inverted T2-w intensities alone

  4. Frequency of HPV in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    de Abreu, Priscila Marinho; Có, Anna Clara Gregório; Azevedo, Pedro Leite; do Valle, Isabella Bittencourt; de Oliveira, Karine Gadioli; Gouvea, Sônia Alves; Cordeiro-Silva, Melissa Freitas; Louro, Iúri Drummond; de Podestá, José Roberto Vasconcelos; Lenzi, Jeferson; Sena, Agenor; Mendonça, Elismauro Francisco; von Zeidler, Sandra Lúcia Ventorin

    2018-03-27

    The prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) varies widely. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of high-risk HPV DNA in a large Brazilian cohort of patients with oral cavity SCC. Biopsy and resected frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of oral cavity SCC were available from 101 patients who were recruited at two Brazilian centres. Stringent measures with respect to case selection and prevention of sample contamination were adopted to ensure reliability of the data. Nested PCR using MY09/MY11 and GP5 + /GP6 + as well as PGMY09/11 L1 consensus primers were performed to investigate the presence of HPV DNA in the tumours. HPV-positive cases were subjected to direct sequencing. Shapiro-Wilk and Student t test were used to evaluate data normality and to compare the means, respectively. Qualitative variables were analysed by logistic regression. Our results demonstrate that the frequency of high-risk HPV types in oral cavity SCC is very low and is less than 4%. All HPV-positive cases were HPV16. In addition, our results do not show a significant association between the tumour clinical features and the risk factors (tobacco, alcohol and HPV) for oral cavity SCC. In the current study, we observed an overlapping pattern of risk factors that are related to tumour development. This, along with a low frequency of high-risk HPV DNA, supports the findings that HPV is not involved in the genesis of oral cavity SCC in Brazilian population.

  5. A medical device-grade T1 and ECV phantom for global T1 mapping quality assurance-the T1 Mapping and ECV Standardization in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (T1MES) program.

    PubMed

    Captur, Gabriella; Gatehouse, Peter; Keenan, Kathryn E; Heslinga, Friso G; Bruehl, Ruediger; Prothmann, Marcel; Graves, Martin J; Eames, Richard J; Torlasco, Camilla; Benedetti, Giulia; Donovan, Jacqueline; Ittermann, Bernd; Boubertakh, Redha; Bathgate, Andrew; Royet, Celine; Pang, Wenjie; Nezafat, Reza; Salerno, Michael; Kellman, Peter; Moon, James C

    2016-09-22

    T 1 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) have the potential to guide patient care and serve as surrogate end-points in clinical trials, but measurements differ between cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) scanners and pulse sequences. To help deliver T 1 mapping to global clinical care, we developed a phantom-based quality assurance (QA) system for verification of measurement stability over time at individual sites, with further aims of generalization of results across sites, vendor systems, software versions and imaging sequences. We thus created T1MES: The T1 Mapping and ECV Standardization Program. A design collaboration consisting of a specialist MRI small-medium enterprise, clinicians, physicists and national metrology institutes was formed. A phantom was designed covering clinically relevant ranges of T 1 and T 2 in blood and myocardium, pre and post-contrast, for 1.5 T and 3 T. Reproducible mass manufacture was established. The device received regulatory clearance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Conformité Européene (CE) marking. The T1MES phantom is an agarose gel-based phantom using nickel chloride as the paramagnetic relaxation modifier. It was reproducibly specified and mass-produced with a rigorously repeatable process. Each phantom contains nine differently-doped agarose gel tubes embedded in a gel/beads matrix. Phantoms were free of air bubbles and susceptibility artifacts at both field strengths and T 1 maps were free from off-resonance artifacts. The incorporation of high-density polyethylene beads in the main gel fill was effective at flattening the B 1 field. T 1 and T 2 values measured in T1MES showed coefficients of variation of 1 % or less between repeat scans indicating good short-term reproducibility. Temperature dependency experiments confirmed that over the range 15-30 °C the short-T 1 tubes were more stable with temperature than the long-T 1 tubes. A batch of 69 phantoms was mass-produced with random sampling of

  6. Synchronous oral paracoccidioidomycosis and oral squamous cell carcinomas with submandibular enlargement.

    PubMed

    Azevedo, Rebeca Souza; Gouvêa, Adriele Ferreira; Lopes, Márcio Ajudarte; Corrêa, Marcelo Brum; Jorge, Jacks

    2011-01-01

    Oral paracoccidioidomycosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma may occur in the same patient. As both lesions may present similar clinical and histopathological features, the diagnosis is sometimes challenging. This paper describes the case of a 54-year-old male who was a farm worker and heavy alcohol and tobacco user. He developed paracoccidioidomycosis and two lesions of squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity. During the follow-up, the patient presented enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes, which was thought to be regional metastasis but was diagnosed as paracoccidioidomycosis. Therefore, the significance of this association is emphasized and discussed.

  7. Relaxivity of Ferumoxytol at 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

    PubMed

    Knobloch, Gesine; Colgan, Timothy; Wiens, Curtis N; Wang, Xiaoke; Schubert, Tilman; Hernando, Diego; Sharma, Samir D; Reeder, Scott B

    2018-05-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the relaxation properties of ferumoxytol, an off-label alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents, under physiological conditions at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Ferumoxytol was diluted in gradually increasing concentrations (0.26-4.2 mM) in saline, human plasma, and human whole blood. Magnetic resonance relaxometry was performed at 37°C at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Longitudinal and transverse relaxation rate constants (R1, R2, R2*) were measured as a function of ferumoxytol concentration, and relaxivities (r1, r2, r2*) were calculated. A linear dependence of R1, R2, and R2* on ferumoxytol concentration was found in saline and plasma with lower R1 values at 3.0 T and similar R2 and R2* values at 1.5 T and 3.0 T (1.5 T: r1saline = 19.9 ± 2.3 smM; r1plasma = 19.0 ± 1.7 smM; r2saline = 60.8 ± 3.8 smM; r2plasma = 64.9 ± 1.8 smM; r2*saline = 60.4 ± 4.7 smM; r2*plasma = 64.4 ± 2.5 smM; 3.0 T: r1saline = 10.0 ± 0.3 smM; r1plasma = 9.5 ± 0.2 smM; r2saline = 62.3 ± 3.7 smM; r2plasma = 65.2 ± 1.8 smM; r2*saline = 57.0 ± 4.7 smM; r2*plasma = 55.7 ± 4.4 smM). The dependence of relaxation rates on concentration in blood was nonlinear. Formulas from second-order polynomial fittings of the relaxation rates were calculated to characterize the relationship between R1blood and R2 blood with ferumoxytol. Ferumoxytol demonstrates strong longitudinal and transverse relaxivities. Awareness of the nonlinear relaxation behavior of ferumoxytol in blood is important for ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging applications and for protocol optimization.

  8. CMTM5 exhibits tumor suppressor activity through promoter methylation in oral squamous cell carcinoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Heyu; Nan, Xu; Li, Xuefen

    Highlights: • Down-regulation of CMTM5 expression in OSCC tissues was found. • The promoter methylation status of CMTM5 was measured. • CMTM5-v1 inhibited cell proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis. • CMTM5 might act as a putative tumor suppressor gene in OSCC. - Abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of malignancies in the head and neck region. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing member 5 (CMTM5) has been recently implicated as a tumor suppressor gene in several cancer types. Herein, we examined the expression and function of CMTM5 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. CMTM5 wasmore » down-regulated in oral squamous cell lines and tumor samples from patients with promoter methylation. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine restored CMTM5 expression. In the OSCC cell lines CAL27 and GNM, the ectopic expression of CMTM5-v1 strongly inhibited cell proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis. In addition, CMTM5-v1 inhibited tumor formation in vivo. Therefore, CMTM5 might act as a putative tumor suppressor gene through promoter methylation in oral squamous cell carcinoma.« less

  9. 26 CFR 1.103(n)-2T - Private activity bond defined (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ...(n)-2T Section 1.103(n)-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY....103(n)-2T Private activity bond defined (temporary). Q-1: What is the definition of the term “private activity bond”? A-1: In general, for purposes of §§ 1.103(n)-1T through 1.103(n)-6T, the term “private...

  10. microRNA-188 is downregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma and inhibits proliferation and invasion by targeting SIX1.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lili; Liu, Hongchen

    2016-03-01

    microRNA-188 expression is downregulated in several tumors. However, its function and mechanism in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains obscure. The present study aims to identify the expression pattern, biological roles, and potential mechanism by which miR-188 dysregulation is associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Significant downregulation of miR-188 was observed in OSCC tissues compared with paired normal tissues. In vitro, gain-of-function, loss-of-function experiments were performed to examine the impact of miR-188 on cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and cell cycle progression. Transfection of miR-188 mimics suppressed Detroit 562 cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and invasion, with downregulation of cyclin D1, MMP9, and p-ERK. Transfection of miR-188 inhibitor in FaDu cell line with high endogenous expression exhibited the opposite effects. Using fluorescence reporter assays, we confirmed that SIX1 was a direct target of miR-188 in OSCC cells. Transfection of miR-188 mimics downregulated SIX1 expression. SIX1 siRNA treatment abrogated miR-188 inhibitor-induced cyclin D1 and MMP9 upregulation. In addition, we found that SIX1 was overexpressed in 32 of 80 OSCC tissues. In conclusion, this study indicates that miR-188 downregulation might be associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. miR-188 suppresses proliferation and invasion by targeting SIX1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

  11. Laparoscopic approach to suspected T1 and T2 gallbladder carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Ome, Yusuke; Hashida, Kazuki; Yokota, Mitsuru; Nagahisa, Yoshio; Okabe, Michio; Kawamoto, Kazuyuki

    2017-01-01

    AIM To evaluate a laparoscopic approach to gallbladder lesions including polyps, wall-thickening lesions, and suspected T1 and T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC). METHODS We performed 50 cases of laparoscopic whole-layer cholecystectomy (LCWL) and 13 cases of laparoscopic gallbladder bed resection (LCGB) for those gallbladder lesions from April 2010 to November 2016. We analyzed the short-term and long-term results of our laparoscopic approach. RESULTS The median operation time was 108 min for LCWL and 211 min for LCGB. The median blood loss was minimal for LCWL and 28 ml for LCGB. No severe morbidity occurred in either procedure. Nine patients who underwent LCWL and 7 who underwent LCGB were postoperatively diagnosed with GBC. One of these patients had undergone LCGB for pathologically diagnosed T2 GBC after LCWL. All of the final surgical margins were negative. Three of these 15 patients underwent additional open surgery. The mean follow-up period was 26 mo, and only one patient developed recurrence. CONCLUSION LCWL and LCGB are safe and useful procedures that allow complete resection of highly suspected or early-stage cancer and achieve good short-term and long-term results. PMID:28465640

  12. Laparoscopic approach to suspected T1 and T2 gallbladder carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ome, Yusuke; Hashida, Kazuki; Yokota, Mitsuru; Nagahisa, Yoshio; Okabe, Michio; Kawamoto, Kazuyuki

    2017-04-14

    To evaluate a laparoscopic approach to gallbladder lesions including polyps, wall-thickening lesions, and suspected T1 and T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC). We performed 50 cases of laparoscopic whole-layer cholecystectomy (LCWL) and 13 cases of laparoscopic gallbladder bed resection (LCGB) for those gallbladder lesions from April 2010 to November 2016. We analyzed the short-term and long-term results of our laparoscopic approach. The median operation time was 108 min for LCWL and 211 min for LCGB. The median blood loss was minimal for LCWL and 28 ml for LCGB. No severe morbidity occurred in either procedure. Nine patients who underwent LCWL and 7 who underwent LCGB were postoperatively diagnosed with GBC. One of these patients had undergone LCGB for pathologically diagnosed T2 GBC after LCWL. All of the final surgical margins were negative. Three of these 15 patients underwent additional open surgery. The mean follow-up period was 26 mo, and only one patient developed recurrence. LCWL and LCGB are safe and useful procedures that allow complete resection of highly suspected or early-stage cancer and achieve good short-term and long-term results.

  13. Role of Neurokinin 3 Receptor Signaling in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Obata, Kyoichi; Shimo, Tsuyoshi; Okui, Tatsuo; Matsumoto, Kenichi; Takada, Hiroyuki; Takabatake, Kiyofumi; Kunisada, Yuki; Ibaragi, Soichiro; Yoshioka, Norie; Kishimoto, Koji; Nagatsuka, Hitoshi; Sasaki, Akira

    2017-11-01

    The neurokinin 3 receptor (NK-3R) is differentially expressed in the central nervous system including cases of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the role of NK-3R signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma is not well known. NK-3R expression in surgically resected oral squamous cell carcinoma was examined immunohistochemically and the strength of the expression was quantified. We evaluated the function of NK-3R signaling using NK-3R antagonist in human oral squamous cell carcinoma bone invasion mouse model. NK-3R was significantly expressed in tumor cells that had invaded the bone matrix compared to the oral side tumor cells. SB222200, a selective antagonist of NK-3R, significantly suppressed the radiographic osteolytic lesion and tumorigenesis. NK-3R signaling is a potential target for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cases of bone destruction. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

  14. Oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in young adults: A retrospective study in Granada University Hospital.

    PubMed

    Cariati, P; Cabello-Serrano, A; Perez-de Perceval-Tara, M; Monsalve-Iglesias, F; Martínez-Lara, I

    2017-11-01

    This study aims to evaluate and analyze the clinical features and outcomes of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients < 45-years old in our center. A retrospective analysis was conducted using the records of patients diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal SCC between 1998 and 2011 in the University Hospital of Granada (Spain). The analysis identified 33 patients with oral and oropharyngeal SCC with an age of <45 years. Moreover, during the years studied, a further 472 patients were diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal SCC in our center. Thus, 100 SCC patients with an age of >45 years were randomly selected from the same database. A retrospective analysis was conducted to determine specific features including sites of occurrence, risk factors, sex distribution, socio-economic status, T stage at diagnosis, nodal involvement, degree of tumor differentiation, locoregional failure and overall survival at 5 years was. Further, the results of both groups were compared. The male-female ratio was 1.2:1 in the group of young adults and 2.03:1 in the group of patients with an age of >45 years. No significant differences were found in terms of site, nodal involvement, locoregional failure, and overall survival. However, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of features such as risk factors, socio-economic status, T stage at diagnosis, and degree of tumor differentiation. The overall 5-year survival rate was 62% for patients >45 years old, whilst for the group of young adults this rate was 48.4% (p= 0.17). The poor association between the common risk factors and oral and oropharyngeal cancers in young adults suggests that other pathogenic mechanisms should be investigated. For young patients, the data show evidence of poorer outcomes in terms of overall survival (p=0.17), and locoregional failure (p=0.23). Nevertheless, the literature shows that the results in this field are particularly inconsistent, and

  15. Prognostic factors in clinical T1N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invading the muscularis mucosa or submucosa.

    PubMed

    Uchinami, Yusuke; Myojin, Miyako; Takahashi, Hiroaki; Harada, Keiichi; Shimizu, Shinichi; Hosokawa, Masao

    2016-06-21

    Multimodality treatment is widely performed for clinical T1N0M0 (UICC-TNM classification, 7th edition) thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but available articles regarding treatment results are limited. This study assessed the outcomes of clinical T1N0M0 thoracic ESCC invading the muscularis mucosa (MM) or submucosa (SM) treated with radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 90 patients with clinical T1N0M0 thoracic ESCC treated with RT or CRT in our hospital in 2004-2011. Of these 90 patients, we analyzed the cases of 71 patients who met our inclusion criteria. All 71 patients had MM or SM cancer. In the 47 patients treated with CRT, the chemotherapy regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus cisplatin (CDDP) was used for 46 patients and 5-FU and nedaplatin was used for one patient. Forty-five patients underwent endoscopic resection (ER) followed by RT or CRT as an additional treatment. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was used in 39 patients. For all analyses, statistical significance was defined as 0.05, and the Bonferroni correction was used for the multivariate analysis. The median age was 70 years (range 47-84). With a median follow-up of 43.6 months (range 1.5-124.2), the 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 64.0, 72.8 and 50.0 %, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that performance status (PS) was an independent prognostic factors for DSS and DFS (DSS, p < 0.001; DFS, p < 0.001). Chemotherapy in addition to RT showed a trend for better DSS (p = 0.032) but was not significant following Bonferroni correction. ER and ENI were not significant predictive factors for DSS and DFS. PS was an independent prognostic factor for DSS and DFS. ER and ENI had no significant relationship with DSS or DFS. The present results may be helpful in treatment decisions for clinical T1N0M0 thoracic ESCC.

  16. Expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Jingping; Tao, Detao; Xu, Qing; Gao, Zhenlin; Tang, Daofang

    2015-01-01

    The aim of the study is to determine the levels of E-cadherin, vimentin expression in tumor tissues from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in order to explore its values for predicting the invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma, short survival of patients in many types of cancer. E-cadherin and vimentin expression of 10 benign and 42 OSCC tumor tissues was examined by immunohistochemical staining. E-cadherin is positively expressed in normal oral mucosa epithelium, but vimentin expression is not found in normal oral mucosa epithelia; the E-cadherin and vimentin were expressed in 26 of 42 (61.9%) and 16 of 42 (38.1%), respectively. No statistically difference was found for E-cadherin and vimentin expression in patients with different age, gender and tumor location, E-cadherin and vimentin expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and tissue location (P < 0.05); E-cadherin expression was also significantly associated with tumor stage (P < 0.05); there are significantly difference between infiltrative margin and central area in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma for E-cadherin and vimentin positive expression (P < 0.05). E-cadherin and vimentin positive expression was associated with tumor metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Our study preliminarily confirmed that EMT phenomenon is existed during the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Co-evaluation of E-cadherin and vimentin might be a valuable tool for predicting OSCC patient outcome. PMID:26045832

  17. T1 and T2 mapping for evaluation of myocardial involvement in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides.

    PubMed

    Greulich, Simon; Mayr, Agnes; Kitterer, Daniel; Latus, Joerg; Henes, Joerg; Steubing, Hannah; Kaesemann, Philipp; Patrascu, Alexandru; Greiser, Andreas; Groeninger, Stefan; Braun, Niko; Alscher, M Dominik; Sechtem, Udo; Mahrholdt, Heiko

    2017-01-06

    Myocardial involvement in AAV patients might be silent, presenting with no or nonspecific symptoms, normal ECG, and preserved left-ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF). Since up to 50% of deaths in these patients may be due to myocardial involvement, a reliable diagnostic tool is warranted. In contrast to LGE-CMR, which has its strengths in detecting focal inflammatory or fibrotic processes, recent mapping techniques are able to detect even subtle, diffuse inflammatory or fibrotic processes. Our study sought to investigate ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) associated vasculitides (AAV) patients for myocardial involvement by a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) protocol, including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and mapping sequences. Thirty seven AAV patients were prospectively enrolled and underwent CMR imaging. Twenty healthy volunteers served as controls. Mean LV-EF was 64%; LGE prevalence of the AAV patients was 43%. AAV patients had higher median native T1 (988 vs. 952 ms, p < 0.001), lower post-contrast T1 (488 vs. 524 ms, p = 0.03), expanded extracellular volume (ECV) (27.5 vs. 24.5%, p < 0.001), and higher T2 (53 vs. 49 ms, p < 0.001) compared to controls, with most parameters independent of the LGE status. Native T1 and T2 in AAV patients showed the highest prevalence of abnormally increased values beyond the 95% percentile of controls. AAV patients demonstrated increased T1, ECV, and T2 values, with native T1 and T2 showing the highest prevalence of values beyond the 95% percentile of normal. Since these findings seem to be independent of LGE, mapping techniques may provide complementary information to LGE-CMR in the assessment of myocardial involvement in patients with AAV.

  18. Skew in T cell receptor usage with polyclonal expansion in lesions of oral lichen planus without hepatitis C virus infection

    PubMed Central

    Gotoh, A; Hamada, Y; Shiobara, N; Kumagai, K; Seto, K; Horikawa, T; Suzuki, R

    2008-01-01

    Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a refractory disorder of the oral mucosa. Its predominant symptoms are pain and haphalgesia that impair the quality of life of patients. OLP develops via a T cell-mediated immune process. Here, we examined the characteristics of the infiltrating T cells in terms of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires, T cell clonality, T cell phenotypes and cytokine production profiles. TCR repertoire analyses and CDR3 size spectratyping were performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tissue specimens of OLP biopsies from 12 patients. The cytokine expression profiles and T cell phenotypes were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We observed that there were skewed TCR repertoires in the tissue samples (TCRVA8-1, VA22-1, VB2-1, VB3-1 and VB5-1) and PBMCs (TCRVA8-1, VB2-1, VB3-1 and VB5-1) from OLP patients. Furthermore, the CDR3 distributions in the skewed TCR subfamilies exhibited polyclonal patterns. We observed increases in CD4+ T lymphocytes, interleukin (IL)-5, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and human leucocyte antigen D-related in the OLP tissue specimens. Taken together, the present results suggest that T cells bearing these TCRs are involved in the pathogenesis of OLP, and that IL-5 and TNF-α may participate in its inflammatory process. PMID:18782324

  19. Introducing Cytology-Based Theranostics in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Pilot Program.

    PubMed

    Patrikidou, Anna; Valeri, Rosalia Maria; Kitikidou, Kyriaki; Destouni, Charikleia; Vahtsevanos, Konstantinos

    2016-04-01

    We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of brush cytology in the biomarker expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas within the concept of theranostics, and to correlate this biomarker profile with patient measurable outcomes. Markers representative of prognostic gene expression changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma was selected. These markers were also selected to involve pathways for which commercially available or investigational agents exist for clinical application. A set of 7 markers were analysed by immunocytochemistry on the archival primary tumour material of 99 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. We confirmed the feasibility of the technique for the expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Furthermore, our results affirm the prognostic significance of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family and the angiogenic pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma, confirming their interest for targeted therapy. Brush cytology appears feasible and applicable for the expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma within the concept of theranostics, according to sample availability.

  20. Tuning the relaxation rates of dual-mode T1/T2 nanoparticle contrast agents: a study into the ideal system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Keasberry, Natasha A.; Bañobre-López, Manuel; Wood, Christopher; Stasiuk, Graeme. J.; Gallo, Juan; Long, Nicholas. J.

    2015-09-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent imaging modality. However the low sensitivity of the technique poses a challenge to achieving an accurate image of function at the molecular level. To overcome this, contrast agents are used; typically gadolinium based agents for T1 weighted imaging, or iron oxide based agents for T2 imaging. Traditionally, only one imaging mode is used per diagnosis although several physiological situations are known to interfere with the signal induced by the contrast agents in each individual imaging mode acquisition. Recently, the combination of both T1 and T2 imaging capabilities into a single platform has emerged as a tool to reduce uncertainties in MR image analysis. To date, contradicting reports on the effect on the contrast of the coupling of a T1 and T2 agent have hampered the application of these specialised probes. Herein, we present a systematic experimental study on a range of gadolinium-labelled magnetite nanoparticles envisioned to bring some light into the mechanism of interaction between T1 and T2 components, and advance towards the design of efficient (dual) T1 and T2 MRI probes. Unexpected behaviours observed in some of the constructs will be discussed. In this study, we demonstrate that the relaxivity of such multimodal probes can be rationally tuned to obtain unmatched potentials in MR imaging, exemplified by preparation of the magnetite-based nanoparticle with the highest T2 relaxivity described to date.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent imaging modality. However the low sensitivity of the technique poses a challenge to achieving an accurate image of function at the molecular level. To overcome this, contrast agents are used; typically gadolinium based agents for T1 weighted imaging, or iron oxide based agents for T2 imaging. Traditionally, only one imaging mode is used per diagnosis although several physiological situations are known to interfere with the signal induced by the contrast agents in

  1. Diagnostic value of T1 and T2 * relaxation times and off-resonance saturation effects in the evaluation of Achilles tendinopathy by MRI at 3T.

    PubMed

    Grosse, Ulrich; Syha, Roland; Hein, Tobias; Gatidis, Sergios; Grözinger, Gerd; Schabel, Christoph; Martirosian, Petros; Schick, Fritz; Springer, Fabian

    2015-04-01

    To evaluate and compare the diagnostic value of T1 , T2 * relaxation times and off-resonance saturation ratios (OSR) in healthy controls and patients with different clinical and morphological stages of Achilles tendinopathy. Forty-two healthy Achilles tendons and 34 tendons of 17 patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic tendinopathy were investigated clinically with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences on a 3T whole-body MR scanner and a dynamic ultrasound examination. In addition, T1 and T2 * relaxation times were assessed using an ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging sequence with flip angle and echo time variation. For the calculation of OSR values a Gaussian off-resonance saturation pulse (frequency offset: 750-5000 Hz) was used. The diagnostic value of the derived MR values was assessed and compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. ROC curves demonstrate the highest overall test performance for OSR values at 2000 Hz off-resonance in differentiating slightly (OSR-2000 [AUC: 0.930] > T2 * [AUC: 0.884] > T1 [AUC: 0.737]) and more severe pathologically altered tendon areas (OSR-2000 [AUC: 0.964] > T2 * [AUC: 0.917] > T1 [AUC: 0.819]) from healthy ones. OSR values at a frequency offset of 2000 Hz demonstrated a better sensitivity and specificity for detecting mild and severe stages of tendinopathy compared to T2 * and particularly when compared to T1 relaxation times. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Temperature- and Phase-Dependent Phonon Renormalization in 1T'-MoS2.

    PubMed

    Tan, Sherman Jun Rong; Sarkar, Soumya; Zhao, Xiaoxu; Luo, Xin; Luo, Yong Zheng; Poh, Sock Mui; Abdelwahab, Ibrahim; Zhou, Wu; Venkatesan, Thirumalai; Chen, Wei; Quek, Su Ying; Loh, Kian Ping

    2018-05-22

    Polymorph engineering of 2H-MoS 2 , which can be achieved by alkali metal intercalation to obtain either the mixed 2H/1T' phases or a homogeneous 1T' phase, has received wide interest recently, since this serves as an effective route to tune the electrical and catalytic properties of MoS 2 . As opposed to an idealized single crystal-to-single crystal phase conversion, the 2H to 1T' phase conversion results in crystal domain size reduction as well as strained lattices, although how these develop with composition is not well understood. Herein, the evolution of the phonon modes in Li-intercalated 1T'-MoS 2 (Li x MoS 2 ) are investigated as a function of different 1T'-2H compositions. We observed that the strain evolution in the mixed phases is revealed by the softening of four Raman modes, B g ( J 1 ), A g ( J 3 ), E 1 2g , and A 1g , with increasing 1T' phase composition. Additionally, the first-order temperature coefficients of the 1T' phonon mode vary linearly with increasing 1T' composition, which is explained by increased electron-phonon and strain-phonon coupling.

  3. Immunosuppression Induced by Chronic Inflammation and the Progression to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Yujuan; Liu, Nan; Guan, Xiaobing; Wu, Hongru

    2016-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive, invasive malignancy of epithelial origin. The progression from premalignant lesions—oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral lichen planus (OLP)—to OSCC involves complex inflammatory processes that have not been elucidated. We investigated the roles of inflammatory mediators and infiltrating immunocytes in the pathogenic progression of OLK and OLP to OSCC. The occurrence of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory cytokines were investigated in OLK, OLP, and OSCC tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of CD4, FOXP3, CD68, TGF-β1, IL-10, IL-4, IFN-γ, and MCP-1 showed that the occurrence of Tregs and TAMs increased in parallel with disease progression in OLK and OSCC. IL-10 gradually increased during the early stages of OLK and in OSCC. Infiltrating IL-4+ macrophages were seen with increasing frequency in OLK tissue during the progression of oral dysplasia. Fewer TGF-β1+ macrophages were seen in OSCC than in OLK and OLP. The expression of IFN-γ decreased gradually with the OLK development and had the lowest expression in OSCC. MCP-1 expression did not change significantly during the development of OSCC. The results suggested that the immunosuppression induced by chronic inflammation promotes tumorigenesis in OSCC, rather than initiating it. PMID:28053372

  4. Vesicular glutamate transporters, VGluT1 and VGluT2, in the trigeminal ganglion neurons of the rat, with special reference to coexpression.

    PubMed

    Li, Jin-Lian; Xiong, Kang-Hui; Dong, Yu-Lin; Fujiyama, Fumino; Kaneko, Takeshi; Mizuno, Noboru

    2003-08-18

    Vesicular glutamate transporters are responsible for glutamate transport into synaptic vesicles. In the present study, we examined immunohistochemically the expression of vesicular glutamate transporters, VGluT1 and VGluT2, in trigeminal ganglion neurons of the rat. Immunohistochemistry for VGluT1 and VGluT2 indicated that more than 80% of trigeminal ganglion neurons express VGluT1 and/or VGluT2 in their cell bodies. It also indicated that large and small trigeminal ganglion neurons express VGluT2 more frequently than VGluT1. Dual immunofluorescence histochemistry for VGluT1 and VGluT2 indicated that trigeminal ganglion neurons express VGluT2 more frequently than VGluT1 and that more than 80% of VGluT-expressing trigeminal ganglion neurons express VGluT1 and VGluT2. Many axon terminals in the superficial layers of the medullary dorsal horn also showed VGluT1 and VGluT2 immunoreactivities. Some of these axon terminals were confirmed to form the central core of the synaptic glomerulus. These results indicated that VGluT1 and VGluT2 are coexpressed in the cell bodies and axon terminals in most trigeminal ganglion neurons. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  5. Lymphatic and local spread of T1 and T2 pancreatic cancer. A study of autopsy material.

    PubMed Central

    Nagai, H; Kuroda, A; Morioka, Y

    1986-01-01

    Eight autopsy cases of pancreatic cancer (duct cell adenocarcinoma) with T1 and T2 primary tumors were studied histologically to examine the exact extent of lymphatic and local spread. Six of them had microscopic metastasis in grossly negative lymph nodes near the primary tumor. In addition, four of them had a few metastatic nodes in the para-aortic region. In cases with lymphatic metastases, the extent of cancer infiltration within lymphatic vessels, nerves, and/or connective tissues was almost the same as that of lymph node metastasis. Major vascular involvement was found in four cases. There was no case in which multicentricity or marked intraductal spread of cancer cells was observed in the pancreas. It has been suggested that most of T1 and T2 pancreatic cancers have a fairly widespread microscopic extension, although extremely small T1 cancers have a very limited extension. Images FIG. 2. FIGS. 4a-c. FIGS. 5a-c. PMID:3015059

  6. Ultra-low field T1 vs. T1rho at 3T and 7T: study of rotationally immobilized protein gels and animal brain tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, Hui; Inglis, Ben; Barr, Ian; Clarke, John

    2015-03-01

    Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines operating in static fields of typically 1.5 T or 3 T can capture information on slow molecular dynamics utilizing the so-called T1rho technique. This technique, in which a radiofrequency (RF) spin-lock field is applied with microtesla amplitude, has been used, for example, to determine the onset time of stroke in studies on rats. The long RF pulse, however, may exceed the specific absorption rate (SAR) limit, putting subjects at risk. Ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, based on Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs), directly detects proton signals at a static magnetic field of typically 50-250 μT. Using our ULF MRI system with adjustable static field of typically 55 to 240 μT, we systematically measured the T1 and T2 dispersion profiles of rotationally immobilized protein gels (bovine serum albumin), ex vivo pig brains, and ex vivo rat brains with induced stroke. Comparing the ULF results with T1rho dispersion obtained at 3 T and 7 T, we find that the degree of protein immobilization determines the frequency-dependence of both T1 and T1rho. Furthermore, T1rho and ULF T1 show similar results for stroke, suggesting that ULF MRI may be used to image traumatic brain injury with negligible SAR. This research was supported by the Henry H. Wheeler, Jr. Brain Imaging Center and the Donaldson Trust.

  7. Sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporters and phosphate-induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells: Redundant roles for PiT-1 and PiT-2

    PubMed Central

    Crouthamel, Matthew H.; Lau, Wei Ling; Leaf, Elizabeth M.; Chavkin, Nick; Wallingford, Mary C.; Peterson, Danielle F.; Li, Xianwu; Liu, Yonggang; Chin, Michael T.; Levi, Moshe; Giachelli, Cecilia M.

    2014-01-01

    Objective Elevated serum phosphate has emerged as a major risk factor for vascular calcification. The sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter, PiT-1, was previously shown to be required for phosphate-induced osteogenic differentiation and calcification of cultured human VSMCs, but its importance in vascular calcification in vivo, as well as the potential role of its homologue, PiT-2, have not been determined. We investigated the in vivo requirement for PiT-1 in vascular calcification using a mouse model of chronic kidney disease, and the potential compensatory role of PiT-2 using in vitro knockdown and over-expression strategies. Approach and Results Mice with targeted deletion of PiT-1 in VSMCs were generated (PiT-1Δsm). PiT-1 mRNA levels were undetectable whereas PiT-2 mRNA levels were increased 2 fold in the vascular aortic media of PiT-1Δsm compared to PiT-1flox/flox control. When arterial medial calcification was induced in PiT-1Δsm and PiT-1flox/flox by chronic kidney disease followed by dietary phosphate loading, the degree of aortic calcification was not different between genotypes, suggesting compensation by PiT-2. Consistent with this possibility, VSMCs isolated from PiT-1Δsm mice had no PiT-1 mRNA expression, increased PiT-2 mRNA levels, and no difference in sodium-dependent phosphate uptake or phosphate-induced matrix calcification compared to PiT-1flox/flox VSMCs. Knockdown of PiT-2 decreased phosphate uptake and phosphate-induced calcification of PiT-1Δsm VSMCs. Furthermore, over-expression of PiT-2 restored these parameters in human PiT-1-deficient VSMCs. Conclusions PiT-2 can mediate phosphate uptake and calcification of VSMCs in the absence of PiT-1. Mechanistically, PiT-1 and PiT-2 appear to serve redundant roles in phosphate-induced calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells. PMID:23968976

  8. Postnatal changes of vesicular glutamate transporter (VGluT)1 and VGluT2 immunoreactivities and their colocalization in the mouse forebrain.

    PubMed

    Nakamura, Kouichi; Hioki, Hiroyuki; Fujiyama, Fumino; Kaneko, Takeshi

    2005-11-21

    Vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1) and VGluT2 accumulate neurotransmitter glutamate into synaptic vesicles at presynaptic terminals, and their antibodies are thus considered to be a good marker for glutamatergic axon terminals. In the present study, we investigated the postnatal development and maturation of glutamatergic neuronal systems by single- and double-immunolabelings for VGluT1 and VGluT2 in mouse forebrain including the telencephalon and diencephalon. VGluT2 immunoreactivity was widely distributed in the forebrain, particularly in the diencephalon, from postnatal day 0 (P0) to adulthood, suggesting relatively early maturation of VGluT2-loaded glutamatergic axons. In contrast, VGluT1 immunoreactivity was intense only in the limbic regions at P0, and drastically increased in the other telencephalic and diencephalic regions during three postnatal weeks. Interestingly, VGluT1 immunoreactivity was frequently colocalized with VGluT2 immunoreactivity at single axon terminal-like profiles in layer IV of the primary somatosensory area from P5 to P10 and in the ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus from P0 to P14. This was in sharp contrast to the finding that almost no colocalization was found in glomeruli of the olfactory bulb, patchy regions of the caudate-putamen, and the ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus, where moderate to intense immunoreactivities for VGluT1 and VGluT2 were intermingled with each other in neuropil during postnatal development. The present results indicate that VGluT2-loaded glutamatergic axons maturate earlier than VGluT1-laden axons in the mouse telencephalic and diencephalic regions, and suggest that VGluT1 plays a transient developmental role in some glutamatergic systems that mainly use VGluT2 in the adulthood. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  9. Synthesis and structure of the extended phosphazane ligand [(1,4-C6H4){N(μ-PN(t)Bu)2N(t)Bu}2](4).

    PubMed

    Sevilla, Raquel; Less, Robert J; García-Rodríguez, Raúl; Bond, Andrew D; Wright, Dominic S

    2016-02-07

    The reaction of the phenylene-bridged precursor (1,4-C6H4)[N(PCl2)2]2 with (t)BuNH2 in the presence of Et3N gives the new ligand precursor (1,4-C6H4)[N(μ-N(t)Bu)2(PNH(t)Bu)2]2, deprotonation of which with Bu2Mg gives the novel tetraanion [(1,4-C6H4){N(μ-N(t)Bu)2(PN(t)Bu)2}2](4-).

  10. The association between MR T1ρ and T2 of cartilage and patient-reported outcomes after ACL injury and reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Su, F; Pedoia, V; Teng, H-L; Kretzschmar, M; Lau, B C; McCulloch, C E; Link, T M; Ma, C B; Li, X

    2016-07-01

    To determine if cartilage T1ρ and T2 relaxation time measures after ACL injury and prior to reconstruction (baseline) are associated with patient-reported outcomes at baseline, 6-months, and 1-year after surgery. Fifty-four ACL-injured participants were scanned in both knees at baseline using 3T MR T1ρ and T2 mapping. Participants also completed Knee-injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Marx activity level questionnaires at baseline, 6-months, and 1-year after reconstruction. The difference between cartilage T1ρ or T2 of the injured and contralateral knee (side-to-side difference, SSD) was calculated to account for physiological variations among patients. Linear regression models were built to evaluate the association between the baseline SSD T1ρ or T2 and KOOS or Marx at all time points. Higher baseline SSD T1ρ posterolateral tibia (pLT) was associated with worse KOOS in all subscales except symptoms at baseline, worse KOOS pain at 6-months, and worse KOOS in all subscales except sports function at 1-year. Higher baseline SSD T2 femoral trochlea (TrF) was associated with worse KOOS activities of daily living (ADL) at 1-year. Higher baseline SSD T1ρ pLT was associated with lower Marx activity level at 1-year. More severe cartilage lesions, as assessed by Whole-Organ MRI Scoring (WORMS), was significantly associated with worse KOOS pain at 6-months and 1-year. T1ρ and T2 of cartilage after ACL injury were associated with KOOS after injury and both KOOS and Marx after reconstruction. Such associations may help clinicians stratify outcomes post-injury, and thus, improve patient management. Copyright © 2016 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Quantitative evaluation of knee cartilage and meniscus destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using T1ρ and T2 mapping.

    PubMed

    Meng, Xiang Hong; Wang, Zhi; Guo, Li; Liu, Xiu Chan; Zhang, Yu Wei; Zhang, Ze Wei; Ma, Xin Long

    2017-11-01

    To calculate T1ρ and T2 values of articular cartilage and menisci in knee joints of patients with RA, and compare the values between RA patients and healthy volunteers, to gain insight into the pathogenesis of cartilage and meniscus degradation in patients with RA. Nine patients with RA and knee joints symptoms were enrolled in the study, twenty healthy volunteers without knee joint diseases were included as controls. Sagittal fat-saturated T1ρ and T2 mapping images were obtained on a 3T MR scanner (GE750, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI), using a dedicated 8-channel knee coil. In the T1rho mapping sequence, the amplitude of the spin-lock pulse was 500Hz, spin lock durations=10/20/30/50ms. In the T2 mapping sequence,TR/TE were 1794/6.5, 13.4, 27, 40.7ms. Both sequences were performed with the following parameters: flip angle (FA)=90°, matrix: 320×256, FOV: 16×16cm 2 , slice thickness: 3mm, bandwidth: 62.5kHZ, and a total scan time of 5:11min. T1ρ- and T2-mapping images were used for the segmentation of the articular cartilage of the patella, femoral trochlea, medial and lateral femoral condyle, medial and lateral tibial plateau. These images were also used for the segmentation of the anterior and posterior horns of the medial and lateral menisci with livewire semi-automatic segmentation algorithm of MATLAB. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the T1ρ and T2 values of the above mentioned regions between the two groups. T1ρ (Z=-3.913 to -2.121, P=0.000-0.034) and T2 (Z=-3.866 to -2.216, P=0.000-0.026) values of knee cartilage in patients with RA were higher than that in healthy volunteers, except the cartilage of the patella (T1ρ: Z=-1.273, P=0.203,T2: Z=-0.236, P=0.814) and lateral tibial plateau (T1ρ:Z=-1.037, P=0.317). The T1ρ (Z=-1.462 to 0.572, P=0.095-0.908) and T2 (Z=-1.461 to 0.278, P=0.153-0.764) values of medial and lateral menisci showed no difference between the two groups. Patients with RA exhibit diffuse knee cartilage destruction in

  12. The T1R2/T1R3 sweet receptor and TRPM5 ion channel taste targets with therapeutic potential.

    PubMed

    Sprous, Dennis; Palmer, Kyle R

    2010-01-01

    Taste signaling is a critical determinant of ingestive behaviors and thereby linked to obesity and related metabolic dysfunctions. Recent evidence of taste signaling pathways in the gut suggests the link to be more direct, raising the possibility that taste receptor systems could be regarded as therapeutic targets. T1R2/T1R3, the G protein coupled receptor that mediates sweet taste, and the TRPM5 ion channel have been the focus of discovery programs seeking novel compounds that could be useful in modifying taste. We review in this chapter the hypothesis of gastrointestinal taste signaling and discuss the potential for T1R2/T1R3 and TRPM5 as targets of therapeutic intervention in obesity and diabetes. Critical to the development of a drug discovery program is the creation of libraries that enhance the likelihood of identifying novel compounds that modulate the target of interest. We advocate a computer-based chemoinformatic approach for assembling natural and synthetic compound libraries as well as for supporting optimization of structure activity relationships. Strategies for discovering modulators of T1R2/T1R3 and TRPM5 using methods of chemoinformatics are presented herein. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Novel Midkine Inhibitor iMDK Inhibits Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Masui, Masanori; Okui, Tatsuo; Shimo, Tsuyoshi; Takabatake, Kiyofumi; Fukazawa, Takuya; Matsumoto, Kenichi; Kurio, Naito; Ibaragi, Soichiro; Naomoto, Yoshio; Nagatsuka, Hitoshi; Sasaki, Akira

    2016-06-01

    Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor highly expressed in various human malignant tumors. However, its role in the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma is not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the antitumor effect of a novel midkine inhibitor (iMDK) against oral squamous cell carcinoma. Administration of iMDK induced a robust antitumor response and suppressed cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-2 cells and SAS cells xenograft models. iMDK inhibited the proliferation of these cells dose-dependently, as well as the expression of midkine and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase in HSC-2 and SAS cells. Moreover, iMDK significantly inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor and induced tube growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a dose-dependent fashion. These findings suggest that midkine is critically involved in oral squamous cell carcinoma and iMDK can be effectively used for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

  14. Simultaneous Quantitative MRI Mapping of T1, T2* and Magnetic Susceptibility with Multi-Echo MP2RAGE

    PubMed Central

    Kober, Tobias; Möller, Harald E.; Schäfer, Andreas

    2017-01-01

    The knowledge of relaxation times is essential for understanding the biophysical mechanisms underlying contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. Quantitative experiments, while offering major advantages in terms of reproducibility, may benefit from simultaneous acquisitions. In this work, we demonstrate the possibility of simultaneously recording relaxation-time and susceptibility maps with a prototype Multi-Echo (ME) Magnetization-Prepared 2 RApid Gradient Echoes (MP2RAGE) sequence. T1 maps can be obtained using the MP2RAGE sequence, which is relatively insensitive to inhomogeneities of the radio-frequency transmit field, B1+. As an extension, multiple gradient echoes can be acquired in each of the MP2RAGE readout blocks, which permits the calculation of T2* and susceptibility maps. We used computer simulations to explore the effects of the parameters on the precision and accuracy of the mapping. In vivo parameter maps up to 0.6 mm nominal resolution were acquired at 7 T in 19 healthy volunteers. Voxel-by-voxel correlations and the test-retest reproducibility were used to assess the reliability of the results. When using optimized paramenters, T1 maps obtained with ME-MP2RAGE and standard MP2RAGE showed excellent agreement for the whole range of values found in brain tissues. Simultaneously obtained T2* and susceptibility maps were of comparable quality as Fast Low-Angle SHot (FLASH) results. The acquisition times were more favorable for the ME-MP2RAGE (≈ 19 min) sequence as opposed to the sum of MP2RAGE (≈ 12 min) and FLASH (≈ 10 min) acquisitions. Without relevant sacrifice in accuracy, precision or flexibility, the multi-echo version may yield advantages in terms of reduced acquisition time and intrinsic co-registration, provided that an appropriate optimization of the acquisition parameters is performed. PMID:28081157

  15. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with S-1 in patients with stage III-IV oral squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis of nodal classification based on the neck node level.

    PubMed

    Murakami, Ryuji; Semba, Akiko; Kawahara, Kenta; Matsuyama, Keiya; Hiraki, Akimitsu; Nagata, Masashi; Toya, Ryo; Yamashita, Yasuyuki; Oya, Natsuo; Nakayama, Hideki

    2017-07-01

    The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the treatment outcomes of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent, for advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The study population consisted of 47 patients with clinical stage III or IV oral SCC, who underwent CCRT with S-1. Pretreatment variables, including patient age, clinical stage, T classification, midline involvement of the primary tumor and nodal status, were analyzed as predictors of survival. In addition to the N classification (node-positive, multiple and contralateral), the prognostic impact of the level of nodal involvement was assessed. Nodal involvement was mainly observed at levels Ib and II; involvement at levels Ia and III-V was considered to be anterior and inferior extension, respectively, and was recorded as extensive nodal involvement (ENI). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 37 and 27%, respectively. A finding of ENI was a significant factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-4.55; P=0.038] and PFS (HR=2.65; 95% CI: 1.32-5.33; P=0.005); the 3-year OS and PFS rates in patients with vs. those without ENI were 23 vs. 50% and 9 vs. 43%, respectively. The other variables were not significant. Therefore, CCRT with S-1 may be an alternative treatment for advanced oral SCC; favorable outcomes are expected in patients without ENI.

  16. Expression of cytosolic malic enzyme (ME1) is associated with disease progression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Nakashima, Chie; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Fujiwara-Tani, Rina; Luo, Yi; Matsushima, Sayako; Fujii, Kiyomu; Ohmori, Hitoshi; Sasahira, Tomonori; Sasaki, Takamitsu; Kitadai, Yasuhiko; Kirita, Tadaaki; Kuniyasu, Hiroki

    2018-06-01

    Malic enzyme 1 (ME1) is a multifunctional protein involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, NADPH production, glutamine metabolism, and lipogenesis. It is overexpressed in various cancers. We examined the expression of ME1 in 119 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) using immunohistochemistry. Malic enzyme 1 expression was moderate to strong in 57 (48%) OSCCs and correlated with pT, pN, clinical stage, and histological grade. In 37 cases with prognostic evaluation, moderate to strong ME1 expression indicated a worse prognosis than did weak ME1 expression. Malic enzyme 1 knockdown or inactivation by lanthanide inhibited cell proliferation and motility and suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HSC3 human OSCC cells. Knockdown of ME1 also shifted energy metabolism from aerobic glycolysis and lactate fermentation to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and the redox status from reductive to oxidative. In a mouse tumor model, lanthanide suppressed tumor growth and increased survival time. These findings reveal that ME1 is a valid target for molecular therapy in OSCC. © 2018 The Authors. Cancer Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.

  17. T1 vs. T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging to assess total kidney volume in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

    PubMed

    van Gastel, Maatje D A; Messchendorp, A Lianne; Kappert, Peter; Kaatee, Merel A; de Jong, Marissa; Renken, Remco J; Ter Horst, Gert J; Mahesh, Shekar V K; Gansevoort, Ron T

    2018-05-01

    In ADPKD patients total kidney volume (TKV) measurement using MRI is performed to predict rate of disease progression. Historically T1 weighted images (T1) were used, but the methodology of T2 weighted imaging (T2) has evolved. We compared the performance of both sequences. 40 ADPKD patients underwent an abdominal MRI at baseline and follow-up. TKV was measured by manual tracing with Analyze Direct 11.0 software. Three readers established intra- and interreader coefficients of variation (CV). T1 and T2 measured kidney volumes and growth rates were compared with ICC and Bland-Altman analyses. Participants were 49.7 ± 7.0 years of age, 55.0% female, with estimated GFR of 50.1 ± 11.5 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . CVs were low and comparable for T2 and T1 (intrareader: 0.83% [0.48-1.79] vs. 1.15% [0.34-1.77], P = 0.9, interreader: 2.18% [1.59-2.61] vs. 1.69% [1.07-3.87], P = 0.9). TKV was clinically similar, but statistically significantly different between T2 and T1: 1867 [1172-2721] vs. 1932 [1180-2551] mL, respectively (P = 0.006), with a bias of only 0.8% and high agreement (ICC 0.997). Percentage kidney growth during 2.2 ± 0.3 years was similar for T2 and T1 (9.3 ± 10.6% vs. 7.8 ± 9.9%, P = 0.1, respectively), with a bias of 1.5% and high agreement (ICC 0.843). T2 was more often of sufficient quality for volume measurement (86.7% vs. 71.1%, P < 0.001). In patients with ADPKD, measurement of kidney volume and growth rate performs similarly when using T2 compared to T1 weighted images, although T2 performs better on secondary outcome parameters; they are more often of sufficient quality for volume measurement and result in slightly lower intra- and interreader variability.

  18. Cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis detected by the T1/T2‐weighted ratio from routine magnetic resonance imaging

    PubMed Central

    Righart, Ruthger; Biberacher, Viola; Jonkman, Laura E.; Klaver, Roel; Schmidt, Paul; Buck, Dorothea; Berthele, Achim; Kirschke, Jan S.; Zimmer, Claus; Hemmer, Bernhard; Geurts, Jeroen J. G.

    2017-01-01

    Objective In multiple sclerosis, neuropathological studies have shown widespread changes in the cerebral cortex. In vivo imaging is critical, because the histopathological substrate of most measurements is unknown. Methods Using a novel magnetic resonance imaging analysis technique, based on the ratio of T1‐ and T2‐weighted signal intensities, we studied the cerebral cortex of a large cohort of patients in early stages of multiple sclerosis. A total of 168 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (Expanded Disability Status Scale: median = 1, range = 0–3.5) and 80 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were investigated. We also searched for the histopathological substrate of the T1/T2‐weighted ratio by combining postmortem imaging and histopathology in 9 multiple sclerosis brain donors. Results Patients showed lower T1/T2‐weighted ratio values in parietal and occipital areas. The 4 most significant clusters appeared in the medial occipital and posterior cingulate cortex (each left and right). The decrease of the T1/T2‐weighted ratio in the posterior cingulate was related to performance in attention. Analysis of the T1/T2‐weighted ratio values of postmortem imaging yielded a strong correlation with dendrite density but none of the other parameters including myelin. Interpretation The T1/T2‐weighted ratio decreases in early stages of multiple sclerosis in a widespread manner, with a preponderance of posterior areas and with a contribution to attentional performance; it seems to reflect dendrite pathology. As the method is broadly available and applicable to available clinical scans, we believe that it is a promising candidate for studying and monitoring cortical pathology or therapeutic effects in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2017;82:519–529 PMID:28833433

  19. Characterization of tumor-associated T-lymphocyte subsets and immune checkpoint molecules in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Thelen, Martin; Reuter, Sabrina; Zentis, Peter; Shimabukuro-Vornhagen, Alexander; Theurich, Sebastian; Wennhold, Kerstin; Garcia-Marquez, Maria; Tharun, Lars; Quaas, Alexander; Schauss, Astrid; Isensee, Jörg; Hucho, Tim; Huebbers, Christian

    2017-01-01

    The composition of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) reflects biology and immunogenicity of cancer. Here, we characterize T-cell subsets and expression of immune checkpoint molecules in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We analyzed TIL subsets in primary tumors (n = 34), blood (peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); n = 34) and non-cancerous mucosa (n = 7) of 34 treatment-naïve HNSCC patients and PBMC of 15 healthy controls. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a highly variable T-cell infiltration mainly of an effector memory phenotype (CD45RA−/CCR7−). Naïve T cells (CD45RA+/CCR7+) were decreased in the microenvironment compared to PBMC of patients, while regulatory T cells (CD4+/CD25+/CD127low and CD4+/CD39+) were elevated. Furthermore, we performed digital image analyses of entire cross sections of HNSCC to define the ‘Immunoscore’ (CD3+ and CD8+ cell infiltration in tumor core and invasive margin) and quantified MHC class I expression on tumor cells by immunohistochemistry. Immune checkpoint molecules cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) were increased in TILs compared to peripheral T cells in flow-cytometric analysis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) positive tumors showed higher numbers of TILs, but a similar composition of T-cell subsets and checkpoint molecule expression compared to HPV negative tumors. Taken together, the tumor microenvironment of HNSCC is characterized by a strong infiltration of regulatory T cells and high checkpoint molecule expression on T-cell subsets. In view of increasingly used immunotherapies, a detailed knowledge of TILs and checkpoint molecule expression on TILs is of high translational relevance. PMID:28574843

  20. Tumor-promoting function and prognostic significance of the RNA-binding protein T-cell intracellular antigen-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Fujita, Yuji; Naruto, Takuya; Kohmoto, Tomohiro; Miyakami, Yuko; Watanabe, Miki; Kudo, Yasusei; Fujiwara, Hitoshi; Ichikawa, Daisuke; Otsuji, Eigo; Imoto, Issei

    2016-01-01

    T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA1) is an RNA-binding protein involved in many regulatory aspects of mRNA metabolism. Here, we report previously unknown tumor-promoting activity of TIA1, which seems to be associated with its isoform-specific molecular distribution and regulation of a set of cancer-related transcripts, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Immunohistochemical overexpression of TIA1 ectopically localized in the cytoplasm of tumor cells was an independent prognosticator for worse overall survival in a cohort of 143 ESCC patients. Knockdown of TIA1 inhibited proliferation of ESCC cells. By exogenously introducing each of two major isoforms, TIA1a and TIA1b, only TIA1a, which was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm, promoted anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent ESCC cell proliferation. Ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation, followed by microarray analysis or massive-parallel sequencing, identified a set of TIA1-binding mRNAs, including SKP2 and CCNA2. TIA1 increased SKP2 and CCNA2 protein levels through the suppression of mRNA decay and translational induction, respectively. Our findings uncover a novel oncogenic function of TIA1 in esophageal tumorigenesis, and implicate its use as a marker for prognostic evaluation and as a therapeutic target in ESCC. PMID:26958940

  1. Tumor-promoting function and prognostic significance of the RNA-binding protein T-cell intracellular antigen-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Hamada, Junichi; Shoda, Katsutoshi; Masuda, Kiyoshi; Fujita, Yuji; Naruto, Takuya; Kohmoto, Tomohiro; Miyakami, Yuko; Watanabe, Miki; Kudo, Yasusei; Fujiwara, Hitoshi; Ichikawa, Daisuke; Otsuji, Eigo; Imoto, Issei

    2016-03-29

    T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA1) is an RNA-binding protein involved in many regulatory aspects of mRNA metabolism. Here, we report previously unknown tumor-promoting activity of TIA1, which seems to be associated with its isoform-specific molecular distribution and regulation of a set of cancer-related transcripts, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Immunohistochemical overexpression of TIA1 ectopically localized in the cytoplasm of tumor cells was an independent prognosticator for worse overall survival in a cohort of 143 ESCC patients. Knockdown of TIA1 inhibited proliferation of ESCC cells. By exogenously introducing each of two major isoforms, TIA1a and TIA1b, only TIA1a, which was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm, promoted anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent ESCC cell proliferation. Ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation, followed by microarray analysis or massive-parallel sequencing, identified a set of TIA1-binding mRNAs, including SKP2 and CCNA2. TIA1 increased SKP2 and CCNA2 protein levels through the suppression of mRNA decay and translational induction, respectively. Our findings uncover a novel oncogenic function of TIA1 in esophageal tumorigenesis, and implicate its use as a marker for prognostic evaluation and as a therapeutic target in ESCC.

  2. Zn2+-dependent redox switch in the intracellular T1-T1 interface of a Kv channel.

    PubMed

    Wang, Guangyu; Strang, Candace; Pfaffinger, Paul J; Covarrubias, Manuel

    2007-05-04

    The thiol-based redox regulation of proteins plays a central role in cellular signaling. Here, we investigated the redox regulation at the Zn(2+) binding site (HX(5)CX(20)CC) in the intracellular T1-T1 inter-subunit interface of a Kv4 channel. This site undergoes conformational changes coupled to voltage-dependent gating, which may be sensitive to oxidative stress. The main results show that internally applied nitric oxide (NO) inhibits channel activity profoundly. This inhibition is reversed by reduced glutathione and suppressed by intracellular Zn(2+), and at least two Zn(2+) site cysteines are required to observe the NO-induced inhibition (Cys-110 from one subunit and Cys-132 from the neighboring subunit). Biochemical evidence suggests strongly that NO induces a disulfide bridge between Cys-110 and Cys-132 in intact cells. Finally, further mutational studies suggest that intra-subunit Zn(2+) coordination involving His-104, Cys-131, and Cys-132 protects against the formation of the inhibitory disulfide bond. We propose that the interfacial T1 Zn(2+) site of Kv4 channels acts as a Zn(2+)-dependent redox switch that may regulate the activity of neuronal and cardiac A-type K(+) currents under physiological and pathological conditions.

  3. Evaluation of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Using T1ρ and T2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Rabbit Disc Injury Model.

    PubMed

    Ishikawa, Tetsuhiro; Watanabe, Atsuya; Kamoda, Hiroto; Miyagi, Masayuki; Inoue, Gen; Takahashi, Kazuhisa; Ohtori, Seiji

    2018-04-01

    An in vivo histologic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration was conducted. To clarify the sensitivity and efficacy of T1ρ/T2 mapping for IVD degeneration, the correlation between T1ρ/T2 mapping and degenerative grades and histological findings in the lumbar IVD were investigated. The early signs of IVD degeneration are proteoglycan loss, dehydration, and collagen degradation. Recently, several quantitative MRI techniques have been developed; T2 mapping can be used to evaluate hydration and collagen fiber integrity within cartilaginous tissue, and T1ρ mapping can be used to evaluate hydration and proteoglycan content. Using New Zealand White rabbits, annular punctures of the IVD were made 10 times at L2/3, 5 times at L3/4, and one time at L4/5 using an 18-gauge needle (n=6) or a 21-gauge needle (n=6). At 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery, MRI was performed including T1ρ and T2 mapping. The degree of IVD degeneration was macroscopically assessed using the Thompson grading system. All specimens were cut for hematoxylin and eosin, safranin-O, and toluidine blue staining. Disc degeneration became more severe as the number of punctures increased and when the larger needle was used. T1ρ and T2 values were significantly different between grade 1 and grade 3 IVDs, grade 1 and grade 4 IVDs, grade 2 and grade 3 IVDs, and grade 2 and grade 4 IVDs ( p <0.05). There was a significant difference between grade 1 and grade 2 IVDs only in terms of T1ρ values ( p <0.05). T1ρ and T2 quantitative MRI could detect these small differences. Our results suggest that T1ρ and T2 mapping are sensitive to degenerative changes of lumbar IVDs and that T1ρ mapping can be used as a clinical tool to identify early IVD degeneration.

  4. Glasgow Prognostic Score as a Prognostic Clinical Marker in T4 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ohira, Masaichi; Kubo, Naoshi; Masuda, Go; Yamashita, Yoshito; Sakurai, Katsunobu; Toyokawa, Takahiro; Tanaka, Hiroaki; Muguruma, Kazuya; Hirakawa, Kosei

    2015-09-01

    Patients with clinical T4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have an unfavorable prognosis, mainly indicated by the response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT), crucial to estimating long-term survival. Other prognostic measures include systemic inflammatory or immunonutritional indices such as the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) that have not been sufficiently documented. This study retrospectively evaluated 91 patients with T4 ESCC treated at our Hospital between 2000 and 2013. All patients initially received CRT, including 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin or nedaplatin with concurrent 2-Gy/fraction radiation (total dose, 40-60 Gy). Curative tumor resection was undertaken in suitable patients on completing CRT. Patients were classified as GPS0, GPS1, or GPS2 based on C-reactive protein (CRP) ≤ 10 mg/l and albumin ≥ 35 g/l, CRP >10 mg/l or albumin <35 g/l, or CRP >10 mg/l and albumin <35 g/l, respectively. PNI was calculated as 10-times the serum albumin (g/dl)+0.005 × total lymphocyte count (/mm(3)). The impact of the pre-treatment GPS and PNI on the prognosis of patients with T4 ESCC was investigated in univariate and multivariate analyses. Sixty (67%) patients responded to CRT (9 complete responses and 51 partial responses). Forty-one (45%) patients also underwent surgical resection of the residual tumor. The overall 5-year survival rate and median survival time were 27.0% and 11.8 months, respectively. In the cohort of CRT-plus-surgical resection, the 5-year survival rate was significantly higher than in the groups treated with CRT-alone (51.1% vs. 6.5%; p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, good response to CRT [hazard ratio (HR) =0.449, p<0.01], GPS1/2 (HR=2.151, p=0.015), and surgical resection (HR=0.282, p<0.01) were significant prognostic factors, whereas PNI was not. The GPS is a useful, simple survival marker for patients with T4 ESCC undergoing multimodal therapy. Copyright© 2015 International Institute of

  5. Measurement of T1 of human arterial and venous blood at 7T.

    PubMed

    Rane, Swati D; Gore, John C

    2013-04-01

    Techniques for measuring cerebral perfusion require accurate longitudinal relaxation (T1) of blood, an MRI parameter that is field dependent. T1 of arterial and venous human blood was measured at 7T using three different sources - pathology laboratory, blood bank and in vivo. The T1 of venous blood was measured from sealed samples from a pathology lab and in vivo. Samples from a blood bank were oxygenated and mixed to obtain different physiological concentrations of hematocrit and oxygenation. T1 relaxation times were estimated using a three-point fit to a simple inversion recovery equation. At 37°C, the T1 of blood at arterial pO2 was 2.29±0.1s and 2.07±0.12 at venous pO2. The in vivo T1 of venous blood, in three subjects, was slightly longer at 2.45±0.11s. T1 of arterial and venous blood at 7T was measured and found to be significantly different. The T1 values were longer in vivo than in vitro. While the exact cause for the discrepancy is unknown, the additives in the blood samples, degradation during experiment, oxygenation differences, and the non-stagnant nature of blood in vivo could be potential contributors to the lower values of T1 in the venous samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Preferential accumulation of amyloid-beta in presynaptic glutamatergic terminals (VGluT1 and VGluT2) in Alzheimer's disease cortex.

    PubMed

    Sokolow, Sophie; Luu, Sanh H; Nandy, Karabi; Miller, Carol A; Vinters, Harry V; Poon, Wayne W; Gylys, Karen H

    2012-01-01

    Amyloid-beta (Aβ) is thought to play a central role in synaptic dysfunction (e.g. neurotransmitter release) and synapse loss. Glutamatergic dysfunction is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and perhaps plays a central role in age-related cognitive impairment. Yet, it is largely unknown whether Aβ accumulates in excitatory boutons. To assess the possibility that glutamatergic terminals are lost in AD patients, control and AD synaptosomes were immunolabeled for the most abundant vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT1 and VGluT2) and quantified by flow cytometry and immunoblot methods. In post-mortem parietal cortex from aged control subjects, glutamatergic boutons are fairly abundant as approximately 40% were immunoreactive for VGluT1 (37%) and VGluT2 (39%). However, the levels of these specific markers of glutamatergic synapses were not significantly different among control and AD cases. To test the hypothesis that Aβ is associated with excitatory terminals, AD synaptosomes were double-labeled for Aβ and for VGluT1 and VGluT2, and analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Our study demonstrated that Aβ immunoreactivity (IR) was present in glutamatergic terminals of AD patients. Quantification of Aβ and VGluT1 in a large population of glutamatergic nerve terminals was performed by flow cytometry, showing that 42% of VGluT1 synaptosomes were immunoreactive for Aβ compared to 9% of VGluT1 synaptosomes lacking Aβ-IR. Percentage of VGluT2 synaptosomes immunoreactive for Aβ (21%) was significantly higher than VGluT2 synaptosomes lacking Aβ-IR (9%). Moreover, Aβ preferentially affects VGluT1 (42% positive) compared to VGluT2 terminals (21%). These data represent the first evidence of high levels of Aβ in excitatory boutons in AD cortex and support the hypothesis that Aβ may play a role in modulating glutamate transmission in AD terminals. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Transoral laser microsurgery for locally advanced (T3-T4a) supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma: Sixteen years of experience.

    PubMed

    Vilaseca, Isabel; Blanch, José Luis; Berenguer, Joan; Grau, Juan José; Verger, Eugenia; Muxí, África; Bernal-Sprekelsen, Manuel

    2016-07-01

    Controversy exists regarding treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncologic and functional outcomes of T3 to T4a supraglottic squamous carcinomas treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). We conducted a retrospective analysis from an SPSS database. Primary outcomes were: locoregional control, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), laryngectomy-free survival, and function-preservation rates. Secondary objectives were: rate of tracheostomies and gastrostomies according to age. Risk factors for local control and larynx preservation were also evaluated. One hundred fifty-four consecutive patients were chosen for this study. Median follow-up was 40.7 + /- 32.8 months. Five and 10-year OS, DSS, and laryngectomy-free survival were 55.6% and 47%, 67.6% and 58.6%, and 75.2% and 59.5%, respectively. Paraglottic involvement was an independent factor for larynx preservation. Six patients (3.9%) needed a definitive tracheostomy, a gastrostomy, or both. The gastrostomy rate was higher in the group of patients above 65 years of age (p = .03). Five-year laryngectomy-free survival with preserved function was 74.5%. TLM constitutes a true alternative for organ preservation in locally advanced supraglottic carcinomas with good oncologic and functional outcomes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1050-1057, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Autoreactive T Cells and Chronic Fungal Infection Drive Esophageal Carcinogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Feng; Willette-Brown, Jami; Song, Na-Young; Lomada, Dakshayani; Song, Yongmei; Xue, Liyan; Gray, Zane; Zhao, Zitong; Davis, Sean R.; Sun, Zhonghe; Zhang, Peilin; Wu, Xiaolin; Zhan, Qimin; Richie, Ellen R.; Hu, Yinling

    2018-01-01

    SUMMARY Humans with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), a T cell–driven autoimmune disease caused by impaired central tolerance, are susceptible to developing chronic fungal infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the relationship between autoreactive T cells and chronic fungal infection in ESCC development remains unclear. We find that kinase-dead Ikkα knockin mice develop phenotypes reminiscent of APECED, including impaired central tolerance, autoreactive T cells, chronic fungal infection, and ESCCs expressing specific human ESCC markers. Using this model, we investigated the potential link between ESCC and fungal infection. Autoreactive CD4 T cells permit fungal infection and incite tissue injury and inflammation. Antifungal treatment or depletion of autoreactive CD4 T cells rescues, whereas oral fungal administration promotes, ESCC development. Inhibition of inflammation or EGFR activity decreases fungal burden. Importantly, fungal infection is highly associated with ESCCs in non-autoimmune human patients. Therefore, autoreactive T cells and chronic fungal infection, fostered by inflammation and epithelial injury, promote ESCC development. PMID:28407484

  9. The role of PD-L1 in the radiation response and prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma related to IL-6 and T-cell immunosuppression.

    PubMed

    Chen, Miao-Fen; Chen, Ping-Tsung; Chen, Wen-Cheng; Lu, Ming-Shian; Lin, Paul-Yang; Lee, Kuan Der

    2016-02-16

    The aim of this study was to assess the significance of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its association with IL-6 and radiation response. Weretrospectively enrolled 162 patients with ESCC, and examined the correlation between PD-L1 levels and clinical outcomes in esophageal cancer patients. Furthermore, the human esophageal SCC cell line CE81T and TE2 were selected for cellular experiments to investigate the role of PD-L1 in T cell functions and radiation response. Here we demonstrated that PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in esophageal cancer specimens than in non-malignant epithelium. In clinical outcome analysis, this staining of PD-L1 was positively linked to the clinical T4 stage (p=0.004), development of LN metastasis (p=0.012) and higher loco-regional failure rate (p=0.0001). In addition, the frequency of PD-L1 immunoreactivity was significantly higher in IL-6-positive esophageal cancer specimens. When IL-6 signaling was inhibited in vitro, the level of PD-L1 is significantly down-regulated. PD-L1 is a significant predictor for poor treatment response and shorter survival.As demonstrated through in vitro experiments, Irradiation increased PD-L1 expression in human esophageal cancer cells. The inhibition of T cell functions including proliferation and cytotoxicity against tumor cells might be the mechanisms responsible to the role of PD-L1 in radiation response. In conclusion, PD-L1 is important in determining the radiation response and could predict the prognosis of patients with esophageal SCC. Therefore, we suggest inhibition of PD-L1 as a potential strategy for the treatment of esophageal SCC.

  10. Utility approach to decision-making in extended T1 and limited T2 glottic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    van Loon, Yda; Stiggelbout, Anne M; Hakkesteegt, Marieke M; Langeveld, Ton P M; de Jong, Rob J Baatenburg; Sjögren, Elisabeth V

    2017-04-01

    It is still undecided if endoscopic laser surgery or radiotherapy is the preferable treatment in extended T1 and limited T2 glottic tumors. Health utilities assessed from patients can aid in decision-making. Patients treated for extended T1 or limited T2 glottic carcinoma by laser surgery (n = 12) or radiotherapy (n = 14) assigned health utilities using a visual analog scale (VAS), time tradeoff (TTO) technique and scored their voice handicap using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). VAS and TTO scores were slightly lower for the laser group compared to the radiotherapy group, however, not significantly so. The VHI showed a correlation with the VAS score, which was very low in both groups and can be considered (near) normal. Patients show no clear preference for the outcomes of laser surgery or radiotherapy from a quality of life (QOL) or voice handicap point of view. These data can now be incorporated into decision-making models. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2017 © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 779-785, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. EGFR amplification and expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma in young adults.

    PubMed

    Costa, V; Kowalski, L P; Coutinho-Camillo, C M; Begnami, M D; Calsavara, V F; Neves, J I; Kaminagakura, E

    2018-07-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene alterations in two groups of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (a test group of subjects aged ≤40 years and a control group of subjects aged ≥50 years) and to associate the results with EGFR immunostaining, clinicopathological features, and the prognosis. Sixty cases of OSCC were selected (test group, n=21; control group, n=39). The tissue microarray technique was applied to ensure the uniformity of results. Gene amplification was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and immunohistochemical staining for EGFR was analyzed using an automated imaging system. EGFR amplification was higher in the test group than in the control group (P=0.018) and was associated with advanced clinical stage (P=0.013), regardless of age. Patients with EGFR overexpression had worse survival rates, as did patients who had T3-T4 tumours and positive margins. EGFR overexpression has a negative impact on disease progression. Despite the higher amplification of EGFR in young adults, it does not significantly impact the survival rates of affected patients. Copyright © 2018 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Knee Cartilage Thickness, T1ρ and T2 Relaxation Time Are Related to Articular Cartilage Loading in Healthy Adults

    PubMed Central

    Van Rossom, Sam; Smith, Colin Robert; Zevenbergen, Lianne; Thelen, Darryl Gerard; Vanwanseele, Benedicte; Van Assche, Dieter; Jonkers, Ilse

    2017-01-01

    Cartilage is responsive to the loading imposed during cyclic routine activities. However, the local relation between cartilage in terms of thickness distribution and biochemical composition and the local contact pressure during walking has not been established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between cartilage thickness, proteoglycan and collagen concentration in the knee joint and knee loading in terms of contact forces and pressure during walking. 3D gait analysis and MRI (3D-FSE, T1ρ relaxation time and T2 relaxation time sequence) of fifteen healthy subjects were acquired. Experimental gait data was processed using musculoskeletal modeling to calculate the contact forces, impulses and pressure distribution in the tibiofemoral joint. Correlates to local cartilage thickness and mean T1ρ and T2 relaxation times of the weight-bearing area of the femoral condyles were examined. Local thickness was significantly correlated with local pressure: medial thickness was correlated with medial condyle contact pressure and contact force, and lateral condyle thickness was correlated with lateral condyle contact pressure and contact force during stance. Furthermore, average T1ρ and T2 relaxation time correlated significantly with the peak contact forces and impulses. Increased T1ρ relaxation time correlated with increased shear loading, decreased T1ρ and T2 relaxation time correlated with increased compressive forces and pressures. Thicker cartilage was correlated with higher condylar loading during walking, suggesting that cartilage thickness is increased in those areas experiencing higher loading during a cyclic activity such as gait. Furthermore, the proteoglycan and collagen concentration and orientation derived from T1ρ and T2 relaxation measures were related to loading. PMID:28076431

  13. Cortactin is a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma and its overexpression is involved in oral carcinogenesis.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yu-Ching; Ho, Heng-Chien; Lee, Miau-Rong; Yeh, Chung-Min; Tseng, Hsien-Chang; Lin, Yung-Chang; Chung, Jing-Gung

    2017-03-01

    EMS1 (chromosome eleven, band q13, mammary tumor and squamous cell carcinoma-associated gene 1) gene amplification and the concomitant cortactin overexpression have been reported to associate with poor prognosis and tumor metastasis. In this study, we examined cortactin expression by immunohistochemistry in human oral tumors and murine tongue tumors which were induced by the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO). The immunostaining results show over- to moderate expression of cortactin in 85% (104/122) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and in all 15 leukoplakia tissues examined. Further, statistical analysis indicates that cortactin overexpression appears to be a predictor for shorter survival and poorer prognosis in OSCC patients. In an animal model, cortactin is shown to upregulate in infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma, papilloma, and epithelia with squamous hyperplasia, indicating that cortactin induction is an early event during oral carcinogenesis. It is suggested that cortactin expression is mediated in the progression of pre-malignancy to papilloma, based on earlier cortactin induction in pre-malignancy preceding cyclin D1 in papilloma. In conclusion, cortactin overexpression is frequently observed in human OSCC and mouse tongue tumors. Thus, cortactin may have an important role in the development of oral tumors in human and mice. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 799-812, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Preferential accumulation of amyloid-beta in presynaptic glutamatergic terminals (VGluT1 and VGluT2) in Alzheimer’s disease cortex

    PubMed Central

    Sokolow, Sophie; Luu, Sanh H.; Nandy, Karabi; Miller, Carol A.; Vinters, Harry V.; Poon, Wayne W.; Gylys, Karen H.

    2011-01-01

    Amyloid-beta (Aβ) is thought to play a central role in synaptic dysfunction (e.g. neurotransmitter release) and synapse loss. Glutamatergic dysfunction is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and perhaps plays a central role in age-related cognitive impairment. Yet, it is largely unknown whether Aβ accumulates in excitatory boutons. To assess the possibility that glutamatergic terminals are lost in AD patients, control and AD synaptosomes were immunolabeled for the most abundant vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT1 and VGluT2) and quantified by flow cytometry and immunoblot methods. In post-mortem parietal cortex from aged control subjects, glutamatergic boutons are fairly abundant as approximately 40% were immunoreactive for VGluT1 (37%) and VGluT2 (39%). However, the levels of these specific markers of glutamatergic synapses were not significantly different among control and AD cases. To test the hypothesis that Aβ is associated with excitatory terminals, AD synaptosomes were double-labeled for Aβ and for VGluT1 and VGluT2, and analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Our study demonstrated that Aβ immunoreactivity (IR) was present in glutamatergic terminals of AD patients. Quantification of Aβ and VGluT1 in a large population of glutamatergic nerve terminals was performed by flow cytometry, showing that 42% of VGluT1 synaptosomes were immunoreactive for Aβ compared to 9% of VGluT1 synaptosomes lacking Aβ-IR. Percentage of VGluT2 synaptosomes immunoreactive for Aβ (21%) was significantly higher than VGluT2 synaptosomes lacking Aβ-IR (9%). Moreover, Aβ preferentially affects VGluT1 (42% positive) compared to VGluT2 terminals (21%). These data represent the first evidence of high levels of Aβ in excitatory boutons in AD cortex and support the hypothesis that Aβ may play a role in modulating glutamate transmission in AD terminals. PMID:21914482

  15. 26 CFR 1.904(g)-2T - Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ...). 1.904(g)-2T Section 1.904(g)-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE... States § 1.904(g)-2T Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary). (a) In general. A taxpayer shall... increased. As provided in § 1.904(g)-1T(f)(2), the balance in a taxpayer's overall domestic loss account...

  16. 26 CFR 1.904(g)-2T - Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ...). 1.904(g)-2T Section 1.904(g)-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE... States § 1.904(g)-2T Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary). (a) In general. A taxpayer shall... increased. As provided in § 1.904(g)-1T(f)(2), the balance in a taxpayer's overall domestic loss account...

  17. Comparison of SPECT/CT and Planar Lympho-scintigraphy in Sentinel Node Biopsies of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Chandra, Piyush; Dhake, Sanket; Shah, Sneha; Agrawal, Archi; Purandare, Nilendu; Rangarajan, Venkatesh

    2017-01-01

    Evidence supporting the use of Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for nodal staging of early oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) appears to be very promising. Pre-operative lymphatic mapping using planar lymphoscinitigraphy (PL) with or without SPECT/CT in the SNB procedure is useful in sentinel node localization and for planning appropriate surgery. Recently, a large prospective multi-centric study evaluating SNB in cutaneous melanoma, breast and pelvic malignancies, demonstrated that adding SPECT to PL leads to surgical adjustments in a considerable number of patients. Our aim of this study was to evaluate the incremental value of additional SPECT/CT over PL alone in SNB for OSCC. This was a retrospective analysis of 44 patients (40- tongue, 4- buccal mucosa) with T1-T2, clinically N0 oral cavity SCC who underwent sentinel node biopsy procedure. PL and SPECT lymphoscinitigraphy images were compared for pre-operative mapping of sentinel nodes. Using a handheld gamma probe, a total of 179 sentinel nodes were harvested, with a mean of 4.06 per patient. PL revealed 75 hotspots with a mean of 1.70 per patient, and SPECT/CT revealed 92 hotspots with a mean of 2.09 per patient. Additional hotpots were identified in 14 patients on SPECT/CT, which included 4 patients, where PL did not detect any sentinel nodes. Pre-operative SPECT/CT in addition to planar lympho-scinitigraphy in sentinel node biopsies of oral cavity SCC detects more number of sentinel nodes compared to planar imaging alone. The higher sensitivity of SPECT combined with better anatomical localization using diagnostic CT may further improve the precision of SNB procedure.

  18. Clinical implications of proliferation activity in T1 or T2 male gastric cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Kim, Young-Woo; Eom, Bang Wool; Kook, Myeong-Cherl; Kim, Han-Seong; Kim, Mi-Kyung; Hwang, Hai-Li; Chandra, Vishal; Poojan, Shiv; Song, Yura; Koh, Jae-Soo; Bae, Chang-Dae; Ro, Jungsil; Hong, Kyeong-Man

    2015-11-06

    Proliferation activity has already been established as a prognostic marker or as a marker for anticancer drug sensitivity. In gastric cancer, however, the prognostic significance of proliferation activity is still being debated. Several studies evaluating proliferation activity using Ki-67 have shown controversial results in terms of the relationship between proliferation activity and overall survival (OS) or drug sensitivity in gastric cancer patients. Because cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 (CKAP2) staining has recently been introduced as a marker of proliferation activity, we analyzed 437 gastric cancer tissues through CKAP2 immunohistochemistry, and we evaluated the chromatin CKAP2-positive cell count (CPCC) for proliferation activity. Although the CPCC did not show any significant correlation with OS in the male, female or total number of cases, it did show a significant correlation in the T1 or T2 male patient subgroup, according to log-rank tests (P=0.001) and univariate analysis (P=0.045). Additionally, multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazard regression model showed a significant correlation between the CPCC and OS (P=0.039) for the co-variables of age, gender, T stage, N stage, histology, tumor location, tumor size and adjuvant chemotherapy. In male gastric cancer cell lines, faster-growing cancer cells showed higher sensitivity to cisplatin than slow-growing cells. Thus our study indicates that CPCC-measured proliferation activity demonstrates a significantly worse prognosis in T1 or T2 male gastric cancer patients. The CPCC will help to more precisely classify gastric cancer patients and to select excellent candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy, which in turn will facilitate further clinical chemotherapeutic trials.

  19. Non-contrast T1-mapping detects acute myocardial edema with high diagnostic accuracy: a comparison to T2-weighted cardiovascular magnetic resonance

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background T2w-CMR is used widely to assess myocardial edema. Quantitative T1-mapping is also sensitive to changes in free water content. We hypothesized that T1-mapping would have a higher diagnostic performance in detecting acute edema than dark-blood and bright-blood T2w-CMR. Methods We investigated 21 controls (55 ± 13 years) and 21 patients (61 ± 10 years) with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or acute regional myocardial edema without infarction. CMR performed within 7 days included cine, T1-mapping using ShMOLLI, dark-blood T2-STIR, bright-blood ACUT2E and LGE imaging. We analyzed wall motion, myocardial T1 values and T2 signal intensity (SI) ratio relative to both skeletal muscle and remote myocardium. Results All patients had acute cardiac symptoms, increased Troponin I (0.15-36.80 ug/L) and acute wall motion abnormalities but no LGE. T1 was increased in patient segments with abnormal and normal wall motion compared to controls (1113 ± 94 ms, 1029 ± 59 ms and 944 ± 17 ms, respectively; p < 0.001). T2 SI ratio using STIR and ACUT2E was also increased in patient segments with abnormal and normal wall motion compared to controls (all p < 0.02). Receiver operator characteristics analysis showed that T1-mapping had a significantly larger area-under-the-curve (AUC = 0.94) compared to T2-weighted methods, whether the reference ROI was skeletal muscle or remote myocardium (AUC = 0.58-0.89; p < 0.03). A T1 value of greater than 990 ms most optimally differentiated segments affected by edema from normal segments at 1.5 T, with a sensitivity and specificity of 92 %. Conclusions Non-contrast T1-mapping using ShMOLLI is a novel method for objectively detecting myocardial edema with a high diagnostic performance. T1-mapping may serve as a complementary technique to T2-weighted imaging for assessing myocardial edema in ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, such as quantifying area-at-risk and diagnosing

  20. A new effect of IL-4 on human γδ T cells: promoting regulatory Vδ1 T cells via IL-10 production and inhibiting function of Vδ2 T cells.

    PubMed

    Mao, Yujia; Yin, Shanshan; Zhang, Jianmin; Hu, Yu; Huang, Bo; Cui, Lianxian; Kang, Ning; He, Wei

    2016-03-01

    Interleukin 4 (IL-4) has a variety of immune functions, including helper T-cell (Th-cell) differentiation and innate immune-response processes. However, the impact of IL-4 on gamma delta (γδ) T cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the effects of IL-4 on the activation and proliferation of γδ T cells and the balance between variable delta 1 (Vδ1) and Vδ2 T cells in humans. The results show that IL-4 inhibits the activation of γδ T cells in the presence of γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation in a STAT6-dependent manner. IL-4 promoted the growth of activated γδ T cells and increased the levels of Vδ1 T cells, which in turn inhibited Vδ2 T-cell growth via significant IL-10 secretion. Vδ1 T cells secreted significantly less interferon gamma (IFNγ) and more IL-10 relative to Vδ2. Furthermore, Vδ1 T cells showed relatively low levels of Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) expression in the presence of IL-4, suggesting that Vδ1 T cells weaken the γδ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune response. For the first time, our findings demonstrate a negative regulatory role of IL-4 in γδ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

  1. 26 CFR 1.904(g)-2T - Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ...). 1.904(g)-2T Section 1.904(g)-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE....904(g)-2T Recapture of overall domestic losses (temporary). (a) In general. A taxpayer shall recapture... provided in § 1.904(g)-1T(f)(2), the balance in a taxpayer's overall domestic loss account with respect to...

  2. Evaluation of the relationship between T1ρ and T2 values and patella cartilage degeneration in patients of the same age group.

    PubMed

    Nishioka, Hiroaki; Hirose, Jun; Okamoto, Nobukazu; Okada, Tatsuya; Oka, Kiyoshi; Taniwaki, Takuya; Nakamura, Eiichi; Yamashita, Yasuyuki; Mizuta, Hiroshi

    2015-03-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the T1ρ and T2 values and the progression of cartilage degeneration in patients of the same age group. Sagittal T1ρ and T2 mapping and three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo images were obtained from 78 subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). The degree of patella cartilage degeneration was classified into four groups using MRI-based grading: apparently normal cartilage, mild OA, moderate OA, and severe OA group. We measured the T1ρ and T2 values (ms) in the regions of interest set on the full-thickness patella cartilage. Then, we analyzed the relationship between the T1ρ and T2 values and the degree of patella cartilage degeneration. There were no significant differences in age among the four groups. Both the T1ρ and T2 values showed a positive correlation with the degree of OA progression (ρ=0.737 and ρ=0.632, respectively). By comparison between the apparently normal cartilage and the mild OA groups, there were significant differences in the T1ρ mapping, but not in the T2 mapping. Our study confirmed that T1ρ and T2 mapping can quantitatively evaluate the degree of patella cartilage degeneration in patients within the same age group. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. ASXL2 mutations are frequently found in pediatric AML patients with t(8;21)/ RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and associated with a better prognosis.

    PubMed

    Yamato, Genki; Shiba, Norio; Yoshida, Kenichi; Shiraishi, Yuichi; Hara, Yusuke; Ohki, Kentaro; Okubo, Jun; Okuno, Haruna; Chiba, Kenichi; Tanaka, Hiroko; Kinoshita, Akitoshi; Moritake, Hiroshi; Kiyokawa, Nobutaka; Tomizawa, Daisuke; Park, Myoung-Ja; Sotomatsu, Manabu; Taga, Takashi; Adachi, Souichi; Tawa, Akio; Horibe, Keizo; Arakawa, Hirokazu; Miyano, Satoru; Ogawa, Seishi; Hayashi, Yasuhide

    2017-05-01

    ASXL2 is an epigenetic regulator involved in polycomb repressive complex regulation or recruitment. Clinical features of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with ASXL2 mutations remain unclear. Thus, we investigated frequencies of ASXL1 and ASXL2 mutations, clinical features of patients with these mutations, correlations of these mutations with other genetic alterations including BCOR/BCORL1 and cohesin complex component genes, and prognostic impact of these mutations in 369 pediatric patients with de novo AML (0-17 years). We identified 9 (2.4%) ASXL1 and 17 (4.6%) ASXL2 mutations in 25 patients. These mutations were more common in patients with t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1-RUNX1T1 (ASXL1, 6/9, 67%, P = 0.02; ASXL2, 10/17, 59%, P = 0.01). Among these 25 patients, 4 (27%) of 15 patients with t(8;21) and 6 (60%) of 10 patients without t(8;21) relapsed. However, most patients with relapse were rescued using stem cell transplantation irrespective of t(8;21). The overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates showed no differences among pediatric AML patients with t(8;21) and ASXL1 or ASXL2 mutations and ASXL wild-type (5-year OS, 75% vs. 100% vs. 91% and 5-year EFS, 67% vs. 80% vs. 67%). In 106 patients with t(8;21) AML, the coexistence of mutations in tyrosine kinase pathways and chromatin modifiers and/or cohesin complex component genes had no effect on prognosis. These results suggest that ASXL1 and ASXL2 mutations play key roles as cooperating mutations that induce leukemogenesis, particularly in pediatric AML patients with t(8;21), and these mutations might be associated with a better prognosis than that reported previously. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. miR-654-5p Targets GRAP to Promote Proliferation, Metastasis, and Chemoresistance of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through Ras/MAPK Signaling.

    PubMed

    Lu, Meng; Wang, Chengyong; Chen, Weihui; Mao, Chuanqing; Wang, Jin

    2018-04-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by rapid local migration and invasion. This study was aimed at clarifying the effect of miR-654-5p on progression of OSCC. miR-654-5p promoted proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance of OSCC in vitro and in vivo. Consistently, miR-654-5p was upregulated in late-stage OSCC and was correlated with poor prognosis of OSCC patients. Furthermore, miR-654-5p was mechanistically verified to target Grb-2-related adaptor protein (GRAP), accompanied by the activation of Ras/MAPK signaling and the facilitation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in OSCC cells. GRAP was downregulated in T1-2 stage versus T3-4 stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and was negatively correlated with tumor-node-metastases (TNM) stage in HNSC patients based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis. In addition, GRAP was positively correlated with good prognosis in HNSC patients. Our findings suggest that the miR-654-5p/GRAP/Ras/Erk signaling pathway in OSCC cells might contribute to the underlying mechanism through which miR-654-5p participates in the regulation of OSCC progression. miR-654-5p, as a potential biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of OSCC, may be an effective anticancer target for the treatment of OSCC.

  5. Human T-cell responses to oral streptococci in human PBMC-NOD/SCID mice.

    PubMed

    Salam, M A; Nakao, R; Yonezawa, H; Watanabe, H; Senpuku, H

    2006-06-01

    We investigated cellular and humoral immune responses to oral biofilm bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Streptococcus sanguinis, in NOD/SCID mice immunized with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hu-PBMC-NOD/SCID mice) to explore the pathogenicity of each of those organisms in dental and oral inflammatory diseases. hu-PBMC-NOD/SCID mice were immunized by intraperitoneal injections with the whole cells of the streptococci once a week for 3 weeks. FACS analyses were used to determine the percentages of various hu-T cell types, as well as intracellular cytokine production of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma. Serum IgG and IgM antibody levels in response to the streptococci were also determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. S. anginosus induced a significant amount of the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in comparison with the other streptococci. However, there was no significant differences between the streptococci in interleukin-4 production by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells after inoculation. Further, S. mutans significantly induced human anti-S. mutans IgG, IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgM antibodies in comparison with the other organisms. In conclusion, S. anginosus up-regulated Th1 and Tc1 cells, and S. mutans led to increasing levels of their antibodies, which was associated with the induction of Th2 cells. These results may contribute to a better understanding of human lymphocyte interactions to biofilm bacteria, along with their impact on dental and mucosal inflammatory diseases, as well as endocarditis.

  6. Heterozygote FANCD2 mutations associated with childhood T Cell ALL and testicular seminoma.

    PubMed

    Smetsers, Stephanie; Muter, Joanne; Bristow, Claire; Patel, Leena; Chandler, Kate; Bonney, Denise; Wynn, Robert F; Whetton, Anthony D; Will, Andrew M; Rockx, Davy; Joenje, Hans; Strathdee, Gordon; Shanks, Jonathan; Klopocki, Eva; Gille, Johan J P; Dorsman, Josephine; Meyer, Stefan

    2012-12-01

    Fanconi anaemia (FA) is an inherited disease with congenital and developmental abnormalities characterised by cellular cross linker hypersensitivity. FA is caused by mutations in any of so far 15 identified FANC genes, which encode proteins that interact in a common DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Individuals with FA have a high risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and squamous cell carcinoma. An increased cancer risk has been firmly established for carriers of mutations in FANCD1/BRCA2, FANCJ/BRIP1, FANCN/PALB2, RAD51C/FANCO and link the FA pathway to inherited breast and ovarian cancer. We describe a pedigree with FANCD2 mutations c.458T > C (p.Leu153Ser) and c.2715 + 1G > A (p.Glu906LeufsX4) with mild phenotype FA in the index case, T cell ALL in the Leu153Ser heterozygous brother and testicular seminoma in the p.Glu906LeufsX4 heterozygous father. Both FANCD2 alleles were present in the T Cell ALL and the seminoma. This links specific FANCD2 mutations to T cell ALL and seminoma without evidence of allelic loss in the tumour tissue.

  7. Effects of potassium iodide in concentrations of TSH, tT3 and tT4 in serum of subjects with sporotrichosis.

    PubMed

    Ramírez Soto, Max Carlos

    2014-08-01

    The saturated potassium iodide solution (SSKI) as treatment for sporotrichosis may cause hypothyroidism by suppressing the synthesis of thyroid hormones (tT3 and tT4 ) and the iodine excess could lead to thyrotoxicosis. Evaluating the changes in serum levels of TSH, tT3 and tT4 in euthyroid patients with sporotrichosis treated with SSKI. For the selection of euthyroid patients, TSH, tT3 and tT4 concentrations were measured for those adults and children diagnosed with sporotrichosis. Each paediatric patient was administered SSKI orally in increasing doses of 2-20 drops/3 times/day and 4-40 drops/3 times/day in adults. Serum concentrations of TSH, tT3 and tT4 were measured 20 days after started the treatment and 15 days posttreatment. Eight euthyroid patients aged between 2 to 65 years old were included. After 20 days of treatment, two suffered subclinical hypothyroidism, one developed subclinical hyperthyroidism, and one hyperthyroxinaemia euthyroid. At 15 days posttreatment only four patients were evaluated and all serum levels of TSH, tT3 and tT4 were normal. Some euthyroid patients with sporotrichosis can develop hyperthyroidism or subclinical iodine-induced hypothyroidism, during the administration of 3 or 6 g SSKI/day. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  8. Role of atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2 in experimental oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.

    PubMed

    da Silva, Janine Mayra; Dos Santos, Tálita Pollyanna Moreira; Saraiva, Adriana Machado; Fernandes de Oliveira, Ana Laura; Garlet, Gustavo Pompermaier; Batista, Aline Carvalho; de Mesquita, Ricardo Alves; Russo, Remo Castro; da Silva, Tarcília Aparecida

    2018-03-14

    Chemokines and chemokine receptors are critical in oral tumourigenesis. The atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2 is a scavenger of CC chemokines controlling the availability of these molecules at tumour sites, but the role of ACKR2 in the context of oral carcinogenesis is unexplored. In this study, wild-type (WT) and ACKR2 deficient mice (ACKR2 -/- ) were treated with chemical carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) for induction of oral carcinogenesis. Tongues were collected for macro and microscopic analysis and to evaluate the expression of ACKRs, CC chemokines and its receptors, inflammatory cytokines, angiogenic factors, adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components. An increased expression of ACKR2 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lesions of 4NQO-treated WT mice was observed. No significant differences were seen in the ACKR1, ACKR3 and ACKR4 mRNA expression comparing SCC lesions from WT and ACKR2 -/- treated mice. Significantly higher expression of CCL2, IL-6 and IL-17 was detected in ACKR2 -/- treated mice. In contrast, the expression of other CC-chemokines, and receptors, angiogenic factors, adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components were similarly increased in SCC lesions of both groups. Clinical and histopathological analysis revealed no differences in inflammatory cell recruitment and in the SCC incidence comparing WT and ACKR2 -/- treated mice. The results suggest that ACKR2 expression regulates inflammation in tumour-microenvironment but the absence of ACKR2 does not impact chemically-induced oral carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Hydrogels incorporating GdDOTA: towards highly efficient dual T1/T2 MRI contrast agents.

    PubMed

    Courant, Thomas; Roullin, Valérie Gaëlle; Cadiou, Cyril; Callewaert, Maïté; Andry, Marie Christine; Portefaix, Christophe; Hoeffel, Christine; de Goltstein, Marie Christine; Port, Marc; Laurent, Sophie; Elst, Luce Vander; Muller, Robert; Molinari, Michaël; Chuburu, Françoise

    2012-09-03

    Do not tumble dry: Gadolinium-DOTA encapsulated into polysaccharide nanoparticles (GdDOTA NPs) exhibited high relaxivity (r(1) =101.7 s(-1) mM(-1) per Gd(3+) ion at 37 °C and 20 MHz). This high relaxation rate is due to efficient Gd loading, reduced tumbling of the Gd complex, and the hydrogel nature of the nanoparticles. The efficacy of the nanoparticles as a T(1)/T(2) dual-mode contrast agent was studied in C6 cells. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. Comparative differences between T1a/b and T1e/m as substages in T1 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

    PubMed

    Turan, Turgay; Efiloğlu, Özgür; Günaydin, Bilal; Özkanli, Şeyma; Nikerel, Emrah; Atiş, Gökhan; Çaşkurlu, Turhan; Yildirim, Asif

    2018-01-01

    To evaluate the prognostic value of the depth of lamina propria invasion in patients with T1 bladder cancer and to display comparative differences between the T1a/b and T1e/m substaging systems. This study included 106 patients with primary stage T1 urothelial bladder tumours who underwent surgery between January 2009 and December 2014. Pathologic specimens were re-evaluated to confirm the diagnosis of T1 and substaging by the same pathologist using two systems: T1a and T1b, and T1m and T1e. Age, tumour size, multiplicity, associated carcinoma in situ, tumour grade, and T1 substaging system were investigated to detect the relation between disease progression and recurrence. The recurrence rate was 52% for T1a (n=42) vs. 76% for T1b (n=20) (p=0.028) and 55% for T1m (n=32) vs. 62% for T1e (n=30), respectively (p=0.446). There was no significant difference between the substaging groups for disease progression: T1a (n=12, 15%) vs. T1b (n=7, 27%), and T1m (n=8, 13.8%) vs. T1e (n=11, 23%) (p>0.05). In the multivariate analysis, tumour size >3 cm (p=0.008), multiplicity (p=0.049), and substaging T1b (p=0.043) were independent predictive factors for tumour recurrence. According to the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method, recurrence-free survival was significantly different in patients with pT1a tumours compared with those with pT1b tumours (p=0.033). Substaging T1 provides a prediction of disease recurrence. Regarding recurrence, T1a/b substaging can provide better knowledge of disease behaviour because it is predicted as more superior than T1 m/e, and it can help in determining the requirement for early cystectomy. Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.

  11. Upregulated Glucose Metabolism Correlates Inversely with CD8+ T-cell Infiltration and Survival in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ottensmeier, Christian H; Perry, Kate L; Harden, Elena L; Stasakova, Jana; Jenei, Veronika; Fleming, Jason; Wood, Oliver; Woo, Jeongmin; Woelk, Christopher H; Thomas, Gareth J; Thirdborough, Stephen M

    2016-07-15

    Antibodies that block T-cell-regulatory checkpoints have recently emerged as a transformative approach to cancer treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of checkpoint blockade depends upon inherent tumor immunogenicity, with variation in infiltrating T cells contributing to differences in objective response rates. Here, we sought to understand the molecular correlates of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using a systems biologic approach to integrate publicly available omics datasets with histopathologic features. We provide evidence that links TIL abundance and therapeutic outcome to the regulation of tumor glycolysis by EGFR and HIF, both of which are attractive molecular targets for use in combination with immunotherapeutics. Cancer Res; 76(14); 4136-48. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  12. Human papilloma virus status of penile squamous cell carcinoma is associated with differences in tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes.

    PubMed

    Lohneis, Philipp; Boral, Sengül; Kaufmann, Andreas M; Lehmann, Annika; Schewe, Christiane; Dietel, Manfred; Anagnostopoulos, Ioannis; Jöhrens, Korinna

    2015-03-01

    Meta-analyses show that approximately half of all squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the penis are associated with a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. As data about the tumour microenvironment of HPV-positive and HPV-negative penile carcinomas is scarce and conflicting, we examined tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte populations in such cases. The HPV status of 28 penile SCCs was determined by polymerase chain reaction, while the number and distribution of different lymphocyte populations were analysed by immunohistochemistry on whole sections of paraffin-embedded tumour specimens. The average number of tumour-infiltrating T cells in HPV-associated SCC was higher than in HPV-negative SCC, and their phenotype showed strong polarization towards a T helper 1 and cytotoxic immune response. In addition, we identified more tumour-infiltrating regulatory T cells in HPV-positive carcinomas, which might represent a mechanism of immune evasion. The present study provides further evidence that the tumour microenvironment of HPV-positive carcinomas differs from that of HPV-negative carcinomas.

  13. Rotation relaxation splitting for optimizing parallel RF excitation pulses with T1 - and T2 -relaxations in MRI

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Majewski, Kurt

    2018-03-01

    Exact solutions of the Bloch equations with T1 - and T2 -relaxation terms for piecewise constant magnetic fields are numerically challenging. We therefore investigate an approximation for the achieved magnetization in which rotations and relaxations are split into separate operations. We develop an estimate for its accuracy and explicit first and second order derivatives with respect to the complex excitation radio frequency voltages. In practice, the deviation between an exact solution of the Bloch equations and this rotation relaxation splitting approximation seems negligible. Its computation times are similar to exact solutions without relaxation terms. We apply the developed theory to numerically optimize radio frequency excitation waveforms with T1 - and T2 -relaxations in several examples.

  14. SU-F-R-35: Repeatability of Texture Features in T1- and T2-Weighted MR Images

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mahon, R; Weiss, E; Karki, K

    Purpose: To evaluate repeatability of lung tumor texture features from inspiration/expiration MR image pairs for potential use in patient specific care models and applications. Repeatability is a desirable and necessary characteristic of features included in such models. Methods: T1-weighted Volumetric Interpolation Breath-Hold Examination (VIBE) and/or T2-weighted MRI scans were acquired for 15 patients with non-small cell lung cancer before and during radiotherapy for a total of 32 and 34 same session inspiration-expiration breath-hold image pairs respectively. Bias correction was applied to the VIBE (VIBE-BC) and T2-weighted (T2-BC) images. Fifty-nine texture features at five wavelet decomposition ratios were extracted from themore » delineated primary tumor including: histogram(HIST), gray level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM), gray level run length matrix(GLRLM), gray level size zone matrix(GLSZM), and neighborhood gray tone different matrix (NGTDM) based features. Repeatability of the texture features for VIBE, VIBE-BC, T2-weighted, and T2-BC image pairs was evaluated by the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) between corresponding image pairs, with a value greater than 0.90 indicating repeatability. Results: For the VIBE image pairs, the percentage of repeatable texture features by wavelet ratio was between 20% and 24% of the 59 extracted features; the T2-weighted image pairs exhibited repeatability in the range of 44–49%. The percentage dropped to 10–20% for the VIBE-BC images, and 12–14% for the T2-BC images. In addition, five texture features were found to be repeatable in all four image sets including two GLRLM, two GLZSM, and one NGTDN features. No single texture feature category was repeatable among all three image types; however, certain categories performed more consistently on a per image type basis. Conclusion: We identified repeatable texture features on T1- and T2-weighted MRI scans. These texture features should be further investigated

  15. Biochemical magnetic resonance imaging of knee articular cartilage: T1rho and T2 mapping as cartilage degeneration biomarkers.

    PubMed

    Le, Jenna; Peng, Qi; Sperling, Karen

    2016-11-01

    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease whose hallmark is the degeneration of articular cartilage. There is a worsening epidemic of OA in the United States today, with considerable economic costs. In order to develop more effective treatments for OA, noninvasive biomarkers that permit early diagnosis and treatment monitoring are necessary. T1rho and T2 mapping are two magnetic resonance imaging techniques that have shown great promise as noninvasive biomarkers of cartilage degeneration. Each of the two techniques is endowed with advantages and disadvantages: T1rho can discern earlier biochemical changes of OA than T2 mapping, while T2 mapping is more widely available and can be incorporated into existing imaging protocols in a more time-efficient manner than T1rho. Both techniques have been applied in numerous instances to study how cartilage is affected by OA risk factors, such as age and exercise. Additionally, both techniques have been repeatedly applied to the study of posttraumatic OA in patients with torn anterior cruciate ligaments. © 2016 New York Academy of Sciences.

  16. [Expression of Ki-67 and P53 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance].

    PubMed

    He, Wei; Xiao, Yan; Chen, Wei-min

    2015-04-01

    To investigate the clinical and pathological features and its relationship with the expression of Ki-67 and p53 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical SP staining method was used to quantify the protein expression levels of Ki-67 and p53 protein in 10 cases of normal oral mucosa, 16 cases of oral leukoplakia (OLK) tissue, and 48 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The relationship of the expression of Ki-67 and p53 protein to clinical and pathological data was analyzed, and SPSS17.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. The positive expression rate of Ki-67 protein in normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma was 30%, 56.3% and 79.2%, respectively; The positive expression rate of p53 was 0%, 43.8%, and 70.8%, respectively; Ki-67 and p53 expression had significant difference among normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05); The expression of Ki-67 protein was significantly elevated with tumor stage, differentiation and cervical lymph node metastasis (P<0.05); The expression of p53 protein was significantly related to the degree of tumor differentiation (P<0.05); The expression of Ki-67 and p53 was positively correlated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05). The high expression of Ki-67 and p53 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues may play an important role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

  17. Downregulation of proapoptotic Bim augments IL-2-independent T-cell transformation by human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 Tax.

    PubMed

    Higuchi, Masaya; Takahashi, Masahiko; Tanaka, Yuetsu; Fujii, Masahiro

    2014-12-01

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), an etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia, immortalizes and transforms primary human T cells in vitro in both an interleukin (IL)-2-dependent and IL-2-independent manner. Expression of the HTLV-1 oncoprotein Tax transforms the growth of the mouse T-cell line CTLL-2 from being IL-2-dependent to IL-2-independent. Withdrawal of IL-2 from normal activated T cells induces apoptosis, which is mediated through the inducible expression of several proapoptotic proteins, including Bim. In this study, we found that Tax protects IL-2-depleted T cells against Bim-induced apoptosis. Withdrawal of IL-2 from CTLL-2 cells induced a prominent increase in the level of Bim protein in CTLL-2 cells, but not in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 cells. This inhibition of Bim in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 cells was mediated by two mechanisms: downregulation of Bim mRNA and posttranscriptional reduction of Bim protein. Transient expression of Tax in CTLL-2 cells also inhibited IL-2 depletion-induced expression of Bim, however, this decrease in Bim protein expression was not due to downregulation of Bim mRNA, thus indicating that Bim mRNA downregulation in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 occurs only after long-term expression of Tax. Transient expression of Tax in CTLL-2 cells also induced Erk activation, however, this was not involved in the reduction of Bim protein. Knockdown of Bim expression in CTLL-2 cells augmented Tax-induced IL-2-independent transformation. HTLV-1 infection of human T cells also reduced their levels of Bim protein, and restoring Bim expression in HTLV-1-infected cells reduced their proliferation by inducing apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that Tax-induced downregulation of Bim in HTLV-1-infected T cells promotes their IL-2-independent growth, thereby supporting the persistence of HTLV-1 infection in vivo. © 2014 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Downregulation of proapoptotic Bim augments IL-2-independent T-cell transformation by human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 Tax

    PubMed Central

    Higuchi, Masaya; Takahashi, Masahiko; Tanaka, Yuetsu; Fujii, Masahiro

    2014-01-01

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), an etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia, immortalizes and transforms primary human T cells in vitro in both an interleukin (IL)-2-dependent and IL-2-independent manner. Expression of the HTLV-1 oncoprotein Tax transforms the growth of the mouse T-cell line CTLL-2 from being IL-2-dependent to IL-2-independent. Withdrawal of IL-2 from normal activated T cells induces apoptosis, which is mediated through the inducible expression of several proapoptotic proteins, including Bim. In this study, we found that Tax protects IL-2-depleted T cells against Bim-induced apoptosis. Withdrawal of IL-2 from CTLL-2 cells induced a prominent increase in the level of Bim protein in CTLL-2 cells, but not in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 cells. This inhibition of Bim in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 cells was mediated by two mechanisms: downregulation of Bim mRNA and posttranscriptional reduction of Bim protein. Transient expression of Tax in CTLL-2 cells also inhibited IL-2 depletion–induced expression of Bim, however, this decrease in Bim protein expression was not due to downregulation of Bim mRNA, thus indicating that Bim mRNA downregulation in Tax-transformed CTLL-2 occurs only after long-term expression of Tax. Transient expression of Tax in CTLL-2 cells also induced Erk activation, however, this was not involved in the reduction of Bim protein. Knockdown of Bim expression in CTLL-2 cells augmented Tax-induced IL-2-independent transformation. HTLV-1 infection of human T cells also reduced their levels of Bim protein, and restoring Bim expression in HTLV-1-infected cells reduced their proliferation by inducing apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that Tax-induced downregulation of Bim in HTLV-1-infected T cells promotes their IL-2-independent growth, thereby supporting the persistence of HTLV-1 infection in vivo. PMID:25175936

  19. Early Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Sampling of Margins From Tumor Bed and Worse Local Control.

    PubMed

    Maxwell, Jessica H; Thompson, Lester D R; Brandwein-Gensler, Margaret S; Weiss, Bernhard G; Canis, Martin; Purgina, Bibianna; Prabhu, Arpan V; Lai, Chi; Shuai, Yongli; Carroll, William R; Morlandt, Anthony; Duvvuri, Umamaheswar; Kim, Seungwon; Johnson, Jonas T; Ferris, Robert L; Seethala, Raja; Chiosea, Simion I

    2015-12-01

    Positive margins are associated with poor prognosis among patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, wide variation exists in the margin sampling technique. To determine the effect of the margin sampling technique on local recurrence (LR) in patients with stage I or II oral tongue SCC. A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 1986, to December 31, 2012, in 5 tertiary care centers following tumor resection and elective neck dissection in 280 patients with pathologic (p)T1-2 pN0 oral tongue SCC. Analysis was conducted from June 1, 2013, to January 20, 2015. In group 1 (n = 119), tumor bed margins were not sampled. In group 2 (n = 61), margins were examined from the glossectomy specimen, found to be positive or suboptimal, and revised with additional tumor bed margins. In group 3 (n = 100), margins were primarily sampled from the tumor bed without preceding examination of the glossectomy specimen. The margin status (both as a binary [positive vs negative] and continuous [distance to the margin in millimeters] variable) and other clinicopathologic parameters were compared across the 3 groups and correlated with LR. Local recurrence. Age, sex, pT stage, lymphovascular or perineural invasion, and adjuvant radiation treatment were similar across the 3 groups. The probability of LR-free survival at 3 years was 0.9 and 0.8 in groups 1 and 3, respectively (P = .03). The frequency of positive glossectomy margins was lowest in group 1 (9 of 117 [7.7%]) compared with groups 2 and 3 (28 of 61 [45.9%] and 23 of 95 [24.2%], respectively) (P < .001). Even after excluding cases with positive margins, the median distance to the closest margin was significantly narrower in group 3 (2 mm) compared with group 1 (3 mm) (P = .008). The status (positive vs negative) of margins obtained from the glossectomy specimen correlated with LR (P = .007), while the status of tumor bed margins did not. The status of the tumor bed margin was 24% sensitive (95

  20. Epicutaneous challenge of orally immunized mice redirects antigen-specific gut-homing T cells to the skin.

    PubMed

    Oyoshi, Michiko K; Elkhal, Abdallah; Scott, Jordan E; Wurbel, Marc-Andre; Hornick, Jason L; Campbell, James J; Geha, Raif S

    2011-06-01

    Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) often suffer from food allergy and develop flares upon skin contact with food allergens. However, it is unclear whether T cells sensitized to allergens in the gut promote this skin inflammation. To address this question, we orally immunized WT mice and mice lacking the skin-homing chemokine receptor Ccr4 (Ccr4-/- mice) with OVA and then challenged them epicutaneously with antigen. Allergic skin inflammation developed in the WT mice but not in the mutants and was characterized by epidermal thickening, dermal infiltration by eosinophils and CD4+ T cells, and upregulation of Th2 cytokines. T cells purified from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of orally immunized WT mice transferred allergic skin inflammation to naive recipients cutaneously challenged with antigen, but this effect was lost in T cells purified from Ccr4-/- mice. In addition, the ability of adoptively transferred OVA-activated T cells to home to the skin following cutaneous OVA challenge was ablated in mice that lacked lymph nodes. These results indicate that cutaneous exposure to food antigens can reprogram gut-homing effector T cells in LNs to express skin-homing receptors, eliciting skin lesions upon food allergen contact in orally sensitized AD patients.

  1. Paracoccidioidomycosis: report of 2 cases mimicking squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Meneses-García, Abelardo; Mosqueda-Taylor, Adalberto; Morales-de la Luz, Rosario; Rivera, Luz María Ruíz-Godoy

    2002-11-01

    Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection in Latin America. This mucocutaneous disease often involves the oral mucosa and may clinically resemble other infectious and neoplastic processes. Paracoccidioidomycosis that clinically suggested squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 2 patients with a history of heavy alcohol and tobacco use. Antifungal therapy with ketoconazole and itraconazole resulted in resolution of the oral lesions. Interestingly, 1 patient had a pulmonary lesion that persisted after antifungal therapy, and biopsy proved this to be a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

  2. T1ρ Dispersion in Articular Cartilage

    PubMed Central

    Besier, Thor F.; Pauly, John M.; Smith, R. Lane; Delp, Scott L.; Beaupre, Gary S.; Gold, Garry E.

    2015-01-01

    Objective This study assessed T1ρ relaxation dispersion, measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a tool to noninvasively evaluate cartilage material and biochemical properties. The specific objective was to answer two questions: (1) does cartilage initial elastic modulus (E0) correlate with T1ρ dispersion effects and (2) does collagen or proteoglycan content correlate with T1ρ dispersion effects? Design Cadaveric patellae with and without visible cartilage damage on conventional MR were included. T2 and T1ρ relaxation times at 500 and 1000 Hz spin-lock field amplitudes were measured. We estimated T1ρ dispersion effects by measuring T1ρ relaxation time at 500 and 1000 Hz and T2 relaxation time and using a new tool, the ratio T1ρ/T2. Cartilage initial elastic modulus, E0, was measured from initial response of mechanical indentation creep tests. Collagen and proteoglycan contents were measured at the indentation test sites; proteoglycan content was measured by their covalently linked sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG). Pearson correlation coefficients were determined, taking into account the clustering of multiple samples within a single patella specimen. Results Cartilage initial elastic modulus, E0, increased with decreasing values of T1ρ/T2 measurements at both 500 Hz (P = 0.034) and 1000 Hz (P = 0.022). 1/T1ρ relaxation time (500 Hz) increased with increasing sGAG content (P = 0.041). Conclusions T1ρ/T2 ratio, a new tool, and cartilage initial elastic modulus are both measures of water–protein interactions, are dependent on the cartilage structure, and were correlated in this study. PMID:26069714

  3. Gut T1R3 sweet taste receptors do not mediate sucrose-conditioned flavor preferences in mice.

    PubMed

    Sclafani, Anthony; Glass, Damien S; Margolskee, Robert F; Glendinning, John I

    2010-12-01

    Most mammals prefer the sweet taste of sugars, which is mediated by the heterodimeric T1R2+T1R3 taste receptor. Sugar appetite is also enhanced by the post-oral reinforcing actions of the nutrient in the gut. Here, we examined the contribution of gut T1R3 (either alone or as part of the T1R3+T1R3 receptor) to post-oral sugar reinforcement using a flavor-conditioning paradigm. We trained mice to associate consumption of a flavored solution (CS+) with intragastric (IG) infusions of a sweetener, and a different flavored solution (CS-) with IG infusions of water (23 h/day); then, we measured preference in a CS+ vs. CS- choice test. In experiment 1, we predicted that if activation of gut T1R3 mediates sugar reinforcement, then IG infusions of a nutritive (sucrose) or nonnutritive (sucralose) ligand for this receptor should condition a preference for the CS+ in B6 wild-type (WT) mice. While the mice that received IG sucrose infusions developed a strong preference for the CS+, those that received IG sucralose infusions developed a weak avoidance of the CS+. In experiment 2, we used T1R3 knockout (KO) mice to examine the necessity of gut T1R2+T1R3 receptors for conditioned flavor preferences. If intact gut T1R3 (or T1R2+T1R3) receptors are necessary for flavor-sugar conditioning, then T1R3 KO mice should not develop a sugar-conditioned flavor preference. We found that T1R3 KO mice, like WT mice, acquired a strong preference for the CS+ paired with IG sucrose infusions. The KO mice were also like WT mice in avoiding a CS+ flavor paired with IG sucralose infusions These findings provide clear evidence that gut T1R3 receptors are not necessary for sugar-conditioned flavor preferences or sucralose-induced flavor avoidance in mice.

  4. Quantitative T1 and T2* carotid atherosclerotic plaque imaging using a three-dimensional multi-echo phase-sensitive inversion recovery sequence: a feasibility study.

    PubMed

    Fujiwara, Yasuhiro; Maruyama, Hirotoshi; Toyomaru, Kanako; Nishizaka, Yuri; Fukamatsu, Masahiro

    2018-06-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to detect carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Although it is important to evaluate vulnerable carotid plaques containing lipids and intra-plaque hemorrhages (IPHs) using T 1 -weighted images, the image contrast changes depending on the imaging settings. Moreover, to distinguish between a thrombus and a hemorrhage, it is useful to evaluate the iron content of the plaque using both T 1 -weighted and T 2 *-weighted images. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaques using T 1 and T 2 * values may be necessary for the accurate evaluation of plaque components. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the multi-echo phase-sensitive inversion recovery (mPSIR) sequence can improve T 1 contrast while simultaneously providing accurate T 1 and T 2 * values of an IPH. T 1 and T 2 * values measured using mPSIR were compared to values from conventional methods in phantom and in vivo studies. In the phantom study, the T 1 and T 2 * values estimated using mPSIR were linearly correlated with those of conventional methods. In the in vivo study, mPSIR demonstrated higher T 1 contrast between the IPH phantom and sternocleidomastoid muscle than the conventional method. Moreover, the T 1 and T 2 * values of the blood vessel wall and sternocleidomastoid muscle estimated using mPSIR were correlated with values measured by conventional methods and with values reported previously. The mPSIR sequence improved T 1 contrast while simultaneously providing accurate T 1 and T 2 * values of the neck region. Although further study is required to evaluate the clinical utility, mPSIR may improve carotid atherosclerotic plaque detection and provide detailed information about plaque components.

  5. [Suppression of VEGF protein expression by arctigenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Pu, Guang-rui; Liu, Fa-yu; Wang, Bo

    2015-08-01

    To observe arctigenin's inhibitory effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma, and explore the possible mechanism. The expression of VEGF in 32 cases of oral squamous cell cancer and 20 adjacent tissue specimen were detected with immunohistochemistry. Human nude mouse transplantation tumor model of oral squamous cell cancer was prepared with HSC-3 cells line. Transplanted tumor growth and VEGF expression in transplanted tumor tissues were assayed after treatment with arctigenin. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison between groups with SPSS 16.0 software package. Compared with the adjacent tissue, immunohistochemical staining score of VEGF was significantly higher (P<0.01) in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues. After treatment with arctigenin, the growth of oral squamous cell transplanted tumors in nude mouse was inhibited (P<0.05), and decreased weight in end point of observation was noted (P<0.05). There were significant differences between high dose group and low dose group (P<0.05). Compared with the nude mouse model group, the optical density of VEGF staining was significantly lower in arctigenin group (P<0.05). There were significant differences between high dose group and low dose group (P<0.05). Arctigenin can dose-dependently inhibit the growth of oral squamous cell carcinomas, and this effect may be related to down regulation of VEGF expression.

  6. Validation of a T1 and T2* leakage correction method based on multi-echo DSC-MRI using MION as a reference standard

    PubMed Central

    Stokes, Ashley M.; Semmineh, Natenael; Quarles, C. Chad

    2015-01-01

    Purpose A combined biophysical- and pharmacokinetic-based method is proposed to separate, quantify, and correct for both T1 and T2* leakage effects using dual-echo DSC acquisitions to provide more accurate hemodynamic measures, as validated by a reference intravascular contrast agent (CA). Methods Dual-echo DSC-MRI data were acquired in two rodent glioma models. The T1 leakage effects were removed and also quantified in order to subsequently correct for the remaining T2* leakage effects. Pharmacokinetic, biophysical, and combined biophysical and pharmacokinetic models were used to obtain corrected cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), and these were compared with CBV and CBF from an intravascular CA. Results T1-corrected CBV was significantly overestimated compared to MION CBV, while T1+T2*-correction yielded CBV values closer to the reference values. The pharmacokinetic and simplified biophysical methods showed similar results and underestimated CBV in tumors exhibiting strong T2* leakage effects. The combined method was effective for correcting T1 and T2* leakage effects across tumor types. Conclusions Correcting for both T1 and T2* leakage effects yielded more accurate measures of CBV. The combined correction method yields more reliable CBV measures than either correction method alone, but for certain brain tumor types (e.g., gliomas) the simplified biophysical method may provide a robust and computationally efficient alternative. PMID:26362714

  7. Techniques for early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review

    PubMed Central

    Carreras-Torras, Clàudia

    2015-01-01

    Background and objectives The diagnosis of early oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is of paramount clinical importance given the mortality rate of late stage disease. The aim of this study is to review the literature to assess the current situation and progress in this area. Material and Methods A search in Cochrane and PubMed (January 2006 to December 2013) has been used with the key words “squamous cell carcinoma”, “early diagnosis” “oral cavity”, “Potentially Malignant Disorders” y “premalignant lesions”. The inclusion criteria were the use of techniques for early diagnosis of OSCC and OPMD, 7 years aged articles and publications written in English, French or Spanish. The exclusion criteria were case reports and studies in other languages. Results Out of the 89 studies obtained initially from the search 60 articles were selected to be included in the systematic review: 1 metaanalysis, 17 systematic reviews, 35 prospective studies, 5 retrospective studies, 1 consensus and 1 semi-structured interviews. Conclusions The best diagnostic technique is that which we have sufficient experience and training. Definitely tissue biopsy and histopathological examination should remain the gold standard for oral cancer diagnose. In this systematic review it has not been found sufficient scientific evidence on the majority of proposed techniques for early diagnosis of OSCC, therefore more extensive and exhaustive studies are needed. Key words: Squamous cell carcinoma, early diagnosis, oral cavity, potentially malignant disorders, premalignant lesions. PMID:25662554

  8. Langerhans cells from human oral epithelium are more effective at stimulating allogeneic T cells in vitro than Langerhans cells from skin.

    PubMed

    Hasséus, B; Jontell, M; Bergenholtz, G; Dahlgren, U I

    2004-06-01

    This report is focused on the functional capacity of Langerhans cells (LC) in the epithelium of skin and oral mucosa, which both meet different antigenic challenges. The capacity of LC from human oral and skin epithelium to provide co-stimulatory signals to T cells in vitro was compared. LC in a crude suspension of oral epithelial cells had a significantly enhanced T cell co-stimulatory capacity compared to skin epithelial cells. This applied both to cultures with concanavalin A (con-A)-stimulated syngeneic T cells and to a mixed epithelial cell lymphocyte reaction involving allogeneic T cells. The co-stimulatory capacity of oral and skin epithelial cells was reduced by >70% if monoclonal antibodies against HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ were added to the cultures with allogeneic T cells, indicating the involvement of HLA class II expressing LC. Immunohistochemistry revealed that 6% of the epithelial cells were CD1a + LC in sections from both oral and skin epithelium. Interleukin (IL)-8 production was higher in cultures of oral epithelial cells and con-A stimulated T cells than in corresponding cultures with skin epithelial cells as accessory cells. The results suggest that LC in human oral epithelium are more efficient at stimulating T cells than those of skin.

  9. ORAOV1 is amplified in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Xavier, Flávia Caló Aquino; Rodini, Camila Oliveira; Paiva, Katiúcia Batista Silva; Destro, Maria Fernanda Souza Setúbal; Severino, Patricia; Moyses, Raquel A; Tajara, Eloiza H; Nunes, Fabio Daumas

    2012-01-01

    Oral cancer overexpressed 1 (ORAOV1) was found as a candidate oncogene in the 11q13 chromosomal region, based on its amplification and overexpression in oral cancer cell lines. Because gene amplification often leads to increased levels of gene expression, we aimed to verify the relationship between ORAOV1 gene status and mRNA expression primarily in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by quantitative assay, correlating with clinical and pathological characteristics in patients. Levels of ORAOV1 amplification and expression were evaluated by qPCR and RT-qPCR in OSCC cell lines and in tumor and non-tumoral surgical margins from 33 patients with OSCC. All subjects were smokers and habitual alcohol drinkers, mostly men above 40 years of age and with a single primary tumor. ORAOV1 exhibited increased gene expression levels as well as higher copy number in three OSCC cell lines with 11q13 amplified chromosomal region when compared with the OSCC cell line without the amplification (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). Weak correlation between ORAOV1 mRNA levels and DNA copy number was seen in tumor samples (Spearman, P = 0.07). Although ORAOV1 was amplified in tumor (Wilcoxon, P < 0.01), high levels of transcripts in margin did not reveal differences in comparison with tumor (Wilcoxon, P = 0.85). Aggressiveness and survival rate did not demonstrate statistical difference for both events in OSCC. The overexpression of ORAOV1 in non-tumoral margin samples can occur in the absence of amplification. The weak correlation between ORAOV1 amplification and expression in OSSC suggests that ORAOV1 expression can be regulated by mechanisms other than gene amplification. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  10. Local NMR relaxation rates T1-1 and T2-1 depending on the d -vector symmetry in the vortex state of chiral and helical p -wave superconductors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanaka, Kenta K.; Ichioka, Masanori; Onari, Seiichiro

    2018-04-01

    Local NMR relaxation rates in the vortex state of chiral and helical p -wave superconductors are investigated by the quasiclassical Eilenberger theory. We calculate the spatial and resonance frequency dependences of the local NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate T1-1 and spin-spin relaxation rate T2-1. Depending on the relation between the NMR relaxation direction and the d -vector symmetry, the local T1-1 and T2-1 in the vortex core region show different behaviors. When the NMR relaxation direction is parallel to the d -vector component, the local NMR relaxation rate is anomalously suppressed by the negative coherence effect due to the spin dependence of the odd-frequency s -wave spin-triplet Cooper pairs. The difference between the local T1-1 and T2-1 in the site-selective NMR measurement is expected to be a method to examine the d -vector symmetry of candidate materials for spin-triplet superconductors.

  11. Caspase-1 from Human Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Can Promote T Cell-Independent Tumor Proliferation.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Qi; Fu, Juan; Korrer, Michael; Gorbounov, Mikhail; Murray, Peter J; Pardoll, Drew; Masica, David L; Kim, Young J

    2018-05-01

    Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) are characterized by their phenotypic and functional heterogeneity. To better define their T cell-independent functions within the tumor, sorted monocytic CD14 + CD11b + HLA-DR low/- MDSCs (mMDSC) from squamous cell carcinoma patients showed upregulated caspase-1 activity, which was associated with increased IL1β and IL18 expression. In vitro studies demonstrated that mMDSCs promoted caspase-1-dependent proliferation of multiple squamous carcinoma cell lines in both human and murine systems. In vivo , growth rates of B16, MOC1, and Panc02 were significantly blunted in chimeric mice adoptively transferred with caspase-1 null bone marrow cells under T cell-depleted conditions. Adoptive transfer of wild-type Gr-1 + CD11b + MDSCs from tumor-bearing mice reversed this antitumor response, whereas caspase-1 inhibiting thalidomide-treated MDSCs phenocopied the antitumor response found in caspase-1 null mice. We further hypothesized that MDSC caspase-1 activity could promote tumor-intrinsic MyD88-dependent carcinogenesis. In mice with wild-type caspase-1, MyD88-silenced tumors displayed reduced growth rate, but in chimeric mice with caspase-1 null bone marrow cells, MyD88-silenced tumors did not display differential tumor growth rate. When we queried the TCGA database, we found that caspase-1 expression is correlated with overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that caspase-1 in MDSCs is a direct T cell-independent mediator of tumor proliferation. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(5); 566-77. ©2018 AACR . ©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.

  12. The influence of microvascular injury on native T1 and T2* relaxation values after acute myocardial infarction: implications for non-contrast-enhanced infarct assessment.

    PubMed

    Robbers, Lourens F H J; Nijveldt, Robin; Beek, Aernout M; Teunissen, Paul F A; Hollander, Maurits R; Biesbroek, P Stefan; Everaars, Henk; van de Ven, Peter M; Hofman, Mark B M; van Royen, Niels; van Rossum, Albert C

    2018-02-01

    Native T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging offer detailed characterisation of the myocardium after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We evaluated the effects of microvascular injury (MVI) and intramyocardial haemorrhage on local T1 and T2* values in patients with a reperfused AMI. Forty-three patients after reperfused AMI underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) at 4 [3-5] days, including native MOLLI T1 and T2* mapping, STIR, cine imaging and LGE. T1 and T2* values were determined in LGE-defined regions of interest: the MI core incorporating MVI when present, the core-adjacent MI border zone (without any areas of MVI), and remote myocardium. Average T1 in the MI core was higher than in the MI border zone and remote myocardium. However, in the 20 (47%) patients with MVI, MI core T1 was lower than in patients without MVI (MVI 1048±78ms, no MVI 1111±89ms, p=0.02). MI core T2* was significantly lower in patients with MVI than in those without (MVI 20 [18-23]ms, no MVI 31 [26-39]ms, p<0.001). The presence of MVI profoundly affects MOLLI-measured native T1 values. T2* mapping suggested that this may be the result of intramyocardial haemorrhage. These findings have important implications for the interpretation of native T1 values shortly after AMI. • Microvascular injury after acute myocardial infarction affects local T1 and T2* values. • Infarct zone T1 values are lower if microvascular injury is present. • T2* mapping suggests that low infarct T1 values are likely haemorrhage. • T1 and T2* values are complimentary for correctly assessing post-infarct myocardium.

  13. Proton range shift analysis on brain pseudo-CT generated from T1 and T2 MR.

    PubMed

    Pileggi, Giampaolo; Speier, Christoph; Sharp, Gregory C; Izquierdo Garcia, David; Catana, Ciprian; Pursley, Jennifer; Amato, Francesco; Seco, Joao; Spadea, Maria Francesca

    2018-05-29

    In radiotherapy, MR imaging is only used because it has significantly better soft tissue contrast than CT, but it lacks electron density information needed for dose calculation. This work assesses the feasibility of using pseudo-CT (pCT) generated from T1w/T2w MR for proton treatment planning, where proton range comparisons are performed between standard CT and pCT. MR and CT data from 14 glioblastoma patients were used in this study. The pCT was generated by using conversion libraries obtained from tissue segmentation and anatomical regioning of the T1w/T2w MR. For each patient, a plan consisting of three 18 Gy beams was designed on the pCT, for a total of 42 analyzed beams. The plan was then transferred onto the CT that represented the ground truth. Range shift (RS) between pCT and CT was computed at R 80 over 10 slices. The acceptance threshold for RS was according to clinical guidelines of two institutions. A γ-index test was also performed on the total dose for each patient. Mean absolute error and bias for the pCT were 124 ± 10 and -16 ± 26 Hounsfield Units (HU), respectively. The median and interquartile range of RS was 0.5 and 1.4 mm, with highest absolute value being 4.4 mm. Of the 42 beams, 40 showed RS less than the clinical range margin. The two beams with larger RS were both in the cranio-caudal direction and had segmentation errors due to the partial volume effect, leading to misassignment of the HU. This study showed the feasibility of using T1w and T2w MRI to generate a pCT for proton therapy treatment, thus avoiding the use of a planning CT and allowing better target definition and possibilities for online adaptive therapies. Further improvements of the methodology are still required to improve the conversion from MRI intensities to HUs.

  14. Evaluation of the Subscapularis Tendon Tears on 3T Magnetic Resonance Arthrography: Comparison of Diagnostic Performance of T1-Weighted Spectral Presaturation with Inversion-Recovery and T2-Weighted Turbo Spin-Echo Sequences.

    PubMed

    Lee, Hoseok; Ahn, Joong Mo; Kang, Yusuhn; Oh, Joo Han; Lee, Eugene; Lee, Joon Woo; Kang, Heung Sik

    2018-01-01

    To compare the T1-weighted spectral presaturation with inversion-recovery sequences (T1 SPIR) with T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences (T2 TSE) on 3T magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in the evaluation of the subscapularis (SSC) tendon tear with arthroscopic findings as the reference standard. This retrospective study included 120 consecutive patients who had undergone MRA within 3 months between April and December 2015. Two musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to the arthroscopic results evaluated T1 SPIR and T2 TSE images in separate sessions for the integrity of the SSC tendon, examining normal/articular-surface partial-thickness tear (PTTa)/full-thickness tear (FTT). Diagnostic performance of T1 SPIR and T2 TSE was calculated with arthroscopic results as the reference standard, and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were compared using the McNemar test. Interobserver agreement was measured with kappa (κ) statistics. There were 74 SSC tendon tears (36 PTTa and 38 FTT) confirmed by arthroscopy. Significant differences were found in the sensitivity and accuracy between T1 SPIR and T2 TSE using the McNemar test, with respective rates of 95.9-94.6% vs. 71.6-75.7% and 90.8-91.7% vs. 79.2-83.3% for detecting tear; 55.3% vs. 31.6-34.2% and 85.8% vs. 78.3-79.2%, respectively, for FTT; and 91.7-97.2% vs. 58.3-61.1% and 89% vs. 78-79.3%, respectively, for PTTa. Interobserver agreement for T1 SPIR was almost perfect for T1 SPIR (κ = 0.839) and substantial for T2 TSE (κ = 0.769). T1-weighted spectral presaturation with inversion-recovery sequences is more sensitive and accurate compared to T2 TSE in detecting SSC tendon tear on 3T MRA.

  15. Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of in vivo myelin content indices: Myelin water fraction and calibrated T1 w/T2 w image ratio.

    PubMed

    Arshad, Muzamil; Stanley, Jeffrey A; Raz, Naftali

    2017-04-01

    In an age-heterogeneous sample of healthy adults, we examined test-retest reliability (with and without participant repositioning) of two popular MRI methods of estimating myelin content: modeling the short spin-spin (T 2 ) relaxation component of multi-echo imaging data and computing the ratio of T 1 -weighted and T 2 -weighted images (T 1 w/T 2 w). Taking the myelin water fraction (MWF) index of myelin content derived from the multi-component T 2 relaxation data as a standard, we evaluate the concurrent and differential validity of T 1 w/T 2 w ratio images. The results revealed high reliability of MWF and T 1 w/T 2 w ratio. However, we found significant correlations of low to moderate magnitude between MWF and the T 1 w/T 2 w ratio in only two of six examined regions of the cerebral white matter. Notably, significant correlations of the same or greater magnitude were observed for T 1 w/T 2 w ratio and the intermediate T 2 relaxation time constant, which is believed to reflect differences in the mobility of water between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. We conclude that although both methods are highly reliable and thus well-suited for longitudinal studies, T 1 w/T 2 w ratio has low criterion validity and may be not an optimal index of subcortical myelin content. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1780-1790, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Squamous cell carcinomas escape immune surveillance via inducing chronic activation and exhaustion of CD8+ T Cells co-expressing PD-1 and LAG-3 inhibitory receptors.

    PubMed

    Mishra, Ameet K; Kadoishi, Tanya; Wang, Xiaoguang; Driver, Emily; Chen, Zhangguo; Wang, Xiao-Jing; Wang, Jing H

    2016-12-06

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second commonest type of skin cancer. Moreover, about 90% of head and neck cancers are SCCs. SCCs develop at a significantly higher rate under chronic immunosuppressive conditions, implicating a role of immune surveillance in controlling SCCs. It remains largely unknown how SCCs evade immune recognition. Here, we established a mouse model by injecting tumor cells derived from primary SCCs harboring KrasG12D mutation and Smad4 deletion into wild-type (wt) or CD8-/- recipients. We found comparable tumor growth between wt and CD8-/- recipients, indicating a complete escape of CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses by these SCCs. Mechanistically, CD8+ T cells apparently were not defective in infiltrating tumors given their relatively increased percentage among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). CD8+ TILs exhibited phenotypes of chronic activation and exhaustion, including overexpression of activation markers, co-expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), as well as TCRβ downregulation. Among CD4+ TILs, T regulatory cells (Tregs) were preferentially expanded. Contradictory to prior findings in melanoma, Treg expansion was independent of CD8+ T cells in our SCC model. Unexpectedly, CD8+ T cells were required for promoting NK cell infiltration within SCCs. Furthermore, we uncovered AKT-dependent lymphocyte-induced PD-L1 upregulation on SCCs, which was contributed greatly by combinatorial effects of CD8+ T and NK cells. Lastly, dual blockade of PD-1 and LAG-3 inhibited the tumor growth of SCCs. Thus, our findings identify novel immune evasion mechanisms of SCCs and suggest that immunosuppressive mechanisms operate in a cancer-type specific and context-dependent manner.

  17. Gadolinium embedded iron oxide nanoclusters as T1-T2 dual-modal MRI-visible vectors for safe and efficient siRNA delivery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Xiaoyong; Zhou, Zijian; Wang, Zhiyong; Xue, Yunxin; Zeng, Yun; Gao, Jinhao; Zhu, Lei; Zhang, Xianzhong; Liu, Gang; Chen, Xiaoyuan

    2013-08-01

    This report illustrates a new strategy of designing a T1-T2 dual-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible vector for siRNA delivery and MRI. Hydrophobic gadolinium embedded iron oxide (GdIO) nanocrystals are self-assembled into nanoclusters in the water phase with the help of stearic acid modified low molecular weight polyethylenimine (stPEI). The resulting water-dispersible GdIO-stPEI nanoclusters possess good stability, monodispersity with narrow size distribution and competitive T1-T2 dual-modal MR imaging properties. The nanocomposite system is capable of binding and delivering siRNA for knockdown of a gene of interest while maintaining its magnetic properties and biocompatibility. This new gadolinium embedded iron oxide nanocluster provides an important platform for safe and efficient gene delivery with non-invasive T1-T2 dual-modal MRI monitoring capability.This report illustrates a new strategy of designing a T1-T2 dual-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible vector for siRNA delivery and MRI. Hydrophobic gadolinium embedded iron oxide (GdIO) nanocrystals are self-assembled into nanoclusters in the water phase with the help of stearic acid modified low molecular weight polyethylenimine (stPEI). The resulting water-dispersible GdIO-stPEI nanoclusters possess good stability, monodispersity with narrow size distribution and competitive T1-T2 dual-modal MR imaging properties. The nanocomposite system is capable of binding and delivering siRNA for knockdown of a gene of interest while maintaining its magnetic properties and biocompatibility. This new gadolinium embedded iron oxide nanocluster provides an important platform for safe and efficient gene delivery with non-invasive T1-T2 dual-modal MRI monitoring capability. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02797j

  18. Distinct Contributions of T1R2 and T1R3 Taste Receptor Subunits to the Detection of Sweet Stimuli

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nie,Y.; Vigues, S.; Hobbs, J.

    2005-01-01

    The molecular mechanisms by which G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-type chemosensory receptors of animals selectively interact with their cognate ligands remain poorly understood. There is growing evidence that many chemosensory receptors exist in multimeric complexes, though little is known about the relative contributions of individual subunits to receptor functions. This study showed that each of the two subunits in the mammalian heteromeric T1R2:T1R3 sweet taste receptor binds sweet stimuli, though with distinct affinities and conformational changes. Furthermore, ligand affinities for T1R3 are drastically reduced by the introduction of a single amino acid change associated with decreased sweet taste sensitivity in mice.more » Thus, individual T1R subunits increase the receptive range of the sweet taste receptor, offering a functional mechanism for phenotypic variations in sweet taste.« less

  19. CXCL2 synthesized by oral squamous cell carcinoma is involved in cancer-associated bone destruction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Oue, Erika; Section of Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University; Global Center of Excellence

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Oral cancer cells synthesize CXCL2. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CXCL2 synthesized by oral cancer is involved in osteoclastogenesis. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CXCL2-neutralizing antibody inhibited osteoclastogenesis induced by oral cancer cells. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We first report the role of CXCL2 in cancer-associated bone destruction. -- Abstract: To explore the mechanism of bone destruction associated with oral cancer, we identified factors that stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Two clonal cell lines, HSC3-C13 and HSC3-C17, were isolated from the maternal oral cancer cell line, HSC3. The conditioned medium from HSC3-C13 cells showed the highest induction of Rankl expression in the mouse stromal cellmore » lines ST2 and UAMS-32 as compared to that in maternal HSC3 cells and HSC3-C17 cells, which showed similar activity. The conditioned medium from HSC3-C13 cells significantly increased the number of osteoclasts in a co-culture with mouse bone marrow cells and UAMS-32 cells. Xenograft tumors generated from these clonal cell lines into the periosteal region of the parietal bone in athymic mice showed that HSC3-C13 cells caused extensive bone destruction and a significant increase in osteoclast numbers as compared to HSC3-C17 cells. Gene expression was compared between HSC3-C13 and HSC3-C17 cells by using microarray analysis, which showed that CXCL2 gene was highly expressed in HSC3-C13 cells as compared to HSC3-C17 cells. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the localization of CXCL2 in human oral squamous cell carcinomas. The increase in osteoclast numbers induced by the HSC3-C13-conditioned medium was dose-dependently inhibited by addition of anti-human CXCL2-neutralizing antibody in a co-culture system. Recombinant CXCL2 increased the expression of Rankl in UAMS-32 cells. These results indicate that CXCL2 is involved in bone destruction induced by oral cancer. This is

  20. Nrf2 regulates cellular behaviors and Notch signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Fan, Hong; Paiboonrungruan, Chorlada; Zhang, Xinyan; Prigge, Justin R; Schmidt, Edward E; Sun, Zheng; Chen, Xiaoxin

    2017-11-04

    Oxidative stress is known to play a pivotal role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We have demonstrated that activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway has chemopreventive effects against oxidative stress-associated OSCC. However, Nrf2 have dual roles in cancer development; while it prevents carcinogenesis of normal cells, hyperactive Nrf2 also promotes the survival of cancer cells. This study is aimed to understand the function of Nrf2 in regulating cellular behaviors of OSCC cells, and the potential mechanisms through which Nrf2 facilitates OSCC. We established the Nrf2-overexpressing and Nrf2-knockdown OSCC cell lines, and examined the function of Nrf2 in regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle and colony formation. Our data showed that Nrf2 overexpression promoted cancer phenotypes in OSCC cells, whereas Nrf2 silencing inhibited these phenotypes. In addition, Nrf2 positively regulated Notch signaling pathway in OSCC cells in vitro. Consistent with this observation, Nrf2 activation in Keap1 -/- mice resulted in not only hyperproliferation of squamous epithelial cells in mouse tongue as evidenced by increased expression of PCNA, but also activation of Notch signaling in these cells as evidenced by increased expression of NICD1 and Hes1. In conclusion, Nrf2 regulates cancer behaviors and Notch signaling in OSCC cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Deregulation of polycomb repressor complex 1 modifier AUTS2 in T-cell leukemia.

    PubMed

    Nagel, Stefan; Pommerenke, Claudia; Meyer, Corinna; Kaufmann, Maren; Drexler, Hans G; MacLeod, Roderick A F

    2016-07-19

    Recently, we identified deregulated expression of the B-cell specific transcription factor MEF2C in T-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (T-ALL). Here, we performed sequence analysis of a regulatory upstream section of MEF2C in T-ALL cell lines which, however, proved devoid of mutations. Unexpectedly, we found strong conservation between the regulatory upstream region of MEF2C (located at chromosomal band 5q14) and an intergenic stretch at 7q11 located between STAG3L4 and AUTS2, covering nearly 20 kb. While the non-coding gene STAG3L4 was inconspicuously expressed, AUTS2 was aberrantly upregulated in 6% of T-ALL patients (public dataset GSE42038) and in 3/24 T-ALL cell lines, two of which represented very immature differentiation stages. AUTS2 expression was higher in normal B-cells than in T-cells, indicating lineage-specific activity in lymphopoiesis. While excluding chromosomal aberrations, examinations of AUTS2 transcriptional regulation in T-ALL cells revealed activation by IL7-IL7R-STAT5-signalling and MEF2C. AUTS2 protein has been shown to interact with polycomb repressor complex 1 subtype 5 (PRC1.5), transforming this particular complex into an activator. Accordingly, expression profiling and functional analyses demonstrated that AUTS2 activated while PCGF5 repressed transcription of NKL homeobox gene MSX1 in T-ALL cells. Forced expression and pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 in addition to H3K27me3 analysis indicated that PRC2 repressed MSX1 as well. Taken together, we found that AUTS2 and MEF2C, despite lying on different chromosomes, share strikingly similar regulatory upstream regions and aberrant expression in T-ALL subsets. Our data implicate chromatin complexes PRC1/AUTS2 and PRC2 in a gene network in T-ALL regulating early lymphoid differentiation.

  2. The GEM-T2 gravitational model

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Marsh, J. G.; Lerch, F. J.; Putney, B. H.; Felsentreger, T. L.; Sanchez, B. V.; Klosko, S. M.; Patel, G. B.; Robbins, J. W.; Williamson, R. G.; Engelis, T. E.

    1989-01-01

    The GEM-T2 is the latest in a series of Goddard Earth Models of the terrestrial field. It was designed to bring modeling capabilities one step closer towards ultimately determining the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite's radial position to an accuracy of 10-cm RMS (root mean square). It also improves models of the long wavelength geoid to support many oceanographic and geophysical applications. The GEM-T2 extends the spherical harmonic field to include more than 600 coefficients above degree 36 (which was the limit for its predecessor, GEM-T1). Like GEM-T1, it was produced entirely from satellite tracking data, but it now uses nearly twice as many satellites (31 vs. 17), contains four times the number of observations (2.4 million), has twice the number of data arcs (1132), and utilizes precise laser tracking from 11 satellites. The estimation technique for the solution has been augmented to include an optimum data weighting procedure with automatic error calibration for the gravitational parameters. Results for the GEM-T2 error calibration indicate significant improvement over previous satellite-only models. The error of commission in determining the geoid has been reduced from 155 cm in GEM-T1 to 105 cm for GEM-T2 for the 36 x 36 portion of the field, and 141 cm for the entire model. The orbital accuracies achieved using GEM-T2 are likewise improved. Also, the projected radial error on the TOPEX satellite orbit indicates 9.4 cm RMS for GEM-T2, compared to 24.1 cm for GEM-T1.

  3. T2-Weighted Liver MRI Using the MultiVane Technique at 3T: Comparison with Conventional T2-Weighted MRI

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Kyung A; Kim, EunJu; Jeong, Woo Kyoung; Choi, Dongil; Lee, Won Jae; Jung, Sin-Ho; Baek, Sun-Young

    2015-01-01

    Objective To assess the value of applying MultiVane to liver T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) compared with conventional T2WIs with emphasis on detection of focal liver lesions. Materials and Methods Seventy-eight patients (43 men and 35 women) with 86 hepatic lesions and 20 pancreatico-biliary diseases underwent MRI including T2WIs acquired using breath-hold (BH), respiratory-triggered (RT), and MultiVane technique at 3T. Two reviewers evaluated each T2WI with respect to artefacts, organ sharpness, and conspicuity of intrahepatic vessels, hilar duct, and main lesion using five-point scales, and made pairwise comparisons between T2WI sequences for these categories. Diagnostic accuracy (Az) and sensitivity for hepatic lesion detection were evaluated using alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results MultiVane T2WI was significantly better than BH-T2WI or RT-T2WI for organ sharpness and conspicuity of intrahepatic vessels and main lesion in both separate reviews and pairwise comparisons (p < 0.001). With regard to motion artefacts, MultiVane T2WI or BH-T2WI was better than RT-T2WI (p < 0.001). Conspicuity of hilar duct was better with BH-T2WI than with MultiVane T2WI (p = 0.030) or RT-T2WI (p < 0.001). For detection of 86 hepatic lesions, sensitivity (mean, 97.7%) of MultiVane T2WI was significantly higher than that of BH-T2WI (mean, 89.5%) (p = 0.008) or RT-T2WI (mean, 84.9%) (p = 0.001). Conclusion Applying the MultiVane technique to T2WI of the liver is a promising approach to improving image quality that results in increased detection of focal liver lesions compared with conventional T2WI. PMID:26357498

  4. Clinical radiobiology of stage T2-T3 bladder cancer.

    PubMed

    Majewski, Wojciech; Maciejewski, Boguslaw; Majewski, Stanislaw; Suwinski, Rafal; Miszczyk, Leszek; Tarnawski, Rafal

    2004-09-01

    To evaluate the relationship between total radiation dose and overall treatment time (OTT) with the treatment outcome, with adjustment for selected clinical factors, in patients with Stage T2-T3 bladder cancer treated with curative radiotherapy (RT). The analysis was based on 480 patients with Stage T2-T3 bladder cancer who were treated at the Center of Oncology in Gliwice between 1975 and 1995. The mean total radiation dose was 65.5 Gy, and the mean OTT was 51 days. In 261 patients (54%), planned and unplanned gaps occurred during RT. Four fractionation schedules were used: (1) conventional fractionation (once daily, 1.8-2.5 Gy/fraction); (2) protracted fractionation (pelvic RT, once daily, 1.6-1.7 Gy/fraction, boost RT, once daily, 2.0 Gy/fraction); (3) accelerated hyperfractionated boost (pelvic RT, once daily, 2.0 Gy/fraction; boost RT, twice daily, 1.3-1.4 Gy/fraction); and (4) accelerated hyperfractionation (pelvic and boost RT, twice daily, 1.2-1.5 Gy/fraction). In all fractionation schedules, the total radiation dose was similar (average 65.5 Gy), but the OTT was different (mean 53 days for conventional fractionation, 62 days for protracted fractionation, 45 days for accelerated hyperfractionated boost, and 41 days for accelerated hyperfractionation). A Cox proportional hazard model and maximum likelihood logistic model were used to evaluate the relationship between the treatment-related parameters (total radiation dose, dose per fraction, and OTT) and clinical factors (clinical T stage, hemoglobin level and bladder capacity before RT) and treatment outcome. With a median follow-up of 76 months, the actuarial 5-year local control rate was 47%, and the overall survival rate was 40%. The logistic analysis, which included the total dose, OTT, and T stage, revealed that all of these factors were significantly related to tumor control probability (p = 0.021 for total radiation dose, p = 0.038 for OTT, and p = 0.00068 for T stage). A multivariate Cox model, which

  5. Detection of the E7 transform gene of human papilloma virus type 16 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wang, J; Li, J; Huang, H; Fu, Y

    1998-12-01

    To determine, with the use of polymerase chain reaction, the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 in 30 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 30 healthy control patients. DNA was extracted from freshly frozen tumor tissues of 30 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and from the oral mucosa of 30 controls. A pair of specific primers of the E7 early gene of HPV 16 were designed. PCR products were run by 1.5% agarose gel and the results of electrophoresis were photographed. HPV 16 was detected in 36.7% (11/30) of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and 11.1% (4/30) of controls. HPV 16 has a significant association with oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the role HPV 16 plays in the tumorigenesis of oral cancer and its clinical significance remain to be investigated.

  6. Is it time to incorporate 'depth of infiltration' in the T staging of oral tongue and floor of mouth cancer?

    PubMed

    Piazza, Cesare; Montalto, Nausica; Paderno, Alberto; Taglietti, Valentina; Nicolai, Piero

    2014-04-01

    To summarize recent acquisitions in three-dimensional tongue and floor of mouth anatomy that can help in better evaluation of the pathways of cancer progression within these oral subsites, thus giving some hints for refining of the current TNM staging system. The Visual Human Project is an initiative aimed at establishing a three-dimensional dataset of anatomy of two cadavers made available free to the scientific community. Visual human data have been analyzed by specific software thus improving our three-dimensional understanding of the tongue myostructure. It is already known that there is limited prognostic utility in using the two-dimensional surface diameter alone as criterion for T1-T3 definition. Recently, also the T4a categorization for the infiltration of 'deep' or extrinsic tongue muscles has been criticized. This is largely because the descriptor 'deep' does not take into account the fact that considerable portions of these muscles lie in a very superficial plane. Different prognosticators have been proposed for inclusion into the TNM staging system of oral cancer but 'depth of tumor infiltration' seems to be the most robust, universally recognized, and reproducible in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. Oral tongue and floor of mouth cancer needs to be classified according to a revised TNM staging system in which 'depth of infiltration' should be taken into account. An 'ideal cut off' for distinguishing 'low' (T1-T2) from 'high-risk' (T3-T4) categories has been proposed based on the literature review, but needs retrospective as well as large prospective trials before its validation.

  7. Primary radical ablative surgery and fibula free-flap reconstruction for T4 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with mandibular invasion: oncologic and functional results and their predictive factors.

    PubMed

    Camuzard, Olivier; Dassonville, Olivier; Ettaiche, Marc; Chamorey, Emmanuel; Poissonnet, Gilles; Berguiga, Riadh; Leysalle, Axel; Benezery, Karen; Peyrade, Frédéric; Saada, Esma; Hechema, Raphael; Sudaka, Anne; Haudebourg, Juliette; Demard, François; Santini, José; Bozec, Alexandre

    2017-01-01

    The aims of this study were to evaluate clinical outcomes and to determine their predictive factors in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) invading the mandibular bone (T4) who underwent primary radical surgery and fibula free-flap reconstruction. Between 2001 and 2013, all patients who underwent primary surgery and mandibular fibula free-flap reconstruction for OCSCC were enrolled in this retrospective study. Predictive factors of oncologic and functional outcomes were assessed in univariate and multivariate analysis. 77 patients (55 men and 22 women, mean age 62 ± 10.6 years) were enrolled in this study. Free-flap failure and local and general complication rates were 9, 31, and 22 %, respectively. In multivariate analysis, ASA score (p = 0.002), pathologic N-stage (p = 0.01), and close surgical margins (p = 0.03) were independent predictors of overall survival. Six months after therapy, oral diet, speech intelligibility, and mouth opening functions were normal or slightly impaired in, respectively, 79, 88, and 83 % of patients. 6.5 % of patients remaining dependent on enteral nutrition 6 months after therapy. With acceptable postoperative outcomes and satisfactory oncologic and functional results, segmental mandibulectomy with fibula free-flap reconstruction should be considered the gold standard primary treatment for patients with OCSCC invading mandible bone. Oncologic outcomes are dependent on three main factors: ASA score, pathologic N-stage, and surgical margin status.

  8. Test – Retest Reliability and Concurrent Validity of in vivo Myelin Content Indices: Myelin Water Fraction and Calibrated T1w/T2w Image Ratio

    PubMed Central

    Arshad, Muzamil; Stanley, Jeffrey A.; Raz, Naftali

    2016-01-01

    In an age-heterogeneous sample of healthy adults, we examined test-retest reliability (with and without participant re-positioning) of two popular MRI methods of estimating myelin content: modeling the short spin-spin (T2) relaxation component of multi-echo imaging data and computing the ratio of T1-weighted and T2-weighted images (T1w/T2w). Taking the myelin water fraction (MWF) index of myelin content derived from the multi-component T2 relaxation data as a standard, we evaluate the concurrent and differential validity of T1w/T2w ratio images. The results revealed high reliability of MWF and T1w/T2w ratio. However, we found significant correlations of low to moderate magnitude between MWF and the T1w/T2w ratio in only two of six examined regions of the cerebral white matter. Notably, significant correlations of the same or greater magnitude were observed for T1w/T2w ratio and the intermediate T2 relaxation time constant, which is believed to reflect differences in the mobility of water between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. We conclude that although both methods are highly reliable and thus well-suited for longitudinal studies, T1w/T2w ratio has low criterion validity and may be not an optimal index of subcortical myelin content. PMID:28009069

  9. Gut satiety hormones cholecystokinin and glucagon-like Peptide-17-36 amide mediate anorexia induction by trichothecenes T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol and neosolaniol.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jie; Liu, Shengli; Zhang, Hua; Li, Yuanyuan; Wu, Wenda; Zhang, Haibin

    2017-11-15

    The food-borne trichothecene mycotoxins have been documented to cause human and animal food poisoning. Anorexia is a hallmark of the trichothecene mycotoxins-induced adverse effects. Type B trichothecenes have been previously demonstrated to elicit robust anorectic responses, and this response has been directly linked to secretion of the gut satiety hormones cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 7-36 amide (GLP-1). However, less is known about the anorectic effects and underlying mechanisms of the type A trichothecenes, including T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), neosolaniol (NEO). The purpose of this study was to relate type A trichothecenes T-2, HT-2, DAS and NEO-induced anorectic response to changes plasma concentrations of CCK and GLP-1. Following both oral gavage and intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 1mg/kg bw T-2, HT-2, DAS and NEO evoked robust anorectic response and secretion of CCK and GLP-1. Elevations of plasma CCK markedly corresponded to anorexia induction by T-2, HT-2, DAS and NEO. Following oral exposure, plasma CCK was peaked at 6h, 6h, 2h, 2h and lasted up to 24h, 24h, > 6h, > 6h for T-2, HT-2, DAS and NEO, respectively. IP exposed to four toxins all induced elevation of CCK with peak point and duration at 6h and >24h, respectively. In contrast to CCK, GLP-1 was moderately elevated by these toxins. Following both oral and IP exposure, T-2 and HT-2 evoked plasma GLP-1 elevation with peak point and duration at 2h and 6h, respectively. Plasma GLP-1 was peaked at 2h and still increased at 6h for IP and oral administration with DAS and NEO, respectively. In conclusion, CCK plays a contributory role in anorexia induction but GLP-1 might play a lesser role in this response. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. 3D T2-weighted and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3D T1-weighted MR cholangiography for evaluation of biliary anatomy in living liver donors.

    PubMed

    Cai, Larry; Yeh, Benjamin M; Westphalen, Antonio C; Roberts, John; Wang, Zhen J

    2017-03-01

    To investigate whether the addition of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced 3D T1-weighted MR cholangiography (T1w-MRC) to 3D T2-weighted MRC (T2w-MRC) improves the confidence and diagnostic accuracy of biliary anatomy in living liver donors. Two abdominal radiologists retrospectively and independently reviewed pre-operative MR studies in 58 consecutive living liver donors. The second-order bile duct visualization on T1w- and T2w-MRC images was rated on a 4-point scale. The readers also independently recorded the biliary anatomy and their diagnostic confidence using (1) combined T1w- and T2w-MRC, and (2) T2w-MRC. In the 23 right lobe donors, the biliary anatomy at imaging and the imaging-predicted number of duct orifices at surgery were compared to intra-operative findings. T1w-MRC had a higher proportion of excellent visualization than T2w-MRC, 66% vs. 45% for reader 1 and 60% vs. 31% for reader 2. The median confidence score for biliary anatomy diagnosis was significantly higher with combined T1w- and T2w-MRC than T2w-MRC alone for both readers (Reader 1: 3 vs. 2, p < 0.001; Reader 2: 3 vs. 1, p < 0.001). Compared to intra-operative findings, the accuracy of imaging-predicted number of duct orifices using combined T1w-and T2w-MRC was significantly higher than that using T2w-MRC alone (p = 0.034 for reader 1, p = 0.0082 for reader 2). The addition of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3D T1w-MRC to 3D T2w-MRC improves second-order bile duct visualization and increases the confidence in biliary anatomy diagnosis and the accuracy in the imaging-predicted number of duct orifices acquired during right lobe harvesting.

  11. Treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations for gout.

    PubMed

    Kiltz, U; Smolen, J; Bardin, T; Cohen Solal, A; Dalbeth, N; Doherty, M; Engel, B; Flader, C; Kay, J; Matsuoka, M; Perez-Ruiz, F; da Rocha Castelar-Pinheiro, G; Saag, K; So, A; Vazquez Mellado, J; Weisman, M; Westhoff, T H; Yamanaka, H; Braun, J

    2017-04-01

    The treat-to-target (T2T) concept has been applied successfully in several inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Gout is a chronic disease with a high burden of pain and inflammation. Because the pathogenesis of gout is strongly related to serum urate levels, gout may be an ideal disease in which to apply a T2T approach. Our aim was to develop international T2T recommendations for patients with gout. A committee of experts with experience in gout agreed upon potential targets and outcomes, which was the basis for the systematic literature search. Eleven rheumatologists, one cardiologist, one nephrologist, one general practitioner and one patient met in October 2015 to develop T2T recommendations based on the available scientific evidence. Levels of evidence, strength of recommendations and levels of agreement were derived. Although no randomised trial was identified in which a comparison with standard treatment or an evaluation of a T2T approach had been performed in patients with gout, indirect evidence was provided to focus on targets such as normalisation of serum urate levels. The expert group developed four overarching principles and nine T2T recommendations. They considered dissolution of crystals and prevention of flares to be fundamental; patient education, ensuring adherence to medications and monitoring of serum urate levels were also considered to be of major importance. This is the first application of the T2T approach developed for gout. Since no publication reports a trial comparing treatment strategies for gout, highly credible overarching principles and level D expert recommendations were created and agreed upon. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  12. Gaining insight into the T _2^*-T2 relationship in surface NMR free-induction decay measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grombacher, Denys; Auken, Esben

    2018-05-01

    One of the primary shortcomings of the surface nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) free-induction decay (FID) measurement is the uncertainty surrounding which mechanism controls the signal's time dependence. Ideally, the FID-estimated relaxation time T_2^* that describes the signal's decay carries an intimate link to the geometry of the pore space. In this limit the parameter T_2^* is closely linked to a related parameter T2, which is more closely linked to pore-geometry. If T_2^* ˜eq {T_2} the FID can provide valuable insight into relative pore-size and can be used to make quantitative permeability estimates. However, given only FID measurements it is difficult to determine whether T_2^* is linked to pore geometry or whether it has been strongly influenced by background magnetic field inhomogeneity. If the link between an observed T_2^* and the underlying T2 could be further constrained the utility of the standard surface NMR FID measurement would be greatly improved. We hypothesize that an approach employing an updated surface NMR forward model that solves the full Bloch equations with appropriately weighted relaxation terms can be used to help constrain the T_2^*-T2 relationship. Weighting the relaxation terms requires estimating the poorly constrained parameters T2 and T1; to deal with this uncertainty we propose to conduct a parameter search involving multiple inversions that employ a suite of forward models each describing a distinct but plausible T_2^*-T2 relationship. We hypothesize that forward models given poor T2 estimates will produce poor data fits when using the complex-inversion, while forward models given reliable T2 estimates will produce satisfactory data fits. By examining the data fits produced by the suite of plausible forward models, the likely T_2^*-T2 can be constrained by identifying the range of T2 estimates that produce reliable data fits. Synthetic and field results are presented to investigate the feasibility of the proposed technique.

  13. Thermonuclear Reaction Rate of T(t,2n) α Measured in ICF Plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brune, C. R.; Casey, D. T.; Caggiano, J. A.; Hatarik, R.; McNabb, D. P.; Sayre, D. B.; Smalyuk, V. A.; Bacher, A. D.; Frenje, J. A.; Gatu-Johnson, M.; Zylstra, A. B.; Couder, M.

    2014-09-01

    Measurements of charged-particle reactivity have been performed in inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility. Time-of-flight detectors were used to measure neutrons from the T(t,2n) and T(d,n) reactions produced by implosions with tritium-filled targets (0.1% deuterium). Along with the measured target fuel composition and reactant ion temperature, the well-known T(d,n) reactivity was used to convert the measured neutron yields into a T(t,2n) reactivity. The ion temperature was determined to be 3.3(3) keV, corresponding to an effective energy of 16 keV. In comparison to accelerator measurements of the low-energy T(t,2n) cross section, the source of all previous data, our experiment has resulted in T(t,2n) data with better statistics and lower backgrounds.

  14. Abscisic Acid Acts as a Blocker of the Bitter Taste G Protein-Coupled Receptor T2R4.

    PubMed

    Pydi, Sai P; Jaggupilli, Appalaraju; Nelson, Ken M; Abrams, Suzanne R; Bhullar, Rajinder P; Loewen, Michele C; Chelikani, Prashen

    2015-04-28

    Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. In humans, 25 T2Rs mediate bitter taste sensation. In addition to the oral cavity, T2Rs are expressed in many extraoral tissues, including the central nervous system, respiratory system, and reproductive system. To understand the mechanistic roles of the T2Rs in oral and extraoral tissues, novel blockers or antagonists are urgently needed. Recently, we elucidated the binding pocket of T2R4 for its agonist quinine, and an antagonist and inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid. This structure-function information about T2R4 led us to screen the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), its precursor (xanthoxin), and catabolite phaseic acid for their ability to bind and activate or inhibit T2R4. Molecular docking studies followed by functional assays involving calcium imaging confirmed that ABA is an antagonist with an IC50 value of 34.4 ± 1.1 μM. However, ABA precursor xanthoxin acts as an agonist on T2R4. Interestingly, molecular model-guided site-directed mutagenesis suggests that the T2R4 residues involved in quinine binding are also predominantly involved in binding to the novel antagonist, ABA. The antagonist ability of ABA was tested using another T2R4 agonist, yohimbine. Our results suggest that ABA does not inhibit yohimbine-induced T2R4 activity. The discovery of natural bitter blockers has immense nutraceutical and physiological significance and will help in dissecting the T2R molecular pathways in various tissues.

  15. T Helper1/T Helper2 Cells and Resistance/Susceptibility to Leishmania Infection: Is This Paradigm Still Relevant?

    PubMed Central

    Alexander, James; Brombacher, Frank

    2012-01-01

    Work in large part on Leishmania major in the 1980s identified two distinct apparently counter-regulatory CD4+ T cell populations, T helper (h)1 and Th2, that controlled resistance/susceptibility to infection respectively. However, the generation of IL-4−/− mice in the 1990s questioned the paramount role of this Th2 archetypal cytokine in the non-healing response to Leishmania infection. The more recent characterization of CD4+ T cell regulatory populations and further effector CD4+ T helper populations, Th17, Th9, and T follicular (f)h cells as well as the acknowledged plasticity in T helper cell function has further added to the complexity of host pathogen interactions. These interactions are complicated by the multiplicity of cells that respond to CD4+ T cell subset signatory cytokines, as well as the diversity of Leishmania species that are often subject to significantly different immune-regulatory controls. In this article we review current knowledge with regard to the role of CD4+ T cells and their products during Leishmania infection. In particular we update on our studies using conditional IL-4Rα gene-deficient mice that have allowed dissection of the cell interplay dictating the disease outcomes of the major Leishmania species infecting humans. PMID:22566961

  16. New superhindered polydentate polyphosphine ligands P(CH2CH2P(t)Bu2)3, PhP(CH2CH2P(t)Bu2)2, P(CH2CH2CH2P(t)Bu2)3, and their ruthenium(II) chloride complexes.

    PubMed

    Gilbert-Wilson, Ryan; Field, Leslie D; Bhadbhade, Mohan M

    2012-03-05

    The synthesis and characterization of the extremely hindered phosphine ligands, P(CH(2)CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))(3) (P(2)P(3)(tBu), 1), PhP(CH(2)CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))(2) (PhP(2)P(2)(tBu), 2), and P(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)P(t)Bu(2))(3) (P(3)P(3)(tBu), 3) are reported, along with the synthesis and characterization of ruthenium chloro complexes RuCl(2)(P(2)P(3)(tBu)) (4), RuCl(2)(PhP(2)P(2)(tBu)) (5), and RuCl(2)(P(3)P(3)(tBu)) (6). The bulky P(2)P(3)(tBu) (1) and P(3)P(3)(tBu) (3) ligands are the most sterically encumbered PP(3)-type ligands so far synthesized, and in all cases, only three phosphorus donors are able to bind to the metal center. Complexes RuCl(2)(PhP(2)P(2)(tBu)) (5) and RuCl(2)(P(3)P(3)(tBu)) (6) were characterized by crystallography. Low temperature solution and solid state (31)P{(1)H} NMR were used to demonstrate that the structure of RuCl(2)(P(2)P(3)(tBu)) (4) is probably analogous to that of RuCl(2)(PhP(2)P(2)(tBu)) (5) which had been structurally characterized.

  17. T cell fates ‘zipped up’: how the Bach2 basic leucine zipper transcriptional repressor directs T cell differentiation and function1

    PubMed Central

    Richer, Martin J.; Lang, Mark L.; Butler, Noah S.

    2016-01-01

    Recent data illustrate a key role for the transcriptional regulator Bach2 in orchestrating T cell differentiation and function. Although Bach2 has a well-described role in B cell differentiation, emerging data show that Bach2 is a prototypical member of a novel class of transcription factors that regulates transcriptional activity in T cells at super enhancers, or regions of high transcriptional activity. Accumulating data demonstrate specific roles for Bach2 in favoring regulatory T cell generation, restraining effector T cell differentiation and potentiating memory T cell development. Evidence suggests that Bach2 regulates various facets of T cell function by repressing other key transcriptional regulator such as Blimp-1. This review examines our current understanding of the role of Bach2 in T cell function and highlights the growing evidence that this transcriptional repressor functions as a key regulator involved in maintenance of T cell quiescence, T cell subset differentiation and memory T cell generation. PMID:27496973

  18. A loss of profilin-1 in late-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Adami, Guy R; O'Callaghan, Thomas N; Kolokythas, Antonia; Cabay, Robert J; Zhou, Yalu; Schwartz, Joel L

    2017-08-01

    The genes for PFN1 and TMSB4 are both highly expressed in oral tissue and both encode actin monomer binding proteins thought to play a role in cell motility and possibly other crucial parts of tumor progression. Oral brush cytology of epithelium from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was used to measure PFN1 and TMSB4 mRNA in OSCC, while immunohistochemical analysis of tissue was used to check protein levels. High but variable expression of mRNAs encoding these two proteins was observed suggesting they may contribute to tumor characteristics in a subset of OSCCs. Both proteins were highly expressed in normal appearing basal epithelium, in the cytoplasm, and perinuclear area, while expression was minimal in upper epithelial layers. In OSCCs, expression of these proteins varied. In tumors classified as later stage, based on size and/or lymph node involvement, PFN1 levels were lower in tumor epithelium. A control gene, KRT13, showed expression in normal differentiated basal and suprabasal oral mucosa epithelial cells and as reported was lost in OSCC cells. Loss of PFN1 in tumor cells has been associated with lymph node invasion and metastasis in other tumor types, strengthening the argument that the protein has the potential to be a tumor suppressor in late-stage OSCC. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  19. Regulatory T cells in the actinic cheilitis.

    PubMed

    Gasparoto, Thaís Helena; de Souza Malaspina, Tatiana Salles; Damante, José Humberto; de Mello, Edgard Franco; Ikoma, Maura Rosane Valério; Garlet, Gustavo Pompermaier; Costa, Maria Renata Sales Nogueira; Cavassani, Karen Angélica; da Silva, João Santana; Campanelli, Ana Paula

    2014-11-01

    Actinic cheilitis (AC) is an oral potentially malignant lesion which is the counterpart of actinic keratosis of the skin and has potential to develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a critical role in modulating the antitumor immune responses. The presence of regulatory T cells in potentially malignant lesions has not been described. We chose investigate the involvement of regulatory T cells in potentially malignant lesions. The frequency, phenotype, and activity of CD4+CD25+ T cells isolated from blood and lesion of AC patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines were quantified by ELISA. Data were compared with samples from healthy subjects. The frequency and suppressor activity of circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells was similar in AC patients and control subjects. However, the frequencies of IL-10-positive Tregs were higher in AC patients, and these cells inhibited interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and increased interleukin (IL)-10 productions in co-cultures. Furthermore, CD4+CD25+ T cells accumulate in AC lesions. Lesions-derived regulatory T cells suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Moreover, high levels of IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and low IFN-γ were detected in the potentially malignant lesions. Therefore, our data show that Tregs accumulate in AC lesions, and these cells could be suppressing immune responses in a potentially malignant microenvironment. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  20. CD26 expression and adenosine deaminase activity in regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD4+ T effector cells in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Mandapathil, Magis; Szczepanski, Miroslaw; Harasymczuk, Malgorzata; Ren, Jin; Cheng, Dongmei; Jackson, Edwin K.; Gorelik, Elieser; Johnson, Jonas; Lang, Stephan; Whiteside, Theresa L

    2012-01-01

    Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is responsible for the deamination of immunosuppressive adenosine to inosine. In human T lymphocytes, ADA is associated with dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26). ADA expression and activity were evaluated in regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD4+ T effector cells (Teff) of patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). CD4+CD39+ and CD4+CD39neg T cells were isolated by single-cell sorting from the peripheral blood of 15 HNSCC patients and 15 healthy donors (NC). CD26/ADA expression in these cells was studied by multicolor flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in tumor tissues. ADA activity was evaluated by mass spectrometry, suppression of Teff proliferation in CFSE assays and cytokine production by Luminex. CD4+CD39+ Treg had low and CD4+CD39neg Teff high CD26/ADA expression and ADA activity in NC or HNSCC. The frequency and suppressor activity of CD39+CD26neg Treg were elevated in patients relative to NC (p < 0.01). However, ADA activity in patients’ CD4+CD39neg Teff was decreased (p < 0.05), resulting in extracellular adenosine accumulation. Also, patients’ Teff were more sensitive to inhibitory signals delivered via adenosine receptors. IL-2, IL12 and INFγ upregulated ADA expression and activity in CD4+CD39neg Teff, whereas IL-10, PGE2 and CADO downregulated it. The differentially expressed CD26/ADA can serve as surface markers for functionally-active CD39+CD26neg Treg. PMID:22934258

  1. Synthesis and characterization of two layered aluminophosphates, ( T) 2HAl 2P 3O 12 ( T=2-BuNH 3+) and ( T)H 2Al 2P 3O 12 ( T=pyH +)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chippindale, Ann M.; Powell, Anthony V.; Bull, Lucy M.; Jones, Richard H.; Cheetham, Anthony K.; Thomas, John M.; Xu, Ruren

    1992-01-01

    Two new aluminophosphates, ( T) 2HAl 2P 3O 12 ( T=2-BuNH 3+) ( I) and ( T)H 2Al 2P 3O 12 ( T=pyH +) ( II) with the same framework stoichiometry but different layer structures have been prepared under nonaqueous conditions and the structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound ( I) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1/ c ( Z=4), with lattice parameters a=9.261(1) b=8.365(6), c=27.119(4) Å, β=91.50(1)δ, and V=2100.1 Å 3 ( R=0.072 and R w=0.090). The structure consists of Al-and P-centered tetrahedra linked to form layers. Protonated 2-butylamine molecules are located in the interlayer spaces and hydrogen bonded to the layers through NH 3+ groups. Weak hydrophobic van der Waals' interactions between alkyl groups of the 2-BuNH 3+ cations hold the layers together. Compound ( II) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 ( Z=2), with a=8.574(2), b=8.631(3), c=10.371(2) Å, α=81.84(3), β=87.53(2), γ=69.07(2)δ, and V=709.49Å 3 ( R=0.039 and R w=0.052). The structure contains tetrahedrally coordinated P atoms and both tetrahedral and trigonal pyramidal Al atoms linked to form layers which are held together through hydrogen bonding, creating cavities in which pyH + cations reside.

  2. Controlling Magnetism via Transition Metal Exchange in the Series of Intermetallics Eu( T1, T2)5In ( T = Cu, Ag, Au)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mudring, Anja -Verena; Smetana, Volodymyr; Pecharsky, Vitalij K.

    Three series of intermetallic compounds Eu( T1, T2) 5In (T = Cu, Ag, Au) have been investigated in full compositional ranges. Single crystals of all compounds have been obtained by self-flux and were analyzed by single X-ray diffraction revealing the representatives to fall into two structure types: CeCu 6 ( oP28, Pnma, a = 8.832(3)–9.121(2) Å, b = 5.306(2)–5.645(1) Å, c = 11.059(4)–11.437(3) Å, V = 518.3(3)–588.9(2) Å 3) and YbMo2Al4 ( t I14, I4/ mmm, a = 5.417(3)–5.508(1) Å, c = 7.139(2)– 7.199(2) Å, V = 276.1(2)–285.8(1) Å 3). The structural preference was found to depend on the cation/anionmore » size ratio, while the positional preference within the CeCu 6 type structure shows an apparent correlation with the anion size. Chemical compression, hence, a change in cell volume, which occurs upon anion substitution appears to be the main driving force for the change of magnetic ordering. While EuAg 5In shows antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures, mixing Cu and Au within the same type of structure results in considerable changes in the magnetism. The Eu(Cu,Au) 5In alloys with CeCu 6 structure show complex magnetic behaviors and strong magnetic field-induced spin-reorientation transition with the critical field of the transition being dependent on Cu/Au ratio. The alloys adopting the YbMo 2Al 4 type structure are ferromagnets exhibiting unusually high magnetic moments. The heat capacity of EuAu 2.66Cu 2.34In reveals a double-peak structure evolving with the magnetic field. Furthermore, low-temperature X-ray powder diffraction does not show a structural transition.« less

  3. Controlling Magnetism via Transition Metal Exchange in the Series of Intermetallics Eu( T1, T2)5In ( T = Cu, Ag, Au)

    DOE PAGES

    Mudring, Anja -Verena; Smetana, Volodymyr; Pecharsky, Vitalij K.; ...

    2017-11-24

    Three series of intermetallic compounds Eu( T1, T2) 5In (T = Cu, Ag, Au) have been investigated in full compositional ranges. Single crystals of all compounds have been obtained by self-flux and were analyzed by single X-ray diffraction revealing the representatives to fall into two structure types: CeCu 6 ( oP28, Pnma, a = 8.832(3)–9.121(2) Å, b = 5.306(2)–5.645(1) Å, c = 11.059(4)–11.437(3) Å, V = 518.3(3)–588.9(2) Å 3) and YbMo2Al4 ( t I14, I4/ mmm, a = 5.417(3)–5.508(1) Å, c = 7.139(2)– 7.199(2) Å, V = 276.1(2)–285.8(1) Å 3). The structural preference was found to depend on the cation/anionmore » size ratio, while the positional preference within the CeCu 6 type structure shows an apparent correlation with the anion size. Chemical compression, hence, a change in cell volume, which occurs upon anion substitution appears to be the main driving force for the change of magnetic ordering. While EuAg 5In shows antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures, mixing Cu and Au within the same type of structure results in considerable changes in the magnetism. The Eu(Cu,Au) 5In alloys with CeCu 6 structure show complex magnetic behaviors and strong magnetic field-induced spin-reorientation transition with the critical field of the transition being dependent on Cu/Au ratio. The alloys adopting the YbMo 2Al 4 type structure are ferromagnets exhibiting unusually high magnetic moments. The heat capacity of EuAu 2.66Cu 2.34In reveals a double-peak structure evolving with the magnetic field. Furthermore, low-temperature X-ray powder diffraction does not show a structural transition.« less

  4. STAT5-glucocorticoid receptor interaction and MTF-1 regulate the expression of ZnT2 (Slc30a2) in pancreatic acinar cells

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Liang; Lichten, Louis A.; Ryu, Moon-Suhn; Liuzzi, Juan P.; Wang, Fudi; Cousins, Robert J.

    2010-01-01

    The exocrine pancreas plays an important role in endogenous zinc loss by regulating excretion into the intestinal tract and hence influences the dietary zinc requirement. The present experiments show that the zinc transporter ZnT2 (Slc30a2) is localized to the zymogen granules and that dietary zinc restriction in mice decreased the zinc concentration of zymogen granules and ZnT2 expression. Excess zinc given orally increased ZnT2 expression and was associated with increased pancreatic zinc accumulation. Rat AR42J acinar cells when induced into a secretory phenotype, using the glucocorticoid analog dexamethasone (DEX), exhibited increased ZnT2 expression and labile zinc as measured with a fluorophore. DEX administrated to mice also induced ZnT2 expression that accompanied a reduction of the pancreatic zinc content. ZnT2 promoter analyses identified elements required for responsiveness to zinc and DEX. Zinc regulation was traced to a MRE located downstream from the ZnT2 transcription start site. Responsiveness to DEX is produced by two upstream STAT5 binding sites that require the glucocorticoid receptor for activation. ZnT2 knockdown in the AR42J cells using siRNA resulted in increased cytoplasmic zinc and decreased zymogen granule zinc that further demonstrated that ZnT2 may mediate the sequestration of zinc into zymogen granules. We conclude, based upon experiments with intact mice and pancreatic acinar cells in culture, that ZnT2 participates in zinc transport into pancreatic zymogen granules through a glucocorticoid pathway requiring glucocorticoid receptor and STAT5, and zinc-regulated signaling pathways requiring MTF-1. The ZnT2 transporter appears to function in a physiologically responsive manner involving entero-pancreatic zinc trafficking. PMID:20133611

  5. [Oral squamous cell carcinoma and lichen planus vs. lichenoid lesions. Case report].

    PubMed

    Esquivel-Pedraza, Lilly; Fernández-Cuevas, Laura; Ruelas-Villavicencio, Ana Lilia; Guerrero-Ramos, Brenda; Hernández-Salazar, Amparo; Milke-García, María Pilar; Méndez-Flores, Silvia

    2016-01-01

    The development of squamous cell carcinoma from oral lichen planus is controversial. We report a case of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma, which presents together with lesions of oral lichen planus. The aim of this report was to analyze the problem to distinguish between the incipient changes of squamous cell carcinoma from the features described in oral lichen planus, in order to establish an accurate diagnosis of both entities. A 57-year old man with a history of smoking and chronic alcohol intake, who had an ulcerated tumor mass located in the tongue, and bilateral white reticular patches on buccal mucosa and borders of the tongue. The histopathological report was moderately differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma and lichen planus respectively. The premalignant nature of OLP is still indeterminate and controversial, this is primarily due to inconsistency in the clinical and histological diagnostic criteria used to differentiate cases of oral lichen planus from lichenoid reactions or other lesions causing intraepithelial dysplasia with high potentially malignant transformation. Oral lichenoid reactions are possibly most likely to develop malignant transformation as compared to the classic OLP lesions.

  6. Three-dimensional T1 and T2* mapping of human lung parenchyma using interleaved saturation recovery with dual echo ultrashort echo time imaging (ITSR-DUTE).

    PubMed

    Gai, Neville D; Malayeri, Ashkan A; Bluemke, David A

    2017-04-01

    To develop and assess a new technique for three-dimensional (3D) full lung T1 and T2* mapping using a single free breathing scan during a clinically feasible time. A 3D stack of dual-echo ultrashort echo time (UTE) radial acquisition interleaved with and without a WET (water suppression enhanced through T1 effects) saturation pulse was used to map T1 and T2* simultaneously in a single scan. Correction for modulation due to multiple views per segment was derived. Bloch simulations were performed to study saturation pulse excitation profile on lung tissue. Optimization of the saturation delay time (for T1 mapping) and echo time (for T2* mapping) was performed. Monte Carlo simulation was done to predict accuracy and precision of the sequence with signal-to-noise ratio of in vivo images used in the simulation. A phantom study was carried out using the 3D interleaved saturation recovery with dual echo ultrashort echo time imaging (ITSR-DUTE) sequence and reference standard inversion recovery spin echo sequence (IR-SE) to compare accuracy of the sequence. Nine healthy volunteers were imaged and mean (SD) of T1 and T2* in lung parenchyma at 3T were estimated through manually assisted segmentation. 3D lung coverage with a resolution of 2.5 × 2.5 × 6 mm 3 was performed and nominal scan time was recorded for the scans. Repeatability was assessed in three of the volunteers. Regional differences in T1/T2* values were also assessed. The phantom study showed accuracy of T1 values to be within 2.3% of values obtained from IR-SE. Mean T1 value in lung parenchyma was 1002 ± 82 ms while T2* was 0.85 ± 0.1 ms. Scan time was ∼10 min for volunteer scans. Mean coefficient of variation (CV) across slices was 0.057 and 0.09, respectively. Regional variation along the gravitational direction and between right and left lung were not significant (P = 0.25 and P = 0.06, respectively) for T1. T2* showed significant variation (P = 0.03) along the

  7. 26 CFR 1.6031(b)-2T - REMIC reporting requirements (temporary). [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... requirements (temporary). [Reserved] ... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false REMIC reporting requirements (temporary). [Reserved] 1.6031(b)-2T Section 1.6031(b)-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE...

  8. Human Papilloma Virus in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma - The Enigma Unravelled.

    PubMed

    Khot, Komal P; Deshmane, Swati; Choudhari, Sheetal

    2016-03-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) has long been regarded as a disease entity having a remarkable incidence worldwide and a fairly onerous prognosis; thus encouraging further research on factors that might modify disease outcome. Squamous cell carcinomas encompass at least 90% of all oral malignancies. Several factors like tobacco and tobacco-related products, alcohol, genetic predisposition and hormonal factors are suspected as possible causative factors. Human papilloma virus (HPV), the causal agent of cervical cancer also appears to be involved in the aetiology of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. HPVpositive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) seems to differ from HPV-negative SCC. Many questions about the natural history of oral HPV infection remain under investigation. The aim of this review is to highlight the current understanding of HPV-associated oral cancer with an emphasis on its prognosis, detection and management.

  9. Association of Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Bangladesh

    PubMed Central

    Ali, Liaquat; Hassan, Zahid; Khan, Imran

    2013-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. In Bangladesh, it comprises 20% of the whole body malignancies. Several studies found that 15% to 25% of oropharyngeal cancer cases are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV). This study is done to find the association of human papilloma virus subtypes, particularly HPV type 16 and HPV type 18, with the oral squamous cell carcinoma in Bangladeshi patients. In total, 34 diagnosed patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study. Extracted DNA from the cancerous tissues was checked for PCR reaction to detect the subtypes of human papilloma virus. Data of the present study suggest that oral squamous cell carcinoma are almost absent in Bangladeshi patients with human papilloma virus, particularly HPV 16 and 18. PMID:23617206

  10. Association of human papilloma virus infection and oral squamous cell carcinoma in Bangladesh.

    PubMed

    Akhter, Mahmuda; Ali, Liaquat; Hassan, Zahid; Khan, Imran

    2013-03-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. In Bangladesh, it comprises 20% of the whole body malignancies. Several studies found that 15% to 25% of oropharyngeal cancer cases are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV). This study is done to find the association of human papilloma virus subtypes, particularly HPV type 16 and HPV type 18, with the oral squamous cell carcinoma in Bangladeshi patients. In total, 34 diagnosed patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study. Extracted DNA from the cancerous tissues was checked for PCR reaction to detect the subtypes of human papilloma virus. Data of the present study suggest that oral squamous cell carcinoma are almost absent in Bangladeshi patients with human papilloma virus, particularly HPV 16 and 18.

  11. Laser treatment of an oral squamous papilloma in a pediatric patient: a case report.

    PubMed

    Misir, Ahmet Ferhat; Demiriz, Levent; Barut, Figen

    2013-01-01

    Oral squamous papilloma is a benign proliferation of the stratified squamous epithelium, which results in a papillary or verrucous exophytic mass induced by human papilloma virus (HPV). These oral mucosa lesions are most often asymptomatic and have small progression. Laser assisted surgery is common nowadays with several advantages including successful hemostasis, devoid of sutures, wound sterilization and minimal post-operative pain and edema. The aim of this report is to present the oral squamous papilloma in a pediatric patient and its treatment with soft tissue laser. The lesion was excised with diode laser and the healing was uneventful in follow-up visit after one year. Oral squamous papillomas can be found in child's oral cavity and laser dentistry can be used by dental clinicians to treat these kinds of oral lesions and should be considered as an alternative to conventional surgery.

  12. Non-invasive evaluation of blood oxygen saturation and hematocrit from T1 and T2 relaxation times: In-vitro validation in fetal blood.

    PubMed

    Portnoy, Sharon; Seed, Mike; Sled, John G; Macgowan, Christopher K

    2017-12-01

    We propose an analytical method for calculating blood hematocrit (Hct) and oxygen saturation (sO 2 ) from measurements of its T 1 and T 2 relaxation times. Through algebraic substitution, established two-compartment relationships describing R1=T1-1 and R2=T2-1 as a function of hematocrit and oxygen saturation were rearranged to solve for Hct and sO 2 in terms of R 1 and R 2 . Resulting solutions for Hct and sO 2 are the roots of cubic polynomials. Feasibility of the method was established by comparison of Hct and sO 2 estimates obtained from relaxometry measurements (at 1.5 Tesla) in cord blood specimens to ground-truth values obtained by blood gas analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were also conducted to assess the effect of T 1 , T 2 measurement uncertainty on precision of Hct and sO 2 estimates. Good agreement was observed between estimated and ground-truth blood properties (bias = 0.01; 95% limits of agreement = ±0.13 for Hct and sO 2 ). Considering the combined effects of biological variability and random measurement noise, we estimate a typical uncertainty of ±0.1 for Hct, sO 2 estimates. Results demonstrate accurate quantification of Hct and sO 2 from T 1 and T 2 . This method is applicable to noninvasive fetal vessel oximetry-an application where existing oximetry devices are unusable or require risky blood-sampling procedures. Magn Reson Med 78:2352-2359, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  13. Simultaneous quantification of T4, T3, rT3, 3,5-T2 and 3,3'-T2 in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model to study exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiaopeng; Walter, Kyla M; Miller, Galen W; Lein, Pamela J; Puschner, Birgit

    2018-06-01

    Environmental toxicants that interfere with thyroid hormone (TH) signaling can impact growth and development in animals and humans. Zebrafish represent a model to study chemically induced TH disruption, prompting the need for sensitive detection of THs. Simultaneous quantification of 3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), 3,3',5'-triiodo-l-thyronine (rT3), 3,5-diiodo-l-thyronine (3,5-T2) and 3,3'-diiodo-l-thyronine (3,3'-T2) in zebrafish larvae was achieved by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. Solid-phase extraction with SampliQ cartridges and derivatization with 3 m hydrochloric acid in n-butanol reduced matrix effects. Derivatized compounds were separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C 18 column with mobile phases consisting of 0.1% acetic acid in deionized water and 0.1% acetic acid in methanol. The limits of detection ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 pg injected on column. The method was validated by evaluating recovery (77.1-117.2%), accuracy (87.3-123.9%) and precision (0.5-12.4%) using diluted homogenized zebrafish embryos spiked with all target compounds. This method was then applied to zebrafish larvae collected after 114 h of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including PCB 28, PCB 66 and PCB 95, or the technical mixture Aroclor 1254. Exposure to PCB 28 and PCB 95 increased the T4:T3 ratio and decreased the T3:rT3 ratio, demonstrating that this method can effectively detect PCB-induced alterations in THs. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. Development of mRuby2-Transfected C3H10T1/2 Fibroblasts for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Yunzhi Peter

    2015-01-01

    Mouse C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts are multipotent, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like progenitor cells that are widely used in musculoskeletal research. In this study, we have established a clonal population of C3H10T1/2 cells stably-transfected with mRuby2, an orange-red fluorescence reporter gene. Flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence imaging confirmed successful transfection of these cells. Cell counting studies showed that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells proliferated at similar rates. Adipogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for Oil Red O and showed increased expression of adipogenic genes including adiponectin and lipoprotein lipase. Chondrogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for Alcian Blue and showed increased expression of chondrogenic genes including aggrecan. Osteogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as Alizarin Red and showed increased expression of osteogenic genes including alp, ocn and osf-1. When seeded on calcium phosphate-based ceramic scaffolds, mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells maintained even fluorescence labeling and osteogenic differentiation. In summary, mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells exhibit mRuby2 fluorescence and showed little-to-no difference in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation as untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells. These cells will be available from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; CRL-3268™) and may be a valuable tool for preclinical studies. PMID:26407291

  15. Development of mRuby2-Transfected C3H10T1/2 Fibroblasts for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering.

    PubMed

    Ker, Dai Fei Elmer; Sharma, Rashmi; Wang, Evelyna Tsi Hsin; Yang, Yunzhi Peter

    2015-01-01

    Mouse C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts are multipotent, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like progenitor cells that are widely used in musculoskeletal research. In this study, we have established a clonal population of C3H10T1/2 cells stably-transfected with mRuby2, an orange-red fluorescence reporter gene. Flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence imaging confirmed successful transfection of these cells. Cell counting studies showed that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells proliferated at similar rates. Adipogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for Oil Red O and showed increased expression of adipogenic genes including adiponectin and lipoprotein lipase. Chondrogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for Alcian Blue and showed increased expression of chondrogenic genes including aggrecan. Osteogenic differentiation experiments demonstrated that untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells and mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells stained positive for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as Alizarin Red and showed increased expression of osteogenic genes including alp, ocn and osf-1. When seeded on calcium phosphate-based ceramic scaffolds, mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells maintained even fluorescence labeling and osteogenic differentiation. In summary, mRuby2-transfected C3H10T1/2 cells exhibit mRuby2 fluorescence and showed little-to-no difference in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation as untransfected C3H10T1/2 cells. These cells will be available from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; CRL-3268™) and may be a valuable tool for preclinical studies.

  16. Osmotic and aging effects in caviar oocytes throughout water and lipid changes assessed by 1H NMR T1 and T2 relaxation and MRI.

    PubMed

    Gussoni, Maristella; Greco, Fulvia; Vezzoli, Alessandra; Paleari, Maria Antonietta; Moretti, Vittorio Maria; Lanza, Barbara; Zetta, Lucia

    2007-01-01

    By combining NMR relaxation spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging techniques, unsalted (us) and salted (s) caviar (Acipenser transmontanus) oocytes were characterized over a storage period of up to 90 days. The aging and the salting effects on the two major cell constituents, water and lipids, were separately assessed. T1 and T2 decays were interpreted by assuming a two-site exchange model. At Day 0, two water compartments that were not in fast exchange were identified by the T1 relaxation measurements on the us oocytes. In the s samples, T1 decay was monoexponential. During the time of storage, an increment of the free water amount was found for the us oocytes, ascribed to an increased metabolism. T1 and T2 of the s oocytes shortened as a consequence of the osmotic stress produced by salting. Selective images showed the presence of water endowed with different regional mobility that severely changed during the storage. Lipid T1 relaxation decays collected on us and s samples were found to be biexponential, and the T1 values lengthened during storage. In us and s oocytes, the increased lipid mobility with the storage was ascribed to lipolysis. Selective images of us samples showed lipids that were confined to the cytoplasm for up to 60 days of storage.

  17. Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Moradzadeh Khiavi, Monir; Vosoughhosseini, Sepideh; Halimi, Monire; Mahmoudi, Seyyed Mostafa; Yarahmadi, Asghar

    2012-01-01

    Background and aims Several diagnostic methods are being employed to detect benign and malignant lesions, one of which is silver nitrate staining for organizer regions. The number of nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) can be used to show the degree of cell activity or metabolism in pathologic lesions. This study was designed to evaluate NORs as determi-nants of precancerous and squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods A silver colloid technique was applied on paraffin sections of 40 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 25 cases of precancerous lesions; 15 specimens of normal epithelium were selected for the control group. After staining with silver nitrate, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were counted in 100 epithelial cells in three groups with the use of an oil immersion and ×1000 objective lens. One-way ANOVA and a post hoc Tukey test were used for statistical analysis. Results The mean numbers and standard deviations of AgNORs were 1.58 ± 0.76 in normal epithelium, 2.1 ± 1.05 in pre-cancerous lesions and 2.43 ±1.33 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There were statistically significant differences in Ag-NORs numbers between the groups (P<0.001) and significant differences in precancerous lesions between dysplastic and non-dysplastic epithelia (P<0.001). The mean AgNORs count per nucleus increased from healthy epithelium to precancer-ous lesion to SCC. Conclusion This study suggests that the silver staining technique for the detection of NORs (AgNOR) can be used to distinguish precancerous lesions and benign and malignant lesions. PMID:22991629

  18. Severe Oral Lesions in Chickens Caused by Ingestion of Dietary Fusariotoxin T-21

    PubMed Central

    Wyatt, R. D.; Weeks, B. A.; Hamilton, P. B.; Burmeister, H. R.

    1972-01-01

    Fusariotoxin T-2 is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium tricinctum which was implicated in moldy corn toxicosis of farm animals. Graded concentrations of dietary fusariotoxin T-2 (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 μg/g, respectively) were given to groups of 40 chickens. Raised yellowish-white lesions on the mouth parts were produced by all concentrations, and the size of the lesions was dose-related. The growth rate was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) by concentrations of 4, 8, and 16 μg/g. The mouth fluid of the affected birds contained greatly increased numbers of bacteria, including Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, which proved avirulent when inoculated into scarified tissue of control birds. Microscopy examinations of the lesions revealed a fibrinous surface layer, intermediate layers containing invaginations filled with rods and cocci, and a heavy infiltration of the underlying tissues with granular leukocytes. These data suggest that the role of fusariotoxin T-2 in field cases of moldy corn toxicosis should be reinvestigated since oral lesions were not mentioned in the original descriptions of the disease. However, the lesions bear some features of those characteristic of the third or septic angina stage of alimentary toxic aleukia, a nutritional toxicosis of humans produced by eating grains infested with F. tricinctum. Images PMID:4561104

  19. T1ρ is superior to T2 mapping for the evaluation of articular cartilage denaturalization with osteoarthritis: radiological-pathological correlation after total knee arthroplasty.

    PubMed

    Takayama, Yukihisa; Hatakenaka, Masamitsu; Tsushima, Hidetoshi; Okazaki, Ken; Yoshiura, Takashi; Yonezawa, Masato; Nishikawa, Kei; Iwamoto, Yukihide; Honda, Hiroshi

    2013-04-01

    We compared the diagnostic performance of T1ρ and T2 mappings in the evaluation of denatured articular cartilage with osteoarthritis of the knee. 2D-Sagittal T1ρ and T2 mappings of the knee were obtained from 16 patients before total knee arthroplasty. After surgery, specimens of the femur and tibia were regionally segmented according to a 5-point scale of the severity of denaturalization. The T1ρ and T2 values in the full thickness of the articular cartilage in each region were measured by two observers. The two mappings were compared for their ability to differentiate between normal and denatured articular cartilage and also for their usefulness in grading the severity of the denaturalization using the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (Az). A p<0.05 was considered significant for each analysis. The T1ρ mapping showed a significantly higher Az value than the T2 mapping for the differentiation between normal and denatured articular cartilage (p<0.05). Regarding the assessment of the severity of denaturalization, T1ρ mapping could differentiate between normal and mild denaturalization (p<0.05), but T2 mapping could not. However, there were no significant differences between the two mappings in the discrimination of mild versus moderate denaturalization or of moderate versus severe denaturalization. The two observers showed good agreement in the results (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.81 for T1ρ and 0.92 for T2). T1ρ mapping is superior to T2 mapping for the evaluation of denatured articular cartilage with osteoarthritis of the knee. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. A comparison study between 3D T2-weighted SPACE and conventional 2D T2-weighted turbo spin echo in assessment of carotid plaque.

    PubMed

    Lv, Peng; Dai, Yuanyuan; Lin, Jiang; Zhang, Weisheng; Liu, Hao; Liu, Hui; Tang, Xiao

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this study was to compare 3D T2-weighted sampling perfection with application optimized contrast using different flip angle evolutions (T2w SPACE) with conventional 2D T2w turbo-spin echo (TSE) in plaque imaging of carotid artery. 45 patients underwent 3.0-T MRI for carotid arteries imaging. MR sequences included T2w SPACE, T2w TSE, Time of flight (TOF) and T1-weighted (T1w) TSE. The signal intensity of intra-plaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), and loose matrix (LM) were measured and their contrast ratios (CRs) against adjacent muscle were calculated. CRs from T2w SPACE and T2w TSE were compared to each other. CRs of LM, LRNC, and IPH measured on T2w SPACE were 1.74-3.04 (2.44), 0.98-1.66 (1.39), and 1.91-2.93 (2.51), respectively. CRs of LM, LRNC, and IPH on T2w TSE were 1.97-3.41 (2.44), 1.18-1.73 (1.43), and 2.26-3.75 (2.26), respectively. There was no significant difference of CR of the carotid plaques between T2w SPACE and T2w TSE (p = 0.455). Markedly significant differences of CRs were found between LM and LRNC (p < 0.001), and between LRNC and IPH (p < 0.001) on T2w SPACE and T2w TSE. T2w SPACE was comparable with conventional T2w TSE in characterization of carotid plaque.

  1. Early Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Sampling of Margins From Tumor Bed and Worse Local Control

    PubMed Central

    Maxwell, Jessica H.; Thompson, Lester D. R.; Brandwein-Gensler, Margaret S.; Weiss, Bernhard G.; Canis, Martin; Purgina, Bibianna; Prabhu, Arpan V.; Lai, Chi; Shuai, Yongli; Carroll, William R.; Morlandt, Anthony; Duvvuri, Umamaheswar; Kim, Seungwon; Johnson, Jonas T.; Ferris, Robert L.; Seethala, Raja; Chiosea, Simion I.

    2017-01-01

    IMPORTANCE Positive margins are associated with poor prognosis among patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, wide variation exists in the margin sampling technique. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of the margin sampling technique on local recurrence (LR) in patients with stage I or II oral tongue SCC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 1986, to December 31, 2012, in 5 tertiary care centers following tumor resection and elective neck dissection in 280 patients with pathologic (p)T1-2 pN0 oral tongue SCC. Analysis was conducted from June 1, 2013, to January 20, 2015. INTERVENTIONS In group 1 (n = 119), tumor bed margins were not sampled. In group 2 (n = 61), margins were examined from the glossectomy specimen, found to be positive or suboptimal, and revised with additional tumor bed margins. In group 3 (n = 100), margins were primarily sampled from the tumor bed without preceding examination of the glossectomy specimen. The margin status (both as a binary [positive vs negative] and continuous [distance to the margin in millimeters] variable) and other clinicopathologic parameters were compared across the 3 groups and correlated with LR. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Local recurrence. RESULTS Age, sex, pT stage, lymphovascular or perineural invasion, and adjuvant radiation treatment were similar across the 3 groups. The probability of LR-free survival at 3 years was 0.9 and 0.8 in groups 1 and 3, respectively (P = .03). The frequency of positive glossectomy margins was lowest in group 1 (9 of 117 [7.7%]) compared with groups 2 and 3 (28 of 61 [45.9%] and 23 of 95 [24.2%], respectively) (P < .001). Even after excluding cases with positive margins, the median distance to the closest margin was significantly narrower in group 3 (2 mm) compared with group 1 (3 mm) (P = .008). The status (positive vs negative) of margins obtained from the glossectomy specimen correlated with LR (P = .007), while

  2. [Expression of molecular markers detected by immunohistochemistry and risk of lymph node metastasis in stage T1 and T2 colorecrectal cancers].

    PubMed

    Wang, Fu-long; Wan, De-sen; Lu, Zhen-hai; Fang, Yu-jing; Li, Li-ren; Chen, Gong; Wu, Xiao-jun; Ding, Pei-rong; Kong, Ling-heng; Lin, Jun-zhong; Pan, Zhi-zhong

    2013-04-01

    To study the molecular risk factors of lymph node metastasis in stage T1 and T2 colorectal cancers by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry techniques. Two hundred and three patients with stage T1 and T2 colorectal carcinoma who underwent radical surgery from 1999 to 2010 in our department were included in this study. Their clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed. Expression of the following 14 molecular markers were selected and assayed by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry: VEGFR-3, HER2, CD44v6, CXCR4, TIMP-1, EGFR, IGF-1R, IGF-2, IGFBP-1, ECAD, MMP-9, RKIP, CD133, MSI. Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the variables as potential risk factors for lymph node metastasis. The positive expression rates of biomarkers were as following: VEGFR-3 (44.3%), EGFR (30.5%), HER-2 (28.1%), IGF-1R (63.5%), IGF-2 (44.8%), IGFBP-1 (70.9%), ECAD (45.8%), CD44v6 (51.2%), MMP-9 (44.3%), TIMP-1 (41.4%), RKIP (45.3%), CXCR4 (40.9%), and CD133 (49.8%). The positive rate of MSI expression was 22.2%. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that VEGFR-3, HER-2, and TIMP-1 were significant predictors of lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that CD44v6 and CXCR4 were significant significant predictors of lymph node metastasis. VEGFR-3, HER2 and TIMP-1 are independent factors for lymph node metastasis in stage T1 and T2 colorectal cancers.

  3. Somatic alterations of the serine/threonine kinase LKB1 gene in squamous cell (SCC) and large cell (LCC) lung carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Strazisar, Mojca; Mlakar, Vid; Rott, Tomaz; Glavac, Damjan

    2009-05-01

    Somatic LKB1 serine/threonine kinase alterations are rare in sporadic cancers, with the exception lung adenocarcinoma, but no mutations in squamous cell or large cell primary carcinoma were discovered. We screened the LKB1 gene in 129 primary nonsmall cell lung carcinomas, adjacent healthy lung tissue, and control blood samples. Forty-five percent of nonsmall cell lung tumors harbored either intron or exon alterations. We identified R86G, F354L, Y272Y and three polymorphisms: 290+36G/T, 386+156G/T, and 862+145C/T (novel). R86G (novel) and F354L mutations were found in six squamous cell carcinomas and three large cell cancer carcinomas, but not in the adjacent healthy tissue or controls samples. The F354L mutation was found in advanced squamous cell carcinomas with elevated COX-2 expression, rare P53, and no K-RAS mutation. Results indicate that the LKB1 gene is changed in a certain proportion of nonsmall cell lung tumors, predominately in advanced squamous lung carcinoma. Inactivation of the gene takes place via the C-terminal domain and could be related to mechanisms influencing tumor initiation, differentiation, and metastasis.

  4. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 and -2) and their inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2 and -3) in oral lichen planus, dysplasia, squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node metastasis.

    PubMed Central

    Sutinen, M.; Kainulainen, T.; Hurskainen, T.; Vesterlund, E.; Alexander, J. P.; Overall, C. M.; Sorsa, T.; Salo, T.

    1998-01-01

    Although matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are among the potential key mediators of cancer invasion, their involvement in premalignant lesions and conditions is not clarified. Therefore, we studied, using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and zymography the expression and distribution of MMP-1 and -2, and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs -1, -2 and -3) in oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and lymph node metastases as well as in oral lichen planus, epithelial dysplasias and normal buccal mucosa. In oral SCC and lymph node metastasis, MMP-1 mRNA was detected in fibroblastic cells of tumoral stroma. In two out of ten carcinomas studied, the peripheral cells of neoplastic islands were also positive. MMP-2 mRNA expression was noted in fibroblasts surrounding the carcinoma cells, and no signal in carcinoma cells was detected. A clear TIMP-3 mRNA expression was seen in stromal cells surrounding the neoplastic islands in all SCCs and lymph node metastases studied. TIMP-1 mRNA was detected in some stromal cells surrounding the neoplastic islands, whereas the mRNA expression for TIMP-2 was negligible. On the other hand, expression of MMPs and TIMPs was consistently low in oral epithelial dysplasias, lichen planus and normal mucosa. In certain epithelial dysplasias and lichen planus, MMP-1 and -2 mRNA expressions were detected in few fibroblasts under the basement membrane zone, but normal mucosa was completely negative. In SCC and lymph node metastasis, a detectable immunostaining for MMP-1 in stromal cells and in some carcinoma cells was observed. MMP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in the peripheral cell layer in neoplastic islands and in some fibroblast-like cells of tumoral stroma. Immunostaining for TIMP-3 was detected in stromal cells surrounding the neoplastic islands. A weak positive staining for TIMP-1 was located in tumoral stroma, whereas the immunostaining for TIMP-2 was negative. Using zymography, elevated levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed in

  5. Tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} enhanced fusions between oral squamous cell carcinoma cells and endothelial cells via VCAM-1/VLA-4 pathway

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Song, Kai; Zhu, Fei; Zhang, Han-zhong

    Fusion between cancer cells and host cells, including endothelial cells, may strongly modulate the biological behavior of tumors. However, no one is sure about the driving factors and underlying mechanism involved in such fusion. We hypothesized in this study that inflammation, one of the main characteristics in tumor microenvironment, serves as a prominent catalyst for fusion events. Our results showed that oral cancer cells can fuse spontaneously with endothelial cells in co-culture and inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} (TNF-{alpha}) increased fusion of human umbilical vein endothelium cells and oral cancer cells by up to 3-fold in vitro. Additionally, human oralmore » squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and 35 out of 50 (70%) oral squamous carcinoma specimens express VLA-4, an integrin, previously implicated in fusions between human peripheral blood CD34-positive cells and murine cardiomyocytes. Expression of VCAM-1, a ligand for VLA-4, was evident on vascular endothelium of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis revealed that expression of VCAM-1 increased obviously in TNF-{alpha}-stimulated endothelial cells. Anti-VLA-4 or anti-VCAM-1 treatment can decrease significantly cancer-endothelial adhesion and block such fusion. Collectively, our results suggested that TNF-{alpha} could enhance cancer-endothelial cell adhesion and fusion through VCAM-1/VLA-4 pathway. This study provides insights into regulatory mechanism of cancer-endothelial cell fusion, and has important implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for prevention of metastasis. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Spontaneous oral cancer-endothelial cell fusion. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TNF-{alpha} enhanced cell fusions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer VCAM-1/VLA-4 expressed in oral cancer. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TNF-{alpha} increased expression of VCAM-1 on endothelial cells. Black

  6. t-BHQ Provides Protection against Lead Neurotoxicity via Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

    PubMed Central

    Ye, Fang; Li, Xiaoyi; Li, Lili; Yuan, Jing; Chen, Jun

    2016-01-01

    The neurotoxicity of lead has been well established, and oxidative stress is strongly associated with lead-induced neurotoxicity. Nrf2 is important for protection against oxidative stress in many disease models. We applied t-BHQ, which is an Nrf2 activator, to investigate the possible role of Nrf2 in the protection against lead neurotoxicity. t-BHQ significantly attenuated the oxidative stress in developmental rats by decreasing MDA level, as well as by increasing SOD activity and GSH content, in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis was detected by Nissl staining, and Bax expression was inhibited in the t-BHQ-treated group. Results showed that t-BHQ suppressed ROS production and caspase 3/7 activity but increased intracellular GSH content, in SH-SY5Y cells under lead exposure. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro, t-BHQ enhanced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and binding to ARE areas but did not induce Nrf2 transcription. These phenomena were confirmed using RT-PCR, EMSA, Western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses. Subsequent upregulation of the expression of HO-1, NQO1, and GCLC was observed. However, knockdown of Nrf2 or HO-1 adversely affected the protective effects of t-BHQ against lead toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Thus, t-BHQ can protect against lead neurotoxicity, depending on the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. PMID:26798413

  7. From small sweeteners to sweet proteins: anatomy of the binding sites of the human T1R2_T1R3 receptor.

    PubMed

    Morini, Gabriella; Bassoli, Angela; Temussi, Piero A

    2005-08-25

    The sweet taste receptor, a heterodimeric G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) protein, formed by the T1R2 and T1R3 subunits, recognizes several sweet compounds including carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, proteins, and synthetic sweeteners. Its similarity with the metabotropic glutamate mGluR1 receptor allowed us to build homology models. All possible dimers formed by combinations of the human T1R2 and T1R3 subunits, modeled on the A (closed) or B (open) chains of the extracellular ligand binding domain of the mGluR1 template, yield four ligand binding sites for low-molecular-weight sweeteners. These sites were probed by docking a set of molecules representative of all classes of sweet compounds and calculating the free energy of ligand binding. These sites are not easily accessible to sweet proteins, but docking experiments in silico showed that sweet proteins can bind to a secondary site without entering the deep cleft. Our models account for many experimental observations on the tastes of sweeteners, including sweetness synergy, and can help to design new sweeteners.

  8. Phosphate (Pi)-regulated heterodimerization of the high-affinity sodium-dependent Pi transporters PiT1/Slc20a1 and PiT2/Slc20a2 underlies extracellular Pi sensing independently of Pi uptake.

    PubMed

    Bon, Nina; Couasnay, Greig; Bourgine, Annabelle; Sourice, Sophie; Beck-Cormier, Sarah; Guicheux, Jérôme; Beck, Laurent

    2018-02-09

    Extracellular phosphate (P i ) can act as a signaling molecule that directly alters gene expression and cellular physiology. The ability of cells or organisms to detect changes in extracellular P i levels implies the existence of a P i -sensing mechanism that signals to the body or individual cell. However, unlike in prokaryotes, yeasts, and plants, the molecular players involved in P i sensing in mammals remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the high-affinity, sodium-dependent P i transporters PiT1 and PiT2 in mediating P i signaling in skeletal cells. We found that deletion of PiT1 or PiT2 blunted the P i -dependent ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation and subsequent gene up-regulation of the mineralization inhibitors matrix Gla protein and osteopontin. This result suggested that both PiTs are necessary for P i signaling. Moreover, the ERK1/2 phosphorylation could be rescued by overexpressing P i transport-deficient PiT mutants. Using cross-linking and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer approaches, we found that PiT1 and PiT2 form high-abundance homodimers and P i -regulated low-abundance heterodimers. Interestingly, in the absence of sodium-dependent P i transport activity, the PiT1-PiT2 heterodimerization was still regulated by extracellular P i levels. Of note, when two putative P i -binding residues, Ser-128 (in PiT1) and Ser-113 (in PiT2), were substituted with alanine, the PiT1-PiT2 heterodimerization was no longer regulated by extracellular P i These observations suggested that P i binding rather than P i uptake may be the key factor in mediating P i signaling through the PiT proteins. Taken together, these results demonstrate that P i -regulated PiT1-PiT2 heterodimerization mediates P i sensing independently of P i uptake. © 2018 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  9. 26 CFR 1.61-2T - Taxation of fringe benefits-1985 through 1988 (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 26 Internal Revenue 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Taxation of fringe benefits-1985 through 1988 (temporary). 1.61-2T Section 1.61-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY..., and Taxable Income § 1.61-2T Taxation of fringe benefits—1985 through 1988 (temporary). (a) Fringe...

  10. Agrin and Perlecan Mediate Tumorigenic Processes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Kawahara, Rebeca; Granato, Daniela C.; Carnielli, Carolina M.; Cervigne, Nilva K.; Oliveria, Carine E.; Martinez, César A. R.; Yokoo, Sami; Fonseca, Felipe P.; Lopes, Marcio; Santos-Silva, Alan R.; Graner, Edgard; Coletta, Ricardo D.; Leme, Adriana Franco Paes

    2014-01-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in the oral cavity, representing more than 90% of all oral cancers. The characterization of altered molecules in oral cancer is essential to understand molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression as well as to contribute to cancer biomarker and therapeutic target discovery. Proteoglycans are key molecular effectors of cell surface and pericellular microenvironments, performing multiple functions in cancer. Two of the major basement membrane proteoglycans, agrin and perlecan, were investigated in this study regarding their role in oral cancer. Using real time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), we showed that agrin and perlecan are highly expressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, cell lines originated from distinct sites showed different expression of agrin and perlecan. Enzymatically targeting chondroitin sulfate modification by chondroitinase, oral squamous carcinoma cell line had a reduced ability to adhere to extracellular matrix proteins and increased sensibility to cisplatin. Additionally, knockdown of agrin and perlecan promoted a decrease on cell migration and adhesion, and on resistance of cells to cisplatin. Our study showed, for the first time, a negative regulation on oral cancer-associated events by either targeting chondroitin sulfate content or agrin and perlecan levels. PMID:25506919

  11. Randomized Trial of Hyperfractionation Versus Conventional Fractionation in T2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vocal Cord (RTOG 9512)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Trotti, Andy, E-mail: andy.trotti@moffitt.org; Zhang, Qiang; Bentzen, Søren M.

    2014-08-01

    Purpose: To compare hyperfractionation versus standard fractionation for T2N0 vocal cord carcinoma in a randomized controlled trial. Methods and Materials: Patients with T2 vocal cord cancer were stratified by substage (T2a vs T2b) and randomly assigned to receive either hyperfractionation (HFX) to 79.2 Gy in 66 fractions of 1.2 Gy given twice a day, or standard fractionation (SFX) to 70 Gy in 35 fractions given once a day. The trial was designed to detect a 55% reduction in the local failure hazard rate with 80% statistical power. Results: Between April 1996 and July 2003, a total of 250 patients were enrolled. Of 239more » patients analyzable for outcomes, 94% were male, 83% had a Karnofsky performance status of 90-100, and 62% had T2a tumor. Median follow-up for all surviving patients was 7.9 years (range, 0.6-13.1 years). The 5-year local control (LC) rate was 8 points higher but not statistically significant (P=.14 for HFX [78%] vs SFX [70%]), corresponding to a 30% hazard rate reduction. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 49% versus 40% (P=.13) and overall survival (OS) was 72% versus 63% (P=.29). HFX was associated with higher rates of acute skin, mucosal, and laryngeal toxicity. Grade 3-4 late effects were similar with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 8.5% (3.4%-13.6%) after SFX and 8.5% (3.4%-13.5%) after HFX. Conclusions: The 5-year local control was modestly higher with HFX compared to SFX for T2 glottic carcinoma, but the difference was not statistically significant. These results are consistent with prior studies of hyperfractionation showing a benefit in local control. Substaging by T2a versus T2b carries prognostic value for DFS and OS. For cost and convenience reasons other altered fractionation schedules have been adopted in routine practice.« less

  12. Ana o 1 and Ana o 2 cashew allergens share cross-reactive CD4+ T-cell epitopes with other tree nuts

    PubMed Central

    Archila, Luis Diego; Chow, I-Ting; McGinty, John W.; Renand, Amedee; Jeong, David; Robinson, David; Farrington, Mary L.; Kwok, William.W.

    2017-01-01

    Background Allergies to cashew are increasing in prevalence, with clinical symptoms ranging from oral pruritus to fatal anaphylactic reaction. Yet, cashew-specific T-cell epitopes and T-cell cross-reactivity amongst cashew and other tree nut allergens in humans remain uncharacterized. Objectives In this study, we characterized cashew specific T-cell responses in cashew allergic subjects and examined cross-reactivity of these cashew specific cells toward other tree nut allergens. Methods CD154 up-regulation assay was used to determine immunodominance hierarchy among cashew major allergens at the T cell level. The phenotype, magnitude and functionality of cashew-specific T-cells was determined by utilizing ex vivo staining with MHC class II tetramers. Dual tetramer staining and proliferation experiments were used to determine cross-reactivity to other tree nuts. Results CD4+ T-cell responses were directed towards cashew allergens Ana o 1 and Ana o 2. Multiple Ana o 1 and Ana o 2 T-cell epitopes were then identified. These epitopes elicited either TH2 or TH2/TH17 responses in allergic subjects, which were either cashew unique epitope or cross-reactive epitopes. For clones that recognized the cross-reactive epitope, T-cell clones responded robustly to cashew, hazelnut and/or pistachio but not to walnut. Conclusions Phylogenetically diverse tree nut allergens can activate cashew reactive T-cells and elicit a TH2 type response at an epitope specific level. Clinical relevance Lack of cross-reactivity between walnut and cashew suggest that cashew peptide immunotherapy approach may not be most effective for walnut. PMID:27129138

  13. Ana o 1 and Ana o 2 cashew allergens share cross-reactive CD4(+) T cell epitopes with other tree nuts.

    PubMed

    Archila, L D; Chow, I-T; McGinty, J W; Renand, A; Jeong, D; Robinson, D; Farrington, M L; Kwok, W W

    2016-06-01

    Allergies to cashew are increasing in prevalence, with clinical symptoms ranging from oral pruritus to fatal anaphylactic reaction. Yet, cashew-specific T cell epitopes and T cell cross-reactivity amongst cashew and other tree nut allergens in humans remain uncharacterized. In this study, we characterized cashew-specific T cell responses in cashew-allergic subjects and examined cross-reactivity of these cashew-specific cells towards other tree nut allergens. CD154 up-regulation assay was used to determine immunodominance hierarchy among cashew major allergens at the T cell level. The phenotype, magnitude and functionality of cashew-specific T cells were determined by utilizing ex vivo staining with MHC class II tetramers. Dual tetramer staining and proliferation experiments were used to determine cross-reactivity to other tree nuts. CD4(+) T cell responses were directed towards cashew allergens Ana o 1 and Ana o 2. Multiple Ana o 1 and Ana o 2 T cell epitopes were then identified. These epitopes elicited either TH 2 or TH 2/TH 17 responses in allergic subjects, which were either cashew unique epitope or cross-reactive epitopes. For clones that recognized the cross-reactive epitope, T cell clones responded robustly to cashew, hazelnut and/or pistachio but not to walnut. Phylogenetically diverse tree nut allergens can activate cashew-reactive T cells and elicit a TH 2-type response at an epitope-specific level. Lack of cross-reactivity between walnut and cashew suggests that cashew peptide immunotherapy approach may not be most effective for walnut. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. Specific blockade CD73 alters the 'exhausted' phenotype of T cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Deng, Wei-Wei; Li, Yi-Cun; Ma, Si-Rui; Mao, Liang; Yu, Guang-Tao; Bu, Lin-Lin; Kulkarni, Ashok B; Zhang, Wen-Feng; Sun, Zhi-Jun

    2018-04-16

    The adenosine-induced immunosuppression hampers the immune response toward tumor cells and facilitates the tumor cells to evade immunosurveillance. CD73, an ecto-5-nucleotidase, is the ectoenzyme dephosphorylating extracellular AMP to adenosine. Here, using immunocompetent transgenic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) mouse model, immune profiling showed high expression of CD73 on CD4 + and CD8 + T cells was associated with an 'exhausted' phenotype. Further, treatment with anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody (mAb) significantly blunted the tumor growth in the mouse model, and the blockade of CD73 reversed the 'exhausted' phenotype of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells through downregulation of total expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on T cells. Whereas the population of CD4 + CD73 hi /CD8 + CD73 hi T cells expressed higher CTLA-4 and PD-1 as compared to untreated controls. In addition, the human tissue microarrays showed the expression of CD73 is upregulated on tumor infiltrating immune cells in patients with primary HNSCC. Moreover, CD73 expression is an independent prognostic factor for poor outcome in our cohort of HNSCC patients. Altogether, these findings highlight the immunoregulatory role of CD73 in the development of HNSCC and we propose that CD73 may prove to be a promising immunotherapeutic target for the treatment of HNSCC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 UICC.

  15. Dectin-1 diversifies Aspergillus fumigatus–specific T cell responses by inhibiting T helper type 1 CD4 T cell differentiation

    PubMed Central

    Hohl, Tobias M.; Collins, Nichole; Leiner, Ingrid; Gallegos, Alena; Saijo, Shinobu; Coward, Jesse W.; Iwakura, Yoichiro

    2011-01-01

    Pulmonary infection of mice with Aspergillus fumigatus induces concurrent T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 responses that depend on Toll-like receptor/MyD88 and Dectin-1, respectively. However, the mechanisms balancing Th1 and Th17 CD4 T cell populations during infection remain incompletely defined. In this study, we show that Dectin-1 deficiency disproportionally increases Th1 responses and decreases Th17 differentiation after A. fumigatus infection. Dectin-1 signaling in A. fumigatus–infected wild-type mice reduces IFN-γ and IL-12p40 expression in the lung, thereby decreasing T-bet expression in responding CD4 T cells and enhancing Th17 responses. Absence of IFN-γ or IL-12p35 in infected mice or T-bet in responding CD4 T cells enhances Th17 differentiation, independent of Dectin-1 expression, in A. fumigatus–infected mice. Transient deletion of monocyte-derived dendritic cells also reduces Th1 and boosts Th17 differentiation of A. fumigatus–specific CD4 T cells. Our findings indicate that Dectin-1–mediated signals alter CD4 T cell responses to fungal infection by decreasing the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ in innate cells, thereby decreasing T-bet expression in A. fumigatus–specific CD4 T cells and enabling Th17 differentiation. PMID:21242294

  16. Temperature-driven topological transition in 1T'-MoTe2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Berger, Ayelet Notis; Andrade, Erick; Kerelsky, Alexander; Edelberg, Drew; Li, Jian; Wang, Zhijun; Zhang, Lunyong; Kim, Jaewook; Zaki, Nader; Avila, Jose; Chen, Chaoyu; Asensio, Maria C.; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Bernevig, Bogdan A.; Pasupathy, Abhay N.

    2018-01-01

    The topology of Weyl semimetals requires the existence of unique surface states. Surface states have been visualized in spectroscopy measurements, but their connection to the topological character of the material remains largely unexplored. 1T'-MoTe2, presents a unique opportunity to study this connection. This material undergoes a phase transition at 240 K that changes the structure from orthorhombic (putative Weyl semimetal) to monoclinic (trivial metal), while largely maintaining its bulk electronic structure. Here, we show from temperature-dependent quasiparticle interference measurements that this structural transition also acts as a topological switch for surface states in 1T'-MoTe2. At low temperature, we observe strong quasiparticle scattering, consistent with theoretical predictions and photoemission measurements for the surface states in this material. In contrast, measurements performed at room temperature show the complete absence of the scattering wavevectors associated with the trivial surface states. These distinct quasiparticle scattering behaviors show that 1T'-MoTe2 is ideal for separating topological and trivial electronic phenomena via temperature-dependent measurements.

  17. Breath-hold black-blood T1rho mapping improves liver T1rho quantification in healthy volunteers.

    PubMed

    Wáng, Yì Xiáng J; Deng, Min; Lo, Gladys G; Liang, Dong; Yuan, Jing; Chen, Weitian

    2018-03-01

    Background Recent researches suggest that T1rho may be a non-invasive and quantitative technique for detecting and grading liver fibrosis. Purpose To compare a multi-breath-hold bright-blood fast gradient echo (GRE) imaging and a single breath-hold single-shot fast spin echo (FSE) imaging with black-blood effect for liver parenchyma T1rho measurement and to study liver physiological T1rho value in healthy volunteers. Material and Methods The institutional Ethics Committee approved this study. 28 healthy participants (18 men, 10 women; age = 29.6 ± 5.1 years) underwent GRE liver T1rho imaging, and 20 healthy participants (10 men, 10 women; age = 36.9 ± 10.3 years) underwent novel black-blood FSE liver T1rho imaging, both at 3T with spin-lock frequency of 500 Hz. The FSE technique allows simultaneous acquisition of four spin lock times (TSLs; 1 ms, 10 ms, 30 ms, 50msec) in 10 s. Results For FSE technique the intra-scan repeatability intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.98; while the inter-scan reproducibility ICC was 0.82 which is better than GRE technique's 0.76. Liver T1rho value in women tended to have a higher value than T1rho values in men (FSE: 42.28 ± 4.06 ms for women and 39.13 ± 2.12 ms for men; GRE: 44.44 ± 1.62 ms for women and 42.36 ± 2.00 ms for men) and FSE technique showed liver T1rho value decreased slightly as age increased. Conclusion Single breath-hold black-blood FSE sequence has better scan-rescan reproducibility than multi-breath-hold bright-blood GRE sequence. Gender and age dependence of liver T1rho in healthy participants is observed, with young women tending to have a higher T1rho measurement.

  18. Recent thymic emigrants are biased against the T-helper type 1 and toward the T-helper type 2 effector lineage.

    PubMed

    Hendricks, Deborah W; Fink, Pamela J

    2011-01-27

    After intrathymic development, T cells exit the thymus and join the peripheral T-cell pool. Such recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) undergo both phenotypic and functional maturation during the first 3 weeks they reside in the periphery. Using a well-controlled in vitro polarization scheme, we now show that CD4(+) RTEs are defective in T-helper (Th) type 0 (Th0), Th1, Th17, and regulatory T-cell lineage commitment, with dampened cytokine production and transcription factor expression. In contrast, CD4(+) RTES are biased toward the Th2 lineage both in vitro and in vivo, with more robust interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and interleukin-13 production than their mature naive counterparts. Coculture experiments demonstrate that mature naive T cells influence neighboring RTEs in their Th responses. In adoptive hosts, CD4(+) RTEs drive production of the Th2-associated antibody isotype immunoglobulin G1 and mediate airway inflammatory disease. This bias in RTEs likely results from dampened negative regulation of the Th2 lineage by diminished levels of T-bet, a key Th1 transcription factor. CD4(+) RTEs thus represent a transitional population with a distinct interpretation of, and response to, immunologic cues. These characteristics may be beneficial during the postthymic maturation period by leading to the avoidance of inappropriate immune responses, particularly in lymphopenic neonates and adults.

  19. T1 hyperintense disc in alkaptonuria.

    PubMed

    Sag, Alan A; Silbergleit, Richard; Olson, Rick E; Wilson, Jon; Krishnan, Anant

    2012-10-01

    Case report. To report a rare case of alkaptonuria presenting as a T1-hyperintense disc herniation. A 46-year-old man without previous diagnosis of alkaptonuria underwent evaluation for progressive back pain revealing a T1-hyperintense disc herniation at the L3-L4 level. Discectomy recovered a blackened disc that was pathologically confirmed to be nucleus pulposus with alkaptonuric involvement. The differential diagnosis of a T1-hyperintense, T2-hypointense disc on magnetic resonance imaging is discussed, with emphasis on the pathophysiology of alkaptonuria. A single patient is reported. Pathologically proven patient presentation with radiological and pathological images. We report a rare case of alkaptonuria presenting as a T1-hyperintense disc herniation.

  20. T1- and T2*-dominant extravasation correction in DSC-MRI: Part I—theoretical considerations and implications for assessment of tumor hemodynamic properties

    PubMed Central

    Bjornerud, Atle; Sorensen, A Gregory; Mouridsen, Kim; Emblem, Kyrre E

    2011-01-01

    We present a novel contrast agent (CA) extravasation-correction method based on analysis of the tissue residue function for assessment of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The method enables semiquantitative determination of the transfer constant and can be used to distinguish between T1- and T2*-dominant extravasation effects, while being insensitive to variations in tissue mean transit time (MTT). Results in 101 patients with confirmed glioma suggest that leakage-corrected absolute cerebral blood volume (CBV) values obtained with the proposed method provide improved overall survival prediction compared with normalized CBV values combined with an established leakage-correction method. Using a standard gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequence, ∼60% and 10% of tumors with detectable CA extravasation mainly exhibited T1- and T2*-dominant leakage effects, respectively. The remaining 30% of leaky tumors had mixed T1- and T2*-dominant effects. Using an MTT-sensitive correction method, our results show that CBV is underestimated when tumor MTT is significantly longer than MTT in the reference tissue. Furthermore, results from our simulations suggest that the relative contribution of T1- versus T2*-dominant extravasation effects is strongly dependent on the effective transverse relaxivity in the extravascular space and may thus be a potential marker for cellular integrity and tissue structure. PMID:21505483

  1. London penetration depth measurements in Ba (Fe 1-xT x) 2As 2(T=Co,Ni,Ru,Rh,Pd,Pt,Co+Cu) superconductors

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gordon, Ryan T.

    2011-01-01

    The London penetration depth has been measured in various doping levels of single crystals of Ba(Fe 1-xT x) 2As 2 (T=Co,Ni,Ru,Rh,Pd,Pt,Co+Cu) superconductors by utilizing a tunnel diode resonator (TDR) apparatus. All in-plane penetration depth measurements exhibit a power law temperature dependence of the form Δλ ab(T) = CT n, indicating the existence of low-temperature, normal state quasiparticles all the way down to the lowest measured temperature, which was typically 500 mK. Several different doping concentrations from the Ba(Fe 1-xT x) 2As 2 (T=Co,Ni) systems have been measured and the doping dependence of the power law exponent, n, is compared tomore » results from measurements of thermal conductivity and specific heat. In addition, a novel method has been developed to allow for the measurement of the zero temperature value of the in-plane penetration depth, λ ab(0), by using TDR frequency shifts. By using this technique, the doping dependence of λ ab(0) has been measured in the Ba(Fe 1-xCo x) 2As 2 series, which has allowed also for the construction of the doping-dependent superfluid phase stiffness, ρ s(T) = [λ(0)/λ(T)] 2. By studying the effects of disorder on these superconductors using heavy ion irradiation, it has been determined that the observed power law temperature dependence likely arises from pair-breaking impurity scattering contributions, which is consistent with the proposed s±-wave symmetry of the superconducting gap in the dirty scattering limit. This hypothesis is supported by the measurement of an exponential temperature dependence of the penetration depth in the intrinsically clean LiFeAs, indicative of a nodeless superconducting gap.« less

  2. In vivo replication of T4 and T7 bacteriophages in germ-free mice colonized with Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Weiss, Marietta; Denou, Emmanuel; Bruttin, Anne; Serra-Moreno, Ruth; Dillmann, Marie-Lise; Brüssow, Harald

    2009-10-10

    The gut transit of T4 phages was studied in axenic mice mono-colonized with the non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strain K-12. Thirty minutes, 1 and 2 h after phage feeding, T4 phage had reached the jejunum, ileum and cecum, respectively. Phage was found in the lumen and was also associated with the mucosa. One day later no phage was detected in the feces. Compared to germ-free control animals, oral T4 phage led to a 300-fold higher fecal phage titer in mice mono-colonized with E. coli strain WG-5. The in vivo T4 phage replication was transient and reached peak fecal titers about 8 h after oral phage application followed by a rapid titer decrease over two days. Similar data were obtained in mice colonized with E. coli strain Nissle. In contrast, orally applied T7 phage experienced a massive and sustained in vivo replication in mice mono-colonized with E. coli strain WG-5 irrespective whether phage or E. coli host was applied first. T7 phage replication occurred mainly in the large intestine. High titers of T7 phage and high E. coli cell counts coexisted in the feces. The observation of only 20% T7 phage-resistant fecal E. coli colonies suggests a refuge model where phage-sensitive E. coli cells are physically or physiologically protected from phage infection in the gut. The difference between T7 and T4 with respect to gut replication might partly reflect their distinct in vitro capacity to replicate on slowly growing cells.

  3. Immunodetection of T-2 Metabolites in Rat Urines after Dermal, Oral, or Intramuscular Exposure to T-2 Toxin

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-07-25

    laboratory studies, but not useful for evaluation of natural exposure. Several conventional immunoassay techniques based on tritiated ligands (Fontelo. et...1978. Natural occurrence of trichothecenes (nivaienol, deoxynivalenol, T-2) and zearalenone in corn. ExperiLentia 34, 1333-1334. LEE. S. and CHU, F.S

  4. Observation of exchange of micropore water in cement pastes by two-dimensional T(2)-T(2) nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry.

    PubMed

    Monteilhet, L; Korb, J-P; Mitchell, J; McDonald, P J

    2006-12-01

    The first detailed analysis of the two-dimensional (2D) NMR T(2)-T(2) exchange experiment with a period of magnetization storage between the two T(2) relaxation encoding periods (T(2)-store-T(2)) is presented. It is shown that this experiment has certain advantages over the T(1)-T(2) variant for the quantization of chemical exchange. New T(2)-store-T(2) 2D 1H NMR spectra of the pore water within white cement paste are presented. Based on these spectra, the exchange rate of water between the two smallest porosity reservoirs is estimated for the first time. It is found to be of the order of 5 ms{-1}. Further, a careful estimate of the pore sizes of these reservoirs is made. They are found to be of the order of 1.4 nm and 10-30 nm , respectively. A discussion of the results is developed in terms of possible calcium silicate hydrate products. A water diffusion coefficient inferred from the exchange rate and the cement particle size is found to compare favorably with the results of molecular-dynamics simulations to be found in the literature.

  5. Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery in Treating Patients With Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-11-15

    Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer

  6. Advantages of T2 Weighted Three Dimensional and T1 Weighted Three Dimensional Contrast Medium Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Urography in Examination of the Child Population.

    PubMed

    Sehic, Adnan; Julardzija, Fuad; Vegar-Zubovic, Sandra; Sefic-Pasic, Irmina

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this study is to prove the advantages of combined use of T2 weighted three dimensional (T2 W 3D) and T1 weighted three dimensional contrast medium enhanced (T1 W 3D CE) magnetic resonance (MR) urography in displaying urinary tract in child population. Total of 120 patients were included in the study, 71 (59%) male patients and 49 (41%) female patients. The study was conducted on the Radiology clinic, University of Sarajevo Clinical Center, during the period from February to November 2016. Patients were examined on the 1.5T and 3T MRI, with standard protocol which includes T2 W 3D and T1 W 3D contrast medium enhanced MR urography. In the post procesing quantitative measurement of signal intensity and evaluation of the display quality in the area of renal pelvis, middle of ureter and the mouth of the ureter were done. Measurement was concluded on Syngo software B13. Analyzing the acquired data and statistically processing them we got results which have shown higher signal intensity of measured structures on T1 W 3D contrast medium enhanced MR urography on the level p<0.01 and p<0.05 compared to T2 W 3D MR urography in patients that had normal dynamics of contrast medium secretion. However, in kidneys with decreased function, T2 W 3D MR urography provided higher signal intensity and better display compared to T1 W 3D contrast medium enhanced MR urography on the level p<0.05 and p<0.01. T2 W3D MR urography is useful in imaging nonfunctional kidney as well as in patients prone to allergic reactions, where as T1 W3D CE MR urography is at an advantage over T2 W 3D MR urography in imaging the kidney functionality, kidney dynamics measurement, it provides higher MRI signal intensity required for clear 3D reconstructions.

  7. Intermittent Ca2+ signals mediated by Orai1 regulate basal T cell motility

    PubMed Central

    Greenberg, Milton L; Jairaman, Amit; Akunwafo, Chijioke; Leverrier, Sabrina; Yu, Ying; Parker, Ian; Dynes, Joseph L

    2017-01-01

    Ca2+ influx through Orai1 channels is crucial for several T cell functions, but a role in regulating basal cellular motility has not been described. Here, we show that inhibition of Orai1 channel activity increases average cell velocities by reducing the frequency of pauses in human T cells migrating through confined spaces, even in the absence of extrinsic cell contacts or antigen recognition. Utilizing a novel ratiometric genetically encoded cytosolic Ca2+ indicator, Salsa6f, which permits real-time monitoring of cytosolic Ca2+ along with cell motility, we show that spontaneous pauses during T cell motility in vitro and in vivo coincide with episodes of cytosolic Ca2+ signaling. Furthermore, lymph node T cells exhibited two types of spontaneous Ca2+ transients: short-duration ‘sparkles’ and longer duration global signals. Our results demonstrate that spontaneous and self-peptide MHC-dependent activation of Orai1 ensures random walk behavior in T cells to optimize immune surveillance. PMID:29239723

  8. Heavy neutrino mixing in the T2HK, the T2HKK and an extension of the T2HK with a detector at Oki Islands

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abe, Yugo; Asano, Yusuke; Haba, Naoyuki; Yamada, Toshifumi

    2017-12-01

    We study the discovery potential for the mixing of heavy isospin-singlet neutrinos in extensions of the Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment, the Tokai-to-Hyper-Kamiokande (T2HK), the Tokai-to-Hyper-Kamiokande-to-Korea (T2HKK) with a Korea detector with ˜eq 1000 km baseline length and 1° off-axis angle, and a plan of adding a small detector at Oki Islands to the T2HK. We further pursue the possibility of measuring the neutrino mass hierarchy and the standard CP-violating phase δ _{CP} in the presence of heavy neutrino mixing by fitting data with the standard oscillation parameters only. We show that the sensitivity to heavy neutrino mixing is highly dependent on δ _{CP} and new CP-violating phases in the heavy neutrino mixing matrix, and deteriorates considerably when these phases conspire to suppress interference between the standard oscillation amplitude and an amplitude arising from heavy neutrino mixing, at the first oscillation peak. Although this suppression is avoided by the use of a beam with smaller off-axis angle, the T2HKK and the T2HK+small Oki detector do not show improvement over the T2HK. As for the mass hierarchy measurement, the wrong mass hierarchy is possibly favored in the T2HK because heavy neutrino mixing can mimic matter effects. In contrast, the T2HKK and the T2HK+small Oki detector are capable of correctly measuring the mass hierarchy despite heavy neutrino mixing, as measurements with different baselines resolve degeneracy between heavy neutrino mixing and matter effects. Notably, adding a small detector at Oki to the T2HK drastically ameliorates the sensitivity, which is the central appeal of this paper. As for the δ _{CP} measurement, there can be a sizable discrepancy between the true δ _{CP} and the value obtained by fitting data with the standard oscillation parameters only, which can be comparable to 1σ resolution of the δ _{CP} measurement. Hence, if a hint of heavy neutrino mixing is discovered, it is necessary to incorporate

  9. Estradiol, tamoxifen and ICI 182,780 alter alpha3 and beta1 integrin expression and laminin-1 adhesion in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell cultures.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Katja; Helmstaedter, Victor; Moreau, Cynthia; Lage, Hermann

    2008-01-01

    Adhesion molecules such as integrins and extracellular matrix proteins like laminins have been identified to play an important role in cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating cell-extracellular matrix interaction in various cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, the effect of estradiol (E2), and the E2 antagonists tamoxifen (TAM) and ICI 182,780 (ICI) on the expression of integrins and adhesion to laminin-1 in different OSCC in vitro models was analyzed. TAM and ICI inhibited growth in all OSCC cell lines. Dependent on estrogen receptor (ER) status E2 displayed a significant influence on growth after long-term administration. ICI reduced laminin-1 adhesion in all cell lines. beta1 Integrin transcription is reduced with TAM and E2 and alpha3 cell surface expression with TAM. This study shows that OSCC is estrogen and SERM sensitive and that these compounds can modulate cell-matrix interaction in part by modulating integrin expression and translation. The investigation also confirms that growth is significantly influenced by these adjuvant therapeutics. These data suggest that a greater understanding of basic biology and mechanisms of the ER and its ligands in oral squamous cells is needed to elucidate the use of specific pharmacological agents as therapeutics of anti-tumorigenic pathways.

  10. Structural, vibrational, and electrical properties of 1 T -TiT e2 under hydrostatic pressure: Experiments and theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rajaji, V.; Dutta, Utpal; Sreeparvathy, P. C.; Sarma, Saurav Ch.; Sorb, Y. A.; Joseph, B.; Sahoo, Subodha; Peter, Sebastian C.; Kanchana, V.; Narayana, Chandrabhas

    2018-02-01

    We report the structural, vibrational, and electrical transport properties up to ˜16 GPa of 1 T -TiT e2 , a prominent layered 2D system. We clearly show signatures of two isostructural transitions at ˜2 GPa and ˜4 GPa obtained from the minima in c /a ratio concomitant with the phonon linewidth anomalies of Eg and A1 g modes around the same pressures, providing a strong indication of unusual electron-phonon coupling associated with these transitions. Resistance measurements present nonlinear behavior over similar pressure ranges shedding light on the electronic origin of these pressure-driven isostructural transitions. These multiple indirect signatures of an electronic transition at ˜2 GPa and ˜4 GPa are discussed in connection with the recent theoretical proposal for 1 T -TiT e2 and also the possibility of an electronic topological transition from our electronic Fermi surface calculations. Between 4 GPa and ˜8 GPa , the c /a ratio shows a plateau suggesting a transformation from an anisotropic 2D layer to a quasi-3D crystal network. First-principles calculations suggest that the 2D to quasi-3D evolution without any structural phase transitions is mainly due to the increased interlayer Te-Te interactions (bridging) via the charge density overlap. In addition, we observed a first-order structural phase transition from the trigonal (P 3 ¯m 1 ) to monoclinic (C 2 /m ) phase at higher pressure regions. We estimate the start of this structural phase transition to be ˜8 GPa and also the coexistence of two phases [trigonal (P 3 ¯m 1 ) and monoclinic (C 2 /m )] was observed from ˜8 GPa to ˜16 GPa .

  11. To evaluate disparity between clinical and pathological tumor-node-metastasis staging in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients and its impact on overall survival: An institutional study.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Karan; Panda, Naresh K; Bakshi, Jaimanti; Das, Ashim

    2015-01-01

    Accurate clinical staging is important for patient counseling, treatment planning, prognostication, and rational design of clinical trials. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, discrepancy between clinical and pathological staging has been reported. To evaluate any disparity between clinical and pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) patients and any impact of the same on survival. Retrospective chart review from year 2007 to 2013, at a tertiary care center. All survival analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows version 15 (Chicago, IL, USA). Disease-free survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier algorithm. One hundred and twenty-seven patients with OCSCC were analyzed. Seventy-nine (62.2%) were males and 48 (37.8%) females with a mean age at presentation 43.6 years (29-79 years). The highest congruence between clinical and pathological T-staging seen for clinical stage T1 and T4 at 76.9% and 73.4% with pathological T-stage. Similarly, the highest congruence between clinical and pathological N-stage seen for clinical N0 and N3 at 86.4% and 91.7% with pathological N-stage. Of clinically early stage patients, 67.5% remained early stage, and 32.5% were upstaged to advanced stage following pathological analysis. Of the clinically advanced stage patients, 75% remained advanced, and 25% were pathologically downstaged. This staging discrepancy did not significantly alter the survival. Some disparity exists in clinical and pathological TNM staging of OCSCC, which could affect treatment planning and survival of patients. Hence, more unified and even system of staging for the disease is required for proper decision-making.

  12. Expression of CDK6 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

    PubMed

    Andisheh-Tadbir, Azadeh; Ashraf, Mohammad Javad; Jeiroodi, Naghmeh

    2018-04-25

    Background: CDK6 is the key factor in regulation of the cell cycle and essential for passage into the G1 phase. It also plays an important role in the development of various tumors. In this cross-sectional study expression of the CDK6 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy oral mucosa of controls was assessed to determine relations with malignant transformation and clinicopathologic factors. Method: A total of 60 samples, 45 from OSCCs and 15 from healthy tissue, underwent immunohistochemistry for CDK6. Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of keratinocytes was considered as positive and the percentages of positive cells were calculated. Results: Expression of CDK6 was detected in 55.6% of OSCC samples (25 cases) and 13.3% of controls (2 cases), the difference being significant. Mean percentage of CDK6 stained cells was 24.2±29.3 in the OSCC cases and 4.33±2.1 in the control group, again statistically significant. No relationship was detected between CDK6 expression and clinicopathologic factors. Conclusion: Overexpression of CDK6 observed in OSCC points to a role for this protein in oral carcinogenesis. Creative Commons Attribution License

  13. T1 weighted brain images at 7 Tesla unbiased for Proton Density, T2* contrast and RF coil receive B1 sensitivity with simultaneous vessel visualization.

    PubMed

    Van de Moortele, Pierre-François; Auerbach, Edwards J; Olman, Cheryl; Yacoub, Essa; Uğurbil, Kâmil; Moeller, Steen

    2009-06-01

    At high magnetic field, MR images exhibit large, undesirable signal intensity variations commonly referred to as "intensity field bias". Such inhomogeneities mostly originate from heterogeneous RF coil B(1) profiles and, with no appropriate correction, are further pronounced when utilizing rooted sum of square reconstruction with receive coil arrays. These artifacts can significantly alter whole brain high resolution T(1)-weighted (T(1)w) images that are extensively utilized for clinical diagnosis, for gray/white matter segmentation as well as for coregistration with functional time series. In T(1) weighted 3D-MPRAGE sequences, it is possible to preserve a bulk amount of T(1) contrast through space by using adiabatic inversion RF pulses that are insensitive to transmit B(1) variations above a minimum threshold. However, large intensity variations persist in the images, which are significantly more difficult to address at very high field where RF coil B(1) profiles become more heterogeneous. Another characteristic of T(1)w MPRAGE sequences is their intrinsic sensitivity to Proton Density and T(2)(*) contrast, which cannot be removed with post-processing algorithms utilized to correct for receive coil sensitivity. In this paper, we demonstrate a simple technique capable of producing normalized, high resolution T(1)w 3D-MPRAGE images that are devoid of receive coil sensitivity, Proton Density and T(2)(*) contrast. These images, which are suitable for routinely obtaining whole brain tissue segmentation at 7 T, provide higher T(1) contrast specificity than standard MPRAGE acquisitions. Our results show that removing the Proton Density component can help in identifying small brain structures and that T(2)(*) induced artifacts can be removed from the images. The resulting unbiased T(1)w images can also be used to generate Maximum Intensity Projection angiograms, without additional data acquisition, that are inherently registered with T(1)w structural images. In addition

  14. Topographical Variation of Human Femoral Articular Cartilage Thickness, T1rho and T2 Relaxation Times Is Related to Local Loading during Walking.

    PubMed

    Van Rossom, Sam; Wesseling, Mariska; Van Assche, Dieter; Jonkers, Ilse

    2018-01-01

    Objective Early detection of degenerative changes in the cartilage matrix composition is essential for evaluating early interventions that slow down osteoarthritis (OA) initiation. T1rho and T2 relaxation times were found to be effective for detecting early changes in proteoglycan and collagen content. To use these magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, it is important to document the topographical variation in cartilage thickness, T1rho and T2 relaxation times in a healthy population. As OA is partially mechanically driven, the relation between these MRI-based parameters and localized mechanical loading during walking was investigated. Design MR images were acquired in 14 healthy adults and cartilage thickness and T1rho and T2 relaxation times were determined. Experimental gait data was collected and processed using musculoskeletal modeling to identify weight-bearing zones and estimate the contact force impulse during gait. Variation of the cartilage properties (i.e., thickness, T1rho, and T2) over the femoral cartilage was analyzed and compared between the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing zone of the medial and lateral condyle as well as the trochlea. Results Medial condyle cartilage thickness was correlated to the contact force impulse ( r = 0.78). Lower T1rho, indicating increased proteoglycan content, was found in the medial weight-bearing zone. T2 was higher in all weight-bearing zones compared with the non-weight-bearing zones, indicating lower relative collagen content. Conclusions The current results suggest that medial condyle cartilage is adapted as a long-term protective response to localized loading during a frequently performed task and that the weight-bearing zone of the medial condyle has superior weight bearing capacities compared with the non-weight-bearing zones.

  15. Species differences in the pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil as determined in wildtype and humanized PepT1 mice.

    PubMed

    Hu, Yongjun; Smith, David E

    2016-05-01

    PepT1 (SLC15A1) is a high-capacity low-affinity transporter that is important in the absorption of digested di/tripeptides from dietary protein in the small intestine. PepT1 is also crucial for the intestinal uptake and absorption of therapeutic agents such as the β-lactam aminocephalosporins and antiviral prodrugs. Species differences, however, have been observed in PepT1-mediated intestinal absorption and pharmacokinetics, thereby, making it more difficult to predict systemic drug exposure. In the present study, we evaluated the in situ intestinal permeability of the PepT1 substrate cefadroxil in wildtype and humanized PepT1 (huPepT1) mice, and the in vivo absorption and disposition of drug after escalating oral doses. The in situ perfusions indicated that cefadroxil had a twofold higher affinity (i.e., twofold lower Km) for jejunal PepT1 in huPepT1 mice, lower but substantial permeability in all regions of the small intestine, and low but measureable permeability in the colon as compared to wildtype animals. The in vivo experiments indicated almost superimposable pharmacokinetic profiles between the two genotypes after intravenous bolus dosing of cefadroxil. In contrast, after oral dose escalation, the systemic exposure of cefadroxil was reduced in huPepT1 mice as compared to wildtype animals. Moreover, the AUC and Cmax versus dose relationships were nonlinear for huPepT1 but not wildtype mice, and similar to that observed from human subjects. In conclusion, our findings indicate that huPepT1 mice may provide a valuable tool in the drug discovery process by better predicting the oral pharmacokinetic profiles of PepT1 substrates in humans. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Characterization of Fe3O4/SiO2/Gd2O(CO3)2 core/shell/shell nanoparticles as T1 and T2 dual mode MRI contrast agent.

    PubMed

    Yang, Meicheng; Gao, Lipeng; Liu, Kai; Luo, Chunhua; Wang, Yiting; Yu, Lei; Peng, Hui; Zhang, Wen

    2015-01-01

    Core/shell/shell structured Fe3O4/SiO2/Gd2O(CO3)2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. Their properties as a new type of T1-T2 dual model contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging were investigated. Due to the introduce of a separating SiO2 layer, the magnetic coupling between Gd2O(CO3)2 and Fe3O4 could be modulated by the thickness of SiO2 layer and produce appropriate T1 and T2 signal. Additionally, the existence of Gd(3+) enhances the transverse relaxivity of Fe3O4 possibly because of the magnetic coupling between Gd(3+) and Fe3O4. The Fe3O4/SiO2/Gd2O(CO3)2 nanoparticles exhibit good biocompatibility, showing great potential for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Oral health and human papillomavirus-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Mazul, Angela L; Taylor, James M; Divaris, Kimon; Weissler, Mark C; Brennan, Paul; Anantharaman, Devasena; Abedi-Ardekani, Behnoush; Olshan, Andrew F; Zevallos, Jose P

    2017-01-01

    Indicators of poor oral health, including smoking, have been associated with increased risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), yet few studies have examined whether this association is modified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status. Data from interviews and tumor HPV status from a large population-based case-control study, the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study (CHANCE), were used to estimate the association between oral health indicators and smoking among 102 HPV-positive patients and 145 HPV-negative patients with OPSCC and 1396 controls. HPV status was determined by p16INK4a (p16) immunohistochemistry. Unconditional, multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for all oral health indictors adjusting for important covariates. Routine dental examinations were associated with a decreased risk of both HPV-negative OPSCC (OR, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.76) and HPV-positive OPSCC (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36-.86). Tooth mobility (a proxy for periodontal disease) increased the risk of HPV-negative disease (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.18-2.43) slightly more than the risk for HPV-positive disease (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.95-2.20). Ten or more pack-years of cigarette smoking were strongly associated with an increased risk of HPV-negative OPSCC (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 2.85-6.37) and were associated less with an increased risk of HPV-positive OPSCC (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.10-2.38). Although HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC differ significantly with respect to etiology and tumorigenesis, the current findings suggest a similar pattern of association between poor oral health, frequency of dental examinations, and both HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC. Future research is required to elucidate interactions between poor oral health, tobacco use, and HPV in the development of OPSCC. Cancer 2017;71-80. © 2016 American Cancer Society. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

  18. Mapping Human Cortical Areas in vivo Based on Myelin Content as Revealed by T1- and T2-weighted MRI

    PubMed Central

    Glasser, Matthew F.; Van Essen, David C.

    2011-01-01

    Non-invasively mapping the layout of cortical areas in humans is a continuing challenge for neuroscience. We present a new method of mapping cortical areas based on myelin content as revealed by T1-weighted (T1w) and T2-weighted (T2w) MRI. The method is generalizable across different 3T scanners and pulse sequences. We use the ratio of T1w/T2w image intensities to eliminate the MR-related image intensity bias and enhance the contrast to noise ratio for myelin. Data from each subject was mapped to the cortical surface and aligned across individuals using surface-based registration. The spatial gradient of the group average myelin map provides an observer-independent measure of sharp transitions in myelin content across the surface—i.e. putative cortical areal borders. We found excellent agreement between the gradients of the myelin maps and the gradients of published probabilistic cytoarchitectonically defined cortical areas that were registered to the same surface-based atlas. For other cortical regions, we used published anatomical and functional information to make putative identifications of dozens of cortical areas or candidate areas. In general, primary and early unimodal association cortices are heavily myelinated and higher, multi-modal, association cortices are more lightly myelinated, but there are notable exceptions in the literature that are confirmed by our results. The overall pattern in the myelin maps also has important correlations with the developmental onset of subcortical white matter myelination, evolutionary cortical areal expansion in humans compared to macaques, postnatal cortical expansion in humans, and maps of neuronal density in non-human primates. PMID:21832190

  19. Enhancement of Oral Tolerance Induction in DO11.10 Mice by Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 via Increase of Effector Regulatory T Cells.

    PubMed

    Aoki-Yoshida, Ayako; Yamada, Kiyoshi; Hachimura, Satoshi; Sashihara, Toshihiro; Ikegami, Shuji; Shimizu, Makoto; Totsuka, Mamoru

    2016-01-01

    Food allergy is a serious problem for infants and young children. Induction of antigen-specific oral tolerance is one therapeutic strategy. Enhancement of oral tolerance induction by diet is a promising strategy to prevent food allergy in infants. Thus, in this study, we evaluate the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 (LG2809) on oral tolerance induction in a mouse model. The degree of oral tolerance induction was evaluated by measuring the proliferation and level of IL-2 production of splenic CD4+ T cells from DO11.10 mice fed ovalbumin (OVA) alone or OVA with LG2809. Oral administration of LG2809 significantly decreased the rate of proliferation and IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells from OVA-fed mice. LG2809 increased a ratio of CD4+ T-cell population, producing high levels of IL-10 and having strong suppressive activity. Moreover, LG2809 increased a ratio of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) among the lamina propria (LP) in small intestine. When used as antigen presenting cells to naïve CD4+ T cells from DO11.10 mice, LP cells from BALB/c mice fed LG2809 induced higher IL-10 production and stronger suppressive activity than those from non-treated mice. These results suggest that oral administration of LG2809 increases the population of pDCs in the LP, resulting in the enhancement of oral tolerance induction by increasing the ratio of effector regulatory T cells. LG2809 could, therefore, act as a potent immunomodulator to prevent food allergies by promoting oral tolerance.

  20. Lymphoscintigraphy and radioguided sentinel node biopsy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: same day protocol.

    PubMed

    Vigili, Maurizio Giovanni; Tartaglione, Girolamo; Rahimi, Siavash; Mafera, Barbara; Pagan, Marco

    2007-02-01

    The routine use of a sentinel node biopsy (SNB) protocol in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) has been challenged on the basis of the elevated number of sentinel nodes (SNs) detected (>2.5) and on the multiply neck level involvement reported in several studies. These data limit the practical application of the protocol, because in such cases, it seems easier and safer to perform a selective neck dissection. The aim of our study is to perform radioguided surgery 1-3 h after lymphoscintigraphy (same day protocol) to detect the lymph nodes closest to the tumour site. In our study, 12 patients affected by cT1-2 N0 SCC of the oral cavity were submitted to a same day protocol of a lymphoscintigraphic examination (1-3 h before surgery) and a radioguided SNB. We used a hand-held gamma probe and performed an elective neck dissection on all patients. The SNs were found in all cases with 83% localised in the ipsilateral neck in only levels I-II. The mean number of SN detected was 2.1, with a mean pathological size of 13.8 mm measured on pathological specimen. Metastases were found in 5/12 cases (41.6%), on levels I, II and III and all were identified by step serial sectioning and routine H&E staining. This study confirms the accuracy of SNB in predicting the presence of occult metastases. This protocol is designed to detect SNs, which are almost always on neck level I and II, thereby limiting the number of nodes examined and the extension of the surgical approach.

  1. USC-HN2, A NEW MODEL CELL LINE FOR RECURRENT ORAL CAVITY SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA WITH IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE CHARACTERISTICS

    PubMed Central

    Russell, Sarah M; Lechner, Melissa G; Gong, Lucy; Megiel, Carolina; Liebertz, Daniel J.; Masood, Rizwan; Correa, Adrian J; Han, Jing; Puri, Raj K; Sinha, Uttam K; Epstein, Alan L

    2011-01-01

    Objectives Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are common and aggressive tumors that have not seen an improvement in survival rates in decades. These tumors are believed to evade the immune system through a variety of mechanisms and are therefore highly immune modulatory. In order to elucidate their interaction with the immune system and develop new therapies targeting immune escape, new pre-clinical models are needed. Materials and Methods A novel human cell line, USC-HN2, was established from a patient biopsy specimen of invasive, recurrent buccal HNSCC and characterized by morphology, heterotransplantation, cytogenetics, phenotype, gene expression and immune modulation studies and compared to a similar HNSCC cell line; SCCL-MT1. Results and Conclusion Characterization studies confirmed the HNSCC origin of USC-HN2 and demonstrated a phenotype similar to the original tumor and typical of aggressive oral cavity HNSCC (EGFR+CD44v6+FABP5+Keratin+ and HPV−). Gene and protein expression studies revealed USC-HN2 to have highly immune-modulatory cytokine production (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and VEGF) and strong regulatory T and myeloid derived suppressor cell (MDSC) induction capacity in vitro. Of note, both USC-HN2 and SCCL-MT1 were found to have a more robust cytokine profile and MDSC induction capacity when compared to 7 previously established HNSCC cell lines. Additionally, microarray gene expression profiling of both cell lines demonstrate up-regulation of antigen presenting genes. Because USC-HN2 is therefore highly immunogenic, it also induces strong immune suppression to evade immunologic destruction. Based upon these results, both cell lines provide an excellent model for the development of new suppressor cell-targeted immunotherapies. PMID:21719345

  2. USC-HN2, a new model cell line for recurrent oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with immunosuppressive characteristics.

    PubMed

    Russell, Sarah M; Lechner, Melissa G; Gong, Lucy; Megiel, Carolina; Liebertz, Daniel J; Masood, Rizwan; Correa, Adrian J; Han, Jing; Puri, Raj K; Sinha, Uttam K; Epstein, Alan L

    2011-09-01

    Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are common and aggressive tumors that have not seen an improvement in survival rates in decades. These tumors are believed to evade the immune system through a variety of mechanisms and are therefore highly immune modulatory. In order to elucidate their interaction with the immune system and develop new therapies targeting immune escape, new pre-clinical models are needed. A novel human cell line, USC-HN2, was established from a patient biopsy specimen of invasive, recurrent buccal HNSCC and characterized by morphology, heterotransplantation, cytogenetics, phenotype, gene expression, and immune modulation studies and compared to a similar HNSCC cell line; SCCL-MT1. Characterization studies confirmed the HNSCC origin of USC-HN2 and demonstrated a phenotype similar to the original tumor and typical of aggressive oral cavity HNSCC (EGFR(+)CD44v6(+)FABP5(+)Keratin(+) and HPV(-)). Gene and protein expression studies revealed USC-HN2 to have highly immune-modulatory cytokine production (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and VEGF) and strong regulatory T and myeloid derived suppressor cell (MDSC) induction capacity in vitro. Of note, both USC-HN2 and SCCL-MT1 were found to have a more robust cytokine profile and MDSC induction capacity when compared to seven previously established HNSCC cell lines. Additionally, microarray gene expression profiling of both cell lines demonstrate up-regulation of antigen presenting genes. Because USC-HN2 is therefore highly immunogenic, it also induces strong immune suppression to evade immunologic destruction. Based upon these results, both cell lines provide an excellent model for the development of new suppressor cell-targeted immunotherapies. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Dual-mode T1 and T2 magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent based on ultrasmall mixed gadolinium-dysprosium oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and in vivo application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tegafaw, Tirusew; Xu, Wenlong; Wasi Ahmad, Md; Baeck, Jong Su; Chang, Yongmin; Bae, Ji Eun; Chae, Kwon Seok; Kim, Tae Jeong; Lee, Gang Ho

    2015-09-01

    A new type of dual-mode T1 and T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on mixed lanthanide oxide nanoparticles was synthesized. Gd3+ (8S7/2) plays an important role in T1 MRI contrast agents because of its large electron spin magnetic moment resulting from its seven unpaired 4f-electrons, and Dy3+ (6H15/2) has the potential to be used in T2 MRI contrast agents because of its very large total electron magnetic moment: among lanthanide oxide nanoparticles, Dy2O3 nanoparticles have the largest magnetic moments at room temperature. Using these properties of Gd3+ and Dy3+ and their oxide nanoparticles, ultrasmall mixed gadolinium-dysprosium oxide (GDO) nanoparticles were synthesized and their potential to act as a dual-mode T1 and T2 MRI contrast agent was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The D-glucuronic acid coated GDO nanoparticles (davg = 1.0 nm) showed large r1 and r2 values (r2/r1 ≈ 6.6) and as a result clear dose-dependent contrast enhancements in R1 and R2 map images. Finally, the dual-mode imaging capability of the nanoparticles was confirmed by obtaining in vivo T1 and T2 MR images.

  4. T1 weighted Brain Images at 7 Tesla Unbiased for Proton Density, T2* contrast and RF Coil Receive B1 Sensitivity with Simultaneous Vessel Visualization

    PubMed Central

    Van de Moortele, Pierre-François; Auerbach, Edwards J.; Olman, Cheryl; Yacoub, Essa; Uğurbil, Kâmil; Moeller, Steen

    2009-01-01

    At high magnetic field, MR images exhibit large, undesirable signal intensity variations commonly referred to as “intensity field bias”. Such inhomogeneities mostly originate from heterogeneous RF coil B1 profiles and, with no appropriate correction, are further pronounced when utilizing rooted sum of square reconstruction with receive coil arrays. These artifacts can significantly alter whole brain high resolution T1-weighted (T1w) images that are extensively utilized for clinical diagnosis, for gray/white matter segmentation as well as for coregistration with functional time series. In T1 weighted 3D-MPRAGE sequences, it is possible to preserve a bulk amount of T1 contrast through space by using adiabatic inversion RF pulses that are insensitive to transmit B1 variations above a minimum threshold. However, large intensity variations persist in the images, which are significantly more difficult to address at very high field where RF coil B1 profiles become more heterogeneous. Another characteristic of T1w MPRAGE sequences is their intrinsic sensitivity to Proton Density and T2* contrast, which cannot be removed with post-processing algorithms utilized to correct for receive coil sensitivity. In this paper, we demonstrate a simple technique capable of producing normalized, high resolution T1w 3D-MPRAGE images that are devoid of receive coil sensitivity, Proton Density and T2* contrast. These images, which are suitable for routinely obtaining whole brain tissue segmentation at 7 Tesla, provide higher T1 contrast specificity than standard MPRAGE acquisitions. Our results show that removing the Proton Density component can help identifying small brain structures and that T2* induced artifacts can be removed from the images. The resulting unbiased T1w images can also be used to generate Maximum Intensity Projection angiograms, without additional data acquisition, that are inherently registered with T1w structural images. In addition, we introduce a simple technique

  5. Biochemical evaluation of articular cartilage in patients with osteochondrosis dissecans by means of quantitative T2- and T2-mapping at 3T MRI: a feasibility study.

    PubMed

    Marik, W; Apprich, S; Welsch, G H; Mamisch, T C; Trattnig, S

    2012-05-01

    To perform an in vivo evaluation comparing overlying articular cartilage in patients suffering from osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) in the talocrural joint and healthy volunteers using quantitative T2 mapping at 3.0 T. Ten patients with OCD of Grade II or lower and 9 healthy age matched volunteers were examined at a 3.0 T whole body MR scanner using a flexible multi-element coil. In all investigated persons MRI included proton-density (PD)-FSE and 3D GRE (TrueFisp) sequences for morphological diagnosis and location of anatomical site and quantitative T2 and T2 maps. Region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed for the cartilage layer above the OCD and for a morphologically healthy graded cartilage layer. Mean T2 and T2 values were then statistically analysed. The cartilage layer of healthy volunteers showed mean T2 and T2 values of 29.4 ms (SD 4.9) and 11.8 ms (SD 2.7), respectively. In patients with OCD of grade I and II lesions mean T2 values were 40.9 ms (SD 6.6), 48.7 ms (SD 11.2) and mean T2 values were 16.1 ms (SD 3.2), 16.2 ms (SD 4.8). Therefore statistically significantly higher mean T2 and T2 values were found in patients suffering from OCD compared to healthy volunteers. T2 and T2 mapping can help assess the microstructural composition of cartilage overlying osteochondral lesions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Simultaneous Measurement of T2 and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (T2+ADC) in the Heart With Motion-Compensated Spin Echo Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

    PubMed Central

    Aliotta, Eric; Moulin, Kévin; Zhang, Zhaohuan; Ennis, Daniel B.

    2018-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate a technique for simultaneous quantitative T2 and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in the heart (T2+ADC) using spin echo (SE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Theory and Methods T2 maps from T2+ADC were compared with single-echo SE in phantoms and with T2-prepared (T2-prep) balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) in healthy volunteers. ADC maps from T2+ADC were compared with conventional DWI in phantoms and in vivo. T2+ADC was also demonstrated in a patient with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Results Phantom T2 values from T2+ADC were closer to a single-echo SE reference than T2-prep bSSFP (−2.3 ± 6.0% vs 22.2 ± 16.3%; P < 0.01), and ADC values were in excellent agreement with DWI (0.28 ± 0.4%). In volunteers, myocardial T2 values from T2+ADC were significantly shorter than T2-prep bSSFP (35.8 ± 3.1 vs 46.8 ± 3.8 ms; P < 0.01); myocardial ADC was not significantly (N.S.) different between T2+ADC and conventional motion-compensated DWI (1.39 ± 0.18 vs 1.38 ± 0.18 mm2/ms; P = N.S.). In the patient, T2 and ADC were both significantly elevated in the infarct compared with remote myocardium (T2: 40.4 ± 7.6 vs 56.8 ± 22.0; P < 0.01; ADC: 1.47 ± 0.59 vs 1.65 ± 0.65 mm2/ms; P < 0.01). Conclusion T2+ADC generated coregistered, free-breathing T2 and ADC maps in healthy volunteers and a patient with acute MI with no cost in accuracy, precision, or scan time compared with DWI. PMID:28516485

  7. Electronic structure of monolayer 1T'-MoTe2 grown by molecular beam epitaxy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Jia, Chunjing; Ryu, Hyejin; Hwang, Choongyu; Hashimoto, Makoto; Lu, Donghui; Liu, Zhi; Devereaux, Thomas P.; Shen, Zhi-Xun; Mo, Sung-Kwan

    2018-02-01

    Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) in the 1T' structural phase have drawn a great deal of attention due to the prediction of quantum spin Hall insulator states. The band inversion and the concomitant changes in the band topology induced by the structural distortion from 1T to 1T' phases are well established. However, the bandgap opening due to the strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is only verified for 1T'-WTe2 recently and still debated for other TMDCs. Here we report a successful growth of high-quality monolayer 1T'-MoTe2 on a bilayer graphene substrate through molecular beam epitaxy. Using in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we have investigated the low-energy electronic structure and Fermi surface topology. The SOC-induced breaking of the band degeneracy points between the valence and conduction bands is clearly observed by ARPES. However, the strength of SOC is found to be insufficient to open a bandgap, which makes monolayer 1T'-MoTe2 on bilayer graphene a semimetal.

  8. Electronic structure of monolayer 1T'-MoTe 2 grown by molecular beam epitaxy

    DOE PAGES

    Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Jia, Chunjing; ...

    2017-11-14

    Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) in the 1T' structural phase have drawn a great deal of attention due to the prediction of quantum spin Hall insulator states. The band inversion and the concomitant changes in the band topology induced by the structural distortion from 1T to 1T' phases are well established. However, the bandgap opening due to the strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is only verified for 1T'-WTe 2 recently and still debated for other TMDCs. Here we report a successful growth of high-quality monolayer 1T'-MoTe 2 on a bilayer graphene substrate through molecular beam epitaxy. Using in situ angle-resolved photoemissionmore » spectroscopy (ARPES), we have investigated the low-energy electronic structure and Fermi surface topology. The SOC-induced breaking of the band degeneracy points between the valence and conduction bands is clearly observed by ARPES. However, the strength of SOC is found to be insufficient to open a bandgap, which makes monolayer 1T'-MoTe 2 on bilayer graphene a semimetal.« less

  9. Design and Synthesis of Novel and Selective Glycine Transporter-1 (GlyT1) Inhibitors with Memory Enhancing Properties.

    PubMed

    Santora, Vincent J; Almos, Theresa A; Barido, Richard; Basinger, Jillian; Bellows, Chris L; Bookser, Brett Carder; Breitenbucher, J Guy; Broadbent, Nicola J; Cabebe, Clifford; Chai, Chih-Kun; Chen, Mi; Chow, Stephine; Chung, De Michael; Crickard, Lindsay; Danks, Anne M; Freestone, Graeme; Gitnick, Dany; Gupta, Varsha; Hoffmaster, Christine; Hudson, Andrew R; Kaplan, Alan P; Kennedy, Michael R; Lee, Dong; Limberis, James; Ly, Kiev; Mak, Chi Ching; Masatsugu, Brittany; Morse, Andrew C; Na, Jim; Neul, David; Nikpur, John; Peters, Marco; Petroski, Robert E; Renick, Joel; Sebring, Kristen; Sevidal, Samantha; Tabatabaei, Ali; Wen, Jenny; Yan, Yingzhuo; Yoder, Zachary W; Zook, Douglas

    2018-06-11

    We report here the identification and optimization of a novel series of potent GlyT1 inhibitors. A ligand design campaign that utilized known GlyT1 inhibitors as starting points led to the identification of a novel series of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazoles amides (21-50) with good in vitro potency. Subsequent optimization of physicochemical and in vitro ADME properties produced several compounds with promising pharmacokinetic profiles. In vivo inhibition of GlyT1 was demonstrated for select compounds within this series by measuring the elevation of glycine in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats after a single oral dosing of 10 mg/kg. Ultimately, an optimized lead, compound 46, demonstrated in vivo efficacy in a rat Novel Object Recognition (NOR) assay after oral dosing at 0.1, 1, and 3 mg/kg.

  10. The oral microflora in obesity and type-2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Shillitoe, Edward; Weinstock, Ruth; Kim, Taewan; Simon, Howard; Planer, Jessica; Noonan, Susan; Cooney, Robert

    2012-01-01

    Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is prevalent in people with obesity. It has been proposed that these conditions are related to specific features of the microflora of the mouth and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Hyperglycemia often resolves quickly after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) but the role of the GI microflora cannot be examined easily because of reduced intestinal mobility. We propose that the study of microorganisms present in the mouth of patients undergoing RYGB will contribute to our understanding of the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of T2DM. To conduct a feasibility study to examine differences in oral microbes in obese patients with and without T2DM and to determine whether it is feasible to measure changes after gastric bypass surgery. Individuals with morbid obesity (n=29), of whom 13 had T2DM, were studied. Oral rinses, stool samples, and blood samples were obtained before RYGB, and oral rinses and blood samples were obtained at 2 and 12 weeks postsurgery. Prior to surgery, participants with T2DM had slightly higher total levels of oral bacteria than those without diabetes. Those with HbA1c > 6.5% had rather lower levels of Bifidobacteria in the mouth and stool. At 2 weeks post-RYGB, patients with T2DM were able to reduce or discontinue their hypoglycemic medications. Stool samples could not be obtained but oral rinses were readily available. The levels of oral Bifidobacteria had increased tenfold and levels of circulating endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha had decreased. The study of oral bacteria before and after RYGB is feasible and should be tested in larger patient populations to increase our understanding of the role of microorganisms in the pathogenesis of obesity and T2DM.

  11. The oral microflora in obesity and type-2 diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Shillitoe, Edward; Weinstock, Ruth; Kim, Taewan; Simon, Howard; Planer, Jessica; Noonan, Susan; Cooney, Robert

    2012-01-01

    Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is prevalent in people with obesity. It has been proposed that these conditions are related to specific features of the microflora of the mouth and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Hyperglycemia often resolves quickly after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) but the role of the GI microflora cannot be examined easily because of reduced intestinal mobility. We propose that the study of microorganisms present in the mouth of patients undergoing RYGB will contribute to our understanding of the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Objective To conduct a feasibility study to examine differences in oral microbes in obese patients with and without T2DM and to determine whether it is feasible to measure changes after gastric bypass surgery. Methods Individuals with morbid obesity (n=29), of whom 13 had T2DM, were studied. Oral rinses, stool samples, and blood samples were obtained before RYGB, and oral rinses and blood samples were obtained at 2 and 12 weeks postsurgery. Results Prior to surgery, participants with T2DM had slightly higher total levels of oral bacteria than those without diabetes. Those with HbA1c > 6.5% had rather lower levels of Bifidobacteria in the mouth and stool. At 2 weeks post-RYGB, patients with T2DM were able to reduce or discontinue their hypoglycemic medications. Stool samples could not be obtained but oral rinses were readily available. The levels of oral Bifidobacteria had increased tenfold and levels of circulating endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha had decreased. Conclusions The study of oral bacteria before and after RYGB is feasible and should be tested in larger patient populations to increase our understanding of the role of microorganisms in the pathogenesis of obesity and T2DM. PMID:23119124

  12. Changes in the T2 value of cartilage after meniscus transplantation over 1 year.

    PubMed

    Park, Sun-Young; Lee, Sang Hoon; Lee, Min Hee; Chung, Hye Won; Shin, Myung Jin

    2017-04-01

    To evaluate the changes in the mean T2 values of articular cartilage on serial follow-up images up to 1 year in patients who underwent lateral meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT). Fifty-two patients who underwent lateral MAT surgery at our hospital were evaluated preoperatively and at 2 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after MAT using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that included T2 mapping. T2 value changes according to the arthroscopic grading of chondromalacia were evaluated in the lateral and medial compartment. Lysholm scores were obtained pre- and postoperatively. The T2 values of cartilage were significantly increased 2 days after operation, and then gradually reduced to the baseline level after 1 year in both compartments. In morphologic assessment performed after 1 year, most areas (92.9 %) showed no interval change of chondromalacia grade. Lyshom knee scores increased significantly from the mean preoperative value of 62.5 (range, 23-95) to 89.7 (range, 64-100) at 1 year (p < 0.001). Mean T2 values of cartilage following MAT exhibited a return to baseline level after 1 year. T2 measurement can be a useful tool for quantitative evaluation of postoperative cartilage changes compared to conventional MRI. • T2 mapping provides objective data for longitudinal monitoring following surgery. • Increased cartilage T2 values post-MAT returned to baseline in one year. • Further studies are required to predict the chondroprotective effect of MAT.

  13. RETRACTED: Relationship between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T1DN susceptibility/risk of T1DM developing into T1DN in the Caucasian population.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Tian-Biao; Guo, Xue-Feng; Jiang, Zongpei; Li, Hong-Yan

    2015-12-01

    The following article has been included in a multiple retraction: Tian-Biao Zhou, Xue-Feng Guo, Zongpei Jiang, and Hong-Yan Li Relationship between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T1DN susceptibility/risk of T1DM developing into T1DN in the Caucasian population Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314563425, first published on February 1, 2015 doi: 10.1177/1470320314563425 This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors and the Publisher. After conducting a thorough investigation, SAGE found that the submitting authors of a number of papers published in the Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System ( JRAAS) (listed below) had supplied fabricated contact details for their nominated reviewers. The Editors accepted these papers based on the reports supplied by the individuals using these fake reviewer email accounts. After concluding that the peer review process was therefore seriously compromised, SAGE and the journal Editors have decided to retract all affected articles. Online First articles (these articles will not be published in an issue) Wenzhuang Tang, Tian-Biao Zhou, and Zongpei Jiang Association of the angiotensinogen M235T gene polymorphism with risk of diabetes mellitus developing into diabetic nephropathy Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314563426, first published on December 18, 2014 doi: 10.1177/1470320314563426 Tian-Biao Zhou, Hong-Yan Li, Zong-Pei Jiang, Jia-Fan Zhou, Miao-Fang Huang, and Zhi-Yang Zhou Role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in radiation nephropathy Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314563424, first published on December 18, 2014 doi: 10.1177/1470320314563424 Weiqiang Zhong, Zongpei Jiang, and Tian-Biao Zhou Association between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T2DN susceptibility: The risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in the Asian population Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314566019, first published on January

  14. Spherically symmetric vacuum in covariant F (T )=T +α/2 T2+O (Tγ) gravity theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    DeBenedictis, Andrew; Ilijić, Saša

    2016-12-01

    Recently, a fully covariant version of the theory of F (T ) torsion gravity has been introduced by M. Kršśák and E. Saridakis [Classical Quantum Gravity 33, 115009 (2016)]. In covariant F (T ) gravity, the Schwarzschild solution is not a vacuum solution for F (T )≠T , and therefore determining the spherically symmetric vacuum is an important open problem. Within the covariant framework, we perturbatively solve the spherically symmetric vacuum gravitational equations around the Schwarzschild solution for the scenario with F (T )=T +(α /2 )T2 , representing the dominant terms in theories governed by Lagrangians analytic in the torsion scalar. From this, we compute the perihelion shift correction to solar system planetary orbits as well as perturbative gravitational effects near neutron stars. This allows us to set an upper bound on the magnitude of the coupling constant, α , which governs deviations from general relativity. We find the bound on this nonlinear torsion coupling constant by specifically considering the uncertainty in the perihelion shift of Mercury. We also analyze a bound from a similar comparison with the periastron orbit of the binary pulsar PSR J0045-7319 as an independent check for consistency. Setting bounds on the dominant nonlinear coupling is important in determining if other effects in the Solar System or greater universe could be attributable to nonlinear torsion.

  15. Magnetic resonance measurement of muscle T2, fat-corrected T2 and fat fraction in the assessment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

    PubMed Central

    Yao, Lawrence; Yip, Adrienne L.; Shrader, Joseph A.; Mesdaghinia, Sepehr; Volochayev, Rita; Jansen, Anna V.; Miller, Frederick W.

    2016-01-01

    Objective. This study examines the utility of MRI, including T2 maps and T2 maps corrected for muscle fat content, in evaluating patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Methods. A total of 44 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, 18 of whom were evaluated after treatment with rituximab, underwent MRI of the thighs and detailed clinical assessment. T2, fat fraction (FF) and fat corrected T2 (fc-T2) maps were generated from standardized MRI scans, and compared with semi-quantitative scoring of short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T1-weighted sequences, as well as various myositis disease metrics, including the Physician Global Activity, the modified Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale and the muscle domain of the Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Tool-muscle (MDAAT-muscle). Results. Mean T2 and mean fc-T2 correlated similarly with STIR scores (Spearman rs = 0.64 and 0.64, P < 0.01), while mean FF correlated with T1 damage scores (rs = 0.69, P < 0.001). Baseline T2, fc-T2 and STIR scores correlated significantly with the Physician Global Activity, modified Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale and MDAAT-muscle (rs range = 0.41–0.74, P < 0.01). The response of MRI measures to rituximab was variable, and did not significantly agree with a standardized clinical definition of improvement. Standardized response means for the MRI measures were similar. Conclusion. Muscle T2, fc-T2 and FF measurements exhibit content validity with reference to semi-quantitative scoring of STIR and T1 MRI, and also exhibit construct validity with reference to several myositis activity and damage measures. T2 was as responsive as fc-T2 and STIR scoring, although progression of muscle damage was negligible during the study. PMID:26412808

  16. Type 1 Responses of Human Vγ9Vδ2 T Cells to Influenza A Viruses▿

    PubMed Central

    Qin, Gang; Liu, Yinping; Zheng, Jian; Ng, Iris H. Y.; Xiang, Zheng; Lam, Kwok-Tai; Mao, Huawei; Li, Hong; Peiris, J. S. Malik; Lau, Yu-Lung; Tu, Wenwei

    2011-01-01

    γδ T cells are essential constituents of antimicrobial and antitumor defenses. We have recently reported that phosphoantigen isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)-expanded human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells participated in anti-influenza virus immunity by efficiently killing both human and avian influenza virus-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) in vitro. However, little is known about the noncytolytic responses and trafficking program of γδ T cells to influenza virus. In this study, we found that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells expressed both type 1 cytokines and chemokine receptors during influenza virus infection, and IPP-expanded cells had a higher capacity to produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Besides their potent cytolytic activity against pandemic H1N1 virus-infected cells, IPP-activated γδ T cells also had noncytolytic inhibitory effects on seasonal and pandemic H1N1 viruses via IFN-γ but had no such effects on avian H5N1 or H9N2 virus. Avian H5N1 and H9N2 viruses induced significantly higher CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5 production in Vγ9Vδ2 T cells than human seasonal H1N1 virus. CCR5 mediated the migration of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells toward influenza virus-infected cells. Our findings suggest a novel therapeutic strategy of using phosphoantigens to boost the antiviral activities of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells against influenza virus infection. PMID:21752902

  17. Single-Chip T/R Module for 1.2 GHz

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Moussessian, Alina; Mojarradi, Mohammad; Johnson, Travis; Davis, John; Grigorian, Edwin; Hoffman, James; Caro, Edward; Kuhn, William

    2006-01-01

    control line RX/TX (raised bar) is high, causing the field-effect transistor (FET) switch S1 to be closed, forming a parallel resonant tank circuit L1||C1. This circuit presents high impedance to the left of the antenna, so that the received signal is coupled to the LNA. At the same time, FET switches S2 and S3 are open, so that C2 is removed from the circuit (except for a small parasitic capacitance). The combination of L2 and C3 forms a matching network that transforms the antenna impedance of 50 ohms to a higher value from the perspective of the LNA input terminal. This transformation of impedance improves LNA noise figure by increasing the received voltage delivered to the input transistor. This allows lower transconductance and therefore a smaller transistor, which makes it possible to design the CMOS LNA for low power consumption. During transmission, the voltage on control line RX/TX (raised bar) is low, causing switch S1 to be open. In this configuration, the combination of L1 and C1 transforms the antenna impedance to a lower value from the perspective of the PA. This low impedance is helpful in producing a relatively high output power compatible with the low CMOS operating potential. At the same time, switches S2 and S3 are closed, forming the parallel resonant tank circuit L2||C2. This circuit presents high impedance to the right of the antenna, directing the PA output signal to the antenna and away from the LNA. During this time, S3 presents a short circuit across the LNA input terminals to guarantee that the voltage seen by the LNA is small enough to prevent damage.

  18. SU-F-I-16: Short Breast MRI with High-Resolution T2-Weighted and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced T1-Weighted Images

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ma, J; Son, J; Arun, B

    Purpose: To develop and demonstrate a short breast (sb) MRI protocol that acquires both T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images in approximately ten minutes. Methods: The sb-MRI protocol consists of two novel pulse sequences. The first is a flexible fast spin-echo triple-echo Dixon (FTED) sequence for high-resolution fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging, and the second is a 3D fast dual-echo spoiled gradient sequence (FLEX) for volumetric fat-suppressed T1-weighted imaging before and post contrast agent injection. The flexible FTED sequence replaces each single readout during every echo-spacing period of FSE with three fast-switching bipolar readouts to produce three raw images in a singlemore » acquisition. These three raw images are then post-processed using a Dixon algorithm to generate separate water-only and fat-only images. The FLEX sequence acquires two echoes using dual-echo readout after each RF excitation and the corresponding images are post-processed using a similar Dixon algorithm to yield water-only and fat-only images. The sb-MRI protocol was implemented on a 3T MRI scanner and used for patients who had undergone concurrent clinical MRI for breast cancer screening. Results: With the same scan parameters (eg, spatial coverage, field of view, spatial and temporal resolution) as the clinical protocol, the total scan-time of the sb-MRI protocol (including the localizer, bilateral T2-weighted, and dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images) was 11 minutes. In comparison, the clinical breast MRI protocol took 43 minutes. Uniform fat suppression and high image quality were consistently achieved by sb-MRI. Conclusion: We demonstrated a sb-MRI protocol comprising both T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images can be performed in approximately ten minutes. The spatial and temporal resolution of the images easily satisfies the current breast MRI accreditation guidelines by the American College of Radiology. The protocol

  19. High-resolution Melting Analysis for Gene Scanning of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) Gene With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples.

    PubMed

    Chang, Ya-Sian; Lin, Chien-Yu; Yang, Shu-Fen; Ho, Cheng Mao; Chang, Jan-Gowth

    2016-02-01

    There have been many different mutations reported for the large adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene. APC mutations result in inactivation of APC tumor suppressor action, allowing the progression of tumorigenesis. The present study utilized a highly efficient method to identify APC mutations and investigated the association between the APC genetic variants Y486Y, A545A, T1493T, and D1822V and susceptibility to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis was used to characterize APC mutations. Genomic DNA was extracted from 83 patient specimens of OSCC and 50 blood samples from healthy control subjects. The 14 exons and mutation cluster region of exon 15 were screened by HRM analysis. All mutations were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Three mutations and 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in this study. The mutations were c.573T>C (Y191Y) in exon 5, c.1005A>G (L335L) in exon 9, and c.1488A>T (T496T) in exon 11. Two SNPs, c.4479G>A (T1493T) and c.5465A>T (D1822V), were located in exon 15, whereas c.1458T>C (Y486Y) and c.1635G>A (A545A) were located in exon 11 and 13, respectively. There was no observed association between OSCC risk and genotype for any of the 4 APC SNPs. The mutation of APC is rare in Taiwanese patients with OSCC. HRM analysis is a reliable, accurate, and fast screening method for APC mutations.

  20. T2 mapping in patellar chondromalacia.

    PubMed

    Ruiz Santiago, Fernando; Pozuelo Calvo, Rocío; Almansa López, Julio; Guzmán Álvarez, Luis; Castellano García, María Del Mar

    2014-06-01

    To study the correlation between the T2 relaxation times of the patellar cartilage and morphological MRI findings of chondromalacia. This prospective study comprises 50 patients, 27 men and 23 women suffering of anterior knee pain (mean age: 29.7, SD 8.3 years; range: 16-45 years). MRI of 97 knees were performed in these patients at 1.5T magnet including sagittal T1, coronal intermediate, axial intermediate fat sat and T2 mapping. Chondromalacia was assessed using a modified version of Noyes classification. The relaxation time, T2, was studied segmenting the full thickness of the patellar cartilage in 12 areas: 4 proximal (external facet-proximal-lateral (EPL), external facet-proximal-central (EPC), internal facet-proximal-central (IPC), internal facet-proximal-medial (IPM), 4 in the middle section (external facet-middle-lateral (EML), external facet-middle-central (EMC), internal facet-middle-central (IMC), internal facet-middle-medial (IMM) and 4 distal (external facet-distal-lateral (EDL), external facet-distal-central (EDC), internal facet-distal-central (IDC), internal facet-distal-medial (IDM). T2 values showed a significant increase in mild chondromalacia regarding normal cartilage in most of the cartilage areas (p<0.05), except in the internal distal facet (IDC and IDM), EPC, EDL, and IMM. Severe chondromalacia was characterized by a fall of T2 relaxation times with loss of statistical significant differences in comparison with normal cartilage, except in EMC and IMC, where similar values as mild chondromalacia were maintained (p<0.05). Steepest increase in T2 values of patellar cartilage occurs in early stages of patellar cartilage degeneration. Progression of morphologic changes of chondromalacia to more severe degrees is associated to a new drop of T2 relaxation times approaching basal values in most of the areas of the patellar cartilage, except in the central area of the middle section, where T2 values remain increased. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier

  1. Effect of impurities of selenium and iron on the Anderson localization of 1T-TaS 2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ōnuki, Y.; Inada, R.; Tanuma, S.

    1980-01-01

    The temperature dependence of electrical resistivities θ( T) of 1T-TaS 2, 1T-TaS 2- xSe x and 1T-Fe xTa 1- xS 2 is found to be θ( T) ∝ exp( T0/ T) 1/n in the temperature range of 4 K to the measured lowest temperature, 0.1 K, showing the variable range hopping of Anderson localized states. The n-value is nearly 3 for selenium doping and nearly 2 for non-doping and iron doping. The positive magnetoresistance, which is sizable only in the temperature range of 2 K to 0.5 K in 1T-TaS 2, is found to be remarkably enhanced by the selenium doping, while the tendency is reversed by the iron doping.

  2. T1 and T2 mapping in myocarditis: seeing beyond the horizon of Lake Louise criteria and histopathology.

    PubMed

    Puntmann, Valentina O; Zeiher, Andreas M; Nagel, Eike

    2018-05-01

    Myocarditis and its sequelae remain an unconquered clinical problem, disproportionately affecting the young. Several hurdles beset myocarditis, including non-specific symptoms, heterogeneous clinical presentation, dynamic disease stages, underscored by an absence of an easy diagnostic test or a specific treatment. Areas covered: The current diagnostic means are poorly equipped to counter the challenge; the gold standard by invasive endomyocardial biopsy relies on availability of expert procedural and reading skill. The tissue diagnostic criteria were developed to improve readers agreement with clinical diagnosis, and not based on evidence for differential treatment or improved prognosis. The Lake-Louise Criteria represented a first step towards a non-invasive diagnosis. They require extensive imaging, which is insufficiently robust with poor diagnostic confidence and tissue pathophysiological validation; they similarly lack evidence of improved outcome by guiding clinical management. T1 and T2 mapping are a step-change, providing robust, short and quantifiable imaging application, which can veritably reflect the dynamic and heterogeneous underlying disease. Expert commentary: T1 and T2 mapping harbours a unique potential for an objective non-invasive disease recognition and treatment discovery in myocarditis. These measures should enter independently into clinical experimentation, with a high priority for outcome and therapeutic studies.

  3. T1ρ MRI Quantification of Arthroscopically-Confirmed Cartilage Degeneration

    PubMed Central

    Witschey, Walter RT; Borthakur, Arijitt; Fenty, Matt; Kneeland, J Bruce; Lonner, Jess H; McArdle, Erin L.; Sochor, Matt; Reddy, Ravinder

    2010-01-01

    9 asymptomatic subjects and 6 patients underwent T1ρ MRI to determine whether Outerbridge grade 1 or 2 cartilage degeneration observed during arthroscopy could be detected noninvasively. MRI was performed 2–3 months post-arthroscopy using sagittal T1-weighted and axial and coronal T1ρ MRI from which spatial T1ρ relaxation maps were calculated from segmented T1-weighted images. Median T1ρ relaxation times of patients with arthroscopically documented cartilage degeneration and asymptomatic subjects were significantly different (p < 0.001) and median T1ρ exceeded asymptomatic articular cartilage median T1ρ by 2.5 to 9.2 ms. In 8 observations of mild cartilage degeneration at arthroscopy (Outerbridge grades 1 and 2), mean compartment T1ρ was elevated in 5, but in all observations, large foci of increased T1ρ were observed. It was determined that T1ρ could detect some, but not all, Outerbridge grade 1 and 2 cartilage degeneration but that a larger patient population is needed to determine the sensitivity to these changes. PMID:20432308

  4. Dynamin2 controls Rap1 activation and integrin clustering in human T lymphocyte adhesion

    PubMed Central

    Eppler, Felix J.

    2017-01-01

    Leukocyte trafficking is crucial to facilitate efficient immune responses. Here, we report that the large GTPase dynamin2, which is generally considered to have a key role in endocytosis and membrane remodeling, is an essential regulator of integrin-dependent human T lymphocyte adhesion and migration. Chemical inhibition or knockdown of dynamin2 expression significantly reduced integrin-dependent T cell adhesion in vitro. This phenotype was not observed when T cells were treated with various chemical inhibitors which abrogate endocytosis or actin polymerization. We furthermore detected dynamin2 in signaling complexes and propose that it controls T cell adhesion via FAK/Pyk2- and RapGEF1-mediated Rap1 activation. In addition, the dynamin2 inhibitor-induced reduction of lymphocyte adhesion can be rescued by Rap1a overexpression. We demonstrate that the dynamin2 effect on T cell adhesion does not involve integrin affinity regulation but instead relies on its ability to modulate integrin valency. Taken together, we suggest a previously unidentified role of dynamin2 in the regulation of integrin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion via a Rap1 signaling pathway. PMID:28273099

  5. T2 Mapping of the Sacroiliac Joints With 3-T MRI: A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Lefebvre, Guillaume; Bergère, Antonin; Rafei, Mazen El; Duhamel, Alain; Teixeira, Pedro; Cotten, Anne

    2017-08-01

    The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of T2 relaxation time measurements of the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints of 40 patients were imaged by 3-T MRI using an oblique axial multislice multiecho spin-echo T2-weighted sequence. Manual plotting and automatic subdivision of ROIs allowed us to obtain T2 values for up to 48 different areas per patient (posterior and anterior parts, sacral, intermediate, and iliac parts). Intraand interobserver reproducibility of T2 values were calculated after independent assessment by two musculoskeletal radiologists. A total of 1656 measurement sites could be analyzed. Mean (± SD) T2 values were 40.6 ± 6.7 ms and 41.2 ± 6.3 ms for observer 1 and 39.9 ± 6.6 ms for observer 2. The intraobserver intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.70-0.74), and the interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.68-0.72). Our study shows the feasibility of T2 relaxation time measurements at the sacroiliac joints.

  6. Oral administration with diosgenin enhances the induction of intestinal T helper 1-like regulatory T cells in a murine model of food allergy.

    PubMed

    Huang, Chung-Hsiung; Wang, Chia-Chi; Lin, Yu-Chin; Hori, Masatoshi; Jan, Tong-Rong

    2017-01-01

    Although the development of T helper (Th)1-like regulatory T (Treg) cells under Th1 inflammatory conditions has been reported, the role of Th1-like Treg cells in Th2 allergic responses remains mostly unclear. We previously demonstrated that diosgenin, the major sapogenin contained in the Chinese yam, attenuated food allergy and augmented Th1 and Treg immune responses. In this study, we hypothesized that diosgenin may enhance the induction of Th1-like Treg cells in the gut of mice with food allergy. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were gavaged daily with diosgenin and received repeatedly intragastric ovalbumin challenges to induce intestinal allergic responses. The induction of Foxp3 + Treg cells co-expressing Th1-type transcription factors, cytokines and chemokines in the intestine was examined, and the mRNA expression of the chemokines corresponding to Th1-like Treg cells was measured. Diosgenin administration increased the number of Foxp3 + Treg cells co-expressing Th1 markers, including CCR5, CXCR3, IFN-γ and T-bet in the intestine, and enhanced populations of Foxp3 + IFN-γ + and Foxp3 + T-bet + cells that expressed the regulatory cytokine IL-10 in the Peyer's patches. Diosgenin also augmented the intestinal expression of CXCR3, CCL3, and CXCL10. Concordantly, diosgenin increased the number of CXCR3 + Foxp3 + IL-10 cells in the Peyer's patches. Our data demonstrated the enhanced induction of Th1-like Treg cells in allergic mice treated with diosgenin, providing evidence to suggest a role for Th1-like Treg cells in diosgenin-mediated anti-allergic effects against Th2-type allergy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Bi-2212/1T-TaS2 Van der Waals junctions: Interplay of proximity induced high-T c superconductivity and CDW order.

    PubMed

    Li, Ang J; Zhu, Xiaochen; Stewart, G R; Hebard, Arthur F

    2017-07-05

    Understanding the coexistence, competition and/or cooperation between superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is an elusive goal which, when realized, promises to reveal fundamental information on this important class of materials. Here, we use four-terminal current-voltage measurements to study the Van der Waals interface between freshly exfoliated flakes of the high-T c superconductor, Bi-2212, and the CDW-dominated TMD layered material, 1T-TaS 2 . For highly transparent barriers, there is a pronounced Andreev reflection feature providing evidence for proximity-induced high-T c superconductivity in 1T-TaS 2 with a surprisingly large energy gap (~20 meV) equal to half that of intrinsic Bi-2212 (~40 meV). Our systematic study using conductance spectroscopy of junctions with different transparencies also reveals the presence of two separate boson modes, each associated with a "dip-hump" structure. We infer that the proximity-induced high-T c superconductivity in the 1T-TaS 2 is driven by coupling to the metastable metallic phase coexisting within the Mott commensurate CDW (CCDW) phase and associated with a concomitant change of the CCDW order parameter in the interfacial region.

  8. Verrucoid Variant of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Clinicopathological Challenge.

    PubMed

    Ramani, Priya; Krithika, C; Ananthalakshmi, R; Singaram, Mamta; Jagdish, Praveena; Janardhanan, Sunitha; Jeevakarunyam, Sathiyajeeva

    2016-11-04

    Verrucous carcinoma (VC) is an exophytic, low-grade, well-differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It is described as a lesion appearing in the sixth or seventh decade of life that has minimal aggressive potential and, in long-standing cases, has been shown to transform into squamous cell carcinoma. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder, and about one-third of the affected population develop oral squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathological diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma is challenging, and the interpretation of early squamous cell carcinoma requires immense experience. Here we present a rare case of a 24-year-old male with OSMF transforming to verrucous carcinoma with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Even though the case had a straightforward clinical diagnosis, the serial sectioning done for pathological diagnosis disclosed the squamous cell carcinoma.

  9. Fast solid-phase synthesis of large-area few-layer 1T'-MoTe2 films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Sheng; Chen, Lin; Zhang, Tian-Bao; Nie, Xin-Ran; Zhu, Hao; Ding, Shi-Jin; Sun, Qing-Qing; Zhang, David Wei

    2017-06-01

    In this study, we report on a novel approach to produce ∼12 nm thick few-layer monoclinic 1T'-MoTe2 films. The deposition method comprised sputtering of Mo, molecular beam epitaxy of Te, and rapid thermal processing to effect tellurization of the Mo into 1T'-MoTe2. The heating rate and annealing time are the critical factors. 30 °C s-1 heating rate and 2 min annealing at 470 °C were adopted in this work. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of stoichiometric 1T'-MoTe2 films, while X-ray diffraction confirmed the monoclinic polymorph. Raman spectroscopy confirmed spatial uniformity over the sample size of 1 cm × 1.5 cm. Our fast synthesis approach to realize high-quality 1T'-MoTe2 paves the way towards the large-scale application of 1T'-MoTe2 in high-performance nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.

  10. T-cell receptor repertoire variation may be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans.

    PubMed

    Frankl, Joseph A; Thearle, Marie S; Desmarais, Cindy; Bogardus, Clifton; Krakoff, Jonathan

    2016-03-01

    Recent work in Pima Indians, a population with high rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), demonstrated that human leukocyte antigen haplotype DRB1*02 carriers have an increased acute insulin response and decreased risk for the development of T2DM, implicating loss of self-tolerance in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Advances in genomic sequencing have made T-cell receptor repertoire analysis a practical mode of investigation. High-throughput sequencing of T-cell receptor complementarity-determining region 3 was carried out in male Pima Indians with normal glucose regulation (n = 11; age = 31 ± 8 years; %fat = 30.2 ± 8.7%) and the protective DRB1*02 haplotype versus those with T2DM without DRB1*02 (n = 7; age = 34 ± 8 years; %fat = 31.2 ± 4.7%). Findings were partially replicated in another cohort by assessing the predictive ability of T-cell receptor variation on risk of T2DM in Pima Indian men (n = 27; age = 28.9 ± 7.1 years; %fat = 28.8 ± 7.1%) and women (n = 20; age = 29 ± 7.0 years; %fat = 37.1 ± 6.8%) with baseline normal glucose regulation but without the protective haplotype who were invited to follow-up examinations as frequently as every 2 years where diabetes status was assessed by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Of these subjects, 13 developed diabetes. T-cell receptor complementarity-determining region 3 length was shorter in those with T2DM, and a one-nucleotide decrease in complementarity-determining region 3 length was associated with a nearly threefold increase in risk for future diabetes. The frequency of one variable gene, TRBV7-8, was higher in those with T2DM. A 1% increase in TRBV7-8 frequency was associated with a greater than threefold increase in diabetes risk. These results indicate that T-cell autoimmunity may be an important component in progression to T2DM in Pima Indians. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  11. Fluorescence detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma using Hyperflav

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Melnik, Ivan S.; Dets, Sergiy M.; Rawicz, Andrew H.; Zhang, Lewei

    2000-05-01

    A novel hypericin-based drug HyperflavTM has been evaluated for light-induced fluorescence detection of oral cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma was induced with carcinogenic agent in right pouches of forty hamsters (20/20 males/females). Solution of HyperflavTM was sprinkled into stomach with a single dose 0.2 - 4 mg of pure hypericin per kg b.w. and 4 - 8 hours before fluorescence analysis. In two animal groups with cancer symptoms the autofluorescence and hypericin-induced fluorescence were taken under 442 nm excitation. The buccal mucosa and adjacent areas were measured fiberoptically in-vivo and in-vitro using orange/green ratio (610/540). The in-vivo fluorescence imaging of malignant areas was conducted to assist the biopsy guidance and to compare with white-light images. Histological and morphological analyses were performed from biopsies. Oral squamous cell carcinoma in its early stage demonstrated specific higher 610/540 ratio for 37 tested hamsters. Advanced state involved another higher fluorescence maximum around 640 nm that in our opinion caused by strong porphyrin-induced native fluorescence. Such deformation of fluorescence spectra may lead to inadequate perception of diseased tissue area. To avoid this problem the autofluorescence spectra & images were added. HyperflavTM application is promising for demarcation of early oral cancer when combined with autofluorescence measurements.

  12. Nonstandard neutrino interactions at DUNE, T2HK and T2HKK

    DOE PAGES

    Liao, Jiajun; Marfatia, Danny; Whisnant, Kerry

    2017-01-17

    Here, we study the matter effect caused by nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) in the next generation long-baseline neutrino experiments, DUNE, T2HK and T2HKK. If multiple NSI parameters are nonzero, the potential of these experiments to detect CP violation, determine the mass hierarchy and constrain NSI is severely impaired by degeneracies between the NSI parameters and by the generalized mass hierarchy degeneracy. In particular, a cancellation between leading order terms in the appearance channels when ϵ eτ= cot θ 23ϵ eμ, strongly affects the sensitivities to these two NSI parameters at T2HK and T2HKK. We also study the dependence of themore » sensitivities on the true CP phase and the true mass hierarchy, and find that overall DUNE has the best sensitivity to the magnitude of the NSI parameters, while T2HKK has the best sensitivity to CP violation whether or not there are NSI. Furthermore, for T2HKK a smaller off-axis angle for the Korean detector is better overall. We find that due to the structure of the leading order terms in the appearance channel probabilities, the NSI sensitivities in a given experiment are similar for both mass hierarchies, modulo the phase change δ→δ + 180°.« less

  13. Nonstandard neutrino interactions at DUNE, T2HK and T2HKK

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liao, Jiajun; Marfatia, Danny; Whisnant, Kerry

    Here, we study the matter effect caused by nonstandard neutrino interactions (NSI) in the next generation long-baseline neutrino experiments, DUNE, T2HK and T2HKK. If multiple NSI parameters are nonzero, the potential of these experiments to detect CP violation, determine the mass hierarchy and constrain NSI is severely impaired by degeneracies between the NSI parameters and by the generalized mass hierarchy degeneracy. In particular, a cancellation between leading order terms in the appearance channels when ϵ eτ= cot θ 23ϵ eμ, strongly affects the sensitivities to these two NSI parameters at T2HK and T2HKK. We also study the dependence of themore » sensitivities on the true CP phase and the true mass hierarchy, and find that overall DUNE has the best sensitivity to the magnitude of the NSI parameters, while T2HKK has the best sensitivity to CP violation whether or not there are NSI. Furthermore, for T2HKK a smaller off-axis angle for the Korean detector is better overall. We find that due to the structure of the leading order terms in the appearance channel probabilities, the NSI sensitivities in a given experiment are similar for both mass hierarchies, modulo the phase change δ→δ + 180°.« less

  14. Differential Regulation of ERK1/2 and mTORC1 Through T1R1/T1R3 in MIN6 Cells.

    PubMed

    Wauson, Eric M; Guerra, Marcy L; Dyachok, Julia; McGlynn, Kathleen; Giles, Jennifer; Ross, Elliott M; Cobb, Melanie H

    2015-08-01

    The MAPKs ERK1/2 respond to nutrients and other insulin secretagogues in pancreatic β-cells and mediate nutrient-dependent insulin gene transcription. Nutrients also stimulate the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) to regulate protein synthesis. We showed previously that activation of both ERK1/2 and mTORC1 in the MIN6 pancreatic β-cell-derived line by extracellular amino acids (AAs) is at least in part mediated by the heterodimeric T1R1/T1R3, a G protein-coupled receptor. We show here that AAs differentially activate these two signaling pathways in MIN6 cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin did not prevent the activation of either ERK1/2 or mTORC1 by AAs, indicating that G(I) is not central to either pathway. Although glucagon-like peptide 1, an agonist for a G(s-)coupled receptor, activated ERK1/2 well and mTORC1 to a small extent, AAs had no effect on cytosolic cAMP accumulation. Ca(2+) entry is required for ERK1/2 activation by AAs but is dispensable for AA activation of mTORC1. Pretreatment with UBO-QIC, a selective G(q) inhibitor, reduced the activation of ERK1/2 but had little effect on the activation of mTORC1 by AAs, suggesting a differential requirement for G(q). Inhibition of G(12/13) by the overexpression of the regulator of G protein signaling domain of p115 ρ-guanine nucleotide exchange factor had no effect on mTORC1 activation by AAs, suggesting that these G proteins are also not involved. We conclude that AAs regulate ERK1/2 and mTORC1 through distinct signaling pathways.

  15. Differential Regulation of ERK1/2 and mTORC1 Through T1R1/T1R3 in MIN6 Cells

    PubMed Central

    Wauson, Eric M.; Guerra, Marcy L.; Dyachok, Julia; McGlynn, Kathleen; Giles, Jennifer; Ross, Elliott M.

    2015-01-01

    The MAPKs ERK1/2 respond to nutrients and other insulin secretagogues in pancreatic β-cells and mediate nutrient-dependent insulin gene transcription. Nutrients also stimulate the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) to regulate protein synthesis. We showed previously that activation of both ERK1/2 and mTORC1 in the MIN6 pancreatic β-cell-derived line by extracellular amino acids (AAs) is at least in part mediated by the heterodimeric T1R1/T1R3, a G protein-coupled receptor. We show here that AAs differentially activate these two signaling pathways in MIN6 cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin did not prevent the activation of either ERK1/2 or mTORC1 by AAs, indicating that Gi is not central to either pathway. Although glucagon-like peptide 1, an agonist for a Gs-coupled receptor, activated ERK1/2 well and mTORC1 to a small extent, AAs had no effect on cytosolic cAMP accumulation. Ca2+ entry is required for ERK1/2 activation by AAs but is dispensable for AA activation of mTORC1. Pretreatment with UBO-QIC, a selective Gq inhibitor, reduced the activation of ERK1/2 but had little effect on the activation of mTORC1 by AAs, suggesting a differential requirement for Gq. Inhibition of G12/13 by the overexpression of the regulator of G protein signaling domain of p115 ρ-guanine nucleotide exchange factor had no effect on mTORC1 activation by AAs, suggesting that these G proteins are also not involved. We conclude that AAs regulate ERK1/2 and mTORC1 through distinct signaling pathways. PMID:26168033

  16. In vivo 1D and 2D correlation MR spectroscopy of the soleus muscle at 7T

    PubMed Central

    Ramadan, Saadallah; Ratai, Eva-Maria; Wald, Lawrence L.; Mountford, Carolyn E.

    2013-01-01

    Aim This study aims to (1) undertake and analyse 1D and 2D MR correlation spectroscopy from human soleus muscle in vivo at 7T, and (2) determine T1 and T2 relaxation time constants at 7T field strength due to their importance in sequence design and spectral quantitation. Method Six healthy, male volunteers were consented and scanned on a 7T whole-body scanner (Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany). Experiments were undertaken using a 28 cm diameter detunable birdcage coil for signal excitation and an 8.5 cm diameter surface coil for signal reception. The relaxation time constants, T1 and T2 were recorded using a STEAM sequence, using the ‘progressive saturation’ method for the T1 and multiple echo times for T2. The 2D L-Correlated SpectroscopY (L-COSY) method was employed with 64 increments (0.4 ms increment size) and eight averages per scan, with a total time of 17 min. Results T1 and T2 values for the metabolites of interest were determined. The L-COSY spectra obtained from the soleus muscle provided information on lipid content and chemical structure not available, in vivo, at lower field strengths. All molecular fragments within multiple lipid compartments were chemically shifted by 0.20–0.26 ppm at this field strength. 1D and 2D L-COSY spectra were assigned and proton connectivities were confirmed with the 2D method. Conclusion In vivo 1D and 2D spectroscopic examination of muscle can be successfully recorded at 7T and is now available to assess lipid alterations as well as other metabolites present with disease. T1 and T2 values were also determined in soleus muscle of male healthy volunteers. PMID:20206561

  17. Direct inhibition of RNAse T2 expression by the HTLV-1 viral protein Tax.

    PubMed

    Polakowski, Nicholas; Han, Hongjin; Lemasson, Isabelle

    2011-08-01

    Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is one of the primary diseases caused by Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. The virally-encoded Tax protein is believed to initiate early events in the development of this disease, as it is able to promote immortalization of T-cells and transformation of other cell types. These processes may be aided by the ability of the viral protein to directly deregulate expression of specific cellular genes through interactions with numerous transcriptional regulators. To identify gene promoters where Tax is localized, we isolated Tax-DNA complexes from an HTLV-1-infected T-cell line through a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and used the DNA to probe a CpG island microarray. A site within the RNASET2 gene was found to be occupied by Tax. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed this result, and transient expression of Tax in uninfected cells led to the recruitment of the viral protein to the promoter. This event correlated with a decrease in the level of RNase T2 mRNA and protein, suggesting that Tax represses expression of this gene. Loss of RNase T2 expression occurs in certain hematological malignancies and other forms of cancer, and RNase T2 was recently reported to function as a tumor suppressor. Consequently, a reduction in the level of RNase T2 by Tax may play a role in ATL development.

  18. Direct Inhibition of RNAse T2 Expression by the HTLV-1 Viral Protein Tax

    PubMed Central

    Polakowski, Nicholas; Han, Hongjin; Lemasson, Isabelle

    2011-01-01

    Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is one of the primary diseases caused by Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. The virally-encoded Tax protein is believed to initiate early events in the development of this disease, as it is able to promote immortalization of T-cells and transformation of other cell types. These processes may be aided by the ability of the viral protein to directly deregulate expression of specific cellular genes through interactions with numerous transcriptional regulators. To identify gene promoters where Tax is localized, we isolated Tax-DNA complexes from an HTLV-1-infected T-cell line through a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and used the DNA to probe a CpG island microarray. A site within the RNASET2 gene was found to be occupied by Tax. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed this result, and transient expression of Tax in uninfected cells led to the recruitment of the viral protein to the promoter. This event correlated with a decrease in the level of RNase T2 mRNA and protein, suggesting that Tax represses expression of this gene. Loss of RNase T2 expression occurs in certain hematological malignancies and other forms of cancer, and RNase T2 was recently reported to function as a tumor suppressor. Consequently, a reduction in the level of RNase T2 by Tax may play a role in ATL development. PMID:21994792

  19. Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiangyun; Wu, Jingjing; Chen, Yitian; Ye, Dongxia; Lei, Hu; Xu, Hanzhang; Yang, Li; Wu, Yingli; Gu, Wenli

    2016-10-01

    Ubiquitin-specific protease 14, a deubiquitinating enzyme, has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of several cancers, but its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the expression pattern and roles of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 in the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 was overexpressed in oral cancer tissues and cell lines at both mRNA and protein levels. b-AP15, a specific inhibitor of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14, significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells and increased cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, knockdown of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 by shRNA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of cancer cells in vitro. Finally, using a xenograft mouse model of oral squamous cell carcinoma, knockdown of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 markedly inhibited tumor growth and triggered the cancer cell apoptosis in vivo, supporting previous results. In conclusion, for the first time we have demonstrated the expression pattern of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and verified a relationship with tumor growth and metastasis. These results may highlight new therapeutic strategies for tumor treatment, application of Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 selective inhibitor, such as b-AP15, or knockdown by shRNA. Collectively, Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 could be a potential therapeutic target for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Animal models of allergen-induced tolerance in asthma: are T-regulatory-1 cells (Tr-1) the solution for T-helper-2 cells (Th-2) in asthma?

    PubMed

    Tournoy, K G; Hove, C; Grooten, J; Moerloose, K; Brusselle, G G; Joos, G F

    2006-01-01

    Non-specific anti-inflammatory medication is actually the treatment of choice for controlling the T-helper type 2 (Th-2) cell-driven airway inflammation in asthma. The induction of counterbalancing Th-1 cell clones, long considered a promising approach for immunotherapy, has failed to fulfil its promise because of potentially detrimental side-effects. This is therefore probably not a valid option for the treatment of asthma. With the increasing awareness that active immune mechanisms exist to control inflammatory responses, interest rises to investigate whether these can be exploited to control allergen-induced airway disease. The induction of antigen-specific T cells with suppressive characteristics (regulatory T cells) is therefore a potentially interesting approach. These regulatory T cells mediate tolerance in healthy, non-atopic individuals and have the potential of becoming an effective means of preventing allergen-induced airway inflammation and possibly of suppressing ongoing allergic immune responses. Here we review the available knowledge about allergen-induced suppressive immunity obtained from animal models taking into account the different developmental stages of allergic airway disease.

  1. Significance of Peptide Transporter 1 in the Intestinal Permeability of Valacyclovir in Wild-Type and PepT1 Knockout Mice

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Bei

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to quantitatively determine the contribution of PepT1 [peptide transporter 1 (SLC15A1)] to the intestinal permeability of valacyclovir, an ester prodrug of the antiviral drug acyclovir. In situ single-pass intestinal perfusions were employed (pH 6.5 × 90 minutes) to assess the effective permeability (Peff) of 100 μM [3H]valacyclovir in wild-type and PepT1 knockout mice. Acyclovir pharmacokinetics was also evaluated after oral administration of 25 nmol/g valacyclovir. In wild-type mice, jejunal uptake of valacyclovir was best described by both saturable (Km = 10.2 mM) and nonsaturable components where the saturable pathway accounted for 82% of total transport. Valacyclovir Peff was 2.4 × 10−4 cm/s in duodenum, 1.7 × 10−4 cm/s in jejunum, 2.1 × 10−4 cm/s in ileum, and 0.27 × 10−4 cm/s in colon. In Pept1 knockout mice, Peff values were about 10% of that in wild-type animals for these small intestinal segments. Valacyclovir Peff was similar in the colon of both genotypes. There were no differences in valacyclovir Peff between any of the intestinal segments of PepT1 knockout mice. Valacyclovir Peff was significantly reduced by the dipeptide glycylsarcosine and the aminocephalosporin cefadroxil, but not by the amino acids l-valine or l-histidine, the organic acid p-aminohippurate, or the organic base tetraethylammonium (all at 25 mM). PepT1 ablation resulted in 3- to 5-fold reductions in the in vivo rate and extent of valacyclovir absorption. Our findings conclusively demonstrate, using in situ and in vivo validations in genetically modified mice, that PepT1 has a major influence in improving the oral absorption of valacyclovir. PMID:23264448

  2. Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 p30 alters cell cycle G2 regulation of T lymphocytes to enhance cell survival

    PubMed Central

    Datta, Antara; Silverman, Lee; Phipps, Andrew J; Hiraragi, Hajime; Ratner, Lee; Lairmore, Michael D

    2007-01-01

    Background Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and is linked to a number of lymphocyte-mediated disorders. HTLV-1 contains both regulatory and accessory genes in four pX open reading frames. pX ORF-II encodes two proteins, p13 and p30, whose roles are still being defined in the virus life cycle and in HTLV-1 virus-host cell interactions. Proviral clones of HTLV-1 with pX ORF-II mutations diminish the ability of the virus to maintain viral loads in vivo. p30 expressed exogenously differentially modulates CREB and Tax-responsive element-mediated transcription through its interaction with CREB-binding protein/p300 and while acting as a repressor of many genes including Tax, in part by blocking tax/rex RNA nuclear export, selectively enhances key gene pathways involved in T-cell signaling/activation. Results Herein, we analyzed the role of p30 in cell cycle regulation. Jurkat T-cells transduced with a p30 expressing lentivirus vector accumulated in the G2-M phase of cell cycle. We then analyzed key proteins involved in G2-M checkpoint activation. p30 expression in Jurkat T-cells resulted in an increase in phosphorylation at serine 216 of nuclear cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C), had enhanced checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) serine 345 phosphorylation, reduced expression of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), diminished phosphorylation of PLK1 at tyrosine 210 and reduced phosphorylation of Cdc25C at serine 198. Finally, primary human lymphocyte derived cell lines immortalized by a HTLV-1 proviral clone defective in p30 expression were more susceptible to camptothecin induced apoptosis. Collectively these data are consistent with a cell survival role of p30 against genotoxic insults to HTLV-1 infected lymphocytes. Conclusion Collectively, our data are the first to indicate that HTLV-1 p30 expression results in activation of the G2-M cell cycle checkpoint, events that would promote early viral spread and T-cell survival. PMID:17634129

  3. Induction of apoptosis by grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Aghbali, Amirala; Hosseini, Sepideh Vosough; Delazar, Abbas; Gharavi, Nader Kalbasi; Shahneh, Fatemeh Zare; Orangi, Mona; Bandehagh, Ali; Baradaran, Behzad

    2013-08-01

    Development of novel therapeutic modalities is crucial for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Recent scientific studies have been focused on herbal medicines as potent anti-cancer drug candidates. This study is the first to investigate the cytotoxic effects and the mechanism of cell death induced by grape seed extract (GSE) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (KB cells). MTT (3-(4,5-dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and trypan blue assays were performed in KB cells as well as human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to analyze the cytotoxic activity of GSE. Furthermore, the apoptosis-inducing action of the extract was determined by TUNEL, DNA fragmentation and cell death analysis. Statistical significance was determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan's test at a significance level of P≤0.05. The results showed apoptotic potential of GSE, confirmed by significant inhibition of cell growth and viability in a dose- and time- dependent manner without inducing damage to non-cancerous cell line HUVEC. The results of this study suggest that this plant contains potential bioactive compound(s) for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

  4. A Comparative Study of T1 and T2 Relaxation in Shale

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Keating, K.; Obasi, C. C.; Pashin, J. C.

    2015-12-01

    Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation measurement have been used extensively in petroleum and, more recently, in groundwater resource evaluation to estimate the porosity, pore-size distributions, permeability, fluid saturation, and fluid mobility. In shale, the transverse decay rate of NMR signal is sensitive to the microporosity, but is also affected by the paramagnetic contributions of clay and other iron-bearing minerals. Furthermore, contrasts in the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral matrix and pore fluids that result in an inhomogeneous magnetic field within the pore space results in an extra term in transverse relaxation. These issues can cause errors in NMR-based estimates of pore-size distribution and permeability. In this study we compare T1 and T2 relaxation time distributions in order to study the molecular mechanism of relaxation in brine-saturated mixtures of clay and other common minerals. We collected measurements on a range of mixtures of clay minerals common in shale (illite, glauconite, celadonite, chamosite, montmorillonite and kaolinite) and pyrite. To constrain the interpretation of the NMR data, we measured the magnetic susceptibility and surface area of all samples. We are confident that by accounting for the presence and variations of clay and pyrite in shale, we can substantially improve both the NMR estimate of pore-size distribution and permeability.

  5. Antigen-specific, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell clones induced in Peyer's patches.

    PubMed

    Tsuji, Noriko M; Mizumachi, Koko; Kurisaki, Jun-Ichi

    2003-04-01

    Since intestine is exposed to numerous exogenous antigens such as food and commensal bacteria, the organ bears efficient mechanisms for establishment of tolerance and induction of regulatory T cells (T(reg)). Intestinal and inducible T(reg) include T(r)1-like and T(h)3 cells whose major effector molecules are IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. These antigen-specific T(reg) are expected to become clinical targets to modify the inflammatory immune response associated with allergy, autoimmune diseases and transplantation. In the present study, we characterized the antigen-specific T(reg) induced in the intestine by orally administering high-dose beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) to BALB/c mice. Seven days after feeding, only Peyer's patch (PP) cells among different organs exerted significant suppressive effect on antibody production upon in vitro BLG stimulation. This suppressive effect was also prominent in six BLG-specific CD4(+) T cell clones (OPP1-6) established from PP from mice orally administered with high doses of BLG and was partially reversed by antibodies to TGF-beta. Intravenous transfer of OPP2 efficiently suppressed BLG-specific IgG1 production in serum following immunization, indicating the role of such T(reg) in the systemic tolerance after oral administration of antigen (oral tolerance). OPP clones secrete TGF-beta, IFN-gamma and low levels of IL-10, a cytokine pattern similar to that secreted by anergic T cells. OPP clones bear a CD4(+)CD25(+) phenotype and show significantly lower proliferative response compared to T(h)0 clones. This lower response is recovered by the addition of IL-2. Thus, antigen-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) T(reg), which have characteristics of anergic cells and actively suppress antibody production are induced in PP upon oral administration of protein antigen.

  6. Contrasting weight changes with LY2605541, a novel long-acting insulin, and insulin glargine despite similar improved glycaemic control in T1DM and T2DM.

    PubMed

    Jacober, S J; Rosenstock, J; Bergenstal, R M; Prince, M J; Qu, Y; Beals, J M

    2014-04-01

    The basal insulin analogue LY2605541, a PEGylated insulin lispro with prolonged duration of action, was previously shown to be associated with modest weight loss in Phase 2, randomized, open-label trials in type 2 (N=288) and type 1 (N=137) diabetes mellitus (T2DM and T1DM), compared with modest weight gain with insulin glargine. Exploratory analyses were conducted to further characterize these findings. Pearson correlations between change in body weight and other variables were calculated. Continuous variables were analysed using a mixed linear model with repeated measurements. Proportions of subjects with weight loss were analysed using Fisher's exact test for T2DM and Nagelkerke's method for T1DM. Weight loss was more common in LY2605541-treated patients than in patients treated with insulin glargine (T2DM: 56.9 vs. 40.2%, p=0.011; T1DM: 66.1 vs. 40.3%, p<0.001). More LY2605541-treated patients experienced ≥5% weight loss compared to patients treated with glargine (T2DM: 4.8 vs. 0%, p=0.033; T1DM: 11.9 vs. 0.8%, p<0.001). In both the T1DM and T2DM studies, weight change did not correlate with baseline body mass index (BMI), or change in HDL-cholesterol in either treatment group. No consistent correlations were found across both studies between weight change and any of the variables assessed; however, weight change was significantly correlated with hypoglycaemia rate in glargine-treated T2DM patients. In two Phase 2 trials, improved glycaemic control with long-acting basal insulin analogue LY2605541 is associated with weight loss in previously insulin-treated patients. This weight change is independent of baseline BMI or hypoglycaemia.

  7. [Evaluation of central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma in cN0 T1/T2].

    PubMed

    Zhao, S Y; Ma, Y H; Yin, Z; Zhan, X X; Cheng, R C; Qian, J

    2018-02-07

    Objective: To evaluate the application of the central lymph node dissection (CLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in cN0 T1/T2. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 532 cases with PTC in cN0 T1/T2 who underwent CLND between October 2014 and September 2016 in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of the Kunming Medical University. The incidence of central lymph node (CLN) metastasis and risk factors were analyzed. Results: CLN metastasis rates: 41.2% (42/102) in males vs 34.9% (150/430) in females, P =0.252; 33.9% (116/342) in single focal carcinoma vs 40.4% (74/183) in multifocal carcinoma, P =0.157; 44.0% (125/284) in patients with 45 years old or less vs 27.0% (67/248) in patients more than 45 years old, P =0.000; 30.3% (113/373) in microcarcinoma vs 50.9% (81/159) in non-microcarcinoma, P =0.000.In unilateral lesions, ipsilateral CLN metastasis was correlated with the tumor diameter ( P =0.012), but not with the number of lesions ( P =0.653). also contralateral CLN metastasis was correlated with the tumor diameter ( P =0.000), but not with the number of lesions ( P =0.815). For the left or right unilateral single focal lesion, the tumor diameter was not correlated with the metastasis of the posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve central lymph nodes (LN-prRLN-CLN) ( P =0.652, P =0.088). But in bilateral multifocal carcinoma the tumor diameter was correlated with metastasis of LN-prRLN-CLN ( P =0.039). Conclusions: Prophylactic CLND is reasonable for PTC in cN0 T1/T2. A bilateral CLND should be conducted for patients with bilateral multi-focus cancer and unilateral or bilateral non-microcarcinoma, especially in patients more than 45 years old. For unilateral single focal microcarcinoma on the right, the content of CLND should be from laryngeal nerve on right center to posterior branche; for unilateral single focal microcarcinoma on the left side, the left CLND should be conducted. An ipsilateral CLND can be considered in

  8. The expanding universe of T-cell subsets: Th1, Th2 and more.

    PubMed

    Mosmann, T R; Sad, S

    1996-03-01

    Since their discovery nearly ten years ago, T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 subsets have been implicated in the regulation of many immune responses. In this article, Tim Mosmann and Subash Sad discuss the increasing number of T-cell subsets defined by cytokine patterns; the differentiation pathways of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; the contribution of other cell types to these patterns; and the cytokine interactions during infection and pregnancy.

  9. Human papilloma virus 16/18: Fabricator of trouble in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Zil-E-Rubab; Baig, Saeeda; Zaman, Uzma; Lucky, Mohammad Haris

    2018-04-01

    To find out the association between Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) genotypes 16/18 in Pakistani patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). DNA from oral rinse of 300 subjects was taken. The subjects included 100 cases with OSCC and 200 controls. Samples were analyzed by both conventional and real time PCR using "HPV consensus Gp5+/Gp6+ and HPV 16, 18 specific primers". Out of 300 persons, 74/300 (25%) were found to be infected with HPV: "46/100(46%) from cases and 74/200(14%) from controls". The distribution was: HPV16, 6/300 (8%): 4/100 (9%) from OSCC group and 2/200 (8%) from controls while HPV 18 was 9/300(12%): 5/100(11%) from cases and 4/200(16%) from controls. Out of 300 subjects, 26(35%) were infected by "both HPV 16/18 (23(50%) from cases and 3(12%) from controls". Persons who were infected with HPV 16&18 had higher chances to develop OSCC as compared to those who didn't have HPV 16/18 (AOR: 21.4, 95% CI: 5.73 - 80.8). The exposure to high risk strains of Human papilloma virus (16/18) in combination can be fabricotor of trouble (p<0.001, Adjusted odds ratio; 21.42) in OSCC. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  10. 26 CFR 1.382-1T - [Reserved

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 26 Internal Revenue 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false [Reserved] 1.382-1T Section 1.382-1T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES Insolvency Reorganizations § 1.382-1T [Reserved] ...

  11. Oral-resident natural Th17 cells and γδ T cells control opportunistic Candida albicans infections.

    PubMed

    Conti, Heather R; Peterson, Alanna C; Brane, Lucas; Huppler, Anna R; Hernández-Santos, Nydiaris; Whibley, Natasha; Garg, Abhishek V; Simpson-Abelson, Michelle R; Gibson, Gregory A; Mamo, Anna J; Osborne, Lisa C; Bishu, Shrinivas; Ghilardi, Nico; Siebenlist, Ulrich; Watkins, Simon C; Artis, David; McGeachy, Mandy J; Gaffen, Sarah L

    2014-09-22

    Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. OPC is frequent in HIV/AIDS, implicating adaptive immunity. Mice are naive to Candida, yet IL-17 is induced within 24 h of infection, and susceptibility is strongly dependent on IL-17R signaling. We sought to identify the source of IL-17 during the early innate response to candidiasis. We show that innate responses to Candida require an intact TCR, as SCID, IL-7Rα(-/-), and Rag1(-/-) mice were susceptible to OPC, and blockade of TCR signaling by cyclosporine induced susceptibility. Using fate-tracking IL-17 reporter mice, we found that IL-17 is produced within 1-2 d by tongue-resident populations of γδ T cells and CD3(+)CD4(+)CD44(hi)TCRβ(+)CCR6(+) natural Th17 (nTh17) cells, but not by TCR-deficient innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) or NK cells. These cells function redundantly, as TCR-β(-/-) and TCR-δ(-/-) mice were both resistant to OPC. Whereas γδ T cells were previously shown to produce IL-17 during dermal candidiasis and are known to mediate host defense at mucosal surfaces, nTh17 cells are poorly understood. The oral nTh17 population expanded rapidly after OPC, exhibited high TCR-β clonal diversity, and was absent in Rag1(-/-), IL-7Rα(-/-), and germ-free mice. These findings indicate that nTh17 and γδ T cells, but not ILCs, are key mucosal sentinels that control oral pathogens. © 2014 Conti et al.

  12. Study of P21 Expression in Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Immunohistochemical Technique.

    PubMed

    Baghaei, Fahimeh; Shojaei, Setareh; Afshar-Moghaddam, Noushin; Zargaran, Massoumeh; Rastin, Verisheh; Nasr, Mohsen; Moghimbeigi, Abbas

    2015-09-01

    Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease that is relatively common in middle aged individuals. Some studies have shown that oral lichen planus has a potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma.p21 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that regulates the cell cycle, thus it acts as an inhibitor in cell proliferation. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the immunostaining of p21 (as a proliferation inhibitory factor) in oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this descriptive cross-sectional study, p21expression was investigated in 24 samples of oral lichen planus (OLP), 24 samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 24 samples of oral epithelial hyperplasia (OEH) by employing immunohistochemical staining. The mean percentage of p21-positive cells in OSCC (54.5±6.6) was significantly higher than that in OLP (32.8±6.08) and OEH (9.4±3.8). Moreover, OLP samples expressed p21 significantly higher than the OEH. Kruskal Wallis test revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the intensity of staining (p< 0.001). According to the findings of this study, the expression of p21 might be related to the potential carcinogenic transformation of lichen planus to SCC. Therefore, continuous follow-up periods for OLP are recommended for diagnosis of the malignant transformations in early stages.

  13. Synergetic photocatalytic effect between 1 T@2H-MoS2 and plasmon resonance induced by Ag quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Haiyang; Wu, Rong; Tian, Lie; Kong, Yangyang; Sun, Yanfei

    2018-07-01

    Semiconductor phase transitions and plasma noble metal quantum dots (QDs) for visible-light-driven photocatalysts have attracted significant research interest. In this study, novel microwave hydrothermal and photo-reduction methods are proposed to synthesise a visible-light-driven plasma photocatalytic 1T@2H-MoS2/Ag composite. Photoelectrochemical results show that the introduction of the 1T phase and Ag significantly enhances the light response range and charge separation. The 1T phase can act as a co-catalyst to provide a high electron concentration. Ag QDs can effectively improve the light absorption and catalytic effect. The synergistic effect between the 1T@2H-MoS2 microspheres and localised surface plasmon resonance of the Ag QDs can effectively enhance the photocatalytic activity of 1T@2H-MoS2/Ag. The developed 1T@2H-MoS2/Ag composite is superior, not only with respect to a visible-light photocatalytic degradation of conventional dyes, but also in the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Compared with 2H-MoS2, the catalytic efficiency of 1T@2H-MoS2/Ag for Cr(VI) and MB is increased by 81% and 41%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the introduction of 1T-MoS2 and Ag QDs can significantly enhance the catalytic properties of 2H-MoS2. The microwave and photo-reduction technologies can be employed as green, safe, simple, and rapid methods for the synthesis of noble metal plasma composites.

  14. Synergetic photocatalytic effect between 1 T@2H-MoS2 and plasmon resonance induced by Ag quantum dots.

    PubMed

    Liu, Haiyang; Wu, Rong; Tian, Lie; Kong, Yangyang; Sun, Yanfei

    2018-07-13

    Semiconductor phase transitions and plasma noble metal quantum dots (QDs) for visible-light-driven photocatalysts have attracted significant research interest. In this study, novel microwave hydrothermal and photo-reduction methods are proposed to synthesise a visible-light-driven plasma photocatalytic 1T@2H-MoS 2 /Ag composite. Photoelectrochemical results show that the introduction of the 1T phase and Ag significantly enhances the light response range and charge separation. The 1T phase can act as a co-catalyst to provide a high electron concentration. Ag QDs can effectively improve the light absorption and catalytic effect. The synergistic effect between the 1T@2H-MoS 2 microspheres and localised surface plasmon resonance of the Ag QDs can effectively enhance the photocatalytic activity of 1T@2H-MoS 2 /Ag. The developed 1T@2H-MoS 2 /Ag composite is superior, not only with respect to a visible-light photocatalytic degradation of conventional dyes, but also in the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Compared with 2H-MoS 2 , the catalytic efficiency of 1T@2H-MoS 2 /Ag for Cr(VI) and MB is increased by 81% and 41%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the introduction of 1T-MoS 2 and Ag QDs can significantly enhance the catalytic properties of 2H-MoS 2 . The microwave and photo-reduction technologies can be employed as green, safe, simple, and rapid methods for the synthesis of noble metal plasma composites.

  15. Established T-cell inflamed tumors rejected after adaptive resistance was reversed by combination STING activation and PD-1–pathway blockade

    PubMed Central

    Moore, Ellen; Clavijo, Paul E.; Davis, Ruth; Cash, Harrison; Van Waes, Carter; Kim, Young; Allen, Clint

    2016-01-01

    Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma harbor T-cell inflamed and non-T-cell inflamed tumors. Despite this, only 20% of patients respond to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Lack of induction of innate immunity through pattern-recognition receptors such as the stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) receptor may represent a significant barrier to the development of effective antitumor immunity. Here, we demonstrate robust control of a T-cell inflamed (MOC1), but not non-T-cell inflamed (MOC2), model of head and neck cancer by activation of the STING pathway with the synthetic cyclic dinucleotide RP,RP dithio-c-di-GMP. Rejection or durable tumor control of MOC1 tumors was dependent upon a functional STING receptor and CD8 T lymphocytes. STING activation resulted in increased tumor microenvironment type 1 and type 2 IFN and greater expression of PD-1–pathway components in vivo. Established MOC1 tumors were rejected and distant tumors abscopally controlled, after adaptive immune resistance had been reversed by the addition of PD-L1 mAb. These findings suggest that PD-1-pathway blockade may reverse adaptive immune resistance following cyclic dinucleotide treatment, enhancing both local and systemic antitumor immunity. PMID:27821498

  16. Rapamycin enhances the anti-angiogenesis and anti-proliferation ability of YM155 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Li, Kong-Liang; Wang, Yu-Fan; Qin, Jia-Ruo; Wang, Feng; Yang, Yong-Tao; Zheng, Li-Wu; Li, Ming-Hua; Kong, Jie; Zhang, Wei; Yang, Hong-Yu

    2017-06-01

    YM155, a small molecule inhibitor of survivin, has been studied in many tumors. It has been shown that YM155 inhibited oral squamous cell carcinoma through promoting apoptosis and autophagy and inhibiting proliferation. It was found that YM155 also inhibited the oral squamous cell carcinoma-mediated angiogenesis through the inactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, played an important role in the proliferation and angiogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. In our study, cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, tube formation assay, and western blot assay were used to investigate the synergistic effect of rapamycin on YM155 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Either in vitro or in vivo, rapamycin and YM155 exerted a synergistic effect on the inhibition of survivin and vascular endothelial growth factor through mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Overall, our results revealed that low-dose rapamycin strongly promoted the sensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines to YM155.

  17. SIPA1 promotes invasion and migration in human oral squamous cell carcinoma by ITGB1 and MMP7

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Takahara, Toshikazu; Kasamatsu, Atsushi, E-mail: kasamatsua@faculty.chiba-u.jp; Yamatoji, Masanobu

    Signal-induced proliferation-associated protein 1 (SIPA1) is known to be a GTPase activating protein. Overexpressed SIPA1 is related to metastatic progression in breast and prostate cancers; however, the relevance of SIPA1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to examine SIPA1 expression and its functional mechanisms in OSCC. SIPA1 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The expressions of SIPA1 were up-regulated significantly in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, SIPA1 expression was correlated with regional lymph node metastasis. We next assessed the cellularmore » functions associated with tumoral metastasis using SIPA1 knockdown (shSIPA1) cells and analyzed the downstream molecules of SIPA1, i.e., bromodomain containing protein 4(BRD4), integrin beta1 (ITGB1), and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). The shSIPA1 cells showed decreased invasiveness and migratory activities, however cellular adhesion ability was maintained at a high level. In addition, ITGB1 expression was greater in shSIPA1 cells, whereas MMP7 expression was lower than in control cells. This research is the first to establish that SIPA1 promotes cancer metastasis by regulating the ITGB1 and MMP7. Therefore, SIPA1 might be a novel therapeutic target for patients with lymph node metastasis of OSCC. - Highlights: • SIPA1 expression was up-regulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). • SIPA1-positive OSCCs were correlated with regional lymph node metastasis. • SIPA1 controlled BRD4 and influenced transcription of ITGB1and MMP7. • SIPA1 induced cellular invasion and migration and decreased cellular adhesion. • SIPA1 might be a potential biomarker of cancer metastasis for OSCC.« less

  18. Topographic Diagnosis of Craniopharyngiomas: The Accuracy of MRI Findings Observed on Conventional T1 and T2 Images.

    PubMed

    Prieto, R; Pascual, J M; Barrios, L

    2017-11-01

    The topography of craniopharyngiomas has proved fundamental in predicting the involvement of vital brain structures and the possibility of achieving a safe radical resection. Beyond the imprecise term "suprasellar," indiscriminately used for craniopharyngiomas, an accurate definition of craniopharyngioma topography should be assessed by preoperative MR imaging. The objective of this study was to investigate the MRI findings that help define craniopharyngioma topography. This study retrospectively investigated a cohort of 200 surgically treated craniopharyngiomas with their corresponding preoperative midsagittal and coronal conventional T1- and T2-weighted MR images, along with detailed descriptions of the surgical findings. Radiologic variables related to the occupation of the tumor of intracranial compartments and the distortions of anatomic structures along the sella turcica-third ventricle axis were analyzed and correlated with the definitive craniopharyngioma topography observed during the surgical procedures. A predictive model for craniopharyngioma topography was generated by multivariate analysis. Five major craniopharyngioma topographies can be defined according to the degree of hypothalamic distortion caused by the tumor: sellar-suprasellar, pseudointraventricular, secondary intraventricular, not strictly intraventricular, and strictly intraventricular. Seven key radiologic variables identified on preoperative MRI allowed a correct overall prediction of craniopharyngioma topography in 86% of cases: 1) third ventricle occupation, 2) pituitary stalk distortion, 3) relative level of the hypothalamus in relation to the tumor, 4) chiasmatic cistern occupation, 5) mammillary body angle, 6) type of chiasm distortion, and 7) tumor shape. Systematic assessment of these 7 variables on conventional preoperative T1 and T2 MRI is a useful and reliable method to ascertain individual craniopharyngioma topography. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

  19. T2-mapping of the sacroiliac joints at 1.5 Tesla: a feasibility and reproducibility study.

    PubMed

    Albano, Domenico; Chianca, Vito; Cuocolo, Renato; Bignone, Rodolfo; Ciccia, Francesco; Sconfienza, Luca Maria; Midiri, Massimo; Brunetti, Arturo; Lagalla, Roberto; Galia, Massimo

    2018-04-20

    To evaluate the reproducibility of T2 relaxation time measurements of the sacroiliac joints at 1.5 T. Healthy volunteers underwent an oblique axial multislice multiecho spin-echo sequence of the sacroiliac joints at 1.5 T. Regions of interest were manually drawn using a dedicated software by two musculoskeletal radiologists to include the cartilaginous part of the sacroiliac joints. A senior radiologist performed the measurement twice, while a resident measured once. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was tested using the Bland-Altman method. Association between sex and T2 relaxation times was tested using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlation between T2 relaxation times and body mass index (BMI) was tested using the Spearman's rho. Eighty sacroiliac joints of 40 subjects (mean age: 28 ± 4.8 years, range: 20-43; mean BMI: 23.3 ± 3.1, range: 18.9-30) were imaged. The mean T2 values obtained by the senior radiologist in the first series of measurements were 42 ± 4.4 ms, whereas in the second series were 40.7 ± 4.5 ms. The mean T2 values obtained by the radiology resident were 41.1 ± 4.2 ms. Intra-observer reproducibility was 88% (coefficient of repeatability = 3.8; bias = 1.28; p < .001), while inter-observer reproducibility was 86% (4.7; -.88; p < .001). There was significant association between sex and T2 relaxation times (p = .024) and significant inverse correlation between T2 relaxation times and BMI (r = -.340, p = .002). The assessment of T2 relaxation time measurements of sacroiliac joints seems to be highly reproducible at 1.5 T. Further studies could investigate the potential clinical application of this tool in the sacroiliac joints.

  20. The XENON1T dark matter experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aprile, E.; Aalbers, J.; Agostini, F.; Alfonsi, M.; Amaro, F. D.; Anthony, M.; Antunes, B.; Arneodo, F.; Balata, M.; Barrow, P.; Baudis, L.; Bauermeister, B.; Benabderrahmane, M. L.; Berger, T.; Breskin, A.; Breur, P. A.; Brown, A.; Brown, E.; Bruenner, S.; Bruno, G.; Budnik, R.; Bütikofer, L.; Calvén, J.; Cardoso, J. M. R.; Cervantes, M.; Chiarini, A.; Cichon, D.; Coderre, D.; Colijn, A. P.; Conrad, J.; Corrieri, R.; Cussonneau, J. P.; Decowski, M. P.; de Perio, P.; Gangi, P. Di; Giovanni, A. Di; Diglio, S.; Disdier, J.-M.; Doets, M.; Duchovni, E.; Eurin, G.; Fei, J.; Ferella, A. D.; Fieguth, A.; Franco, D.; Front, D.; Fulgione, W.; Rosso, A. Gallo; Galloway, M.; Gao, F.; Garbini, M.; Geis, C.; Giboni, K.-L.; Goetzke, L. W.; Grandi, L.; Greene, Z.; Grignon, C.; Hasterok, C.; Hogenbirk, E.; Huhmann, C.; Itay, R.; James, A.; Kaminsky, B.; Kazama, S.; Kessler, G.; Kish, A.; Landsman, H.; Lang, R. F.; Lellouch, D.; Levinson, L.; Lin, Q.; Lindemann, S.; Lindner, M.; Lombardi, F.; Lopes, J. A. M.; Maier, R.; Manfredini, A.; Maris, I.; Undagoitia, T. Marrodán; Masbou, J.; Massoli, F. V.; Masson, D.; Mayani, D.; Messina, M.; Micheneau, K.; Molinario, A.; Morå, K.; Murra, M.; Naganoma, J.; Ni, K.; Oberlack, U.; Orlandi, D.; Othegraven, R.; Pakarha, P.; Parlati, S.; Pelssers, B.; Persiani, R.; Piastra, F.; Pienaar, J.; Pizzella, V.; Piro, M.-C.; Plante, G.; Priel, N.; García, D. Ramírez; Rauch, L.; Reichard, S.; Reuter, C.; Rizzo, A.; Rosendahl, S.; Rupp, N.; Santos, J. M. F. dos; Saldanha, R.; Sartorelli, G.; Scheibelhut, M.; Schindler, S.; Schreiner, J.; Schumann, M.; Lavina, L. Scotto; Selvi, M.; Shagin, P.; Shockley, E.; Silva, M.; Simgen, H.; Sivers, M. v.; Stern, M.; Stein, A.; Tatananni, D.; Tatananni, L.; Thers, D.; Tiseni, A.; Trinchero, G.; Tunnell, C.; Upole, N.; Vargas, M.; Wack, O.; Walet, R.; Wang, H.; Wang, Z.; Wei, Y.; Weinheimer, C.; Wittweg, C.; Wulf, J.; Ye, J.; Zhang, Y.

    2017-12-01

    The XENON1T experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) is the first WIMP dark matter detector operating with a liquid xenon target mass above the ton-scale. Out of its 3.2 t liquid xenon inventory, 2.0 t constitute the active target of the dual-phase time projection chamber. The scintillation and ionization signals from particle interactions are detected with low-background photomultipliers. This article describes the XENON1T instrument and its subsystems as well as strategies to achieve an unprecedented low background level. First results on the detector response and the performance of the subsystems are also presented.

  1. Tadalafil Reduces Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Regulatory T Cells and Promotes Tumor Immunity in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Vella, Jennifer L.; Reis, Isildinha M.; De la fuente, Adriana C.; Gomez, Carmen; Sargi, Zoukaa; Nazarian, Ronen; Califano, Joseph; Borrello, Ivan

    2015-01-01

    Purpose Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). On the basis of our preclinical data demonstrating that phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibition can modulate these cell populations, we evaluated whether the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil can revert tumor-induced immunosuppression and promote tumor immunity in patients with HNSCC. Experimental Design First, we functionally and phenotypically characterized MDSCs in HNSCCs and determined, retrospectively, whether their presence at the tumor site correlates with recurrence. Then, we performed a prospective single-center, double-blinded, randomized, three-arm study in which patients with HNSCC undergoing definitive surgical resection of oral and oropharyngeal tumors were treated with tadalafil 10 μg/day, 20 μg/day, or placebo for at least 20 days preoperatively. Blood and tumor MDSC and Treg presence and CD8+ T-cell reactivity to tumor antigens were evaluated before and after treatment. Results MDSCs were characterized in HNSCC and their intratumoral presence significantly correlates with recurrence. Tadalafil treatment was well tolerated and significantly reduced both MDSCs and Treg concentrations in the blood and in the tumor (P < 0.05). In addition, the concentration of blood CD8+ T cells reactive to autologous tumor antigens significantly increased after treatment (P < 0.05). Tadalafil immunomodulatory activity was maximized at an intermediate dose but not at higher doses. Mechanistic analysis suggests a possible off-target effect on PDE11 at high dosages that, by increasing intracellular cAMP, may negatively affect antitumor immunity. Conclusions Tadalafil seems to beneficially modulate the tumor micro- and macro-environment in patients with HNSCC by lowering MDSCs and Tregs and increasing tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in a dose-dependent fashion. PMID:25320361

  2. Clinical significance of erythropoietin receptor expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Hypoxic tumors are refractory to radiation and chemotherapy. High expression of biomarkers related to hypoxia in head and neck cancer is associated with a poorer prognosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods The study included 256 patients who underwent primary surgical resection between October 1996 and August 2005 for treatment of OSCC without previous radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Clinicopathological information including gender, age, T classification, N classification, and TNM stage was obtained from clinical records and pathology reports. The mRNA and protein expression levels of EPOR in OSCC specimens were evaluated by Q-RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays. Results We found that EPOR were overexpressed in OSCC tissues. The study included 17 women and 239 men with an average age of 50.9 years (range, 26–87 years). The mean follow-up period was 67 months (range, 2–171 months). High EPOR expression was significantly correlated with advanced T classification (p < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (p < 0.001), and positive N classification (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the univariate analysis revealed that patients with high tumor EPOR expression had a lower 5-year overall survival rate (p = 0.0011) and 5-year disease-specific survival rate (p = 0.0017) than patients who had low tumor levels of EPOR. However, the multivariate analysis using Cox’s regression model revealed that only the T and N classifications were independent prognostic factors for the 5-year overall survival and 5-year disease-specific survival rates. Conclusions High EPOR expression in OSCC is associated with an aggressive tumor behavior and poorer prognosis in the univariate analysis among patients with OSCC. Thus, EPOR expression may serve as a treatment target for OSCC in the future. PMID:22639817

  3. Quantification of hepatic steatosis with T1-independent, T2-corrected MR imaging with spectral modeling of fat: blinded comparison with MR spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Meisamy, Sina; Hines, Catherine D G; Hamilton, Gavin; Sirlin, Claude B; McKenzie, Charles A; Yu, Huanzhou; Brittain, Jean H; Reeder, Scott B

    2011-03-01

    To prospectively compare an investigational version of a complex-based chemical shift-based fat fraction magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method with MR spectroscopy for the quantification of hepatic steatosis. This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Written informed consent was obtained before all studies. Fifty-five patients (31 women, 24 men; age range, 24-71 years) were prospectively imaged at 1.5 T with quantitative MR imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy, each within a single breath hold. The effects of T2 correction, spectral modeling of fat, and magnitude fitting for eddy current correction on fat quantification with MR imaging were investigated by reconstructing fat fraction images from the same source data with different combinations of error correction. Single-voxel T2-corrected MR spectroscopy was used to measure fat fraction and served as the reference standard. All MR spectroscopy data were postprocessed at a separate institution by an MR physicist who was blinded to MR imaging results. Fat fractions measured with MR imaging and MR spectroscopy were compared statistically to determine the correlation (r(2)), and the slope and intercept as measures of agreement between MR imaging and MR spectroscopy fat fraction measurements, to determine whether MR imaging can help quantify fat, and examine the importance of T2 correction, spectral modeling of fat, and eddy current correction. Two-sided t tests (significance level, P = .05) were used to determine whether estimated slopes and intercepts were significantly different from 1.0 and 0.0, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the classification of clinically significant steatosis were evaluated. Overall, there was excellent correlation between MR imaging and MR spectroscopy for all reconstruction combinations. However, agreement was only achieved when T2 correction, spectral modeling of fat, and magnitude fitting for eddy current correction were used (r(2

  4. The immediate effect of long-distance running on T2 and T2* relaxation times of articular cartilage of the knee in young healthy adults at 3.0 T MR imaging

    PubMed Central

    Welsch, Goetz H; Laqmani, Azien; Henes, Frank O; Kaul, Michael G; Schoen, Gerhard; Adam, Gerhard; Regier, Marc

    2016-01-01

    Objective: To quantitatively assess the immediate effect of long-distance running on T2 and T2* relaxation times of the articular cartilage of the knee at 3.0 T in young healthy adults. Methods: 30 healthy male adults (18–31 years) who perform sports at an amateur level underwent an initial MRI at 3.0 T with T2 weighted [16 echo times (TEs): 9.7–154.6 ms] and T2* weighted (24 TEs: 4.6–53.6 ms) relaxation measurements. Thereafter, all participants performed a 45-min run. After the run, all individuals were immediately re-examined. Data sets were post-processed using dedicated software (ImageJ; National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD). 22 regions of interest were manually drawn in segmented areas of the femoral, tibial and patellar cartilage. For statistical evaluation, Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients and confidence intervals were computed. Results: Mean initial values were 35.7 ms for T2 and 25.1 ms for T2*. After the run, a significant decrease in the mean T2 and T2* relaxation times was observed for all segments in all participants. A mean decrease of relaxation time was observed for T2 with 4.6 ms (±3.6 ms) and for T2* with 3.6 ms (±5.1 ms) after running. Conclusion: A significant decrease could be observed in all cartilage segments for both biomarkers. Both quantitative techniques, T2 and T2*, seem to be valuable parameters in the evaluation of immediate changes in the cartilage ultrastructure after running. Advances in knowledge: This is the first direct comparison of immediate changes in T2 and T2* relaxation times after running in healthy adults. PMID:27336705

  5. The immediate effect of long-distance running on T2 and T2* relaxation times of articular cartilage of the knee in young healthy adults at 3.0 T MR imaging.

    PubMed

    Behzadi, Cyrus; Welsch, Goetz H; Laqmani, Azien; Henes, Frank O; Kaul, Michael G; Schoen, Gerhard; Adam, Gerhard; Regier, Marc

    2016-08-01

    To quantitatively assess the immediate effect of long-distance running on T2 and T2* relaxation times of the articular cartilage of the knee at 3.0 T in young healthy adults. 30 healthy male adults (18-31 years) who perform sports at an amateur level underwent an initial MRI at 3.0 T with T2 weighted [16 echo times (TEs): 9.7-154.6 ms] and T2* weighted (24 TEs: 4.6-53.6 ms) relaxation measurements. Thereafter, all participants performed a 45-min run. After the run, all individuals were immediately re-examined. Data sets were post-processed using dedicated software (ImageJ; National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD). 22 regions of interest were manually drawn in segmented areas of the femoral, tibial and patellar cartilage. For statistical evaluation, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients and confidence intervals were computed. Mean initial values were 35.7 ms for T2 and 25.1 ms for T2*. After the run, a significant decrease in the mean T2 and T2* relaxation times was observed for all segments in all participants. A mean decrease of relaxation time was observed for T2 with 4.6 ms (±3.6 ms) and for T2* with 3.6 ms (±5.1 ms) after running. A significant decrease could be observed in all cartilage segments for both biomarkers. Both quantitative techniques, T2 and T2*, seem to be valuable parameters in the evaluation of immediate changes in the cartilage ultrastructure after running. This is the first direct comparison of immediate changes in T2 and T2* relaxation times after running in healthy adults.

  6. Peanut-specific type 1 regulatory T cells induced in vitro from allergic subjects are functionally impaired.

    PubMed

    Pellerin, Laurence; Jenks, Jennifer Anne; Chinthrajah, Sharon; Dominguez, Tina; Block, Whitney; Zhou, Xiaoying; Noshirvan, Arram; Gregori, Silvia; Roncarolo, Maria Grazia; Nadeau, Kari Christine; Bacchetta, Rosa

    2018-01-01

    Peanut allergy (PA) is a life-threatening condition that lacks regulator-approved treatment. Regulatory T type 1 (T R 1) cells are potent suppressors of immune responses and can be induced in vivo upon repeated antigen exposure or in vitro by using tolerogenic dendritic cells. Whether oral immunotherapy (OIT) leads to antigen-specific T R 1 cell induction has not been established. We sought to determine whether peanut-specific T R 1 cells can be generated in vitro from peripheral blood of patients with PA at baseline or during OIT and whether they are functional compared with peanut-specific T R 1 cells induced from healthy control (HC) subjects. Tolerogenic dendritic cells were differentiated in the presence of IL-10 from PBMCs of patients with PA and HC subjects pulsed with the main peanut allergens of Arachis hypogaea, Ara h 1 and 2, and used as antigen-presenting cells for autologous CD4 + T cells (CD4 + T cells coincubated with tolerogenic dendritic cells pulsed with the main peanut allergens [pea-T10 cells]). Pea-T10 cells were characterized by the presence of CD49b + lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3) + T R 1 cells, antigen-specific proliferative responses, and cytokine production. CD49b + LAG3 + T R 1 cells were induced in pea-T10 cells at comparable percentages from HC subjects and patients with PA. Despite their antigen specificity, pea-T10 cells of patients with PA with or without OIT, as compared with those of HC subjects, were not anergic and had high T H 2 cytokine production upon peanut-specific restimulation. Peanut-specific T R 1 cells can be induced from HC subjects and patients with PA, but those from patients with PA are functionally defective independent of OIT. The unfavorable T R 1/T H 2 ratio is discussed as a possible cause of PA T R 1 cell impairment. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Oleoyl-L-carnitine inhibits glycine transport by GlyT2

    PubMed Central

    Carland, JE; Mansfield, RE; Ryan, RM; Vandenberg, RJ

    2013-01-01

    Background and Purpose Concentrations of extracellular glycine in the CNS are regulated by two Na+/Cl–-dependent glycine transporters, GlyT1 and GlyT2. Selective inhibitors of GlyT1 have been developed for the treatment of schizophrenia, whilst selective inhibitors of GlyT2 are analgesic in animal models of pain. We have assessed a series of endogenous lipids as inhibitors of GlyT1 and GlyT2. Experimental Approach Human GlyT1 and GlyT2 were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and the inhibitory actions of a series of acylcarnitines on glycine transport were measured using electrophysiological techniques. Key Results Oleoyl-l-carnitine inhibited glycine transport by GlyT2, with an IC50 of 340 nM, which is 15-fold more potent than the previously identified lipid inhibitor N-arachidonyl-glycine. Oleoyl-l-carnitine had a slow onset of inhibition and a slow washout. Using a series of chimeric GlyT1/2 transporters and point mutant transporters, we have identified an isoleucine residue in extracellular loop 4 of GlyT2 that conferred differences in sensitivity to oleoyl-l-carnitine between GlyT2 and GlyT1. Conclusions and Implications Oleoyl-l-carnitine is a potent non-competitive inhibitor of GlyT2. Previously identified GlyT2 inhibitors show potential as analgesics and the identification of oleoyl-l-carnitine as a novel GlyT2 inhibitor may lead to new ways of treating pain. PMID:22978602

  8. Diagnosis and therapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Konkimalla, V Badireenath; Suhas, Venkatramana Laxminarayana; Chandra, Nagasuma R; Gebhart, Erich; Efferth, Thomas

    2007-03-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma ranks among the top ten most common cancers worldwide. Despite the success in diagnosis and therapy during the past 30 years, oral squamous cell carcinoma still belongs to the tumor types with a very unfavorable prognosis. In an effort to identify genomic alterations with prognostic relevance, we applied the comparative genomic hybridization technique on oral squamous cell carcinoma. The tumors exhibited from five up to 47 DNA copy number alterations, indicating a considerable degree of genomic imbalance. Out of 35 tumors, 19 showed a gain of chromosome band 7p12. Genomic imbalances were investigated by hierarchical cluster analysis and clustered image mapping to investigate whether genomic profiles correlate with clinical data. Results of the present investigation show that profiling of genomic imbalances in general, and especially of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on 7p12, may be suitable as prognostic factors. In order to identify small-molecule inhibitors for EGFR, we established a database of 531 natural compounds derived from medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Candidate compounds were identified by correlation analysis using the Kendall tau-test of IC50 values of tumor cell lines and microarray-based EGFR mRNA expression. Further validation was performed by molecular docking studies using the AutoDock program with the crystal structure of EGFR tyrosine kinase domain as docking template. We estimate these results will be a further step toward the ultimate goal of individualized, patient-adapted tumor treatment based on tumor molecular profiling.

  9. Next generation sequencing of oral microbiota in Type 2 diabetes mellitus prior to and after neem stick usage and correlation with serum monocyte chemoattractant-1.

    PubMed

    Anbalagan, Rubini; Srikanth, Padma; Mani, Monika; Barani, Ramya; Seshadri, Krishna G; Janarthanan, R

    2017-08-01

    Oral microbiome impacts health and disease. T2DM and periodontitis are associated. Neem (Azadiracta indica) has antibacterial activity against oral microbiota. To characterize oral microbiota (OMB) in saliva samples of T2DM patients by Next generation sequencing. To analyze MCP-1 levels among the T2DM patients before and after a month of neem stick usage as a toothbrush. Blood and saliva samples were collected from adult T2DM patients before and after the neem stick usage. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on saliva samples targeting V6 region of 16s rRNA. Serum MCP-1 levels were determined using a quantitative sandwich Human MCP-1 standard ABTS development kit (Peprotech, USA). The profile of oral microbiota of T2DM patients (n=24) consists of Streptococcus (95.8%) counts ranging from 2644 to 27,214, Veillonella (72.2%, counts 25-19,709, Neisseria (87.5%) 453-33,445), Rothia (63.6%, 233-6734), Actinomycetes (25%, 161-3730), Fusobacterium (21%, 2252-21,334), and Pigmentiphaga (12.5% 3-16,644). Oral microbiota in healthy controls (n=10), consists of Streptococcus (26.1%), Veillonella (21.9%), Neisseria (16.9%), Haemophilus (10.7%), Actinomycetes (2.6%), Rothia (3.1%), Oribacterium (1.7%). Post neem samples showed drastic reduction in the load of bacteria which was statistically significant. The mean serum MCP-1 before the use of neem stick was 265.18±79.44 (range 141.6-980.5pg/ml) and dropped to 33.6±7.35 after a month of neem stick usage (P value>0.001). OMB of T2DM patients and healthy controls were similar, however bacterial loads were significantly higher in T2DM patients. Use of neem stick has a statistically significant reduction on bacterial loads and MCP-1 levels in T2DM patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Clinical heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes (T1D) found in Asia.

    PubMed

    Park, Yongsoo; Wintergerst, Kupper A; Zhou, Zhiguang

    2017-10-01

    Diabetes mellitus among young patients in Asia is caused by a complex set of factors. Although type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains the most common form of diabetes in children, the recent unabated increase in obesity has resulted in the emergence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a new type of diabetes among adolescents and young adults. In addition to the typical autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1aD) and T2D patients, there is a variable incidence of cases of non-autoimmune types of T1D associated with insulin deficiency (T1bD). Additional forms have been described, including fulminant T1D (FT1D). Although most diagnoses of T1D are classified as T1aD, fulminant T1D exists as a hyper-acute subtype of T1D that affects older children, without associated autoimmunity. Patient with this rare aetiology of diabetes showed a complete loss of β-cell secretory capacity without evidence of recovery, necessitating long-term treatment with insulin. In addition, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is a form of autoimmune-mediated diabetes, usually diagnosed during the insulin-dependent stage that follows a non-insulin requiring phase, which can be diagnosed earlier based on anti-islet autoantibody positivity. Some reports discuss T1bD. Others are elaborating on the presence of "atypical T1b diabetes," such as Flatbush diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in young adults continues to rise in Asian populations as T2D increases. With improved characterization of patients with diabetes, the range of diabetic subgroups will become even more diverse in the future. Distinguishing T1D, T2D, and other forms of diabetes in young patients is challenging in Asian populations, as the correct diagnosis is clinically important and has implications for prognosis and management. Despite aetiological heterogeneity in the usual clinical setting, early diagnosis and classification of patients with diabetes relying on clinical grounds as well as measuring islet autoantibodies and fasting plasma C

  11. Au Nanocage Functionalized with Ultra-small Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Targeting T1-T2Dual MRI and CT Imaging of Tumor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Guannan; Gao, Wei; Zhang, Xuanjun; Mei, Xifan

    2016-06-01

    Diagnostic approaches based on multimodal imaging of clinical noninvasive imaging (eg. MRI/CT scanner) are highly developed in recent years for accurate selection of the therapeutic regimens in critical diseases. Therefore, it is highly demanded in the development of appropriate all-in-one multimodal contrast agents (MCAs) for the MRI/CT multimodal imaging. Here a novel ideal MCAs (F-AuNC@Fe3O4) were engineered by assemble Au nanocages (Au NC) and ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) for simultaneous T1-T2dual MRI and CT contrast imaging. In this system, the Au nanocages offer facile thiol modification and strong X-ray attenuation property for CT imaging. The ultra-small Fe3O4 nanoparticles, as excellent contrast agent, is able to provide great enhanced signal of T1- and T2-weighted MRI (r1 = 6.263 mM-1 s-1, r2 = 28.117 mM-1 s-1) due to their ultra-refined size. After functionalization, the present MCAs nanoparticles exhibited small average size, low aggregation and excellent biocompatible. In vitro and In vivo studies revealed that the MCAs show long-term circulation time, renal clearance properties and outstanding capability of selective accumulation in tumor tissues for simultaneous CT imaging and T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Taken together, these results show that as-prepared MCAs are excellent candidates as MRI/CT multimodal imaging contrast agents.

  12. Elective neck dissection for primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma involving the tongue should include sublevel IIb.

    PubMed

    Maher, Nigel Gordon; Hoffman, Gary Russell

    2014-11-01

    The surgical clearance of sublevel IIb lymph nodes, facilitated by neck dissection, increases the risk of postoperative shoulder dysfunction. Our study purpose was to determine the value of including sublevel IIb in elective neck dissections for primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). A retrospective cohort study based on a review of the pathology records accumulated by 1 head and neck surgeon was conducted for 71 patients with clinically node-negative, primary OCSCC treated from 2006 to June 2013. The predictor variables were the oral cavity subsite and tumor clinicopathologic characteristics (ie, perineural, perivascular, and perilymphatic invasion, tumor depth, and T stage). The primary outcome variable was the presence of sublevel IIb metastasis. The secondary outcome variables were the survival and tumor recurrence rates and metastases to any cervical level. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the categorical and continuous variables. A comparison of categorical variables was performed using Fisher's exact test; for continuous variables, t tests or the Mann-Whitney U test were used for 2 groups and analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests (with Bonferroni's correction) were used for more than 2 groups, depending on the distribution. Disease-specific survival (DSS) analyses were plotted for the predictor variables and patients with sublevel IIb metastasis. Competing risks models were created using the Fine and Gray method (SAS macro %PSHREG) to provide estimates of the crude and adjusted subhazard ratios for DSS for all variables. A total of 71 patients were included in the present study, of whom 69% were male. The greatest proportion of oral cavity subsites was from the tongue and floor of mouth. The overall frequency of sublevel IIb lymphatic metastases at neck dissection was 5.6% of the patient cohort. Sublevel IIb metastases occurred from the primary sites involving the tongue (n = 3) and retromolar trigone (n = 1). The incidence of

  13. Key amino acid residues involved in multi-point binding interactions between brazzein, a sweet protein, and the T1R2-T1R3 human sweet receptor

    PubMed Central

    Assadi-Porter, Fariba M.; Maillet, Emeline L.; Radek, James T.; Quijada, Jeniffer; Markley, John L.; Max, Marianna

    2010-01-01

    The sweet protein brazzein activates the human sweet receptor, a heterodimeric G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) composed of subunits T1R2 and T1R3. In order to elucidate the key amino acid(s) responsible for this interaction, we mutated residues in brazzein and each of the two subunits of the receptor. The effects of brazzein mutations were assayed by a human taste panel and by an in vitro assay involving receptor subunits expressed recombinantly in human embryonic kidney cells; the effects of the receptor mutations were assayed by the in vitro assay. We mutated surface residues of brazzein at three putative interaction sites: Site 1 (Loop43), Site 2 (N- and C-terminus and adjacent Glu36, Loop33), and Site 3 (Loop9–19). Basic residues in Site 1 and acidic residues in Site 2 were essential for positive responses from each assay. Mutation of Y39A (Site 1) greatly reduced positive responses. A bulky side chain at position 54 (Site 2), rather than a side chain with hydrogen bonding potential, was required for positive responses as was the presence of the native disulfide bond in Loop 9–19 (Site 3). Results from mutagenesis and chimeras of the receptor indicated that brazzein interacts with both T1R2 and T1R3 and that the Venus fly trap module of T1R2 is important for brazzein agonism. With one exception, all mutations of receptor residues at putative interaction sites predicted by wedge models failed to yield the expected decrease in the brazzein response. The exception, hT1R2:R217A-hT1R3, which contained a substitution in lobe 2 at the interface between the two subunits, exhibited a small selective decrease in brazzein activity. However, because the mutation was found to increase the positive cooperativity of binding by multiple ligands proposed to bind both T1R subunits (brazzein, monellin, and sucralose) but not those that bind to a single subunit (neotame and cyclamate), we suggest that this site in involved in subunit-subunit interaction rather than direct

  14. A prospective evaluation of short-term dysphagia after transoral robotic surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

    PubMed

    Albergotti, William G; Jordan, Jessica; Anthony, Keely; Abberbock, Shira; Wasserman-Wincko, Tamara; Kim, Seungwon; Ferris, Robert L; Duvvuri, Umamaheswar

    2017-08-15

    Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been associated with improved long-term dysphagia symptomatology compared with chemoradiation. Dysphagia in the perioperative period has been inadequately characterized. The objective of this study was to characterize short-term swallowing outcomes after TORS for OPSCC. Patients undergoing TORS for OPSCC were enrolled prospectively. The Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) was used as a measure of swallowing dysfunction (score >2) and was administered on postoperative day (POD) 1, 7, and 30. Patient demographics, weight, pain level, and clinical outcomes were recorded prospectively and focused on time to oral diet, feeding tube placement, and dysphagia-related readmissions. A total of 51 patients were included with pathologic T stages of T1 (n = 24), T2 (n = 20), T3 (n = 3), and Tx (n = 4). Self-reported preoperative dysphagia was unusual (13.7%). The mean EAT-10 score on POD 1 was lower than on POD 7 (21.5 vs 26.6; P = .005) but decreased by POD 30 (26.1 to 12.2; P < .001). Forty-seven (92.1%) patients were discharged on an oral diet, but 57.4% required compensatory strategies or modification of liquid consistency. Ninety-eight percent of patients were taking an oral diet by POD 30. There were no dysphagia-related readmissions. This prospective study shows that most patients who undergo TORS experience dysphagia for at least the first month postoperatively, but nearly all can be started on an oral diet. The dysphagia-associated complication profile is acceptable after TORS with a minority of patients requiring temporary feeding tube placement. Aggressive evaluation and management of postoperative dysphagia in TORS patients may help prevent dysphagia-associated readmissions. Cancer 2017;123:3132-40. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

  15. Bi-2212/1T-TaS 2 Van der Waals junctions: Interplay of proximity induced high-T c superconductivity and CDW order

    DOE PAGES

    Li, Ang J.; Zhu, Xiaochen; Stewart, G. R.; ...

    2017-07-05

    Understanding the coexistence, competition and/or cooperation between superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is an elusive goal which, when realized, promises to reveal fundamental information on this important class of materials. Here in this paper, we use four-terminal current-voltage measurements to study the Van der Waals interface between freshly exfoliated flakes of the high-T c superconductor, Bi-2212, and the CDW-dominated TMD layered material, 1T-TaS 2. For highly transparent barriers, there is a pronounced Andreev reflection feature providing evidence for proximity-induced high-Tc superconductivity in 1T-TaS 2 with a surprisingly large energy gap (~20 meV) equalmore » to half that of intrinsic Bi-2212 (~40 meV). Our systematic study using conductance spectroscopy of junctions with different transparencies also reveals the presence of two separate boson modes, each associated with a “dip-hump” structure. Finally, we infer that the proximityinduced high-T c superconductivity in the 1T-TaS 2 is driven by coupling to the metastable metallic phase coexisting within the Mott commensurate CDW (CCDW) phase and associated with a concomitant change of the CCDW order parameter in the interfacial region.« less

  16. Bi-2212/1T-TaS 2 Van der Waals junctions: Interplay of proximity induced high-T c superconductivity and CDW order

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Ang J.; Zhu, Xiaochen; Stewart, G. R.

    Understanding the coexistence, competition and/or cooperation between superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is an elusive goal which, when realized, promises to reveal fundamental information on this important class of materials. Here in this paper, we use four-terminal current-voltage measurements to study the Van der Waals interface between freshly exfoliated flakes of the high-T c superconductor, Bi-2212, and the CDW-dominated TMD layered material, 1T-TaS 2. For highly transparent barriers, there is a pronounced Andreev reflection feature providing evidence for proximity-induced high-Tc superconductivity in 1T-TaS 2 with a surprisingly large energy gap (~20 meV) equalmore » to half that of intrinsic Bi-2212 (~40 meV). Our systematic study using conductance spectroscopy of junctions with different transparencies also reveals the presence of two separate boson modes, each associated with a “dip-hump” structure. Finally, we infer that the proximityinduced high-T c superconductivity in the 1T-TaS 2 is driven by coupling to the metastable metallic phase coexisting within the Mott commensurate CDW (CCDW) phase and associated with a concomitant change of the CCDW order parameter in the interfacial region.« less

  17. 26 CFR 1.7874-2T - Surrogate foreign corporation (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 26 Internal Revenue 13 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Surrogate foreign corporation (temporary). 1... (CONTINUED) INCOME TAX (CONTINUED) INCOME TAXES General Actuarial Valuations § 1.7874-2T Surrogate foreign corporation (temporary). (a) Scope. This section provides rules for determining whether a foreign corporation...

  18. An overview on "cellular cannibalism" with special reference to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Jain, M

    2015-12-01

    Cellular cannibalism has been defined as a large cell engulfing a slightly smaller one within its cytoplasm. It has been described in various cancers like bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cellular cannibalism has been well correlated with anaplasia, tumor aggressiveness, grading and metastatic potential. Present review focuses on significance of cannibalism in relation to cancer with special emphasis on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

  19. Revisiting the human polypeptide GalNAc-T1 and T13 paralogs

    PubMed Central

    Festari, María Florencia; Trajtenberg, Felipe; Berois, Nora; Pantano, Sergio; Revoredo, Leslie; Kong, Yun; Solari-Saquieres, Patricia; Narimatsu, Yoshiki; Freire, Teresa; Bay, Sylvie; Robello, Carlos; Bénard, Jean; Gerken, Thomas A; Clausen, Henrik; Osinaga, Eduardo

    2017-01-01

    Polypeptide GalNAc-transferases (GalNAc-Ts) constitute a family of 20 human glycosyltransferases (comprising 9 subfamilies), which initiate mucin-type O-glycosylation. The O-glycoproteome is thought to be differentially regulated via the different substrate specificities and expression patterns of each GalNAc-T isoforms. Here, we present a comprehensive in vitro analysis of the peptide substrate specificity of GalNAc-T13, showing that it essentially overlaps with the ubiquitous expressed GalNAc-T1 isoform found in the same subfamily as T13. We have also identified and partially characterized nine splice variants of GalNAc-T13, which add further complexity to the GalNAc-T family. Two variants with changes in their lectin domains were characterized by in vitro glycosylation assays, and one (Δ39Ex9) was inactive while the second one (Ex10b) had essentially unaltered activity. We used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of human neuroblastoma cell lines, normal brain and a small panel of neuroblastoma tumors to demonstrate that several splice variants (Ex10b, ΔEx9, ΔEx2-7 and ΔEx6/8-39bpEx9) were highly expressed in tumor cell lines compared with normal brain, although the functional implications remain to be unveiled. In summary, the GalNAc-T13 isoform is predicted to function similarly to GalNAc-T1 against peptide substrates in vivo, in contrast to a prior report, but is unique by being selectively expressed in the brain. PMID:27913570

  20. T cell receptor for antigen induces linker for activation of T cell–dependent activation of a negative signaling complex involving Dok-2, SHIP-1, and Grb-2

    PubMed Central

    Dong, Shen; Corre, Béatrice; Foulon, Eliane; Dufour, Evelyne; Veillette, André; Acuto, Oreste; Michel, Frédérique

    2006-01-01

    Adaptor proteins positively or negatively regulate the T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) signaling cascade. We report that after TCR stimulation, the inhibitory adaptor downstream of kinase (Dok)-2 and its homologue Dok-1 are involved in a multimolecular complex including the lipid phosphatase Src homology 2 domain–containing inositol polyphosphate 5′-phosphatase (SHIP)-1 and Grb-2 which interacts with the membrane signaling scaffold linker for activation of T cells (LAT). Knockdown of LAT and SHIP-1 expression indicated that SHIP-1 favored recruitment of Dok-2 to LAT. Knockdown of Dok-2 and Dok-1 revealed their negative control on Akt and, unexpectedly, on Zap-70 activation. Our findings support the view that Dok-1 and -2 are critical elements of a LAT-dependent negative feedback loop that attenuates early TCR signal. Dok-1 and -2 may therefore exert a critical role in shaping the immune response and as gatekeepers for T cell tolerance. PMID:17043143

  1. TRF2 Recruits RTEL1 to Telomeres in S Phase to Promote T-Loop Unwinding

    PubMed Central

    Sarek, Grzegorz; Vannier, Jean-Baptiste; Panier, Stephanie; Petrini, John H.J.; Boulton, Simon J.

    2015-01-01

    Summary The helicase RTEL1 promotes t-loop unwinding and suppresses telomere fragility to maintain the integrity of vertebrate telomeres. An interaction between RTEL1 and PCNA is important to prevent telomere fragility, but how RTEL1 engages with the telomere to promote t-loop unwinding is unclear. Here, we establish that the shelterin protein TRF2 recruits RTEL1 to telomeres in S phase, which is required to prevent catastrophic t-loop processing by structure-specific nucleases. We show that the TRF2-RTEL1 interaction is mediated by a metal-coordinating C4C4 motif in RTEL1, which is compromised by the Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS) mutation, RTEL1R1264H. Conversely, we define a TRF2I124D substitution mutation within the TRFH domain of TRF2, which eliminates RTEL1 binding and phenocopies the RTEL1R1264H mutation, giving rise to aberrant t-loop excision, telomere length heterogeneity, and loss of the telomere as a circle. These results implicate TRF2 in the recruitment of RTEL1 to facilitate t-loop disassembly at telomeres in S phase. PMID:25620558

  2. TRF2 recruits RTEL1 to telomeres in S phase to promote t-loop unwinding.

    PubMed

    Sarek, Grzegorz; Vannier, Jean-Baptiste; Panier, Stephanie; Petrini, John H J; Boulton, Simon J

    2015-02-19

    The helicase RTEL1 promotes t-loop unwinding and suppresses telomere fragility to maintain the integrity of vertebrate telomeres. An interaction between RTEL1 and PCNA is important to prevent telomere fragility, but how RTEL1 engages with the telomere to promote t-loop unwinding is unclear. Here, we establish that the shelterin protein TRF2 recruits RTEL1 to telomeres in S phase, which is required to prevent catastrophic t-loop processing by structure-specific nucleases. We show that the TRF2-RTEL1 interaction is mediated by a metal-coordinating C4C4 motif in RTEL1, which is compromised by the Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS) mutation, RTEL1(R1264H). Conversely, we define a TRF2(I124D) substitution mutation within the TRFH domain of TRF2, which eliminates RTEL1 binding and phenocopies the RTEL1(R1264H) mutation, giving rise to aberrant t-loop excision, telomere length heterogeneity, and loss of the telomere as a circle. These results implicate TRF2 in the recruitment of RTEL1 to facilitate t-loop disassembly at telomeres in S phase. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Synthesis and characterization of T[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz with T=Fe, Ni; pyz=pyrazine: Formation of T-pyz-Ni bridges

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lemus-Santana, A.A.; Rodriguez-Hernandez, J.; Institute of Materials Science and Technology, University of Havana

    2011-08-15

    The formation of T-pyz-Ni bridges (pyz=pyrazine) in the T[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz series is known for T=Mn, Zn, Cd and Co but not with T=Fe, Ni. In this contribution the existence of such bridges also for T=Fe, Ni is discussed. The obtained pillared solids, T[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz, were characterized from XRD, TG, UV-Vis, IR, Raman, Moessbauer and magnetic data. Their crystal structures were refined in the orthorhombic Pmna space group from XRD powder patterns. The structural behavior of these solids on cooling down to 77 K was also studied. In the 180-200 K temperature range the occurrence of a structural transition to amore » monoclinic structure (P2{sub 1}/c space group) was observed. No temperature induced spin transition was observed for Fe[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz. The iron (II) was found to be in high spin electronic state and this configuration is preserved on cooling down to 2 K. The magnetic data indicate the occurrence of a low temperature weak anti-ferromagnetic interaction between T metal centers within the T[Ni(CN){sub 4}] layer. In the paramagnetic region for Ni[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz, a reversible temperature induced spin transition for the inner Ni atom was detected. - Graphical abstract: Rippled sheets structure for the pillared solids T[Ni(CN){sub 4}].2pyz. The pyrazine molecule is found forming T-pyz-Ni bridges between neighboring layers. Highlights: > Pillared 2D solids. > Inorganic-organic solids. > Assembling of molecular blocks. > From 1D and 2D building blocks to 3D solids.« less

  4. Signal-to-noise ratio, T2 , and T2* for hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI of the human lung at three magnetic field strengths.

    PubMed

    Komlosi, Peter; Altes, Talissa A; Qing, Kun; Mooney, Karen E; Miller, G Wilson; Mata, Jaime F; de Lange, Eduard E; Tobias, William A; Cates, Gordon D; Mugler, John P

    2017-10-01

    To evaluate T 2 , T2*, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for hyperpolarized helium-3 ( 3 He) MRI of the human lung at three magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.43T to 1.5T. Sixteen healthy volunteers were imaged using a commercial whole body scanner at 0.43T, 0.79T, and 1.5T. Whole-lung T 2 values were calculated from a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill spin-echo-train acquisition. T2* maps and SNR were determined from dual-echo and single-echo gradient-echo images, respectively. Mean whole-lung SNR values were normalized by ventilated lung volume and administered 3 He dose. As expected, T 2 and T2* values demonstrated a significant inverse relationship to field strength. Hyperpolarized 3 He images acquired at all three field strengths had comparable SNR values and thus appeared visually very similar. Nonetheless, the relatively small SNR differences among field strengths were statistically significant. Hyperpolarized 3 He images of the human lung with similar image quality were obtained at three field strengths ranging from 0.43T and 1.5T. The decrease in susceptibility effects at lower fields that are reflected in longer T 2 and T2* values may be advantageous for optimizing pulse sequences inherently sensitive to such effects. The three-fold increase in T2* at lower field strength would allow lower receiver bandwidths, providing a concomitant decrease in noise and relative increase in SNR. Magn Reson Med 78:1458-1463, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  5. Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expression in histologically normal margins of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Morelatto, Rosana; Itoiz, María-Elina; Guiñazú, Natalia; Piccini, Daniel; Gea, Susana; López-de Blanc, Silvia

    2014-05-01

    The activity of Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (NOS2) was found in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) but not in normal mucosa. Molecular changes associated to early carcinogenesis have been found in mucosa near carcinomas, which is considered a model to study field cancerization. The aim of the present study is to analyze NOS2 expression at the histologically normal margins of OSCC. Eleven biopsy specimens of OSCC containing histologically normal margins (HNM) were analyzed. Ten biopsies of normal oral mucosa were used as controls. The activity of NOS2 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Salivary nitrate and nitrite as well as tobacco and alcohol consumption were also analyzed. The Chi-squared test was applied. Six out of the eleven HNM from carcinoma samples showed positive NOS2 activity whereas all the control group samples yielded negative (p=0.005). No statistically significant association between enzyme expression and tobacco and/or alcohol consumption and salivary nitrate and nitrite was found. NOS2 expression would be an additional evidence of alterations that may occur in a state of field cancerization before the appearance of potentially malignant morphological changes.

  6. Retracted: Association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in a Caucasian population.

    PubMed

    Liu, Guohui; Zhou, Tian-Biao; Jiang, Zongpei; Zheng, Dongwen

    2015-03-01

    The association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism with type-2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) susceptibility and the risk of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) developing into T2DN in Caucasian populations is still controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in Caucasian populations. A predefined literature search and selection of eligible relevant studies were performed to collect data from electronic databases. Sixteen articles were identified for the analysis of the association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in Caucasian populations. ACE I/D gene polymorphism was not associated with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of patients with T2DM developing T2DN in Caucasian populations. Sensitivity analysis according to sample size of case (<100 vs. ≥100) was also performed, and the results were similar to the non-sensitivity analysis. ACE I/D gene polymorphism was not associated with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of patients with T2DM developing T2DN in Caucasian populations. However, more studies should be performed in the future. © The Author(s) 2014.

  7. Advantage of FMISO-PET over FDG-PET for predicting histological response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sato, Jun; Kitagawa, Yoshimasa; Yamazaki, Yutaka; Hata, Hironobu; Asaka, Takuya; Miyakoshi, Masaaki; Okamoto, Shozo; Shiga, Tohru; Shindoh, Masanobu; Kuge, Yuji; Tamaki, Nagara

    2014-11-01

    Hypoxia, a prognostic factor in many types of cancer, can be detected by (18)F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET). It is unclear whether hypoxia reflects the response to chemotherapy in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The correlations of FMISO-PET and FDG-PET with histological response to preoperative chemotherapy were therefore assessed in patients with OSCC. This study enrolled 22 patients with OSCC undergoing preoperative chemotherapy. The T-stages were T2 in 6 patients, T3 in 3, and T4a in 13, and the N-stages were N0 in 14 patients, N1 in 3, and N2 in 5. Each patient was evaluated by both FMISO-PET and FDG-PET before surgery, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of FDG- and FMISO-PET and tumor-muscle ratio (TMR) of FMISO-PET were measured. The threshold for the hypoxic volume based on TMR was set at 1.25. The histological response to preoperative chemotherapy was evaluated using operative materials. FMISO-PET and FDG-PET detected uptake by primary OSCCs in 15 (68%) and 21 (95%) patients, respectively, and median SUVmaxs of FMISO- and FDG-PET in the primary site were 2.0 (range, 1.3-3.5) and 16.0 (range, 1.0-32.2), respectively. The median of FMISO TMR was 1.5 (range, 0.99-2.96). There were five cases whose FMISO TMR was less than 1.25. Histological evaluation showed good response to preoperative chemotherapy in 7 patients (32%) and poor response in 15 (68%). Good response was significantly more prevalent in patients with negative than positive FMISO uptake (P < 0.001) and without the hypoxic area evaluated by FMISO-PET TMR (P = 0.04), whereas FDG uptake was not significantly correlated with response to chemotherapy response. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FMISO uptake was an independent significant predictor of response to preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.03, odds ratio = 0.06, 95% confidence interval = 0.004-0.759). An advantage of FMISO-PET over FDG-PET for

  8. RETRACTED: Association between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T2DN susceptibility: The risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in the Asian population.

    PubMed

    Zhong, Weiqiang; Jiang, Zongpei; Zhou, Tian-Biao

    2015-12-01

    .1177/1470320314566019 Tian-Biao Zhou, Xue-Feng Guo, Zongpei Jiang, and Hong-Yan Li Relationship between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism and T1DN susceptibility/risk of T1DM developing into T1DN in the Caucasian population Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314563425, first published on February 1, 2015 doi: 10.1177/1470320314563425 Chun-Hua Yang and Tian-Biao Zhou Relationship between the angiotensinogen A1166C gene polymorphism and the risk of diabetes mellitus developing into diabetic nephropathy Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314566221, first published on February 1, 2015 doi: 10.1177/1470320314566221 Chun-Hua Yang and Tian-Biao Zhou Association of the ACE I/D gene polymorphism with sepsis susceptibility and sepsis progression Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System 1470320314568521, first published on February 3, 2015 doi: 10.1177/1470320314568521 Articles published in an issue Guohui Liu, Tian-Biao Zhou, Zongpei Jiang, and Dongwen Zheng Association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with T2DN susceptibility and the risk of T2DM developing into T2DN in a Caucasian population Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System March 2015 16: 165-171, first published on November 14, 2014 doi: 10.1177/1470320314557849 Weiqiang Zhong, Zhongliang Huang, Yong Wu, Zongpei Jiang, and Tian-Biao Zhou Association of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene polymorphism with IgA nephropathy risk and progression of IgA nephropathy Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System September 2015 16: 660-665, first published on August 20, 2014 doi: 10.1177/1470320314524011.

  9. Women Transmits Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) More Than Men: Evidences from Parental Inheritance of T2DM Among Bahrainis.

    PubMed

    Al-Harbi, E M; Farid, E M; Darwish, A H; Gumaa, K A; Giha, H A

    2016-07-01

    Heritability in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is observed but not well understood. In this study, family history and clinical/biochemical data from 789 Bahrainis (418 T2DM, 371 controls) was analyzed. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c were measured and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed. Patients compared to controls have higher proportions of diabetic mothers (50.2% vs. 32.7%, p=0.005), fathers (35.2% vs. 12.1%, p<0.001) and siblings (56% vs. 15.3%, p<0.001). The proportions of diabetic mothers was higher than the proportions of diabetic fathers among the patients (50.2% vs. 35.2%, p<0.001) and the controls (32.7% vs. 12.1%, p<0.001). Patients born to diabetic mothers compared to the other patients were smaller in age at the time of enrollment in this study (p=0.005), and at onset of T2DM (p<0.001), and also had higher FBG (p=0.033). Interestingly, the prevalence of T1DM was highest amongst the siblings of the controls compared to patients (p=0.04). Finally, the heterozygote I/D genotype of the ACE gene was over expressed in patients born to diabetic mothers when compared to patients born to diabetic fathers, p=0.007. there was strong clustering of T2DM in families, with significant dominant maternal role in transmission of T2DM and associated severity markers. Patients (T2DM) born to diabetic mothers were genetically and phenotypically different from the other patients. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  10. 26 CFR 1.904-2T - Carryback and carryover of unused foreign tax (temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... financial services income in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2007, that are carried forward to a... financial services income to which those taxes relate would have been allocated to the general category if... (temporary). 1.904-2T Section 1.904-2T Internal Revenue INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY...

  11. Imprints of a light sterile neutrino at DUNE, T2HK, and T2HKK

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choubey, Sandhya; Dutta, Debajyoti; Pramanik, Dipyaman

    2017-09-01

    We evaluate the impact of sterile neutrino oscillations in the so-called 3 +1 scenario on the proposed long baseline experiment in USA and Japan. There are two proposals for the Japan experiment which are called T2HK and T2HKK. We show the impact of sterile neutrino oscillation parameters on the expected sensitivity of T2HK and T2HKK to mass hierarchy, C P violation and octant of θ23 and compare it against that expected in the case of standard oscillations. We add the expected ten years data from DUNE and present the combined expected sensitivity of T 2 HKK +DUNE to the oscillation parameters. We do a full marginalization over the relevant parameter space and show the effect of the magnitude of the true sterile mixing angles on the physics reach of these experiments. We show that if one assumes that the source of C P violation is the standard C P phase alone in the test case, then it appears that the expected C P violation sensitivity decreases due to sterile neutrinos. However, if we give up this assumption, then the C P sensitivity could go in either direction. The impact on expected octant of θ23 and mass hierarchy sensitivity is shown to depend on the magnitude of the sterile mixing angles in a nontrivial way.

  12. Abnormal differentiation, hyperplasia and embryonic/perinatal lethality in BK5-T/t transgenic mice

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Xin; Schneider-Broussard, Robin; Hollowell, Debra; McArthur, Mark; Jeter, Collene R.; Benavides, Fernando; DiGiovanni, John; Tang, Dean G.

    2009-01-01

    The cell-of-origin has a great impact on the types of tumors that develop and the stem/progenitor cells have long been considered main targets of malignant transformation. The SV40 large T and small t antigens (T/t), have been targeted to multiple differentiated cellular compartments in transgenic mice. In most of these studies, transgenic animals develop tumors without apparent defects in animal development. In this study, we used the bovine keratin 5 (BK5) promoter to target the T/t antigens to stem/progenitor cell-containing cytokeratin 5 (CK5) cellular compartment. A transgene construct, BK5-T/t, was made and microinjected into the male pronucleus of FVB/N mouse oocytes. After implanting ∼1700 embryos, only 7 transgenics were obtained, including 4 embryos (E9.5, E13, E15, and E20) and 3 postnatal animals, which died at P1, P2, and P18, respectively. Immunohistological analysis revealed aberrant differentiation and prominent hyperplasia in several transgenic CK5 tissues, especially the upper digestive organs (tongue, oral mucosa, esophagus, and forestomach) and epidermis, the latter of which also showed focal dysplasia. Altogether, these results indicate that constitutive expression of the T/t antigens in CK5 cellular compartment results in abnormal epithelial differentiation and leads to embryonic/perinatal animal lethality. PMID:19272531

  13. Rapid Biodegradation of the Herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid by Cupriavidus gilardii T-1.

    PubMed

    Wu, Xiangwei; Wang, Wenbo; Liu, Junwei; Pan, Dandan; Tu, Xiaohui; Lv, Pei; Wang, Yi; Cao, Haiqun; Wang, Yawen; Hua, Rimao

    2017-05-10

    Phytotoxicity and environmental pollution of residual herbicides have caused much public concern during the past several decades. An indigenous bacterial strain capable of degrading 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), designated T-1, was isolated from soybean field soil and identified as Cupriavidus gilardii. Strain T-1 degraded 2,4-D 3.39 times more rapidly than the model strain Cupriavidus necator JMP134. T-1 could also efficiently degrade 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), MCPA isooctyl ester, and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid (2,4-DP). Suitable conditions for 2,4-D degradation were pH 7.0-9.0, 37-42 °C, and 4.0 mL of inoculums. Degradation of 2,4-D was concentration-dependent. 2,4-D was degraded to 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by cleavage of the ether bond and then to 3,5-dichlorocatechol (3,5-DCC) via hydroxylation, followed by ortho-cleavage to cis-2-dichlorodiene lactone (CDL). The metabolites 2,4-DCP or 3,5-DCC at 10 mg L -1 were completely degraded within 16 h. Fast degradation of 2,4-D and its analogues highlights the potential for use of C. gilardii T-1 in bioremediation of phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides.

  14. The determination of the orbit of the Japanese satellite Ajisai and the GEM-T1 and GEM-T2 gravity field models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sanchez, Braulio V.

    1990-01-01

    The Japanese Experimental Geodetic Satellite Ajisai was launched on August 12, 1986. In response to the TOPEX-POSEIDON mission requirements, the GSFC Space Geodesy Branch and its associates are producing improved models of the Earth's gravitational field. With the launch of Ajisai, precise laser data is now available which can be used to test many current gravity models. The testing of the various gravity field models show improvements of more than 70 percent in the orbital fits when using GEM-T1 and GEM-T2 relative to results obtained with the earlier GEM-10B model. The GEM-T2 orbital fits are at the 13-cm level (RMS). The results of the tests with the various versions of the GEM-T1 model indicate that the addition of satellite altimetry and surface gravity anomalies as additional data types should improve future gravity field models.

  15. Availability of sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Maruyama, Hiroshi; Tanaka, Ryota; Fujisawa, Yasuhiro; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Ito, Shusaku; Fujimoto, Manabu

    2017-04-01

    Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second common cutaneous cancer, especially in the elderly. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is generally performed in breast cancers and cutaneous melanomas to detect occult nodal metastases. The benefit of sentinel lymph node biopsy in improving cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma prognosis is doubtful. One hundred and sixty-nine patients who underwent treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma between 2004 and 2015, and who were followed up for at least 6 months or developed metastases within the follow-up period were included. Forty-nine patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, whereas 120 patients did not, including 13 who exhibited clinical lymph node metastases before treatment. Of these 49 patients, nine (18.4%) presented with sentinel lymph node metastasis, which occurred after treatment in three (6.1%) of them (false-negative). Among the 107 patients who did not undergo lymph node biopsy, 12 (11.2%) developed post-treatment metastases. The metastasis-free and disease-specific survival rates were not significantly different in those who did or did not undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy. Patients with clinical lymph node metastases had a higher risk compared with those without. Patients with T2-T4 tumors had a higher risk compared with those with T1 tumors. When selecting for those with T2 tumors or greater, the same lack of relationship was observed. In conclusion, in this small retrospective cohort, in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, there were no significant differences in metastasis-free and disease-specific survival rates between those who did or did not undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy, regardless of T staging. © 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.

  16. Cancer stem cell markers in patterning differentiation and in prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Mohanta, Simple; Siddappa, Gangotri; Valiyaveedan, Sindhu Govindan; Dodda Thimmasandra Ramanjanappa, Ravindra; Das, Debashish; Pandian, Ramanan; Khora, Samanta Sekhar; Kuriakose, Moni Abraham; Suresh, Amritha

    2017-06-01

    Differentiation is a major histological parameter determining tumor aggressiveness and prognosis of the patient; cancer stem cells with their slow dividing and undifferentiated nature might be one of the factors determining the same. This study aims to correlate cancer stem cell markers (CD44 and CD147) with tumor differentiation and evaluate their subsequent effect on prognosis. Immunohistochemical analysis in treatment naïve oral cancer patients (n = 53) indicated that the expression of CD147 was associated with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.01). Furthermore, co-expression analysis showed that 45% each of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma patients were CD44 high /CD147 high as compared to only 10% of patients with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A three-way analysis indicated that differentiation correlated with recurrence and survival (p < 0.05) in only the patients with CD44 high /CD147 high cohort. Subsequently, relevance of these cancer stem cell markers in patterning the differentiation characteristics was evaluated in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines originating from different grades of oral cancer. Flowcytometry-based analysis indicated an increase in CD44 + /CD147 + cells in cell lines of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (94.35 ± 1.14%, p < 0.001) and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma origin (93.49 ± 0.47%, p < 0.001) as compared to cell line of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma origin (23.12% ± 0.49%). Expression profiling indicated higher expression of cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in SCC029B (poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma originated; p ≤ 0.001), which was further translated into increased spheroid formation, migration, and invasion (p < 0.001) as compared to cell line of well-differentiated squamous

  17. The TRPA1 ion channel is expressed in CD4+ T cells and restrains T-cell-mediated colitis through inhibition of TRPV1.

    PubMed

    Bertin, Samuel; Aoki-Nonaka, Yukari; Lee, Jihyung; de Jong, Petrus R; Kim, Peter; Han, Tiffany; Yu, Timothy; To, Keith; Takahashi, Naoki; Boland, Brigid S; Chang, John T; Ho, Samuel B; Herdman, Scott; Corr, Maripat; Franco, Alessandra; Sharma, Sonia; Dong, Hui; Akopian, Armen N; Raz, Eyal

    2017-09-01

    Transient receptor potential ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) are calcium (Ca 2+ )-permeable ion channels mostly known as pain receptors in sensory neurons. However, growing evidence suggests their crucial involvement in the pathogenesis of IBD. We explored the possible contribution of TRPA1 and TRPV1 to T-cell-mediated colitis. We evaluated the role of Trpa1 gene deletion in two models of experimental colitis (ie, interleukin-10 knockout and T-cell-adoptive transfer models). We performed electrophysiological and Ca 2+ imaging studies to analyse TRPA1 and TRPV1 functions in CD4+ T cells. We used genetic and pharmacological approaches to evaluate TRPV1 contribution to the phenotype of Trpa1 -/- CD4+ T cells. We also analysed TRPA1 and TRPV1 gene expression and TRPA1 + TRPV1 + T cell infiltration in colonic biopsies from patients with IBD. We identified a protective role for TRPA1 in T-cell-mediated colitis. We demonstrated the functional expression of TRPA1 on the plasma membrane of CD4+ T cells and identified that Trpa1 -/- CD4+ T cells have increased T-cell receptor-induced Ca 2+ influx, activation profile and differentiation into Th1-effector cells. This phenotype was abrogated upon genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of the TRPV1 channel in mouse and human CD4+ T cells. Finally, we found differential regulation of TRPA1 and TRPV1 gene expression as well as increased infiltration of TRPA1 + TRPV1 + T cells in the colon of patients with IBD. Our study indicates that TRPA1 inhibits TRPV1 channel activity in CD4+ T cells, and consequently restrains CD4+ T-cell activation and colitogenic responses. These findings may therefore have therapeutic implications for human IBD. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  18. Association of cancer metabolism-related proteins with oral carcinogenesis – indications for chemoprevention and metabolic sensitizing of oral squamous cell carcinoma?

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Tumor metabolism is a crucial factor for the carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods Expression of IGF-R1, glycolysis-related proteins (GLUT-1, HK 2, PFK-1, LDHA, TKTL1), mitochondrial enzymes (SDHA, SDHB, ATP synthase) were analyzed in normal oral mucosa (n = 5), oral precursor lesions (simple hyperplasia, n = 11; squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, SIN I-III, n = 35), and OSCC specimen (n = 42) by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis in OSCC cell lines. Metabolism-related proteins were correlated with proliferation activity (Ki-67) and apoptotic properties (TUNEL assay) in OSCC. Specificity of antibodies was confirmed by western blotting in cancer cell lines. Results Expression of IGF-R1, glycolysis-related proteins (GLUT-1, HK 2, LDHA, TKTL1), and mitochondrial enzymes (SDHA, SDHB, ATP synthase) were significantly increased in the carcinogenesis of OSCC. Metabolic active regions of OSCC were strongly correlated with proliferating cancer (Ki-67+) cells without detection of apoptosis (TUNEL assay). Conclusions This study provides the first evidence of the expression of IGF-R1, glycolysis-related proteins GLUT-1, HK 2, PFK-1, LDHA, and TKTL1, as well as mitochondrial enzymes SDHA, SDHB, and ATP synthase in the multi-step carcinogenesis of OSCC. Both, hypoxia-related glucose metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation characteristics are associated with the carcinogenesis of OSCC. Acidosis and OXPHOS may drive a metabolic shift towards the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Therefore, inhibition of the PPP, glycolysis, and targeted anti-mitochondrial therapies (ROS generation) by natural compounds or synthetic vitamin derivatives may act as sensitizer for apoptosis in cancer cells mediated by adjuvant therapies in OSCC. PMID:25048361

  19. Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells express T3 antigen and the T-cell receptor gamma chain.

    PubMed Central

    Stingl, G; Koning, F; Yamada, H; Yokoyama, W M; Tschachler, E; Bluestone, J A; Steiner, G; Samelson, L E; Lew, A M; Coligan, J E

    1987-01-01

    The murine epidermis is a heterogeneous epithelium composed of keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and a recently described subpopulation (2-3%) of bone-marrow-derived leukocytes with a dendritic morphology and the cell surface phenotype Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-2-. Previous studies have demonstrated that cell lines derived from freshly explanted Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (DEC) have abundant mRNA for rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma-chain genes. Analysis of Thy-1+ DEC in situ, freshly isolated cell suspensions of Thy-1+ DEC, and long-term Thy-1+ DEC lines demonstrated that 100% of the Thy-1+ DEC reacted with a monoclonal antibody to the epsilon chain of the murine T3 complex and that 40-60% of resident Thy-1+ DEC were also reactive with an antiserum to the TCR gamma chain. Two Thy-1+ DEC lines expressed a disulfide-linked 70-kDa molecule that could be precipitated with an anti-gamma-chain antiserum and could be coprecipitated with an antiserum to the T3 delta chain; the molecule appeared as a single 34-kDa band under reducing conditions. The phenotype of Thy-1+ DEC (T3+, L3T4-, Lyt-2-, TCR gamma chain+) thus resembles that of the recently described subpopulation of murine and human lymphocytes that have been identified in the thymus, peripheral blood, and fetal blood. Images PMID:2885839

  20. Oral-resident natural Th17 cells and γδ T cells control opportunistic Candida albicans infections

    PubMed Central

    Conti, Heather R.; Peterson, Alanna C.; Brane, Lucas; Huppler, Anna R.; Hernández-Santos, Nydiaris; Whibley, Natasha; Garg, Abhishek V.; Simpson-Abelson, Michelle R.; Gibson, Gregory A.; Mamo, Anna J.; Osborne, Lisa C.; Bishu, Shrinivas; Ghilardi, Nico; Siebenlist, Ulrich; Watkins, Simon C.; Artis, David; McGeachy, Mandy J.

    2014-01-01

    Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. OPC is frequent in HIV/AIDS, implicating adaptive immunity. Mice are naive to Candida, yet IL-17 is induced within 24 h of infection, and susceptibility is strongly dependent on IL-17R signaling. We sought to identify the source of IL-17 during the early innate response to candidiasis. We show that innate responses to Candida require an intact TCR, as SCID, IL-7Rα−/−, and Rag1−/− mice were susceptible to OPC, and blockade of TCR signaling by cyclosporine induced susceptibility. Using fate-tracking IL-17 reporter mice, we found that IL-17 is produced within 12 d by tongue-resident populations of γδ T cells and CD3+CD4+CD44hiTCRβ+CCR6+ natural Th17 (nTh17) cells, but not by TCR-deficient innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) or NK cells. These cells function redundantly, as TCR-β−/− and TCR-δ−/− mice were both resistant to OPC. Whereas γδ T cells were previously shown to produce IL-17 during dermal candidiasis and are known to mediate host defense at mucosal surfaces, nTh17 cells are poorly understood. The oral nTh17 population expanded rapidly after OPC, exhibited high TCR-β clonal diversity, and was absent in Rag1−/−, IL-7Rα−/−, and germ-free mice. These findings indicate that nTh17 and γδ T cells, but not ILCs, are key mucosal sentinels that control oral pathogens. PMID:25200028

  1. Co-Introduced Functional CCR2 Potentiates In Vivo Anti-Lung Cancer Functionality Mediated by T Cells Double Gene-Modified to Express WT1-Specific T-Cell Receptor

    PubMed Central

    Asai, Hiroaki; Fujiwara, Hiroshi; An, Jun; Ochi, Toshiki; Miyazaki, Yukihiro; Nagai, Kozo; Okamoto, Sachiko; Mineno, Junichi; Kuzushima, Kiyotaka; Shiku, Hiroshi; Inoue, Hirofumi; Yasukawa, Masaki

    2013-01-01

    Background and Purpose Although gene-modification of T cells to express tumor-related antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has clinically proved promise, there still remains room to improve the clinical efficacy of re-directed T-cell based antitumor adoptive therapy. In order to achieve more objective clinical responses using ex vivo-expanded tumor-responsive T cells, the infused T cells need to show adequate localized infiltration into the tumor. Methodology/Principal Findings Human lung cancer cells variously express a tumor antigen, Wilms' Tumor gene product 1 (WT1), and an inflammatory chemokine, CCL2. However, CCR2, the relevant receptor for CCL2, is rarely expressed on activated T-lymphocytes. A HLA-A2402+ human lung cancer cell line, LK79, which expresses high amounts of both CCL2 and WT1 mRNA, was employed as a target. Normal CD8+ T cells were retrovirally gene-modified to express both CCR2 and HLA-A*2402-restricted and WT1235–243 nonapeptide-specific TCR as an effector. Anti-tumor functionality mediated by these effector cells against LK79 cells was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Finally the impact of CCL2 on WT1 epitope-responsive TCR signaling mediated by the effector cells was studied. Introduced CCR2 was functionally validated using gene-modified Jurkat cells and human CD3+ T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Double gene-modified CD3+ T cells successfully demonstrated both CCL2-tropic tumor trafficking and cytocidal reactivity against LK79 cells in vitro and in vivo. CCL2 augmented the WT1 epitope-responsive TCR signaling shown by relevant luciferase production in double gene-modified Jurkat/MA cells to express luciferase and WT1-specific TCR, and CCL2 also dose-dependently augmented WT1 epitope-responsive IFN-γ production and CD107a expression mediated by these double gene-modifiedCD3+ T cells. Conclusion/Significance Introduction of the CCL2/CCR2 axis successfully potentiated in vivo anti-lung cancer

  2. Quantification of Hepatic Steatosis with T1-independent, T2*-corrected MR Imaging with Spectral Modeling of Fat: Blinded Comparison with MR Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Hines, Catherine D. G.; Hamilton, Gavin; Sirlin, Claude B.; McKenzie, Charles A.; Yu, Huanzhou; Brittain, Jean H.; Reeder, Scott B.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose: To prospectively compare an investigational version of a complex-based chemical shift–based fat fraction magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method with MR spectroscopy for the quantification of hepatic steatosis. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Written informed consent was obtained before all studies. Fifty-five patients (31 women, 24 men; age range, 24–71 years) were prospectively imaged at 1.5 T with quantitative MR imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy, each within a single breath hold. The effects of T2* correction, spectral modeling of fat, and magnitude fitting for eddy current correction on fat quantification with MR imaging were investigated by reconstructing fat fraction images from the same source data with different combinations of error correction. Single-voxel T2-corrected MR spectroscopy was used to measure fat fraction and served as the reference standard. All MR spectroscopy data were postprocessed at a separate institution by an MR physicist who was blinded to MR imaging results. Fat fractions measured with MR imaging and MR spectroscopy were compared statistically to determine the correlation (r2), and the slope and intercept as measures of agreement between MR imaging and MR spectroscopy fat fraction measurements, to determine whether MR imaging can help quantify fat, and examine the importance of T2* correction, spectral modeling of fat, and eddy current correction. Two-sided t tests (significance level, P = .05) were used to determine whether estimated slopes and intercepts were significantly different from 1.0 and 0.0, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the classification of clinically significant steatosis were evaluated. Results: Overall, there was excellent correlation between MR imaging and MR spectroscopy for all reconstruction combinations. However, agreement was only achieved when T2* correction, spectral modeling of fat, and magnitude

  3. Mn(II) based T1 and T2 potential MRI contrast agent appended with tryptamine: Recognition moiety for Aβ-plaques.

    PubMed

    Rastogi, Neeraj; Tyagi, Nidhi; Singh, Ovender; Hemanth Kumar, B S; Singh, Udai P; Ghosh, Kaushik; Roy, Raja

    2017-12-01

    We report the synthesis and characterization of manganese(II) complexes having pentadentate ligands L 1 (2,6-bis(1-(2-phenyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)hydrazono)ethyl)pyridine), L 2 (methyl 2,6-bis((E)-1-(2-phenyl-2-(pyridin-2yl)hydrazono)ethyl)isonicotinate), L 3 (N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-2,6-bis((E)-1-(2-phenyl-2-(pyridin2yl)hydrazono)ethyl)isonicotiamide) and their application as dual contrast agents for simultaneous T 1 and T 2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Single crystal analysis of all the complexes [Mn II L 1 , Mn II L 2 and Mn II L 3 ] confirm the formation of novel seven-coordinate manganese complexes with an inner sphere water and perchlorate ion. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent [MnL 2 ] was further modified by incorporating tryptamine as a binding moiety specific to Amyloid Beta-fibrils (Aβ-fibrils) in Alzhiemer's disease (AD) and it's in vitro evaluation for specific binding with Aβ-fibrils indicated as a bio-marker of AD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Discovery of specific ligands for oral squamous carcinoma to develop anti-cancer drug loaded precise targeting nanotherapeutics.

    PubMed

    Yang, Fan; Liu, Ruiwu; Kramer, Randall; Xiao, Wenwu; Jordan, Richard; Lam, Kit S

    2012-12-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma has a low five-year survival rate, which may be due to late detection and a lack of effective tumor-specific therapies. Using a high throughput drug discovery strategy termed one-bead one-compound combinatorial library, the authors identified six compounds with high binding affinity to different human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines but not to normal cells. Current work is under way to develop these ligands to oral squamous cell carcinoma specific imaging probes or therapeutic agents.

  5. MRI-Based Texture Analysis to Differentiate Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Inverted Papilloma.

    PubMed

    Ramkumar, S; Ranjbar, S; Ning, S; Lal, D; Zwart, C M; Wood, C P; Weindling, S M; Wu, T; Mitchell, J R; Li, J; Hoxworth, J M

    2017-05-01

    Because sinonasal inverted papilloma can harbor squamous cell carcinoma, differentiating these tumors is relevant. The objectives of this study were to determine whether MR imaging-based texture analysis can accurately classify cases of noncoexistent squamous cell carcinoma and inverted papilloma and to compare this classification performance with neuroradiologists' review. Adult patients who had inverted papilloma or squamous cell carcinoma resected were eligible (coexistent inverted papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma were excluded). Inclusion required tumor size of >1.5 cm and preoperative MR imaging with axial T1, axial T2, and axial T1 postcontrast sequences. Five well-established texture analysis algorithms were applied to an ROI from the largest tumor cross-section. For a training dataset, machine-learning algorithms were used to identify the most accurate model, and performance was also evaluated in a validation dataset. On the basis of 3 separate blinded reviews of the ROI, isolated tumor, and entire images, 2 neuroradiologists predicted tumor type in consensus. The inverted papilloma ( n = 24) and squamous cell carcinoma ( n = 22) cohorts were matched for age and sex, while squamous cell carcinoma tumor volume was larger ( P = .001). The best classification model achieved similar accuracies for training (17 squamous cell carcinomas, 16 inverted papillomas) and validation (7 squamous cell carcinomas, 6 inverted papillomas) datasets of 90.9% and 84.6%, respectively ( P = .537). For the combined training and validation cohorts, the machine-learning accuracy (89.1%) was better than that of the neuroradiologists' ROI review (56.5%, P = .0004) but not significantly different from the neuroradiologists' review of the tumors (73.9%, P = .060) or entire images (87.0%, P = .748). MR imaging-based texture analysis has the potential to differentiate squamous cell carcinoma from inverted papilloma and may, in the future, provide incremental information to the

  6. Prevalence and relationship of human papilloma virus type 16 and type 18 with oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia in fresh scrappings: a PCR study.

    PubMed

    Mathew, Asok; Mody, R N; Patait, Mahendra R; Razooki, Ali A; Varghese, Nisha T; Saraf, Kedar

    2011-05-01

    It has been always an area of diffuse clarity when you study malignancy and its pathogenesis. Recently, it has invited lot of interest among the researchers about the possibility of role of viruses in the initiation of carcinogenesis. Recent advances in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology have solved some problems with regard to pathogenesis. Human papilloma virus (HPV) and its role in the initiation of malignancy in the cervix is proven almost beyond doubt. The present study is aimed at the role of two types of HPV 16 and 18 in the initiation of oral premalignant and squamous cell carcinoma. The study also aims at using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in finding out the prevalence of these types diagnosed histologically as oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma and prevalence of its association with the habit of tobacco use. In the present study, 45 patients having histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma in the age range of 32-85 years were selected along with 20 histopathologically confirmed oral leukoplakia in the age range 22-66 years. All the samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction. The PCR reaction was carried out in PTC 200 thermo-cycler [MJ Research Inc, Watertown, MA, USA]. The site prevalence and co-infection rate of these two types of viruses are being analyzed using very simple non-invasive scrapings obtained from fresh scrapings and found to be really high. It was also observed that 73.3% (33/45) of the oral squamous cell carcinoma patients were positive for oral HPV type 16 while 71.1% (32/45) were positive for HPV type 18 infection and 57.7% (26/45) were found to have both HPV type 16 and HPV type 18 infections. HPV type 16, 18, and co-infection of both types showed high prevalence in oral squamous cell carcinoma.The prevalence of HPV type 18 was found to be higher than HPV type 16 and co-infection in oral leukoplakia. It was observed that the tongue and palate lesions in the oral squamous cell

  7. Comparison of Anorectic Potencies of the Trichothecenes T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin and Satratoxin G to the Ipecac Alkaloid Emetine.

    PubMed

    Wu, Wenda; Zhou, Hui-Ren; Pan, Xiao; Pestka, James J

    Trichothecene mycotoxins, potent translational inhibitors that are associated with human food poisonings and damp-building illnesses, are of considerable concern to animal and human health. Food refusal is a hallmark of exposure of experimental animals to deoxynivalenol (DON) and other Type B trichothecenes but less is known about the anorectic effects of foodborne Type A trichothecenes (e.g., T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin), airborne Type D trichothecenes (e.g. satratoxin G [SG]) or functionally analogous metabolites that impair protein synthesis. Here, we utilized a well-described mouse model of food intake to compare the anorectic potencies of T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, and SG to that of emetine, a medicinal alkaloid derived from ipecac that inhibits translation. Intraperitoneal (IP) administration with T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, emetine and SG evoked anorectic responses that occurred within 0.5 h that lasted up to 96, 96, 3 and 96 h, respectively, with lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) being 0.1, 0.1, 2.5 and 0.25 mg/kg BW, respectively. When delivered via natural routes of exposure, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, emetine (oral) and SG (intranasal) induced anorectic responses that lasted up to 48, 48, 3 and 6 h, respectively with LOAELs being 0.1, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg BW, respectively. All four compounds were generally much more potent than DON which was previously observed to have LOAELs of 1 and 2.5 mg/kg BW after IP and oral dosing, respectively. Taken together, these anorectic potency data will be valuable in discerning the relative risks from trichothecenes and other translational inhibitors of natural origin.

  8. Diagnostic Quality of 3D T2-SPACE Compared with T2-FSE in the Evaluation of Cervical Spine MRI Anatomy.

    PubMed

    Chokshi, F H; Sadigh, G; Carpenter, W; Allen, J W

    2017-04-01

    Spinal anatomy has been variably investigated using 3D MRI. We aimed to compare the diagnostic quality of T2 sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using flip angle evolution (SPACE) with T2-FSE sequences for visualization of cervical spine anatomy. We predicted that T2-SPACE will be equivalent or superior to T2-FSE for visibility of anatomic structures. Adult patients undergoing cervical spine MR imaging with both T2-SPACE and T2-FSE sequences for radiculopathy or myelopathy between September 2014 and February 2015 were included. Two blinded subspecialty-trained radiologists independently assessed the visibility of 12 anatomic structures by using a 5-point scale and assessed CSF pulsation artifact by using a 4-point scale. Sagittal images and 6 axial levels from C2-T1 on T2-FSE were reviewed; 2 weeks later and after randomization, T2-SPACE was evaluated. Diagnostic quality for each structure and CSF pulsation artifact visibility on both sequences were compared by using a paired t test. Interobserver agreement was calculated (κ). Forty-five patients were included (mean age, 57 years; 40% male). The average visibility scores for intervertebral disc signal, neural foramina, ligamentum flavum, ventral rootlets, and dorsal rootlets were higher for T2-SPACE compared with T2-FSE for both reviewers ( P < .001). Average scores for remaining structures were either not statistically different or the superiority of one sequence was discordant between reviewers. T2-SPACE showed less degree of CSF flow artifact ( P < .001). Interobserver variability ranged between -0.02-0.20 for T2-SPACE and -0.02-0.30 for T2-FSE (slight to fair agreement). T2-SPACE may be equivalent or superior to T2-FSE for the evaluation of cervical spine anatomic structures, and T2-SPACE shows a lower degree of CSF pulsation artifact. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

  9. Sharing the load: Mex67-Mtr2 cofunctions with Los1 in primary tRNA nuclear export.

    PubMed

    Chatterjee, Kunal; Majumder, Shubhra; Wan, Yao; Shah, Vijay; Wu, Jingyan; Huang, Hsiao-Yun; Hopper, Anita K

    2017-11-01

    Eukaryotic transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are exported from the nucleus, their site of synthesis, to the cytoplasm, their site of function for protein synthesis. The evolutionarily conserved β-importin family member Los1 (Exportin-t) has been the only exporter known to execute nuclear export of newly transcribed intron-containing pre-tRNAs. Interestingly, LOS1 is unessential in all tested organisms. As tRNA nuclear export is essential, we previously interrogated the budding yeast proteome to identify candidates that function in tRNA nuclear export. Here, we provide molecular, genetic, cytological, and biochemical evidence that the Mex67-Mtr2 (TAP-p15) heterodimer, best characterized for its essential role in mRNA nuclear export, cofunctions with Los1 in tRNA nuclear export. Inactivation of Mex67 or Mtr2 leads to rapid accumulation of end-matured unspliced tRNAs in the nucleus. Remarkably, merely fivefold overexpression of Mex67-Mtr2 can substitute for Los1 in los1 Δ cells. Moreover, in vivo coimmunoprecipitation assays with tagged Mex67 document that the Mex67 binds tRNAs. Our data also show that tRNA exporters surprisingly exhibit differential tRNA substrate preferences. The existence of multiple tRNA exporters, each with different tRNA preferences, may indicate that the proteome can be regulated by tRNA nuclear export. Thus, our data show that Mex67-Mtr2 functions in primary nuclear export for a subset of yeast tRNAs. © 2017 Chatterjee et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

  10. Sensitive Phonon-Based Probe for Structure Identification of 1T' MoTe 2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhou, Lin; Huang, Shengxi; Tatsumi, Yuki

    In this work, by combining transmission electron microscopy and polarized Raman spectroscopy for the 1T' MoTe 2 flakes with different thicknesses, we found that the polarization dependence of Raman intensity is given as a function of excitation laser wavelength, phonon symmetry, and phonon frequency, but has weak dependence on the flake thickness from few-layer to multilayer. Additionally, the frequency of Raman peaks and the relative Raman intensity are sensitive to flake thickness, which manifests Raman spectroscopy as an effective probe for thickness of 1T' MoTe 2. This work demonstrates that polarized Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and nondestructive method tomore » quickly identify the crystal structure and thickness of 1T' MoTe 2 simultaneously, which opens up opportunities for the in situ probe of anisotropic properties and broad applications of this novel material.« less

  11. Sensitive Phonon-Based Probe for Structure Identification of 1T' MoTe 2

    DOE PAGES

    Zhou, Lin; Huang, Shengxi; Tatsumi, Yuki; ...

    2017-05-25

    In this work, by combining transmission electron microscopy and polarized Raman spectroscopy for the 1T' MoTe 2 flakes with different thicknesses, we found that the polarization dependence of Raman intensity is given as a function of excitation laser wavelength, phonon symmetry, and phonon frequency, but has weak dependence on the flake thickness from few-layer to multilayer. Additionally, the frequency of Raman peaks and the relative Raman intensity are sensitive to flake thickness, which manifests Raman spectroscopy as an effective probe for thickness of 1T' MoTe 2. This work demonstrates that polarized Raman spectroscopy is a powerful and nondestructive method tomore » quickly identify the crystal structure and thickness of 1T' MoTe 2 simultaneously, which opens up opportunities for the in situ probe of anisotropic properties and broad applications of this novel material.« less

  12. Semaphorin4D Drives CD8+ T-Cell Lesional Trafficking in Oral Lichen Planus via CXCL9/CXCL10 Upregulations in Oral Keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Ke, Yao; Dang, Erle; Shen, Shengxian; Zhang, Tongmei; Qiao, Hongjiang; Chang, Yuqian; Liu, Qing; Wang, Gang

    2017-11-01

    Chemokine-mediated CD8 + T-cell recruitment is an essential but not well-established event for the persistence of oral lichen planus (OLP). Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D)/CD100 is implicated in immune dysfunction, chemokine modulation, and cell migration, which are critical aspects for OLP progression, but its implication in OLP pathogenesis has not been determined. In this study, we sought to explicate the effect of Sema4D on human oral keratinocytes and its capacity to drive CD8 + T-cell lesional trafficking via chemokine modulation. We found that upregulations of sSema4D in OLP tissues and blood were positively correlated with disease severity and activity. In vitro observation revealed that Sema4D induced C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 production by binding to plexin-B1 via protein kinase B-NF-κB cascade in human oral keratinocytes, which elicited OLP CD8 + T-cell migration. We also confirmed using clinical samples that elevated C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 levels were positively correlated with sSema4D levels in OLP lesions and serum. Notably, we determined matrix metalloproteinase-9 as a new proteolytic enzyme for the cleavage of sSema4D from the T-cell surface, which may contribute to the high levels of sSema4D in OLP lesions and serum. Our findings conclusively revealed an amplification feedback loop involving T cells, chemokines, and Sema4D-dependent signal that promotes OLP progression. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Partial Nephrectomy Versus Radical Nephrectomy for Clinical T1b and T2 Renal Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

    PubMed

    Mir, Maria Carmen; Derweesh, Ithaar; Porpiglia, Francesco; Zargar, Homayoun; Mottrie, Alexandre; Autorino, Riccardo

    2017-04-01

    Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the reference standard of management for a cT1a renal mass. However, its role in the management of larger tumors (cT1b and cT2) is still under scrutiny. To conduct a meta-analysis assessing functional, oncologic, and perioperative outcomes of PN and radical nephrectomy (RN) in the specific case of larger renal tumors (≥cT1b). The primary endpoint was an overall analysis of cT1b and cT2 masses. The secondary endpoint was a sensitivity analysis for cT2 only. A systematic literature review was performed up to December 2015 using multiple search engines to identify eligible comparative studies. A formal meta-analysis was performed for studies comparing PN to RN for both cT1b and cT2 tumors. In addition, a sensitivity analysis including the subgroup of studies comparing PN to RN for cT2 only was conducted. Pooled estimates were calculated using a fixed-effects model if no significant heterogeneity was identified; alternatively, a random-effects model was used when significant heterogeneity was detected. For continuous outcomes, the weighted mean difference (WMD) was used as summary measure. For binary variables, the odds ratio (OR) or risk ratio (RR) was calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Overall, 21 case-control studies including 11204 patients (RN 8620; PN 2584) were deemed eligible and included in the analysis. Patients undergoing PN were younger (WMD -2.3 yr; p<0.001) and had smaller masses (WMD -0.65cm; p<0.001). Lower estimated blood loss was found for RN (WMD 102.6ml; p<0.001). There was a higher likelihood of postoperative complications for PN (RR 1.74, 95% CI 1.34-2.2; p<0.001). Pathology revealed a higher rate of malignant histology for the RN group (RR 0.97; p=0.02). PN was associated with better postoperative renal function, as shown by higher postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; WMD 12.4ml/min; p<0

  14. Structural stability of coplanar 1T-2H superlattice MoS2 under high energy electron beam.

    PubMed

    Reshmi, S; Akshaya, M V; Satpati, Biswarup; Basu, Palash Kumar; Bhattacharjee, K

    2018-05-18

    Coplanar heterojunctions composed of van der Waals layered materials with different structural polymorphs have drawn immense interest recently due to low contact resistance and high carrier injection rate owing to low Schottky barrier height. Present research has largely focused on efficient exfoliation of these layered materials and their restacking to achieve better performances. We present here a microwave assisted easy, fast and efficient route to induce high concentration of metallic 1T phase in the original 2H matrix of exfoliated MoS 2 layers and thus facilitating the formation of a 1T-2H coplanar superlattice phase. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations reveal formation of highly crystalline 1T-2H hybridized structure with sharp interface and disclose the evidence of surface ripplocations within the same exfoliated layer of MoS 2 . In this work, the structural stability of 1T-2H superlattice phase during HRTEM measurements under an electron beam of energy 300 keV is reported. This structural stability could be either associated to the change in electronic configuration due to induction of the restacked hybridized phase with 1T- and 2H-regions or to the formation of the surface ripplocations. Surface ripplocations can act as an additional source of scattering centers to the electron beam and also it is possible that a pulse train of propagating ripplocations can sweep out the defects via interaction from specific areas of MoS 2 sheets.

  15. Structural stability of coplanar 1T-2H superlattice MoS2 under high energy electron beam

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reshmi, S.; Akshaya, M. V.; Satpati, Biswarup; Basu, Palash Kumar; Bhattacharjee, K.

    2018-05-01

    Coplanar heterojunctions composed of van der Waals layered materials with different structural polymorphs have drawn immense interest recently due to low contact resistance and high carrier injection rate owing to low Schottky barrier height. Present research has largely focused on efficient exfoliation of these layered materials and their restacking to achieve better performances. We present here a microwave assisted easy, fast and efficient route to induce high concentration of metallic 1T phase in the original 2H matrix of exfoliated MoS2 layers and thus facilitating the formation of a 1T-2H coplanar superlattice phase. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations reveal formation of highly crystalline 1T-2H hybridized structure with sharp interface and disclose the evidence of surface ripplocations within the same exfoliated layer of MoS2. In this work, the structural stability of 1T-2H superlattice phase during HRTEM measurements under an electron beam of energy 300 keV is reported. This structural stability could be either associated to the change in electronic configuration due to induction of the restacked hybridized phase with 1T- and 2H-regions or to the formation of the surface ripplocations. Surface ripplocations can act as an additional source of scattering centers to the electron beam and also it is possible that a pulse train of propagating ripplocations can sweep out the defects via interaction from specific areas of MoS2 sheets.

  16. Facile preparation of multifunctional uniform magnetic microspheres for T1-T2 dual modal magnetic resonance and optical imaging.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Li; Liang, Shuang; Liu, Ruiqing; Yuan, Tianmeng; Zhang, Shulai; Xu, Zushun; Xu, Haibo

    2016-08-01

    Molecular imaging is of significant importance for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. Herein, a novel core-shell magnetic microsphere for dual modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging was produced by one-pot emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization, which could provide high resolution rate of histologic structure information and realize high sensitive detection at the same time. The synthesized magnetic microspheres composed of cores containing oleic acid (OA) and sodium undecylenate (NaUA) modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles and styrene (St), Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and polymerizable lanthanide complexes (Gd(AA)3Phen and Eu(AA)3Phen) polymerized on the surface for outer shells. Fluorescence spectra show characteristic emission peaks from Eu(3+) at 590nm and 615nm and vivid red fluorescence luminescence can be observed by 2-photon confocal scanning laser microscopy (CLSM). In vitro cytotoxicity tests based on the MTT assay demonstrate good cytocompatibility, the composites have longitudinal relaxivity value (r1) of 8.39mM(-1)s(-1) and also have transverse relaxivity value (r2) of 71.18mM(-1)s(-1) at clinical 3.0 T MR scanner. In vitro and in vivo MRI studies exhibit high signal enhancement on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images. These fascinating multifunctional properties suggest that the polymer microspheres have large clinical potential as multi-modal MRI/optical probes. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Expression of Epstein-Barr virus among oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinomas in the South Indian tobacco-chewing population.

    PubMed

    Reddy, Sujatha S; Sharma, Shivani; Mysorekar, Vijaya

    2017-07-01

    Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy in the world. Viruses are the causative agents of approximately 10-15% of all cancers worldwide (Cancers, 6, 2014 and 2155). The tumorigenic roles of Epstein-Barr virus in oral cancer are unclear. Literature search results are conflicting and dependent on various factors such as geographical/regional variations, sociocultural lifestyles, dietary habits, chewing/smoking tobacco habit. This study is the first original observation about frequency of Epstein-Barr virus among South Indian tobacco-chewing patients to elucidate its involvement in oral carcinogenesis and to know whether this can be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic indicator. A total number of 75 tobacco chewer subjects aged between 23 and 76 years with histopathologically confirmed oral potentially malignant disorders (25), oral squamous cell carcinoma (25), and age-matched healthy controls (25) formed the study group. Immunohistochemical expression of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 was assessed among cases and healthy controls. Out of the total 75 subjects, six subjects (8%) were positive for Epstein-Barr virus antigen and 69 subjects (92%) negative. The antigen positivity was observed among two cases of moderately differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma, two cases of leukoplakia, and two healthy controls. No significant association between Epstein-Barr virus positivity was observed among oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma among South Indian tobacco-chewing patients. This can be partially explained by the methodology employed, by the patient population analyzed and different habits in various geographical regions. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Role of nutrient-sensing taste 1 receptor (T1R) family members in gastrointestinal chemosensing.

    PubMed

    Shirazi-Beechey, Soraya P; Daly, Kristian; Al-Rammahi, Miran; Moran, Andrew W; Bravo, David

    2014-06-01

    Luminal nutrient sensing by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) expressed on the apical domain of enteroendocrine cells activates intracellular pathways leading to secretion of gut hormones that control vital physiological processes such as digestion, absorption, food intake and glucose homeostasis. The taste 1 receptor (T1R) family of GPCR consists of three members: T1R1; T1R2; T1R3. Expression of T1R1, T1R2 and T1R3 at mRNA and protein levels has been demonstrated in the intestinal tissue of various species. It has been shown that T1R2-T1R3, in association with G-protein gustducin, is expressed in intestinal K and L endocrine cells, where it acts as the intestinal glucose (sweet) sensor. A number of studies have demonstrated that activation of T1R2-T1R3 by natural sugars and artificial sweeteners leads to secretion of glucagon-like peptides 1&2 (GLP-1 and GLP-2) and glucose dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). GLP-1 and GIP enhance insulin secretion; GLP-2 increases intestinal growth and glucose absorption. T1R1-T1R3 combination co-expressed on the apical domain of cholecystokinin (CCK) expressing cells is a luminal sensor for a number of L-amino acids; with amino acid-activation of the receptor eliciting CCK secretion. This article focuses on the role of the gut-expressed T1R1, T1R2 and T1R3 in intestinal sweet and L-amino acid sensing. The impact of exploiting T1R2-T1R3 as a nutritional target for enhancing intestinal glucose absorption and gut structural maturity in young animals is also highlighted.

  19. Relationship Between T1 Slope and Cervical Alignment Following Multilevel Posterior Cervical Fusion Surgery: Impact of T1 Slope Minus Cervical Lordosis.

    PubMed

    Hyun, Seung-Jae; Kim, Ki-Jeong; Jahng, Tae-Ahn; Kim, Hyun-Jib

    2016-04-01

    Retrospective study. To assess the relationship between sagittal alignment of the cervical spine and patient-reported health-related quality-of-life scores following multilevel posterior cervical fusion, and to explore whether an analogous relationship exists in the cervical spine using T1 slope minus C2-C7 lordosis (T1S-CL). A recent study demonstrated that, similar to the thoracolumbar spine, the severity of disability increases with sagittal malalignment following cervical reconstruction surgery. From 2007 to 2013, 38 consecutive patients underwent multilevel posterior cervical fusion for cervical stenosis, myelopathy, and deformities. Radiographic measurements included C0-C2 lordosis, C2-C7 lordosis, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 slope, and T1S-CL. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between pairs of radiographic measures and health-related quality-of-life. C2-C7 SVA positively correlated with neck disability index (NDI) scores (r = 0.495). C2-C7 lordosis (P = 0.001) and T1S-CL (P = 0.002) changes correlated with NDI score changes after surgery. For significant correlations between C2-C7 SVA and NDI scores, regression models predicted a threshold C2-C7 SVA value of 50 mm, beyond which correlations were most significant. The T1S-CL also correlated positively with C2-C7 SVA and NDI scores (r = 0.871 and r = 0.470, respectively). Results of the regression analysis indicated that a C2-C7 SVA value of 50 mm corresponded to a T1S-CL value of 26.1°. This study showed that disability of the neck increased with cervical sagittal malalignment following surgical reconstruction and a greater T1S-CL mismatch was associated with a greater degree of cervical malalignment. Specifically, a mismatch greater than 26.1° corresponded to positive cervical sagittal malalignment, defined as C2-C7 SVA greater than 50 mm. 3.

  20. Oral paracoccidioidomycosis or squamous cell carcinoma?

    PubMed

    Kaminagakura, Estela; Graner, Edgard; de Almeida, Oslei Paes; Di Hipolito Júnior, Osvaldo; Lopes, Marcio Ajudarte

    2004-01-01

    Paracoccidioidomycosis is a deep, systemic, and progressive mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Oral lesions normally are multiples with a mulberry-like appearance. This article reviews an unusual case involving a chronic, solitary, and ulcerated lesion whose clinical aspects were similar to squamous cell carcinoma. Viewed microscopically, the lesion showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and non-necrotizing granulomas. The patient was treated with systemic ketoconazole. Over the next 11 years, follow-up examinations were performed but no recurrence was observed.

  1. Large NLO corrections in t\\overline{t}{W}^{± } and t\\overline{t}t\\overline{t} hadroproduction from supposedly subleading EW contributions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frederix, Rikkert; Pagani, Davide; Zaro, Marco

    2018-02-01

    We calculate the complete-NLO predictions for t\\overline{t}{W}^{± } and t\\overline{t}t\\overline{t} production in proton-proton collisions at 13 and 100 TeV. All the non-vanishing contributions of O({α}_s^i{α}^j) with i + j = 3 , 4 for t\\overline{t}{W}^{± } and i + j = 4 , 5 for t\\overline{t}t\\overline{t} are evaluated without any approximation. For t\\overline{t}{W}^{± } we find that, due to the presence of tW → tW scattering, at 13(100) TeV the O({α}_s{α}^3) contribution is about 12(70)% of the LO, i.e., it is larger than the so-called NLO EW corrections (the O({α}_s^2{α}^2) terms) and has opposite sign. In the case of t\\overline{t}t\\overline{t} production, large contributions from electroweak tt → tt scattering are already present at LO in the O({α}_s^3α ) and O({α}_s^2{α}^2) terms. For the same reason we find that both NLO terms of O({α}_s^4α ) , i.e., the NLO EW corrections, and O({α}_s^3{α}^2) are large (±15% of the LO) and their relative contributions strongly depend on the values of the renormalisation and factorisation scales. However, large accidental cancellations are present (away from the threshold region) between these two contributions. Moreover, the NLO corrections strongly depend on the kinematics and are particularly large at the threshold, where even the relative contribution from O({α}_s^2{α}^3) terms amounts to tens of percents.

  2. Space shuttle: Aerodynamic characteristics of various MDAC space shuttle ascent configurations with parallel burn pressure-fed and SRM boosters. Volume 1: Tanks T1 and T2 ascent configurations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jarrett, T. W.

    1972-01-01

    Various space shuttle ascent configurations were tested in a trisonic wind tunnel to determine the aerodynamic characteristics. The ascent configuration consisted of a NASA/MSC 040 orbiter in combination with various HO centerline tank and booster geometries. The aerodynamic interference between components of the space shuttle and the effect on the orbiter aerodynamics was determined. The various aerodynamic configurations tested were: (1) centerline HO tanks T1 and T2, (2) centerline HO tank T3, and (3) centerline HO tank H4.

  3. [Liver and heart T2* measurement in secondary haemochromatosis].

    PubMed

    Barrera Portillo, M C; Uranga Uranga, M; Sánchez González, J; Alústiza Echeverría, J M; Gervás Wells, C; Guisasola Íñiguez, A

    2013-01-01

    To determine whether there is iron overload by calculating the T2* value in the liver and myocardium in patients with secondary haemochromatosis. To analyse the correlation of the values obtained with the iron levels in blood, with the liver iron concentration (LIC) calculated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the correlation between them. A total of 16 patients (13 males, 3 females), with a mean age of 61 years, were included and evaluated in the years 2008 and 2009. Fifteen of them had received multiple transfusions, and one was diagnosed with hereditary sideroblastic anaemia. The measurements included, blood ferritin, LIC by MRI, cardiac function using MRI and the T2* value by means of multi-echo sequences in the liver (TR/TE1/ΔTE/No of echos/α: 21/1,18/1.0/20/35°) and myocardium (26/1.04/0.8/30/60°). A correlation-regression analysis was performed by comparing the cardiac and liver T2* values with the ferritin, LIC and between each of them. A total of 13 patients had ferritin values greater than 1000ng/ml (median/minimum/maximum: 1762/294/3785ng/ml). An increased LIC greater than 80μmol/g (median/minimum/maximum: 125.4/41.2/241.5μmol/g) was observed in 13 patients. In all cases cardiac function was conserved, and in 15 cases the liver T2* value was less than 6.3ms. The myocardium T2* value was less than 20ms. in only one case. A high correlation was observed between the liver T2* values and the LIC (r:-0.912). The correlation was statistically significant between the liver T2* value and ferritin (r:-0.541). The correlations between myocardium T2* and ferritin, myocardium T2* and LIC, and myocardium T2* and liver T2* were not statistically significant. The liver T2* showed a high correlation with LIC and a statistically significant correlation with ferritin. No association was observed between the myocardium T2* values and ferritin in blood, the LIC or the liver T2* value. Copyright © 2011 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  4. A subset of thalamocortical projections to the retrosplenial cortex possesses two vesicular glutamate transporter isoforms, VGluT1 and VGluT2, in axon terminals and somata.

    PubMed

    Oda, Satoko; Funato, Hiromasa; Sato, Fumi; Adachi-Akahane, Satomi; Ito, Masanori; Takase, Kenkichi; Kuroda, Masaru

    2014-06-15

    Vesicular glutamate transporter isoforms, VGluT1-VGluT3, accumulate glutamate into synaptic vesicles and are considered to be important molecules in glutamatergic transmission. Among them, VGluT2 mRNA is expressed predominantly throughout the dorsal thalamus, whereas VGluT1 mRNA is expressed in a few thalamic nuclei. In the thalamic nuclei that project to the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), VGluT1 mRNA is expressed strongly in the anterodorsal thalamic nucleus (AD), is expressed moderately in the anteroventral and laterodorsal thalamic nuclei, and is not expressed in the anteromedial thalamic nucleus. Thus, it has been strongly suggested that a subset of thalamocortical projections to RSC possesses both VGluT1 and VGluT2. In this study, double-labeled neuronal somata showing both VGluT1 and VGluT2 immunolabelings were found exclusively in the ventral region of AD (vAD). Many double-labeled axon terminals were also found in two major targets of vAD, the rostral part of the reticular thalamic nucleus and layers Ia and III-IV of the retrosplenial granular b cortex (RSGb). Some were also found in layer Ia of the retrosplenial granular a cortex (RSGa). These axon terminals contain significant amounts of both VGluTs. Because the subset of thalamocortical projections to RSC has a unique molecular basis in the glutamatergic transmission system, it might play an important role in the higher cognitive functions processed in the RSC. Furthermore, double-labeled axon terminals of a different type were distributed in RSGb and RSGa. Because they are small and the immunoreactivity of VGluT2 is significantly weaker than that of VGluT1, they seemed to be a subset of corticocortical terminals. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Detection of Local Tumor Recurrence After Definitive Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Histogram Analysis of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted Perfusion MRI.

    PubMed

    Choi, Sang Hyun; Lee, Jeong Hyun; Choi, Young Jun; Park, Ji Eun; Sung, Yu Sub; Kim, Namkug; Baek, Jung Hwan

    2017-01-01

    This study aimed to explore the added value of histogram analysis of the ratio of initial to final 90-second time-signal intensity AUC (AUCR) for differentiating local tumor recurrence from contrast-enhancing scar on follow-up dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted perfusion MRI of patients treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). AUCR histogram parameters were assessed among tumor recurrence (n = 19) and contrast-enhancing scar (n = 27) at primary sites and compared using the t test. ROC analysis was used to determine the best differentiating parameters. The added value of AUCR histogram parameters was assessed when they were added to inconclusive conventional MRI results. Histogram analysis showed statistically significant differences in the 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of the AUCR values between the two groups (p < 0.05). The 90th percentile of the AUCR values (AUCR 90 ) was the best predictor of local tumor recurrence (AUC, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.91) with an estimated cutoff of 1.02. AUCR 90 increased sensitivity by 11.7% over that of conventional MRI alone when added to inconclusive results. Histogram analysis of AUCR can improve the diagnostic yield for local tumor recurrence during surveillance after treatment for HNSCC.

  6. Evaluation of T1/T2 ratios in a pilot study as a potential biomarker of biopsy: proven benign and malignant breast lesions in correlation with histopathological disease stage.

    PubMed

    Malikova, Marina A; Tkacz, Jaroslaw N; Slanetz, Priscilla J; Guo, Chao-Yu; Aakil, Adam; Jara, Hernan

    2017-08-01

    Early breast cancer detection is important for intervention and prognosis. Advances in treatment and outcome require diagnostic tools with highly positive predictive value. To study the potential role of quantitative MRI (qMRI) using T1/T2 ratios to differentiate benign from malignant breast lesions. A cross-sectional study of 69 women with 69 known or suspicious breast lesions were scanned with mixed-turbo spin echo pulse sequence. Patients were grouped according to histopathological assessment of disease stage: untreated malignant tumor, treated malignancy and benign disease. Elevated T1/T2 means were observed for biopsy-proven malignant lesions and for malignant lesions treated prior to qMRI with chemotherapy and/or radiation, as compared with benign lesions. The qMRI-obtained T1/T2 ratios correlated with histopathology. Analysis revealed correlation between elevated T1/T2 ratio and disease stage. This could provide valuable complementary information on tissue properties as an additional diagnostic tool.

  7. Endoscopic and surgical resection of T1a/T1b esophageal neoplasms: A systematic review

    PubMed Central

    Sgourakis, George; Gockel, Ines; Lang, Hauke

    2013-01-01

    AIM: To investigate potential therapeutic recommendations for endoscopic and surgical resection of T1a/T1b esophageal neoplasms. METHODS: A thorough search of electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Pubmed and Cochrane Library, from 1997 up to January 2011 was performed. An analysis was carried out, pooling the effects of outcomes of 4241 patients enrolled in 80 retrospective studies. For comparisons across studies, each reporting on only one endoscopic method, we used a random effects meta-regression of the log-odds of the outcome of treatment in each study. “Neural networks” as a data mining technique was employed in order to establish a prediction model of lymph node status in superficial submucosal esophageal carcinoma. Another data mining technique, the “feature selection and root cause analysis”, was used to identify the most important predictors of local recurrence and metachronous cancer development in endoscopically resected patients, and lymph node positivity in squamous carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) separately in surgically resected patients. RESULTS: Endoscopically resected patients: Low grade dysplasia was observed in 4% of patients, high grade dysplasia in 14.6%, carcinoma in situ in 19%, mucosal cancer in 54%, and submucosal cancer in 16% of patients. There were no significant differences between endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for the following parameters: complications, patients submitted to surgery, positive margins, lymph node positivity, local recurrence and metachronous cancer. With regard to piecemeal resection, ESD performed better since the number of cases was significantly less [coefficient: -7.709438, 95%CI: (-11.03803, -4.380844), P < 0.001]; hence local recurrence rates were significantly lower [coefficient: -4.033528, 95%CI: (-6.151498, -1.915559), P < 0.01]. A higher rate of esophageal stenosis was observed following ESD [coefficient: 7.322266, 95%CI: (3.810146, 10.83439), P < 0

  8. Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy in Women with T1-T2 Tumors and 1 to 3 Positive Lymph Nodes: Analysis of the Breast International Group 02-98 Trial.

    PubMed

    Zeidan, Youssef H; Habib, Joyce G; Ameye, Lieveke; Paesmans, Marianne; de Azambuja, Evandro; Gelber, Richard D; Campbell, Ian; Nordenskjöld, Bo; Gutiérez, Jorge; Anderson, Michael; Lluch, Ana; Gnant, Michael; Goldhirsch, Aron; Di Leo, Angelo; Joseph, David J; Crown, John; Piccart-Gebhart, Martine; Francis, Prudence A

    2018-06-01

    To analyze the impact of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for patients with T1-T2 tumors and 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes enrolled on the Breast International Group (BIG) 02-98 trial. The BIG 02-98 trial randomized patients to receive adjuvant anthracycline with or without taxane chemotherapy. Delivery of PMRT was nonrandomized and performed according to institutional preferences. The present analysis was performed on participants with T1-T2 breast cancer and 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes who had undergone mastectomy and axillary nodal dissection. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the effect of PMRT on risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR), breast cancer-specific survival, and overall survival. We identified 684 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis, of whom 337 (49%) had received PMRT. At 10 years, LRR risk was 2.5% in the PMRT group and 6.5% in the no-PMRT group (hazard ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.73; P = .005). Lower LRR after PMRT was noted for patients randomized to receive adjuvant chemotherapy with no taxane (10-year LRR: 3.4% vs 9.1%; P = .02). No significant differences in breast cancer-specific survival (84.3% vs 83.9%) or overall survival (81.7% vs 78.3%) were observed according to receipt of PMRT. Our analysis of the BIG 02-98 trial shows excellent outcomes in women with T1-T2 tumors and 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes found in axillary dissection. Although PMRT improved LRR in this cohort, the number of events remained low at 10 years. In all groups, 10-year rates of LRR were relatively low compared with historical studies. As such, the use of PMRT in women with 1 to 3 positive nodes should be tailored to individual patient risks. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Functional magnetic porous silica for T 1-T 2 dual-modal magnetic resonance imaging and pH-responsive drug delivery of basic drugs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Ling; Zhang, Run; Guo, Yi; Zhang, Cheng; Zhao, Wei; Xu, Zhiping; Whittaker, Andrew K.

    2016-12-01

    A smart magnetic-targeting drug carrier γ-Fe2O3@p-silica comprising a γ-Fe2O3 core and porous shell has been prepared and characterized. The particles have a uniform size of about 60 nm, and a porous shell of thickness 3 nm. Abundant hydroxyl groups and a large surface area enabled the γ-Fe2O3@p-silica to be readily loaded with a large payload of the basic model drug rhodamine B (RB) (up to 73 mg g-1). Cytotoxicity assays of the γ-Fe2O3@p-silica particles indicated that the particles were biocompatible and suitable for carrying drugs. It was found that the RB was released rapidly at pH 5.5 but at pH 7.4 the rate and extent of release was greatly attenuated. The particles therefore demonstrate an excellent pH-triggered drug release. In addition, the γ-Fe2O3@p-silica particles could be tracked by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A clear dose-dependent contrast enhancement in both T 1-weighted and T 2-weighted MR images indicated the potential of the γ-Fe2O3@p-silica particles to act as dual-mode T 1 and T 2 MRI contrast agents.

  10. Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Pelvic Bone Metastases at 3.0 T: Comparison Between 3-dimensional T1-weighted CAIPIRINHA-VIBE Sequence and 2-dimensional T1-weighted Turbo Spin-Echo Sequence.

    PubMed

    Yoon, Min A; Hong, Suk-Joo; Lee, Kyu-Chong; Lee, Chang Hee

    2018-06-12

    This study aimed to compare 3-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence (CAIPIRINHA-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination [VIBE]) with 2-dimensional T1-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pelvic bone metastases at 3.0 T. Thirty-one contrast-enhanced MRIs of pelvic bone metastases were included. Two contrast-enhanced sequences were evaluated for the following parameters: overall image quality, sharpness of pelvic bone, iliac vessel clarity, artifact severity, and conspicuity and edge sharpness of the smallest metastases. Quantitative analysis was performed by calculating signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of the smallest metastases. Significant differences between the 2 sequences were assessed. CAIPIRINHA-VIBE had higher scores for overall image quality, pelvic bone sharpness, iliac vessel clarity, and edge sharpness of the metastatic lesions, and had less artifacts (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in conspicuity, signal-to-noise ratio, or contrast-to-noise ratio of the smallest metastases (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that CAIPIRINHA-VIBE may be superior to turbo spin-echo for contrast-enhanced MRI of pelvic bone metastases at 3.0 T.

  11. A defect in KCa3.1 channel activity limits the ability of CD8+ T cells from cancer patients to infiltrate an adenosine-rich microenvironment.

    PubMed

    Chimote, Ameet A; Balajthy, Andras; Arnold, Michael J; Newton, Hannah S; Hajdu, Peter; Qualtieri, Julianne; Wise-Draper, Trisha; Conforti, Laura

    2018-04-24

    The limited ability of cytotoxic T cells to infiltrate solid tumors hampers immune surveillance and the efficacy of immunotherapies in cancer. Adenosine accumulates in solid tumors and inhibits tumor-specific T cells. Adenosine inhibits T cell motility through the A 2A receptor (A 2A R) and suppression of KCa3.1 channels. We conducted three-dimensional chemotaxis experiments to elucidate the effect of adenosine on the migration of peripheral blood CD8 + T cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The chemotaxis of HNSCC CD8 + T cells was reduced in the presence of adenosine, and the effect was greater on HNSCC CD8 + T cells than on healthy donor (HD) CD8 + T cells. This response correlated with the inability of CD8 + T cells to infiltrate tumors. The effect of adenosine was mimicked by an A 2A R agonist and prevented by an A 2A R antagonist. We found no differences in A 2A R expression, 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate abundance, or protein kinase A type 1 activity between HNSCC and HD CD8 + T cells. We instead detected a decrease in KCa3.1 channel activity, but not expression, in HNSCC CD8 + T cells. Activation of KCa3.1 channels by 1-EBIO restored the ability of HNSCC CD8 + T cells to chemotax in the presence of adenosine. Our data highlight the mechanism underlying the increased sensitivity of HNSCC CD8 + T cells to adenosine and the potential therapeutic benefit of KCa3.1 channel activators, which could increase infiltration of these T cells into tumors. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

  12. Factors influencing relative speech intelligibility in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective study using automatic, computer-based speech analysis.

    PubMed

    Stelzle, F; Knipfer, C; Schuster, M; Bocklet, T; Nöth, E; Adler, W; Schempf, L; Vieler, P; Riemann, M; Neukam, F W; Nkenke, E

    2013-11-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its treatment impair speech intelligibility by alteration of the vocal tract. The aim of this study was to identify the factors of oral cancer treatment that influence speech intelligibility by means of an automatic, standardized speech-recognition system. The study group comprised 71 patients (mean age 59.89, range 35-82 years) with OSCC ranging from stage T1 to T4 (TNM staging). Tumours were located on the tongue (n=23), lower alveolar crest (n=27), and floor of the mouth (n=21). Reconstruction was conducted through local tissue plasty or microvascular transplants. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 49 patients. Speech intelligibility was evaluated before, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after tumour resection, and compared to that of a healthy control group (n=40). Postoperatively, significant influences on speech intelligibility were tumour localization (P=0.010) and resection volume (P=0.019). Additionally, adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.049) influenced intelligibility at 3 months after surgery. At 6 months after surgery, influences were resection volume (P=0.028) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.034). The influence of tumour localization (P=0.001) and adjuvant radiotherapy (P=0.022) persisted after 12 months. Tumour localization, resection volume, and radiotherapy are crucial factors for speech intelligibility. Radiotherapy significantly impaired word recognition rate (WR) values with a progression of the impairment for up to 12 months after surgery. Copyright © 2013 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Hydrothermal synthesis of stable metallic 1T phase WS2 nanosheets for thermoelectric application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piao, Mingxing; Chu, Jin; Wang, Xiao; Chi, Yao; Zhang, Heng; Li, Chaolong; Shi, Haofei; Joo, Min-Kyu

    2018-01-01

    Two-dimensional materials have gained great attention as a promising thermoelectric (TE) material due to their unique density of state with confined electrons and holes. Here, we synthesized 1T phase tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets with high TE performance via the hydrothermal method. Flexible WS2 nanosheets restacked thin films were fabricated by employing the vacuum filtration technique. The measured electrical conductivity was 45 S cm-1 with a Seebeck coefficient of +30 μV K-1 at room temperature, indicating a p-type characteristic. Furthermore, the TE performance could be further improved by thermal annealing treatment. It was found the electrical conductivity could be enhanced 2.7 times without sacrificing the Seebeck coefficient, resulting in the power factor of 9.40 μW m-1 K-2. Moreover, such 1T phase WS2 nanosheets possess high phase stability since the TE properties maintained constant at least half one year in the air atmosphere. Notably, other kinds of 1T phase transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with excellent TE performance also could be imitated by using the procedure in this work. Finally, we believe a variety of materials based on 1T phase TMDCs nanosheets have great potential as candidate for future TE applications.

  14. Predictors of associated autoimmune diseases (AAID) in families with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Results from the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC)

    PubMed Central

    Wägner, Ana M; Santana, Ángelo; Hernández, Marta; Wiebe, Julia C; Nóvoa, Javier; Mauricio, Didac

    2011-01-01

    Background Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a clinically heterogeneous disease. The presence of associated autoimmune diseases (AAID) may represent a distinct form of autoimmune diabetes, with involvement of specific mechanisms. The aim of this study was to find predictors of AAID in the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC) data set. Methods 3263 families with at least 2 siblings with T1D were included. Clinical information was obtained using questionnaires, anti-GAD and anti-IA-2 were measured and HLA-genotyping was performed. Siblings with T1D with and without AAID were compared and a multivariate regression analysis was performed to find predictors of AAID. T1D-associated HLA haplotypes were defined as the 4 most susceptible and protective, respectively. Results AAID was present in 14.4% of the T1D affected siblings. Age of diabetes onset, current age and time since diagnosis were higher, and there was a female predominance and more family history of AAID in the group with AAID, as well as more frequent anti-GAD and less frequent anti-IA2 positivity. Risk and protective HLA haplotype distributions were similar, though DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 was more frequent in the group with AAID. In the multivariate analysis, female gender, age of onset, family history of AAID, time since diagnosis and anti-GAD positivity were significantly associated with AAID. Conclusions In patients with T1D, the presence of AAID is associated with female predominance, more frequent family history of AAID, later onset of T1D and more anti-GAD antibodies, despite longer duration of the disease. The predominance of certain HLA haplotypes suggests that specific mechanisms of disease may be involved. PMID:21744463

  15. Identification of novel gammadelta T-cell subsets following bacterial infection in the absence of Vgamma1+ T cells: homeostatic control of gammadelta T-cell responses to pathogen infection by Vgamma1+ T cells.

    PubMed

    Newton, Darren J; Andrew, Elizabeth M; Dalton, Jane E; Mears, Rainy; Carding, Simon R

    2006-02-01

    Although gammadelta T cells are a common feature of many pathogen-induced immune responses, the factors that influence, promote, or regulate the response of individual gammadelta T-cell subsets to infection is unknown. Here we show that in the absence of Vgamma1+ T cells, novel subsets of gammadelta T cells, expressing T-cell receptor (TCR)-Vgamma chains that normally define TCRgammadelta+ dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) (Vgamma5+), intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs) (Vgamma7+), and lymphocytes associated with the vaginal epithelia (Vgamma6+), are recruited to the spleen in response to bacterial infection in TCR-Vgamma1-/- mice. By comparison of phenotype and structure of TCR-Vgamma chains and/or -Vdelta chains expressed by these novel subsets with those of their epithelium-associated counterparts, the Vgamma6+ T cells elicited in infected Vgamma1-/- mice were shown to be identical to those found in the reproductive tract, from where they are presumably recruited in the absence of Vgamma1+ T cells. By contrast, Vgamma5+ and Vgamma7+ T cells found in infected Vgamma1-/- mice were distinct from Vgamma5+ DETCs and Vgamma7+ iIELs. Functional analyses of the novel gammadelta T-cell subsets identified for infected Vgamma1-/- mice showed that whereas the Vgamma5+ and Vgamma7+ subsets may compensate for the absence of Vgamma1+ T cells by producing similar cytokines, they do not possess cytocidal activity and they cannot replace the macrophage homeostasis function of Vgamma1+ T cells. Collectively, these findings identify novel subsets of gammadelta T cells, the recruitment and activity of which is under the control of Vgamma1+ T cells.

  16. Tax Protein-induced Expression of Antiapoptotic Bfl-1 Protein Contributes to Survival of Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected T-cells*♦

    PubMed Central

    Macaire, Héloïse; Riquet, Aurélien; Moncollin, Vincent; Biémont-Trescol, Marie-Claude; Duc Dodon, Madeleine; Hermine, Olivier; Debaud, Anne-Laure; Mahieux, Renaud; Mesnard, Jean-Michel; Pierre, Marlène; Gazzolo, Louis; Bonnefoy, Nathalie; Valentin, Hélène

    2012-01-01

    Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). ATLL is a severe malignancy with no effective treatment. HTLV-1 regulatory proteins Tax and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) play a major role in ATLL development, by interfering with cellular functions such as CD4+ T-cell survival. In this study, we observed that the expression of Bfl-1, an antiapoptotic protein of the Bcl-2 family, is restricted to HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and to T-cells expressing both Tax and HBZ proteins. We showed that Tax-induced bfl-1 transcription through the canonical NF-κB pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that Tax cooperated with c-Jun or JunD, but not JunB, transcription factors of the AP-1 family to stimulate bfl-1 gene activation. By contrast, HBZ inhibited c-Jun-induced bfl-1 gene activation, whereas it increased JunD-induced bfl-1 gene activation. We identified one NF-κB, targeted by RelA, c-Rel, RelB, p105/p50, and p100/p52, and two AP-1, targeted by both c-Jun and JunD, binding sites in the bfl-1 promoter of T-cells expressing both Tax and HBZ. Analyzing the potential role of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins in HTLV-1-infected T-cell survival, we demonstrated that these cells are differentially sensitive to silencing of Bfl-1, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2. Indeed, both Bfl-1 and Bcl-xL knockdowns decreased the survival of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines, although no cell death was observed after Bcl-2 knockdown. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Bfl-1 knockdown sensitizes HTLV-1-infected T-cells to ABT-737 or etoposide treatment. Our results directly implicate Bfl-1 and Bcl-xL in HTLV-1-infected T-cell survival and suggest that both Bfl-1 and Bcl-xL represent potential therapeutic targets for ATLL treatment. PMID:22553204

  17. Effects of B1 inhomogeneity correction for three-dimensional variable flip angle T1 measurements in hip dGEMRIC at 3 T and 1.5 T.

    PubMed

    Siversson, Carl; Chan, Jenny; Tiderius, Carl-Johan; Mamisch, Tallal Charles; Jellus, Vladimir; Svensson, Jonas; Kim, Young-Jo

    2012-06-01

    Delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage is a technique for studying the development of osteoarthritis using quantitative T(1) measurements. Three-dimensional variable flip angle is a promising method for performing such measurements rapidly, by using two successive spoiled gradient echo sequences with different excitation pulse flip angles. However, the three-dimensional variable flip angle method is very sensitive to inhomogeneities in the transmitted B(1) field in vivo. In this study, a method for correcting for such inhomogeneities, using an additional B(1) mapping spin-echo sequence, was evaluated. Phantom studies concluded that three-dimensional variable flip angle with B(1) correction calculates accurate T(1) values also in areas with high B(1) deviation. Retrospective analysis of in vivo hip delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage data from 40 subjects showed the difference between three-dimensional variable flip angle with and without B(1) correction to be generally two to three times higher at 3 T than at 1.5 T. In conclusion, the B(1) variations should always be taken into account, both at 1.5 T and at 3 T. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  18. Comparative analysis of T2 selective division of rami-communicantes (ramicotomy) with T2 sympathetic clipping in the treatment of craniofacial hyperhidrosis.

    PubMed

    Kim, Do Hyung; Paik, Hyo Chae; Lee, Doo Yun

    2004-08-01

    The main cause of dissatisfaction after sympathetic trunk blocking surgery (T2 sympathectomy, sympathetic clipping) for craniofacial hyperhidrosis is compensatory sweating. Preserving sympathetic trunk may decrease the incidence of compensatory sweating, and we introduce T2 ramicotomy, which may better preserve the sympathetic nerve trunk in order to reduce compensatory sweating. From January 2000 to November 2002, video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) T2 sympathetic clipping and VAT ramicotomy were performed in 44 patients suffering from craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Twenty-two patients underwent T2 sympathetic clipping (group 1), and 22 underwent division of T2 rami-communicantes (group 2). We retrospectively analyzed the rate of satisfaction, dryness of face, and grade of compensatory sweating. Both groups were similar with respect to facial dryness (P = 0.099). Group 1: excessive dry 5 patients (22.7%), dry 17 patients (77.3%); group 2: excessive dry 3 patients (13.6%), dry 15 patients (68.1%), and persistent sweating 4 patients (18.3%). The rate of satisfaction was 77.3% in group 1, and 63.6% in group 2 with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The rate of compensatory sweating in group 2 (72.7%) was significantly lower than in group 1 (95.4%) (P < 0.039). The chance of embarrassing and disabling compensatory sweating was lower in group 2 than in group 1; 76.5% (embarrassing in 8 patients, disabling in 9) in group 1, and 36.4% (embarrassing in 7 patients, disabling in 1) in group 2 which was statistically significant (P < 0.006). T2 ramicotomy for craniofacial hyperhidrosis lowers the rate of compensatory sweating and excessive dryness of face compared to T2 clipping.

  19. Quantum spin Hall state in monolayer 1T '-WTe 2

    DOE PAGES

    Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Wong, Dillon; ...

    2017-06-26

    A quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator is a novel two-dimensional quantum state of matter that features quantized Hall conductance in the absence of a magnetic field, resulting from topologically protected dissipationless edge states that bridge the energy gap opened by band inversion and strong spin–orbit coupling. By investigating the electronic structure of epitaxially grown monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and first-principles calculations, we observe clear signatures of topological band inversion and bandgap opening, which are the hallmarks of a QSH state. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements further confirm the correct crystal structure and the existence of a bulkmore » bandgap, and provide evidence for a modified electronic structure near the edge that is consistent with the expectations for a QSH insulator. Our results establish monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 as a new class of QSH insulator with large band gap in a robust two-dimensional materials family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).« less

  20. Quantum spin Hall state in monolayer 1T '-WTe 2

    DOE PAGES

    Tang, Shujie; Zhang, Chaofan; Wong, Dillon; ...

    2017-06-26

    A quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator is a novel two-dimensional quantum state of matter that features quantized Hall conductance in the absence of a magnetic field, resulting from topologically protected dissipationless edge states that bridge the energy gap opened by band inversion and strong spin–orbit coupling. By investigating the electronic structure of epitaxially grown monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and first-principles calculations, we observe clear signatures of topological band inversion and bandgap opening, which are the hallmarks of a QSH state. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements further confirm the correct crystal structure and the existence of a bulkmore » bandgap, and provide evidence for a modified electronic structure near the edge that is consistent with the expectations for a QSH insulator. Finally, our results establish monolayer 1T '-WTe 2 as a new class of QSH insulator with large band gap in a robust two-dimensional materials family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).« less

  1. Contrast-enhanced 3T MR Perfusion of Musculoskeletal Tumours: T1 Value Heterogeneity Assessment and Evaluation of the Influence of T1 Estimation Methods on Quantitative Parameters.

    PubMed

    Gondim Teixeira, Pedro Augusto; Leplat, Christophe; Chen, Bailiang; De Verbizier, Jacques; Beaumont, Marine; Badr, Sammy; Cotten, Anne; Blum, Alain

    2017-12-01

    To evaluate intra-tumour and striated muscle T1 value heterogeneity and the influence of different methods of T1 estimation on the variability of quantitative perfusion parameters. Eighty-two patients with a histologically confirmed musculoskeletal tumour were prospectively included in this study and, with ethics committee approval, underwent contrast-enhanced MR perfusion and T1 mapping. T1 value variations in viable tumour areas and in normal-appearing striated muscle were assessed. In 20 cases, normal muscle perfusion parameters were calculated using three different methods: signal based and gadolinium concentration based on fixed and variable T1 values. Tumour and normal muscle T1 values were significantly different (p = 0.0008). T1 value heterogeneity was higher in tumours than in normal muscle (variation of 19.8% versus 13%). The T1 estimation method had a considerable influence on the variability of perfusion parameters. Fixed T1 values yielded higher coefficients of variation than variable T1 values (mean 109.6 ± 41.8% and 58.3 ± 14.1% respectively). Area under the curve was the least variable parameter (36%). T1 values in musculoskeletal tumours are significantly different and more heterogeneous than normal muscle. Patient-specific T1 estimation is needed for direct inter-patient comparison of perfusion parameters. • T1 value variation in musculoskeletal tumours is considerable. • T1 values in muscle and tumours are significantly different. • Patient-specific T1 estimation is needed for comparison of inter-patient perfusion parameters. • Technical variation is higher in permeability than semiquantitative perfusion parameters.

  2. The role of radiation therapy in resected T2 N0 esophageal cancer: a population-based analysis.

    PubMed

    Martin, Jeremiah T; Worni, Mathias; Zwischenberger, Joseph B; Gloor, Beat; Pietrobon, Ricardo; D'Amico, Thomas A; Berry, Mark F

    2013-02-01

    The prognosis of even early-stage esophageal cancer is poor. Because there is not a consensus on how to manage T2 N0 disease, we examined survival after resection of T2 N0 esophageal cancer, with or without radiation therapy. Patients who underwent resection for T2 N0 squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the mid or distal esophagus, with or without radiation therapy, were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry from 1998 to 2008. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) after resection alone and combined resection with radiation therapy were compared using the Kaplan-Meier approach, risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, and competing risk models. The 5-year OS of 490 T2 N0 patients was 40.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.2% to 45.4%). Surgical resection alone was used in 267 patients (54%) and combined therapy in 223 (46%). The 5-year OS was 38.6% (95% CI, 31.7% to 45.5%) in patients undergoing resection only and 42.3% (95% CI, 34.7% to 49.6%) for combined therapy (p = 0.48). No difference in OS was found, even after risk adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.48; p = 0.35). However, in landmark studies with left truncation for 3 and 6 months, resection only showed better OS than combined therapy (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.75; p = 0.04 vs HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.83; p = 0.04, respectively). No such difference for CSS was detected, even for the landmark study after 6 months (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.39, p = 0.09). Combining radiation therapy with esophagectomy did not result in improved outcomes compared with esophagectomy alone for patients with T2 N0 esophageal cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Clinicopathological significance of c-MYC in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lian, Yu; Niu, Xiangdong; Cai, Hui; Yang, Xiaojun; Ma, Haizhong; Ma, Shixun; Zhang, Yupeng; Chen, Yifeng

    2017-07-01

    Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors. The oncogene c-MYC is thought to be important in the initiation, promotion, and therapy resistance of cancer. In this study, we aim to investigate the clinicopathologic roles of c-MYC in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue. This study is aimed at discovering and analyzing c-MYC expression in a series of human esophageal tissues. A total of 95 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma samples were analyzed by the western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques. Then, correlation of c-MYC expression with clinicopathological features of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients was statistically analyzed. In most esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases, the c-MYC expression was positive in tumor tissues. The positive rate of c-MYC expression in tumor tissues was 61.05%, obviously higher than the adjacent normal tissues (8.42%, 8/92) and atypical hyperplasia tissues (19.75%, 16/95). There was a statistical difference among adjacent normal tissues, atypical hyperplasia tissues, and tumor tissues. Overexpression of the c-MYC was detected in 61.05% (58/95) esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, which was significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation (p = 0.004). The positive rate of c-MYC expression was 40.0% in well-differentiated esophageal tissues, with a significantly statistical difference (p = 0.004). The positive rate of c-MYC was 41.5% in T1 + T2 esophageal tissues and 74.1% in T3 + T4 esophageal tissues, with a significantly statistical difference (p = 0.001). The positive rate of c-MYC was 45.0% in I + II esophageal tissues and 72.2% in III + IV esophageal tissues, with a significantly statistical difference (p = 0.011). The c-MYC expression strongly correlated with clinical staging (p = 0.011), differentiation degree (p = 0.004), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.003), and invasion depth (p = 0.001) of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The c-MYC was

  4. Stable 1T-phase MoS2 as an effective electron mediator promoting photocatalytic hydrogen production.

    PubMed

    Shi, Jian-Wen; Zou, Yajun; Ma, Dandan; Fan, Zhaoyang; Cheng, Linhao; Sun, Diankun; Wang, Zeyan; Niu, Chunming; Wang, Lianzhou

    2018-05-17

    Coupling two semiconductors together to construct a Z-scheme type photocatalytic system is an efficient strategy to solve the serious recombination challenge of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this work, we develop a novel composite photocatalyst by sandwiching metallic 1T-phase MoS2 nanosheets between MoO3 and g-C3N4 (MoO3/1T-MoS2/g-C3N4) for the first time. The metallic 1T-phase MoS2 acts as an efficient electron mediator between MoO3 and g-C3N4 to construct an all-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalytic system, resulting in a highly-efficient spatial charge separation and transfer process. Benefiting from this, the newly developed MoO3/1T-MoS2/g-C3N4 exhibits a drastically enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 513.0 μmol h-1 g-1 under visible light irradiation (>420 nm), which is nearly 12 times higher than that of the pure g-C3N4 (39.5 μmol h-1 g-1), and 3.5 times higher than that of MoO3/g-C3N4 (145.7 μmol h-1 g-1). More importantly, the originally unstable 1T-phase MoS2 becomes very stable in MoO3/1T-MoS2/g-C3N4 because of the sandwich structure where 1T-phase MoS2 is protected by MoO3 and g-C3N4, which endows the photocatalyst with excellent photostability. It is believed that this study will provide new insights into the design of efficient and stable Z-scheme heterostructures for photocatalytic applications.

  5. Prognostic Potential of N-Cadherin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Immunohistochemical Methods.

    PubMed

    Chandolia, Betina; Rajliwal, Jai Parkash; Bajpai, Manas; Arora, Manika

    2017-08-01

    To assess the prognostic potential for N-cadherin in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral epithelial dysplasia. Across-sectional study, analytical study. Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Dental Science Research (MMCDSR), Ambala, India, from 2011 to 2014. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the N-cadherin expression in 100 cases having epithelium with normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplastic lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). For statistical significance, SPSS 13.0 was used to calculate the data by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. In OSCC, N-cadherin expression was more evident than in oral epithelial dysplasia followed by the normal oral epithelium that did not show any dysplastic changes (p=0.001). Conversely, N-cadherin expression was not significant among the histological grade of OSCC. N-cadherin can be used as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of OSCC. However, the N-cadherin expression did not show any correlation with the histological grade of OSCC.

  6. Targeting CD47 Enhances the Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 and CTLA-4 in an Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer Preclinical Model.

    PubMed

    Tao, Hua; Qian, Pudong; Wang, Feijiang; Yu, Hongliang; Guo, Yesong

    2017-11-02

    Esophageal squamous cell cancer is a highly aggressive cancer with a dismal 5-year survival rate. CD47 is a cell transmembrane protein that is involved in cell apoptosis, proliferation, adhesion, migration, and antigen presentation in the immune system. By interacting with signal regulatory protein-α expressed in antigen-presenting cells (APCs), CD47 acts as an antiphagocytic mechanism to inhibit APC-dependent antigen presentation. Overexpression of CD47 was found in various types of cancer. However, its role in esophageal squamous cell cancer is not yet clear. Anti-CD47 is an antagonist of CD47 signaling pathways by competing with its ligand. In the current study, we investigated the effects of anti-CD47 treatment on the antitumor immune response in an esophageal squamous cell cancer preclinical model. We found that anti-CD47 treatment enhanced proinflammatory responses and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration in tumor tissue in the animal model. T cells in anti-CD47-treated tumors showed higher PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression, indicating T-cell activation and the rationale of combining anti-CD47 with anti-PD-1 and CLTA-4. The combinatory treatment showed the best antitumor response, implying a novel treatment strategy. The effects of anti-CD47 depended on dendritic cell function. In patient samples, expression of CD47 was negatively correlated with CD8+ T-cell infiltration in esophageal squamous cell cancer patients. Taken together, CD47 might be a novel target to enhance anti-PD-1 and CLTA-4 efficacy in esophageal squamous cell cancer.

  7. Interleukin 17A and interleukin 17F polymorphisms are associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma susceptibility in a Chinese population.

    PubMed

    Li, Ning; Zhang, Chao; Chen, Zhaoquan; Bai, Lilu; Nie, Min; Zhou, Bin; Xu, Huanxi

    2015-02-01

    Several studies have investigated the association of the interleukin (IL) 17A and IL-17F polymorphisms and cancer of various organs. However, the role of the IL-17A and IL-17F polymorphisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Thus we sought to clarify the association of the rs2275913, rs763780, and rs2397084 polymorphisms with OSCC in a Chinese population. A TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism Genotyping Assay (ABI, Foster, CA) was used to measure the distributions of the IL-17A (rs2275913) and IL-17F (rs763780, rs2397084) polymorphisms in 121 OSCC patients and 103 healthy controls. The association of those polymorphisms and clinical OSCC patient characteristic also was evaluated. Individuals carrying the rs2275913 A allele and AA genotype had an increased risk of OSCC (odds ratio [OR], 1.463; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.807 to 2.652; and OR, 2.713; 95% CI, 1.250 to 5.889, respectively). The frequency of the rs2397084 T allele was significantly associated with a higher risk of OSCC than the G allele (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.026 to 2.196). No difference in rs763780 frequencies was observed. The rs2275913 AA and rs2397084 TT genotypes also were associated with late clinical stages and poor tumor differentiation. In addition, stratification analysis indicated that the rs2275913 AA genotype increased OSCC risk among smoking and drinking populations (OR, 4.000; 95% CI, 1.404 to 11.394; and OR, 3.500; 95% CI, 1.018 to 12.030, respectively). In a smoking population, an rs9382084 T-allele carrier has a greater potential risk of OSCC than the overall population (OR, 2.200; 95% CI, 1.009 to 4.797). The results of this study suggest a significant association of rs2275913 and rs2397084 but not rs763780 with OSCC risk, and this was related to tumor stage and differentiation. In addition, the IL-17A and IL-17F polymorphisms can interact with smoking and drinking to enhance the risk of OSCC developing. Copyright © 2015 American Association of Oral and

  8. Number of negative lymph nodes as a prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ma, Mingquan; Tang, Peng; Jiang, Hongjing; Gong, Lei; Duan, Xiaofeng; Shang, Xiaobin; Yu, Zhentao

    2017-10-01

    The aim of this study is to investigate the number of negative lymph nodes (NLNs) as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 381 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who had underwent surgical resection as the primary treatment was enrolled into this retrospective study. The impact of number of NLNs on patient's overall survival was assessed and compared with the factors among the current tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) staging system. The number of NLNs was closely related to the overall survival, and the 5-year survival rate was 45.4% for number of NLNs of >20 (142 cases) and 26.4% for NLNs ≤ 20 (239 cases) (P = 0.001). In multivariate survival analysis, the number of NLNs remained an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.002) as did the other current TNM factors. For subgroup analysis, the predictive value of number of NLNs was significant in patients with T3 or T4 disease (P = 0.001) and patients with N1 and N2-3 disease (P = 0.025, 0.043), but not in patients with T1 or T2 disease or patients with N0 disease. The number of NLNs, which represents the extent of lymphadenectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, could impact the overall survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, especially among those with nodal-positive disease and advanced T-stage tumor. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  9. Prophylactic central neck lymphadenectomy in high risk patients with T1 or T2 papillary thyroid carcinoma: is it useful?

    PubMed

    Delogu, Daniele; Pisano, Ilia Patrizia; Pala, Carlo; Pulighe, Fabio; Denti, Salvatore; Cossu, Antonio; Trignano, Mario

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of prophylactic central neck lymph node dissection in high risk patients with T1 or T2 papillary thyroid cancer. Seventy-three patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer smaller than 4cm, without cervical lymphadenopathy and prophylactic central neck lymph node dissection were included. Patients were divided in two groups: low risk patients (group A) and high risk patients (group B). High risk patients were considered those with at least one of the followings: male sex, age ≥ 45 years, and extracapsular or extrathyroid disease. Statistical significant differences in persistent disease, recurrence and complications rates between the two groups were studied. Persistence of the disease was observed in one case in group A (5.9%) and in three cases in group B (5.4%), while thyroid cancer recurrence was registered in zero and two (3.6%) cases respectively. One single case (5.9%) of transitory recurrent laryngeal nerve damage was reported in group A and none in group B, while transitory hypoparathyroidism was observed in 2 (3.6%) patients in group A, and 1 (1.8%) patient in group B. Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve damage was observed in one patient in group A, while permanent hypoparathyroidism was registered in one case in group B. Logistic regression evidenced that multifocality was the only risk factor significantly related to persistence of disease and recurrence. Our results suggests that prophylactic central neck lymph node dissection can be safely avoided in patients with T1 or T2 papillary thyroid cancer, except in those with multifocal disease. Cancer, Central neck, Cervical, Lymphadenectomy, Lymph nodes, Papillary carcinoma, Thyroid.

  10. Final report of a phase 2 clinical trial of lenalidomide monotherapy for patients with T-cell lymphoma.

    PubMed

    Toumishey, Ethan; Prasad, Angeli; Dueck, Greg; Chua, Neil; Finch, Daygen; Johnston, James; van der Jagt, Richard; Stewart, Doug; White, Darrell; Belch, Andrew; Reiman, Tony

    2015-03-01

    Patients with T-cell lymphomas face a poorer prognosis compared with patients with B-cell lymphomas. New therapeutic approaches need to be developed to improve outcomes for these patients. Forty patients with recurrent and refractory T-cell lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides and patients with untreated T-cell lymphoma who were not candidates for combination chemotherapy were prescribed oral lenalidomide at a dose of 25 mg daily on days 1 to 21 of each 28-day cycle, with standardized dose reductions for toxicity. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR), and secondary endpoints were complete and partial response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. The authors also determined duration of response (DoR). A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the current study; 1 patient was subsequently deemed ineligible. The ORR was 10 of 39 patients (26%); 3 patients (8%) achieved complete responses and 7 patients achieved partial responses. Three patients had stable disease for ≥5 cycles. The median OS was 12 months (range <1 month to ≥69 months), the median PFS was 4 months (range, <1 month to ≥50 months), and the median DoR was 13 months (range 2 months to ≥37 months), including 5 responses that lasted >1 year. Toxicity was in keeping with the known safety profile of lenalidomide. Among the patients who had recurrent/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (29 patients), the ORR was 24%, the median OS was 12 months, the median PFS was 4 months, and the median DoR was 5 months (range, 2 months to ≥37 months). In the current study, the use of oral lenalidomide monotherapy demonstrated clinically relevant efficacy among patients with systemic T-cell lymphomas. It appears to have excellent potential as an agent in combination therapy for patients with T-cell lymphoma. © 2014 American Cancer Society.

  11. Lower numbers of circulating natural killer T (NK T) cells in individuals with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated neurological disease

    PubMed Central

    Ndhlovu, L C; Snyder-Cappione, J E; Carvalho, K I; Leal, F E; Loo, C P; bruno, F R; Jha, A R; Devita, D; Hasenkrug, A M; Barbosa, H M R; Segurado, A C; Nixon, D F; Murphy, E L; Kallas, E G

    2009-01-01

    Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects 10–20 million people worldwide. The majority of infected individuals are asymptomatic; however, approximately 3% develop the debilitating neurological disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). There is also currently no cure, vaccine or effective therapy for HTLV-1 infection, and the mechanisms for progression to HAM/TSP remain unclear. NK T cells are an immunoregulatory T cell subset whose frequencies and effector functions are associated critically with immunity against infectious diseases. We hypothesized that NK T cells are associated with HAM/TSP progression. We measured NK T cell frequencies and absolute numbers in individuals with HAM/TSP infection from two cohorts on two continents: São Paulo, Brazil and San Francisco, CA, USA, and found significantly lower levels when compared with healthy subjects and/or asymptomatic carriers. Also, the circulating NK T cell compartment in HAM/TSP subjects is comprised of significantly more CD4+ and fewer CD8+ cells than healthy controls. These findings suggest that lower numbers of circulating NK T cells and enrichment of the CD4+ NK T subset are associated with HTLV-1 disease progression. PMID:19778295

  12. Analysis of the T-cell receptor repertoire of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes from patients with HTLV-1-associated disease: evidence for oligoclonal expansion.

    PubMed

    Utz, U; Banks, D; Jacobson, S; Biddison, W E

    1996-02-01

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic, progressive neurological disease characterized by marked degeneration of the spinal cord and the presence of antibodies against HTLV-1. Patients with HAM/TSP, but not asymptomatic carriers, show very high precursor frequencies of HTLV-1-specific CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid, suggestive of a role of these T cells in the pathogenesis of the disease. In HLA-A2+ HAM/TSP patients, HTLV-1-specific T cells were demonstrated to be directed predominantly against one HTLV-1 epitope, namely, Tax11-19. In the present study, we analyzed HLA-A2-restricted HTLV-1 Tax11-19-specific cytotoxic T cells from three patients with HAM/TSP. An analysis of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of these cells revealed an absence of restricted variable (V) region usage. Different combinations of TCR V alpha and V beta genes were utilized between, but also within, the individual patients for the recognition of Tax11-19. Sequence analysis of the TCR showed evidence for an oligoclonal expansion of few founder T cells in each patient. Apparent structural motifs were identified for the CDR3 regions of the TCR beta chains. One T-cell clone could be detected within the same patient over a period of 3 years. We suggest that these in vivo clonally expanded T cells might play a role in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP and provide information on HTLV-1-specific TCR which may elucidate the nature of the T cells that infiltrate the central nervous system in HAM/TSP patients.

  13. 26 CFR 1.25-2T - Amount of credit (Temporary).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... Changes in Rates During A Taxable Year § 1.25-2T Amount of credit (Temporary). (a) In general. Except as... average annual aggregate principal amount of mortgages executed during the immediately preceding 3... that the weighted average of the certificate credit rates in such mortgage credit certificate program...

  14. Variants within the calpain-10 gene and relationships with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and T2DM-related traits among Tunisian Arabs.

    PubMed

    Ezzidi, I; Mtiraoui, N; Nemr, R; Kacem, M; Al-Khateeb, G M; Mahjoub, T; Almawi, W Y

    2010-11-01

    Common variations in the calpain 10 (CAPN10) gene variants UCSNP-43, UCSNP-19 and UCSNP-63, and the 112/121 diplotype, are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and T2DM-related traits. The association of UCSNP-43, -19 and -63 CAPN10 SNPs with T2DM was assessed in 917 Tunisian T2DM patients and 748 ethnically matched non-diabetic controls. CAPN10 genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP. Significant differences in UCSNP-19 MAF, but not UCSNP-43 or -63, and genotype distribution were seen between patients and controls. Heterogeneity in UCSNP-19, but not UCSNP-43 and -63, genotype distribution was noted according to geographical origin. Obesity was associated with UCSNP-19, while raised fasting glucose was associated with UCSNP-63, and increased HDL was associated with UCSNP-43. Enrichment of homozygous UCSNP-19 2/2 was seen in overweight and obese compared with lean patients; logistic-regression analyses demonstrated a positive association of the 2/2 genotype with overweight [P=0.003; OR (95% CI)=2.07 (1.28-3.33)] and obese [P=0.021; OR (95% CI)=1.83 (1.10-3.07)] patients. Of the six CAPN10 haplotypes identified, significant enrichment of only haplotype 111 was seen in T2DM patients [Pc=0.034; OR (95% CI)=1.22 (1.06-1.41)], while the frequency of all identified CAPN10 diplotypes, including the high-risk 112/121, was comparable between patients and controls. While CAPN10 UCSNP-19 SNP and haplotype 111 contribute to the risk of T2DM in Tunisian subjects, no significant association between CAPN10 diplotypes and T2DM was demonstrated. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  15. The transcription repressor, ZEB1, cooperates with CtBP2 and HDAC1 to suppress IL-2 gene activation in T cells.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jun; Lee, Seungsoo; Teh, Charis En-Yi; Bunting, Karen; Ma, Lina; Shannon, M Frances

    2009-03-01

    Activation of T cells leads to the induction of many cytokine genes that are required for appropriate immune responses, including IL-2, a key cytokine for T cell proliferation and homeostasis. The activating transcription factors such as nuclear factor of activated T cells, nuclear factor kappaB/Rel and activated protein-1 family members that regulate inducible IL-2 gene expression have been well documented. However, negative regulation of the IL-2 gene is less studied. Here we examine the role of zinc finger E-box-binding protein (ZEB) 1, a homeodomain/Zn finger transcription factor, as a repressor of IL-2 gene transcription. We show here that ZEB1 is expressed in non-stimulated and stimulated T cells and using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we show that ZEB1 binds to the IL-2 promoter. Over-expression of ZEB1 can repress IL-2 promoter activity, as well as endogenous IL-2 mRNA production in EL-4 T cells, and this repression is dependent on the ZEB-binding site at -100. ZEB1 cooperates with the co-repressor C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP) 2 and with histone deacetylase 1 to repress the IL-2 promoter and this cooperation depends on the ZEB-binding site in the promoter as well as the Pro-X-Asp-Leu-Ser protein-protein interaction domain in CtBP2. Thus, ZEB1 may function to recruit a repressor complex to the IL-2 promoter.

  16. Significant association of increased PD-L1 and PD-1 expression with nodal metastasis and a poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Maruse, Y; Kawano, S; Jinno, T; Matsubara, R; Goto, Y; Kaneko, N; Sakamoto, T; Hashiguchi, Y; Moriyama, M; Toyoshima, T; Kitamura, R; Tanaka, H; Oobu, K; Kiyoshima, T; Nakamura, S

    2018-07-01

    Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and its receptor PD-1 are immune checkpoint molecules that attenuate the immune response. Blockade of PD-L1 enhances the immune response in a variety of tumours and thus serves as an effective anti-cancer treatment. However, the biological and prognostic roles of PD-L1/PD-1 signalling in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation of PD-L1/PD-1 signalling with the prognosis of OSCC patients to assess its potential therapeutic relevance. The expression of PD-L1 and of PD-1 was determined immunohistochemically in 97 patients with OSCC and the association of this expression with clinicopathological characteristics was examined. Increased expression of PD-L1 was found in 64.9% of OSCC cases and increased expression of PD-1 was found in 61.9%. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that increased expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis. The expression of CD25, an activated T-cell marker, was negatively correlated with the labelling index of PD-L1 and PD-1. Moreover, the patient group with PD-L1-positive and PD-1-positive expression showed a more unfavourable prognosis than the group with PD-L1-negative and PD-1-negative expression. These data suggest that increased PD-L1 and PD-1 expression is predictive of nodal metastasis and a poor prognosis and is possibly involved in cancer progression via attenuating the immune response. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  17. New results from T2K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Longhin, A.

    2017-12-01

    The T2K experiment is a 295-km long-baseline neutrino experiment in Japan employing an off-axis muon neutrino beam with a 0.6 GeV peak energy. The beam, produced from 30-GeV protons at the J-PARC complex on the Pacific coast, is directed to the Super-Kamiokande detector. T2K released the first long-baseline measurement of a nonzero value for the θ13 mixing parameter through the observation of electron neutrino appearance (vµ → ve) and produced the most precise measurement of θ23 through the observation of muon neutrino disappearance (vµ → vµ). T2K data, in combination with reactor experiments, also excludes at 90% C.L. a significant region of the Dirac CP phase: δCP < -3.02(-1.87) and δCP > -0.49(-0.98) for the normal (inverted) hierarchy. A full joint appearance and disappearance fit including both neutrino (7×1020 protons on target, PoT) and anti-neutrino (4 × 1020 PoT) data and, for the first time, a constraint from water target data in the near detector, is presented yielding improved sensitivity on δCP and improved precision on sin2 2θ23 and the atmospheric mass splitting.

  18. Cytotoxic Components Against Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Isolated from Andrographis paniculata.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Ryuichiro; Matsushima, Yasuaki; Okudaira, Noriyuki; Sakagami, Hiroshi; Shirataki, Yoshiaki

    2016-11-01

    The 5-year survival rate of patients with oral cancer has remained approximately 50% during the past 30 years, possibly due to the poor tumor selectivity of conventional anticancer drugs. This prompted us to search for new candidates for anticancer drugs that have higher cytotoxicity and tumor selectivity. Dried leaves of Andrographis paniculata were supplied from a market in Shanghai. The methanolic fraction of A. paniculata was further fractionated to identify cytotoxic principles by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature values. Viable cell number was determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method, and tumor specificity was calculated by relative cytotoxicity against oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines compared to that against normal oral cells. Apoptosis induction was detected by cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase-3 on western blot analysis. Major cytotoxicity in the methanol extract of a leaf of A. paniculata was recovered by partitioning with EtOAc, followed by silica gel chromatography. Further purification with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography led to isolation of four known cytotoxic compounds, 14-deoxyandrographolide, andrographolide, neoandrographolide and deoxyandrographiside. Among them, andrographolide had the greatest cytotoxicity and tumor specificity, also inducing caspase-3 activation of HSC-2 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. The present study identified andrographolide as a major antitumor principle in the methanolic extract of leaves of A. paniculata. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

  19. Nicergoline inhibits T-type Ca2+ channels in rat isolated hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones.

    PubMed Central

    Takahashi, K.; Akaike, N.

    1990-01-01

    1. The effects of nicergoline on the T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in pyramidal cells freshly isolated from rat hippocampal CA1 region were investigated by use of a 'concentration-clamp' technique. The technique combines a suction-pipette technique, which allows intracellular perfusion under a single-electrode voltage-clamp, and rapid exchange of extracellular solution within 2 ms. 2. T-type Ca2+ currents were evoked by step depolarizations from a holding potential of -100 mV to potentials more positive than -70 to -60 mV, and reached a peak at about -30 mV in the current-voltage relationship. Activation and inactivation of T-type Ca2+ currents were highly potential-dependent. 3. Nicergoline and other Ca2+ antagonists dose-dependently blocked the T-type Ca2+ channel with an order of potency nicardipine greater than nicergoline greater than diltiazem. 4. The L-type Ca2+ channel was also blocked in the order nicardipine greater than nicergoline greater than diltiazem, although the T-type Ca2+ channel was more sensitive to nicergoline. 5. The inhibitory effects of nicergoline and nicardipine on the T-type Ca2+ current were voltage-, time-, and use-dependent, and the inhibition increased with a decrease in the external Ca2+ concentration. Diltiazem showed only a use-dependent block. PMID:2169937

  20. Nicergoline inhibits T-type Ca2+ channels in rat isolated hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones.

    PubMed

    Takahashi, K; Akaike, N

    1990-08-01

    1. The effects of nicergoline on the T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in pyramidal cells freshly isolated from rat hippocampal CA1 region were investigated by use of a 'concentration-clamp' technique. The technique combines a suction-pipette technique, which allows intracellular perfusion under a single-electrode voltage-clamp, and rapid exchange of extracellular solution within 2 ms. 2. T-type Ca2+ currents were evoked by step depolarizations from a holding potential of -100 mV to potentials more positive than -70 to -60 mV, and reached a peak at about -30 mV in the current-voltage relationship. Activation and inactivation of T-type Ca2+ currents were highly potential-dependent. 3. Nicergoline and other Ca2+ antagonists dose-dependently blocked the T-type Ca2+ channel with an order of potency nicardipine greater than nicergoline greater than diltiazem. 4. The L-type Ca2+ channel was also blocked in the order nicardipine greater than nicergoline greater than diltiazem, although the T-type Ca2+ channel was more sensitive to nicergoline. 5. The inhibitory effects of nicergoline and nicardipine on the T-type Ca2+ current were voltage-, time-, and use-dependent, and the inhibition increased with a decrease in the external Ca2+ concentration. Diltiazem showed only a use-dependent block.