Sample records for adrenocortical carcinomas acc

  1. Adrenocortical Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Alex C.; Sabolch, Aaron; Raymond, Victoria M.; Kandathil, Asha; Caoili, Elaine M.; Jolly, Shruti; Miller, Barbra S.; Giordano, Thomas J.

    2014-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy, often with an unfavorable prognosis. Here we summarize the knowledge about diagnosis, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy of ACC. Over recent years, multidisciplinary clinics have formed and the first international treatment trials have been conducted. This review focuses on evidence gained from recent basic science and clinical research and provides perspectives from the experience of a large multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to the care of patients with ACC. PMID:24423978

  2. Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®)—Patient Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (also called ACC or adrenal cancer) treatment usually involves surgery and may include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Learn about risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for newly diagnosed and recurrent ACC in this expert-reviewed summary.

  3. Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC or adrenal cancer) treatment is usually radical open complete resection and may include chemotherapy and radiation. Get detailed information about the prognosis and treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent ACC in this comprehensive summary for clinicians.

  4. Adrenocortical neoplasia: evolving concepts in tumorigenesis with an emphasis on adrenal cortical carcinoma variants.

    PubMed

    de Krijger, Ronald R; Papathomas, Thomas G

    2012-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, heterogeneous malignancy with a poor prognosis. According to WHO classification 2004, ACC variants include oncocytic ACCs, myxoid ACCs and ACCs with sarcomatous areas. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of these rare subtypes of adrenocortical malignancy and emphasize their clinicopathological features with the aim of elucidating aspects of diagnostic categorization, differential diagnostics and biological behavior. The issue of current terminology, applied to biphasic tumors with pleomorphic, sarcomatous or sarcomatoid elements arising in adrenal cortex, is also discussed. We additionally present emerging evidence concerning the adrenal cortical tumorigenesis and the putative adenoma-carcinoma sequence as well.

  5. Nationwide analysis of adrenocortical carcinoma reveals higher perioperative morbidity in functional tumors.

    PubMed

    Parikh, Punam P; Rubio, Gustavo A; Farra, Josefina C; Lew, John I

    2017-08-25

    Current adrenalectomy outcomes for functional adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remain unclear. This study examines nationwide in-hospital post-adrenalectomy outcomes for ACC. A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2006-2011) to identify unilateral adrenalectomy patients for functional or nonfunctional ACC was performed. Patient demographics, comorbidities and postoperative outcomes were evaluated by t-test, Chi-square and multivariate regression. Of 2199 patients who underwent adrenalectomy, 87% had nonfunctional and 13% had functional ACC (86% hypercortisolism, 16% hyperaldosteronism, 4% hyperandrogenism). Functional ACC patients had significantly more comorbidities, and experienced certain postoperative complications more frequently including wound issues, adrenocortical insufficiency and acute kidney injury with longer hospital stay compared to nonfunctional ACC (P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, functional ACC was an independent prognosticator for wound complications (28.1, 95%CI 4.59-176.6). Patients with functional ACC manifest significant comorbidities with certain in-hospital complications. Such high-risk patients require appropriate preoperative medical optimization prior to adrenalectomy. Patients with functional adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) have significant preoperative comorbidities and experience higher rates of certain postoperative complications including wound complications, hematoma formation, adrenal insufficiency, pulmonary embolism and acute kidney injury. Functional ACC patients also necessitate longer hospitalizations. These patients should undergo appropriate preoperative counseling in preparation for adrenalectomy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Update in adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Fassnacht, Martin; Kroiss, Matthias; Allolio, Bruno

    2013-12-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an orphan malignancy that has attracted increasing attention during the last decade. Here we provide an update on advances in the field since our last review published in this journal in 2006. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway and IGF-2 signaling have been confirmed as frequently altered signaling pathways in ACC, but recent data suggest that they are probably not sufficient for malignant transformation. Thus, major players in the pathogenesis are still unknown. For diagnostic workup, comprehensive hormonal assessment and detailed imaging are required because in most ACCs, evidence for autonomous steroid secretion can be found and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (if necessary, combined with functional imaging) can differentiate benign from malignant adrenocortical tumors. Surgery is potentially curative in localized tumors. Thus, we recommend a complete resection including lymphadenectomy by an expert surgeon. The pathology report should demonstrate the adrenocortical origin of the lesion (eg, by steroidogenic factor 1 staining) and provide Weiss score, resection status, and quantitation of the proliferation marker Ki67 to guide further treatment. Even after complete surgery, recurrence is frequent and adjuvant mitotane treatment improves outcome, but uncertainty exists as to whether all patients benefit from this therapy. In advanced ACC, mitotane is still the standard of care. Based on the FIRM-ACT trial, mitotane plus etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin is now the established first-line cytotoxic therapy. However, most patients will experience progress and require salvage therapies. Thus, new treatment concepts are urgently needed. The ongoing international efforts including comprehensive "-omic approaches" and next-generation sequencing will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and hopefully lead to better therapies.

  7. Epigenetic silencing of RASSF1A deregulates cytoskeleton and promotes malignant behavior of adrenocortical carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with high mutational heterogeneity and a generally poor clinical outcome. Despite implicated roles of deregulated TP53, IGF-2 and Wnt signaling pathways, a clear genetic association or unique mutational link to the disease is still missing. Recent studies suggest a crucial role for epigenetic modifications in the genesis and/or progression of ACC. This study specifically evaluates the potential role of epigenetic silencing of RASSF1A, the most commonly silenced tumor suppressor gene, in adrenocortical malignancy. Results Using adrenocortical tumor and normal tissue specimens, we show a significant reduction in expression of RASSF1A mRNA and protein in ACC. Methylation-sensitive and -dependent restriction enzyme based PCR assays revealed significant DNA hypermethylation of the RASSF1A promoter, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism for RASSF1A silencing in ACC. Conversely, the RASSF1A promoter methylation profile in benign adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) was found to be very similar to that found in normal adrenal cortex. Enforced expression of ectopic RASSF1A in the SW-13 ACC cell line reduced the overall malignant behavior of the cells, which included impairment of invasion through the basement membrane, cell motility, and solitary cell survival and growth. On the other hand, expression of RASSF1A/A133S, a loss-of-function mutant form of RASSF1A, failed to elicit similar malignancy-suppressing responses in ACC cells. Moreover, association of RASSF1A with the cytoskeleton in RASSF1A-expressing ACC cells and normal adrenal cortex suggests a role for RASSF1A in modulating microtubule dynamics in the adrenal cortex, and thereby potentially blocking malignant progression. Conclusions Downregulation of RASSF1A via promoter hypermethylation may play a role in the malignant progression of adrenocortical carcinoma possibly by abrogating differentiation-promoting RASSF1A- microtubule interactions. PMID

  8. Potent inhibitory effect of the cyclolignan picropodophyllin (PPP) on human adrenocortical carcinoma cells proliferation.

    PubMed

    Doghman, Mabrouka; Axelson, Magnus; Lalli, Enzo

    2011-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a very aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Available treatments for this type of cancer are far from being satisfactory. The IGF signalling pathway represents an important mechanism for ACT growth and constitutes a relevant therapeutic target. We investigated the effect of picropodophyllin (PPP), a member of the cyclolignan family and a new inhibitor of IGF-1R, on proliferation of human adrenocortical cell lines H295R and SW-13. PPP inhibits proliferation and induces an important accumulation in G2/M phase and apoptosis of H295R and SW-13 cells. Our data suggest that PPP may be a promising candidate for drug development for adrenocortical carcinoma.

  9. Virilizing adrenocortical carcinoma advancing to central precocious puberty after surgery.

    PubMed

    Kim, Min Sun; Yang, Eu Jeen; Cho, Dong Hyu; Hwang, Pyung Han; Lee, Dae-Yeol

    2015-05-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) in pediatric and adolescent patients is rare, and it is associated with various clinical symptoms. We introduce the case of an 8-year-old boy with ACC who presented with peripheral precocious puberty at his first visit. He displayed penis enlargement with pubic hair and facial acne. His serum adrenal androgen levels were elevated, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a right suprarenal mass. After complete surgical resection, the histological diagnosis was ACC. Two months after surgical removal of the mass, he subsequently developed central precocious puberty. He was treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to delay further pubertal progression. In patients with functioning ACC and surgical removal, clinical follow-up and hormonal marker examination for the secondary effects of excessive hormone secretion may be a useful option at least every 2 or 3 months after surgery.

  10. Disorganized Steroidogenesis in Adrenocortical Carcinoma, a Case Study.

    PubMed

    Uchida, Toyoyoshi; Nishimoto, Koshiro; Fukumura, Yuki; Asahina, Miki; Goto, Hiromasa; Kawano, Yui; Shimizu, Fumitaka; Tsujimura, Akira; Seki, Tsugio; Mukai, Kuniaki; Kabe, Yasuaki; Suematsu, Makoto; Gomez-Sanchez, Celso E; Yao, Takashi; Horie, Shigeo; Watada, Hirotaka

    2017-03-01

    Most adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) produce excessive amounts of steroid hormones including aldosterone, cortisol, and steroid precursors. However, aldosterone- and cortisol-producing cells in ACCs have not yet been immunohistochemically described. We present a case of ACC causing mild primary aldosteronism and subclinical Cushing's syndrome. Removal of the tumor cured both conditions. In order to examine the expression patterns of the steroidogenic enzymes responsible for adrenocortical hormone production, 10 tumor portions were immunohistochemically analyzed for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1, cortisol-synthesizing enzyme), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD, upstream enzyme for both CYP11B2 and CYP11B1), and 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (CYP17, upstream enzyme for CYP11B1, but not for CYP11B1). CYP11B2, CYP11B1, and 3βHSD were expressed sporadically, and their expression patterns varied significantly among the different tumor portions examined. The expression of these enzymes was random and not associated with each other. CYP17 was expressed throughout the tumor, even in CYP11B2-positive cells. Small tumor cell populations were aldosterone- or cortisol-producing cells, as judged by 3βHSD coinciding with either CYP11B2 or CYP11B1, respectively. These results suggest that the tumor produced limited amounts of aldosterone and cortisol due to the lack of the coordinated expression of steroidogenic enzymes, which led to mild clinical expression in this case. We delineated the expression patterns of steroidogenic enzymes in ACC. The coordinated expression of steroidogenic enzymes in normal and adenoma cells was disturbed in ACC cells, resulting in the inefficient production of steroid hormones in relation to the large tumor volume.

  11. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Is a Potential Antiangiogenic Target in Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Crowley, Michael J P; Scognamiglio, Theresa; Liu, Yi-Fang; Kleiman, David A; Beninato, Toni; Aronova, Anna; Liu, He; Jhanwar, Yuliya S; Molina, Ana; Tagawa, Scott T; Bander, Neil H; Zarnegar, Rasa; Elemento, Olivier; Fahey, Thomas J

    2016-03-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor type with a poor prognosis and few therapeutic options. Assess prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression as a potential novel therapeutic target for ACC. Expression of PSMA was evaluated in benign and malignant adrenal tumors and 1 patient with metastatic ACC. This study took place at a tertiary referral center. Fifty adrenal samples were evaluated, including 16 normal adrenal glands, 16 adrenocortical adenomas, 15 primary ACC, and 3 ACC metastases. Demographics, PSMA expression levels via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry and whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography standardized uptake values for 1 patient. qPCR demonstrated an elevated level of PSMA in ACC relative to all benign tissues (P < .05). Immunohistochemistry localized PSMA expression to the neovasculature of ACC and confirmed overexpression of PSMA in ACC relative to benign tissues both in intensity and percentage of vessels stained (78% of ACC, 0% of normal adrenal, and 3.27% of adenoma-associated neovasculature; P < .001). Those with more than 25% PSMA-positive vessels were 33 times more likely to be malignant than benign (odds ratio, P < .001). Whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging showed targeting of anti-PSMA Zr89-J591 to 5/5 of the patient's multiple lung masses with an average measurement of 3.49 ± 1.86 cm and a standardized uptake value of 1.4 ± 0.65 relative to blood pool at 0.8 standardized uptake value. PSMA is significantly overexpressed in ACC neovasculature when compared with normal and benign adrenal tumors. PSMA expression can be used to image ACC metastases in vivo and may be considered as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in ACC.

  12. Surgical management and clinical prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Dong, Dexin; Li, Hanzhong; Yan, Weigang; Ji, Zhigang; Mao, Quanzong

    2012-01-01

    To study the relationship between surgical management and prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) in order to guide the surgical management of ACC. Clinical data of 45 cases of ACC treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The 45 cases included 3 cases in stage I, 12 cases in stage II, 7 cases in stage III, and 23 cases in stage IV. 17 cases underwent complete excision, 14 cases underwent palliative excision, 8 cases had non-operative treatment and 6 cases gave up treatment. All patients were followed up from 2 to 141 months. The average survival time of 31 patients with surgery was 32.46 months, and the average survival time of 14 patients without surgery was 4.75 months. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in survival time in stage III and stage IV (p > 0.05). Surgery is considered to be the only method to cure ACC. For ACC in stage I and II, tumor resection is the most effective treatment, and second surgical operation is recommended for local recurrence. For ACC in stage III, extensive surgical operation is recommended, and for ACC in stage IV, surgical operation has no effect on the prognosis. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  13. Pitfalls in the diagnosis of adrenocortical tumors: a lesson from 300 consultation cases.

    PubMed

    Duregon, Eleonora; Volante, Marco; Bollito, Enrico; Goia, Margherita; Buttigliero, Consuelo; Zaggia, Barbara; Berruti, Alfredo; Scagliotti, Giorgio Vittorio; Papotti, Mauro

    2015-12-01

    The correct pathologic classification of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is relevant to establish an early therapeutic strategy of this rare malignancy. The aim of the study was to assess the most frequent pitfalls in ACC diagnosis reviewing a large consecutive series of 300 cases with an original diagnosis or a clinical suspect of ACC, which were sent in consultation to our institution between 2004 and 2014. A major disagreement that significantly modified the clinical management of patients was recorded in 26 cases (9%). The most common pitfall (10 cases) was to distinguish ACC from pheochromocytoma and vice versa. Seven other cases diagnosed as ACC were reclassified as metastases from other primaries and primary adrenal soft tissue tumors (including 3 angiosarcomas). Finally, 5 adrenocortical adenomas were reclassified into carcinomas, and 4 ACCs were converted into adenomas. Minor disagreements were mostly related to the identification of ACC variants (up to 32% of cases of adrenocortical tumors in the present series). Moreover, more than 50% of ACC cases lacked Ki-67. In conclusion, our results indicate that, in the presence of a histologically suspected ACC, a special attention should be devoted to exclude metastatic and soft tissue tumors and pheochromocytoma (in this latter case with special reference to the oncocytic variant of adrenocortical tumors). Moreover, pathologists should be aware of the major role of Ki-67 in determining prognosis and in selecting patients to the most appropriate treatment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Adrenocortical carcinoma with inferior vena cava, left renal vein and right atrium tumor thrombus extension

    PubMed Central

    Annamaria, Pronio; Silvia, Piroli; Bernardo, Ciamberlano; Alessandro, De Luca; Antonino, Marullo; Antonio, Barretta; Giuseppe, Mazzesi; Massimo, Rossi; Montesani, Chiara

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, but highly aggressive type of tumor with an annual incidence of 1–2 cases per million. The prognosis is poor with a five-year overall survival rate of ∼35%. The poor prognosis may be related to the advanced stage at which the majority of ACCs are detected. Complete surgical resection remains the most effective treatment. Presentation of the case A 51-year-old female patient with recent onset of dyspepsia, ascites and peripheral edema was referred to our institution. Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) displayed a 8 cm Ø right adrenal mass. Moreover a tumor thrombus jutted out into the IVC, left renal vein and right atrium. An echocardiographic evaluation confirmed the presence of the tumor thrombus in the right atrium. The patient underwent adrenalectomy with removal of its intravascular extension with the assistance of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. Discussion ACC is a rare malignancy and ACC with tumor thrombus extension is a rare presentation. Patients can present with a variety of sign and symptoms, depending on the extent of the tumor. CT scan of chest and abdomen represents the gold standard in ACC staging while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred for tumor thrombus characterization. Complete surgical resection with a negative margin, R0 resection, is the only curative option for localized disease. Kidney sparing surgery should be performed when possible. Conclusion We present a rare case of Adrenocortical carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the IVC and right atrium. Complete resection with negative margins represents the best therapeutic chance for these patients. PMID:26355237

  15. Adrenocortical carcinoma with inferior vena cava, left renal vein and right atrium tumor thrombus extension.

    PubMed

    Annamaria, Pronio; Silvia, Piroli; Bernardo, Ciamberlano; Alessandro, De Luca; Antonino, Marullo; Antonio, Barretta; Giuseppe, Mazzesi; Massimo, Rossi; Montesani, Chiara

    2015-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, but highly aggressive type of tumor with an annual incidence of 1-2 cases per million. The prognosis is poor with a five-year overall survival rate of ∼35%. The poor prognosis may be related to the advanced stage at which the majority of ACCs are detected. Complete surgical resection remains the most effective treatment. A 51-year-old female patient with recent onset of dyspepsia, ascites and peripheral edema was referred to our institution. Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) displayed a 8cm Ø right adrenal mass. Moreover a tumor thrombus jutted out into the IVC, left renal vein and right atrium. An echocardiographic evaluation confirmed the presence of the tumor thrombus in the right atrium. The patient underwent adrenalectomy with removal of its intravascular extension with the assistance of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. ACC is a rare malignancy and ACC with tumor thrombus extension is a rare presentation. Patients can present with a variety of sign and symptoms, depending on the extent of the tumor. CT scan of chest and abdomen represents the gold standard in ACC staging while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred for tumor thrombus characterization. Complete surgical resection with a negative margin, R0 resection, is the only curative option for localized disease. Kidney sparing surgery should be performed when possible. We present a rare case of Adrenocortical carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the IVC and right atrium. Complete resection with negative margins represents the best therapeutic chance for these patients. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  16. Composite Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Neuroblastoma in an Infant With a TP53 Germline Mutation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

    PubMed

    Tang, Yue-Jia; Yu, Ting-Ting; Ma, Jing; Zhou, Ying; Xu, Min; Gao, Yi-Jin

    2018-05-09

    Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a kind of hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes, and is caused by TP53 gene mutation. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is commonly described as the most closely related tumor with this disease. Here, we present a case of a male infant with composite ACC and neuroblastoma who inherited a TP53 gene mutation from his mother, a 20-year-old carrier without any tumor to date. This TP53 gene mutation may be pathogenic and lead to composite malignancies of ACC and neuroblastoma.

  17. First Case Report of a Sporadic Adrenocortical Carcinoma With Gastric Metastasis and a Synchronous Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Stomach.

    PubMed

    Kovecsi, Attila; Jung, Ioan; Bara, Tivadar; Bara, Tivadar; Azamfirei, Leonard; Kovacs, Zsolt; Gurzu, Simona

    2015-09-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor with high aggresivity that can associate systemic metastases. A 71-year-old man was hospitalized for gastric cancer. The abdominal computed tomography also revealed a tumor above the right kidney. Total gastrectomy and right adrenalectomy were performed. The encapsulated tumor of the adrenal gland weighed 560 grams and presented diffuse tumor architecture under microscope, with capsular, sinusoidal, and vascular invasion. The large tumor cells had a polygonal shape, with slight basophilic, eosinophilic, or vacuolated cytoplasm, pleomorphic nuclei, and a high mitotic rate. In the stomach, the protruded tumor was covered by normal mucosa; under microscope, the tumor cells were observed only in the submucosal layer. In primary adrenal tumor and gastric metastasis the tumor cells were marked by vimentin, inhibin, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, and calretinin. Based on these criteria, the diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) with gastric metastasis and no lymph node metastases was established. A synchronous 10 × 10-mm-sized gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach, without mitoses, was also identified. So far, as we know, this is the 15th case of ever reported synchronous/metachronous sporadic ACCs; the ACC-related gastric metastases either synchronous ACC and GIST, has not been reported in the literature previously.

  18. Biology is Destiny: A Case of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Diagnosed and Resected at Inception in a Patient Under Close Surveillance for Lung Cancer.

    PubMed

    Miron, Benjamin; Ristau, Benjamin T; Tomaszewski, Jeffrey J; Jones, Josh; Milestone, Bart; Wong, Yu-Ning; Uzzo, Robert G; Edmondson, Donna; Scott, Walter; Kutikov, Alexander

    2016-11-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy that is generally associated with a poor prognosis whose existence dictates the management of incidental renal masses. We report a case of ACC diagnosed and treated at its apparent inception in a patient undergoing close surveillance imaging of a prior malignancy. Despite timely detection and resection of a localized ACC this patient rapidly progressed to systemic disease. This case highlights the rapid growth kinetics of ACC and puts into perspective the challenges associated with the established treatment paradigm for patients diagnosed with an adrenal mass.

  19. Progression to Adrenocortical Tumorigenesis in Mice and Humans through Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 and β-Catenin

    PubMed Central

    Heaton, Joanne H.; Wood, Michelle A.; Kim, Alex C.; Lima, Lorena O.; Barlaskar, Ferdous M.; Almeida, Madson Q.; Fragoso, Maria C.B.V.; Kuick, Rork; Lerario, Antonio M.; Simon, Derek P.; Soares, Ibere C.; Starnes, Elisabeth; Thomas, Dafydd G.; Latronico, Ana C.; Giordano, Thomas J.; Hammer, Gary D.

    2013-01-01

    Dysregulation of the WNT and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) signaling pathways has been implicated in sporadic and syndromic forms of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Abnormal β-catenin staining and CTNNB1 mutations are reported to be common in both adrenocortical adenoma and ACC, whereas elevated IGF2 expression is associated primarily with ACC. To better understand the contribution of these pathways in the tumorigenesis of ACC, we examined clinicopathological and molecular data and used mouse models. Evaluation of adrenal tumors from 118 adult patients demonstrated an increase in CTNNB1 mutations and abnormal β-catenin accumulation in both adrenocortical adenoma and ACC. In ACC, these features were adversely associated with survival. Mice with stabilized β-catenin exhibited a temporal progression of increased adrenocortical hyperplasia, with subsequent microscopic and macroscopic adenoma formation. Elevated Igf2 expression alone did not cause hyperplasia. With the combination of stabilized β-catenin and elevated Igf2 expression, adrenal glands were larger, displayed earlier onset of hyperplasia, and developed more frequent macroscopic adenomas (as well as one carcinoma). Our results are consistent with a model in which dysregulation of one pathway may result in adrenal hyperplasia, but accumulation of a second or multiple alterations is necessary for tumorigenesis. PMID:22800756

  20. Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Children: A Clinicopathological Analysis of 41 Patients at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Nidhi; Rivera, Michael; Novotny, Paul; Rodriguez, Vilmarie; Bancos, Irina; Lteif, Aida

    2018-05-25

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive childhood cancer. Limited evidence exists on a definite histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological data of children with ACC, identify prognostic factors, and validate a histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. This retrospective cohort included 41 children, followed at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017 (onset of symptoms ≤21 years). Outcomes of interest were: alive with no evidence of disease, alive with evidence of disease, and dead of disease. Median age at onset of symptoms was 15.7 years (n = 41; range, 0.2-21 years). Female:male ratio was 3.6: 1. Mixed symptomatology (> 1 hormone abnormality) was the most common presentation (54%, n = 22). Sixty-six percent of patients (n = 27 out of 41) underwent total adrenalectomy. Metastatic disease was more common in children aged > 12 years (p = 0.002 compared to < 4 years). The most common sites of metastases were the liver and lungs. Overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 61% (95% CI 45-77) and 46% (95% CI 30-62), respectively. Metastasis at the time of diagnosis was independently associated with poor prognosis (risk ratio 13.7%; 95% CI 3.9-87.7). Weiss criteria (29%) and modified Weiss criteria (33%) were less accurate in younger patients (< 12 years), compared to the Wieneke index (100%). The presence of metastases was an independent prognostic factor. The Wieneke index was the most accurate in predicting clinical outcomes in younger children. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  1. Adrenocortical carcinoma: the dawn of a new era of genomic and molecular biology analysis.

    PubMed

    Armignacco, R; Cantini, G; Canu, L; Poli, G; Ercolino, T; Mannelli, M; Luconi, M

    2018-05-01

    Over the last decade, the development of novel and high penetrance genomic approaches to analyze biological samples has provided very new insights in the comprehension of the molecular biology and genetics of tumors. The use of these techniques, consisting of exome sequencing, transcriptome, miRNome, chromosome alteration, genome, and epigenome analysis, has also been successfully applied to adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). In fact, the analysis of large cohorts of patients allowed the stratification of ACC with different patterns of molecular alterations, associated with different outcomes, thus providing a novel molecular classification of the malignancy to be associated with the classical pathological analysis. Improving our knowledge about ACC molecular features will result not only in a better diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, but also in the identification of more specific therapeutic targets for the development of more effective pharmacological anti-cancer approaches. In particular, the specific molecular alteration profiles identified in ACC may represent targetable events by the use of already developed or newly designed drugs enabling a better and more efficacious management of the ACC patient in the context of new frontiers of personalized precision medicine.

  2. TCGA analysis of adrenocortical carcinoma - TCGA

    Cancer.gov

    In the most comprehensive molecular characterization to date of adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal cortex, researchers extensively analyzed 91 cases for alterations in the tumor genomes.

  3. The Weiss score and beyond--histopathology for adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Papotti, Mauro; Libè, Rossella; Duregon, Eleonora; Volante, Marco; Bertherat, Jerome; Tissier, Frederique

    2011-12-01

    The pathological diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is still challenging for its rarity and the presence of special variants (pediatric, oncocytic, myxoid, and sarcomatoid). It is based on the recognition at light microscopy of at least three among nine morphological parameters, according to the Weiss scoring system, which has been introduced 27 years ago and nowadays is the most widely employed. Nevertheless, the diagnostic performance of this system is very high but does not reach a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, its diagnostic applicability is potentially low among non-expert pathologists, and a group of borderline cases with only one or two criteria exist of uncertain behavior. Moreover, it is scarcely reproducible in the ACC morphological variants. In fact, specifically for the pure oncocytic neoplasms that seem to have a better prognosis in comparison to the conventional ACCs, a modified system (the Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia) has been proposed. With the aim to simplify the ACC diagnosis, 2 years ago, the "reticulin" diagnostic algorithm has been proposed, based on the observation that the tumoral reticulin framework (highlighted by reticulin silver-based histochemical staining) is consistently disrupted in malignant cases but only in a small subset of benign cases. Following this algorithm, in the presence of reticulin alterations, malignancy is further defined through the identification of at least one of the following parameters: necrosis, high mitotic rate, and venous invasion. As a complement to the morphological approach, some immunohistochemical markers (such as steroidogenic factor 1) have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic adjuncts but still lack wide clinical validation.

  4. Adjuvant mitotane treatment for adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Terzolo, Massimo; Angeli, Alberto; Fassnacht, Martin; Daffara, Fulvia; Tauchmanova, Libuse; Conton, Pier Antonio; Rossetto, Ruth; Buci, Lisa; Sperone, Paola; Grossrubatscher, Erika; Reimondo, Giuseppe; Bollito, Enrico; Papotti, Mauro; Saeger, Wolfgang; Hahner, Stefanie; Koschker, Ann-Cathrin; Arvat, Emanuela; Ambrosi, Bruno; Loli, Paola; Lombardi, Gaetano; Mannelli, Massimo; Bruzzi, Paolo; Mantero, Franco; Allolio, Bruno; Dogliotti, Luigi; Berruti, Alfredo

    2007-06-07

    Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare neoplasm characterized by a high risk of recurrence after radical resection. Whether the use of mitotane is beneficial as an adjuvant treatment has been controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant mitotane in prolonging recurrence-free survival. We performed a retrospective analysis involving 177 patients with adrenocortical cancer who had undergone radical surgery at 8 centers in Italy and 47 centers in Germany between 1985 and 2005. Adjuvant mitotane was administered to 47 Italian patients after radical surgery (mitotane group), whereas 55 Italian patients and 75 German patients (control groups 1 and 2, respectively) did not receive adjuvant treatment after surgery. Baseline features in the mitotane group and the control group from Italy were similar; the German patients were significantly older (P=0.03) and had more stage I or II adrenocortical carcinomas (P=0.02) than did patients in the mitotane group. Recurrence-free survival was significantly prolonged in the mitotane group, as compared with the two control groups (median recurrence-free survival, 42 months, as compared with 10 months in control group 1 and 25 months in control group 2). Hazard ratios for recurrence were 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77 to 4.78; P<0.001) and 1.97 (95% CI, 1.21 to 3.20; P=0.005), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that mitotane treatment had a significant advantage for recurrence-free survival. Adverse events associated with mitotane were mainly of grade 1 or 2, but temporary dose reduction was needed in 13% of patients. Adjuvant mitotane may prolong recurrence-free survival in patients with radically resected adrenocortical carcinoma. Copyright 2007 Massachusetts Medical Society.

  5. Adjuvant helical IMRT by tomotherapy for bulky adrenocortical carcinoma operated with positive margins: a case report.

    PubMed

    Delmastro, Elena; Garibaldi, Elisabetta; Gabriele, Domenico; Bresciani, Sara; Cattari, Gabriella; Dia, Amalia Di; Manini, Claudia; Collura, Devis; Redda, Maria Grazia Ruo; Gabriele, Pietro

    2016-11-11

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor in the adult. The main therapy is surgery but in some cases radiotherapy may be needed to control the disease locally. A patient with a surgically removed bulky ACC and pathologic finding of a positive margin was treated at our center by adjuvant mitotane and radiotherapy using an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)/image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) technique by tomotherapy. Dose prescriptions were 63 Gy on the surgical bed and 50.4 Gy on the lymphatic drainage in 28 sessions. Patient compliance was good with no evidence of acute or late toxicities. Thirty months after radiotherapy, the patient is alive without evidence of disease checked by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and without any complication. In patients with adverse prognostic features, the delivery of adequate adjuvant radiotherapy doses with IMRT and daily IGRT is feasible and safe and could result in an improved outcome for patients with ACC.

  6. Surgery in adrenocortical carcinoma: Importance of national cooperation and centralized surgery.

    PubMed

    Hermsen, Ilse G C; Kerkhofs, Thomas M A; den Butter, Gijsbert; Kievit, Job; van Eijck, Casper H J; Nieveen van Dijkum, Els J M; Haak, Harm R

    2012-07-01

    The low incidence rate of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) requires a multidisciplinary approach in which surgery plays an essential role because complete resection of the primary tumor is the only chance of cure. To improve patient care, insight into operative results within the ACC population is essential. In 2007, a Dutch Adrenal Network Registry was created covering care and outcome of patients treated for ACC in the Netherlands since 1965. Using this database, we performed a study (1) to gain insight into surgical performance in the Netherlands and (2) to compare operative data with international literature. Data on patients treated from 1965 until January 2008 were studied. The following data were collected: age, gender, functionality of the tumor, stage at diagnosis, operative procedure, completeness of surgery, disease recurrence, adjuvant mitotane therapy, and recurrence-free and overall survival (OS). A total of 175 patients were studied, of whom 149 underwent surgery. Patients with complete resection had significantly longer OS times than patients with incomplete resection (P = .010). Patients operated on in a Dutch Adrenal Network center had significantly longer duration of OS in both univariate (P = .011) and multivariate analysis (P = .014). A significantly greater OS was observed for operated stage IV patients compared with nonoperated patients (P = .002). Our data suggest the relevance of national cooperation and centralized surgery in ACC. For selected patients with stage IV disease, surgery can be beneficial in extending survival. On the basis of the retrospective analysis, operative ACC in the Netherlands can and will be improved. Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc.

  7. Update on the management of unusual neuroendocrine tumors: pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, medullary thyroid cancer and adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Strosberg, Jonathan R

    2013-02-01

    Pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) originate in cells that share a common neuroectodermal origin. Like other neuroendocrine neoplasms, they are characterized by a propensity to secrete amines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and peptide hormones (calcitonin). Improved understanding of underlying molecular pathways, such as mutations of the RET (rearranged during transfection) proto-oncogene, has led to new rational targeted therapies. Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) originate in the steroid hormone-producing adrenal cortex. While tumors of the adrenal cortex are not, strictly speaking, part the "diffuse neuroendocrine system," they are often included in neuroendocrine tumor guidelines due to their orphan status. In this update on management of unusual neuroendocrine tumors, we review the biology and treatment of these rare neoplasms. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Rapid and Complete Remission of Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma Persisting 10 Years After Treatment With Mitotane Monotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Ghorayeb, Nada El; Rondeau, Geneviève; Latour, Mathieu; Cohade, Christian; Olney, Harold; Lacroix, André; Perrotte, Paul; Sabourin, Alexis; Mazzuco, Tania L; Bourdeau, Isabelle

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Mitotane has been used for more than 5 decades as therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However its mechanism of action and the extent of tumor response remain incompletely understood. To date no cases of rapid and complete remission of metastatic ACC with mitotane monotherapy has been reported. A 52-year-old French Canadian man presented with metastatic disease 2 years following a right adrenalectomy for stage III nonsecreting ACC. He was started on mitotane which was well tolerated despite rapid escalation of the dose. The patient course was exceptional as he responded to mitotane monotherapy after only few months of treatment. Initiation of chemotherapy was not needed and he remained disease-free with good quality of life on low maintenance dose of mitotane during the following 10 years. A germline heterozygous TP53 exon 4 polymorphism c.215C>G (p. Pro72Arg) was found. Immunohistochemical stainings for IGF-2 and cytoplasmic β-catenin were positive. Advanced ACC is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis and the current therapeutic options remain limited. These findings suggest that mitotane is a good option for the treatment of metastatic ACC and might result in rapid complete remission in selected patients. PMID:27043680

  9. Characterization of differential gene expression in adrenocortical tumors harboring beta-catenin (CTNNB1) mutations.

    PubMed

    Durand, Julien; Lampron, Antoine; Mazzuco, Tania L; Chapman, Audrey; Bourdeau, Isabelle

    2011-07-01

    Mutations of β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) are frequent in adrenocortical adenomas (AA) and adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC). However, the target genes of β-catenin have not yet been identified in adrenocortical tumors. Our objective was to identify genes deregulated in adrenocortical tumors harboring CTNNB1 genetic alterations and nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. Microarray analysis identified a dataset of genes that were differently expressed between AA with CTNNB1 mutations and wild-type (WT) tumors. Within this dataset, the expression profiles of five genes were validated by real time-PCR (RT-PCR) in a cohort of 34 adrenocortical tissues (six AA and one ACC with CTNNB1 mutations, 13 AA and four ACC with WT CTNNB1, and 10 normal adrenal glands) and two human ACC cell lines. We then studied the effects of suppressing β-catenin transcriptional activity with the T-cell factor/β-catenin inhibitors PKF115-584 and PNU74654 on gene expression in H295R and SW13 cells. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the overexpression of ISM1, RALBP1, and PDE2A and the down-regulation of PHYHIP in five of six AA harboring CTNNB1 mutations compared with WT AA (n = 13) and normal adrenal glands (n = 10). RALBP1 and PDE2A overexpression was also confirmed at the protein level by Western blotting analysis in mutated tumors. ENC1 was specifically overexpressed in three of three AA harboring CTNNB1 point mutations. mRNA expression and protein levels of RALBP1, PDE2A, and ENC1 were decreased in a dose-dependent manner in H295R cells after treatment with PKF115-584 or PNU74654. This study identified candidate genes deregulated in CTNNB1-mutated adrenocortical tumors that may lead to a better understanding of the role of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway in adrenocortical tumorigenesis.

  10. The reticulin algorithm for adrenocortical tumor diagnosis: a multicentric validation study on 245 unpublished cases.

    PubMed

    Duregon, Eleonora; Fassina, Ambrogio; Volante, Marco; Nesi, Gabriella; Santi, Raffaella; Gatti, Gaia; Cappellesso, Rocco; Dalino Ciaramella, Paolo; Ventura, Laura; Gambacorta, Marcello; Dei Tos, Angelo Paolo; Loli, Paola; Mannelli, Massimo; Mantero, Franco; Berruti, Alfredo; Terzolo, Massimo; Papotti, Mauro

    2013-09-01

    The pathologic diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) still needs to be improved, because the renowned Weiss Score (WS) system has a poor reproducibility of some parameters and is difficult to apply in borderline cases and in ACC variants. The "reticulin algorithm" (RA) defines malignancy through an altered reticulin framework associated with 1 of the 3 following parameter: necrosis, high mitotic rate, and vascular invasion. This study aimed at validating the interobserver reproducibility of reticulin stain evaluation in an unpublished series of 245 adrenocortical tumors (61 adenomas and 184 carcinomas) from 5 Italian centers, classified according to the WS. Eight pathologists reviewed all reticulin-stained slides. After training, a second round of evaluation on discordant cases was performed 10 weeks later. The RA reclassified 67 cases (27%) as adenomas, including 44 with no reticulin alterations and 23 with an altered reticulin framework but lacking the subsequent parameters of the triad. The other 178 cases (73%) were carcinomas according to the above-mentioned criteria. A complete (8/8 pathologists) interobserver agreement was reached in 75% of cases (κ=0.702), irrespective of case derivation, pathologists' experience, and histologic variants, and was further improved when only those cases with high WS and clinically malignant behavior were considered. After the training, the overall agreement increased to 86%. We conclude that reticulin staining is a reliable technique and an easy-to-interpret system in adrenocortical tumors; moreover, it has a high interobserver reproducibility, which supports the notion of using such a method in the proposed 2-step RA approach for ACC diagnosis.

  11. Co-secretion of aldosterone and cortisol by an adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Kurtulmus, Neslihan; Yarman, Sema; Azizlerli, Halil; Kapran, Yersu

    2004-01-01

    We report a rare case of adrenocortical carcinoma. A 26-year-old woman presented with hypokalemia and hypertension due to hyperaldosteronism. She had no signs of Cushing's syndrome. Endocrinological data showed excess of aldosterone production and nonsupressible cortisol production on 2 mg of dexamethasone. Magnetic resonance imaging showed left adrenal tumor. Transabdominal left adrenalectomy was performed and histopathological diagnosis was adrenocortical carcinoma. Her blood pressure and hypokalemia returned to normal after adrenalectomy. There is no recurrence after 36 months. We want to emphasis the importance of adrenal tests before the operation even if there are no signs of excess cortisol production.

  12. Adrenocortical Carcinoma—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adrenocortical carcinoma is also called cancer of the adrenal cortex. A tumor of the adrenal cortex may be functioning or nonfunctioning. Most adrenocortical tumors are functioning. Find evidence-based information on adrenocortical carcinoma including treatment and research.

  13. Adrenocortical carcinoma, an unusual cause of secondary hypertension.

    PubMed

    Veron Esquivel, Daniel; Batiz, Fernando; Farias Vega, Alfonso; Carrillo Gonzalez, Perla A

    2016-12-07

    We present the case of a female patient aged 39 years who was admitted to our hospital due to hypertension, severe hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis; physical examination was remarkable for plethoric moon face, centripetal obesity and bilateral lower extremity oedema. She was admitted for intravenous potassium replacement and further assessment of hypertension and associated clinical findings. Laboratory testing showed increased levels of aldosterone, renin, cortisol, testosterone and androstenedione. An abdominal CT revealed a large mass in the right adrenal gland with hepatic involvement. The patient was started on antihypertensive medications and underwent laparoscopic surgery for mass and liver biopsy. The pathological diagnosis was adrenocortical carcinoma with liver metastasis. Hyperaldosteronism is a cause of secondary hypertension and its diagnosis is usually benign. Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare condition and aldosterone secreting tumours are even rarer; associated hypertension usually improves after tumour resection, but with the presence of metastasis, blood pressure control is difficult. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  14. Differential expression of microRNA-675, microRNA-139-3p and microRNA-335 in benign and malignant adrenocortical tumours

    PubMed Central

    Helwig, J; Bertram, S; Sheu, S Y; Suttorp, A C; Seggewiß, J; Willscher, E; Walz, M K; Worm, K; Schmid, K W

    2011-01-01

    Background For the clinical management of adrenocortical neoplasms it is crucial to correctly distinguish between benign and malignant tumours. Even histomorphologically based scoring systems do not allow precise separation in single lesions, thus novel parameters are desired which offer a more accurate differentiation. The tremendous potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers in surgical pathology has recently been shown in a broad variety of tumours. Methods In order to elucidate the diagnostic impact of miRNA expression in adrenocortical neoplasms, a cohort of 20 adrenocortical specimens including normal adrenal tissue (n=4), adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) (n=9), adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) (n=4) and metastases (n=3) was analysed using TaqMan low density arrays to identify specific miRNA profiles in order to distinguish between benign and malignant adrenocortical lesions. Results were validated in a validation cohort (n=16). Results Concerning the differential diagnosis of ACAs and ACCs, 159 out of 667 miRNAs were up- and 89 were down-regulated in ACAs. Using real-time PCR analysis of three of the most significantly expressed single key miRNAs allowed separation of ACAs from ACCs. ACCs exhibited significantly lower levels of miR-139-3p (up to 8.49-fold, p<0.001), miR-675 (up to 23.25-fold, p<0.001) and miR-335 (up to 5.25-fold, p<0.001). A validation cohort of 16 specimen with known Weiss score showed up-regulation of miR-335 and miR-675 in the majority of cases with probable malignant course, although overlapping values exist. Conclusion miRNA profiling of miR-675 and miR-335 helps in discriminating ACCs from ACAs. miRNA analysis may indicate malignant behaviour in cases with indeterminate malignant potential. PMID:21471143

  15. Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Multicenter Study of Efficacy and Predictive Factors.

    PubMed

    Henning, Judith E K; Deutschbein, Timo; Altieri, Barbara; Steinhauer, Sonja; Kircher, Stefan; Sbiera, Silviu; Wild, Vanessa; Schlötelburg, Wiebke; Kroiss, Matthias; Perotti, Paola; Rosenwald, Andreas; Berruti, Alfredo; Fassnacht, Martin; Ronchi, Cristina L

    2017-11-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare and confers an unfavorable prognosis in advanced stages. Other than combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and mitotane, the second- and third-line regimens are not well-established. Gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy was suggested in a phase 2 clinical trial with 28 patients. In other solid tumors, human equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 (hENT1) and/or ribonucleotide reductase catalytic subunit M1 (RRM1) expression have been associated with resistance to GEM. To assess the efficacy of GEM-based chemotherapy in ACC in a real-world setting and the predictive role of molecular parameters. Retrospective multicenter study. Referral centers of university hospitals. A total of 145 patients with advanced ACC were treated with GEM-based chemotherapy (132 with concomitant capecitabine). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor material was available for 70 patients for immunohistochemistry. The main outcome measures were progression-free survival (PFS) and an objective response to GEM-based chemotherapy. The secondary objective was the predictive role of hENT1 and RRM1. The median PFS for the patient population was 12 weeks (range, 1 to 94). A partial response or stable disease was achieved in 4.9% and 25.0% of cases, with a median duration of 26.8 weeks. Treatment was generally well tolerated, with adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurring in 11.0% of cases. No substantial effect of hENT1 and/or RRM1 expression was observed in response to GEM-based chemotherapy. GEM-based chemotherapy is a well-tolerated, but modestly active, regimen against advanced ACC. No reliable molecular predictive factors could be identified. Owing to the scarce alternative therapeutic options, GEM-based chemotherapy remains an important option for salvage treatment for advanced ACC. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society

  16. Challenges in surgical pathology of adrenocortical tumours.

    PubMed

    Erickson, Lori A

    2018-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinomas are rare tumours that can be diagnostically challenging. Numerous multiparametric scoring systems and diagnostic algorithms have been proposed to differentiate adrenocortical adenoma from adrenocortical carcinoma. Adrenocortical neoplasms must also be differentiated from other primary adrenal tumours, such as phaeochromocytoma and unusual primary adrenal tumours, as well as metastases to the adrenal gland. Myxoid, oncocytic and sarcomatoid variants of adrenocortical tumours must be recognized so that they are not confused with other tumours. The diagnostic criteria for oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma are different from those for conventional adrenocortical carcinomas. Adrenocortical neoplasms in children are particularly challenging to diagnose, as histological features of malignancy in adrenocortical neoplasms in adults may not be associated with aggressive disease in the tumours of children. Recent histological and immunohistochemical studies and more comprehensive and integrated genomic characterizations continue to advance our understanding of the tumorigenesis of these aggressive neoplasms, and may provide additional diagnostic and prognostic utility and guide the development of therapeutic targets. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  17. Major prognostic role of Ki67 in localized adrenocortical carcinoma after complete resection.

    PubMed

    Beuschlein, Felix; Weigel, Jens; Saeger, Wolfgang; Kroiss, Matthias; Wild, Vanessa; Daffara, Fulvia; Libé, Rosella; Ardito, Arianna; Al Ghuzlan, Abir; Quinkler, Marcus; Oßwald, Andrea; Ronchi, Cristina L; de Krijger, Ronald; Feelders, Richard A; Waldmann, Jens; Willenberg, Holger S; Deutschbein, Timo; Stell, Anthony; Reincke, Martin; Papotti, Mauro; Baudin, Eric; Tissier, Frédérique; Haak, Harm R; Loli, Paola; Terzolo, Massimo; Allolio, Bruno; Müller, Hans-Helge; Fassnacht, Martin

    2015-03-01

    Recurrence of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) even after complete (R0) resection occurs frequently. The aim of this study was to identify markers with prognostic value for patients in this clinical setting. From the German ACC registry, 319 patients with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors stage I-III were identified. As an independent validation cohort, 250 patients from three European countries were included. Clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical markers were correlated with recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Although univariable analysis within the German cohort suggested several factors with potential prognostic power, upon multivariable adjustment only a few including age, tumor size, venous tumor thrombus (VTT), and the proliferation marker Ki67 retained significance. Among these, Ki67 provided the single best prognostic value for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence, 1.042 per 1% increase; P < .0001) and OS (HR for death, 1.051; P < .0001) which was confirmed in the validation cohort. Accordingly, clinical outcome differed significantly between patients with Ki67 <10%, 10-19%, and ≥20% (for the German cohort: median RFS, 53.2 vs 31.6 vs 9.4 mo; median OS, 180.5 vs 113.5 vs 42.0 mo). Using the combined cohort prognostic scores including tumor size, VTT, and Ki67 were established. Although these scores discriminated slightly better between subgroups, there was no clinically meaningful advantage in comparison with Ki67 alone. This largest study on prognostic markers in localized ACC identified Ki67 as the single most important factor predicting recurrence in patients following R0 resection. Thus, evaluation of Ki67 indices should be introduced as standard grading in all pathology reports of patients with ACC.

  18. Adrenocortical Carcinoma—Patient Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare cancer which forms in the cortex (outer layer) of an adrenal gland. There are two adrenal glands. One sits on top of each kidney. Start here to find information on adrenocortical carcinoma treatment and research.

  19. Screening of cancer tissue arrays identifies CXCR4 on adrenocortical carcinoma: correlates with expression and quantification on metastases using 64Cu-plerixafor PET.

    PubMed

    Weiss, Ido D; Huff, Lyn M; Evbuomwan, Moses O; Xu, Xin; Dang, Hong Duc; Velez, Daniel S; Singh, Satya P; Zhang, Hongwei H; Gardina, Paul J; Lee, Jae-Ho; Lindenberg, Liza; Myers, Timothy G; Paik, Chang H; Schrump, David S; Pittaluga, Stefania; Choyke, Peter L; Fojo, Tito; Farber, Joshua M

    2017-09-26

    Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 by many cancers correlates with aggressive clinical behavior. As part of the initial studies in a project whose goal was to quantify CXCR4 expression on cancers non-invasively, we examined CXCR4 expression in cancer samples by immunohistochemistry using a validated anti-CXCR4 antibody. Among solid tumors, we found expression of CXCR4 on significant percentages of major types of kidney, lung, and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and, notably, on metastases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. We found particularly high expression of CXCR4 on adrenocortical cancer (ACC) metastases. Microarrays of ACC metastases revealed correlations between expression of CXCR4 and other chemokine system genes, particularly CXCR7/ACKR3 , which encodes an atypical chemokine receptor that shares a ligand, CXCL12, with CXCR4. A first-in-human study using 64 Cu-plerixafor for PET in an ACC patient prior to resection of metastases showed heterogeneity among metastatic nodules and good correlations among PET SUVs, CXCR4 staining, and CXCR4 mRNA. Additionally, we were able to show that CXCR4 expression correlated with the rates of growth of the pulmonary lesions in this patient. Further studies are needed to understand better the role of CXCR4 in ACC and whether targeting it may be beneficial. In this regard, non-invasive methods for assessing CXCR4 expression, such as PET using 64 Cu-plerixafor, should be important investigative tools.

  20. Chylous ascites after resection of giant adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Habibi, Mani; Karakoyun, Rojbin; Demirci, Erkan; Alikanoglu, Arsenal Sezgin

    2016-12-01

    Postoperative chylous ascites (PCA) is a rare clinical state that occurs during abdominal surgery. Despite its rarity, the need to diagnose and treat PCA is increasing in importance with the increased number of wide resections and lymph node dissections being performed and the serious consequences of treatment. Here we describe the PCA complications we observed after resection for treating a case of giant adrenocortical carcinoma and we have the brief review of the PCA complication.

  1. Combined transcriptome studies identify AFF3 as a mediator of the oncogenic effects of β-catenin in adrenocortical carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Lefèvre, L; Omeiri, H; Drougat, L; Hantel, C; Giraud, M; Val, P; Rodriguez, S; Perlemoine, K; Blugeon, C; Beuschlein, F; de Reyniès, A; Rizk-Rabin, M; Bertherat, J; Ragazzon, B

    2015-01-01

    Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a very aggressive tumor, and genomics studies demonstrate that the most frequent alterations of driver genes in these cancers activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, the adrenal-specific targets of oncogenic β-catenin-mediating tumorigenesis have not being established. A combined transcriptomic analysis from two series of human tumors and the human ACC cell line H295R harboring a spontaneous β-catenin activating mutation was done to identify the Wnt/β-catenin targets. Seven genes were consistently identified in the three studies. Among these genes, we found that AFF3 mediates the oncogenic effects of β-catenin in ACC. The Wnt response element site located at nucleotide position −1408 of the AFF3 transcriptional start sites (TSS) mediates the regulation by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. AFF3 silencing decreases cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in the ACC cell line H295R. AFF3 is located in nuclear speckles, which play an important role in RNA splicing. AFF3 overexpression in adrenocortical cells interferes with the organization and/or biogenesis of these nuclear speckles and alters the distribution of CDK9 and cyclin T1 such that they accumulate at the sites of AFF3/speckles. We demonstrate that AFF3 is a new target of Wnt/β-catenin pathway involved in ACC, acting on transcription and RNA splicing. PMID:26214578

  2. Chylous ascites after resection of giant adrenocortical carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Karakoyun, Rojbin; Demirci, Erkan; Alikanoglu, Arsenal Sezgin

    2016-01-01

    Postoperative chylous ascites (PCA) is a rare clinical state that occurs during abdominal surgery. Despite its rarity, the need to diagnose and treat PCA is increasing in importance with the increased number of wide resections and lymph node dissections being performed and the serious consequences of treatment. Here we describe the PCA complications we observed after resection for treating a case of giant adrenocortical carcinoma and we have the brief review of the PCA complication. PMID:28149812

  3. Comparison of the methods for measuring the Ki-67 labeling index in adrenocortical carcinoma: manual versus digital image analysis.

    PubMed

    Yamazaki, Yuto; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Shibahara, Yukiko; Konosu-Fukaya, Sachiko; Sato, Naomi; Kubota-Nakayama, Fumie; Oki, Yutaka; Baba, Satoshi; Midorikawa, Sanae; Morimoto, Ryo; Satoh, Fumitoshi; Sasano, Hironobu

    2016-07-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, highly malignant neoplasm harboring marked histologic heterogeneity. The Ki-67 labeling index (LI) is one of the most effective diagnostic and prognostic markers in ACC. However, its assessment has by no means been standardized. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the Ki-67 LI in 18 ACC cases both by seven pathologists using microscopes (MA; manual analysis) and with digital image analysis (DIA) and also compared the Ki-67 LI obtained by selecting "hot spots" and formulating the "average" reading of the whole tumor specimen. In addition, we performed statistical analysis of the association between Ki-67 LI and the clinical and pathologic features of individual cases. The DIA was significantly correlated with MA in hot spots but not in the average fields. The Ki-67 LI in hot spots was significantly and consistently higher than that in average areas by both MA and DIA, indicating intratumoral heterogeneity. The Ki-67 LI was significantly correlated with the Weiss criteria (eosinophilic cytoplasm, nuclear atypia, atypical mitoses, and sinusoidal invasion) by any mode of evaluation. The clinical outcome was significantly better in the patients with a Ki-67 < 10% than in those with a Ki-67 > 10% by MA in hot spots. The Ki-67 LI in hot spots measured by MA best reflected the clinical and pathologic features of ACC. Employment of DIA to obtain the Ki-67 LI in ACC requires further improvement, including correction of its overestimation of the value by counting non-tumorous cells and nuclear segmentation in areas of high cell density. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Analysis of histological and immunohistochemical patterns of benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors by computerized morphometry.

    PubMed

    Dalino Ciaramella, Paolo; Vertemati, Maurizio; Petrella, Duccio; Bonacina, Edgardo; Grossrubatscher, Erika; Duregon, Eleonora; Volante, Marco; Papotti, Mauro; Loli, Paola

    2017-07-01

    Diagnosis of benign and purely localized malignant adrenocortical lesions is still a complex issue. Moreover, histology-based diagnosis may suffer of a moment of subjectivity due to inter- and intra-individual variations. The aim of the present study was to assess, by computerized morphometry, the morphological features in benign and malignant adrenocortical neoplasms. Eleven adrenocortical adenomas (ACA) were compared with 18 adrenocortical cancers (ACC). All specimens were stained with H&E, cellular proliferation marker Ki-67 and reticulin. We generated a morphometric model based on the analysis of volume fractions occupied by Ki-67 positive and negative cells (nuclei and cytoplasm), vascular and inflammatory compartment; we also analyzed the surface fraction occupied by reticulin. We compared the quantitative data of Ki-67 obtained by morphometry with the quantification resulting from pathologist's visual reading. The volume fraction of Ki-67 positive cells in ACCs was higher than in ACAs. The volume fraction of nuclei in unit volume and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in both Ki-67 negative cells and Ki-67 positive cells were prominent in ACCs. The surface fraction of reticulin was considerably lower in ACCs. Our computerized morphometric model is simple, reproducible and can be used by the pathologist in the histological workup of adrenocortical tumors to achieve precise and reader-independent quantification of several morphological characteristics of adrenocortical tumors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  5. SLC12A7 alters adrenocortical carcinoma cell adhesion properties to promote an aggressive invasive behavior.

    PubMed

    Brown, Taylor C; Murtha, Timothy D; Rubinstein, Jill C; Korah, Reju; Carling, Tobias

    2018-06-08

    Altered expression of Solute Carrier Family 12 Member 7 (SLC12A7) is implicated to promote malignant behavior in multiple cancer types through an incompletely understood mechanism. Recent studies have shown recurrent gene amplifications and overexpression of SLC12A7 in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The potential mechanistic effect(s) of SLC12A7 amplifications in portending an aggressive behavior in ACC has not been previously studied and is investigated here using two established ACC cell lines, SW-13 and NCI-H295R. SW-13 cells, which express negligible amounts of SLC12A7, were enforced to express SLC12A7 constitutively, while RNAi gene silencing was performed in NCI-H295R cells, which have robust endogenous expression of SLC12A7. In vitro studies tested the outcomes of experimental alterations in SLC12A7 expression on malignant characteristics, including cell viability, growth, colony formation potential, motility, invasive capacity, adhesion and detachment kinetics, and cell membrane organization. Further, potential alterations in transcription regulation downstream to induced SLC12A7 overexpression was explored using targeted transcription factor expression arrays. Enforced SLC12A7 overexpression in SW-13 cells robustly promoted motility and invasive characteristics (p < 0.05) without significantly altering cell viability, growth, or colony formation potential. SLC12A7 overexpression also significantly increased rates of cellular attachment and detachment turnover (p < 0.05), potentially propelled by increased filopodia formation and/or Ezrin interaction. In contrast, RNAi gene silencing of SLC12A7 stymied cell attachment strength as well as migration and invasion capacity in NCI-H295R cells. Transcription factor expression analysis identified multiple signally pathways potentially affected by SLC12A7 overexpression, including osmotic stress, bone morphogenetic protein, and Hippo signaling pathways. Amplification of SLC12A7 observed in ACCs is shown

  6. EJE prize 2014: current and evolving treatment options in adrenocortical carcinoma: where do we stand and where do we want to go?

    PubMed

    Ronchi, Cristina L; Kroiss, Matthias; Sbiera, Silviu; Deutschbein, Timo; Fassnacht, Martin

    2014-07-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is not only a rare and heterogeneous disease but also one of the most aggressive endocrine tumors. Despite significant advances in the last decade, its pathogenesis is still only incompletely understood and overall therapeutic means are unsatisfactory. Herein, we provide our personal view of the currently available treatment options and suggest the following research efforts that we consider timely and necessary to improve therapy: i) for better outcome in localized ACCs, surgery should be restricted to experienced centers, which should then collaborate closely to address the key surgical questions (e.g. best approach and extent of surgery) in a multicenter manner. ii) For the development of better systemic therapies, it is crucial to elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms of action of mitotane. iii) A prospective trial is needed to address the role of cytotoxic drugs in the adjuvant setting in aggressive ACCs (e.g. mitotane vs mitotane+cisplatin). iv) For metastatic ACCs, new regimens should be investigated as first-line therapy. v) Several other issues (e.g. the role of radiotherapy and salvage therapies) might be answered - at least in a first step - by large retrospective multicenter studies. In conclusion, although it is unrealistic to expect that the majority of ACCs can be cured within the next decade, international collaborative efforts (including multiple translational and clinical studies) should allow significant improvement of clinical outcome of this disease. To this end, it might be reasonable to expand the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) to a truly worldwide international network - INSAT. © 2014 European Society of Endocrinology.

  7. Mutational signature analysis identifies MUTYH deficiency in colorectal cancers and adrenocortical carcinomas: Mutational signature associated with MUTYH deficiency in cancers

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

    Pilati, Camilla; Shinde, Jayendra; Alexandrov, Ludmil B.

    Germline alterations in DNA repair genes are implicated in cancer predisposition and can result in characteristic mutational signatures. However, specific mutational signatures associated with base excision repair (BER) defects remain to be characterized. Here, by analysing a series of colorectal cancers (CRCs) using exome sequencing, we identified a particular spectrum of somatic mutations characterized by an enrichment of C > A transversions in NpCpA or NpCpT contexts in three tumours from a MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) patient and in two cases harbouring pathogenic germline MUTYH mutations. In two series of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs), we identified four tumours with a similar signaturemore » also presenting germline MUTYH mutations. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that MUTYH inactivation results in a particular mutational signature, which may serve as a useful marker of BER-related genomic instability in new cancer types.« less

  8. Mutational signature analysis identifies MUTYH deficiency in colorectal cancers and adrenocortical carcinomas: Mutational signature associated with MUTYH deficiency in cancers

    DOE PAGES

    Pilati, Camilla; Shinde, Jayendra; Alexandrov, Ludmil B.; ...

    2017-03-29

    Germline alterations in DNA repair genes are implicated in cancer predisposition and can result in characteristic mutational signatures. However, specific mutational signatures associated with base excision repair (BER) defects remain to be characterized. Here, by analysing a series of colorectal cancers (CRCs) using exome sequencing, we identified a particular spectrum of somatic mutations characterized by an enrichment of C > A transversions in NpCpA or NpCpT contexts in three tumours from a MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) patient and in two cases harbouring pathogenic germline MUTYH mutations. In two series of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs), we identified four tumours with a similar signaturemore » also presenting germline MUTYH mutations. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that MUTYH inactivation results in a particular mutational signature, which may serve as a useful marker of BER-related genomic instability in new cancer types.« less

  9. Adjuvant Radiation is Associated with Improved Survival for Select Patients with Non-metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Daniel W; Chang, Shu-Ching; Bandera, Brad C; Fischer, Trevan D; Wollman, Robert; Goldfarb, Melanie

    2018-07-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy for which surgery is the mainstay of treatment and for which adjuvant radiation is infrequently employed; however, small, single-institution series suggest adjuvant radiation may improve outcomes. All patients with non-metastatic ACC treated with either surgery alone or surgery followed by adjuvant radiation were identified in the 2004-2013 National Cancer Database. Factors associated with receipt of radiation and the impact of adjuvant radiation on survival were determined by multivariable analysis. Of 1184 patients, 171 (14.4%) received adjuvant radiation. Patient demographics were similar between the two groups, but those receiving radiation were more likely to have had positive margins following surgery (37.4 vs. 14.6%; p < 0.001), evidence of vascular invasion (14.0 vs. 5.1%; p = 0.05), and receive concurrent chemotherapy (57.3 vs. 28.8%; p < 0.001). After adjustment for tumor and other treatment factors, only positive margins following surgery was associated with an increased likelihood of receiving adjuvant radiation (odds ratio 3.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-7.56). Radiation therapy did not confer a difference in median overall survival in the general cohort. However, for patients with positive margins, adjuvant radiation was associated with a 40% decreased yearly risk of death after adjustment for concurrent chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.92; p = 0.02). This survival advantage was not evident for other traditional high-risk features. Adjuvant radiation appears to decrease the risk of death in ACC patients with positive margins following surgical resection, but only a small percentage are currently receiving radiation. Multidisciplinary treatment with surgery and radiation should be considered for these patients.

  10. Long-Term Outcomes of Adjuvant Mitotane Therapy in Patients With Radically Resected Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Berruti, Alfredo; Grisanti, Salvatore; Pulzer, Alina; Claps, Mélanie; Daffara, Fulvia; Loli, Paola; Mannelli, Massimo; Boscaro, Marco; Arvat, Emanuela; Tiberio, Guido; Hahner, Stefanie; Zaggia, Barbara; Porpiglia, Francesco; Volante, Marco; Fassnacht, Martin; Terzolo, Massimo

    2017-04-01

    In 2007, a retrospective case-control study provided evidence that adjuvant mitotane prolongs recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with radically resected adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). We aimed to confirm the prognostic role of adjuvant mitotane in the same series after 9 additional years of follow-up. One hundred sixty-two ACC patients who did not recur or die after a landmark period of 3 months were considered. Forty-seven patients were enrolled in four Italian centers where adjuvant mitotane was routinely recommended (mitotane group), 45 patients in four Italian centers where no adjuvant strategy was undertaken (control group 1), and 70 German patients left untreated after surgery (control group 2). The primary aim was RFS, the secondary was overall survival. An increased risk of recurrence was found in both control cohorts [group 1: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.75 to 5.09; P < 0.0001; group 2: HR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.56 to 4.36; P < 0.0001] compared with the mitotane group. The risk of death was higher in control group 1 (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.17 to 3.51; P = 0.011) but not in control group 2 (HR = 1.60; 95% CI, 0.94 to 2.74; P = 0.083), which had better prognostic factors and more aggressive treatment of recurrences than control group 1. The benefit of adjuvant mitotane on RFS was observed regardless of the hormone secretory status. Adjuvant mitotane is associated with prolonged RFS, without any apparent influence by the tumor secretory status. The retrospective nature of the study is a major limitation. Copyright © 2017 by the Endocrine Society

  11. Genetic Profiling Reveals Cross-Contamination and Misidentification of 6 Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cell Lines: ACC2, ACC3, ACCM, ACCNS, ACCS and CAC2

    PubMed Central

    Phuchareon, Janyaporn; Ohta, Yoshihito; Woo, Jonathan M.; Eisele, David W.; Tetsu, Osamu

    2009-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. Most patients survive more than 5 years after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. The 10 year survival rate, however, drops to 40%, due to locoregional recurrences and distant metastases. Improving long-term survival in ACC requires the development of more effective systemic therapies based on a better understanding of the biologic behavior of ACC. Much preclinical research in this field involves the use of cultured cells and, to date, several ACC cell lines have been established. Authentication of these cell lines, however, has not been reported. We performed DNA fingerprint analysis on six ACC cell lines using short tandem repeat (STR) examinations and found that all six cell lines had been contaminated with other cells. ACC2, ACC3, and ACCM were determined to be cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells), whereas the ACCS cell line was composed of T24 urinary bladder cancer cells. ACCNS and CAC2 cells were contaminated with cells derived from non-human mammalian species: the cells labeled ACCNS were mouse cells and the CAC2 cells were rat cells. These observations suggest that future studies using ACC cell lines should include cell line authentication to avoid the use of contaminated or non-human cells. PMID:19557180

  12. High-throughput screening of chemical effects on steroidogenesis using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells

    EPA Science Inventory

    Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental chemicals can result in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. A high-throughput assay using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells was used to evaluate the effect of 2,060 chemical samples...

  13. Role of Endocrine Gland-Derived Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (EG-VEGF) and Its Receptors in Adrenocortical Tumors.

    PubMed

    Heck, Dorothee; Wortmann, Sebastian; Kraus, Luitgard; Ronchi, Cristina L; Sinnott, Richard O; Fassnacht, Martin; Sbiera, Silviu

    2015-12-01

    Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) is an angiogenic factor predominantly expressed in steroidogenic organs like the adrenal gland, ovary, testes, and placenta. EG-VEGF has antiapoptotic, mitogenic, and chemoattractive properties mediated via the two G protein-coupled receptors prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) and prokineticin receptor 2 (PKR2). We investigated the expression of EG-VEGF and its receptors in a large number of normal adrenal glands (NAG), adrenocortical adenomas (ACA), and carcinomas (ACC) using real-time PCR (NAG, n = 12; ACA, n = 24; and ACC, n = 30) and immunohistochemistry (NAG, n = 9; ACA, n = 23; and ACC, n = 163) and evaluated its impact on patients' survival. EG-VEGF, PKR1, and PKR2 mRNA and protein are expressed in NAG and the vast majority of ACA and ACC samples. The mean EG-VEGF mRNA expression was significantly lower in ACC (606.5 ± 77.1 copies) compared to NAG (4,043 ± 1,111) and cortisol-producing adenomas (CPA) (4,433 ± 2,378) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). However, cytoplasmic and nuclear EG-VEGF protein expression was either significantly higher or similar in ACC (H score 2.4 ± 0.05, p < 0.05 and 1.7 ± 0.08, n.s., respectively) compared to NAG (1.8 ± 0.14 and 1.7 ± 0.2). Nuclear protein expression of either EG-VEGF or PKR1 or both is predictive for a higher mortality compared to patients without nuclear expression (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24-21.36, n = 100, p = 0.02 independent of age, sex, and tumor stage). These findings suggest that EG-VEGF and its receptor PKR1 might play a role in the pathogenesis of adrenocortical tumors and could serve as prognostic markers for this rare malignant disease.

  14. Extradural Spinal Metastasis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC): A Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Nair, Rajesh; Upadhyaya, Sunil; Nayal, Bhavna; Shetty, Arjun

    2015-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour of the major salivary glands. It accounts for 10-15% of all salivary gland tumours and 1% of all head and neck tumours. Surgical resection followed by radiation is the choice of treatment for ACC. However, late loco-regional recurrence and metastasis is often seen emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up. We report an unusual case of extradural metastasis of ACC in the dorsal spine. The primary submandibular gland tumour was resected 11 y back. A recurrence had been detected two years prior to the occurrence of spinal metastasis. Surgical decompression was done which was followed by palliative radiotherapy. Patient is symptomatically better, ambulant and on regular follow-up. PMID:25738073

  15. Effects of ToxCast Phase I Chemicals on Steroidogenesis in H295R Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma cells (SOT)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Steroid hormones are essential for proper development and reproduction. Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental toxicants results in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells were used to evalu...

  16. Genetic profile of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) with high-grade transformation versus solid type.

    PubMed

    Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

    2010-01-01

    ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features and to compare results to solid ACC. genome-wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, 4 with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), 5 solid ACC. In addition, Ki-67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC.

  17. Genetic profile of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) with high-grade transformation versus solid type.

    PubMed

    Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

    2011-08-01

    ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features, and to compare results to solid ACC. Genome wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, four with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), and five solid ACC. In addition, Ki67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC.

  18. Adrenocortical carcinoma

    MedlinePlus

    ... develop this tumor. ACC can produce the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen, or testosterone, as well as other ... Symptoms of increased cortisol or other adrenal gland hormones may include: Fatty, rounded hump high on the back just below the neck ( buffalo ...

  19. Genetic Profile of Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas (ACC) with High-Grade Transformation versus Solid Type

    PubMed Central

    Costa, Ana Flávia; Altemani, Albina; Vékony, Hedy; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Fresno, Florentino; Suárez, Carlos; Llorente, José Luis; Hermsen, Mario

    2010-01-01

    Background: ACC can occasionally undergo dedifferentiation also referred to as high-grade transformation (ACC-HGT). However, ACC-HGT can also undergo transformation to adenocarcinomas which are not poorly differentiated. ACC-HGT is generally considered to be an aggressive variant of ACC, even more than solid ACC. This study was aimed to describe the genetic changes of ACC-HGT in relation to clinico-pathological features and to compare results to solid ACC. Methods: Genome-wide DNA copy number changes were analyzed by microarray CGH in ACC-HGT, 4 with transformation into moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (MDA) and two into poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), 5 solid ACC. In addition, Ki-67 index and p53 immunopositivity was assessed. Results: ACC-HGT carried fewer copy number changes compared to solid ACC. Two ACC-HGT cases harboured a breakpoint at 6q23, near the cMYB oncogene. The complexity of the genomic profile concurred with the clinical course of the patient. Among the ACC-HGT, p53 positivity significantly increased from the conventional to the transformed (both MDA and PDC) component. Conclusion: ACC-HGT may not necessarily reflect a more advanced stage of tumor progression, but rather a transformation to another histological form in which the poorly differentiated forms (PDC) presents a genetic complexity similar to the solid ACC. PMID:20978318

  20. [Study on garlic oil combined with 5-FU induced apoptosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line ACC-M].

    PubMed

    Wu, Fayin; Zhou, Hefeng; Fan, Zhiying; Zhu, Yawen; Li, Yongye; Yao, Yukun; Ran, Dan

    2014-02-01

    To observe the effect of garlic oil combined with 5-FU induced apoptosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line ACC-M. Human salivary in adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line AC-M was cultured, divided into the experimental group (5-FU group, garlic oil group, garlic oil + 5-FU group) and the control group, to observe the growth activity of tumor cells by MTT methods; to analyse the changes of cell cycle and apoptosis rate by flow cytometry. MTT experiments showed that 5-FU, garlic oil, garlic oil and 5-FU on ACC-M cells have inhibition in different concentration, with the increase of concentration and action time of the rise; Cell cycle analysis showed significant changes in flow cytometry. With the increase of concentration and the acting time, the G0/G1, phase of the cell ratio increased, S had no significant change, but G2/M phase cells decreased. Apoptosis rate display showed garlic oil combined with 5-FU induced apoptosis of ACC-M cells was significantly stronger than single group. Garlic oil can effectively induce the apoptosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line ACC-M. The effect of garlic oil combined with 5-FU on ACC-M cells was stronger than the garlic oil, 5-FU used alone.

  1. Surgical resection of synchronously metastatic adrenocortical cancer.

    PubMed

    Dy, Benzon M; Strajina, Veljko; Cayo, Ashley K; Richards, Melanie L; Farley, David R; Grant, Clive S; Harmsen, William S; Evans, Doug B; Grubbs, Elizabeth G; Bible, Keith C; Young, William F; Perrier, Nancy D; Que, Florencia G; Nagorney, David M; Lee, Jeffrey E; Thompson, Geoffrey B

    2015-01-01

    Metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rapidly fatal, with few options for treatment. Patients with metachronous recurrence may benefit from surgical resection. The survival benefit in patients with hematogenous metastasis at initial presentation is unknown. A review of all patients undergoing surgery (European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors) stage IV ACC between January 2000 and December 2012 from two referral centers was performed. Kaplan-Meier estimates were analyzed for disease-free and overall survival (OS). We identified 27 patients undergoing surgery for stage IV ACC. Metastases were present in the lung (19), liver (11), and brain (1). A complete resection (R0) was achieved in 11 patients. The median OS was improved in patients undergoing R0 versus R2 resection (860 vs. 390 days; p = 0.02). The 1- and 2-year OS was also improved in patients undergoing R0 versus R2 resection (69.9 %, 46.9 % vs. 53.0 %, 22.1 %; p = 0.02). Patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy (eight patients) had a trend towards improved survival at 1, 2, and 5 years versus no neoadjuvant therapy (18 patients) [83.3 %, 62.5 %, 41.7 % vs. 56.8 %, 26.6 %, 8.9 %; p = 0.1]. Adjuvant therapy was associated with improved recurrence-free survival at 6 months and 1 year (67 %, 33 % vs. 40 %, 20 %; p = 0.04) but not improved OS (p = 0.63). Sex (p = 0.13), age (p = 0.95), and location of metastasis (lung, p = 0.51; liver, p = 0.67) did not correlate with OS after operative intervention. Symptoms of hormonal excess improved in 86 % of patients. Operative intervention, especially when an R0 resection can be achieved, following systemic therapy may improve outcomes, including OS, in select patients with stage IV ACC. Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be of use in defining which patients may benefit from surgical intervention. Adjuvant therapy was associated with decreased recurrence but did not improve OS.

  2. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Expression in Adrenocortical Carcinoma on 68Ga-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT.

    PubMed

    Arora, Saurabh; Damle, Nishikant Avinash; Aggarwal, Sameer; Passah, Averilicia; Behera, Abhishek; Arora, Geetanjali; Bal, Chandrasekhar; Tripathi, Madhavi

    2018-06-01

    We present here a case of metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma with bilateral lung nodules. The patient had been treated with mitotane therapy initially and then was later referred for chemotherapy. There was progression of disease noted on the F-FDG PET/CT. Ga prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT was planned to explore the possibility of future treatment with Lu-DKFZ-PSMA-617. It revealed peripheral increased uptake of Ga-HBED-CC-PSMA equal to liver uptake.

  3. Partial response after intensive chemotherapy for adrenal cortical carcinoma in a child.

    PubMed

    Aricò, M; Bossi, G; Livieri, C; Raiteri, E; Severi, F

    1992-01-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) in childhood is a rare tumor with high fatality rate. Available reports provide event free survival rates ranging between 10 to 50%. Optimal treatment has not yet been established; surgery plays a major role, and the value of adjuvant chemotherapy needs to be evaluated further, especially in children who develop recurrent disease and those with metastases at diagnosis. Optimal therapy of ACC has not been established. Surgery has been curative after complete tumor resection. Children with inoperable, recurrent and metastatic ACC have been treated with O,P'DDD, with response rates ranging from 10 to 60% in different series [7,11-20]. Radiotherapy [21] and other anti-cancer drugs have been used [4-22] but their efficacy has not been established. Combination chemotherapy containing oncovin, cisPlatinum, epipodophyllotoxin and cyclophosphamide (OPEC) produced regression of metastatic ACC in a 5-year-old male [23]. We report one girl with relapsed disseminated ACC who showed good, even if temporary, control of the disease, with disappearance of lung, liver and spleen metastases, and marked reduction of the adrenal mass, following combined chemotherapy according to the "eight-drugs-in-one-day" protocol.

  4. PROFILING GENE EXPRESSION IN HUMAN H295R ADRENOCORTICAL CARCINOMA CELLS AND RAT TESTES TO IDENTIFY PATHWAYS OF TOXICITY FOR CONAZOLE FUNGICIDES

    EPA Science Inventory

    Profiling Gene Expression in Human H295R Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells and Rat Testes to Identify Pathways of Toxicity for Conazole Fungicides
    Ren1, H., Schmid1, J., Retief2, J., Turpaz2, Y.,Zhang3, X.,Jones3, P., Newsted3, J.,Giesy3, J., Wolf1, D.,Wood1, C., Bao1, W., Dix1, ...

  5. DNA methylation profiling identifies global methylation differences and markers of adrenocortical tumors.

    PubMed

    Rechache, Nesrin S; Wang, Yonghong; Stevenson, Holly S; Killian, J Keith; Edelman, Daniel C; Merino, Maria; Zhang, Lisa; Nilubol, Naris; Stratakis, Constantine A; Meltzer, Paul S; Kebebew, Electron

    2012-06-01

    It is not known whether there are any DNA methylation alterations in adrenocortical tumors. The objective of the study was to determine the methylation profile of normal adrenal cortex and benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors. Genome-wide methylation status of CpG regions were determined in normal (n = 19), benign (n = 48), primary malignant (n = 8), and metastatic malignant (n = 12) adrenocortical tissue samples. An integrated analysis of genome-wide methylation and mRNA expression in benign vs. malignant adrenocortical tissue samples was also performed. Methylation profiling revealed the following: 1) that methylation patterns were distinctly different and could distinguish normal, benign, primary malignant, and metastatic tissue samples; 2) that malignant samples have global hypomethylation; and 3) that the methylation of CpG regions are different in benign adrenocortical tumors by functional status. Normal compared with benign samples had the least amount of methylation differences, whereas normal compared with primary and metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma samples had the greatest variability in methylation (adjusted P ≤ 0.01). Of 215 down-regulated genes (≥2-fold, adjusted P ≤ 0.05) in malignant primary adrenocortical tumor samples, 52 of these genes were also hypermethylated. Malignant adrenocortical tumors are globally hypomethylated as compared with normal and benign tumors. Methylation profile differences may accurately distinguish between primary benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors. Several differentially methylated sites are associated with genes known to be dysregulated in malignant adrenocortical tumors.

  6. Hair cortisol measurement in mitotane-treated adrenocortical cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Manenschijn, L; Quinkler, M; van Rossum, E F C

    2014-04-01

    The only approved drug for the treatment of adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is mitotane. Mitotane is adrenolytic and therefore, hydrocortisone replacement therapy is necessary. Since mitotane increases cortisol binding globulin (CBG) and induces CYP3A4 activity, high doses of hydrocortisone are thought to be required. Evaluation of hydrocortisone therapy in mitotane-treated patients has been difficult since there is no good marker to evaluate hydrocortisone therapy. Measurement of cortisol in scalp hair is a novel method that offers the opportunity to measure long-term cortisol levels. Our aim was to evaluate whether hair cortisol measurements could be useful in evaluating recent hydrocortisone treatment in mitotane-treated ACC patients. Hair cortisol levels were measured in 15 mitotane-treated ACC patients on hydrocortisone substitution and 96 healthy individuals. Cortisol levels were measured in 3 cm hair segments, corresponding to a period of 3 months. Hair cortisol levels were higher in ACC patients compared to healthy individuals (p<0.0001). Seven ACC patients (47%) had hair cortisol levels above the reference range. None of the patients had hair cortisol levels below normal. In contrast to hydrocortisone doses (β=0.03, p=0.93), hair cortisol levels were associated with BMI (β=0.53, p=0.042). There was no correlation between hair cortisol levels and hydrocortisone doses (β=0.41, p=0.13). Almost half of the ACC patients had high hair cortisol levels, suggesting long-term over-substitution of hydrocortisone in some of the patients, whereas none of the patients was under-substituted. Hair cortisol measurements might be useful in long-term monitoring hydrocortisone treatment in mitotane-treated ACC patients. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  7. Transcription factor GATA-4 is a marker of anaplasia in adrenocortical neoplasms of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

    PubMed

    Peterson, R A; Kiupel, M; Bielinska, M; Kiiveri, S; Heikinheimo, M; Capen, C C; Wilson, D B

    2004-07-01

    Adrenocortical neoplasms are a common cause of morbidity in neutered ferrets. Recently we showed that gonadectomized DBA/2J mice develop adrenocortical tumors that express transcription factor GATA-4. Therefore, we screened archival specimens of adrenocortical neoplasms from neutered ferrets to determine whether GATA-4 could be used as a tumor marker in this species. Nuclear immunoreactivity for GATA-4 was evident in 19/22 (86%) of ferret adrenocortical carcinomas and was prominent in areas exhibiting myxoid differentiation. Normal adrenocortical cells lacked GATA-4 expression. Two other markers of adrenocortical tumors in gonadectomized mice, inhibin-alpha and luteinizing hormone receptor, were coexpressed with GATA-4 in some of the ferret tumors. No GATA-4 expression was observed in three cases of nodular hyperplasia, but patches of anaplastic cells expressing GATA-4 were evident in 7/14 (50%) of tumors classified as adenomas. We conclude that GATA-4 can function as a marker of anaplasia in ferret adrenocortical tumors.

  8. Adrenocortical adenoma and carcinoma: histopathological and molecular comparative analysis.

    PubMed

    Stojadinovic, Alexander; Brennan, Murray F; Hoos, Axel; Omeroglu, Atilla; Leung, Denis H Y; Dudas, Maria E; Nissan, Aviram; Cordon-Cardo, Carlos; Ghossein, Ronald A

    2003-08-01

    We compared histomorphological features and molecular expression profiles of adrenocortical adenomas (ACAd) and carcinomas (ACCa). A critical histopathological review (mean, 11 slides per patient) was conducted of 37 ACAd and 67 ACCa. Paraffin-embedded tissue cores of ACAd (n = 33) and ACCa (n = 38) were arrayed in triplicate on tissue microarrays. Expression profiles of p53, mdm-2, p21, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, p27, and Ki-67 were investigated by immunohistochemistry and correlated with histopathology and patient outcome using standard statistical methodology. Median follow-up period was 5 years. Tumor necrosis, atypical mitoses, and >1 mitosis per 50 high-power fields were factors that were highly specific for ACCa (P <.001). Number (0 to 4) of unfavorable markers [Ki-67 (+), p21 (+), p27 (+), mdm-2(-)] expressed was significantly associated with mitotic activity and morphologic index (i.e., number of adverse morphologic features) and highly predictive of malignancy (P <.001). Ki-67 overexpression occurred in 0 ACAd and 36% ACCa (P <.001) and was significantly associated with mitotic rate and unfavorable morphologic index (P <.001). Tumor necrosis, atypical mitoses, >5 mitoses per 50 high-power fields, sinusoidal invasion, histologic index of >5, and presence of more than two unfavorable molecular markers were associated significantly with metastasis in ACCa. Well-established histopathologic criteria and Ki-67 can specifically distinguish ACCAd from ACCa. Tumor cell proliferation (Ki-67) correlates with mitotic activity and morphologic index. Tumor morphology is a better predictor of metastatic risk in ACCa than current immunohistochemistry-detected cell cycle regulatory and proliferation-associated proteins.

  9. Immediate versus modified release hydrocortisone in mitotane-treated patients with adrenocortical cancer.

    PubMed

    Weigel, Marianne; Hahner, Stefanie; Sherlock, Mark; Agha, Amar; Behan, Lucy Ann; Stewart, Paul M; Arlt, Wiebke; Beier, Daniela; Frey, Kathrin; Zopf, Kathrin; Quinkler, Marcus

    2017-04-01

    Mitotane induces hepatic CYP3A4 activity, resulting in accelerated cortisol inactivation, and also increases cortisol binding globulin (CBG). Therefore, higher hydrocortisone doses are required in patients with adrenocortical cancer (ACC) on mitotane treatment. Modified release hydrocortisone has not been used in mitotane-treated ACC patients yet. Case series to compare serum cortisol, calculated free serum cortisol and ACTH levels in ACC patients on mitotane treatment with immediate and modified release hydrocortisone. Pharmacokinetics of immediate and modified release hydrocortisone, each administered at a dose of 40-20-0 mg, in nine patients with ACC and adjuvant mitotane treatment. For comparison, ten patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI) on three different hydrocortisone regimens and ten healthy males were included. Serum cortisol and plasma ACTH were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, and CBG by RIA, followed by calculation of free cortisol. Calculated free serum cortisol levels after 40 mg immediate release hydrocortisone in ACC patients (46 ± 14 nmol/l) were similar to those after 10 mg immediate release hydrocortisone intake in men with SAI (64 ± 16 nmol/l) or to the physiological morning free cortisol levels in healthy subjects (31 ± 5 nmol/l). Compared to immediate release hydrocortisone, free cortisol levels after 40 mg modified release hydrocortisone in ACC patients were significantly lower (12 ± 3 nmol/l; P = 0·03) resulting in a generally lower AUC (98 ± 21 vs 149 ± 37 nmol h/l; P = 0·02). 40-20-0 mg immediate release, but not modified release hydrocortisone, resulted in sufficient glucocorticoid coverage in patients with ACC receiving mitotane treatment. The use of equivalent doses of modified release hydrocortisone preparation should be avoided in patients on mitotane treatment. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  10. Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor (PEComa) of the Adrenal Gland: Report of a Rare Case Posing Diagnostic Challenge with the Role of Immunohistochemistry in the Diagnosis.

    PubMed

    Pant, Leela; Kalita, Dipti; Chopra, Ratna; Das, Abhijit; Jain, Gaurav

    2015-05-01

    Histological diagnosis of adrenal tumors is often challenging as diverse groups of tumors, both primaries and metastatic, may be seen in the adrenal gland with overlapping morphological features. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays the most important role in their diagnosis. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), a rarely reported tumor in the adrenal gland, shares many features with another rare tumor sarcomatoid adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Extensive immunohistochemical study is required to distinguish this tumor from adrenocortical carcinoma and from other morphologically similar tumors. The unique combination of immunoreactivity for melanocytic markers, such as HMB-45 and Melan A, and myogenic markers, such as smooth muscle actin, is the hallmark of PEComas biological behavior, and prognosis of malignant PEComas is yet to be fully understood. Few cases of malignant PEComa have been reported in the adrenal gland. We report a case of malignant PEComa of the adrenal gland posing diagnostic challenge and compare its morphological and immunohistochemical features with those of sarcomatoid ACC.

  11. ULTRASTRUCTURE, STEROIDOGENIC POTENTIAL, AND ENERGY METABOLISM OF THE SNELL ADRENOCORTICAL CARCINOMA 494

    PubMed Central

    Kimmel, G. L.; Péron, F. G.; Haksar, A.; Bedigian, E.; Robidoux, W. F.; Lin, M. T.

    1974-01-01

    Electron microscope studies were carried out with the adrenocortical carcinoma 494 and normal adrenal cortex tissue. The mitochondria of the tumor cells showed marked differences when compared with mitochondria from fasciculata cells of the normal adrenal cortex. These differences were primarily related to mitochondrial number and crista structure. Corticosterone production in isolated tumor cells was extremely low and neither ACTH nor dibutyryl cyclic AMP had any stimulatory effect. Normal adrenal cells showed at least a tenfold increase under identical conditions. In the presence of corticosteroid precursors the amount of corticosterone produced by the tumor cells was much less than that produced by normal cells. The results indicate a reduced capacity for 11β-hydroxylation in the tumor mitochondria and a possible reduced capacity for biosynthetic steps before the 11β-hydroxylation reaction. Glycolysis in isolated tumor cells was also lower than in normal cells. Isolated tumor mitochondria oxidized succinate normally with a good degree of coupling with phosphorylation. However, unlike normal adrenal mitochondria, the tumor mitochondria showed little or no oxygen uptake with other Krebs cycle substrates. These data suggest that the tumor mitochondria may be lacking in the flavoprotein dehydrogenases responsible for the oxidation of NADH and NADPH, although other components of the respiratory chain may be intact. PMID:4366105

  12. Cyclic estrous-like behavior in a spayed cat associated with excessive sex-hormone production by an adrenocortical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Meler, Erika N; Scott-Moncrieff, J Catharine; Peter, Augustine T; Bennett, Sara; Ramos-Vara, Jose; Salisbury, S Kathleen; Naughton, James F

    2011-06-01

    A 15-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for 1-year duration of cyclic intermittent estrous behavior. Diagnostic testing performed before referral, including baseline progesterone concentration, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone stimulation test and surgical exploratory laparotomy, had remained inconclusive for a remnant ovary. Evaluation of sex hormones before and after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration revealed increased basal concentrations of androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone, and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and normal ACTH-stimulated hormone concentrations. Enlargement of the right adrenal gland was identified by abdominal ultrasound. The cat underwent an adrenalectomy and histopathology of the excised adrenal gland was consistent with an adrenocortical carcinoma. Clinical signs resolved immediately following surgery, and most hormone concentrations declined to within or below the reference interval (RI) by 2 months after surgery. Copyright © 2011 ISFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Abnormal regulation of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate and corticosterone formation in an adrenocortical carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Ney, R. L.; Hochella, N. J.; Grahame-Smith, D. G.; Dexter, R. N.; Butcher, R. W.

    1969-01-01

    A spontaneously occurring rat adrenocortical carcinoma which produces corticosterone was maintained by transplantation. The carcinoma appeared to utilize corticosterone biosynthetic steps similar to those of the normal adrenal, but the tumor produced only about 1-10% as much corticosterone per unit tissue weight as nontumorous adrenal glands. The tumor demonstrated little or no increase in corticosterone production in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) either in vivo or in vitro. In normal adrenals, ACTH increases the activity of adenyl cyclase which catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), the latter then serving as an intracellular regulator of steroidogenesis. ACTH failed to increase cyclic AMP levels in the tumor in vivo or in slices in vitro, conditions under which there were 50- and 20-fold increases in nontumorous adrenals. However, in homogenates fortified with exogenous ATP, adenyl cyclase activity was comparable in the tumor and adrenals, and cyclic AMP formation was increased 3-fold by ACTH in each. As measured in homogenates, the tumor did not possess a greater ability to destroy cyclic AMP than did normal adrenals. Although ATP levels in the carcinoma were found to be considerably lower than those in normal adrenals, it was not clear that this finding can explain the inability of ACTH to increase cyclic AMP levels in intact tumor cells. While the failure to normally influence cyclic AMP levels in the carcinoma cells could be an important factor in the lack of a steroid response to ACTH, several lines of evidence suggest that the tumor possesses one or more additional abnormalities in the regulation of steroidogenesis. First, in the absence of ACTH stimulation, the tissue concentrations of cyclic AMP were comparable in the tumor and in nontumorous adrenals, but these cyclic AMP levels were associated with a lower level of steroidogenesis in the tumor. Second, tumor slices

  14. Morphological heterogeneity of oral salivary gland carcinomas: A clinicopathologic study of 41 cases with long term follow-up emphasizing the overlapping spectrum of adenoid cystic carcinoma and polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Schwarz, Stephan; Müller, Maximilian; Ettl, Tobias; Stockmann, Philipp; Zenk, Johannes; Agaimy, Abbas

    2011-01-01

    We analyzed 41 oral salivary gland carcinomas from consecutive 290 salivary gland carcinoma database (14%) with emphasis on the histological spectrum and clinical outcome of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA). The cohort included 14 ACCs, 14 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs), 8 PLGAs, 3 adenocarcinomas, not otherwise specified and 2 acinic cell carcinomas. Mean age was 48, 58 and 61 yrs for ACC, MEC and PLGA, respectively. Eight patients (19.5%) died of tumor at a mean interval of 66.5 months. ACC and PLGA showed similar mean age, gender distribution, predominant palatal localization, nodal metastasis, perineural invasion and MIB-1 index. However, ACC tended to show higher tumor stage and residual tumor (R1/R2) more frequently than PLGA, but this was statistically not significant. ACC and PLGA showed overlapping architectural patterns. However, ACCs displayed well organized basal-luminal differentiation, highlighted by CK5/CK7 immunostaining. In contrast, PLGA showed a disorganized histological and immunohistological pattern. C-Kit expression (CD117) was common in ACC, generally mirroring that of CK7 and virtually lacking in PLGA. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a similar clinical course for ACC and PLGA with 5 years survivals of 87% and 80%, respectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) performed on all 290 salivary carcinomas confirmed the specificity of the translocation t (11; 19) for MEC and its absence in all other carcinomas including ACC and PLGA. Our results emphasize the diversity of oral salivary gland carcinomas and the overlapping clinicopathological features of ACC and PLGA. PMID:21577319

  15. H295R Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells as a Screening Platform for Steroidogenesis (NC SOT)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Proper biosynthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones is essential for development and reproduction. Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental toxicants results in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. H295R human adrenocortical carc...

  16. Adrenohepatic fusion: Adhesion or invasion in primary virilizant giant adrenal carcinoma? Implications for surgical resection. Two case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Alastrué Vidal, Antonio; Navinés López, Jordi; Julián Ibáñez, Juan Francisco; De la Ossa Merlano, Napoleón; Botey Fernandez, Mireia; Sampere Moragues, Jaume; Sánchez Torres, Maria Del Carmen; Barluenga Torres, Eva; Fernández-Llamazares Rodríguez, Jaime

    2016-01-01

    Adrenohepatic fusion means union between the adrenal gland and the liver, intermingling its parenchymas. It is not possible to identify this condition by image tests. Its presence implies radical and multidisciplinar approach. We report two female cases of 45 and 50 years old with clinical virilization and palpable mass on the abdominal right upper quadrant corresponding to adrenocortical carcinoma with hepatic fusion. The contrast-enhanced tomography showed an indistinguishable mass involving the liver and the right adrenal gland. In the first case, the patient had a two-time operation, the former removing only the adrenal carcinoma, and the second performing a radical surgery after an early relapse. In the second case, a radical right en bloc adrenohepatectomy was performed. Both cases were pathologically reported as liver-infiltrating adrenal carcinoma. Only in the second case the surgery was radical effective as first intention to treat, with 3 years of disease-free survival. ACC is a rare entity with poor prognosis. The major indicators of malignancy are tumour diameter over 6cm, local invasion or metastasis, secretion of corticosteroids, virilization and hypertension and hypokalaemia. The parenchymal fusion of the adrenal cortical layer can be misdiagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma with adhesion with the Glisson capsule. AHF in such cases may be misinterpreted during surgery, what may impair its resectability, and therefore the survival. The surgical treatment must be performed en bloc, often using liver vascular control. Postoperative treatment must be offered immediately after surgery. We report two consecutive rare cases of adrenohepatic fusion in giant right adrenocortical carcinoma, not detectable by imaging, what has important implications for the surgical decision-making. As radical surgery is the best choice to offer a curative treatment, it has to be performed by a multidisciplinary well-assembled team, counting with endocrine and liver surgeons

  17. The impact of patient-, disease-, and treatment-related factors on survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Clark, Roderick; Izawa, Jonathan; Chin, Joseph; Pautler, Stephen E.; Power, Nicholas

    2018-01-01

    Introduction Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive endocrine tumour. Most present with advanced disease and have poor prognosis. Optimal treatment includes complete surgical resection. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation at different stages in this disease. There remain many inconsistencies with respect to diagnosis and workup. There is a lack of uniform guideline recommendations and consensus data. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients at London Health Sciences Centre between 1990 and 2015 using ICD coding. All paper and electronic charts were reviewed and data was collected. Statistical analysis and survival curves were performed. Results A total of 29 patients were included in our study. Median age was 55 years (interquartile range [IQR] 45–63); 14 (48%) were male and 15 (52%) were female. Approximately half (14 or 48%) of our patients presented symptomatically. Almost half (41%) of tumours were metabolically active, producing hormones. Most (88%) underwent surgical intervention. Surgical margin status was available in about half of patients and lymphadenectomy was performed in a third (n=8) of open adrenalectomy patients. A third received mitotane treatment (8 [73%] adjuvant and 3 [27%] palliative) and a third of patients received radiation. Two- and five-year median overall survival was 53% and 27%, respectively. Conclusions ACC is a rare and aggressive tumour. This is the largest Canadian series reported to the best of our knowledge. Limited data for guidelines exists and treatment and workup patterns are inconsistent. Collaborative randomized and prospective studies on a global basis are needed. PMID:29319480

  18. Anti-tumorigenic effect of nano formulated peptide pACC1 by diminishing de novo lipogenisis in DMBA induced mammary carcinoma rat model.

    PubMed

    Kaliaperumal, Jagatheesh; Padarthi, Pavankumar; Elangovan, Namasivayam; Hari, Natarajan

    2014-07-01

    At present, the majority of established treatments for breast cancer are based on clinical manifestations, some fundamental of molecular and cellular biology of cancer. In recent times, the therapy is moving towards personalized medicines. Nevertheless, both the methodologies have own demerits. In the present study, we proposed a novel idea of targeted therapy with twin pharmacological potential by a peptide pACC1. The peptide was formulated with chitosan and evaluated with DMBA induced mammary carcinoma. Results suggest that the peptide holds great control on tumor cell multiplication, fatty acid synthesis and lactate levels. In addition, peptide also brings normal metabolic signs in glycolytic and glycogenic pathways. Histological studies confirm the dual pharmacological actions. Further, it is also proven that the peptide controls membrane receptor levels of HER2 and EGFR. In conclusion, that the peptide pACC1 could be employed as greater therapeutic adjuvant with currently established drugs without considering the stage of the cancer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  19. The aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 shows anti-cancer effects in primary metastatic cells and the SW13 cell line.

    PubMed

    Pezzani, Raffaele; Rubin, Beatrice; Bertazza, Loris; Redaelli, Marco; Barollo, Susi; Monticelli, Halenya; Baldini, Enke; Mian, Caterina; Mucignat, Carla; Scaroni, Carla; Mantero, Franco; Ulisse, Salvatore; Iacobone, Maurizio; Boscaro, Marco

    2016-10-01

    New therapeutic targets are needed to fight cancer. Aurora kinases (AK) were recently identified as vital key regulators of cell mitosis and have consequently been investigated as therapeutic targets in preclinical and clinical studies. Aurora kinase inhibitors (AKI) have been studied in many cancer types, but their potential capacity to limit or delay metastases has rarely been considered, and never in adrenal tissue. Given the lack of an effective pharmacological therapy for adrenal metastasis and adrenocortical carcinoma, we assessed AKI (VX-680, SNS314, ZM447439) in 2 cell lines (H295R and SW13 cells), 3 cell cultures of primary adrenocortical metastases (from lung cancer), and 4 primary adrenocortical tumor cell cultures. We also tested reversan, which is a P-gp inhibitor (a fundamental efflux pump that can extrude drugs), and we measured AK expression levels in 66 adrenocortical tumor tissue samples. Biomolecular and cellular tests were performed (such as MTT, thymidine assay, Wright's staining, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, Western blot, qRT-PCR, and mutation analysis). Our results are the first to document AK overexpression in adrenocortical carcinoma as well as in H295R and SW13 cell lines, thus proving the efficacy of AKI against adrenal metastases and in the SW13 cancer cell model. We also demonstrated that reversan and AKI Vx-680 are useless in the H295R cell model, and therefore should not be considered as potential treatments for ACC. Serine/threonine AK inhibition, essentially with VX-680, could be a promising, specific therapeutic tool for eradicating metastases in adrenocortical tissue.

  20. High-throughput screening of chemical effects on steroidogenesis using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental chemicals can result in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. A high-throughput assay using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells was used to evaluate the effect of 2060 chemical samples on steroidogenesis via high-performance liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry quantification of 10 steroid hormones, including progestagens, glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. The study employed a 3 stage screening strategy. The first stage established the maximum tolerated concentration (MTC; ? 70% viability) per sample. The second stage quantified changes in hormone levels at the MTC whereas the third stage performed concentration-response (CR) on a subset of samples. At all stages, cells were prestimulated with 10 00b5M forskolin for 48??h to induce steroidogenesis followed by chemical treatment for 48??h. Of the 2060 chemical samples evaluated, 524 samples were selected for 6-point CR screening, based in part on significantly altering at least 4 hormones at the MTC. CR screening identified 232 chemical samples with concentration-dependent effects on 1703b2-estradiol and/or testosterone, with 411 chemical samples showing an effect on at least one hormone across the steroidogenesis pathway. Clustering of the concentration-dependent chemical-mediated steroid hormone effects grouped chemical samples into 5 distinct profiles generally representing putative mec

  1. Cell signaling pathways in the adrenal cortex: Links to stem/progenitor biology and neoplasia.

    PubMed

    Penny, Morgan K; Finco, Isabella; Hammer, Gary D

    2017-04-15

    The adrenal cortex is a dynamic tissue responsible for the synthesis of steroid hormones, including mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens in humans. Advances have been made in understanding the role of adrenocortical stem/progenitor cell populations in cortex homeostasis and self-renewal. Recently, large molecular profiling studies of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) have given insights into proteins and signaling pathways involved in normal tissue homeostasis that become dysregulated in cancer. These data provide an impetus to examine the cellular pathways implicated in adrenocortical disease and study connections, or lack thereof, between adrenal homeostasis and tumorigenesis, with a particular focus on stem and progenitor cell pathways. In this review, we discuss evidence for stem/progenitor cells in the adrenal cortex, proteins and signaling pathways that may regulate these cells, and the role these proteins play in pathologic and neoplastic conditions. In turn, we also examine common perturbations in adrenocortical tumors (ACT) and how these proteins and pathways may be involved in adrenal homeostasis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. PCP4: a regulator of aldosterone synthesis in human adrenocortical tissues

    PubMed Central

    Felizola, Saulo J. A.; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Ono, Yoshikiyo; Kitamura, Kanako; Kikuchi, Kumi; Onodera, Yoshiaki; Ise, Kazue; Takase, Kei; Sugawara, Akira; Hattangady, Namita; Rainey, William E.; Satoh, Fumitoshi; Sasano, Hironobu

    2014-01-01

    Purkinje cell protein 4 (PCP4) is a calmodulin (CaM) binding protein that accelerates calcium association and dissociation with CaM. It has been previously detected in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) but details on its expression and function in adrenocortical tissues have remained unknown. Therefore, we performed the immunohistochemical analysis of PCP4 in the following tissues: normal adrenal (NA; n=15), APA (n=15), cortisol producing adenomas (CPA; n=15) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism cases (IHA; n=5). APA samples (n=45) were also submitted to quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) of PCP4, CYP11B1, and CYP11B2, as well as DNA sequencing for KCNJ5 mutations. Transient transfection analysis using PCP4 siRNA was also performed in H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells, following ELISA analysis, and CYP11B2 luciferase assays were also performed after PCP4 vector transfection in order to study the regulation of PCP4 protein expression. In our findings, PCP4 immunoreactivity was predominantly detected in APA and in the zona glomerulosa (ZG) of NA and IHA. In APA, the mRNA levels of PCP4 were significantly correlated with those of CYP11B2 (P<0.0001) and were significantly higher in cases with KCNJ5 mutation than wild-type (P=0.005). Following PCP4 vector transfection, CYP11B2 luciferase reporter activity was significantly higher than controls in the presence of angiotensin-II. Knockdown of PCP4 resulted in a significant decrease in CYP11B2 mRNA levels (P=0.012) and aldosterone production (P=0.011). Our results indicate that PCP4 is a regulator of aldosterone production in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic human adrenocortical cells. PMID:24403568

  3. Metastatic adrenal cortical carcinoma to T12 vertebrae.

    PubMed

    Lee, Daniel; Yanamadala, Vijay; Shankar, Ganesh M; Shin, John H

    2016-05-01

    We report spinal metastasis of adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) to the T12 vertebrae with epidural extension. ACC is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis and high rates of metastasis. However, spinal lesions of ACC are rare, and few have been reported in the literature. We discuss our management of this lesion and review the current understanding and treatment of ACC and spinal metastasis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Mother-child adrenocortical synchrony; Moderation by dyadic relational behavior.

    PubMed

    Pratt, Maayan; Apter-Levi, Yael; Vakart, Adam; Kanat-Maymon, Yaniv; Zagoory-Sharon, Orna; Feldman, Ruth

    2017-03-01

    Mother-child adrenocortical synchrony, the coupling of cortisol (CT) secretion in mother and child, has been associated with shared parent-child experiences and maladaptive familial contexts. Yet, few studies tested adrenocortical synchrony in diurnal CT patterns. Guided by the bio-behavioral synchrony model, we examined whether mother-child relational behavior and maternal psychopathology may moderate the degree of concordance between mother and child's diurnal CT. Ninety-seven mothers and their six-year old children participated in two groups; mothers diagnosed with major depression disorder (N=28) and non-depressed controls (N=69). Mother-child interactions were observed and coded for dyadic reciprocity and dyadic tension and diurnal cortisol was collected from mother and child over two consecutive weekend days. Concordance between maternal and child's diurnal CT was found, significant above and beyond time of measurement. Maternal depression, while associated with attenuated child diurnal CT variability, was unrelated to adrenocortical synchrony. Higher child diurnal CT production predicted a stronger linkage between maternal and child's diurnal CT, suggesting that greater child physiological stress is associated with increased susceptibility to the influences of maternal stress physiology. Mother-child reciprocity was related to lower adrenocortical synchrony. Findings suggest that higher adrenocortical synchrony is associated with greater physiological stress and less adaptive dyadic relational patterns. Results raise the possibility that diurnal adrenocortical synchrony taps a unique aspect of HPA-axis functioning whose role in the cross-generational transfer of stress physiology requires further research. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Mitotane treatment in patients with adrenocortical cancer causes central hypothyroidism.

    PubMed

    Russo, Marco; Scollo, Claudia; Pellegriti, Gabriella; Cotta, Oana Ruxandra; Squatrito, Sebastiano; Frasca, Francesco; Cannavò, Salvatore; Gullo, Damiano

    2016-04-01

    Mitotane, a steroidogenesis inhibitor with adrenolytic properties used to treat adrenocortical cancer (ACC), can affect thyroid function. A reduction of FT4 levels with normal FT3 and TSH has been described in these patients. Using an in vitro murine model, the secretory capacity of thyrotrophic cells has been shown to be inhibited by mitotane. To investigate the pathogenesis of thyroid abnormalities in mitotane-treated patients with ACC. In five female patients with ACC (median age 47; range 31-65) treated with mitotane (dosage 1·5 g/day; 1·0-3·0), we analysed the pattern of TSH and thyroid function index (FT4, FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio) compared to an age- and gender-matched control group. The in vivo secretory activity of the thyrotrophic cells was evaluated using a standard TRH test (200 μg), and the response was compared to both a group of age-matched female controls (n = 10) and central hypothyroid patients (n = 10). Basal TSH (median 1·54 mU/l; range 1·20-2·17) was normal and scattered around our median reference value, FT3 levels (median 3·80 pmol/l; 3·30-4·29) were normal but below the median reference value of 4·37 pmol/l and FT4 levels were below the normal range in all patients (median 8·40 pmol/l; 7·6-9·9). FT3/FT4 ratio was in the upper range in 4 patients and higher than normal in one patient. A blunted TSH response to TRH was observed in mitotane-treated patients. ΔTSH (absolute TSH response, peak TSH minus basal TSH) was 3·65 (range 3·53-5·26), 12·37 (range 7·55-19·97) and 1·32 mU/l (range 0·52-4·66) in mitotane-treated patients, controls and central hypothyroid patients, respectively. PRL secretion was normal. Mitotane-treated patients with ACC showed low FT4, normal FT3 and TSH and impaired TSH response to TRH, characteristic of central hypothyroidism. Furthermore, the elevated FT3/FT4 ratio of these subjects reflects an enhanced T4 to T3 conversion rate, a compensatory mechanism characteristic of thyroid function changes

  6. Parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma: Retrospective single institute analysis.

    PubMed

    Mannelli, Giuditta; Cecconi, Lorenzo; Fasolati, Martina; Santoro, Roberto; Franchi, Alessandro; Gallo, Oreste

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a uncommon salivary malignant tumor. Our aim was to review our experience with parotid ACC, to identify clinical-pathological parameters predictive for outcome. We retrospectively reviewed 228 patients affected by parotid gland carcinomas surgically treated at our Institution. Forty-four ACC were included in this study. Multivariate analysis risk models were built to predict recurrence free probability (RFP), distant recurrence free probability (DRFP), overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS). Twenty-one patients (47.7%) died from ACC and 2.3% for other causes. The 41% presented local-regional recurrence, with a regional-RFP rate of 93%, and the 34% reported distant metastases (DM). The five and ten-year OS rates were 74% and 50%, respectively. Recurrences were mainly influenced by the presence of perineural invasion and nerve paralysis, whilst female gender and age<50 were predictors for good prognosis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Similar outcomes between adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast and invasive ductal carcinoma: a population-based study from the SEER 18 database.

    PubMed

    Chen, Qing-Xia; Li, Jun-Jing; Wang, Xiao-Xiao; Lin, Pei-Yang; Zhang, Jie; Song, Chuan-Gui; Shao, Zhi-Ming

    2017-01-24

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (breast-ACC) is a rare and indolent tumor with a good prognosis despite its triple-negative status. However, we observed different outcomes in the present study. Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we enrolled a total of 89,937 eligible patients with an estimated 86 breast-ACC cases and 89,851 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) patients. In our study, breast-ACC among women presented with a higher proportion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which was more likely to feature well-differentiated tumors, rare regional lymph node involvement and greater application of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with breast-ACC and breast-IDC patients had similar breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS). Moreover, using the propensity score matching method, no significant difference in survival was observed in matched pairs of breast-ACC and breast-IDC patients. Additionally, BCSS and OS did not differ significantly between TNBC-ACC and TNBC-IDC after matching patients for age, tumor size, and nodal status. Further subgroup analysis of molecular subtype indicated improved survival in breast-ACC patients with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/Her2-) tumors compared to IDC patients with HR+/Her2- tumors. However, the survival of ACC-TNBC and IDC-TNBC patients was similar. In conclusion, ACCs have an indolent clinical course and result in similar outcomes compared to IDC. Understanding these clinical characteristics and outcomes will endow doctors with evidence to provide the same intensive treatment for ACC-TNBC as for IDC-TNBC and lead to more individualized and tailored therapies for breast-ACC patients.

  8. The Molecular Biology of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Jia; Shao, Chunbo; Tan, Marietta L.; Mu, David; Ferris, Robert L.; Ha, Patrick K.

    2011-01-01

    Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an unusual salivary gland malignancy that remains poorly understood. Standard treatment, including surgery with postoperative radiation therapy have attained reasonable local control rates, but the propensity for distant metastases has limited any improvement in survival over time. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving adenoid cystic carcinoma is quite rudimentary, due to the infrequent nature of its occurrence. Methods An extensive literature review was performed on salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma and basic science research findings. Results This review highlights many findings that are emerging about the carcinogenesis of ACC including cytogenetics, tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial alterations, and biomarker studies. Conclusions While there have been many discoveries, much still remains unknown about this rare malignancy. PMID:22006498

  9. High-Throughput Screening of Chemical Effects on Steroidogenesis Using H295R Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells

    PubMed Central

    Toole, Colleen M.; Filer, Dayne L.; Lewis, Kenneth C.; Martin, Matthew T.

    2016-01-01

    Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental chemicals can result in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. A high-throughput assay using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells was used to evaluate the effect of 2060 chemical samples on steroidogenesis via high-performance liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry quantification of 10 steroid hormones, including progestagens, glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. The study employed a 3 stage screening strategy. The first stage established the maximum tolerated concentration (MTC; ≥ 70% viability) per sample. The second stage quantified changes in hormone levels at the MTC whereas the third stage performed concentration-response (CR) on a subset of samples. At all stages, cells were prestimulated with 10 µM forskolin for 48 h to induce steroidogenesis followed by chemical treatment for 48 h. Of the 2060 chemical samples evaluated, 524 samples were selected for 6-point CR screening, based in part on significantly altering at least 4 hormones at the MTC. CR screening identified 232 chemical samples with concentration-dependent effects on 17β-estradiol and/or testosterone, with 411 chemical samples showing an effect on at least one hormone across the steroidogenesis pathway. Clustering of the concentration-dependent chemical-mediated steroid hormone effects grouped chemical samples into 5 distinct profiles generally representing putative mechanisms of action, including CYP17A1 and HSD3B inhibition. A distinct pattern was observed between imidazole and triazole fungicides suggesting potentially distinct mechanisms of action. From a chemical testing and prioritization perspective, this assay platform provides a robust model for high-throughput screening of chemicals for effects on steroidogenesis. PMID:26781511

  10. Monitoring apoptosis of TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M cells induced by ACV using FRET technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiong, Tao; Zhang, Zhihong; Lin, Juqiang; Yang, Jie; Zeng, Shaoqun; Luo, Qingming

    2006-05-01

    Apoptosis is an evolutionary conserved cellular process that plays an important role during development, but it is also involved in tissue homeostasis and in many diseases. To study the characteristics of suicide gene system of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in tumor cells and explore the apoptosis phenomena in this system and its effect on the human adenoid cystic carcinoma line ACC-M cell, we detected apoptosis of CD3- (ECFP-CRS-DsRed) and TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M (ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3) cells induced by acyclovir (ACV) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. CD3 is a FRET-based indicator for activity of caspase-3, which is composed of an enhanced cyan fluorescent protein, a caspase-3 sensitive linker, and a red fluorescent protein from Discosoma with efficient maturation property. FRET from ECFP to DsRed could be detected in normal ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells, and the FRET efficient was remarkably decreased and then disappeared during the cells apoptosis induced by ACV. It was due to the activated caspase-3 cleaved the CD3 fusion protein. In this study, the results suggested that the ACV-induced apoptosis of ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells was through caspase-3 pathway.

  11. Monitoring apoptosis of TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M cells induced by ACV using FRET technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiong, Tao; Zhang, Zhihong; Lin, Juqiang; Yang, Jie; Zeng, Shaoqun; Luo, Qingming

    2006-09-01

    Apoptosis is an evolutionary conserved cellular process that plays an important role during development, but it is also involved in tissue homeostasis and in many diseases. To study the characteristics of suicide gene system of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene in tumor cells and explore the apoptosis phenomena in this system and its effect on the human adenoid cystic carcinoma line ACC-M cell, we detected apoptosis of CD3- (ECFP-CRS-DsRed) and TK-GFP-expressing ACC-M (ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3) cells induced by acyclovir (ACV) using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. CD3 is a FRET-based indicator for activity of caspase-3, which is composed of an enhanced cyan fluorescent protein, a caspase-3 sensitive linker, and a red fluorescent protein from Discosoma with efficient maturation property. FRET from ECFP to DsRed could be detected in normal ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells, and the FRET efficient was remarkably decreased and then disappeared during the cells apoptosis induced by ACV. It was due to the activated caspase-3 cleaved the CD3 fusion protein. In this study, the results suggested that the AVC-induced apoptosis of ACC-M-TK-GFP-CD3 cells was through caspase-3 pathway.

  12. Primary pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma: clinicopathological analyses of 12 cases.

    PubMed

    Qing, Song; Zhou, Keming; Liu, Xia; Li, Xiaohong; Deng, Feiyan; Ma, Yuqing

    2015-01-01

    Adenoid cystic primary pulmonary carcinomas (adenoid cystic carcinomas or ACCs) are rare tumors, so we described the clinical and pathological features of these tumors and related these findings with diagnosis and prognosis of ACC, comparing our data to the existing literature. Clinical and pathological features of 12 ACC cases were observed and described. Immunohistochemical EnVision staining, fluorescent PCR detection, and FISH were used to characterize tumor samples and the literature was reviewed. Of the 12 ACC cases (7 male; average 53.1 years-of-age; range 33-78 years), the chief presentation symptom was cough, followed by expectoration, gasping, and bloody sputum. Microscopically, histopathology revealed cribriform, tubular, or solid cords. CD117 was overexpressed in glandular epithelia in 9 cases and calcitonin and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) were overexpressed in 4 cases. One case was positive for EML4 ALK gene rearrangement. ACC is a low-grade malignant tumor with poor prognosis and high recurrence and metastases. TTF-1 expression indicates a primary tumor and CD117 expression is not significant to prognosis.

  13. Immunoexpression of GLUT-1 and angiogenic index in pleomorphic adenomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary glands.

    PubMed

    de Souza, Lélia Batista; de Oliveira, Lucileide Castro; Nonaka, Cassiano Francisco Weege; Lopes, Maria Luiza Diniz de Sousa; Pinto, Leão Pereira; Queiroz, Lélia Maria Guedes

    2017-06-01

    This study aimed to evaluate and compare the immunoexpression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and angiogenic index between pleomorphic adenomas (PAs), adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs), and mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs) of the salivary glands, and establish associations with the respective subtype/histological grade. Twenty PAs, 20 ACCs, and 10 MECs were submitted to morphological and immunohistochemical analysis. GLUT-1 expression was semi-quantitatively evaluated and angiogenic index was assessed by microvessel counts using anti-CD34 antibody. Higher GLUT-1 immunoexpression was observed in the MECs compared to PAs and ACCs (p = 0.022). Mean number of microvessels was 66.5 in MECs, 40.4 in PAs, and 21.2 in ACCs (p < 0.001). GLUT-1 expression and angiogenic index showed no significant correlation in the tumors studied. Results suggest that differences in biological behavior of the studied tumors are related to GLUT-1. Benign and malignant salivary gland tumors differ in the angiogenic index; however, angiogenesis may be independent of the tumor cell's metabolic demand.

  14. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of child: a rare case.

    PubMed

    Mathai, Meera; Sherubin, J Eugenia; Agnihotri, Pg; Sangeetha, Gs

    2014-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant tumor affecting both major and minor salivary glands. Clinically, it is a slowly growing tumor with high propensity for local invasion, recurrence and distant metastasis. It is predominantly seen in the ffith and sixth decades of life. Here, we report a rare case of ACC affecting the right maxilla of a 12-year-old girl. How to cite this article: Mathai M, Sherubin JE, Agnihotri PG, Sangeetha GS. Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Child: A Rare Case. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2014;7(3):206-208.

  15. High-Throughput Screening of Chemical Effects on Steroidogenesis Using H295R Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells.

    PubMed

    Karmaus, Agnes L; Toole, Colleen M; Filer, Dayne L; Lewis, Kenneth C; Martin, Matthew T

    2016-04-01

    Disruption of steroidogenesis by environmental chemicals can result in altered hormone levels causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. A high-throughput assay using H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells was used to evaluate the effect of 2060 chemical samples on steroidogenesis via high-performance liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry quantification of 10 steroid hormones, including progestagens, glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. The study employed a 3 stage screening strategy. The first stage established the maximum tolerated concentration (MTC; ≥ 70% viability) per sample. The second stage quantified changes in hormone levels at the MTC whereas the third stage performed concentration-response (CR) on a subset of samples. At all stages, cells were prestimulated with 10 µM forskolin for 48 h to induce steroidogenesis followed by chemical treatment for 48 h. Of the 2060 chemical samples evaluated, 524 samples were selected for 6-point CR screening, based in part on significantly altering at least 4 hormones at the MTC. CR screening identified 232 chemical samples with concentration-dependent effects on 17β-estradiol and/or testosterone, with 411 chemical samples showing an effect on at least one hormone across the steroidogenesis pathway. Clustering of the concentration-dependent chemical-mediated steroid hormone effects grouped chemical samples into 5 distinct profiles generally representing putative mechanisms of action, including CYP17A1 and HSD3B inhibition. A distinct pattern was observed between imidazole and triazole fungicides suggesting potentially distinct mechanisms of action. From a chemical testing and prioritization perspective, this assay platform provides a robust model for high-throughput screening of chemicals for effects on steroidogenesis. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology.

  16. Comprehensive analysis of the MYB-NFIB gene fusion in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: Incidence, variability, and clinicopathologic significance.

    PubMed

    Mitani, Yoshitsugu; Li, Jie; Rao, Pulivarthi H; Zhao, Yi-Jue; Bell, Diana; Lippman, Scott M; Weber, Randal S; Caulin, Carlos; El-Naggar, Adel K

    2010-10-01

    The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of the MYB-NFIB fusion in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), to establish the clinicopathologic significance of the fusion, and to analyze the expression of MYB in ACCs in the context of the MYB-NFIB fusion. We did an extensive analysis involving 123 cancers of the salivary gland, including primary and metastatic ACCs, and non-ACC salivary carcinomas. MYB-NFIB fusions were identified by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) and sequencing of the RT-PCR products, and confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. MYB RNA expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The MYB-NFIB fusion was detected in 28% primary and 35% metastatic ACCs, but not in any of the non-ACC salivary carcinomas analyzed. Different exons in both the MYB and NFIB genes were involved in the fusions, resulting in expression of multiple chimeric variants. Notably, MYB was overexpressed in the vast majority of the ACCs, although MYB expression was significantly higher in tumors carrying the MYB-NFIB fusion. The presence of the MYB-NFIB fusion was significantly associated (P = 0.03) with patients older than 50 years of age. No correlation with other clinicopathologic markers, factors, and survival was found. We conclude that the MYB-NFIB fusion characterizes a subset of ACCs and contributes to MYB overexpression. Additional mechanisms may be involved in MYB overexpression in ACCs lacking the MYB-NFIB fusion. These findings suggest that MYB may be a specific novel target for tumor intervention in patients with ACC. ©2010 AACR.

  17. Report of a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the upper lip and review of Japanese cases of acinic cell carcinoma of the minor salivary glands

    PubMed Central

    Ishikawa, Hitoshi; Fuyama, Shigemi; Kobayashi, Takehito; Waki, Takayoshi; Taira, Yukio; Iino, Mitsuyoshi

    2016-01-01

    Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumor of the salivary glands. The majority of ACCs occur in the parotid gland, and ACCs of the minor salivary glands (MSGs) are relatively infrequent. We describe here a patient with ACC of the upper lip. The patient was a 31-year-old male who presented with a nodular mass on the left upper lip. The preoperative diagnosis was benign tumor or cyst, and the lesion was surgically excised. The histological diagnosis was ACC. The postoperative course was uneventful. No recurrence or metastasis was detected at 13 months postoperatively. In addition, we retrospectively reviewed 21 reported Japanese patients with ACC of the MSGs. In 7 of the 21 patients, the preoperative diagnosis was benign tumor, and the tumors were resected without preoperative biopsy. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that disease-free survival was worse in patients who underwent resection with a preoperative diagnosis of benign tumor than in patients who underwent resection with a preoperative diagnosis of malignant tumor. The rate of recurrence was higher for ACCs assumed to be benign lesions on a purely clinical basis, or without an accurate preoperative biopsy. ACCs of the MSGs are easy to be misdiagnosed for benign lesions such as mucous cysts or hemangiomas. Correct preoperative diagnosis and initial therapy may therefore be the most important prognostic factors. Key words:Acinic cell carcinoma, Kaplan-Meier analysis, minor salivary glands, prognosis, upper lip. PMID:27957284

  18. [Diagnosis and surgical treatment of adrenocortical cancer with invasion into great veins].

    PubMed

    Kharnas, S S; Ippolitov, L I; Polunin, G V; Vetshev, S P; Slobodyanik, A S; Saliba, M B; Kovalenko, A A; Lukich, K V

    2015-01-01

    To estimate immediate and remote resaults of treatment of adrenocortical cancer with invasion into great veins. It was analyzed survey and treatment results in 3 patients with adrenocortical cancer and invasion into renal veins and inferior vena cava. Radical surgery with tumoral thrombi removal from great vessels was performed in all cases. There were no complications and deaths in early postoperative period. Life expectancy after surgery was 6, 13 and over 58 months. At present time surgical intervention for adrenocortical cancer with invasion into great veins is single method to prolong patients' life.

  19. Isolation of rat adrenocortical mitochondria

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

    Solinas, Paola; Department of Medicine, Center for Mitochondrial Disease, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; Fujioka, Hisashi

    2012-10-12

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A method for isolation of adrenocortical mitochondria from the adrenal gland of rats is described. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The purified isolated mitochondria show excellent morphological integrity. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The properties of oxidative phosphorylation are excellent. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The method increases the opportunity of direct analysis of adrenal mitochondria from small animals. -- Abstract: This report describes a relatively simple and reliable method for isolating adrenocortical mitochondria from rats in good, reasonably pure yield. These organelles, which heretofore have been unobtainable in isolated form from small laboratory animals, are now readily accessible. A high degree of mitochondrial purity is shown by the electronmore » micrographs, as well as the structural integrity of each mitochondrion. That these organelles have retained their functional integrity is shown by their high respiratory control ratios. In general, the biochemical performance of these adrenal cortical mitochondria closely mirrors that of typical hepatic or cardiac mitochondria.« less

  20. Adrenocortical Activity and Emotion Regulation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stansbury, Kathy; Gunnar, Megan R.

    1994-01-01

    This essay argues that the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system does not appear to be related to emotion regulation processes in children, although individual differences in emotion processes related to negative emotion temperaments appear to be associated with individual differences in HPA reactivity among normally…

  1. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the adrenal gland: A case report and review of literature.

    PubMed

    Coli, Antonella; Di Giorgio, Andrea; Castri, Federica; Destito, Carmelo; Marin, Alfredo Wiel; Bigotti, Giulio

    2010-01-15

    Reports about adrenocortical carcinomas (AC) mixed with sarcomatous areas are very rare. The terminology and pathogenesis of such biphasic tumors remain controversial. Herein, we report a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the adrenal gland in a 75-year-old woman who presented with left abdominal pain of one month's standing. The results of abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) showed the presence of a large heterogeneous adrenal mass. A left adrenalectomy and complete splenectomy were performed. Histologically, the neoplasm showed areas of adrenocortical carcinoma and areas of sarcomatoid spindle cell proliferation. When examined immunohistochemically, the carcinomatous cells stained positively for S-100 protein, Melan-A protein, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and focally for vimentin and the cytokeratin marker MNF 116. Also, the carcinomatous cells were immunoreactive to the monoclonal antibody HMB-45. The sarcomatous component expressed vimentin, as well as other smooth and skeletal muscle markers. Liver metastases appeared 3 months postoperatively. Twelve months after removal of the primary tumor, the patient died of her disease. To the best of our knowledge, only seven cases of adrenal sarcomatoid carcinoma have been reported in the medical literature. We review the reported cases according to the 2004 classification of the World Health Organization (WHO) of lung tumors, and highlight the histogenesis, diagnosis, and clinical course of this very aggressive tumor. Copyright 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  2. A colorimetric assay of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) based on ninhydrin reaction for rapid screening of bacteria containing ACC deaminase.

    PubMed

    Li, Z; Chang, S; Lin, L; Li, Y; An, Q

    2011-08-01

    1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity is an efficient marker for bacteria to promote plant growth by lowering ethylene levels in plants. We aim to develop a method for rapidly screening bacteria containing ACC deaminase, based on a colorimetric ninhydrin assay of ACC. A reliable colorimetric ninhydrin assay was developed to quantify ACC using heat-resistant polypropylene chimney-top 96-well PCR plates, having the wells evenly heated in boiling water, preventing accidental contamination from boiling water and limiting evaporation. With this method to measure bacterial consumption of ACC, 44 ACC-utilizing bacterial isolates were rapidly screened out from 311 bacterial isolates that were able to grow on minimal media containing ACC as the sole nitrogen source. The 44 ACC-utilizing bacterial isolates showed ACC deaminase activities and belonged to the genus Burkholderia, Pseudomonas or Herbaspirillum. Determination of bacterial ACC consumption by the PCR-plate ninhydrin-ACC assay is a rapid and efficient method for screening bacteria containing ACC deaminase from a large number of bacterial isolates. The PCR-plate ninhydrin-ACC assay extends the utility of the ninhydrin reaction and enables a rapid screening of bacteria containing ACC deaminase from large numbers of bacterial isolates. © 2011 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

  3. Management of adrenal cancer: a 2013 update.

    PubMed

    Terzolo, M; Daffara, F; Ardito, A; Zaggia, B; Basile, V; Ferrari, L; Berruti, A

    2014-03-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a devastating tumor for either patients or their families because of short life expectancy and severe impact on quality of life. Due to the rarity of ACC, with a reported annual incidence of 0.5-2 cases per million population, progress in the development of treatment options beyond surgery has been limited. Up to now, no personalized approach of ACC therapy has emerged, apart from plasma level-guided mitotane therapy, and no simple targetable molecular event has been identified from preclinical studies. Complete surgical removal of ACC is the only potentially curative approach and has the most important impact on patient’s prognosis. Despite the limits of the available evidence, adjuvant mitotane therapy is currently recommended in many expert centers whenever the patients present an elevated risk of recurrence. The management of patients with recurrent and metastatic disease is challenging and the prognosis is often poor. Mitotane monotherapy is indicated in the management of patients with a low tumor burden and/or more indolent disease while patients whose disease show an aggressive behavior need cytotoxic chemotherapy. The treatment of patients with advanced ACC may include loco-regional approaches such as surgery and radiofrequency ablation in addition to systemic therapies. The present review provides an updated overview of the management of ACC patients following surgery and of the management of ACC patients with advanced disease.

  4. GLUT1 expression in pediatric adrenocortical tumors: a promising candidate to predict clinical behavior.

    PubMed

    Pinheiro, Céline; Granja, Sara; Longatto-Filho, Adhemar; Faria, André M; Fragoso, Maria C B V; Lovisolo, Silvana M; Bonatelli, Murilo; Costa, Ricardo F A; Lerário, Antonio M; Almeida, Madson Q; Baltazar, Fátima; Zerbini, Maria C N

    2017-09-08

    Discrimination between benign and malignant tumors is a challenging process in pediatric adrenocortical tumors. New insights in the metabolic profile of pediatric adrenocortical tumors may contribute to this distinction, predict prognosis, as well as identify new molecular targets for therapy. The aim of this work is to characterize the expression of the metabolism-related proteins MCT1, MCT2, MCT4, CD147, CD44, GLUT1 and CAIX in a series of pediatric adrenocortical tumors. A total of 50 pediatric patients presenting adrenocortical tumors, including 41 clinically benign and 9 clinically malignant tumors, were included. Protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry in samples arranged in tissue microarrays. The immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in plasma membrane expression of GLUT1 in malignant lesions, when compared to benign lesions ( p =0.004), being the expression of this protein associated with shorter overall and disease-free survival ( p =0.004 and p =0.001, respectively). Although significant differences were not observed for proteins other than GLUT1, MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 were highly expressed in pediatric adrenocortical neoplasias (around 90%). GLUT1 expression was differentially expressed in pediatric adrenocortical tumors, with higher expression in clinically malignant tumors, and associated with shorter survival, suggesting a metabolic remodeling towards a hyperglycolytic phenotype in this malignancy.

  5. The Mutational Landscape of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Ho, Allen S.; Kannan, Kasthuri; Roy, David M.; Morris, Luc G.T.; Ganly, Ian; Katabi, Nora; Ramaswami, Deepa; Walsh, Logan A.; Eng, Stephanie; Huse, Jason T.; Zhang, Jianan; Dolgalev, Igor; Huberman, Kety; Heguy, Adriana; Viale, Agnes; Drobnjak, Marija; Leversha, Margaret A.; Rice, Christine E.; Singh, Bhuvanesh; Iyer, N. Gopalakrishna; Leemans, C. Rene; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Ferris, Robert L.; Seethala, Raja R.; Gross, Benjamin E.; Liang, Yupu; Sinha, Rileen; Peng, Luke; Raphael, Benjamin J.; Turcan, Sevin; Gong, Yongxing; Schultz, Nikolaus; Kim, Seungwon; Chiosea, Simion; Shah, Jatin P.; Sander, Chris; Lee, William; Chan, Timothy A.

    2013-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) are among the most enigmatic of human malignancies. These aggressive salivary cancers frequently recur and metastasize despite definitive treatment, with no known effective chemotherapy regimen. Here, we determined the ACC mutational landscape and report the exome or whole genome sequences of 60 ACC tumor/normal pairs. These analyses revealed a low exonic somatic mutation rate (0.31 non-silent events/megabase) and wide mutational diversity. Interestingly, mutations selectively involved chromatin state regulators, such as SMARCA2, CREBBP, and KDM6A, suggesting aberrant epigenetic regulation in ACC oncogenesis. Mutations in genes central to DNA damage and protein kinase A signaling also implicate these processes. We observed MYB-NFIB translocations and somatic mutations in MYB-associated genes, solidifying these aberrations as critical events. Lastly, we identified recurrent mutations in the FGF/IGF/PI3K pathway that may potentially offer new avenues for therapy (30%). Collectively, our observations establish a molecular foundation for understanding and exploring new treatments for ACC. PMID:23685749

  6. Carboetomidate: A Pyrrole Analogue of Etomidate Designed Not To Suppress Adrenocortical Function

    PubMed Central

    Cotten, Joseph F.; Forman, Stuart A.; Laha, Joydev K.; Cuny, Gregory D.; Husain, S. Shaukat; Miller, Keith W.; Nguyen, Hieu H.; Kelly, Elizabeth W.; Stewart, Deirdre; Liu, Aiping; Raines, Douglas E.

    2010-01-01

    Background Etomidate is a sedative-hypnotic that is often used in critically ill patients because it provides superior hemodynamic stability. However it also binds with high affinity to 11β-hydroxylase, potently suppressing synthesis of steroids by the adrenal gland that are necessary for survival. We report the results of studies to define the pharmacology of (R)-ethyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate (carboetomidate), a pyrrole analogue of etomidate specifically designed not to bind with high affinity to 11β-hydroxylase. Methods The hypnotic potency of carboetomidate was defined in tadpoles and rats using loss of righting reflex assays. Its ability to enhance wild-type α1β2γ2L and etomidate-insensitive mutant α1β2(M286W)γ2L human γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor activities was assessed using electrophysiological techniques. Its potency for inhibiting in vitro cortisol synthesis was defined using a human adrenocortical cell assay. Its effects on in vivo hemodynamic and adrenocortical function were defined in rats. Results Carboetomidate was a potent hypnotic in tadpoles and rats. It increased currents mediated by wild-type, but not etomidate-insensitive mutant γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. Carboetomidate was three orders of magnitude less potent an inhibitor of in vitro cortisol synthesis by adrenocortical cells than was etomidate. In rats, carboetomidate caused minimal hemodynamic changes and did not suppress adrenocortical function at hypnotic doses. Conclusions Carboetomidate is an etomidate analogue that retains many of etomidate’s beneficial properties, but is dramatically less potent as an inhibitor of adrenocortical steroid synthesis. Carboetomidate is a promising new sedative-hypnotic for potential use in critically ill patients in whom adrenocortical suppression is undesirable. PMID:20179500

  7. Adrenocortical stress responses influence an invasive vertebrate's fitness in an extreme environment

    PubMed Central

    Jessop, Tim S.; Letnic, Mike; Webb, Jonathan K.; Dempster, Tim

    2013-01-01

    Continued range expansion into physiologically challenging environments requires invasive species to maintain adaptive phenotypic performance. The adrenocortical stress response, governed in part by glucocorticoid hormones, influences physiological and behavioural responses of vertebrates to environmental stressors. However, any adaptive role of this response in invasive populations that are expanding into extreme environments is currently unclear. We experimentally manipulated the adrenocortical stress response of invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) to investigate its effect on phenotypic performance and fitness at the species' range front in the Tanami Desert, Australia. Here, toads are vulnerable to overheating and dehydration during the annual hot–dry season and display elevated plasma corticosterone levels indicative of severe environmental stress. By comparing unmanipulated control toads with toads whose adrenocortical stress response was manipulated to increase acute physiological stress responsiveness, we found that control toads had significantly reduced daily evaporative water loss and higher survival relative to the experimental animals. The adrenocortical stress response hence appears essential in facilitating complex phenotypic performance and setting fitness trajectories of individuals from invasive species during range expansion. PMID:23945686

  8. Vincristine, cisplatin, teniposide, and cyclophosphamide combination in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic adrenocortical cancer.

    PubMed

    Khan, Tanweera S; Sundin, Anders; Juhlin, Claes; Wilander, Erik; Oberg, Kjell; Eriksson, Barbro

    2004-01-01

    The efficacy and tolerability of a combination of vincristine, cisplatin, teniposide, and cyclophosphamide (OPEC) in 11 patients (median age, 45 yr) with recurrent and/or metastatic adrenocortical cancer (ACC) (seven functional and four nonfunctional) were evaluated. All patients received this regimen after the failure of streptozocin and o,p'-DDD (SO) combination therapy. The regimen comprised cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m2, and vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2, maximum dose 2.0 mg (d 1); cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 (d 2) and teniposide, 150 mg/m2 (d 4). Cycles were repeated every 4 wk. One to eight cycles (median, six cycles) of OPEC were administered to each patient. The median duration of treatment was 6 mo. The overall 2-yr survival rate was 82% and the median survival since diagnosis was 44 mo while it was 21 mo since start of OPEC therapy. Responses were obtained in nine patients: partial response in two patients, and stable disease in seven patients. The median duration of response was 6.75 mo. A total of 60 cycles of chemotherapy were given to all patients; grade 1-2 toxicity occurred in 57 cycles, while grade 3 toxicity was observed only in two cycles, according to NCI's Common Toxicity Criteria. We conclude that the OPEC regimen may be considered in recurrent or metastatic ACC as a second-line medical treatment. However, the combination is accompanied by considerable side effects and dose modifications are necessary in order to be able to recommend the treatment. This regimen needs further evaluation compared with SO therapy preferably in a randomized multicenter trial.

  9. Antiandrogenic mechanisms of pesticides in human LNCaP prostate and H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Robitaille, Christina N; Rivest, Patricia; Sanderson, J Thomas

    2015-01-01

    Several pesticides suspected or known to have endocrine disrupting effects were screened for pro- or antiandrogenic properties by determining their effects on proliferation, prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) secretion and androgen receptor (AR) expression, and AR phosphorylation in androgen-dependent LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, as well as on the expression and catalytic activity of the enzyme CYP17 in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells, an in vitro model of steroidogenesis. Effects on SRD5A gene expression were determined in both cell lines. Benomyl, vinclozolin, and prochloraz, but not atrazine, concentration dependently (1-30 μM) decreased dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-stimulated proliferation of LNCaP cells. All pesticides except atrazine decreased DHT-stimulated PSA secretion, AR nuclear accumulation, and AR phosphorylation on serines 81 and 213 in LNCaP cells. Benomyl and prochloraz, but not vinclozolin or atrazine, decreased levels of CYP17 gene and protein expression, as well as catalytic activity in H295R cells. In the case of prochloraz, some of these effects corresponded with cytotoxicity. H295R cells expressed AR protein and SRD5A1, but not SRD5A2 transcripts. SRD5A1 gene expression in H295R cells was increased by 10 nM DHT, whereas in LNCaP cells significant induction was observed by 0.1 nM DHT. AR protein expression in H295R cells was not increased by DHT. Vinclozolin decreased DHT-induced SRD5A1 gene expression in LNCaP, but not H295R cells, indicating a functional difference of AR between the cell lines. In conclusion, pesticides may exert antiandrogenic effects through several mechanisms that are cell type-specific, including AR antagonism and down-regulation or catalytic inhibition of androgen biosynthetic enzymes, such as CYP17 and SRD5A1. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  10. MYB Labeling by Immunohistochemistry Is More Sensitive and Specific for Breast Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma than MYB Labeling by FISH.

    PubMed

    Poling, Justin S; Yonescu, Raluca; Subhawong, Andrea P; Sharma, Rajni; Argani, Pedram; Ning, Yi; Cimino-Mathews, Ashley

    2017-07-01

    Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a primary breast carcinoma that, like salivary gland ACC, displays the t(6;9) translocation resulting in the MYB-NFIB gene fusion and immunopositivity for MYB by immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, it is not well established whether MYB immunoreactivity or rearrangement can be used to support a diagnosis of ACC in a malignant basaloid or benign cribriform breast lesion. Whole sections of primary breast ACC (n=11), collagenous spherulosis (CS; n=7), and microglandular adenosis (MGA; n=5) and tissue microarrays containing 16 basal-like, triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBC) were labeled for MYB by IHC and underwent MYB fluorescence in situ hybridization using a break-apart probe. Strong, diffuse nuclear MYB labeling was seen in 100% ACC compared with no cases of basal-like TNBC, CS, or MGA (P=0.0001). Any degree of nuclear MYB labeling was seen in 100% ACC compared with 54% of all other cases (P=0.007), with any labeling seen in 71% CS, 63% basal-like TNBC, and 0% MGA. MYB rearrangement was detected in 89% (8/9) of evaluable ACC compared with 4% (1/26) of all other evaluable cases (P=0.0001), with a rearrangement detected in 1 (7%; n=1/15) evaluable basal-like TNBC. Strong, diffuse nuclear labeling for MYB is more sensitive than MYB fluorescence in situ hybridization for breast ACC and can be used to support a diagnosis of ACC in a cribriform or basaloid lesion in the breast. However, weak and focal labeling should be interpreted with caution as it can be seen in other benign cribriform and malignant basaloid lesions.

  11. A Case of Cushing's Syndrome with Multiple Adrenocortical Adenomas Composed of Compact Cells and Clear Cells.

    PubMed

    Asakawa, Masahiro; Yoshimoto, Takanobu; Ota, Mitsutane; Numasawa, Mitsuyuki; Sasahara, Yuriko; Takeuchi, Takato; Nakano, Yujiro; Oohara, Norihiko; Murakami, Masanori; Bouchi, Ryotaro; Minami, Isao; Tsuchiya, Kyoichiro; Hashimoto, Koshi; Izumiyama, Hajime; Kawamura, Naoko; Kihara, Kazunori; Negi, Mariko; Akashi, Takumi; Eishi, Yoshinobu; Sasano, Hironobu; Ogawa, Yoshihiro

    2016-06-01

    A 58-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for Cushingoid features and diagnosed as adrenal Cushing's syndrome due to a right adrenocortical mass (60 × 55 mm). The mass was composed of three different tumors; the first one was homogeneously lipid-poor neoplasm measuring 20 × 13 mm located at the most dorsal region, the second one was heterogeneous and lipid-rich tumor containing multiple foci of calcification measuring 50 × 32 mm located at the central region, and the last one was heterogeneous harboring dilated and tortuous vessels and lipid-poor one measuring 35 × 18 mm at the most ventral region of the adrenal gland. A right adrenalectomy was subsequently performed by open surgery. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses revealed that all three tumors were adrenocortical adenomas; the first one represents a pigmented adrenocortical adenoma, the second one adrenocortical adenoma associated with degeneration, and the third one adrenocortical adenoma harboring extensive degeneration. Immunohistochemical analysis of the steroidogenic enzymes also revealed that all of the tumors had the capacity of synthesizing cortisol. This is a very rare case of Cushing's syndrome caused by multiple adrenocortical adenomas including a pigmented adenoma. Immunohistochemical analysis of steroidogenic enzymes contributed to understanding of steroidogenesis in each of these three different adrenocortical adenomas in this case.

  12. Identification of acid-sensing ion channels in adenoid cystic carcinomas

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

    Ye Jinhai; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Research Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing 210029; Gao Jun

    2007-04-20

    Tissue acidosis is an important feature of tumor. The response of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cells to acidic solution was studied using whole-cell patch-clamp recording in the current study. An inward, amiloride-sensitive Na{sup +} current was identified in cultured ACC-2 cells while not in normal human salivary gland epithelial cells. Electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of the currents suggest that heteromeric acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) containing 2a and 3 may be responsible for the proton-induced currents in the majority of ACC-2 cells. Consistent with it, analyses of RT-PCR and Western blotting demonstrated the presences of ASIC2a and 3 in ACC-2 cells.more » Furthermore, we observed the enhanced expression of ASIC2a and 3 in the sample of ACC tissues. These results indicate that the functional expression of ASICs is characteristic feature of ACC cells.« less

  13. Targeting MDM2 for Treatment of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Warner, Kristy A.; Nör, Felipe; Acasigua, Gerson A.; Martins, Manoela D.; Zhang, Zhaocheng; McLean, Scott A.; Spector, Matthew E.; Chepeha, Douglas B.; Helman, Joseph; Wick, Michael J.; Moskaluk, Christopher A.; Castilho, Rogerio M.; Pearson, Alexander T.; Wang, Shaomeng; Nör, Jacques E.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose There are no effective treatment options for patients with advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Here, we evaluated the effect of a new small molecule inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 interaction (MI-773) in preclinical models of ACC. Experimental Design To evaluate the anti-tumor effect of MI-773, we administered it to mice harboring 3 different patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of ACC expressing functional p53. The effect of MI-773 on MDM2, p53, phospho-p53 and p21 was examined by Western blots in 5 low passage primary human ACC cell lines and in MI-773-treated PDX tumors. Results Single agent MI-773 caused tumor regression in the 3 PDX models of ACC studied here. For example, we observed a tumor growth inhibition (TGI) index of 127% in UM-PDX-HACC-5 tumors that was associated with an increase in the fraction of apoptotic cells (p=0.015). The number of p53-positive cells was increased in MI-773-treated PDX tumors (p<0.001), with a correspondent shift in p53 localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Western blots demonstrated that MI-773 potently induced expression of p53 and its downstream targets p21, MDM2 and induced phosphorylation of p53 (serine 392) in low passage primary human ACC cells. Notably, MI-773 induced a dose-dependent increase in the fraction of apoptotic ACC cells and in the fraction of cells in the G1 phase of cell cycle (p<0.05). Conclusions Collectively, these data demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction with MI-773 activates downstream effectors of apoptosis and causes robust tumor regression in preclinical models of adenoid cystic carcinoma. PMID:26936915

  14. Supportive behaviors in adolescent romantic relationships moderate adrenocortical attunement.

    PubMed

    Ha, Thao; Yeung, Ellen Wanheung; Rogers, Adam A; Poulsen, Franklin O; Kornienko, Olga; Granger, Douglas A

    2016-12-01

    This study investigated dyadic adrenocortical attunement within adolescent romantic relationships. An ethnically diverse sample (42% Latino) of adolescent heterosexual dating couples (N=91 dyads, Mage=16.5 years, SD=0.99) donated eight saliva samples (later assayed for cortisol) over the course of a 3-h laboratory session. Supportive behaviors were coded during a conflict and jealousy interaction task from video recordings, and participants completed pre-and-post task questionnaires. Parallel process latent growth models revealed a strong positive association between the couples' cortisol intercept, indicating that couples show attunement in initial levels of cortisol. Further, observed supportive behavior moderated the strength of the association between dyadic cortisol slopes. The results imply that low levels of supportive behavior predicted stronger adrenocortical attunement in the change in cortisol levels over time between adolescent romantic partners. These findings indicate that even early romantic relationships exhibit coordination of physiological activity. Findings raise the possibility that adrenocortical attunement may be a dyadic pathway through which the proximal social context of early romantic relationships is translated into risk or resilience in health and behavior. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Gallium-67 uptake by a benign adrenocortical adenoma

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

    Jackson, J.A.; Naul, L.G.; Montgomery, J.L.

    1988-08-01

    A 55-yr-old man presented with an atypical relapsing meningitis and was found to have intense unilateral adrenal uptake by /sup 67/Ga imaging. Computed tomography showed a 4-cm right adrenal mass which was hypointense on the T1-weighted images and mildly hyperintense on the T2-weighted images of a magnetic resonance (MR) scan. At surgery, a coincidental benign adrenocortical adenoma was found. Because /sup 67/Ga uptake is usually associated with inflammatory or malignant lesions and malignant adrenal lesions are hyperintense on T2-weighted MR images, these findings contributed to diagnostic uncertainty in this patient. Thus, a nonhyperfunctional adrenocortical adenoma may be associated with abnormalmore » /sup 67/Ga uptake and atypical MR findings.« less

  16. Adrenalectomy for Cushing’s syndrome: do’s and don’ts

    PubMed Central

    Paduraru, DN; Nica, A; Carsote, M; Valea, A

    2016-01-01

    Aim. To present specific aspects of adrenalectomy for Cushing’s syndrome (CS) by introducing well established aspects (“do’s”) and less known aspects (“don’ts”). Material and Method. This is a narrative review. Results. The “do’s” for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) are the following: it represents the “gold standard” for secretor and non-secretor adrenal tumors and the first line therapy for CS with an improvement of cardio-metabolic co-morbidities; the success rate depending on the adequate patients’ selection and the surgeon’s skills. The “don’ts” are large (>6-8 centimeters), locally invasive, malignant tumors requiring open adrenalectomy (OA). Robotic adrenalectomy is a new alternative for LA, with similar safety and conversion rate and lower pain drugs use. The “don’ts” are the following: lack of randomized controlled studies including oncologic outcome, different availability at surgical centers. Related to the sub-types of CS, the “do’s” are the following: adrenal adenomas which are cured by LA, while adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) requires adrenalectomy as first line therapy and adjuvant mitotane therapy; synchronous bilateral adrenalectomy (SBA) is useful for Cushing’s disease (only cases refractory to pituitary targeted therapy), for ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (cases with unknown or inoperable primary site), and for bilateral cortisol producing adenomas. The less established aspects are the following: criteria of skilled surgeon to approach ACC; the timing of surgery in subclinical CS; the need for adrenal vein catheterization (which is not available in many centers) to avoid unnecessary SBA. Conclusion. Adrenalectomy for CS is a dynamic domain; LA overstepped the former OA area. The future will improve the knowledge related to RA while the cutting edge is represented by a specific frame of intervention in SCS, children and pregnant women. Abbreviations: ACC = adrenocortical carcinoma, ACTH

  17. Adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome: do's and don'ts.

    PubMed

    Paduraru, D N; Nica, A; Carsote, M; Valea, A

    2016-01-01

    Aim. To present specific aspects of adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome (CS) by introducing well established aspects ("do's") and less known aspects ("don'ts"). Material and Method. This is a narrative review. Results. The "do's" for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) are the following: it represents the "gold standard" for secretor and non-secretor adrenal tumors and the first line therapy for CS with an improvement of cardio-metabolic co-morbidities; the success rate depending on the adequate patients' selection and the surgeon's skills. The "don'ts" are large (>6-8 centimeters), locally invasive, malignant tumors requiring open adrenalectomy (OA). Robotic adrenalectomy is a new alternative for LA, with similar safety and conversion rate and lower pain drugs use. The "don'ts" are the following: lack of randomized controlled studies including oncologic outcome, different availability at surgical centers. Related to the sub-types of CS, the "do's" are the following: adrenal adenomas which are cured by LA, while adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) requires adrenalectomy as first line therapy and adjuvant mitotane therapy; synchronous bilateral adrenalectomy (SBA) is useful for Cushing's disease (only cases refractory to pituitary targeted therapy), for ectopic Cushing's syndrome (cases with unknown or inoperable primary site), and for bilateral cortisol producing adenomas. The less established aspects are the following: criteria of skilled surgeon to approach ACC; the timing of surgery in subclinical CS; the need for adrenal vein catheterization (which is not available in many centers) to avoid unnecessary SBA. Conclusion. Adrenalectomy for CS is a dynamic domain; LA overstepped the former OA area. The future will improve the knowledge related to RA while the cutting edge is represented by a specific frame of intervention in SCS, children and pregnant women. Abbreviations: ACC = adrenocortical carcinoma, ACTH = Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, CD = Cushing's disease, CS

  18. ACC Effectiveness Review, 1999-2002.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wallace, Roslyn, Ed.

    2002-01-01

    These newsletters on Institutional Effectiveness (IE) at Austin Community College (ACC) in Texas include the following articles: (1) "The 'Fast Track'...Students Say It Works!" (2) "Are Students Successfully Completing Distance Learning Courses at ACC?" (3) "Tracking Transfers"; (4) "Math Pilot: Study Skills…

  19. HIF1α in Tumorigenesis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lim, Yun-Sung; Cha, Wonjae; Park, Min-Woo; Jeong, Woo-Jin; Ahn, Soon-Hyun

    2017-02-01

    Tumor hypoxia induces hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α), which can influence tumorigenesis and metastasis. We evaluated the expression of HIF1α and the effect of HIF1α inhibitors in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). HIF1α expression was demonstrated in ACC cell lines (ACC2 and ACCM). The effect of HIF1α inhibitors was evaluated. A systemic metastasis model was developed. The number of metastatic pulmonary nodules were analyzed. The ACCM cell line demonstrated greater HIF1α expression and invasion than ACC2. The expression of HIF1α and invasion of ACC cells were blocked by HIF1α siRNA. HIF1α inhibitors 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) and echinomycin inhibited cell invasion. 17AAG inhibited metastasis in the animal model, although not statistically significantly. HIF1α siRNA and 17AAG and echinomycin blocked invasion by ACC2 and ACCM cells. 17AAG exhibited therapeutic potential for inhibition of metastasis. Our results provide positive evidence that HIF1α is a promising research pathway for therapy of ACC. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

  20. TP53 alterations in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma: new insights into the molecular pathology of this rare cancer.

    PubMed

    La Rosa, Stefano; Bernasconi, Barbara; Frattini, Milo; Tibiletti, Maria Grazia; Molinari, Francesca; Furlan, Daniela; Sahnane, Nora; Vanoli, Alessandro; Albarello, Luca; Zhang, Lizhi; Notohara, Kenji; Casnedi, Selenia; Chenard, Marie-Pierre; Adsay, Volkan; Asioli, Sofia; Capella, Carlo; Sessa, Fausto

    2016-03-01

    The molecular alterations of pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) are poorly understood and have been reported as being different from those in ductal adenocarcinomas. Loss of TP53 gene function in the pathogenesis of ACCs is controversial since contradictory findings have been published. A comprehensive analysis of the different possible genetic and epigenetic mechanisms leading to TP53 alteration in ACC has never been reported and hence the role of TP53 in the pathogenesis and/or progression of ACC remains unclear. We investigated TP53 alterations in 54 tumor samples from 44 patients, including primary and metastatic ACC, using sequencing analysis, methylation-specific multiplex ligation probe amplification, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. TP53 mutations were found in 13 % of primary ACCs and in 31 % of metastases. Primary ACCs and metastases showed the same mutational profile, with the exception of one case, characterized by a wild-type sequence in the primary carcinoma and a mutation in the corresponding metastasis. FISH analysis revealed deletion of the TP53 region in 53 % of primary ACCs and in 50 % of metastases. Promoter hypermethylation was found in one case. The molecular alterations correlated well with the immunohistochemical findings. A statistically significant association was found between the combination of mutation of one allele and loss of the other allele of TP53 and worse survival.

  1. 24 CFR 982.154 - ACC reserve account.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false ACC reserve account. 982.154... and PHA Administration of Program § 982.154 ACC reserve account. (a) HUD may establish and maintain an unfunded reserve account for the PHA program from available budget authority under the consolidated ACC...

  2. 24 CFR 982.154 - ACC reserve account.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false ACC reserve account. 982.154... and PHA Administration of Program § 982.154 ACC reserve account. (a) HUD may establish and maintain an unfunded reserve account for the PHA program from available budget authority under the consolidated ACC...

  3. Noninvasive monitoring of adrenocortical activity in carnivores by fecal glucocorticoid analyses.

    PubMed

    Young, K M; Walker, S L; Lanthier, C; Waddell, W T; Monfort, S L; Brown, J L

    2004-06-01

    Measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites in feces has become an accepted method for the noninvasive evaluation of adrenocortical activity. The objective of this study was to determine if a simple cortisol enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was suitable for monitoring adrenocortical activity in a variety of carnivore species. Performance of the cortisol EIA was gauged by comparison to a corticosterone radioimmunoassay (RIA) that has been used for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites in feces of numerous species. Tests for parallelism and extraction efficiency were used to compare the cortisol EIA and corticosterone RIA across eight species of carnivores (Himalayan black bear, sloth bear, domestic cat, cheetah, clouded leopard, black-footed ferret, slender-tailed meerkat, and red wolf). The biological relevance of immunoreactive glucocorticoid metabolites in feces was established for at least one species of each Carnivora family studied with an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of fecal extracts for each species revealed (1) the presence of multiple immunoreactive glucocorticoid metabolites in feces, but (2) the two immunoassays measured different metabolites, and (3) there were differences across species in the number and polarities of metabolites identified between assay systems. ACTH challenge studies revealed increases in fecal metabolite concentrations measured by the cortisol EIA and corticosterone RIA of approximately 228-1145% and approximately 231-4150% above pre-treatment baseline, respectively, within 1-2 days of injection. Concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites measured by the cortisol EIA and corticosterone RIA during longitudinal evaluation (i.e., >50 days) of several species were significantly correlated (P<0.0025, correlation coefficient range 0.383-0.975). Adrenocortical responses to physical and psychological stressors during longitudinal evaluations varied with the type of

  4. BH3-mimetic small molecule inhibits the growth and recurrence of adenoid cystic carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Acasigua, Gerson A.; Warner, Kristy A.; Nör, Felipe; Helman, Joseph; Pearson, Alexander T.; Fossati, Anna C.; Wang, Shaomeng; Nör, Jacques E.

    2015-01-01

    Objectives To evaluate the anti-tumor effect of BM-1197, a new potent and highly specific small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, in preclinical models of human adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Methods Low passage primary human adenoid cystic carcinoma cells (UM-HACC-2A,-2B,-5,-6) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models (UM-PDX-HACC) were developed from surgical specimens obtained from 4 patients. The effect of BM-1197 on cell viability and cell cycle were evaluated in vitro using this panel of low passage ACC cells. The effect of BM-1197 on tumor growth, recurrence and tumor cell apoptosis in vivo was evaluated with the PDX model of ACC (UM-PDX-HACC-5). Results Exposure of low passage primary human ACC cells to BM-1197 mediated an IC50 of 0.92-2.82 μM. This correlated with an increase in the fraction of apoptotic cells (p<0.0001) and an increase in caspase-3 activity (p<0.0001), but no noticeable differences in cell cycle (p>0.05). In vivo, BM-1197 inhibited tumor growth (p=0.0256) and induced tumor cell apoptosis (p=0.0165) without causing significant systemic toxicities, as determined by mouse weight over time. Surprisingly, weekly BM-1197 decreased the incidence of tumor recurrence (p=0.0297), as determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusion These data demonstrated that single agent BM-1197 induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in preclinical models of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Notably, single agent BM-1197 inhibited tumor recurrence, which is considered a major clinical challenge in the clinical management of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Collectively, these results suggest that patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma might benefit from therapy with a BH3-mimetic small molecule. PMID:26121939

  5. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of breast: Recent advances

    PubMed Central

    Miyai, Kosuke; Schwartz, Mary R; Divatia, Mukul K; Anton, Rose C; Park, Yong Wook; Ayala, Alberto G; Ro, Jae Y

    2014-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare special subtype of breast cancer characterized by the presence of a dual cell population of luminal and basaloid cells arranged in specific growth patterns. Most breast cancers with triple-negative, basal-like breast features (i.e., tumors that are devoid of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression, and express basal cell markers) are generally high-grade tumors with an aggressive clinical course. Conversely, while ACCs also display a triple-negative, basal-like phenotype, they are usually low-grade and exhibit an indolent clinical behavior. Many discoveries regarding the molecular and genetic features of the ACC, including a specific chromosomal translocation t(6;9) that results in a MYB-NFIB fusion gene, have been made in recent years. This comprehensive review provides our experience with the ACC of the breast, as well as an overview of clinical, histopathological, and molecular genetic features. PMID:25516849

  6. Clinical and molecular insights into adenoid cystic carcinoma: Neural crest‐like stemness as a target

    PubMed Central

    Panaccione, Alexander; Chang, Michael T.; Ivanov, Sergey V.

    2016-01-01

    Objectives This review surveys trialed therapies and molecular defects in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), with an emphasis on neural crest‐like stemness characteristics of newly discovered cancer stem cells (CSCs) and therapies that may target these CSCs. Data Sources Articles available on Pubmed or OVID MEDLINE databases and unpublished data. Review Methods Systematic review of articles pertaining to ACC and neural crest‐like stem cells. Results Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland is a slowly growing but relentless cancer that is prone to nerve invasion and metastases. A lack of understanding of molecular etiology and absence of targetable drivers has limited therapy for patients with ACC to surgery and radiation. Currently, no curative treatments are available for patients with metastatic disease, which highlights the need for effective new therapies. Research in this area has been inhibited by the lack of validated cell lines and a paucity of clinically useful markers. The ACC research environment has recently improved, thanks to the introduction of novel tools, technologies, approaches, and models. Improved understanding of ACC suggests that neural crest‐like stemness is a major target in this rare tumor. New cell culture techniques and patient‐derived xenografts provide tools for preclinical testing. Conclusion Preclinical research has not identified effective targets in ACC, as confirmed by the large number of failed clinical trials. New molecular data suggest that drivers of neural crest‐like stemness may be required for maintenance of ACC; as such, CSCs are a target for therapy of ACC. PMID:28894804

  7. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck: apropos of a case

    PubMed Central

    Graça, Susana Alexandra Rodrigues; Sequeira, Hugo; Coelho, Gustavo; Costa, Horácio

    2012-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant neoplasm, arising from glandular tissues, found mainly in the head and neck. Generally, it presents insidiously but can behave aggressively making its course unpredictable. Surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy continue to be the cornerstone for its treatment. ACC remains extremely difficult to treat. The authors report a case of a 37-year-old woman with bloody rhinorrhea for 6 months. She was diagnosed with a left nasal cavity lesion that was biopsied, and the anatomopathological result showed ACC. The patient was submitted to a left extended maxillectomy, microsurgical reconstruction and radiotherapy. PMID:22914229

  8. Marital Conflict Predicts Mother-to-Infant Adrenocortical Transmission.

    PubMed

    Hibel, Leah C; Mercado, Evelyn

    2017-12-21

    Employing an experimental design, mother-to-infant transmission of stress was examined. Mothers (N = 117) were randomized to either have a positive or conflictual discussion with their marital partners, after which infants (age = 6 months) participated in a fear and frustration task. Saliva samples were collected to assess maternal cortisol responses to the discussion and infant cortisol responses to the challenge task. Results indicate maternal cortisol reactivity and recovery to the conflict (but not positive) discussion predicted infant cortisol reactivity to the infant challenge. Mothers' positive affect during the discussion buffered, and intrusion during the free-play potentiated, mother-to-infant adrenocortical transmission. These findings advance our understanding of the social and contextual regulation of adrenocortical activity in early childhood. © 2017 The Authors. Child Development © 2017 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.

  9. Diffuse Staining for Activated NOTCH1 Correlates With NOTCH1 Mutation Status and Is Associated With Worse Outcome in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sajed, Dipti P; Faquin, William C; Carey, Chris; Severson, Eric A; H Afrogheh, Amir; A Johnson, Carl; Blacklow, Stephen C; Chau, Nicole G; Lin, Derrick T; Krane, Jeffrey F; Jo, Vickie Y; Garcia, Joaquín J; Sholl, Lynette M; Aster, Jon C

    2017-11-01

    NOTCH1 is frequently mutated in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). To test the idea that immunohistochemical (IHC) staining can identify ACCs with NOTCH1 mutations, we performed IHC for activated NOTCH1 (NICD1) in 197 cases diagnosed as ACC from 173 patients. NICD1 staining was positive in 194 cases (98%) in 2 major patterns: subset positivity, which correlated with tubular/cribriform histology; and diffuse positivity, which correlated with a solid histology. To determine the relationship between NICD1 staining and NOTCH1 mutational status, targeted exome sequencing data were obtained on 14 diffusely NICD1-positive ACC specimens from 11 patients and 15 subset NICD1-positive ACC specimens from 15 patients. This revealed NOTCH1 gain-of-function mutations in 11 of 14 diffusely NICD1-positive ACC specimens, whereas all subset-positive tumors had wild-type NOTCH1 alleles. Notably, tumors with diffuse NICD1 positivity were associated with significantly worse outcomes (P=0.003). To determine whether NOTCH1 activation is unique among tumors included in the differential diagnosis with ACC, we performed NICD1 IHC on a cohort of diverse salivary gland and head and neck tumors. High fractions of each of these tumor types were positive for NICD1 in a subset of cells, particularly in basaloid squamous cell carcinomas; however, sequencing of basaloid squamous cell carcinomas failed to identify NOTCH1 mutations. These findings indicate that diffuse NICD1 positivity in ACC correlates with solid growth pattern, the presence of NOTCH1 gain-of-function mutations, and unfavorable outcome, and suggest that staining for NICD1 can be helpful in distinguishing ACC with solid growth patterns from other salivary gland and head and neck tumors.

  10. Detailed genome-wide SNP analysis of major salivary carcinomas localizes subtype-specific chromosome sites and oncogenes of potential clinical significance.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Li; Mitani, Yoshitsugu; Caulin, Carlos; Rao, Pulivarthi H; Kies, Merrill S; Saintigny, Pierre; Zhang, Nianxiang; Weber, Randal S; Lippman, Scott M; El-Naggar, Adel K

    2013-06-01

    The molecular genetic alterations underlying the development and diversity of salivary gland carcinomas are largely unknown. To characterize these events, comparative genomic hybridization analysis was performed, using a single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray platform, of 60 fresh-frozen specimens that represent the main salivary carcinoma types: mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), and salivary duct carcinoma (SDC). The results were correlated with the clinicopathologic features and translocation statuses to characterize the genetic alterations. The most commonly shared copy number abnormalities (CNAs) in all types were losses at chromosomes 6q23-26 and the 9p21 region. Subtype-specific CNAs included a loss at 12q11-12 in ACC and a gain at 17q11-12 in SDC. Focal copy number losses included 1p36.33-p36-22 in ACC, 9p13.2 in MEC, and 3p12.3-q11-2, 6q21-22.1, 12q14.1, and 12q15 in SDC. Tumor-specific amplicons were identified at 11q23.3 (PVRL1) in ACC, 11q13.3 (NUMA1) in MEC, and 6p21.1 (CCND3), 9p13.2 (PAX5), 12q15 (CNOT2/RAB3IP), 12q21.1 (GLIPR1L1), and 17q12 (ERBB2/CCL4) in SDC. A comparative CNA analysis of fusion-positive and fusion-negative ACCs and MECs revealed relatively lower CNAs in fusion-positive tumors than in fusion-negative tumors in both tumor types. An association between CNAs and high grade and advanced stage was observed in MECs only. These findings support the pathogenetic segregation of these entities and define novel chromosomal sites for future identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. GPER-independent inhibition of adrenocortical cancer growth by G-1 involves ROS/Egr-1/BAX pathway.

    PubMed

    Casaburi, Ivan; Avena, Paola; De Luca, Arianna; Sirianni, Rosa; Rago, Vittoria; Chimento, Adele; Trotta, Francesca; Campana, Carmela; Rainey, William E; Pezzi, Vincenzo

    2017-12-29

    We previously demonstrated that treatment of the H295R adrenocortical cancer cell line with the non-steroidal, high-affinity GPER (G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1) agonist G-1 reduced tumor growth in vitro and in vivo through a GPER independent action. Moreover, we observed that G-1 treatment induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis following a sustained ERK1/2 activation. However, the precise mechanisms causing these effects were not clarified. Starting from our preliminary published results, we performed a microarray study that clearly evidenced a strong and significative up-regulation of EGR-1 gene in H295R cells treated for 24h with micromolar concentration of G-1. The microarray findings were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis as well as by immunofluorescence that revealed a strong nuclear staining for EGR-1 after G-1 treatment. EGR-1 is a point of convergence of many intracellular signaling cascades that control tumor cell growth and proliferation as well as others that relate to cell death machinery. Here we found that the increased Egr-1 expression was a consequence of G-1-mediated ROS-dependent ERK activation that were promptly reversed by the presence of the antioxidant n-acetyl-cysteine. Finally, we observed that silencing EGR-1 gene expression reversed the main effects induced by G-1 in ACC cells, including upregulation of the negative regulator of cell cycle, p21 Waf1/Cip1 and the positive regulator of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, BAX, as well as the cell growth inhibition. The identified ROS/MAPK/Egr-1/BAX pathway as a potential off-target effect of the G-1 could be useful in implementing the pharmacological approach for ACC therapy.

  12. Imaging of adrenal masses with emphasis on adrenocortical tumors.

    PubMed

    Sundin, Anders

    2012-01-01

    Because of the more widespread and frequent use of cross-sectional techniques, mainly computed tomography (CT), an increasing number of adrenal tumors are detected as incidental findings ("incidentalomas"). These incidentaloma patients are much more frequent than those undergoing imaging because of symptoms related to adrenal disease. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are in most patients sufficient for characterization and follow-up of the incidentaloma. In a minor portion of patients, biochemical screening reveals a functional tumor and further diagnostic work-up and therapy need to be performed according to the type of hormonal overproduction. In oncological patients, especially when the morphological imaging criteria indicate an adrenal metastasis, biopsy of the lesion should be considered after pheochromocytoma is ruled out biochemically. In the minority of patients in whom CT and MRI fail to characterize the tumor and when time is of essence, functional imaging mainly by positron emission tomography (PET) is available using various tracers. The most used PET tracer, [(18)F]fluoro-deoxy-glucose ((18)FDG), is able to differentiate benign from malignant adrenal tumors in many patients. (11)C-metomidate ((11)C-MTO) is a more specialized PET tracer that binds to the 11-beta-hydroxylase enzyme in the adrenal cortex and thus makes it possible to differ adrenal tumors (benign adrenocortical adenoma and adrenocortical cancer) from those of non-adrenocortical origin.

  13. Adenoid cystic carcinoma: emerging role of translocations and gene fusions

    PubMed Central

    Wysocki, Piotr T.; Izumchenko, Evgeny; Meir, Juliet; Ha, Patrick K.; Sidransky, David; Brait, Mariana

    2016-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), the second most common salivary gland malignancy, is notorious for poor prognosis, which reflects the propensity of ACC to progress to clinically advanced metastatic disease. Due to high long-term mortality and lack of effective systemic treatment, the slow-growing but aggressive ACC poses a particular challenge in head and neck oncology. Despite the advancements in cancer genomics, up until recently relatively few genetic alterations critical to the ACC development have been recognized. Although the specific chromosomal translocations resulting in MYB-NFIB fusions provide insight into the ACC pathogenesis and represent attractive diagnostic and therapeutic targets, their clinical significance is unclear, and a substantial subset of ACCs do not harbor the MYB-NFIB translocation. Strategies based on detection of newly described genetic events (such as MYB activating super-enhancer translocations and alterations affecting another member of MYB transcription factor family-MYBL1) offer new hope for improved risk assessment, therapeutic intervention and tumor surveillance. However, the impact of these approaches is still limited by an incomplete understanding of the ACC biology, and the manner by which these alterations initiate and drive ACC remains to be delineated. This manuscript summarizes the current status of gene fusions and other driver genetic alterations in ACC pathogenesis and discusses new therapeutic strategies stemming from the current research. PMID:27533466

  14. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland with rare metastasis to the sternum in a 52-year-old male.

    PubMed

    Alshammari, Abdullah; Eldeib, Omar Jamal; Eldeib, Ahmed Jamal; Saleh, Waleed

    2016-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor, described as being one of the most biologically destructive tumors of the head and neck. It is the most common malignancy that affects the minor salivary glands. Lung and bones are the most common regions of ACC distant metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, herein, we report the first ever case of latent isolated sternal metastasis from ACC in a 52-year-old gentleman, who was diagnosed to have ACC of the submandibular gland, excised 10 years ago.

  15. Lattice QCD simulations using the OpenACC platform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Majumdar, Pushan

    2016-10-01

    In this article we will explore the OpenACC platform for programming Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The OpenACC platform offers a directive based programming model for GPUs which avoids the detailed data flow control and memory management necessary in a CUDA programming environment. In the OpenACC model, programs can be written in high level languages with OpenMP like directives. We present some examples of QCD simulation codes using OpenACC and discuss their performance on the Fermi and Kepler GPUs.

  16. The effect of types I and III interferons on adrenocortical cells and its possible implications for autoimmune Addison's disease.

    PubMed

    Hellesen, A; Edvardsen, K; Breivik, L; Husebye, E S; Bratland, E

    2014-06-01

    Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) is caused by selective destruction of the hormone-producing cells of the adrenal cortex. As yet, little is known about the potential role played by environmental factors in this process. Type I and/or type III interferons (IFNs) are signature responses to virus infections, and have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune endocrine disorders such as type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroiditis. Transient development of AAD and exacerbation of established or subclinical disease, as well as the induction of autoantibodies associated with AAD, have been reported following therapeutic administration of type I IFNs. We therefore hypothesize that exposure to such IFNs could render the adrenal cortex susceptible to autoimmune attack in genetically predisposed individuals. In this study, we investigated possible immunopathological effects of type I and type III IFNs on adrenocortical cells in relation to AAD. Both types I and III IFNs exerted significant cytotoxicity on NCI-H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells and potentiated IFN-γ- and polyinosine-polycytidylic acid [poly (I : C)]-induced chemokine secretion. Furthermore, we observed increased expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and up-regulation of 21-hydroxylase, the primary antigenic target in AAD. We propose that these combined effects could serve to initiate or aggravate an ongoing autoimmune response against the adrenal cortex in AAD. © 2014 British Society for Immunology.

  17. The effect of types I and III interferons on adrenocortical cells and its possible implications for autoimmune Addison's disease

    PubMed Central

    Hellesen, A; Edvardsen, K; Breivik, L; Husebye, E S; Bratland, E

    2014-01-01

    Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) is caused by selective destruction of the hormone-producing cells of the adrenal cortex. As yet, little is known about the potential role played by environmental factors in this process. Type I and/or type III interferons (IFNs) are signature responses to virus infections, and have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune endocrine disorders such as type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroiditis. Transient development of AAD and exacerbation of established or subclinical disease, as well as the induction of autoantibodies associated with AAD, have been reported following therapeutic administration of type I IFNs. We therefore hypothesize that exposure to such IFNs could render the adrenal cortex susceptible to autoimmune attack in genetically predisposed individuals. In this study, we investigated possible immunopathological effects of type I and type III IFNs on adrenocortical cells in relation to AAD. Both types I and III IFNs exerted significant cytotoxicity on NCI-H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells and potentiated IFN-γ-and polyinosine-polycytidylic acid [poly (I : C)]-induced chemokine secretion. Furthermore, we observed increased expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and up-regulation of 21-hydroxylase, the primary antigenic target in AAD. We propose that these combined effects could serve to initiate or aggravate an ongoing autoimmune response against the adrenal cortex in AAD. PMID:24666275

  18. Inhibition and induction of aromatase (CYP19) activity by brominated flame retardants in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Cantón, Rocío F; Sanderson, J Thomas; Letcher, Robert J; Bergman, Ake; van den Berg, Martin

    2005-12-01

    Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are persistent and ubiquitous chemicals in the environment, and they are found at increasing levels in tissues of wildlife and humans. Previous in vitro studies with the BFR class of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) have shown endocrine-disrupting properties. Our study assessed the potential effects of nineteen BDEs, five hydroxylated BDEs (OH-BDEs), one methoxylated BDE (CH(3)O-BDE), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), its dibromopropane ether derivative (TBBPA-DBPE), and the brominated phenols/anisols 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP), 4-bromophenol (4BP) and 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA) on the catalytic activity of the steroidogenic enzyme aromatase (CYP19) in H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells. Effects were studied in the concentration range from 0.5 to 7.5 microM; exposures were for 24 h. Both 6-OH-BDE47 and 6-OH-BDE99 showed an inhibitory effect on aromatase activity at concentrations >2.5 microM and >5 microM, respectively. However, 6-OH-BDE47 also caused a statistically significant increase in cytotoxicity (based on mitochondrial MTT reduction and lactate dehydrogenase-leakage [LDH]) at concentrations >2.5 microM that could explain in part the apparent inhibitory effect on aromatase activity. Compared to 6-OH-BDE47, the methoxy analog (6-CH(3)O-BDE47) did not elicit a cytotoxic effect, whereas significant inhibition of aromatase remained. TBP caused a concentration-dependent induction of aromatase activity between 0.5 and 7.5 microM (with a maximum of 3.8-fold induction at 7.5 microM). This induction was not observed when a OH- group replaced the CH(3)O- group or when bromine atoms adjacent to this OH- group were absent. These in vitro results provide a basis for studies of more detailed structure-activity relationships between these brominated compounds and the modulation of aromatase activity.

  19. Bronchoscopic intervention as a main treatment for tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wang, Hongwu; Zhang, Jieli; Zhang, Nan; Li, Dongmei; Zou, Heng; Zhou, Yunzhi; Liang, Sujuan; Mao, Jiangfeng; Li, Jing

    2015-06-01

    Bronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare disease with low malignancy and indolent progression. Airway obstruction caused by ACC can be resolved by endoscopic procedures. The efficacy of different techniques of bronchoscopic interventions for ACC has not been determined. From November 2004 to March 2012, ACC patients, mainly treated with different techniques of bronchoscopic interventions in our hospital, were reviewed. The study included 37 ACC patients. Five patients (13.5%) with intra-luminal type underwent bronchoscopic therapies for a median of three times (range 1-6 times). Thirty-two patients (86.5%) with mixed type underwent bronchoscopic interventions for a median of 14 times (range 4-20 times). The dyspnea index was significantly improved after the first endoscopic procedure. The overall five- and ten-year survival rate was 85.9% and 45.9%, respectively, similar to surgery-dominant treatments. The present study demonstrates that different procedures of bronchoscopic interventions, as main treatments for ACC, are as effective as surgery-dominant treatment. More prospective and multicentric studies are required to confirm these favorable results, which may influence the therapeutic strategy for ACC in the future.

  20. Adenoid cystic carcinoma: current therapy and potential therapeutic advances based on genomic profiling

    PubMed Central

    Chae, Young Kwang; Chung, Su Yun; Davis, Andrew A.; Carneiro, Benedito A.; Chandra, Sunandana; Kaplan, Jason; Kalyan, Aparna; Giles, Francis J.

    2015-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer with high potential for recurrence and metastasis. Efficacy of current treatment options, particularly for advanced disease, is very limited. Recent whole genome and exome sequencing has dramatically improved our understanding of ACC pathogenesis. A balanced translocation resulting in the MYB-NFIB fusion gene appears to be a fundamental signature of ACC. In addition, sequencing has identified a number of other driver genes mutated in downstream pathways common to other well-studied cancers. Overexpression of oncogenic proteins involved in cell growth, adhesion, cell cycle regulation, and angiogenesis are also present in ACC. Collectively, studies have identified genes and proteins for targeted, mechanism-based, therapies based on tumor phenotypes, as opposed to nonspecific cytotoxic agents. In addition, although few studies in ACC currently exist, immunotherapy may also hold promise. Better genetic understanding will enable treatment with novel targeted agents and initial exploration of immune-based therapies with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with ACC. PMID:26359351

  1. [Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast:report of 25 cases].

    PubMed

    Wei, Lijuan; Liang, Xiaofeng; Li, Shixia; Liu, Juntian

    2014-02-01

    To explore the clinical features, management approach and treatment outcomes for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast. The clinicopathological data of 25 patients with breasts ACC treated in our hospital from years 1990 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and their prognosis was analyzed. The median age of these 25 patients was 53 years (ranged from 31 to 81 years). With the exception of one male case, all patients were female including 17 cases of postmenopausal women. The most frequent presenting symptom is breast lumps, most (48.0%) were in the upper outer quadrant and areola area of the breast. Core needle biopsy was performed in five patients. The specimen finding were adenoids in three and invasive carcinoma in two cases. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 23 patients. Only two patients had histologically positive lymph nodes (3 of 14 and 2 of 20). Expression of ER and PR in 14 cases was detected by immunohistochemistry, showing one PR-positive and three ER-positive cases. The median follow-up of the 25 cases was 118 months (ranged from 12 to 244 months). Two patients died of lung metastases at 3 and 10 years after the surgery, respectively. Due to the complexity of the histology of ACC, adequate sampling of specimens is essential for accurate diagnosis. ACC of the breast is a rare disease with a relatively good prognosis. The low incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis suggests that axillary node dissection is not recommended as a routine procedure. Breast ACC are often with negative ER and PR expression, and the value of adjuvant therapy needs to be further investigated.

  2. High-molecular-weight fibronectin synthesized by adenoid cystic carcinoma cells of salivary gland origin.

    PubMed

    Toyoshima, K; Kimura, S; Cheng, J; Oda, Y; Mori, K J; Saku, T

    1999-03-01

    To understand the morphogenesis of characteristic cribriform structures and the frequent invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) along such basement membrane-rich structures as peripheral nerves, we have isolated fibronectin (FN) from the culture media of ACC3 cells established from a parotid ACC and characterized its glycosylation and alternative splicing status. FN isolated from ACC3 cells (ACC-FN) showed a molecular mass of 315 kDa in SDS-PAGE and was less heterogeneous and larger than plasma FN (pFN) or FNs from other cell sources. Differential enzymatic treatments of immunoprecipitated ACC-FN with neuraminidase, peptide-N-glycosidase F and endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase revealed that ACC-FN was composed of a polypeptide chain of 270 kDa, with 10 kDa each of N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharide chains. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in-situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence studies showed that most ACC-FNs contained ED-A, ED-B and IIICS regions in the molecules. This alternative splicing status of ACC-FN seemed to contribute to its less heterogeneous and larger molecular form. Cell attachment assay demonstrated that ACC-FN was more potent than pFN in adhesion of ACC3 cells. The results indicated that ACC-FN may function as a substrate for attachment of ACC3 cells, or that ACC3 cells trap and retain ACC-FN in their pericellular space. This isoform of FN may play an important role in the mode of invasion of ACC and the formation of stromal pseudocysts in the characteristic cribriform structure of ACC.

  3. Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast: A Clinical Case Report.

    PubMed

    Kocaay, Akin Firat; Celik, Suleyman Utku; Hesimov, Ilkin; Eker, Tevfik; Percinel, Sibel; Demirer, Seher

    2016-10-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon tumor of the breast, accounting for approximately 0.1% to 1% of all breast cancers. It is characterized by rare lymph node involvement and distant metastasis, and associated with a favorable prognosis with excellent survival, despite its triple-negative status. In the current state of knowledge, results of breast-conserving treatment with postoperative radiotherapy seem to be equivalent to mastectomy alone, with respect to survival for ACC of the breast. Due to its rarity, there is no consensus on optimal treatment for patients with ACC. Otherwise, the role of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy remains controversial. Further clinical studies are required to compare treatment options for ACC. But, a long-term follow-up is very important and mandatory for affected patients, due to the late onset of local relapse and occurrence of distant metastasis. Here, we report the case of a patient who presented with a palpable breast mass in the left breast that turned out to be an ACC of the breast.

  4. Diagnosis and clinical genetics of Cushing syndrome in pediatrics

    PubMed Central

    Stratakis, Constantine A.

    2016-01-01

    SYNOPSIS Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) in pediatrics is rare; it may be caused by tumors that produce corticotropin (ACTH) in the pituitary gland (this form of CS is called Cushing disease) or elsewhere (ectopic CS), tumors that produce corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) anywhere (mostly neuroendocrine tissues), and finally adrenocortical masses that produce cortisol, such as adrenocortical cancer (ACC) or adenomas, and bilateral adrenocortical hypeprlasia (BAHs). ACC is a very rare cause of CS in children but should be excluded first, especially among younger patients. CS in children is often caused by germline or somatic mutations in an expanding list of genes with implications for the prognosis of the patients and for their families. CS should be early recognized in children; otherwise, it can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. All patients with suspected CS should be referred to specialized clinical centers for work-up; these centers should have access to experienced endocrine and neurological surgeons. PMID:27241967

  5. The role of mothers’ and fathers’ adrenocortical reactivity in spillover between interparental conflict and parenting practices

    PubMed Central

    Sturge-Apple, Melissa L.; Davies, Patrick T.; Cicchetti, Dante; Cummings, E. Mark

    2010-01-01

    Guided by the affective spillover hypothesis, the present study examined the mediational role of parental adrenocortical reactivity to interparental conflict in explaining associations between interparental conflict and subsequent changes in mothers’ and fathers’ parenting practices over a 2 year period in a sample of 202 parents and their six year old children. Results of autoregressive, path models indicated that marital withdrawal was associated with increases in adrenocortical reactivity to conflict for mothers but not fathers. Furthermore, elevated adrenocortical reactivity in turn predicted greater psychologically controlling parenting practices and inconsistent discipline over time for mothers, but was not associated with changes in maternal warmth. Implications for clinicians and therapists working with maritally distressed parents and families are discussed. PMID:19364215

  6. A case report of mixed acinar-endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas treated with S-1 chemotherapy: Does it work or induce endocrine differentiation?

    PubMed

    Yokode, Masataka; Itai, Ryosuke; Yamashita, Yukimasa; Zen, Yoh

    2017-11-01

    Acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) and mixed acinar-endocrine carcinomas (MAECs) of the pancreas are rare, accounting for only 1% of pancreatic tumors. Although both typically present at an advanced stage, chemotherapeutic regimes have not yet been standardized. A 65-year-old man presented with a large mass in the pancreatic tail with multiple liver metastases. He was initially treated with gemcitabine for suspected ductal carcinoma of the pancreas, but no response was observed. S-1, administered as second-line chemotherapy, showed an approximately 38% reduction in the size of the primary tumor and metastatic deposits with therapeutic effects being maintained for 12 months. When the tumor progressed again, he underwent a percutaneous liver biopsy, which led to the diagnosis of MAEC. Combination therapy with cisplatin and etoposide targeting the endocrine component was administered, and this was based on the endocrine component potentially being less sensitive to S-1 than the ACC element. However, therapy was stopped due to the development of neutropenia, and the patient is currently receiving best supportive care. Given the previous studies suggested that S-1 is more effective for ACCs than gemcitabine, MAECs may also respond to S-1 chemotherapy, similar to ACCs. Another potential interpretation is that S-1 was effective when the condition was ACC, and eventually showed decreased effectiveness when the condition shifted to MAEC. Future studies are needed to conclude whether S-1 chemotherapy truly works against MAECs or induces endocrine differentiation in ACCs as a part of the drug-resistance process.

  7. Identification of a copper(I) intermediate in the conversion of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) into ethylene by Cu(II)-ACC complexes and hydrogen peroxide.

    PubMed

    Ghattas, Wadih; Giorgi, Michel; Mekmouche, Yasmina; Tanaka, Tsunehiro; Rockenbauer, Antal; Réglier, Marius; Hitomi, Yutaka; Simaan, A Jalila

    2008-06-02

    Several Cu(II) complexes with ACC (=1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid) or AIB (=aminoisobutyric acid) were prepared using 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, and 2-picolylamine ligands: [Cu(2,2'-bipyridine)(ACC)(H2O)](ClO4) (1a), [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline)(ACC)](ClO4) (2a), [Cu(2-picolylamine)(ACC)](ClO4) (3a), and [Cu(2,2'-bipyridine)(AIB)(H2O)](ClO4) (1b). All of the complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Cu(II)-ACC complexes are able to convert the bound ACC moiety into ethylene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, in an "ACC-oxidase-like" activity. A few equivalents of base are necessary to deprotonate H2O2 for optimum activity. The presence of dioxygen lowers the yield of ACC conversion into ethylene by the copper(II) complexes. During the course of the reaction of Cu(II)-ACC complexes with H2O2, brown species (EPR silent and lambda max approximately 435 nm) were detected and characterized as being the Cu(I)-ACC complexes that are obtained upon reduction of the corresponding Cu(II) complexes by the deprotonated form of hydrogen peroxide. The geometry of the Cu(I) species was optimized by DFT calculations that reveal a change from square-planar to tetrahedral geometry upon reduction of the copper ion, in accordance with the observed nonreversibility of the redox process. In situ prepared Cu(I)-ACC complexes were also reacted with hydrogen peroxide, and a high level of ethylene formation was obtained. We propose Cu(I)-OOH as a possible active species for the conversion of ACC into ethylene, the structure of which was examined by DFT calculation.

  8. Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A review of recent advances, molecular targets, and clinical trials.

    PubMed

    Dillon, Patrick M; Chakraborty, Samhita; Moskaluk, Christopher A; Joshi, Prashant J; Thomas, Christopher Y

    2016-04-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor of secretory glands. In this study, recent advances in molecular characterization and in therapeutics are reviewed. A search of articles in PubMed and of abstracts from national meetings was performed regarding ACC. Recent genetic analyses found that recurrent chromosome 6:9 translocations in ACC generate an MYB:NFIB gene fusion resulting in overexpression of the MYB oncoprotein. Several other frequent mutations are recently published that may be relevant for drug development. Several trials of targeted drugs are reviewed. Some agents delay tumor progression, but tumor responses remain rare. ACCs have a characteristic chromosomal translocation, but also frequently pick up additional mutations. Clinical research is limited by the rarity and slow growth of ACC. Several ongoing trials are testing agents that inhibit fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling or other signaling pathways. Novel treatments based on the recently sequenced tumor genome are under development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Adrenocortical tumours: high CT attenuation value correlates with eosinophilia but does not discriminate lipid-poor adenomas from malignancy.

    PubMed

    Pennanen, Mirkka; Raade, Merja; Louhimo, Johanna; Sane, Timo; Heiskanen, Ilkka; Arola, Johanna; Haglund, Caj

    2013-12-01

    Characterisation of adrenal tumours is an important clinical problem. Unenhanced CT is the primary imaging modality to assess the nature of these lesions. To study the correlation between unenhanced CT attenuation value and the specific histopathology, as well as the proportion of lipid-poor eosinophilic cells in adrenocortical tumours. We studied retrospectively primary adrenocortical tumours that had been operated on at Helsinki University Central Hospital between 2002 and 2008. Of 171 tumours, 79 had appropriate preoperative CT scans and were included in the study. We evaluated the unenhanced CT attenuation values (Hounsfield units, HU) of these tumours and determined their histopathological diagnosis by the Weiss scoring system. We also assessed the proportion of lipid-poor eosinophilic cells for each tumour. Unenhanced CT attenuation value (HU) in adrenocortical tumours correlated well with the proportion of lipid-poor eosinophilic cells (rs=0.750, p<0.001). HU and Weiss score also had a correlation (rs=0.582, p<0.001). Unenhanced CT attenuation value correlates well with the percentage of lipid-poor eosinophilic cells, but unenhanced CT attenuation value fails to differentiate between benign lipid-poor adenomas and malignant adrenocortical tumours. All adrenocortical tumours with unenhanced CT attenuation value ≤10 HU are histologically benign lipid-rich tumours.

  10. Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: Treatment outcomes and association with human papillomavirus.

    PubMed

    Miller, Eric D; Blakaj, Dukagjin M; Swanson, Benjamin J; Xiao, Weihong; Gillison, Maura L; Wei, Lai; Bhatt, Aashish D; Diavolitsis, Virginia M; Wobb, Jessica L; Kang, Stephen Y; Carrau, Ricardo L; Grecula, John C

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to review long-term outcomes of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and to clarify its association with human papillomavirus (HPV). The medical records of 23 patients with sinonasal ACC treated with primary surgical resection between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed. Tissue specimens were available for 17 patients. The p16 testing was performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and HPV infection was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers targeting the E6/E7 region. Two of the 17 samples showed strong and diffuse p16 staining, whereas the remaining 15 cases showed p16-positivity isolated to the luminal cells. Only one of the p16-positive cases was positive for HPV. The 5-year local failure, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were 51%, 52%, and 62%, respectively. Local failures are common with advanced sinonasal ACC, and the association of HPV with true sinonasal ACC is low. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Obatoclax induces Beclin 1- and ATG5-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Liang, L-Z; Ma, B; Liang, Y-J; Liu, H-C; Zhang, T-H; Zheng, G-S; Su, Y-X; Liao, G-Q

    2015-05-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common salivary gland cancers. The prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma is poor for its high frequency of distant metastases and insensitivity to chemotherapy or molecular therapies. This study investigated the effect of Obatoclax on adenoid cystic carcinoma cells and its cytotoxic mechanism. Western blot, transmission electron microscopy, and pEGFP-LC3 plasmids transfection were carried out to detect autophagy in ACC cells treated with Obatoclax. 3-MA and RNA interference against Beclin 1 and ATG5 were used to inhibit autophagy. Then we used Western blot and Hochest 33342 staining for apoptosis assessment. Finally, cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. We found that Obatoclax induced cytoprotective autophagy which depended on ATG5 and partly on Beclin 1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells. Furthermore, pharmacologically inhibiting Obatoclax-induced autophagy promoted apoptosis. Downregulation of Beclin 1 or ATG5 attenuated the cytotoxicity of Obatoclax by suppressing both autophagy and apoptosis. Finally, when apoptosis was pharmacologically inhibited, autophagic cell death was initiated in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells treated with Obatoclax. In summary, Beclin 1 and ATG5 play important roles in regulating both Obatoclax-induced autophagy and apoptosis in adenoid cystic carcinoma. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Liver resection for metastases of tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma: Report of two cases.

    PubMed

    Hashimoto, Shintaro; Sumida, Yorihisa; Tobinaga, Shuichi; Wada, Hideo; Wakata, Kouki; Nonaka, Takashi; Kunizaki, Masaki; Hidaka, Shigekazu; Kinoshita, Naoe; Sawai, Terumitsu; Nagayasu, Takeshi

    2018-05-16

    Tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is rare and accounts for <1% of all lung cancers. Although ACC is classified as a low-grade tumor, metastases are frequently identified in the late period. Extrapulmonary metastases are rare, and their resection has rarely been reported. Case 1: A 77-year-old man underwent tracheal resection for ACC with postoperative radiation (60 Gy) 14 years before (at the age of 63). He underwent two subsequent pulmonary resections for metastases. Fourteen years after the first operation, he underwent extended right posterior segmentectomy with resection of segment IV and radiofrequency ablation for metastases of ACC to the liver. He was diagnosed with metastases to the kidney with peritoneal dissemination 4 years after the liver resection and died of pneumonia 2 years later. Case 2: A 53-year-old woman underwent a two-stage operation involving tracheal resection for ACC and partial resection of liver segments II and V for metastases of ACC to the liver. The tracheal margin was histopathologically positive. Postoperative radiation was performed, and she was tumor-free for 10 months after the liver resection. Complete resection of tracheal ACC provides better survival. Radiotherapy is also recommended. However, the optimal treatment for metastases of ACC is unclear, especially because liver resection for metastases of tracheal ACC is rarely reported. Our two cases of metastases of tracheal ACC were surgically managed with good outcomes. Liver resection for metastases of tracheal ACC may contribute to long survival. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  13. Morphological changes in the pituitary-adrenocortical axis in natives of La Paz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gosney, John; Heath, Donald; Williams, David; Rios-Dalenz, Jaime

    1991-03-01

    Increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis is part of the response to the stress of initial exposure to hypoxia, but there is evidence to suggest that it persists after homeostatic stability has been regained and acclimatization achieved. The adrenal glands of five lifelong residents of La Paz, Bolivia, who had lived at altitudes in the range 3600 3800 m, were significantly larger than those in age-matched controls from sea level (15.3g vs 10.4g; P<0.001) and appeared hyperplastic. The pituitary glands of the highlanders were not significantly different in size from those of the controls (0.67 g vs 0.51 g), but contained larger populations of corticotrophs expressed in terms of the total cell population of their anterior lobes (25.6% vs 19.4%; P<0.001). In conjunction with other studies of this endocrine axis in man and animals exposed to a hypoxic environment, these data suggest that greater amounts of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) are required to maintain normal adrenocortical function under such circumstances, probably as a result of hypoxic inhibition of adrenocortical sensitivity to stimulation. Physiological hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex may be common in people living at high altitude.

  14. In-depth characterization of the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma transcriptome with emphasis on dominant cell type.

    PubMed

    Bell, Diana; Bell, Achim H; Bondaruk, Jolanta; Hanna, Ehab Y; Weber, Randall S

    2016-05-15

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), 1 of the most common salivary gland malignancies, arises from the intercalated ducts, which are composed of inner ductal epithelial cells and outer myoepithelial cells. The objective of this study was to determine the genomic subtypes of ACC with emphasis on dominant cell type to identify potential specific biomarkers for each subtype and to improve the understanding of this disease. A whole-genome expression study was performed based on 42 primary salivary ACCs and 5 normal salivary glands. RNA from these specimens was subjected to expression profiling with RNA sequencing, and results were analyzed to identify transcripts in epithelial-dominant ACC (E-ACC), myoepithelial-dominant ACC (M-ACC), and all ACC that were expressed differentially compared with the transcripts in normal salivary tissue. In total, the authors identified 430 differentially expressed transcripts that were unique to E-ACC, 392 that were unique to M-ACC, and 424 that were common to both M-ACC and E-ACC. The sets of E-ACC-specific and M-ACC-specific transcripts were sufficiently large to define and differentiate E-ACC from M-ACC. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified known cancer-related genes for 60% of the E-ACC transcripts, 69% of the M-ACC transcripts, and 68% of the transcripts that were common in both E-ACC and M-ACC. Three sets of highly expressed candidate genes-distal-less homeobox 6 (DLX6) for E-ACC; protein keratin 16 (KRT16), SRY box 11 (SOX11), and v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) for M-ACC; and engrailed 1 (EN1) and statherin (STATH), which are common to both E-ACC and M-ACC)-were further validated at the protein level. The current results enabled the authors to identify novel potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers in E-ACC and M-ACC individually, with the implication that EN1, DLX6, and OTX1 (orthodenticle homeobox 1) are potential drivers of these cancers. Cancer 2016;122:1513-22. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

  15. Chiral effects in adrenocorticolytic action of o,p'-DDD (mitotane) in human adrenal cells.

    PubMed

    Asp, V; Cantillana, T; Bergman, A; Brandt, I

    2010-03-01

    Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant disease with poor prognosis. The main pharmacological choice, o,p'-DDD (mitotane), produces severe adverse effects. Since o,p'-DDD is a chiral molecule and stereoisomers frequently possess different pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties, we isolated the two o,p'-DDD enantiomers, (R)-(+)-o,p'-DDD and (S)-(-)-o,p'-DDD, and determined their absolute structures. The effects of each enantiomer on cell viability and on cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion in the human adrenocortical cell line H295R were assessed. We also assayed the o,p'-DDD racemate and the m,p'- and p,p'-isomers. The results show small but statistically significant differences in activity of the o,p'-DDD enantiomers for all parameters tested. The three DDD isomers were equally potent in decreasing cell viability, but p,p'-DDD affected hormone secretion slightly less than the o,p'- and m,p'-isomers. The small chiral differences in direct effects on target cells alone do not warrant single enantiomer administration, but might reach importance in conjunction with possible stereochemical effects on pharmacokinetic processes in vivo.

  16. Reward salience and risk aversion underlie differential ACC activity in substance dependence

    PubMed Central

    Alexander, William H.; Fukunaga, Rena; Finn, Peter; Brown, Joshua W.

    2015-01-01

    The medial prefrontal cortex, especially the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), has long been implicated in cognitive control and error processing. Although the association between ACC and behavior has been established, it is less clear how ACC contributes to dysfunctional behavior such as substance dependence. Evidence from neuroimaging studies investigating ACC function in substance users is mixed, with some studies showing disengagement of ACC in substance dependent individuals (SDs), while others show increased ACC activity related to substance use. In this study, we investigate ACC function in SDs and healthy individuals performing a change signal task for monetary rewards. Using a priori predictions derived from a recent computational model of ACC, we find that ACC activity differs between SDs and controls in factors related to reward salience and risk aversion between SDs and healthy individuals. Quantitative fits of a computational model to fMRI data reveal significant differences in best fit parameters for reward salience and risk preferences. Specifically, the ACC in SDs shows greater risk aversion, defined as concavity in the utility function, and greater attention to rewards relative to reward omission. Furthermore, across participants risk aversion and reward salience are positively correlated. The results clarify the role that ACC plays in both the reduced sensitivity to omitted rewards and greater reward valuation in SDs. Clinical implications of applying computational modeling in psychiatry are also discussed. PMID:26106528

  17. Reward salience and risk aversion underlie differential ACC activity in substance dependence.

    PubMed

    Alexander, William H; Fukunaga, Rena; Finn, Peter; Brown, Joshua W

    2015-01-01

    The medial prefrontal cortex, especially the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), has long been implicated in cognitive control and error processing. Although the association between ACC and behavior has been established, it is less clear how ACC contributes to dysfunctional behavior such as substance dependence. Evidence from neuroimaging studies investigating ACC function in substance users is mixed, with some studies showing disengagement of ACC in substance dependent individuals (SDs), while others show increased ACC activity related to substance use. In this study, we investigate ACC function in SDs and healthy individuals performing a change signal task for monetary rewards. Using a priori predictions derived from a recent computational model of ACC, we find that ACC activity differs between SDs and controls in factors related to reward salience and risk aversion between SDs and healthy individuals. Quantitative fits of a computational model to fMRI data reveal significant differences in best fit parameters for reward salience and risk preferences. Specifically, the ACC in SDs shows greater risk aversion, defined as concavity in the utility function, and greater attention to rewards relative to reward omission. Furthermore, across participants risk aversion and reward salience are positively correlated. The results clarify the role that ACC plays in both the reduced sensitivity to omitted rewards and greater reward valuation in SDs. Clinical implications of applying computational modeling in psychiatry are also discussed.

  18. Genotype-specific enrichment of ACC deaminase-positive bacteria in winter wheat rhizospheres

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Bacteria that produce ACC deaminase promote plant growth and development by lowering levels of the stress hormone ethylene through deamination of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the immediate precursor of ethylene. Therefore, it is hypothesized that ACC deaminase positive (ACC+) bacteri...

  19. Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas: Overview of Clinicopathologic Features and Insights into the Molecular Pathology.

    PubMed

    La Rosa, Stefano; Sessa, Fausto; Capella, Carlo

    2015-01-01

    Acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) of the pancreas are rare pancreatic neoplasms accounting for about 1-2% of pancreatic tumors in adults and about 15% in pediatric subjects. They show different clinical symptoms at presentation, different morphological features, different outcomes, and different molecular alterations. This heterogeneous clinicopathological spectrum may give rise to difficulties in the clinical and pathological diagnosis with consequential therapeutic and prognostic implications. The molecular mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of ACCs are still not completely understood, although in recent years, several attempts have been made to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in ACC biology. In this paper, we will review the main clinicopathological and molecular features of pancreatic ACCs of both adult and pediatric subjects to give the reader a comprehensive overview of this rare tumor type.

  20. Estrogen Enhances Malignant Phenotypes in Human Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cells.

    PubMed

    Sumida, Tomoki; Ishikawa, Akiko; Kamata, Y U; Nakano, Hiroyuki; Yamada, Tomohiro; Mori, Yoshihide

    2016-06-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (SGC) is a common type of salivary gland cancer (SGC). Surgery is the first treatment choice because chemoradiotherapy is usually not effective. Therefore, new treatment modalities are urgently needed. In this study, it was investigated whether the estrogen axis could be a treatment target or not. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) ACCM cells, were used. The specific cell line lacks estrogen receptor (ER). ER was introduced in ACCM cells, and the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) was investigated on cell proliferation, cell-cycle distribution, and cell motility. E2 induced cell proliferation, and the S-phase fraction increased in a dose-dependent manner. Cell motility was also up-regulated compared to control cells. The estrogen/ER system up-regulated malignant phenotypes in ER-positive ACC, and hormone therapy may have a potential as effective treatment for this malignancy. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

  1. Asian Care Certificate (ACC): a care quality assurance framework.

    PubMed

    Talaie, Tony

    2018-04-16

    Purpose Quality assuring elderly care through a viable and feasible standard framework is a major challenge for Asian governments. Although several attempts have been made to tackle foreign care worker (FCW) shortage, assuring the quality of the care they provide has been overlooked. The original framework allowed a better control over service quality to assure the elderly about their care according to the agreed standards. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Through several Japanese Governmental meetings, a new Asian Care Certificate (ACC) program is discussed based on the Japanese Care Certificate (JCC). The governments' representatives adopted the JCC to form the ACC, which enables the ACC board to evaluate care workers and to intervene whenever the desired quality level is not achieved. Findings The author describes a new program. The findings of this paper will be confirmed when the ACC is implemented. Practical implications Using the ACC framework, the challenge in providing a high-quality care service using FCWs across Asia would be partly resolved. FCWs' quality of life might also gradually improve especially regarding to their human rights. Originality/value The ACC provides a new framework. Its value is recognized if one considers that many Asian populations are rapidly aging and many governments compromise quality by employing overseas workers to solve care worker shortages.

  2. 24 CFR 985.109 - Default under the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... Contributions Contract (ACC). 985.109 Section 985.109 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO... § 985.109 Default under the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC). HUD may determine that an PHA's failure... required by HUD constitutes a default under the ACC. ...

  3. 24 CFR 985.109 - Default under the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... Contributions Contract (ACC). 985.109 Section 985.109 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating to... § 985.109 Default under the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC). HUD may determine that an PHA's failure... required by HUD constitutes a default under the ACC. ...

  4. 24 CFR 969.105 - Extension of ACC upon payment of operating subsidy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Extension of ACC upon payment of... COMPLETION OF DEBT SERVICE § 969.105 Extension of ACC upon payment of operating subsidy. (a) ACC amendment... projects under a particular ACC for a PHA fiscal year beginning after the effective date of this part, the...

  5. 24 CFR 969.105 - Extension of ACC upon payment of operating subsidy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Extension of ACC upon payment of... COMPLETION OF DEBT SERVICE § 969.105 Extension of ACC upon payment of operating subsidy. (a) ACC amendment... projects under a particular ACC for a PHA fiscal year beginning after the effective date of this part, the...

  6. 24 CFR 882.403 - ACC, housing assistance payments contract, and lease.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false ACC, housing assistance payments... Procedures for Moderate Rehabilitation-Basic Policies § 882.403 ACC, housing assistance payments contract, and lease. (a) Maximum Total ACC Commitments. The maximum total annual contribution that may be...

  7. Differences in patterns of survival in metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

    PubMed

    van Weert, Stijn; Reinhard, Rinze; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Buter, Jan; Witte, Birgit I; Vergeer, Marije R; Leemans, C René

    2017-03-01

    We examined the assumption in conventional teaching about metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) being an indolent type of disease. A single center analysis of 105 cases of ACC was performed. Radiographs were reviewed and tumor response to chemotherapy was measured. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and time to death since distant metastases diagnosis were analyzed. Forty-two percent of the patients were diagnosed with distant metastases. DDFS showed significant negative associations with advanced T classification, N+ classification, solid type tumor, and positive surgical margins. Distant metastases (91%) developed in the first 5 years after presentation. Median distant metastatic survival was 13.8 months. The most frequent organ sited was the lung. Solid type ACC showed a preponderance for multiorgan metastases (17/28; 61%). Distant metastases seemed not to occur in case of clear surgical margins. Solid type ACC had a significant poorer survival after development of distant metastases. Metastatic ACC is not always an indolent disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 456-463, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Portable LQCD Monte Carlo code using OpenACC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonati, Claudio; Calore, Enrico; Coscetti, Simone; D'Elia, Massimo; Mesiti, Michele; Negro, Francesco; Fabio Schifano, Sebastiano; Silvi, Giorgio; Tripiccione, Raffaele

    2018-03-01

    Varying from multi-core CPU processors to many-core GPUs, the present scenario of HPC architectures is extremely heterogeneous. In this context, code portability is increasingly important for easy maintainability of applications; this is relevant in scientific computing where code changes are numerous and frequent. In this talk we present the design and optimization of a state-of-the-art production level LQCD Monte Carlo application, using the OpenACC directives model. OpenACC aims to abstract parallel programming to a descriptive level, where programmers do not need to specify the mapping of the code on the target machine. We describe the OpenACC implementation and show that the same code is able to target different architectures, including state-of-the-art CPUs and GPUs.

  9. Establishment and characterization of a new human acinar cell carcinoma cell line, Faraz-ICR, from pancreas.

    PubMed

    Rezaei, Marzieh; Hosseini, Ahmad; Nikeghbalian, Saman; Ghaderi, Abbas

    Basic research in the field of acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) as a rare neoplasm of the pancreas is dependent on the availability of pragmatic model such as new pancreatic cancer cell lines. Thus, establishment and characterization of new pancreatic cancer cell lines from ACC origin are deemed important. Faraz-ICR cell line was derived from a 58-years old woman with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma by the collagenase digestion protocol. We characterized the cell line by examining its morphology and cytostructural and functional profile. Faraz-ICR has a doubling time of 35 hours and grows in soft agar with a colony-forming efficiency of 25%. The cell had nearly normal pattern of chromosomes in karyotype analysis and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) array analysis. Evaluation of cells by flowcytometry showed that Faraz-ICR is negative for EpCAM and mesenchymal markers in different passages, and has epithelial nature. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that cells were strongly positive for vimentin, desmin, ezrin, S100, nestin and they were negative for pan-cytokeratins, chromogranin and alpha smooth muscle actin. We were able to establish a new pancreatic carcinoma cell line with partial aspects of Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and aggressiveness. This cell line might be suitable for studying various anticancer drugs and protein profile aiming to see any possible tumor associated marker for ACC. Copyright © 2017 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. An International Ki67 Reproducibility Study in Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Papathomas, Thomas G; Pucci, Eugenio; Giordano, Thomas J; Lu, Hao; Duregon, Eleonora; Volante, Marco; Papotti, Mauro; Lloyd, Ricardo V; Tischler, Arthur S; van Nederveen, Francien H; Nose, Vania; Erickson, Lori; Mete, Ozgur; Asa, Sylvia L; Turchini, John; Gill, Anthony J; Matias-Guiu, Xavier; Skordilis, Kassiani; Stephenson, Timothy J; Tissier, Frédérique; Feelders, Richard A; Smid, Marcel; Nigg, Alex; Korpershoek, Esther; van der Spek, Peter J; Dinjens, Winand N M; Stubbs, Andrew P; de Krijger, Ronald R

    2016-04-01

    Despite the established role of Ki67 labeling index in prognostic stratification of adrenocortical carcinomas and its recent integration into treatment flow charts, the reproducibility of the assessment method has not been determined. The aim of this study was to investigate interobserver variability among endocrine pathologists using a web-based virtual microscopy approach. Ki67-stained slides of 76 adrenocortical carcinomas were analyzed independently by 14 observers, each according to their method of preference including eyeballing, formal manual counting, and digital image analysis. The interobserver variation was statistically significant (P<0.001) in the absence of any correlation between the various methods. Subsequently, 61 static images were distributed among 15 observers who were instructed to follow a category-based scoring approach. Low levels of interobserver (F=6.99; Fcrit=1.70; P<0.001) as well as intraobserver concordance (n=11; Cohen κ ranging from -0.057 to 0.361) were detected. To improve harmonization of Ki67 analysis, we tested the utility of an open-source Galaxy virtual machine application, namely Automated Selection of Hotspots, in 61 virtual slides. The software-provided Ki67 values were validated by digital image analysis in identical images, displaying a strong correlation of 0.96 (P<0.0001) and dividing the cases into 3 classes (cutoffs of 0%-15%-30% and/or 0%-10%-20%) with significantly different overall survivals (P<0.05). We conclude that current practices in Ki67 scoring assessment vary greatly, and interobserver variation sets particular limitations to its clinical utility, especially around clinically relevant cutoff values. Novel digital microscopy-enabled methods could provide critical aid in reducing variation, increasing reproducibility, and improving reliability in the clinical setting.

  11. ACC Study Guide Series.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Austin Community Coll., TX. Rio Grande Campus.

    Ten one-page instructional guides designed to assist Austin Community College (ACC) students in using the library and in writing research papers are presented in this series. The titles of the guides are: (1) "The Media Collection (We have more than books in the LRC)"; (2) "Encyclopedias"; (3) "Finding Books"; (4)…

  12. Autonomic and adrenocortical reactivity and buccal cell telomere length in kindergarten children.

    PubMed

    Kroenke, Candyce H; Epel, Elissa; Adler, Nancy; Bush, Nicole R; Obradovic, Jelena; Lin, Jue; Blackburn, Elizabeth; Stamperdahl, Juliet Lise; Boyce, W Thomas

    2011-09-01

    To examine associations between autonomic nervous system and adrenocortical reactivity to laboratory stressors and buccal cell telomere length (BTL) in children. The study sample comprised 78 children, aged 5 to 6 years, from a longitudinal cohort study of kindergarten social hierarchies, biologic responses to adversity, and child health. Buccal cell samples and reactivity measures were collected in the spring of the kindergarten year. BTL was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction, as the telomere-to-single-copy gene ratio. Parents provided demographic information; parents and teachers reported children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Components of children's autonomic (heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA], and preejection period [PEP]) and adrenocortical (salivary cortisol) responses were monitored during standardized laboratory challenges. We examined relationships between reactivity, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and BTL, adjusted for age, race, and sex. Heart rate and cortisol reactivity were inversely related to BTL, PEP was positively related to BTL, and RSA was unrelated to BTL. Internalizing behaviors were also inversely related to BTL (standardized β = -0.33, p = .004). Split at the median of reactivity parameters, children with high sympathetic activation (decreasing PEP), and parasympathetic withdrawal (decreasing RSA) did not differ with regard to BTL. However, children with both this profile and high cortisol reactivity (n = 12) had significantly shorter BTL (0.80 versus 1.00; χ² = 7.6, p = .006), compared with other children. The combination of autonomic and adrenocortical reactivity was associated with shorter BTL in children. These data suggest that psychophysiological processes may influence, and that BTL may be a useful marker of, early biologic aging.

  13. Steroidogenesis in the yellow corpuscles (adrenocortical homolog) in a holostean fish, the bowfin, Amia calva L.

    PubMed

    Butler, D G; Youson, J H

    1986-07-01

    Yellow corpuscles from the ventral surface of the anterior kidney in bowfins (Amia calva L.) converted [7-3H]pregnenolone to radioactive 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, and corticosterone in vitro. Aldosterone was not detected. Cortisol was the predominant steroid at the end of a 3-hr incubation period (20 degrees C). These experiments are the first to demonstrate steroidogenesis in holostean yellow bodies and they are the first incubations with pure adrenocortical tissue, free of head kidney, in any bony fish. White corpuscles of Stannius located along the total length of the kidneys were incubated under identical conditions but adrenocortical steroids were not found.

  14. Ethylene and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) in Plant–Bacterial Interactions

    PubMed Central

    Nascimento, Francisco X.; Rossi, Márcio J.; Glick, Bernard R.

    2018-01-01

    Ethylene and its precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) actively participate in plant developmental, defense and symbiotic programs. In this sense, ethylene and ACC play a central role in the regulation of bacterial colonization (rhizospheric, endophytic, and phyllospheric) by the modulation of plant immune responses and symbiotic programs, as well as by modulating several developmental processes, such as root elongation. Plant-associated bacterial communities impact plant growth and development, both negatively (pathogens) and positively (plant-growth promoting and symbiotic bacteria). Some members of the plant-associated bacterial community possess the ability to modulate plant ACC and ethylene levels and, subsequently, modify plant defense responses, symbiotic programs and overall plant development. In this work, we review and discuss the role of ethylene and ACC in several aspects of plant-bacterial interactions. Understanding the impact of ethylene and ACC in both the plant host and its associated bacterial community is key to the development of new strategies aimed at increased plant growth and protection. PMID:29520283

  15. Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas presenting as diffuse pancreatic enlargement: Two case reports and literature review.

    PubMed

    Luo, Yaping; Hu, Guilan; Ma, Yanru; Guo, Ning; Li, Fang

    2017-09-01

    Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor of exocrine pancreas. It is typically a well-marginated large solid mass arising in a certain aspect of the pancreas. Diffuse involvement of ACC in the pancreas is very rare, and may simulate pancreatitis in radiological findings. We report 2 cases of ACC presenting as diffuse enlargement of the pancreas due to tumor involvement without formation of a distinct mass. The patients consisted of a 41-year-old man with weight loss and a 77-year-old man who was asymptomatic. Computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT showed diffuse enlargement of the pancreas forming a sausage-like shape with homogenously increased FDG activity. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the pancreatic lesion was performed. Histopathology results from the pancreas confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic ACC. Because diffuse enlargement of the pancreas is a common imaging feature of pancreatitis, recognition of this rare morphologic pattern of ACC is important for radiological diagnosis of this tumor.

  16. 24 CFR 969.107 - HUD approval of demolition or disposition before ACC expiration.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... disposition before ACC expiration. 969.107 Section 969.107 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating... before ACC expiration. This part is not intended to preclude or restrict the demolition or disposition of... before the ACC Expiration Date. ...

  17. Tone-Evoked Acoustic Change Complex (ACC) Recorded in a Sedated Animal Model.

    PubMed

    Presacco, Alessandro; Middlebrooks, John C

    2018-05-10

    The acoustic change complex (ACC) is a scalp-recorded cortical evoked potential complex generated in response to changes (e.g., frequency, amplitude) in an auditory stimulus. The ACC has been well studied in humans, but to our knowledge, no animal model has been evaluated. In particular, it was not known whether the ACC could be recorded under the conditions of sedation that likely would be necessary for recordings from animals. For that reason, we tested the feasibility of recording ACC from sedated cats in response to changes of frequency and amplitude of pure-tone stimuli. Cats were sedated with ketamine and acepromazine, and subdermal needle electrodes were used to record electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Tones were presented from a small loudspeaker located near the right ear. Continuous tones alternated at 500-ms intervals between two frequencies or two levels. Neurometric functions were created by recording neural response amplitudes while systematically varying the magnitude of steps in frequency centered in octave frequency around 2, 4, 8, and 16 kHz, all at 75 dB SPL, or in decibel level around 75 dB SPL tested at 4 and 8 kHz. The ACC could be recorded readily under this ketamine/azepromazine sedation. In contrast, ACC could not be recorded reliably under any level of isoflurane anesthesia that was tested. The minimum frequency (expressed as Weber fractions (df/f)) or level steps (expressed in dB) needed to elicit ACC fell in the range of previous thresholds reported in animal psychophysical tests of discrimination. The success in recording ACC in sedated animals suggests that the ACC will be a useful tool for evaluation of other aspects of auditory acuity in normal hearing and, presumably, in electrical cochlear stimulation, especially for novel stimulation modes that are not yet feasible in humans.

  18. 24 CFR 969.106 - ACC extension in absence of current operating subsidy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false ACC extension in absence of current... COMPLETION OF DEBT SERVICE § 969.106 ACC extension in absence of current operating subsidy. Where Operating Subsidy under an ACC is not approved for payment during a time period which results in extension of the...

  19. 24 CFR 969.106 - ACC extension in absence of current operating subsidy.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false ACC extension in absence of current... COMPLETION OF DEBT SERVICE § 969.106 ACC extension in absence of current operating subsidy. Where Operating Subsidy under an ACC is not approved for payment during a time period which results in extension of the...

  20. OpenARC: Extensible OpenACC Compiler Framework for Directive-Based Accelerator Programming Study

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

    Lee, Seyong; Vetter, Jeffrey S

    2014-01-01

    Directive-based, accelerator programming models such as OpenACC have arisen as an alternative solution to program emerging Scalable Heterogeneous Computing (SHC) platforms. However, the increased complexity in the SHC systems incurs several challenges in terms of portability and productivity. This paper presents an open-sourced OpenACC compiler, called OpenARC, which serves as an extensible research framework to address those issues in the directive-based accelerator programming. This paper explains important design strategies and key compiler transformation techniques needed to implement the reference OpenACC compiler. Moreover, this paper demonstrates the efficacy of OpenARC as a research framework for directive-based programming study, by proposing andmore » implementing OpenACC extensions in the OpenARC framework to 1) support hybrid programming of the unified memory and separate memory and 2) exploit architecture-specific features in an abstract manner. Porting thirteen standard OpenACC programs and three extended OpenACC programs to CUDA GPUs shows that OpenARC performs similarly to a commercial OpenACC compiler, while it serves as a high-level research framework.« less

  1. Steady-state kinetics of substrate binding and iron release in tomato ACC oxidase.

    PubMed

    Thrower, J S; Blalock, R; Klinman, J P

    2001-08-14

    1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACC oxidase) catalyzes the last step in the biosynthetic pathway of the plant hormone, ethylene. This unusual reaction results in the oxidative ring cleavage of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylate (ACC) into ethylene, cyanide, and CO2 and requires ferrous ion, ascorbate, and molecular oxygen for catalysis. A new purification procedure and assay method have been developed for tomato ACC oxidase that result in greatly increased enzymatic activity. This method allowed us to determine the rate of iron release from the enzyme and the effect of the activator, CO2, on this rate. Initial velocity studies support an ordered kinetic mechanism where ACC binds first followed by O2; ascorbate can bind after O2 or possibly before ACC. This kinetic mechanism differs from one recently proposed for the ACC oxidase from avocado.

  2. Complete Recovery of Visual Disorder Following Surgical Resection of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Arising in the Pterygopalatine Fossa

    PubMed Central

    Du, Wei; Cui, Meng; Li, Peng; Wang, Jiheng; Luo, Ruihua; Qi, Jinxing; Zhao, Ming; Lou, Weihua

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) arising in the pterygopalatine fossa was rare, only 3 cases have been reported. In previous literature, few authors reported whether the visual deficit could be resolved following the resection of the tumor. One patient with visual dysfunction induced by ACC arising in the pterygopalatine fossa was reported. Complete visual recovery was achieved following the operation. And the patient was satisfied with the appearance and the functional results in the follow-up. Visual loss contributed by the tumor in the pterygopalatine fossa could recover in selected patients. PMID:26039119

  3. Role of chemotherapy and molecularly targeted agents in the treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland.

    PubMed

    Le Tourneau, Christophe; Razak, Albiruni R A; Levy, Christine; Calugaru, Valentin; Galatoire, Olivier; Dendale, Rémi; Desjardins, Laurence; Gan, Hui K

    2011-11-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the most common malignant epithelial cancer of the lacrimal gland. Despite a slow rate of growth, ACCs are ultimately associated with poor clinical outcome. Given the rarity of this disease, most recommendations regarding therapy are guided by expert opinion and retrospective data rather than level 1 evidence. Surgery and postoperative radiation therapy are commonly used as initial local treatment. In patients at high risk of recurrence, concomitant platinum-based chemotherapy may be added to postoperative radiotherapy in an attempt to enhance radio-sensitivity. While encouraging responses have been reported with intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy, this strategy is associated with substantial toxicity and should be considered investigational. For patients with metastatic disease not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy, chemotherapy may have a role based on its modest efficacy in non-lacrimal ACC. Similarly, molecular targeted agents may have a role, although the agents tested to date in non-lacrimal ACC have been disappointing. A better understanding of the biology of ACC will be crucial to the future success of developing targeted agents for this disease.

  4. Cooperative transforming activities of ras, myc, and src viral oncogenes in nonestablished rat adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed Central

    MacAuley, A; Pawson, T

    1988-01-01

    Early-passage rat adrenocortical cells were infected with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus and MMCV mouse myc virus, two retroviruses carrying the v-Ki-ras and v-myc oncogenes, respectively. Efficient morphological transformation required coinfection with the two viruses, was dependent on the presence of high serum concentrations, and was not immediately accompanied by growth in soft agar. The doubly infected cells coordinately acquired the capacity for anchorage- and serum-independent growth during passage in culture. The appearance of such highly transformed cells was correlated with the emergence of a dominant clone, as suggested by an analysis of retrovirus integration sites. These results indicate that the concerted expression of v-Ki-ras and v-myc could induce rapid morphological transformation of nonestablished adrenocortical cells but that an additional genetic or epigenetic event was required to permit full transformation by these two oncogenes. In contrast, v-src, introduced by retrovirus infection in conjunction with v-myc, rapidly induced serum- and anchorage-independent growth. Therefore, the p60v-src protein-tyrosine kinase, unlike p21v-ras, is apparently not restricted in the induction of a highly transformed phenotype in adrenocortical cells. This system provides an in vitro model for the progressive transformation of epithelial cells by dominantly acting oncogenes. Images PMID:2846881

  5. High expression of Polycomb group protein EZH2 predicts poor survival in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Vékony, H; Raaphorst, F M; Otte, A P; van Lohuizen, M; Leemans, C R; van der Waal, I; Bloemena, E

    2008-06-01

    The prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a malignant salivary gland tumour, depends on clinicopathological parameters. To decipher the biological behaviour of ACC, and to identify patients at risk of developing metastases, additional markers are needed. Expression of the cell cycle proteins p53, cyclin D1, p16(INK4a), E2F1 and Ki-67, together with the Polycomb group (PcG) proteins BMI-1, MEL-18, EZH2 and EED was investigated immunohistochemically 21 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary ACCs in relation to tumour characteristics. ACC revealed significantly increased expression of the cell cycle proteins compared to normal salivary tissue (n = 17). Members of the two PcG complexes displayed mutually exclusive expression in normal salivary gland tissue, with BMI-1 and MEL-18 being abundantly present. In ACC, this expression pattern was disturbed, with EZH2 and EED showing significantly increased expression levels. In univariate analysis, presence of recurrence, poor differentiation and high EZH2 levels (>25% immunopositivity) significantly correlated with unfavourable outcome. ACCs with high proliferative rate (>25% Ki-67 immunopositivity) significantly correlated with high levels of EZH2 and p16. Only the development of recurrence was an independent prognostic factor of survival in multivariate analysis. Expression of PcG complexes and of essential cell cycle proteins is highly deregulated in ACC. Also, EZH2 expression has prognostic relevance in this malignancy.

  6. Autonomic and adrenocortical reactivity and buccal cell telomere length in kindergarten children

    PubMed Central

    Kroenke, Candyce H; Epel, Elissa; Adler, Nancy; Bush, Nicole R.; Obradović, Jelena; Lin, Jue; Blackburn, Elizabeth; Stamperdahl, Juliet Lise; Boyce, W. Thomas

    2011-01-01

    Objective To examine associations between autonomic nervous system and adrenocortical reactivity to laboratory stressors and buccal cell telomere length (BTL) in children. Methods The study sample comprised 78 five- and six-year-old children from a longitudinal cohort study of kindergarten social hierarchies, biological responses to adversity, and child health. Buccal cell samples and reactivity measures were collected in the spring of the kindergarten year. BTL was measured by realtime PCR, as the telomere-to-single copy gene (T/S) ratio. Parents provided demographic information; parents and teachers reported children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Components of children’s autonomic (heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pre-ejection period (PEP)) and adrenocortical (salivary cortisol) responses were monitored during standardized laboratory challenges. We examined relations between reactivity, internalizing and externalizing behavior, and BTL, adjusted for age, race, and gender. Results Heart rate and cortisol reactivity were inversely related to BTL, PEP was positively related to BTL, and RSA was unrelated. Internalizing behaviors were also inversely related to BTL (standardized β=−0.33, p=0.004). Split at the median of reactivity parameters, children with high sympathetic activation (decreasing PEP) and high parasympathetic withdrawal (decreasing RSA) did not differ with regard to BTL. However, children with both this profile and high cortisol reactivity (N=12) had significantly shorter BTL (0.80 vs. 1.00, χ2=7.6, p=0.006), compared with other children. Conclusions Autonomic and adrenocortical reactivity in combination were associated with shorter buccal cell telomere length in children. These data suggest that psychophysiological processes may influence, and that BTL may be a useful marker of, early biological aging. PMID:21873585

  7. Expression of BTBD7 in primary salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and correlation with Slug and prognosis.

    PubMed

    Yang, Liu; Wang, Tiejun; Zhang, Jun; Liu, Zhonghao; Wang, Xuxia

    2016-06-24

    BTB/POZ domain-containing protein 7 (BTBD7) is recognized as a regulatory gene that regulates epithelial cell dynamics and branching morphogenesis. It is also reported for regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecules and involved in the process of invasion and metastasis of lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Slug is a transcriptional factor of EMT which plays a crucial role in the process of primary salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). However, the role of BTBD7 in SACC and the correlation with Slug have not been identified. This study investigated the expression of BTBD7 and correlation with Slug, as well as the prognostic significance of BTBD7 in SACC. The expression of BTBD7 and Slug were examined in ACC-LM and ACC-83 cell lines and immunohistochemically in paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 66 primary SACC patients. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between BTBD7 expression and Slug expression and the prognostic significance of BTBD7 expression. BTBD7 protein expression was initially verified in ACC-LM and ACC-83 cell lines. The positive rate of BTBD7 expression was 62.1% in SACC to 20% in normal salivary tissues comparatively. BTBD7 expression was significantly correlated with Slug expression in SACC (P< 0.05). Increased BTBD7 expression was significantly associated with the TNM stage, tissue typing, distant metastasis and patients' poor clinical outcome. Positive expression of BTBD7 in SACC could play an important role in the development of cancer and may serve as a favorable predictor for diagnosis and poor prognosis of patients.

  8. Assessment of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells as a diagnostic test for detection of adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets.

    PubMed

    Protain, Holly J; Kutzler, Michelle A; Valentine, Beth A

    2009-05-01

    To determine whether results of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells correspond to results of a serum endocrine hormone assay and clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets. 13 clinically normal ferrets and 8 ferrets with signs of adrenocortical disease. Blood and preputial lavage samples were collected from each ferret. Serum samples were submitted to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for performance of an endocrine hormone assay. Differential epithelial cell counts were performed on preputial lavage samples to determine the percentage of cornified cells. Results of cytologic evaluation were compared with results of the endocrine hormone assay and clinical status of ferrets. The percentage of cornified preputial epithelial cells was not significantly correlated with serum 17B-estradiol or androstenedione concentration but was significantly correlated with serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration (r = 0.60). The percentage of cornified preputial epithelial cells was higher in ferrets with clinical signs of adrenocortical disease (mean +/- SD, 71.3 +/- 16.9%) than in clinically normal ferrets (55.5 +/- 19.0%). Cornification of preputial epithelial cells was correlated with an increase in serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration as well as clinical signs of adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets. Additional investigation is needed to elucidate the mechanism of preputial epithelial cell cornification in castrated ferrets.

  9. 24 CFR 882.805 - HA application process, ACC execution, and pre-rehabilitation activities.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false HA application process, ACC... § 882.805 HA application process, ACC execution, and pre-rehabilitation activities. (a) Review. When... applications in accordance with the guidelines, rating criteria, and procedures published in the NOFA. (b) ACC...

  10. In vitro synthesis and stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles within liposomes

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

    Tester, Chantel C.; Brock, Ryan E.; Wu, Ching-Hsuan

    2012-02-07

    We show that amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) can be synthesized in phospholipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes). Liposome-encapsulated ACC nanoparticles are stable against aggregation, do not crystallize for at least 20 h, and are ideally suited to investigate the influence of lipid chemistry, particle size, and soluble additives on ACC in situ.

  11. 24 CFR 969.107 - HUD approval of demolition or disposition before ACC expiration.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... disposition before ACC expiration. 969.107 Section 969.107 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING... HOUSING AFTER COMPLETION OF DEBT SERVICE § 969.107 HUD approval of demolition or disposition before ACC..., HUD may authorize a PHA to demolish or dispose of public housing at any time before the ACC Expiration...

  12. The Repeat Sequences and Elevated Substitution Rates of the Chloroplast accD Gene in Cupressophytes

    PubMed Central

    Li, Jia; Su, Yingjuan; Wang, Ting

    2018-01-01

    The plastid accD gene encodes a subunit of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) enzyme. The length of accD gene has been supposed to expand in Cryptomeria japonica, Taiwania cryptomerioides, Cephalotaxus, Taxus chinensis, and Podocarpus lambertii, and the main reason for this phenomenon was the existence of tandemly repeated sequences. However, it is still unknown whether the accD gene length in other cupressophytes has expanded. Here, in order to investigate how widespread this phenomenon was, 18 accD sequences and its surrounding regions of cupressophyte were sequenced and analyzed. Together with 39 GenBank sequence data, our taxon sampling covered all the extant gymnosperm orders. The repetitive elements and substitution rates of accD among 57 gymnosperm species were analyzed, the results show: (1) Reading frame length of accD gene in 18 cupressophytes species has also expanded. (2) Many repetitive elements were identified in accD gene of cupressophyte lineages. (3) The synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rates of accD were accelerated in cupressophytes. (4) accD was located in rearrangement endpoints. These results suggested that repetitive elements may mediate the chloroplast genome rearrangement and accelerated the substitution rates. PMID:29731764

  13. Analysis of failure in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. An international collaborative study.

    PubMed

    Amit, Moran; Binenbaum, Yoav; Sharma, Kanika; Ramer, Naomi; Ramer, Ilana; Agbetoba, Abib; Miles, Brett; Yang, Xinjie; Lei, Delin; Bjøerndal, Kristine; Godballe, Christian; Mücke, Thomas; Wolff, Klaus-Dietrich; Fliss, Dan; Eckardt, André M; Copelli, Chiara; Sesenna, Enrico; Palmer, Frank; Patel, Snehal; Gil, Ziv

    2014-07-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a locally aggressive tumor with a high prevalence of distant metastases. The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of outcome and to characterize the patterns of failure. An international retrospective review was conducted of 489 patients with ACC treated between 1985 and 2011 in 9 cancer centers worldwide. Five-year overall-survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were 76%, 80%, and 68%, respectively. Independent predictors of OS and DSS were: age, site, N classification, and presence of distant metastases. N classification, age, and bone invasion were associated with DFS on multivariate analysis. Age, tumor site, orbital invasion, and N classification were independent predictors of distant metastases. The clinical course of ACC is slow but persistent. Paranasal sinus origin is associated with the lowest distant metastases rate but with the poorest outcome. These prognostic estimates should be considered when tailoring treatment for patients with ACC. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Epidermal growth factor increases cortisol production and type II 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta(5)-Delta(4)-isomerase expression in human adrenocortical carcinoma cells: evidence for a Stat5-dependent mechanism.

    PubMed

    Feltus, F Alex; Kovacs, William J; Nicholson, Wendell; Silva, Corrine M; Nagdas, Subir K; Ducharme, Nicole A; Melner, Michael H

    2003-05-01

    We tested the ability of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to regulate a key enzyme in the adrenal synthesis of glucocorticoids: human type II 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta(5)-Delta(4)-isomerase (3 beta HSD). EGF treatment (25 ng/ml) of human adrenocortical carcinoma cells (H295R) resulted in a 5-fold increase in cortisol production and a corresponding 2-fold increase in 3 beta HSD mRNA. Experiments were performed to determine whether EGF is acting through a previously identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5)-responsive element located from -110 to -118 in the human type II 3 beta HSD promoter. A Stat5 expression construct was cotransfected with a 3 beta HSD-chloramphenol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter construct comprised of nucleotides -301-->+45 of the human type II 3 beta HSD promoter linked to the CAT reporter gene sequence. The addition of EGF at doses as low as 10 ng/ml resulted in an 11- to 15-fold increase in CAT activity. The introduction of 3-bp point mutations into critical nucleotides in the Stat5 response element obviated the EGF response. Either Stat5a or Stat5b isoforms induced CAT reporter expression upon treatment with EGF. These results demonstrate the ability of EGF to regulate the expression of a critical enzyme (3 beta HSD) in the production of cortisol and suggest a molecular mechanism by which this regulation occurs.

  15. Increased adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in sport horses with equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD).

    PubMed

    Scheidegger, M D; Gerber, V; Bruckmaier, R M; van der Kolk, J H; Burger, D; Ramseyer, A

    2017-10-01

    This study tested the hypothesis that adrenocortical function would be altered in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Twenty-six sport horses competing at national or international levels in eventing (n=15) or endurance (n=11) were subjected to a gastroscopic examination and an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured before (baseline) and after (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150min) IV ACTH injection (1μg/kg bodyweight). Within EGUS, two distinct diseases, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), can be distinguished. ESGD was diagnosed in 8/11 (73%; 95% confidence intervals [95%CI], 43-92%) endurance horses and 5/15 (33%; 95% CI, 14-58%) eventing horses. EGGD was observed in 9/11 (82%; 95% CI, 53-96%) endurance horses and 9/15 (60%; 95% CI, 35-81%) eventing horses. The presence or severity of ESGD was unrelated to the presence or severity of EGGD. ACTH stimulation induced a larger increase in cortisol concentration in horses with moderate EGGD than in horses with mild EGGD. Cortisol concentration during the entire sampling period (total increase in cortisol concentration during the entire sampling period [dAUC], 31.1±6.4ng/mL) and the highest measured concentration at a single time point (maximal increase in cortisol concentration [dMAX], 10.3±2.3ng/mL) were increased (P=0.005 and P=0.038, respectively), indicating that horses with glandular gastric disease exhibited increased adrenocortical responses to ACTH stimulation. These results suggest that EGGD might be associated with an enhanced adrenocortical sensitivity. Further investigations are warranted to confirm the association between adrenocortical sensitivity and EGGD and to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. The Relations between Bullying Exposures in Middle Childhood, Anxiety, and Adrenocortical Activity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Carney, JoLynn V.; Hazler, Richard J.; Oh, Insoo; Hibel, Leah C.; Granger, Douglas A.

    2010-01-01

    This exploratory study investigated how exposure to bullying at school in middle childhood is associated with student anxiety levels and adrenocortical activity at a time preceding lunch when anxiety about potential bullying would potentially be higher. Ninety-one sixth-grade students (55 female and 36 male) reported being exposed one or more…

  17. WHOLE-GENOME SEQUENCING OF SALIVARY GLAND ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA

    PubMed Central

    Rettig, Eleni M; Talbot, C Conover; Sausen, Mark; Jones, Sian; Bishop, Justin A; Wood, Laura D; Tokheim, Collin; Niknafs, Noushin; Karchin, Rachel; Fertig, Elana J; Wheelan, Sarah J; Marchionni, Luigi; Considine, Michael; Ling, Shizhang; Fakhry, Carole; Papadopoulos, Nickolas; Kinzler, Kenneth W; Vogelstein, Bert; Ha, Patrick K; Agrawal, Nishant

    2016-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) of the salivary glands are challenging to understand, treat, and cure. To better understand the genetic alterations underlying the pathogenesis of these tumors, we performed comprehensive genome analyses of 25 fresh-frozen tumors, including whole genome sequencing, expression and pathway analyses. In addition to the well-described MYB-NFIB fusion which was found in 11 tumors (44%), we observed five different rearrangements involving the NFIB transcription factor gene in seven tumors (28%). Taken together, NFIB translocations occurred in 15 of 25 samples (60%, 95%CI=41–77%). In addition, mRNA expression analysis of 17 tumors revealed overexpression of NFIB in ACC tumors compared with normal tissues (p=0.002). There was no difference in NFIB mRNA expression in tumors with NFIB fusions compared to those without. We also report somatic mutations of genes involved in the axonal guidance and Rho family signaling pathways. Finally, we confirm previously described alterations in genes related to chromatin regulation and Notch signaling. Our findings suggest a separate role for NFIB in ACC oncogenesis and highlight important signaling pathways for future functional characterization and potential therapeutic targeting. PMID:26862087

  18. Therapeutic inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction prevents recurrence of adenoid cystic carcinomas

    PubMed Central

    Nör, Felipe; Warner, Kristy A.; Zhang, Zhaocheng; Acasigua, Gerson A.; Pearson, Alexander T.; Kerk, Samuel A.; Helman, Joseph; Filho, Manoel Sant’Ana; Wang, Shaomeng; Nör, Jacques E.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Conventional chemotherapy has modest efficacy in advanced adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC). Tumor recurrence is a major challenge in the management of ACC patients. Here, we evaluated the anti-tumor effect of a novel small molecule inhibitor of the MDM2-p53 interaction (MI-773) combined with Cisplatin in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) ACC tumors. Experimental design Therapeutic strategies with MI-773 and/or Cisplatin were evaluated in SCID mice harboring PDX ACC tumors (UM-PDX-HACC-5) and in low passage primary human ACC cells (UM-HACC-2A, -2B, -5, -6) in vitro. The effect of therapy on the fraction of cancer stem cells was determined by flow cytometry for ALDH activity and CD44 expression. Results Combined therapy with MI-773 with Cisplatin caused p53 activation, induction of apoptosis, and regression of ACC PDX tumors. Western blots revealed induction of MDM2, p53 and downstream p21 expression, and regulation of apoptosis-related proteins PUMA, BAX, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and active Caspase-9 upon MI-773 treatment. Both, single-agent MI-773, and MI-773 combined with Cisplatin, decreased the fraction of cancer stem cells in PDX ACC tumors. Notably, neoadjuvant MI-773 and surgery eliminated tumor recurrences during a post-surgical follow-up of more than 300 days. In contrast, 62.5% of mice that received vehicle control presented with palpable tumor recurrences within this time period (p=0.0097). Conclusions Collectively, these data demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of MDM2-p53 interaction by MI-773 decreased the cancer stem cell fraction, sensitized ACC xenograft tumors to Cisplatin, and eliminated tumor recurrence. These results suggest that patients with ACC might benefit from the therapeutic inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction. PMID:27550999

  19. Recalibration of the ACC/AHA Risk Score in Two Population-Based German Cohorts

    PubMed Central

    de las Heras Gala, Tonia; Geisel, Marie Henrike; Peters, Annette; Thorand, Barbara; Baumert, Jens; Lehmann, Nils; Jöckel, Karl-Heinz; Moebus, Susanne; Erbel, Raimund; Meisinger, Christine

    2016-01-01

    Background The 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines introduced an algorithm for risk assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) within 10 years. In Germany, risk assessment with the ESC SCORE is limited to cardiovascular mortality. Applicability of the novel ACC/AHA risk score to the German population has not yet been assessed. We therefore sought to recalibrate and evaluate the ACC/AHA risk score in two German cohorts and to compare it to the ESC SCORE. Methods We studied 5,238 participants from the KORA surveys S3 (1994–1995) and S4 (1999–2001) and 4,208 subjects from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) Study (2000–2003). There were 383 (7.3%) and 271 (6.4%) first non-fatal or fatal ASCVD events within 10 years in KORA and in HNR, respectively. Risk scores were evaluated in terms of calibration and discrimination performance. Results The original ACC/AHA risk score overestimated 10-year ASCVD rates by 37% in KORA and 66% in HNR. After recalibration, miscalibration diminished to 8% underestimation in KORA and 12% overestimation in HNR. Discrimination performance of the ACC/AHA risk score was not affected by the recalibration (KORA: C = 0.78, HNR: C = 0.74). The ESC SCORE overestimated by 5% in KORA and by 85% in HNR. The corresponding C-statistic was 0.82 in KORA and 0.76 in HNR. Conclusions The recalibrated ACC/AHA risk score showed strongly improved calibration compared to the original ACC/AHA risk score. Predicting only cardiovascular mortality, discrimination performance of the commonly used ESC SCORE remained somewhat superior to the ACC/AHA risk score. Nevertheless, the recalibrated ACC/AHA risk score may provide a meaningful tool for estimating 10-year risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease in Germany. PMID:27732641

  20. Recalibration of the ACC/AHA Risk Score in Two Population-Based German Cohorts.

    PubMed

    de Las Heras Gala, Tonia; Geisel, Marie Henrike; Peters, Annette; Thorand, Barbara; Baumert, Jens; Lehmann, Nils; Jöckel, Karl-Heinz; Moebus, Susanne; Erbel, Raimund; Meisinger, Christine; Mahabadi, Amir Abbas; Koenig, Wolfgang

    2016-01-01

    The 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines introduced an algorithm for risk assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) within 10 years. In Germany, risk assessment with the ESC SCORE is limited to cardiovascular mortality. Applicability of the novel ACC/AHA risk score to the German population has not yet been assessed. We therefore sought to recalibrate and evaluate the ACC/AHA risk score in two German cohorts and to compare it to the ESC SCORE. We studied 5,238 participants from the KORA surveys S3 (1994-1995) and S4 (1999-2001) and 4,208 subjects from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) Study (2000-2003). There were 383 (7.3%) and 271 (6.4%) first non-fatal or fatal ASCVD events within 10 years in KORA and in HNR, respectively. Risk scores were evaluated in terms of calibration and discrimination performance. The original ACC/AHA risk score overestimated 10-year ASCVD rates by 37% in KORA and 66% in HNR. After recalibration, miscalibration diminished to 8% underestimation in KORA and 12% overestimation in HNR. Discrimination performance of the ACC/AHA risk score was not affected by the recalibration (KORA: C = 0.78, HNR: C = 0.74). The ESC SCORE overestimated by 5% in KORA and by 85% in HNR. The corresponding C-statistic was 0.82 in KORA and 0.76 in HNR. The recalibrated ACC/AHA risk score showed strongly improved calibration compared to the original ACC/AHA risk score. Predicting only cardiovascular mortality, discrimination performance of the commonly used ESC SCORE remained somewhat superior to the ACC/AHA risk score. Nevertheless, the recalibrated ACC/AHA risk score may provide a meaningful tool for estimating 10-year risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease in Germany.

  1. Is axillary surgery beneficial for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast?

    PubMed

    Welsh, Jessemae L; Keeney, Michael G; Hoskin, Tanya L; Glazebrook, Katrina N; Boughey, Judy C; Shah, Sejal S; Hieken, Tina J

    2017-11-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, typically triple-negative, breast cancer reported to have a favorable prognosis and low rate of nodal metastasis. No consensus guidelines exist for axillary staging and treatment. We identified all patients with ACC evaluated at our institution from January 1994 to August 2016. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were abstracted and analyzed. We identified 20 pure ACCs (0.13% of all invasive breast cancers) with size range 0.2-4.8 cm, in 19 women, median age 59 years. Preoperative axillary ultrasound was normal in 10/13 women and suspicious in 3/13 who had a subsequent negative lymph node fine needle aspiration (FNA). Fifteen patients (75%) had sentinel lymph node surgery and were pathologically node-negative, while the remaining five had no axillary surgery. With 3.6 years median follow-up (range 0.2-38.6 years), three patients experienced an in-breast recurrence at 2, 16, and 17 years, respectively, while none recurred in regional nodes. We observed no cases of nodal metastasis in 20 consecutive cases of ACC of the breast. Preoperative axillary ultrasound with FNA of suspicious nodes accurately predicted pathologic nodal stage. These data suggest axillary surgery might be omitted safely in patients with pure ACC and a clinically negative axilla. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Driver's behavioral adaptation to adaptive cruise control (ACC): the case of speed and time headway.

    PubMed

    Bianchi Piccinini, Giulio Francesco; Rodrigues, Carlos Manuel; Leitão, Miguel; Simões, Anabela

    2014-06-01

    The Adaptive Cruise Control is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that allows maintaining given headway and speed, according to settings pre-defined by the users. Despite the potential benefits associated to the utilization of ACC, previous studies warned against negative behavioral adaptations that might occur while driving with the system activated. Unfortunately, up to now, there are no unanimous results about the effects induced by the usage of ACC on speed and time headway to the vehicle in front. Also, few studies were performed including actual users of ACC among the subjects. This research aimed to investigate the effect of the experience gained with ACC on speed and time headway for a group of users of the system. In addition, it explored the impact of ACC usage on speed and time headway for ACC users and regular drivers. A matched sample driving simulator study was planned as a two-way (2×2) repeated measures mixed design, with the experience with ACC as between-subjects factor and the driving condition (with ACC and manually) as within-subjects factor. The results show that the usage of ACC brought a small but not significant reduction of speed and, especially, the maintenance of safer time headways, being the latter result greater for ACC users, probably as a consequence of their experience in using the system. The usage of ACC did not cause any negative behavioral adaptations to the system regarding speed and time headway. Based on this research work, the Adaptive Cruise Control showed the potential to improve road safety for what concerns the speed and the time headway maintained by the drivers. The speed of the surrounding traffic and the minimum time headway settable through the ACC seem to have an important effect on the road safety improvement achievable with the system. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Influence of lesions of the limbic-hypothalamic system on adrenocortical responses to daily repeated heat exposures in rabbits.

    PubMed

    Seto, K; Kaba, H; Saito, H; Edashige, N; Kawakami, M

    1983-07-01

    The effects of lesions in the basal medial hypothalamus and limbic structure upon the responses of adrenocorticoids formation in adrenal slices of rabbits to daily repeated heat exposures has been investigated. (1) The adrenocortical responses to heat exposure on the 1st day were decreased by lesions in the periventricular arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), stria terminalis (ST) and dorsal fornix (FX). (2) There were no effects of heat exposure on the 10th day upon the adrenocorticoid formation in either the sham-lesioned rabbits or the rabbits with the lesions of ARC, VMH and ST. (3) In rabbits with the FX lesions, the adrenocorticoids formation was significantly increased by heat exposure on the 10th day. (4) These results suggested that the basal medial hypothalamus, amygdala (AMYG)-ST system and dorsal hippocampus (HPC)-FX system participated in the mechanisms of adrenocortical responses to heat exposure on the 1st day, but only the HPC-FX system played some roles in complete disappearance process of adrenocortical responses to heat exposure by repetition of exposures.

  4. Adrenocortical Gap Junctions and Their Functions

    PubMed Central

    Bell, Cheryl L.; Murray, Sandra A.

    2016-01-01

    Adrenal cortical steroidogenesis and proliferation are thought to be modulated by gap junction-mediated direct cell–cell communication of regulatory molecules between cells. Such communication is regulated by the number of gap junction channels between contacting cells, the rate at which information flows between these channels, and the rate of channel turnover. Knowledge of the factors regulating gap junction-mediated communication and the turnover process are critical to an understanding of adrenal cortical cell functions, including development, hormonal response to adrenocorticotropin, and neoplastic dedifferentiation. Here, we review what is known about gap junctions in the adrenal gland, with particular attention to their role in adrenocortical cell steroidogenesis and proliferation. Information and insight gained from electrophysiological, molecular biological, and imaging (immunocytochemical, freeze fracture, transmission electron microscopic, and live cell) techniques will be provided. PMID:27445985

  5. Identification of methylated genes in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma xenografts using global demethylation and methylation microarray screening

    PubMed Central

    LING, SHIZHANG; RETTIG, ELENI M.; TAN, MARIETTA; CHANG, XIAOFEI; WANG, ZHIMING; BRAIT, MARIANA; BISHOP, JUSTIN A.; FERTIG, ELANA J.; CONSIDINE, MICHAEL; WICK, MICHAEL J.; HA, PATRICK K.

    2016-01-01

    Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare head and neck malignancy without molecular biomarkers that can be used to predict the chemotherapeutic response or prognosis of ACC. The regulation of gene expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) through DNA promoter methylation may play a role in the carcinogenesis of ACC. To identify differentially methylated genes in ACC, a global demethylating agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA) was utilized to unmask putative TSG silencing in ACC xenograft models in mice. Fresh xenografts were passaged, implanted in triplicate in mice that were treated with 5-AZA daily for 28 days. These xenografts were then evaluated for genome-wide DNA methylation patterns using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip array. Validation of the 32 candidate genes was performed by bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) in a separate cohort of 6 ACC primary tumors and 6 normal control salivary gland tissues. Hypermethylation was identified in the HCN2 gene promoter in all 6 control tissues, but hypomethylation was found in all 6 ACC tumor tissues. Quantitative validation of HCN2 promoter methylation level in the region detected by BS-seq was performed in a larger cohort of primary tumors (n=32) confirming significant HCN2 hypomethylation in ACCs compared with normal samples (n=10; P=0.04). HCN2 immunohistochemical staining was performed on an ACC tissue microarray. HCN2 staining intensity and H-score, but not percentage of the positively stained cells, were significantly stronger in normal tissues than those of ACC tissues. With our novel screening and sequencing methods, we identified several gene candidates that were methylated. The most significant of these genes, HCN2, was actually hypomethylated in tumors. However, promoter methylation status does not appear to be a major determinant of HCN2 expression in normal and ACC tissues. HCN2 hypomethylation is a biomarker of ACC and may play an important role in the

  6. Transcriptomes define distinct subgroups of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma with different driver mutations and outcomes

    PubMed Central

    Frerich, Candace A.; Brayer, Kathryn J.; Painter, Brandon M.; Kang, Huining; Mitani, Yoshitsugu; El-Naggar, Adel K.; Ness, Scott A.

    2018-01-01

    The relative rarity of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and its slow growing yet aggressive nature has complicated the development of molecular markers for patient stratification. To analyze molecular differences linked to the protracted disease course of ACC and metastases that form 5 or more years after diagnosis, detailed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was performed on 68 ACC tumor samples, starting with archived, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples up to 25 years old, so that clinical outcomes were available. A statistical peak-finding approach was used to classify the tumors that expressed MYB or MYBL1, which had overlapping gene expression signatures, from a group that expressed neither oncogene and displayed a unique phenotype. Expression of MYB or MYBL1 was closely correlated to the expression of the SOX4 and EN1 genes, suggesting that they are direct targets of Myb proteins in ACC tumors. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identified a subgroup of approximately 20% of patients with exceptionally poor overall survival (median less than 30 months) and a unique gene expression signature resembling embryonic stem cells. The results provide a strategy for stratifying ACC patients and identifying the high-risk, poor-outcome group that are candidates for personalized therapies. PMID:29484115

  7. Central airway obstruction caused by adenoid cystic carcinoma in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

    PubMed Central

    Adno, Alan; French, Bruce; Johansson, Cherynne; Frankel, Anthony; Williamson, Jonathan P.

    2018-01-01

    Malignancy complicates one in a thousand pregnancies. The most frequently diagnosed of these are breast, cervical, melanoma, ovarian, and haematological neoplasms. Tumours of respiratory origin are very uncommon during pregnancy. We present a case of tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare type of primary airway tumour, diagnosed in a pregnant woman. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of tracheal ACC complicating pregnancy. We discuss potential barriers to timely diagnosis of malignancies during pregnancy and consider optimal management strategies, taking into account the potential harm to the mother and foetus in a field with a limited evidence base. PMID:29721318

  8. The incidence of MYB gene breaks in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands and its prognostic significance.

    PubMed

    Broz, Martin; Steiner, Petr; Salzman, Richard; Hauer, Lukas; Starek, Ivo

    2016-09-01

    To detect MYB gene breaks in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands and its correlation with prognosis and selected clinical parameters MYB gene break was detected by FISH assay in 23 adenoid cystic carcinomas using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate prognosis. Fifteen of 23 evaluated tumours were MYB positive and 8 MYB negative. The 10-year cumulative survival, respectively disease free interval, was 60.0%, respectively 59.3%, in MYB positive patients and 88.5%, respectively 80.0%, in MYB negative patients (long rank test, P=0.23). There were no significant differences in age, gender, perineural invasion, the presence of hematogenic or nodal metastases or degree of histopathological grading between MYB positive and MYB negative patients. A tendency to differences in the survival of patients with ACC, depending on their MYB status. MYB negative patients were predisposed to better prognosis.

  9. DNA copy number gains at loci of growth factors and their receptors in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Vékony, Hedy; Ylstra, Bauke; Wilting, Saskia M; Meijer, Gerrit A; van de Wiel, Mark A; Leemans, C René; van der Waal, Isaäc; Bloemena, Elisabeth

    2007-06-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant salivary gland tumor with a high mortality rate due to late, distant metastases. This study aimed at unraveling common genetic abnormalities associated with ACC. Additionally, chromosomal changes were correlated with patient characteristics and survival. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization was done to a series of 18 paraffin-embedded primary ACCs using a genome-wide scanning BAC array. A total of 238 aberrations were detected, representing more gains than losses (205 versus 33, respectively). Most frequent gains (>60%) were observed at 9q33.3-q34.3, 11q13.3, 11q23.3, 19p13.3-p13.11, 19q12-q13.43, 21q22.3, and 22q13.33. These loci harbor numerous growth factor [fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)] and growth factors receptor (FGFR3 and PDGFRbeta) genes. Gains at the FGF(R) regions occurred significantly more frequently in the recurred/metastasized ACCs compared with indolent ACCs. Furthermore, patients with 17 or more chromosomal aberrations had a significantly less favorable outcome than patients with fewer chromosomal aberrations (log-rank = 5.2; P = 0.02). Frequent DNA copy number gains at loci of growth factors and their receptors suggest their involvement in ACC initiation and progression. Additionally, the presence of FGFR3 and PDGFRbeta in increased chromosomal regions suggests a possible role for autocrine stimulation in ACC tumorigenesis.

  10. The ACC strategy in biomineralization: the case of earthworm's amorphous spherulites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Briones, Maria J. I.; Alvarez-Otero, Rosa; Méndez, Jesús; Gago Duport, Luis

    2010-05-01

    The occurrence of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), an hydrated and highly soluble form of solid CaCO3, seems to be a common feature in all carbonate forming organisms such as mollusks, corals, echinoderms and crustaceans. The ubiquity of ACC in these Ca-carbonate biomineralizing systems, as a precursor of further crystalline phases, has recently open the interesting question about if the formation of an amorphous phase is a necessary step in the calcification process of all organisms and consequently, whether it would be possible to define the "amorphous precursor estategy" as a general mechanism in biomineralization. Neverthelees, although ACC appears to be widespread in these organisms very little is known about its particular role in the biomineralization scheme of the different phyla. The formation of CaCO3 spherulites in the calciferous glands of earthworms is a particular case of calcareous biomineralization involving the presence of ACC as a transient precursor phase [2]. Interestingly, the formation of crystalline carbonates via ACC in these organisms is not connected with skeleton building so it must play another functional role. In addition, the transient transformation stages can be followed by in situ spectrometric techniques and therefore, earthworms provide and adequate model to analyse the mutual interactions between ACC-solvent-and crystalline phases. In this study, we have analysed the morphological and structural transformations from the initial ACC spherulites until the formation of the crystalline phases: vaterite (and/or aragonite) and finally calcite, is accomplished. The characterization of ACC was done by performing in situ FT-IR, together with and HREM and Debye scherrer -XRD. The structural results were interpreted in the light of the histological study of the gland. The geometry of the secretory epithelium of the calciferous gland, as evidenced by TEM [2], shows the presence of irregulary shaped cells with their apical surface

  11. Regulation of Adrenocortical Steroid Hormone Production by RhoA-Diaphanous 1 Signaling and the Cytoskeleton

    PubMed Central

    Sewer, Marion B.; Li, Donghui

    2012-01-01

    The production of glucocorticoids and aldosterone in the adrenal cortex is regulated at multiple levels. Biosynthesis of these hormones is initiated when cholesterol, the substrate, enters the inner mitochondrial membrane for conversion to pregnenolone. Unlike most metabolic pathways, the biosynthesis of adrenocortical steroid hormones is unique because some of the enzymes are localized in mitochondria and others in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although much is known about the factors that control the transcription and activities of the proteins that are required for steroid hormone production, the parameters that govern the exchange of substrates between the ER and mitochondria are less well understood. This short review summarizes studies that have begun to provide insight into the role of the cytoskeleton, mitochondrial transport, and the physical interaction of the ER and mitochondria in the production of adrenocortical steroid hormones. PMID:23186810

  12. Automated Selection of Hotspots (ASH): enhanced automated segmentation and adaptive step finding for Ki67 hotspot detection in adrenal cortical cancer.

    PubMed

    Lu, Hao; Papathomas, Thomas G; van Zessen, David; Palli, Ivo; de Krijger, Ronald R; van der Spek, Peter J; Dinjens, Winand N M; Stubbs, Andrew P

    2014-11-25

    In prognosis and therapeutics of adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC), the selection of the most active areas in proliferative rate (hotspots) within a slide and objective quantification of immunohistochemical Ki67 Labelling Index (LI) are of critical importance. In addition to intratumoral heterogeneity in proliferative rate i.e. levels of Ki67 expression within a given ACC, lack of uniformity and reproducibility in the method of quantification of Ki67 LI may confound an accurate assessment of Ki67 LI. We have implemented an open source toolset, Automated Selection of Hotspots (ASH), for automated hotspot detection and quantification of Ki67 LI. ASH utilizes NanoZoomer Digital Pathology Image (NDPI) splitter to convert the specific NDPI format digital slide scanned from the Hamamatsu instrument into a conventional tiff or jpeg format image for automated segmentation and adaptive step finding hotspots detection algorithm. Quantitative hotspot ranking is provided by the functionality from the open source application ImmunoRatio as part of the ASH protocol. The output is a ranked set of hotspots with concomitant quantitative values based on whole slide ranking. We have implemented an open source automated detection quantitative ranking of hotspots to support histopathologists in selecting the 'hottest' hotspot areas in adrenocortical carcinoma. To provide wider community easy access to ASH we implemented a Galaxy virtual machine (VM) of ASH which is available from http://bioinformatics.erasmusmc.nl/wiki/Automated_Selection_of_Hotspots . The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/13000_2014_216.

  13. Minimal impact of age and housing temperature on the metabolic phenotype of Acc2-/- mice.

    PubMed

    Brandon, Amanda E; Stuart, Ella; Leslie, Simon J; Hoehn, Kyle L; James, David E; Kraegen, Edward W; Turner, Nigel; Cooney, Gregory J

    2016-03-01

    An important regulator of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is the allosteric inhibition of CPT-1 by malonyl-CoA produced by the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2). Initial studies suggested that deletion of Acc2 (Acacb) increased fat oxidation and reduced adipose tissue mass but in an independently generated strain of Acc2 knockout mice we observed increased whole-body and skeletal muscle FAO and a compensatory increase in muscle glycogen stores without changes in glucose tolerance, energy expenditure or fat mass in young mice (12-16 weeks). The aim of the present study was to determine whether there was any effect of age or housing at thermoneutrality (29 °C; which reduces total energy expenditure) on the phenotype of Acc2 knockout mice. At 42-54 weeks of age, male WT and Acc2(-/-) mice had similar body weight, fat mass, muscle triglyceride content and glucose tolerance. Consistent with younger Acc2(-/-) mice, aged Acc2(-/-) mice showed increased whole-body FAO (24 h average respiratory exchange ratio=0.95±0.02 and 0.92±0.02 for WT and Acc2(-/-) mice respectively, P<0.05) and skeletal muscle glycogen content (+60%, P<0.05) without any detectable change in whole-body energy expenditure. Hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp studies revealed no difference in insulin action between groups with similar glucose infusion rates and tissue glucose uptake. Housing Acc2(-/-) mice at 29 °C did not alter body composition, glucose tolerance or the effects of fat feeding compared with WT mice. These results confirm that manipulation of Acc2 may alter FAO in mice, but this has little impact on body composition or insulin action. © 2016 Society for Endocrinology.

  14. Skeletal muscle ACC2 S212 phosphorylation is not required for the control of fatty acid oxidation during exercise.

    PubMed

    O'Neill, Hayley M; Lally, James S; Galic, Sandra; Pulinilkunnil, Thomas; Ford, Rebecca J; Dyck, Jason R B; van Denderen, Bryce J; Kemp, Bruce E; Steinberg, Gregory R

    2015-07-01

    During submaximal exercise fatty acids are a predominant energy source for muscle contractions. An important regulator of fatty acid oxidation is acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), which exists as two isoforms (ACC1 and ACC2) with ACC2 predominating in skeletal muscle. Both ACC isoforms regulate malonyl-CoA production, an allosteric inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1); the primary enzyme controlling fatty acyl-CoA flux into mitochondria for oxidation. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy status that is activated during exercise or by pharmacological agents such as metformin and AICAR. In resting muscle the activation of AMPK with AICAR leads to increased phosphorylation of ACC (S79 on ACC1 and S221 on ACC2), which reduces ACC activity and malonyl-CoA; effects associated with increased fatty acid oxidation. However, whether this pathway is vital for regulating skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation during conditions of increased metabolic flux such as exercise/muscle contractions remains unknown. To examine this we characterized mice lacking AMPK phosphorylation sites on ACC2 (S212 in mice/S221 in humans-ACC2-knock-in [ACC2-KI]) or both ACC1 (S79) and ACC2 (S212) (ACC double knock-in [ACCD-KI]) during submaximal treadmill exercise and/or ex vivo muscle contractions. We find that surprisingly, ACC2-KI mice had normal exercise capacity and whole-body fatty acid oxidation during treadmill running despite elevated muscle ACC2 activity and malonyl-CoA. Similar results were observed in ACCD-KI mice. Fatty acid oxidation was also maintained in muscles from ACC2-KI mice contracted ex vivo. These findings indicate that pathways independent of ACC phosphorylation are important for regulating skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation during exercise/muscle contractions. © 2015 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

  15. Adjuvant radiation therapy and survival for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast.

    PubMed

    Sun, Jia-Yuan; Wu, San-Gang; Chen, Shan-Yu; Li, Feng-Yan; Lin, Huan-Xin; Chen, Yong-Xiong; He, Zhen-Yu

    2017-02-01

    The assess the clinical value of different types of surgical procedures and further analyze the effect of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast. Patients with ACC of the breast were identified using a population-based national registration database (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, SEER). The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models were performed to determine the impact of the surgical procedures and adjuvant RT associated with cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 478 patients with ACC of the breast were identified. The median follow-up was 59 months. The 10-year CSS and OS were 87.5% and 75.3%, respectively. For the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 5-year CSS were 96.1%, 91.8%, 90.2%, and 94.1% in patients that received lumpectomy + adjuvant RT, lumpectomy alone, mastectomy alone, and mastectomy + adjuvant RT, respectively (p = 0.026). In the multivariate Cox analyses, lumpectomy + adjuvant RT was an independent prognostic factor for CSS and OS. Patients that received lumpectomy + adjuvant RT had better survival rates than patients that underwent lumpectomy only (CSS, p = 0.018; OS, p = 0.031) and mastectomy only (CSS, p = 0.010; OS, p = 0.004). ACC of the breast has an excellent prognosis. Breast-conserving surgery is a reasonable alternative for patients with ACC of the breast, and adjuvant RT after lumpectomy improved survival rates. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. ACC Study Guide Series (Revised Edition).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Staples, Katherine; And Others

    Designed for the beginning college student who needs to search for information, prepare written assignments, or take tests, the ACC (Austin Community College) Study Guide Series comprises 17 one-page study guides. Printed on card stock with colored headings, the guides are highlighted with cartoon illustrations and are intended to provide…

  17. Primary Cutaneous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma with MYB aberrations, report of three cases and comprehensive review of the literature

    PubMed Central

    Prieto-Granada, Carlos N.; Zhang, Lei; Antonescu, Cristina; Henneberry, Jean; Messina, Jane

    2017-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare slow growing and often-aggressive epithelial-myoepithelial neoplasm that arises in multiple organs including the skin. The t(6;9) (q22–23;p23–24) translocation, resulting in a MYB-NFIB gene fusion has been found in ACCs from the salivary glands and other organs. Recently, MYB aberrations occurring in a subset (40%) of primary cutaneous ACC (PCACC) examples was described. Herein, we report 3 additional cases of PCACC harboring MYB aberrations. The tumors presented in 3 males aged 43, 81 and 55 years old and affected the extremities in the first 2 patients and the scalp in the third one. None of the patients had history of prior or concurrent ACC elsewhere. Lesions exhibited the classic ACC morphology of nests of basaloid cells arranged in cribriform and adenoid patterns. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in two cases with one case showing lymph node positivity. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with break-apart probes for MYB and NFIB loci revealed that 2 cases showed MYB rearrangements while one case showed loss of one MYB signal. None of the cases showed NFIB rearrangements. We contribute with 3 additional cases of PCACC exhibiting MYB aberrations, the apparent driving genetic abnormality in these tumors. PMID:27859477

  18. 24 CFR 884.105 - Maximum total ACC commitment and project account (private-owner/PHA projects).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Maximum total ACC commitment and..., Scope and Basic Policies § 884.105 Maximum total ACC commitment and project account (private-owner/PHA projects). (a) Maximum total ACC commitment. The maximum total annual contribution that may be contracted...

  19. 24 CFR 884.105 - Maximum total ACC commitment and project account (private-owner/PHA projects).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Maximum total ACC commitment and..., Scope and Basic Policies § 884.105 Maximum total ACC commitment and project account (private-owner/PHA projects). (a) Maximum total ACC commitment. The maximum total annual contribution that may be contracted...

  20. The N-terminal neurotensin fragment, NT1-11, inhibits cortisol secretion by human adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed

    Sicard, Flavie; Contesse, Vincent; Lefebvre, Hervé; Ait-Ali, Djida; Gras, Marjorie; Cartier, Dorthe; Decker, Annick; Chartrel, Nicolas; Anouar, Youssef; Vaudry, Hubert; Delarue, Catherine

    2006-08-01

    Neurotensin (NT) modulates corticosteroid secretion from the mammalian adrenal gland. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of NT in the control of cortisol secretion in the human adrenal gland. In vitro studies were conducted on cultured human adrenocortical cells. This study was conducted in a university research laboratory. Adrenal explants from patients undergoing expanded nephrectomy for kidney cancer were studied. Cortisol secretion from cultured adrenocortical cells was measured. NT1-11, the N-terminal fragment of NT, dose-dependently inhibited basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol production by human adrenocortical cells in primary culture. In contrast, NT had no influence on cortisol output at concentrations up to 10(-6) m. HPLC and RT-PCR analyses failed to detect any significant amounts of NT and NT mRNA, respectively, in adrenal extracts. Molecular and pharmacological studies were performed to determine the type of NT receptor involved in the corticostatic effect of NT1-11. RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of NT receptor type (NTR) 3 mRNA but not NTR1 and NTR2 mRNAs in the human adrenal tissue. However, the pharmacological profile of the adrenal NT1-11 receptor was different from that of NTR3, indicating that this receptor type is not involved in the action of NT1-11 on corticosteroidogenesis. Our results indicate that NT1-11 may act as an endocrine factor to inhibit cortisol secretion through activation of a receptor distinct from the classical NTR1, NTR2, and NTR3.

  1. Small-Conductance Ca2+-Activated Potassium Channels Negatively Regulate Aldosterone Secretion in Human Adrenocortical Cells.

    PubMed

    Yang, Tingting; Zhang, Hai-Liang; Liang, Qingnan; Shi, Yingtang; Mei, Yan-Ai; Barrett, Paula Q; Hu, Changlong

    2016-09-01

    Aldosterone, which plays a key role in maintaining water and electrolyte balance, is produced by zona glomerulosa cells of the adrenal cortex. Autonomous overproduction of aldosterone from zona glomerulosa cells causes primary hyperaldosteronism. Recent clinical studies have highlighted the pathological role of the KCNJ5 potassium channel in primary hyperaldosteronism. Our objective was to determine whether small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (SK) channels may also regulate aldosterone secretion in human adrenocortical cells. We found that apamin, the prototypic inhibitor of SK channels, decreased membrane voltage, raised intracellular Ca(2+) and dose dependently increased aldosterone secretion from human adrenocortical H295R cells. By contrast, 1-Ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone, an agonist of SK channels, antagonized apamin's action and decreased aldosterone secretion. Commensurate with an increase in aldosterone production, apamin increased mRNA expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and aldosterone synthase that control the early and late rate-limiting steps in aldosterone biosynthesis, respectively. In addition, apamin increased angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone secretion, whereas 1-Ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone suppressed both angiotensin II- and high K(+)-stimulated production of aldosterone in H295R cells. These findings were supported by apamin-modulation of basal and angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone secretion from acutely prepared slices of human adrenals. We conclude that SK channel activity negatively regulates aldosterone secretion in human adrenocortical cells. Genetic association studies are necessary to determine whether mutations in SK channel subtype 2 genes may also drive aldosterone excess in primary hyperaldosteronism. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  2. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of submandibular gland metastatic to great toes: case report and literature review.

    PubMed

    Rafael, Oana C; Paul, Doru; Chen, Sheng; Kraus, Dennis

    2016-08-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary glands, with higher frequency in the submandibular gland, a prolonged clinical course, and poor long-term survival. It tends to metastasize to lungs, bone, liver, brain, and rarely to skin. Comprehensive skin examination and appropriate follow-up is recommended, since cutaneous metastasis represents disease progression, requiring management and prognosis adjustment.

  3. Expression and clinical significance of MAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer-testis antigens in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

    PubMed

    Veit, Johannes A; Heine, Daniela; Thierauf, Julia; Lennerz, Jochen; Shetty, Subasch; Schuler, Patrick J; Whiteside, Theresa; Beutner, Dirk; Meyer, Moritz; Grünewald, Inga; Ritter, Gerd; Gnjatic, Sacha; Sikora, Andrew G; Hoffmann, Thomas K; Laban, Simon

    2016-07-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is a rare but highly malignant tumor. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) represent an immunogenic family of cancer-specific proteins and thus represent an attractive target for immunotherapy. Eighty-four cases of ACC were identified, the CTAs pan-Melanoma antigen (pan-MAGE; M3H67) and New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NY-ESO-1; E978) were detected immunohistochemically (IHC) and correlated with clinical data. Expression of NY-ESO-1 was found in 48 of 84 patients (57.1%) and of pan-MAGE in 28 of 84 patients (31.2%). Median overall survival (OS) in NY-ESO-1 positive versus negative patients was 130.8 and 282.0 months (p = .223), respectively. OS in pan-MAGE positive versus negative patients was 105.3 and 190.5 months, respectively (p = .096). Patients expressing both NY-ESO-1 and pan-MAGE simultaneously had significantly reduced OS with a median of 90.5 months compared with 282.0 months in negative patients (p = .047). A significant fraction of patients with ACC show expression of the CTAs NY-ESO-1 and/or pan-MAGE with promising immunotherapeutic implications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1008-1016, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic/Recurrent ACC of All Sites and Non-ACC Salivary Gland Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-12

    Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Minor Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Recurrent Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IV Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVA Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVB Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVC Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma

  5. Emotional and Adrenocortical Regulation in Early Adolescence: Prediction by Attachment Security and Disorganization in Infancy

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Spangler, Gottfried; Zimmermann, Peter

    2014-01-01

    The aim of the present study was to examine differences in emotion expression and emotion regulation in emotion-eliciting situations in early adolescence from a bio-psycho-social perspective, specifically investigating the influence of early mother-infant attachment and attachment disorganization on behavioural and adrenocortical responses. The…

  6. Stages of Adrenocortical Carcinoma

    MedlinePlus

    ... if you have any of these problems. Imaging studies and tests that examine the blood and urine are used ... urine that is collected for three days. This test is done to check if the adrenal gland is ... Blood chemistry study : A procedure in which a blood sample is ...

  7. Analysis and significance of c-MET expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland.

    PubMed

    Bell, Diana; Ferrarotto, Renata; Fox, Melanie D; Roberts, Dianna; Hanna, Ehab Y; Weber, Randal S; El-Naggar, Adel K

    2015-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare salivary gland malignancy, is a histogenetic, morphologic, and clinical heterogeneous disease. Extensive efforts have been made to characterize molecular events associated with these tumors, including the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Increased copy number gain and amplification of c-Met, the cell surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, has been shown to enhance tumor growth and invasiveness and promote metastasis in certain tumor types. In this study, we evaluated the expression of c-Met by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a large cohort of salivary gland ACCs and examined its clinicopathologic implications. Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks from 200 ACC patients were used in this study. Pathologic patterns and phenotypic expression of c-Met were recorded and compared with clinical factors including gender, age, disease stage at diagnosis, and clinical outcomes. Correlations between c-MET expression and clinical characteristics were assessed by Pearson's chi-square test or by the 2-tailed Fisher exact test. Curves describing overall survival were generated by Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Strong c-MET expression was seen in inner ductal and outer myoepithelial cells in 53.2% of the cases. There was no correlation between c-Met overexpression and clinicopathologic parameters or patient's overall survival ( p = .94074). In conclusion, c-MET expression is high in a significant subgroup of ACC patients. While c-MET expression is not a prognostic factor in ACC, its role as a predictive marker of benefit from MET inhibitors deserves further investigation.

  8. 3D-printing aided resection of intratracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma and mediastinal mature cystic teratoma in a 26-year-old female: a case report.

    PubMed

    Lu, Di; Feng, Siyang; Liu, Xiguang; Dong, Xiaoying; Li, Mei; Wu, Hua; Ren, Pengfei; Diao, Dingwei; Cai, Kaican

    2018-02-01

    Complete resection remains the ideal treatment for most patients with primary intratracheal tumors. Due to the limit in the resection length, the localization of the tumor during the surgery could be rather difficult if it hasn't invaded out of the trachea, which might be more difficult when there's another tumor in the anterior mediastinum. A 26-year-old woman with intratracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) presented with dyspnea. CT scan revealed not only an ACC without extension out of trachea, but also a mediastinal teratoma (MT) near aorta, making the operation much more complicated than usual. To solve this problem, 3D-printing was applied for facilitating surgery plan making and intraoperative locating of ACC. And as we expected, the operation went successfully and the patient achieved full recovery without complications. To the best of our knowledge, the case of both intratracheal ACC and MT in one patient has not been previously reported.

  9. Environmental enrichment affects adrenocortical stress responses in the endangered black-footed ferret

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Poessel, S.A.; Biggins, D.E.; Santymire, R.M.; Livieri, T.M.; Crooks, K.R.; Angeloni, L.

    2011-01-01

    Potential stressors of wildlife living in captivity, such as artificial living conditions and frequent human contact, may lead to a higher occurrence of disease and reduced reproductive function. One successful method used by wildlife managers to improve general well-being is the provision of environmental enrichment, which is the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a highly-endangered carnivore species that was rescued from extinction by removal of the last remaining individuals from the wild to begin an ex situ breeding program. Our goal was to examine the effect of environmental enrichment on adrenocortical activity in ferrets by monitoring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM). Results demonstrated that enrichment lowered FGM in juvenile male ferrets, while increasing it in adult females; enrichment had no effect on FGM in juvenile females and adult males. These results correspond with our findings that juvenile males interacted more with the enrichment items than did adult females. However, we did not detect an impact of FGM on the incidence of disease or on the ability of ferrets to become reproductive during the following breeding season. We conclude that an environmental enrichment program could benefit captive juvenile male ferrets by reducing adrenocortical activity. ?? 2011 Elsevier Inc.

  10. Environmental enrichment affects adrenocortical stress responses in the endangered black-footed ferret.

    PubMed

    Poessel, Sharon A; Biggins, Dean E; Santymire, Rachel M; Livieri, Travis M; Crooks, Kevin R; Angeloni, Lisa

    2011-07-01

    Potential stressors of wildlife living in captivity, such as artificial living conditions and frequent human contact, may lead to a higher occurrence of disease and reduced reproductive function. One successful method used by wildlife managers to improve general well-being is the provision of environmental enrichment, which is the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is a highly-endangered carnivore species that was rescued from extinction by removal of the last remaining individuals from the wild to begin an ex situ breeding program. Our goal was to examine the effect of environmental enrichment on adrenocortical activity in ferrets by monitoring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM). Results demonstrated that enrichment lowered FGM in juvenile male ferrets, while increasing it in adult females; enrichment had no effect on FGM in juvenile females and adult males. These results correspond with our findings that juvenile males interacted more with the enrichment items than did adult females. However, we did not detect an impact of FGM on the incidence of disease or on the ability of ferrets to become reproductive during the following breeding season. We conclude that an environmental enrichment program could benefit captive juvenile male ferrets by reducing adrenocortical activity. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. miR-24-3p Suppresses Malignant Behavior of Lacrimal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma by Targeting PRKCH to Regulate p53/p21 Pathway.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ming-Xue; Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Hong; Tang, Hua

    2016-01-01

    MicroRNA (miRNA) may function as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism of miRNAs in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is unclear. Here, we provide evidence that miR-24-3p was downreglated and functions as a tumor suppressor in human lacrimal adenoid cystic carcinoma by suppressing proliferation and migration/invasion while promoting apoptosis. miR-24-3p down-regulated protein kinase C eta (PRKCH) by binding to its untranslated region (3'UTR). PRKCH increased the of the cell growth and migration/invasion in ACC cells and suppressed the expression of p53 and p21 in both mRNA and protein level. The overexpression of miR-24-3p decreased its malignant phenotype. Ectopic expression of PRKCH counteracted the suppression of malignancy induced by miR-24-3p, as well as ectopic expression of miR-24-3p rescued the suppression of PRKCH in the p53/p21 pathway. These results suggest that miR-24-3p promotes the p53/p21 pathway by down-regulating PRKCH expression in lacrimal adenoid cystic carcinoma cells.

  12. OpenACC performance for simulating 2D radial dambreak using FVM HLLE flux

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gunawan, P. H.; Pahlevi, M. R.

    2018-03-01

    The aim of this paper is to investigate the performances of openACC platform for computing 2D radial dambreak. Here, the shallow water equation will be used to describe and simulate 2D radial dambreak with finite volume method (FVM) using HLLE flux. OpenACC is a parallel computing platform based on GPU cores. Indeed, from this research this platform is used to minimize computational time on the numerical scheme performance. The results show the using OpenACC, the computational time is reduced. For the dry and wet radial dambreak simulations using 2048 grids, the computational time of parallel is obtained 575.984 s and 584.830 s respectively for both simulations. These results show the successful of OpenACC when they are compared with the serial time of dry and wet radial dambreak simulations which are collected 28047.500 s and 29269.40 s respectively.

  13. Landscape of Microsatellite Instability Across 39 Cancer Types.

    PubMed

    Bonneville, Russell; Krook, Melanie A; Kautto, Esko A; Miya, Jharna; Wing, Michele R; Chen, Hui-Zi; Reeser, Julie W; Yu, Lianbo; Roychowdhury, Sameek

    2017-01-01

    Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a pattern of hypermutation that occurs at genomic microsatellites and is caused by defects in the mismatch repair system. Mismatch repair deficiency that leads to MSI has been well described in several types of human cancer, most frequently in colorectal, endometrial, and gastric adenocarcinomas. MSI is known to be both predictive and prognostic, especially in colorectal cancer; however, current clinical guidelines only recommend MSI testing for colorectal and endometrial cancers. Therefore, less is known about the prevalence and extent of MSI among other types of cancer. Using our recently published MSI-calling software, MANTIS, we analyzed whole-exome data from 11,139 tumor-normal pairs from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments projects and external data sources across 39 cancer types. Within a subset of these cancer types, we assessed mutation burden, mutational signatures, and somatic variants associated with MSI. We identified MSI in 3.8% of all cancers assessed-present in 27 of tumor types-most notably adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), cervical cancer (CESC), and mesothelioma, in which MSI has not yet been well described. In addition, MSI-high ACC and CESC tumors were observed to have a higher average mutational burden than microsatellite-stable ACC and CESC tumors. We provide evidence of as-yet-unappreciated MSI in several types of cancer. These findings support an expanded role for clinical MSI testing across multiple cancer types as patients with MSI-positive tumors are predicted to benefit from novel immunotherapies in clinical trials.

  14. Causes, Patterns, and Severity of Androgen Excess in 1205 Consecutively Recruited Women.

    PubMed

    Elhassan, Yasir S; Idkowiak, Jan; Smith, Karen; Asia, Miriam; Gleeson, Helena; Webster, Rachel; Arlt, Wiebke; O'Reilly, Michael W

    2018-03-01

    Androgen excess in women is predominantly due to underlying polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, there is a lack of clarity regarding patterns and severity of androgen excess that should be considered predictive of non-PCOS pathology. We examined the diagnostic utility of simultaneous measurement of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione (A4), and testosterone (T) to delineate biochemical signatures and cutoffs predictive of non-PCOS disorders in women with androgen excess. Retrospective review of all women undergoing serum androgen measurement at a large tertiary referral center between 2012 and 2016. Serum A4 and T were measured by tandem mass spectrometry and DHEAS by immunoassay. Patients with at least one increased serum androgen underwent phenotyping by clinical notes review. In 1205 women, DHEAS, A4, and T were measured simultaneously. PCOS was the most common diagnosis in premenopausal (89%) and postmenopausal women (29%). A4 was increased in all adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) cases (n = 15) and T in all ovarian hyperthecosis (OHT) cases (n = 7); all but one case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH; n = 18) were identified by increased levels of A4 and/or T. In premenopausal women, CAH was a prevalent cause of severe A4 (59%) and T (43%) excess; severe DHEAS excess was predominantly due to PCOS (80%). In postmenopausal women, all cases of severe DHEAS and A4 excess were caused by ACC and severe T excess equally by ACC and OHT. Pattern and severity of androgen excess are important predictors of non-PCOS pathology and may be used to guide further investigations as appropriate.

  15. Further studies of auxin and ACC induced feminization in the cucumber plant using ethylene inhibitors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Takahashi, H.; Jaffe, M. J.

    1984-01-01

    The present study was designed to establish the role of an essential hormone controlling sex expression in cucumber. A potent anti-ethylene agent, AgNO3, completely inhibited pistillate flower formation caused by IAA, ACC or ethephon. Inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis, AVG and CoCl2 also suppressed feminization due to exogenous IAA or ACC. Though AVG also suppressed ethephon-induced feminization, this may be due to the second effect of AVG rather than the effect on ACC biosynthesis. These results confirm that ethylene is a major factor regulating feminization and that exogenous auxin induces pistillate flower formation through its stimulation of ethylene production, rather than ACC production.

  16. Reduced heart size and increased myocardial fuel substrate oxidation in ACC2 mutant mice

    PubMed Central

    Essop, M. Faadiel; Camp, Heidi S.; Choi, Cheol Soo; Sharma, Saumya; Fryer, Ryan M.; Reinhart, Glenn A.; Guthrie, Patrick H.; Bentebibel, Assia; Gu, Zeiwei; Shulman, Gerald I.; Taegtmeyer, Heinrich; Wakil, Salih J.; Abu-Elheiga, Lutfi

    2008-01-01

    The cardiac-enriched isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC2) is a key regulator of mitochondrial fatty acid (FA) uptake via carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1). To test the hypothesis that oxidative metabolism is upregulated in hearts from animals lacking ACC2 (employing a transgenic Acc2-mutant mouse), we assessed cardiac function in vivo and determined rates of myocardial substrate oxidation ex vivo. When examined by echocardiography, there was no difference in systolic function, but left ventricular mass of the Acc2-mutant (MUT) mouse was significantly reduced (∼25%) compared with wild-types (WT). Reduced activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream target p70S6K was found in MUT hearts. Exogenous oxidation rates of oleate were increased ∼22%, and, unexpectedly, exogenous glucose oxidation rates were also increased in MUT hearts. Using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, we found that glucose uptake in MUT hearts was increased by ∼83%. Myocardial triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in MUT vs. WT while glycogen content was the same. In parallel, transcript levels of PPARα and its target genes, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK-4), malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD), and mCPT1, were downregulated in MUT mice. In summary, we report that 1) Acc2-mutant hearts exhibit a marked preference for the oxidation of both glucose and FAs coupled with greater utilization of endogenous fuel substrates (triglycerides), 2) attenuated mTOR signaling may result in reduced heart sizes observed in Acc2-mutant mice, and 3) Acc2-mutant hearts displayed normal functional parameters despite a significant decrease in size. PMID:18487439

  17. c-MYC amplification and c-myc protein expression in pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas. New insights into the molecular signature of these rare cancers.

    PubMed

    La Rosa, Stefano; Bernasconi, Barbara; Vanoli, Alessandro; Sciarra, Amedeo; Notohara, Kenji; Albarello, Luca; Casnedi, Selenia; Billo, Paola; Zhang, Lizhi; Tibiletti, Maria Grazia; Sessa, Fausto

    2018-05-02

    The molecular alterations of pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) and mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs) are not completely understood, and the possible role of c-MYC amplification in tumor development, progression, and prognosis is not known. We have investigated c-MYC gene amplification in a series of 35 ACCs and 4 MANECs to evaluate its frequency and a possible prognostic role. Gene amplification was investigated using interphasic fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis simultaneously hybridizing c-MYC and the centromere of chromosome 8 probes. Protein expression was immunohistochemically investigated using a specific monoclonal anti-c-myc antibody. Twenty cases had clones with different polysomies of chromosome 8 in absence of c-MYC amplification, and 5 cases had one amplified clone and other clones with chromosome 8 polysomy, while the remaining 14 cases were diploid for chromosome 8 and lacked c-MYC amplification. All MANECs showed c-MYC amplification and/or polysomy which were observed in 54% pure ACCs. Six cases (15.3%) showed nuclear immunoreactivity for c-myc, but only 4/39 cases showed simultaneous c-MYC amplification/polysomy and nuclear protein expression. c-myc immunoreactivity as well as c-MYC amplification and/or chromosome 8 polysomy was not statistically associated with prognosis. Our study demonstrates that a subset of ACCs shows c-MYC alterations including gene amplification and chromosome 8 polysomy. Although they are not associated with a different prognostic signature, the fact that these alterations are present in all MANECs suggests a role in the acinar-neuroendocrine differentiation possibly involved in the pathogenesis of MANECs.

  18. APC alterations are frequently involved in the pathogenesis of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas, mainly through gene loss and promoter hypermethylation.

    PubMed

    Furlan, Daniela; Sahnane, Nora; Bernasconi, Barbara; Frattini, Milo; Tibiletti, Maria Grazia; Molinari, Francesca; Marando, Alessandro; Zhang, Lizhi; Vanoli, Alessandro; Casnedi, Selenia; Adsay, Volkan; Notohara, Kenji; Albarello, Luca; Asioli, Sofia; Sessa, Fausto; Capella, Carlo; La Rosa, Stefano

    2014-05-01

    Genetic and epigenetic alterations involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) are poorly characterized, including the frequency and role of gene-specific hypermethylation, chromosome aberrations, and copy number alterations (CNAs). A subset of ACCs is known to show alterations in the APC/β-catenin pathway which includes mutations of APC gene. However, it is not known whether, in addition to mutation, loss of APC gene function can occur through alternative genetic and epigenetic mechanisms such as gene loss or promoter methylation. We investigated the global methylation profile of 34 tumor suppressor genes, CNAs of 52 chromosomal regions, and APC gene alterations (mutation, methylation, and loss) together with APC mRNA level in 45 ACCs and related peritumoral pancreatic tissues using methylation-specific multiplex ligation probe amplification (MS-MLPA), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), mutation analysis, and reverse transcription-droplet digital PCR. ACCs did not show an extensive global gene hypermethylation profile. RASSF1 and APC were the only two genes frequently methylated. APC mutations were found in only 7 % of cases, while APC loss and methylation were more frequently observed (48 and 56 % of ACCs, respectively). APC mRNA low levels were found in 58 % of cases and correlated with CNAs. In conclusion, ACCs do not show extensive global gene hypermethylation. APC alterations are frequently involved in the pathogenesis of ACCs mainly through gene loss and promoter hypermethylation, along with reduction of APC mRNA levels.

  19. Accumulation and Transport of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) in Plants: Current Status, Considerations for Future Research and Agronomic Applications

    PubMed Central

    Vanderstraeten, Lisa; Van Der Straeten, Dominique

    2017-01-01

    1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is a non-protein amino acid acting as the direct precursor of ethylene, a plant hormone regulating a wide variety of vegetative and developmental processes. ACC is the central molecule of ethylene biosynthesis. The rate of ACC formation differs in response to developmental, hormonal and environmental cues. ACC can be conjugated to three derivatives, metabolized in planta or by rhizobacteria using ACC deaminase, and is transported throughout the plant over short and long distances, remotely leading to ethylene responses. This review highlights some recent advances related to ACC. These include the regulation of ACC synthesis, conjugation and deamination, evidence for a role of ACC as an ethylene-independent signal, short and long range ACC transport, and the identification of a first ACC transporter. Although unraveling the complex mechanism of ACC transport is in its infancy, new questions emerge together with the identification of a first transporter. In the light of the future quest for additional ACC transporters, this review presents perspectives of the novel findings and includes considerations for future research toward applications in agronomy. PMID:28174583

  20. Accumulation and Transport of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) in Plants: Current Status, Considerations for Future Research and Agronomic Applications.

    PubMed

    Vanderstraeten, Lisa; Van Der Straeten, Dominique

    2017-01-01

    1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is a non-protein amino acid acting as the direct precursor of ethylene, a plant hormone regulating a wide variety of vegetative and developmental processes. ACC is the central molecule of ethylene biosynthesis. The rate of ACC formation differs in response to developmental, hormonal and environmental cues. ACC can be conjugated to three derivatives, metabolized in planta or by rhizobacteria using ACC deaminase, and is transported throughout the plant over short and long distances, remotely leading to ethylene responses. This review highlights some recent advances related to ACC. These include the regulation of ACC synthesis, conjugation and deamination, evidence for a role of ACC as an ethylene-independent signal, short and long range ACC transport, and the identification of a first ACC transporter. Although unraveling the complex mechanism of ACC transport is in its infancy, new questions emerge together with the identification of a first transporter. In the light of the future quest for additional ACC transporters, this review presents perspectives of the novel findings and includes considerations for future research toward applications in agronomy.

  1. Genetic rearrangements, hotspot mutations, and microRNA expression in the progression of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland

    PubMed Central

    Andreasen, Simon; Agander, Tina Klitmøller; Bjørndal, Kristine; Erentaite, Daiva; Heegaard, Steffen; Larsen, Stine R.; Melchior, Linea Cecilie; Tan, Qihua; Ulhøi, Benedicte Parm; Wessel, Irene; Homøe, Preben

    2018-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is among the most common salivary gland malignancies, and is notorious for its unpredictable clinical course with frequent local recurrences and metastatic spread. However, the molecular mechanisms for metastatic spread are poorly understood. This malignancy is known to frequently harbor gene fusions involving MYB, MYBL1, and NFIB, and to have a low mutational burden. Most studies have focused on primary tumors to understand the biology of ACC, but this has not revealed a genetic cause for metastatic dissemination in the majority of cases. Hence, other molecular mechanisms are likely to be involved. Here, we characterize the genetic and microRNA expressional landscape of primary ACC and corresponding metastatic lesions from 11 patients. FISH demonstrated preservation of MYB aberrations between primary tumors and metastases, and targeted next-generation sequencing identified mutations exclusive for the metastatic lesions in 3/11 cases (27.3%). Global microRNA profiling identified several differentially expressed miRNAs between primary ACC and metastases as compared to normal salivary gland tissue. Interestingly, individual tumor pairs differed in miRNA profile, but there was no general difference between primary ACCs and metastases. Collectively, we show that MYB and NFIB aberrations are consistently preserved in ACC metastatic lesions, and that additional mutations included in the 50-gene hotspot panel used are infrequently acquired by the metastatic lesions. In contrast, tumor pairs differ in microRNA expression and our data suggest that they are heterogeneous according to their microRNA profile. This adds an additional layer to the complex process of ACC metastatic spread. PMID:29731974

  2. Laparoscopic Finding of Ectopic Adrenocortical Tissue in a 2-Year-Old Boy with Vanishing Testis.

    PubMed

    Marte, Antonio

    2018-01-01

    Ectopic adrenocortical tissue (EAT) along the spermatic cord is an unusual condition in children. The author reports on a 2-year-old boy with impalpable testis. On laparoscopy, EAT was detected along the hypotrophic spermatic vessels and excised. These remnants should be removed to prevent hormone production or malignant transformation.

  3. Preliminary results from DIMES: Dispersion in the ACC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Balwada, D.; Speer, K.; LaCasce, J. H.; Owens, B.

    2012-04-01

    The Diapycnal and Isopynal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean (DIMES) is a CLIVAR process study designed to study mixing in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The experiment includes tracer release, float, and small-scale turbulence components. This presentation will report on some results of the float component, from floats deployed across the ACC in the Southeast Pacific Ocean. These are the first subsurface Lagrangian trajectories from the ACC. Floats were deployed to follow approximately a constant density surface for a period of 1-3 years. To help aid the experimental results virtual floats were advected using AVISO data and basic statistics were derived from both deployed and virtual float trajectories. Experimental design, initial results, comparison to virtual floats and single particle and relative dispersion calculations will be presented.

  4. Association between high expression of phosphorylated Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin and improved survival in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ouyang, Dai-Qiao; Liang, Li-Zhong; Ke, Zun-Fu; Zheng, Guang-Sen; Weng, De-Sheng; Yang, Wei-Fa; Su, Yu-Xiong; Liao, Gui-Qing

    2017-06-01

    Previous genomic studies revealed phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway mutation in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). No validation of its prognostic value has been reported. P-Akt, pan-Akt, phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), PI3K, and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor beta (IGF-1Rβ) were detected on 120 salivary gland ACC/adjacent salivary gland pairs immunohistochemically and were correlated with clinicopathological data. Expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear p-Akt, cytoplasmic p-mTOR, nuclear pan-Akt, and nuclear IGF-1Rβ were higher in ACC than in adjacent salivary glands. P-Akt, p-mTOR, PI3K, and IGF-1Rβ expression were correlated with one another in both cytoplasm and nucleus. Low p-mTOR expression in both subcellular compartments was associated with locoregional recurrence, poor disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Low nuclear p-Akt (Ser473) and p-mTOR expression were independent predictors for poor OS and DFS, respectively. High level of Akt/mTOR activation in ACC is correlated with a significantly improved survival. P-mTOR and nuclear p-Akt are prognostic biomarkers of salivary gland ACC. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1145-1154, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Abundance and diversity of archaeal accA gene in hot springs in Yunnan Province, China.

    PubMed

    Song, Zhao-Qi; Wang, Li; Wang, Feng-Ping; Jiang, Hong-Chen; Chen, Jin-Quan; Zhou, En-Min; Liang, Feng; Xiao, Xiang; Li, Wen-Jun

    2013-09-01

    It has been suggested that archaea carrying the accA gene, encoding the alpha subunit of the acetyl CoA carboxylase, autotrophically fix CO2 using the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate pathway in low-temperature environments (e.g., soils, oceans). However, little new information has come to light regarding the occurrence of archaeal accA genes in high-temperature ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the abundance and diversity of archaeal accA gene in hot springs in Yunnan Province, China, using DNA- and RNA-based phylogenetic analyses and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that archaeal accA genes were present and expressed in the investigated Yunnan hot springs with a wide range of temperatures (66-96 °C) and pH (4.3-9.0). The majority of the amplified archaeal accA gene sequences were affiliated with the ThAOA/HWCG III [thermophilic ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA)/hot water crenarchaeotic group III]. The archaeal accA gene abundance was very close to that of AOA amoA gene, encoding the alpha subunit of ammonia monooxygenase. These data suggest that AOA in terrestrial hot springs might acquire energy from ammonia oxidation coupled with CO2 fixation using the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate pathway.

  6. An OpenACC-Based Unified Programming Model for Multi-accelerator Systems

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

    Kim, Jungwon; Lee, Seyong; Vetter, Jeffrey S

    2015-01-01

    This paper proposes a novel SPMD programming model of OpenACC. Our model integrates the different granularities of parallelism from vector-level parallelism to node-level parallelism into a single, unified model based on OpenACC. It allows programmers to write programs for multiple accelerators using a uniform programming model whether they are in shared or distributed memory systems. We implement a prototype of our model and evaluate its performance with a GPU-based supercomputer using three benchmark applications.

  7. MicroRNA-101-3p suppresses cell proliferation, invasion and enhances chemotherapeutic sensitivity in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma by targeting Pim-1

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Xiao-Yu; Liu, Zhi-Jian; He, Hong; Zhang, Chen; Wang, Yun-Long

    2015-01-01

    MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Recent research has revealed miR-101-3p as an important regulator in several cancers. Nevertheless, its function in salivary gland Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a relatively rare malignance with poor long-term survival rate arisen in head and neck region, remain unknown. In this study, down-regulated miR-101-3p expression was detected in ACC tissues and ACC cell lines with high potential for metastasis. Ectopic expression of miR-101-3p significantly repressed the invasion, proliferation, colony formation, and formation of nude mice xenografts and induced potent apoptosis in ACC cell lines. The provirus integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus 1 (Pim-1) oncogene was subsequently confirmed as a direct target gene of miR-101-3p in ACC. Functional restoration assays revealed that miR-101-3p inhibits cell growth and invasion by directly decreasing Pim-1 expression. Protein levels of Survivin, Cyclin D1 and β-catenin were also down-regulated by miR-101-3p. miR-101-3p enhanced the sensitivity of cisplatin in ACC cell lines. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the novel miR-101-3p/Pim-1 axis provides excellent insights into the carcinogenesis and tumor progression of ACC and may be a promising therapeutic target for this type of cancer. PMID:26693056

  8. Laparoscopic Finding of Ectopic Adrenocortical Tissue in a 2-Year-Old Boy with Vanishing Testis

    PubMed Central

    Marte, Antonio

    2018-01-01

    Ectopic adrenocortical tissue (EAT) along the spermatic cord is an unusual condition in children. The author reports on a 2-year-old boy with impalpable testis. On laparoscopy, EAT was detected along the hypotrophic spermatic vessels and excised. These remnants should be removed to prevent hormone production or malignant transformation. PMID:29326864

  9. Airborne Cloud Computing Environment (ACCE)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hardman, Sean; Freeborn, Dana; Crichton, Dan; Law, Emily; Kay-Im, Liz

    2011-01-01

    Airborne Cloud Computing Environment (ACCE) is JPL's internal investment to improve the return on airborne missions. Improve development performance of the data system. Improve return on the captured science data. The investment is to develop a common science data system capability for airborne instruments that encompasses the end-to-end lifecycle covering planning, provisioning of data system capabilities, and support for scientific analysis in order to improve the quality, cost effectiveness, and capabilities to enable new scientific discovery and research in earth observation.

  10. Axillary lymph node metastases in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast. A rare finding

    PubMed Central

    SPILIOPOULOS, D.; MITSOPOULOS, G.; KAPTANIS, S.; HALKIAS, C.

    2015-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare malignant salivary-type neoplasm that has a good prognosis and represents less than 1% of all breast cancers. It is a triple negative carcinoma that presents as a painful mass. The mean age at the time of diagnosis is 50–60 years old. The solid variant of this type of tumour with basaloid features and presence of nodal metastases is very rare and considered to have a more aggressive clinical course. We present a case with presence of axillary lymph node metastases that was successfully treated with no evidence of recurrence one year after the diagnosis and review the literature. PMID:26712257

  11. Distal truncation of KCC3 in non-French Canadian HMSN/ACC families.

    PubMed

    Salin-Cantegrel, A; Rivière, J-B; Dupré, N; Charron, F M; Shekarabi, M; Karéméra, L; Gaspar, C; Horst, J; Tekin, M; Deda, G; Krause, A; Lippert, M M; Willemsen, M A A P; Jarrar, R; Lapointe, J-Y; Rouleau, G A

    2007-09-25

    Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with agenesis of the corpus callosum (HMSN/ACC) is a severe and progressive autosomal recessive polyneuropathy. Mutations in the potassium-chloride cotransporter 3 gene (KCC3) were identified as responsible for HMSN/ACC in the French Canadian (FC) population. In the present study, the authors were interested in finding new mutations in non-FC populations, assessing the activity of mutant proteins and refining genotype-phenotype correlations. The authors screened KCC3 for mutations using direct sequencing in six non-FC HMSN/ACC families. They then assessed the functionality of the most common mutant protein using a flux assay in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The authors identified mutations in exon 22 of KCC3: a novel mutation (del + 2994-3003; E1015X) in one family, as well as a known mutation (3031C-->T; R1011X) found in five unrelated families and associated with two different haplotypes. The function of the cotransporter was abolished, although a limited amount of mutant proteins were correctly localized at the membrane. KCC3 mutations in exon 22 constitute a recurrent mutation site for hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with agenesis of the corpus callosum (HMSN/ACC), regardless of ethnic origin, and are the most common cause of HMSN/ACC in the non-French Canadian (FC) families analyzed so far. Therefore, for genetic analysis, exon 22 screening should be prioritized in non-FC populations. Finally, the R1011X mutation leads to the abrogation of KCC3's function in Xenopus laevis oocytes, likely due to impaired transit of the cotransporter.

  12. Les grands accélérateurs de particules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patoux, A.; Perot, J.

    1991-02-01

    The different types of accelerators are recalled with emphasis on the most powerful : the synchrotron particle colliders. The use of superconductors in accelerator magnets as well as in RF cavities is discussed. The characteristics of the large accelerators, existing and planned, are given together with the level of industry involvement in their construction. Details concerning superconducting magnets and cryogenic plants are investigated. Finally, detectors, the most important tool for physics, are mentionned. Après avoir rappelé les différents types d'accélérateurs utilisés, l'accent est mis sur les plus puissants, c'est-à-dire les synchrotrons fonctionnant en anneaux de collision. Le rôle des supraconducteurs est analysé aussi bien pour les aimants que pour les cavités accélératrices. Les caractéristiques des principaux accélérateurs existants ou en projet sont données ainsi que l'implication de l'industrie dans leur fabrication. On insiste plus particulièrement sur les aimants supraconducteurs et les installations cryogéniques. Enfin les détecteurs, éléments indispensables à la physique, sont également évoqués.

  13. Defining the surgical margins of adenoid cystic carcinoma and their impact on outcome: An international collaborative study.

    PubMed

    Amit, Moran; Na'ara, Shorook; Trejo-Leider, Leonor; Ramer, Naomi; Burstein, David; Yue, Ma; Miles, Brett; Yang, Xinjie; Lei, Delin; Bjoerndal, Kristine; Godballe, Christian; Mücke, Thomas; Wolff, Klaus-Dietrich; Eckardt, André M; Copelli, Chiara; Sesenna, Enrico; Patel, Snehal; Ganly, Ian; Gil, Ziv

    2017-05-01

    The mainstay of treatment in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is surgical resection with negative margins. The purpose of this study was to define the margin status that associates with survival outcomes of ACC of the head and neck. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses of international data. Data of 507 patients with ACC of the head and neck were analyzed; negative margins defined as ≥5 mm were detected in 253 patients (50%). On multivariate analysis, the hazard ratios (HRs) of positive margin status were 2.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-6.2; p = .04) and 2.63 (95% CI, 1.1-6.3; p = .03) for overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS), respectively. Close margins had no significant impact on outcome, with HRs of 1.1 (95% CI, 0.4-3.0; p = .12) and 1.07 (95% CI, 0.3-3.4; p = .23) for OS and DSS, respectively, relative with negative margins. In head and neck ACC, positive margins are associated with the worst outcome. Negative or close margins are associated with improved outcome, regardless of the distance from the tumor. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1008-1014, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Precipitation of ACC in liposomes-a model for biomineralization in confined volumes

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

    Tester, Chantel C; Wu, Ching-Hsuan; Weigand, Steven

    2013-01-10

    Biomineralizing organisms frequently precipitate minerals in small phospholipid bilayer-delineated compartments. We have established an in vitro model system to investigate the effect of confinement in attoliter to femtoliter volumes on the precipitation of calcium carbonate. In particular, we analyze the growth and stabilization of liposome-encapsulated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles using a combination of in situ techniques, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Herein, we discuss ACC nanoparticle growth rate as a function of liposome size, carbon dioxide flux across the liposome membrane, pH, and osmotic pressure. Based on these experiments, we argue that the stabilizationmore » of ACC nanoparticles in liposomes is a consequence of a low nucleation rate (high activation barrier) of crystalline polymorphs of calcium carbonate.« less

  15. The Contingency of Cocaine Administration Accounts for Structural and Functional Medial Prefrontal Deficits and Increased Adrenocortical Activation

    PubMed Central

    Anderson, Rachel M.; Cosme, Caitlin V.; Glanz, Ryan M.; Miller, Mary C.; Romig-Martin, Sara A.; LaLumiere, Ryan T.

    2015-01-01

    The prelimbic region (PL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is implicated in the relapse of drug-seeking behavior. Optimal mPFC functioning relies on synaptic connections involving dendritic spines in pyramidal neurons, whereas prefrontal dysfunction resulting from elevated glucocorticoids, stress, aging, and mental illness are each linked to decreased apical dendritic branching and spine density in pyramidal neurons in these cortical fields. The fact that cocaine use induces activation of the stress-responsive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis raises the possibility that cocaine-related impairments in mPFC functioning may be manifested by similar changes in neuronal architecture in mPFC. Nevertheless, previous studies have generally identified increases, rather than decreases, in structural plasticity in mPFC after cocaine self-administration. Here, we use 3D imaging and analysis of dendritic spine morphometry to show that chronic cocaine self-administration leads to mild decreases of apical dendritic branching, prominent dendritic spine attrition in PL pyramidal neurons, and working memory deficits. Importantly, these impairments were largely accounted for in groups of rats that self-administered cocaine compared with yoked-cocaine- and saline-matched counterparts. Follow-up experiments failed to demonstrate any effects of either experimenter-administered cocaine or food self-administration on structural alterations in PL neurons. Finally, we verified that the cocaine self-administration group was distinguished by more protracted increases in adrenocortical activity compared with yoked-cocaine- and saline-matched controls. These studies suggest a mechanism whereby increased adrenocortical activity resulting from chronic cocaine self-administration may contribute to regressive prefrontal structural and functional plasticity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Stress, aging, and mental illness are each linked to decreased prefrontal plasticity. Here, we show that chronic

  16. Impaired Voluntary Control in PTSD: Probing Self-Regulation of the ACC With Real-Time fMRI

    PubMed Central

    Zweerings, Jana; Pflieger, Eliza M.; Mathiak, Krystyna A.; Zvyagintsev, Mikhail; Kacela, Anastasia; Flatten, Guido; Mathiak, Klaus

    2018-01-01

    Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by deficits in the self-regulation of cognitions and emotions. Neural networks of emotion regulation may exhibit reduced control mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), contributing to aberrant limbic responses in PTSD. Methods: Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) assessed self-regulation of the ACC in nine patients with PTSD after single trauma exposure and nine matched healthy controls. All participants were instructed to train ACC upregulation on three training days. Results: Both groups achieved regulation, which was associated with wide-spread brain activation encompassing the ACC. Compared to the controls, regulation amplitude and learning rate was lower in patients, correlating with symptom severity. In addition, a frontopolar activation cluster was associated with self-regulation efforts in patients. Conclusions: For the first time, we tested self-regulation of the ACC in patients with PTSD. The observed impairment supports models of ACC-mediated regulation deficits that may contribute to the psychopathology of PTSD. Controlled trials in a larger sample are needed to confirm our findings and to directly investigate whether training of central regulation mechanisms improves emotion regulation in PTSD. PMID:29899712

  17. Impaired Voluntary Control in PTSD: Probing Self-Regulation of the ACC With Real-Time fMRI.

    PubMed

    Zweerings, Jana; Pflieger, Eliza M; Mathiak, Krystyna A; Zvyagintsev, Mikhail; Kacela, Anastasia; Flatten, Guido; Mathiak, Klaus

    2018-01-01

    Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by deficits in the self-regulation of cognitions and emotions. Neural networks of emotion regulation may exhibit reduced control mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), contributing to aberrant limbic responses in PTSD. Methods: Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) assessed self-regulation of the ACC in nine patients with PTSD after single trauma exposure and nine matched healthy controls. All participants were instructed to train ACC upregulation on three training days. Results: Both groups achieved regulation, which was associated with wide-spread brain activation encompassing the ACC. Compared to the controls, regulation amplitude and learning rate was lower in patients, correlating with symptom severity. In addition, a frontopolar activation cluster was associated with self-regulation efforts in patients. Conclusions: For the first time, we tested self-regulation of the ACC in patients with PTSD. The observed impairment supports models of ACC-mediated regulation deficits that may contribute to the psychopathology of PTSD. Controlled trials in a larger sample are needed to confirm our findings and to directly investigate whether training of central regulation mechanisms improves emotion regulation in PTSD.

  18. Expression of BNIP3 and its correlations to hypoxia-induced autophagy and clinicopathological features in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Chen, Zhanwei; Wu, Haiwei; Huang, Shengyun; Li, Wengang; Zhang, Shizhou; Zheng, Peihui; Zhou, Xiaoqing; Liu, Wenlei; Zhang, Dongsheng

    2015-01-01

    The expression of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein3 (BNIP3) has been explored in many human malignancies, but not in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). This study investigated the clinical significance of expression of BNIP3 in ACC tissues and cells and elucidated its correlations to hypoxia-induced autophagy. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining were used to explore BNIP3, HIF-1α and LC3 expression. BNIP3 was positively expressed in 41 cases (63.1%), and was significantly correlated with histological grade (P= 0.001). HIF-1α was positively expressed in 52 cases (80.0%) and was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P= 0.023) and histological grade (P= 0.024). LC3 was positively expressed in 37 cases (56.9%) and was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P= 0.019). The expression of BNIP3 was correlated with HIF-1α expression (P= 0.011). The overall survival in the negative BNIP3 expression group tended to be better than in the positive BNIP3 expression (P= 0.011). In vitro experiment, BNIP3 immunofluorescence staining was detected in cells treated with CoCl2 (for hypoxic condition). The data indicated that BNIP3 plays a vital role in the tumorigenesis of adenoid cystic carcinoma and could be a new target for gene therapy of adenoid cystic carcinoma.

  19. The Adrenocortical Response of Greater Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) to Capture, ACTH Injection, and Confinement, as Measured in Fecal Samples

    PubMed Central

    Jankowski, M. D.; Wittwer, D. J.; Heisey, D. M.; Franson, J. C.; Hofmeister, E. K.

    2009-01-01

    Investigators of wildlife populations often utilize demographic indicators to understand the relationship between habitat characteristics and population viability. Assessments of corticosterone may enable earlier detection of populations at risk of decline because physiological adjustments to habitat disturbance occur before reproductive diminutions. Noninvasive methods to accomplish these assesments are important in species of concern, such as the greater sage grouse (GRSG). Therefore, we validated a radioimmunoassay that measures immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites (ICM) in fecal samples and used it to characterize the adrenocortical response of 15 GRSG exposed to capture, intravenous injection of 50 IU/kg adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or saline, and 22 h of confinement. Those animals injected with ACTH exhibited a more sustained (P = 0.0139) and less variable (P = 0.0012) response than those injected with saline, indicating different levels of adrenocortical activity. We also found that potential field-collection protocols of fecal samples did not alter ICM concentrations: samples held at 4°C for up to 16 h contained similar levels of ICM as those frozen (−20°C) immediately. This study demonstrates a multiphasic adrenocortical response that varied with the level of stimulation and indicates that the assay used to measure this phenomenon is applicable for studies of wild GRSG. PMID:19199814

  20. The adrenocortical response of greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) to capture, ACTH injection, and confinement, as measured in fecal samples

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Jankowski, M.D.; Wittwer, D.J.; Heisey, D.M.; Franson, J. Christian; Hofmeister, Erik K.

    2009-01-01

    Investigators of wildlife populations often utilize demographic indicators to understand the relationship between habitat characteristics and population viability. Assessments of corticosterone may enable earlier detection of populations at risk of decline because physiological adjustments to habitat disturbance occur before reproductive diminutions. Noninvasive methods to accomplish these assesments are important in species of concern, such as the greater sage grouse (GRSG). Therefore, we validated a radioimmunoassay that measures immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites (ICM) in fecal samples and used it to characterize the adrenocortical response of 15 GRSG exposed to capture, intravenous injection of 50 IU/kg adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or saline, and 22 h of confinement. Those animals injected with ACTH exhibited a more sustained (P = 0.0139) and less variable (P = 0.0012) response than those injected with saline, indicating different levels of adrenocortical activity. We also found that potential field-collection protocols of fecal samples did not alter ICM concentrations: samples held at 4??C for up to 16 h contained similar levels of ICM as those frozen (-20??C) immediately. This study demonstrates a multiphasic adrenocortical response that varied with the level of stimulation and indicates that the assay used to measure this phenomenon is applicable for studies of wild GRSG. ?? 2009 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

  1. Gonadectomy-related adrenocortical tumors in ferrets demonstrate increased expression of androgen and estrogen synthesizing enzymes together with high inhibin expression.

    PubMed

    de Jong, M K; ten Asbroek, E E M; Sleiderink, A J; Conley, A J; Mol, J A; Schoemaker, N J

    2014-07-01

    The 2 objectives of this study were to (1) measure by quantitative polymerase chain reaction the expression of genes involved in steroid and inhibin synthesis in adrenocortical tumors of gonadectomized ferrets and (2) localize by immunohistochemistry several proteins that are key to adrenal steroidogenesis. Relative to the control adrenals, expression of the messenger RNAs encoding StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; P = 0.039), CYP11A (P = 0.019), CYP21 (P = 0.01), and 3β-HSD (P = 0.004), all involved in the synthesis of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, were decreased in the adrenocortical tumors. In contrast, expression of cytochrome B5 (CytB5; P = 0.0001) and aromatase (P = 0.003), involved in androgen and estrogen synthesis, and both inhibin α-subunit (P = 0.002) and βB-subunit (P = 0.001) were upregulated. In tumors, immunostaining of CYP21 was low, whereas staining of Cyp17 and CytB5, necessary for androgen synthesis, was present. It is concluded that ferret adrenocortical tumors express genes for androgen production. In addition, the expression of aromatase and inhibin suggests an even more gonadal differentiation, which is reminiscent to the fact that both gonads and adrenals are derived from a common urogenital primordial cell. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. The Inherited p53 Mutation in the Brazilian Population.

    PubMed

    Achatz, Maria Isabel; Zambetti, Gerard P

    2016-12-01

    A common criticism of studying rare diseases is the often-limited relevance of the findings to human health. Here, we review ∼15 years of research into an unusual germline TP53 mutation (p.R337H) that began with its detection in children with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a remarkably rare childhood cancer that is associated with poor prognosis. We have come to learn that the p.R337H mutation exists at a very high frequency in Southern and Southeastern Brazil, occurring in one of 375 individuals within a total population of ∼100 million. Moreover, it has been determined that carriers of this founder mutation display variable tumor susceptibility, ranging from isolated cases of pediatric ACC to Li-Fraumeni or Li-Fraumeni-like (LFL) syndromes, thus representing a significant medical issue for this country. Studying the biochemical and molecular consequences of this mutation on p53 tumor-suppressor activity, as well as the putative additional genetic alterations that cooperate with this mutation, is advancing our understanding of how p53 functions in tumor suppression in general. These studies, which originated with a rare childhood tumor, are providing important information for guiding genetic counselors and physicians in treating their patients and are already providing clinical benefit. Copyright © 2016 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved.

  3. Adrenocortical nuclear progesterone-binding protein: Identification by photoaffinity labeling and evidence for deoxyribonucleic acid binding and stimulation by adrenocorticotropin

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

    Demura, T.; Driscoll, W.J.; Lee, Y.C.

    1991-01-01

    Nuclei of the guinea pig adrenal cortex contain a protein that specifically binds progesterone and that, biochemically, is clearly distinct from the classical progesterone receptor. The adrenocortical nuclear progesterone-binding protein has now been purified more than 2000-fold by steroid-affinity chromatography with a 75% yield. The purified protein preparation demonstrated three major bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel of 79K, 74K, and 50K. To determine which of the three might represent the progesterone-binding protein, steroid photoaffinity labeling was performed which resulted in the specific and exclusive labeling of a 50K band. Thus, the adrenocortical nuclear progesterone-binding protein appears to be distinctmore » from the classical progesterone receptor not only biochemically, but also on the basis of molecular size. To test whether the adrenocortical nuclear progesterone-binding protein can be hormonally stimulated, guinea pigs were treated with ACTH. The chronic administration of ACTH caused a 4- to 6-fold increase in the specific progesterone binding capacity without a change in the binding affinity. There appeared to be no significant difference in nuclear progesterone binding between the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. This finding suggests a mediating role for the progesterone-binding protein in ACTH action. In addition, the nuclear progesterone-binding protein bound to nonspecific DNA sequences, further suggesting a possible transcriptional regulatory role.« less

  4. [Isolation, identification and characterization of ACC deaminase-containing endophytic bacteria from halophyte Suaeda salsa].

    PubMed

    Teng, Songshan; Liu, Yanping; Zhao, Lei

    2010-11-01

    We Isolated and characterized 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase-containing endophytic bacteria from halophyte Suaeda salsa to understand the interactions between endophytes and halophyte. ACC deaminase-containing endophytic bacteria were isolated from root, stalk and leaf of Suaeda salsa and were identified based on morphological, physiological-biochemical properties, API and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Isolates were evaluated for their ACC deaminase, antifungal, protease activity, siderophores and phytohormones, such as indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellic acid and abscisic acid production, as well as atmospheric nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. Four ACC deaminase-containing endophytic bacteria strains named as LP11, SS12, TW1 and TW2 were isolated and identified as Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas putida respectively. All the strains possessed the phosphate-solubilizing ability and could produce siderophores and phytohormones more or less. None of them could fix atmospheric nitrogen or produce protease. Only strain SS12 showed antagonism against two phytopathogenic fungi viz Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. ACC deaminase-containing endophytic bacteria of Pseudomonas sp. and Pantoea sp. isolated from halophyte Suaeda salsa have abundant biological characteristics related to plant growth promotion, stress homeostasis regulation and biocontrol activity.

  5. An ACC Design Method for Achieving Both String Stability and Ride Comfort

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamamura, Yoshinori; Seto, Yoji; Nishira, Hikaru; Kawabe, Taketoshi

    An investigation was made of a method for designing adaptive cruise control (ACC) so as to achieve a headway distance response that feels natural to the driver while at the same time obtaining high levels of both string stability and ride comfort. With this design method, the H∞ norm is adopted as the index of string stability. Additionally, two norms are introduced for evaluating ride comfort and natural vehicle behavior. The relationship between these three norms and headway distance response characteristics was analyzed, and an evaluation method was established for achieving high levels of the various performance characteristics required of ACC. An ACC system designed with this method was evaluated in driving tests conducted on a proving ground course, and the results confirmed that it achieved the targeted levels of string stability, ride comfort and natural vehicle behavior.

  6. Effectiveness of rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase for growth promotion of peas (Pisum sativum) under drought conditions.

    PubMed

    Zahir, Z A; Munir, A; Asghar, H N; Shaharoona, B; Arshad, M

    2008-05-01

    A series of experiments were conducted to assess the effectiveness of rhizobacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane- 1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase for growth promotion of peas under drought conditions. Ten rhizobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of different crops (peas, wheat, and maize) were screened for their growth promoting ability in peas under axenic condition. Three rhizobacterial isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype G (ACC-5), P. fluorescens (ACC-14), and P. putida biotype A (Q-7), were selected for pot trial on the basis of their source, ACC deaminase activity, root colonization, and growth promoting activity under axenic conditions. Inoculated and uninoculated (control) seeds of pea cultivar 2000 were sown in pots (4 seeds/pot) at different soil moisture levels (25, 50, 75, and 100% of field capacity). Results revealed that decreasing the soil moisture levels from 100 to 25% of field capacity significantly decreased the growth of peas. However, inoculation of peas with rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase significantly decreased the "drought stress imposed effects" on growth of peas, although with variable efficacy at different moisture levels. At the lowest soil moisture level (25% field capacity), rhizobacterial isolate Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype G (ACC-5) was found to be more promising compared with the other isolates, as it caused maximum increases in fresh weight, dry weight, root length, shoot length, number of leaves per plant, and water use efficiency on fresh and dry weight basis (45, 150, 92, 45, 140, 46, and 147%, respectively) compared with respective uninoculated controls. It is highly likely that rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase might have decreased the drought-stress induced ethylene in inoculated plants, which resulted in better growth of plants even at low moisture levels. Therefore, inoculation with rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase could be helpful in eliminating the inhibitory effects of drought stress on the

  7. Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Metastatic to the Pituitary: A Case Report and Discussion of Potential Diagnostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Pituitary Tumors.

    PubMed

    D Hughes, Joshua; Retzlaff, Amber; Sims, John; O'Brien, Erin; Giannini, Caterina; Huston, John; Van Gompel, Jamie J

    2016-07-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an exocrine gland tumor accounting for approximately 10%-15% of all epithelial salivary neoplasms and occurs most often in the parotid and submandibular glands. Metastatic pituitary tumors are rare, and there is only 1 previously reported case of parotid ACC metastatic to the pituitary. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique that measures the propagation of mechanically induced shear waves through a particular tissue to determine stiffness and offers a method to evaluate tissue consistency. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman with a remote history of parotid gland ACC and subsequent lung metastases presented after a fall that resulted in facial trauma. A non-contrast head computed tomography scan revealed a sellar/suprasellar mass, and follow-up MRI revealed a well-defined, enhancing 3.8-cm lesion. MRE showed the tumor to be firm. The tumor was resected through a transsphenoidal approach and was consistent with the MRE findings. Pathology returned as metastatic ACC. We report the second case of ACC metastatic to pituitary and the first firm pituitary tumor found by MRE and discuss the potential diagnostic value of MRE in pituitary lesions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. A feasibility study on porting the community land model onto accelerators using OpenACC

    DOE PAGES

    Wang, Dali; Wu, Wei; Winkler, Frank; ...

    2014-01-01

    As environmental models (such as Accelerated Climate Model for Energy (ACME), Parallel Reactive Flow and Transport Model (PFLOTRAN), Arctic Terrestrial Simulator (ATS), etc.) became more and more complicated, we are facing enormous challenges regarding to porting those applications onto hybrid computing architecture. OpenACC appears as a very promising technology, therefore, we have conducted a feasibility analysis on porting the Community Land Model (CLM), a terrestrial ecosystem model within the Community Earth System Models (CESM)). Specifically, we used automatic function testing platform to extract a small computing kernel out of CLM, then we apply this kernel into the actually CLM dataflowmore » procedure, and investigate the strategy of data parallelization and the benefit of data movement provided by current implementation of OpenACC. Even it is a non-intensive kernel, on a single 16-core computing node, the performance (based on the actual computation time using one GPU) of OpenACC implementation is 2.3 time faster than that of OpenMP implementation using single OpenMP thread, but it is 2.8 times slower than the performance of OpenMP implementation using 16 threads. On multiple nodes, MPI_OpenACC implementation demonstrated very good scalability on up to 128 GPUs on 128 computing nodes. This study also provides useful information for us to look into the potential benefits of “deep copy” capability and “routine” feature of OpenACC standards. In conclusion, we believe that our experience on the environmental model, CLM, can be beneficial to many other scientific research programs who are interested to porting their large scale scientific code using OpenACC onto high-end computers, empowered by hybrid computing architecture.« less

  9. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the larynx presenting with unusual subglottic mass: Case report.

    PubMed

    Kashiwagi, Takashi; Kanaya, Hiroaki; Konno, Wataru; Goto, Kazutaka; Hirabayashi, Hideki; Haruna, Shin-Ichi

    2016-10-01

    A 33-year-old woman presented with an unusual subglottic bulging mass accompanied by prolonged cough and wheeze. Laryngeal endoscopy revealed a bilateral, symmetrical mass immediately below the vocal cords with marked airway obstruction. Chronic subglottic laryngitis with inflammation or another condition such as amyloidosis was initially suspected. Cervicothoracic computed tomography revealed an obvious reduction of laryngeal caliber caused by an engulfing mass extending from just under the vocal cords to the cricoid ring, which was associated with thyroid, arytenoid, and cricoid cartilage destruction. Histopathological diagnosis of a biopsy specimen collected via a tracheotomy revealed that the lesion was a cT4aN0M0 adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) originating from the laryngeal minor salivary glands. The patient was treated by total laryngectomy with elective bilateral neck dissection under general anesthesia. Gross inspection of resected tissue confirmed yellowish-white, solid tumor mainly circumferentially encompassing the lumina of the cricoid ring. The histopathological findings confirmed typical ACC accompanied by a predominant cribriform appearance with no evidence of lymph node metastasis. The patient remains well and free of recurrence or metastasis. We herein describe laryngeal ACC and discuss radiological images and the surgical pathology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Nicotine-induced stimulation of steroidogenesis in adrenocortical cells of the cat.

    PubMed Central

    Rubin, R P; Warner, W

    1975-01-01

    1. The effect of nicotine on steroid production and release from trypsin-dispersed cat adrenocortical cells was investigated. 2. Nicotine, like adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), elicited a dose-dependent increase in steroidogenesis, which depended upon the presence of calcium in the medium. 3. Augmented steroid production evoked by submaximal concentrations of ACTH monobutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (AMP), or prostaglandin E2 was further enhanced by steroidogenic concentrations of nicotine. 4. These results are discussed in relation to the possible mode of action of nicotine on cortical cells and to the potential consequences of smoking during stress. PMID:165845

  11. [Cloning, expression and transcriptional analysis of biotin carboxyl carrier protein gene (accA) from Amycolatopsis mediterranei U32 ].

    PubMed

    Lu, Jie; Yao, Yufeng; Jiang, Weihong; Jiao, Ruishen

    2003-02-01

    Acetyl CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2, ACC) catalyzes the ATP-dependent carboxylation of acetyl CoA to yield malonyl CoA, which is the first committed step in fatty acid synthesis. A pair of degenerate PCR primers were designed according to the conserved amino acid sequence of AccA from M. tuberculosis and S. coelicolor. The product of the PCR amplification, a DNA fragment of 250bp was used as a probe for screening the U32 genomic cosmid library and its gene, accA, coding the biotinylated protein subunit of acetyl CoA carboxylase, was successfully cloned from U32. The accA ORF encodes a 598-amino-acid protein with the calculated molecular mass of 63.7kD, with 70.1% of G + C content. A typical Streptomyces RBS sequence, AGGAGG, was found at the - 6 position upstream of the start codon GTG. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence showed the presence of biotin-binding site and putative ATP-bicarbonate interaction region, which suggested the U32 AccA may act as a biotin carboxylase as well as a biotin carrier protein. Gene accA was then cloned into the pET28 (b) vector and expressed solubly in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by 0.1 mmol/L IPTG induction. Western blot confirmed the covalent binding of biotin with AccA. Northern blot analyzed transcriptional regulation of accA by 5 different nitrogen sources.

  12. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast, 20 years of experience in a single center with review of literature.

    PubMed

    Treitl, Daniela; Radkani, Pejman; Rizer, Magda; El Hussein, Siba; Paramo, Juan C; Mesko, Thomas W

    2018-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare type of breast cancer, which presents inconsistencies in the optimal management strategy. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data, spanning the last 20 years, was performed using the cancer registry database at our institution. Six patients were diagnosed with ACC of the breast, out of 5,813 total patients diagnosed with breast cancer (0.1%). Our identified patients had a median age of 66, all with the early stage cancer (Stage I/II). The average size of the breast lesion was 1.62 cm, and nodal status was negative for all cases. All patients had resection as primary therapy (partial or total mastectomy), with one patient also undergoing external beam radiation and tamoxifen hormonal therapy. Median follow-up was 85 months, with all patients being disease-free at last follow-up. ACC of the breast has an indolent course, despite triple negative status. Our study suggests that radiation may not be warranted and confirms the rarity of axillary node metastases, indicating that sentinel node excision may also not be necessary. Ultimately, the hope is that our findings along with the reviewed literature will aid in determining the most appropriate options for management of ACC of the breast.

  13. A Phase II study of Dovitinib in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Dillon, Patrick M.; Petroni, Gina R.; Horton, Bethany J.; Moskaluk, Christopher A.; Fracasso, Paula M.; Douvas, Michael G; Varhegyi, Nikole; Zaja-Milatovic, Snjezana; Thomas, Christopher Y.

    2017-01-01

    Purpose Genetic and preclinical studies have implicated fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling in the pathogenesis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Dovitinib, a suppressor FGFR activity, may be active in ACC. Methods In a two-stage phase II study, 35 patients with progressive ACC were treated with dovitinib 500mg orally for 5 of 7 days continuously. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and change in tumor growth rate (TGR). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), metabolic response, biomarker and QOL were secondary endpoints. Results Of thirty-four evaluable patients, two (6%) had a partial response and 22 (65%) had stable disease >4 months. Median PFS was 8.2 months and OS was 20.6 months. The slope of the overall TGR fell from 1.95 to 0.63 on-treatment (p<0.001). Toxicity was moderate; 63% of patients developed grade 3–4 toxicity, 94% required dose modifications, and 21% stopped treatment early. An early metabolic response based on 18FDG-PET scans was seen in 3/15 patients but did not correlate with RECIST response. MYB gene translocation was observed and significantly correlated with over-expression of MYB but did not correlate with FGFR1 phosphorylation or clinical response to dovitinib. Conclusion Dovitinib produced few objective responses in patients with ACC but did suppress the TGR with a PFS that compares favorably to those reported with other targeted agents. Future studies of more potent and selective FGFR inhibitors in biomarker-selected patients will be required to determine if FGFR signaling is a valid therapeutic target in ACC. PMID:28377480

  14. Noninvasive monitoring of adrenocortical function in captive jaguars (Panthera onca).

    PubMed

    Conforti, Valéria A; Morato, Ronaldo G; Augusto, Anderson M; de Oliveira e Sousa, Lúcio; de Avila, David M; Brown, Janine L; Reeves, Jerry J

    2012-01-01

    Jaguars are threatened with extinction throughout their range. A sustainable captive population can serve as a hedge against extinction, but only if they are healthy and reproduce. Understanding how jaguars respond to stressors may help improve the captive environment and enhance their wellbeing. Thus, our objectives were to: (1) conduct an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge to validate a cortisol radioimmunoassay (RIA) for noninvasive monitoring of adrenocortical function in jaguars; (2) investigate the relationship between fecal corticoid (FCM) and androgen metabolite (FAM) concentrations in males during the ACTH challenge; and (3) establish a range of physiological concentrations of FCMs for the proposed protocol. Seven jaguars (3 M, 4 F) received 500 IU/animal of ACTH. Pre- and post-ACTH fecal samples were assayed for corticoid (M and F) and androgen metabolites (M) by RIA. Concentrations of FCMs increased (P80.01) after ACTH injection (pre-ACTH: 0.90 ± 0.12 µg/g dry feces; post-ACTH: 2.55 ± 0.25 µg/g). Considering pre- and post-ACTH samples, FCM concentrations were higher (P80.01) in males (2.15 ± 0.20 µg/g) than in females (1.30 ± 0.20 µg/g), but the magnitude of the response to ACTH was comparable (P>0.05) between genders. After ACTH injection, FAMs increased in two (of 3) males; in one male, FCMs and FAMs were positively correlated (0.60; P80.01). Excretion of FCMs was assessed in 16 jaguars (7 M, 9 F) and found to be highly variable (range, 80.11-1.56 µg/g). In conclusion, this study presents a cortisol RIA for monitoring adrenocortical function in jaguars noninvasively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. The transformation of amorphous calcium carbonate, ACC, to crystalline phases as function of time and temperature.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gies, Hermann; Happel, Marian; Niedermayr, Andrea; Immenhauser, Adrian

    2017-04-01

    We present results from a structural study of the transformation of freeze dried amorphous calcium carbonate, ACC, in crystalline material using pair distribution function analysis, PDF analysis, of X-ray powder diffraction data, XPD data. PDF analysis allows for the analysis of local order of structural subunit in the range between molecular unit (1. and 2. coordination sphere) and long range periodicity as in crystalline materials. ACC was precipitated from aqueous solutions at 298 K and 278 K using different amounts of Mg cations as stabilizer. The samples were immediately separated from the solution and freeze dried. For the transformation study, the samples were heated and analysed using XPD until they were crystallized. The radial distribution obtained from the XPD data were compared to simulated radial distributions of the calcium carbonate polymorphs and their hydrated phases. An ACC precipitated from a solution with Ca:Mg:CO3 = 1:5:4 at 298 K (ration in mmol, pH = 8.2) and freeze dried right after isolation from the solution revealed a close resemblance with ikaite in its local order. Another ACC with Ca:Mg:CO3 = 1:10:1.4 (T = 298, pH = 8.7) showed distinctly different local order resembling monohydrocalcite. Both ACC, however, still had considerable amounts of water dominating the Ca-coordination sphere. During the transformation to calcite, the structural changes in the sample concerned the hydrate water coordinating Ca which was removed and replaced by the carbonate oxygens. The study shows that ACC obtained from different starting solutions show specific local order. Freeze drying leads to solid ACC powder which still contain considerable amounts of hydrate water. Structural subunits are distinct in ACC and different from the crystalline phase. The study supplements recent reports presented by Konrad et al., Purgstaller et al., and Tobler et al.. F. Konrad et al., Cryst. Growth Des. 16, 6310-6317(2016) B. Purgstaller et al., Geochimica et Cosmochimica

  16. Molecular cloning, expression, and stress response of the estrogen-related receptor gene (AccERR) from Apis cerana cerana

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Weixing; Zhu, Ming; Zhang, Ge; Liu, Feng; Wang, Hongfang; Guo, Xingqi; Xu, Baohua

    2016-04-01

    Estrogen-related receptor (ERR), which belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, has been implicated in diverse physiological processes involving the estrogen signaling pathway. However, little information is available on ERR in Apis cerana cerana. In this report, we isolated the ERR gene and investigated its involvement in antioxidant defense. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed that the highest mRNA expression occurred in eggs during different developmental stages. The expression levels of AccERR were highest in the muscle, followed by the rectum. The predicted transcription factor binding sites in the promoter of AccERR suggested that AccERR potentially functions in early development and in environmental stress responses. The expression of AccERR was induced by cold (4 °C), heat (42 °C), ultraviolet light (UV), HgCl2, and various types of pesticides (phoxim, deltamethrin, triadimefon, and cyhalothrin). Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of AccERR protein. These data suggested that AccERR might play a vital role in abiotic stress responses.

  17. A halotolerant Enterobacter sp. displaying ACC deaminase activity promotes rice seedling growth under salt stress.

    PubMed

    Sarkar, Anumita; Ghosh, Pallab Kumar; Pramanik, Krishnendu; Mitra, Soumik; Soren, Tithi; Pandey, Sanjeev; Mondal, Monohar Hossain; Maiti, Tushar Kanti

    2018-01-01

    Agricultural productivity is proven to be hampered by the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and production of stress-induced ethylene under salinity stress. One-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is the direct precursor of ethylene synthesized by plants. Bacteria possessing ACC deaminase activity can use ACC as a nitrogen source preventing ethylene production. Several salt-tolerant bacterial strains displaying ACC deaminase activity were isolated from rice fields, and their plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties were determined. Among them, strain P23, identified as an Enterobacter sp. based on phenotypic characteristics, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry data and the 16S rDNA sequence, was selected as the best-performing isolate for several PGP traits, including phosphate solubilization, IAA production, siderophore production, HCN production, etc. Enterobacter sp. P23 was shown to promote rice seedling growth under salt stress, and this effect was correlated with a decrease in antioxidant enzymes and stress-induced ethylene. Isolation of an acdS mutant strain enabled concluding that the reduction in stress-induced ethylene content after inoculation of strain P23 was linked to ACC deaminase activity. Copyright © 2017 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  18. Ectopic expression of the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor gene is a sufficient genetic event to induce benign adrenocortical tumor in a xenotransplantation model.

    PubMed

    Mazzuco, Tania L; Chabre, Olivier; Sturm, Nathalie; Feige, Jean-Jacques; Thomas, Michaël

    2006-02-01

    Aberrant expression of ectopic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in adrenal cortex tissue has been observed in several cases of ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasias and adenomas associated with Cushing's syndrome. Although there is clear clinical evidence for the implication of these ectopic receptors in abnormal regulation of cortisol production, whether this aberrant GPCR expression is the cause or the consequence of the development of an adrenal hyperplasia is still an open question. To answer it, we genetically engineered primary bovine adrenocortical cells to have them express the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor. After transplantation of these modified cells under the renal capsule of adrenalectomized immunodeficient mice, tissues formed had their functional and histological characteristics analyzed. We observed the formation of an enlarged and hyperproliferative adenomatous adrenocortical tissue that secreted cortisol in a gastric inhibitory polypeptide-dependent manner and induced a mild Cushing's syndrome with hyperglycemia. Moreover, we show that tumor development was ACTH independent. Thus, a single genetic event, inappropriate expression of a nonmutated GPCR gene, is sufficient to initiate the complete phenotypic alterations that ultimately lead to the formation of a benign adrenocortical tumor.

  19. Effects of centrifugation on gonadal and adrenocortical steroids in rats

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kakihana, R.; Butte, J. C.

    1980-01-01

    Many endocrine systems are sensitive to external changes in the environment. Both the pituitary adrenal and pituitary gonadal systems are affected by stress including centrifugation stress. The effect of centrifugation on the pituitary gonadal and pituitary adrenocortical systems was examined by measuring the gonadal and adrenal steroids in the plasma and brain following different duration and intensity of centrifugation stress in rats. Two studies were completed and the results are presented. The second study was carried out to describe the developmental changes of brain, plasma and testicular testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in Sprague Dawley rats so that the effect of centrifugation stress on the pituitary gonadal syatem could be better evaluated in future studies.

  20. Combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced/metastatic salivary gland carcinoma patients: differences in responses by different pathological diagnoses.

    PubMed

    Nakano, Kenji; Sato, Yukiko; Sasaki, Tohru; Shimbashi, Wataru; Fukushima, Hirofumi; Yonekawa, Hiroyuki; Mitani, Hiroki; Kawabata, Kazuyoshi; Takahashi, Shunji

    2016-09-01

    A standard chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic salivary gland cancers has not been established. Combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel should be evaluated as a treatment option. This study retrospectively reviewed salivary gland cancer patients who received combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel. The differences in objective responses and in the prognoses according to the different pathological diagnoses were evaluated. A total of 38 patients were enrolled in the study; of them, 18 had salivary duct carcinomas (SDCs), nine had adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs), and 11 had other pathological diagnoses. Objective responses were observed in 15 (39%) patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.5 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 26.5 months. ACC patients had relatively low response rates (9%), but there were no significant differences in PFS or OS compared to other sub-types. The treatment was well tolerated, with few adverse events. Salivary gland cancer patients showed a moderate clinical response to the combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel. The objective response rates differed according to the pathological diagnoses, but there were no significant differences in prognoses.

  1. Design and optimization of a portable LQCD Monte Carlo code using OpenACC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonati, Claudio; Coscetti, Simone; D'Elia, Massimo; Mesiti, Michele; Negro, Francesco; Calore, Enrico; Schifano, Sebastiano Fabio; Silvi, Giorgio; Tripiccione, Raffaele

    The present panorama of HPC architectures is extremely heterogeneous, ranging from traditional multi-core CPU processors, supporting a wide class of applications but delivering moderate computing performance, to many-core Graphics Processor Units (GPUs), exploiting aggressive data-parallelism and delivering higher performances for streaming computing applications. In this scenario, code portability (and performance portability) become necessary for easy maintainability of applications; this is very relevant in scientific computing where code changes are very frequent, making it tedious and prone to error to keep different code versions aligned. In this work, we present the design and optimization of a state-of-the-art production-level LQCD Monte Carlo application, using the directive-based OpenACC programming model. OpenACC abstracts parallel programming to a descriptive level, relieving programmers from specifying how codes should be mapped onto the target architecture. We describe the implementation of a code fully written in OpenAcc, and show that we are able to target several different architectures, including state-of-the-art traditional CPUs and GPUs, with the same code. We also measure performance, evaluating the computing efficiency of our OpenACC code on several architectures, comparing with GPU-specific implementations and showing that a good level of performance-portability can be reached.

  2. If It Goes up, Must It Come Down? Chronic Stress and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenocortical Axis in Humans

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Miller, Gregory E.; Chen, Edith; Zhou, Eric S.

    2007-01-01

    The notion that chronic stress fosters disease by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis is featured prominently in many theories. The research linking chronic stress and HPA function is contradictory, however, with some studies reporting increased activation, and others reporting the opposite. This meta-analysis showed…

  3. Identification and characterization of an Apis cerana cerana Delta class glutathione S-transferase gene ( AccGSTD) in response to thermal stress

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Huiru; Jia, Haihong; Wang, Xiuling; Gao, Hongru; Guo, Xingqi; Xu, Baohua

    2013-02-01

    Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are members of a multifunctional enzyme super family that plays a pivotal role in both insecticide resistance and protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we identified a single-copy gene, AccGSTD, as being a Delta class GST in the Chinese honey bee ( Apis cerana cerana). A predicted antioxidant response element, CREB, was found in the 1,492-bp 5'-flanking region, suggesting that AccGSTD may be involved in oxidative stress response pathways. Real-time PCR and immunolocalization studies demonstrated that AccGSTD exhibited both developmental- and tissue-specific expression patterns. During development, AccGSTD transcript was increased in adults. The AccGSTD expression level was the highest in the honey bee brain. Thermal stress experiments demonstrated that AccGSTD could be significantly upregulated by temperature changes in a time-dependent manner. It is hypothesized that high expression levels might be due to the increased levels of oxidative stress caused by the temperature challenges. Additionally, functional assays of the recombinant AccGSTD protein revealed that AccGSTD has the capability to protect DNA from oxidative damage. Taken together, these data suggest that AccGSTD may be responsible for antioxidant defense in adult honey bees.

  4. Sulcal Polymorphisms of the IFC and ACC Contribute to Inhibitory Control Variability in Children and Adults

    PubMed Central

    Linzarini, Adriano; Dollfus, Sonia; Etard, Olivier; Orliac, François; Houdé, Olivier

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Inhibitory control (IC) is a core executive function that enables humans to resist habits, temptations, or distractions. IC efficiency in childhood is a strong predictor of academic and professional success later in life. Based on analysis of the sulcal pattern, a qualitative feature of cortex anatomy determined during fetal life and stable during development, we searched for evidence that interindividual differences in IC partly trace back to prenatal processes. Using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we analyzed the sulcal pattern of two key regions of the IC neural network, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the inferior frontal cortex (IFC), which limits the inferior frontal gyrus. We found that the sulcal pattern asymmetry of both the ACC and IFC contributes to IC (Stroop score) in children and adults: participants with asymmetrical ACC or IFC sulcal patterns had better IC efficiency than participants with symmetrical ACC or IFC sulcal patterns. Such additive effects of IFC and ACC sulcal patterns on IC efficiency suggest that distinct early neurodevelopmental mechanisms targeting different brain regions likely contribute to IC efficiency. This view shares some analogies with the “common variant–small effect” model in genetics, which states that frequent genetic polymorphisms have small effects but collectively account for a large portion of the variance. Similarly, each sulcal polymorphism has a small but additive effect: IFC and ACC sulcal patterns, respectively, explained 3% and 14% of the variance of the Stroop interference scores. PMID:29527565

  5. Sulcal Polymorphisms of the IFC and ACC Contribute to Inhibitory Control Variability in Children and Adults.

    PubMed

    Tissier, Cloélia; Linzarini, Adriano; Allaire-Duquette, Geneviève; Mevel, Katell; Poirel, Nicolas; Dollfus, Sonia; Etard, Olivier; Orliac, François; Peyrin, Carole; Charron, Sylvain; Raznahan, Armin; Houdé, Olivier; Borst, Grégoire; Cachia, Arnaud

    2018-01-01

    Inhibitory control (IC) is a core executive function that enables humans to resist habits, temptations, or distractions. IC efficiency in childhood is a strong predictor of academic and professional success later in life. Based on analysis of the sulcal pattern, a qualitative feature of cortex anatomy determined during fetal life and stable during development, we searched for evidence that interindividual differences in IC partly trace back to prenatal processes. Using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we analyzed the sulcal pattern of two key regions of the IC neural network, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the inferior frontal cortex (IFC), which limits the inferior frontal gyrus. We found that the sulcal pattern asymmetry of both the ACC and IFC contributes to IC (Stroop score) in children and adults: participants with asymmetrical ACC or IFC sulcal patterns had better IC efficiency than participants with symmetrical ACC or IFC sulcal patterns. Such additive effects of IFC and ACC sulcal patterns on IC efficiency suggest that distinct early neurodevelopmental mechanisms targeting different brain regions likely contribute to IC efficiency. This view shares some analogies with the "common variant-small effect" model in genetics, which states that frequent genetic polymorphisms have small effects but collectively account for a large portion of the variance. Similarly, each sulcal polymorphism has a small but additive effect: IFC and ACC sulcal patterns, respectively, explained 3% and 14% of the variance of the Stroop interference scores.

  6. ACLY and ACC1 Regulate Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis by Modulating ETV4 via α-ketoglutarate.

    PubMed

    Keenan, Melissa M; Liu, Beiyu; Tang, Xiaohu; Wu, Jianli; Cyr, Derek; Stevens, Robert D; Ilkayeva, Olga; Huang, Zhiqing; Tollini, Laura A; Murphy, Susan K; Lucas, Joseph; Muoio, Deborah M; Kim, So Young; Chi, Jen-Tsan

    2015-10-01

    In order to propagate a solid tumor, cancer cells must adapt to and survive under various tumor microenvironment (TME) stresses, such as hypoxia or lactic acidosis. To systematically identify genes that modulate cancer cell survival under stresses, we performed genome-wide shRNA screens under hypoxia or lactic acidosis. We discovered that genetic depletion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA or ACC1) or ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) protected cancer cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the loss of ACLY or ACC1 reduced levels and activities of the oncogenic transcription factor ETV4. Silencing ETV4 also protected cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and led to remarkably similar transcriptional responses as with silenced ACLY or ACC1, including an anti-apoptotic program. Metabolomic analysis found that while α-ketoglutarate levels decrease under hypoxia in control cells, α-ketoglutarate is paradoxically increased under hypoxia when ACC1 or ACLY are depleted. Supplementation with α-ketoglutarate rescued the hypoxia-induced apoptosis and recapitulated the decreased expression and activity of ETV4, likely via an epigenetic mechanism. Therefore, ACC1 and ACLY regulate the levels of ETV4 under hypoxia via increased α-ketoglutarate. These results reveal that the ACC1/ACLY-α-ketoglutarate-ETV4 axis is a novel means by which metabolic states regulate transcriptional output for life vs. death decisions under hypoxia. Since many lipogenic inhibitors are under investigation as cancer therapeutics, our findings suggest that the use of these inhibitors will need to be carefully considered with respect to oncogenic drivers, tumor hypoxia, progression and dormancy. More broadly, our screen provides a framework for studying additional tumor cell stress-adaption mechanisms in the future.

  7. ACLY and ACC1 Regulate Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis by Modulating ETV4 via α-ketoglutarate

    PubMed Central

    Keenan, Melissa M.; Liu, Beiyu; Tang, Xiaohu; Wu, Jianli; Cyr, Derek; Stevens, Robert D.; Ilkayeva, Olga; Huang, Zhiqing; Tollini, Laura A.; Murphy, Susan K.; Lucas, Joseph; Muoio, Deborah M.; Kim, So Young; Chi, Jen-Tsan

    2015-01-01

    In order to propagate a solid tumor, cancer cells must adapt to and survive under various tumor microenvironment (TME) stresses, such as hypoxia or lactic acidosis. To systematically identify genes that modulate cancer cell survival under stresses, we performed genome-wide shRNA screens under hypoxia or lactic acidosis. We discovered that genetic depletion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA or ACC1) or ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) protected cancer cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the loss of ACLY or ACC1 reduced levels and activities of the oncogenic transcription factor ETV4. Silencing ETV4 also protected cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and led to remarkably similar transcriptional responses as with silenced ACLY or ACC1, including an anti-apoptotic program. Metabolomic analysis found that while α-ketoglutarate levels decrease under hypoxia in control cells, α-ketoglutarate is paradoxically increased under hypoxia when ACC1 or ACLY are depleted. Supplementation with α-ketoglutarate rescued the hypoxia-induced apoptosis and recapitulated the decreased expression and activity of ETV4, likely via an epigenetic mechanism. Therefore, ACC1 and ACLY regulate the levels of ETV4 under hypoxia via increased α-ketoglutarate. These results reveal that the ACC1/ACLY-α-ketoglutarate-ETV4 axis is a novel means by which metabolic states regulate transcriptional output for life vs. death decisions under hypoxia. Since many lipogenic inhibitors are under investigation as cancer therapeutics, our findings suggest that the use of these inhibitors will need to be carefully considered with respect to oncogenic drivers, tumor hypoxia, progression and dormancy. More broadly, our screen provides a framework for studying additional tumor cell stress-adaption mechanisms in the future. PMID:26452058

  8. Potential US Population Impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guideline.

    PubMed

    Muntner, Paul; Carey, Robert M; Gidding, Samuel; Jones, Daniel W; Taler, Sandra J; Wright, Jackson T; Whelton, Paul K

    2018-01-09

    The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults provides recommendations for the definition of hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) thresholds for initiation of antihypertensive medication, and BP target goals. This study sought to determine the prevalence of hypertension, implications of recommendations for antihypertensive medication, and prevalence of BP above the treatment goal among US adults using criteria from the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline and the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7). The authors analyzed data from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 9 623). BP was measured 3 times following a standardized protocol and averaged. Results were weighted to produce US population estimates. According to the 2017 ACC/AHA and JNC7 guidelines, the crude prevalence of hypertension among US adults was 45.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.6% to 47.6%) and 31.9% (95% CI: 30.1% to 33.7%), respectively, and antihypertensive medication was recommended for 36.2% (95% CI: 34.2% to 38.2%) and 34.3% (95% CI: 32.5% to 36.2%) of US adults, respectively. Nonpharmacological intervention is advised for the 9.4% of US adults with hypertension who are not recommended for antihypertensive medication according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. Among US adults taking antihypertensive medication, 53.4% (95% CI: 49.9% to 56.8%) and 39.0% (95% CI: 36.4% to 41.6%) had BP above the treatment goal according to the 2017 ACC/AHA and JNC7 guidelines, respectively. Compared with the JNC7 guideline, the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline results in a substantial increase in the prevalence of hypertension, a small increase in the percentage of US adults recommended for antihypertensive medication, and more intensive BP lowering for many

  9. Influence of Magnesium Content on the Local Structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC): Real Time Determination by In Situ PDF Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mergelsberg, S. T.; Ulrich, R. N.; Michel, F. M.; Dove, P. M.

    2016-12-01

    Calcium carbonate minerals are an essential component in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and mollusks. The onset of exoskeleton mineralization includes the precipitation of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) as a reactive intermediate that later transforms to produce diverse structures. Despite the importance of ACC as a critical phase during skeleton formation, the chemical and physical properties are not well characterized at conditions that approximate biological environments. Of particular interest are the solubility of ACC, the short-range structure at the time of formation, and the evolution of ACC structure to final products. Recent advances showing the widespread occurrence of multistep pathways to mineralization in biological and geological settings (De Yoreo et al., 2015) underline the importance of understanding amorphous intermediates. Using quantitative laboratory techniques developed by our research group (Blue et al., 2013; Blue and Dove, 2015; Blue et al., in press), this experimental study quantifies the solubility of ACC in parallel with the physical characterization of the corresponding structure. We measured ACC solubility at specific time points during the precipitation and during its subsequent evolution under the mild pH conditions that approximate biological and environmental conditions. In parallel experiments, structural data were collected from in situ pair distribution function (PDF) analyses were conducted to follow the evolution of individual samples from initial precipitation to final product. The measurements are leading to a quantitative solubility function for ACC with variable Mg contents and an x-ray based understanding of ACC structure in the same particles. We are also finding temporal changes in the short-range order of ACC after precipitation and this order is dependent upon Mg content. Moreover, the data show Mg distribution through the ACC particles is dependent upon total alkalinity. Insights from this study hold promise

  10. Treatment Option Overview (Adrenocortical Carcinoma)

    MedlinePlus

    ... if you have any of these problems. Imaging studies and tests that examine the blood and urine are used ... urine that is collected for three days. This test is done to check if the adrenal gland is ... Blood chemistry study : A procedure in which a blood sample is ...

  11. Representation of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the AHA / ACC guidelines.

    PubMed

    von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, Florian; Pilz, Guenter; Schulz-Menger, Jeanette

    2017-09-25

    Whereas evidence supporting the diagnostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has increased, there exists significant worldwide variability in the clinical utilization of CMR. A recent study demonstrated that CMR is represented in the majority of European Society for Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, with a large number of specific recommendations in particular regarding coronary artery disease. To further investigate the gap between the evidence and clinical use of CMR, this study analyzed the role of CMR in the guidelines of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA). Twenty-four AHA/ACC original guidelines, updates and new editions, published between 2006 and 2017, were screened for the terms "magnetic", "MRI", "CMR", "MR" and "imaging". Non-cardiovascular MR examinations were excluded. All CMR-related paragraphs and specific recommendations for CMR including the level of evidence (A, B, C) and the class of recommendation (I, IIa, IIb, III) were extracted. Twelve of the 24 guidelines (50.0%) contain specific recommendations regarding CMR. Four guidelines (16.7%) mention CMR in the text only, and 8 (33.3%) do not mention CMR. The 12 guidelines with recommendations for CMR contain in total 65 specific recommendations (31 class-I, 23 class-IIa, 6 class-IIb, 5 class-III). Most recommendations have evidence level C (44/65; 67.7%), followed by level B (21/65; 32.3%). There are no level A recommendations. 22/65 recommendations refer to vascular imaging, 17 to congenital heart disease, 8 to cardiomyopathies, 8 to myocardial stress testing, 5 to left and right ventricular function, 3 to viability, and 2 to valvular heart disease. CMR is represented in two thirds of the AHA/ACC guidelines, which contain a number of specific recommendations for the use of CMR. In a simplified comparison with the ESC guidelines, CMR is less represented in the AHA/ACC guidelines in particular in the field of coronary artery disease.

  12. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right main bronchus showing squamous differentiation and mimicking mucoepidermoid carcinoma: a case report.

    PubMed

    Tajima, Shogo; Koda, Kenji

    2015-01-01

    Complete dissection of tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (TACC) by surgery alone is sometimes difficult and has a greater propensity than tracheobronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma (TMEC) for its surgical margin to become positive. In addition, TACC is more likely to present distant metastases than TMEC. Considering these facts, TACC and TMEC should be differentiated based on histopathological examination of biopsy specimens. Herein, we present a case of 54-year-old woman with a tumor in the right main bronchus, whose biopsy specimen was difficult to diagnose as TACC or TMEC. The specimen from the rounded protrusion of the tumor showed squamous differentiation, along with the presence of glandular and basaloid cells, making morphological examination alone ineffective in rendering a definite diagnosis. Thus, the addition of immunohistochemical analysis, αSMA and CD43 expression in basaloid cells and c-kit expression in glandular cells, was useful for accurately diagnosing TACC in this case. The squamous component was considered to be neoplastic because of its increased expression of cyclin D1 and overexpression of p16. The surgically resected specimen contained typical morphology of ACC, and the diagnosis of TACC was definitely confirmed.

  13. 24 CFR 982.102 - Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. 982.102 Section 982.102 Housing and Urban... ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Funding and PHA Application for Funding § 982.102 Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. (a) Applicability. This...

  14. 24 CFR 982.102 - Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. 982.102 Section 982.102 Housing and Urban... ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Funding and PHA Application for Funding § 982.102 Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. (a) Applicability. This...

  15. 24 CFR 982.102 - Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. 982.102 Section 982.102 Housing and Urban... ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Funding and PHA Application for Funding § 982.102 Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. (a) Applicability. This...

  16. 24 CFR 982.102 - Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. 982.102 Section 982.102 Housing and Urban... ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Funding and PHA Application for Funding § 982.102 Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. (a) Applicability. This...

  17. 24 CFR 982.102 - Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. 982.102 Section 982.102 Housing and Urban... ASSISTANCE: HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM Funding and PHA Application for Funding § 982.102 Allocation of budget authority for renewal of expiring consolidated ACC funding increments. (a) Applicability. This...

  18. Targeting the Oncogenic Transcriptional Regulator MYB in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma by Inhibition of IGF1R/AKT Signaling.

    PubMed

    Andersson, Mattias K; Afshari, Maryam K; Andrén, Ywonne; Wick, Michael J; Stenman, Göran

    2017-09-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive cancer with no curative treatment for patients with recurrent/metastatic disease. The MYB-NFIB gene fusion is the main genomic hallmark and a potential therapeutic target. Oncogenic signaling pathways were studied in cultured cells and/or tumors from 15 ACC patients. Phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) arrays were used to study the activity of RTKs. Effects of RTK inhibition on cell proliferation were analyzed with AlamarBlue, sphere assays, and two ACC xenograft models (n = 4-9 mice per group). The molecular effects of MYB-NFIB knockdown and IGF1R inhibition were studied with quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, and gene expression microarrays. All statistical tests were two-sided. The MYB-NFIB fusion drives proliferation of ACC cells and is crucial for spherogenesis. Intriguingly, the fusion is regulated through AKT-dependent signaling induced by IGF1R overexpression and is downregulated upon IGF1R-inhibition (% expression of control ± SD = 27.2 ± 1.3, P < .001). MYB-NFIB regulates genes involved in cell cycle control, DNA replication/repair, and RNA processing. The transcriptional program induced by MYB-NFIB affects critical oncogenic mediators normally controlled by MYC and is reversed by pharmacological inhibition of IGF1R. Co-activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MET promoted proliferation of ACC cells, and combined targeting of IGFR1/EGFR/MET induced differentiation and synergistically inhibited the growth of patient-derived xenografted ACCs (ACCX5M1, % growth of control ± SD = 34.9 ± 20.3, P = .006; ACCX6, % growth of control ± SD = 24.1 ± 17.5, P = .04). MYB-NFIB is an oncogenic driver and a key therapeutic target in ACC that is regulated by AKT-dependent IGF1R signaling. Our studies uncover a new strategy to target an oncogenic transcriptional master regulator and provide new important insights into the biology and treatment of ACC. © The Author

  19. Imaging of adrenal incidentalomas with PET using (11)C-metomidate and (18)F-FDG.

    PubMed

    Minn, Heikki; Salonen, Anna; Friberg, Johan; Roivainen, Anne; Viljanen, Tapio; Långsjö, Jaakko; Salmi, Jorma; Välimäki, Matti; Någren, Kjell; Nuutila, Pirjo

    2004-06-01

    Our aim was to evaluate the use of PET with (11)C-metomidate and (18)F-FDG for the diagnosis of adrenal incidentalomas. Twenty-one patients underwent hormonal screening before dynamic imaging of the upper abdomen with (11)C-metomidate, and for 19 of these 21 patients, static (18)F-FDG imaging followed. Uptake of (11)C-metomidate and (18)F-FDG in incidentalomas was quantified and correlated with the hormonal work-up and the mass size on CT (median, 2.5 cm; range, 2-10 cm). The final diagnoses were hormonally active adenoma (n = 7), nonsecretory adenoma (n = 5), adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 1), pheochromocytoma (n = 2), benign noncortical tumor (n = 2), normal adrenal (n = 1), and malignant noncortical tumor (n = 3). Diagnosis was established at surgery (n = 9), percutaneous biopsy (n = 4), or follow-up (n = 8). The highest uptake of (11)C-metomidate, expressed as standardized uptake value (SUV), was found in adrenocortical carcinoma (SUV = 28.0), followed by active adenomas (median SUV = 12.7), nonsecretory adenomas (median SUV = 12.2), and noncortical tumors (median SUV = 5.7). Patients with adenomas had significantly higher tumor-to-normal-adrenal (11)C-metomidate SUV ratios than did patients with noncortical tumors. (18)F-FDG detected 2 of 3 noncortical malignancies but failed to detect adrenal metastases from renal cell carcinoma. All inactive and most active adenomas were difficult to detect with (18)F-FDG against background activity, whereas both pheochromocytomas and adrenocortical carcinoma showed slightly increased uptake of (18)F-FDG. There was no correlation between uptake of (11)C-metomidate or (18)F-FDG and mass size. (11)C-Metomidate is a promising PET tracer to identify incidentalomas of adrenocortical origin. (18)F-FDG should be reserved for patients with a moderate to high likelihood of neoplastic disease.

  20. ACCE/ACS National Educator and Leader of the Year Winners: AEC Congratulates These Outstanding Educators

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Australian Educational Computing, 2012

    2012-01-01

    This article presents the ACCE/ACS National Educator and Leader of the Year winners. Anne Mirtschin is the recipient of the ACCE/ACS 2012 Educator of the Year Award. Mirtschin is an innovative teacher at Hawkesdale P-12 College a small rural school that is isolated culturally and geographically. She uses online tools and technology to create…

  1. Development of an EMG-ACC-Based Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training System.

    PubMed

    Ling Liu; Xiang Chen; Zhiyuan Lu; Shuai Cao; De Wu; Xu Zhang

    2017-03-01

    This paper focuses on the development of an upper limb rehabilitation training system designed for use by children with cerebral palsy (CP). It attempts to meet the requirements of in-home training by taking advantage of the combination of portable accelerometers (ACC) and surface electromyography (SEMG) sensors worn on the upper limb to capture functional movements. In the proposed system, the EMG-ACC acquisition device works essentially as wireless game controller, and three rehabilitation games were designed for improving upper limb motor function under a clinician's guidance. The games were developed on the Android platform based on a physical engine called Box2D. The results of a system performance test demonstrated that the developed games can respond to the upper limb actions within 210 ms. Positive questionnaire feedbacks from twenty CP subjects who participated in the game test verified both the feasibility and usability of the system. Results of a long-term game training conducted with three CP subjects demonstrated that CP patients could improve in their game performance through repetitive training, and persistent training was needed to improve and enhance the rehabilitation effect. According to our experimental results, the novel multi-feedback SEMG-ACC-based user interface improved the users' initiative and performance in rehabilitation training.

  2. Developmental characterization and environmental stress responses of Y-box binding protein 1 gene (AccYB-1) from Apis cerana cerana.

    PubMed

    Li, Guilin; Wang, Lijun; Wang, Ying; Li, Han; Liu, Zhenguo; Wang, Hongfang; Xu, Baohua; Guo, Xingqi

    2018-06-22

    Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) is a member of the cold shock domain protein superfamily and is involved in development, environmental stresses and DNA oxidative damage in many organisms. However, the precise functions of YB-1 are still not well understood in various insects, including bees. In the current study, we identified a YB-1 gene in Apis cerana cerana (AccYB-1). The predicted cis-acting elements in the promoter sequence of AccYB-1 indicated its possible roles in development and stress responses. AccYB-1 expression was higher in one-day-old larvae and dark-eyed pupae than in other development stages. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that the mRNA level of AccYB-1 was higher in the thorax and midgut than in other tissues. The results from real-time PCR showed that AccYB-1 was induced by many environmental stresses. Silencing AccYB-1 downregulated the transcriptional level of some growth- and development-related genes and antioxidant genes and decreased the enzyme activities of several antioxidant-related enzymes, further indicating a possible function of AccYB-1 in growth, development and stress responses. Taken together, our findings suggest that AccYB-1 may play an indispensable role in growth and development and environmental stress responses in Apis cerana cerana. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the role of YB-1 in bees. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. AccR Is a Master Regulator Involved in Carbon Catabolite Repression of the Anaerobic Catabolism of Aromatic Compounds in Azoarcus sp. CIB*

    PubMed Central

    Valderrama, J. Andrés; Shingler, Victoria; Carmona, Manuel; Díaz, Eduardo

    2014-01-01

    Here we characterized the first known transcriptional regulator that accounts for carbon catabolite repression (CCR) control of the anaerobic catabolism of aromatic compounds in bacteria. The AccR response regulator of Azoarcus sp. CIB controls succinate-responsive CCR of the central pathways for the anaerobic catabolism of aromatics by this strain. Phosphorylation of AccR to AccR-P triggers a monomer-to-dimer transition as well as the ability to bind to the target promoter and causes repression both in vivo and in vitro. Substitution of the Asp60 phosphorylation target residue of the N-terminal receiver motif of AccR to a phosphomimic Glu residue generates a constitutively active derivative that behaves as a superrepressor of the target genes. AccR-P binds in vitro to a conserved inverted repeat (ATGCA-N6-TGCAT) present at two different locations within the PN promoter of the bzd genes for anaerobic benzoate degradation. Because the DNA binding-proficient C-terminal domain of AccR is monomeric, we propose an activation mechanism in which phosphorylation of Asp60 of AccR alleviates interdomain repression mediated by the N-terminal domain. The presence of AccR-like proteins encoded in the genomes of other β-proteobacteria of the Azoarcus/Thauera group further suggests that AccR constitutes a master regulator that controls anaerobic CCR in these bacteria. PMID:24302740

  4. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 blocked aldosterone synthesis in a human adrenocortical cell line.

    PubMed

    Miura, Shin-Ichiro; Suematsu, Yasunori; Matsuo, Yoshino; Tomita, Sayo; Nakayama, Asuka; Goto, Masaki; Arimura, Tadaaki; Kuwano, Takashi; Yahiro, Eiji; Saku, Keijiro

    2016-11-01

    A recent clinical study indicated that an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) designated LCZ696 (sacubitril/valsartan, as combined sodium complex) was superior to enalapril at reducing the risks of death and hospitalization due to heart failure. Therefore, we investigated the possible mechanisms of the beneficial effect of LCZ696, in which the inhibition of neprilysin enhances atrial natriuretic peptide (NP) or brain NP (ANP or BNP)-evoked signals that can block Ang II/AT 1 receptor-induced aldosterone (Ald) synthesis in human adrenocortical cells. The binding affinity of valsartan+LBQ657 (active moiety of sacubitril) to the AT 1 receptor was greater than that of valsartan alone in an AT 1 receptor-expressing human embryonic kidney cell-based assay. There was no difference in the dissociation from the AT 1 receptor between valsartan+LBQ657 and valsartan alone. In Ang II-sensitized human adrenocortical cells, ANP or BNP alone, but not LBQ657 or valsartan alone, significantly decreased Ald synthesis. The level of suppression of Ald synthesis by ANP or BNP with LBQ657 was greater than that by ANP or BNP without LBQ657. The suppression of ANP was blocked by inhibitors of regulator of G-protein signaling proteins and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase. The inhibition of neprilysin did not change the mRNA levels of the AT 1 receptor, ANP receptor A, regulator of G-protein signaling protein, renin or 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. In conclusion, the inhibition of neprilysin by LBQ657 enhances the NP-evoked signals that can block Ang II/AT 1 receptor-induced Ald synthesis in human adrenocortical cells.

  5. Engineered ACC deaminase-expressing free-living cells of Mesorhizobium loti show increased nodulation efficiency and competitiveness on Lotus spp.

    PubMed

    Conforte, Valeria P; Echeverria, Mariela; Sánchez, Cintia; Ugalde, Rodolfo A; Menéndez, Ana B; Lepek, Viviana C

    2010-08-01

    Ethylene inhibits the establishment of symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. Several rhizobia species express the enzyme ACC deaminase, which degrades the ethylene precursor 1-cyclopropane-1-carboxilate (ACC), leading to reductions in the amount of ethylene evolved by the plant. M. loti has a gene encoding ACC deaminase, but this gene is under the activity of the NifA-RpoN-dependent promoter; thus, it is only expressed inside the nodule. The M. loti structural gene ACC deaminase (acdS) was integrated into the M. loti chromosome under a constitutive promoter activity. The resulting strain induced the formation of a higher number of nodules and was more competitive than the wild-type strain on Lotus japonicus and L. tenuis. These results suggest that the introduction of the ACC deaminase activity within M. loti in a constitutive way could be a novel strategy to increase nodulation competitiveness of the bacteria, which could be useful for the forage inoculants industry.

  6. Establishing the solubility and local structure(s) of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC): Toward an understanding of invertebrate biomineralization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mergelsberg, S. T.; Ulrich, R. N.; Michel, F. M.; Dove, P. M.

    2017-12-01

    Recent advances in high-resolution imaging show the widespreadd occurrence of multistep pathways to mineralization in biological and geological settings (De Yoreo et al., 2015, Science). For example, carbonate biomineralization often involves precipitation of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) as a reactive intermediate that subsequently transforms to crystalline products with diverse structures. Although current carbonate mineral proxies are based upon the composition of final crystalline products, the final signatures may be recording the properties of the initial amorphous phase. Thus, it is critical to establish the physical properties of ACC and understand the factors that influence its evolution to final products at conditions that approximate biological environments. This disconnect limits our ability to build a process-based understanding of when/how minor and trace elements are recorded in mineral composition proxies. In this experimental study, we quantified the chemical and physical properties of ACC and its evolution to final products. We first determined ACC solubility under controlled chemical conditions using a new type of flow-through reactor developed by our research group (Blue and Dove, 2015, GCA; Blue et al., 2017, GCA). The experimental design varied Mg concentration and total alkalinity while maintaining a mild pH that approximates biological environments. ACC solubility was measured at specific time points during the precipitation (from super- and undersaturated conditions) and during its subsequent evolution. Parallel experiments characterized the structure of the corresponding amorphous products using in situ pair distribution function (PDF) and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses. The measurements demonstrate at least two types of ACC can be produced by tuning Mg concentration and alkalinity. Each "phase" exhibits distinct short-range ordering that demonstrates structure-specific solubility. We also find temporal changes in the

  7. Case report: primary acinar cell carcinoma of the liver treated with multimodality therapy

    PubMed Central

    Basturk, Olca; Shia, Jinru; Klimstra, David S.; Alago, William; D’Angelica, Michael I.; Abou-Alfa, Ghassan K.; O’Reilly, Eileen M.; Lowery, Maeve A.

    2017-01-01

    We describe a case of primary acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) originating in the liver in a 54-year-old female, diagnosed following persistent abnormal elevated liver function. Imaging revealed two masses, one dominant lesion in the right hepatic lobe and another in segment IVA. A right hepatectomy was performed to remove the larger lesion, while the mass in segment IVA was unresectable due to its proximity to the left hepatic vein. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity for trypsin and chymotrypsin. Postoperatively the patient underwent hepatic arterial embolization of the other unresectable lesion followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy. At 20 months from diagnosis the patient is currently under observation with a decreasing necrotic mass and no other disease evident. Based on histology, immunohistochemistry and radiological findings a diagnosis of primary ACC of the liver was made. Genomic assessment of somatic mutations within the patient’s tumor was also performed through next generation sequencing and findings were consistent with an acinar malignancy. This case highlights a rare tumor subtype treated with a combination of therapeutic modalities through a multidisciplinary approach. PMID:29184698

  8. The effect of a maternal history of childhood abuse on adrenocortical attunement in mothers and their toddlers.

    PubMed

    Fuchs, Anna; Moehler, Eva; Resch, Franz; Kaess, Michael

    2017-07-01

    We investigated circadian mother-child adrenocortical attunement in the context of a maternal history of childhood abuse (HoA). Mothers were screened after birth using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Women reporting moderate or severe abuse formed the HoA group (n = 37; HoAG) and were compared with a non-maltreated comparison group (n = 45; CG). Three years later, cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal slope (DSL) were assessed. Mother-child interaction was coded using the Emotional Availability Scales at 12 months of age. For the CAR, we found adrenocortical attunement only in the HoAG (2-way interaction: p = .004), particularly if mothers scored low on structuring (3-way interaction: p = .042) and children scored low on responsiveness (3-way interaction: p = .044). DSL-attunement was dependent on maternal sensitivity (3-way interaction: p = .012) and child involvement (3-way interaction: p = .012). In the context of a maternal HoA, it seems possible for mother-child-dyads to show less optimal interactional quality but be stronger attuned to each other biologically. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Adrenocortical reserves in hyperthyroidism.

    PubMed

    Agbaht, Kemal; Gullu, Sevim

    2014-02-01

    Explicit data regarding the changes in adrenocortical reserves during hyperthyroidism do not exist. We aimed to document the capability (response) of adrenal gland to secrete cortisol and DHEA-S during hyperthyroidism compared to euthyroidism, and to describe factors associated with these responses. A standard-dose (0.25 mg/i.v.) ACTH stimulation test was performed to the same patients before hyperthyroidism treatment, and after attainment of euthyroidism. Baseline cortisol (Cor(0)), DHEA-S (DHEA-S(0)), cortisol binding globulin (CBG), ACTH, calculated free cortisol (by Coolen's equation = CFC), free cortisol index (FCI), 60-min cortisol (Cor(60)), and DHEA-S (DHEA-S(60)), delta cortisol (ΔCor), delta DHEA-S (ΔDHEA-S) responses were evaluated. Forty-one patients [22 females, 49.5 ± 15.2 years old, 32 Graves disease, nine toxic nodular goiter] had similar Cor(0), DHEA-S(0), CFC, FCI, and DHEA-S(60) in hyperthyroid and euthyroid states. Cor(60), ΔCor, and ΔDHEA-S were lower in hyperthyroidism. In four (10 %) patients the peak ACTH-stimulated cortisol values were lower than 18 μg/dL. When the test repeated after attainment of euthyroidism, all of the patients had normal cortisol response. Regression analysis demonstrated an independent association of Cor(60) with free T3 in hyperthyroidism. However, the predictors of CFC, FCI, and DHEA-S levels were serum creatinine levels in hyperthyroidism, and both creatinine and transaminase levels in euthyroidism. ACTH-stimulated peak cortisol, delta cortisol, and delta DHEA-S levels are decreased during hyperthyroidism, probably due to increased turnover. Since about 10 % of the subjects with hyperthyroidism are at risk for adrenal insufficiency, clinicians dealing with Graves' disease should be alert to the possibility of adrenal insufficiency during hyperthyroid stage.

  10. Treatment of Locally Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Trachea With Neutron Radiotherapy

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

    Bittner, Nathan; Koh, W.-J.; Laramore, George E.

    2008-10-01

    Purpose: To examine the efficacy of fast neutron radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea and to compare outcomes with and without high-dose-rate (HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy boost. Methods and Materials: Between 1989 and 2005, a total of 20 patients with ACC of the trachea were treated with fast neutron radiotherapy at University of Washington. Of these 20 patients, 19 were treated with curative intent. Neutron doses ranged from 10.7 to 19.95 Gy (median, 19.2 Gy). Six of these patients received an endobronchial brachytherapy boost using an HDR {sup 192}Ir source (3.5 Gy xmore » 2 fractions). Median duration of follow-up was 46 months (range, 10-121 months). Results: The 5-year actuarial overall survival rate and median overall survival for the entire cohort were 89.4%, and 97 months, respectively. Overall survival was not statistically different among those patients receiving an endobronchial boost compared with those receiving neutron radiotherapy alone (100% vs. 68%, p = 0.36). The 5-year actuarial locoregional control rate for the entire cohort was 54.1%. The locoregional control rate was not statistically different among patients who received an endobronchial boost compared with those who received neutron radiotherapy alone (40% vs. 58%, p 0.94). There were no cases of Grade {>=}3 acute toxicity. There were 2 cases of Grade 3/4 chronic toxicity. Conclusions: Fast neutron radiotherapy is an effective treatment for locally advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea, with acceptable treatment-related toxicity.« less

  11. A Novel Monoallelically Expressed Candidate Tumor Suppressor Gene for Breast Carcinogenesis on Chromosome 11p15.5

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-07-01

    Loss of heterozygosity is also observed in a number of other tumor types, notably rhabdomyosarcoma [3,4], adrenocortical carcinoma [5], hepatocellular ... carcinoma [6], and Wilm’s tumor [7]. A second line of evidence suggesting that 1 lp15.5 may play a key role in tumorigenesis is the association of a

  12. Portable multi-node LQCD Monte Carlo simulations using OpenACC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonati, Claudio; Calore, Enrico; D'Elia, Massimo; Mesiti, Michele; Negro, Francesco; Sanfilippo, Francesco; Schifano, Sebastiano Fabio; Silvi, Giorgio; Tripiccione, Raffaele

    This paper describes a state-of-the-art parallel Lattice QCD Monte Carlo code for staggered fermions, purposely designed to be portable across different computer architectures, including GPUs and commodity CPUs. Portability is achieved using the OpenACC parallel programming model, used to develop a code that can be compiled for several processor architectures. The paper focuses on parallelization on multiple computing nodes using OpenACC to manage parallelism within the node, and OpenMPI to manage parallelism among the nodes. We first discuss the available strategies to be adopted to maximize performances, we then describe selected relevant details of the code, and finally measure the level of performance and scaling-performance that we are able to achieve. The work focuses mainly on GPUs, which offer a significantly high level of performances for this application, but also compares with results measured on other processors.

  13. Report of the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2018, Orlando.

    PubMed

    Hashimoto, Takuya; Ako, Junya

    2018-04-28

    The 67 th Annual Scientific Session and Expo of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were held at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, from March 10-12, 2018. This meeting offered 2,700 accepted abstracts presented in oral and poster sessions by 2,100 experts and 37 Late-Breaking Clinical Trials and Featured Clinical Research presentations. This report introduces the key presentations and highlights from the ACC 2018 Scientific Session.

  14. Discordant correlation of breast adenoid cystic carcinoma on imaging and pathology: A case report and literature review on surgical management.

    PubMed

    Yan, Zhiyan; Leong, May Ying; Lim, Geok Hoon

    2018-01-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) of the breast are extremely rare tumours, accounting for <0.1% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. Little data exist regarding the correlation of radiological findings with histology of this rare subtype. To our knowledge, gross size discrepancy between the 2 modalities has not been reported. We describe a case of ACC with appreciable size discordance between imaging and pathology report. A 71 years old lady presented with a painless right breast lump of a few months duration. Clinical examination revealed a 1.5 cm right breast upper outer quadrant mass. Axillary and systemic examinations were unremarkable. Mammogram showed an asymmetric density in the right upper outer quadrant which corresponded to a suspicious nodule measuring about 2 cm on the ultrasound. Ultrasound of the axilla showed an indeterminate right lymph node. Core needle biopsy of the right breast nodule showed ACC while the lymph node biopsy was non- metastatic. Staging scans did not reveal any definite distant metastasis. Her naso-endoscopy and MRI of the neck were normal. She underwent a right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Final histology returned as a grade II 55 mm ACC. Lympho-vascular invasion was absent. The tumour was triple negative for Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR) and Human epidermal receptor 2 (HER 2). Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative for metastasis. She recovered well but declined adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She is currently well 6 months post operation. ACC is an extremely rare subtype, therefore there are limited reports in literature on its imaging and pathological characteristics. Of this sparse data, there was no mention that there might be a big size discrepancy between the 2 modalities. This appreciable discrepancy has implications for pre-operative planning and the choice of breast surgery. It will be useful if the pathological extent of ACC could be determined more accurately

  15. Comparisons among serum, egg albumin and yolk concentrations of corticosterone as biomarkers of basal and stimulated adrenocortical activity of laying hens.

    PubMed

    Cook, N J; Renema, R; Wilkinson, C; Schaefer, A L

    2009-09-01

    1. Serial blood samples from individual birds were analysed for corticosterone concentrations under basal and stimulated conditions, and matched to eggs from the same birds for comparison to albumin and yolk concentrations of corticosterone. 2. Serum corticosterone exhibited increases in response to stimulation by ACTH and Handling stress. There were no significant increases in egg albumin or yolk concentrations of corticosterone following stimulation. 3. Several significant correlations were observed between the mean and area under the curve (AUC) measurements of serum corticosterone concentrations with albumin and yolk corticosterone concentrations in eggs laid from 1 to 2 d later. 4. The results demonstrated a relationship between endogenous concentrations of serum corticosterone that reflected daily adrenocortical output with albumin and yolk corticosterone concentrations in eggs laid the following day. 5. The results do not support the concept of albumin and yolk concentrations of corticosterone as biomarkers of acute adrenocortical responses to stimulation.

  16. RadioImmunotherapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma: a single-institution series of combined treatment with cetuximab

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Local control in adjuvant/definitive RT of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is largely dose-dependent. However, some clinical situations do not allow application of tumouricidal doses (i.e. re-irradiation) hence radiation sensitization by exploitation of high endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expression in ACC seems beneficial. This is a single-institution experience of combined radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with the EGFR-inhibitor cetuximab. Methods Between 2006 and 2010, 9 pts received RIT for advanced/recurrent ACC, 5/9 pts as re-irradiation. Baseline characteristics as well as treatment parameters were retrieved to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of the combination regimen were evaluated. Control rates (local/distant) and overall survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimation. Results Median dose was 65 Gy, pts received a median of 6 cycles cetuximab. RIT was tolerated well with only one °III mucositis/dysphagia. Overall response/remission rates were high (77,8%); 2-year estimate of local control was 80% hence reaching local control levels comparable to high-dose RT. Progression-free survival (PFS) at 2 years and median overall survival were only 62,5% and 22,2 mo respectively. Conclusion While local control and treatment response in RIT seems promising, PFS and overall survival are still hampered by distant failure. The potential benefit of RIT with cetuximab warrants exploration in a prospective controlled clinical trial. PMID:21047402

  17. Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Mimicking Butterfly Glioblastoma: A Rare Presentation in the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum.

    PubMed

    Garber, Sarah T; Khoury, Laith; Bell, Diana; Schomer, Donald F; Janku, Filip; McCutcheon, Ian E

    2016-11-01

    Intracranial spread of an adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the parotid gland is rare, and metastatic ACC to the splenium of the corpus callosum mimicking butterfly glioblastoma (GBM) has not been reported previously. We report a rare case of metastasis to the splenium of the corpus callosum from ACC of the parotid gland. The tumor occupied the splenium and mimicked the presentation of a butterfly glioma. The patient had undergone parotidectomy 5 years before presentation with this intracranial lesion. On magnetic resonance imaging, the lesion was separate from the pineal gland and displaced the internal cerebral veins downward. Ventricular obstruction and increased cellularity were also suggested, and multiple fluid-filled cystic spaces were observed. The tumor was partially resected, because the extreme lateral boundary could not be visualized. Histological analysis with anti-c-kit antibody showed strong expression of the epithelial component; immunohistochemistry with anti-p63 antibody revealed nests of positive tumor cells, highlighting the myoepithelial component. The tumor also stained positive for anti-Myb antibody. The treatment for this lesion is surgical debulking followed by radiation therapy; however, the overall prognosis remains grim because of limited chemotherapy options and a propensity for recurrence in both local and distant fashions. When a tumor with adenoid histological features and a "butterfly" phenotype grows in the corpus callosum in a patient with known parotid ACC, both metastasis and adenoid variant GBM should be considered. Careful clinical and radiological correlation is required to diagnose and treat this rare lesion. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. The ACCE 2012 Study Tour: Reflections on Reoccurring Themes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Clements, Di; Grover, David; Grover, Pam; Hearne, Dominic; Knipe, Steven; Martin, Kim; Pazzi, Georgina; Pollard, Edward; Prestridge, Sarah

    2012-01-01

    Transformational leadership is essential in education as it empowers educators to make positive changes to the way they think, feel and act in improving learning for all. Reflection is a vital element of leading the change process. In relation to participating in the ACCE study tour experience, reflection allows one to sit and think about the…

  19. Molecular Characterization of Lactobacillus plantarum Genes for β-Ketoacyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase III (fabH) and Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase (accBCDA), Which Are Essential for Fatty Acid Biosynthesis

    PubMed Central

    Kiatpapan, Pornpimon; Kobayashi, Hajime; Sakaguchi, Maki; Ono, Hisayo; Yamashita, Mitsuo; Kaneko, Yoshinobu; Murooka, Yoshikatsu

    2001-01-01

    Genes for subunits of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), which is the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of fatty acids in Lactobacillus plantarum L137, were cloned and characterized. We identified six potential open reading frames, namely, manB, fabH, accB, accC, accD, and accA, in that order. Nucleotide sequence analysis suggested that fabH encoded β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III, that the accB, accC, accD, and accA genes encoded biotin carboxyl carrier protein, biotin carboxylase, and the β and α subunits of carboxyltransferase, respectively, and that these genes were clustered. The organization of acc genes was different from that reported for Escherichia coli, for Bacillus subtilis, and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E. coli accB and accD mutations were complemented by the L. plantarum accB and accD genes, respectively. The predicted products of all five genes were confirmed by using the T7 expression system in E. coli. The gene product of accB was biotinylated in E. coli. Northern and primer extension analyses demonstrated that the five genes in L. plantarum were regulated polycistronically in an acc operon. PMID:11133475

  20. Non-invasive assessment of adrenocortical function in captive Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus).

    PubMed

    Ganswindt, Stefanie B; Myburgh, Jan G; Cameron, Elissa Z; Ganswindt, Andre

    2014-11-01

    The occurrence of stress-inducing factors in captive crocodilians is a concern, since chronic stress can negatively affect animal health and reproduction, and hence production. Monitoring stress in wild crocodiles could also be beneficial for assessing the state of health in populations which are potentially threatened by environmental pollution. In both cases, a non-invasive approach to assess adrenocortical function as a measure of stress would be preferable, as animals are not disturbed during sample collection, and therefore sampling is feedback-free. So far, however, such a non-invasive method has not been established for any crocodilian species. As an initial step, we therefore examined the suitability of two enzyme-immunoassays, detecting faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) with a 11β,21-diol-20-one and 5β-3α-ol-11-one structure, respectively, for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in captive Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge was performed on 10 sub-adult crocodiles, resulting in an overall increase in serum corticosterone levels of 272% above the pre-injection levels 5h post-injection. Saline-treated control animals (n=8) showed an overall increase of 156% in serum corticosterone levels 5h post-administration. Faecal samples pre- and post-injection could be obtained from three of the six individually housed crocodiles, resulting in FGM concentrations 136-380% above pre-injection levels, always detected in the first sample collected post-treatment (7-15 days post-injection). FGM concentrations seem comparatively stable at ambient temperatures for up to 72 h post-defaecation. In conclusion, non-invasive hormone monitoring can be used for assessing adrenocortical function in captive Nile crocodiles based on FGM analysis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis and its association with outcomes in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma. An international collaborative study

    PubMed Central

    Amit, Moran; Binenbaum, Yoav; Sharma, Kanika; Ramer, Naomi; Ramer, Ilana; Agbetoba, Abib; Glick, Joelle; Yang, Xinjie; Lei, Delin; Bjørndal, Kristine; Godballe, Christian; Mücke, Thomas; Wolff, Klaus-Dietrich; Fliss, Dan; Eckardt, André M.; Copelli, Chiara; Sesenna, Enrico; Palmer, Frank; Ganly, Ian; Patel, Snehal; Gil, Ziv

    2016-01-01

    Background The patterns of regional metastasis in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck and its association with outcome is not established. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicentered multivariate analysis of 270 patients who underwent neck dissection. Results The incidence rate of neck metastases was 29%. The rate observed in the oral cavity is 37%, and in the major salivary glands is 19% (p = .001). The rate of occult nodal metastases was 17%. Overall 5-year survival rates were 44% in patients undergoing therapeutic neck dissections, and 65% and 73% among those undergoing elective neck dissections, with and without nodal metastases, respectively (p = .017). Multivariate analysis revealed that the primary site, nodal classification, and margin status were independent predictors of survival. Conclusion Our findings support the consideration of elective neck treatment in patients with ACC of the oral cavity. PMID:25060927

  2. Population impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines compared with the 2013 ESH/ESC guidelines for hypertension management.

    PubMed

    Vaucher, Julien; Marques-Vidal, Pedro; Waeber, Gérard; Vollenweider, Peter

    2018-01-01

    Background The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines on hypertension management recommend the introduction of antihypertensive treatment for patients with new stage 1 hypertension thresholds (130-139/80-89 mm Hg) and with a cardiovascular disease or related condition. We compared the Swiss population and economic impact of antihypertensive treatment of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines with the 2013 European guidelines. Methods Analyses were based on 4438 participants (aged 45-85 years; 2448 women) of the CoLaus|PsyCoLaus study recruited between 2014-2017. Participants eligible for antihypertensive treatment according to the 2017 ACC/AHA and 2013 European guidelines were sex and age standardised using the Swiss population for 2016. In addition, we estimated the population-wide annual costs of antihypertensive treatment. Results Individuals eligible for antihypertensive treatment were 40.3% (95% confidence interval 38.5-42.1) and 31.3% (29.7-32.9) according to the 2017 ACC/AHA and 2013 European guidelines, respectively. That difference would translate into approximately 250,000 additional individuals eligible for antihypertensive treatment, corresponding to an additional annual cost of 72.5 million CHF (63.0 million EUR). Conclusion The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines on the management of hypertension substantially increase the number of individuals eligible for antihypertensive treatment compared to the 2013 European guidelines. While implementation of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines is expected to lead to cost reduction by preventing cardiovascular diseases, that reduction might be mitigated by the costs incurred by antihypertensive treatments in a larger proportion of the population.

  3. Vasopressin V1 receptor in rat hippocampus is regulated by adrenocortical functions.

    PubMed

    Saito, R; Ishiharada, N; Ban, Y; Honda, K; Takano, Y; Kamiya, H

    1994-05-16

    Two subtypes of arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptors (V1 and V2) have been distinguished. In this study, we examined the characteristics of AVP binding in rat hippocampus and the effects of bilateral adrenalectomy and adrenal steroids on its [3H]AVP binding. [3H]AVP binding to rat liver and the hippocampal membranes was strongly inhibited by the V1 antagonist, OPC-21268. ADX resulted in a significant decrease in the Bmax of AVP binding in the hippocampus. Chronic treatment with aldosterone and corticosterone restored the ADX-induced reduction, but treatment with dexamethasone did not. These results suggest that the AVP V1 receptor in the hippocampus is regulated by adrenocortical neuroregulatory functions.

  4. Increased statin eligibility based on ACC/AHA versus NCEP guidelines for high cholesterol management in Chile.

    PubMed

    Echeverría, Guadalupe; Dussaillant, Catalina; Villarroel, Luis; Rigotti, Attilio

    2016-01-01

    In 2013, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) jointly released new guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment and cholesterol management that substantially modified the previous recommendations proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in 2001. The relative impact of these new guidelines on potential statin use has not been estimated in Latin American populations. To estimate and compare eligibility for statin therapy based on ACC/AHA and NCEP guidelines in adult Chilean population. Using data from the last National Health Survey (2009-2010 NHS), we conducted a cross-sectional analysis in a ​representative sample of the Chilean adult population and calculated the proportion of individuals that would receive statins under each set of guidelines. According to ACC/AHA guidelines, the population eligible for statin treatment increased from 21.7% (NCEP guidelines) to 33.2% (overall 53% increase). This effect was more pronounced among women (29.6% under ACC/AHA vs 15.6% under NCEP) and with those of advanced age (75% of the subjects >60 years of age compared with 46% under NCEP). The newly eligible group included more women and older subjects and individuals with lower LDL cholesterol levels. Compared with NCEP recommendations, the new ACC/AHA guidelines significantly increased the number of Chilean adults eligible for statin therapy. Full implementation of the new recommendations may have important public health implications in Chile and other Latin American countries, as more women and older subjects without cardiovascular disease would qualify for statin treatment. Copyright © 2016 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Obesity Drives Th17 Cell Differentiation by Inducing the Lipid Metabolic Kinase, ACC1.

    PubMed

    Endo, Yusuke; Asou, Hikari K; Matsugae, Nao; Hirahara, Kiyoshi; Shinoda, Kenta; Tumes, Damon J; Tokuyama, Hirotake; Yokote, Koutaro; Nakayama, Toshinori

    2015-08-11

    Chronic inflammation due to obesity contributes to the development of metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Reciprocal interactions between metabolic systems and immune cells have pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated diseases, although the mechanisms regulating obesity-associated inflammatory diseases are still unclear. In the present study, we performed transcriptional profiling of memory phenotype CD4 T cells in high-fat-fed mice and identified acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1, the gene product of Acaca) as an essential regulator of Th17 cell differentiation in vitro and of the pathogenicity of Th17 cells in vivo. ACC1 modulates the DNA binding of RORγt to target genes in differentiating Th17 cells. In addition, we found a strong correlation between IL-17A-producing CD45RO(+)CD4 T cells and the expression of ACACA in obese subjects. Thus, ACC1 confers the appropriate function of RORγt through fatty acid synthesis and regulates the obesity-related pathology of Th17 cells. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Effects of the inoculations using bacteria producing ACC deaminase on ethylene metabolism and growth of wheat grown under different soil water contents.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Guozhuang; Sun, Yonglin; Sheng, Hao; Li, Haichao; Liu, Xiping

    2018-04-01

    Crop growth and productivity are often impacted by the increased ethylene content induced by adverse environmental conditions such drought. Inoculations with bacteria producing ACC deaminase is considered as a potential biological approach to improve the growth and tolerance of stressed plants by lowering endogenous ethylene level. In this study, germinated wheat seeds were inoculated using three species of the rhizobacteria, which were isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat growing in dryland, and sown in pots. After three weeks, wheat seedlings were exposed to non-limiting water condition, medium drought and severe drought, respectively, for six weeks. The results showed that, irrespective of rhizobacterial inoculations, decreased soil water contents stimulated wheat ethylene metabolism, which was reflected by the significantly increased activity of ACC synthetase and ACC oxidase, besides an increased content of ACC both in the roots and leaves, and an enhanced capacity of leaves to release ethylene, concomitant with a significant decline in shoot and roots biomass. The inoculations of all three rhizobacterial species under each water condition reduced ACC content in wheat leaves, but effects of the inoculations on ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activity in the leaves and roots, ACC content in the roots, the capacity of leaves to release ethylene, and wheat growth varied with water conditions and bacterial species. Hence, both soil water conditions and rhizobacterial inoculations acted on all the processes of ethylene metabolism, with the former being dominant. The inoculations under non-limiting water condition and medium drought promoted shoot and root growth of wheat plants. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  7. Overexpression of ACC gene from oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi enhanced the lipid accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with increased levels of glycerol 3-phosphate substrates.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jiancai; Xu, Ronghua; Wang, Ruling; Haque, Mohammad Enamul; Liu, Aizhong

    2016-06-01

    The conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) is the rate-limiting step in fatty acid biosynthesis. In this study, a gene coding for ACC was isolated and characterized from an oleaginous yeast, Lipomyces starkeyi. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of L. starkeyi acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene (LsACC1) showed that the expression levels were upregulated with the fast accumulation of lipids. The LsACC1 was co-overexpressed with the glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GPD1), which regulates lipids biosynthesis by supplying another substrates glycerol 3-phosphate for storage lipid assembly, in the non-oleaginous yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further, the S. cerevisiae acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ScACC1) was transferred with GPD1 and its function was analyzed in comparison with LsACC1. The results showed that overexpressed LsACC1 and GPD1 resulted in a 63% increase in S. cerevisiae. This study gives new data in understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of fatty acids and lipid biosynthesis in yeasts.

  8. Variable responses of two VlMYBA gene promoters to ABA and ACC in Kyoho grape berries.

    PubMed

    Zhai, Xiawan; Zhang, Yushu; Kai, Wenbin; Liang, Bin; Jiang, Li; Du, Yangwei; Wang, Juan; Sun, Yufei; Leng, Ping

    2017-04-01

    The VlMYBA subfamily of transcription factors has been known to be the functional regulators in anthocyanin biosynthesis in red grapes. In this study, the expressions of the VlMYBA1-2 and VlMYBA 2 genes, and the responses of the VlMYBA1-2/2 promoters to ABA and ACC treatments in Kyoho grape berries are examined through quantitative real-time PCR analysis and the transient expression assay. The results show that the expressions of VlMYBA1-2/2 increase dramatically after véraison and reach their highest levels when the berries are nearly fully ripe. Exogenous ABA promotes the expressions of VlMYBA1-2/2, whereas the ACC treatment increases the expression of VlMYBA2, however, it has no effect on VlMYBA1-2. The ABA treatment has a faster and stronger effect on berry pigmentation than ACC does. The VlMYBA1-2 promoter sequence contains two ABA response elements (ABRE) but no ethylene response element (ERE), whereas the VlMYBA2 promoter sequence contains two ABRE and one ERE in the upstream region of the start codon. The VlMYBA2 promoter can be activated by both ABA (more effective) and ACC, whereas the VlMYBA1-2 promoter can be activated by ABA only. In sum, ABA can promote the coloring of Kyoho grape by the promotion of VlMYBA1-2/2 transcriptions via activating the response of their promoters to ABA, whereas ethylene only regulates VlMYBA2 through the response activation of its promoter to ACC which partially enhances the coloring. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  9. Transport of sup 14 C-IAA and sup 14 C-ACC within floral organs of Ipomoea nil

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

    Kiss, H.G.; Maurice, H.R.; Koning, R.E.

    1989-04-01

    The transport of {sup 14}C-IAA {sup 14}C-ACC from agarose donor blocks applied to I. nil filaments their recovery as {sup 14}C-accumulation into floral organs was examined. The accumulation of the isotopes in the corolla tissue was greater when {sup 14}C-ACC was applied than {sup 14}C-IAA in intact isolated flower buds. Greater levels of the isotopes accumulated in the pistil, with minimal levels in receptacle and calyx tissues from isolated buds. With intact buds, greater levels of the isotopes were recovered in pistil, calyx receptacle tissues. This study provides further evidence for the role of the filaments as transport vectors formore » IAA ACC for the production of ethylene.« less

  10. Adrenal Gland Cancer

    MedlinePlus

    ... either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Most adrenal gland tumors are ... and may not require treatment. Malignant adrenal gland cancers are uncommon. Types of tumors include Adrenocortical carcinoma - ...

  11. Pretreatment maximum standardized uptake value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as a predictor of distant metastasis in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

    PubMed

    Kim, Donghyun; Kim, Wontaek; Lee, Joohye; Ki, Yongkan; Lee, Byungjoo; Cho, Kyusup; Kim, Seongjang; Nam, Jiho; Lee, Jinchoon; Kim, Dongwon

    2016-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine whether the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the primary tumor on pretreatment (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) has prognostic significance in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck. A retrospective review was carried out on 34 patients with ACC of the head and neck who underwent pretreatment (18)F-FDG PET imaging from June 2005 through July 2009. All patients underwent surgery with curative intent, and 26 of them received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). When subjects were stratified into 2 groups according to a cutoff value for SUVmax of 4.15, the risk of distant metastasis was significantly high in patients with high SUVmax (p = .014). Multivariate analysis showed that high SUVmax and histologic grade 3 were independent poor prognostic factors for distant metastasis-free and disease-free survival. Pretreatment SUVmax of the primary tumor is an independent prognostic factor in patients with ACC of the head and neck. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  12. Personalized oncogenomic analysis of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma: using whole-genome sequencing to inform clinical decision-making

    PubMed Central

    Chahal, Manik; Pleasance, Erin; Grewal, Jasleen; Zhao, Eric; Ng, Tony; Chapman, Erin; Jones, Martin R.; Shen, Yaoqing; Mungall, Karen L.; Bonakdar, Melika; Taylor, Gregory A.; Ma, Yussanne; Mungall, Andrew J.; Moore, Richard A.; Lim, Howard; Renouf, Daniel; Yip, Stephen; Jones, Steven J.M.; Marra, Marco A.; Laskin, Janessa

    2018-01-01

    Metastatic adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Because of their slow growth and relative rarity, there is limited evidence for systemic therapy regimens. Recently, molecular profiling studies have begun to reveal the genetic landscape of these poorly understood cancers, and new treatment possibilities are beginning to emerge. The objective is to use whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing and analysis to better understand the genetic alterations underlying the pathology of metastatic and rare ACCs and determine potentially actionable therapeutic targets. We report five cases of metastatic ACC, not originating in the salivary glands, in patients enrolled in the Personalized Oncogenomics (POG) Program at the BC Cancer Agency. Genomic workup included whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing, detailed analysis of tumor alterations, and integration with existing knowledge of drug–target combinations to identify potential therapeutic targets. Analysis reveals low mutational burden in these five ACC cases, and mutation signatures that are commonly observed in multiple cancer types. Notably, the only recurrent structural aberration identified was the well-described MYB-NFIB fusion that was present in four of five cases, and one case exhibited a closely related MYBL1-NFIB fusion. Recurrent mutations were also identified in BAP1 and BCOR, with additional mutations in individual samples affecting NOTCH1 and the epigenetic regulators ARID2, SMARCA2, and SMARCB1. Copy changes were rare, and they included amplification of MYC and homozygous loss of CDKN2A in individual samples. Genomic analysis revealed therapeutic targets in all five cases and served to inform a therapeutic choice in three of the cases to date. PMID:29610392

  13. Species-specific sensitivity to selenium-induced impairment of cortisol secretion in adrenocortical cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

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

    Miller, L.L., E-mail: lana.miller@uleth.ca; Hontela, A.

    Species differences in physiological and biochemical attributes exist even among closely related species and may underlie species-specific sensitivity to toxicants. Rainbow trout (RT) are more sensitive than brook trout (BT) to the teratogenic effects of selenium (Se), but it is not known whether all tissues exhibit this pattern of vulnerability. In this study, primary cultures of RT and BT adrenocortical cells were exposed to selenite (Na{sub 2}SO{sub 3}) and selenomethionine (Se-Met) to compare cell viability and ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion in the two fish species. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone in fish, facilitates maintenance of homeostasis when fish are exposed tomore » stressors, including toxicants. Cell viability was not affected by Se, but selenite impaired cortisol secretion, while Se-Met did not (RT and BT EC{sub 50} > 2000 mg/L). RT cells were more sensitive (EC{sub 50} = 8.7 mg/L) to selenite than BT cells (EC{sub 50} = 90.4 mg/L). To identify the targets where Se disrupts cortisol synthesis, selenite-impaired RT and BT cells were stimulated with ACTH, dbcAMP, OH-cholesterol, and pregnenolone. Selenite acted at different steps in the cortisol biosynthesis pathway in RT and BT cells, confirming a species-specific toxicity mechanism. To test the hypothesis that oxidative stress mediates Se-induced toxicity, selenite-impaired RT cells were exposed to NAC, BSO and antioxidants (DETCA, ATA, Vit A, and Vit E). Inhibition of SOD by DETCA enhanced selenite-induced cortisol impairment, indicating that oxidative stress plays a role in Se toxicity; however, modifying GSH content of the cells did not have an effect. The results of this study, with two closely related salmonids, provided additional evidence for species-specific differences in sensitivity to Se which should be considered when setting thresholds and water quality guidelines. - Research Highlights: > We investigated species-specific sensitivity to Se in trout adrenocortical cells

  14. Health Literacy: Readability of ACC/AHA Online Patient Education Material.

    PubMed

    Kapoor, Karan; George, Praveen; Evans, Matthew C; Miller, Weldon J; Liu, Stanley S

    To determine whether the online patient education material offered by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) is written at a higher level than the 6th-7th grade level recommended by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Online patient education material from each website was subjected to reading grade level (RGL) analysis using the Readability Studio Professional Edition. One-sample t testing was used to compare the mean RGLs obtained from 8 formulas to the NIH-recommended 6.5 grade level and 8th grade national mean. In total, 372 articles from the ACC website and 82 from the AHA were studied. Mean (±SD) RGLs for the 454 articles were 9.6 ± 2.1, 11.2 ± 2.1, 11.9 ± 1.6, 10.8 ± 1.6, 9.7 ± 2.1, 10.8 ± 0.8, 10.5 ± 2.6, and 11.7 ± 3.5 according to the Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG Index), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Gunning-Fog Index (GFI), New Dale-Chall reading level formula (NDC), FORCAST, Raygor Readability Estimate (RRE), and Fry Graph (Fry), respectively. All analyzed articles had significantly higher RGLs than both the NIH-recommended grade level of 6.5 and the national mean grade level of 8 (p < 0.00625). Patient education material provided on the ACC and AHA websites is written above the NIH-recommended 6.5 grade level and 8th grade national mean reading level. Additional studies are required to demonstrate whether lowering the RGL of this material improves outcomes among patients with cardiovascular disease. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  15. Development and psychometric evaluation of the Assessment of Core CBT Skills (ACCS): An observation-based tool for assessing cognitive behavioral therapy competence.

    PubMed

    Muse, Kate; McManus, Freda; Rakovshik, Sarah; Thwaites, Richard

    2017-05-01

    This article outlines the development and psychometric evaluation of the Assessment of Core CBT Skills (ACCS) rating scale. The ACCS aims to provide a novel assessment framework to deliver formative and summative feedback regarding therapists' performance within observed cognitive-behavioral treatment sessions, and for therapists to rate and reflect on their own performance. Findings from 3 studies are outlined: (a) a feedback study (n = 66) examining content validity, face validity and usability; (b) a focus group (n = 9) evaluating usability and utility; and (c) an evaluation of the psychometric properties of the ACCS in real world cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) training and routine clinical practice contexts. Results suggest that the ACCS has good face validity, content validity, and usability and provides a user-friendly tool that is useful for promoting self-reflection and providing formative feedback. Scores on both the self and assessor-rated versions of the ACCS demonstrate good internal consistency, interrater reliability, and discriminant validity. In addition, ACCS scores were found to be correlated with, but distinct from, the Revised Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS-R) and were comparable to CTS-R scores in terms of internal consistency and discriminant validity. In addition, the ACCS may have advantages over the CTS-R in terms of interrater reliability of scores. The studies also provided insight into areas for refinement and a number of modifications were undertaken to improve the scale. In summary, the ACCS is an appropriate and useful measure of CBT competence that can be used to promote self-reflection and provide therapists with formative and summative feedback. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

  16. Waste management facility accident analysis (WASTE ACC) system: software for analysis of waste management alternatives

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

    Kohout, E.F.; Folga, S.; Mueller, C.

    1996-03-01

    This paper describes the Waste Management Facility Accident Analysis (WASTE{underscore}ACC) software, which was developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to support the US Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) Waste Management (WM) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). WASTE{underscore}ACC is a decision support and database system that is compatible with Microsoft{reg_sign} Windows{trademark}. It assesses potential atmospheric releases from accidents at waste management facilities. The software provides the user with an easy-to-use tool to determine the risk-dominant accident sequences for the many possible combinations of process technologies, waste and facility types, and alternative cases described in the WM PEIS. In addition, its structure willmore » allow additional alternative cases and assumptions to be tested as part of the future DOE programmatic decision-making process. The WASTE{underscore}ACC system demonstrates one approach to performing a generic, systemwide evaluation of accident risks at waste management facilities. The advantages of WASTE{underscore}ACC are threefold. First, the software gets waste volume and radiological profile data that were used to perform other WM PEIS-related analyses directly from the WASTE{underscore}MGMT system. Second, the system allows for a consistent analysis across all sites and waste streams, which enables decision makers to understand more fully the trade-offs among various policy options and scenarios. Third, the system is easy to operate; even complex scenario runs are completed within minutes.« less

  17. Interparental Aggression and Infant Patterns of Adrenocortical and Behavioral Stress Responses

    PubMed Central

    Towe-Goodman, Nissa R.; Stifter, Cynthia A.; Mills-Koonce, W. Roger; Granger, Douglas A.

    2011-01-01

    Drawing on emotional security theory, this study examined linkages between interparental aggression, infant self-regulatory behaviors, and patterns of physiological and behavioral stress responses in a diverse sample of 735 infants residing in predominately low-income, nonmetropolitan communities. Latent profile analysis revealed four classes of adrenocortical and behavioral stress response patterns at 7-months of age, using assessments of behavioral and cortisol reactivity to an emotion eliciting challenge, as well as global ratings of the child’s negative affect and basal cortisol levels. The addition of covariates within the latent profile model suggested that children with more violence in the home and who used less caregiver-oriented regulation strategies were more likely to exhibit a pattern of high cortisol reactivity with moderate signs of distress rather than the average stress response, suggesting possible patterns of adaptation in violent households. PMID:22127795

  18. Treatment Options by Stage (Adrenocortical Carcinoma)

    MedlinePlus

    ... if you have any of these problems. Imaging studies and tests that examine the blood and urine are used ... urine that is collected for three days. This test is done to check if the adrenal gland is ... Blood chemistry study : A procedure in which a blood sample is ...

  19. Adrenocortical Expression Profiling of Cattle with Distinct Juvenile Temperament Types.

    PubMed

    Friedrich, Juliane; Brand, Bodo; Graunke, Katharina Luise; Langbein, Jan; Schwerin, Manfred; Ponsuksili, Siriluck

    2017-01-01

    Temperament affects ease of handling, animal welfare, and economically important production traits in cattle. The use of gene expression profiles as molecular traits provides a novel means of gaining insight into behavioural genetics. In this study, differences in adrenocortical expression profiles between 60 F 2 cows (Charolais × German Holstein) of distinct temperament types were analysed. The cows were assessed in a novel-human test at an age of 90 days. Most of the adrenal cortex transcripts which were differentially expressed (FDR <0.05) were found between temperament types of 'fearful/neophobic-alert' and all other temperament types. These transcripts belong to several biological functions like NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response, Glucocorticoid Receptor Signalling and Complement System. Overall, the present study provides new insight into transcriptional differences in the adrenal cortex between cows of distinct temperament types. Genetic regulations of such molecular traits facilitate uncovering positional and functional gene candidates for temperament type in cattle.

  20. Minimum infusion rate and adrenocortical function after continuous infusion of the novel etomidate analog ET-26-HCl in rats.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Junli; Wang, Bin; Zhu, Zhaoqiong; Yang, Jun; Liu, Jin; Zhang, Wensheng

    2017-01-01

    Because etomidate induces prolonged adrenal suppression, even following a single bolus, its use as an infused anesthetic is limited. Our previous study indicated that a single administration of the novel etomidate analog methoxyethyletomidate hydrochloride (ET-26-HCl) shows little suppression of adrenocortical function. The aims of the present study were to (1) determine the minimum infusion rate of ET-26-HCl and compare it with those for etomidate and cyclopropyl-methoxycarbonylmetomidate (CPMM), a rapidly metabolized etomidate analog that is currently in clinical trials and (2) to evaluate adrenocortical function after a continuous infusion of ET-26-HCl as part of a broader study investigating whether this etomidate analog is suitable for long infusion in the maintenance of anesthesia. The up-and-down method was used to determine the minimum infusion rates for ET-26-HCl, etomidate and CPMM. Sprague-Dawley rats ( n  = 32) were then randomly divided into four groups: etomidate, ET-26-HCl, CPMM, and vehicle control. Rats in each group were infused for 60 min with one of the drugs at its predetermined minimum infusion rate. Blood samples were drawn initially and then every 30 min after drug infusion to determine the adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated concentration of serum corticosterone as a measure of adrenocortical function. The minimum infusion rates for etomidate, ET-26-HCl and CPMM were 0.29, 0.62, and 0.95 mg/kg/min, respectively. Compared with controls, etomidate decreased serum corticosterone, as expected, whereas serum corticosterone concentrations following infusion with the etomidate analogs ET-26-HCl or CPMM were not significantly different from those in the control group. The corticosterone concentrations tended to be reduced for the first hour following ET-26-HCl infusion (as compared to vehicle infusion); however, this reduction did not reach statistical significance. Thus, further studies are warranted examining the practicability of using ET

  1. Efficacy of dexamethasone suppression test during the diagnosis of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease in Chinese adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing syndrome.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shi; Li, Ran; Lu, Lin; Duan, Lian; Zhang, Xuebin; Tong, Anli; Pan, Hui; Zhu, Huijuan; Lu, Zhaolin

    2018-01-01

    To evaluate the cut-off value of the ratio of 24 h urinary free cortisol (24 h UFC) levels post-dexamethasone to prior-dexamethasone in dexamethasone suppression test (DST) during the diagnosis of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease in Chinese adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent Cushing syndrome. Retrospective study. The patients diagnosed with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD, n = 25), bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH, n = 27), and adrenocortical adenoma (ADA, n = 84) were admitted to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2001 to 2016. Serum cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and 24 h UFC were measured before and after low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) and high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST). After LDDST and HDDST, 24 h UFC elevated in patients with PPNAD (paired t-test, P = 0.007 and P = 0.001), while it remained unchanged in the BMAH group (paired t-test, P = 0.471 and P = 0.414) and decreased in the ADA group (paired t-test, P = 0.002 and P = 0.004). The 24 h UFC level after LDDST was higher in PPNAD and BMAH as compared to ADA (P < 0.017), while no significant difference was observed between PPNAD and BMAH. After HDDST, 24 h UFC was higher in patients with PPNAD as compared to that of ADA and BMAH (P < 0.017). The cut-off value of 24 h UFC (Post-L-Dex)/(Pre-L-Dex) was 1.16 with 64.0% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity, and the cut-off value of 24 h UFC (Post-H-Dex)/(Pre-H-Dex) was 1.08 with 84.0% sensitivity and 75.6% specificity. The ratio of post-dexamethasone to prior-dexamethasone had a unique advantage in distinguishing PPNAD from BMAH and ADA.

  2. The ability of the 2013 ACC/AHA cardiovascular risk score to identify rheumatoid arthritis patients with high coronary artery calcification scores

    PubMed Central

    Kawai, Vivian K.; Chung, Cecilia P.; Solus, Joseph F.; Oeser, Annette; Raggi, Paolo; Stein, C. Michael

    2014-01-01

    Objective Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) that is underestimated by the Framingham risk score (FRS). We hypothesized that the 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year risk score would perform better than the FRS and the Reynolds risk score (RRS) in identifying RA patients known to have elevated cardiovascular risk based on high coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores. Methods Among 98 RA patients eligible for risk stratification using the ACC/AHA score we identified 34 patients with high CAC (≥ 300 Agatston units or ≥75th percentile) and compared the ability of the 10-year FRS, RRS and the ACC/AHA risk scores to correctly assign these patients to an elevated risk category. Results All three risk scores were higher in patients with high CAC (P values <0.05). The percentage of patients with high CAC correctly assigned to the elevated risk category was similar among the three scores (FRS 32%, RRS 32%, ACC/AHA 41%) (P=0.233). The c-statistics for the FRS, RRS and ACC/AHA risk scores predicting the presence of high CAC were 0.65, 0.66, and 0.65, respectively. Conclusions The ACC/AHA 10-year risk score does not offer any advantage compared to the traditional FRS and RRS in the identification of RA patients with elevated risk as determined by high CAC. The ACC/AHA risk score assigned almost 60% of patients with high CAC into a low risk category. Risk scores and standard risk prediction models used in the general population do not adequately identify many RA patients with elevated cardiovascular risk. PMID:25371313

  3. Effects of chromium(III) picolinate on cortisol and DHEAs secretion in H295R human adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed

    Kim, Beob G; Adams, Julye M; Jackson, Brian A; Lindemann, Merlin D

    2010-02-01

    Dietary chromium(III) picolinate (CrPic) effects on circulating steroid hormones have been reported in various experimental animals. However, direct effects of CrPic on adrenocortical steroidogenesis are uncertain. Therefore, the objective was to determine the effects of CrPic on cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs) secretion from H295R cells. In experiment 1, a 24-h exposure to CrPic (0 to 200 microM) had both linear (p < 0.001) and quadratic (p < 0.001) effects on cortisol secretion from forskolin-stimulated cells with the highest cortisol secretion at 0.1 microM of CrPic and the lowest at 200 microM of CrPic. In experiment 2, a 48-h exposure to CrPic (200 microM) decreased cortisol (p < 0.07) release from forskolin-stimulated cells during a 24-h collection period. In experiment 3, a 48-h exposure to CrPic (100 microM) decreased cortisol (p < 0.05) and DHEAs (p < 0.01) from forskolin-stimulated cells during a 24-h sampling period. In experiment 4, a 24-h exposure to forskolin followed by a 24-h exposure to both forskolin and CrPic (100 and 200 microM) decreased both cortisol and DHEAs secretion (p < 0.01). This study suggests that at high concentrations, CrPic inhibits aspects of steroidogenesis in agonist-stimulated adrenocortical cells.

  4. Management of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast: A Rare Cancer Network Study

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

    Khanfir, Kaouthar, E-mail: kaouthar.khanfir@rsv-gnw.ch; Kallel, Adel; Villette, Sylviane

    2012-04-01

    Background: Mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare breast cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess prognostic factors and patterns of failure, as well as the role of radiation therapy (RT), in ACC. Methods: Between January 1980 and December 2007, 61 women with breast ACC were treated at participating centers of the Rare Cancer Network. Surgery consisted of lumpectomy in 41 patients and mastectomy in 20 patients. There were 51(84%) stage pN0 and 10 stage cN0 (16%) patients. Postoperative RT was administered to 40 patients (35 after lumpectomy, 5 after mastectomy). Results: With a median follow-upmore » of 79 months (range, 6-285), 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88%-100%) and 82% (95% CI, 71%-93%), respectively. The 5-year locoregional control (LRC) rate was 95% (95% CI, 89%-100%). Axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy was performed in 84% of cases. All patients had stage pN0 disease. In univariate analysis, survival was not influenced by the type of surgery or the use of postoperative RT. The 5-year LRC rate was 100% in the mastectomy group versus 93% (95% CI, 83%-100%) in the breast-conserving surgery group, respectively (p = 0.16). For the breast-conserving surgery group, the use of RT significantly correlated with LRC (p = 0.03); the 5-year LRC rates were 95% (95% CI, 86%-100%) for the RT group versus 83% (95% CI, 54%-100%) for the group receiving no RT. No local failures occurred in patients with positive margins, all of whom received postoperative RT. Conclusion: Breast-conserving surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with ACC breast cancer. Axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy might not be recommended. Postoperative RT should be proposed in the case of breast-conserving surgery.« less

  5. Adolescents with current major depressive disorder show dissimilar patterns of age-related differences in ACC and thalamus

    PubMed Central

    Hagan, Cindy C.; Graham, Julia M.E.; Tait, Roger; Widmer, Barry; van Nieuwenhuizen, Adrienne O.; Ooi, Cinly; Whitaker, Kirstie J.; Simas, Tiago; Bullmore, Edward T.; Lennox, Belinda R.; Sahakian, Barbara J.; Goodyer, Ian M.; Suckling, John

    2015-01-01

    Objective There is little understanding of the neural system abnormalities subserving adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD). In a cross-sectional study we compare currently unipolar depressed with healthy adolescents to determine if group differences in grey matter volume (GMV) were influenced by age and illness severity. Method Structural neuroimaging was performed on 109 adolescents with current MDD and 36 healthy controls, matched for age, gender, and handedness. GMV differences were examined within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and across the whole-brain. The effects of age and self-reported depressive symptoms were also examined in regions showing significant main or interaction effects. Results Whole-brain voxel based morphometry revealed no significant group differences. At the whole-brain level, both groups showed a main effect of age on GMV, although this effect was more pronounced in controls. Significant group-by-age interactions were noted: A significant regional group-by-age interaction was observed in the ACC. GMV in the ACC showed patterns of age-related differences that were dissimilar between adolescents with MDD and healthy controls. GMV in the thalamus showed an opposite pattern of age-related differences in adolescent patients compared to healthy controls. In patients, GMV in the thalamus, but not the ACC, was inversely related with self-reported depressive symptoms. Conclusions The depressed adolescent brain shows dissimilar age-related and symptom-sensitive patterns of GMV differences compared with controls. The thalamus and ACC may comprise neural markers for detecting these effects in youth. Further investigations therefore need to take both age and level of current symptoms into account when disaggregating antecedent neural vulnerabilities for MDD from the effects of MDD on the developing brain. PMID:25685707

  6. Adolescents with current major depressive disorder show dissimilar patterns of age-related differences in ACC and thalamus.

    PubMed

    Hagan, Cindy C; Graham, Julia M E; Tait, Roger; Widmer, Barry; van Nieuwenhuizen, Adrienne O; Ooi, Cinly; Whitaker, Kirstie J; Simas, Tiago; Bullmore, Edward T; Lennox, Belinda R; Sahakian, Barbara J; Goodyer, Ian M; Suckling, John

    2015-01-01

    There is little understanding of the neural system abnormalities subserving adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD). In a cross-sectional study we compare currently unipolar depressed with healthy adolescents to determine if group differences in grey matter volume (GMV) were influenced by age and illness severity. Structural neuroimaging was performed on 109 adolescents with current MDD and 36 healthy controls, matched for age, gender, and handedness. GMV differences were examined within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and across the whole-brain. The effects of age and self-reported depressive symptoms were also examined in regions showing significant main or interaction effects. Whole-brain voxel based morphometry revealed no significant group differences. At the whole-brain level, both groups showed a main effect of age on GMV, although this effect was more pronounced in controls. Significant group-by-age interactions were noted: A significant regional group-by-age interaction was observed in the ACC. GMV in the ACC showed patterns of age-related differences that were dissimilar between adolescents with MDD and healthy controls. GMV in the thalamus showed an opposite pattern of age-related differences in adolescent patients compared to healthy controls. In patients, GMV in the thalamus, but not the ACC, was inversely related with self-reported depressive symptoms. The depressed adolescent brain shows dissimilar age-related and symptom-sensitive patterns of GMV differences compared with controls. The thalamus and ACC may comprise neural markers for detecting these effects in youth. Further investigations therefore need to take both age and level of current symptoms into account when disaggregating antecedent neural vulnerabilities for MDD from the effects of MDD on the developing brain.

  7. [A novel gene (Aa-accA ) encoding acetyl-CoA carboxyltransferase alpha-subunit of Alkalimonas amylolytica N10 enhances salt and alkali tolerance of Escherichia coli and tobacco BY-2 cells].

    PubMed

    Xian, Mingjie; Zhai, Lei; Zhong, Naiqin; Ma, Yiwei; Xue, Yanfen; Ma, Yanhe

    2013-08-04

    Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the first step of fatty acid synthesis. In most bacteria, ACC is composed of four subunits encoded by accA, accB, accC, and accD. Of them, accA encodes acetyl-CoA carboxyltransferase alpha-subunit. Our prior work on proteomics of Alkalimonas amylolytica N10 showed that the expression of the Aa-accA has a remarkable response to salt and alkali stress. This research aimed to find out the Aa-accA gene contributing to salt and alkali tolerance. The Aa-accA was amplified by PCR from A. amylolytica N10 and expressed in E. coli K12 host. The effects of Aa-accA expression on the growth of transgenic strains were examined under different NaCl concentration and pH conditions. Transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells harboring Aa-accA were also generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The viability of BY-2 cells was determined with FDA staining method after salt and alkali shock. The Aa-accA gene product has 318 amino acids and is homologous to the carboxyl transferase domain of acyl-CoA carboxylases. It showed 76% identity with AccA (acetyl-CoA carboxylase carboxyltransferase subunit alpha) from E. coli. Compared to the wild-type strains, transgenic E. coli K12 strain containing Aa-accA showed remarkable growth superiority when grown in increased NaCl concentrations and pH levels. The final cell density of the transgenic strains was 2.6 and 3.5 times higher than that of the control type when they were cultivated in LB medium containing 6% (W/V) NaCl and at pH 9, respectively. Complementary expression of Aa-accA in an accA-depletion E. coli can recover the tolerance of K12 delta accA to salt and alkali stresses to some extent. Similar to the transgenic E. coli, transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells showed higher percentages of viability compared to the wild BY-2 cells under the salt or alkali stress condition. We found that Aa-accA from A. amylolytica N10 overexpression enhances the tolerance of both transgenic E. coli and tobacco BY-2 cells to

  8. A phase II study of axitinib (AG-013736) in patients with incurable adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ho, A L; Dunn, L; Sherman, E J; Fury, M G; Baxi, S S; Chandramohan, R; Dogan, S; Morris, L G T; Cullen, G D; Haque, S; Sima, C S; Ni, A; Antonescu, C R; Katabi, N; Pfister, D G

    2016-10-01

    Recurrent/metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an incurable disease with no standard treatments. The majority of ACCs express the oncogenic transcription factor MYB (also c-myb), often in the context of a MYB gene rearrangement. This phase II trial of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) axitinib (Pfizer) tested the hypothesis that targeting pathways activated by MYB can be therapeutically effective for ACC. This is a minimax two-stage, phase II trial that enrolled patients with incurable ACC of any primary site. Progressive or symptomatic disease was required. Patients were treated with axitinib 5 mg oral twice daily; dose escalation was allowed. The primary end point was best overall response (BOR). An exploratory analysis correlating biomarkers to drug benefit was conducted, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 11 patients. Thirty-three patients were registered and evaluable for response. Fifteen patients had the axitinib dose increased. Tumor shrinkage was achieved in 22 (66.7%); 3 (9.1%) had confirmed partial responses. Twenty-five (75.8%) patients had stable disease, 10 of whom had disease stability for >6 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.7 months (range 0.92-21.8 months). Grade 3 axitinib-related toxicities included hypertension, oral pain and fatigue. A trend toward superior PFS was noted with the MYB/NFIB rearrangement, although this was not statistically significant. NGS revealed three tumors with 4q12 amplification, producing increased copies of axitinib-targeted genes PDGFR/KDR/KIT. Two 4q12 amplified patients achieved stable disease for >6 months, including one with significant tumor reduction and the longest PFS on study (21.8 months). Although the primary end point was not met, axitinib exhibited clinical activity with tumor shrinkage achieved in the majority of patients with progressive disease before trial enrollment. Analysis of MYB biomarkers and genomic profiling suggests the hypothesis that 4q12 amplified

  9. Potential U.S. Population Impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guideline.

    PubMed

    Muntner, Paul; Carey, Robert M; Gidding, Samuel; Jones, Daniel W; Taler, Sandra J; Wright, Jackson T; Whelton, Paul K

    2018-01-16

    The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults provides recommendations for the definition of hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) thresholds for initiation of antihypertensive medication, and BP target goals. This study sought to determine the prevalence of hypertension, implications of recommendations for antihypertensive medication, and prevalence of BP above the treatment goal among U.S. adults using criteria from the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline and the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7). The authors analyzed data from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 9,623). BP was measured 3 times following a standardized protocol and averaged. Results were weighted to produce U.S. population estimates. According to the 2017 ACC/AHA and JNC7 guidelines, the crude prevalence of hypertension among U.S. adults was 45.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.6% to 47.6%) and 31.9% (95% CI: 30.1% to 33.7%), respectively, and antihypertensive medication was recommended for 36.2% (95% CI: 34.2% to 38.2%) and 34.3% (95% CI: 32.5% to 36.2%) of U.S. adults, respectively. Nonpharmacological intervention is advised for the 9.4% of U.S. adults with hypertension who are not recommended for antihypertensive medication according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline. Among U.S. adults taking antihypertensive medication, 53.4% (95% CI: 49.9% to 56.8%) and 39.0% (95% CI: 36.4% to 41.6%) had BP above the treatment goal according to the 2017 ACC/AHA and JNC7 guidelines, respectively. Compared with the JNC7 guideline, the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline results in a substantial increase in the prevalence of hypertension, a small increase in the percentage of U.S. adults recommended for antihypertensive medication, and more intensive BP

  10. Primary Prevention With Statins: ACC/AHA Risk-Based Approach Versus Trial-Based Approaches to Guide Statin Therapy.

    PubMed

    Mortensen, Martin B; Afzal, Shoaib; Nordestgaard, Børge G; Falk, Erling

    2015-12-22

    Guidelines recommend initiating primary prevention for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) with statins based on absolute ASCVD risk assessment. Recently, alternative trial-based and hybrid approaches were suggested for statin treatment eligibility. This study compared these approaches in a direct head-to-head fashion in a contemporary population. The study used the CGPS (Copenhagen General Population Study) with 37,892 subjects aged 40 to 75 years recruited in 2003 to 2008, all free of ASCVD, diabetes, and statin use at baseline. Among the population studied, 42% were eligible for statin therapy according to the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) risk assessment and cholesterol treatment guidelines approach, versus 56% with the trial-based approach and 21% with the hybrid approach. Among these statin-eligible subjects, the ASCVD event rate per 1,000 person-years was 9.8, 6.8, and 11.2, respectively. The ACC/AHA-recommended absolute risk score was well calibrated around the 7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk treatment threshold and discriminated better than the trial-based or hybrid approaches. Compared with the ACC/AHA risk-based approach, the net reclassification index for eligibility for statin therapy among 40- to 75-year-old subjects from the CGPS was -0.21 for the trial-based approach and -0.13 for the hybrid approach. The clinical performance of the ACC/AHA risk-based approach for primary prevention of ASCVD with statins was superior to the trial-based and hybrid approaches. Our results indicate that the ACC/AHA guidelines will prevent more ASCVD events than the trial-based and hybrid approaches, while treating fewer people compared with the trial-based approach. Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Identification of vascular patients at very high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events: validation of the current ACC/AHA very high risk criteria.

    PubMed

    van den Berg, M Johanneke; Bhatt, Deepak L; Kappelle, L Jaap; de Borst, Gert J; Cramer, Maarten J; van der Graaf, Yolanda; Steg, Ph Gabriel; Visseren, Frank L J

    2017-11-14

    To validate and assess performance of the current ACC/AHA very high risk criteria in patients with clinically manifest arterial disease. Data were used from the SMART study (n = 7216) and REACH Registry (n = 48 322), two prospective cohorts of patients with manifest atherosclerotic arterial disease. Prevalence and incidence rates of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were calculated, according to the ACC/AHA VHR criteria (cardiovascular disease combined with diabetes, smoking, dyslipidaemia, and/or recent recurrent coronary events). Performance of the ACC/AHA criteria was compared with single very high risk factors in terms of C-statistics and Net Reclassification Index. All patients were at VHR according to the ESC guidelines (incidence of recurrent MACE in SMART was 2.4/100PY, with 95% CI 2.3-2.5/100PY and in REACH 5.1/100PY with 95% CI 5.0-5.3/100PY). In SMART 57% of the patients were at VHR according to the ACC/AHA criteria (incidence of recurrent MACE 2.7/100PY, 95% CI 2.5-2.9/100PY) and in REACH this was 64% (5.9/100PY, 95% CI 5.7-6.1/100PY). The C-statistic for the ACC/AHA VHR criteria was 0.53 in REACH and 0.54 in SMART. Very high risk factors with comparable or slightly better performance were eGFR < 45, polyvascular disease and age >70 years. Around two third of the patients meeting the ACC/AHA VHR criteria had a predicted 10-year risk of recurrent MACE <30%. The ACC/AHA VHR criteria have limited discriminative power. Identifying patients with clinically manifest arterial disease at VHR for recurrent vascular events using eGFR <45, polyvascular disease, or age >70 years performs as well as the ACC/AHA VHR criteria. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  12. GAD65 Promoter Polymorphism rs2236418 Modulates Harm Avoidance in Women via Inhibition/Excitation Balance in the Rostral ACC.

    PubMed

    Colic, Lejla; Li, Meng; Demenescu, Liliana Ramona; Li, Shija; Müller, Iris; Richter, Anni; Behnisch, Gusalija; Seidenbecher, Constanze I; Speck, Oliver; Schott, Björn H; Stork, Oliver; Walter, Martin

    2018-05-30

    Anxiety disorders are common and debilitating conditions with higher prevalence in women. However, factors that predispose women to anxiety phenotypes are not clarified. Here we investigated potential contribution of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2236418 in GAD2 gene to changes in regional inhibition/excitation balance, anxiety-like traits, and related neural activity in both sexes. One hundred and five healthy individuals were examined with high-field (7T) multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); including resting-state functional MRI in combination with assessment of GABA and glutamate (Glu) levels via MR spectroscopy. Regional GABA/Glu levels in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) subregions were assessed as mediators of gene-personality interaction for the trait harm avoidance and moderation by sex was tested. In AA homozygotes, with putatively lower GAD2 promoter activity, we observed increased intrinsic neuronal activity and higher inhibition/excitation balance in pregenual ACC (pgACC) compared with G carriers. The pgACC drove a significant interaction of genotype, region, and sex, where inhibition/excitation balance was significantly reduced only in female AA carriers. This finding was specific for rs2236418 as other investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms of the GABA synthesis related enzymes ( GAD1 , GAD2 , and GLS ) were not significant. Furthermore, only in women there was a negative association of pgACC GABA/Glu ratios with harm avoidance. A moderated-mediation model revealed that pgACC GABA/Glu also mediated the association between the genotype variant and level of harm avoidance, dependent on sex. Our data thus provide new insights into the neurochemical mechanisms that control emotional endophenotypes in humans and constitute predisposing factors for the development of anxiety disorders in women. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anxiety disorders are among the most common and burdensome psychiatric disorders, with higher prevalence rates in women

  13. Non-Invasive Measurement of Adrenocortical Activity in Blue-Fronted Parrots (Amazona aestiva, Linnaeus, 1758)

    PubMed Central

    Ferreira, João C. P.; Fujihara, Caroline J.; Fruhvald, Erika; Trevisol, Eduardo; Destro, Flavia C.; Teixeira, Carlos R.; Pantoja, José C. F.; Schmidt, Elizabeth M. S.; Palme, Rupert

    2015-01-01

    Parrots kept in zoos and private households often develop psychological and behavioural disorders. Despite knowing that such disorders have a multifactorial aetiology and that chronic stress is involved, little is known about their development mainly due to a poor understanding of the parrots’ physiology and the lack of validated methods to measure stress in these species. In birds, blood corticosterone concentrations provide information about adrenocortical activity. However, blood sampling techniques are difficult, highly invasive and inappropriate to investigate stressful situations and welfare conditions. Thus, a non-invasive method to measure steroid hormones is critically needed. Aiming to perform a physiological validation of a cortisone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to measure glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) in droppings of 24 Blue-fronted parrots (Amazona aestiva), two experiments were designed. During the experiments all droppings were collected at 3-h intervals. Initially, birds were sampled for 24 h (experiment 1) and one week later assigned to four different treatments (experiment 2): Control (undisturbed), Saline (0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl IM), Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg IM) and Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 25 IU IM). Treatments (always one week apart) were applied to all animals in a cross-over study design. A daily rhythm pattern in GCM excretion was detected but there were no sex differences (first experiment). Saline and dexamethasone treatments had no effect on GCM (not different from control concentrations). Following ACTH injection, GCM concentration increased about 13.1-fold (median) at the peak (after 3–9 h), and then dropped to pre-treatment concentrations. By a successful physiological validation, we demonstrated the suitability of the cortisone EIA to non-invasively monitor increased adrenocortical activity, and thus, stress in the Blue-fronted parrot. This method opens up new perspectives for investigating the connection between behavioural

  14. Non-Invasive Measurement of Adrenocortical Activity in Blue-Fronted Parrots (Amazona aestiva, Linnaeus, 1758).

    PubMed

    Ferreira, João C P; Fujihara, Caroline J; Fruhvald, Erika; Trevisol, Eduardo; Destro, Flavia C; Teixeira, Carlos R; Pantoja, José C F; Schmidt, Elizabeth M S; Palme, Rupert

    2015-01-01

    Parrots kept in zoos and private households often develop psychological and behavioural disorders. Despite knowing that such disorders have a multifactorial aetiology and that chronic stress is involved, little is known about their development mainly due to a poor understanding of the parrots' physiology and the lack of validated methods to measure stress in these species. In birds, blood corticosterone concentrations provide information about adrenocortical activity. However, blood sampling techniques are difficult, highly invasive and inappropriate to investigate stressful situations and welfare conditions. Thus, a non-invasive method to measure steroid hormones is critically needed. Aiming to perform a physiological validation of a cortisone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to measure glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) in droppings of 24 Blue-fronted parrots (Amazona aestiva), two experiments were designed. During the experiments all droppings were collected at 3-h intervals. Initially, birds were sampled for 24 h (experiment 1) and one week later assigned to four different treatments (experiment 2): Control (undisturbed), Saline (0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl IM), Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg IM) and Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 25 IU IM). Treatments (always one week apart) were applied to all animals in a cross-over study design. A daily rhythm pattern in GCM excretion was detected but there were no sex differences (first experiment). Saline and dexamethasone treatments had no effect on GCM (not different from control concentrations). Following ACTH injection, GCM concentration increased about 13.1-fold (median) at the peak (after 3-9 h), and then dropped to pre-treatment concentrations. By a successful physiological validation, we demonstrated the suitability of the cortisone EIA to non-invasively monitor increased adrenocortical activity, and thus, stress in the Blue-fronted parrot. This method opens up new perspectives for investigating the connection between behavioural

  15. Prenatal Maternal Stress Predicts Methylation of Genes Regulating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical System in Mothers and Newborns in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kertes, Darlene A.; Kamin, Hayley S.; Hughes, David A.; Rodney, Nicole C.; Bhatt, Samarth; Mulligan, Connie J.

    2016-01-01

    Exposure to stress early in life permanently shapes activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the brain. Prenatally, glucocorticoids pass through the placenta to the fetus with postnatal impacts on brain development, birth weight (BW), and HPA axis functioning. Little is known about the biological mechanisms by which…

  16. HMSN/ACC truncation mutations disrupt brain-type creatine kinase-dependant activation of K+/Cl- co-transporter 3.

    PubMed

    Salin-Cantegrel, Adèle; Shekarabi, Masoud; Holbert, Sébastien; Dion, Patrick; Rochefort, Daniel; Laganière, Janet; Dacal, Sandra; Hince, Pascale; Karemera, Liliane; Gaspar, Claudia; Lapointe, Jean-Yves; Rouleau, Guy A

    2008-09-01

    The potassium-chloride co-transporter 3 (KCC3) is mutated in hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with agenesis of the corpus callosum (HMSN/ACC); however, the molecular mechanisms of HMSN/ACC pathogenesis and the exact role of KCC3 in the development of the nervous system remain poorly understood. The functional regulation of this transporter by protein partners is also largely unknown. Using a yeast two-hybrid approach, we discovered that the C-terminal domain (CTD) of KCC3, which is lost in most HMSN/ACC-causing mutations, directly interacts with brain-specific creatine kinase (CK-B), an ATP-generating enzyme that is also a partner of KCC2. The interaction of KCC3 with CK-B was further confirmed by in vitro glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay, followed by sequencing of the pulled-down complexes. In transfected cultured cells, immunofluorescence labeling showed that CK-B co-localizes with wild-type KCC3, whereas the kinase fails to interact with the inactive truncated KCC3. Finally, CK-B's inhibition by DNFB results in reduction of activity of KCC3 in functional assays using Xenopus laevis oocytes. This physical and functional association between the co-transporter and CK-B is, therefore, the first protein-protein interaction identified to be potentially involved in the pathophysiology of HMSN/ACC.

  17. Computational Model of Steroidogenesis in Human H295R Cells to Predict Biochemical Response to Endocrine Active Chemicals: Model Development for Metyrapone

    EPA Science Inventory

    BACKGROUND: An in vitro steroidogenesis assay using the human adrenocortical carcinoma cells H295R is being evaluated as a possible toxicity screening approach to detect and assess the impact of endocrine active chemicals (EAC) capable of altering steroid biosynthesis. Interpreta...

  18. Partially dissociable roles of OFC and ACC in stimulus-guided and action-guided decision making.

    PubMed

    Khani, Abbas

    2014-05-01

    Recently, the functional specialization of prefrontal areas of the brain, and, specifically, the functional dissociation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), during decision making have become a particular focus of research. A number of neuropsychological and lesion studies have shown that the OFC and ACC have dissociable functions in various dimensions of decision making, which are supported by their different anatomical connections. A recent single-neuron study, however, described a more complex picture of the functional dissociation between these two frontal regions during decision making. Here, I discuss the results of that study and consider alternative interpretations in connection with other findings.

  19. Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma extending into the common bile and main pancreatic ducts.

    PubMed

    Yamaguchi, Rin; Okabe, Yoshinobu; Jimi, Atsuo; Shiota, Koji; Kodama, Takahito; Naito, Yoshiki; Yasunaga, Masafumi; Kinoshita, Hisafumi; Kojiro, Masamichi

    2006-10-01

    Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) of the pancreas is relatively rare, accounting for only approximately 1% of all exocrine pancreatic tumors. A 69-year-old man was found to have a mass lesion measuring approximately 4 cm in diameter in the pancreatic head on ultrasound, abdominal dynamic CT, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed defect of the lower common bile duct (CBD) due to obstruction by the tumor cast. Histopathologically, the pancreatic head tumor invaded the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and CBD with extension into the CBD in a form of tumor cast. The tumor cells consisted of a solid proliferation with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei in an acinar and trabecular fashion. A 55-year-old man with upper abdominal pain and nausea, had a cystic lesion approximately 3 cm in size in the pancreatic tail on CT. Histopathologically, the tumor was encapsulated by fibrous capsule and had extensive central necrosis with solid areas in the tumor periphery, and invaded with extension into the MPD in a form of tumor cast. The tumor cells resembled acinar cells in solid growths. Two resected cases of ACC with unusual tumor extension into the CBD and the MPD, respectively, are reported.

  20. Doctors' knowledge, attitudes, and compliance with 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore.

    PubMed

    Setia, Sajita; Fung, Selwyn Sze-Wang; Waters, David D

    2015-01-01

    There is an unmet need for strategies to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore. The main objective of this study was to investigate Singapore physicians' response to the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for treatment of cholesterol and their impact on clinical practice. This survey was conducted in two stages, qualitative and quantitative. Physicians were initially screened on the basis of an initial screener questionnaire, and eligible physicians were then included in the study. Qualitative (n=19) and quantitative (n=66) surveys were completed by eligible physicians from Singapore. Physicians were less familiar with the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines (35%) as compared with the Singapore Ministry of Health (MoH) lipid guidelines 2006 (49%). Of the physicians whose opinion was sought on the ACC/AHA guidelines, more than 50% disagreed with the definition of high-, moderate-, and low-intensity statin therapy; recommendation of atorvastatin 40-80 mg and rosuvastatin 20-40 mg as medications for high-intensity statin therapy; and classification of individuals who would benefit from moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy. Most physicians assumed that Asians may be intolerant to high-intensity statin therapy. Although embracing the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines in clinical practice is expected to provide better clinical care to patients, our study revealed high reluctance by physicians, especially in the use of high-dose statins. However, ACC/AHA guidelines can be easily adopted in Asia as there is a wealth of data available for atorvastatin in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with similar efficacy and safety profiles in the white and Asian populations.

  1. The ACC/AHA 2013 pooled cohort equations compared to a Korean Risk Prediction Model for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    PubMed

    Jung, Keum Ji; Jang, Yangsoo; Oh, Dong Joo; Oh, Byung-Hee; Lee, Sang Hoon; Park, Seong-Wook; Seung, Ki-Bae; Kim, Hong-Kyu; Yun, Young Duk; Choi, Sung Hee; Sung, Jidong; Lee, Tae-Yong; Kim, Sung Hi; Koh, Sang Baek; Kim, Moon Chan; Chang Kim, Hyeon; Kimm, Heejin; Nam, Chungmo; Park, Sungha; Jee, Sun Ha

    2015-09-01

    To evaluate the performance of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations in the Korean Heart Study (KHS) population and to develop a Korean Risk Prediction Model (KRPM) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. The KHS cohort included 200,010 Korean adults aged 40-79 years who were free from ASCVD at baseline. Discrimination, calibration, and recalibration of the ACC/AHA Equations in predicting 10-year ASCVD risk in the KHS cohort were evaluated. The KRPM was derived using Cox model coefficients, mean risk factor values, and mean incidences from the KHS cohort. In the discriminatory analysis, the ACC/AHA Equations' White and African-American (AA) models moderately distinguished cases from non-cases, and were similar to the KRPM: For men, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCs) were 0.727 (White model), 0.725 (AA model), and 0.741 (KRPM); for women, the corresponding AUROCs were 0.738, 0.739, and 0.745. Absolute 10-year ASCVD risk for men in the KHS cohort was overestimated by 56.5% (White model) and 74.1% (AA model), while the risk for women was underestimated by 27.9% (White model) and overestimated by 29.1% (AA model). Recalibration of the ACC/AHA Equations did not affect discriminatory ability but improved calibration substantially, especially in men in the White model. Of the three ASCVD risk prediction models, the KRPM showed best calibration. The ACC/AHA Equations should not be directly applied for ASCVD risk prediction in a Korean population. The KRPM showed best predictive ability for ASCVD risk. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Doctors’ knowledge, attitudes, and compliance with 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore

    PubMed Central

    Setia, Sajita; Fung, Selwyn Sze-Wang; Waters, David D

    2015-01-01

    Purpose There is an unmet need for strategies to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore. The main objective of this study was to investigate Singapore physicians’ response to the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for treatment of cholesterol and their impact on clinical practice. Methods This survey was conducted in two stages, qualitative and quantitative. Physicians were initially screened on the basis of an initial screener questionnaire, and eligible physicians were then included in the study. Results Qualitative (n=19) and quantitative (n=66) surveys were completed by eligible physicians from Singapore. Physicians were less familiar with the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines (35%) as compared with the Singapore Ministry of Health (MoH) lipid guidelines 2006 (49%). Of the physicians whose opinion was sought on the ACC/AHA guidelines, more than 50% disagreed with the definition of high-, moderate-, and low-intensity statin therapy; recommendation of atorvastatin 40–80 mg and rosuvastatin 20–40 mg as medications for high-intensity statin therapy; and classification of individuals who would benefit from moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy. Most physicians assumed that Asians may be intolerant to high-intensity statin therapy. Conclusion Although embracing the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines in clinical practice is expected to provide better clinical care to patients, our study revealed high reluctance by physicians, especially in the use of high-dose statins. However, ACC/AHA guidelines can be easily adopted in Asia as there is a wealth of data available for atorvastatin in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with similar efficacy and safety profiles in the white and Asian populations. PMID:26082642

  3. Mentoring in 2 + 2 Programs: LISD/ACC 2 + 2 Articulation Project.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

    The role of mentoring in the 2 + 2 Instrumentation and Control (I&C) articulation project between the Leander Independent School District (LISD) and Austin Community College (ACC) is discussed in this document. Following a brief history of the origin and function of the mentor, the paper explains the need for the mentoring system in the I&C…

  4. Sound the Alarm: The Effect of Narcissism on Retaliatory Aggression is Moderated by dACC Reactivity to Rejection

    PubMed Central

    Chester, David S.; DeWall, C. Nathan

    2015-01-01

    Objective Narcissists behave aggressively when their egos are threatened by interpersonal insults. This effect has been explained in terms of narcissist’s motivation to reduce the discrepancy between their grandiose self and its threatened version, though no research has directly tested this hypothesis. If this notion is true, the link between narcissism and retaliatory aggression should be moderated by neural structures that subserve discrepancy detection, such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). This study tested the hypothesis that narcissism would only predict greater retaliatory aggression in response to social rejection when the dACC was recruited by the threat. Method Thirty participants (15 females; MAge=18.86, SD=1.25; 77% White) completed a trait narcissism inventory, were socially accepted and then rejected while undergoing fMRI, and then could behave aggressively towards one of the rejecters by blasting them with unpleasant noise. Results When narcissists displayed greater dACC activation during rejection, they behaved aggressively. But there was only a weak or nonsignificant relation between narcissism and aggression among participants with a blunted dACC response. Conclusions Narcissism’s role in aggressive retaliation to interpersonal threats is likely determined by the extent to which the brain’s discrepancy detector registers the newly-created gap between the grandiose and threatened selves. PMID:25564936

  5. Parametric modulation of reward sequences during a reversal task in ACC and VMPFC but not amygdala and striatum.

    PubMed

    Becker, Michael P I; Nitsch, Alexander M; Hewig, Johannes; Miltner, Wolfgang H R; Straube, Thomas

    2016-12-01

    Several regions of the frontal cortex interact with striatal and amygdala regions to mediate the evaluation of reward-related information and subsequent adjustment of response choices. Recent theories discuss the particular relevance of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) for switching behavior; consecutively, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) is involved in mediating exploitative behaviors by tracking reward values unfolding after the behavioral switch. Amygdala, on the other hand, has been implied in coding the valence of stimulus-outcome associations and the ventral striatum (VS) has consistently been shown to code a reward prediction error (RPE). Here, we used fMRI data acquired in humans during a reversal task to parametrically model different sequences of positive feedback in order to unravel differential contributions of these brain regions to the tracking and exploitation of rewards. Parameters from an Optimal Bayesian Learner accurately predicted the divergent involvement of dACC and VMPFC during feedback processing: dACC signaled the first, but not later, presentations of positive feedback, while VMPFC coded trial-by-trial accumulations in reward value. Our results confirm that dACC carries a prominent confirmatory signal during processing of first positive feedback. Amygdala coded positive feedbacks more uniformly, while striatal regions were associated with RPE. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Identification of a melatonin receptor type 1A gene ( AccMTNR1A) in Apis cerana cerana and its possible involvement in the response to low temperature stress

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Guilin; Zhang, Yanming; Ni, Yong; Wang, Ying; Xu, Baohua; Guo, Xingqi

    2018-04-01

    It is known that melatonin plays an indispensable role in the defense against some environment-induced stresses. The melatonin receptor (MTNR) is also closely linked to the environmental stress response in mammals. However, little is known about the function of the MTNR in insects, including honeybees. In this study, we identified a MTNR from Apis cerana cerana named AccMTNR1A, which contained a typical seven-transmembrane domain common to this family of receptors. A subcellular localization analysis showed that AccMTNR1A was localized in the cytomembrane. Additionally, we found that cold stress apparently boosted AccMTNR1A transcription, indicating that AccMTNR1A possibly connects to the cold stress response. The knockdown of AccMTNR1A attenuated the expression level of some genes associated with the cold stress response, suggesting that AccMTNR1A likely plays an analogous role with these genes during low temperature stress response. Moreover, silencing of AccMTNR1A also suppressed the transcription of some antioxidant genes, prompting the possibility that the response of AccMTNR1A to cold stress response may be related to antioxidant signaling pathways. Collectively, the findings presented here provide evidence that AccMTNR1A may play essential roles in protecting Apis cerana cerana from cold stress.

  7. Comparison of the ACC/AHA and Framingham algorithms to assess cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients.

    PubMed

    Pinto Neto, Lauro Ferreira da Silva; Dias, Fernanda Rezende; Bressan, Flavia Feres; Santos, Carolina Rocio Oliveira

    The aim of this study was to compare the predictions of Framingham cardiovascular (CV) risk score (FRS) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) risk score in an HIV outpatient clinic in the city of Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil. In a cross-sectional study 341 HIV infected patients over 40 years old consecutively recruited were interviewed. Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to assess agreement between the two algorithms. 61.3% were stratified as low risk by Framingham score, compared with 54% by ACC/AHA score (Spearman correlation 0.845; p<0.000). Only 26.1% were classified as cardiovascular high risk by Framingham compared to 46% by ACC/AHA score (Kappa=0.745; p<0.039). Only one out of eight patients had cardiovascular high risk by Framingham at the time of a myocardial infarction event registered up to five years before the study period. Both cardiovascular risk scores but especially Framingham underestimated high-risk patients in this HIV-infected population. Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  8. Applicability of the 2013 ACC/AHA Risk Assessment and Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines in the real world: results from a multiethnic case-control study.

    PubMed

    Magnoni, Marco; Berteotti, Martina; Norata, Giuseppe Danilo; Limite, Luca Rosario; Peretto, Giovanni; Cristell, Nicole; Maseri, Attilio; Cianflone, Domenico

    2016-01-01

    The 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines have introduced a new cardiovascular risk assessment approach (PCE) and have revisited the threshold for prescribing statins. This study aims to compare the ex ante application of the ACC/AHA and the ATP-III guideline models by using a multiethnic case-control study. ATP-III-FRS and PCE were assessed in 739 patients with first STEMI and 739 age- and gender-matched controls; the proportion of cases and controls that would have been eligible for statin as primary prevention therapy and the discriminatory ability of both models were evaluated. The application of the ACC/AHA compared to the ATP-III model, resulted in an increase in sensitivity [94% (95%CI: 91%-95%) vs. 65% (61%-68%), p< 0.0001], a reduction in specificity [19% (15%-22%) vs. 55% (51%-59%), p< 0.0001] with similar global accuracy [0.56 (0.53-0.59) vs.0.59 (0.57-0.63), p ns]. When stratifying for ethnicity, the accuracy of the ACC/AHA model was higher in Europeans than in Chinese (p = 0.003) and to identified premature STEMI patients within Europeans much better compared to the ATP-III model (p = 0.0289). The application of the ACC/AHA model resulted in a significant reduction of first STEMI patients who would have escaped from preventive treatment. Age and ethnicity affected the accuracy of the ACC/AHA model improving the identification of premature STEMI among Europeans only. Key messages According to the ATP-III guideline model, about one-third of patients with STEMI would not be eligible for primary preventive treatment before STEMI. The application of the new ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guideline model leads to a significant reduction of the percentage of patients with STEMI who would have been considered at lower risk before the STEMI. The global accuracy of the new ACC/AHA model is higher in the Europeans than in the Chinese and, moreover, among the Europeans, the application of the new ACC/AHA guideline model also improved

  9. Carbonate mineralization via an amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) pathway: Tuning polymorph selection by Mg, pH, and mixing environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dove, P. M.; Blue, C.; Mergelsberg, S. T.; Giuffre, A. J.; Han, N.; De Yoreo, J. J.

    2017-12-01

    Mineral formation by nonclassical processes is widespread with many pathways that include aggregation of nanoparticles, oriented attachment of fully formed crystals, and sequential nucleation/transformation of amorphous phases (De Yoreo et al., 2015, Science). Field observations indicate amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) can be the initial precipitate when local conditions promote high supersaturations for short time periods. Examples include microbial mats, marine porewaters that undergo pulses of increased alkalinity, closed basin lakes, and sabkhas. The crystalline products exhibit diverse morphologies and complex elemental and isotopic signatures. This study quantifies relationships between solution composition and the crystalline polymorphs that transform from ACC (Blue et al., GCA, 2017). Our experimental design synthesized ACC under controlled conditions for a suite of compositions by tuning input pH, Mg/Ca, and total carbonate concentration. ACC products were allowed to transform within output suspensions under stirred or quiescent mixing while characterizing the polymorph and composition of evolving solutions and solids. We find that ACC transforms to crystalline polymorphs with a systematic relationship to solution composition to give a quantitative framework based upon solution aMg2+/aCa2+ and aCO32-/aCa2+. We also measure a polymorph-specific evolution of pH and Mg/Ca during the transformation that indicates the initial polymorph to form. Pathway is further modulated by stirring versus quiescent conditions. The findings reconcile discrepancies among previous studies of ACC to crystalline products and supports claims that monohydrocalcite may be an overlooked, transient phase during formation of some aragonite and calcite deposits. Organic additives and extreme pH are not required to tune composition and polymorph. Insights from this study reiterate the need to revisit long-standing dogmas regarding controls on CaCO3 polymorph selection. Classical models

  10. The Role of the Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis System in the Regulation of Secretion of Digestive Glands of Wrestlers during Sports and Postsports Ontogenesis

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Panov, Sergei F.; Panova, Irina P.; Volunskaya, Elena V.; Chebotarev, Andrei V.

    2016-01-01

    According to many researchers its necessary to research a hormonal profile in order to determine mechanisms of regulation of functions of the digestive conveyor during sports activities. In the paper the results of the carried out research on studying of a role of pituitary-adrenocortical axis system of adaptive reactions in activities of the…

  11. Mechanistic Computational Model of Steroidgenesis in H295R Cells: Role of (Oxysterols and Cell Proliferation to Improve Predictability of Biochemical Response to Endocrine Active Chemical-Metyrapone

    EPA Science Inventory

    The human adrenocortical carcinoma cell line H295R is being used as an in vitro steroidogenesis screening assay to assess the impact of endocrine active chemicals (EACs) capable of altering steroid biosynthesis. To enhance the interpretation and quantitative application of measur...

  12. GATEWAY Report Brief: Tunable-White Lighting at the ACC Care Center

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

    None, None

    Summary of a GATEWAY program report that documented the performance of tunable-white LED lighting systems installed in several spaces within the ACC Care Center, a senior-care facility in Sacramento, CA. The project results included energy savings and improved lighting quality, as well as other possible health-related benefits that may have been attributable, at least in part, to the lighting changes.

  13. A phase II study of sorafenib in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas: Translational analyses and clinical impact.

    PubMed

    Locati, L D; Perrone, F; Cortelazzi, B; Bergamini, C; Bossi, P; Civelli, E; Morosi, C; Lo Vullo, S; Imbimbo, M; Quattrone, P; Dagrada, G P; Granata, R; Resteghini, C; Mirabile, A; Alfieri, S; Orlandi, E; Mariani, L; Saibene, G; Pilotti, S; Licitra, L

    2016-12-01

    Pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggests a rationale for the use of anti-angiogenic agents, including sorafenib, in recurrent and/or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas (RMSGCs). This study evaluates the activity of sorafenib in patients with RMSGCs and also investigates whether the activity of sorafenib could be related to its main tailored targets (i.e. BRAF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR2], platelet-derived growth factor receptor α [PDGFRα] and β, RET, KIT). Patients received sorafenib at 400 mg BID. The primary end-point was response rate (RR) including complete response or partial response (PR); secondary end-points included RR according to Choi criteria, disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Thirty-seven patients (19 adenoid cystic cancers, ACC) were enrolled. Six PRs were recorded. RR was 16% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6-32; 11% in ACC and 22% in non-ACC). Choi criteria could be applied in 30 out of 37 cases with a RR of 50% (95% CI: 31-69%); DCR was 76% (95% CI: 59-88%). Incidence of ≥G3 adverse events was 29.7%. Median PFS and OS for the entire population were 5.9 months and 23.4 months, respectively. Median PFS and OS were 8.9 and 26.4 months for ACC versus 4.2 and 12.3 months for non-ACC patients. All the cases showed expression of PDGFRβ in the stroma and VEGFR2 in endothelial cells; PDGFRα positivity was found in the stroma of four (27%) cases. All except for two cases showed no PDGFRβ, VEGFR2 and PDGFRα expression in the tumour cells. KIT expression was restricted to ACC and a weak RET expression was limited to one adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (NOS). No BRAF mutation was found. No correlation was observed between the sorafenib activity and the expression of its markers although all six responders (two ACC, one adenocarcinoma, NOS, one salivary duct cancer [SDC], one high-grade mucoepidermoid [HG-MEC] and one poorly-differentiated cancer) are enriched

  14. Ifosfamide and cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced cervical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Leone, B; Vallejo, C; Perez, J; Cuevas, M A; Machiavelli, M; Lacava, J; Focaccia, G; Ferreyra, R; Suttora, G; Romero, A; Castaldi, J; Arroyo, A; Rabinovich, M

    1996-04-01

    A phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and ifosfamide (IFX) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma (ACC). Between August 1991 and September 1993, 57 untreated patients with stages IIB to IVA were entered into this study. Median age was 44 years (range, 25 to 74 years). The distribution by stages (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) was as follows: IIB, 31 patients; IIIB, 21 patients; and IVA, 5 patients. Therapy consisted of IFX 2000 mg/m(2) 1-h i.v. infusion days 1 to 3; mesna 400 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus at hours 0 and 4, and 800 mg p.o. at hour 8; and CDDP 100 mg/m(2) on day 3. Cycles were repeated every 28 days for a total of three courses. Both staging and response assessment were performed by a multidisciplinary team. An objective response was observed in 30 of 56 patients (54%; 95% confidence interval, 41 to 67%). Four patients (7%) had a complete response (CR) and 26(46%) had a partial response (PR). Patients with CR or operable PR underwent surgery, otherwise received definitive radiotherapy. Toxicity was mild to moderate. There were no toxicity related deaths. These results indicate that IFX/CDDP is an active combination for ACC with mild toxicity. The results of phase III studies that evaluate the real impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy are awaited.

  15. Criteria for distinguishing normal and subnormal adrenocortical function using the Synacthen test

    PubMed Central

    Greig, W. R.; Boyle, J. A.; Maxwell, J. D.; Lindsay, R. M.; Browning, Margaret C. K.

    1969-01-01

    The Synacthen test consists of the measurement of plasma corticosteroid concentrations by a fluorimetric method before (basal) and 30 min after a single intramuscular administration of 250 μg of tetracosactrin (Synacthen), a synthetic polypeptide with ACTH activity equivalent to that of natural corticotrophin. In a control group of forty-five subjects the basal plasma corticosteroid level was not lower than 6 μg/100 ml (a lower limit of 5 μg/100 ml is accepted in the afternoon and evening), the increment was not less than 7 μg/100 ml and the plasma corticosteroid concentration after Synacthen was not less than 18 μg/100 ml. From these results the ‘6 (5), 7, 18’ rule was formulated and any patient who failed to satisfy at least two of these criteria was considered to have adrenocortical insufficiency. The results of the Synacthen test were assessed in forty-six patients who had received long-term steroid therapy, and in fifteen patients with suspected or proven pituitary failure or Addison's disease. Using the ‘6 (5), 7, 18’ rule patients who satisfied two or more of the criteria were considered as having normal adrenal function, while patients who failed to satisfy these criteria were diagnosed as having adrenal insufficiency. This separation of patients into those with normal and subnormal adrenal function on the basis of the Synacthen test results was found to be reliable as the same division was obtained when the corticotrophin infusion test was performed on groups of the same patients. The Synacthen test was also carried out in a group of eighty ill patients who did not appear clinically to have endocrine disease and it was considered that the criteria previously determined for distinguishing between a normal and subnormal response to Synacthen were also applicable to this group of patients. It is suggested that using these criteria the Synacthen test is a simple and reliable screening procedure for the detection or exclusion of adrenocortical

  16. Sound the Alarm: The Effect of Narcissism on Retaliatory Aggression Is Moderated by dACC Reactivity to Rejection.

    PubMed

    Chester, David S; DeWall, C Nathan

    2016-06-01

    Narcissists behave aggressively when their egos are threatened by interpersonal insults. This effect has been explained in terms of narcissists' motivation to reduce the discrepancy between their grandiose self and its threatened version, though no research has directly tested this hypothesis. If this notion is true, the link between narcissism and retaliatory aggression should be moderated by neural structures that subserve discrepancy detection, such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). This study tested the hypothesis that narcissism would only predict greater retaliatory aggression in response to social rejection when the dACC was recruited by the threat. Thirty participants (15 females; Mage  = 18.86, SD = 1.25; 77% White) completed a trait narcissism inventory, were socially accepted and then rejected while undergoing fMRI, and then could behave aggressively toward one of the rejecters by blasting him or her with unpleasant noise. When narcissists displayed greater dACC activation during rejection, they behaved aggressively. But there was only a weak or nonsignificant relation between narcissism and aggression among participants with a blunted dACC response. Narcissism's role in aggressive retaliation to interpersonal threats is likely determined by the extent to which the brain's discrepancy detector registers the newly created gap between the grandiose and threatened selves. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. ACCE Study Tour to ISTE2011 (San Francisco, New York, Washington, Philadelphia)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gronn, Donna; Romeo, Geoff

    2011-01-01

    In June/July this year a group of 28 educators from across Australia travelled to the US on the 2011 ACCE ISTE Study Tour. The group comprised a very broad section of educators--primary, secondary and tertiary classroom teachers, ICT coordinators, managers, private consultants and regional office managers. The government, catholic and independent…

  18. How effective are the ESC/EAS and 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines in treating dyslipidemia? Lessons from a lipid clinic.

    PubMed

    Barkas, Fotios; Milionis, Haralampos; Kostapanos, Michael S; Mikhailidis, Dimitri P; Elisaf, Moses; Liberopoulos, Evangelos

    2015-02-01

    There is a paucity of data regarding the attainment of lipid-lowering treatment goals according to the recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines. The aim of the present study was to assess how applicable these 2013 recommendations are in the setting of an Outpatient University Hospital Lipid Clinic. This was a retrospective (from 1999 to 2013) observational study including 1000 consecutive adults treated for hyperlipidemia and followed up for ≥3 years. Comparisons for the applicability of current European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) and recent ACC/AHA guidelines were performed. Achievement rates of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets set by ESC/EAS were 21%, 44% and 62% among patients at very high, high and moderate cardiovascular risk, respectively, receiving statin monotherapy. Among individuals on high-intensity statins only 47% achieved the anticipated ≥50% LDL-C reduction, i.e. the ACC/AHA target. The corresponding rate was significantly greater among those on statin + ezetimibe (76%, p < 0.05). Likewise, higher rates of LDL-C target attainment according to ESC/EAS guidelines were observed in patients on statin + ezetimibe compared with statin monotherapy (37, 50 and 71% for the three risk groups, p < 0.05 for the very high risk group). The application of the ACC/AHA guidelines may be associated with undertreatment of high risk patients due to suboptimal LDL-C response to high-intensity statins in clinical practice. Adding ezetimibe substantially increases the rate of the ESC/EAS LDL-C target achievement together with the rate of LDL-C lowering response suggested by the ACC/AHA.

  19. The Allende multicompound chondrule (ACC)—Chondrule formation in a local super-dense region of the early solar system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bischoff, Addi; Wurm, Gerhard; Chaussidon, Marc; Horstmann, Marian; Metzler, Knut; Weyrauch, Mona; Weinauer, Julia

    2017-05-01

    In Allende, a very complex compound chondrule (Allende compound chondrule; ACC) was found consisting of at least 16 subchondrules (14 siblings and 2 independents). Its overall texture can roughly be described as a barred olivine object (BO). The BO texture is similar in all siblings, but does not exist in the two independents, which appear as relatively compact olivine-rich units. Because of secondary alteration of pristine Allende components and the ACC in particular, only limited predictions can be made concerning the original compositions of the colliding melt droplets. Based on textural and mineralogical characteristics, the siblings must have been formed on a very short time scale in a dense, local environment. This is also supported by oxygen isotope systematics showing similar compositions for all 16 subchondrules. Furthermore, the ACC subchondrules are isotopically distinct from typical Allende chondrules, indicating formation in or reaction with a more 16O-poor reservoir. We modeled constraints on the particle density required at the ACC formation location, using textural, mineral-chemical, and isotopic observations on this multicompound chondrule to define melt droplet collision conditions. In this context, we discuss the possible relationship between the formation of complex chondrules and the formation of macrochondrules and cluster chondrites. While macrochondrules may have formed under similar or related conditions as complex chondrules, cluster chondrites certainly require different formation conditions. Cluster chondrites represent a mixture of viscously deformed, seemingly young chondrules of different chemical and textural types and a population of older chondrules. Concerning the formation of ACC calculations suggest the existence of very local, kilometer-sized, and super-dense chondrule-forming regions with extremely high solid-to-gas mass ratios of 1000 or more.

  20. Clinical and Genetic Heterogeneity, Overlap with Other Tumor Syndromes, and Atypical Glucocorticoid Hormone Secretion in Adrenocorticotropin-Independent Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia Compared with Other Adrenocortical Tumors

    PubMed Central

    Hsiao, Hui-Pin; Kirschner, Lawrence S.; Bourdeau, Isabelle; Keil, Margaret F.; Boikos, Sosipatros A.; Verma, Somya; Robinson-White, Audrey J.; Nesterova, Maria; Lacroix, André; Stratakis, Constantine A.

    2009-01-01

    Objective: ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) is often associated with subclinical cortisol secretion or atypical Cushing’s syndrome (CS). We characterized a large series of patients of AIMAH and compared them with patients with other adrenocortical tumors. Design and Patients: We recruited 82 subjects with: 1) AIMAH (n = 16); 2) adrenocortical cortisol-producing adenoma with CS (n = 15); 3) aldosterone-producing adenoma (n = 19); and 4) single adenomas with clinically nonsignificant cortisol secretion (n = 32). Methods: Urinary free cortisol (UFC) and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17OHS) were collected at baseline and during dexamethasone testing; aberrant receptor responses was also sought by clinical testing and confirmed molecularly. Peripheral and/or tumor DNA was sequenced for candidate genes. Results: AIMAH patients had the highest 17OHS excretion, even when UFCs were within or close to the normal range. Aberrant receptor expression was highly prevalent. Histology showed at least two subtypes of AIMAH. For three patients with AIMAH, there was family history of CS; germline mutations were identified in three other patients in the genes for menin (one), fumarate hydratase (one), and adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC) (one); a PDE11A gene variant was found in another. One patient had a GNAS mutation in adrenal nodules only. There were no mutations in any of the tested genes in the patients of the other groups. Conclusions: AIMAH is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder that can be associated with various genetic defects and aberrant hormone receptors. It is frequently associated with atypical CS and increased 17OHS; UFCs and other measures of adrenocortical activity can be misleadingly normal. PMID:19509103

  1. Deletion of 1p32-p36 is the most frequent genetic change and poor prognostic marker in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands.

    PubMed

    Rao, Pulivarthi H; Roberts, Diana; Zhao, Yi-Jue; Bell, Diana; Harris, Charles P; Weber, Randal S; El-Naggar, Adel K

    2008-08-15

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively uncommon salivary gland malignancy known for its protean phenotypic features and pernicious clinical behavior. Currently, no effective therapy is available for patients with advanced nonresectable, recurrent, and/or metastatic disease. The purpose of this study is to identify prognostic factors other than tumor stage that can be used to predict the outcome of the patients with ACC. We used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to identify copy number aberrations in 53 primary ACCs. Array CGH and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was used to validate CGH results on selected cases. We correlated these copy number aberrations with clinicopathologic factors using Pearson's chi2 or by the two-tailed Fisher exact test. The disease-specific survival and disease-free intervals were generated by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Chromosomal losses (n = 134) were more frequent than gains (n = 74). The most frequent genetic change was the loss of 1p32-p36 in 44% of the cases followed by 6q23-q27, and 12q12-q14. The most frequently gained chromosomal regions were 8 and 18. Of the chromosomal aberrations, loss of 1p32-p36 was the only abnormality significantly associated with patient's outcome. This study, for the first time, identifies loss of 1p32-p36 as a significant aberration in ACC. Molecular characterization of 1p32-36 region using the available genomic technologies may lead to the identification of new genes critical to the development of novel therapeutic targets for this disease copy number aberration.

  2. Tuning the light in senior care: Evaluating a trial LED lighting system at the ACC Care Center in Sacramento, CA

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

    Davis, Robert G.; Wilkerson, Andrea M.

    This report summarizes the results from a trial installation of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems in several spaces within the ACC Care Center in Sacramento, CA. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) coordinated the project and invited the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to document the performance of the LED lighting systems as part of a GATEWAY evaluation. DOE tasked the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to conduct the investigation. SMUD and ACC staff coordinated and completed the design and installation of the LED systems, while PNNL and SMUD staff evaluated the photometric performance of the systems. ACC staff alsomore » track behavioral and health measures of the residents; some of those results are reported here, although PNNL staff were not directly involved in collecting or interpreting those data. The trial installation took place in a double resident room and a single resident room, and the corridor that connects those (and other) rooms to the central nurse station. Other spaces in the trial included the nurse station, a common room called the family room located near the nurse station, and the ACC administrator’s private office.« less

  3. Reduced AMPK-ACC and mTOR signaling in muscle from older men, and effect of resistance exercise

    PubMed Central

    Li, Mengyao; Verdijk, Lex B.; Sakamoto, Kei; Ely, Brian; van Loon, Luc J.C.; Musi, Nicolas

    2012-01-01

    AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key energy-sensitive enzyme that controls numerous metabolic and cellular processes. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is another energy/nutrient-sensitive kinase that controls protein synthesis and cell growth. In this study we determined whether older versus younger men have alterations in the AMPK and mTOR pathways in skeletal muscle, and examined the effect of a long term resistance type exercise training program on these signaling intermediaries. Older men had decreased AMPKα2 activity and lower phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream signaling substrate acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). mTOR phosphylation also was reduced in muscle from older men. Exercise training increased AMPKα1 activity in older men, however, AMPKα2 activity, and the phosphorylation of AMPK, ACC and mTOR, were not affected. In conclusion, older men have alterations in the AMPK-ACC and mTOR pathways in muscle. In addition, prolonged resistance type exercise training induces an isoform-selective up regulation of AMPK activity. PMID:23000302

  4. Reduced AMPK-ACC and mTOR signaling in muscle from older men, and effect of resistance exercise.

    PubMed

    Li, Mengyao; Verdijk, Lex B; Sakamoto, Kei; Ely, Brian; van Loon, Luc J C; Musi, Nicolas

    2012-01-01

    AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key energy-sensitive enzyme that controls numerous metabolic and cellular processes. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is another energy/nutrient-sensitive kinase that controls protein synthesis and cell growth. In this study we determined whether older versus younger men have alterations in the AMPK and mTOR pathways in skeletal muscle, and examined the effect of a long term resistance type exercise training program on these signaling intermediaries. Older men had decreased AMPKα2 activity and lower phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream signaling substrate acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). mTOR phosphylation also was reduced in muscle from older men. Exercise training increased AMPKα1 activity in older men, however, AMPKα2 activity, and the phosphorylation of AMPK, ACC and mTOR, were not affected. In conclusion, older men have alterations in the AMPK-ACC and mTOR pathways in muscle. In addition, prolonged resistance type exercise training induces an isoform-selective up regulation of AMPK activity. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  5. Validation of a Fecal Glucocorticoid Assay to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Meerkats Using Physiological and Biological Stimuli

    PubMed Central

    Heistermann, Michael; Santema, Peter; Dantzer, Ben; Mausbach, Jelena; Ganswindt, Andre; Manser, Marta B.

    2016-01-01

    In mammals, glucocorticoid (i.e. GC) levels have been associated with specific life-history stages and transitions, reproductive strategies, and a plethora of behaviors. Assessment of adrenocortical activity via measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites in feces (FGCM) has greatly facilitated data collection from wild animals, due to its non-invasive nature, and thus has become an established tool in behavioral ecology and conservation biology. The aim of our study was to validate a fecal glucocorticoid assay for assessing adrenocortical activity in meerkats (Suricata suricatta), by comparing the suitability of three GC enzyme immunoassays (corticosterone, 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone and 11oxo-etiocholanolone) in detecting FGCM increases in adult males and females following a pharmacological challenge with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and biological stimuli. In addition, we investigated the time course characterizing FGCM excretion, the effect of age, sex and time of day on FGCM levels and assessed the potential effects of soil contamination (sand) on FGCM patterns. Our results show that the group specific 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone assay was most sensitive to FGCM alterations, detecting significant and most distinctive elevations in FGCM levels around 25 h after ACTH administration. We found no age and sex differences in basal FGCM or on peak response levels to ACTH, but a marked diurnal pattern, with FGCM levels being substantially higher in the morning than later during the day. Soil contamination did not significantly affect FGCM patterns. Our results emphasize the importance of conducting assay validations to characterize species-specific endocrine excretion patterns, a crucial step to all animal endocrinology studies using a non-invasive approach. PMID:27077741

  6. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-containing rhizobacteria protect Ocimum sanctum plants during waterlogging stress via reduced ethylene generation.

    PubMed

    Barnawal, Deepti; Bharti, Nidhi; Maji, Deepamala; Chanotiya, Chandan Singh; Kalra, Alok

    2012-09-01

    Ocimum sanctum grown as rain-fed crop, is known to be poorly adapted to waterlogged conditions. Many a times the crop suffers extreme damages because of anoxia and excessive ethylene generation due to waterlogging conditions present under heavy rain. The usefulness of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria was investigated under waterlogging stress. The comparison of herb yield and stress induced biochemical changes of waterlogged and non-waterlogged plants with and without ACC deaminase-containing microbiological treatments were monitored in this study. Ten plant growth promoting rhizobacteria strains containing ACC-deaminase were isolated and characterized. Four selected isolates Fd2 (Achromobacter xylosoxidans), Bac5 (Serratia ureilytica), Oci9 (Herbaspirillum seropedicae) and Oci13 (Ochrobactrum rhizosphaerae) had the potential to protect Ocimum plants from flood induced damage under waterlogged glass house conditions. Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of these ACC deaminase-containing selected strains for reducing the yield losses caused by waterlogging conditions. Bacterial treatments protected plants from waterlogging induced detrimental changes like stress ethylene production, reduced chlorophyll concentration, higher lipid peroxidation, proline concentration and reduced foliar nutrient uptake. Fd2 (A. xylosoxidans) induced maximum waterlogging tolerance as treated waterlogged plants recorded maximum growth and herb yield (46.5% higher than uninoculated waterlogged plants) with minimum stress ethylene levels (53% lower ACC concentration as compared to waterlogged plants without bacterial inoculation) whereas under normal non-waterlogged conditions O. rhizosphaerae was most effective in plant growth promotion. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  7. Adrenocortical response in rats subjected to a stress of restraint by immobilization whether accompanied by hypothermia or not

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Buchel, L.; Prioux-Guyonneau, M.; Libian, L.

    1980-01-01

    The restraint associated with hypothermia which increases the adrenal activity in rats was investigated. In rats with nomothermia or light hypothermia, the plasma and adrenal corticosterone levels increase at least threefold whatever the duration of restraint. Their return to normal values depends on the duration of the restraint. Exposure to cold produces in free rats a light hypothermia with an increase of the plasma and adrenal corticosterone levels, and in restraint animals an important hypothermia which does not potentiate the stimulation of adrenocortical activity induced by the restraint alone.

  8. Comparative effectiveness of ACC-deaminase and/or nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria in promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) growth under lead pollution.

    PubMed

    Hassan, Waseem; Bano, Rizwana; Bashir, Farhat; David, Julie

    2014-09-01

    Lead (Pb) pollution is appearing as an alarming threat nowadays. Excessive Pb concentrations in agricultural soils result in minimizing the soil fertility and health which affects the plant growth and leads to decrease in crop production. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria which can protect the plants against many abiotic stresses, and enhance the growth. The study aimed to identify important rhizobacterial strains by using the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) enrichment technique and examine their inoculation effects in the growth promotion of maize, under Pb pollution. A pot experiment was conducted and six rhizobacterial isolates were used. Pb was added to 2 kg soil in each pot (with 4 seeds/pot) using Pb(NO3)2 at the rate of 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg kg(-1) Pb with three replications in completely randomized design. Rhizobacterial isolates performed significantly better under all Pb levels, i.e., 100 to 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil, compared to control. Comparing the efficacy of the rhizobacterial isolates under different Pb levels, rhizobacterial isolates having both ACC-deaminase and nitrogen-fixing activities (AN8 and AN12) showed highest increase in terms of the physical, chemical and enzymatic growth parameters of maize, followed by the rhizobacterial isolates having ACC-deaminase activity only (ACC5 and ACC8), and then the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia (Azotobacter and RN5). However, the AN8 isolate showed maximum efficiency, and highest shoot and root length (14.2 and 6.1 cm), seedling fresh and dry weights (1.91 and 0.14 g), chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids (24.1, 30.2 and 77.7 μg/l), protein (0.82 mg/g), proline (3.42 μmol/g), glutathione S-transferase, peroxidase and catalase (12.3, 4.2 and 7.2 units/mg protein), while the lowest Pb uptake in the shoot and root (0.83 and 0.48 mg/kg) were observed under this rhizobial isolate at the highest Pb level (i.e., 400 Pb mg kg(-1) soil). The results revealed that PGPR

  9. Laryngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma: A population-based perspective.

    PubMed

    Dubal, Pariket M; Svider, Peter F; Folbe, Adam J; Lin, Ho-Sheng; Park, Richard C; Baredes, Soly; Eloy, Jean Anderson

    2015-11-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) occurs infrequently in the larynx. Consequently, no large samples describing its clinical behavior are available in the literature. Our objective was to use a nationally representative population-based resource to evaluate clinical behavior, patient demographics, and outcomes among patients diagnosed with laryngeal ACC (LACC). Retrospective database analysis. The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was analyzed for patients diagnosed with LACC between 1973 and 2011. Patient demographics, incidence, treatment, and survival between LACC and other laryngeal malignancies were compared. Of 69 LACC patients, 63.8% were female, 78.2% Caucasian, and the median age was 54 years. LACC patients were much more likely to have subglottic lesions (44.9%) than individuals with other malignancies (1.6%). The incidence of LACC was 0.005/100,000 individuals. The majority of patients with LACC harbored T4 lesions at initial diagnosis, although 87.9% had N0 disease, and only 6.1% had distant metastasis at diagnosis. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was greater at 1 year for LACC compared to other laryngeal malignancies, but not at 5 or 10 years. Five-year DSS was greater for LACC patients who underwent surgery versus those who did not undergo surgery. This analysis notes that LACC has a low incidence with no significant change in incidence over the study period. Compared to other laryngeal malignancies, LACC has a female preponderance, is much more common in the subglottis, presents at a younger age, and more often presents with T4 disease. Surgery was noted to confer a survival advantage in LACC. 4. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  10. Rare endocrine cancers have novel genetic alterations

    Cancer.gov

    A molecular characterization of adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal cortex, analyzed 91 cases for alterations in the tumor genomes and identified several novel genetic mutations as likely mechanisms driving the disease as well as whole genome doubling as a probable driver of the disease.

  11. The 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk index is better than SCORE and QRisk II in rheumatoid arthritis: is it enough?

    PubMed

    Ozen, Gulsen; Sunbul, Murat; Atagunduz, Pamir; Direskeneli, Haner; Tigen, Kursat; Inanc, Nevsun

    2016-03-01

    To determine the ability of the new American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk algorithm in detecting high cardiovascular (CV) risk, RA patients identified by carotid ultrasonography (US) were compared with Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and QRisk II algorithms. SCORE, QRisk II, 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk and EULAR recommended modified versions were calculated in 216 RA patients. In sonographic evaluation, carotid intima-media thickness >0.90 mm and/or carotid plaques were used as the gold standard test for subclinical atherosclerosis and high CV risk (US+). Eleven (5.1%), 15 (6.9%) and 44 (20.4%) patients were defined as having high CV risk according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. Fifty-two (24.1%) patients were US + and of those, 8 (15.4%), 7 (13.5%) and 23 (44.2%) patients were classified as high CV risk according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. The ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk index better identified US + patients than SCORE and QRisk II (P < 0.0001). With EULAR modification, reclassification from moderate to high risk occurred only in two, five and seven patients according to SCORE, QRisk II and ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk, respectively. The 2013 ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk estimator was better than the SCORE and QRisk II indices in RA, but still failed to identify 55% of high risk patients. Furthermore adjustment of threshold and EULAR modification did not work well. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  12. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear: a population based study.

    PubMed

    Green, Ross W; Megwalu, Uchechukwu C

    2016-01-01

    To determine the incidence of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear in the United States, and to evaluate the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes associated with the disease. Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 Database of the National Cancer Institute. The study cohort included patients diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear from 1973 to 2012. The incidence of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external ear was 0.004 per 100,000. The SEER database identified 66 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Nodal metastasis was noted in 13.1% of patients, while 7.9% had distant metastasis. Distant metastasis was associated with worse overall survival (HR 10.18). However, nodal metastasis had no impact on overall survival (HR 0.15, p = 0.09). Surgery alone was associated with improved overall survival (HR 0.26), compared with combination surgery and radiotherapy, while radiotherapy alone was associated with worse overall survival (HR 20.12). Increasing age (HR 1.12) and black race (HR 6.83) were associated with worse overall survival, while female sex (HR 0.26) was associated with improved overall survival. ACC of the external ear is rare. Distant metastasis is a poor prognostic factor. However, nodal metastasis does not appear to impact survival. Advanced age, black race, and male sex are also poor prognostic factors. Surgical resection alone is associated with better survival than combination surgical resection and radiation, or radiotherapy alone. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) contributes to neuropathic spontaneous pain-related aversion via NR2B receptors.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Le; Wang, Gongming; Ma, Jinben; Liu, Chengxiao; Liu, Xijiang; Zhan, Yufeng; Zhang, Mengyuan

    2016-10-01

    The rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) plays an important role in pain affect. Previous investigations have reported that the rACC mediates the negative affective component of inflammatory pain and contributed to the aversive state of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an activity-dependent neuromodulator in the adult brain, is believed to play a role in the development and maintenance of inflammatory and neuropathic pain in the spinal cord. However, whether and how BDNF in the rACC regulates pain-related aversion due to peripheral nerve injury is largely unknown. Behaviorally, using conditioned place preference (CPP) training in rats, which is thought to reveal spontaneous pain-related aversion, we found that CPP was acquired following spinal clonidine in rats with partial sciatic nerve transection. Importantly, BDNF was upregulated within the rACC in of rats with nerve injury and enhanced the CPP acquisition, while a local injection of a BDNF-tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) antagonist into the rACC completely blocked this process. Finally, we demonstrated that the BDNF/TrkB pathway exerted its function by activating the NR2B receptor, which is widely accepted to be a crucial factor contributing to pain affect. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the BDNF/TrkB-mediated signaling pathway in the rACC is involved in the development of neuropathic spontaneous pain-related aversion and that this process is dependent upon activation of NR2B receptors. These findings suggest that suppression of the BDNF-related signaling pathway in the rACC may provide a novel strategy to overcome pain-related aversion. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. A comparison of native GPU computing versus OpenACC for implementing flow-routing algorithms in hydrological applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rueda, Antonio J.; Noguera, José M.; Luque, Adrián

    2016-02-01

    In recent years GPU computing has gained wide acceptance as a simple low-cost solution for speeding up computationally expensive processing in many scientific and engineering applications. However, in most cases accelerating a traditional CPU implementation for a GPU is a non-trivial task that requires a thorough refactorization of the code and specific optimizations that depend on the architecture of the device. OpenACC is a promising technology that aims at reducing the effort required to accelerate C/C++/Fortran code on an attached multicore device. Virtually with this technology the CPU code only has to be augmented with a few compiler directives to identify the areas to be accelerated and the way in which data has to be moved between the CPU and GPU. Its potential benefits are multiple: better code readability, less development time, lower risk of errors and less dependency on the underlying architecture and future evolution of the GPU technology. Our aim with this work is to evaluate the pros and cons of using OpenACC against native GPU implementations in computationally expensive hydrological applications, using the classic D8 algorithm of O'Callaghan and Mark for river network extraction as case-study. We implemented the flow accumulation step of this algorithm in CPU, using OpenACC and two different CUDA versions, comparing the length and complexity of the code and its performance with different datasets. We advance that although OpenACC can not match the performance of a CUDA optimized implementation (×3.5 slower in average), it provides a significant performance improvement against a CPU implementation (×2-6) with by far a simpler code and less implementation effort.

  15. Impact of Neonatal Screening and Surveillance for the TP53 R337H Mutation on Early Detection of Childhood Adrenocortical Tumors

    PubMed Central

    Custódio, Gislaine; Parise, Guilherme A.; Kiesel Filho, Nilton; Komechen, Heloisa; Sabbaga, Cesar C.; Rosati, Roberto; Grisa, Leila; Parise, Ivy Z.S.; Pianovski, Mara A.D.; Fiori, Carmem M.C.M.; Ledesma, Jorge A.; Barbosa, José Renato S.; Figueiredo, Francisco R.O.; Sade, Elis R.; Ibañez, Humberto; Arram, Sohaila B.I.; Stinghen, Sérvio T.; Mengarelli, Luciano R.; Figueiredo, Mirna M.O.; Carvalho, Danilo C.; Avilla, Sylvio G.A.; Woiski, Thiago D.; Poncio, Lisiane C.; Lima, Geneci F.R.; Pontarolo, Roberto; Lalli, Enzo; Zhou, Yinmei; Zambetti, Gerard P.; Ribeiro, Raul C.; Figueiredo, Bonald C.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose The incidence of pediatric adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) is remarkably high in southern Brazil, where more than 90% of patients carry the germline TP53 mutation R337H. We assessed the impact of early detection of this mutation and of surveillance of carriers. Patients and Methods Free newborn screening was offered at all hospitals in the state of Paraná. Parents of positive newborns were tested, and relatives in the carrier line were offered screening. Positive newborns and their relatives age < 15 years were offered surveillance (periodic clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound evaluations). ACTs detected by imaging were surgically resected. Results Of 180,000 newborns offered screening, 171,649 were screened, and 461 (0.27%) were carriers. As of April 2012, ACTs had been diagnosed in 11 of these carriers but in only two neonatally screened noncarriers (P < .001); six patient cases were identified among 228 carrier relatives age < 15 years (total, 19 ACTs). Surveillance participants included 347 (49.6%) of 699 carriers. Tumors were smaller in surveillance participants (P < .001) and more advanced in nonparticipants (four with stage III disease; two deaths). Neonatally screened carriers also had neuroblastoma (n = 1), glioblastoma multiforme (n = 1), choroid plexus carcinoma (n = 2), and Burkitt lymphoma (n = 1). Cancer histories and pedigrees were obtained for 353 families that included 1,704 identified carriers. ACTs were the most frequent cancer among carrier children (n = 48). Conclusion These findings establish the prevalence of the TP53 R337H mutation in Paraná state and the penetrance of ACTs among carriers. Importantly, screening and surveillance of heterozygous carriers are effective in detecting ACTs when readily curable. PMID:23733769

  16. RESIDENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2007 ACC/AHA GUIDELINES ON PREOPERATIVE CARDIAC EVALUATION IN NON-CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENTS: IS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE ENOUGH?

    PubMed

    Amhaz, Hassan H; Kuo, Ruth; Chidiac, Elie J; Pallekonda, Vinay; Fuleihan, Samir F; McKelvey, George; Kaddoum, Romeo N

    2015-06-01

    Preoperative evaluation of surgical patients is important, as perioperative complications are associated with increased mortality. Specialties including anesthesiology, internal medicine, cardiology, and surgery are involved in the evaluation and management of these patients. This institutional study investigated the residents' knowledge of the 2007 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on perioperative evaluation of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. This pilot study used a web-based survey questionnaire to assess resident's knowledge of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines through individual steps and corresponding branch point(s) in twelve clinical scenarios. Additionally, residents were asked if they were aware of, or if they had received lectures on ACC/AHA guidelines. Staff anesthesiologists with training in cardiac and intensive care medicine validated the scenarios. A total of 104 resident participants were surveyed including 35 anesthesiology residents, 41 internal medicine residents, 20 surgery residents, and 8 cardiology fellows. Awareness of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines by specialty was: anesthesiology (85%), internal medicine (97.6%), cardiology (100%), and surgery (70%). Only 54.3% of anesthesiology, 31.7% of internal medicine, 100% of cardiology, and 10% of surgery residents stated they received lectures. The overall mean score achieved on the eleven scenarios was 50.4% for anesthesiology, 47.0% for internal medicine, 55.7% for cardiology, and 42.3% for surgery. Although the majority of residents were aware of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines, fewer received lectures and regardless of specialty, implementation of these guidelines was poor. There exists significant room for improvement in the understanding of preoperative assessment of non-cardiac surgery patients.

  17. Targeted Molecular Imaging in Adrenal Disease—An Emerging Role for Metomidate PET-CT

    PubMed Central

    Mendichovszky, Iosif A.; Powlson, Andrew S.; Manavaki, Roido; Aigbirhio, Franklin I.; Cheow, Heok; Buscombe, John R.; Gurnell, Mark; Gilbert, Fiona J.

    2016-01-01

    Adrenal lesions present a significant diagnostic burden for both radiologists and endocrinologists, especially with the increasing number of adrenal ‘incidentalomas’ detected on modern computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A key objective is the reliable distinction of benign disease from either primary adrenal malignancy (e.g., adrenocortical carcinoma or malignant forms of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL)) or metastases (e.g., bronchial, renal). Benign lesions may still be associated with adverse sequelae through autonomous hormone hypersecretion (e.g., primary aldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, phaeochromocytoma). Here, identifying a causative lesion, or lateralising the disease to a single adrenal gland, is key to effective management, as unilateral adrenalectomy may offer the potential for curing conditions that are typically associated with significant excess morbidity and mortality. This review considers the evolving role of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in addressing the limitations of traditional cross-sectional imaging and adjunctive techniques, such as venous sampling, in the management of adrenal disorders. We review the development of targeted molecular imaging to the adrenocortical enzymes CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 with different radiolabeled metomidate compounds. Particular consideration is given to iodo-metomidate PET tracers for the diagnosis and management of adrenocortical carcinoma, and the increasingly recognized utility of 11C-metomidate PET-CT in primary aldosteronism. PMID:27869719

  18. An unusual cause of gynaecomastia.

    PubMed

    Subbiah, Sridhar; Walia, Rama; Kumar, Santhosh; Nahar, Uma; Bhansali, Anil

    2011-07-20

    Gynaecomastia in adolescents and young adults is a common endocrine disorder with usually benign aetiology. However, gynaecomastia in middle-aged men is uncommon and warrants intensive search to unravel its aetiology. The authors report a 42-year-old male who presented with gynaecomastia due to feminising adrenocortical carcinoma.

  19. Interleukin-12 and Trastuzumab in Treating Patients With Cancer That Has High Levels of HER2/Neu

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-02-27

    Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer; Bone Metastases; Carcinoma of the Appendix; Distal Urethral Cancer; Fallopian Tube Cancer; Gastrinoma; Glucagonoma; Inflammatory Breast Cancer; Insulinoma; Liver Metastases; Localized Unresectable Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Lung Metastases; Male Breast Cancer; Malignant Pericardial Effusion; Malignant Pleural Effusion; Metastatic Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Metastatic Parathyroid Cancer; Metastatic Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter; Newly Diagnosed Carcinoma of Unknown Primary; Occult Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Pancreatic Polypeptide Tumor; Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer; Proximal Urethral Cancer; Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma; Recurrent Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Recurrent Anal Cancer; Recurrent Bladder Cancer; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Carcinoma of Unknown Primary; Recurrent Cervical Cancer; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma; Recurrent Esophageal Cancer; Recurrent Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer; Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer; Recurrent Gastric Cancer; Recurrent Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Recurrent Islet Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Malignant Testicular Germ Cell Tumor; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Parathyroid Cancer; Recurrent Prostate Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Small Intestine Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Thyroid Cancer; Recurrent Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter; Recurrent Urethral Cancer; Recurrent Vaginal

  20. VEGF and Ki-67 Overexpression in Predicting Poor Overall Survival in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Park, Seongyeol; Nam, Soo Jeong; Keam, Bhumsuk; Kim, Tae Min; Jeon, Yoon Kyung; Lee, Se-Hoon; Hah, J Hun; Kwon, Tack-Kyun; Kim, Dong-Wan; Sung, Myung-Whun; Heo, Dae Seog; Bang, Yung-Jue

    2016-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential prognostic factors in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). A total of 68 patients who underwent curative surgery and had available tissue were enrolled in this study. Their medical records and pathologic slides were reviewed and immunohistochemistry for basic fibroblast growth factor, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2, FGFR3, c-kit, Myb proto-oncogene protein, platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Ki-67 was performed. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed for determination of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In univariate analyses, primary site of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus (p=0.022) and Ki-67 expression of more than 7% (p=0.001) were statistically significant factors for poor DFS. Regarding OS, perineural invasion (p=0.032), high expression of VEGF (p=0.033), and high expression of Ki-67 (p=0.007) were poor prognostic factors. In multivariate analyses, primary site of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus (p=0.028) and high expression of Ki-67 (p=0.004) were independent risk factors for poor DFS, and high expression of VEGF (p=0.011) and Ki-67 (p=0.011) showed independent association with poor OS. High expression of VEGF and Ki-67 were independent poor prognostic factors for OS in ACC.

  1. Variations of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in the Kerguelen Sector during the Last Deglaciation : sedimentological and geochemical evidences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bout-Roumazeilles, V.; Beny, F.; Mazaud, A.; Michel, E.; Crosta, X.; Davies, G. R.; Bory, A. J. M.

    2017-12-01

    High-resolution sedimentological and geochemical records were obtained from two sediment cores recovered by the French R/V Marion Dufresne during the INDIEN-SUD-ACC cruises near the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands (49°S). This area is ideal to record past oceanic and atmospheric changes in the Southern Ocean because they are currently located in the northern branch of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and under the direct influence of Southern Hemisphere Westerly wind belt. This study focuses on the last termination, with specific emphasis on the impact of severe climatic events (Heinrich Stadial 1, Antarctic Cold Reversal, Younger Dryas) onto the ocean-atmospheric exchange. Results indicates that most of the sediment is derived from the Kerguelen Plateau, characterized by high smectite content. Periodically, a minor contribution of Antarctica is noticeable. In particular, illite variations suggest fast and short northward incursions of Antarctic Bottom Water, probably formed in the Prydz Bay during the last glaciation. Grainsize repartition combined to magnetic parameters show a southward migration of the ACC and the fronts associated from the beginning of the deglaciation, which is consistent with Southern Hemisphere climate variations. On the opposite, it highlights an asynchronous decrease of the ACC strength, with a large drop during the Antarctic Cold Reversal when atmospheric CO2 increase was slowed down. Thus, at least in the studied area, the ACC strength and the Antarctic Climate were not synchronous during the last deglaciation.

  2. A type III ACC synthase, ACS7, is involved in root gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Ing-Feng

    2013-01-01

    Ethylene is an important plant hormone that regulates developmental processes in plants. The ethylene biosynthesis pathway is a highly regulated process at both the transcriptional and post-translational level. The transcriptional regulation of these ethylene biosynthesis genes is well known. However, post-translational modifications of the key ethylene biosynthesis enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase (ACS) are little understood. In vitro kinase assays were conducted on the type III ACS, AtACS7, fusion protein and peptides to determine whether the AtACS7 protein can be phosphorylated by calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK). AtACS7 was phosphorylated at Ser216, Thr296, and Ser299 by AtCDPK16 in vitro. To investigate further the function of the ACS7 gene in Arabidopsis, an acs7-1 loss-of-function mutant was isolated. The acs7-1 mutant exhibited less sensitivity to the inhibition of root gravitropism by treatment with the calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Seedlings were treated with gradient concentrations of ACC. The results showed that a certain concentration of ethylene enhanced the gravity response. Moreover, the acs7-1 mutant was less sensitive to inhibition of the gravity response by treatment with the auxin polar transport inhibitor 1-naphthylphthalamic acid, but exogenous ACC application recovered root gravitropism. Altogether, the results indicate that AtACS7 is involved in root gravitropism in a calcium-dependent manner in Arabidopsis. PMID:23943848

  3. A type III ACC synthase, ACS7, is involved in root gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana.

    PubMed

    Huang, Shih-Jhe; Chang, Chia-Lun; Wang, Po-Hsun; Tsai, Min-Chieh; Hsu, Pang-Hung; Chang, Ing-Feng

    2013-11-01

    Ethylene is an important plant hormone that regulates developmental processes in plants. The ethylene biosynthesis pathway is a highly regulated process at both the transcriptional and post-translational level. The transcriptional regulation of these ethylene biosynthesis genes is well known. However, post-translational modifications of the key ethylene biosynthesis enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase (ACS) are little understood. In vitro kinase assays were conducted on the type III ACS, AtACS7, fusion protein and peptides to determine whether the AtACS7 protein can be phosphorylated by calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK). AtACS7 was phosphorylated at Ser216, Thr296, and Ser299 by AtCDPK16 in vitro. To investigate further the function of the ACS7 gene in Arabidopsis, an acs7-1 loss-of-function mutant was isolated. The acs7-1 mutant exhibited less sensitivity to the inhibition of root gravitropism by treatment with the calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Seedlings were treated with gradient concentrations of ACC. The results showed that a certain concentration of ethylene enhanced the gravity response. Moreover, the acs7-1 mutant was less sensitive to inhibition of the gravity response by treatment with the auxin polar transport inhibitor 1-naphthylphthalamic acid, but exogenous ACC application recovered root gravitropism. Altogether, the results indicate that AtACS7 is involved in root gravitropism in a calcium-dependent manner in Arabidopsis.

  4. An unusual cause of gynaecomastia

    PubMed Central

    Subbiah, Sridhar; Walia, Rama; Kumar, Santhosh; Nahar, Uma; Bhansali, Anil

    2011-01-01

    Gynaecomastia in adolescents and young adults is a common endocrine disorder with usually benign aetiology. However, gynaecomastia in middle-aged men is uncommon and warrants intensive search to unravel its aetiology. The authors report a 42-year-old male who presented with gynaecomastia due to feminising adrenocortical carcinoma. PMID:22689603

  5. Comparative CYP-dependent binding of the adrenocortical toxicants 3-methylsulfonyl-DDE and o,p'-DDD in Y-1 adrenal cells.

    PubMed

    Hermansson, Veronica; Asp, Vendela; Bergman, Ake; Bergström, Ulrika; Brandt, Ingvar

    2007-11-01

    The environmental pollutant 3-MeSO(2)-DDE [2-(3-methylsulfonyl-4-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene] is an adrenocortical toxicant in mice, specifically in the glucocorticoid-producing zona fasciculata, due to a cytochrome P450 11B1 (CYP11B1)-catalysed bioactivation and formation of covalently bound protein adducts. o,p'-DDD [2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane] is toxic and inhibits steroidogenesis in the human adrenal cortex after bioactivation by unidentified CYPs, but does not exert any toxic effects on the mouse adrenal. As a step towards determining in vitro/in vivo relationships for the CYP-catalysed binding and toxicity of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE and o,p'-DDD, we have investigated the irreversible protein binding of these two toxicants in the murine adrenocortical cell line Y-1. The irreversible binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE previously demonstrated in vivo was successfully reproduced and could be inhibited by the CYP-inhibitors etomidate, ketoconazole and metyrapone. Surprisingly, o,p'-DDD reached similar levels of binding as 3-MeSO(2)-DDE. The binding of o,p'-DDD was sensitive to etomidate and ketoconazole, but not to metyrapone. Moreover, GSH depletion increased the binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE, but not of o,p'-DDD, indicating an important role of GSH conjugation in the detoxification of the 3-MeSO(2)-DDE-derived reactive metabolite. In addition, the specificity of CYP11B1 in activating 3-MeSO(2)-DDE was investigated using structurally analogous compounds. None of the analogues produced histopathological lesions in the mouse adrenal in vivo following a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg body weight, but two of the compounds were able to decrease the irreversible binding of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE to Y-1 cells. These results indicate that the bioactivation of 3-MeSO(2)-DDE by CYP11B1 is highly structure-dependent. In conclusion, both 3-MeSO(2)-DDE and o,p'-DDD bind irreversibly to Y-1 cells despite differences in binding and adrenotoxicity in mice

  6. Potentiation of motor sub-networks for motor control but not working memory: Interaction of dACC and SMA revealed by resting-state directed functional connectivity

    PubMed Central

    Diwadkar, Vaibhav A.; Asemi, Avisa; Burgess, Ashley; Chowdury, Asadur; Bressler, Steven L.

    2017-01-01

    The dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) and the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) are known to interact during motor coordination behavior. We previously discovered that the directional influences underlying this interaction in a visuo-motor coordination task are asymmetric, with the dACC→SMA influence being significantly greater than that in the reverse direction. To assess the specificity of this effect, here we undertook an analysis of the interaction between dACC and SMA in two distinct contexts. In addition to the motor coordination task, we also assessed these effects during a (n-back) working memory task. We applied directed functional connectivity analysis to these two task paradigms, and also to the rest condition of each paradigm, in which rest blocks were interspersed with task blocks. We report here that the previously known asymmetric interaction between dACC and SMA, with dACC→SMA dominating, was significantly larger in the motor coordination task than the memory task. Moreover the asymmetry between dACC and SMA was reversed during the rest condition of the motor coordination task, but not of the working memory task. In sum, the dACC→SMA influence was significantly greater in the motor task than the memory task condition, and the SMA→dACC influence was significantly greater in the motor rest than the memory rest condition. We interpret these results as suggesting that the potentiation of motor sub-networks during the motor rest condition supports the motor control of SMA by dACC during the active motor task condition. PMID:28278267

  7. Ionic dependence of adrenal steroidogenesis and ACTH-induced changes in the membrane potential of adrenocortical cells

    PubMed Central

    Matthews, E. K.; Saffran, M.

    1973-01-01

    1. The effects of changes of ionic environment upon corticosteroid production by rabbit adrenal glands have been investigated in vitro using a superfusion technique and on-line steroid analysis by an automated fluorescence method. In some experiments micro-electrode recordings of adrenocortical transmembrane potentials were made concomitantly with measurement of steroid output. 2. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), 10 m-u./ml., induced a sevenfold increase in corticosteroid production rate in normal Krebs solution. 3. The steroidogenic response to ACTH was not impaired after omission of [K]o for 1 hr but was inhibited following exposure to K+-free medium for 3 hr. Increase of [K]o tenfold to 47 mM increased the basal but not the ACTH-stimulated output of corticosteroid whereas raising [K]o twentyfold to 94 mM enhanced both the basal and ACTH-stimulated steroid production rate. In K+-free solution the adrenocortical cells hyperpolarized from - 67 to - 86 mV; subsequently on addition of ACTH they depolarized. Reintroduction of K+ restored the membrane potential. 4. Omission of Ca2+ partially depolarized the cells but only affected the steroidogenic response to ACTH in the presence of EDTA. A threefold increase of [Ca]o, to 7·68 mM, had no effect on either membrane potentials or steroid formation, but increasing [Ca]o tenfold to 25·6 mM partially blocked ACTH action. Increasing [Mg]o twentyfold to 22·6 mM had little effect on ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid output and Sr 2·56 mM, in substitution for Ca2+, supported ACTH action, but La, 0·25 mM, completely blocked the steroidogenic effect of ACTH. 5. Replacement of NaCl, 118 mM by choline chloride, 118 mM, was without effect on ACTH-induced steroidogenesis, whereas LiCl, 118 mM, reduced it by 50%. NaF, 1 and 10 mM, inhibited ACTH-induced steroidogenesis by approximately 60%. 6. Nupercaine, 10-4 M, inhibited the steroid response to ACTH with no effect upon membrane potentials: increasing the nupercaine

  8. What's next for dyslipidemia management? The 2013 ACC/AHA Guidelines, the NLA recommendations, and beyond.

    PubMed

    Waite, Laura H; Phan, Yvonne L; Spinler, Sarah A

    2016-01-01

    To compare and contrast the 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines and the 2014/2015 National Lipid Association (NLA) Recommendations for Management of Dyslipidemia in the context of evolving evidence. Guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), ACC/AHA, and NLA; recent clinical trials involving non-statin therapies. Not applicable. At the authors' discretion, preference was given to references focusing on guidelines and recent clinical trials involving dyslipidemia management. In late 2013, the ACC/AHA released guidelines on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in adults. Reflecting contemporary evidence-based literature, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) numeric treatment goals were eliminated, and a new method of risk assessment (the Pooled Cohort Equations) was recommended. The guidelines emphasized lipid lowering in 4 patient populations proven to benefit from statin therapy, recommending moderate to high-intensity statin dosing, with no additional drug therapies and limited ongoing monitoring. Clinical controversies ignited by these guidelines led to the publication of recommendations by the NLA in 2014 and 2015. Part 1 of the NLA recommendations incorporated parts of both the ATP III guidelines and the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines along with updated original recommendations. These recommendations provided numeric LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apolipoprotein B treatment goals and potential additional ASCVD risk factors, with stepwise risk assessment based on traditional cardiac risk factors and multiple assessment tools. In addition to statins, the 2014 NLA recommendations highlighted the benefit of additional or alternative lipid-lowering therapies. Part 2 of the NLA recommendations expanded the guidance for treatment of special populations and prioritized ezetimibe as a

  9. Histologic heterogeneity of triple negative breast cancer: A National Cancer Centre Database analysis.

    PubMed

    Mills, Matthew N; Yang, George Q; Oliver, Daniel E; Liveringhouse, Casey L; Ahmed, Kamran A; Orman, Amber G; Laronga, Christine; Hoover, Susan J; Khakpour, Nazanin; Costa, Ricardo L B; Diaz, Roberto

    2018-06-02

    Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease, but recent studies have identified heterogeneity in patient outcomes. However, the utility of histologic subtyping in TNBC has not yet been well-characterised. This study utilises data from the National Cancer Center Database (NCDB) to complete the largest series to date investigating the prognostic importance of histology within TNBC. A total of 729,920 patients (pts) with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC), medullary breast carcinoma (MedBC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) or apocrine breast carcinoma (ABC) treated between 2004 and 2012 were identified in the NCDB. Of these, 89,222 pts with TNBC that received surgery were analysed. Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank testing and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression were utilised with overall survival (OS) as the primary outcome. MBC (74.1%), MedBC (60.6%), ACC (75.7%), ABC (50.1%) and ILC (1.8%) had significantly different proportions of triple negativity when compared to IDC (14.0%, p < 0.001). TNBC predicted an inferior OS in IDC (p < 0.001) and ILC (p < 0.001). Lumpectomy and radiation (RT) were more common in MedBC (51.7%) and ACC (51.5%) and less common in MBC (33.1%) and ILC (25.4%), when compared to IDC (42.5%, p < 0.001). TNBC patients with MBC (HR 1.39, p < 0.001), MedBC (HR 0.42, p < 0.001) and ACC (HR 0.32, p = 0.003) differed significantly in OS when compared to IDC. Our results indicate that histologic heterogeneity in TNBC significantly informs patient outcomes and thus, has the potential to aid in the development of optimum personalised treatments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Assessment of adrenocortical activity by non-invasive measurement of faecal cortisol metabolites in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius).

    PubMed

    Sid-Ahmed, Omer-Elfaroug; Sanhouri, Ahmed; Elwaseela, Badr-Eldin; Fadllalah, Imad; Mohammed, Galal-Eldin Elazhari; Möstl, Erich

    2013-08-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether glucocorticoid production could be monitored non-invasively in dromedary camels by measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs). Five Sudanese dromedaries, two males and three females, were injected with a synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) analogue. Blood samples were collected pre- and post-ACTH injection. Faeces were sampled after spontaneous defecation for five consecutive days (2 days before and 3 days after ACTH injection). Baseline plasma cortisol values ranged from 0.6 to 10.8 ng/ml in males and from 1.1 to 16.6 ng/ml in females, while peak values after ACTH injection were 10.9-41.9 in males and 10-42.2 ng/ml in females. Peak blood cortisol values were reached between 1.5 and 2.0 h after ACTH injection. The concentration of FCMs increased after ACTH injection in the faeces of both sexes, although steroid levels peaked earlier in males [24 h; (286.7-2,559.7 ng/g faeces)] than in females [36-48 h; (1,182.6-5,169.1 ng/g faeces)], reflecting increases of 3.1-8.3- and 4.3-8-fold above baseline levels. To detect chromatographic patterns of immunoreactive FCMs, faecal samples with high FCM concentrations from both sexes were pooled and subjected to reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). RP-HPLC analysis revealed sex differences in the polarity of FCMs, with females showing more polar FCMs than males. We concluded that stimulation of adrenocortical activity by ACTH injection resulted in a measurable increase in blood cortisol that was reliably paralleled by increases in FCM levels. Thus, measurement of FCMs is a powerful tool for monitoring the adrenocortical responses of dromedaries to stressors in field conditions.

  11. State of the art knowledge in adrenocortical and behavioral responses to environmental challenges in a threatened South American ratite: Implications to in situ and ex-situ conservation.

    PubMed

    Luis, Navarro Joaquín; Lèche, Alvina; Costa, Natalia S Della; Cortez, Marilina Vera; Marin, Raúl H; Martella, Mónica B

    2018-04-12

    The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) is an endemic ratite to South America, whose wild populations have undergone a remarkable decrease due to habitat degradation and fragmentation by the expansion of the agricultural frontier, poaching and predation by dogs. Anthropogenic perturbations in wild environments, as well as the management in captivity, can generate different stress responses in this species, thus, the monitoring of adrenocortical and behavioral activities are considered primary assessment tools with both conservation and welfare implications. In this review we analyze and integrate the different measurements of glucocorticoids (in plasma, feces, and yolk) carried out in different captive and wild populations, taking into account the diverse predictable and unpredictable conditions to which the Greater Rhea responds in each of those environments. In addition, the translocation of this bird is presented as an application of stress physiology in field ecology for conservation purposes, in which we evaluated how this species responds when it is released into a novel environment. Our results indicate that this ratite has a striking high sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis compared to that of other bird species and shows a wide variety of adrenocortical responses depending on the environment in which it lives. This suggests that its HPA axis has a phenotypic plasticity that enables the rhea to cope with the environmental challenges. In this sense, we propose that one of the routes of this plasticity could be mediated by the maternal transfer of steroid hormones to the egg. Finally, we discuss the importance of integrating the monitoring of the adrenocortical response along with the environmental variables that define the life history of the species, in management and conservation programs ex-situ and in situ. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skull base: results with an aggressive multidisciplinary approach.

    PubMed

    Ramakrishna, Rohan; Raza, Shaan M; Kupferman, Michael; Hanna, Ehab; DeMonte, Franco

    2016-01-01

    OBJECT Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a locally aggressive tumor of salivary gland origin. Little data exist to guide treatment when this tumor extends to involve the structures of the skull base. METHODS Fifty-one patients with a diagnosis of ACC affecting the skull base were identified from a prospective database at MD Anderson Cancer Center (from 1992 to 2010). RESULTS Median follow-up for study patients was 6.75 years. The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 78% and 50%, respectively. Sixty-six percent of patients had progression of their disease. The 5- and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 46.7% and 21.0%, respectively. Gross-total resection was achieved in 75% of patients, with 49% having microscopically negative margins at the time of first operation. On univariate analysis, resections with microscopically negative margins were associated with a significant OS advantage (20.1 ± 3.3 years) compared with resections that left residual disease, even if microscopic (10.3 ± 1.6 years, p = 0.035). In patients who underwent reoperation, the effect persisted, with improved OS in those with negative margins (21.4 ± 0.0 vs 16.7 ± 4.0 years, p = 0.06). The use of adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with an OS advantage (16.2 ± 2.5 vs 5.5 ± 2.2 years, p = 0.03) at initial diagnosis and improved PFS (7.8 ± 1.0 vs 2.1 ± 0.62 years, p = 0.005), whereas repeat irradiation provided no benefit. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy at diagnosis or at recurrence was not associated with any significant advantage. Multivariate analysis revealed margin-negative resection at initial operation and at recurrence retained OS significance, even after controlling for age, radiation therapy, and T stage. CONCLUSIONS ACC of the skull base is best treated with a multidisciplinary approach aimed at maximal, safe resection. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be offered, whereas chemotherapy does not confer benefit.

  13. 2013 ACC/AHA versus 2004 NECP ATP III Guidelines in the Assignment of Statin Treatment in a Korean Population with Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis.

    PubMed

    Jung, Chang Hee; Lee, Min Jung; Kang, Yu Mi; Yang, Dong Hyun; Kang, Joon-Won; Kim, Eun Hee; Park, Duk-Woo; Park, Joong-Yeol; Kim, Hong-Kyu; Lee, Woo Je

    2015-01-01

    The usefulness of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of blood cholesterol in the Asian population remains controversial. In this study, we investigated whether eligibility for statin therapy determined by the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines is better aligned with the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by CCTA (coronary computed tomography angiography) compared to the previously recommended 2004 NCEP ATP III guidelines. We collected the data from 5,837 asymptomatic subjects who underwent CCTA using MDCT during routine health examinations. Based on risk factor assessment and lipid data, we determined guideline-based eligibility for statin therapy according to the 2013 ACC/AHA and 2004 NCEP ATP III guidelines. We defined the presence and severity of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected in CCTA according to the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis (defined as >50% stenosis), plaques, and the degree of coronary calcification. As compared to the 2004 ATP III guidelines, a significantly higher proportion of subjects with significant coronary stenosis (61.8% vs. 33.8%), plaques (52.3% vs. 24.7%), and higher CACS (CACS >100, 63.6% vs. 26.5%) was assigned to statin therapy using the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines (P < .001 for all variables). The area under the curves of the pooled cohort equation of the new guidelines in detecting significant stenosis, plaques, and higher CACS were significantly higher than those of the Framingham risk calculator. Compared to the previous ATP III guidelines, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines were more sensitive in identifying subjects with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by CCTA in an Asian population.

  14. Cavernous sinus involvement is not a risk factor for the primary tumor site treatment outcome of Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lee, Yi-Chan; Lee, Ta-Jen; Tsang, Ngan-Ming; Huang, Yenlin; Hsu, Cheng-Lung; Hsin, Li-Jen; Lee, Yi-Hsuan; Chang, Kai-Ping

    2018-02-05

    Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare malignancy of the head and neck. Cavernous sinus invasion from sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma and its related management have rarely been investigated. This study evaluated the relationship between treatment outcome and cavernous sinus involvement in addition to other parameters. A retrospective case series study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. The medical records of 47 patients diagnosed with primary sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma between 1984 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The survival impact of the primary treatment modalities and the anatomic sites of tumor involvement were analyzed. Cavernous sinus invasion was observed in 8 patients (17%), of whom 7 had ACC tumors originating from the maxillary sinus. The results of univariate analysis revealed that tumor stage, primary surgery, and the absence of skull-base and infratemporal fossa invasion were associated with better overall survival (P = 0.033, P = 0.012, P = 0.011, and P = 0.040, respectively) and better disease-free survival (P = 0.019, P = 0.001, P = 0.017, and P = 0.029, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified primary surgery as the only independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival (P = 0.026). Cavernous sinus invasion by sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma was not associated with worse overall survival or disease-free survival (P = 0.200 and P = 0.198, respectively). Because maxillary adenoid cystic carcinoma is associated with a higher rate of cavernous sinus invasion, such cases warrant caution during preoperative planning. Primary surgery as the initial therapy provides better locoregional control and survival for patients with sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma. Cavernous sinus invasion did not significantly impact survival; thus, it should not be regarded as a contraindication for curative treatment.

  15. [Analysis of expression of cancer stem cell-related markers in orbital adenoid cystic carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Lin, Ting-ting; Zhu, Li-min; He, Yan-jin; Zhang, Hong

    2011-08-01

    To observe the expression and distribution of CD44, CD133, and ABCG2 in orbital adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and investigate their correlations with pathological type and prognosis. Two steps method of immunohistochemical staining was employed in 33 cases of paraffin embedded surgical specimens of human orbital ACC, 5 cases of recurrence samples, 3 cases of an excised lacrimal gland caused by neither inflammation nor tumor diseases, and 6 cases of xenograft tumors in nude mice. A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical material of these patients, which were collected from Jan. 1991 to Mar. 2009. The positive rate of CD44 was 54.5% (18/33), with 76.9% (10/13) in solid type and 40.0% (8/20) in adeno-tubiform type. There was no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.072). In solid type the positive expression cells were often located at the marginal part of the cancer nest. In the adeno-tubiform type, positive cells were often located at the outer layer of the tubiform structure (myoepithelial cells). CD44 was also expressed in normal tissues. The positive rate of CD133 was 57.6% (19/33), with 76.9% (10/13) in solid type and 45.0% (9/20) in adeno-tubiform type. There was no significant difference between them (P = 0.087). CD133 antigen was expressed in either the cytoplasm or nucleus, or expressed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The positive rate of ABCG2 was 21.2% (7/33), with 30.77% (4/13) in solid type and 15.0% (3/20) in adeno-tubiform type. There was no significant difference between them (P = 0.393). Many positive cells surrounded the vessels in tumor tissues. There were no significant differences between different prognosis groups of these surface phenotypes. The correlative analysis results of three surface phenotypes showed that CD44(+) cells have positive correlation with CD133(+) cells (Spearman, r(s) = 0.416, P = 0.016). In six transplanted tumors of nude mice, the number of positive cases for CD44(+), CD133(+) and ABCG2

  16. Cixutumumab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-03-18

    Adult Rhabdomyosarcoma; Adult Synovial Sarcoma; Childhood Hepatoblastoma; Childhood Synovial Sarcoma; Previously Treated Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma; Recurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma; Recurrent Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Recurrent Childhood Liver Cancer; Recurrent Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma; Recurrent Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Recurrent Ewing Sarcoma/Peripheral Primitive; Neuroectodermal Tumor; Recurrent Neuroblastoma; Recurrent Osteosarcoma; Recurrent Retinoblastoma; Recurrent Wilms Tumor and Other Childhood Kidney Tumors

  17. Indomethacin-induced alterations in corticosteroid and prostaglandin release by isolated adrenocortical cells of the cat.

    PubMed Central

    Laychock, S G; Rubin, R P

    1976-01-01

    1 The effects of purported prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors on steroid and prostaglandin (E and F) release from trypsin-dispersed cat adrenocortical cells were investigated. 2 Low indomethacin concentrations potentiated adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-evoked prostaglandin and steroid release, whereas higher concentrations depressed both responses to ACTH. The steroidogenic response to exogenous prostaglandin E2 was not markedly altered over a wide range of indomethacin concentrations. 3 Indomethacin enhanced basal steroid release but did not enhance basal prostaglandin E or F release. 4 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic acid (ETA) elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of ACTH-induced steroid release, but had little effect on prostaglandin E2-induced steroid release. A high concentration of ETA inhibited prostaglandin E and F release. 5 These data are discussed in relation to the concept that prostaglandins provide a critical link in ACTH-induced corticosteroidogenesis. PMID:181110

  18. The 2013 ACC/AHA cardiovascular prevention guidelines improve alignment of statin therapy with coronary atherosclerosis as detected by coronary computed tomography angiography.

    PubMed

    Pursnani, Amit; Mayrhofer, Thomas; Ferencik, Maros; Hoffmann, Udo

    2014-11-01

    The recently released 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for management of blood cholesterol have substantially increased the number of adults who are eligible for preventive statin therapy. We sought to determine whether eligibility for statin therapy as determined by the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline recommendation is better aligned with the actual presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as detected by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) when compared to prior guidelines including the 2004 NCEP ATP III and 2011 ESC/EAS guidelines. In this secondary analysis of the prospective observational ROMICAT I (Rule Out Myocardial Infarction with Computer Assisted Tomography) cohort study, we included all men and women aged 40-79 years presenting with acute chest pain but not diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome nor on admission statin. Based on risk factor assessment and lipid data, we determined guideline-based eligibility for statin therapy by the 2013 ACC/AHA, the 2004 NCEP ATP III, and the 2011 ESC/EAS guidelines. We determined the presence and severity of CAD as detected by CCTA. The 2013 ACC/AHA algorithm identified nearly twice as many individuals as eligible for statins (n = 77/189; 41%) as compared to the 2004 ATP III criteria: (n = 41/189; 22%), (p < .0001) In addition, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines were more sensitive for treatment of CCTA-detected CAD than the 2004 ATP III guidelines [53.4% (42.5-64.1) vs 27.3% (18.3-37.8), p < .001] and the 2011 ESC/EAE guidelines [53.4% (42.5-64.1) vs 34.1% (24.3-45.0), p < .001]. However, the specificity of these guidelines was modestly reduced compared to the 2004 ATP III guidelines [70.3 (60.4-79.0) vs 83.2 (74.4-89.9), p < .001] and the 2011 ESC/EAE guidelines [70.3 (60.4-79.0) vs 86.1 (77.8-92.2), p < .001], suggesting increased treatment of subjects without CCTA-detected CAD. Overall, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines are more sensitive to identify patients who have CAD detected by CCTA eligible for statin therapy as compared with prior

  19. The 2013 ACC/AHA Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines Improve Alignment of Statin Therapy with Coronary Atherosclerosis As Detected by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

    PubMed Central

    Pursnani, Amit; Mayrhofer, Thomas; Ferencik, Maros; Hoffmann, Udo

    2018-01-01

    The recently released 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for management of blood cholesterol have substantially increased the number of adults who are eligible for preventive statin therapy. We sought to determine whether eligibility for statin therapy as determined by the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline recommendation is better aligned with the actual presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as detected by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) when compared to prior guidelines including the 2004 NCEP ATP III and 2011 ESC/EAS guidelines. In this secondary analysis of the prospective observational ROMICAT I (Rule Out Myocardial Infarction with Computer Assisted Tomography) cohort study, we included all men and women aged 40–79 years presenting with acute chest pain but not diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome nor on admission statin. Based on risk factor assessment and lipid data, we determined guideline-based eligibility for statin therapy by the 2013 ACC/AHA, the 2004 NCEP ATP II, and the 2011 ESC/EAS guidelines. We determined the presence and severity of CAD as detected by CCTA. The 2013 ACC/AHA algorithm identified nearly twice as many individuals as eligible for statins (n=77/189; 41%) as compared to the 2004 ATPIII criteria: (n=41/189; 22%), (P<.0001) In addition, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines were more sensitive for treatment of CCTA-detected CAD than the 2004 ATP III guidelines [53.4% (42.5–64.1) vs 27.3% (18.3–37.8), p<.001] and the 2011 ESC/EAE guidelines [53.4% (42.5–64.1) vs 34.1% (24.3–45.0), p<.001]. However, the specificity of these guidelines was modestly reduced compared to the 2004 ATP III guidelines [70.3 (60.4–79.0) vs 83.2 (74.4–89.9), p<.001] and the 2011 ESC/EAE guidelines [70.3 (60.4–79.0) vs 86.1 (77.8–92.2), p<.001], suggesting increased treatment of subjects without CCTA-detected CAD. Overall, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines are more sensitive to identify patients who have CAD detected by CCTA eligible for statin therapy as compared with prior

  20. CE-ACCE: The Cloud Enabled Advanced sCience Compute Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cinquini, L.; Freeborn, D. J.; Hardman, S. H.; Wong, C.

    2017-12-01

    Traditionally, Earth Science data from NASA remote sensing instruments has been processed by building custom data processing pipelines (often based on a common workflow engine or framework) which are typically deployed and run on an internal cluster of computing resources. This approach has some intrinsic limitations: it requires each mission to develop and deploy a custom software package on top of the adopted framework; it makes use of dedicated hardware, network and storage resources, which must be specifically purchased, maintained and re-purposed at mission completion; and computing services cannot be scaled on demand beyond the capability of the available servers.More recently, the rise of Cloud computing, coupled with other advances in containerization technology (most prominently, Docker) and micro-services architecture, has enabled a new paradigm, whereby space mission data can be processed through standard system architectures, which can be seamlessly deployed and scaled on demand on either on-premise clusters, or commercial Cloud providers. In this talk, we will present one such architecture named CE-ACCE ("Cloud Enabled Advanced sCience Compute Environment"), which we have been developing at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the past year. CE-ACCE is based on the Apache OODT ("Object Oriented Data Technology") suite of services for full data lifecycle management, which are turned into a composable array of Docker images, and complemented by a plug-in model for mission-specific customization. We have applied this infrastructure to both flying and upcoming NASA missions, such as ECOSTRESS and SMAP, and demonstrated deployment on the Amazon Cloud, either using simple EC2 instances, or advanced AWS services such as Amazon Lambda and ECS (EC2 Container Services).

  1. Optimization of ACC system spacing policy on curved highway

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ma, Jun; Qian, Kun; Gong, Zaiyan

    2017-05-01

    The paper optimizes the original spacing policy when adopting VTH (Variable Time Headway), proposes to introduce the road curve curvature K to the spacing policy to cope with following the wrong vehicle or failing to follow the vehicle owing to the radar limitation of curve in ACC system. By utilizing MATLAB/Simulink, automobile longitudinal dynamics model is established. At last, the paper sets up such three common cases as the vehicle ahead runs at a uniform velocity, an accelerated velocity and hits the brake suddenly, simulates these cases on the curve with different curvature, analyzes the curve spacing policy in the perspective of safety and vehicle following efficiency and draws the conclusion whether the optimization scheme is effective or not.

  2. ACTH-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia reveals prevalent aberrant in vivo and in vitro responses to hormonal stimuli and coupling of arginine-vasopressin type 1a receptor to 11β-hydroxylase

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Adrenal Cushing’s syndrome caused by ACTH-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH) can be accompanied by aberrant responses to hormonal stimuli. We investigated the prevalence of adrenocortical reactions to these stimuli in a large cohort of AIMAH patients, both in vivo and in vitro. Methods In vivo cortisol responses to hormonal stimuli were studied in 35 patients with ACTH-independent bilateral adrenal enlargement and (sub-)clinical hypercortisolism. In vitro, the effects of these stimuli on cortisol secretion and steroidogenic enzyme mRNA expression were evaluated in cultured AIMAH and other adrenocortical cells. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) receptor mRNA levels were determined in the adrenal tissues. Results Positive serum cortisol responses to stimuli were detected in 27/35 AIMAH patients tested, with multiple responses within individual patients occurring for up to four stimuli. AVP and metoclopramide were the most prevalent hormonal stimuli triggering positive responses in vivo. Catecholamines induced short-term cortisol production more often in AIMAH cultures compared to other adrenal cells. Short- and long-term incubation with AVP increased cortisol secretion in cultures of AIMAH cells. AVP also increased steroidogenic enzyme mRNA expression, among which an aberrant induction of CYP11B1. AVP type 1a receptor was the only AVPR expressed and levels were high in the AIMAH tissues. AVPR1A expression was related to the AVP-induced stimulation of CYP11B1. Conclusions Multiple hormonal signals can simultaneously induce hypercortisolism in AIMAH. AVP is the most prevalent eutopic signal and expression of its type 1a receptor was aberrantly linked to CYP11B1 expression. PMID:24034279

  3. 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guideline Versus 2004 NCEP ATP III Guideline in the Prediction of Coronary Artery Calcification Progression in a Korean Population.

    PubMed

    Cho, Yun Kyung; Jung, Chang Hee; Kang, Yu Mi; Hwang, Jenie Yoonoo; Kim, Eun Hee; Yang, Dong Hyun; Kang, Joon-Won; Park, Joong-Yeol; Kim, Hong-Kyu; Lee, Woo Je

    2016-08-19

    Since the release of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, significant controversy has surrounded the applicability of the new cholesterol guidelines and the Pooled Cohort Equations. In this present study, we investigated whether eligibility for statin therapy determined by the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines on the management of blood cholesterol is better aligned with the progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) than the previously recommended 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III guidelines. We enrolled 1246 asymptomatic participants who underwent repeated CAC score measurement during routine health examinations. The CAC score progression was defined as either incident CAC in a population free of CAC at baseline or increase ≥2.5 units between the baseline and final square root of CAC scores participants who had detectable CAC at baseline examination. Application of the ACC/AHA guidelines to the study population increased the proportion of statin-eligible subjects from 20.5% (according to ATP III) to 54.7%. Statin-eligible subjects, as defined by ACC/AHA guidelines, showed a higher odds ratio for CAC score progression than those considered statin eligible according to ATP III guidelines (2.73 [95% CI, 2.07-3.61] vs 2.00 [95% CI, 1.49-2.68]). Compared with the ATP III guidelines, the new ACC/AHA guidelines result in better discrimination of subjects with cardiovascular risk detected by CAC score progression in an Asian population. © 2016 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

  4. 2013 ACC/AHA versus 2004 NECP ATP III Guidelines in the Assignment of Statin Treatment in a Korean Population with Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Yu Mi; Yang, Dong Hyun; Kang, Joon-Won; Kim, Eun Hee; Park, Duk-Woo; Park, Joong-Yeol; Kim, Hong-Kyu; Lee, Woo Je

    2015-01-01

    Background The usefulness of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of blood cholesterol in the Asian population remains controversial. In this study, we investigated whether eligibility for statin therapy determined by the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines is better aligned with the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by CCTA (coronary computed tomography angiography) compared to the previously recommended 2004 NCEP ATP III guidelines. Methods We collected the data from 5,837 asymptomatic subjects who underwent CCTA using MDCT during routine health examinations. Based on risk factor assessment and lipid data, we determined guideline-based eligibility for statin therapy according to the 2013 ACC/AHA and 2004 NCEP ATP III guidelines. We defined the presence and severity of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected in CCTA according to the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis (defined as >50% stenosis), plaques, and the degree of coronary calcification. Results As compared to the 2004 ATP III guidelines, a significantly higher proportion of subjects with significant coronary stenosis (61.8% vs. 33.8%), plaques (52.3% vs. 24.7%), and higher CACS (CACS >100, 63.6% vs. 26.5%) was assigned to statin therapy using the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines (P < .001 for all variables). The area under the curves of the pooled cohort equation of the new guidelines in detecting significant stenosis, plaques, and higher CACS were significantly higher than those of the Framingham risk calculator. Conclusions Compared to the previous ATP III guidelines, the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines were more sensitive in identifying subjects with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis detected by CCTA in an Asian population. PMID:26372638

  5. Assessing driver's mental representation of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and its possible effects on behavioural adaptations.

    PubMed

    Piccinini, Giulio Francesco; Simões, Anabela; Rodrigues, Carlos Manuel; Leitão, Miguel

    2012-01-01

    The introduction of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) could be very helpful for making the longitudinal driving task more comfortable for the drivers and, as a consequence, it could have a global beneficial effect on road safety. However, before or during the usage of the device, due to several reasons, drivers might generate in their mind incomplete or flawed mental representations about the fundamental operation principles of ACC; hence, the resulting usage of the device might be improper, negatively affecting the human-machine interaction and cooperation and, in some cases, leading to negative behavioural adaptations to the system that might neutralise the desirable positive effects on road safety. Within this context, this paper will introduce the methodology which has been developed in order to analyse in detail the topic and foresee, in the future, adequate actions for the recovery of inaccurate mental representations of the system.

  6. The Burden of Statin Therapy based on ACC/AHA and NCEP ATP-III Guidelines: An Iranian Survey of Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factors.

    PubMed

    Asgari, Samaneh; Abdi, Hengameh; Hezaveh, Alireza Mahdavi; Moghisi, Alireza; Etemad, Koorosh; Beni, Hassan Riahi; Khalili, Davood

    2018-03-21

    To compare the burden of statin therapy according to the Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines the Survey of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Disease (SuRFNCD)-2011of Iran was used. A survey analysis associated with sex and age categorization was run. Of total 3496 persons (1322 men) aged 40-70 years, based on the ACC/AHA guidelines, about 46.5% were eligible to receive moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy. Based on the ATP-III guidelines, 17.0% were considered as needing statin drugs. Among adults aged <60 years, the proportion of those who were eligible for statin therapy was higher (38.3%) according to the ACC/AHA guidelines compared to the ATP-III guidelines (15.2%), a difference more prominent in adults aged ≥60 years (85.2% versus 25.0%). Agreement between the two guidelines was low (kappa: 0.32). Compared to the ATP-III guidelines, the ACC/AHA guidelines increase the number of adults eligible for statin therapy in an Iraninan population from 2.5 million to 7.0 million people according to the 2011 census, specifically in those aged ≥ 60 years, a finding in agreement with those of studies from different countries.

  7. Expression of recombinant AccMRJP1 protein from royal jelly of Chinese honeybee in Pichia pastoris and its proliferation activity in an insect cell line

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Main royal jelly protein 1 (MRJP1) is the most abundant member of the main royal jelly protein (MRJP) family among honeybees. Mature MRJP1 cDNA of the Chinese honeybee (Apis cerana cerana MRJP1, or AccMRJP1) was expressed in Pichia pastoris. SDS-PAGE showed that recombinant AccMRJP1 was identical in...

  8. Potential Functional Replacement of the Plastidic Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Subunit (accD) Gene by Recent Transfers to the Nucleus in Some Angiosperm Lineages1[W][OA

    PubMed Central

    Rousseau-Gueutin, Mathieu; Huang, Xun; Higginson, Emily; Ayliffe, Michael; Day, Anil; Timmis, Jeremy N.

    2013-01-01

    Eukaryotic cells originated when an ancestor of the nucleated cell engulfed bacterial endosymbionts that gradually evolved into the mitochondrion and the chloroplast. Soon after these endosymbiotic events, thousands of ancestral prokaryotic genes were functionally transferred from the endosymbionts to the nucleus. This process of functional gene relocation, now rare in eukaryotes, continues in angiosperms. In this article, we show that the chloroplastic acetyl-CoA carboxylase subunit (accD) gene that is present in the plastome of most angiosperms has been functionally relocated to the nucleus in the Campanulaceae. Surprisingly, the nucleus-encoded accD transcript is considerably smaller than the plastidic version, consisting of little more than the carboxylase domain of the plastidic accD gene fused to a coding region encoding a plastid targeting peptide. We verified experimentally the presence of a chloroplastic transit peptide by showing that the product of the nuclear accD fused to green fluorescent protein was imported in the chloroplasts. The nuclear gene regulatory elements that enabled the erstwhile plastidic gene to become functional in the nuclear genome were identified, and the evolution of the intronic and exonic sequences in the nucleus is described. Relocation and truncation of the accD gene is a remarkable example of the processes underpinning endosymbiotic evolution. PMID:23435694

  9. Insidious adrenocortical insufficiency underlies neuroendocrine dysregulation in TIF-2 deficient mice.

    PubMed

    Patchev, Alexandre V; Fischer, Dieter; Wolf, Siegmund S; Herkenham, Miles; Götz, Franziska; Gehin, Martine; Chambon, Pierre; Patchev, Vladimir K; Almeida, Osborne F X

    2007-01-01

    The transcription-intermediary-factor-2 (TIF-2) is a coactivator of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and its disruption would be expected to influence glucocorticoid-mediated control of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we show that its targeted deletion in mice is associated with altered expression of several glucocorticoid-dependent components of HPA regulation (e.g., corticotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin, ACTH, glucocorticoid receptors), suggestive of hyperactivity under basal conditions. At the same time, TIF-2(-/-) mice display significantly lower basal corticosterone levels and a sluggish and blunted initial secretory response to brief emotional and prolonged physical stress. Subsequent analysis revealed this discrepancy to result from pronounced aberrations in the structure and function of the adrenal gland, including the cytoarchitectural organization of the zona fasciculata and basal and stress-induced expression of key elements of steroid hormone synthesis, such as the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). In addition, altered expression levels of two nuclear receptors, DAX-1 and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), in the adrenal cortex strengthen the view that TIF-2 deletion disrupts adrenocortical development and steroid biosynthesis. Thus, hyperactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary unit is ascribed to insidious adrenal insufficiency and impaired glucocorticoid feedback.

  10. Assessment of Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and Left Cerebellar Metabolism in Asperger's Syndrome with Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS).

    PubMed

    Goji, Aya; Ito, Hiromichi; Mori, Kenji; Harada, Masafumi; Hisaoka, Sonoka; Toda, Yoshihiro; Mori, Tatsuo; Abe, Yoko; Miyazaki, Masahito; Kagami, Shoji

    2017-01-01

    Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a noninvasive neuroimaging method to quantify biochemical metabolites in vivo and it can serve as a powerful tool to monitor neurobiochemical profiles in the brain. Asperger's syndrome (AS) is a type of autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities, while intellectual levels and language skills are relatively preserved. Despite clinical aspects have been well-characterized, neurometabolic profiling in the brain of AS remains to be clear. The present study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to investigate whether pediatric AS is associated with measurable neurometabolic abnormalities that can contribute new information on the neurobiological underpinnings of the disorder. Study participants consisted of 34 children with AS (2-12 years old; mean age 5.2 (±2.0); 28 boys) and 19 typically developed children (2-11 years old; mean age 5.6 (±2.6); 12 boys) who served as the normal control group. The 1H MRS data were obtained from two regions of interest: the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left cerebellum. In the ACC, levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (tCr), total choline-containing compounds (tCho) and myo-Inositol (mI) were significantly decreased in children with AS compared to controls. On the other hand, no significant group differences in any of the metabolites were found in the left cerebellum. Neither age nor sex accounted for the metabolic findings in the regions. The finding of decreased levels of NAA, tCr, tCho, and mI in the ACC but not in left cerebellar voxels in the AS, suggests a lower ACC neuronal density in the present AS cohort compared to controls.

  11. Kindergarten stressors and cumulative adrenocortical activation: the "first straws" of allostatic load?

    PubMed

    Bush, Nicole R; Obradović, Jelena; Adler, Nancy; Boyce, W Thomas

    2011-11-01

    Using an ethnically diverse longitudinal sample of 338 kindergarten children, this study examined the effects of cumulative contextual stressors on children's developing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis regulation as an early life indicator of allostatic load. Chronic HPA axis regulation was assessed using cumulative, multiday measures of cortisol in both the fall and spring seasons of the kindergarten year. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that contextual stressors related to ethnic minority status, socioeconomic status, and family adversity each uniquely predicted children's daily HPA activity and that some of those associations were curvilinear in conformation. Results showed that the quadratic, U-shaped influences of family socioeconomic status and family adversity operate in different directions to predict children's HPA axis regulation. Results further suggested that these associations differ for White and ethnic minority children. In total, this study revealed that early childhood experiences contribute to shifts in one of the principal neurobiological systems thought to generate allostatic load, confirming the importance of early prevention and intervention efforts. Moreover, findings suggested that analyses of allostatic load and developmental theories accounting for its accrual would benefit from an inclusion of curvilinear associations in tested predictive models.

  12. CAC Score Improves Coronary and CV Risk Assessment Above Statin Indication by ESC and AHA/ACC Primary Prevention Guidelines.

    PubMed

    Mahabadi, Amir A; Möhlenkamp, Stefan; Lehmann, Nils; Kälsch, Hagen; Dykun, Iryna; Pundt, Noreen; Moebus, Susanne; Jöckel, Karl-Heinz; Erbel, Raimund

    2017-02-01

    The aim of this study was to assess the difference in indication for statin therapy by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) versus American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines and to quantify the potential additional role of coronary artery calcification (CAC) score over updated guidelines in a primary prevention cohort. Recently, ESC and AHA/ACC updated the guidelines regarding statin therapy in primary prevention. In 3,745 subjects (59 ± 8 years of age, 47% men) from the population based longitudinal Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study without cardiovascular disease or lipid-lowering therapy at baseline CAC score was assessed between 2000 and 2003. Subjects remained unaware of their initial CAC score. Statin indication was determined according to 2012 ESC and 2013 AHA/ACC guidelines based on subjects individual baseline characteristics. The frequency of statin recommendation was lower according to ESC compared to AHA/ACC guidelines (34% vs. 56%; p < 0.0001), whereas low CAC score (<100) was common in subjects with statin indication by both guidelines (59% for ESC, 62% for AHA/ACC). During 10.4 ± 2.0 years of follow-up, 131 myocardial infarctions occurred. For ESC recommendations, CAC score differentiated risk for subjects without (1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4 to 1.5] vs. 6.5 [95% CI: 4.1 to 8.9] coronary events per 1,000 person-years for CAC 0 vs. ≥100) and with statin indication (2.6 [95% CI: 0.6 to 4.7] vs. 9.9 [95% CI: 7.3 to 12.5] per 1,000 person-years for CAC 0 vs. ≥100). Likewise, CAC score stratified proportions experiencing events subjects with statin indication according to AHA/ACC (2.7 [95% CI: 1.1 to 4.2] vs. 9.1 [95% CI: 7.0 to 11.0] per 1,000 person-years for CAC 0 vs. ≥100), whereas event rate in subjects without statin indication was low (1.1 [95% CI: 0.65 to 1.68] per 1,000 person-years). Current ESC and AHA/ACC guidelines lead to markedly different recommendation regarding statin therapy in a

  13. Comparison of Recommended Eligibility for Primary Prevention Statin Therapy Based on the US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations vs the ACC/AHA Guidelines.

    PubMed

    Pagidipati, Neha J; Navar, Ann Marie; Mulder, Hillary; Sniderman, Allan D; Peterson, Eric D; Pencina, Michael J

    2017-04-18

    There are important differences among guideline recommendations for using statin therapy in primary prevention. New recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) emphasize therapy based on the presence of 1 or more cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and a 10-year global CVD risk of 10% or greater. To determine the difference in eligibility for primary prevention statin treatment among US adults, assuming full application of USPSTF recommendations compared with the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data (2009-2014) were used to assess statin eligibility under the 2016 USPSTF recommendations vs the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines among a nationally representative sample of 3416 US adults aged 40 to 75 years with fasting lipid data and triglyceride levels of 400 mg/dL or less, without prior CVD. The 2016 USPSTF recommendations vs 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Eligibility for primary prevention statin therapy. Among the US primary prevention population represented by 3416 individuals in NHANES, the median weighted age was 53 years (interquartile range, 46-61), and 53% (95% CI, 52%-55%) were women. Along with the 21.5% (95% CI, 19.3%-23.7%) of patients who reported currently taking lipid-lowering medication, full implementation of the USPSTF recommendations would be associated with initiation of statin therapy in an additional 15.8% (95% CI, 14.0%-17.5%) of patients, compared with an additional 24.3% (95% CI, 22.3%-26.3%) of patients who would be recommended for statin initiation under full implementation of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Among the 8.9% of individuals in the primary prevention population who would be recommended for statins by ACC/AHA guidelines but not by USPSTF recommendations, 55% would be adults aged 40 to 59 years with a mean 30-year cardiovascular risk greater than 30%, and 28% would have diabetes. In this sample of US

  14. Intensified hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy limits the additional benefit of simultaneous chemotherapy--results of a multicentric randomized German trial in advanced head-and-neck cancer.

    PubMed

    Staar, S; Rudat, V; Stuetzer, H; Dietz, A; Volling, P; Schroeder, M; Flentje, M; Eckel, H E; Mueller, R P

    2001-08-01

    To demonstrate the efficacy of radiochemotherapy (RCT) as the first choice of treatment for advanced unresectable head-and-neck cancer. To prove an expected benefit of simultaneously given chemotherapy, a two-arm randomized study with hyperfractionated accelerated radiochemotherapy (HF-ACC-RCT) vs. hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HF-ACC-RT) was initiated. The primary endpoint was 1-year survival with local control (SLC). Patients with Stage III and IV (UICC) unresectable oro- and hypopharyngeal carcinomas were randomized for HF-ACC-RCT with 2 cycles of 5-FU (600 mg/m(2)/day)/carboplatinum (70 mg/m(2)) on days 1--5 and 29--33 (arm A) or HF-ACC-RT alone (arm B). In both arms, there was a second randomization for testing the effect of prophylactically given G-CSF (263 microg, days 15--19) on mucosal toxicity. Total RT dose in both arms was 69.9 Gy in 38 days, with a concomitant boost regimen (weeks 1--3: 1.8 Gy/day, weeks 4 and 5: b.i.d. RT with 1.8 Gy/1.5 Gy). Between July 1995 and May 1999, 263 patients were randomized (median age 56 years; 96% Stage IV tumors, 4% Stage III tumors). This analysis is based on 240 patients: 113 patients with RCT and 127 patients with RT, qualified for protocol and starting treatment. There were 178 oropharyngeal and 62 hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Treatment was tolerable in both arms, with a higher mucosal toxicity after RCT. Restaging showed comparable nonsignificant different CR + PR rates of 92.4% after RCT and 87.9% after RT (p = 0.29). After a median observed time of 22.3 months, l- and 2-year local-regional control (LRC) rates were 69% and 51% after RCT and 58% and 45% after RT (p = 0.14). There was a significantly better 1-year SLC after RCT (58%) compared with RT (44%, p = 0.05). Patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas showed significantly better SLC after RCT (60%) vs. RT (40%, p = 0.01); the smaller group of hypopharyngeal carcinomas had no statistical benefit of RCT (p = 0.84). For both tumor locations

  15. Use of bacterial acc deaminase to increase oil (especially poly aromatic hydrocarbons) phytoremediation efficiency for maize (zea mays) seedlings.

    PubMed

    Rezvani Borujeni, Samira; Khavazi, Kazem; Asgharzadeh, Ahmad; Rezvani Borujeni, Iraj

    2018-04-16

    Oil presence in soil, as a stressor, reduces phytoremediation efficiency through an increase in the plant stress ethylene. Bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, as a plant stress ethylene reducer, was employed to increase oil phytoremediation efficiency. For this purpose, the ability of ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas strains to grow in oil-polluted culture media and withstand various concentrations of oil and also their ability to reduce plant stress ethylene and enhance some growth characteristics of maize and finally their effects on increasing phytoremediation efficiency of poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil were investigated. Based on the results, of tested strains just P9 and P12 were able to perform oil degradation. Increasing oil concentration from 0 to 10% augmented these two strains population, 15.7% and 12.9%, respectively. The maximum increase in maize growth was observed in presence of P12 strain. Results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that PAHs phytoremediation efficiency was higher for inoculated seeds than uninoculated. The highest plant growth and PAHs removal percentage (74.9%) from oil-polluted soil was observed in maize inoculated with P12. These results indicate the significance of ACC deaminase producing bacteria in alleviation of plant stress ethylene in oil-polluted soils and increasing phytoremediation efficiency of such soils.

  16. The rhizobacterium Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2, containing ACC deaminase, promotes growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana via an ethylene-dependent pathway

    PubMed Central

    Dodd, Ian C.

    2013-01-01

    Many plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with plant roots contain the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase and can metabolize ACC, the immediate precursor of the plant hormone ethylene, thereby decreasing plant ethylene production and increasing plant growth. However, relatively few studies have explicitly linked ethylene emission and/or action to growth promotion in these plant–microbe interactions. This study examined effects of the PGPR Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2 containing ACC deaminase on the growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana using wild-type (WT) plants and several ethylene-related mutants (etr1-1, ein2-1, and eto1-1). Soil inoculation with V. paradoxus 5C-2 promoted growth (leaf area and shoot biomass) of WT plants and the ethylene-overproducing mutant eto1-1, and also enhanced floral initiation of WT plants by 2.5 days. However, these effects were not seen in ethylene-insensitive mutants (etr1-1 and ein2-1) even though bacterial colonization of the root system was similar. Furthermore, V. paradoxus 5C-2 decreased ACC concentrations of rosette leaves of WT plants by 59% and foliar ethylene emission of both WT plants and eto1-1 mutants by 42 and 37%, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a fully functional ethylene signal transduction pathway is required for V. paradoxus 5C-2 to stimulate leaf growth and flowering of A. thaliana. PMID:23404897

  17. The rhizobacterium Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2, containing ACC deaminase, promotes growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana via an ethylene-dependent pathway.

    PubMed

    Chen, Lin; Dodd, Ian C; Theobald, Julian C; Belimov, Andrey A; Davies, William J

    2013-04-01

    Many plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with plant roots contain the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase and can metabolize ACC, the immediate precursor of the plant hormone ethylene, thereby decreasing plant ethylene production and increasing plant growth. However, relatively few studies have explicitly linked ethylene emission and/or action to growth promotion in these plant-microbe interactions. This study examined effects of the PGPR Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2 containing ACC deaminase on the growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana using wild-type (WT) plants and several ethylene-related mutants (etr1-1, ein2-1, and eto1-1). Soil inoculation with V. paradoxus 5C-2 promoted growth (leaf area and shoot biomass) of WT plants and the ethylene-overproducing mutant eto1-1, and also enhanced floral initiation of WT plants by 2.5 days. However, these effects were not seen in ethylene-insensitive mutants (etr1-1 and ein2-1) even though bacterial colonization of the root system was similar. Furthermore, V. paradoxus 5C-2 decreased ACC concentrations of rosette leaves of WT plants by 59% and foliar ethylene emission of both WT plants and eto1-1 mutants by 42 and 37%, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that a fully functional ethylene signal transduction pathway is required for V. paradoxus 5C-2 to stimulate leaf growth and flowering of A. thaliana.

  18. A Comparative Analysis of the Integration of Faith and Learning between ACSI and ACCS Accredited Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Peterson, Daniel Carl

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this descriptive quantitative study was to analyze and compare the integration of faith and learning occurring in Christian schools accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and classical Christian schools accredited by the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS). ACSI represents the…

  19. Transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity and systemic hypotension in very low birthweight infants

    PubMed Central

    Ng, P; Lee, C; Lam, C; Ma, K; Fok, T; Chan, I; Wong, E

    2004-01-01

    Objectives: A proportion of preterm, very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants may show inadequate adrenal response to stress in the immediate postnatal period. The human corticotrophin releasing hormone (hCRH) stimulation test was used to: (a) determine the relation between pituitary-adrenal response and systemic blood pressure in these infants; (b) characterise the endocrinological features of transient adrenocortical insufficiency of prematurity (TAP). Study design: A total of 226 hCRH tests were performed on 137 VLBW infants on day 7 and 14 of life in a tertiary neonatal centre. Results: Basal, peak, and incremental rise in serum cortisol (ΔCort0–30) on day 7 were associated significantly with the lowest systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures recorded during the first two weeks of life (r > 0.25, p < 0.005). These cortisol concentrations also correlated significantly but negatively with the maximum and total cumulative dose of dopamine (r > -0.22, p < 0.02), dobutamine (r > -0.18, p < 0.04), and adrenaline (r > -0.26, p < 0.004), total volume of crystalloid (r > -0.22, p < 0.02), and duration of inotrope treatment (r > -0.25, p < 0.006). Multivariate regression analysis of significant factors showed that the lowest systolic, mean, and diastolic blood pressures remained independently associated with serum cortisol (basal, peak, and ΔCort0–30) on day 7. Hypotensive infants requiring inotropes (group 2) were significantly less mature and more sick than infants with normal blood pressure (group 1). The areas under the ACTH response curves were significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1, on both day 7 (p = 0.004) and day 14 (p = 0.004). In contrast, the area under the cortisol response curve was significantly greater in group 1 than in group 2 on day 7 (p = 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups on day 14. In addition, serum cortisol at the 50th centile in hypotensive infants had high specificity and positive

  20. Incidence of breast carcinoma in women with thyroid carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Vassilopoulou-Sellin, R; Palmer, L; Taylor, S; Cooksley, C S

    1999-02-01

    Breast carcinoma and differentiated thyroid carcinoma(the most common endocrine malignancy) occur predominantly in women. An association between the two tumors has been suggested by some investigators, but the potential impact of treatment of one of these diseases on the development of the other remains unclear. The authors examined the relation between the occurrence of these two tumors. There were 41,686 patients with breast carcinoma and 3662 with thyroid carcinoma who registered at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between March 1944 and April 1997. Women who received both diagnoses since 1976 were identified and incidence rates and relative risks of secondary tumor development were calculated. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program data on the age-adjusted incidences of these diseases during the same time period were used for the expected incidences in the same population. Among 18,931 women with a diagnosis of breast carcinoma since 1976, 11 developed differentiated thyroid carcinoma > or = 2 years after the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. These breast carcinoma patients contributed 129,336 person-years of follow-up; the observed incidence of thyroid carcinoma in this group was not different from that in a similar age group of women in the SEER database. Among 1013 women with a diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma since 1976, 24 developed breast carcinoma > or = 2 years after the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. These thyroid carcinoma patients contributed 8380 person-years of follow-up; the observed incidence of breast carcinoma in women ages 40-49 years was significantly higher than the expected incidence for women in the same age group in the SEER database. Breast carcinoma developing after thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed more frequently than expected in young adult women seen at the study institution since 1976. This potential association and plausible mechanisms of breast carcinoma development after thyroid carcinoma should

  1. The new "intermediate risk" group: a comparative analysis of the new 2013 ACC/AHA risk assessment guidelines versus prior guidelines in men.

    PubMed

    Blaha, Michael J; Dardari, Zeina A; Blumenthal, Roger S; Martin, Seth S; Nasir, Khurram; Al-Mallah, Mouaz H

    2014-11-01

    The 2013 ACC/AHA Report on the Assessment of Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk redefined "intermediate risk". We sought to critically compare the intermediate risk groups identified by prior guidelines and the new ACC/AHA guidelines. We analyzed data from 30,005 adult men free of known CVD from a large, multi-ethnic study of middle-aged adults. The Framingham Risk Score was calculated using published equations, and CVD risk was calculated using the new ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations Risk Estimator. We first compared the size and characteristics of the intermediate risk group identified by the old (ATP III, 10-20% 10-year CHD risk) and new guidelines (5-7.4% 10-year CVD risk). We then defined time-to-high-risk as the length of time an individual patient resides in the intermediate risk group before progressing to high risk status based on advancing age alone. The mean age of the study population was 53 ± 13 years, and 24% were African-American. Patients identified as intermediate risk by the new ACC/AHA Guidelines were younger and more likely to be African-American and have lower risk factor burden (all p < 0.05). The new intermediate risk group was just 37% the size of the traditional ATP III intermediate risk group, while the new high risk group was 103% larger. Under the new guidelines, men remain intermediate risk for an average of just 3 years, compared to 8 years under the prior guidelines (63% shorter time-to-high-risk, p < 0.05), before progressing to high risk based on advancing age alone. The new 2013 ACC/AHA risk assessment guidelines produce a markedly smaller, lower absolute risk, and more temporary "intermediate risk" group. These findings reshape the modern understanding of "intermediate risk", and have distinct implications for risk assessment, clinical decision making, and pharmacotherapy in primary prevention. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. ACC/AHA guidelines superior to ESC/EAS guidelines for primary prevention with statins in non-diabetic Europeans: the Copenhagen General Population Study.

    PubMed

    Mortensen, Martin Bødtker; Nordestgaard, Børge G; Afzal, Shoaib; Falk, Erling

    2017-02-21

    We compared the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and the 2016 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guidelines on prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using different risk prediction models [US Pooled Cohort Equations (US-PCE for any ASCVD) and European Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation system (European-SCORE for fatal ASCVD)] and different statin eligibility criteria. We examined 44 889 individuals aged 40-75 recruited in 2003-09 in the Copenhagen General Population Study, all free of ASCVD, diabetes, and statin use at baseline. We detected 2217 any ASCVD events and 199 fatal ASCVD events through 2014. The predicted-to-observed event ratio was 1.2 using US-PCE for any ASCVD and 5.0 using European-SCORE for fatal ASCVD. The US-PCE, but not the European-SCORE, was well-calibrated around decision thresholds for statin therapy. For a Class I recommendation, 42% of individuals qualified for statins using the ACC/AHA guidelines vs. 6% with the ESC/EAS guidelines. Using ACC/AHA- vs. ESC/EAS-defined statin eligibility led to a substantial gain in sensitivity (+62% for any ASCVD and +76% for fatal ASCVD) with a smaller loss in specificity (-35% for any ASCVD and -36% for fatal ASCVD). Similar differences between the ACC/AHA and ESC/EAS guidelines were found for men and women separately, and for Class IIa recommendations. The sensitivity and specificity of a US-PCE risk of 5% were similar to those of a European-SCORE risk of 1.4%, whereas a US-PCE risk of 7.5% was similar to a European-SCORE risk of 2.4%. The ACC/AHA guidelines were superior to the ESC/EAS guidelines for primary prevention of ASCVD, that is, for accurately assigning statin therapy to those who would benefit. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology

  3. ACC/AHA guidelines superior to ESC/EAS guidelines for primary prevention with statins in non-diabetic Europeans: the Copenhagen General Population Study

    PubMed Central

    Mortensen, Martin Bødtker; Nordestgaard, Børge G.; Afzal, Shoaib; Falk, Erling

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Aim We compared the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and the 2016 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guidelines on prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using different risk prediction models [US Pooled Cohort Equations (US-PCE for any ASCVD) and European Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation system (European-SCORE for fatal ASCVD)] and different statin eligibility criteria. Methods and results We examined 44 889 individuals aged 40–75 recruited in 2003–09 in the Copenhagen General Population Study, all free of ASCVD, diabetes, and statin use at baseline. We detected 2217 any ASCVD events and 199 fatal ASCVD events through 2014. The predicted-to-observed event ratio was 1.2 using US-PCE for any ASCVD and 5.0 using European-SCORE for fatal ASCVD. The US-PCE, but not the European-SCORE, was well-calibrated around decision thresholds for statin therapy. For a Class I recommendation, 42% of individuals qualified for statins using the ACC/AHA guidelines vs. 6% with the ESC/EAS guidelines. Using ACC/AHA- vs. ESC/EAS-defined statin eligibility led to a substantial gain in sensitivity (+62% for any ASCVD and +76% for fatal ASCVD) with a smaller loss in specificity (−35% for any ASCVD and −36% for fatal ASCVD). Similar differences between the ACC/AHA and ESC/EAS guidelines were found for men and women separately, and for Class IIa recommendations. The sensitivity and specificity of a US-PCE risk of 5% were similar to those of a European-SCORE risk of 1.4%, whereas a US-PCE risk of 7.5% was similar to a European-SCORE risk of 2.4%. Conclusions The ACC/AHA guidelines were superior to the ESC/EAS guidelines for primary prevention of ASCVD, that is, for accurately assigning statin therapy to those who would benefit. PMID:28363217

  4. Comparison of Adherence to the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guideline in a Teaching Versus Nonteaching Outpatient Clinic.

    PubMed

    Cheng-Lai, Angela; Snead, Jessica; Ng, Christina; Verges, Caroline; Chung, Philip

    2018-04-01

    Little information is available regarding prescribers' adherence rate to the 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) cholesterol guideline, especially that from a teaching versus a nonteaching setting. We aim to evaluate adherence rates to the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guideline in a teaching versus a nonteaching practice site. In addition, the impact of a pharmacist-led seminar on adherence rate to the guideline was assessed. This study is a 2-part retrospective chart review. Part 1 consists of patients who were initiated on statin therapy between December 2013 and November 2014. Patients were analyzed to determine if they received concordant statin therapy as recommended by the guideline. For the second part, we evaluated the impact of a seminar on the adherence rate to the guideline. Of the 325 patients who received a statin prescription, 233 were included in the study. Prescriber adherence to the guideline was 42.9%, which was significantly lower than the 65.8% observed in a study previously conducted at a teaching outpatient clinic ( P < 0.0001). For the second part of our study, prescriber adherence to the guideline 3 months before the pharmacist-led seminar was 53.5%, and this adherence rate remained virtually unchanged at 54.2% at 3 months after the educational session. The overall adherence rate to the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guideline from this nonteaching outpatient clinic was significantly lower than that previously observed in a teaching outpatient clinic. The single pharmacist-led seminar did not significantly affect prescribers' adherence rate to the guideline.

  5. Vinorelbine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lacava, J A; Leone, B A; Machiavelli, M; Romero, A O; Perez, J E; Elem, Y L; Ferreyra, R; Focaccia, G; Suttora, G; Salvadori, M A; Cuevas, M A; Acuña, L R; Acuña, J R; Langhi, M; Amato, S; Castaldi, J; Arroyo, A; Vallejo, C T

    1997-02-01

    To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine (VNB) as single-agent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma (ACC). Between December 1993 and October 1995, 43 untreated patients with stages IIB to IVA squamous cell cervical cancer were entered onto this study. Forty-two patients are assessable for response and 43 for toxicity. The median age was 46 years (range, 28 to 65). Distribution by stages (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO]) was as follows: IIB, 18 patients; IIIA, one; IIIB, 19; and IVA, five. Therapy consisted of VNB 30 mg/m2 by 20-minute intravenous (IV) infusion repeated weekly for 12 injections and followed by radical surgery if feasible or definitive radiotherapy. Both staging and response assessment were performed by a multidisciplinary team. One patient was considered not assessable for response. A total of 493 cycles of therapy were administered and objective remissions were observed in 19 of 42 patients (45%; 95% confidence interval, 30% to 60%). Two patients (5%) had a complete response (CR) and 17 (40%) a partial response (PR); no change (NC) was observed in 16 (38%) and progressive disease (PD) in seven (17%). Six of 19 patients (32%) who achieved objective responses (ORs) underwent surgery. The median time to failure and median survival time have not been reached yet. There were no therapy-related deaths. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Leukopenia occurred in 35 patients (81%) and was grade 3 or 4 in seven (17%). Twelve patients (28%) developed peripheral neuropathy, while myalgias occurred in 10 (23%). Constipation was observed in nine patients (21%), one with a prolonged ileum. Phlebitis was recorded in 18 patients (41%). In contrast, emesis and mucositis were rarely observed. No patient developed alopecia grade 3. By the end of the twelfth course of treatment, the average received dose-intensity was 85.4% of that projected. VNB is an active drug against ACC with moderate

  6. Synchronous adrenocortical neoplasms, paragangliomas, and pheochromocytomas: syndromic considerations regarding an unusual constellation of endocrine tumors.

    PubMed

    LeBlanc, Melissa; Tabrizi, Mohsen; Kapsner, Patricia; Hanson, Joshua Anspach

    2014-12-01

    The most common clinical syndromes presenting with paragangliomas and/or pheochromocytomas as their endocrine components are multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, neurofibromatosis, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Carney-Stratakis syndrome, Carney triad, and the recently described hereditary paraganglioma syndrome. Only Carney triad is known to also present with adrenocortical adenomas, currently representing the only described syndrome in which all 3 of the aforementioned tumors are found together. In most cases, prototypical lesions of the triad such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor and pulmonary chondromas are also seen. We present a case of a young woman with synchronous paragangliomas, adrenal/extra-adrenal cortical neoplasms, and pheochromocytoma without genetic mutations for multiple endocrine neoplasia 2, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and succinate dehydrogenase. We speculate that this represents a previously undescribed presentation of Carney triad and, at the very least, indicates the need for monitoring for the development of other tumors of the triad. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Expected impact of applying new 2013 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines criteria on the recommended lipid target achievement after acute coronary syndromes.

    PubMed

    Gencer, Baris; Auer, Reto; Nanchen, David; Räber, Lorenz; Klingenberg, Roland; Carballo, David; Blum, Manuel; Vogt, Pierre; Carballo, Sebastian; Meyer, Philippe; Matter, Christian M; Windecker, Stephan; Lüscher, Thomas F; Mach, François; Rodondi, Nicolas

    2015-03-01

    2013 AHA/ACC guidelines on the treatment of cholesterol advised to tailor high-intensity statin after ACS, while previous ATP-III recommended titration of statin to reach low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. We simulated the impact of this change of paradigm on the achievement of recommended targets. Among a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients hospitalized for ACS from 2009 to 2012 at four Swiss university hospitals, we analyzed 1602 patients who survived one year after recruitment. Targets based on the previous guidelines approach was defined as (1) achievement of LDL-C target < 1.8 mmol/l, (2) reduction of LDL-C ≥ 50% or (3) intensification of statin in patients who did not reach LDL-C targets. Targets based on the 2013 AHA/ACC guidelines approach was defined as the maximization of statin therapy at high-intensity in patients aged ≤75 years and moderate- or high-intensity statin in patients >75 years. 1578 (99%) patients were prescribed statin at discharge, with 1120 (70%) at high-intensity. 1507 patients (94%) reported taking statin at one year, with 909 (57%) at high-intensity. Among 482 patients discharged with sub-maximal statin, intensification of statin was only observed in 109 patients (23%). 773 (47%) patients reached the previous LDL-C targets, while 1014 (63%) reached the 2013 AHA/ACC guidelines targetsone year after ACS (p value < 0.001). The application of the new 2013 AHA/ACC guidelines criteria would substantially increase the proportion of patients achieving recommended lipid targets one year after ACS. Clinical trial number, NCT01075868. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Impact of the New ACC/AHA Guidelines on the Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in a Managed Care Setting.

    PubMed

    Tran, Josephine N; Caglar, Toros; Stockl, Karen M; Lew, Heidi C; Solow, Brian K; Chan, Paul S

    2014-11-01

    In November 2013, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) together issued new guidelines for the treatment of patients with high cholesterol, providing a new paradigm for the management of cholesterol in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. To examine the impact of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines on pharmacy utilization of cholesterol-lowering drugs in a real-world managed care setting. Pharmacy claims from OptumRx, a national pharmacy benefit management provider, for the period between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013 (baseline period), were used to identify candidates for cholesterol-lowering therapy and to estimate the number of potential patients who will be starting or intensifying statin therapy based on the updated cholesterol treatment guidelines. Potential candidates for cholesterol-lowering treatments included patients with diabetes or hypertension aged 40 to 75 years who were not already receiving a cholesterol-lowering medication, as well as patients receiving cholesterol-lowering therapies during the baseline period. The baseline cholesterol-lowering medication market share was used to project changes in pharmacy utilization over the next 3 years. Based on the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines, there will be a 25% increase in the proportion of the overall population that is treated with statins over the next 3 years, increasing from 3,909,407 (27.7%) patients to 4,892,668 (34.7%) patients. The largest proportion of the increase in statin utilization is projected to be for primary prevention in patients aged 40 to 75 years who were not receiving any cholesterol-lowering treatment at baseline. These projected changes will increase the overall number of statin prescriptions by 25% and will decrease the number of nonstatin cholesterol-lowering medication prescriptions by 68% during the next 3 years. The new 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines

  9. Baseline Blood Pressure, the 2017 ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guidelines, and Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk in SPRINT.

    PubMed

    Vaduganathan, Muthiah; Pareek, Manan; Qamar, Arman; Pandey, Ambarish; Olsen, Michael H; Bhatt, Deepak L

    2018-02-05

    The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines include lower thresholds to define hypertension than previous guidelines. Little is known about the impact of these guideline changes in patients with or at high risk for cardiovascular disease. In this exploratory analysis using baseline blood pressure assessments in Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), we evaluated the prevalence and associated cardiovascular prognosis of patients newly reclassified with hypertension based on the 2017 ACC/AHA (systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg) compared with the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guidelines (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg). The primary endpoint was the composite of myocardial infarction, other acute coronary syndromes, stroke, heart failure, or cardiovascular death. In 4683 patients assigned to the standard treatment arm of SPRINT, 2328 (49.7%) met hypertension thresholds by JNC 7 guidelines, and another 1424 (30.4%) were newly reclassified as having hypertension based on the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines. Over 3.3-year median follow-up, 319 patients experienced the primary endpoint (87 of whom were newly reclassified with hypertension based on the revised guidelines). Patients with hypertension based on prior guidelines compared with those newly identified with hypertension based on the new guidelines had similar risk of the primary endpoint (2.3 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.0-2.7] vs 2.0 [95% CI, 1.6-2.4] events per 100 patient-years; adjusted HR, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.84-1.44]; P = .48). The 2017 ACC/AHA high blood pressure guidelines are expected to significantly increase the prevalence of patients with hypertension (perhaps to a greater extent in higher-risk patient cohorts compared with the general population) and

  10. Implications of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines on contemporary clinical practice for patients with atherosclerotic coronary and peripheral arterial disease.

    PubMed

    Gunasekaran, Prasad; Jeevanantham, Vinodh; Sharma, Suresh; Thapa, Rashmi; Gupta, Kamal

    Cholesterol management guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA-2013) recommend fixed statin dosing (dose depends on age ≤ or >75years) compared to the earlier adult treatment panel III (ATPIII) guidelines which recommended specific low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. Clinical implications of this recommendation are not known. We retrospectively compared cholesterol levels and statin utilization across cohorts with coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=9563), peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (n=596) and CAD+PAD (n=975) by applying both guidelines. The percentage of patients who achieved guideline-specific targets using 2013 ACC/AHA (use of moderate/high intensity statins) or ATPIII guidelines (LDL-C<100mg/dl) was compared between all groups. Using both guidelines, the PAD only group demonstrated lower utilization and lower statin doses than the CAD or CAD+PAD groups. When applying the ACC/AHA guidelines, more patients in the CAD only group (age ≤75 years) were considered at goal as compared to the ATPIII guidelines (92.2% vs. 75%), primarily driven by the group placed on moderate/high intensity statins but had an LDL-C level >100mg/dl. Application of the ACC/AHA guidelines results in a higher percentage of patients considered to be 'at goal' when compared to the ATP III guidelines without changes in clinical practice. This is due to patients ≤75 years old on adequate statin doses but still have LDL-C levels >100mg/dl, thereby raising concerns that physicians may not pursue alternate LDL reduction strategies since they are now considered at goal despite LDL-C >100mg/dl. Lipid management of PAD patients remains sub-optimal as compared to CAD and CAD+PAD. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  11. Adrenal tuberculosis in Cushing's disease with bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia.

    PubMed

    Kwon, Hyuk-Sang; Kim, Sang-Il; Yoo, Soon-Jib; Yoon, Kun-Ho; Lee, Kwang-Woo; Kang, Moon-Won; Son, Ho-Young; Kang, Sung-Koo; Cha, Bong-Yun

    2006-04-01

    Cushing's disease is a disorder of hypercortisolism caused by a pituitary micro- or macro-adenoma. Most patients with Cushing's disease have a bilateral adrenal enlargement, which depends on the duration of the disease, as a result of the long standing ACTH stimulation of both adrenal glands. However, in macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (MNH) that is caused by Cushing's disease, if the MNH gains autonomy, a bilateral adrenalectomy, as well as the removal of pituitary adenoma, is often essential. We encountered a patient diagnosed with Cushing's disease with bilateral adrenal tuberculosis simulating MNH. She had taken anti-tuberculosis medications one year prior to admission due to spinal tuberculosis. Sellar MRI revealed a pituitary macroadenoma, but adrenal CT showed enlargement in both adrenal glands that appeared to be MNH. A hormonal study and bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling revealed Cushing's disease. Therefore, she underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery of the pituitary mass. The pituitary surgery was successful and the serum cortisol returned to normal range. However, the adrenal mass rapidly enlarged after removing the pituitary tumor without showing evidence of a recurrence or adrenal autonomy of hypercortisolism. Accordingly, a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy was performed to examine the nature of the mass. The resected left adrenal gland was pathologically determined to have a lesion of tuberculosis with some part of the intact cortex. So we assumed that the cause of rapid adrenal enlargement might be due to adrenal tuberculosis. In summary, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of Cushing's disease coexisting with both adrenal tuberculosis simulating a bilateral MNH.

  12. Modeling the adsorption of metal ions (Cu 2+, Ni 2+, Pb 2+) onto ACCs using surface complexation models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faur-Brasquet, Catherine; Reddad, Zacaria; Kadirvelu, Krishna; Le Cloirec, Pierre

    2002-08-01

    Activated carbon cloths (ACCs), whose efficiency has been demonstrated for microorganics adsorption from water, were here studied in the removal of metal ions from aqueous solution. Two ACCs are investigated, they are characterized in terms of porosity parameters (BET specific surface area, percentage of microporosity) and chemical characteristics (acidic surface groups, acidity constants, point of zero charge). A first part consists in the experimental study of three metal ions removal (Cu 2+, Ni 2+ and Pb 2+) in a batch reactor. Isotherms modeling by Freundlich and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equations enables the following adsorption order: Cu 2+>Ni 2+>Pb 2+ to be determined for adsorption capacities on a molar basis. It may be related to adsorbates characteristics in terms of electronegativity and ionic radius. The influence of adsorbent's microporosity is also shown. Adsorption experiments carried out for pH values ranging from 2 to 10 demonstrate: (i) an adsorption occurring below the precipitation pH; (ii) the strong influence of pH, with a decrease of electrostatic repulsion due to the formation of less charged hydrolyzed species coupled with a decrease of activated carbon surface charge as pH increases. The second part focuses on the modeling of adsorption versus the pH experimental data by the diffuse layer model (DLM) using Fiteql software. The model is efficient to describe the system behavior in the pH range considered. Regarding complexation constants, they show the following affinity for ACC: Pb 2+>Cu 2+>Ni 2+. They are related to initial concentrations used for the three metal ions.

  13. Support for a history-dependent predictive model of dACC activity in producing the bivalency effect: an event-related potential study.

    PubMed

    Grundy, John G; Shedden, Judith M

    2014-05-01

    In the present study, we examine electrophysiological correlates of factors influencing an adjustment in cognitive control known as the bivalency effect. During task-switching, the occasional presence of bivalent stimuli in a block of univalent trials is enough to elicit a response slowing on all subsequent univalent trials. Bivalent stimuli can be congruent or incongruent with respect to the response afforded by the irrelevant stimulus feature. Here we show that the incongruent bivalency effect, the congruent bivalency effect, and an effect of a simple violation of expectancy are captured at a frontal ERP component (between 300 and 550ms) associated with ACC activity, and that the unexpectedness effect is distinguished from both congruent and incongruent bivalency effects at an earlier component (100-120ms) associated with the temporal parietal junction. We suggest that the frontal component reflects the dACC's role in predicting future cognitive load based on recent history. In contrast, the posterior component may index early visual feature extraction in response to bivalent stimuli that cue currently ongoing tasks; dACC activity may trigger the temporal parietal activity only when specific task cueing is involved and not for simple violations of expectancy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Comparison of statin eligibility according to the Adult Treatment Panel III, ACC/AHA blood cholesterol guideline, and presence of carotid plaque by ultrasound in Mexican mestizo patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Galarza-Delgado, Dionicio A; Azpiri-Lopez, Jose R; Colunga-Pedraza, Iris J; Cardenas-de la Garza, Jesus A; Vera-Pineda, Raymundo; Garcia-Colunga, Judith I; Arvizu-Rivera, Rosa I; Martinez-Moreno, Adrian; Villarreal-Perez, Jesus Z; Elizondo-Riojas, Guillermo; Garza Elizondo, Mario A

    2016-11-01

    Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Guidelines of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2013 and the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) differ in their strategies to recommend initiation of statin therapy. The presence of carotid plaque (CP) by carotid ultrasound is an indication to begin statin therapy. We aimed to compare the recommendation to initiate statin therapy according to the ACC/AHA 2013 guidelines, ATP-III guidelines, and CP by carotid ultrasound. We then carried out an observational, cross-sectional study of 62 statin-naive Mexican mestizo RA patients, aged 40 to 75, who fulfilled the 1987 or 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria. CP was evaluated with B-mode ultrasound. Cohen's kappa (k) was used to assess agreement between ACC/AHA 2013 guidelines, ATP-III guidelines, and the presence of CP, considering a p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Agreement was classified as slight (0.01-0.20), fair (0.21-0.40), moderate (0.41-0.60), substantial (0.61-0.80), and an almost perfect agreement (0.81-1.00). Slight agreement (k = 0.096) was found when comparing statin recommendation between CP and ATP-III. Fair agreement (k = 0.242) was revealed between ACC/AHA 2013 and ATP-III. Comparison between ACC/AHA 2013 and CP showed moderate agreement (k = 0.438). ACC/AHA 2013 guidelines could be an adequate and cost-effective tool to evaluate the need of statin therapy in Mexican mestizo RA patients, with moderate agreement with the presence of CP by ultrasound.

  15. Effect of weather conditions and presence of visitors on adrenocortical activity in captive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus).

    PubMed

    Ozella, L; Anfossi, L; Di Nardo, F; Pessani, D

    2017-02-01

    A number of potential stressors are present in captive environments and it is critically important to identify them in order to improve health and welfare in ex situ animal populations. In this study, we investigated the adrenocortical activity of a colony of African penguins hosted in an immersive zoo in Italy, with respect to the presence of visitors and local microclimatic conditions, using the non-invasive method of assessing faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs). The penguins' exhibit is a large naturalistic outdoor enclosure, which closely reproduces the natural habitat of this species. Data collection took place from the beginning of June to the end of August 2014, during the period of maximum flow of visitors. We carried out 12 sampling periods, each involving 2 consecutive days; during the first day we counted the visitors and we registered the meteorological data, and on the second day, we collected the faecal samples, which amounted to a total of 285 faecal samples. Our results showed that the number of visitors did not influence the adrenocortical activity of the African penguins. Conversely, the local microclimatic conditions did influence the physiological stress on these birds. We found that an increase of the daily mean temperature induced a significant increase in FGM concentrations, although humidity and wind speed had a moderating effect on temperature and reduced the heat-induced stress. Moreover, we calculated two climatic indices, commonly used to assess the thermal discomfort in animals, namely the THI (Temperature-Humidity Index) and WCI (Wind Chill Index), and we detected a positive relationship between their values and the FGM levels, demonstrating that these indices could be useful indicators of weather discomfort in African penguins. Our study shows that the simulating naturalistic conditions could have significant benefits for zoo animals, such as reducing the negative effect of visitors. Nevertheless, it should be taken into account

  16. Stress integration after acute and chronic predator stress: differential activation of central stress circuitry and sensitization of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

    PubMed

    Figueiredo, Helmer F; Bodie, Bryan L; Tauchi, Miyuki; Dolgas, C Mark; Herman, James P

    2003-12-01

    Predator exposure is a naturalistic stressor of high ethological relevance. In the current study, our group examined central and peripheral integration of stress responses in rats after acute or repeated exposure to a natural predator (cat). Acute cat exposure rapidly induced hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activation and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) CRH mRNA production. Repeated daily cat exposure (7 and 14 d) also up-regulated PVN mRNA CRH expression, but did not result in frank adrenocortical hyperactivity. Unlike other chronic homotypic stress regimens, repeated cat exposure facilitated corticosterone secretion after the 6th or 13th day of exposure. Notably, ACTH secretion and central amygdaloid nucleus CRH mRNA expression were enhanced in animals that were preexposed to the holding chamber relative to chamber-naive rats, suggesting that contextual cues can sensitize subsequent responses to a fearful stimulus. Analysis of c-fos activation was then used to identify brain circuits activated by acute predator stress. Cat exposure elicited a pattern of central c-fos activation that differed substantially from that after either restraint or hypoxia. Predator-specific c-fos mRNA induction was observed in several brain regions comprising the hypothetical brain defense circuit (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial region of the ventromedial nucleus, and dorsal premammillary nucleus). Surprisingly, acute cat exposure did not induce c-fos expression in the PVN. In summary, the data indicate that 1) predation stress invokes a unique stress circuitry that promotes homotypic sensitization of the HPA axis, and 2) familiarization of animals to testing environments can prime central stress pathways to respond robustly to novel threats.

  17. Adrenocortical responses to offspring-directed threats in two open-nesting birds.

    PubMed

    Butler, Luke K; Bisson, Isabelle-Anne; Hayden, Timothy J; Wikelski, Martin; Romero, L Michael

    2009-07-01

    Dependent young are often easy targets for predators, so for many parent vertebrates, responding to offspring-directed threats is a fundamental part of reproduction. We tested the parental adrenocortical response of the endangered black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) and the common white-eyed vireo (V. griseus) to acute and chronic threats to their offspring. Like many open-nesting birds, our study species experience high offspring mortality. Parents responded behaviorally to a predator decoy or human 1-2m from their nests, but, in contrast to similar studies of cavity-nesting birds, neither these acute threats nor chronic offspring-directed threats altered plasma corticosterone concentrations of parents. Although parents in this study showed no corticosterone response to offspring-directed threats, they always increased corticosterone concentrations in response to capture. To explain these results, we propose that parents perceive their risk of nest-associated death differently depending on nest type, with cavity-nesting adults perceiving greater risk to themselves than open-nesters that can readily detect and escape from offspring-directed threats. Our results agree with previous studies suggesting that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a major physiological mechanism for coping with threats to survival, probably plays no role in coping with threats to offspring when risks to parents and offspring are not correlated. We extend that paradigm by demonstrating that nest style may influence how adults perceive the correlation between offspring-directed and self-directed threats.

  18. Annual Outcomes With Transcatheter Valve Therapy: From the STS/ACC TVT Registry.

    PubMed

    Holmes, David R; Nishimura, Rick A; Grover, Frederick L; Brindis, Ralph G; Carroll, John D; Edwards, Fred H; Peterson, Eric D; Rumsfeld, John S; Shahian, David M; Thourani, Vinod H; Tuzcu, E Murat; Vemulapalli, Sreekanth; Hewitt, Kathleen; Michaels, Joan; Fitzgerald, Susan; Mack, Michael J

    2016-02-01

    The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry has been a joint initiative of the STS and the ACC in concert with multiple stakeholders. The TVT Registry has important information regarding patient selection, delivery of care, science, education, and research in the field of structural valvular heart disease. This report provides an overview on current U.S. TVT practice and trends. The emphasis is on demographics, in-hospital procedural characteristics, and outcomes of patients having transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) performed at 348 U.S. centers. The TVT Registry captured 26,414 TAVR procedures as of December 31, 2014. Temporal trends between 2012 and 2013 versus 2014 were compared. Comparison of the 2 time periods reveals that TAVR patients remain elderly (mean age 82 years), with multiple comorbidities, reflected by a high mean STS predicted risk of mortality (STS PROM) for surgical valve replacement (8.34%), were highly symptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class III/IV in 82.5%), frail (slow 5-m walk test in 81.6%), and have poor self-reported health status (median baseline Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score of 39.1). Procedure performance is changing, with an increased use of moderate sedation (from 1.6% to 5.1%) and increase in femoral access using percutaneous techniques (66.8% in 2014). Vascular complication rates are decreasing (from 5.6% to 4.2%), whereas site-reported stroke rates remain stable at 2.2%. The TVT Registry provides important information on characteristics and outcomes of TAVR in contemporary U.S. clinical practice. It can be used to identify trends in practice and opportunities for quality improvement.

  19. Novel Chromosomal Rearrangements and breakpoints at the t(6;9) in Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: association with MYB-NFIB chimeric fusion, MYB expression, and clinical outcome

    PubMed Central

    Mitani, Yoshitsugu; Rao, Pulivarthi H.; Futreal, P. Andrew; Roberts, Dianna B.; Stephens, Philip J.; Zhao, Yi-Jue; Zhang, Li; Mitani, Mutsumi; Weber, Randal S.; Lippman, Scott M.; Caulin, Carlos; El-Naggar, Adel K.

    2011-01-01

    Objective To investigate the molecular-genetic heterogeneity associated with the t(6:9) in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and correlate the findings with patient clinical outcome. Experimental Design Multi-molecular and genetic techniques complemented with massive pair-ended sequencing and SNP array analyses were used on tumor specimens from 30 new and 52 previously RT-PCR analyzed fusion transcript negative ACCs. MYB mRNA expression level was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The results of 102 tumors (30 new and 72 previously reported cases) were correlated with the clinicopathologic factors and patients’ survival. Results The FISH analysis showed 34/82 (41.5%) fusion positive tumors and molecular techniques identified fusion transcripts in 21 of the 82 (25.6%) tumors. Detailed FISH analysis of 11 out the 15 tumors with gene fusion without transcript formation showed translocation of NFIB sequences to proximal or distal sites of the MYB gene. Massive pair-end sequencing of a subset of tumors confirmed the proximal translocation to an NFIB sequence and led to the identification of a new fusion gene (NFIB-AIG1) in one of the tumors. Overall, MYB-NFIB gene fusion rate by FISH was in 52.9% while fusion transcript forming incidence was 38.2%. Significant statistical association between the 5′ MYB transcript expression and patient survival was found. Conclusions We conclude that: 1) t(6;9) results in a complex genetic and molecular alterations in ACC, 2) MYB-NFIB gene fusion may not always be associated with chimeric transcript formation, 3) non-canonical MYB, NFIB gene fusions occur in a subset of tumors, 4) high MYB expression correlates with worse patient survival. PMID:21976542

  20. Adrenocortical Hormone Abnormalities in Men with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Dimitrakov, Jordan; Joffe, Hylton V.; Soldin, Steven J.; Bolus, Roger; Buffington, C.A. Tony; Nickel, J Curtis

    2007-01-01

    Objectives To identify adrenocortical hormone abnormalities as indicators of endocrine dysfunction in CP/CPPS. Methods We simultaneously measured the serum concentrations of 12 steroids in CP/CPPS and control patients, using isotope dilution liquid chromatography followed by atmospheric pressure photospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry. Results Twenty-seven CP/CPPS patients and 29 age-matched asymptomatic healthy controls were evaluated. In the mineralocorticoid pathway, progesterone was significantly higher, whereas corticosterone and aldosterone concentrations were significantly lower, in CP/CPPS than in controls. In the glucocorticoid pathway, 11-deoxycortisol was significantly lower, and cortisol concentrations were not different between patients and controls. In the sex steroid pathway, androstenedione and testosterone concentrations were significantly higher in CP/CPPS than in controls. Estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations were not different between patients and controls. NIH-CPSI total and pain domain scores correlated positively with 17-hydroxyprogesterone and aldosterone (P<0.001) and negatively with cortisol concentrations (P<0.001). Conclusions Results suggest reduced activity of CYP21A2 (P450c21), the enzyme that converts progesterone to corticosterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol. Furthermore, these results provide insights into the biological basis of CP/CPPS. Follow-up studies should explore the possibility that CP/CPPS patients meet the diagnostic criteria for nonclassical CAH and if hormonal findings improve or worsen in parallel with symptom severity. PMID:18308097

  1. [Thyroid carcinoma--differentiated, poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Kakudo, Kennichi; Bai, Yanhua; Li, Yaqiong; Wakasa, Tomoko; Mori, Ichiro

    2007-11-01

    The poorly differentiated carcinoma was first added as a new member in the lists of classification of thyroid carcinomas in the WHO 2004 edition. However its histological criteria include necrosis and increased mitoses in addition to the original definition by Sakamoto's proposal, solid, trabecular and schirrhous growth. This modification creates a significant change in the incidence and prognosis of this carcinoma. This carcinoma, defined by the new WHO classification, is about 1-5% of all thyroid malignancy and has more aggressive outcome than the previous definition.

  2. Germline PRKACA amplification leads to Cushing syndrome caused by 3 adrenocortical pathologic phenotypes.

    PubMed

    Carney, J Aidan; Lyssikatos, Charalampos; Lodish, Maya B; Stratakis, Constantine A

    2015-01-01

    We describe the pathology of 5 patients with germline PRKACA copy number gain and Cushing syndrome: 4 males and 1 female, aged 2 to 43 years, including a mother and son. Imaging showed normal or slightly enlarged adrenal glands in 4 patients and a unilateral mass in the fifth. Biochemically, the patients had corticotropin-independent hypercortisolism. Four underwent bilateral adrenalectomy; unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in the patient with the adrenal mass. Pathologically, 3 patients, including the 1 with the tumor (adenoma), had primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease with extranodular cortical atrophy and mild intracapsular and extracapsular extension of cortical cells. The other 2 patients had cortical hyperplasia and prominent capsular and extracapsular micronodular cortical hyperplasia. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed differences for synaptophysin, inhibin-A, and Ki-67 (nuclei) in the atrophic cortices (patients 1, 2, and 3) and hyperplastic cortices (patients 4 and 5) and for Ki-67 (nuclei) and vimentin in the extracortical nodules in the 2 groups of patients. β-Catenin stained the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nuclei of the adenoma. The patients were well at follow-up (1-23 years); 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion was elevated in the patient who had unilateral adrenalectomy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Identification of genes involved in the ACC-mediated control of root cell elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Along the root axis of Arabidopsis thaliana, cells pass through different developmental stages. In the apical meristem repeated cycles of division increase the numbers of cells. Upon leaving the meristem, these cells pass the transition zone where they are physiologically and mechanically prepared to undergo subsequent rapid elongation. During the process of elongation epidermal cells increase their length by 300% in a couple of hours. When elongation ceases, the cells acquire their final size, shape and functions (in the differentiation zone). Ethylene administered as its precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is capable of inhibiting elongation in a concentration-dependent way. Using a microarray analysis, genes and/or processes involved in this elongation arrest are identified. Results Using a CATMA-microarray analysis performed on control and 3h ACC-treated roots, 240 differentially expressed genes were identified. Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR analysis of the 10 most up and down regulated genes combined with literature search confirmed the accurateness of the analysis. This revealed that inhibition of cell elongation is, at least partly, caused by restricting the events that under normal growth conditions initiate elongation and by increasing the processes that normally stop cellular elongation at the end of the elongation/onset of differentiation zone. Conclusions ACC interferes with cell elongation in the Arabidopsis thaliana roots by inhibiting cells from entering the elongation process and by immediately stimulating the formation of cross-links in cell wall components, diminishing the remaining elongation capacity. From the analysis of the differentially expressed genes, it becomes clear that many genes identified in this response, are also involved in several other kind of stress responses. This suggests that many responses originate from individual elicitors, but that somewhere in the downstream signaling cascade, these are

  4. Seasonal changes in adrenocortical responses to acute stress in Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) on the Tibetan Plateau: comparison with house sparrow (P. domesticus) in North America and with the migratory P. domesticus in Qinghai Province.

    PubMed

    Li, Dongming; Wang, Gang; Wingfield, John C; Zhang, Zhi; Ding, Changqing; Lei, Fumin

    2008-08-01

    Seasonal modulation of the adrenocortical response to stress appears to be ubiquitous in arctic-breeding and temperate-zone-breeding birds, but has not been well investigated in alpine-breeding species at mid-latitude. We examined the adrenocortical response to acute stress (capture, handling and restraint) in populations of Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) among seasons and migratory house sparrow (P. domesticus bactrianus) in pre-breeding on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (the Tibetan Plateau). A population of house sparrow (Passer domesticus domesticus) was also sampled in lowland Phoenix, Arizona during breeding and wintering stages. In Eurasian tree sparrows, baseline corticosterone (CORT) does not differ among life history stages, but stress-induced CORT level (maximal CORT, total and corrected integrated CORT) is significantly higher in late breeding stage than those in early breeding and prebasic molt stages. In house sparrows, stress-induced CORT level does not differ between sites and life history stages, but baseline CORT is significantly lower in pre-breeding from Qinghai compared with those in breeding and wintering stages from Phoenix. Interestingly, both baseline CORT and maximal CORT do not differ between the populations of Eurasian tree sparrow and house sparrow in early/pre-breeding stage although tree sparrow is resident species whereas house sparrow is migratory in Qinghai. Our results suggest that the extreme environment of the Tibetan Plateau does not have significant effects on adrenocortical responses to acute stress in Eurasian tree sparrows and house sparrows, which may be a result of masking by human activities. These invasive human commensals may have a unique HPA axis response to different environments because they can take advantage of human food sources and shelter (i.e. buildings).

  5. Relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms and cardiovascular risk scores including Framingham risk score and ACC/AHA risk score.

    PubMed

    Lee, Bora; Lee, Sang Wook; Kang, Hye Rim; Kim, Dae In; Sun, Hwa Yeon; Kim, Jae Heon

    2018-01-01

    This study attempted to investigate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and CVD risk scores and to overcome the limitations of previous relevant studies. A total of 2994 ostensibly healthy males, who participated in a voluntary health check in a health promotion center from January 2010 to December 2014, were reviewed. CVD risk scores were calculated using Framingham risk score and American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) score. Correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict the CVD risk severity were performed. Correlation between total IPSS with CVD risk scores demonstrated significant positive associations, which showed higher correlation with ACC/AHA score than the Framingham score (r = 0.18 vs 0.09, respectively). For ACC/AHA score, the partial correlation after adjustment of body mass index (BMI) showed significant positive correlations between all LUTS parameters and PSA. For the Framingham score, all variables, except IPSS Q2 and IPSS Q6, showed significant positive correlations. After adjustment of BMI, prostate volume and PSA, only the severe LUTS group showed significant relationship with intermediate-high CVD risk severity, as compared with normal LUTS group (OR = 2.97, 95%CI (1.35-6.99)). Using two validated CVD risk calculators, we observed that LUTS is closely associated with future CVD risk. To predict the intermediate-high CVD risk severity, severe LUTS was a sentinel sign, the presence of which warrants the importance of an earlier screening for CVD. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Novel chromosomal rearrangements and break points at the t(6;9) in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: association with MYB-NFIB chimeric fusion, MYB expression, and clinical outcome.

    PubMed

    Mitani, Yoshitsugu; Rao, Pulivarthi H; Futreal, P Andrew; Roberts, Dianna B; Stephens, Philip J; Zhao, Yi-Jue; Zhang, Li; Mitani, Mutsumi; Weber, Randal S; Lippman, Scott M; Caulin, Carlos; El-Naggar, Adel K

    2011-11-15

    To investigate the molecular genetic heterogeneity associated with the t(6:9) in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and correlate the findings with patient clinical outcome. Multimolecular and genetic techniques complemented with massive pair-ended sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism array analyses were used on tumor specimens from 30 new and 52 previously analyzed fusion transcript-negative ACCs by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). MYB mRNA expression level was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The results of 102 tumors (30 new and 72 previously reported cases) were correlated with the clinicopathologic factors and patients' survival. The FISH analysis showed 34 of 82 (41.5%) fusion-positive tumors and molecular techniques identified fusion transcripts in 21 of the 82 (25.6%) tumors. Detailed FISH analysis of 11 out the 15 tumors with gene fusion without transcript formation showed translocation of NFIB sequences to proximal or distal sites of the MYB gene. Massive pair-end sequencing of a subset of tumors confirmed the proximal translocation to an NFIB sequence and led to the identification of a new fusion gene (NFIB-AIG1) in one of the tumors. Overall, MYB-NFIB gene fusion rate by FISH was in 52.9% whereas fusion transcript forming incidence was 38.2%. Significant statistical association between the 5' MYB transcript expression and patient survival was found. We conclude that: (i) t(6;9) results in complex genetic and molecular alterations in ACC, (ii) MYB-NFIB gene fusion may not always be associated with chimeric transcript formation, (iii) noncanonical MYB-NFIB gene fusions occur in a subset of tumors, (iv) high MYB expression correlates with worse patient survival.

  7. Invasive fungal infections in endogenous Cushing's syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Scheffel, Rafael Selbach; Dora, José Miguel; Weinert, Letícia Schwerz; Aquino, Valério; Maia, Ana Luiza; Canani, Luis Henrique; Goldani, Luciano Z.

    2010-01-01

    Cushing's syndrome is a condition characterized by elevated cortisol levels that can result from either augmented endogenous production or exogenous administration of corticosteroids. The predisposition to fungal infections among patients with hypercortisolemia has been noted since Cushing's original description of the disease. We describe here a patient with endogenous Cushing's syndrome secondary to an adrenocortical carcinoma, who developed concomitant disseminated cryptococcosis and candidiasis in the course of his disease. PMID:24470886

  8. Adrenocortical Response to Stress and Thyroid Hormone Status in Free-Living Nestling White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) Exposed to Heavy Metal and Arsenic Contamination

    PubMed Central

    Baos, Raquel; Blas, Julio; Bortolotti, Gary R.; Marchant, Tracy A.; Hiraldo, Fernando

    2006-01-01

    Background/Objective Endocrine parameters have proven useful in the detection of early or low-level responses to pollutants. Although most of the studies on endocrine modulation have been focused on processes involving gonadal steroids, contaminants may target other parts of the endocrine system as well. In this study we examined the adrenocortical stress response and thyroid hormone status in free-living nestling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) in relation to heavy metals (zinc, lead, copper, cadmium) and arsenic levels in blood. Methods Fieldwork was conducted in an area polluted by the Aznalcóllar mine accident (southwestern Spain) and in a reference site. We used a standardized capture, handling, and restraint protocol to determine both baseline and maximum plasma corticosterone. Circulating levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were also measured. Results No effects of metals or As were found on baseline corticosterone, but maximum levels of corticosterone were positively related to Pb in both locations. This relationship was stronger in single nestlings than in birds from multiple-chick broods, which suggests a greater impact of Pb on more stressed individuals. Metal pollution did not affect plasma T4 or T3 levels, although thyroid status differed with location. Conclusions Because a compromised hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) function can have far-reaching consequences in terms of altered behavioral and metabolic processes necessary for survival, our results suggest that birds exposed to sublethal Pb levels may be at risk through an altered adrenocortical stress response, and further support the idea that HPA axis-related end points might be useful indicators of metal exposure and potential toxicity in wild animals. PMID:17035132

  9. Annual Outcomes With Transcatheter Valve Therapy: From the STS/ACC TVT Registry.

    PubMed

    Holmes, David R; Nishimura, Rick A; Grover, Frederick L; Brindis, Ralph G; Carroll, John D; Edwards, Fred H; Peterson, Eric D; Rumsfeld, John S; Shahian, David M; Thourani, Vinod H; Tuzcu, E Murat; Vemulapalli, Sreekanth; Hewitt, Kathleen; Michaels, Joan; Fitzgerald, Susan; Mack, Michael J

    2015-12-29

    The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry has been a joint initiative of the STS and the ACC in concert with multiple stakeholders. The TVT Registry has important information regarding patient selection, delivery of care, science, education, and research in the field of structural valvular heart disease. This report provides an overview on current U.S. TVT practice and trends. The emphasis is on demographics, in-hospital procedural characteristics, and outcomes of patients having transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) performed at 348 U.S. centers. The TVT Registry captured 26,414 TAVR procedures as of December 31, 2014. Temporal trends between 2012 and 2013 versus 2014 were compared. Comparison of the 2 time periods reveals that TAVR patients remain elderly (mean age 82 years), with multiple comorbidities, reflected by a high mean STS predicted risk of mortality (STS PROM) for surgical valve replacement (8.34%), were highly symptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class III/IV in 82.5%), frail (slow 5-m walk test in 81.6%), and have poor self-reported health status (median baseline Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score of 39.1). Procedure performance is changing, with an increased use of moderate sedation (from 1.6% to 5.1%) and increase in femoral access using percutaneous techniques (66.8% in 2014). Vascular complication rates are decreasing (from 5.6% to 4.2%), whereas site-reported stroke rates remain stable at 2.2%. The TVT Registry provides important information on characteristics and outcomes of TAVR in contemporary U.S. clinical practice. It can be used to identify trends in practice and opportunities for quality improvement. Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Expression of heparanase in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Pinhal, Maria Aparecida Silva; Almeida, Maria Carolina Leal; Costa, Alessandra Scorse; Theodoro, Thérèse Rachell; Serrano, Rodrigo Lorenzetti; Machado, Carlos D'Apparecida Santos

    2016-01-01

    Heparanase is an enzyme that cleaves heparan sulfate chains. Oligosaccharides generated by heparanase induce tumor progression. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma comprise types of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Evaluate the glycosaminoglycans profile and expression of heparanase in two human cell lines established in culture, immortalized skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) and squamous cell carcinoma (A431) and also investigate the expression of heparanase in basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and eyelid skin of individuals not affected by the disease (control). Glycosaminoglycans were quantified by electrophoresis and indirect ELISA method. The heparanase expression was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR (qRTPCR). The A431 strain showed significant increase in the sulfated glycosaminoglycans, increased heparanase expression and decreased hyaluronic acid, comparing to the HaCaT lineage. The mRNA expression of heparanase was significantly higher in Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma compared with control skin samples. It was also observed increased heparanase expression in squamous cell carcinoma compared to the Basal cell carcinoma. The glycosaminoglycans profile, as well as heparanase expression are different between HaCaT and A431 cell lines. The increased expression of heparanase in Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma suggests that this enzyme could be a marker for the diagnosis of such types of non-melanoma cancers, and may be useful as a target molecule for future alternative treatment.

  11. Oxaliplatin in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent Solid Tumors That Have Not Responded to Previous Treatment

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-06-04

    Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumor; Childhood Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor; Childhood Hepatoblastoma; Childhood Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Childhood High-grade Cerebral Astrocytoma; Childhood Low-grade Cerebral Astrocytoma; Childhood Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Childhood Malignant Testicular Germ Cell Tumor; Childhood Teratoma; Recurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma; Recurrent Childhood Brain Stem Glioma; Recurrent Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma; Recurrent Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma; Recurrent Childhood Ependymoma; Recurrent Childhood Liver Cancer; Recurrent Childhood Malignant Germ Cell Tumor; Recurrent Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma; Recurrent Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Recurrent Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Ewing Sarcoma/Peripheral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor; Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer; Recurrent Neuroblastoma; Recurrent Osteosarcoma; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer

  12. Real time expression of ACC oxidase and PR-protein genes mediated by Methylobacterium spp. in tomato plants challenged with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria.

    PubMed

    Yim, W J; Kim, K Y; Lee, Y W; Sundaram, S P; Lee, Y; Sa, T M

    2014-07-15

    Biotic stress like pathogenic infection increases ethylene biosynthesis in plants and ethylene inhibitors are known to alleviate the severity of plant disease incidence. This study aimed to reduce the bacterial spot disease incidence in tomato plants caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (XCV) by modulating stress ethylene with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity of Methylobacterium strains. Under greenhouse condition, Methylobacterium strains inoculated and pathogen challenged tomato plants had low ethylene emission compared to pathogen infected ones. ACC accumulation and ACC oxidase (ACO) activity with ACO related gene expression increased in XCV infected tomato plants over Methylobacterium strains inoculated plants. Among the Methylobacterium spp., CBMB12 resulted lowest ACO related gene expression (1.46 Normalized Fold Expression), whereas CBMB20 had high gene expression (3.42 Normalized Fold Expression) in pathogen challenged tomato. But a significant increase in ACO gene expression (7.09 Normalized Fold Expression) was observed in the bacterial pathogen infected plants. In contrast, Methylobacterium strains enhanced β-1,3-glucanase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activities in pathogen challenged tomato plants. The respective increase in β-1,3-glucanase related gene expressions due to CBMB12, CBMB15, and CBMB20 strains were 66.3, 25.5 and 10.4% higher over pathogen infected plants. Similarly, PAL gene expression was high with 0.67 and 0.30 Normalized Fold Expression, in pathogen challenged tomato plants inoculated with CBMB12 and CBMB15 strains. The results suggest that ethylene is a crucial factor in bacterial spot disease incidence and that methylobacteria with ACC deaminase activity can reduce the disease severity with ultimate pathogenesis-related protein increase in tomato. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  13. Expression of ACC oxidase promoter-GUS fusions in tomato and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia regulated by developmental and environmental stimuli.

    PubMed

    Blume, B; Grierson, D

    1997-10-01

    The enzyme ACC oxidase, catalysing the last step in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone ethylene, is encoded by a small multigene family in tomato, comprising three members, LEACO1, LEACO2 and LEACO3. LEACO1 is the major gene expressed during ripening, leaf senescence, and wounding (Barry et al., 1996). To investigate the transcriptional regulation of ACC oxidase gene expression, chimeric fusions between the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene and 97 bp of 5' UTR plus 124, 396 and 1825 bp, respectively, of 5' untranscribed LEACO1 sequence were constructed and introduced into Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill cv. Ailsa Craig) and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia. Analysis of transgenic tomatoes indicated that the region containing nucleotides -124 to +97 of the LEACO1 gene is sufficient to confer a marked increase in GUS activity during fruit ripening, albeit at very low levels. Fusion of 396 and 1825 bp of LEACO1 upstream sequence resulted in strong and specific induction of GUS expression in situations known to be accompanied by enhanced ethylene production. Reporter gene expression was similar to that of the endogenous LEACO1 gene, with major increases especially during fruit ripening, senescence and abscission of leaves and, to a lesser extent, of flowers. Analysis of transgenic N. plumbaginifolia plants confirmed the pattern of LEACO1 promoter activity detected in tomato leaves and flowers. Reporter gene expression was also induced following wounding, treatment with ethylene, and pathogen infection. Histochemical analysis illustrated localized GUS activity in the pericarp of ripening fruit, abscission zones of senescent petioles and unfertilized flowers, and at wound sites. These results demonstrate that ACC oxidase is regulated at the transcriptional level in a wide range of cell types at different developmental stages and in response to several external stimuli.

  14. Specification of Dendritogenesis Site in Drosophila aCC Motoneuron by Membrane Enrichment of Pak1 through Dscam1.

    PubMed

    Kamiyama, Daichi; McGorty, Ryan; Kamiyama, Rie; Kim, Michael D; Chiba, Akira; Huang, Bo

    2015-10-12

    Precise positioning of dendritic branches is a critical step in the establishment of neuronal circuitry. However, there is limited knowledge on how environmental cues translate into dendrite initiation or branching at a specific position. Here, through a combination of mutation, RNAi, and imaging experiments, we found that a Dscam-Dock-Pak1 hierarchical interaction defines the stereotypical dendrite growth site in the Drosophila aCC motoneuron. This interaction localizes the Cdc42 effector Pak1 to the plasma membrane at the dendrite initiation site before the activation of Cdc42. Ectopic expression of membrane-anchored Pak1 overrides this spatial specification of dendritogenesis, confirming its function in guiding Cdc42 signaling. We further discovered that Dscam1 localization in aCC occurs through an inter-neuronal contact that involves Dscam1 in the partner MP1 neuron. These findings elucidate a mechanism by which Dscam1 controls neuronal morphogenesis through spatial regulation of Cdc42 signaling and, subsequently, cytoskeletal remodeling. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase rewires cancer metabolism to allow cancer cells to survive inhibition of the Warburg effect by cetuximab

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Jingtao; Hong, Yun; Lu, Yang; Qiu, Songbo; Chaganty, Bharat K. R.; Zhang, Lun; Wang, Xudong; Li, Qiang; Fan, Zhen

    2016-01-01

    Cetuximab inhibits HIF-1-regulated glycolysis in cancer cells, thereby reversing the Warburg effect and leading to inhibition of cancer cell metabolism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated after cetuximab treatment, and a sustained AMPK activity is a mechanism contributing to cetuximab resistance. Here, we investigated how acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a downstream target of AMPK, rewires cancer metabolism in response to cetuximab treatment. We found that introduction of experimental ACC mutants lacking the AMPK phosphorylation sites (ACC1_S79A and ACC2_S212A) into head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells protected HNSCC cells from cetuximab-induced growth inhibition. HNSCC cells with acquired cetuximab resistance contained not only high levels of T172-phosphorylated AMPK and S79-phosphorylated ACC1 but also an increased level of total ACC. These findings were corroborated in tumor specimens of HNSCC patients treated with cetuximab. Cetuximab plus TOFA (an allosteric inhibitor of ACC) achieved remarkable growth inhibition of cetuximab-resistant HNSCC xenografts. Our data suggest a novel paradigm in which cetuximab-mediated activation of AMPK and subsequent phosphorylation and inhibition of ACC is followed by a compensatory increase in total ACC, which rewires cancer metabolism from glycolysis-dependent to lipogenesis-dependent. PMID:27693630

  16. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase rewires cancer metabolism to allow cancer cells to survive inhibition of the Warburg effect by cetuximab.

    PubMed

    Luo, Jingtao; Hong, Yun; Lu, Yang; Qiu, Songbo; Chaganty, Bharat K R; Zhang, Lun; Wang, Xudong; Li, Qiang; Fan, Zhen

    2017-01-01

    Cetuximab inhibits HIF-1-regulated glycolysis in cancer cells, thereby reversing the Warburg effect and leading to inhibition of cancer cell metabolism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated after cetuximab treatment, and a sustained AMPK activity is a mechanism contributing to cetuximab resistance. Here, we investigated how acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a downstream target of AMPK, rewires cancer metabolism in response to cetuximab treatment. We found that introduction of experimental ACC mutants lacking the AMPK phosphorylation sites (ACC1_S79A and ACC2_S212A) into head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells protected HNSCC cells from cetuximab-induced growth inhibition. HNSCC cells with acquired cetuximab resistance contained not only high levels of T172-phosphorylated AMPK and S79-phosphorylated ACC1 but also an increased level of total ACC. These findings were corroborated in tumor specimens of HNSCC patients treated with cetuximab. Cetuximab plus TOFA (an allosteric inhibitor of ACC) achieved remarkable growth inhibition of cetuximab-resistant HNSCC xenografts. Our data suggest a novel paradigm in which cetuximab-mediated activation of AMPK and subsequent phosphorylation and inhibition of ACC is followed by a compensatory increase in total ACC, which rewires cancer metabolism from glycolysis-dependent to lipogenesis-dependent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-01-03

    Acute Leukemia; Adenomatous Polyposis; Adrenocortical Carcinoma; AML; BAP1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome; Carney Complex; Choroid Plexus Carcinoma; Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome; Diamond-Blackfan Anemia; DICER1 Syndrome; Dyskeratosis Congenita; Emberger Syndrome; Familial Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; Fanconi Anemia; Familial Cancer; Familial Wilms Tumor; Familial Neuroblastoma; GIST; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer; Hereditary Paraganglioma-Pheochromocytoma Syndrome; Hodgkin Lymphoma; Juvenile Polyposis; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome; Lynch Syndrome; MDS; Melanoma Syndrome; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2; Neuroblastoma; Neurofibromatosis Type 1; Neurofibromatosis Type II; Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome; Non Hodgkin Lymphoma; Noonan Syndrome and Other Rasopathy; Overgrowth Syndromes; Pancreatic Cancer; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome; Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma; PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome; Retinoblastoma; Rhabdoid Tumor Predisposition Syndrome; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome; Tuberous Sclerosis; Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

  18. Assessment of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring for Statin Treatment Strategy according to ACC/AHA Guidelines in Asymptomatic Korean Adults.

    PubMed

    Han, Donghee; Ó Hartaigh, Bríain; Lee, Ji Hyun; Rizvi, Asim; Park, Hyo Eun; Choi, Su Yeon; Sung, Jidong; Chang, Hyuk Jae

    2017-01-01

    The 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) cholesterol management guidelines advocate the use of statin treatment for prevention of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess the usefulness of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for stratifying potential candidates of statin use among asymptomatic Korean individuals. A total of 31375 subjects who underwent CAC scoring as part of a general health examination were enrolled in the current study. Statin eligibility was categorized as statin recommended (SR), considered (SC), and not recommended (SN) according to ACC/AHA guidelines. Cox regression analysis was employed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidential intervals (CI) after stratifying the subjects according to CAC scores of 0, 1-100, and >100. Number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one mortality event during study follow up was calculated for each group. Mean age was 54.4±7.5 years, and 76.3% were male. During a 5-year median follow-up (interquartile range; 3-7), there were 251 (0.8%) deaths from all-causes. A CAC >100 was independently associated with mortality across each statin group after adjusting for cardiac risk factors (e.g., SR: HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; SC: HR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.09-8.13, and SN: HR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.08-9.17). Notably, patients with CAC >100 displayed a lower NNT in comparison to the absence of CAC or CAC 1-100 in SC and SN groups. In Korean asymptomatic individuals, CAC scoring might prove useful for reclassifying patient eligibility for receiving statin therapy based on updated 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines.

  19. Mixed primary squamous cell carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland: A case report.

    PubMed

    Dong, Su; Song, Xue-Song; Chen, Guang; Liu, Jia

    2016-08-01

    Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is rare, and mixed squamous cell and follicular carcinoma is even rarer still, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The simultaneous presentation of three primary cancers of the thyroid has not been reported previously. Here we report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid, follicular thyroid carcinoma, and micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. A 62-year-old female patient presented with complaints of pain and a 2-month history of progressively increased swelling in the anterior region of the neck. Fine-needle-aspiration cytology of both lobes indicated the possibility of the presence of a follicular neoplasm. Total thyroidectomy with left-sided modified radical neck dissection was performed. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid follicular carcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid-stimulating hormone suppressive therapy with l-thyroxine was administered. Radioiodine and radiotherapy also were recommended, but the patient did not complete treatment as scheduled. The patient remained alive more than 9 months after operation. The present case report provides an example of the coexistence of multiple distinct malignancies in the thyroid. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. A first insight into the occurrence and expression of functional amoA and accA genes of autotrophic and ammonia-oxidizing bathypelagic Crenarchaeota of Tyrrhenian Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yakimov, Michail M.; Cono, Violetta La; Denaro, Renata

    2009-05-01

    The autotrophic and ammonia-oxidizing crenarchaeal assemblage at offshore site located in the deep Mediterranean (Tyrrhenian Sea, depth 3000 m) water was studied by PCR amplification of the key functional genes involved in energy (ammonia mono-oxygenase alpha subunit, amoA) and central metabolism (acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha subunit, accA). Using two recently annotated genomes of marine crenarchaeons, an initial set of primers targeting archaeal accA-like genes was designed. Approximately 300 clones were analyzed, of which 100% of amoA library and almost 70% of accA library were unambiguously related to the corresponding genes from marine Crenarchaeota. Even though the acetyl-CoA carboxylase is phylogenetically not well conserved and the remaining clones were affiliated to various bacterial acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase genes, the pool of archaeal sequences was applied for development of quantitative PCR analysis of accA-like distribution using TaqMan ® methodolgy. The archaeal accA gene fragments, together with alignable gene fragments from the Sargasso Sea and North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (ALOHA Station) metagenome databases, were analyzed by multiple sequence alignment. Two accA-like sequences, found in ALOHA Station at the depth of 4000 m, formed a deeply branched clade with 64% of all archaeal Tyrrhenian clones. No close relatives for residual 36% of clones, except of those recovered from Eastern Mediterranean, was found, suggesting the existence of a specific lineage of the crenarchaeal accA genes in deep Mediterranean water. Alignment of Mediterranean amoA sequences defined four cosmopolitan phylotypes of Crenarchaeota putative ammonia mono-oxygenase subunit A gene occurring in the water sample from the 3000 m depth. Without exception all phylotypes fell into Deep Marine Group I cluster that contain the vast majority of known sequences recovered from global deep-sea environment. Remarkably, three phylotypes accounted for 91% of all Mediterranean

  1. Adrenocortical regulation, eating in the absence of hunger and BMI in young children.

    PubMed

    Francis, L A; Granger, D A; Susman, E J

    2013-05-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine relations among adrenocortical regulation, eating in the absence of hunger, and body mass index (BMI) in children ages 5-9years (N=43). Saliva was collected before and after the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C), and was later assayed for cortisol. Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was used as a measure of changes in cortisol release from baseline to 60min post-TSST-C. Age- and sex-specific BMI scores were calculated from measured height and weight, and eating in the absence of hunger was assessed using weighed food intake during a behavioral procedure. We also included a measure of parents' report of child impulsivity, as well as family demographic information. Participants were stratified by age into younger (5-7years) and older (8-9years) groups. In younger children, parents' reports of child impulsivity were significantly and positively associated with BMI; cortisol AUCi was not associated with BMI or eating in the absence of hunger. In older children, however, greater stress-related cortisol AUCi was related to higher BMI scores and greater energy intake in the absence of hunger. The results suggest that cortisol AUCi in response to psychosocial stress may be linked to problems with energy balance in children, with some variation by age. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  2. Adrenocortical Regulation, Eating in the Absence of Hunger and BMI in Young Children

    PubMed Central

    Francis, L. A.; Granger, D. A.; Susman, E. J.

    2012-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine relations among adrenocortical regulation, eating in the absence of hunger, and body mass index (BMI) in children ages 5 to 9 years (N = 43). Saliva was collected before and after the Trier Social Stress Test for children (TSST-C), and was later assayed for cortisol. Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was used as a measure of changes in cortisol release from baseline to 60 minutes post-TSST-C. Age- and sex-specific BMI scores were calculated from measured height and weight, and eating in the absence of hunger was assessed using weighed food intake during a behavioral procedure. We also included a measure of parents’ report of child impulsivity, as well as family demographic information. Participants were stratified by age into younger (5 to 7 years) and older (8 to 9 years) groups. In younger children, parents’ reports of child impulsivity were significantly and positively associated with BMI; cortisol AUCi was not associated with BMI or eating in the absence of hunger. In older children, however, greater stress-related cortisol AUCi was related to higher BMI scores and greater energy intake in the absence of hunger. The results suggest that cortisol AUCi in response to psychosocial stress may be linked to problems with energy balance in children, with some variation by age. PMID:23219991

  3. Differentiating pheochromocytoma from lipid-poor adrenocortical adenoma by CT texture analysis: feasibility study.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Gu-Mu-Yang; Shi, Bing; Sun, Hao; Jin, Zheng-Yu; Xue, Hua-Dan

    2017-09-01

    To investigate the feasibility of using CT texture analysis (CTTA) to differentiate pheochromocytoma from lipid-poor adrenocortical adenoma (lp-ACA). Ninety-eight pheochromocytomas and 66 lp-ACAs were included in this retrospective study. CTTA was performed on unenhanced and enhanced images. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated for texture parameters that were significantly different for the objective. Diagnostic accuracies were evaluated using the cutoff values of texture parameters with the highest AUCs. Compared to lp-ACAs, pheochromocytomas had significantly higher mean gray-level intensity (Mean), entropy, and mean of positive pixels (MPP), but lower skewness and kurtosis on unenhanced images (P < 0.001). On enhanced images, these texture-quantifiers followed a similar trend where Mean, entropy, and MPP were higher, but skewness and kurtosis were lower in pheochromocytomas. Standard deviation (SD) was also significantly higher in pheochromocytomas on enhanced images. Mean and MPP quantified from no filtration on unenhanced CT images yielded the highest AUC of 0.86 ± 0.03 (95% CI 0.81-0.91) at a cutoff value of 34.0 for Mean and MPP, respectively (sensitivity = 79.6%, specificity = 83.3%, accuracy = 81.1%). It was feasible to use CTTA to differentiate pheochromocytoma from lp-ACA.

  4. Comparison of application of 2013 ACC/AHA guideline and 2011 European Society of Cardiology guideline for the management of dyslipidemias for primary prevention in a Turkish cohort.

    PubMed

    Yılmaz, Mustafa; Atar, İlyas; Hasırcı, Senem; Akyol, Kadirhan; Tekin, Abdullah; Karaçağlar, Emir; Çiftçi, Orçun; Müderrisoğlu, Haldun

    2017-02-01

    Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a major global cause of death. The common approach in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is to identify patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. This article analyzes and compares the application of 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline and the 2011 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline for the management of dyslipidemias for primary prevention in Turkish population. The study included 833 patients (482 women and 351 men). Risk scores were calculated according to both guidelines and indications for statin treatment were determined according to sex and age group. Variables are presented as mean±SD or median with interquartile range for continuous data and as proportions for categorical data. Variables were analyzed by unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square or Fischer's exact test as appropriate. The ACC/AHA would suggest statin treatment in 415 patients out of 833 (49.5%), while ESC would recommend statin for 193 patients out of 833 (23.1%)(p<0.001). Statins would be recommended for 40.4% of women and 62.6% of men for primary prevention by the ACC/AHA, while this figure was 12% for women and 38.4% for men according to the ESC guideline (p<0.001 for both). When compared to the ESC guideline, the ACC/AHA guideline suggests augmented statin treatment for primary prevention in Turkish population.

  5. Comparison of application of 2013 ACC/AHA guideline and 2011 European Society of Cardiology guideline for the management of dyslipidemias for primary prevention in a Turkish cohort

    PubMed Central

    Yılmaz, Mustafa; Atar, İlyas; Hasırcı, Senem; Akyol, Kadirhan; Tekin, Abdullah; Karaçağlar, Emir; Çiftçi, Orçun; Müderrisoğlu, Haldun

    2017-01-01

    Objective: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a major global cause of death. The common approach in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is to identify patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. This article analyzes and compares the application of 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline and the 2011 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline for the management of dyslipidemias for primary prevention in Turkish population. Methods: The study included 833 patients (482 women and 351 men). Risk scores were calculated according to both guidelines and indications for statin treatment were determined according to sex and age group. Variables are presented as mean±SD or median with interquartile range for continuous data and as proportions for categorical data. Variables were analyzed by unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square or Fischer’s exact test as appropriate. Results: The ACC/AHA would suggest statin treatment in 415 patients out of 833 (49.5%), while ESC would recommend statin for 193 patients out of 833 (23.1%) (p<0.001). Statins would be recommended for 40.4% of women and 62.6% of men for primary prevention by the ACC/AHA, while this figure was 12% for women and 38.4% for men according to the ESC guideline (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion: When compared to the ESC guideline, the ACC/AHA guideline suggests augmented statin treatment for primary prevention in Turkish population. PMID:27684519

  6. Pathology of Endometrial Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lax, Sigurd F

    2017-01-01

    On a clinicopathological and molecular level, two distinctive types of endometrial carcinoma, type I and type II, can be distinguished. Endometrioid carcinoma, the typical type I carcinoma, seems to develop through an estrogen-driven "adenoma carcinoma" pathway from atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (AEH/EIN). It is associated with elevated serum estrogen and high body mass index and expresses estrogen and progesterone receptors. They are mostly low grade and show a favorable prognosis. A subset progresses into high-grade carcinoma which is accompanied by loss of receptor expression and accumulation of TP53 mutations and behaves poorly. Other frequently altered genes in type I carcinomas are K-Ras, PTEN, and ß-catenin. Another frequent feature of type I carcinomas is microsatellite instability mainly caused by methylation of the MLH1 promoter. In contrast, the typical type II carcinoma, serous carcinoma, is not estrogen related since it usually occurs in a small uterus with atrophic endometrium. It is often associated with a flat putative precursor lesion called serous endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (SEIC). The molecular pathogenesis of serous carcinoma seems to be driven by TP53 mutations, which are present in SEIC. Other molecular changes in serous carcinoma detectable by immunohistochemistry involve cyclin E and p16. Since many of the aforementioned molecular changes can be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, they are useful ancillary diagnostic tools and may further contribute to a future molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma as recently suggested based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data.

  7. Cerebellin in the rat adrenal gland: gene expression and effects of CER and [des-Ser1]CER on the secretion and growth of cultured adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed

    Rucinski, Marcin; Albertin, Giovanna; Spinazzi, Raffaella; Ziolkowska, Agnieszka; Nussdorfer, Gastone G; Malendowicz, Ludwick K

    2005-03-01

    Cerebellin (CER) is a regulatory peptide, originally isolated from rat cerebellum, which derives from the cleavage of precerebellin (Cbln), three types of which (Cbln1-3) have been identified in humans and rats. CER is also expressed in several extra-cerebellar tissues, including adrenal gland, and evidence has been provided that CER exerts a modulatory action on human and rat adrenal gland. Hence, we have investigated the expression of Cbln1-3 mRNAs and CER protein-immunoreactivity (IR) in the various zones of rat adrenal glands, and the effects of CER and its metabolite [des-Ser(1)]CER (des-CER) on the secretion and growth of cultured rat adrenocortical cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed high and low expression of Cbln2 mRNA in zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata-reticularis, respectively. Cbln1 was not expressed, and Cbln3 mRNA was detected only in ZG. No Cbln expression was found in adrenal medulla. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of CER-IR exclusively in the adrenal cortex, the reaction being more intense in ZG. As expected, ACTH (10(-8) M) markedly enhanced corticosterone secretion and lowered proliferation rate of cultured adrenocortical cells. CER was ineffective, while des-CER exerted an ACTH-like effect, but only at the lowest concentration (10(-10) M). Taken together, these findings allow us to conclude that CER is expressed in rat adrenal cortex, and to suggest that CER conversion to des-CER by endopeptidases is needed for CER to exert its autocrine-paracrine regulatory functions.

  8. Implications of the New ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines for Primary Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Event Prevention in a Multi- Ethnic Cohort: MESA

    PubMed Central

    Yeboah, Joseph; Sillau, Stefan; Delaney, Joseph C; Blaha, Michael J.; Michos, Erin D; Young, Rebekah; Qureshi, Waqas T; McClelland, Robyn; Burke, Gregory L; Psaty, Bruce M; Herrington, David M

    2015-01-01

    Background The impact of replacing the NCEP/ ATPIII cholesterol guidelines with the new 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease is unclear. Methods We used risk factor and 10-year clinical event rate data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), combined with estimates of efficacy of moderate and high intensity statin therapy from meta-analyses of statin primary prevention trials to estimate 1.) the change in number of subjects eligible for drug therapy, and 2.) the anticipated reduction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events and increment in Type II diabetes (T2DM) associated with the change in cholesterol guidelines. Results Of the 6814 MESA participants, 5437 were not on statins at baseline and had complete data for analysis (mean age 61.4 ±10.3). Using the NCEP/ATP III guidelines 1334 (24.5%) would have been eligible for statin therapy compared with 3015 (55.5%) under the new ACC/AHA guidelines. Among the subset of newly eligible, 127/1742 (7.3%) had an ASCVD event during 10 years of follow-up. Assuming 10 years of moderate intensity statin therapy, the estimated absolute reduction in ASCVD events for the newly eligible group was 2.06% (NNT: 48.6) and the estimated absolute increase in T2DM was 0.90% (NNH: 110.7). Assuming 10 years of high intensity statin therapy, the corresponding estimates for reductions in ASCVD and increases in T2DM were: ASCVD; 2.70% (NNT: 37.5) and T2DM: 2.60% (NNH: 38.6). The estimated effects of moderate intensity statins on 10 year risk for ASCVD and T2DM in participants eligible for statins under the NCEP/ATP III were: 3.20% (NNT: 31.5) and 1.06% (NNH: 94.2) respectively. Conclusion Substituting the NCEP/ATP III cholesterol guidelines with the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines in MESA more than doubled the number of participants eligible for statin therapy. If the new ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines are adopted and extend the primary prevention population eligible for

  9. Drought response of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. inoculated with ACC deaminase and IAA producing rhizobacteria.

    PubMed

    Saleem, Aansa Rukya; Brunetti, Cecilia; Khalid, Azeem; Della Rocca, Gianni; Raio, Aida; Emiliani, Giovanni; De Carlo, Anna; Mahmood, Tariq; Centritto, Mauro

    2018-01-01

    Drought is one of the major constraints limiting agricultural production worldwide and is expected to increase in the future. Limited water availability causes significant effects to plant growth and physiology. Plants have evolved different traits to mitigate the stress imposed by drought. The presence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could play an important role in improving plant performances and productivity under drought. These beneficial microorganisms colonize the rhizosphere of plants and increase drought tolerance by lowering ethylene formation. In the present study, we demonstrate the potential to improve the growth of velvet bean under water deficit conditions of two different strains of PGPR with ACCd (1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate deaminase) activity isolated from rainfed farming system. We compared uninoculated and inoculated plants with PGPR to assess: a) photosynthetic performance and biomass; b) ACC content and ethylene emission from leaves and roots; c) leaf isoprene emission. Our results provided evidence that under drought conditions inoculation with PGPR containing the ACCd enzyme could improve plant growth compared to untreated plants. Ethylene emission from roots and leaves of inoculated velvet bean plants was significantly lower than uninoculated plants. Moreover, isoprene emission increased with drought stress progression and was higher in inoculated plants compared to uninoculated counterparts. These findings clearly illustrate that selected PGPR strains isolated from rainfed areas could be highly effective in promoting plant growth under drought conditions by decreasing ACC and ethylene levels in plants.

  10. Drought response of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. inoculated with ACC deaminase and IAA producing rhizobacteria

    PubMed Central

    Khalid, Azeem; Raio, Aida; Emiliani, Giovanni; De Carlo, Anna; Mahmood, Tariq

    2018-01-01

    Drought is one of the major constraints limiting agricultural production worldwide and is expected to increase in the future. Limited water availability causes significant effects to plant growth and physiology. Plants have evolved different traits to mitigate the stress imposed by drought. The presence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could play an important role in improving plant performances and productivity under drought. These beneficial microorganisms colonize the rhizosphere of plants and increase drought tolerance by lowering ethylene formation. In the present study, we demonstrate the potential to improve the growth of velvet bean under water deficit conditions of two different strains of PGPR with ACCd (1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate deaminase) activity isolated from rainfed farming system. We compared uninoculated and inoculated plants with PGPR to assess: a) photosynthetic performance and biomass; b) ACC content and ethylene emission from leaves and roots; c) leaf isoprene emission. Our results provided evidence that under drought conditions inoculation with PGPR containing the ACCd enzyme could improve plant growth compared to untreated plants. Ethylene emission from roots and leaves of inoculated velvet bean plants was significantly lower than uninoculated plants. Moreover, isoprene emission increased with drought stress progression and was higher in inoculated plants compared to uninoculated counterparts. These findings clearly illustrate that selected PGPR strains isolated from rainfed areas could be highly effective in promoting plant growth under drought conditions by decreasing ACC and ethylene levels in plants. PMID:29447189

  11. Decreased heat tolerance is associated with hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis impairment.

    PubMed

    Michel, V; Peinnequin, A; Alonso, A; Buguet, A; Cespuglio, R; Canini, F

    2007-06-29

    When rats are exposed to heat, they adapt themselves to the stressor with a wide inter-individual variability. Such differences in heat tolerance may be related to particularities in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activation. To further this hypothesis, 80 rats instrumented with a telemetric device for abdominal temperature (Tabd) measurement were separated into two groups. Sixty-eight rats were exposed during 90 min at an ambient temperature of 40 degrees C, and 12 rats to an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C. Heat-exposed rats were then divided into three groups using the a posteriori k-means clustering method according to their Tabd level at the end of heat exposure. Heat tolerant rats (Tol, n=30) exhibiting the lowest Tabd showed a slight dehydration, a moderate triglyceride mobilization, but the highest plasma adrenocorticotropic-hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels. Conversely, heat exhausted rats (HE, n=14) presented the highest Tabd, a higher degree of dehydration, a greater metabolic imbalance with the lowest plasma triglyceride level and the highest lactate concentration, as well as a lowest plasma corticosterone and ACTH levels. The fact that the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA content within the pituitary was low despite of a high c-fos mRNA level is also relevant. Current inflammatory processes in HE rats were underlined by lower inhibitory factor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) mRNA and higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mRNA. In conclusion, data show that intolerance to heat exposure is associated to an HPA axis impairment, possibly related to changes occurring in the IkappaBalpha and TNF-alpha mRNA levels.

  12. Minireview: Hair Cortisol: A Novel Biomarker of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Activity

    PubMed Central

    Novak, Melinda A.

    2012-01-01

    Activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis is commonly assessed by measuring glucocorticoids such as cortisol (CORT). For many years, CORT was obtained primarily from blood plasma or urine, whereas later approaches added saliva and feces for noninvasive monitoring of HPA functioning. Despite the value of all these sample matrices for answering many research questions, they remain limited in the temporal range of assessment. Plasma and saliva are point samples that vary as a function of circadian rhythmicity and are susceptible to confounding by environmental disturbances. Even urine and feces generally assess HPA activity over a period of only 24 h or less. We and others have recently developed and validated methods for measuring the concentration of CORT in the body hair of animals (e.g. rhesus monkeys) and scalp hair of humans. CORT is constantly deposited in the growing hair shaft, as a consequence of which such deposition can serve as a biomarker of integrated HPA activity over weeks and months instead of minutes or hours. Since the advent of this methodological advance, hair CORT has already been used as an index of chronic HPA activity and stress in human clinical and nonclinical populations, in a variety of laboratory-housed and wild-living animal species, and in archival specimens that are many decades or even centuries old. Moreover, because human hair is known to grow at an average rate of about 1 cm/month, several studies suggest that CORT levels in hair segments that differ in proximity to the scalp can, under certain conditions, be used as a retrospective calendar of HPA activity during specific time periods preceding sample collection. PMID:22778226

  13. Patterns of Children’s Adrenocortical Reactivity to Interparental Conflict and Associations with Child Adjustment: A Growth Mixture Modeling Approach

    PubMed Central

    Koss, Kalsea J.; George, Melissa R. W.; Davies, Patrick T.; Cicchetti, Dante; Cummings, E. Mark; Sturge-Apple, Melissa L.

    2013-01-01

    Examining children’s physiological functioning is an important direction for understanding the links between interparental conflict and child adjustment. Utilizing growth mixture modeling, the present study examined children’s cortisol reactivity patterns in response to a marital dispute. Analyses revealed three different patterns of cortisol responses, consistent with both a sensitization and an attenuation hypothesis. Child-rearing disagreements and perceived threat were associated with children exhibiting a rising cortisol pattern whereas destructive conflict was related to children displaying a flat pattern. Physiologically rising patterns were also linked with emotional insecurity and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Results supported a sensitization pattern of responses as maladaptive for children in response to marital conflict with evidence also linking an attenuation pattern with risk. The present study supports children’s adrenocortical functioning as one mechanism through which interparental conflict is related to children’s coping responses and psychological adjustment. PMID:22545835

  14. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with ifosfamide, cisplatin, and vinorelbine in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

    PubMed

    Vallejo, C T; Pérez, J E; Domínguez, M E; Leone, B A; Machiavelli, M R; Lacava, J A; Romero, A O; Ortiz, E H; Grasso, S; Amato, S; Rodríguez, R; Barbieri, M; Romero Acuña, J; Focaccia, G; Suttora, G; Scenna, M; Boughen, J M; Romero Acuña, L A; Langhi, M J

    2000-10-01

    A phase II trial was performed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of ifosfamide (IFX), cisplatin (CDDP), and vinorelbine (VNB) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for untreated advanced cervical carcinoma (ACC). Between October 1995 and February 1998, 40 patients were entered in this study. Their median age was 43 years (range: 23-74 years). International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages were: IIB, 23; IIIB, 13; and IVA, 4. Therapy consisted of: IFX 2,000 mg/m2 1-hour (H) IV infusion days 1 to 3; 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid sodium salt (mesna) 400 mg/m2 IV bolus H 0 and 4, and 800 mg/m2 by mouth H 8, days 1 to 3; VNB 25 mg/m2 20-minute IV infusion days 1 and 8; and CDDP 75 mg/m2 IV day 3. Cycles were repeated every 28 days for a total of three courses. Both staging and response (R) assessment were performed by a multidisciplinary team. An objective response (OR) was observed in 24 of 40 patients (60%; 95% confidence interval, 45-75%). Four patients achieved complete response (CR) (10%); 20 partial response (50%); 12 patients stable disease (30%); and 4 progressive disease (10%). Eight of 24 patients (33%) with OR underwent radical surgery, and histologic CRs were recorded in 2 of them. The remaining patients received definitive radiotherapy after NAC. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Leukopenia occurred in 32 patients (80%) and was grade III or IV in 14 patients (36%). Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 9 patients (22%), whereas myalgias occurred in 10 (25%). Constipation was observed in 9 patients (23%); emesis occurred in 35 patients (88%). There were no therapy-related deaths. These results indicate that IFX/CDDP/VNB is an active combination for ACC with moderate toxicity. Implementation of this regimen in a multimodal therapy protocol deserves further study.

  15. High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of human bronchial and salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Bernheim, Alain; Toujani, Saloua; Saulnier, Patrick; Robert, Thomas; Casiraghi, Odile; Validire, Pierre; Temam, Stéphane; Menard, Philippe; Dessen, Philippe; Fouret, Pierre

    2008-05-01

    Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but distinctive tumor. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization has been applied for cataloging genomic copy number alterations (CNAs) in 17 frozen salivary or bronchial tumors. Only four whole chromosome CNAs were found, and most cases had 2-4 segmental CNAs. No high level amplification was observed. There were recurrent gains at 7p15.2, 17q21-25, and 22q11-13, and recurrent losses at 1p35, 6q22-25, 8q12-13, 9p21, 12q12-13, and 17p11-13. The minimal region of gain at 7p15.2 contained the HOXA cluster. The minimal common regions of deletions contained the CDKN2A/CDKN2B, TP53, and LIMA1 tumor suppressor genes. The recurrent deletion at 8q12.3-13.1 contained no straightforward tumor suppressor gene, but the MIRN124A2 microRNA gene, whose product regulates MMP2 and CDK6. Among unique CNAs, gains harbored CCND1, KIT/PDGFRA/KDR, MDM2, and JAK2. The CNAs involving CCND1, MDM2, KIT, CDKN2A/2B, and TP53 were validated by FISH and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Although most tumors overexpressed cyclin D1 compared with surrounding glands, the only case to overexpress MDM2 had the corresponding CNA. In conclusion, our report suggests that ACC is characterized by a relatively low level of structural complexity. Array CGH and immunohistochemical data implicate MDM2 as the oncogene targeted at 12q15. The gain at 4q12 warrants further exploration as it contains a cluster of receptor kinase genes (KIT/PDGFRA/KDR), whose products can be responsive to specific therapies.

  16. The CEOS Atmospheric Composition Constellation (ACC), an Integrated Observing System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hilsenrath, E.; Langen, J.; Zehner, C.

    2008-05-01

    The Atmospheric Composition (AC) Constellation is one of four pilot projects initiated by the Committee for Earth Observations Systems (CEOS) to bring about technical/scientific cooperation among space agencies that meet the goals of GEO and comply with the CEOS member agencies national programs. The Constellation concept has been endorsed in the GEO Work Plan, 2007-2009. The AC Constellation goal is to collect and deliver data to develop and improve monitoring, assessment and predictive capabilities for changes in the ozone layer, air quality and climate forcing associated with changes in the environment. These data will support five of the nine GEO SBAs: Health, Energy, Climate, Hazards, and Ecosystems. At the present time ESA, EC, CSA, CNES, JAXA, DLR, NIVR, NASA, NOAA and Eumetsat are participating in the Constellation study, and have major assets in orbit including 17 instruments on seven platforms. One goal of the Constellation study is to identify missing capabilities that will result when the present orbiting research satellites missions end and those not included in the next generation operational missions. Missing observations include very accurate and high spatial resolution measurements needed to be to track trends in atmospheric composition and understand their relationship to climate change. The following are the top level objectives for the AC Constellation Concept Study: • Develop a virtual constellation of existing and upcoming missions using synergies among the instruments and identify missing capabilities. • Study advanced architecture with new space assets and varying orbits with expectations that new technology could also be brought forward to best meet user requirements • Data system interoperability to insure that data are useful, properly targeted, and easily accessible. To demonstrate that the Constellation concept can provide value added data products, the ACC has initiated the three projects that are being supported by the

  17. Report of the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Washington DC.

    PubMed

    Hiro, Takafumi

    2017-05-25

    The 66 th Annual Scientific Sessions and Expo of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) were held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC, from March 17 th to 19 th , 2017. This meeting offered 23 Late-Breaking Clinical Trial (LBCT) presentations, 17 Featured Clinical Research presentations with and without LBCT, and 2,572 abstracts presented in oral and poster sessions by over 2,000 experts. This report presents the highlights of this meeting, including the opening showcase, several important LBCTs and some international joint symposiums.

  18. Oral Rigosertib for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-06-22

    Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  19. Factors associated with compliance to AHA/ACC performance measures in a myocardial infarction system of care in Brazil.

    PubMed

    Lana, Maria Letícia L; Beaton, Andrea Z; Brant, Luisa C C; Bozzi, Isadora C R S; de Magalhães, Osias; Castro, Luiz Ricardo de A; da Silva Júnior, Francisco César T; da Silva, José Luiz P; Ribeiro, Antonio Luiz P; Nascimento, Bruno R

    2017-08-01

    To evaluate compliance with American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) performance measures for adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to investigate the factors associated with compliance, in an AMI System of Care in Brazil. Observational longitudinal study. A high-complexity University Hospital, part of the AMI System of Care implemented in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2010. Of note, 1129 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) admitted to a single center over 36 months (between 2011 and 2014). Compliance with 13 pre-specified AHA/ACC AMI performance measures was evaluated for patients with AMI, observing exclusion criteria and appropriate numerators and denominators. Median compliance was calculated and variables independently associated with compliance rates were evaluated. Median age was 60 (51/68) years, 67.7% male, 69.8% presented with STEMI and hospital mortality was 8.7%. Median compliance with performance measures was 83% (75/88). Among patients with STEMI, 56% received reperfusion therapy. Overall, 67.3% of patients complied with ≥80% of quality measures. Factors independently associated with better compliance were later date of presentation (semester), likely reflecting ongoing training (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28, P < 0.001), male gender (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.00-1.76, P < 0.046), Killip I/II on admission (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.36-2.80, P < 0.001) and diagnosis of NSTEMI (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 3.51-7.11, P < 0.001). Compliance with AHA/ACC AMI performance measures remains below target in Brazil, but the time trends observed suggest improvement. Continuing education, reduction of system delays and prioritizing high-risk groups are needed to optimize AMI systems of care and improve patient outcomes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press in association with the International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For

  20. Involvement of PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK in the induction of COX-2 expression by bacterial lipopolysaccharide in murine adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed

    Mercau, M E; Astort, F; Giordanino, E F; Martinez Calejman, C; Sanchez, R; Caldareri, L; Repetto, E M; Coso, O A; Cymeryng, C B

    2014-03-25

    Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated the involvement of COX-2 in the stimulation of steroid production by LPS in murine adrenocortical Y1 cells, as well as in the adrenal cortex of male Wistar rats. In this paper we analyzed signaling pathways involved in the induction of this key regulatory enzyme in adrenocortical cells and demonstrated that LPS triggers an increase in COX-2 mRNA levels by mechanisms involving the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the activation of p38 MAPK and Akt, in addition to the previously demonstrated increase in NFκB activity. In this sense we showed that: (1) inhibition of p38 MAPK or PI3K/Akt (pharmacological or molecular) prevented the increase in COX-2 protein levels by LPS, (2) LPS induced p38 MAPK and Akt phosphorylation, (3) antioxidant treatment blocked the effect of LPS on p38 MAPK phosphorylation and in COX-2 protein levels, (4) PI3K inhibition with LY294002 prevented p38 MAPK phosphorylation and, (5) the activity of an NFκB reporter was decreased by p38 MAPK or PI3K inhibition. These results suggest that activation of both p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways promote the stimulation of NFκB activity and that PI3K/Akt activity might regulate both p38 MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways. In summary, in this study we showed that in adrenal cells, LPS induces COX-2 expression by activating p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and that both pathways converge in the modulation of NFκB transcriptional activity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.