Effect of dietary cellulose supplementation on gut barrier function and apoptosis in a murine model of endotoxemia.

The gut plays a vital role in critical illness, and alterations in the gut structure and function have been reported in endotoxemia and sepsis models. Previously, we have demonstrated a novel link between the diet-induced alteration of the gut microbiome with cellulose and improved outcomes in sepsis. As compared to mice receiving basal fiber (BF) diet, mice that were fed a non-fermentable high fiber (HF) diet demonstrated significant improvement in survival and decreased organ injury in both cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP) and endotoxin sepsis models.

Dietary Cellulose Supplementation Modulates the Immune Response in a Murine Endotoxemia Model.

The role of dietary fiber in chronic inflammatory disorders has been explored, but very little is known about its benefits in acute inflammation. Previously, we have demonstrated that dietary cellulose supplementation confers protection in a murine model of sepsis by promoting the growth of the gut microbiota that are linked to metabolic health. The survival benefit is associated with a decrease in serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, reduced neutrophil infiltration in the lungs, and diminished hepatic inflammation.

Contrasting roles of the ABCG2 Q141K variant in prostate cancer.

ABCG2 is a membrane transport protein that effluxes growth-promoting molecules, such as folates and dihydrotestosterone, as well as chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore it is important to determine how variants of ABCG2 affect the transporter function in order to determine whether modified treatment regimens may be necessary for patients harboring ABCG2 variants. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between the ABCG2 Q141K variant and overall survival after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Novel nuclear localization of fatty acid synthase correlates with prostate cancer aggressiveness.

Fatty acid synthase is up-regulated in a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer. Up-regulation of fatty acid synthase not only increases production of fatty acids in tumors but also contributes to the transformed phenotype by conferring growth and survival advantages. In addition, increased fatty acid synthase expression in prostate cancer correlates with poor prognosis, although the mechanism(s) by which this occurs are not completely understood.

False negative results from using common PCR reagents.

Background: The sensitivity of the PCR reaction makes it ideal for use when identifying potentially novel viral infections in human disease. Unfortunately, this same sensitivity also leaves this popular technique open to potential contamination with previously amplified PCR products, or "carry-over" contamination. PCR product carry-over contamination can be prevented with uracil-DNA-glycosylase (UNG), and it is for this reason that it is commonly included in many commercial PCR master-mixes.

Increased cancer cell proliferation in prostate cancer patients with high levels of serum folate.

Background: A recent clinical trial revealed that folic acid supplementation is associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer (Figueiredo et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2009; 101(6): 432-435). As tumor cells in culture proliferate directly in response to available folic acid, the goal of our study was to determine if there is a similar relationship between patient folate status, and the proliferative capacity of tumors in men with prostate cancer.