Temporal and tissue-specific patterns of Pon3 expression in mouse: in situ hybridization analysis.

PON3 is a member of the paraoxonase gene family that includes PON1 and PON2. For example, PON3 and PON1 share approximately 60% identity at the amino acid level. Recent studies have demonstrated that PON3 is present in human and rabbit HDL but not in mouse HDL.

Differential tissue distribution of sesaminol triglucoside and its metabolites in rats fed with lignan glycosides from sesame meal with or without nano/submicrosizing.

Lignan glycosides are important functional compounds in sesame meal. In the present study, we investigated whether the tissue distribution of nano/submicrosized lignan glycosides from sesame meal (N-LGSM) differs from lignan glycosides from sesame meal (LGSM). LGSM was nano/submicrosized with 0.

Frequent amplification of a chr19q13.41 microRNA polycistron in aggressive primitive neuroectodermal brain tumors.

We discovered a high-level amplicon involving the chr19q13.41 microRNA (miRNA) cluster (C19MC) in 11/45 ( approximately 25%) primary CNS-PNET, which results in striking overexpression of miR-517c and 520g. Constitutive expression of miR-517c or 520g promotes in vitro and in vivo oncogenicity, modulates cell survival, and robustly enhances growth of untransformed human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in part by upregulating WNT pathway signaling and restricting differentiation of hNSCs.

Insights into IBD Pathogenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disorder caused by dysregulated immune responses in a genetically predisposed individual. Recent accumulating data, including genome-wide association studies, have identified more than 50 distinct genetic loci that confer susceptibility. We highlight the role of microbial-host interaction, particularly with respect to the overlap of common genetic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of CD and UC, interleukin-22-producing natural killer cells, autophagy, and TL1A, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, in gut homeostasis and IBD pathogenesis.

CKS1B overexpression implicates clinical aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinomas but not p27(Kip1) protein turnover: an independent prognosticator with potential p27 (Kip1)-independent oncogenic attributes?

Background: Through data mining the Stanford Microarray Database, the CKS1B transcript was found to be frequently upregulated in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with low alpha-fetal protein (AFP) expression. Together with SKP2, CKS1B is known to implicate p27(Kip1) protein turnover promoting cell-cycle progression.

Methods: CKS1B, p27(Kip1), and SKP2 were immunostained in 75 HCCs and correlated with clinicopathological features, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and overall survival (OS).

A common mutation in paraoxonase-2 results in impaired lactonase activity.

Paraoxonases (PONs) are a family of lactonases with promiscuous enzyme activity that has been implicated in multiple diseases. PON2 is intracellularly located, is the most ubiquitously expressed PON, and has the highest lactonase activity of the PON family members. Whereas some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PON1 have resulted in altered enzymatic activity in serum, to date the functional consequences of SNPs on PON2 function remain unknown.

Microbial induction of inflammatory bowel disease associated gene TL1A (TNFSF15) in antigen presenting cells.

TL1A is a member of the TNF superfamily and its expression is increased in the mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Neutralizing anti-mouse TL1A Ab attenuates chronic colitis in two T-cell driven murine models, suggesting that TL1A is a central modulator of gut mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. We showed previously that TL1A is induced by immune complexes via the Fc gamma R signaling pathway.

The roles of PON1 and PON2 in cardiovascular disease and innate immunity.

Purpose Of Review: The paraoxonase (PON) gene family includes three members, PON1, PON2, and PON3. In-vitro and mouse studies have demonstrated that all three PONs are atheroprotective. Some, but not all, human epidemiologic studies have observed associations between PON gene polymorphisms and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

An embedded mobile ECG reasoning system for elderly patients.

With the increase in the number senior citizens and chronic diseases, the number of elderly patients who need constant assistance has increased. One key point of all critical care for elderly patient is the continuous monitoring of their vital signs. Among these, the ECG signal is used for noninvasive diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Morpholine containing CB2 selective agonists.

Identification and optimization of two classes of CB2 selective agonists are described. A representative from each class is profiled in a murine model of inflammation and each shows similar efficacy to prednisolone upon oral dosing.

Genetic or nutritional disorders in homocysteine or folate metabolism increase protein N-homocysteinylation in mice.

Genetic disorders of homocysteine (Hcy) or folate metabolism or high-methionine diets elevate plasma Hcy and its atherogenic metabolite Hcy-thiolactone. In humans, severe hyperhomocysteinemia due to genetic alterations in cystathionine beta-synthase (Cbs) or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (Mthfr) results in neurological abnormalities and premature death from vascular complications. In mouse models, dietary or genetic hyperhomocysteinemia results in liver or brain pathological changes and accelerates atherosclerosis.

Recombinant core proteins of Japanese encephalitis virus as activators of the innate immune response.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to suppress Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) RNA synthesis, viral protein accumulation, and virus release from infected cells. In this article, the potential viral structural proteins as the activators of NO product were studied at the molecular level. First, the genomic region encoding the JEV structural proteins was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pET for high-level expression.

Recent advances in IBD pathogenesis: genetics and immunobiology.

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory disorders caused by dysregulated immune responses in genetically predisposed individuals. Although the precise etiology of IBD remains unclear, accumulating data, including genome-wide association studies, have advanced our understanding of its immunopathogenesis. This review highlights the role in gut homeostasis and IBD pathogenesis of autophagy, the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis, and a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor family, TL1A.

Multiplex PCR detection of enterotoxin genes in Aeromonas spp. from suspect food samples in northern Taiwan.

Aeromonads possess an array of virulence factors and are causative agents of a number of human infections. Among them, genes of one cytotoxic (Act) and two cytotonic (Alt, Ast) enterotoxins are implicated in a human diarrheal disease. A rapid, specific, simultaneous detection of these enterotoxin genes in suspected food poisoning samples is not yet reported.

Blood product transfusion and ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in trauma patients, with a high mortality rate. Blood transfusion has been identified as an independent risk factor for VAP in critically ill patients. Prior studies in trauma are limited by retrospective design, lack of multivariable analyses, and scant data on the timing of transfusion.

Is it just paraoxonase 1 or are other members of the paraoxonase gene family implicated in atherosclerosis?

Purpose Of Review: During the past decade, paraoxonase 1, a HDL-associated protein, has been demonstrated to be an important contributor to the antioxidant capacity of HDL. Studies using paraoxonase 1 null mice by gene targeting and transgenic mice corroborated the hypothesis that paraoxonase 1 protects against atherosclerosis. In contrast to paraoxonase 1, the other two members of the paraoxonase gene family, namely paraoxonase 2 and paraoxonase 3, are either undetectable (paraoxonase 2) or detected at very low levels (paraoxonase 3) on HDL, and are considered to participate in intracellular antioxidant mechanisms.

Cells deficient in oxidative DNA damage repair genes Myh and Ogg1 are sensitive to oxidants with increased G2/M arrest and multinucleation.

Oxidative stress generated from endogenous and exogenous sources causes oxidative DNA damage. The most frequent mutagenic base lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine and the resulting mismatched adenine are removed by OGG1 and MYH in mammals. Deficiencies in human MYH or mouse MYH and OGG1 result in tumor predisposition but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood.

Arylsulfonamide CB2 receptor agonists: SAR and optimization of CB2 selectivity.

A high-throughput screening campaign resulted in the discovery of a highly potent dual cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) agonist. Following a thorough SAR exploration, a series of selective CB2 full agonists were identified.

Immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic relapsing immune mediated disorders that results from an aberrant response to gut luminal antigen in genetically susceptible host. The adaptive immune response that is then triggered was widely considered to be a T-helper-1 mediated condition in Crohn's disease and T-helper-2 mediated condition in ulcerative colitis. Recent studies in animal models, genome wide association, and basic science has provided important insights in in the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, one of which was the characterization of the interleukin-23/Th-17 axis.

Development of rapid real-time PCR and most-probable-number real-time PCR assays to quantify enterotoxigenic strains of the species in the Bacillus cereus group.

Members of the Bacillus cereus group may produce diarrheal enterotoxins and could be potential hazards if they enter the food chain. Therefore, a method capable of detecting all the species in the B. cereus group rather than B.

Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny.

Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution.

Molecular characterization of class 1 integrons and antimicrobial resistance in Aeromonas strains from foodborne outbreak-suspect samples and environmental sources in Taiwan.

One hundred thirty-three Aeromonas spp. isolates were examined for multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes and prevalence of class 1 integron sequences. Twenty-four (18.

FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, prevents cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in mice.

Cadmium, a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, damages several major organs in humans and other mammals. The molecular mechanisms for damage are not known. At high doses (5 mg/kg cadmium chloride or higher), testicular damage in mice, rats, and other rodents includes interstitial edema, hemorrhage, and changes in the seminiferous tubules affecting spermatogenesis.

Heme oxygenase-1 expression in macrophages plays a beneficial role in atherosclerosis.

Heme oxygenase (HO-1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme, which leads to the generation of biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide. It has been shown to have important antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties that result in a vascular antiatherogenic effect. To determine whether HO-1 expression in macrophages constitutes a significant component of the protective role in atherosclerosis, we evaluated the effect of decreased or absent HO-1 expression in peritoneal macrophages on oxidative stress and inflammation in vitro, and the effect of complete deficiency of HO-1 expression in macrophages in atherosclerotic lesion formation in vivo.