One Country, Two Systems; Power and Resistance in Hong Kong

Global Independent Study, Summer 2017 -- Hong Kong, Chinahttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138975/1/Huang_Poster.pd

Global atmospheric moisture variability

Research efforts during FY-88 have focused on completion of several projects relating to analysis of FGGE data during SOP-1 and on expanded studies of global atmospheric moisture. In particular, a revised paper on the relationship between diabatic heating and baroclinicity in the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was submitted. A summary of completed studies on diagnostic convective parameterization was presented at the Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography Convergence last February. These investigations of diabatic heating in the SPCZ have demonstrated the requirement for a more quantitative description of atmospheric moisture. As a result, efforts were directed toward use of passive remote microwave measurements from the Nimbus-7 SMMR and the DOD's Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI/I) as critical sources of moisture data. Activities this year are summarized

EigenFold: Generative Protein Structure Prediction with Diffusion Models

Protein structure prediction has reached revolutionary levels of accuracy on single structures, yet distributional modeling paradigms are needed to capture the conformational ensembles and flexibility that underlie biological function. Towards this goal, we develop EigenFold, a diffusion generative modeling framework for sampling a distribution of structures from a given protein sequence. We define a diffusion process that models the structure as a system of harmonic oscillators and which naturally induces a cascading-resolution generative process along the eigenmodes of the system. On recent CAMEO targets, EigenFold achieves a median TMScore of 0.84, while providing a more comprehensive picture of model uncertainty via the ensemble of sampled structures relative to existing methods. We then assess EigenFold's ability to model and predict conformational heterogeneity for fold-switching proteins and ligand-induced conformational change. Code is available at https://github.com/bjing2016/EigenFold.Comment: ICLR MLDD workshop 202

Craniofacial Analysis May Indicate Co-Occurrence of Skeletal Malocclusions and Associated Risks in Development of Cleft Lip and Palate

Non-syndromic orofacial clefts encompass a range of morphological changes affecting the oral cavity and the craniofacial skeleton, of which the genetic and epigenetic etiologic factors remain largely unknown. The objective of this study is to explore the contribution of underlying dentofacial deformities (also known as skeletal malocclusions) in the craniofacial morphology of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate patients (nsCLP). For that purpose, geometric morphometric analysis was performed using full skull cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients with nsCLP (n = 30), normocephalic controls (n = 60), as well as to sex- and ethnicity- matched patients with an equivalent dentofacial deformity (n = 30). Our outcome measures were shape differences among the groups quantified via principal component analysis and associated principal component loadings, as well as mean shape differences quantified via a Procrustes distance among groups. According to our results, despite the shape differences among all three groups, the nsCLP group shares many morphological similarities in the maxilla and mandible with the dentofacial deformity group. Therefore, the dentoskeletal phenotype in nsCLP could be the result of the cleft and the coexisting dentofacial deformity and not simply the impact of the cleft

Utility of patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines as an ex vivo capecitabine sensitivity prediction model for breast cancer patients.

Capecitabine is commonly used in treating breast cancer; however, therapeutic response varies among patients and there is no clinically validated model to predict individual outcomes. Here, we investigated whether drug sensitivity quantified in ex vivo patients' blood-derived cell lines can predict response to capecitabine in vivo. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) were established from a cohort of metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 53) who were prospectively monitored during treatment with single agent capecitabine at 2000 mg/m2/day. LCLs were treated with increasing concentrations of 5'-DFUR, a major capecitabine metabolite, to assess patients' ex vivo sensitivity to this drug. Subsequently, ex vivo phenotype was compared to observed patient disease response and drug induced-toxicities. We acquired an independent cohort of breast cancer cell lines and LCLs derived from the same donors from ATCC, compared their sensitivity to 5'-DFUR. As seen in the patient population, we observed large inter-individual variability in response to 5'-DFUR treatment in patient-derived LCLs. Patients whose LCLs were more sensitive to 5'-DFUR had a significantly longer median progression free survival (9-month vs 6-month, log rank p-value = 0.017). In addition, this significant positive correlation for 5'-DFUR sensitivity was replicated in an independent cohort of 8 breast cancer cell lines and LCLs derived from the same donor. Our data suggests that at least a portion of the individual sensitivity to capecitabine is shared between germline tissue and tumor tissue. It also supports the utility of patient-derived LCLs as a predictive model for capecitabine treatment efficacy in breast cancer patients

Active targeting of chemotherapy to disseminated tumors using nanoparticle-carrying T cells

Tumor cells disseminate into compartments that are poorly accessible from circulation, which necessitates high doses of systemic chemotherapy. However, the effectiveness of many drugs, such as the potent topoisomerase I poison SN-38, is hampered by poor pharmacokinetics. To deliver SN-38 to lymphoma tumors in vivo, we took advantage of the fact that healthy lymphocytes can be programmed to phenocopy the biodistribution of the tumor cells. In a murine model of disseminated lymphoma, we expanded autologous polyclonal T cells ex vivo under conditions that retained homing receptors mirroring lymphoma cells, and functionalized these T cells to carry SN-38–loaded nanocapsules on their surfaces. Nanocapsule-functionalized T cells were resistant to SN-38 but mediated efficient killing of lymphoma cells in vitro. Upon adoptive transfer into tumor-bearing mice, these T cells served as active vectors to deliver the chemotherapeutic into tumor-bearing lymphoid organs. Cell-mediated delivery concentrated SN-38 in lymph nodes at levels 90-fold greater than free drug systemically administered at 10-fold higher doses. The live T cell delivery approach reduced tumor burden significantly after 2 weeks of treatment and enhanced survival under conditions where free SN-38 and SN-38–loaded nanocapsules alone were ineffective. These results suggest that tissue-homing lymphocytes can serve as specific targeting agents to deliver nanoparticles into sites difficult to access from the circulation, and thus improve the therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic drugs with unfavorable pharmacokinetics.United States. Department of Defense (W81XWH-10-1-0290)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (CA140476 and CA172164)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. Support (Core) Grant P30-CA14051

Differentiating agents regulate cathepsin B gene expression in HL‐60 cells

We utilized HL‐60 cells as a model system to examine the regulation of ctsb gene expression by differentiating agents. Inducers of monocytic differentiation [phorbol ester (PMA), calcitriol (D3), and sodium butyrate (NaB)] and inducers of granulocytic differentiation [all‐trans retinoic acid (RA) and 9‐cis retinoic acid (9‐cis RA)] increase ctsb mRNA levels in a dose‐dependent manner as determined by Northern blot hybridization. D3 and retinoids exert additive effects, suggesting that these agents act in part through distinct pathways. Actinomycin D decay experiments indicate that D3, NaB, RA, and 9‐cis RA do not alter mRNA stability. In contrast, PMA markedly increases the half‐life of ctsb mRNA. In transient transfection assays, PMA and NaB both stimulate transcription of the luciferase reporter gene placed under the control of ctsb promoter fragments. Thus, inducers of HL‐60 cell differentiation can regulate the expression of the ctsb gene at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 609–616; 1999.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142263/1/jlb0609.pd

Epigenetics in ovarian cancer: premise, properties, and perspectives.

Malignant ovarian tumors bear the highest mortality rate among all gynecological cancers. Both late tumor diagnosis and tolerance to available chemical therapy increase patient mortality. Therefore, it is both urgent and important to identify biomarkers facilitating early identification and novel agents preventing recurrence. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that epigenetic aberrations (particularly histone modifications) are crucial in tumor initiation and development. Histone acetylation and methylation are respectively regulated by acetyltransferases-deacetylases and methyltransferases-demethylases, both of which are implicated in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the most recent discoveries pertaining to ovarian cancer development arising from the imbalance of histone acetylation and methylation, and provide insight into novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma

The Protective Effects of Influenza Vaccination in Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer in Taiwan: A Real-World Evidence-Based Study

In elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, clarity is lacking regarding the effects of influenza vaccines, particularly on clinical outcomes. This study conducted two nationwide, population-based, and propensity score-matched cohorts to estimate and compare the protective effects of influenza vaccine in elderly women and elderly patients with breast cancer. Data were derived from the National Health Insurance Research Database and Cancer Registry Database. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare outcomes between the vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used to estimate the relative risks, and stratified analyses in the breast cancer cohort were performed to further evaluate elderly breast cancer patients undergoing a variety of adjuvant therapies. The GEE analysis showed that the aORs of death and hospitalization, including for influenza and pneumonia, respiratory diseases, respiratory failure, and heart disease, did not significantly decrease in vaccinated elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Conversely, the aORs of all influenza-related clinical outcomes were significantly decreased in elderly women. No protective effects of influenza vaccination were found in the elderly patients with a newly diagnosed breast cancer. More studies focusing on identifying strategies to improve the real-world effectiveness of influenza vaccination to the immunocompromised are needed. Our clinical outcomes will be valuable for future public health policy establishment and shared decision making for influenza vaccine use in elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. According to our findings, regular influenza vaccine administration for elderly patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer may be reconsidered, with potential contraindications for vaccination. On the other hand, implementing the vaccination of close contacts of patients with breast cancer may be a more important strategy for enhancing protection of those fragile patients

Systems-Based Design of Bi-Ligand Inhibitors of Oxidoreductases: Filling the Chemical Proteomic Toolbox

Genomics-driven growth in the number of enzymes of unknown function has created a need for better strategies to characterize them. Since enzyme inhibitors have traditionally served this purpose, we present here an efficient systems-based inhibitor design strategy, enabled by bioinformatic and NMR structural developments. First, we parse the oxidoreductase gene family into structural subfamilies termed pharmacofamilies, which share pharmacophore features in their cofactor binding sites. Then we identify a ligand for this site and use NMR-based binding site mapping (NMR SOLVE) to determine where to extend a combinatorial library, such that diversity elements are directed into the adjacent substrate site. The cofactor mimic is reused in the library in a manner that parallels the reuse of cofactor domains in the oxidoreductase gene family. A library designed in this manner yielded specific inhibitors for multiple oxidoreductases