Profiles of cytokine and chemokine gene expression in human pulmonary epithelial cells induced by human and avian influenza viruses

Influenza pandemic remains a serious threat to human health. In this study, the repertoire of host cellular cytokine and chemokine responses to infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, low pathogenicity avian influenza H9N2 and seasonal human influenza H1N1 were compared using an in vitro system based on human pulmonary epithelial cells. The results showed that H5N1 was more potent than H9N2 and H1N1 in inducing CXCL-10/IP-10, TNF-alpha and CCL-5/RANTES. The cytokine/chemokine profiles for H9N2, in general, resembled those of H1N1. Of interest, only H1N1, but none of the avian subtypes examined could induce a persistent elevation of the immune-regulatory cytokine - TGF-β2. The differential expression of cytokines/chemokines following infection with different influenza viruses could be a key determinant for clinical outcome. The potential of using these cytokines/chemokines as prognostic markers or targets of therapy is worth exploring

Gravity/CFT correspondence for three dimensional Einstein gravity with a conformal scalar field

We study the three dimensional Einstein gravity conformally coupled to a scalar field. Solutions of this theory are geometries with vanishing scalar curvature. We consider solutions with a constant scalar field which corresponds to an infinite Newton's constant. There is a class of solutions with possible curvature singularities which asymptotic symmetries are given by two copies of the Virasoro algebra. We argue that the central charge of the corresponding CFT is infinite. Furthermore, we construct a family of Schwarzschild solutions which can be conformally mapped to the Martinez-Zanelli solution of Einstein's equations with a negative cosmological constant coupled to conformal scalar field.Comment: 27 pages, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

The effect of silver fluoride and potassium iodide on the bond strength of auto cure glass ionomer cement to dentine

The document attached has been archived with permission from the Australian Dental Association. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Background: Diamine silver fluoride (Ag(NH3)2F), referred to as AgF, has been shown to reduce the incidence of caries in primary dentitions. The clinical application of this material has been limited by staining associated with both teeth and restorative materials. The application of potassium iodide (KI) after AgF eliminates stain formation. There is a lack of information as to how the addition of AgF followed by KI may affect the bond strength to dentine. The purpose of this study was to compare the bond strengths of auto cure glass ionomer cement to dentine surfaces that had been treated with AgF and KI and without treatment. Methods: Ten recently extracted human third molars were embedded into methyl methacrylate resin and sliced to form a square block of exposed dentine surfaces. Each of the four surfaces were treated by one of the following procedures: (a) etching with 37 per cent phosphoric acid; (b) applying GC dentine conditioner; (c) etching, followed by application of AgF/KI then washing off the precipitate and air drying; and (d) etching, applying AgF/KI and air drying the reaction products on the surface. Fuji VII auto cure glass ionomer cement was bonded onto each sample and fracture tested. Results: The dentine samples treated with AgF/KI followed by washing away the precipitate and air drying had bond strengths (2.83MPa) not significantly different from samples that had been conditioned (2.40MPa). Samples where the AgF/KI precipitate had been air dried onto the dentine surface had significantly lower bond strengths (1.49MPa) than the washed samples. Samples that were etched had significantly lower bond strengths (1.91MPa) than the conditioned samples. Conclusions: This study found that the application of AgF/KI to etched dentine samples followed by washing off the precipitate, created bond strengths that were not significantly different to conditioned samples. Leaving the AgF/KI precipitate on the dentine surface significantly reduced the bond strength of auto cured glass ionomer cement to dentine. Washing away the reaction products and air drying is recommended as the clinical protocol for using AgF and KI on dentine surfaces prior to application of an auto cure glass ionomer cement.GM Knight, JM McIntyre, Mulyan

Refining the accuracy of validated target identification through coding variant fine-mapping in type 2 diabetes.

We aggregated coding variant data for 81,412 type 2 diabetes cases and 370,832 controls of diverse ancestry, identifying 40 coding variant association signals (P < 2.2 × 10-7); of these, 16 map outside known risk-associated loci. We make two important observations. First, only five of these signals are driven by low-frequency variants: even for these, effect sizes are modest (odds ratio ≤1.29). Second, when we used large-scale genome-wide association data to fine-map the associated variants in their regional context, accounting for the global enrichment of complex trait associations in coding sequence, compelling evidence for coding variant causality was obtained for only 16 signals. At 13 others, the associated coding variants clearly represent 'false leads' with potential to generate erroneous mechanistic inference. Coding variant associations offer a direct route to biological insight for complex diseases and identification of validated therapeutic targets; however, appropriate mechanistic inference requires careful specification of their causal contribution to disease predisposition

Protein-coding variants implicate novel genes related to lipid homeostasis contributing to body-fat distribution.

Body-fat distribution is a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular health consequences. We analyzed the association of body-fat distribution, assessed by waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index, with 228,985 predicted coding and splice site variants available on exome arrays in up to 344,369 individuals from five major ancestries (discovery) and 132,177 European-ancestry individuals (validation). We identified 15 common (minor allele frequency, MAF ≥5%) and nine low-frequency or rare (MAF <5%) coding novel variants. Pathway/gene set enrichment analyses identified lipid particle, adiponectin, abnormal white adipose tissue physiology and bone development and morphology as important contributors to fat distribution, while cross-trait associations highlight cardiometabolic traits. In functional follow-up analyses, specifically in Drosophila RNAi-knockdowns, we observed a significant increase in the total body triglyceride levels for two genes (DNAH10 and PLXND1). We implicate novel genes in fat distribution, stressing the importance of interrogating low-frequency and protein-coding variants

Human Metapneumovirus Detection in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

We used a combination approach of conventional virus isolation and molecular techniques to detect human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Of the 48 study patients, 25 (52.1%) were infected with HMPV; 6 of these 25 patients were also infected with coronavirus, and another 5 patients (10.4%) were infected with coronavirus alone. Using this combination approach, we found that human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) cells were superior to rhesus monkey kidney (LLC-MK2) cells commonly used in previous studies for isolation of HMPV. These widely available HEp-2 cells should be included in conjunction with a molecular method for cell culture followup to detect HMPV, particularly in patients with SARS

Analysing the Coupled Effects of Compressive and Diffusion Induced Stresses on the Nucleation and Propagation of Circular Coating Blisters in the Presence of Micro-cracks

This paper presents the delamination of coating with micro-cracks under compressive residual stress coupled with diffusion induced stress. Micro-cracks in coating provide a passage for corrosive species towards the coating-substrate interface which in turn produces diffusion induced stress in the coating. Micro-cracks contract gradually with increasing compressive residual stress in coating due to thermal expansion mismatch which blocks the species diffusion towards the interface. This behaviour reduces the diffusion induced stress in the coating while the compressive residual stress increases. With further increase in compressive residual stress, micro-cracks reach to the point, where they cannot be constricted any further and a high compressive residual stress causes the coating to buckle away from the substrate resulting in delamination and therefore initiating blistering. Blistering causes the contracted micro-cracks to wide open again which increases diffusion induced stress along with high compressive residual stress. The high resultant stress in coating causes the blister to propagate in an axis-symmetric circular pattern. A two-part theoretical approach has been utilised coupling the thermodynamic concepts with the mechanics concepts. The thermodynamic concepts involve the corrosive species transportation through micro-cracks under increasing compression, eventually causing blistering, while the fracture mechanics concepts are used to treat the blister growth as circular defect propagation. The influences of moduli ratio, thickness ratio, thermal mismatch ratio, poisson’s ratio and interface roughness on blister growth are discussed. Experiment is reported for blistering to allow visualisation of interface and to permit coupled (diffusion and residual) stresses in the coating over a full range of interest. The predictions from model show excellent, quantitative agreement with the experimental results

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Upregulation of CRABP1 in human neuroblastoma cells overproducing the Alzheimer-typical Aβ42 reduces their differentiation potential

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neurodegeneration and changes in cellular processes, including neurogenesis. Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays a central role in AD. Owing to varying APP processing, several β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) are generated. In contrast to the form with 40 amino acids (Aβ₄₀), the variant with 42 amino acids (Aβ₄₂) is thought to be the pathogenic form triggering the pathological cascade in AD. While total-Aβ effects have been studied extensively, little is known about specific genome-wide effects triggered by Aβ₄₂or Aβ₄₀derived from their direct precursor C99.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A combined transcriptomics/proteomics analysis was performed to measure the effects of intracellularly generated Aβ peptides in human neuroblastoma cells. Data was validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and a functional validation was carried out using RNA interference.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we studied the transcriptomic and proteomic responses to increased or decreased Aβ₄₂and Aβ₄₀levels generated in human neuroblastoma cells. Genome-wide expression profiles (Affymetrix) and proteomic approaches were combined to analyze the cellular response to the changed Aβ₄₂- and Aβ₄₀-levels. The cells responded to this challenge with significant changes in their expression pattern. We identified several dysregulated genes and proteins, but only the cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1) was up-regulated exclusively in cells expressing an increased Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ratio. This consequently reduced all-trans retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation, validated by CRABP1 knock down, which led to recovery of the cellular response to RA treatment and cellular sprouting under physiological RA concentrations. Importantly, this effect was specific to the AD typical increase in the Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ratio, whereas a decreased ratio did not result in up-regulation of CRABP1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that increasing the Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ratio up-regulates CRABP1, which in turn reduces the differentiation potential of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, but increases cell proliferation. This work might contribute to the better understanding of AD neurogenesis, currently a controversial topic.</p

Quality of dietary fat and genetic risk of type 2 diabetes: individual participant data meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the genetic burden of type 2 diabetes modifies the association between the quality of dietary fat and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Individual participant data meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Eligible prospective cohort studies were systematically sourced from studies published between January 1970 and February 2017 through electronic searches in major medical databases (Medline, Embase, and Scopus) and discussion with investigators. REVIEW METHODS: Data from cohort studies or multicohort consortia with available genome-wide genetic data and information about the quality of dietary fat and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in participants of European descent was sought. Prospective cohorts that had accrued five or more years of follow-up were included. The type 2 diabetes genetic risk profile was characterized by a 68-variant polygenic risk score weighted by published effect sizes. Diet was recorded by using validated cohort-specific dietary assessment tools. Outcome measures were summary adjusted hazard ratios of incident type 2 diabetes for polygenic risk score, isocaloric replacement of carbohydrate (refined starch and sugars) with types of fat, and the interaction of types of fat with polygenic risk score. RESULTS: Of 102 305 participants from 15 prospective cohort studies, 20 015 type 2 diabetes cases were documented after a median follow-up of 12 years (interquartile range 9.4-14.2). The hazard ratio of type 2 diabetes per increment of 10 risk alleles in the polygenic risk score was 1.64 (95% confidence interval 1.54 to 1.75, I2=7.1%, τ2=0.003). The increase of polyunsaturated fat and total omega 6 polyunsaturated fat intake in place of carbohydrate was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, with hazard ratios of 0.90 (0.82 to 0.98, I2=18.0%, τ2=0.006; per 5% of energy) and 0.99 (0.97 to 1.00, I2=58.8%, τ2=0.001; per increment of 1 g/d), respectively. Increasing monounsaturated fat in place of carbohydrate was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.19, I2=25.9%, τ2=0.006; per 5% of energy). Evidence of small study effects was detected for the overall association of polyunsaturated fat with the risk of type 2 diabetes, but not for the omega 6 polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat associations. Significant interactions between dietary fat and polygenic risk score on the risk of type 2 diabetes (P>0.05 for interaction) were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that genetic burden and the quality of dietary fat are each associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The findings do not support tailoring recommendations on the quality of dietary fat to individual type 2 diabetes genetic risk profiles for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes, and suggest that dietary fat is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes across the spectrum of type 2 diabetes genetic risk.The EPIC-InterAct study received funding from the European Union (Integrated Project LSHM-CT-2006-037197 in the Framework Programme 6 of the European Community). We thank all EPIC participants and staff for their contribution to the study. We thank Nicola Kerrison (MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK) for managing the data for the InterAct Project. In addition, InterAct investigators acknowledge funding from the following agencies: MT: Health Research Fund (FIS) of the Spanish Ministry of Health; the CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Murcia Regional Government (N° 6236); JS: JS was supported by a Heisenberg-Professorship (SP716/2-1), a Clinical Research Group (KFO218/1) and a research group (Molecular Nutrition to JS) of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF); YTvdS, JWJB, PHP, IS: Verification of diabetes cases was additionally funded by NL Agency grant IGE05012 and an Incentive Grant from the Board of the UMC Utrecht; HBBdM: Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR), LK Research Funds, Dutch Prevention Funds, Dutch ZON (Zorg Onderzoek Nederland), World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), Statistics Netherlands (The Netherlands); MDCL: Health Research Fund (FIS) of the Spanish Ministry of Health; Murcia Regional Government (N° 6236); FLC: Cancer Research UK; PD: Wellcome Trust; LG: Swedish Research Council; GH: The county of Västerbotten; RK: Deutsche Krebshilfe; TJK: Cancer Research UK; KK: Medical Research Council UK, Cancer Research UK; AK: Medical Research Council (Cambridge Lipidomics Biomarker Research Initiative); CN: Health Research Fund (FIS) of the Spanish Ministry of Health; Murcia Regional Government (N° 6236); KO: Danish Cancer Society; OP: Faculty of Health Science, 47 University of Aarhus, Denmark; JRQ: Asturias Regional Government; LRS: Asturias Regional Government; AT: Danish Cancer Society; RT: AIRE-ONLUS Ragusa, AVIS-Ragusa, Sicilian Regional Government; DLvdA, WMMV: Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR), LK Research Funds, Dutch Prevention Funds, Dutch ZON (Zorg Onderzoek Nederland), World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), Statistics Netherlands (The Netherlands); MMC: Wellcome Trust (083270/Z/07/Z), MRC (G0601261)