Combination of p53AIP1 and survivin expression is a powerful prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>p53AIP1 is a potential mediator of apoptosis depending on p53, which is mutated in many kinds of carcinoma. High survivin expression in non-small cell lung cancer is related with poor prognosis. To investigate the role of these genes in non-small cell lung cancer, we compared the relationship between p53AIP1 or survivin gene expression and the clinicopathological status of lung cancer.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Forty-seven samples from non-small cell lung cancer patients were obtained between 1997 and 2003. For quantitative evaluation of RNA expression by PCR, we used Taqman PCR methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although no correlation between p53AIP1 or survivin gene expression and clinicopathological factors was found, the relationship between survivin gene expression and nodal status was significant (p = 0.03). Overall survival in the p53AIP1-negative group was significantly worse than in the positive group (p = 0.04); however, although survivin expression was not a prognostic factor, the combination of p53AIP1 and survivin was a significant prognostic predictor (p = 0.04). In the multivariate cox proportional hazard model, the combination was an independent predictor of overall survival (p53AIP1 (+) survivin (+), HR 0.21, 95%CI = [0.01–1.66]; p53AIP1 (+) survivin (-), HR 0.01, 95%CI = [0.002–0.28]; p53AIP1 (-) survivin (-), HR 0.01, 95%CI = [0.002–3.1], against p53AIP1 (-) survivin (+), p = 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that the combination of p53AIP1 and survivin gene expression may be a powerful tool to stratify subgroups with better or worse prognosis from the variable non-small cell lung cancer population.</p

The importance of the exposome and allostatic load in the planetary health paradigm

In 1980, Jonas Salk (1914-1995) encouraged professionals in anthropology and related disciplines to consider the interconnections between "planetary health," sociocultural changes associated with technological advances, and the biology of human health. The concept of planetary health emphasizes that human health is intricately connected to the health of natural systems within the Earth's biosphere; experts in physiological anthropology have illuminated some of the mechanisms by which experiences in natural environments (or the built environment) can promote or detract from health. For example, shinrin-yoku and related research (which first emerged from Japan in the 1990s) helped set in motion international studies that have since examined physiological responses to time spent in natural and/or urban environments. However, in order to advance such findings into planetary health discourse, it will be necessary to further understand how these biological responses (inflammation and the collective of allostatic load) are connected to psychological constructs such as nature relatedness, and pro-social/environmental attitudes and behaviors. The exposome refers to total environmental exposures-detrimental and beneficial-that can help predict biological responses of the organism to environment over time. Advances in "omics" techniques-metagenomics, proteomics, metabolomics-and systems biology are allowing researchers to gain unprecedented insight into the physiological ramifications of human behavior. Objective markers of stress physiology and microbiome research may help illuminate the personal, public, and planetary health consequences of "extinction of experience." At the same time, planetary health as an emerging multidisciplinary concept will be strengthened by input from the perspectives of physiological anthropology.Peer reviewe

Extrinsic primary afferent signalling in the gut

Visceral sensory neurons activate reflex pathways that control gut function and also give rise to important sensations, such as fullness, bloating, nausea, discomfort, urgency and pain. Sensory neurons are organised into three distinct anatomical pathways to the central nervous system (vagal, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral). Although remarkable progress has been made in characterizing the roles of many ion channels, receptors and second messengers in visceral sensory neurons, the basic aim of understanding how many classes there are, and how they differ, has proven difficult to achieve. We suggest that just five structurally distinct types of sensory endings are present in the gut wall that account for essentially all of the primary afferent neurons in the three pathways. Each of these five major structural types of endings seems to show distinctive combinations of physiological responses. These types are: 'intraganglionic laminar' endings in myenteric ganglia; 'mucosal' endings located in the subepithelial layer; 'muscular–mucosal' afferents, with mechanosensitive endings close to the muscularis mucosae; 'intramuscular' endings, with endings within the smooth muscle layers; and 'vascular' afferents, with sensitive endings primarily on blood vessels. 'Silent' afferents might be a subset of inexcitable 'vascular' afferents, which can be switched on by inflammatory mediators. Extrinsic sensory neurons comprise an attractive focus for targeted therapeutic intervention in a range of gastrointestinal disorders.Australian National Health and Medical Research Counci