Overexpression of piRNA pathway genes in epithelial ovarian cancer

The importance of the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway for germ cell maintenance, genome integrity, DNA methylation and retrotransposon control raises possible roles of this pathway in cancer. Indeed aberrant expression of human PIWI orthologs and Maelstrom has been observed in various cancers. In this study we explored the expression and function of piRNA pathway genes in human ovarian cancer, based on our recent work, which showed widespread expression of piRNA pathway genes in the mammalian. Our work shows that PIWIL1 and MAEL expression is significantly increased in malignant EOC (n = 25) compared to benign tumor tissues (n = 19) and normal ovarian tissue (n = 8). The expression of PIWIL3 is lower in malignant and benign tissues when compared to normal ovary. Sequencing of PIWIL1 transcript revealed that in many tumors deletion of exon 17 leads to the introduction of a premature stop codon in the PIWI domain, likely due to a splicing error. In situ hybridization on tumor sections revealed that L1, PIWIL1, 2 and MAEL are specifically expressed in epithelial cells (cancerous cells) of EOC. Furthermore, PIWIL2 and MAEL are co-expressed in the stromal cells adjacent to tumor cells. Since PIWIL1 and MAEL are up regulated in malignant EOC and expressed in the epithelial cells, we investigated if these two genes affect invasiveness of ovarian cancer cell lines that do not normally express these genes. PIWIL1 and MAEL were transiently over expressed in the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, followed by real-time measurements of cell invasiveness. Surprisingly both PIWIL1 and MAEL over expression decreased the invasiveness of SKOV3 cells. Our findings support a growing body of evidence that shows that genes in this pathway are upregulated in cancer. In ovarian cancer we show for the first time that Piwil1 transcript may often be abnormal result in non functional product. In contrast to what has been observed in other cell types, we found that PIWIL1 and MAEL have a repressive effect on cell invasiveness.Shu Ly Lim, Carmela Ricciardelli, Martin K. Oehler, Izza M. D. De Arao Tan, Darryl Russell, Frank Grützne

Aspects of the electroweak phase transition in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We study the finite-temperature effective potential of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model in the full (mA, tan(beta)) parameter space. As for the features of the electroweak phase transition, we identify two possible sources of significant differences with respect to the Standard Model: a stop sector with little supersymmetry breaking makes the phase transition more strongly first-order, whereas a light CP-odd neutral boson weakens its first-order nature. After including the leading plasma effects, T=0 radiative corrections due to top and stop loops, and the most important experimental constraints, we find that the danger of washing out any baryon asymmetry created at the electroweak scale is in general no less than in the Standard Model.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures appended at the end as uuencoded ps-files, preprint CERN-TH.7057/9

Significant Biochemical, Biophysical and Metabolic Diversity in Circulating Human Cord Blood Reticulocytes

10.1371/journal.pone.0076062PLoS ONE810-POLN

Magnetic and chemical nonuniformity in Ga[1-x]Mn[x]As films as probed by polarized neutron and x-ray reflectometry

We have used complementary neutron and x-ray reflectivity techniques to examine the depth profiles of a series of as-grown and annealed Ga[1-x]Mn[x]As thin films. A magnetization gradient is observed for two as-grown films and originates from a nonuniformity of Mn at interstitial sites, and not from local variations in Mn at Ga sites. Furthermore, we see that the depth-dependent magnetization can vary drastically among as-grown Ga[1-x]Mn[x]As films despite being deposited under seemingly similar conditions. These results imply that the depth profile of interstitial Mn is dependent not only on annealing, but is also extremely sensitive to initial growth conditions. We observe that annealing improves the magnetization by producing a surface layer that is rich in Mn and O, indicating that the interstitial Mn migrates to the surface. Finally, we expand upon our previous neutron reflectivity study of Ga[1-x]Mn[x]As, by showing how the depth profile of the chemical composition at the surface and through the film thickness is directly responsible for the complex magnetization profiles observed in both as-grown and annealed films.Comment: Now Published in Physical Review

Outcomes from a 12-Week, Open-Label, Multicenter Clinical Trial of Teduglutide in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome

Objective To determine safety and pharmacodynamics/efficacy of teduglutide in children with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF). Study design This 12-week, open-label study enrolled patients aged 1-17 years with SBS-IF who required parenteral nutrition (PN) and showed minimal or no advance in enteral nutrition (EN) feeds. Patients enrolled sequentially into 3 teduglutide cohorts (0.0125 mg/kg/d [n = 8], 0.025 mg/kg/d [n = 14], 0.05 mg/kg/d [n = 15]) or received standard of care (SOC, n = 5). Descriptive summary statistics were used. Results All patients experienced ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event; most were mild or moderate. No serious teduglutide-related treatment-emergent adverse events occurred. Between baseline and week 12, prescribed PN volume and calories (kcal/kg/d) changed by a median of −41% and −45%, respectively, with 0.025 mg/kg/d teduglutide and by −25% and −52% with 0.05 mg/kg/d teduglutide. In contrast, PN volume and calories changed by 0% and −6%, respectively, with 0.0125 mg/kg/d teduglutide and by 0% and −1% with SOC. Per patient diary data, EN volume increased by a median of 22%, 32%, and 40% in the 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 mg/kg/d cohorts, respectively, and by 11% with SOC. Four patients achieved independence from PN, 3 in the 0.05 mg/kg/d cohort and 1 in the 0.025 mg/kg/d cohort. Study limitations included its short-term, open-label design, and small sample size. Conclusions Teduglutide was well tolerated in pediatric patients with SBS-IF. Teduglutide 0.025 or 0.05 mg/kg/d was associated with trends toward reductions in PN requirements and advancements in EN feeding in children with SBS-IF

Trial of Optimal Personalised Care After Treatment for Gynaecological cancer (TOPCAT-G): a study protocol for a randomised feasibility trial

Background: Gynaecological cancers are diagnosed in over 1000 women in Wales every year. We estimate that this is costing the National Health Service (NHS) in excess of £1 million per annum for routine follow-up appointments alone. Follow-up care is not evidence-based, and there are no definitive guidelines from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the type of follow-up that should be delivered. Standard care is to provide a regular medical review of the patient in a hospital-based outpatient clinic for a minimum of 5 years. This study is to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed alternative where the patients are delivered a specialist nurse-led telephone intervention known as Optimal Personalised Care After Treatment for Gynaecological cancer (OPCAT-G), which comprised of a protocol-based patient education, patient empowerment and structured needs assessment. Methods: The study will recruit female patients who have completed treatment for cervical, endometrial, epithelial ovarian or vulval cancer within the previous 3 months in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in North Wales. Following recruitment, participants will be randomised to one of two arms in the trial (standard care or OPCAT-G intervention). The primary outcomes for the trial are patient recruitment and attrition rates, and the secondary outcomes are quality of life, health status and capability, using the EORTC QLQ-C30, EQ- 5D-3L and ICECAP-A measures. Additionally, a client service receipt inventory (CSRI) will be collected in order to pilot an economic evaluation. Discussion: The results from this feasibility study will be used to inform a fully powered randomised controlled trial to evaluate the difference between standard care and the OPCAT-G intervention. Trial registration: ISRCTN45565436

Maternal autoimmunity and inflammation are associated with childhood tics and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Transcriptomic data show common enriched innate immune pathways.

Although genetic variation is a major risk factor of neurodevelopmental disorders, environmental factors during pregnancy and early life are also important in disease expression. Animal models demonstrate that maternal inflammation causes fetal neuroinflammation and neurodevelopmental deficits, and brain transcriptomics of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans show upregulated differentially expressed genes are enriched in immune pathways. We prospectively recruited 200 sequentially referred children with tic disorders/obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 100 autoimmune neurological controls, and 100 age-matched healthy controls. A structured interview captured the maternal and family history of autoimmune disease and other pro-inflammatory states. Maternal blood and published Tourette brain transcriptomes were analysed for overlapping enriched pathways. Mothers of children with tics/OCD had a higher rate of autoimmune disease compared with mothers of children with autoimmune neurological conditions (p = 0.054), and mothers of healthy controls (p = 0.0004). Autoimmunity was similarly elevated in first- and second-degree maternal relatives of children with tics/OCD (p 0.0001 and p = 0.014 respectively). Other pro-inflammatory states were also more common in mothers of children with tics/OCD than controls (p 0.0001). Upregulated differentially expressed genes in maternal autoimmune disease and Tourette brain transcriptomes were commonly enriched in innate immune processes. Pro-inflammatory states, including autoimmune disease, are more common in the mothers and families of children with tics/OCD. Exploratory transcriptome analysis indicates innate immune signalling may link maternal inflammation and childhood tics/OCD. Targeting inflammation may represent preventative strategies in pregnancy and treatment opportunities for children with neurodevelopmental disorders

The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) family

The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) enzymes are secreted, multi-domain matrix-associated zinc metalloendopeptidases that have diverse roles in tissue morphogenesis and patho-physiological remodeling, in inflammation and in vascular biology. The human family includes 19 members that can be sub-grouped on the basis of their known substrates, namely the aggrecanases or proteoglycanases (ADAMTS1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15 and 20), the procollagen N-propeptidases (ADAMTS2, 3 and 14), the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein-cleaving enzymes (ADAMTS7 and 12), the von-Willebrand Factor proteinase (ADAMTS13) and a group of orphan enzymes (ADAMTS6, 10, 16, 17, 18 and 19). Control of the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a central theme of the biology of the ADAMTS, as exemplified by the actions of the procollagen-N-propeptidases in collagen fibril assembly and of the aggrecanases in the cleavage or modification of ECM proteoglycans. Defects in certain family members give rise to inherited genetic disorders, while the aberrant expression or function of others is associated with arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In particular, ADAMTS4 and 5 have emerged as therapeutic targets in arthritis. Multiple ADAMTSs from different sub-groupings exert either positive or negative effects on tumorigenesis and metastasis, with both metalloproteinase-dependent and -independent actions known to occur. The basic ADAMTS structure comprises a metalloproteinase catalytic domain and a carboxy-terminal ancillary domain, the latter determining substrate specificity and the localization of the protease and its interaction partners; ancillary domains probably also have independent biological functions. Focusing primarily on the aggrecanases and proteoglycanases, this review provides a perspective on the evolution of the ADAMTS family, their links with developmental and disease mechanisms, and key questions for the future