A comparison of the physical and chemical differences between cancellous and cortical bovine bone mineral at two ages

To assess possible differences between the mineral phases of cortical and cancellous bone, the structure and composition of isolated bovine mineral crystals from young (1–3 months) and old (4–5 years) postnatal bovine animals were analyzed by a variety of complementary techniques: chemical analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and 31P solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). This combination of methods represents the most complete physicochemical characterization of cancellous and cortical bone mineral completed thus far. Spectra obtained from XRD, FTIR, and 31P NMR all confirmed that the mineral was calcium phosphate in the form of carbonated apatite; however, a crystal maturation process was evident between the young and old and between cancellous and cortical mineral crystals. Two-way analyses of variance showed larger increases of crystal size and Ca/P ratio for the cortical vs. cancellous bone of 1–3 month than the 4–5 year animals. The Ca/(P + CO3) remained nearly constant within a given bone type and in both bone types at 4–5 years. The carbonate and phosphate FTIR band ratios revealed a decrease of labile ions with age and in cortical, relative to cancellous, bone. Overall, the same aging or maturation trends were observed for young vs. old and cancellous vs. cortical. Based on the larger proportion of newly formed bone in cancellous bone relative to cortical bone, the major differences between the cancellous and cortical mineral crystals must be ascribed to differences in average age of the crystals

A First Generation Microsatellite- and SNP-Based Linkage Map of Jatropha

Jatropha curcas is a potential plant species for biodiesel production. However, its seed yield is too low for profitable production of biodiesel. To improve the productivity, genetic improvement through breeding is essential. A linkage map is an important component in molecular breeding. We established a first-generation linkage map using a mapping panel containing two backcross populations with 93 progeny. We mapped 506 markers (216 microsatellites and 290 SNPs from ESTs) onto 11 linkage groups. The total length of the map was 1440.9 cM with an average marker space of 2.8 cM. Blasting of 222 Jatropha ESTs containing polymorphic SSR or SNP markers against EST-databases revealed that 91.0%, 86.5% and 79.2% of Jatropha ESTs were homologous to counterparts in castor bean, poplar and Arabidopsis respectively. Mapping 192 orthologous markers to the assembled whole genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana identified 38 syntenic blocks and revealed that small linkage blocks were well conserved, but often shuffled. The first generation linkage map and the data of comparative mapping could lay a solid foundation for QTL mapping of agronomic traits, marker-assisted breeding and cloning genes responsible for phenotypic variation

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of excision repair cross complementation group 1 (ERCC1) in nasopharynx cancer (NPC): A companion biomarker study to Hong Kong NPC Study Group 0502 trial

Poster Highlights Session - Head and Neck Cancer: abstract no. 6029Background: Polymorphisms at ERCC1 has been linked to platinum sensitivity and treatment outcome. We hypothesized that ERCC1 SNP at codon 118 and C8092A is predictive of relapse free survival (RFS) in NPC, and correlates with ERCC1 protein/mRNA in paired tumor samples. Methods: 0502 is a multi-center prospective clinical trial to assess adjuvant chemotherapy in NPC pts with detectable plasma EBV-DNA (pEBV) following primary radiotherapy (RT) or cisplatin-RT (CRT) (NCT00370890). Eligible pts with biopsy proven NPC, AJCC stage IIB-IVB, no persistent locoregional disease or distant metastasis, ECOG 0-1, adequate organ function, were screened by pEBV at 6-8 weeks after completing RT/CRT. Post-RT pEBV -ve pts received no further treatment. pEBV +ve pts underwent work-up and randomization to adjuvant chemotherapy or observation. We tested our hypothesis using samples collected in the 0502 screening cohort. Primary endpoint is relapse free survival (RFS). ERCC1 genotyping was by TaqMan real time PCR. 450 pts is planned to detect a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.5 for the weaker ERCC1 SNP at 80% power and 2-side 5% alpha level. In subset with available tumor biopsies, we quantified ERCC1 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or Western blot (WB) with mouse monoclonal antibody (clone 8F1), and ERCC1 mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR. Results: ERCC1 SNP was analyzed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 478 pts. Median follow up was 3.61 years (90% C.I. 3.36-3.88). 31% pEBV +ve, 17% randomized. ERCC1 genotype distribution at codon 118: 54% CC, 39% CT, 7% TT; C8092A: 38% CC, 50% CA, 12% AA. There was no significant association of ERCC1 SNP with 3-year RFS or overall survival. No significant correlation was observed in ERCC1 SNP and tumor ERCC1 expression by IHC, WB or mRNA. In subset evaluated by ERCC1 IHC (n=79), pts with ERCC1+ve tumor (H-score > median) had worse RFS (HR 2.34, 95% C.I. 1.06-5.16, p=0.036). Multivariate analysis showed pEBV was the most significant adverse prognosticator for all clinical endpoints. Conclusions: We found no association of ERCC1 SNP with NPC survival. pEBV remained the most significant prognostic biomarker in NPC

Chemotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Neoadjuvant, Concomitant, and/or Adjuvant

© 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York. Nasopharyngeal cancers are unique among other head and neck cancers, not only in epidemiology and histological characteristics, but also on treatment strategies as well. Radiotherapy is the primary treatment due to its radiosensitivity. In locally advanced stages, concurrent chemoradiation has been established to be effective to eradicate the disease and improve survival, in favor of radiotherapy alone. While increasing studies have explored the potential benefit of adding more chemotherapy to the concurrent regimen, whether adjuvant or neoadjuvant, it is generally agreed that proper patient selection is needed to stratify high-risk groups to intensify treatment and to optimize the disease outcome. Future studies are ongoing, possibly with the addition of biomarkers such as EBV DNA for risk group stratification. Refinement of patient groups that should be selected for combined modality treatment in stage II disease is also warranted.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Prospective evaluation of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA clearance and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission scan in assessing early response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

2017-2018 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journal201809 bcmaVersion of RecordPublishe