Evaluation of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 as tumour-specific markers to detect blood dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The members of MAGE gene family are highly expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we tested the tumour-specific MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 transcripts in the peripheral blood of HCC patients by nested RT–PCR to detect the circulating tumour cells and evaluate their potential clinical implication. Of 30 HCC patients, the positive rate of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 transcripts was 43.3% (13 out of 30) and 33.3% (10 out of 30) in PBMC samples, whilst the positive rate was 70% (21 out of 30) and 53.3% (16 out of 30) in the resected HCC tissue samples, respectively. The positivity for at least one MAGE gene transcript was 63.3% (19 out of 30) in PBMC samples of HCC patients and 83.3% (25 out of 30) in the resected HCC tissue samples. MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 mRNA were not detected in the PBMC of those patients from whom the resected HCC tissues were MAGE-1 or MAGE-3 mRNA negative, nor in the 25 PBMC samples from healthy donors. The detection of MAGE transcripts in PBMC was correlated with the advanced stages and tumour size of the HCC, being 82.4% (14 out of 17) in tumour stages III and IVa, 56.6% (five out of nine) in stage II, and null (nought out of four) in stage I. The serum α-FP in 33.3% (10 out of 30) of HCC patients was normal or slightly elevated (<40 ng ml−1). However, six of these 10 patients (α-FP <40 ng ml−1) were MAGE-1 and /or MAGE-3 mRNA positive in their PBMC. The follow-up survey of MAGE mRNA in PBMC was performed in 12 patients. Seven patients with persistent MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 mRNA positive or from negative turned to positive died because of metastasis and/or recurrence. In striking contrast, all four patients with MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 mRNA from positive turned to negative and one patient with persistent MAGE-3 transcript negative are alive after last test. Collectively, detection of MAGE transcripts with follow-up survey in PBMC is a feasible and reliable assay for the early prediction of the relapse and prognosis of the HCC patients

The PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

The physics emphases of the PHENIX collaboration and the design and current status of the PHENIX detector are discussed. The plan of the collaboration for making the most effective use of the available luminosity in the first years of RHIC operation is also presented.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Further details of the PHENIX physics program available at http://www.rhic.bnl.gov/phenix

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Increased Pregnancy in Suckled Beef Cows Not Detected in Estrus and Subjected to a Split-Time Artificial Insemination Program

Estrus-synchronization programs allow insemination of all females in a herd at one fixed time on the first day of the breeding season. Inseminating cows after they have expressed estrus increases pregnancy rate (PR) compared with cows that do not display estrus in a timed AI (TAI) program. Identification of estrus status can be facilitated by using estrus-detection patches. Varying AI timing according to estrus status has increased PR in some previous studies. Reducing the number of injections in a TAI program decreases labor requirements, stress on cows, and overall cost of the program. Previous studies have demonstrated that PR is not compromised in cows displaying estrus when the GnRH injection administered at AI is eliminated. A split-time AI program decreases the time between estrus expression and insemination compared with a single fixed-time AI when the first AI occurs before the recommended standard 60- to 66-h fixed time. Previous research has demonstrated that delaying AI results in approxi­mately 50% more cows displaying estrus when compared with a single insemination time. Eliminating the GnRH injection at AI for cows displaying estrus in a split TAI program can reduce the number of GnRH injections required and the program cost. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that GnRH injection concurrent with split TAI program improves PR only in cows not displaying estrus

Presumed caudal cerebellar artery infarction in three cats: Neurological signs, MRI findings, and outcome

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a relatively common condition in dogs but infrequent in cats, with acute or peracute onset of non-progressive neurological signs. Cerebellar artery infarction appears to be very uncommon in cats, with only two cases reported affecting the rostral cerebellar artery (RCA). This study aims to report for the first time the neurological signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and outcome in three cats diagnosed with presumed caudal cerebellar artery (CCA) infarction. Unique presentation of vestibular signs associated with CCA in three cats and similarities between dogs and humans are discussed

Los tuyos, los míos, los nuestros: Conociendo los visitantes florales y potenciales polinizadores de Minthostachys verticillata (Griseb) Epling. (Lamiaceae), especie ginodioica con prioridad de conservación

Las diferencias morfológicas y fisiológicas que presentan los morfos sexuales de las especies ginodioicas podrían condicionar con cuáles y cuántos visitantes florales interactúan los mismos. Estudiamos a Minthostachys verticillata (Peperina), especie ginodioica y endémica de Argentina, para (1) conocer el ensamble de visitantes florales de los morfos femenino y hermafrodita e identificar las especies compartidas y no compartidas entre éstos, y (2) reconocer a los potenciales polinizadores de la especie. Visitamos tres sitios de Bosque Chaqueño Serrano en Córdoba durante 4 meses (27 visitas, 50 horas de observación). Durante toda la floración de la especie se hicieron observaciones focales en 30 individuos femeninos y 30 hermafroditas; se registraron los insectos que visitaron las flores y se identificaron a los potenciales polinizadores. Se registraron 30 morfoespecies de polinizadores compartidas (67% Dípteros, 20% Himenópteros y 13% Lepidópteros) y 79 no compartidas. De éstas, 38 y 41 morfoespecies visitaron exclusivamente al morfo hermafrodita (63,6% Dípteros, 24,2% Himenópteros, 12,2% Lepidópteros) y femenino (53,7% Dípteros, 41,5% Himenópteros y 4,8% Lepidópteros), respectivamente. Estos resultados muestran que: a) los Dípteros son importantes como polinizadores de la Peperina, b) los polinizadores compartidos entre morfos (i.e. que promoverían el flujo de polen) y los que visitan exclusivamente a los individuos hermafroditas serían polinizadores potenciales de la especie, mientras que aquellos observados exclusivamente en el morfo femenino serían sólo visitantes florales que hacen uso de las recompensas y c) M. verticillata es importante en mantener diversos insectos potencialmente beneficiosos para la polinización de otras especies de plantas de la comunidad.Fil: Roldán, J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Maltese, C. P.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Alvarado Bocalón, N. C.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Chosco, G. S.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rubini Pisano, M. A.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Longoni, B. N.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Negrin, N. A.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Astegiano, Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Ashworth, Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaXXXVII Jornadas Argentinas de BotánicaTucumánArgentinaSociedad Argentina de BotánicaUniversidad Nacional de Tucumá

Donor hematopoiesis in mice following total lymphoid irradiation requires host T-regulatory cells for durable engraftment

Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is a unique regimen that prepares recipients for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation by targeting lymph nodes, while sparing large areas of the bone marrow. TLI is reported to increase the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T-regulatory cells (Treg) relative to conventional T cells. In this study, barriers to hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment following this nonmyeloablative conditioning were evaluated. TLI/ATG resulted in profound lymphoablation but endogenous host HSC remained. Initial donor HSC engraftment occurred only in radiation exposed marrow sites, but gradually distributed to bone marrow outside the radiation field. Sustained donor engraftment required host lymphoid cells insofar as lymphocyte deficient Rag2γc(-/-) recipients had unstable engraftment compared with wild-type. TLI/ATG treated wild-type recipients had increased proportions of Treg that were associated with increased HSC frequency and proliferation. In contrast, Rag2γc(-/-) recipients who lacked Treg did not. Adoptive transfer of Treg into Rag2γc(-/-) recipients resulted in increased cell cycling of endogenous HSC. Thus, we hypothesize that Treg influence donor engraftment post-TLI/ATG by increasing HSC cell cycling, thereby promoting the exit of host HSC from the marrow niche. Our study highlights the unique dynamics of donor hematopoiesis following TLI/ATG, and the effect of Treg on HSC activity