Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter and protein expression of the chemokine Eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies suggest that chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) promote and regulate neoplastic progression including metastasis and angiogenesis. The chemokine eotaxin-1 is a powerful eosinophil attractant but also exerts chemotaxis of other leukocytes. Eotaxin-1 has been implicated in gastrointestinal disorders and may play an important role in colorectal mucosal immunity.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>The objective of this study was to assess the role of eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Levels of eotaxin-1 protein in CRC tissues (n = 86) and paired normal mucosa were compared after determination by ELISA. Plasma eotaxin-1 levels from CRC patients (n = 67) were also compared with controls (n = 103) using the same method. Moreover, a TaqMan system was used to evaluate the -384A>G eotaxin-1 gene variant in CRC patients (n = 241) and in a control group (n = 253).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eotaxin-1 protein levels in colorectal tumours were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than in normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed eotaxin-1 expression in stromal cells such as fibroblasts and leukocytes of the CRC tissue. The plasma eotaxin-1 level in CRC patients was lower compared with controls (P < 0.0001). Patients with tumours classified as Dukes' stage B and C had lower levels than patients with tumours in Dukes' stage A. We found no difference in genotype distribution but noted a difference regarding allele distribution (P = 0.036) and a dominance of allele G in rectal cancer patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The up-regulated eotaxin-1 protein expression in cancer tissue may reflect an eotaxin-1 mediated angiogenesis and/or a recruitment of leukocytes with potential antitumourigenic role. We noticed a dominance of the G allele in rectal cancer patients compared with colon cancer patients that was independent of eotaxin-1 expression.</p

Significant Differences in the Bacterial Microbiome of the Pharynx and Skin in Patients with Psoriasis Compared with Healthy Controls

Studies have shown differences in the skin and gut bacterial microbiomes in patients with psoriasis, but the pharyngeal microbiome has not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the bacterial microbiome of the pharynx and skin of patients with psoriasis compared with healthy controls. Swabs were taken from the pharynx and el-bow skin of 39 patients with psoriasis and 70 controls. Microbiomes were characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA genes on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Significant differences were found in alpha and beta diversity in the skin, but not in the pharynx. Significant differences were also found between several phyla and genera in both skin and pharynx. The severity of psoriasis did not correlate with any genera in the pharynx, but with Capnocytophaga, Leptotrichia, Abiotrophia and Tannerella in the skin. The composition of the pharyngeal and skin microbiome may be of importance in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.Funding Agencies|Swedish Psoriasis Foundation; Futurum, The Academy of Healthcare, Region Jonkoping County, Sweden</p

Significant Changes in the Skin Microbiome in Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis after Treatment with Narrowband Ultraviolet B

Changes in the skin microbiome have been shown to promote cutaneous inflammation. The skin microbiome of patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis was analysed before and after treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB). Swab samples of the microbiome were taken from lesional and non-lesional skin of 26 patients. Microbiotas were characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA bacterial genes on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Lesional skin microbiome diversity correlated with psoriasis severity (measured with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index; PASI). There was a significantly lower abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and the genus Staphylococcus in lesional skin compared with non-lesional skin before UVB treatment. Responders (amp;gt; 75% target Psoriasis Severity Index (PSI) improvement) had significantly lower abundance of the phyla Firmicutes in lesional and non-lesional skin and lower abundance of the genera Staphylococcus, Finegoldia, Anaerococcus, Peptoniphilus, Gardnerella, Prevotella and Clostridium in lesional skin after UVB treatment. Pseudomonas significantly decreased in lesional and non-lesional skin of treatment responders. These results suggest that skin microbiome alterations after UVB treatment could be related to treatment and treatment response.Funding Agencies|Swedish Psoriasis Foundation; Futurum, The Academy of Healthcare, County Council of Jonkoping, Sweden</p

Protozoan infections are under-recognized in Swedish patients with gastrointestinal symptoms

In acute gastroenteritis (GE), identification of the infectious agent is important for patient management and surveillance. The prevalence of GE caused by protozoa may be underestimated in Swedish patients. The purpose was to compare the prevalence ofE. histolytica,Cryptosporidiumspp.,G. intestinalis, andC. cayetanensisin samples from patients where the clinician had requested testing for gastrointestinal parasites only (n = 758) to where testing for bacterial GE only (n = 803) or where both parasite and bacterial testing (n = 1259) was requested and a healthy control group (n = 197). This prospective cohort study was conducted in Region Jonkoping County, Sweden (October 2018-March 2019). Fecal samples were analyzed with microscopy and real-time PCR.Cryptosporidiumspp. was detected in 16 patients in the bacterial GE group and in 13 in the both bacterial and parasite group; no cases were detected in the group were only parasite infection was suspected.C. cayetanensiswas detected in two patients in the bacterial GE group. One case ofE. histolyticawas detected in the bacterial group and one in the both bacterial and parasite group.G. intestinaliswas detected in 14 patients in the parasite only group, 12 in the both parasite and bacterial group, three in the bacterial GE group, and one in the control group. Diarrhea caused by protozoa, especially Cryptosporidium was under-recognized by clinicians and is likely more common than hitherto estimated in Sweden. A more symptom-based diagnostic algorithm may increase detection and knowledge about protozoan infections.Funding Agencies|Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska Institutet; Futurum, Region Jonkoping County</p

Novel Light-Upon-Extension Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection and Quantification of Genogroup I and II Noroviruses in Clinical Specimens▿

Norovirus is now recognized as the leading cause of nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis in adults, causing numerous outbreaks worldwide. We have developed two novel light-upon-extension (LUX) real-time PCR assays for detection and quantification of norovirus genogroups I and II. The LUX system uses a fluorophore attached to one primer having a self-quenching hairpin structure, making it cost-effective and specific. The assays were evaluated against clinical stool specimens (n = 103) from Sweden and Nicaragua and compared to established methods. The norovirus assay detected more positive stool specimens (47/103) than conventional PCR (39/103) and corresponded to a TaqMan real-time PCR, with the exception of one specimen. Furthermore, the assays correctly identified all (n = 11) coded control specimens in a reference panel containing various genogroups and genotypes. Both LUX real-time PCR assays had a wide dynamic range, detecting from ≤101 to 107 genes per reaction, resulting in a theoretical lower limit of ≤∼20 000 viruses per gram of stool. No cross-reactivity was noticed with specimens containing other enteric viruses, and by using melting curve analysis we could differentiate between norovirus genogroups I and II

Analyzing Multiclonality of Staphylococcus aureus in Clinical Diagnostics Using spa-Based Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

We present a novel denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method which characterizes multiclonal communities of Staphylococcus aureus. The spa PCR-based DGGE method simultaneously separates strains that differ in only one base, thereby revealing multiclonal colonization and infections.Funding Agencies|Swedish Society of Medicine||Futurum||Research Council of South-East Sweden (FORSS)|

Images of immunohistochemical staining of eotaxin-1 in colorectal tissue from patients with CRC

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter and protein expression of the chemokine Eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer patients"</p><p>http://www.wjso.com/content/5/1/84</p><p>World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2007;5():84-84.</p><p>Published online 31 Jul 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1964791.</p><p></p> Eotaxin-1 expressing stromal cells in cancer (A) and normal (B) tissue. Magnification, × 200

The eotaxin-1 protein level in cancer tissue was significantly higher compared to normal paired tissue

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter and protein expression of the chemokine Eotaxin-1 in colorectal cancer patients"</p><p>http://www.wjso.com/content/5/1/84</p><p>World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2007;5():84-84.</p><p>Published online 31 Jul 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1964791.</p><p></p> Medians are shown by horizontal bars