Triprolidinium dipicrate

In the tripodinium cation of the title compound {systematic name: 2-[(E)-1-(4-methyl­phen­yl)-3-(pyrrolidin-1-ium-1-yl)prop-1-en­yl]pyridinium bis­(2,4,6-trinitro­phenolate)}, C19H24N2 +·2C6H2N3O7 −, the N atoms on both the pyrrolidine and pyridinium groups are protonated. The pyrrolidine group adopts a slightly distorted envelope configuration. Strong N—H⋯O cation–anion hydrogen bonds and weak inter­molecular N—H⋯O inter­actions link the dication and two anions. In both picrate anions, the nitro groups display rotational disorder over two orientations in a 0.605 (6):0.395 (6) ratio. The crystal packing also features weak inter­molecular π–π [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8036 (14) Å] and C—H⋯O inter­actions

Prognostic utility of HOXB13 : IL17BR and molecular grade index in early-stage breast cancer patients from the Stockholm trial

Background: A dichotomous index combining two gene expression assays, HOXB13:IL17BR (H:I) and molecular grade index (MGI), was developed to assess risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients. The study objective was to demonstrate the prognostic utility of the combined index in early-stage breast cancer. Methods: In a blinded retrospective analysis of 588 ER-positive tamoxifen-treated and untreated breast cancer patients from the randomized prospective Stockholm trial, H:I and MGI were measured using real-time RT-PCR. Association with patient outcome was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression. A continuous risk index was developed using Cox modeling. Results: The dichotomous H:I+MGI was significantly associated with distant recurrence and breast cancer death. The >50% of tamoxifen-treated patients categorized as low-risk had <3% 10-year distant recurrence risk. A continuous risk model (Breast Cancer Index (BCI)) was developed with the tamoxifen-treated group and the prognostic performance tested in the untreated group was 53% of patients categorized as low-risk with an 8.3% 10-year distant recurrence risk. Conclusion: Retrospective analysis of this randomized, prospective trial cohort validated the prognostic utility of H:I+MGI and was used to develop and test a continuous risk model that enables prediction of distant recurrence risk at the patient level.Original Publication:Piiha-Lotta Jerevall, Xiai-Jun Ma, Hongying Li, Ranelle Salunga, Nicole C. Kesty, Mark G. Erlander, Dennis Sgroi, Birgitta Holmlund, Lambert Skoog, Tommy Fornander, Bo Nordenskjöld and Olle Stål, Prognostic utility of HOXB13:IL17BR and Molecular Grade Index in early-stage breast cancer patients from the Stockholm trial, 2011, British Journal of Cancer, (104), 11, 1762-1769.http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2011.145Copyright: Nature Publishing Grouphttp://npg.nature.com

Oligogenic inheritance of a human heart disease involving a genetic modifier.

Complex genetic mechanisms are thought to underlie many human diseases, yet experimental proof of this model has been elusive. Here, we show that a human cardiac anomaly can be caused by a combination of rare, inherited heterozygous mutations. Whole-exome sequencing of a nuclear family revealed that three offspring with childhood-onset cardiomyopathy had inherited three missense single-nucleotide variants in the MKL2, MYH7, and NKX2-5 genes. The MYH7 and MKL2 variants were inherited from the affected, asymptomatic father and the rare NKX2-5 variant (minor allele frequency, 0.0012) from the unaffected mother. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate mice encoding the orthologous variants and found that compound heterozygosity for all three variants recapitulated the human disease phenotype. Analysis of murine hearts and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes provided histologic and molecular evidence for the NKX2-5 variant's contribution as a genetic modifier

Gene expression profiles of human breast cancer progression

Although distinct pathological stages of breast cancer have been described, the molecular differences among these stages are largely unknown. Here, through the combined use of laser capture microdissection and DNA microarrays, we have generated in situ gene expression profiles of the premalignant, preinvasive, and invasive stages of human breast cancer. Our data reveal extensive similarities at the transcriptome level among the distinct stages of progression and suggest that gene expression alterations conferring the potential for invasive growth are already present in the preinvasive stages. In contrast to tumor stage, different tumor grades are associated with distinct gene expression signatures. Furthermore, a subset of genes associated with high tumor grade is quantitatively correlated with the transition from preinvasive to invasive growth

Radical oxygen species and bile secretion

Oxidative stress is a common feature in most hepatopathies. Accumulating evidences indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce a number of functional changes either deleterious or adaptive in the capability of the hepatocytes to produce bile and to secrete exogenous and endogenous compounds. This review is aimed to describe the mechanisms involved in these changes. For this purpose, we will summarize: 1. The current evidence that acutely induced oxidative stress is cholestatic, by describing the mechanisms underlying the hepatocyte secretory failure, including the disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and its most noticeable consequences, that is, the impairment of tight-junctional structures and the endocytic internalization of canalicular transporters relevant to bile formation. 2. The role for oxidative-stress-activated signalling pathways in the pathomechanisms described above, particularly those involving Ca2+ elevation and its consequent activation via Ca2+ of “classical” and “novel” PKC isoforms. 3. The mechanisms involved in the adaptive response against oxidative stress mediated by ROS-responsive transcription factors, such as upregulation of GSH synthesis pathway, antioxidant enzymes, and hepatocellular efflux pumps. 4. The consequences on hepatocellular secretory function when this adaptive response can be surpassed by the sustained/high production of ROS. This deleterious effects include transcriptional and posttranscriptional changes in the expression of transporters relevant to bile formation, as has been shown to occur, for example, after long-term administration of aluminum to rats, in the Long-Evans Cinnamon rat (a model of chronic hepatic copper accumulation mimicking Wilson’s disease), and in ischemia-reperfusion injury.Fil: Basiglio, Cecilia Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE‑CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Toledo, Flavia D. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE‑CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Sánchez Pozzi, Enrique J. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE‑CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Roma, Marcelo Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE‑CONICET); Argentina