131 research outputs found
Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: A Single Institution Experience
Purpose. We sought to evaluate our experience using yttrium-90 (90Y) resin microsphere hepatic radioembolization as salvage therapy for liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods. A retrospective review of consecutive patients with unresectable mCRC who were treated with 90Y after failing first and second line systemic chemotherapy. Demographics, treatment dose, biochemical and radiographic response, toxicities, and survival were examined. Results. Fifty-one patients underwent 90Y treatments of which 69% were male. All patients had previously undergone extensive chemotherapy, 31% had undergone previous liver-directed therapy and 24% had a prior liver resection. Using RECIST criteria, either stable disease or a partial response was seen in 77% of patients. Overall median survival from the time of first 90Y treatment was 10.2 months (95%βCI = 7.5β13.0). The absence of extrahepatic disease at the time of treatment with 90Y was associated with an improved survival, median survival of 17.0 months (95%βCI = 6.4β27.6), compared to those with extrahepatic disease at the time of treatment with 90Y, 6.7 months (95%βCI = 2.7β10.6 Conclusion: 90Y therapy is a safe locoregional therapy that provides an important therapeutic option to patients who have failed first and second line chemotherapy and have adequate liver function and performance status
mtDNA heteroplasmy gives rise to a new maternal lineage in North Pacific humpback whales
Heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial genome offers a rare opportunity to track the evolution of
a newly arising maternal lineage in populations of non-model species. Here, we identified a
previously unreported mitochondrial DNA haplotype while assembling an integrated
database of DNA profiles and photo-identification records from humpback whales in
southeastern Alaska (SEAK). The haplotype, referred to as A8, was shared by only two
individuals, a mature female with her female calf, and differed by only a single base pair from
a common haplotype in the North Pacific, referred to as A-. To investigate the origins of the
A8 haplotype, we reviewed n = 1,089 electropherograms (including replicate samples) of n =
710 individuals with A- haplotypes from an existing collection. From this review, we found 20
individuals with clear evidence of heteroplasmy for A-/A8 (parental/derived) haplotypes. Of
these, 15 were encountered in SEAK, four were encountered on the Hawaiian breeding
ground (the primary migratory destination for whales in SEAK) and one was encountered in
the northern Gulf of Alaska. We used genotype exclusion and likelihood to identify one of the
heteroplasmic females as the likely mother of the A8 cow and grandmother of the A8 calf,
establishing the inheritance and germ-line fixation of the new haplotype from the parental
heteroplasmy. The mutation leading to this heteroplasmy and the fixation of the A8
haplotype provide an opportunity to document the population dynamics and regional fidelity
of a newly arising maternal lineage in a population recovering from exploitation.Funding
Support for this work was provided by a cooperative agreement between
Oregon State University and the National Park Service (Pacific West Region
Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit Task Agreement #P12AC15004). Additional
funding was provided by the Mamie Markham Research Award, Joan Crebbin
Memorial Fellowship, Lylian Brucefield Reynolds Scholarship, Thomas G. Scott
Grant Scholarship and the Hatfield Marine Science Center Student Organization
Travel Grant.
Acknowledgements
We thank the SPLASH Steering Committee for access to haplotype information and
sighting records. A special thanks to Charles Jurasz for his insight and foresight in
documenting individual whales in southeastern Alaska. All research was conducted
under appropriate permits issued by the US National Marine Fisheries Service, in
accordance with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act and the US Endangered
Species Act, including no. 14122 issued to J.M.S., nos. 945-1499-02 and 473-1700-
00 issued to the Glacier Bay National Park, and no. 675 issued to C.S.B.Ye
Local recruitment of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska, over 30 years
We provide new information on the scale at which fidelity and recruitment underlie observed increases in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae populations.We provide new information on the scale at which fidelity and recruitment underlie observed increases in humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae populations. We used photoidentification records and DNA profiles from whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait (GBIS), southeastern Alaska (SEAK) to investigate 3 sources of population increase over 33 yr (1973β2005): local GBIS recruitment, recruitment from elsewhere in SEAK, and immigration from outside SEAK. We defined 2 temporal strata for these longitudinal records: βfounderβ individuals identified from 1973 to 1985 (n = 74; n = 46 with DNA profiles) and βcontemporaryβ individuals identified from 2004 to 2005 (n = 171; n = 118 with DNA profiles). To distinguish between local recruitment
and recruitment from elsewhere in SEAK, we estimated the proportion of the contemporary stratum that was either a returning founder or descended from a founder female. After excluding 42 contemporary whales without a known mother or genotype to infer maternity, 73.6% of the contemporary stratum was confirmed or inferred through parentage analysis to be either a returning founder or a descendant of a founder mother. Of the 25 females with genotypes in the founder stratum, 24 (96%) were either represented in the contemporary stratum, had at least 1 descendant in the contemporary stratum, or both. We found no significant differences in microsatellite allele or mtDNA frequencies between the strata, suggesting little or no immigration from other feeding grounds. Our results highlight the importance of local habitat protection for a recovering species with culturally inherited migratory destinations.Ye
Protective effect of stromal Dickkopf-3 in prostate cancer: opposing roles for TGFBI and ECM-1
Aberrant transforming growth factorβΞ² (TGF-Ξ²) signaling is a hallmark of the stromal microenvironment in cancer. Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), shown to inhibit TGF-Ξ² signaling, is downregulated in prostate cancer and upregulated in the stroma in benign prostatic hyperplasia, but the function of stromal Dkk-3 is unclear. Here we show that DKK3 silencing in WPMY-1 prostate stromal cells increases TGF-Ξ² signaling activity and that stromal cellconditioned media inhibit prostate cancer cell invasion in a Dkk-3-dependent manner. DKK3 silencing increased the level of the cell-adhesion regulator TGF-Ξ²βinduced protein (TGFBI) in stromal and epithelial cell-conditioned media, and recombinant TGFBI increased prostate cancer cell invasion. Reduced expression of Dkk-3 in patient tumors was associated with increased expression of TGFBI. DKK3 silencing reduced the level of extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM-1) in prostate stromal cell-conditioned media but increased it in epithelial cell-conditioned media, and recombinant ECM-1 inhibited TGFBI-induced prostate cancer cell invasion. Increased ECM1 and DKK3 mRNA expression in prostate tumors was associated with increased relapse-free survival. These observations are consistent with a model in which the loss of Dkk-3 in prostate cancer leads to increased secretion of TGFBI and ECM-1, which have tumor-promoting and tumor-protective roles, respectively. Determining how the balance between the opposing roles of extracellular factors influences prostate carcinogenesis will be key to developing therapies that target the tumor microenvironment
Alert but less alarmed: a pooled analysis of terrorism threat perception in Australia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous Australian research has highlighted disparities in community perceptions of the threat posed by terrorism. A study with a large sample size is needed to examine reported concerns and anticipated responses of community sub-groups and to determine their consistency with existing Australian and international findings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Representative samples of New South Wales (NSW) adults completed terrorism perception questions as part of computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in 2007 (N = 2081) and 2010 (N = 2038). Responses were weighted against the NSW population. Data sets from the two surveys were pooled and multivariate multilevel analyses conducted to identify health and socio-demographic factors associated with higher perceived risk of terrorism and evacuation response intentions, and to examine changes over time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In comparison with 2007, Australians in 2010 were significantly more likely to believe that a terrorist attack would occur in Australia (Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR) = 1.24, 95%CI:1.06-1.45) but felt less concerned that they would be directly affected by such an incident (AOR = 0.65, 95%CI:0.55-0.75). Higher perceived risk of terrorism and related changes in living were associated with middle age, female gender, lower education and higher reported psychological distress. Australians of migrant background reported significantly lower likelihood of terrorism (AOR = 0.52, 95%CI:0.39-0.70) but significantly higher concern that they would be personally affected by such an incident (AOR = 1.57, 95%CI:1.21-2.04) and having made changes in the way they live due to this threat (AOR = 2.47, 95%CI:1.88-3.25). Willingness to evacuate homes and public places in response to potential incidents increased significantly between 2007 and 2010 (AOR = 1.53, 95%CI:1.33-1.76).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While an increased proportion of Australians believe that the national threat of terrorism remains high, concern about being personally affected has moderated and may reflect habituation to this threat. Key sub-groups remain disproportionately concerned, notably those with lower education and migrant groups. The dissonance observed in findings relating to Australians of migrant background appears to reflect wider socio-cultural concerns associated with this issue. Disparities in community concerns regarding terrorism-related threat require active policy consideration and specific initiatives to reduce the vulnerabilities of known risk groups, particularly in the aftermath of future incidents.</p
Exhaled Aerosol Transmission of Pandemic and Seasonal H1N1 Influenza Viruses in the Ferret
Person-to-person transmission of influenza viruses occurs by contact (direct and fomites) and non-contact (droplet and small particle aerosol) routes, but the quantitative dynamics and relative contributions of these routes are incompletely understood. The transmissibility of influenza strains estimated from secondary attack rates in closed human populations is confounded by large variations in population susceptibilities. An experimental method to phenotype strains for transmissibility in an animal model could provide relative efficiencies of transmission. We developed an experimental method to detect exhaled viral aerosol transmission between unanesthetized infected and susceptible ferrets, measured aerosol particle size and number, and quantified the viral genomic RNA in the exhaled aerosol. During brief 3-hour exposures to exhaled viral aerosols in airflow-controlled chambers, three strains of pandemic 2009 H1N1 strains were frequently transmitted to susceptible ferrets. In contrast one seasonal H1N1 strain was not transmitted in spite of higher levels of viral RNA in the exhaled aerosol. Among three pandemic strains, the two strains causing weight loss and illness in the intranasally infected βdonorβ ferrets were transmitted less efficiently from the donor than the strain causing no detectable illness, suggesting that the mucosal inflammatory response may attenuate viable exhaled virus. Although exhaled viral RNA remained constant, transmission efficiency diminished from day 1 to day 5 after donor infection. Thus, aerosol transmission between ferrets may be dependent on at least four characteristics of virus-host relationships including the level of exhaled virus, infectious particle size, mucosal inflammation, and viral replication efficiency in susceptible mucosa
Solar System Objects Observed in the SDSS Commissioning Data
We discuss measurements of the properties of about 10,000 asteroids detected
in 500 deg2 of sky in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) commissioning data.
The moving objects are detected in the magnitude range 14 < r < 21.5, with a
baseline of 5 minutes. Extensive tests show that the sample is at least 98%
complete, with the contamination rate of less than 3%.
We find that the size distribution of asteroids resembles a broken power-law,
independent of the heliocentric distance: D^{-2.3} for 0.4 km < D < 5 km, and
D^{-4} for 5 km < D < 40 km. As a consequence of this break, the number of
asteroids with r < 21.5 is ten times smaller than predicted by extrapolating
the power-law relation observed for brighter asteroids (r < 18). The observed
counts imply that there are about 530,000 objects with D>1 km in the asteroid
belt, or about four times less than previous estimates.
The distribution of main belt asteroids in the 4-dimensional SDSS color space
is bimodal, and the two groups can be associated with S (rocky) and C
(carbonaceous) asteroids. A strong bimodality is also seen in the heliocentric
distribution of asteroids and suggests the existence of two distinct belts: the
inner rocky belt, about 1 AU wide (FWHM) and centered at R~2.8 AU, and the
outer carbonaceous belt, about 0.5 AU wide and centered at R~3.2 AU. The colors
of Hungarias, Mars crossers, and near-Earth objects are more similar to the
C-type than to S-type asteroids, suggesting that they originate in the outer
belt. (abridged).Comment: 89 pages, 31 figures, submitted to A
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Isolates from Wild Birds Replicate and Transmit via Contact in Ferrets without Prior Adaptation
Direct transmission of avian influenza viruses to mammals has become an increasingly investigated topic during the past decade; however, isolates that have been primarily investigated are typically ones originating from human or poultry outbreaks. Currently there is minimal comparative information on the behavior of the innumerable viruses that exist in the natural wild bird host. We have previously demonstrated the capacity of numerous North American avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds to infect and induce lesions in the respiratory tract of mice. In this study, two isolates from shorebirds that were previously examined in mice (H1N9 and H6N1 subtypes) are further examined through experimental inoculations in the ferret with analysis of viral shedding, histopathology, and antigen localization via immunohistochemistry to elucidate pathogenicity and transmission of these viruses. Using sequence analysis and glycan binding analysis, we show that these avian viruses have the typical avian influenza binding pattern, with affinity for cell glycoproteins/glycolipids having terminal sialic acid (SA) residues with Ξ± 2,3 linkage [Neu5Ac(Ξ±2,3)Gal]. Despite the lack of Ξ±2,6 linked SA binding, these AIVs productively infected both the upper and lower respiratory tract of ferrets, resulting in nasal viral shedding and pulmonary lesions with minimal morbidity. Moreover, we show that one of the viruses is able to transmit to ferrets via direct contact, despite its binding affinity for Ξ± 2,3 linked SA residues. These results demonstrate that avian influenza viruses, which are endemic in aquatic birds, can potentially infect humans and other mammals without adaptation. Finally this work highlights the need for additional study of the wild bird subset of influenza viruses in regard to surveillance, transmission, and potential for reassortment, as they have zoonotic potential
Absence of RIP140 Reveals a Pathway Regulating glut4-Dependent Glucose Uptake in Oxidative Skeletal Muscle through UCP1-Mediated Activation of AMPK
Skeletal muscle constitutes the major site of glucose uptake leading to increased removal of glucose from the circulation in response to insulin. Type 2 diabetes and obesity are often associated with insulin resistance that can be counteracted by exercise or the use of drugs increasing the relative proportion of oxidative fibers. RIP140 is a transcriptional coregulator with a central role in metabolic tissues and we tested the effect of modulating its level of expression on muscle glucose and lipid metabolism in two mice models. Here, we show that although RIP140 protein is expressed at the same level in both oxidative and glycolytic muscles, it inhibits both fatty acid and glucose utilization in a fiber-type dependent manner. In RIP140-null mice, fatty acid utilization increases in the extensor digitorum longus and this is associated with elevated expression of genes implicated in fatty acid binding and transport. In the RIP140-null soleus, depletion of RIP140 leads to increased GLUT4 trafficking and glucose uptake with no change in Akt activity. AMPK phosphorylation/activity is inhibited in the soleus of RIP140 transgenic mice and increased in RIP140-null soleus. This is associated with increased UCP1 expression and mitochondrial uncoupling revealing the existence of a signaling pathway controlling insulin-independent glucose uptake in the soleus of RIP140-null mice. In conclusion, our findings reinforce the participation of RIP140 in the maintenance of energy homeostasis by acting as an inhibitor of energy production and particularly point to RIP140 as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of insulin resistance
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