Characterization of the Primo-Vascular System in the Abdominal Cavity of Lung Cancer Mouse Model and Its Differences from the Lymphatic System

Cancer growth and dissemination have been extensively studied for a long time. Nevertheless, many new observations on anatomy and histopathology of cancer events are still reported such as formation of a vasculogenic-like network inside aggressive tumors. In this research, new kinds of micro-conduits, named primo-vessels, were found inside the abdominal cavity of NCI-H460 lung cancer murine xenograft models. These vascular threads were largely distributed on the surfaces of various organs and were often connected to peritoneal tumor nodules. Histological and immunofluorescent investigations showed that the primo-vessels had characteristic features that were distinctively different from those of similar-looking lymphatic vessels. They had multiple channels surrounded with loose collageneous matrices, which is in contrast to the single-channel structure of other vascular systems. The rod-shaped nuclei aligned longitudinally along the channels were assumed to be the endothelial cells of the primo-vessels, but LYVE-1, a specific marker of lymphatics, was not expressed, which indicates a clear difference from lymphatic endothelial cells. Taken together these findings on and characterization of the novel threadlike vascular structures in cancer models may have important implications for cancer prognosis and for therapy

Metallic Conductivity in a Two-Dimensional Cobalt Dithiolene Metal-Organic Framework

Two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received a great deal of attention due to their relatively high charge carrier mobility and low resistivity. Here we report on the temperature-dependent charge transport properties of a 2D cobalt 2,3,6,7,10,11-triphenylenehexathiolate framework. Variable temperature resistivity studies reveal a transition from a semiconducting to a metallic phase with decreasing temperature, which is unprecedented in MOFs. We find this transition to be highly dependent on the film thickness and the amount of solvent trapped in the pores, with density functional theory calculations of the electronic-structure supporting the complex metallic conductivity of the material. These results identify the first experimentally observed MOF that exhibits band-like metallic conductivity

Epstein–Barr virus antibody level and gastric cancer risk in Korea: a nested case–control study

BACKGROUND: Few cohort studies have investigated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection before the occurrence of gastric cancer. METHODS: Among 14 440 cohort participants, 100 incident gastric cancer cases were individually matched to two controls. Epstein-Barr virus antibodies IgG and IgA against viral capsid antigen (VCA), EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody IgG, and early antigen (EA) antibody IgG were measured using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). RESULTS: The highest titres of VCA IgG (odds ratio (OR): 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-3.06) or EBNA IgG (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.51-1.46) were not associated with gastric cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of VCA IgG or EBNA IgG were not associated with increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma in Koreans.Akiba S, 2008, CANCER SCI, V99, P195, DOI 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00674.xKoshiol J, 2007, BRIT J CANCER, V97, P1567, DOI 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604063Tedeschi R, 2007, AM J EPIDEMIOL, V165, P134, DOI 10.1093/aje/kwj332Gwack J, 2006, BRIT J CANCER, V95, P639, DOI 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603309Ouburg S, 2005, EUR J GASTROEN HEPAT, V17, P1213Chan D, 2005, J RES PRACT INF TECH, V37, P267HERRERAGOEPFERT R, 2005, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V11, P6096CORREA P, 2004, GASTRIC CANCER, V7, P9Macsween KF, 2003, LANCET INFECT DIS, V3, P131Gartner BC, 2003, CLIN DIAGN LAB IMMUN, V10, P78, DOI 10.1128/CDLI.10.1.78-82.2003Burgess DE, 2002, BRIT J CANCER, V86, P702, DOI 10.1038/sj/bjc/6600107YOO KY, 2002, ASIAN PAC J CANCER P, V3, P85Chien YC, 2001, NEW ENGL J MED, V345, P1877Bruu AL, 2000, CLIN DIAGN LAB IMMUN, V7, P451Shinkura R, 2000, J MED VIROL, V60, P411Akre O, 1999, INT J CANCER, V82, P1Tokunaga M, 1998, CANCER EPIDEM BIOMAR, V7, P449*IARC, 1997, EPSTEINBARR VIR KAP, V8LEVINE PH, 1995, INT J CANCER, V60, P642LEHTINEN T, 1993, CANCER CAUSE CONTROL, V4, P187GESER A, 1982, INT J CANCER, V29, P397

Transcriptome profile analysis of flowering molecular processes of early flowering trifoliate orange mutant and the wild-type [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] by massively parallel signature sequencing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>After several years in the juvenile phase, trees undergo flowering transition to become mature (florally competent) trees. This transition depends on the balanced expression of a complex network of genes that is regulated by both endogenous and environmental factors. However, relatively little is known about the molecular processes regulating flowering transition in woody plants compared with herbaceous plants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative transcript profiling of spring shoots after self-pruning was performed on a spontaneously early flowering trifoliate orange mutant (precocious trifoliate orange, <it>Poncirus trifoliata</it>) with a short juvenile phase and the wild-type (WT) tree by using massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS). A total of 16,564,500 and 16,235,952 high quality reads were obtained for the WT and the mutant (MT), respectively. Interpretation of the MPSS signatures revealed that the total number of transcribed genes in the MT (31,468) was larger than in the WT (29,864), suggesting that newly initiated transcription occurs in the MT. Further comparison of the transcripts revealed that 2735 genes had more than twofold expression difference in the MT compared with the WT. In addition, we identified 110 citrus flowering-time genes homologous with known elements of flowering-time pathways through sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. These genes are highly conserved in citrus and other species, suggesting that the functions of the related proteins in controlling reproductive development may be conserved as well.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results provide a foundation for comparative gene expression studies between WT and precocious trifoliate orange. Additionally, a number of candidate genes required for the early flowering process of precocious trifoliate orange were identified. These results provide new insight into the molecular processes regulating flowering time in citrus.</p

Bioinformatics research in the Asia Pacific: a 2007 update

We provide a 2007 update on the bioinformatics research in the Asia-Pacific from the Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet), Asia's oldest bioinformatics organisation set up in 1998. From 2002, APBioNet has organized the first International Conference on Bioinformatics (InCoB) bringing together scientists working in the field of bioinformatics in the region. This year, the InCoB2007 Conference was organized as the 6th annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network, on Aug. 27–30, 2007 at Hong Kong, following a series of successful events in Bangkok (Thailand), Penang (Malaysia), Auckland (New Zealand), Busan (South Korea) and New Delhi (India). Besides a scientific meeting at Hong Kong, satellite events organized are a pre-conference training workshop at Hanoi, Vietnam and a post-conference workshop at Nansha, China. This Introduction provides a brief overview of the peer-reviewed manuscripts accepted for publication in this Supplement. We have organized the papers into thematic areas, highlighting the growing contribution of research excellence from this region, to global bioinformatics endeavours

Fabrication of Porous TiO2 Hollow Spheres and Their Application in Gas Sensing

In this work, porous TiO2 hollow spheres with an average diameter of 100 nm and shell thickness of 20 nm were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with NH4HCO3 as the structure-directing agent, and the formation mechanism for this porous hollow structure was proved to be the Ostwald ripening process by tracking the morphology of the products at different reaction stages. The product was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET analyses, and the results show that the as-synthesized products are anatase phase with a high surface area up to 132.5 m2/g. Gas-sensing investigation reveals that the product possesses sensitive response to methanal gas at 200°C due to its high surface area

Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup Analysis Reveals no Association between the Common Genetic Lineages and Prostate Cancer in the Korean Population

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has recently been suggested to have an association with various cancers, including prostate cancer risk, in human populations. Since mtDNA is haploid and lacks recombination, specific mutations in the mtDNA genome associated with human diseases arise and remain in particular genetic backgrounds referred to as haplogroups. To assess the possible contribution of mtDNA haplogroup-specific mutations to the occurrence of prostate cancer, we have therefore performed a population-based study of a prostate cancer cases and corresponding controls from the Korean population. No statistically significant difference in the distribution of mtDNA haplogroup frequencies was observed between the case and control groups of Koreans. Thus, our data imply that specific mtDNA mutations/lineages did not appear to have a significant effect on a predisposition to prostate cancer in the Korean population, although larger sample sizes are necessary to validate our results