NANOG promotes cancer stem cell characteristics and prostate cancer resistance to androgen deprivation.

Cancer cell molecular mimicry of stem cells (SC) imbues neoplastic cells with enhanced proliferative and renewal capacities. In support, numerous mediators of SC self-renewal have been evinced to show oncogenic potential. We have recently reported that short-hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of the embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal gene NANOG significantly reduced the clonogenic and tumorigenic capabilities of various cancer cells. In this study, we sought to test the potential pro-tumorigenic functions of NANOG, particularly, in prostate cancer (PCa). Using qRT-PCR, we first confirmed that PCa cells expressed NANOG mRNA primarily from the NANOGP8 locus on chromosome 15q14. We then constructed a lentiviral promoter reporter in which the -3.8-kb NANOGP8 genomic fragment was used to drive the expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP). We observed that NANOGP8-GFP(+) PCa cells showed cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics such as enhanced clonal growth and tumor regenerative capacity. To further investigate the functions and mechanisms of NANOG in tumorigenesis, we established tetracycline-inducible NANOG-overexpressing cancer cell lines, including both PCa (Du145 and LNCaP) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. NANOG induction promoted drug resistance in MCF-7 cells, tumor regeneration in Du145 cells and, most importantly, castration-resistant tumor development in LNCaP cells. These pro-tumorigenic effects of NANOG were associated with key molecular changes, including an upregulation of molecules such as CXCR4, IGFBP5, CD133 and ALDH1. The present gain-of-function studies, coupled with our recent loss-of-function work, establish the integral role for NANOG in neoplastic processes and shed light on its mechanisms of action.

Physical activity stages of change in African American women: implications for nurse practitioners.

We examined stages of change in the physical activity in African American women aged 17 to 64 years (N = 104) who obtain primary health care. Forty-seven percent of the women had at least 1 chronic health problem that required treatment. Overweight or obesity was found in 66% of the women. The majority of women were in the precontemplation (21%) and contemplation (19%) stages of change; 27% were preparing to become active. Forty percent were classified as very low active; 34%, low active; and only 26% were moderate or high active. Simple logistic regressions showed that women who were inactive during adolescence were 6 times more likely than other women to be in an early stage of change in physical activity (precontemplation or contemplation stage). Women who were self-motivated to be physically active, had support of friends and family, and enjoyed physical activity were more likely than other women to be in maintenance stage of activity. This article provides information on ways to use the stages of change and associated factors to move patients from inactivity to activity and help them remain active in the long term.

Situational anxiety and blood pressure lability in the physician's office.

In order to evaluate the association between situational anxiety levels and blood pressure variability during physician's office visits, 19 patients were assessed at the beginning of the visit and before and after being examined by the physician. Assessment included blood pressure measurement as well as self-report of current anxiety level. Previous findings that systolic readings do significantly diminish over the course of the visit were replicated for both hypertensive and normotensive patients, accompanied by correlative decreases in state anxiety. Diastolic blood pressure readings were more stable and less associated with fluctuations in state anxiety, except in patients with initially higher diastolic readings. Results were interpreted as indicating the importance of using more than one blood pressure measurement in diagnosing hypertension and monitoring its management. In particular, patients' anxiety responses upon entering the examining room may produce artificial elevations.