Knockdown of human serine/threonine kinase 33 suppresses human small cell lung carcinoma by blocking RPS6/BAD signaling transduction.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid growth rate and a tendency to metastasize to distinct sites of patients' bodies. The human serine/threonine kinase 33 (STK33) gene has shown its potency as a therapeutic target for prevention of lung carcinomas including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its function in the oncogenesis and development of SCLC remains unrevealed. In the current study, it was hypothesized that STK33 played a key role in the proliferation, survival, and invasion of SCLC cells. The expression of STK33 in human SCLC cell lines NCI-H466 and DMS153 was inhibited by specific shRNA. The cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and cell invasion of the cells were assessed with a series of in vitro assays. To explore the mechanism through which STK33 gene exerted its function in the carcinogenesis of SCLC cells, the effect of STK33 knockdown on the activity of S6K1/RPS6/BAD signaling was detected. Then the results were further confirmed with STK33 inhibitor ML281 and in vivo assays. The results demonstrated that inhibition of STK33 in SCLC cells suppressed the cell proliferation and invasion while induced cell apoptosis. Associated with the change in the phenotypic features, knockdown of STK33 also decreased the phosphorylation of RPS6 and BAD while increased the expression of cleaved caspase 9, indicating that apoptosis induced by STK33 suppression was mediated via mitochondrial pathway. Similar to the results of STK33 knockdown, incubating NCI-H466 cells with STK33 inhibitor also reduced the cell viability by suppressing RPS6/BAD pathways. Additionally, STK33 knockdown also inhibited tumor growth and RPS6/BAD activity in mice models. Findings outlined in our study were different from that in NSCLC to some extent: knockdown of STK33 in SCLC cells induced the apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway but independent of S6K1 function, inferring that the function of STK33 might be cancer type specific.

NMR-based metabolomics for the environmental assessment of Kaohsiung Harbor sediments exemplified by a marine amphipod (Hyalella azteca).

Inflow of wastewater from upstream causes a large flux of pollutants to enter Kaohsiung Harbor in Taiwan daily. To reveal the ecological risk posed by Kaohsiung Harbor sediments, an ecological metabolomic approach was employed to investigate environmental factors pertinent to the physiological regulation of the marine amphipod Hyalella azteca. The amphipods were exposed to sediments collected from different stream inlets of the Love River (LR), Canon River (CR), Jen-Gen River (JR), and Salt River (SR). Harbor entrance 1 (E1) was selected as a reference site. After 10-day exposure, metabolomic analysis of the Hyalella azteca revealed differences between two groups: {E1, LR, CR} and {JR, SR}. The metabolic pathways identified in the two groups of amphipods were significantly different. The results demonstrated that NMR-based metabolomics can be effectively used to characterize metabolic response related to sediment from polluted areas.

Evaluation of location and dimensions of mandibular lingual canals: a cone beam computed tomography study.

This retrospective study evaluated the presence, location, and diameter of the mandibular lingual canals in a Taiwanese population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), to help improve the safety of mandibular surgical procedures. A total of 101 patients (46 men and 55 women), with a mean age of 55 years, were enrolled. Cross-sectional CBCT images of the mandible were used to define the orifice and diameter of each lingual canal detected. The relevance of all data for both sexes was assessed and analyzed statistically using non-paired t-tests. The canals were categorized as median (MLC) and lateral lingual canals (LLC) based on the position of the mandible. The midline of the symphysis showed the highest frequency of lingual canals (97.0%), and all patients exhibited at least one lingual perforating bone canal in the mandible. The lingual canal diameter ranged from 0.25 to 1.90 mm (mean 0.61 mm) in the midline region and from 0.25 to 1.60mm (mean 0.58 mm) in the lateral region. Significant differences in diameter were observed between the sexes in the MLC and LLC groups (men>women). The results suggest that mandibular lingual vascular canals are common and detected regularly using CBCT.

A simple allometric diffusion-based biokinetic model to predict Cu(II) uptake across gills of freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea.

The purpose of this study was to link Fick's type mass transfer and biokinetics together with Michaelis-Menten kinetics to arrive at a simple predictive framework for quantifying biouptake mechanisms in gills of freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea exposed to Cu(II). A diffusion-based Cu(II) influx and permeability can be calculated using physiological and allometric-related parameters. Simulations indicate that Cu(II) bioconcentration factor of gills was 42. Estimated steady-state Cu(II) gill uptake influx and permeability were 0.097 nmol cm(-2) s(-1) and 0.48 cm s(-1), respectively. The proposed simple allometric diffusion-based biokinetic model meets the need for describing nonequilibrium aspects of biouptake mechanisms in bivalve gills.

Differentiating blood samples from scrapie infected and non-infected hamsters by detecting disease-associated prion proteins using Multimer Detection System.

This communication describes the application of a modified sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), termed Multimer Detection System (MDS) for the detection of disease-associated multimeric forms of the prion protein (PrPd) in hamster blood. PrPd was detected in plasma of prion-affected hamsters while MDS revealed no PrPd in identically-treated plasma of healthy animals. This is the first report of a single ELISA- based immune detection of PrPd from blood samples.

Molecular evidence for tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks in South Korea.

To investigate whether tick-borne encephalitis viruses (TBEVs) are present in South Korea, Korean ixodid ticks were tested for TBEV RNA. Ticks (n = 2460) were collected from wild and domestic animals or by flagging at forest and grassland in 12 regions of five provinces in 2005-06. Four species in two genera were identified, yielding 197 sample pools (1-20 ticks per pool); from these, 12 envelope protein gene fragments of TBEV were amplified by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR). Ten of the 2104 adult ticks (0.4%) and two of the 356 nymph ticks (0.2%) were positive for the envelope (E) gene of TBEV. Twelve TBEV RNA-positive samples were detected in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the E genes of the TBEV isolates were clustered with the Western European subtype (98% identity). This study suggests that TBEVs may exist in Korea.

Real-time RT-PCR of Hantaan virus RNA used for the detection of virus response to antiviral drugs.

Hantaan virus (HTN) is an important cause of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Korea. HTN RNA can be detected with the RT-PCR and the quantity of HTN RNA in infected cells can be measured by competitive RT-PCR. The current study used the real-time RT-PCR for the detection of viral RNA S gene in a more detailed fashion than in the previous study (Nam et al., Virus Genes 26, 31-38, 2003). A standard curve was generated with serial 10-fold dilutions of the HTN RNA. The sensitivity of RNA detection was approximately 10 PFU of HTN. The cells infected with HTN were treated with the antiviral drugs ribavirin, zidovudine, and amantadine. 24 hrs after infection, real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the HTN RNA synthesized in the infected cells. No viral RNA was detected in the HTN-infected cells treated with antiviral drugs, but HTN RNA was detected in untreated HTN-infected cells. This finding suggested that real-time RTPCR should be used for the detection of antiviral activity against HTN.

Polymorphisms at codons 129 and 219 of the prion protein gene (PRNP) are not associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease in the Korean population.

Polymorphisms of prion protein gene (PRNP) at codons 129 and 219 play an important role in the susceptibility to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prion diseases, such as CJD, are both characterized by the accumulation of abnormally folded proteins in the brain. An association between sporadic AD and the PRNP polymorphism at codon 129 has been reported in several studies, but other studies have failed to confirm an association. To investigate whether PRNP polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk for developing sporadic AD in the Korean population, we compared the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of PRNP polymorphisms in 271 sporadic AD patients with those in 236 healthy Koreans. Our study does not show a significant difference in PRNP genotype, allele, and haplotype frequency at codons 129 and 219 between sporadic AD and normal controls. Analyses stratifying by age at disease onset, and gender also failed to reveal any association between these polymorphisms and sporadic AD. These results indicate that these PRNP polymorphisms have no direct influence on the susceptibility to sporadic AD in the Korean population.

Nitric oxide synthase activity and immunoreactivity in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii.

The presence, characteristics and localization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the eyestalk ganglia of the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were investigated. Biochemical assay indicated that NOS activity was significantly inhibited by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (a NOS inhibitor), fluphenazine-N-2-chloroethane (a calmodulin inhibitor) as well as by omitting beta-NADPH or Ca2+ from the incubations. Immunohistochemical studies localized NOS immunoreactivity (IR) to the first chiasma and the sinus gland. Finally, a NOS-immunoreactive protein (138 kDa) was detected by Western blot analysis. These data demonstrate for the first time the existence in crustacean eyestalk ganglia of NOS with biochemical characteristics similar to mammalian constitutive NOS. The localization of NOS-IR suggests that NO may be involved in regulating visual processes and neuroendocrine function in crustaceans.

Successful treatment of pulpal-periodontal combined lesion in a birooted maxillary lateral incisor with concomitant palato-radicular groove. A case report.

Palato-radicular groove (PRG) is a common developmental anomaly of maxillary incisors, whereas PRG associated with a birooted maxillary incisor is relatively infrequent. The clinical significance of PRG is related to the incidence of localized periodontitis with or without pulpal pathosis, depending on the depth, extent, and complexity of the groove. Successful treatments of PRG in single-rooted incisors have been reported in the literature. However, treatment of PRG in birooted incisors has often been ineffective. This case report describes a pulpal-periodontal combined lesion occurring on a birooted maxillary left lateral incisor with concomitant PRG in a 13-year-old boy which was successfully treated by conventional endodontic therapy in combination with periodontal treatment including accessory root resection, radiculoplasty and bone grafting. Seven-year follow-up is included in this report. The basis of a successful result is accurate diagnosis and elimination of inflammatory irritants and contributory factors. Awareness of the existence of this abnormality by the clinician is important.

Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma in cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth. A case report.

An unusual solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma developed in the gingiva of a 28 year-old male renal transplant patient with cyclosporine (CyA)-induced gingival overgrowth. On initial presentation, there was no suspicion of a tumor within the lesion. One year later, however, the lesion had increased progressively in size, and its surface was ulcerated. At this time, the lesion was excised by gingivectomy, and histopathological examination revealed plasmacytoma. CyA was discontinued and the patient has been closely observed for 4 years with no recurrence of the gingival lesion.

[Vertical root fracture--case report and clinical evaluation].

It is observed at the Dental OPD that some of the patients suffer from toothache are due to tooth fracture. Of the various types of tooth fracture, it is noted that vertical root fracture of molars which have never undergone endodontic treatment has rarely been reported. It is suggested that x-ray examination is the best diagnostic tool as it would show a certain section of the abnormally large root canal. This will indicate a fracture in the root. As the fractured root is mostly very poor in prognosis, the tooth in question should be extracted or it can be treated with root amputation or hemisection to eradicate the fractured root. Three cases of vertical root fracture are reported. The intent of this paper is to probe such cases, the means of diagnosis, and their treatments in clinical practices. Dental colleagues are thus advised to take into consideration the possibility of vertical root fracture whenever patients complain about toothache without any apparent cause.