Shiga-Toxin-Producing Strains of Escherichia coli O104:H4 and a Strain of O157:H7, Which Can Cause Human Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Differ in Biofilm Formation in the Presence of CO2 and in Their Ability to Grow in a Novel Cell Culture Medium.

One pathogen that commonly causes gastrointestinal illnesses from the consumption of contaminated food is Escherichia coli O157:H7. In 2011 in Germany, however, there was a prominent outbreak of bloody diarrhea with a high incidence of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by an atypical, more virulent E. coli O104:H4 strain. To facilitate the identification of this lesser-known, atypical E. coli O104:H4 strain, we wanted to identify phenotypic differences between it and a strain of O157:H7 in different media and culture conditions. We found that E. coli O104:H4 strains produced considerably more biofilm than the strain of O157:H7 at 37 °C (p = 0.0470-0.0182) Biofilm production was significantly enhanced by the presence of 5% CO2 (p = 0.0348-0.0320). In our study on the innate immune response to the E. coli strains, we used HEK293 cells that express Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 or 4. We found that E. coli O104:H4 strains had the ability to grow in a novel HEK293 cell culture medium, while the E. coli O157:H7 strain could not. Thus, we uncovered previously unknown phenotypic properties of E. coli O104:H4 to further differentiate this pathogen from E. coli O157:H7.

Implication of NPM1 phosphorylation and preclinical evaluation of the nucleoprotein antagonist N6L in prostate cancer.

Despite the advent of several new treatment options over the past years, advanced/metastatic prostate carcinoma (PCa) still remains incurable, which justifies the search for novel targets and therapeutic molecules. Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a shuttling nucleoprotein involved in tumor growth and its targeting could be a potential approach for cancer therapy. We previously demonstrated that the multivalent pseudopeptide N6L binds to NPM1 potently affecting in vitro and in vivo tumor cell growth of various tumor types as well as angiogenesis. Furthermore, NPM1 binds to androgen receptor (AR) and modulate its activity. In this study, we first investigated the implication of the NPM1 and its Thr199 and Thr234/237 phosphorylated forms in PCa. We showed that phosphorylated forms of NPM1 interact with androgen receptor (AR) in nucleoplasm. N6L treatment of prostate tumor cells led to inhibition of NPM1 phosphorylation in conjunction with inhibition of AR activity. We also found that total and phosphorylated NPM1 were overexpressed in castration-resistant PCa. Assessment of the potential therapeutic role of N6L in PCa indicated that N6L inhibited tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo when used either alone or in combination with the standard-of-care first- (hormonotherapy) and second-line (docetaxel) treatments for advanced PCa. Our findings reveal the role of Thr199 and Thr234/237 phosphorylated NPM1 in PCa progression and define N6L as a new drug candidate for PCa therapy.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities of Yersinia pestis determined by broth microdilution following CLSI methods.

In vitro susceptibilities to 45 antibiotics were determined for 30 genetically and geographically diverse strains of Yersinia pestis by the broth microdilution method at two temperatures, 28°C and 35°C, following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods. The Y. pestis strains demonstrated susceptibility to aminoglycosides, quinolones, tetracyclines, ß-lactams, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. Only a 1-well shift was observed for the majority of antibiotics between the two temperatures. Establishing and comparing antibiotic susceptibilities of a diverse but specific set of Y. pestis strains by standardized methods and establishing population ranges and MIC50 and MIC90 values provide reference information for assessing new antibiotic agents and also provide a baseline for use in monitoring any future emergence of resistance.

Prospective evaluation of an extended 21-core biopsy scheme as initial prostate cancer diagnostic strategy.

BACKGROUND: The debate on the optimal number of prostate biopsy core samples that should be taken as an initial strategy is open. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic yield of a 21-core biopsy protocol as an initial strategy for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: During 10 yr, 2753 consecutive patients underwent a 21-core biopsy scheme for their first set of biopsy specimens. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent a standardized 21-core protocol with cores mapped for location. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The PCa detection rate of each biopsy scheme (6, 12, or 21 cores) was compared using a McNemar test. Predictive factors of the diagnostic yield achieved by a 21-core scheme were studied using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: PCa detection rates using 6 sextant biopsies, 12 cores, and 21 cores were 32.5%, 40.4%, and 43.3%, respectively. The 12-core procedure improved the cancer detection rate by 19.4% (p=0.004), and the 21-biopsy scheme improved the rate by 6.7% overall (p<0.001). The six far lateral cores were the most efficient in terms of detection rate. The diagnostic yield of the 21-core protocol was >10% in prostates with volume >70 ml, in men with a prostate-specific antigen level<4 ng/ml, with a prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) <0.20 ng/ml per gram. A PSAD <0.20 ng/ml per gram was the strongest independent predictive factor of the diagnostic yield offered by the 21-core scheme (p<0.001). The 21-core protocol significantly increased the rate of PCa eligible for active surveillance (62.5% vs 48.4%; p=0.036) than those detected by a 12-core scheme without statistically increasing the rate of insignificant PCa (p=0.503). CONCLUSIONS: A 21-core biopsy scheme improves significantly the PCa detection rate compared with a 12-core protocol. We identified a cut-off PSAD (0.20 ng/ml per gram) below which an extended 21-core scheme might be systematically proposed to significantly improve the overall detection rate without increasing the rate of detected insignificant PCa.

3-substituted indole inhibitors against Francisella tularensis FabI identified by structure-based virtual screening.

In this study, we describe novel inhibitors against Francisella tularensis SchuS4 FabI identified from structure-based in silico screening with integrated molecular dynamics simulations to account for induced fit of a flexible loop crucial for inhibitor binding. Two 3-substituted indoles, 54 and 57, preferentially bound the NAD(+) form of the enzyme and inhibited growth of F. tularensis SchuS4 at concentrations near that of their measured Ki. While 57 was species-specific, 54 showed a broader spectrum of growth inhibition against F. tularensis , Bacillus anthracis , and Staphylococcus aureus . Binding interaction analysis in conjunction with site-directed mutagenesis revealed key residues and elements that contribute to inhibitor binding and species specificity. Mutation of Arg-96, a poorly conserved residue opposite the loop, was unexpectedly found to enhance inhibitor binding in the R96G and R96M variants. This residue may affect the stability and closure of the flexible loop to enhance inhibitor (or substrate) binding.

Risk of repeat biopsy and prostate cancer detection after an initial extended negative biopsy: longitudinal follow-up from a prospective trial.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Even after a negative set of prostate biopsies, the risk of undetected prostate cancer remains clinically significant. Predictive markers of such a risk are undefined. In addition to PSA and PSAD, low prostate volume and %fPSA are interesting time-varying risk factors and are relevant in biopsy decision-making. OBJECTIVE: To assess prospectively the time-varying risk of rebiopsy and of prostate cancer (PCa) detection after an initial negative biopsy protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of 10 years, 1995 consecutive patients with initially negative biopsies were followed. Rebiopsies were performed in patients who had a persistent suspicion of PCa. Predictive factors for rebiopsy and for PCa detection were tested using univariate, multivariate and time-dependent models. RESULTS: A total of 617 men (31%) underwent at least one rebiopsy after a mean follow-up of 19 months. PCa detection rates during second, third, and fourth sets of biopsies were 16.7, 16.9 and 12.5%, respectively. The overall rate of detected PCa was 7.0%. The 5-year rebiopsy-free and PCa-free survival rates were 65.9 and 92.5%, respectively. Indications for rebiopsy were more frequently reported in patients having a high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (P = 0.006) or a high PSA density (PSAD; P < 0.001) and in younger patients (P = 0.008). The risk of PCa on rebiopsies was not correlated with age, but significantly increased more than twofold in cases of PSA >6 ng/mL, PSAD >0.15 ng/mL/g, free-to-total PSA ratio (%fPSA) <15, and/or prostate volume <50 mL. Time-dependent analyses were in line with these findings. The main study limitation was the lack of control of the absence of PCa and PSA kinetics in men not rebiopsied. CONCLUSIONS: The overall risk of detected PCa after an initial negative biopsy was low. In addition to PSA and PSAD, which are well-used in rebiopsy indications, low prostate volume and %fPSA are interesting time-varying risk factors for PCa on rebiopsy and could be relevant in biopsy decision-making.

The role of American Society of Anesthesiologists scores in predicting urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract outcome after radical nephroureterectomy: results from a national multi-institutional collaborative study.

UNLABELLED: Study Type--Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC) is a rare disease, usually treated by nephroureterectomy, occurring in a population with a median age of 70 years and with frequent tobacco use and other comorbidities. We know that the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score has prognostic value in urological oncology but this has not been assessed in UUT-UC. Using a multi-institutional French database, we have shown that the 5-year cancer-specific survival differed significantly between ASA 1, ASA 2 and ASA 3 patients (83.8%, 76.9% and 70.6%, respectively; P = 0.01). ASA status had a significant impact on cancer-specific survival in univariate and multivariate analyses, with a threefold higher risk of mortality at 5 years for ASA 3 compared with ASA 1 patients (P = 0.04). OBJECTIVE: • To evaluate the impact of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores on the survival of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: • A retrospective multi-institutional cohort study of the French collaborative national database of UUT-UC treated by RNU in 20 centres from 1995 to 2010. • The influence of age, gender and ASA score on survival was assessed using a univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis with pathological features used as covariables. RESULTS: • Overall, 554 patients were included. The median follow-up was 26 months (10-48 months), and the median age was 69.5 years (61-76 years). In total, 114 (20.6%) patients were classified as ASA 1, 326 (58.8%) as ASA 2 and 114 (20.6%) as ASA 3. • The 5-year recurrence-free survival (P = 0.21) and metastasis-free survival (P = 0.22) were not significantly different between ASA 1 (52.8% and 76%), ASA 2 (51.9% and 75.3%) and ASA 3 patients (44.1% and 68.2%, respectively). • The 5-year cancer-specific survival differed significantly between ASA 1, ASA 2 and ASA 3 patients (83.8%, 76.9% and 70.6%, respectively; P = 0.01). • ASA status had a significant impact on cancer-specific survival in univariate and multivariate analyses, with a threefold higher risk of mortality at 5 years for ASA 3 compared with ASA 1 patients (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: • ASA classification correlates significantly with cancer-specific survival after RNU for UUT-UC. • It is a further pre-operative clinical variable that can be incorporated into future risk prediction tools for UUT-UC to improve their accuracy.

Comparison of oncological outcomes after segmental ureterectomy or radical nephroureterectomy in urothelial carcinomas of the upper urinary tract: results from a large French multicentre study.

UNLABELLED: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UUT-UCs) are rare tumours. Because of the aggressive pattern of UC, radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff removal remains the 'gold-standard' treatment. However, conservative strategies, such as segmental ureterectomy (SU) or endourological management, have also been developed in patients with imperative indications. Some teams are now advocating the use of conservative management more commonly in cases of elective indications of UUT-UCs. Due to the paucity of cases of UUT-UC, only limited data are available on the oncological outcomes afforded by conservative management. We retrospectively investigated the oncological outcomes after SU and RNU in a large multi-institutional database. Overall, 52 patients were treated with SU and 416 with RNU. There was no statistical difference between the RNU and SU groups for the 5-year probability of cancer-specific survival, recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival. The type of surgery was not a significant prognostic factor in univariate analysis. The results were the same in a subgroup analysis of only unifocal tumours of the distal ureter with a diameter of <2 cm and of low stage (≤T2). Our results suggest that oncological outcomes after conservative treatment with SU are comparable to RNU for the management of UUT-UC in select cases. OBJECTIVE: To compare recurrence-free survival (RFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) after segmental ureterectomy (SU) vs radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the upper urinary tract (UUT-UC) located in the ureter. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multi-institutional retrospective review of patients with UUT-UC who had undergone RNU or SU between 1995 and 2010. Type of surgery, Tumour-Node-Metastasis status, tumour grade, lymphovascular invasion and positive surgical margin were tested as prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: In all, 52 patients were treated with SU and 416 with RNU. The median (range) follow-up was 26 (10-48) months. The 5-year probability of CSS, RFS and MFS for SU and RNU were 87.9% and 86.3%, respectively (P = 0.99); 37% and 47.9%, respectively (P = 0.48); 81.9% and 85.4%, respectively (P = 0.51). In univariable analysis, type of surgery (SU vs RNU) failed to affect CSS, RFS and MFS (P = 0.94, 0.42 and 0.53, respectively). In multivariable analyses, pT stage and pN stage achieved independent predictor status for CSS (P = 0.005 and 0.007, respectively); the positive surgical margin and pT stage were independent prognostic factors of RFS and MFS (P = 0.001, 0.04, 0.009 and 0.001, respectively). The main limitation of the study is its retrospective design, which is due to the rarity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term oncological outcomes after conservative treatment with SU are comparable to RNU for the management of UUT-UC in select cases and should be considered an option. In every other case, RNU still represents the 'gold standard' for the treatment of UUT-UC.

Assessment of oncologic control obtained after open versus laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UUT-UCs): results from a large French multicenter collaborative study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the postsurgical survival of UUT-UC patients treated with ONU and LNU. METHODS: Using a multi-institutional, national, retrospective database, we identified patients with UUT-UC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy by open access (ONU) or by the minimally invasive alternative (LNU). Survival curves were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate Cox model was used to evaluate the association between surgical approach and disease recurrence. RESULTS: Overall, 609 patients were included (ONU = 459 and LNU = 150). The median age was 69.8 years (range 61.9-76), and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Postoperative complications occurred in 80 patients, with no significant difference between ONU and LNU on the whole (P = 0.64). The median follow-up was 27 months. There was no difference between the 2 procedures in the 5-year CSS or 5-year RFS. Moreover, the 5-year CSS (P = 0.053) and 5-year RFS (P = 0.9) for cases with locally advanced disease (pT3/pT4) were similar between ONU and LNU. In the multivariate analysis, the surgical procedure used was not found to be associated with survival. The main limitation of the study is its retrospective design, which is the result of the rarity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that oncological outcomes for LNU are inferior to those for open surgery, provided that the appropriate precautionary measures are taken.