Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide: Potential Biomarkers to Differentiate Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke.

Acute stroke management is critically time-sensitive and challenging. Blood-based biomarkers that can differentiate acute ischemic stroke (IS) from hemorrhagic stroke (HS) can greatly facilitate triage and early management. Admission blood samples obtained within 6 h of stroke symptom onset were analyzed in a derivation/validation design. GFAP, N-FL, NT-proBNP, copeptin, neutrophils (%), NLR, and platelet counts were assessed in the derivation cohort. The informative markers and the derived cutoff values were evaluated in the validation cohort. GFAP > 703 pg/mL showed a PPV of 76.9% and NPV of 95.8% for differentiating HS from IS. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that GFAP and NT-proBNP were independent variables associated with IS and HS differentiation. Furthermore, applying a combined cutoff (GFAP > 703 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≤ 125 pg/mL) for HS detection increased the PPV in both the derivation and validation cohorts (93.3% and 100%, respectively). GFAP and NT-proBNP levels were validated as informative blood biomarkers in the differentiation of IS and HS and using a combination of GFAP and NT-proBNP is suggested as a feasible strategy to differentiate stroke subtypes in the hyperacute phase of stroke.

Letter to the Editor: Performance Analysis of the Aptima HBV Quant Assay for Hepatitis B virus DNA Quantification in Plasma.

The quantification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is critical for the diagnosis and management of HBV infections. We evaluated the performance of the Aptima HBV Quant assay for quantitative HBV DNA analysis. The intra-assay coefficient of variation for this assay was 2.08% (mean 3.45 log IU/mL) and 1.10% (mean 5.23 log IU/mL). Linearity ranged from 1.03 to 8.20 log IU/mL. The limit of detection was estimated at 4.31 IU/mL, which corresponded to the 4.29 IU/mL claimed by the manufacturer. All 25 other viral infections were determined to be negative. Passing-Bablok regression analysis showed no significant deviations between Aptima HBV Quant assay and Abbott RealTime HBV assay. The Aptima HBV Quant assay demonstrated comparable performance to the Abbott assay.

Extermination of influenza virus H1N1 by a new visible-light-induced photocatalyst under fluorescent light.

A new visible-light-induced photocatalyst based on several transition metals (iron, magnesium and manganese)-loaded TiO2 was evaluated for its anti-viral activity with influenza virus H1N1. Under a fluorescent lamp of 1000 lx, λ > 410 nm, the virus was eradicated to more than 99% within 30 min. Since this photocatalyst can be used for coating plastics, wall papers and walls, it would be desirable to use this photocatalyst to reduce viral transmission via droplets and aerosols as well as surface contact for disinfection.

PTRF/cavin-1 is essential for multidrug resistance in cancer cells.

Since detergent-resistant lipid rafts play important roles in multidrug resistance (MDR), their comprehensive proteomics could provide new insights to understand the underlying molecular mechanism of MDR in cancer cells. In the present work, lipid rafts were isolated from MCF-7 and adriamycin-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells and their proteomes were analyzed by label-free quantitative proteomics. Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF)/cavin-1 was measured to be upregulated along with multidrug-resistant P-glycoprotein, caveolin-1, and serum deprivation protein response/cavin-2 in the lipid rafts of MCF-7/ADR cells. PTRF knockdown led to reduction in the amount of lipid rafts on the surface of MCF7/ADR cells as determined by cellular staining with lipid raft-specific dyes such as S-laurdan2 and FITC-conjugated cholera toxin B. PTRF knockdown also reduced MDR in MCF-7/ADR cells. These data indicate that PTRF is necessary for MDR in cancer cells via the fortification of lipid rafts.

Ginsenoside Rh2 induces ligand-independent Fas activation via lipid raft disruption.

Lipid rafts are plasma membrane platforms mediating signal transduction pathways for cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Here, we show that membrane fluidity was increased in HeLa cells following treatment with ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), as determined by cell staining with carboxy-laurdan (C-laurdan), a two-photon dye designed for measuring membrane hydrophobicity. In the presence of Rh2, caveolin-1 appeared in non-raft fractions after sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. In addition, caveolin-1 and GM1, lipid raft landmarkers, were internalized within cells after exposure to Rh2, indicating that Rh2 might disrupt lipid rafts. Since cholesterol overloading, which fortifies lipid rafts, prevented an increase in Rh2-induced membrane fluidity, caveolin-1 internalization and apoptosis, lipid rafts appear to be essential for Rh2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Rh2-induced Fas oligomerization was abolished following cholesterol overloading, and Rh2-induced apoptosis was inhibited following treatment with siRNA for Fas. This result suggests that Rh2 is a novel lipid raft disruptor leading to Fas oligomerization and apoptosis.

Dual function of RNase E for control of M1 RNA biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

M1 RNA, the gene product of rnpB, is the catalytic subunit of RNase P in Escherichia coli. M1 RNA is transcribed from a proximal promoter as pM1 RNA, a precursor M1 RNA, and then is processed at its 3' end by RNase E. In addition to pM1 RNA, large rnpB-containing transcripts are produced from unknown upstream promoters. However, it is not known yet how these large transcripts contribute to M1 RNA biosynthesis. To examine their biological relevance to M1 RNA biosynthesis, we constructed a model upstream transcript, upRNA, and analyzed its cellular metabolism. We found that upRNA was primarily degraded rather than processed to M1 RNA in the cell and that this degradation occurred in RNase E-dependent manner. The in vitro cleavage assay with the N-terminal catalytic fraction of RNase E showed that the M1 RNA structural sequence in upRNA was much more vulnerable to the enzyme than the sequence in pM1 RNA. Considering that RNase E is a processing enzyme involved in 3' end formation of M1 RNA, our results imply that this enzyme plays a dual role in processing and degradation to achieve tight control of M1 RNA biosynthesis.

Topological rearrangement yields structural stabilization and interhelical distance constraints in the Kin.46 self-phosphorylating ribozyme.

The Kin.46 ribozyme catalyzes transfer of the gamma (thio)phosphoryl group of ATP (or ATPgammaS) to the ribozyme's 5' hydroxyl. Single-turnover catalytic activities of topologically rearranged versions of Kin.46 were studied to gain insight into its overall tertiary architecture. The distal ends of stems P3 and P4 were tethered through a single-stranded connection domain that altered the interhelical connectivity. The shortest linkers interfered with catalysis, while seven or more nucleotides (nt) in the linker allowed near-normal catalytic rates, suggesting that a distance of roughly 25-35 A optimally separates the termini of these helices. Activity was maximal when the tether contained 15 nt, at which point the k(cat) (0.016 min(-1)) and Km (1.2 mM) values were identical to those of a nontethered control. The presence of the tether alters Mg(2+) dependence, in that Mg2+ binding appears to be more cooperative in the tethered ribozyme (Hill coefficient 1.4-1.8 versus 0.8 for the nontethered ribozyme). Binding affinity for the ATPgammaS substrate increases at elevated concentrations of Mg2+, particularly for the tethered ribozyme. The tethered ribozyme displays significantly enhanced thermal stability, with a maximum initial velocity (0.126 min(-1)) at 60 degrees C, whereas the nontethered ribozyme has a lower maximum initial velocity (0.051 min(-1)) at 50 degrees C. The tether also significantly reduces the apparent entropy of activation. Both of these effects can be understood in terms of stabilization of the ribozyme in a conformation that is on-path with respect to catalysis, and in terms of facilitating formation of the allosteric activation helix P4.

Differential promoter usage of infA in response to cold shock in Escherichia coli.

Initiation factor 1 (IF1) is an essential protein in Escherichia coli involved in the initiation step of protein synthesis. The protein level of IF1 increases when E. coli cells are subjected to cold shock, however, it remains unclear as to how this increase occurs. The infA gene encoding IF1 contains two promoters, the distal P1 and the proximal P2 promoter. In this study, we found that infA mRNA was greatly increased, and that this increase resulted from transcriptional activation of P1, not P2, during cold shock although stability of transcripts from both promoters concomitantly increased.

Kinetic analysis of precursor M1 RNA molecules for exploring substrate specificity of the N-terminal catalytic half of RNase E.

To gain insight into the mechanism by which the sequence at the rne-dependent site of substrate RNA affects the substrate specificity of Escherichia coli RNase E, we performed kinetic analysis of the cleavage of precursor M1 RNA molecules containing various sequences at the rne-dependent site by the N-terminal catalytic half of RNase E (NTH-RNase E). NTH-RNase E displayed higher K(m) and k(cat) values for more specific substrates. The retention of single strandedness at the rne-dependent site was essential for cleavage efficiency. Moreover, the loss of single-strandedness was accompanied by a decrease in both the K(m) and k(cat) values.