Engineered Phage Matrix Stiffness-Modulating Osteogenic Differentiation.

Herein, we demonstrate an engineered phage mediated matrix for osteogenic differentiation with controlled stiffness by cross-linking the engineered phage displaying Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and His-Pro-Gln (HPQ) with various concentrations of streptavidin or polymer, poly(diallyldimethylammonium)chloride (PDDA). Osteogenic gene expressions showed that they were specifically increased when MC3T3 cells were cultured on the stiffer phage matrix than the softer one. Our phage matrixes can be easily functionalized using chemical/genetic engineering and used as a stem cell tissue matrix stiffness platform for modulating differential cell expansion and differentiation.

Do we need colonoscopy verification in patients with fundic gland polyp?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasia in subjects with fundic gland polyps (FGPs) and the relationship between FGPs and colorectal neoplasia in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed 128 consecutive patients with FPGs who underwent colonoscopy between January 2009 and December 2013. For each case, age- (±5 years) and sex-matched controls were identified from among patients with hyperplastic polyps, gastric neoplasms, and healthy controls. Clinical characteristics were reviewed from medical records, colonoscopic findings, pathologic findings, and computed tomography images. The outcome was evaluated by comparison of advanced colonic neoplasia detection rates. RESULTS: Of the 128 patients, seven (5.1%) had colon cancers and seven (5.1%) had advanced adenomas. A case-control study revealed that the odds of detecting a colorectal cancer was 3.8 times greater in patients with FGPs than in the age- and sex-matched healthy controls (odds ratio [OR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-13.24; P =0.04) and 4.1 times greater in patients with FGPs than in healthy controls over 50 years of age (OR, 4.10; 95% CI, 1.16-14.45; P =0.04). Among patients with FGPs over 50 years old, male sex (OR, 4.83; 95% CI, 1.23-18.94; P =0.02), and age (OR, 9.90; 95% CI, 1.21-81.08; P =0.03) were associated with an increased prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: The yield of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer patients with FGPs was substantially higher than that in average-risk subjects. Colonoscopy verification is warranted in patients with FGPs, especially in those 50 years of age or older.

Roxithromycin inhibits nuclear factor kappaB signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress in intestinal epithelial cells and ameliorates experimental colitis in mice.

Roxithromycin is known to have anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activity. However, little information is available on the effect of roxithromycin in intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of roxithromycin on NF- κB signaling and ER stress in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the effect of roxithromycin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis in a murine model. HCT116 cells and COLO205 cells were pretreated with roxithromycin and then stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Interleukin (IL)-8 expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity and IκB phosphorylation/degradation were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blot analysis. The molecular markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, including p-JNK, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (p-eIF2α), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) were evaluated using western blotting and PCR. Mice were given 4% DSS for five days with or without roxithromycin. Primary IECs were isolated from mice with DSS-induced colitis. Roxithromycin significantly inhibited the upregulated expression of IL-8. Pretreatment with roxithromycin markedly attenuated NF-κB DNA-binding activity and IκB phosphorylation/degradation. CHOP and XBP1 mRNA expression were enhanced in the presence of TNF-α, and it was dampened by pretreatment of roxithromycin. c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and the level of p-eIF2α were also downregulated by the pretreatment of roxithromycin. Roxithromycin significantly reduced the severity of DSS-induced murine colitis, as assessed by the disease activity index, colon length, and histology. In addition, the DSS-induced phospho-IκB kinase activation was significantly decreased in roxithromycin-pretreated mice. Finally, IκB degradation was reduced in primary IECs from mice treated with roxithromycin. These results suggest that roxithromycin may have potential usefulness in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Chemical suppression of an oncogenic splicing variant of AIMP2 induces tumour regression.

AIMP2 (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein 2) is a potent tumour suppressor that induces apoptosis in response to various oncogenic signals. AIMP2-DX2, an exon2-deleted splicing variant of AIMP2, is up-regulated in lung cancer and competitively suppresses the pro-apoptotic activity of AIMP2, resulting in tumorigenesis. In the present study we report that BC-DXI01, a synthetic compound, specifically reduces the cellular levels of AIMP2-DX2 through selective degradation of the AIMP2-DX2 mRNA transcript. We found that BC-DXI01-mediated cell death positively correlates with AIMP2-DX2 expression in the lung cancer cell lines tested. Administration of BC-DXI01 in a AIMP2-DX2-driven tumour xenograft mice model led to reduced tumour sizes and volumes of up to 60% in comparison with vehicle-treated mice group, consistent with decreases in AIMP2-DX2 transcript and protein levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that tumorigenic activity of AIMP2-DX2 can be controlled by the small chemical BC-DXI01, which can selectively suppress the AIMP2-DX2 mRNA transcript.

Rational drug repositioning guided by an integrated pharmacological network of protein, disease and drug.

BACKGROUND: The process of drug discovery and development is time-consuming and costly, and the probability of success is low. Therefore, there is rising interest in repositioning existing drugs for new medical indications. When successful, this process reduces the risk of failure and costs associated with de novo drug development. However, in many cases, new indications of existing drugs have been found serendipitously. Thus there is a clear need for establishment of rational methods for drug repositioning. RESULTS: In this study, we have established a database we call "PharmDB" which integrates data associated with disease indications, drug development, and associated proteins, and known interactions extracted from various established databases. To explore linkages of known drugs to diseases of interest from within PharmDB, we designed the Shared Neighborhood Scoring (SNS) algorithm. And to facilitate exploration of tripartite (Drug-Protein-Disease) network, we developed a graphical data visualization software program called phExplorer, which allows us to browse PharmDB data in an interactive and dynamic manner. We validated this knowledge-based tool kit, by identifying a potential application of a hypertension drug, benzthiazide (TBZT), to induce lung cancer cell death. CONCLUSIONS: By combining PharmDB, an integrated tripartite database, with Shared Neighborhood Scoring (SNS) algorithm, we developed a knowledge platform to rationally identify new indications for known FDA approved drugs, which can be customized to specific projects using manual curation. The data in PharmDB is open access and can be easily explored with phExplorer and accessed via BioMart web service (http://www.i-pharm.org/, http://biomart.i-pharm.org/).

Guideline adherence to chemotherapy administration safety standards: a survey on nurses in a single institute.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the guideline adherence of nurses to chemotherapy administration guidelines. We determined the guideline adherence of nurses to the Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards and the relationship between demographic characteristics and guideline adherence. METHODS: Survey sheets containing two questions on demographic characteristics and 16 questions on the guideline adherence of nurses regarding chemotherapy administration were distributed to all in-patient departments in our hospital in which chemotherapy was performed. All clinical nurses in the department were recommended to respond. RESULTS: Of 202 nurses, 123 responses were collected (61% response rate). The guideline adherence rate was >70% for 15 of 16 questions, but 55% of respondents indicated that there was no competency monitoring for nurses. Nurses with >7 years of clinical nursing experience felt more competent in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) than nurses with <7 years of clinical nursing experience (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: The guideline adherence rate of nurses with respect to chemotherapy administration was high, with the exception of the absence of a competency monitoring for nurses. A significant number of nurses with <7 years of clinical nursing experience felt incompetent in performing CPR.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase TT genotype as a predictor of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive adolescents.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is associated with homocysteine level. In deficit of MTHFR, cardiovascular risk is increased with hyperhomocysteinemia and hypomethionemia. Mutation of the MTHFR gene is associated with the risk for premature cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between MTHFR mutation and cardiovascular risk is still controversial. The purposes of this study were to determine whether MTHFR genotype is associated with cardiovascular risks in hypertensive adolescents and to investigate the association between MTHFR genotype and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Forty-three hypertensive adolescents were included in this study. Serum lipid levels, insulin, vitamin B(12), folate, renin, aldosterone, angiotensin converting enzyme, and homocysteine levels were evaluated. The carotid IMT and diameter were estimated by ultrasound. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was also measured. Polymerase chain reaction was conducted to amplify genomic DNA fragment containing C677T position of the MTHFR gene. The height, weight, body mass index, obesity index, arm circumference, fat mass, and fat distribution were significantly greater in patients with C677T mutation. The C677T mutation group showed significantly greater carotid IMT, higher homocysteine, and lower folic acid levels than the normal genotype group. Interpretation of MTHFR genotype might be useful in predicting the development of premature coronary artery disease in hypertensive adolescents.

Tbx3, a transcriptional factor, involves in proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stromal cells.

Tbx3 is a transcription factor, the mutation of which causes ulnar mammary syndrome (UMS) characterized by abnormality and hypoplasia of the mammary gland, teeth, limbs, hair and genitalia. Tbx3 has been reported to be related to apoptosis and proliferation of rat bladder carcinoma cell and to regulate proliferation and differentiation of mouse osteoblast cells. Human adipose tissue stromal cells (hADSC) have been defined as multipotential adult stem cells, capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, muscle cells, and neural cells. To determine the functional roles of Tbx3 expression in hADSC, we used lentivirus siRNA vector. Expression of Tbx3 was downregulated during culture expansion. Downregulation of Tbx3 in hADSC by transduction of siTbx3 lentivirus decreased proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hADSC. Expression of Tbx3 and the ratio of Tbx3 + 2a to Tbx3 increased during osteogenic differentiation. This report shows that Tbx3 plays an important role on osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cell derived from adipose tissue.

Secretions of MMP-9 by soluble glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (sGITR) mediated by protein kinase C (PKC)delta and phospholipase D (PLD) in murine macrophage.

The secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) is stimulated by the glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), a new tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, in murine macrophages via an activation of protein kinase C (PKC)delta and phospholipase D (PLD). Secretions of MMP-9 are stimulated by the phosphatidic acid (PA), a product of PLD activity and an inhibition of PA production by a 1-propanol inhibited secretion of MMP-9 by soluble GITR (sGITR). MMP-9 is not secreted by diacylglycerol (DAG) and an inhibitor of PA phosphatase has no effect on the secretion induced by sGITR, indicating that PA is responsible for MMP-9 secretion in murine macrophages. Our data indicates that sGITR-induced activation of PKCdelta and PLD increases MMP-9 secretions in macrophages.

The soluble glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in murine macrophages.

In order to clarify the mechanism by which soluble GITR (sGITR) inhibits the survival of murine macrophages we examined its effect on the macrophage cell cycle. Soluble GITR induced G1 phase arrest followed by apoptosis. It also reduced the expression of cyclins D2 and A, and of cdk4, resulting in reduced cdk2 and cdk4 activities. These findings suggest that sGITR arrests division of the macrophages in G1 by lowering the activities of cdk2 and cdk4, and that this leads to apoptosis.

Soluble glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (sGITR) increased MMP-9 activity in murine macrophage.

Glucocorticoid induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), a new TNFR family, increased production of matrix matalloproteinase (MMP-9) in murine macrophages. Murine macrophages produced a band of gelatinolytic activity at 100 kDa when stimulated for 18 h with soluble GITR. MMP-9 was identified by gelatin zymography and Western blot. Previous results demonstrated that murine macrophages express GITR and GITR ligand constitutively. Induction of MMP-9 was synergistic with co-treatment of INF-gamma. MMPs could play a critical role in progression and promotion of tissue injury after inflammation stimulated by GITR/ligand system.