Improvement of the contrast in cancer detection by autofluorescence bronchoscopy using a narrowband spectral violet excitation: A preliminary study

Autofluorescence (AF) bronchoscopy is a useful tool for early cancer detection. However, the mechanisms involved in this diagnosis procedure are poorly understood. We present a clinical autofluorescence imaging study to assess the depth of the principal contrast mechanisms within the bronchial tissue comparing a narrowband (superficial) and broadband (penetrating) violet excitation. Knowledge of this parameter is crucial for the optimization of the spectral and optical design of clinical diagnostic AF imaging devices. An intensity contrast improvement was observed with the narrowband excitation, suggesting that the heme absorption plays a key role in the AF contrast mechanism.     

Quantification of angiogenesis in estrogen receptor-positive and negative breast carcinoma

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate angiogenesis according to CD34 antigen expression in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and negative breast carcinomas.

Methods

This study comprised 64 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma in postmenopausal women divided into two groups: Group A: ER-positive, n = 35; and Group B: ER-negative, n = 29. The anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody was used as a marker for endothelial cells. Microvessel count was carried out in 10 fields per slide using a 40× objective lens (magnification 400×). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Student's t-test (p < 0.05).

Results

The mean number of vessels stained with the anti-CD34 antibody in the estrogen receptor-positive and negative tumors was 23.51 ± 1.15 and 40.24 ± 0.42, respectively. The number of microvessels was significantly greater in the estrogen receptor-negative tumors (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

ER-negative tumors have significantly greater CD34 antigen expression compared to ER-positive tumors.

     

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by 8-phenoxymethylcaffeine derivatives

A recent study has reported that a series of 8-benzyloxycaffeines are potent and reversible inhibitors of both human monoamine oxidase (MAO) isoforms, MAO-A and -B. In an attempt to discover additional caffeine derivatives with potent MAO inhibitory activities, and to contribute to the known structure-activity relationships of MAO inhibition by caffeine derived compounds, the present study investigates the MAO inhibitory potencies of series of 8-phenoxymethylcaffeine and 8-[(phenylsulfanyl)methyl]caffeine derivatives. The results document that the 8-phenoxymethylcaffeine derivatives act as potent reversible inhibitors of MAO-B, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.148 to 5.78 μM. In contrast, the 8-[(phenylsulfanyl)methyl]caffeine derivatives were found to be weak inhibitors of MAO-B, with IC(50) values ranging from 4.05 to 124 μM. Neither the 8-phenoxymethylcaffeine nor the 8-[(phenylsulfanyl)methyl]caffeine derivatives exhibited high binding affinities for MAO-A. While less potent than the 8-benzyloxycaffeines as MAO-B inhibitors, this study concludes that 8-phenoxymethylcaffeines may act as useful leads for the design of MAO-B selective inhibitors. Such compounds may find application in the therapy of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Using molecular docking experiments, this study also proposes possible binding orientations of selected caffeine derivatives in the active sites of MAO-A and -B.     

Cape diversification and repeated out-of-southern-Africa dispersal in paper daisies (Asteraceae-Gnaphalieae)

The large daisy tribe Gnaphalieae occurs in extra-tropical habitats worldwide, but is most diverse in southern Africa and in Australia. We explore the age and evolutionary history of the tribe by means of a phylogenetic hypothesis based on Bayesian analysis of plastid and nuclear DNA sequences, maximum likelihood reconstruction of ancestral areas, and relaxed Bayesian dating. Early diversification occurred in southern Africa in the Eocene-Oligocene, resulting in a grade of mostly Cape-centred lineages which subsequently began speciating in the Miocene, consistent with diversification times for many Cape groups. Gnaphalieae from other geographic regions are embedded within a southern African paraphylum, indicating multiple dispersals out of southern Africa since the Oligocene to Miocene which established the tribe in the rest of the world. Colonisation of Australia via direct long-distance trans-oceanic dispersal in the Miocene resulted in the radiation which produced the Australasian gnaphalioid flora. The similarly diverse regional gnaphalioid floras of Australasia and southern Africa thus exhibit very different temporal species accumulation histories. An examination of the timing and direction of trans-Indian Ocean dispersal events in other angiosperms suggests a role for the West Wind Drift in long-distance dispersal eastwards from southern Africa.     

Benefits,costs and reactivity of inducible defences: an experimental test with rotifers

1. A key aspect of the ecology and evolution of adaptive prey responses to predator risk is the timing by which the former develop a defensive trait in response to inducing signals released by the latter. This property, called reactivity, has been shown to affect population stability and persistence. 2. Theoretically, the minimal predator density required by prey to exhibit induced defences is expected to increase with the effectiveness of the defence and decrease with its cost. Likewise, the time required for the prey population to exhibit an induced defence is expected to increase together with cost. 3. The freshwater rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and B. havanaensis and their predator Asplanchna brightwelli were used to test the hypothesis that prey species exhibiting defences that offer a larger fitness benefit and lower fitness cost are more reactive to predator signals, in terms of requiring shorter exposure time and lower signal concentration to trigger a morphological defence reaction. 4. Our results showed that both prey species exhibited costly and effective defences after induction by predator infochemicals. Faster reactions were observed at higher levels of predator cues. Nevertheless, the observed relationship between reactivity and benefit/cost of defences did not agree with our expectations. 5. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the timing of induction of morphological defences is experimentally assessed over a gradient of risk signals. We propose new research directions to disentangle the mechanisms and project the consequences of prey decisions at the morphological level.     

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by 8-benzyloxycaffeine analogues

Based on recent reports that several (E)-8-styrylcaffeinyl analogues are potent reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), a series of 8-benzyloxycaffeinyl analogues were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of baboon liver MAO-B and recombinant human MAO-A and -B. The 8-benzyloxycaffeinyl analogues were found to inhibit reversibly both MAO isoforms with enzyme–inhibitor dissociation constants (K_i values) ranging from 0.14 to 1.30 μM for the inhibition of human MAO-A, and 0.023–0.59 μM for the inhibition of human MAO-B. The most potent MAO-A inhibitor was 8-(3-methylbenzyloxy)caffeine while 8-(3-bromobenzyloxy)caffeine was the most potent MAO-B inhibitor. The analogues inhibited human and baboon MAO-B with similar potencies. A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study indicated that the MAO-B inhibition potencies of the 8-benzyloxycaffeinyl analogues are dependent on the Hansch lipophilicity (π) and Hammett electronic (σ) constants of the substituents at C-3 of the benzyloxy ring. Electron-withdrawing substituents with a high degree of lipophilicity enhance inhibition potency. These results are discussed with reference to possible binding orientations of the inhibitors within the active site cavities of MAO-A and -B.     

Human ASPM participates in spindle organisation, spindle orientation and cytokinesis

Background

For clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), labeling and tracking is crucial to evaluate cell distribution and homing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been successfully established detecting MSCs labeled with superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIO). Despite initial reports that labeling of MSCs with SPIO is safe without affecting the MSC's biology, recent studies report on influences of SPIO-labeling on metabolism and function of MSCs. Exposition of cells and tissues to high magnetic fields is the functional principle of MRI. In this study we established innovative labeling protocols for human MSCs using clinically established SPIO in combination with magnetic fields and investigated on functional effects (migration assays, quantification of colony forming units, analyses of gene and protein expression and analyses on the proliferation capacity, the viability and the differentiation potential) of magnetic fields on unlabeled and labeled human MSCs. To evaluate the imaging properties, quantification of the total iron load per cell (TIL), electron microscopy, and MRI at 3.0 T were performed.

Results

Human MSCs labeled with SPIO permanently exposed to magnetic fields arranged and grew according to the magnetic flux lines. Exposure of MSCs to magnetic fields after labeling with SPIO significantly enhanced the TIL compared to SPIO labeled MSCs without exposure to magnetic fields resulting in optimized imaging properties (detection limit: 1,000 MSCs). Concerning the TIL and the imaging properties, immediate exposition to magnetic fields after labeling was superior to exposition after 24 h. On functional level, exposition to magnetic fields inhibited the ability of colony formation of labeled MSCs and led to an enhanced expression of lipoprotein lipase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in labeled MSCs under adipogenic differentiation, and to a reduced expression of alkaline phosphatase in unlabeled MSCs under osteogenic differentiation as detected by qRT-PCR. Moreover, microarray analyses revealed that exposition of labeled MSCs to magnetic fields led to an up regulation of CD93 mRNA and cadherin 7 mRNA and to a down regulation of Zinc finger FYVE domain mRNA. Exposition of unlabeled MSCs to magnetic fields led to an up regulation of CD93 mRNA, lipocalin 6 mRNA, sialic acid acetylesterase mRNA, and olfactory receptor mRNA and to a down regulation of ubiquilin 1 mRNA. No influence of the exposition to magnetic fields could be observed on the migration capacity, the viability, the proliferation rate and the chondrogenic differentiation capacity of labeled or unlabeled MSCs.

Conclusions

In our study an innovative labeling protocol for tracking MSCs by MRI using SPIO in combination with magnetic fields was established. Both, SPIO and the static magnetic field were identified as independent factors which affect the functional biology of human MSCs. Further in vivo investigations are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the interaction of magnetic fields with stem cell biology.