External Validation of the Derived Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker on a Large Cohort of Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Background

With growing evidence on the role of inflammation in cancer biology, the presence of a systemic inflammatory response has been postulated as having prognostic significance in a wide range of cancer types. The derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), which represents an easily determinable potential prognostic marker in daily practise and clinical trials, has never been externally validated in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients.

Methods

Data from 474 consecutive PC patients, treated between 2004 and 2012 at a single centre, were evaluated retrospectively. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. To evaluate the prognostic relevance of dNLR, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were applied.

Results

We calculated by ROC analysis a cut-off value of 2.3 for the dNLR to be ideal to discriminate between patients’ survival in the whole cohort. Kaplan-Meier curve reveals a dNLR≥2.3 as a factor for decreased CSS in PC patients (p<0.001, log-rank test). An independent significant association between high dNLR≥2.3 and poor clinical outcome in multivariate analysis (HR = 1.24, CI95% = 1.01–1.51, p = 0.041) was identified.

Conclusion

In the present study we confirmed elevated pre-treatment dNLR as an independent prognostic factor for clinical outcome in PC patients. Our data encourage independent replication in other series and settings of this easily available parameter as well as stratified analysis according to tumor resectability.     

Protective efficacy of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies in a nonhuman primate model of Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Ebola virus (EBOV) is the causative agent of severe hemorrhagic fever in primates, with human case fatality rates up to 90%. Today, there is neither a licensed vaccine nor a treatment available for Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). Single monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) have been successfully used in passive immunization experiments in rodent models, but have failed to protect nonhuman primates from lethal disease. In this study, we used two clones of human-mouse chimeric MAbs (ch133 and ch226) with strong neutralizing activity against ZEBOV and evaluated their protective potential in a rhesus macaque model of EHF. Reduced viral loads and partial protection were observed in animals given MAbs ch133 and ch226 combined intravenously at 24 hours before and 24 and 72 hours after challenge. MAbs circulated in the blood of a surviving animal until virus-induced IgG responses were detected. In contrast, serum MAb concentrations decreased to undetectable levels at terminal stages of disease in animals that succumbed to infection, indicating substantial consumption of these antibodies due to virus replication. Accordingly, the rapid decrease of serum MAbs was clearly associated with increased viremia in non-survivors. Our results indicate that EBOV neutralizing antibodies, particularly in combination with other therapeutic strategies, might be beneficial in reducing viral loads and prolonging disease progression during EHF.     

NLRP3/caspase-1-independent IL-1beta production mediates diesel exhaust particle-induced pulmonary inflammation

Inhalation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) induces an inflammatory reaction in the lung; however, the mechanisms are largely unclear. IL-1β/IL-1RI signaling is crucial in several lung inflammatory responses. Typically, caspase-1 is activated within the NLRP3 inflammasome that recognizes several damage-associated molecular patterns, which results in cleavage of pro-IL-1β into mature IL-1β. In this study, we hypothesized that the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway is critical in DEP-induced lung inflammation. Upon DEP exposure, IL-1RI knockout mice had reduced pulmonary inflammation compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, treatment with rIL-1R antagonist (anakinra) and IL-1β neutralization impaired the DEP-induced lung inflammatory response. Upon DEP exposure, NLRP3 and caspase-1 knockout mice, however, showed similar IL-1β levels and comparable pulmonary inflammation compared with wild-type mice. In conclusion, these data show that the DEP-induced pulmonary inflammation acts through the IL-1β/IL-1RI axis. In addition, DEP initiates inflammation independent of the classical NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, suggesting that other proteases might be involved.     

Katabolismus von 4′,6-dihydroxyauron in pflanzlichen zellsuspensionskulturen

Cell suspension cultures of Glycine max, Phaseolus aureus, Cicer arietinum and Petroselinum hortense were shown to catabolize (α - ¹⁴C) - 4′,6-dihydroxyaurone as measured by ¹⁴CO₂ production and isolation of (¹⁴C)-p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Aurone catabolism in plants is thus comparable with the degradation of chalcones flavanones and flavonols because in all cases the B-ring is liberated as a substituted benzoic acid.     

Culture of a Gastric Non‐Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter from the Stomach of a 14‐Year‐Old Girl

Helicobacter felis belongs to the fastidious gastric non‐Helicobacter pylori helicobacter species that are typically found in the stomach of cats and dogs. These bacteria have the potential to colonize the human stomach and are then associated with gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, and MALT lymphoma. Strains cultured from the human stomach are rare. Here, we present the first isolation of H. felis from a gastric biopsy specimen of a 14‐year‐old girl who presented with persistent epigastric pain. The strain was cultured using our routine protocol for H. pylori and identified by phylogenetic analyses of partial urease AB and gyrB gene sequences.     

SLLP1, a unique,intra-acrosomal,non-bacteriolytic,c lysozyme-like protein of human spermatozoa

We report the presence of a unique, non-bacteriolytic, c (chicken or conventional type) lysozyme-like protein, SLLP1, in the acrosome of human sperm. C lysozymes are bacteriolytic and can also bind to N-acetylglucosamines linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Most of the invariant residues (17 out of 20), including all the cysteines, were conserved in SLLP1, but the two catalytic residues E35 and D52 of c lysozymes were replaced with T and N, respectively. The full-length cDNA encodes a protein of 215 aa with a predicted protease cleavage site between A87 and K88. The processed form of SLLP1, which showed an exon-intron organization similar to human c lysozyme, was the major isoform in the acrosome of ejaculated sperm. As expected, based on its sequence, the mature protein secreted from yeast showed no bacteriolytic activity. A significant decrease (54%, P < or = 0.001) in the number of sperm bound to zona-free hamster eggs was observed in the presence of antisera to recombinant SLLP1. SLLP1 mRNA (size, approximately 1 kb) appeared to be expressed only in the testis and in the Burkitt lymphoma Raji cell line. The gene SPACA3 encodes SLLP1 and contains five exons at locus 17q11.2. Because of its typical c lysozyme-like sequence, genomic organization, conservation of putative substrate-binding sites even in the absence of catalytic residues, and localization in the acrosomal matrix, we hypothesize that, after acrosome reaction, SLLP1 could be a potential receptor for the egg oligosaccharide residue N-acetylglucosamine, which is present in the extracellular matrix over the egg plasma membrane, within the perivitelline space, pores of zona pellucida, and cumulus layers.     

Carbon accrual rates,vegetation and nutrient dynamics in a regularly burned coppice woodland in Germany

Historically, large areas of forest in Europe were managed as coppice woodland to produce wood‐based fuel for the smelting industry. We hypothesized that this practice produced a legacy effect on current forest ecosystem properties. Specifically, we hypothesized that the historical form of coppicing may have produced a legacy of elevated stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), nutrients and black carbon (BC) in soil as fire was routinely used in coppiced woodland to clear land. We further hypothesized that these changes in soil properties would result in increased biodiversity. To test these hypotheses, we sampled the surface soil (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm) from a chronosequence of forest sites found in the Siegerland (Germany) that had been coppiced and burned 1, 2, 3.5, 6, 8, 11 and 17 years before present. Mature beech and spruce forests (i.e., >60 years) were also sampled as reference sites: to provide a hint of what might occur in the absence of human intervention. We measured stocks of SOC, BC, NO₃‐N, P, K, Mg, as well as cation exchange and water‐holding capacity, and we mapped plant composition to calculate species richness and evenness. The results showed that coppicing in combination with burning soil and litter improved soil nutrient availability, enhanced biodiversity and increased SOC stocks. The SOC stocks and biodiversity were increased by a factor of three relative to those in the mature beech and spruce forests. This study shows that traditional coppicing practice may facilitate net C accrual rates of 20 t ha^?1 yr^?1 and maintain high biodiversity, indicating that aspects of traditional practice could be applied in current forest management to foster biodiversity and to mitigate climate change.     

Isolation of cyanophycin from tobacco and potato plants with constitutive plastidic cphATe gene expression

A chimeric cyanophycin synthetase gene composed of the cphATe coding region from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1, the constitutive 35S promoter and the plastid targeting sequence of the integral photosystem II protein PsbY was transferred to the tobacco variety Petit Havanna SRI and the commercial potato starch production variety Albatros. The resulting constitutive expression of cyanophycin synthetase leads to polymer contents in potato leaf chloroplasts of up to 35 mg/g dry weight and in tuber amyloplasts of up to 9 mg/g dry weight. Both transgenic tobacco and potato were used for the development of isolation methods applicable for large-scale extraction of the polymer. Two different procedures were developed which yielded polymer samples of 80 and 90% purity, respectively.     

l-Fucose residues on cellulose-based dialysis membranes: Quantification of membrane-associatedl-fucose and analysis of specific lectin binding

Contact of mononuclear human leukocytes with cellulose dialysis membranes may result in complement-independent cell activation, i.e. enhanced synthesis of cytokines, prostaglandins and an increase in 2-microglobulin synthesis. Cellular contact activation is specifically inhibited by the monosaccharidel-fucose suggesting that dialysis membrane associatedl-fucose residues are involved in leukocyte activation. In this study we have detected and quantitatedl-fucose on commercially-available cellulose dialysis membranes using two approaches. A sensitive enzymatic fluorescence assay detectedl-fucose after acid hydrolysis of flat sheet membranes. Values ranged from 79.3±3.6 to 90.2±5.0 pmol cm^–2 for Hemophan® or Cuprophan® respectively. Enzymatic cleavage of terminal -l-fucopyranoses with -l-fucosidase yielded 7.7±3.3 pmoll-fucose per cm² for Cuprophan. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the synthetic polymer membranes AN-69 and PC-PE did not yield detectable amounts ofl-fucose. In a second approach, binding of the fucose specific lectins ofLotus tetragonolobus andUlex europaeus (UEAI) demonstrated the presence of biologically accessiblel-fucose on the surface of cellulose membranes. Specific binding was observed with Cuprophan®, and up to 2.6±0.3 pmoll-fucose per cm² was calculated to be present from Langmuir-type adsorption isotherms. The data presented are in line with the hypothesis that surface-associatedl-fucose residues on cellulose dialysis membranes participate in leukocyte contact activation.