Endodermal expression of Nkx6 genes depends differentially on Pdx1

Nkx family members are essential for normal development of many different tissues such as the heart, lungs, thyroid, prostate, and CNS. Here, we describe the endodermal expression pattern of three Nkx6 family genes of which two shows conserved expression in the early pancreatic epithelium. In chicken, Nkx6.1 expression is not restricted to the presumptive pancreatic area but is more broadly expressed in the endoderm. In mice, expression of Nkx6.1 is restricted to the pancreatic epithelium. In both mice and chicken, Nkx6.2 and Pdx1 are expressed in very similar domains, identifying Nkx6.2 as a novel marker of pancreas endoderm. Additionally, our results show that Nkx6.3 is expressed transiently in pancreatic endoderm in chicken but not mouse embryos. At later stages, Nkx6.3 is found in the caudal stomach and rostral duodenum in both species. Finally, we demonstrate that Pdx1 is required for Nkx6.1 but not Nkx6.2 expression in mice and that ectopic Pdx1 can induce Nkx6.1 but not Nkx6.2 or Nkx6.3 expression in anterior chicken endoderm. These results demonstrate that Nkx6.1 lies downstream of Pdx1 in a genetic pathway and that Pdx1 is required and sufficient for Nkx6.1 expression in the early foregut endoderm.     

Cell biology as the basis of a better understanding of cancer

Clinicians will argue that cancer can only really receive the treatment that is needed through thorough understanding of medicine. However, even empirical approaches to therapy result in experimental analysis of the agencies involved on test cells, usually in culture. From the obverse perspective, cell biologists will argue that until we fully understand cell cycle regulation, tumour management will be too imprecise to make the best advances. A forum is needed whereby the fundamental studies on cells prior to, during and after transformation in vitro can be freely reported (open access) and discussed. The action of anticancer agents and cancer preventative substances can more easily be studied in vitro before the often excessive complexity of making similar studies in experimental and human cancers is tackled. Cancer Cell International is committed to providing such a forum. Ironically within a few months of launching this open access journal, Elsevier had much the same idea, and there one has to pay for the privilege of downloading vital papers in this biomedical field.     

广东始兴南山自然保护区的植物资源及珍稀植物

对南山自然保护区的初步调查结果显示,区内有野生维管植物179科565属1039种,国家二级野生保护植物9种,其他珍稀濒危的种类7种。由此可见,南山自然保护区植物资源极其丰富,野生维管植物及珍稀保护植物是其重要组成部分。其中野生维管植物资源种类繁多,蕴藏量较大,而且不少种类具有开发和可持续利用的价值,具有巨大的经济价值和生态价值。     

Clinical Trial of Prophylactic Extended-Field Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Uterine Cervical Cancer (Protocol 0508)

To evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity of prophylactic extended-field carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT, Protocol 0508) for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in phase I / II clinical trial. Between May 2006 and January 2012, 26 patients of Protocol 0508 were treated with C-ion RT. The numbers of patients with stage IIB, IIIB, and IVA disease were 13, 11, and 2, respectively. Twenty patients had pelvic lymph node metastases. Median tumor size was 6.1 cm (range, 4.0–10.0 cm). The treatment consisted of extended-field irradiation of 39.0 gray equivalents (GyE) in 13 fractions, and additional 15.0 GyE in 5 fractions was given to the gross tumor volume (GTV) and surrounding tissues. With regard to local boost, 18.0 GyE in 2 fractions was given to GTV only. Total dose to the cervical tumor was 72.0 GyE over 20 fractions. The median follow-up period was 37 months. Twenty-one patients had grade 1 or 2 acute gastrointestinal toxicity, but all patients completed the treatment on schedule. There were no grade 3 or higher late complications, with 8 patients having grade 1 or 2 toxicities, 1 had grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicity and 2 had grade 2 genitourinary toxicity. Four patients (15.4%) developed local recurrence, and 8 patients (30.8%) had distant metastases. The 2-year local control rate, progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate were 83.6%, 61.5% and 73.1%, respectively. There were no severe acute or late complications in this trial. Prophylactic extended-field C-ion RT for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix was a safe treatment. Although the number of patients in this study was small, the results support further investigations to confirm the therapeutic efficacy and to avoid or reduce toxicity.

Trial Registration

UMIN-CTR UMIN000016169     

EpCAM-Independent Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the potential precursors of metastatic disease. Most assays established for the enumeration of CTCs so far–including the gold standard CellSearch—rely on the expression of the cell surface marker epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). But, these approaches may not detect CTCs that express no/low levels of EpCAM, e.g. by undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here we present an enrichment strategy combining different antibodies specific for surface proteins and extracellular matrix (ECM) components to capture an EpCAM^low/neg cell line and EpCAM^neg CTCs from blood samples of breast cancer patients depleted for EpCAM-positive cells. The expression of respective proteins (Trop2, CD49f, c-Met, CK8, CD44, ADAM8, CD146, TEM8, CD47) was verified by immunofluorescence on EpCAM^pos (e.g. MCF7, SKBR3) and EpCAM^low/neg (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines. To test antibodies and ECM proteins (e.g. hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen I, laminin) for capturing EpCAM^neg cells, the capture molecules were first spotted in a single- and multi-array format onto aldehyde-coated glass slides. Tumor cell adhesion of EpCAM^pos/neg cell lines was then determined and visualized by Coomassie/MitoTracker staining. In consequence, marginal binding of EpCAM^low/neg MDA-MB-231 cells to EpCAM-antibodies could be observed. However, efficient adhesion/capturing of EpCAM^low/neg cells could be achieved via HA and immobilized antibodies against CD49f and Trop2. Optimal capture conditions were then applied to immunomagnetic beads to detect EpCAM^neg CTCs from clinical samples. Captured CTCs were verified/quantified by immunofluorescence staining for anti-pan-Cytokeratin (CK)-FITC/anti-CD45 AF647/DAPI. In total, in 20 out of 29 EpCAM-depleted fractions (69%) from 25 metastatic breast cancer patients additional EpCAM^neg CTCs could be identified [range of 1–24 CTCs per sample] applying Trop2, CD49f, c-Met, CK8 and/or HA magnetic enrichment. EpCAM^neg dual-positive (CK^pos/CD45^pos) cells could be traced in 28 out of 29 samples [range 1–480]. By single-cell array-based comparative genomic hybridization we were able to demonstrate the malignant nature of one EpCAM^neg subpopulation. In conclusion, we established a novel enhanced CTC enrichment strategy to capture EpCAM^neg CTCs from clinical blood samples by targeting various cell surface antigens with antibody mixtures and ECM components.     

拟核结合蛋白与细菌基因的表达调控

拟核结合蛋白是细菌遗传物质组织和基因表达调控的关键. 细菌基因组压缩为致密的拟核必需有拟核结合蛋白的支撑. 拟核结合蛋白、DNA超螺旋和大分子簇在拟核的结构形成中起到重要作用,其中拟核结合蛋白最重要.拟核结合蛋白还影响细菌DNA的复制、重组、转录和修复等多个重要生理过程.作为全局调控因子,拟核结合蛋白是调控细菌适应环境变化所需基因表达的关键. 本文总结拟核结合蛋白的结构、功能和调控,特别是其在致病与非致病分枝杆菌中的差别,为寻找新药物靶标提供线索.     

不同强度静电磁场对体外培养骨髓间充质干细胞增殖与分化的影响

本实验研究不同强度静电磁场对体外培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞增殖与分化作用. 体外分离培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,传代后随机分为6组,分别用强度为0（对照组）、0.9、1.2、1.5、1.8和2.1 mT的静电磁场处理,每d每次处理30 min. 在磁场处理后的9~10 d ,骨髓间充质干细胞开始出现钙化小颗粒. 0.9 mT组抑制骨髓间充质干细胞增殖,1.5到2.1mT组促进骨髓间充质干细胞增殖. 在磁场处理后的12 d和15 d ,1.5和1.8 mT组极显著地增加了碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性. 采用AKP组织化学染色和钙化结节染色对骨髓间充质干细胞成骨性分化进行鉴定,AKP组织化学染色和钙化结节染色都呈现了极强的阳性结果,尤以1.5 mT和1.8 mT阳性染色面积最大. 在SEMFs处理后的48 h 和96 h ,1.5 mT和1.8 mT组胶原I(collagen-Ⅰ)和骨形态发生蛋白2(bone morphogenetic protein-2, Bmp-2) 基因表达水平显著高于对照组.在SEMFs处理后的12 d, BMP-2蛋白表达量高于对照组. 研究表明,0.9 mT 组抑制骨髓间充质干细胞增殖,1.5 mT到2.1 mT组不同强度静电磁场促进体外培养骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖. 磁场组能促进骨髓间充质干细胞成骨性分化,其中尤以1.5 mT和1.8 mT组促进大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化作用效果最为明显.     

GATE:一种用于辐射层析成像的蒙特卡罗模拟技术

描述了GATE的主要特点以及实现这些特点的GATE所具有的层级结构。通过测试由GATE软件包自带的GATE PET Benchmark的模拟结果,验证了GATE模拟引擎的正确性以及不同初始随机数下多次模拟实验的稳定性与可靠性。     

青藏高原人体脉搏测量及几种脉图对比分析

脉搏信息反映人体内部各器官的健康状况,利用PVDF压力传感器并垫一水囊间接接触法拾取脉搏信息,通过调理放大硬件电路对脉搏信号进行调理放大,借助虚拟仪器软件LabVIEW在PC机上架构虚拟脉搏测试系统,测试并采集了青藏高原地区大量不同人群的脉搏信息数据,给出了几种具有地域特征的脉图,并结合中医脉诊理论进行了对比分析。