The use of antibiotics to reduce bacterioplankton uptake of phytoplankton extracellular organic carbon (EOC) in the Potomac River estuary

Phytoplankton production and accumulation of extracellular organic carbon (EOC) was tracked during diel intervals in microcosms by inhibiting bacterioplankton assimilation of EOC with streptomycin and kanamycin. Bacterioplankton production (³H-thymidine incorporation) and metabolism (¹⁴C-glucose incorporation) were monitored in samples collected from the Potomac River estuary to determine the effect of the antibiotics. Particulate (i.e., raw water) primary production and EOC (i.e., water passing through 1.0 μm glass fiber filter) production rates were monitored to determine the impact of antibiotics on phytoplankton. In preliminary experiments, neither streptomycin nor kanamycin alone significantly inhibited bacterioplankton activity compared to controls, but when both were present secondary production and metabolism were reduced up to 90%, and remained as such for 45 h. During field evaluations using a streptomycin and kanamycin mixture (50 μM each) particulate primary production and EOC production were not statistically different in control and antibiotic treated samples indicating that the antibiotics did not negatively influence phytoplankton production rates. In the presence of antibiotics dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) and, to a lesser extent, monosaccharides were significantly elevated compared to controls. This study demonstrates that streptomycin and kanamycin are capable of inhibiting bacterioplankton metabolism and uptake of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the samples tested so that the contribution of EOC to the DOC pool and to bacterioplankton metabolism could be measured and assessed.     

HE4、NF-κBp65和MMP-9在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨HE4、NF-κBp65以及MMP-9的表达与上皮性卵巢肿瘤临床病理生物学行为的关系以及对患者预后的影响。方法应用免疫组化对80例卵巢上皮性癌、10例交界性上皮性肿瘤及10例良性上皮性肿瘤组织进行HE4、NF-κB p65及MMP-9蛋白的检测。结果 HE4、NF-κBp65及MMP-9蛋白的阳性表达率在卵巢癌组均高于交界性及良性肿瘤组（P〈0.05）。三个指标的表达与EOC的组织学分级、腹腔脏器及淋巴结转移以及PTNM临床分期有关（P〈0.05）;在EOC中,NF-κBp65分别与HE4、MMP-9的表达呈正相关（r1=0.673,P〈0.05;r2=0.775,P〈0.05）。多因素分析,PTNM分期、MMP-9的表达是影响卵巢癌术后患者预后的独立因素（P〈0.05）;HE4阳性组与阴性组5年生存率分别为12.7%和84.0%,MMP-9阳性组与阴性组5年生存率分别为8.7%和70.6%,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 NF-κBp65可能通过上调HE4、MMP-9的表达促进EOC的浸润和转移,联合检测HE4、NF-κBp65以及MMP-9的表达可能作为预测和评价患者预后的生物学指标。     

Bi-directional PCR allele-specific amplification (bi-PASA) for detection of caspase-8 -652 6N ins/del promoter polymorphism (rs3834129) in breast cancer

Caspase-8 (CASP8) plays a critical role in regulating apoptosis, and its functional polymorphisms may modify cancer risk. We investigated the possible association between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del (rs3834129) and the risk of breast cancer in a sample of Iranian population. This case-control study was done on 236 breast cancer patients and 203 cancer free healthy female. We designed a rapid and simple bi-directional PCR allele-specific amplification (bi-PASA) for detection of CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism. The results showed that the CASP8 -652 6N del/dl genotype was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.17-0.65, p=0.001). The frequencies of the del allele in cases and controls were 29.1% and 38.6%, respectively. An inverse association between CASP8 6N del variant and the risk of breast cancer (OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.66-0.87, p=0.002) was found. In conclusion, the result suggests that the CASP8 -652 6N del polymorphism plays a protective role in susceptibility to breast cancer in our population. Further studies in other populations with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.     

Prognostic value of the tumor-specific ceRNA network in epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Growing evidence indicates that multiple complex altered pathways play important regulatory roles in the development and progression of a variety of cancers, including epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. First, we identified differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) in epithelial ovarian cancer by comparing the expression profiles between epithelial ovarian cancer samples and normal tissue samples in different GEO datasets. Then, GO- and KEGG-pathway-enrichment analyses were applied to investigate the primary functions of the overlapped differentially expressed mRNAs. Moreover, the primary enriched genes were used to construct the signal-network with Cytoscape software. In addition, we integrated the relationship among lncRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs to create a competing endogenous RNA network. Finally, mRNAs that were associated with patient prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer were selected using univariate Cox regression analysis. A total of 2,225 mRNAs, 336 lncRNAs, and 14 miRNAs were shown to be differentially expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer compared with normal tissues. The dysregulated mRNAs were primarily enriched in cell division and signal transduction, according to Gene Ontology, whereas, according to KEGG, they were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways and pathways in cancer. A total of 10 mRNAs were associated with patient prognosis in ovarian cancer. This study identifies a novel lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA network, which may suggest potential molecular mechanisms underlying the development of epithelial ovarian cancer, providing new insights for survival prediction and interventional strategies for epithelial ovarian cancer.     

Prediction value of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene polymorphisms for epithelial ovarian cancer risk,clinical features,and prognosis

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, encoded by ICAM-1) is implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. ICAM-1 modulates the susceptibility to several types of cancer and the disease prognosis; however, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is unclear. Here, we evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ICAM-1 as predictors of EOC risk and prognosis. Six ICAM-1 polymorphisms were genotyped in 408 patients with EOC and 520 controls using the MassARRAY system. The ICAM-1 mRNA levels in 89 EOC tissues and 35 normal ovarian tissues were examined using quantitative PCR. The ICAM-1 rs5498 G allele was associated with increased tumor grade (OR = 2.650) and EOC risk (OR = 1.405). This risk was more evident in females who had first-degree relatives (FDRs) with a tumor (OR = 3.475) or who experienced early menarche (OR = 2.774). The ICAM-1 expression in the cancerous tissue was elevated compared with that of normal ovarian tissues (p < 0.0001), and it was associated with an rs5498 genotype (p = 0.0002). ICAM-1 SNPs did not significantly predict the overall EOC survival (p > 0.05). However, the rs5498 G allele correlated with EOC survival time in patients whose FDRs suffered from a tumor (p = 0.001). ICAM-1 rs5498 likely confers a high risk for EOC in G allele carriers accompanied by up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression during carcinogenesis. The combination of ICAM-1 rs5498 and tumor history predicts the EOC prognosis.     

卵巢上皮性肿瘤中FKBP38 蛋白的表达研究

目的:探讨卵巢上皮性肿瘤中FK506结合蛋白38(FK506-binding protein 38,FKBP38)蛋白的表达及潜在的临床意义。方法:采用免疫组化的方法检测20例正常输卵管组织,30例卵巢上皮性良性肿瘤,27例卵巢交界性肿瘤组织,130例卵巢上皮性癌(epithelial ovarian carcinoma,EOC)组织中FKBP38蛋白的表达,并分析其表达水平与临床病理参数的关系。结果:FKBP38蛋白在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达明显低于正常输卵管组织、卵巢上皮性良性和交界性肿瘤组织,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。FKBP38蛋白表达在根据国际妇产科联盟(International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics,FIGO)标准定义的不同分期的卵巢上皮性癌组织中具有统计学差异(P0.05)。FKBP38蛋白在卵巢高级别浆液性癌的表达比低级别浆液性癌中的表达显著性降低(P0.05)。但把卵巢上皮性癌按照不同年龄及不同组织学分型分层后,FKBP38蛋白表达差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:FKBP38蛋白表达的下调可能与卵巢上皮性癌的发生和分化密切相关,提示FKBP38蛋白作为卵巢恶性肿瘤诊断和治疗的潜在性生物靶点需进一步探索和研究。     

Extensive sequence variation in the 3′ untranslated region of the KRAS gene in lung and ovarian cancer cases

While cancer is a serious health issue, there are very few genetic biomarkers that predict predisposition, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment response. Recently, sequence variations that disrupt microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of genes have been shown to be associated with many human diseases, including cancer. In an early example, a variant at one particular single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a let-7 miRNA complementary site in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the KRAS gene was associated with risk and outcome of various cancers. The KRAS oncogene is an important regulator of cellular proliferation, and is frequently mutated in cancers. To discover additional sequence variants in the 3′ UTR of KRAS with the potential as genetic biomarkers, we resequenced the complete region of the 3′ UTR of KRAS in multiple non-small cell lung cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer cases either by Sanger sequencing or capture enrichment followed by high-throughput sequencing. Here we report a comprehensive list of sequence variations identified in cases, with some potentially dysregulating expression of KRAS by altering putative miRNA complementary sites. Notably, rs712, rs9266, and one novel variant may have a functional role in regulation of KRAS by disrupting complementary sites of various miRNAs, including let-7 and miR-181.     

卵巢上皮性癌中MMP-7、VEGF—C的表达和微淋巴管密度变化的相关性及其意义

目的观察基质金属蛋白酶-7（matrix metalloproteinase-7,MMP-7）、血管内皮生长因子-C（vascular endothelial growth factor—C,VEGF—C）和D2—40在上皮性卵巢癌中的表达,探讨MMP-7、VEGF-C表达以及D2—40标记的微淋巴管密度（microlymphatic vessel density,MLVD）与卵巢癌临床病理生物学行为的关系。方法应用免疫组化对80例EOC及20例卵巢良性上皮性肿瘤组织进行MMP-7、VEGF-C和D2—40的检测,并进行MLVD测定。结果MMP-7、VEGF—C蛋白的表达阳性率及MLVD计数在EOC组分别为60．0％、57．5％以及13．06±6．16,均分别高于良性肿瘤组25．0％、25．0％及9．25±4．33（P〈0．05）。EOC中,MMP-7、VEGF-C蛋白的阳性表达率随肿瘤组织学分级的增加而升高,分别为29．4％、56．7％、78．8％和11．8％、60．0％、78．8％（P〈0．05）,腹腔脏器及淋巴结有转移者高于无转移者,分别为86．8％＆35．7％及86．8％＆27．1％（P〈0．05）,两个指标在PTNMⅢ-Ⅳ期阳性表达率分别为83．8％、83．8％,均显著高于PTNMⅠ-Ⅱ期的阳性表达率39．5％、34．9％（P〈o．05）;D2—40标记的MLVD计数在EOC中随组织学分级的增加而增高,分别为7．29±2．85、12．63±6．25、16．48±4．94,腹腔脏器及淋巴结有转移者高于无转移者16．50±4．31＆10．00±5．99（P〈0．05）,PTNMⅢ-Ⅳ期显著高于PTNMⅠ-Ⅱ期16．65±4．15＆10．02±5．99（P〈0．05）。EOC中,MMP-7、VEGF-C的表达分别与MLVD呈正相关性（r分别为0．510,0．455,均PG0．01）;MMP-7、VEGF-C的表达分别与EOC患者腹腔器官及淋巴结转移亦呈正相关（r分别为0．521,0．565,均P〈0．01）。结论MMP-7、VEGF-C的表达可以促进EOC中淋巴管的形成及淋巴道转移,联合检测MMP-7、VEGF-C及MLVD可能作为预测EOC患者侵袭、转移等生物学行为和评价预后的重要指标。