The relationship between obesity and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs5443 (C825T), in the guanine nucleotide binding protein beta polypeptide 3 (GNB3) gene is currently inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to reassess whether the GNB3 rs5443 SNP could influence obesity and obesity-related metabolic traits in a Taiwanese population. A total of 983 Taiwanese subjects with general health examinations were genotyped. Based on the criteria defined by the Department of Health in Taiwan, the terms “overweight” and “obesity” are defined as 24 ≦ BMI < 27 and BMI ≧ 27, respectively. Compared to the carrier of the combined CT + TT genotypes of the GNB3 rs5443 polymorphism, triglyceride was significantly higher for the carrier of CC genotype in the complete sample population (128.2 ± 93.2 vs. 114.3 ± 79.1 mg/dl; P = 0.041). In addition, the carriers of CC variant had a higher total cholesterol than those with the combined CT + TT variants (194.5 ± 36.8 vs. 187.9 ± 33.0 mg/dl; P = 0.019) in the complete sample population. In the normal controls, both triglyceride (P = 0.018) and total cholesterol (P = 0.011) were also significantly higher in the CC homozygotes than in the combined CT + TT genotypes. However, the GNB3 rs5443 SNP did not exhibit any significant association with obesity or overweight among the subjects. Our study indicates that the CC genotype of the GNB3 rs5443 SNP may predict higher obesity-related metabolic traits such as triglyceride and total cholesterol in non-obese Taiwanese subjects (but not in obese subjects).

Retinoic acid (RA) has been believed to be an anticancer drug for a long history. However, the molecular mechanisms of RA actions on cancer cells remain diverse. In this study, the dose-dependent inhibition of RA on DU145 cell proliferation was identified. Interestingly, RA treatment triggered p35 cleavage (p25 formation) and Cdk5 overactivation, and all could be blocked by Calpain inhibitor, Calpeptin (CP). Subsequently, RA-triggered DU145 apoptosis detected by sub-G1 phase accumulation and Annexin V staining could also be blocked by CP treatment. Furthermore, RA-triggered caspase 3 activation and following Cdk5 over-activation were destroyed by treatments of both CP and Cdk5 knockdown. In conclusion, we report a new mechanism in which RA could cause apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells through p35 cleavage and Cdk5 over-activation. This finding may contribute to constructing a clearer image of RA function and bring RA as a valuable chemoprevention agent for prostate cancer patients.

1H-irradiation under mismatched Hartmann-Hahn conditions provides an alternative mechanism for carrying out 15N/13C transfers in triple-resonance heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (HETCOR) on stationary samples of single crystals and aligned samples of biopolymers, which improve the efficiency especially when the direct 15N-13C dipolar couplings are small. In many cases, the sensitivity is improved by taking advantage of the 13Cα labeled sites in peptides and proteins with 13C detection. The similarities between experimental and simulated spectra demonstrate the validity of the recoupling mechanism and identify the potential for applying these experiments to virus particles or membrane proteins in phospholipid bilayers; however, further development is needed in order to derive quantitative distance and angular constraints from these measurements.

Human polyomaviruses are associated with substantial morbidity in immunocompromised patients, including those with HIV/AIDS, recipients of bone marrow and kidney transplants, and individuals receiving immunomodulatory agents for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. No effective antipolyomavirus agents are currently available, and no host determinants have been identified to predict susceptibility to polyomavirus-associated diseases. Using the mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) infection model, we recently demonstrated that perforin-granzyme exocytosis, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and Fas did not contribute to control of infection or virus-induced tumors. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was recently shown to inhibit replication by human BK polyomavirus in primary cultures of renal tubular epithelial cells. In this study, we provide evidence that IFN-γ is an important component of the host defense against MPyV infection and tumorigenesis. In immortalized and primary cells, IFN-γ reduces expression of MPyV proteins and impairs viral replication. Mice deficient for the IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR−/−) maintain higher viral loads during MPyV infection and are susceptible to MPyV-induced tumors; this increased viral load is not associated with a defective MPyV-specific CD8+ T cell response. Using an acute MPyV infection kidney transplant model, we further show that IFN-γR−/− donor kidneys harbor higher MPyV levels than donor kidneys from wild-type mice. Finally, administration of IFN-γ to persistently infected mice significantly reduces MPyV levels in multiple organs, including the kidney, a major reservoir for persistent mouse and human polyomavirus infections. These findings demonstrate that IFN-γ is an antiviral effector molecule for MPyV infection.

By incorporating homonuclear decoupling on both the 1H and 13C channels it is feasible to obtain high-resolution two-dimensional separated local field spectra of peptides and proteins that are 100% labeled with 13C. Dual-PISEMO (Polarization Inversion Spin Exchange Modulated Observation) can be performed as a conventional two-dimensional experiment, or with windowed detection as a one-dimensional experiment that offers flexibility as a building block for Shiftless and other multidimensional triple-resonance experiments with the inclusion of 15N irradiation. The triple-resonance MAGC probe used to perform these experiments at 500 MHz is described.

This review provides a practical overview of the excess cancer risks related to radiation from medical imaging. Primary care physicians should have a basic understanding of these risks. Because of recent attention to this issue, patients are more likely to express concerns over radiation risk. In addition, physicians can play a role in reducing radiation risk to their patients by considering these risks when making imaging referrals. This review provides a brief overview of the evidence pertaining to low-level radiation and excess cancer risks and addresses the radiation doses and risks from common medical imaging studies. Specific subsets of patients may be at greater risk from radiation exposure, and radiation risk should be considered carefully in these patients. Recent technical innovations have contributed to lowering the radiation dose from computed tomography, and the referring physician should be aware of these innovations in making imaging referrals.

To ascertain the consequences of severe leukopenia and the tempo of recovery, we studied the immunity of 56 adult patients treated for multiple sclerosis or systemic sclerosis with autologous CD34 cell transplantation using extremely lymphoablative conditioning. NK cell, monocyte, and neutrophil counts recovered to normal by 1 month; dendritic cell and B cell counts by 6 months; and T cell counts by 2 years posttransplant, although CD4 T cell counts remained borderline low. Initial peripheral expansion was robust for CD8 T cells but only moderate for CD4 T cells. Subsequent thymopoiesis was slow, especially in older patients. Importantly, levels of antibodies, including autoantibodies, did not drop substantially. Infections were frequent during the first 6 months, when all immune cells were deficient, and surprisingly rare (0.21 per patient year) at 7–24 months posttransplant, when only T cells (particularly CD4 T cells) were deficient. In conclusion, peripheral expansion of CD8 but not CD4 T cells is highly efficient. Prolonged CD4 lymphopenia is associated with relatively few infections, possibly due to antibodies produced by persisting pretransplant plasma cells.

Areas of hypoattenuation in the liver which do not have mass effect are typically thought to represent focal fatty infiltration. Rarely, tumors can present without mass effect in the liver. We present a case in which areas of liver hypoattenuation which were initially thought to represent focal fatty infiltration on CT due to lack of mass effect had abnormal uptake on a FDG PET/CT exam; these areas were due to secondary hepatic involvement from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Introduction:

Antiplatelet therapy remains one of the cornerstones in the management of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. However, a significant percentage of patients have concomitant gastroesophageal reflux or peptic ulcer disease that requires acid-reducing medications, the most powerful and effective being the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Antiplatelet efficacy, at least in vivo, and particularly for clopidogrel, has been shown to be reduced with concomitant proton pump inhibitor use. Whether this is clinically relevant is not clear from the limited studies available.

Methods:

We conducted an extensive review of studies available on Medline related to pharmacodynamic interactions between the antiplatelet medications and proton pump inhibitors as well as clinical studies that addressed this potential interaction.

Results:

Based on the present pharmacodynamic and clinical studies we did not find a significant interaction that would reduce the efficacy of antiplatelet agents with concomitant user of proton pump inhibitors.

Conclusions:

Patients on antiplatelet agents after a transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke can safely use aspirin, and extended release dipyridamole/aspirin with proton pump inhibitors. Patients on clopidogrel may use other acid-reducing drugs besides proton pump inhibitors. In rare cases where proton pump inhibitors and clopidogrel have to be used concurrently, careful close monitoring for recurrent vascular events is required.

In this study, we aimed to explore whether a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs266729 (−11,377C > G), in the adiponectin C1Q and collagen domain containing (ADIPOQ) gene could influence weight reduction and fat change under sibutramine therapy in an obese population. There were 131 obese Taiwanese patients, including 44 in the placebo group and 87 in the sibutramine (10 mg daily) group. We assessed the measures of weight loss and body fat reduction at the end of the 12-week treatment period by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models using gender, baseline weight, and baseline percent body fat as covariates. By comparing the placebo and sibutramine groups with ANCOVA, our data revealed a strong effect of sibutramine on percent body fat loss (1.9 ± 0.3 vs 4.6 ± 0.5%; P < 0.001) and on weight reduction (2.8 ± 2.0 vs 7.9 ± 1.6 kg; P < 0.001) for subjects with the CC genotype. On the contrary, sibutramine had no significant effect on percent body fat loss or on weight loss in the GG and GC individuals. The results suggest that the SNP rs266729 of the ADIPOQ gene may contribute to weight reduction and fat loss in response to sibutramine therapy in Taiwanese obese patients.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients often stop pursuing interferon-alfa and ribavirin (IFN-alfa/RBV) treatment because of the high cost and associated adverse effects. It is highly desirable, both clinically and economically, to establish tools to distinguish responders from nonresponders and to predict possible outcomes of the IFN-alfa/RBV treatments. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be used to understand the relationship between genetic inheritance and IFN-alfa/RBV therapeutic response. The aim in this study was to establish a predictive model based on a pharmacogenomic approach. Our study population comprised Taiwanese patients with CHC who were recruited from multiple sites in Taiwan. The genotyping data was generated in the high-throughput genomics lab of Vita Genomics, Inc. With the wrapper-based feature selection approach, we employed multilayer feedforward neural network (MFNN) and logistic regression as a basis for comparisons. Our data revealed that the MFNN models were superior to the logistic regression model. The MFNN approach provides an efficient way to develop a tool for distinguishing responders from nonresponders prior to treatments. Our preliminary results demonstrated that the MFNN algorithm is effective for deriving models for pharmacogenomics studies and for providing the link from clinical factors such as SNPs to the responsiveness of IFN-alfa/RBV in clinical association studies in pharmacogenomics.

False-positive FDG uptake has been noted in a wide range of benign processes. In this report, we describe a case of FDG uptake in unilateral sternoclavicular synovitis which mimicked an internal mammary node in appearance. Knowledge of this potential false-positive is particularly important in breast cancer patients with a propensity of internal mammary nodal metastases.

Background

In the studies of genomics, it is essential to select a small number of genes that are more significant than the others for the association studies of disease susceptibility. In this work, our goal was to compare computational tools with and without feature selection for predicting chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using genetic factors such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Methods

We employed the dataset that was original to the previous study by the CDC Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Group. To uncover relationships between CFS and SNPs, we applied three classification algorithms including naive Bayes, the support vector machine algorithm, and the C4.5 decision tree algorithm. Furthermore, we utilized feature selection methods to identify a subset of influential SNPs. One was the hybrid feature selection approach combining the chi-squared and information-gain methods. The other was the wrapper-based feature selection method.

Results

The naive Bayes model with the wrapper-based approach performed maximally among predictive models to infer the disease susceptibility dealing with the complex relationship between CFS and SNPs.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that our approach is a promising method to assess the associations between CFS and SNPs.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be used in clinical association studies to determine the contribution of genes to drug efficacy. A common SNP in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, a methionine (Met) substitution for valine (Val) at codon 66 (Val66Met), is a candidate SNP for influencing antidepressant treatment outcome. In this study, our goal was to determine the relationship between the Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene and the rapid antidepressant response to venlafaxine in a Taiwanese population with MDD. Overall, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was found not to be associated with short-term venlafaxine treatment outcome. However, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism showed a trend to be associated with rapid venlafaxine treatment response in female patients. Future research with independent replication in large sample sizes is needed to confirm the role of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism identified in this study.

In the studies of genomics, it is essential to select a small number of genes that are more significant than the others for research ranging from candidate gene studies to genome-wide association studies. In this study, we proposed a Bayesian method for identifying the promising candidate genes that are significantly more influential than the others. We employed the framework of variable selection and a Gibbs sampling based technique to identify significant genes. The proposed approach was applied to a genomics study for persons with chronic fatigue syndrome. Our studies show that the proposed Bayesian methodology is effective for deriving models for genomic studies and for providing information on significant genes.

The activation and entry of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells into the central nervous system is an essential step towards clearance of West Nile virus (WNV) from infected neurons. The molecular signals responsible for the directed migration of virus-specific T cells and their cellular sources are presently unknown. Here we demonstrate that in response to WNV infection, neurons secrete the chemokine CXCL10, which recruits effector T cells via the chemokine receptor CXCR3. Neutralization or a genetic deficiency of CXCL10 leads to a decrease in CXCR3+ CD8+ T-cell trafficking, an increase in viral burden in the brain, and enhanced morbidity and mortality. These data support a new paradigm in chemokine neurobiology, as neurons are not generally considered to generate antiviral immune responses, and CXCL10 may represent a novel neuroprotective agent in response to WNV infection in the central nervous system.

We investigated a possible synergistic effect of a macrolide and β-lactams against Streptococcus pneumoniae strains with different resistance profiles. Checkerboard and time-kill assays of erythromycin combined with penicillin or cefotaxime essentially showed indifference, suggesting that these antibiotics in combinations in vitro act substantially as individuals in their activity against S. pneumoniae.