MeCP2 duplication causes hyperandrogenism by upregulating LHCGR and downregulating RORα

Duplication of MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2) gene causes a serious neurological and developmental disorder called MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), which is usually found in males. A previous clinical study reported that MDS patient has precocious puberty with hyperandrogenism, suggesting increased MeCP2 may cause male hyperandrogenism. Here we use an MDS mouse model and confirm that MECP2 duplication significantly upregulates androgen levels. We show for the first time that MeCP2 is highly expressed in the Leydig cells of testis, where androgen is synthesized. Mechanistically, MECP2 duplication increases androgen synthesis and decreases androgen to estrogen conversion through either the upregulation of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHCGR) in testis, as a result of MeCP2 binds to G-quadruplex structure of Lhcgr promoter and recruits the transcription activator CREB1 or the downregulation of the expression of aromatase in testis by binding the CpG island of Rorα, an upstream regulator of aromatase. Taken together, we demonstrate that MeCP2 plays an important role in androgen synthesis, supporting a novel non-CNS function of MeCP2 in the process of sex hormone synthesis.

Histidine-rich glycoprotein as a prognostic biomarker for sepsis

Various biomarkers have been proposed for sepsis; however, only a few become the standard. We previously reported that plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) levels decreased in septic mice, and supplemental infusion of HRG improved survival in mice model of sepsis. Moreover, our previous clinical study demonstrated that HRG levels in septic patients were lower than those in noninfective systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients, and it could be a biomarker for sepsis. In this study, we focused on septic patients and assessed the differences in HRG levels between the non-survivors and survivors. We studied ICU patients newly diagnosed with sepsis. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of ICU admission, and HRG levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ninety-nine septic patients from 11 institutes in Japan were included. HRG levels were significantly lower in non-survivors (n = 16) than in survivors (n = 83) (median, 15.1 [interquartile ranges, 12.7–16.6] vs. 30.6 [22.1–39.6] µg/ml; p < 0.01). Survival analysis revealed that HRG levels were associated with mortality (hazard ratio 0.79, p < 0.01), and the Harrell C-index (predictive power) for HRG was 0.90. These results suggested that HRG could be a novel prognostic biomarker for sepsis.

Clinical Application of the Vestibular Stimulation Effect on Balance Disorders with Dementia

Background: In a previous study on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we showed that vestibular dysfunction derived from cerebral disorders contributes to balance disorders. No previous clinical study has attempted to prevent the progression of balance disorders in dementia patients through vestibular stimulation using an air caloric device. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to delay the progression of balance disorders by inducing vestibular compensation, specifically by utilizing the effect of vestibular stimulation to activate the cerebrum. Methods: Fifteen individuals were randomized and classified into a stimulation group or a nonstimulation group. Eight AD patients underwent vestibular stimulation every 2 weeks for 6 months in the stimulation group. Seven AD patients participated in the nonstimulation group (the control group). Both groups were subsequently evaluated using a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), stepping test, caloric test, and smooth pursuit eye movement test just before starting the study and 6 months later. Results: For balance parameters, the various tests did not show any significant differences between the two groups. However, in the stepping test, the decline rate tended to be higher in the nonstimulation group than in the stimulation group. The stimulation group’s rate of decline in MMSE scores was lower than that of the nonstimulation group (p=0.015). No adverse events were tracked during the present study. Conclusion: Repeated vestibular stimulation might help patients retain greater balance and higher function. To prove these effects, the future clinical application will require an increased number of cases and longer periods of vestibular stimulation. This study showed that vestibular stimulation by air caloric device is safe and tolerable in patients with AD.

Evaluating the Effect of Sinex® (0.05% Oxymetazoline) Nasal Spray on Reduction of Nasal Congestion Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate air flow changes in reconstructed nasal passages based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from a previous clinical study of 0.05% Oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex Micromist®). Total-pressure boundary conditions were uniquely applied to accommodate low patency subjects. Net nasal resistance, the primary simulation outcome, was determined using a parallel-circuit analogy and compared across treatments. Relative risk (RR) calculations show that for a 50% reduction in nasal resistance, subjects treated with Sinex® are 9.1 times more likely to achieve this after 8 hr, and 3.2 times more likely after 12 hr compared to Sham.

dtectDx Breast: A serum biomarker test for breast cancer detection used in conjunction with traditional mammography screening.

18 Background: Provista Diagnostics has developed a test that analyzes serum concentrations of 5 protein biomarkers in order to detect breast cancer. The dtectDx Breast test utilizes a proprietary algorithm that has been described previously (Weber et al. 2010). In this study, it was noted that the algorithm performs best in women under age 50. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of dtectDx Breast in women under age 50 in a commercial setting and compare the results with data from the previous clinical study. Methods: The dtectDx Breast test measures the concentrations of IL-8, IL-12, VEGF, CEA, and HGF via ELISA. These data combined with select patient characteristics and Provista’s proprietary algorithm result in a test value that is characterized as normal or elevated. dtectDx Breast test reports issued for women under age 50 were reviewed from a 3-year time period and prescribing physicians were interviewed regarding follow-up care and outcome measures (largely imaging studies, if warranted). Results: Of the 908 patients, 8 samples were rejected based on serum quality. Of the remaining 900 patients, 121 were reported as elevated (12.7%). In 4 cases, these elevated results were confirmed cases of breast cancer. Of these, 2 patients initially showed no screening evidence of cancer, but upon further evaluation (after receipt of dtectDx Breast results) were diagnosed with breast cancer. dtectDx correctly identified DCIS 66% of the time (n=2). Conclusions: These results describe the use of dtectDx Breast in a clinical setting and confirm that the assay behaves similarly to previously published results (Weber et al 2010). While the false-positive rate is higher than predicted (12.7% vs 6.8%), the assay correctly identified 4 of 4 invasive cancers and 2 of 3 DCIS cases. Since two of the invasive cancer cases were originally not detected via standard screening procedures, the assay has demonstrated important clinical utility when used in conjunction with mammography/standard of care. Here we show that, in the commercial patient population, when combined with standard of care, dtectDx Breast improves the detection of breast cancer in women under 50.

Simultaneous Implantation of Dental Implants and Autogenous Human Dentin

In our previous clinical study, autogenous demineralized dentin matrices (DDM) prepared from the functional vital teeth (#38, #41) of thirty-five-year-old female were grafted on the bone defect, using newly developed mill, and then received to the host without troubles. In this study, we implanted the human tooth dentin adjusted previously and the dental implants into the regions of missing tooth simultaneously. Fifty-seven-year-old female presented with missing teeth (#35-#37, #45-#47). First, a non-functional vital tooth (#18) were extracted and cryopreserved immediately. 11 months after extraction, the tooth was crushed by newly developed auto-crash mill using ZrO2 vessel and ZrO2 blade for 1 minute. The crushed granules were demineralized completely in 2% HNO3 solution, rinsed in cold distilled water and lyophilized (granule size: 0.5-2.0mm). The bacteria-free of the DDM were confirmed by the bacteriological examination before use. Drilling of the prospective implant beds were then performed according to the manufacture’s protocol and a screw-type rough surface implants (Nobel Biocare® Mk III) were placed. The adjusted DDM granules were implanted into the bone defect (#45). There are no postoperative complications at 3 years after implantation. This case indicates that the preserved autogenous DDM can be used as collagenous biomaterials with osteoinductive potency.

R436 – Association Between Chronic Otitis Media and Otosclerosis

Problem In a previous clinical study, the incidence of chronic otitis media in cases of otosclerosis was reported to be less than that observed in patients without otosclerosis. Histopathologically, we can detect minimal changes such as histological otosclerosis or silent otitis media which are not detected clinically. The purpose of this study is to reveal the association of otosclerosis and chronic otitis media by evaluating human temporal bones, histopathologically. Methods 1235 human temporal bones were reviewed for this study. In order to match patients with otosclerosis, patients with chronic otitis media were limited to 16 to 92 years of age. The incidence of otosclerosis (clinical otosclerosis, histological otosclerosis) and chronic otitis media, either clinical (tympanic membrane perforation) or silent (without perforation) were analyzed. Results There was no statistically difference between the incidence of chronic otitis media in temporal bones with and without otosclerosis. Conclusion The association of chronic otitis media and otosclerosis appears to be a coincidental. Significance The incidence of chronic otitis media in cases of otosclerosis is not less than that observed in cases of chronic otitis media in cases without otosclerosis. Support International Hearing Foundation, Hubbard Foundation, Starkey Foundation.

Stress regulates the lymphocyte homing receptor CD62L (L-selectin)

Based on a previous study showing that panic disorder patients had increased expression of naïve phenotype lymphocytes (CD45RA+ and CD62L+), increased plasma cortisol, as well as decreased interleukin-2 (IL-2) producion, we hypothesized that changes in the percentage of expression of these lymphocyte surface molecules could be related to the substances released by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and possibly associated to panic disorder (cortisol, IL-2, serotonin and epinephrine). In order to study the altered expression, blood mononuclear cells of normal volunteers were stimulated with mitogen, in the presence of dexamethasone, IL-2, serotonin and epinephrin. CD62L is decreased by IL-2 in vitro. Serotonin and epinephrine did not promote changes in the expression of these surface molecules. The results of the ex vivo study are in agreement with a previous clinical study with panic patients. It could be suggested that stress is responsible for certain immunologic dysfunctions and new studies should be conducted.

Pilot Study of phoP/phoQ-DeletedSalmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium ExpressingHelicobacter pylori Urease in Adult Volunteers

ABSTRACT Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi has been studied as an oral vaccine vector. Despite success with attenuatedS. enterica serovar Typhimurium vectors in animals, early clinical trials of S. enterica serovar Typhi expressing heterologous antigens have shown that few subjects have detectable immune responses to vectored antigens. A previous clinical study ofphoP/phoQ-deleted S. enterica serovar Typhi expressing Helicobacter pylori urease from a multicopy plasmid showed that none of eight subjects had detectable immune responses to the vectored antigen. In an attempt to further define the variables important for engendering immune responses to vectored antigens in humans, six volunteers were inoculated with 5 × 107 to 8 × 107 CFU ofphoP/phoQ-deleted S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing the same antigen. Two of the six volunteers had fever; none had diarrhea, bacteremia, or other serious side effects. The volunteers were more durably colonized than in previous studies ofphoP/phoQ-deleted S. enterica serovar Typhi. Five of the six volunteers seroconverted to S. entericaserovar Typhimurium antigens and had strong evidence of anti-Salmonella mucosal immune responses by enzyme-linked immunospot studies. Three of six (three of five who seroconverted toSalmonella) had immune responses in the most sensitive assay of urease-specific immunoglobulin production by blood mononuclear cells in vitro. One of these had a fourfold or greater increase in end-point immunoglobulin titer in serum versus urease. AttenuatedS. enterica serovar Typhimurium appears to be more effective than S. enterica serovar Typhi for engendering immune responses to urease. Data suggest that this may be related to a greater stability of antigen-expressing plasmid in S. enterica serovar Typhimurium and/or prolonged intestinal colonization. Specific factors unique to nontyphoidal salmonellae may also be important for stimulation of the gastrointestinal immune system.

Pharmacodynamics of (−)-β-2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-Thiacytidine in Chronically Virus-Infected Woodchucks Compared to Its Pharmacodynamics in Humans

The pharmacodynamics of (−)-β-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) was studied in chronically woodchuck hepatitis virus-infected woodchucks and compared to that in previous studies in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected humans. Net depletion rates of serum virus DNA in woodchucks receiving 3TC were modeled as a sum of an exponentially declining virus input and a first-order elimination. Preceding shoulders and pseudo-first-order virus half-lives in serum ranged from 1 to 7 days and were dose dependent. Higher plasma 3TC concentrations were needed in woodchucks for virus depletion similar to that attained in humans. Human HBV depletion curves from a previous clinical study with 3TC (≥100 mg per day) were described by a biexponential relationship. The average half-life value in humans, normalized to fraction of area under the serum virus load-time curve, was similar to the average half-life value observed in woodchucks given the highest 3TC dose (2.4 and 2.0 days, respectively). On cessation of therapy, virus load rebounds in woodchucks were dose dependent and resembled posttherapy virus “flares” reported to occur in humans. The estimates of drug exposures that could lead to optimal antiviral effects presented indicate that 3TC should not be underdosed and compliance should be monitored. The study of chronically infected woodchucks may prove useful for optimizing drug regimens for hepadnavirus infections.