SCF Group Research Articles

Response characteristics of flax retting liquid addition during chicken manure composting: Focusing on core bacteria in organic carbon mineralization and humification

To explore the applicability of flax retting liquid (FRL) addition, the physicochemical properties, microbial community structure and function, carbon conversion and humus (HS) formation were assessed during chicken manure (CM) aerobic composting. Compared with the control group, the addition of FRL increased the temperature at thermophilic phase, while the microbial mass carbon content (MBC) in SCF and FRH groups raised to 96.1 ± 0.25 g/Kg and 93.33 ± 0.27 g/Kg, respectively. Similarly, FRL also improved the concent of humic acid (HA) to 38.44 ± 0.85 g/Kg, 33.06 ± 0.8 g/Kg, respcetively. However, fulvic acid (FA) decreased to 30.02 ± 0.55 g/Kg, 31.4 ± 0.43 g/Kg, respectively and further reduced CO2 emissions. FRL influenced the relative abundance of Firmicutes at thermophilic phase and Ornithinimicrobium at maturity phase. Additionally, FRL strengthen the association among flora and reduce the number of bacteria, which was negative correlated with HA and positive with CO2 during composting. These findings offer powerful technological support for improving agricultural waste recycling.

Zooplankton community and its environmental driving factors in Ulungur Lake, China

This study investigated the zooplankton community structure in Ulungur Lake, located in the arid region of Northwest China, which has been slightly polluted by exogeneous sources. A total of 44 zooplankton species were identified in Ulungur Lake, which were sorted into seven functional groups: protozoan filter feeders (PF), rotifer filter feeders (RF), rotifer carnivores (RC), small copepod and cladoceran filter feeders (SCF), mid-sized copepod and cladoceran filter feeders (MCF), mid-sized copepod and cladoceran carnivores (MCC), and large copepod and cladoceran filter feeders (LCF). The dominant zooplankton functional group varied according to seasonal change. The RF group was dominant in the spring, comprising 87.77% of the total biomass. In the summer, the dominant group was SCF, comprising 90.72% of the total biomass, while the RF group accounted for only 7.24%. In the autumn, the biomass was mainly distributed between the RC (36.38%), SCF (30.62%), and RF (30.06%) groups. This seasonal difference in zooplankton community structure is related to fish production in Ulungur Lake, as well as to the competition and predation relationship among zooplankton species. This study showed a significant positive correlation between the PF and LCF groups, and between the RC, MCC, and MCF groups. This positive correlation was found to be related to the competition and predatory relationships between these functional groups. The predation pressure within the zooplankton functional groups in Ulungur Lake was not as significant as the pressure of food competition. The zooplankton biomass showed no significant difference between spring (0.0615 mg/L) and summer (0.0621 mg/L), but the biomass in autumn (0.3051 mg/L) was significantly increased. Nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N) and Secchi Depth (SD) had significant correlations between species and functional groups, and were the major driving factors affecting the community structure of Ulungur Lake. In this study, the seasonal variations in the biomass of zooplankton were strongly influenced by environmental factors, which played an important driving role in structuring the ecological communities of zooplankton.

Transcriptomics study of coronary slow flow disease and verification of differentially expressed genes

Objective: To determine the differentially expressed genes between patients with coronary slow flow (SCF) and healthy controls, as well as to define the signal pathways and protein interactions related to the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods: A total of 43 hospitalized SCF patients in the year of 2018 and 43 healthy subjects, who underwent health checkup in the same year, were enrolled in this study. General data were obtained, blood samples were collected to determine the related indicators of glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and kidney metabolism. RNA was extracted from blood monocytes, and the differential gene expression profiles were investigated by RNA-Seq. GO function annotation, KEGG pathway enrichment, protein interaction network analysis (PPI) and phenotype analysis were performed. The levels of related cytokines were detected by ELISA, and qPCR was used to verify differentially expressed genes of the two groups. Results: In the SCF group, there were 27 (62.79%) males and 16 females (37.21%), the average age was (54.3±8.8) years. In the control group, there were 29 males (67.44%) and 14 females (31.56%), the average age was (57.2±8.3) years. The percent of smoking history, abnormal fasting blood glucose, abnormal blood lipid levels and body mass index were significantly higher in the SCF group than in the control group (all P<0.01). There were 117 differentially expressed genes between SCF patients and healthy controls, of which 73 were up-regulated and 44 were down-regulated. Biological function analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that these genes were mainly related to antigen processing and presentation, cell phagocytosis, immunoglobulin, intestinal immune network, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation and Th17 cell differentiation pathways. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ were significantly higher in SCF patients than in healthy controls (all P<0.05). Among the top 12 genes with the most significant differences between the two groups, qPCR analysis indicated consistent results with the transcriptome results in 11 out of 12 genes. PPI analysis showed that FPR2 and THBS3 proteins were at the core of the entire protein interaction network. Conclusion: Genes such as FPR2 and THBS3 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of SCF through immune-related pathways such as antigen processing and presentation and Th17 cell differentiation.

Mental Fatigue Reduces the Benefits of Self-Controlled Feedback on Learning a Force Production Task.

This study investigated the impact of mental fatigue and self-controlled versus yoked feedback on learning a force production task. We randomly assigned 44 non-athlete male students (Mage = 21.4, SD = 1.4 years) to four groups; (a) MF&SCF = mental fatigue & self-controlled feedback, (b) MF&Y = mental fatigue & yoked, (c) NMF&SCF = no mental fatigue & self-controlled feedback, and (d) NMF&Y = no mental fatigue & yoked). SCF group participants were provided feedback whenever they requested it, while YK group participants received feedback according to a schedule created by their SCF counterparts. To induce mental fatigue, participants performed a Stroop color-word task for one hour. During the acquisition (practice) phase, participants were asked to produce a given percentage of their maximum force (20%) in 12 blocks of six trials. We recorded the participants' absolute error at the end of the acquisition phase, the immediate retention test, the first transfer test, and the second transfer test (after 24 hours and without any further mental fatigue). The acquisition phase data were analyzed in a 2 (feedback) × 2 (mental fatigue) × 12 (block) ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor, while the retention and transfer data were analyzed in 2 (feedback) × 2 (mental fatigue) ANOVAs. We found that all four groups made significant progress during practice (p < .001), but there were no significant group differences during this phase (p>.05). There was a significant interaction effect of self-controlled feedback and mental fatigue at retention (p = .018) and transfer testing (p < .001). In the mental fatigue condition, participants in the self-controlled group had poorer learning compared to participants in the yoked group; but when not mentally fatigued, participants in the self-controlled group had better learning than those in the yoked group. These findings suggest that mental fatigue reduces typical advantages of self-controlled feedback in motor learning.

A kan grubu elektif koroner anjiografi yapılan hastalarda yavaş koroner akımı

Aim:Coronary slow flow (CSF) is an angiographic phenomenon characterized by slow progression of contrast in the coronary arteries in the absence of coronary artery obstruction. As it is not considered as benign finding and there is still no convincible pathophysiologic explanation, further research is needed. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between ABO blood groups and coronary flow characteristics.Material and Methods: The clinical, laboratory and angiographic data of 230 patients with SCF were collected retrospectively from our institutional databases. A total of 250age- and gender-matched subjects with normal coronary flow (NCF) were used as a control group. Coronary flow was assessed by using the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC). Coronary flow characteristics were evaluated according to ABO blood groups.Results:A total of230 patients with SCF (125 males, mean age: 54.6±9.1 years) and 250 subjects with NCF (134 males, mean age: 53.7±10.1 years) were included. In SCF group, cigarette smoking (33.5% vs %23.2; p=0.012), platelet count (257.2±73.3 x103/mm3 vs. 240.5±63.7 x103/mm3, p=0.011) and mean MPV (9.2±1.4 fL vs. 8.8±1.2 fL, p=0.001) were higher than subjects with NCF. Having blood group A was more common in SCF group than subjects with NCF (53.5% vs 41.2%; p=0.039).In the regression analysis, blood group A (OR=1.94; p=0.003), cigarette smoking (OR=1.57; p=0.033), platelet count (OR=1.03; p=0.008) and MPV (OR=1.27; p=0.002) were found to be as independent predictors of SCF.Conclusion:Blood group A is more common in SCF group and independently predicts SCF.Further studies are needed to evaluate the underlying mechanisms, but the relationship between blood groups and SCF seems multifactorial.

C-kit signaling promotes human pre-implantation 3PN embryonic development and blastocyst formation

BackgroundAlthough in vitro culture system has been optimized in the past few decades, the problem of few or no high quality embryos has been still not completely solved. Accordingly, fully understanding the regulatory mechanism of pre-implantation embryonic development would be beneficial to further optimize the in vitro embryo culture system. Recent studies have found the expression of c-kit in mouse embryo and its promotion effects on mouse embryonic development. However, it is unclear the expression, the role and the related molecular regulatory mechanism of c-kit in human pre-implantation embryo development. Therefore, the present study is to determine whether c-kit is expressed in human pre-implantation embryos, and to investigate the possible regulatory mechanism of c-kit signaling in the process of embryonic development.MethodsThe present study includes human immature oocytes and three pronucleus (3PN) embryos collected from 768 women (28–32 ages) undergoing IVF, and normal 2PN embryos collected from ICR mice. Samples were distributed randomly into three different experimental groups: SCF group: G-1™ (medium for culture of embryos from the pro-nucleate stage to day 3) or G-2™ (medium for culture of embryos from day3 to blastocyst stage) + HSA (Human serum album) solution + rhSCF; SCF + imanitib (c-kit inhibitor) group: G-1™ or G-2™ + HSA solution + rhSCF + imanitib; SCF + U0126 (MEK/ERK inhibitor) group: G-1™ or G-2™ + HSA solution + rhSCF + U0126; Control group: G-1™ or G-2™ + HSA solution + PBS; The rate of good quality embryos at day 3, blastulation at day 6 and good quality blastulation at day 6 were analysis. RT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect the target genes and proteins in samples collected from human or mice, respectively.Resultsc-kit was expressed ubiquitously in all human immature oocytes, 3PN embryos and 3PN blastocysts. In the experiment of human 3PN embryos, compared with other groups, SCF group showed obviously higher rate of good quality at day 3, better rate of blastocyst formation at day 6 and higher rate of good quality blastocyst formation at day 6. Furthermore, we observed a higher ETV5 expression in SCF group than that in other groups. Similar results were also found in animal experiment. Interestingly, we also found a higher phosphorylation level of MEK/ERK signal molecule in mice embryos from SCF group than those from other groups. Moreover, inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling would remarkably impeded the mice embryonic development, which might be due to the reduced ETV5 expression.ConclusionsThe present study firstly revealed that c-kit signaling might promote the human pre-implantation embryonic development and blastocyst formation by up-regulating the expression of ETV5 via MEK/ERK pathway. Our findings provide a new idea for optimizing the in vitro embryo culture condition during ART program, which is beneficial to obtain high quality embryos for infertile patients.

Social housing promotes cognitive function through enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice

Previous studies have shown that loneliness increases the risk of AD (Alzheimer’s disease) onset, while active and frequent social housing delays the onset of cognitive impairment. The mechanism of how this occurs remains unclear. In this study, we investigated how social interaction affected cognitive function and AD pathology in APP/PS1 (amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1) mice. APP/PS1 mice were divided into either a social isolation (SI) group, a social contact with one mouse (SCO) group, or a social contact with five mice (SCF) group. Our results demonstrated that social housing improved the behavioral performance of APP/PS1 mice in Morris Water Maze testing, without significantly altering the rates of amyloid plaque deposition or amyloidogenic APP processes. Furthermore, the synaptic function, dendritic spine density, and complexity of neuronal network were notably increased in the SCF group, as compared to the SI and SCO groups. Additional protein and mRNA analyses of isolated astrocyte and microglia revealed that several glial genes related to regulation and anti-inflammatory progression were significantly upregulated, while pro-inflammatory markers were decreased. These findings highlight the important role of quality social communication (five mice not one mice) on maintaining neuronal function during AD pathogenesis and provide evidence to place great emphasis of family care of AD patients.

Effects of Soluble Corn Fiber Alone or in Synbiotic Combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and the Pilus-Deficient Derivative GG-PB12 on Fecal Microbiota, Metabolism, and Markers of Immune Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Elderly (Saimes Study).

The aging process leads to a potential decline in immune function and adversely affects the gut microbiota. To date, many in vitro and in vivo studies focused on the application of synbiotics (prebiotics combined with probiotics) as a promising dietary approach to affect gut microbiota composition and improved functioning of the immune system. However, studies using synbiotic preparations often have the limitation that it remains unclear whether any effect observed is a result of the prebiotic or probiotic or a synergistic effect of the combined supplement. We investigated the effects of a probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and pilus-deficient L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with Promitor™ Soluble Corn Fiber (SCF, a candidate prebiotic) on fecal microbiota, metabolism, immunity, and blood lipids in healthy elderly persons. A prospective, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, single-centered, crossover study in 40 healthy elderly subjects (aged 60-80 years) was carried out. Volunteers were randomized to consume either probiotic and prebiotic as synbiotic, prebiotic or placebo (maltodextrin) during 3 weeks. Three-week washout periods separated all the treatments. We assessed effects upon blood lipids, glucose, cytokines, natural killer (NK) cell activity, phenotype, and intestinal microbiota composition. SCF decreased IL-6, which was not observed with the synbiotics. Consumption of L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF increased NK cell activity compared to baseline in females and the older group. In the fecal microbiota analyses, the strongest community shifts were due to L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and SCF treatments. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF significantly increased the genus Parabacteroides. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF and SCF increased concentrations of Ruminococcaceae Incertae Sedis. Oscillospira and Desulfovibrio slightly decreased in the L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF group, whereas Desulfovibrio decreased also in the L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF group. L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF reduced total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in volunteers with initially elevated concentrations. C-reactive protein significantly decreased during L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF intervention compared to baseline. In conclusion, the synbiotic combination of L. rhamnosus GG with SCF showed a tendency to promote innate immunity by increasing NK cell activity in elderly women and in 70 to 80-year-old volunteers and decreased TC and LDL-c in hypercholesterolemic patients. In addition, L. rhamnosus GG-PB12 combined with SCF demonstrated an increase in NK cell activity compared to SCF alone in older volunteers. We also found significant positive effects on the immune response, evidenced by a decrease of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Therefore, dietary intervention with L. rhamnosus GG combined with SCF could be of importance in elderly as an attractive option for enhancement of both the microbial and immune systems.

Therapeutic Effect of Recombinant Human Stem Cell Factor on Rhesus Monkeys with Severe Acute Radiation Sickness

To study the therapeutic effect of rhSCF early administration on rhesus monkeys with severe acute radiation sickness(ARS). Twelve adult monkeys totally exposed to 7.0 Gy 60Co were divided into radiation control and SCF groups, and monkeys in SCF group were subcutaneously injected recombinant human SCF(rhSCF) 200 µg/kg at half an hour and 24 hour after irradiation, while the radiation control monkeys were injected physiological saline. Survival was monitored and hematopoiesis was evaluated at 40 days following early treatment. 6 animals treated with rhSCF all survived, while 2 in irradiated controls survived on 40 day after radiation. rhSCF treatment promoted hematopoiesis recovery significantly, increased the nadir of white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets, and simplified supportive care in ARS rhesus monkeys. RhSCF injection soon after TBI taken shows an significant therapeutic efficiency on rhesus monkeys with severe acute radiation sickness.

The Effectiveness of Synchronous and Asynchronous Written Corrective Feedback on Grammatical Accuracy in a Computer‐Mediated Environment

This study extends research on written corrective feedback (CF) by investigating how timing of CF affects grammar acquisition. Specifically, it examined the relative effects of synchronous and asynchronous CF on the accurate use of the hypothetical conditional structure. Participants were 68 intermediate‐level students of English at a university in Japan. Learners from a synchronous CF group (SCF), an asynchronous CF group (ACF), and a comparison group completed 2 writing tasks using Google Docs. The 2 experimental groups received focused direct CF with the following differences: The SCF group received synchronous feedback on grammatical errors during writing tasks, while the ACF learners received feedback after the tasks. Participants revised their texts upon receiving the feedback. The comparison group completed the writing tasks without feedback. Accurate use of the target feature was measured by a set of 3 text reconstruction tasks conducted as pre‐, immediate post‐, and delayed posttests. The results showed that both experimental groups significantly improved from the pretest to the 2 posttests while the comparison group did not. Overall, however, effect sizes for the posttests indicated that SCF was more effective in improving learners’ accuracy with only the SCF group outperforming the comparison group on the delayed posttest.

Left &amp; Right Ventricular Myocardial Performance Index and it’s Relation with TIMI Frame Count in the Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon

Aim: To investigate the left and right ventricular myocardial performance index in patients with coronary slow flow phenomenon and to determine the relationship between it and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in SCF patients. Material and methods: 45 patients with slow coronary flow; mean age 51 ± 12 years and 20 subjects with angiographically normal coronary; mean age 52 ± 12 years, were included in the study. All the subjects underwent echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging to determine left & right ventricular diastolic functions and myocardial performance index (MPI). Results: The TDE parameters obtained from the left and right ventricles showed. LV Sm, and Am, was similar in both the SCF and control groups; however, LV Em, Em/Am, IRT and MPI were significantly different in the SCF group compared to the control. RV wall Sm, and Am were similar in both the SCF and control groups however, RV Em, Em/Am, IRT and MPI were significantly different in the SCF group compared to the control. Patients had significantly higher TFC for each major epicardial coronary artery (P < 0.001). TFC was positively correlated with the left ventricle MPI index (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), the right ventricle MPI index (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and mitral IVRT (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). There was a strong inverse correlation between mean TFC and left ventricle Ea and Ea/Aa ratio (r = -0.70, p < 0.001; r = -0.45, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Left and right ventricular diastolic functions deteriorated in the CSF phenomenon and this deterioration was associated with increased TIMI frame count.

Serum visfatin and omentin levels in slow coronary flow

ObjectiveThe adipocytokines visfatin and omentin have a direct effect on inflammation and endothelial injury. The expression of visfatin is closely associated with the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Omentin has an anti-inflammatory effect and is inversely associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The slow coronary flow phenomenon is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification in the absence of significant epicardial coronary disease. The pathophysiology of SCF has not been clearly identified, although multiple abnormalities including endothelial dysfunction, atherothrombosis and inflammation have been reported. However, the relationship between visfatin, omentin and SCF is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of these adipocytokines with SCF. MethodsThe study included slow coronary flow (n=45) and normal coronary flow (n=55) subjects, according to the corrected TIMI frame count, who underwent angiography in the catheterization laboratory of Duzce University. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 12. ResultsVisfatin levels were significantly higher in patients with SCF than in controls (p<0.001). Plasma omentin levels were lower in the SCF group than in controls, although without statistical significance. Visfatin, gender and platelet count were significant predictors of SCF in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR 0.748, 95% CI 0.632–0.886, p=0.01; OR 30.016, 95% CI 4.355–206.8, p=0.01; OR1.028, 95% CI 1.006–1.050, p=0.011, respectively). ConclusionAdipocytokines such as visfatin and omentin may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary slow flow.

Serum visfatin and omentin levels in slow coronary flow

ObjectiveThe adipocytokines visfatin and omentin have a direct effect on inflammation and endothelial injury. The expression of visfatin is closely associated with the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Omentin has an anti-inflammatory effect and is inversely associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The slow coronary flow phenomenon is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification in the absence of significant epicardial coronary disease. The pathophysiology of SCF has not been clearly identified, although multiple abnormalities including endothelial dysfunction, atherothrombosis and inflammation have been reported. However, the relationship between visfatin, omentin and SCF is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of these adipocytokines with SCF. MethodsThe study included slow coronary flow (n=45) and normal coronary flow (n=55) subjects, according to the corrected TIMI frame count, who underwent angiography in the catheterization laboratory of Duzce University. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 12. ResultsVisfatin levels were significantly higher in patients with SCF than in controls (p<0.001). Plasma omentin levels were lower in the SCF group than in controls, although without statistical significance. Visfatin, gender and platelet count were significant predictors of SCF in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR 0.748, 95% CI 0.632–0.886, p=0.01; OR 30.016, 95% CI 4.355–206.8, p=0.01; OR1.028, 95% CI 1.006–1.050, p=0.011, respectively). ConclusionAdipocytokines such as visfatin and omentin may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary slow flow.

Right ventricular functions in patients with slow coronary fl ow

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions with the use of conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography in patients with slow coronary fl ow (SCF).Methods and results Patients who were detected to have SCF but otherwise normal epicardial coronary arteries between-10-2010 and July 2011 were included in our study. The control group was selected from the patients with normal coronary arteries but no SCF. All patients underwent echocardiography to evaluate left and right cardiac functions with conventional methods and tissue Doppler imaging. The study consisted of 86 patients [59 (68.6%) males, mean age: 54 ± 10 years) with SCF. Sixty-six subjects [42 (63.6%) males, mean age: 55 ± 8 years] with normal coronary arteries without SCF constituted the control group. Tissue Doppler fi ndings of left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were signifi cantly disturbed in the SCF group (myocardial performance index: 0.37 ± 0.02 vs. 0.28 ± 0.02, P < 0.001; E/A ratio: 0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 1.1 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). However, when the right ventricular functions were considered, no signifi cant diff erence was observed between the 2 groups (myocardial performance index: 0.25 ± 0.10 vs. 0.25 ± 0.10, P= 0.9; E/A ratio: 0.50 ± 0.06 vs. 0.50 ± 0.08, P= 0.3; TAPSE: 26.2 ± 2.2 vs. 25.9 ± 2.2, P= 0.6).Conclusions Preserved right ventricular diastolic and systolic functions in contrast to the impaired left ventricular functions in patients with SCF was the main fi nding of our study. The exact mechanisms of this new fi nding should be investigated by further studies.

PP-102 EVALUATION OF LYMPHOTOXIN-ALPHA C804A GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN PATIENTS WITH SLOW CORONARY FLOW

method. Demographic characteristics and major risk factors for atherosclerosis were evaluated in the study groups. Results: There was no significant difference with respect to age and gender between groups. There was no statistical difference in genotype distribution among the groups. The genotype distribution in SCF group was as follows: I/I genotype frequency was 5 (14%), I/D genotype frequency was 16 (46%) and D/D genotype frequency was 14 (40%). The genotype distribution in control group was as follows: I/I genotype frequency was 6 (20%), I/D genotype frequency was 11 (37%) and D/D genotype frequency was 13 (43%). There was no statistically significant difference among groups. Conclusions: Our findings show that there is no significant association between insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene and SCF.

Clinical characteristics and mid-term outcome of patients with slow coronary fl ow

Objective Due to uncertainty in the clinical implications of slow coronary fl ow (SCF), we aimed to investigate the clinical features and mid-term outcome of the Iranian patients with the slow coronary fl ow phenomenon.Methods During a four-year period from January 2005 to December 2009, out of 3523 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography in the Tehran Heart Center, 325 patients with no stenosis, ectasia, or aneurysm were enrolled in the study. Among them 81 (2.2%) patients were diagnosed with SCF. Baseline characteristics, lab parameters, coronary risk factors and mid-term outcome were described, consequently.Results Typical chest pain was the most frequent complaint in both groups (normal fl ow; 118 (48.4%) vs slow fl ow; 45 (55.6%)). RCA was the most frequently involved vessel for coronary slow fl ow followed by LCX and LAD and the combination of LCX and LAD involvement for coronary slow fl ow accounts for 27.2% of cases and three vessel involvement counts for 23.5%. Most patients experienced no symptoms during the follow-up period (Nl; 66.4% vs slow fl ow; 59.3%). However, three patients (3.7%) in the SCF group who underwent a second angiography 2-4 years later, were redefi ned as slow coronary fl ow.Conclusions We could not show any signifi cant diff erence with respect to initial presentation, coronary risk factors and even mid-term outcome of these patients in comparison to the normal group. However, due to the persistence of the SCF phenomenon even after 2-4 years in the second angiography of our three patients, it seems that slow fl ow might be a permanent rather than a transient manifestation.

CXCL9 and IL32 Regulate Progenitor Expansion and Protect Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells From Chemotherapy

Abstract 1316 Background:We have reported that the cytokines CXCL9 and IL32 regulate murine bone marrow regeneration post chemotherapy, but the reasons for this effect and whether they work directly on progenitor cells remain unclear. Methods:Human CD34+ cells from cord blood were incubated with CXCL9 or IL32. Cell numbers were determined on a weekly basis, and one-week expanded cells were seeded on top of a confluent MS-5 stroma cell layer to determine the number of cobblestone-area forming and long-term culture initiating cells (LTC-IC). Apoptosis rates after incubation with CXCL9/IL32 and SCF/G-CSF/IL3 prior to Ara-C treatment (300mM, 1 h) were assessed by Annexin V detection. Subsequently, signaling pathways after stimulation with IL32 or CXCL9 were examined using the luminex map technology. Results:CXCL9 did not influence CD34+ cell expansion, while IL32 enhanced the expansion rates significantly [6.69±1.38 versus to 3.57±0.70 fold in the control group, p<0.05]. However, more LTC-ICs after CXCL9 treatment (1357±123 of CXCL9 group versus 1081±119 of control group, p<0.05) were found, while IL32 reduced the number of LTC-ICs (78±8 of IL32 group, p<0.005). That suggests that CXCL9 kept more primitive LTC-ICs quiescent instead of entering expansion during the one-week incubation, while IL32 rather stimulated the differentiation of LTC-ICs. Since SCF, G-CSF and IL-3 are the most widely used hematopoietic growing factors (HGF) in stem cell expansion, we detected their roles during chemotherapeutical treatment in vitro. We observed enhanced apoptosis during Ara-C treatment when the cells were incubated with SCF or IL3. But when CXCL9 or IL32 were added, results were different. Both CXCL9 and IL-32 reduced the apoptosis rate resulting from Ara-C treatment, when SCF is present (26.37±1.12% of CXCL9+SCF group, 29.97±0.72% of IL32+SCF group, versus 35.52±1.21% of SCF alone, p <0.005 and p<0.05), but none of them affected IL-3 related apoptosis. Especially the effect of CXCL9 was inhibited using antibodies to its receptor CXCR3 (37.97±1.50% with anti-CXCR3 versus 35.52±1.21% of SCF alone, p= 0.09, versus 26.37±1.12% of CXCL9+SCF group p<0.05). G-CSF alone did not influence Ara-C induced apoptosis, but in combination with IL32 the apoptosis rate increased (23.37±0.09% of IL32+G-CSF versus 19.59±0.79% of G-CSF alone, p<0.005). That suggests that IL32 could regulate stem cell expansion differently through various pathways in collaboration with SCF and G-CSF. In fact, IL32 reduced STAT5 and p38 activity, while CXCL9 activated p38 and JNK pathways of CD34+ cells in combination with SCF. Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that both CXCL9 and IL32 can regulate stem cell expansion in vitro; CXCL9 could protect HPCs from chemotherapy and therefore support the following recovery, IL32 could help progenitor cells to expand, differentiate rapidly and thereby enhance the regeneration of the hematologic system. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

AMD3100 and Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Mobilize Different CD34+ Cell Populations Based on Global Gene and Micro RNA Expression.

G-CSF (Filgrastim) has been the standard agent for mobilizing peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) for transplantation. An alternative agent, AMD3100 (Plerixafor), has been used to mobilize PBSCs for autologous transplantation and is being tested in allogeneic donors. Since these agents have different mechanisms of action, the stem cells they mobilize may differ. We used a rhesus macaque model to compare CD34+ cells mobilized with these agents. Three macaques were given G-CSF, G-CSF plus SCF, AMD3100, or AMD3100 plus G-CSF. PBSCs were collected by apheresis and CD34+ cells with isolated by immunoselection. For G-CSF mobilization 10 μg/kg/day SQ was given for5 days, for G-CSF plus SCF mobilization 10 μg/kg/day of G-CSF and 200 μg/kg/day SQ of SCF were given for 5 days. For AMD3100 mobilization 1 mg/kg dose was given and for AMD3100 plus G-CSF mobilization 5 days of G-CSF (10 μg/kg/day) and one dose ofAMD3100 (1 mg/kg) were given. A PBSC concentrate was collected 2 hours after the dose of AMD3100 or the last dose of G-CSF. The CD34+ cells were analyzed by global gene and micro RNA (miR) expression analysis. A mean(SD) of 2.0(0.5)×107, 3.2(2) ×107, 2(0.5) ×107, and 12(7) ×107 immunoselected CD34+ were collected for G-CSF alone, G-CSF+SCF, AMD3100, and AMD3100+G-CSF, respectively. Gene expression analysis was performed with a microarray with 17,000 cDNA probes and miR analysis with an array with 827 miRs. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the gene expression data separated the samples into 2 clusters. One cluster included all CD34+ cells mobilized with G-CSF and G-CSF+SCF and the other all CD34+ cells mobilized with AMD3100and AMD3100+G-CSF. We found that 1,097 genes were differently expressed among the CD34+ cells mobilized with the 4 protocols (F-test, p<0.005). Hierarchical clustering analysis of these differentially expressed genes separated the samples into three clusters; one with all G-CSF- and G-CSF+SCF-mobilized, one with all the AMD3100-mobilized, and another with all AMD3100+G-CSF-mobilized CD34+ cell samples. When CD34+cells mobilized with AMD3100 alone were compared to those mobilized with G-CSF alone, the AMD3100-mobilized cells were enriched for genes expressed by T cells, B cells and mononuclear phagocytes and red cells (CXCR4, FLT3, CD83, CD3e, CD79a, CD2, hemoglobin b and hemoglobin a2) and the G-CSF-mobilized cells were enriched for genes expressed by neutrophils (proteinase 3, neutrophil cytosolic factor 4, CD16, S100 calcium binding protein, and myeloperoxidase). Genes up-regulated in AMD3100+G-CSF-mobilizedCD34+ cells included many not up-regulated by either agent alone. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the 97 differentially expressed miR (F-test, p<0.05) separated the samples into three clusters; a AMD3100+G-CSF group with all AMD3100+G-CSF-mobilizedsamples, a G-CSF+SCF group with all 3 G-CSF+SCF-mobilized samples, oneAMD3100-mobilized sample and one G-CSF-mobilized samples and a mixed group will two AMD3100-mobilized and two G-CSF-mobilized samples. AMD3100-mobilized cells were enriched for miR-195, let-7c and let-7e and G-CSF-mobilized cells for miR-220, −187and −520. These results demonstrate that the composition of mobilized CD34+ cells is dependent on the mobilization protocol and that CD34+ cells mobilized by a combination of agents are not simply a mixture of cell mobilized by each agent separately. These results suggest that a simple comparison of the number of CD34+ cell mobilized among protocols may not accurately reflect the potency of the mobilized stem cell population.

MNDO parameterized hybrid SLG/SCF method as used for molecular modeling of Zn(II) complexes

AbstractThe McWeeny's group functions technique is a natural way to introduce local description into quantum chemistry. It can also serve as a basis for constructing numerically effective computational schemes with almost linear scaling of computational costs with the size of a system. In this study, we apply it to the coordination compounds of Zn(II)‐containing ligands with nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. In these compounds, the electron group corresponding to the metal vacant 4s‐ and 4p‐atomic orbitals (AOs) of the Zn2+ ion and its closest coordination sphere formed by the lone pairs (LP) located on the donor atoms naturally separates. This group, designated metal and lone pairs (MLP), is described by the SCF wave function within the hybrid scheme of strictly local geminals/self‐consistent field (SLG/SCF). The SLC/SCF scheme is based on the group function approach combining different descriptions for different electron groups: two‐electron two‐center bonds are described by geminals (SLG groups), while all the remaining electron groups are described by Slater determinants in the one‐electron (SCF) approximation (SCF groups). The original MNDO Hamiltonian parameterization for the Zn atom is adjusted for correct description of geometry of the complexes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006

Women with cardiac syndrome X exhibit features of the insulin resistance syndrome and impaired peripheral microvascular function

Infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) method. Endothelial function was studied in 27 patients with SCF ( 23 male, 4 female, mean age 47.6+ 6.7) and in 30 subjects (22 male, 8 female, mean age 47.5i7.4) with normal coronary flow (NCF). ResultsThe mean CTFC (CTFC,) was significantly higher in patients with SCF (45.6*9.6 frames, p<O.OOl). Reactive hyperemia was significantly lower than that in the NCF group ( 189+87 % vs. 310%176%, pcO.01). The flow-mediated diameter increase in SCF group was significantly smaller than that in the NCF group (3.48+0.10 % versus 9.1 l+O.lO %. p<O.OOl). The percent nitroglycerine-induced (NTG-induced) dilatation was not signifacantly different between patients with SCF and subjects with NCF (16.8+1.1 % versus 17.lkl.l %. p=O.87). Simple regression analysis showed that CTFC, was strongly and inversely related to percent of FMD (r=-0.29. p<O.Ol) in all subjects. When the patients with SCF were excluded, CTFC, was still inversely related to percent FMD (r=-0.36, pcO.O5).The CTFC, was also inversely related to NTG-induced dilatation in the 57 subjects (r=-0.23. p<O.O5). Multiple regression analysis showed that the CTFC, was inversely related to percent of FMD only (r=-0.37, p<O.O5). ConclusionsThese findings suggest that endothelial function is impaired in subjects with SCF and the CTFC was well correlated with endothelial dysfunction.