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Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) controls many cellular processes via its catalyzing deacetylation of downstream substrates or interacting with its partner proteins. Dysregulation of HDAC6 signaling links to many diseases. Our previous study has been reported peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, and NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) involving in HDAC6-mediated cell motility. To gain insight into precisely coordination of HDAC6 and Pin1 in cell migration, shRNA-mediated gene silencing and ectopic expression were applied to manipulate protein expression level to evaluate relationship between HDAC6 and Pin1 expression. Quantitative RT-PCR and the cycloheximide (CHX) chase assay resulted in HDAC6 expression is correlated with Pin1 level in H1299 cells. It hints that the Pin1 increases HDAC6 expression through increased transcripts and posttranslational stabilization. Furthermore, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay evidenced the contribution of Pin1 on cell motility in H1299 cells. Our data suggest that Pin1 acts as an important regulator to manage HDAC6 expression for cell motility in lung cancer cells.

Kidney failure is a possible but rare complication in lung cancer patients that may be caused by massive tumor lysis or a paraneoplastic effect. Clinical case reports have documented pathological characteristics of paraneoplastic syndrome in glomeruli, but are short of molecular details. When Lewis lung carcinoma 1 (LLC1) cells were implanted in mice lungs to establish lung cancer, renal failure was frequently observed two weeks post orthotopic xenograft. The high urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was diagnosed as paraneoplastic nephrotic syndrome in those lung cancer mice. Profiling the secretome of the lung cancer cells revealed that the secretory proteins were potentially nephrotoxic. The nephrotoxicity of lung cancer-derived secretory proteins was tested by examining the pathogenic effects of 1 &times, 106, 2 &times, 106, and 5 &times, 106 LLC1 cell xenografts on the pathogenic progression in kidneys. Severe albuminuria was present in the mice that received 5 &times, 106 LLC1 cells implantation, whereas 106 cell and 2 &times, 106 cell-implanted mice have slightly increased albuminuria. Pathological examinations revealed that the glomeruli had capillary loop collapse, tumor antigen deposition in glomeruli, and renal intratubular casts. Since IL-6 and MCP-1 are pathologic markers of glomerulopathy, their distributions were examined in the kidneys of the lung cancer mice. Moderate to severe inflammation in the kidneys was correlated with increases in the number of cells implanted in the mice, which was reflected by renal IL-6 and MCP-1 levels, and urine ACR. TGF-&beta, signaling-engaged renal fibrosis was validated in the lung cancer mice. These results indicated that lung cancer cells could provoke inflammation and activate renal fibrosis.

An abscopal effect refers to distant tumor regression after localized irradiation. The mechanism is thought to be via local radiotherapy triggering the immune system which then attacks distant tumor sites. Only several cases of solid tumors with an abscopal effect have been reported in the past few decades, and whether an abscopal effect can cross the blood-brain barrier is still unknown. Herein, we present a female patient who was admitted due to unsteady gait and dyspnea. Chest X-ray (CXR) and chest CT showed a huge lung mass with left lung collapse and multiple liver masses. Brain MRI also showed multiple brain metastases. A bronchoscopic biopsy proved metastatic adenocarcinoma from colorectal cancer based on immunohistochemical staining. She therefore received 30 Gy (10 fractions) for the brain metastases; however, she refused to receive any systemic therapy for her lung mass and asked for hospice care. She was therefore transferred to a nursing home and was lost to follow-up. She returned 2 months later due to right pneumonia with fever and productive cough. Surprisingly, her left lung mass had markedly regressed even though she had not received any additional systemic anticancer therapy. This may be the first case of an abscopal effect after receiving whole brain irradiation for brain metastases.

Primary adrenal non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an extremely rare disease confined wholly or chiefly to extranodal involvement. We report the case of an old woman who presented with progressive malaise and was diagnosed with primary adrenal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma pathology using laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Enhanced computed tomography and positron emission tomography revealed bilateral adrenal involvement.

Purpose Lung cancer with malignant peritoneal carcinomatosis and malignant ascites is rare, often indicates the terminal stage, and is refractory to treatment. The median survival time of lung cancer patients with malignant ascites has been reported to be as short as 15 days to 2 months in retrospective studies. Methods We reviewed all lung cancer patients who had cytologically or pathologically proven malignant ascites and received aggressive therapy including chemotherapy, anti-angiogenesis agents and target therapy at a Taiwan hospital from January 2015 to December 2017. In addition, we searched PubMed using the terms "lung cancer," "peritoneal carcinomatosis" and "malignant ascites" to find other studies reporting experience of such treatment. Results Three consecutive lung cancer patients with malignant ascites (3/265, 1.13%) were included in this case series study, all of whom received bevacizumab with three other drugs (erlotinib, afatinib and gemcitabine). All of the patients showed a good response to treatment with a marked decrease in ascites. Two of the patients had a long progression-free survival time of more than 5 months. In the literature review, several cases reports and case series documented the treatment efficacy, however no prospective or retrospective studies reported treatment strategies. Conclusions Aggressive treatment for lung cancer with malignant ascites is encouraged when possible. Bevacizumab-based treatment may serve as one effective treatment strategy for non-squamous cell lung carcinoma with malignant ascites. Further prospective trials are urgently needed.

Transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) occurs frequently from HCV viremic donors and causes complications. Here, we report the outcomes of 3 cases from our 265 allogeneic HSCTs, whose donors had HCV infections. Successful prevention of HCV transmission was noted in 1 recipient by pretreatment of the donor with peginterferon/ribavirin to undetectable levels of HCV viremia before stem cell harvest. This case stressed the important role of effective antiviral therapy and HCV RNA seronegativity before cell harvest for prevention of HCV transmission in HSCT.

The genetic or functional inactivation of the p53 pathway plays an important role with regards to disease progression from the chronic phase (CP) to blast phase (BP) and imatinib treatment response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), p53 R72P and MDM2 SNP309, are associated with alternation of p53 activity, however the association regarding CML susceptibility and BP transformation under imatinib treatment is unclear. The MDM2 SNP309 genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and confirmed by direct sequencing from 116 CML patients, including 104 in the CP at diagnosis, and 162 healthy Taiwanese controls. The p53 R72P polymorphism was examined in all CML patients. The SNP309 G/G genotype was associated with an increased risk of CML susceptibility (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.03-3.22, P = 0.037), and an earlier age of disease onset (log-rank P = 0.005) compared with the T/T + T/G genotypes. Higher MDM2 mRNA expression was found in G/G genotype compared with T/T (P = 0.034) and T/T + T/G (P = 0.056) genotypes. No associations were found between the p53 R72P genotypes and clinical parameters and survival outcomes. Among 62 CP patients receiving imatinib as first-line therapy, the G/G genotype was associated with a shorter blast-free survival (log-rank P = 0.048) and more clonal evolution compared with the T/T + T/G genotypes. In patients with advanced diseases at diagnosis, the G/G genotype was associated with a poor overall survival (log-rank P = 0.006). Closely monitoring CML patients harboring the G/G genotype and further large-scale studies are warranted.

Background Influenza B virus infection is generally considered to be mild and is rarely associated pulmonary cardiovascular involvement in adults. However fatal complications may occur. Case presentation A 43-year-old previously healthy Taiwanese male came to our emergency department due to high fever, chills, general malaise and myalgia for about 4 days. An influenza rapid test from a throat swab was negative. Chest radiography showed mild left lung infiltration and levofloxacin was prescribed. However, progressive shortness of breath and respiratory failure developed 48 h later after hospitalization. Emergent intubation was performed and he was transferred to the intensive care unit where oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche) 75 mg orally twice daily was given immediately. In the intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization revealed normal coronary arteries. However, a markedly elevated cardiac enzyme level (Troponin I level was up to 71.01 ng/ml), a positive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings and no coronary artery stenosis led to the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. Subsequent real-time polymerase chain reaction of endotracheal aspirates was positive for influenza B. His condition gradually improved and he was successfully weaned from the ventilator on day 22. He was discharged without prominent complications on day 35. Conclusion Influenza B infection is not always a mild disease. Early detection, early administration of antiviral agents, appropriate antibiotics and best supportive care, is still the gold standard for patients such as the one reported.

Altered expression of circadian clock genes has been linked to various types of cancer. This study aimed to investigate whether these genes are also altered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL).The expression profiles of nine circadian clock genes of peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes from patients with newly-diagnosed AML (n=41), ALL (n=23) and healthy individuals (n=51) were investigated.In AML, the expression of period 1 (PER1), period 2 (PER2), period 3 (PER3), cryptochrome 1 (CRY1), cryptochrome 2 (CRY2), brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT)-like 1 (BMAL1), and timeless (TIM) was significantly down-regulated, while that of CK1ε was significantly up-regulated. In ALL, the expression of PER3 and CRY1 was significantly down-regulated, whereas those of CK1ε and TIM were significantly up-regulated. Recovery of PER3 expression was observed in both patients with AML and those with ALL who achieved remission but not in patients who relapsed after treatment.Circadian clock genes are altered in patients with acute leukemia and up-regulation of PER3 is correlated with a better clinical outcome.

Circadian clock genes use transcriptional-translational feedback loops to control circadian rhythms. Recent studies have demonstrated that expression of some circadian clock genes displays daily oscillation in peripheral tissues including peripheral blood and bone marrow. Circadian rhythms regulate various functions of human body, and the disruption of circadian rhythm has been associated with cancer development and tumor progression. However, the direct links between aberrant circadian clock gene expression and human disorders remain largely unknown. In this study, comparisons were made between the expression profiles of 9 circadian clock genes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) from 18 healthy volunteers. Peripheral blood (PB) total leukocytes from 54 healthy volunteers and 95 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were also investigated. Similar expression profiles of all 9 circadian clock genes were observed in PBMCs and PMNs of healthy individuals. In PB total leukocytes of healthy individuals, the daily pattern of PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1, CRY2, and CKIε expression level peaked at 0800 h, and BMAL1 peaked at 2000 h. Daily pattern expression of these 7 genes was disrupted in newly diagnosed pre—imatinib mesylate—treated and blast crisis—phase patients with CML. Partial daily pattern gene expression recoveries were observed in patients with CML with complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response. The expression of CLOCK and TIM did not show a time-dependent variation among the healthy and patients with CML. These results indicate a possible association of the disrupted daily patterns of circadian clock gene expression with the pathogenesis of CML.

SummaryThe aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) caused by Legionella longbeachae in Taiwan during 2006–2010. A total of six cases were identified prospectively, accounting for 1.6% of all laboratory-confirmed LD cases and 4.4% of culture-positive LD cases. All six cases occurred between April and August. The male to female ratio was 0.5. These six LD patients had a higher median age than those with LD due to Legionella pneumophila. Four of the six patients presented with pleural effusion and five survived the infection episode. Only two patients had a potential soil contact history prior to LD onset. The patients resided in divergent geographical areas without a common exposure history. The individual genomic DNA banding patterns of the six L. longbeachae isolates analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were unique, supporting the hypothesis that the L. longbeachae infections occurred sporadically.

Primary liver lymphoma is extremely rare. The diagnosis depends on the physician's suspicions and histological examination. We report the case of a man aged 38 years who suffered from abdominal discomfort and hypercalcemia. Sonography showed a huge, solid liver tumor, and magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor had characteristics of hypointensity on T1-weighted and hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. Primary liver lymphoma was diagnosed by histological examination from biopsy. We report this rare type of liver tumor and review the clinical presentation and treatment of the disease.

The microwave dielectric properties of the (1 − x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x Ca 0.6 La 0.8/3 TiO 3 ceramic system prepared by mixed oxide route have been investigated. The crystal structures and the microstructures of the ceramics were characterized by means of X-ray and SEM. The microwave dielectric properties are functions of the sintering temperature as well as the composition. Alternation of phases between ilmenite-type structure and pseudo-cubic perovskite crystal is observed. The 0.9(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.1Ca 0.6 La 0.8/3 TiO 3 ceramics possesses excellent microwave dielectric properties with a dielectric constant ɛ r of 21.86, a Q × f value of 131,000 GHz (at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −15.5 ppm/°C at 1350 °C/4 h. It is proposed as a suitable material candidate for applications requiring low microwave dielectric loss.

Background Implantable venous access port (IVAP)-related blood stream infections (BSIs) are one of the most common complications of implantable venous ports. The risk factors and pathogens for IVAP-related BSIs are still controversial. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who received IVAPs at a Hospital in Taiwan from January 1, 2011 to June 31, 2014. Two types of venous port, BardPort® 6.6 fr (Bard port) and Autosuture Chemosite® 7.5 fr (TYCO port) were used. All patients with clinically proven venous port-related BSIs were enrolled. Results A total of 552 patients were enrolled. There were 34 episodes of IVAP-related BSIs during the study period for a total incidence of 0.177 events/1000 catheter days. Port type (TYCO vs. Bard, HR = 7.105 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.688–29.904), p = 0.0075), age > 65 years (HR = 2.320 (95 % CI, 1.179–4.564), p = 0.0148), and lung cancer (HR = 5.807 (95 % CI, 2.946–11.447), p 65 years, and lung cancer were all significant risk factors for IVAP-related BSIs, and no sign of infection was significantly associated with the growth of gram-negative bacilli.

A simple, cost-effective, and room temperature process was proposed to prepare high-k gate dielectrics. An aluminum oxide (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/) gate dielectric was prepared by oxidation of ultrathin Al film in nitric acid (HNO/sub 3/) at room temperature then followed by high-temperature annealing in O/sub 2/ or N/sub 2/. The substrate injection current behavior and interface trap-induced capacitance were introduced to investigate the interfacial property between the gate dielectric and Si substrate. Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ gate dielectric MOS capacitors with and without initial SiO/sub 2/ layers were characterized. It was shown that the Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ gate dielectrics with initial oxide exhibit better electrical properties than those without. The 650/spl deg/C N/sub 2/-POA Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ sample with an equivalent oxide thickness of 18 /spl Aring/ exhibits three orders of magnitude reduction in gate leakage current in comparison with the conventional thermal SiO/sub 2/ sample.

The microwave dielectric properties and the microstructures of the (1− x )MgTiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramic system were investigated. With partial replacement of Mg by Co, dielectric properties of the (1− x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramics can be promoted. The microwave dielectric properties are strongly correlated with the sintering temperature. At 1275°C, the 0.95(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.05CaTiO 3 ceramics possesses excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant e r of 20.3, a Q × f value of 107 000 ( at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −22.8 ppm/°C. By appropriately adjusting the x value in the (1− x )(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 – x CaTiO 3 ceramic system, zero τ f value can be achieved. With x =0.07, a dielectric constant e γ of 21.6, a Q × f value of 92 000 (at 7 GHz) and a τ f value of −1.8 ppm/°C was obtained for 0.93(Mg 0.95 Co 0.05 )TiO 3 –0.07CaTiO 3 ceramics sintered at 1275°C for 4 h.

The outcome of allotransplants in patients with chronic -phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who progressed to accelerated phase (AP) or blast phase (BP) following imatinib failure, especially those without preceding suboptimal response, remains unclear.One hundred and five patients with newly-diagnosed CML-CP were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-six patients received first-line imatinib therapy, 26 received interferon followed by imatinib, and 13 received front-line allotransplants.No significant differences were found in overall survival (p=0.57) and blast-free survival (p=0.25) between different first-line therapies. Among 66 imatinib-treated patients, 18 (27.3%) developed imatinib failure, 14 (21.2%) progressed to AP/BP, including eight without preceding suboptimal response. Compared to front-line allotransplant, patients with imatinib failure had a significantly worse overall survival after allotransplants (p=0.015), mainly due to an increase of treatment-related mortality.Early recognition of imatinib-treated patients who should receive an allotransplant is important rather than waiting until imatinib failure with disease progression.

Several molecular markers, such as NPM1, FLT3 and CEBPA, have been incorporated into both the World Health Organization and European LeukemiaNet classifications as routine assessments for the diagnosis and evaluation of prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is related to cancer development and is believed to be associated with the outcome of cytogenetically normal (CN)-AML. In the present study, we analyzed the prognostic effects and interactions of LCN2 expression (by molecular analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR]) with neucleophosmin 1, fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha mutations in 85 patients with CN-AML receiving intensive induction chemotherapy. Our results indicate that patients with higher LCN2 mRNA expression in the bone marrow (LCN2high), especially in combination with wild type FLT3-ITD, had better prognoses. FLT3-ITD compensated LCN2-overexpression-enhanced oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cell line studies. In conclusion, LCN2high was associated with better prognosis, and FLT3 status had an adjuvant effect on overall survival.

Janus kinase 2 mutation (JAK2V617F) has been identified in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Furthermore, special single nucleoside polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found to be associated with the JAK2V617F mutation. Therefore, the associations among JAK2V617F and special SNPs and the allelic location between them were investigated in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET). A total of 61 patients with ET and 106 healthy individuals were enrolled. The PCR-RFLP method was applied to investigate the pattern of three SNPs, rs10974944, rs12343867, and rs12340895. Allele-specific PCR was used to examine the allelic location between rs10974944 and JAK2V617F. Among the patients with ET, 34 (55.7%, 34/61) were JAK2V617F positive (heterozygous) while the other 27 (44.3%, 27/61) were negative, and there were no MPLW515L/K mutations noted. The pattern of special SNPs in JAK2V617F(+) was significantly different from that in normal individuals (p 0.05), while there was no difference between JAK2V617F(-) patients and normal individuals. Allele-specific PCR showed high association of a cis-location between the special G-allele of rs10974944 and JAK2V617F(+). Based on this small numbered study, the results show the association between special SNPs and JAK2V617F mutation and a cis-location between the special G-allelic form of rs10974944 and the JAK2V617F mutation. These data highlight a close relationship between them in patients with ET.

Abstract 4613 Circadian rhythms regulate various functions of human body and disruption of circadian rhythm has been associated with cancer development and tumor progression. Circadian clock genes use transcriptional-translational feedback loops to control circadian rhythms. Many transcriptional regulators are histone acetyltransferases (HAT) or histone deacetylases (HDAC). As clock function and integration of inputs rely on transcriptional regulation, it is possible that chromatin is remodeled during circadian cycles and in response to signals that regulate the clock. SIRT1 (sirtuin 1) is a HDAC that has recently been identified as a crucial modulator of the circadian clock machinery. To date, at least 7 SIRT genes (SIRT1–7) have been identified. In our previous report we have demonstrated the daily expression patterns of PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1, CRY2, and CKIe in peripheral blood (PB) of healthy individuals were abolished in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients and partial recoveries of daily patterns were observed in CML patients with complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) post-imatinib treatment [J Biol Rhythms 2011]. In this study we further investigated the expression profiles of the 7 SIRT genes (SIRT1–7) in PB total leukocytes from 49 CML and 22 healthy volunteers. Collection of PB was carried out at four time points: 2000 h, 0200 h, 0800 h, and 1400 h, respectively. In PB total leukocytes of healthy individuals, the daily pattern of SIRT1 (p < 0.01) and SIRT5 (p < 0.05) expression level peaked at 0200 h, and SIRT2 (p < 0.01) peaked at 0800 h. Daily pattern expression of these 3 genes was abolished in newly diagnosed pre-imatinib mesylate treated and blast crisis-phase CML patients. Partial daily patterns of gene expression recoveries were observed in CML patients with CCyR and MMR. In some serial monitored individual patients, the recoveries of oscillations of SIRT1, 2, and 5 genes expression accompanied with the disappearance of BCR-ABL transcripts were also noted. The expression of SIRT3, 6, and 7 did not show a time-dependent variation among the healthy and CML patients. SIRT4 expression was undetectable both in the healthy and CML patients. Updated in vitro study results of the regulation of SIRT1, 2, and 5 genes on circadian clock genes expression will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 3456 Studies in large-scale genome sequencing have shown that only 2% of the mammalian genome encodes mRNAs, but the most part is transcribed as long and short non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The ncRNAs with gene regulatory functions are starting to be seen as a common feature of mammalian gene regulation. Genomic imprinting is a form of epigenetic regulation and imprinted genes are silenced in a parental-specific manner. Imprinted genes tend to occur in clusters and ncRNAs have been found at all well-characterized imprinted clusters. Although the exact mechanism how imprinted ncRNA regulates gene expression remains largely unknown, it is general accepted that imprinted ncRNAs binds to chromatin modifying complexes, such as PRC2, TRX, and G9a, and generates specific silencing of genomic loci both in cis and trans. Imprinting is associated with many human diseases or syndromes (e.g. Prader-Willi, Angelman, Beckwith-Wiedemann, Retts, and Silver-Russell syndromes) and various cancers (e.g. breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers), but its role in leukemogenesis remain elusive. In this present study, a panel of 24 human imprinted ncRNAs genes, including ampd3, cpa4, snuf, rasgrf1, slc22a3, lgf2, treb3c, gabrb3, c15orf2, sfmbt2, rtl1, copg2, h19, l3mbtl, ppp1r9a, tspan32, lnpp5f, impact, nr3251, nr3252, znf215, prim2, peg3as and znf264, has been mined using Bioinformatics approach. We investigated the expression of these imprinted ncRNA genes using real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 67 newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients with normal karyotypes (AML-NK), 22 AML patients with abnormal karyotypes (AML-AK), and 39 healthy individuals. In AML-NK patients, the expression of lgf2, h19, slc22a3, copg2, and impact were significantly upregulated than in healthy individuals (p < 0.0001). In AML-AK patients, besides lgf2, h19 and impact genes, ampd3 and gabrb3 were also significantly upregulated than in healthy individuals (p < 0.0001). Expression of igf2 was almost undetectable in healthy individuals but drastically increased in all AML patients. Both lgf2 and h19 were significantly increased in both AML-NK and AML-AK patients. From our preliminary results, it is reasonable to hypothesize that loss imprinting of lgf2/h19 is critical for the leukemogenesis of AML and under NK or AK conditions different additional ncRNAs are activated and affect different imprinted gene expression and thus leading to different clinical outcomes. Based on our findings, we will further perform methylation analysis of promoter CpG sites in AML patients to investigate if hypomethylation is responsible for the upregulation of these imprinted ncRNAs. We will also carry out in vitro functional analysis to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of these imprinted ncRNAs in AML tumorigenesis. Updated results of these analysis will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 3633 Circadian rhythm is present in human and all eukaryotes with a 24-hour cycle. Circadian genes use transcriptional-translational feedback loops to control circadian rhythms. Therefore, the marked characteristic of circadian systems is the strong daily cycling of clock gene mRNA, clock protein, and clock-controlled gene RNA and protein. Recent studies have demonstrated that expression of some of the circadian genes display daily oscillation in peripheral tissues including liver, eye, lung, heart, spleen, kidney, peripheral blood and bone marrow. Circadian rhythms regulate various functions of human body and disruption of circadian rhythm has been associated with cancer development and tumor progression. In this study the expression profiles of the 9 circadian genes (hPER1, hPER2, hPER3, hCRY1, hCRY2, hCLOCK, hBMAL1, hCK1e and hTIM) in peripheral blood (PB) total leukocytes from 95 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and 54 healthy volunteers were investigated. For comparison of circadian gene expression between PB mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNLs), another group of 10 healthy volunteers were also investigated. Collection of PB was carried out at four time points: 20:00, 02:00, 08:00, and 14:00, respectively. In healthy individuals, the daily oscillation was shown for hPER1, hPER2, hPER3, and hCRY2 with peak expression levels at 8:00AM, and the expression of the nine genes displayed similar profile both in PBMCs and in PMNs. In contrast, oscillations of these four genes were abolished in newly diagnosed pre-imatinib mesylate treated and blast crisis-phase CML patients and partial recoveries of oscillations were observed in CML patients with complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response. In some serial monitored individual patients, the recoveries of oscillations of circadian gene expression accompanied with the disappearance of BCR-ABL transcripts were also noted. Expression of hCRY1, hCLOCK, hBMAL1, hCK1e and hTIM did not oscillate both in healthy individuals and CML patients. Updated results on more healthy volunteers and serial monitored CML patients will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The effects of CuO additives on the microstructures and the microwave dielectric properties of (1-x)(Mg0.95Co0.05)TiO3–xCaTiO3 ceramics were investigated. The CuO additives can effectively reduce the sintering temperature of the ceramics to as low as 1175°C. With x = 0.08, at 1275°C, the 0.92(Mg0.95Co0.05)TiO3–0.08CaTiO3 ceramic possesses excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant ε r of 22.1, a Q×f value of 86400 GHz (at 7 GHz) and a τf value of 5.4 ppm/°C. Sintered ceramic samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction pattern and SEM. Dielectric constants (ε r) are not significantly affected by various additives and range from 20 to 23. By properly adjusting the x of (1-x)(Mg0.95Co0.05)TiO3–xCaTiO3 ceramics, small temperature coefficients (< ±3 ppm/°C) of resonant frequency (τf) are obtained for 0.93(Mg0.95Co0.05)TiO3–0.07CaTiO3 with 0.25 wt% CuO additives.

Background Infectious agents have been shown to contribute to the development of lymphoid malignancies. The different distribution of lymphoid malignancies in Asian and Western populations suggests possibly different etiologies in Asian populations. Herpes zoster infection, commonly seen in immunocompromised persons, has been reported to be associated with lymphoid malignancies in retrospective case–control studies from Western populations, but the results are controversial and large-scale prospective studies from Asian populations are lacking. Methods A nationwide population-based matched-controlled prospective study on Taiwanese patients was performed using the National Health Insurance Research Database from 1996 to 2007. Herpes zoster and malignancies were defined by compatible ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification) codes. Patients who had been diagnosed with any malignancies before herpes zoster, with known viral infections including human immunodeficiency virus, and duration from herpes zoster to diagnosis of malignancies less than 6 months were excluded. Results Of 42,498 patients with herpes zoster prior to the diagnosis of any malignancies, the cumulative incidence for lymphoid malignancies was 0.11% (n = 48), compared with 0.06% (n = 106) in 169,983 age- and gender-matched controls (univariate hazard ratio (HR): 1.82, 95%CI: 1.29-2.55). The most common lymphoid malignancy was non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (60.4%, n = 29), followed by multiple myeloma (27.1%, n = 13). Risk for developing lymphoid malignancies is significantly higher in herpes zoster patients (log rank P = 0.005). After adjusting for presence of any comorbidities in Charlson comorbidity index, time-dependent covariate for herpes group, and income category using Cox proportional hazard regressions, herpes zoster patients had an increased risk of developing lymphoid malignancies (adjusted HR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.35-2.42, P = 0.0026), but did not have an increased risk of developing non-lymphoid malignancies (adjusted HR: 1.00, 95%CI: 0.91-1.05, P = 0.872). Conclusion Preceding herpes zoster infection is an independent risk marker for subsequent lymphoid malignancies in Taiwanese subjects. Further studies are warranted for pathogenesis exploration and preventive strategies in Asian populations.