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Intratumoral microbes may have multifunctional roles in carcinogenesis. Microsatellite instability (MSI) is associated with higher tumor immunity and mutational burden. Using whole transcriptome and whole genome sequencing microbial abundance data, we investigated associations of intratumoral microbes with MSI, survival, and MSI-relevant tumor molecular characteristics across multiple cancer types including colorectal cancer (CRC), stomach adenocarcinoma, and endometrial carcinoma. Among CRC patients (N = 451), our key finding was strong associations of multiple CRC-associated genera, including Dialister, and Casatella, with MSI. Dialister and Casatella abundance was associated with improved overall survival (HRsMortality [95% CIs]=0.56 [0.34-0.92] and 0.44 [0.27-0.72], respectively, comparing higher relative to lower quantiles). Multiple intratumor microbes were associated with immune genes and tumor mutational burden. Diversity of oral cavity-originating microbes was also associated with MSI among CRC and stomach adenocarcinoma patients. Overall, our findings suggest the intratumor microbiota may differ by MSI status and play a role in influencing the tumor microenvironment.

Biological nanoparticles, such as bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), are routinely characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this study, we report a novel method to prepare OMVs for TEM imaging. To preserve vesicular shape and structure, we developed a dual fixation protocol involving osmium tetroxide incubation prior to negative staining with uranyl acetate. Combining osmium tetroxide with uranyl acetate resulted in preservation of sub-50 nm vesicles and improved morphological stability, enhancing characterization of lipid-based nanoparticles by TEM.

Association between rs686 and lung cancer risk stratified by exposure to secondhand smoke during adulthood.

Relationship between rs686 and pack-years of smoking (A) in the NCI-MD (B) and Wayne State (C) studies. Relationship between rs686 and age at smoking initiation (D) in the NCI-MD study.

Main unadjusted effects of smoking, childhood and adult exposure to tobacco smoke and lung cancer risk.

PDF file - 1.9MB, Effects of neonatal exposure to DES, GEN, or BPA (1, 50 or 50mg/kg, respectively for three consecutive days, PND 10-12) on adult uterine morphology. Shown are photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin-stained histological sections of uteri, ovaries, and vaginas from adult (3-5 months old) rats exposed neonatally to VEH (a, b and c), DES (d, e and f), GEN (g, h and i), or BPA (j, k and l) (20X). The length of scale bar is 200 �m.

Lung cancer has a familial component which suggests a genetic contribution to its etiology. Given the strong evidence linking smoking with lung cancer, we studied miRNA-related loci in genes associated with smoking behavior. CHRNA, CHRNB gene families, CYP2A6, and DRD1 (dopamine receptor D1) were mined for SNPs that fell within the seed region of miRNA binding sites and then tested for associations with risk in a three-stage validation approach. A 3′UTR (untranslated region) SNP in DRD1 was associated with a lower risk of lung cancer among individuals exposed to secondhand smoke during childhood [OR, 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60–0.79; P < 0.0001]. This relationship was evident in both ever (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62–0.88; P = 0.001) and never smokers (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47–0.79; P < 0.0001), European American (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53–0.80; P < 0.0001), and African American (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62–0.88; P = 0.001) populations. Although much remains undefined about the long-term risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke and heterogeneity between individuals in regard to their susceptibility to the effects of secondhand smoke, our data show an interaction between an SNP in the 3′UTR of DRD1 and exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood. Further work is needed to explore the mechanistic underpinnings of this SNP and the nature of the interaction between DRD1 and exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood. Cancer Prev Res; 7(12); 1210–8. ©2014 AACR.

PDF file - 1.6MB, (A) Activation of rapid non-genomic PI3K/AKT signaling in Sprague Dawley rats 0.5hr after a single exposure to doses of BPA shown. Western analysis and quantification of ratio of phospho-S6 to total S6 from a representative experiment (N=2) using tissues pooled from groups of 2-3 animals. (B) Quantification of induction of non-genomic PI3K/AKT signaling 6hr after exposure to 1mg/kg DES. (C) Western analysis to detect changes in H3K27me3 levels in the developing prostate in response to BPA demonstrating a reduction in H3K27me3 0.5hrs after exposure.

Characteristics of cases and controls from three studies combined.

Association between rs4809294 and rs2292975 and lung cancer risk stratified by exposure to secondhand smoke during adulthood in the NCI-MD Cohort (European Americans).

Association between 3'UTR SNPs and lung cancer in the NCI-MD Cohort (European Americans).

NCI-MD Case-Control Study Genomic DNA was isolated from buffy coat samples containing white blood cells using Flexigene DNA Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Flowchart detailing the selection process of SNPs. Rs686 in DRD1 was selected from the literature as being a miRNA-binding modulating SNP (Huang and Li, 2009 Biol Pschiatry, 65 9 702-705).

Test for departure from additivity for rs686 and exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood.

PDF file - 691K, Lysates were collected from pooled (2-3) Eker rat uteri on PND 12 after a single exposure to 50mg/kg, 50�g/kg or 50ng/kg of BPA, DES (1mg/kg) or VEH for 6hrs. A) Western blot analysis revealed no significant activation of pS6 by BPA as compared to DES or VEH. B) Densitometry of western blots revealed no significant activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Data are represented as the average ratio of phopsho-AKT/AKT of three independent experiments.

PDF file - 319K, Photomicrographs of uteri stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or calbindin D9K from VEH-, DES-, GEN-, or BPA-exposed females (1, 50 or 50mg/kg, respectively) sacrificed on PND 12, 6hrs after the final of three exposures (all photomicrographs were taken at 20X). The scale bar is 100 �m.

SNP Selection.

SUMMARYDysbiosis, or changes within the microbiome, is a common feature of solid tumors, however whether this dysbiosis directly contributes to tumor development is largely unknown. We previously characterized the lung cancer microbiome and identifiedAcidovorax temperansas enriched in tumors. In this study, we instilledA. temperansin an animal model driven by mutantKrasandTp53alleles. This revealedA. temperansaccelerates tumor development and burden through infiltration of proinflammatory cells. Neutrophils exposed toA. temperansdisplayed a mature, pro-tumorigenic genotype with increased cytokine signaling, with a global shift away from IL-1β signaling. Neutrophil to monocyte and macrophage signaling upregulated MHC II to activate CD4+T cells which polarized to an IL-17A+phenotype detectable in CD4+and γδ populations. T17 cells shared a common gene expression program predictive of poor survival in human LUAD. These data indicate dysbiosis promotes tumor growth by modulating inflammation.

To conduct an exploratory examination of dietary patterns and quality during pregnancy in African-American women who were class I, II, or III obese, and those women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), as well to identify dietary factors associated with GWG, and changes in the distal gut microbiome. African American women represent the largest group affected by pre-pregnancy obesity, a risk factor for several adverse birth outcomes. This prospective study investigated the association between diet, distal gut microbiome, and GWG among African-American women (n = 21) with obesity (n = 15) compared to women with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) (n = 6) at two time points, 27–29 and 37–39 weeks gestation. Dietary patterns associated with obesity severity and GWG gain were assessed using Welch’s T-test and Mann–Whitney U. The association between the gut microbiome and dietary patterns was assessed using a regression-based kernel association test and the adaptive microbiome-based sum of powered score test. In early pregnancy, dietary intake of Total Fruits and Greens and Beans was significantly different between pBMI and GWG groups; significance was 0.022 and 0.028 respectively. Women with Class II/III obesity and those with GWG above guidelines had Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores below 50, meeting less than 75% of dietary guidelines, and did not meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable or fiber intake. We found no significant associations between the microbiome composition and diet (HEI Scores). Overall, the results indicate that women with pBMI obesity are not meeting minimum dietary guidelines for nutrient intakes during pregnancy, specifically fruits, vegetables, and fiber, regardless of GWG. Interventions for African-American women with pre-pregnancy obesity, with a focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, would be beneficial to control GWG and improve birth outcomes.

Obesity-associated inflammation and/or oxidative stress can damage intramuscular proteins and jeopardize muscle integrity. The immunoproteasome (iProt) is vital to remove oxidatively modified proteins, but this function may be compromised with obesity. We sought to elucidate whether diet-induced obesity alters intramuscular iProt content and activity in mice to identify a possible mechanism for impaired muscle proteostasis in the obese state. Total proteasome content and activity and estimates of muscle oxidative damage, inflammation, muscle mass and strength were also assessed. Twenty-three male, 5-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFS; 45% kcal fat, 17% sucrose, n = 12) or low-fat, low-sucrose (LFS; 10% kcal fat, 0% sucrose, n = 11) diet for 12 weeks. Strength was assessed via a weightlifting test. Despite no change in pro-inflammatory cytokines (P > 0.05), oxidative protein damage was elevated within the gastrocnemius (P = 0.036) and tibialis anterior (P = 0.033) muscles of HFS-fed mice. Intramuscular protein damage coincided with reduced iProt and total proteasome activity (P < 0.05), and reductions in relative muscle mass (P < 0.001). Therefore, proteasome dysregulation occurs in obese muscle and may be a critical link in muscle oxidative stress. Novelty: Our results show for the first time that immunoproteasome and total proteasome function is significantly reduced within obese muscle. Visceral fat mass is a significant predictor of diminished proteasome activity in skeletal muscle. Proteasome function is inversely correlated with an intramuscular accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins.

A recent study in Nature finds significant shifts in the gut microbiome of post-menopausal women on severe calorie restriction concomitant with weight loss. Microbiota transplantation to germ-free mice display a similar weight loss, along with a bloom in C. difficile, unlocking clues to microbial metabolic alteration in weight loss.

To conduct an exploratory examination of dietary patterns and quality during pregnancy in African-American women who were class I, II, or III obese, and those women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), as well to identify dietary factors associated with GWG, and changes in the distal gut microbiome. African American women represent the largest group affected by pre-pregnancy obesity, a risk factor for several adverse birth outcomes.This prospective study investigated the association between diet, distal gut microbiome, and GWG among African-American women (n = 21) with obesity (n = 15) compared to women with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) (n = 6) at two time points, 27-29 and 37-39 weeks gestation. Dietary patterns associated with obesity severity and GWG gain were assessed using Welch's T-test and Mann-Whitney U. The association between the gut microbiome and dietary patterns was assessed using a regression-based kernel association test and the adaptive microbiome-based sum of powered score test.In early pregnancy, dietary intake of Total Fruits and Greens and Beans was significantly different between pBMI and GWG groups; significance was 0.022 and 0.028 respectively. Women with Class II/III obesity and those with GWG above guidelines had Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores below 50, meeting less than 75% of dietary guidelines, and did not meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable or fiber intake. We found no significant associations between the microbiome composition and diet (HEI Scores).Overall, the results indicate that women with pBMI obesity are not meeting minimum dietary guidelines for nutrient intakes during pregnancy, specifically fruits, vegetables, and fiber, regardless of GWG. Interventions for African-American women with pre-pregnancy obesity, with a focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, would be beneficial to control GWG and improve birth outcomes.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment options remain limited. Among the manifestations of PAD is a severe functional disability and decline, which is thought to be the result of different pathophysiological mechanisms including oxidative stress, skeletal muscle pathology, and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability. Thus, compounds that target these mechanisms may have a therapeutic effect on walking performance in PAD patients. Phytochemicals produced by plants have been widely studied for their potential health effects and role in various diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. In this review, we focus on PAD and discuss the evidence related to the clinical utility of different phytochemicals. We discuss phytochemical research in preclinical models of PAD, and we highlight the results of the available clinical trials that have assessed the effects of these compounds on PAD patient functional outcomes.

Alterations in diversity and function of the gut microbiome are associated with concomitant changes in immune response, including chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). An important component of the inflammatory response system are the toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs are capable of sensing microbial components, including nucleic acids, lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans, as well as bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMV). OMVs can be decorated with or carry as cargo these TLR activating factors. These microbial factors can either promote tolerance or activate signaling pathways leading to chronic inflammation. Herein we discuss the role of the microbiome and the OMVs that originate from intestinal bacteria in promoting chronic inflammation and the development of colitis-associated CRC. We also discuss the contribution of TLRs in mediating the microbiome-inflammation axis and subsequent cancer development. Understanding the role of the microbiome and its secretory factors in TLR response may lead to the development of better cancer therapeutics.

Dietary patterns contribute to cancer risk. Separately, microbial factors influence the development of several cancers. However, the interaction of diet and the microbiome and their joint contribution to cancer treatment response needs more research. The microbiome significantly impacts drug metabolism, immune activation, and response to immunotherapy. One of the critical factors affecting the microbiome structure and function is diet. Data demonstrate that the diet and microbiome composition affects the immune response. Moreover, malnutrition is a significant confounder to cancer therapy response. There is little understanding of the interaction of malnutrition with the microbiome in the context of cancer. This review aims to address the current knowledge of dietary intake patterns and malnutrition among cancer patients and the impact on treatment outcomes. Second, this review will provide evidence linking the microbiome to cancer treatment response and provide evidence of the potentially strong effect that diet could have on this interaction. This review will formulate critical questions that will need further research to understand the diet-microbiome relationship in cancer treatment response and directions for future research to guide us to precision nutrition therapy to improve cancer outcomes.

Background: Traditional thinking is that physical activity benefits mental and physical health, however, excessive physical activity can increase anxiety, depression, and affect the gut microbiome. Considering the strong connection between the gut and the brain, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between gut microbiota composition and anxiety as well as depression in highly active individuals. Methods: Participants included 55 young adults (ages 18-25, 51% males). All participants were highly physically active, as determined by 7 days of SenseWear monitoring. Anxiety and depression were measured with the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories. Alpha diversity, beta diversity, and microbial composition were evaluated via 16S rRNA gene sequencing using distal gut samples. Results: Greater anxiety was associated with both lower distal gut alpha diversity ( P < 0.05) and higher beta diversity (PERMANOVA test; R-squared: 0.17562, P = 0.027), which appeared stronger in males. Genus level taxonomic abundance analysis showed Prevotella relative abundance as higher in males with higher anxiety ( P = 0.03, q=0.06). However, adjusted linear regression analysis, controlling for fiber intake and sex nullified the association between Prevotella and anxiety. Additional analysis demonstrated a strong association between lower dietary fiber intake and higher anxiety scores (Est.= -0.48, SE= 0.20 , P = 0.021). Conclusion: In highly active individuals, specifically males, there is a strong relationship between the gut microbiome, fiber intake, and anxiety. These data suggest highly active males with anxiety may benefit from increased dietary fiber intake.

Among the laboratory and bioinformatic processing steps for human microbiome studies, a lack of consistency in DNA extraction methodologies is hindering the ability to compare results between studies and sometimes leading to errant conclusions. The purpose of this article is to highlight the issues related to DNA extraction methods and to suggest minimum standard requirements that should be followed to ensure consistency and reproducibility.

Gut microbial composition has shown to be associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer, among other diseases. Microbiome research has significantly evolved through the years and continues to advance as we develop new and better strategies to more accurately measure its composition and function. Careful selection of study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria of participants, and methodology are paramount to accurately analyze microbial structure. Here we present the most up-to-date available information on methods for gut microbial collection and analysis.

Gut microbial composition has shown to be associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer, among other diseases. Microbiome research has significantly evolved through the years and continues to advance as we develop new and better strategies to more accurately measure its composition and function. Careful selection of study design, inclusion and exclusion criteria of participants, and methodology are paramount to accurately analyze microbial structure. Here we present the most up-to-date available information on methods for gut microbial collection and analysis.

BackgroundLung cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis worldwide and the number one cause of cancer deaths. Exposure to cigarette smoke, the primary risk factor in lung cancer, reduces epithelial barrier integrity and increases susceptibility to infections. Herein, we hypothesized that somatic mutations together with cigarette smoke generate a dysbiotic microbiota that is associated with lung carcinogenesis. Using lung tissue from controls (n=33) and cancer cases (n=143), we conducted 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing, with RNA-seq data from lung cancer cases in The Cancer Genome Atlas (n=1112) serving as the validation cohort.ResultsOverall, we demonstrate a lower alpha diversity in normal lung as compared to non-tumor adjacent or tumor tissue. In squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specifically, a separate group of taxa were identified, in which Acidovorax was enriched in smokers (P =0.0013). Acidovorax temporans was identified by fluorescent in situ hybridization within tumor sections, and confirmed by two separate 16S rRNA strategies. Further, these taxa, including Acidovorax, exhibited higher abundance among the subset of SCC cases with TP53 mutations, an association not seen in adenocarcinomas (AD).ConclusionsThe results of this comprehensive study show both a microbiome-gene and microbiome-exposure interactions in SCC lung cancer tissue. Specifically, tumors harboring TP53 mutations, which can damage epithelial function, have a unique bacterial consortia which is higher in relative abundance in smoking-associated SCC. Given the significant need for clinical diagnostic tools in lung cancer, this study may provide novel biomarkers for early detection.

Microbiome profiling through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis has proven to be a useful research tool in the study of C. difficile infection (CDI); however, CDI microbiome studies typically report results at the genus level or higher, thus precluding identification of this pathogen relative to other members of the gut microbiota. Accurate identification of C. difficile relative to the overall gut microbiome may be useful in assessments of colonization in research studies or as a prognostic indicator for patients with CDI. To investigate the burden of C. difficile at the species level relative to the overall gut microbiome, we applied a high-resolution method for 16S rRNA sequence assignment to previously published gut microbiome studies of CDI and other patient populations. We identified C. difficile in 131 of 156 index cases of CDI (average abundance 1.78%), and 18 of 211 healthy controls (average abundance 0.008%). We further detected substantial levels of C. difficile in a subset of infants that persisted over the first two to 12 months of life. Correlation analysis of C. difficile burden compared to other detected species demonstrated consistent negative associations with C. scindens and multiple Blautia species. These analyses contribute insight into the relative burden of C. difficile in the gut microbiome for multiple patient populations, and indicate that high-resolution 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis may prove useful in the development and evaluation of new therapies for CDI.

Over the past decade, it has become evident that the microbiome is an important environmental factor that affects many physiological processes, such as cell prolifer‐ ation and differentiation, behaviour, immune function and metabolism. More importantly, it may contribute to a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases and responses to pathogens. We expect that international, integrative and interdiscipli‐ nary translational research teams, along with the emer‐ gence of FDA-approved platforms, will set the framework for microbiome-based therapeutics and diagnostics. We recognize that the microbiome ecosystem offers new promise for personalized/precision medicine and targeted treatment for a variety of diseases. The short course was held as a four-session webinar series in April 2015, taught by pioneers and experts in the microbiome ecosystem, covering a broad range of topics from the healthy microbiome to the effects of an altered microbiome from neonates to adults and the long term effects as it is related to disease, from asthma to cancer. We have learned to appreciate how beneficial our microbes are in breaking down our food, fighting off infections and nurturing our immune system, and this information provides us with ideas as to how we can manipulate our microbiome to prevent certain diseases. However, given the variety of applications, there are scientific challenges, though there are very promising areas in reference to the clinical benefits of understanding more about our micro‐ biome, whether in our gut or on our skin: the outlook is bright. A summary of the short course is presented as a meeting dispatch.

Microbiome profiling through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis has proven to be a useful research tool in the study of C. difficile infection (CDI); however, CDI microbiome studies typically report results at the genus level or higher, thus precluding identification of this pathogen relative to other members of the gut microbiota. Accurate identification of C. difficile relative to the overall gut microbiome may be useful in assessments of colonization in research studies or as a prognostic indicator for patients with CDI. To investigate the burden of C. difficile at the species level relative to the overall gut microbiome, we applied a high-resolution method for 16S rRNA sequence assignment to previously published gut microbiome studies of CDI and other patient populations. We identified C. difficile in 131 of 156 index cases of CDI (average abundance 1.78%), and 18 of 211 healthy controls (average abundance 0.008%). We further detected substantial levels of C. difficile in a subset of infants that persisted over the first two to 12 months of life. Correlation analysis of C. difficile burden compared to other detected species demonstrated consistent negative associations with C. scindens and multiple Blautia species. These analyses contribute insight into the relative burden of C. difficile in the gut microbiome for multiple patient populations, and indicate that high-resolution 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis may prove useful in the development and evaluation of new therapies for CDI., C. difficile: Investigating infection in the gut A detailed analysis of the prevalence of the bacterium Clostridium difficile in the gut will aid research and could improve clinical care. C. difficile infection is a major global healthcare problem, causing 29,000 deaths each year in the USA alone. It is frequently acquired by hospitalized patients, especially after antibiotic treatment. Researchers in the USA, led by James White at Resphera Biosciences in Baltimore, Maryland, used high-resolution 16S rRNA sequence analysis of gut microbial communities to characterize C. difficile levels in several patient populations. The results gave insights into the burden of C. difficile during infection relative to healthy control populations. They also revealed substantial levels of C. difficile in some infants through the first year of life. The authors suggest the analysis technique they used may help guide the development of new treatments for these difficult infections.

The microbes residing in the human gut, referred to as the microbiome, are intricately linked to energy homeostasis and subsequently obesity. Integral to the origins of obesity, the microbiome is believed to affect not only health of the human gut but also overall health. This microbiome–obesity association is mediated through the process of energy extraction, metabolism, and cross talk between the brain and the gut microbiome. Host exposures, including diet, that potentially modify genetic predisposition to obesity and affect weight management are reviewed. The higher prevalence of obesity among women and recent evidence linking obesity during pregnancy with offspring health make this topic particularly relevant. Current limitations in microbiome research to address obesity and future advances in this field are described. Applications of this science with respect to applied nursing and overall health care in general are included, with emphasis on the reproductive health of women and their offspring.

Lung cancer has a familial component which suggests a genetic contribution to its etiology. Given the strong evidence linking smoking with lung cancer, we studied miRNA-related loci in genes associated with smoking behavior. CHRNA, CHRNB gene families, CYP2A6, and DRD1 (dopamine receptor D1) were mined for SNPs that fell within the seed region of miRNA binding sites and then tested for associations with risk in a three-stage validation approach. A 3′UTR (untranslated region) SNP in DRD1 was associated with a lower risk of lung cancer among individuals exposed to secondhand smoke during childhood [OR, 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60–0.79; P < 0.0001]. This relationship was evident in both ever (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62–0.88; P = 0.001) and never smokers (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47–0.79; P < 0.0001), European American (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53–0.80; P < 0.0001), and African American (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62–0.88; P = 0.001) populations. Although much remains undefined about the long-term risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke and heterogeneity between individuals in regard to their susceptibility to the effects of secondhand smoke, our data show an interaction between an SNP in the 3′UTR of DRD1 and exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood. Further work is needed to explore the mechanistic underpinnings of this SNP and the nature of the interaction between DRD1 and exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood. Cancer Prev Res; 7(12); 1210–8. ©2014 AACR.

ObjectiveThe current research examined the association between state disfavoured tax on soda (i.e. the difference between soda sales tax and the tax on food products generally) and a summary score representing the strength of state laws governing competitive beverages (beverages that compete with the beverages in the federally funded school lunch programme) in US schools.DesignThe Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (CLASS) summary score reflected the strength of a state's laws restricting competitive beverages sold in school stores, vending machines, school fundraisers and à la carte cafeteria items. Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a nationally recognized research initiative that provided state-level soda tax data. The main study outcome was the states’ competitive beverage summary scores for elementary, middle and high school grade levels, as predicted by the states’ disfavoured soda tax. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, adjusting for year and state.SettingData from BTG and CLASS were used.SubjectsBTG and CLASS data from all fifty states and the District of Columbia from 2003 to 2010 were used.ResultsA higher disfavoured soda sales tax was generally associated with an increased likelihood of having strong school beverage laws across grade levels, and especially when disfavoured soda sales tax was >5 %.ConclusionsThese data suggest a concordance between states’ soda taxes and laws governing beverages sold in schools. States with high disfavoured sales tax on soda had stronger competitive beverage laws, indicating that the state sales tax environment may be associated with laws governing beverage policy in schools.

The gastrointestinal tracts of mammals are colonized by hundreds of microbial species that contribute to health, including colonization resistance against intestinal pathogens1. Many antibiotics destroy intestinal microbial communities and increase susceptibility to intestinal pathogens2. Among these, Clostridium difficile, a major cause of antibiotic-induced diarrhea, greatly increases morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients3. Which intestinal bacteria provide resistance to C. difficile infection and their in vivo inhibitory mechanisms remain unclear. By treating mice with different antibiotics that result in distinct microbiota changes and lead to varied susceptibility to C. difficile, we correlated loss of specific bacterial taxa with development of infection. Mathematical modeling augmented by microbiota analyses of hospitalized patients identified resistance-associated bacteria common to mice and humans. Using these platforms, we determined that Clostridium scindens, a bile acid 7-dehydroxylating intestinal bacterium, is associated with resistance to C. difficile infection and, upon administration, enhances resistance to infection in a secondary bile acid-dependent fashion. Using a workflow involving mouse models, clinical studies, metagenomic analyses and mathematical modeling, we identified a probiotic candidate that corrects a clinically relevant microbiome deficiency. These findings have implications for rational design of targeted antimicrobials as well as microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics for individuals at risk for C. difficile infection.

Although rapid, membrane-activated estrogen receptor (ER) signaling is no longer controversial, the biological function of this nongenomic signaling is not fully characterized. We found that rapid signaling from membrane-associated ER regulates the histone methyltransferase enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). In response to both 17β-estradiol (E2) and the xenoestrogen diethylstilbestrol, ER signaling via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B phosphorylates EZH2 at S21, reducing levels of trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 in hormone-responsive cells. During windows of uterine development that are susceptible to developmental reprogramming, activation of this ER signaling pathway by diethylstilbestrol resulted in phosphorylation of EZH2 and reduced levels of trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 in chromatin of the developing uterus. Furthermore, activation of nongenomic signaling reprogrammed the expression profile of estrogen-responsive genes in uterine myometrial cells, suggesting this as a potential mechanism for developmental reprogramming caused by early-life exposure to xenoestrogens. These data demonstrate that rapid ER signaling provides a direct linkage between xenoestrogen-induced nuclear hormone receptor signaling and modulation of the epigenetic machinery during tissue development.

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) are faced with an increased risk of nicotine dependence later in life. We have previously shown that children exposed to SHS have an increased risk of lung cancer as adults. Furthermore, genetic variation plays a role in the susceptibility of individuals to lung cancer. The gene DRD1 mediates dopamine signaling following nicotine exposure, thus we reasoned that DRD1 may be related to lung cancer via modulation of the nicotine reward pathway. Our previous studies identified 4 SNPs (rs4809294, rs2292975, rs4861327, rs686) that were predicted to modulate a microRNA binding site and we assessed the association of these SNPs with lung cancer risk. Our current study investigated whether these SNPs were associated with nicotine dependence and whether this had a subsequent effect on lung cancer risk. We used the National Cancer Institute-Maryland lung cancer case-control study. Cases and controls were recruited from the greater Baltimore metropolitan area. We used ordinal logistic regression to examine the association between SNPs and nicotine dependence. Logistic regression adjusted for age, gender and smoking was used to assess the association between SNPs and lung cancer risk. No significant associations were found between genotypes in the 4 SNPs and nicotine dependence levels (n=1,450). Individuals with the heterozygous allele (AG) exposed to SHS during childhood had increased odds of lung cancer compared to those with the homozygous wild type allele (AA) for rs686 (OR=1.52, CI= 1.12, 2.07). Individuals with the homozygous variant allele (GG) exposed to childhood SHS had increased odds of lung cancer compared to individuals with the homozygous wild type allele (AA) (OR=2.11, CI= 1.45, 3.10). Individuals with the heterozygous allele (GA) and the highest levels of nicotine dependence who were also exposed to childhood SHS, had higher odds of lung cancer than those with the homozygous recessive allele (AA) (OR=3.50, CI=1.37, 8.96). Consistent with earlier findings, heterozygotes (AG) had increased odds of lung cancer but this was not statistically significant (OR=1.90, CI= 0.82, 4.40). To further explore this association, we examined the effect of race on this relationship. Caucasians with the heterozygous allele (AG), the highest levels of nicotine dependence and childhood SHS, had increased odds of lung cancer compared to those with the homozygous recessive allele (AA) for rs686 (OR=1.47, CI=1.06, 2.05). Caucasians with the homozygous allele (GG) who were exposed to childhood SHS, had higher odds of lung cancer compared to individuals with the homozygous recessive allele (AA) for rs686 (OR=1.84, CI=1.15, 2.98). No association was found among African Americans. Although none of the SNPs examined were found to be associated with nicotine dependence, it appears that variations in rs686 may modify an individual's susceptibility to lung cancer due to SHS exposure. Citation Format: Victoria A. Zigmont, Brid M. Ryan, Jin Jen, Ana I. Robles, Cain McClary, Kara Calhoun, Elise D. Bowman, Kirsi Vähäkangas, K. Leigh Greathouse, Wang Yi, Angela S. Wenzlaff, Bo Deng, Ping Yang, Ann G. Schwartz, Curtis C. Harris, Susan Olivo Marston. Childhood exposure to secondhand smoke, nicotine dependence, and DRD1 are associated with lung cancer risk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2156. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2156