These data suggest that epigenetic markers in plasma may be of interest for detection of breast cancer. Identification of additional breast cancer specific methylated genes with higher prevalence in early stage cancers would improve this approach.

fWe have recently reported that a group of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) uses desmoglein 2 (DSG2) as a receptor for infection. Among these are the widely distributed serotypes HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, as well as a newly emerged strain derived from HAdV-B14. These serotypes do not infect rodent cells and could not up until now be studied in small-animal models. We therefore generated transgenic mice containing the human DSG2 locus. These mice expressed human DSG2 (hDSG2) at a level and in a pattern similar to those found for humans and nonhuman primates. As an initial application of hDSG2-transgenic mice, we used a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing HAdV-B3 vector (Ad3-GFP) and studied GFP transgene expression by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry subsequent to intranasal and intravenous virus application. After intranasal application, we found efficient transduction of bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells in hDSG2-transgenic mice. Intravenous Ad3-GFP injection into hDSG2-transgenic mice resulted in hDSG2-dependent transduction of epithelial cells in the intestinal and colon mucosa. Our findings give an explanation for clinical symptoms associated with infection by DSG2-interacting HAdVs and provide a rationale for using Ad3-derived vectors in gene therapy. Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have been classified into six species (HAdV-A to HAdV-F) currently containing 55 serotypes. Most adenovirus (Ad) serotypes utilize the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) as a primary attachment receptor. However, this is not the case for species B Ad serotypes. Species B Ads form two genetic clusters, B1 (HAdV-B3, -B7, -B16, -B21, and -B50) and B2 (HAdV-B11p, -B14, -B34, and -B35) (84). Recently, we have suggested a new grouping of species B Ads based on their receptor usage (82). The members of group 1 (HAdV-B16, -B21, -B35, -B50) nearly exclusively utilize CD46 as a receptor; the members of group 2 (HAdV-B3, -B7, -B14) use a receptor that was unknown until recently (receptor X), group 3 (HAdV-B11p) preferentially interacts with CD46 but also utilizes receptor X if CD46 is blocked or absent. This novel receptor usage-based grouping system has been supported by studies from various groups (27,50,65,66). A newly emerged, pathogenic strain, Ad14-p1, uses the same receptor as prototype HAdV-B14 (89).HAdV-B3 and -B7 are considered to be widely distributed human pathogens (14,52,59). Studies from the United States show that HAdV-B3 and -B7 infections occur more often in adolescents and adults (23, 92), while studies from Europe and Asia indicate that these serotypes are also common in children (32,45,90). Since 2005, several outbreaks of HAdV-B14p1 in military facilities and civic communities have been reported in various countries, including the United States, Europe, and Asia (8,48,78). Ads, including HAdV-B3, enter the body via the mouth/nose and generally cause respiratory diseases. The respiratory tract epithelium is also the preferred site of viral replication. Subsequent virusinduced cyto...

Bulky conjugated polymers with high crystallinity is the prerequisite for the overall improvement of performance in wide-bandgap semiconductors, including charge transport, photoluminescence quantum yield, processing reliability, and stability. Herein, we report a stable β-phase film of bulky polydiarylfluorene (PODPF) preparing by thermal annealing at ∼220 °C. The β-phase conformation and regular molecular packing are confirmed by UV-vis, photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectra, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), respectively. Polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) with crystalline and β-phase film serving as the active layer exhibit higher current efficiency of 1.8 cd/A (6.0 V) and more stable electroluminescence over the amorphous one. Surprisingly, mixed conformations in PODPF film produce dually tunable amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at 463 and 482 nm. Polydiarylfluorenes with quasi-planar conformation will be a promising candidate for the next-generation gain medium toward a broadly tunable lasing and dual-wavelength laser.