Anisotropic Growth of Covalent Inorganic Complexes to Nanoplatelets

Colloidal II-VI semiconductor nanoplatelets (NPLs) provide a new platform in material science due to their unique growth mode and advanced optical properties. However, in contrast to the rapid development of zinc blend structured NPLs, studies on the formation of wurtzite (WZ) NPLs have been limited to the lamellar assembly of specific magic-sized nanoclusters (MSCs). Therefore, the study of new precursors is important for enriching the synthesis strategy, improving the study of two-dimensional (2D) nanocrystal growth mechanisms, and constructing complex nanostructures. Here, we demonstrated that covalent inorganic complexes (CICs), as novel functional intermediates, can be directly used to form NPLs without involving MSCs. Using in situ absorption spectra, we demonstrated that the evolution followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics (kobs = 0.02 min-1 (t1/2 = 34.7 min)). Several types of binary WZ NPLs, including CdSe, CdS, CdTe, and ZnS, have been directly prepared based on this mechanism through the anisotropic growth of CICs. In addition, CICs can also be used to prepare Mn-doped CdSe NPLs. The present study not only affords new precursors for the synthesis of WZ NPLs but also advances our understanding of the synthesis mechanism of nanocrystals.

Anion Exchange in Semiconductor Magic-Size Clusters

Ion exchange is an effective postsynthesis strategy for the design of colloidal nanomaterials with unique structures and properties. In contrast to the rapid development of cation exchange (CE), the study of anion exchange is still in its infancy and requires an in-depth understanding. Magic-size clusters (MSCs) are important reaction intermediates in quantum dot (QD) synthesis, and studying the ion exchange processes can provide valuable insights into the transformations of QDs. Here, we achieved anion exchange in Cd-based MSCs and elucidated the reaction pathways. We demonstrated that the anion exchange was a stepwise intermolecular transition mediated by covalent inorganic complexes (CICs). We proposed that this transition involved three essential steps: the disassembly of CdE1-MSCs into CdE1-CICs (step 1), an anion exchange reaction from CdE1-CICs to CdE2-CICs (step 2), and assembly of CdE2-CICs to CdE2-MSCs (step 3). Step 3 was the rate-determining step and followed first-order reaction kinetics (kobs = 0.01 min-1; from CdSe-MSCs to CdS-MSCs). Further studies revealed that the activity of foreign anions only affected the reaction kinetics without altering the reaction pathway. The present study provides a deeper insight into the anion exchange mechanisms of MSCs and will further shed light on the synthesis of QDs.

Covalent inorganic complexes enabled zinc blende to wurtzite phase changes in CdSe nanoplatelets

Phase changes in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are essential in material design and device applications. However, the transition pathways have yet to be sufficiently studied, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is needed. In this work, a complete ligand-assisted phase transition from zinc blende (ZB) to wurtzite (WZ) is observed in CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs). By monitoring with in situ absorption spectra along with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), we demonstrated that the transition process is a ligand-assisted covalent inorganic complex (CIC)-mediated phase transition pathway, which involves three steps, ligand exchange on ZB CdSe NPLs (Step 1), dissolution of NPLs to form CICs (Step 2), and conversion of CdSe-CIC assemblies to WZ CdSe NPLs (Step 3). In particular, CICs can be directly anisotropically grown to WZ CdSe NPL without other intermediates, following pseudo-first-order kinetics (kobs = 9.17 × 10-5 s-1). Furthermore, we demonstrated that CICs are also present and play an essential role in the phase transition of ZnS NPLs from WZ to ZB structure. This study proposes a new crystal transformation pathway and elucidates a general phase-transition mechanism, facilitating precise functional nanomaterial design.

[Clinical efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with multidrug chemotherapy in the treatment of 15 patients with relapsed or refractory early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of Venetoclax combined with multidrug chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ETP-ALL) . Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 15 patients with R/R ETP-ALL who received Venetoclax combined with multidrug chemotherapy from December 2018 to February 2022. Among them, eight cases were combined with demethylated drugs, four cases were combined with demethylated drugs and HAAG chemotherapy regimen, two cases were combined with demethylated drugs and CAG regimen, and one case was combined with Cladribine. Specific usage and dosage of Venetoclax: 100 mg on day 1, 200 mg on day 2, 400 mg on day 3-28, orally; when combined with azole antifungal drugs, dosage was reduced to 100 mg/d. Results: Fifteen patients (10 males and 5 females) with R/R ETP-ALL were treated with Venetoclax and multidrug chemotherapy with a median age of 35 (12-42) years old. Of 4 refractory and 11 relapsed patients, the efficacy was evaluated on the 21th day following combined chemotherapy: the overall response rate, the complete response (CR) rate, and the CR with incomplete hematological recovery (CRi) rate were 67.7% (10/15), 60.0% (9/15), and 6.7% (1/15), respectively. For the overall study population, the 12-month overall survival (OS) rate was 60.0%, and the median OS was 17.7 months. The disease-free survival (DFS) rate of all CR patients at 12 months was 60.0%, and the median DFS did not reach. About 14 patients had Ⅲ-Ⅳ hematological toxicity, but these adverse reactions were all controllable. No adverse reaction in the nervous system and tumor lysis syndrome occurred in this study, and no adverse reaction of organs above grade Ⅲ occurred. Conclusion: Venetoclax combined with multidrug chemotherapy may be a safe and promising treatment option for patients with R/R ETP-ALL.

[Hepatitis B virus down-regulates the expression of inhibin and promotes the proliferation and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect and role of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the expression of inhibin (PHB) in the proliferation and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: The expression of PHB in 13 pairs of HBV-infected livers, normal livers and HepG2.2.15 and HepG2 cells was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot. Liver tissues were collected from seven patients with chronic hepatitis B before and after antiviral (tenofovir) treatment, and the expression of PHB was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. HepG2.2.15 cells were transfected with Pcmv6-AC-GFP-PHB, and control vectors were collected. DNA content was analyzed by flow cytometry. The proliferation level of each cell group was detected using the EdU cell proliferation assay. HepG2.2.15 cells transfected with Pcmv6-AC-GFP-PHB and the control vector were cultured in serum-free medium for 6 days. Apoptosis was measured at the indicated time points using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based Annexin-V/PI double staining. Results: Compared with normal liver tissue, the expression of PHB in HBV-infected liver tissue was down-regulated (P < 0.01). Compared with HepG2 cells, the expression of PHB in HepG2.2.15 cells was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The expression level of PHB in liver tissue after antiviral treatment (tenofovir) was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control vector, the proliferation rate of HepG2.2.15 cells transfected with Pcmv6-AC-GFP-PHB was significantly lower than that of the control vector, and the apoptosis rate of HepG2.2.15 cells transfected with the Pcmv6-AC-GFP-PHB vector was significantly higher than the control vector (P < 0.01). Conclusion: HBV down-regulates the expression of inhibin to promote the proliferation and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Preoperative prediction and histological stratification of intracranial solitary fibrous tumours by machine-learning models

AIM

To explore the effectiveness and feasibility of machine-learning models based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics features in differentiating intracranial solitary fibrous tumour (ISFT) from angiomatous meningioma (AM) and stratifying ISFT histologically.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study retrospectively recruited 268 patients with a histological diagnosis of ISFT (n=120) or AM (n=148), and 116 of the ISFT patients were used for stratified analysis of histological grade. The radiomics features were extracted from axial T1-weighted imaging (WI), T2WI and contrast-enhanced T1WI sequences. All patients were assigned randomly to the training group and test group in a ratio of 7:3. The models were optimised by 10-fold cross-validation in the training group, and the independent test group was used for further testing of the models. The performances of machine-learning models based on radiomics, clinical, and fusion features in predicting and stratifying ISFT were evaluated.

RESULTS

ISFT and AM differed significantly in terms of age, tumour shape, enhancement pattern, and margin. There was no significant difference in the clinical characteristics between World Health Organization (WHO) grade II and WHO grade III ISFT. When used to differentiate ISFT from AM, the area under the curve (AUC) values of the machine-learning models based on radiomics, clinical, and fusion features in the test group were 0.917, 0.923 and 0.950, respectively. When used for histological stratification of ISFT, the model based on the radiomics signature achieved an AUC value of 0.786 in the test group.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine-learning models can contribute in the prediction and histological stratification of ISFT non-invasively, which can help clinical differential diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Values of optical coherence tomography angiography for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy and evaluating treatment outcomes

PURPOSE

To compare the consistency between fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-six diabetic patients (185 eyes) treated from January 2019 to December 2019 underwent OCTA and FFA. The image characteristics of fundus lesions were recorded. Sixty-nine patients (137 eyes) who were diagnosed with DR by both examinations and needed to receive panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) were selected. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep vascular complex (DVC) blood flow density, 300μm area surrounding foveal avascular zone (FAZ) (FD300) blood flow density and FAZ parameters were compared.

RESULTS

The Kappa coefficient of FFA and OCTA for diagnosing DR was 0.537 (P=0.000). FFA and OCTA had substantial consistency for detecting retinal microaneurysms and macular edema (Kappa coefficient=0.643/0.616, P=0.000), perfect consistency for detecting retinal neovascularization and retinal non-perfusion area (Kappa coefficient=0.809/0.832, P=0.000), and moderate consistency for detecting structural changes in the macular ring (Kappa coefficient=0.423, P=0.000). The RNFL thickness in the peripapillary and the superior temporal, temporal inferior, inferior nasal and superior nasal regions rose 1 week after PRP but declined 1 year after treatment (P<0.05). The macular SVC, DVC and FD300 blood flow density declined 1 week after PRP but rose 1 year after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

OCTA shows consistency with FFA for diagnosing DR, which remedies the deficiency of FFA. The reduction in fundus lesions after PRP can be quantified by OCTA.

Utility of trio-based prenatal exome sequencing incorporating splice-site and mitochondrial genome assessment in pregnancies with fetal ultrasound anomalies: prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of trio-based prenatal exome sequencing (pES), incorporating splice-site and mitochondrial genome assessment, in the prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with ultrasound anomalies and normal copy-number variant sequencing (CNV-seq) results.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of 90 ongoing pregnancies with ultrasound anomalies that underwent trio-based pES after receiving normal CNV-seq results, from September 2020 to November 2021, in a single center in China. By using pES with a panel encompassing exome coding and splicing regions as well as mitochondrial genome for fetuses and parents, we identified the underlying genetic causes of fetal anomalies, incidental fetal findings and parental carrier status. Information on pregnancy outcome and the impact of pES findings on parental decision-making was collected.

RESULTS

Of the 90 pregnancies included, 28 (31.1%) received a diagnostic result that could explain the fetal ultrasound anomalies. The highest diagnostic yield was noted for brain abnormalities (3/6 (50.0%)), followed by hydrops (4/9 (44.4%)) and skeletal abnormalities (13/34 (38.2%)). Collectively, 34 variants of 20 genes were detected in the 28 diagnosed cases, with 55.9% (19/34) occurring de novo. Variants of uncertain significance (VUS) associated with fetal phenotypes were detected in six (6.7%) fetuses. Interestingly, fetal (n = 4) and parental (n = 3) incidental findings (IFs) were detected in seven (7.8%) cases. These included two fetuses carrying a de-novo likely pathogenic (LP) variant of the CIC and FBXO11 genes, respectively, associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, and one fetus with a LP variant in a mitochondrial gene. The remaining fetus presented with unilateral renal dysplasia and was incidentally found to carry a pathogenic PKD1 gene variant resulting in adult-onset polycystic kidney, which was later confirmed to be inherited from the mother. In addition, parental heterozygous variants associated with autosomal recessive diseases were detected in three families, including one with additional fetal diagnostic findings. Diagnostic results or fetal IFs contributed to parental decision-making about termination of the pregnancy in 26 families (26/72 (36.1%)), while negative pES results or identification of VUS encouraged 40 families (40/72 (55.6%)) to continue their pregnancy, which ended in a live birth in all cases.

CONCLUSION

Trio-based pES can provide additional genetic information for pregnancies with fetal ultrasound anomalies without a CNV-seq diagnosis. The incidental findings and parental carrier status reported by trio-based pES with splice-site and mitochondrial genome analysis extend its clinical application, but careful genetic counseling is warranted. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Remote telemedicine strategy based on multi-risks intervention by intelligent wearable health devices in elderly comorbidities patients with coronary heart disease

Background

Telemedicine based on wearable intelligent health devices becomes increasingly promissing for the elderly due to the accelerated aging population. Especially during COVID-19 pandemic, more elderly coronary heart disease patients with chronic comorbidities are in less secondary prevention management at home.

Objective

To explore the prevention effect on main cardiovascular risk factors and repeated hospitalization in elderly comorbidities patients by telemedicine intervention based on multi-parameter wearable monitoring devices.

Methods

Total of 337 patients with comorbidities of coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, with age more than 65 years old were recruited in the study from October 2019 to January 2021. They were randomly divided into control group and telemedcine intervention group. The latter used remote multi-parameter wearable devices to measure blood pressure, glycemic and electrocardiograph at home every day. A real-time monitoring platform would alarm any abnormal data to the doctors. Both doctors and patients can read the measurement results on a real-time mobile phone APP and interact with each other remotely twice a week routinely. A medical team remotely indicated the medications, while offering guidance on lifestyle. In contrast, the control group adopted traditional outpatient medical strategy to manage diseases.

Results

A total of 306 patients were enrolled in the follow-up experiment finally: 153 in the intervention group and 153 in the control group. Patient characteristics at baseline were balanced between two groups. After 12 months, compared with the control group, the intervention group saw the following metrics significantly reduced: systolic blood pressure (SBP) (131.66±9.43 vs 137.20±12.02 mmHg, P=0.000), total cholesterol (TC) (3.65±0.79 vs 4.08±0.82 mmol/L, P=0.001), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2.06±0.53 vs 2.38±0.61 mmol/L, P=0.002), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) (6.26±0.75 vs 6.81±0.97 mmol/L, P=0.000), while the following metrics went up significantly: blood pressure control rate (77.3% vs 59.1%, P=0.039), blood lipid control rate(39.4% vs 21.2%, P=0.037), glycemic control rate (71.2% vs 51.5%, P=0.031), and medication adherence score (7.10±0.77 vs 6.80±0.73, P=0.020). Linear regression model analysis indicates that when interaction frequency ≥1.53, 2.47 and 1.15 times/week, the SBP, LDL-C and FBG levels would be controlled, respectively. Cox survival analysis finds that the hospitalization rate of intervention group is significantly lower than that of the control group (24.18% vs 35.29%, P=0.031).

Conclusion

The telemedicine interactive intervention based on multi-parameter wearable devices provides effectively improvement of cardiovascular risk controlling, medication adherence, while reducing the hospitalization rate of patients. A frequency of doctor-patient interactions more than 2 times/week is beneficial for disease management the elderly at home.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Key scientific research project of Health Commission

POS0812 CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS/DIAMETER RATIO AND PEAK SYSTOLIC VELOCITY AS RISK FACTORS FOR NEUROLOGICAL SEVERE ISCHEMIC EVENTS IN TAKAYASU’S ARTERITIS

Background

Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) is an idiopathic systemic vasculitis characterized by the involvement of the aorta and its major branches [1]. The supra-aortic arteries are often involved in TAK, with the reported prevalence ranging from 40% to 84% [2-3]. Importantly, patients with supra-aortic involvement carry a higher risk of neurological severe ischemic events (SIE) [4-5]. The common carotid artery (CCA) is the most affected artery and is more closely associated with neurologic symptoms than other supra-aortic arteries [6]. Ultrasonography (US) has been regarded as the most popular, user-friendly, and repeatable tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of CCA injuries.

Objectives

Our aim was to characterize TAK with supra-aortic involvement and determine the associations between clinical features, carotid US parameters, and neurological SIE.

Methods

Patients with supra-aortic involvement including brachiocephalic trunk, bilateral common carotid artery and internal carotid artery, and bilateral subclavian and vertebral artery and baseline carotid US examination were enrolled. Bilateral carotid diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured by US. Then, IMT/diameter ratio (IDR) was calculated. Risk factors associated with neurological SIE were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Totally, 295 patients were included, of whom 93 (31.5%) experienced neurological SIE, with common carotid artery involved (81.7%). Involved supra-aortic artery distribution (p=0.04) and number (p<0.01) differed between neurologic and non-neurologic SIE subjects, showing higher prevalence of common carotid and vertebral artery involvement in cases with neurological SIE and 57.1% neurological SIE patients having more than four involved arteries. The left carotid IMT (p=0.03) and IDR (p<0.01) differed between patients with and without neurological SIE. The left carotid IDR (cut-off value ≥0.55, odds ratio [OR] 4.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05-9.71; p<0.01) and PSV (≤76 cm/s, OR 3.38; 95% CI 1.62-7.04; p<0.01) and involved supra-aortic artery number (≥4, OR 3.16; 95% CI 1.54-6.47; p<0.01) were independently associated with neurological SIE.

Conclusion

The left carotid IDR, PSV and involved supra-aortic artery number would perform as valuable markers for recognizing neurological SIE in TAK patients with supra-aortic lesions.

References

[1]Kerr GS, Hallahan CW, Giordano J, et al. Takayasu arteritis. Ann Intern Med 1994; 120: 919-29.

[2]Cong XL, Dai SM, Feng X, et al. Takayasu’s arteritis: clinical features and outcomes of 125 patients in China. Clin Rheumatol 2010; 29: 973-81.

[3]Mirouse A, Biard L, Comarmond C, et al. Overall survival and mortality risk factors in Takayasu’s arteritis: a multicenter study of 318 patients. J Autoimmun 2019; 96: 35-9.

[4]Porter A, Youngstein T, Tombetti E, Mason JC. Biologic therapy in supra-aortic Takayasu arteritis can improve symptoms of cerebral ischaemia without surgical intervention. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020; 59 Suppl 3: iii28-32.

[5]Michailidou D, Rosenblum JS, Rimland CA, Marko J, Ahlman MA, Grayson PC. Clinical symptoms and associated vascular imaging findings in Takayasu’s arteritis compared to giant cell arteritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2020; 79: 262-7.

[6]Schäfer VS, Jin L, Schmidt WA. Imaging for diagnosis, monitoring, and outcome prediction of large vessel vasculitides. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2020; 22: 76.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0799 BIOMARKER CHANGES IN TAKAYASU ARTERITIS AFTER TOFACITINIB TREATMENT AND THE MOLECULAR SIGNATURE ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS

Background

Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK) is a chronic, non-specific, granulomatous macrovasculitis and its pathogenesis is still unclear. The increasing evidence indicated that multiple pathological process involved in the development of TAK. According to previous reports, multiple biomarkers representative different pathological process (1-3), However, which biomarker can closely reflect disease activity or vascular changes and whether these abnormal processes can be prevented by current therapies remained unknown.

Objectives

To analyze changes of serum cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor profiles in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) after tofacitinib treatment and explore potential molecular signatures related with various disease characteristics

Methods

Seventeen patients from a TAK cohort treated with tofacitinib and 12 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Potential biomarkers with TAK including cytokines, MMPs, chemokines and growth factors were detected in these patients (0, 6, 12 months) and healthy controls. Molecular changes, disease activity, disease remission, and vascular imaging changes were analyzed in these patients after treatment. Furthermore, molecule signatures associated with these clinical features/outcomes were explored via radar plot and correlation analysis.

Results

At baseline, all the patients were in active status. Meanwhile, patients’ cytokines (PTX3, IL-6, IFN-γ), chemokines (IL-16, CCL22, CCL2), growth factor (VEGF) and MMP9 were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (all p<0.05), while FGF-2 was significantly lower in patients with TAK (p=0.02). After treatment, 94.12% of patients achieved complete remission at 6 and 12 months; patients’ ESR and CRP levels were significantly reduced at 6 months (p=0.02, p=0.046 respectively); vascular improvement were observed in 6 (35.29%) patients at 12 months. With regards to these molecules, IL-10 was increased at 6 months compared with its baseline level (p=0.007). No changes were observed in other cytokines, chemokines, or growth factors. Besides, the radar plot demonstrated that PTX3 was closely correlated with disease activity. In addition, patients with vascular imaging improvement had relatively higher baseline levels of TNFα, ESR, and CRP (p=0.04, p=0.056, p=0.07, respectively), lower CCL22, FGF, and PDGF-AB levels (p=0.056, p=0.06 and p=0.08 respectively) compared with patients without it.

Conclusion

Multiple molecules representative different pathological mechanism participated in the pathogenesis of TAK. PTX3 was a prominent marker for disease activity, and CCL22 may have a predictive value for vascular imaging changes.

References

[1]Dagna L, Salvo F, Tiraboschi M, et al. Pentraxin-3 as a marker of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(7):425-433. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-7-201110040-00005

[2]Sun Y, Kong X, Wu S, et al. YKL-40 as a new biomarker of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis. Int J Cardiol. 2019; 293: 231-237

[3]Dong H, Zhang Y, Zou Y, et al. Elevated chemokines concentration is associated with disease activity in Takayasu arteritis. Cytokine. 2021; 143: 155515

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0491 A COMPREHENSIVE PROFILE OF CHEMOKINES IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD AND VASCULAR TISSUE OF PATIENTS WITH TAKAYASU ARTERITIS

Background

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a chronic granulomatous large vessel vasculitis with multiple immune cells involved [1]. In TAK, vascular lesions originate from the vascular adventitia. The vascular adventitia is rich in vasa vasorum, which can transport peripheral immune cells to active vascular lesions in the early stage of lesion development [2]. Thus, chemokines played critical roles in the pathogenesis of TAK. It has been reported that the levels of RANTES, CCL2, CCL20, CXCL8, and CXCL10 were elevated in TAK, and their levels were correlated with disease activity [3, 4]. However, the profile of chemokines in TAK has not been clearly elucidated.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate chemokine profile in peripheral blood and vascular tissue of patients with TAK.

Methods

A total of 58 patients with TAK and 53 healthy controls were enrolled. Chemokine array assay was performed in five patients with TAK and three controls. Chemokines with higher levels were preliminarily validated in 20 patients and controls. The validated chemokines were further confirmed in another group of samples with 25 patients and 25 controls. Their expression and distribution were also examined in vascular tissue from 8 patients and 5 controls. Correlations between these chemokines and peripheral immune cells, cytokines, disease activity parameters were analyzed. Their serum changes were also investigated in these 45 patients after glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive treatment.

Results

Patients and controls were age and sex-matched. Twelve higher chemokines and 4 lower chemokines were found based on the chemokine array. After validation, increase of 5 chemokines were confirmed in patients with TAK, including CCL22, RANTES, CXCL16, CXCL11, and IL-16. Their expressions were also increased in vascular tissue of patients with TAK. In addition, levels of RANTES and IL-16 were positively correlated with peripheral CD3+CD4+ T cell numbers. Close localization of CCL22, CXCL11 or IL-16 with inflammatory cells were also observed in TAK vascular tissue. No correlations were found between these chemokines and cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ) or inflammatory parameters (ESR, CRP). No differences were observed regarding with these chemokines between active and inactive patients. After treatment, increase of CCL22 and decrease of RANTES, CXCL16 were found, while no changes were showed in levels of CXCL11 and IL-16.

Conclusion

CCL22, RANTES, CXCL16, CXCL11, and IL-16 were identified as the major chemokines involved in the recruitment of immune cells in the vascular tissue of patients with TAK. Additionally, the persistently high levels of CCL22, CXCL11, and IL-16 observed after treatment indicate their role in vascular chronic inflammation or fibrosis and demonstrate the need for developing more efficacious treatment options.

References

[1]Seyahi E. Takayasu arteritis: an update. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2017 Jan;29(1):51-56.

[2]Corbera-Bellalta M, Planas-Rigol E, Lozano E, Terrades-García N, Alba MA, Prieto-González S, García-Martínez A, Albero R, Enjuanes A, Espígol-Frigolé G, Hernández-Rodríguez J, Roux-Lombard P, Ferlin WG, Dayer JM, Kosco-Vilbois MH, Cid MC. Blocking interferon γ reduces expression of chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 and decreases macrophage infiltration in ex vivo cultured arteries from patients with giant cell arteritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jun;75(6):1177-86.

[3]Noris M, Daina E, Gamba S, Bonazzola S, Remuzzi G. Interleukin-6 and RANTES in Takayasu arteritis: a guide for therapeutic decisions? Circulation. 1999 Jul 6;100(1):55-60.

[4]Dong H, Zhang Y, Zou Y, Chen Y, Yue J, Liu H, Jiang X. Elevated chemokines concentration is associated with disease activity in Takayasu arteritis. Cytokine. 2021 Jul;143:155515.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared.

Structural engineering from an inverse problems perspective

The field of structural engineering is vast, spanning areas from the design of new infrastructure to the assessment of existing infrastructure. From the onset, traditional entry-level university courses teach students to analyse structural responses given data including external forces, geometry, member sizes, restraint, etc.-characterizing a forward problem (structural causalities → structural response). Shortly thereafter, junior engineers are introduced to structural design where they aim to, for example, select an appropriate structural form for members based on design criteria, which is the inverse of what they previously learned. Similar inverse realizations also hold true in structural health monitoring and a number of structural engineering sub-fields (response → structural causalities). In this light, we aim to demonstrate that many structural engineering sub-fields may be fundamentally or partially viewed as inverse problems and thus benefit via the rich and established methodologies from the inverse problems community. To this end, we conclude that the future of inverse problems in structural engineering is inexorably linked to engineering education and machine learning developments.

Self-Photocatalysis Boosted Electrochemiluminescence Signal Amplification via In Situ Generation of the Coreactant

The classic luminol-based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) platform generally suffers from self-decomposition of the coreactant (i.e., H₂O₂) during the reaction process, seriously hampering the luminous signal stability, as well as its practical application. To address this issue, apart from the introduction of complex exogenous species, preoxidation of the luminophore, and electrocatalysis for ECL signal amplification, we proposed a novel ECL model to realize the signal enhancement via in situ self-photocatalytic generation of the coreactant H₂O₂. Interestingly, the luminescence of luminol was simultaneously utilized as the light source to promote the conversation of O₂ to H₂O₂ with the assistance of the photocatalyst resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, which could further improve the luminescence of luminol in turn. In comparison with the traditional case, this new ECL model not only exhibited obvious signal amplification but also efficiently boosted its stability of signal output. To sum up, an exogenous coreactant-free, highly stable ECL platform was obtained via simply integrating the photocatalyst RF and the luminol-based system. This work will not only inspire the design of a new integrated ECL system with a coreactant translator but also provide an ingenious insight for the construction of a new generation of ECL models.

Biofuel Cell-Driven Robust Electrochemiluminescence Biosensing Platform

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is one powerful tool in the sensing field, in which the electrochemical workstation is necessary to achieve the electrical/optical signal conversion in the presence of luminescent agents. By contrast, biofuel cells (BFCs) can also provide electricity from renewable biofuels under moderate conditions. More importantly, BFCs with the features of adjustable voltage output and excellent compatibility would well meet the requirement of working voltages for different ECL devices. However, to the best of our knowledge, the BFC-driven luminous system has not been reported. In this work, we constructed, for the first time, a BFC-driven ECL system with fast and stable signal outputs. To demonstrate the proof-of-concept of the BFC-ECL system, the sensitive and selective detection of histidine was achieved, exhibiting great potential among point-of-care diagnoses in remote regions. Overall, this work not only paves a new way for the conversion of chemical energy, electrical energy, and luminous system but also explores the new application of BFC.

POS0817 A NOVEL MODEL TO ASSESS DISEASE ACTIVITY IN TAKAYASU ARTERITIS BASED ON 18F-FDG-PET/CT: A CHINESE COHORT STUDY

Background:

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a condition characterized by major large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), and is most commonly found in young women (age <40 years) of East Asia countries. 18F-FDG-PET/CT has been widely used in the diagnosis and follow-up of cancers to gather functional information based on metabolic activity. In the present study, we evaluated the value of different parameters in 18F-FDG-PET/CT for assessing active TA disease, and we establish a simple, quantifiable, and effective disease activity evaluation model based on 18F-FDG-PET/CT. A comparison in the ability to identify active disease was performed between the established Kerr score and the new 18F-FDG-PET/CT was also performed.

Objectives:

To investigate the utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in assessing disease activity in TA.

Methods:

Ninety-one patients with TA, were recruited from a Chinese cohort from October 2017 to January 2019. Clinical data, acute-phase reactants (APRs), and 18F-FDG-PET/CT findings were simultaneously recorded. The Physician Global Assessment was used as the gold standard to assess TA disease activity. The value of using 18F-FDG-PET/CT to identify active disease was evaluated, using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as a reference. Disease activity assessment models were constructed and concordance index (C-index), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination index (IDI) were evaluated to compare the benefits of the new modes with ESR and Kerr score.

Results:

In total, 64 (70.3%) cases showed active disease. Higher levels of ESR and CRP, and lower interleukin (IL)-2R levels, were observed in active cases. 18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters, including SUVmean, SUVratio1, SUVratio2, sum of SUVmean, and sum of SUVmax, were significantly higher in active disease groups. The C index threshold of ESR to indicate active disease was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.88). The new activity assessment model combining ESR, sum of SUVmean, and IL-2R showed significant improvement in C index over the ESR method (0.96 vs. 0.78, P < 0.01; NRI 1.63, P < 0.01; and IDI 0.48, P < 0.01). The new model also demonstrated modest superiority to Kerr score assessment (0.96 vs. 0.87, P = 0.03; NRI 1.19, P < 0.01; and IDI 0.33 P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

A novel 18F-FDG-PET/CT-based method that involves combining the sum of SUVmean with ESR score and IL-2R levels demonstrated superiority in identifying active TA compared to conventional methods.

References:

[1]Kerr GS, Hallahan CW, Giordano J, Leavitt RY, Fauci AS, Rottem M, et al. Takayasu arteritis. Ann Intern Med 1994;120:919-29.

[2]Hoffman GS, Ahmed AE. Surrogate markers of disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis. A preliminary report from The International Network for the Study of the Systemic Vasculitides (INSSYS). Int J Cardiol 1998;66 Suppl 1:S191-4; discussion S195.

[3]Misra R, Danda D, Rajappa SM, Ghosh A, Gupta R, Mahendranath KM, et al. Development and initial validation of the Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score (ITAS2010). Rheumatology (Oxford) 2013;52:1795-801.

[4]Bardi M, Diamantopoulos AP. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice summary. Radiol Med 2019;124:965-972.

[5]Spick C, Herrmann K, Czernin J. 18F-FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI Perform Equally Well in Cancer: Evidence from Studies on More Than 2,300 Patients. J Nucl Med 2016;57:420-30.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

[Research progress in the role and mechanism of polysaccharides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism]

Polysaccharides are a group of compounds composed of multiple monosaccharides of the same or different structures combined by glycosidic bonds, and are widely found in animals and plants and in the cell walls of microorganisms. Polysaccharides possess the advantages of high safety and low toxicity. Recent studies revealed that polysaccharides have a wide range of biological activities including immunoregulation, anti-tumor, antiviral, antioxidant activities, and blood glucose-and lipid- lowering effects. The effects of polysaccharides in improving insulin sensitivity and regulating glucose and lipid metabolism have drawn much attention from researchers. Many polysaccharides can reduce blood glucose and blood lipid by repairing pancreatic islet cells, improving insulin resistance, regulating intestinal flora, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and regulating the activities of key enzymes in glucose and lipid metabolism. This reviews examines the role and mechanism of polysaccharides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The mechanisms of polysaccharide in regulating glucose metabolism include repairing islet cells and increasing insulin content, increasing insulin sensitivity and improving insulin resistance, regulating the activity of key enzymes in glucose metabolism, increasing synthesis of liver glycogen, and regulating intestinal flora. Polysaccharides can also regulate glucose metabolism by improving immune regulation and antagonizing glucagon. Polysaccharide also regulate lipid metabolism by regulating lipid absorption, expression of the related genes such as PPAR-α, enzyme activities in lipid metabolism, improving antioxidant capacity, and modulating intestinal flora and signaling pathways.

Clinical utility of expanded non-invasive prenatal screening and chromosomal microarray analysis in high-risk pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of expanded non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), compared with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in high-risk pregnancies.

METHODS

This was a multicenter retrospective study of singleton pregnancies at high risk for chromosomal abnormality. Patients who underwent expanded NIPS and CMA sequentially during pregnancy from 2015 to 2019 were included in the analysis. Pregnancies with a positive result for sex chromosome aneuploidy were excluded as the full details could not be retrieved. The utility of expanded NIPS and CMA for detection of chromosomal abnormalities in this cohort was compared by assessing the concordance between the results.

RESULTS

Of the 774 included high-risk pregnancies, 550 (71.1%) had a positive NIPS result, while a positive CMA result was detected in 308 (39.8%) cases. The rate of full or partial concordance between NIPS and CMA was 82.2%, 59.6% and 25.0% for trisomies 21, 18 and 13, respectively. For rare aneuploidies and segmental imbalances, NIPS and CMA results were fully or partially concordant in 7.5% and 33.3% of cases, respectively. Copy-number variants < 5 Mb were detected more often by CMA, with an incidence of 7.9% (61/774) compared with 3.1% (24/774) by NIPS. A genetic aberration was detected by CMA in 1 in 17 (5.8%) high-risk pregnancies that had a negative or non-reportable NIPS result.

CONCLUSION

CMA allows for comprehensive detection of genome-wide chromosomal abnormalities in high-risk pregnancies. CMA should be offered instead of expanded NIPS for high-risk pregnancies. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Biohybrid Cells for Photoelectrochemical Conversion Based on the HCOO--CO2 Circulation Approach

Biohybrid photoelectrochemical systems could combine the light-harvesting ability of semiconductor photocatalysts and the CO₂-processing capability of biocatalysts to realize CO₂ reduction. How to develop the energy-utilized model can be of importance for the mechanism exploration of photosynthesis. Here, a biohybrid photoelectrochemical system based on HCOO^--CO₂ circulation was developed to realize the conversion both of solar-to-electric energy and chemical-to-electric energy. The device consists of a TiO₂ nanoparticle photoanode and a laser-scribed graphene/formate dehydrogenase biocathode, which was utilized for the formic acid oxidation and the biocatalysis reduction of CO₂ to HCOO^-, respectively. The as-proposed biohybrid photoelectrochemical system exhibits good performance with an open-circuit potential of 0.93 V and a maximum power output density of 76 μW cm^-2. This ingenious strategy not only exploits a robust carbon circulation system for the conversion of solar energy but also provides a way of constructing complex artificial photosynthesis systems.

Dietary supplementation with Bacillus mixture modifies the intestinal ecosystem of weaned piglets in an overall beneficial way

AIMS

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with a mixture of Bacillus, which serves as an alternative of antibiotics on the intestinal ecosystem of weaned piglets.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We randomly assigned 120 piglets to three groups: a control group (a basal diet), a probiotics group (a basal diet supplemented with 4 × 10⁹  CFU per gram Bacillus licheniformis-Bacillus subtilis mixture; BLS mix), and an antibiotics group (a basal diet supplemented with 0·04 kg t^-1 virginiamycin, 0·2 kg t^-1 colistin and 3000 mg kg^-1 zinc oxide). All groups had five replicates with eight piglets per replicate. On days 7, 21 and 42 of the trial, intestine tissue and digesta samples were collected to determine intestinal morphology, gut microbiota and bacterial metabolite composition, and the expression of genes related to the gut barrier function and inflammatory status. The results showed that the BLS mix decreased the jejunum crypt depth, while increased the ileum villus height and the jejunum and ileum villus height to crypt depth ratio. The BLS mix increased Simpson's diversity index in the gut microbiota and the relative abundances of o_Bacteroidetes and f_Ruminococcaceae, but decreased the relative abundances of Blautia and Clostridium. Dietary BLS mix supplementation also modified the concentration of several bacterial metabolites compared to the control group. In addition, BLS mix upregulated the expression level of E-cadherin in the colon and pro-inflammatory cytokines and TLR-4 in ileum and colon. Lastly, Spearman's rank-order correlation revealed a potential link between alterations in gut microbiota and health parameters of the weaned piglets.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that dietary BLS mix supplementation modifies the gut ecosystem in weaned piglets. The potential advantages of such modifications in terms of intestinal health are discussed.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Weaning is the most important transition period of piglet growth and development. This study showed that dietary supplementation of a probiotic mixture of Bacillus, an effective alternative of antibiotics, was beneficial in improving the intestinal ecosystem of weaned piglets.

Dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 alters the intestinal microbiota and metabolites in weaned piglets

AIM

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis (BS) DSM 32315 on the intestinal microbiota composition and metabolites of weaned pigs.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty-four piglets were allocated to two groups (control and BS), each group including eight replicates with four piglets. Dietary BS DSM 32315 increased (P < 0·05) the abundances of jejunal Leucobacter and Cupriavidus, ileal Thermus, Coprococcus and Bifidobacterium, as well as colonic Succiniclasticum; and increased the concentrations of ileal straight-chain fatty acids, colonic propionate, branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), and tyramine, but decreased (P < .05) the colonic indole concentration. The ileal and colonic microbial community structure tended to cluster into two groups. LEfSe analysis identified five microbial biomarkers in jejunum and eight biomarkers in ileum in the BS group, and three biomarkers in colon in the control group. The ileal Bifidobacterium abundance was positively correlated (P < 0·05) with isovalerate concentration, while the colonic Actinobacteria and Lactobacillus abundances were negatively correlated (P < 0·05) with indole concentration.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with BS DSM 32315 could alter the diversity, composition, and metabolites of intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Weaned piglets are often accompanied with impaired gastrointestinal tract and intestinal disorder affecting their growth. This study demonstrated that dietary BS DSM 32315 presented a beneficial role in gut health via regulating intestinal microbiota composition and metabolites.