Lactation time influences the composition of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus at species level in human breast milk

Human breast milk is a source of microorganisms for infants that play an important role in building infant gut health and immunity. The bacterial composition in human breast milk is influenced by lactation time. This study aimed to investigate the influence of lactation time on bacteria in breast milk at the genus level and the species levels of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus on days 2-4, 8, 14, and 30. Eighteen individuals were recruited and 60 milk samples were collected. The 16S rRNA gene, and the bifidobacterial groEL and lactobacilli groEL genes were used for amplicon sequencing. The results revealed that the alpha diversities of colostrum and transition 1 (day 8) milk were lower than that of transition 2 (day 14) and mature milk. PCoA analysis showed that bacterial composition in colostrum and transition 1 milk differed from transition 2 and mature milk. A lower relative abundance of Blautia was found in colostrum and transition 1 milk compared with mature milk and lower abundances of Ruminococcus, Dorea, and Escherichia-Shigella were found in transition 1 compared with mature milk. Bifidobacterium ruminantium, Limosilactobacillus mucosae, and Ligilactobacillus ruminis were the predominant species across all four lactation stages, while Bifidobacterium bifidum was lower in transition 1, and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum were higher in transition 1 milk. This study indicated that the bacterial composition in colostrum was more similar to that of transition 1 milk, whereas the bacterial community in transition 2 milk was similar to that of mature milk which suggests that bacterial composition in human breast milk shows stage-specific signatures even within a short period at both genus level and Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species levels, providing insights into probiotic supplementation for the nursing mother.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Hybrid surgery for coexistence of cerebral arteriovenous malformation and primitive trigeminal artery: A case report and literature review

The primitive trigeminal artery (PTA), an abnormal carotid-basilar anastomosis, forms the vascular anomaly connection between the internal carotid artery and vertebrobasilar system. Rarely, PTA can be complicated by several other cerebrovascular disease, including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), intracranial aneurysms, moyamoya disease, and carotid-cavernous malformations. Herein, we reported a rare case of PTA combined with an AVM in a male patient. The patient was a 28-year-old male with epileptic seizures at the onset of symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal signal foci and localized softening foci formation with gliosis in the right parietal temporal lobe. Furthermore, using a digital subtraction angiogram (DSA), it was found that an abnormal carotid-basilar anastomosis had developed through a PTA originating from the cavernous portion of the right internal carotid artery (ICA) and a large AVM on the surface of the right carotid artery. The lesion of AVM tightly developed and draining into superior sagittal sinus. A hybrid operating room was used for the surgery. The main feeding arteries of the AVM originating from three major arteries, including the right middle cerebral artery, the right anterior cerebral artery, and the right posterior cerebral artery, were clipped and subsequently, then the AVM was thoroughly removed. The intraoperative DSA showed that the AVM had been resected completely. Postoperative pathological examination of the resected specimen indicated the presence of an AVM. The patient recovered well after surgery and has been symptom-free for more than 3 months. In summary, the pathogenesis of the coexistence of PTA and AVM remains unknown. As highlighted in this case report, hybrid surgery can be used to remove AVMs and can improve the patients' prognosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first case in the literature of successful AVM treatment using hybrid surgery.

O083 A proof of principle study of cell targeted delivery of sirna guided by innate repair receptor epor/βcr highly expressed by injured tubular epithelial cells in porcine kidneys subjected to extended cold ischaemia times

Introduction

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been used in biological models for disease modification. Whilst challenges remain with targeted cell delivery, caspase-3, an executing enzyme of apoptosis and inflammation, plays a crucial role in acute kidney injury. Using caspase-3 siRNA or erythropoietin derived peptide CHBP, we have demonstrated renoprotection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in isolated kidney preservation, and further applied the conjugate of both.

Methods

Porcine kidneys (n = 3) subjected to 10 minutes of warm ischemia were retrieved and perfused with 500 mL hyperosmolar citrate. In comparison with the control (Kidney 1) caspase-3 siRNAHBSP (Kidney 2) or CHBP (Kidney 3) conjugate was administered into the kidney and autologous blood and stored for 22 hours in ice. Organs were then preserved by normothermic perfusion (NP) for 3 hours using clinical-grade cardiopulmonary bypass. Functional parameters were recorded, and kidney biopsies were taken at time zero (pre-perfusion) and hourly intervals following NP.

Results

Preliminary findings showed increased arterial flow rate and urine output together with neutralised perfusate pH in the kidneys (2 and 3) receiving both conjugates compared to the control.

Conclusion

Improved physiological outcomes in kidneys subjected to the novel agent treatment suggest protective effects against ischaemia. We hypothesise outcomes should be transferrable to human kidneys, which may facilitate the use of marginal kidneys following prolonged ischaemia, otherwise deemed unsuitable for transplantation. Renal histological and molecular studies of the effect of the agent are underway.

Take-home message

Despite a small sample, this pilot proof of principle study suggests that caspase-3 inhibitors may have a role in limiting the detrimental effects of ischaemia on renal tissues subjected to prolonged cold ischaemic times. It is hoped that this may be beneficial if replicated in the human kidney model at increasing the deceased donor organ pool by enabling use of marginal kidneys subjected to prolonged ischaemic times.

NOMOGRAM COMBINING PREOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH CLINICAL FEATURES FOR PREDICTING LYMPH NODES POSTERIOR TO THE RIGHT RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE METASTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER

Aim

To establish a nomogram combining preoperative ultrasonic and clinical features for predicting lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients.

Methods

Preoperative ultrasonic and clinical variables of patients with PTC from 2014 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors associated with LN-prRLN metastasis were identified and validated through a developed nomogram model based on univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 615 patients (690 lesions) were enrolled for the training dataset and 207 patients (226 lesions) for the validation dataset with 54 (6.57%) patients developing LN-prRLN metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the preoperative ultrasound measurement of larger tumors (≥20 mm), higher TI-RADS category (category 5), and higher thyroglobulin level (9.86 ng/mL) in patients with PTC were predictive factors for LN-prRLN metastasis. The nomogram model was established and verified yielding a relatively good predictive performance in the training and validation dataset (AUC: 0.868 vs. 0.851).

Conclusions

The nomogram combining preoperative ultrasonography with clinical features in this study is highly predictive of LN-prRLN metastasis in patients with PTC, which may provide more personalized recommendations for clinicians in preoperative decision-making for complete dissection of LN-prRLN.

A new direct compression mechanism of structural transition in Poria cocos extract composite particles

The structural transition to generate amorphous translucent grains in Poria cocos dry extract (PCE) composite particles was found and studied as a new direct compression mechanism. The pressure and displacement sensing techniques were used to obtained stress-strain profiles during compression. The Exponential function, Kawakita model, Shapiro model and Heckel model were used to analysis mechanical properties of powders. 12 parameters derived from compression models and powder physical properties were applied to partial least squares method (PLS) for analyzing powder compression mechanism. It was found that only the oven-dried PCE composite particles undergoes the structural transition and generate translucent grains scattered and embedded in tablet, and these tablets have excellent mechanical stability. The structural transition in plant dry extract as the PCE composite particles could be exploited to improve powder compression and tabletability.

Intraoperative Findings of Inferior Petrosal Vein During Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm: A Single-Surgeon Experience

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the inferior petrosal veins (IPVs) on operational exploration and to analyze related anatomic features.

Methods

A total of 317 patients were retrospectively studied. Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were analyzed, and patients were divided into two groups according to whether the IPV was sacrificed or preserved. The diameter of the IPV was also recorded during operation. Furthermore, the position where the IPV drained into the jugular bulb was recorded in each patient, and the influence of different injection points on the operation was analyzed.

Results

IPVs were conclusively identified in 242/317 (76.3%) of patients, with 110/242 (45.5%) of patients categorized as “IPV sacrifice” versus 132/242 (54.5%) categorized as “IPV preservation.” IPV diameter was observed to be <0.5 mm in 58 cases (23.9%), 0.5 mm–1.0 mm (≥0.5 mm and ≤1.0 mm) in 145 cases (59.9%), and >1 mm in 39 cases (16.2%). The position of IPV drainage into the jugular bulb was at the level of the accessory nerve in 163 cases (67.3%), the level of the vagus nerve in 42 cases (17.4%), and the level of the glossopharyngeal nerve or above in 37 cases (15.3%). The diameters of IPV in the sacrifice group were mainly less than 1 mm (94.5% vs. 75%, P < 0.01), and the cases with draining points near the glossopharyngeal nerve were more than that in the preservation group (27.3% vs. 5.3%, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

IPV is an obstructive structure in MVD for HFS, with considerable variations in diameters and draining points. IPV near the glossopharyngeal nerve significantly impacts surgical exposure and is often sacrificed for a better view of the operation field. Meanwhile, it is feasible to maintain IPVs with a diameter >1 mm.

POS0479 STAT3 DEGRADERS PROTECT FROM IMMUNOFIBROTIC CHANGES IN PRECLINICAL MODELS

Background

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the endogenous intracellular mechanism for maintaining protein homeostasis through protein degradation and turnover. Heterobifunctional small molecules are a new class of compounds that form a ternary complex with an E3 ligase and protein of interest leading to ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of the protein of interest in a process known as Targeted Protein Degradation. This new therapeutic modality enables targeting of “undruggable” proteins such as STAT3, a transcription factor activated in immunofibrotic diseases.

Objectives

Kymera has developed heterobifunctional molecules that potently and selectively target STAT3 for degradation and elimination by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The aim of these studies was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of pharmacologically removing STAT3 by targeted protein degradation in various human cell types in vitro, and to prevent the development of skin and lung fibrosis in vivo.

Methods

Dermal fibroblasts obtained from healthy and systemic sclerosis patients activated with TGF-β were analyzed for development of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive stress fibers and for contractility using collagen gel contraction assay. Contraction assay was also performed using human dermal smooth muscle cells. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were activated with LPS, and their adhesive properties were assessed in the microcapillary system by the ability to bind peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) under shear stress. HAECs proliferation was induced with VEGF. THP-1 cells and CD14+ monocytes were activated with IL-6 or LPS, and secreted cytokines were assessed by CBA. PBMCs activated with LPS, IL-6, IL-21, or IL-23 alone (pSTAT3 induction), or with a combination of anti-CD3/CD38 beads and a pro-Th17 cocktail comprised of cytokines and antibodies to evaluate the development of a Th17 and Treg phenotype by flow cytometry. Cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. All cell types were pre-treated with STAT3 degraders 20h prior to experiment start. Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin was used to induce pulmonary fibrosis. Transgenic Tsk-1 mice were used as a model of spontaneous skin fibrosis.

Results

STAT3 degraders completely ablated STAT3 in all analyzed cell types with DC50 ranging from 0.25-0.8 nM. STAT3 degradation prevented TGF-β-induced formation of α-SMA-positive stress fibers in dermal fibroblasts (IC50 = 0.35nM) and 2 and 10nM degrader completely abrogated their contractility. Similarly, STAT3 degradation reduced the constitutive contractility of dermal smooth muscle cells of 13% (p<0.05, n=6). Treatment of HAECs with STAT3 degraders resulted in anti-adhesive 178±21 for LPS and 93±12 for LPS +degrader, p<0.05, n=6) and anti-proliferative 1.2±0.1 for VEGF and 0.95±0.1 for VEGF +degrader, p<0.05, n=10-11) effects. In monocyte-focused assays (CD14+ monocytes and THP-1 cells), STAT3 degradation potently and dose-dependently inhibited IL-6 and LPS-induced pSTAT3 levels and the ensuing release of MCP-1/CCL2 (24.3±3.7 for LPS and 20.2±3.2 for LPS +degrader, p<0.05, n=6). In CD4+ T lymphocytes, STAT3 degradation promoted a Treg phenotype and suppressed the development of Th17 cells. Systemic treatment in vivo showed that prophylactic STAT3 degradation (7 mg/kg twice a week, i.p.) reduced disease severity in the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model (Ashcroft‘s score, 4.7±1.9 vs. 3.1±1.6, p<0.05, n=11). In Tsk-1 mice that show co-occurrence of spontaneous skin thickening and robust STAT3 activation, STAT3 degrader treatment (2 or 7 mg/kg twice a week, i.p.) for 7 weeks significantly reduced thickness of the skin (701±238 vs. 480±205 vs. 365±107, p<0.05, n=6-8).

Conclusion

STAT3 degraders that selectively and potently eliminate STAT3 show robust anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic potential in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that targeted protein degradation is a promising approach to modulate the STAT3 pathway, making it a novel therapeutic opportunity to treating multiple immunofibrotic diseases.

Disclosure of Interests

Przemyslaw Blyszczuk Grant/research support from: Kymera, Gabriela Kania: None declared, Elena Pachera: None declared, Filip Rolski: None declared, Amela Hukara: None declared, Vanessa Tela: None declared, Michele Mayo Employee of: Kymera, Vaishali Dixit Employee of: Kymera, Bin Yang Employee of: Kymera, Jared Gollob Employee of: Kymera, Nello Mainolfi Employee of: Kymera, Anthony Slavin Employee of: Kymera, Cedric Hubeau Employee of: Kymera, Oliver Distler Speakers bureau: Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Medscape, Consultant of: Abbvie, Acceleron, Alcimed, Amgen, AnaMar, Arxx, AstraZeneca, Baecon, Blade, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, CSL Behring, 4P Science, Galapagos, Glenmark, Horizon, Inventiva, Kymera, Lupin, Miltenyi Biotec, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Novartis, Prometheus, Roivant, Sanofi and Topadur, Grant/research support from: Kymera, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Boehringer Ingelheim.

OP0080 STAT3 DEGRADERS INHIBIT Th17 DEVELOPMENT AND CYTOKINE PRODUCTION RESULTING IN PROFOUND INHIBITION OF COLLAGEN-INDUCED AUTOIMMUNE MURINE ARTHRITIS

Background

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that belongs to a class of targets devoid of catalytic function, thus deemed “undruggable” by standard modalities such as small molecule inhibitors or biologics. STAT3 can be activated by various receptor- and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, playing a critical role in activation pathways triggered by cytokines, hormones, and growth factors, making it an attractive target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Objectives

Kymera has developed heterobifunctional molecules that selectively target STAT3 for degradation and elimination by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. We sought to evaluate the pharmacologic potential of these STAT3 degraders through in vitro and in vivo studies relevant to human autoimmune disease, including murine collagen-induced arthritis.

Methods

We evaluated the impact of STAT3 degraders on the activation of human monocytes, dermal fibroblasts, CD4+ T cells, and PBMC by LPS, IL-6/IL-6R, IL-21, IL-23, as well as anti-CD3/CD28 plus a cocktail of cytokines and antibodies. STAT3 degradation and pSTAT3 inhibition were determined in comparison to a JAK1/2 small molecule inhibitor. Inhibition of cytokines, chemokines, and collagen release, as well as Th17 (CD4+CD25-RORγt+CXCR6+) and Treg (CD4+CD25+CD127lowFOXP3+) expansion were used as in vitro efficacy assays. Finally, STAT3 degraders were tested in vivo, in a mechanistic (IL-6 challenge) as well as a disease model (murine CIA) relevant to rheumatology indications.

Results

STAT3 degraders showed broad and potent activity in-vitro against TLR receptor and cytokine-induced activation of immune and stromal cells, including soluble mediator release such as MCP-1/CCL2 and Collagen1a1. STAT3 degradation in CD4+ T cells robustly inhibited the development of Th17 cells, abrogating IL-17, IL-22, IL-8/CXCL8, and TNFα production, and increased Treg numbers in a manner superior to JAK1/2 inhibition. In mice injected with IL-6, plasma levels of serum amyloid A were dose-dependently suppressed by STAT3 degradation. In the murine collagen-induced arthritis model, STAT3 degradation resulted in robust, dose-dependent delay of disease onset and decreased disease incidence, clinical scores, local cytokine expression (paws) and histopathological scores, including the complete alleviation of periosteal bone growth.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate the broad activity of STAT3 degradation in alleviating autoimmune inflammation in models relevant to human disease. Targeted protein degradation of STAT3 thus represents a novel therapeutic approach to treating autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Disclosure of Interests

Cedric Hubeau Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Jeffrey Sullivan Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Crystal Brown Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Michele Mayo Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Vaishali Dixit Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Bradley Enerson Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Haojing Rong Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Bin Yang Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Chris De Savi Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Jared Gollob Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Nello Mainolfi Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics, Anthony Slavin Shareholder of: Kymera Therapeutics, Employee of: Kymera Therapeutics.

Effects of residual feed intake divergence on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters in small-sized meat ducks

Feed efficiency (FE) is a major economic trait of meat duck. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of residual feed intake (RFI) divergence on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters in small-sized meat ducks. A total of 500 healthy 21-day-old male ducks were housed in individual cages until slaughter at 63 d of age. The growth performance was determined for all the ducks. The carcass yield, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters were determined for the selected 30 high-RFI (HRFI) and 30 low-RFI (LRFI) ducks. In terms of growth performance, the RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were found to be significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.01), whereas no differences were observed in the BW and body weight gain (P > 0.05). For slaughter performance, no differences were observed in the carcass traits between the LRFI and HRFI groups (P > 0.05). For meat quality, the shear force of breast muscle was significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.05), while the other meat quality traits of breast and thigh muscles demonstrated no differences (P > 0.05). For blood biochemical parameters, the serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG) and glucose (GLU) were significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.05), while the other parameters showed no differences (P > 0.05). The correlation analysis demonstrated a high positive correlation between RFI, FCR, and ADFI (P < 0.01). The RFI demonstrated a negative effect on the breast muscle and lean meat yields, but a positive effect on the shear force of breast muscle (P < 0.05). Further, the RFI demonstrated a positive effect on the TG and GLU levels (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the selection for low RFI could improve the FE of small-sized meat ducks without affecting the production performance. This study provides valuable insight into the biological processes underlying the variations in FE in small-sized meat ducks.

[Comparison on the clinical characteristics of patients with Takotsubo syndrome from China and from Europe/North America]

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) from China and compare these features with patients from Europe/North America. Methods: We reviewed case reports published between 1990 and 2020 with the key words of "Takotsubo syndrome" "stress cardiomyopathy" "apical balloon syndrome" and "broken heart syndrome", in Wanfang, CNKI, Pubmed and Web of Science databases, and 1 294 articles were identified, including 128 articles reporting 163 cases in China and 1 166 articles reporting 1 256 cases in Europe/North America. The characteristics of demographics, triggers, symptoms, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, left ventriculogram,coronary angiography, treatment and prognosis were analyzed and compared between Chinese and European/North American cases. Results: A total of 1 294 articles (1 419 cases: 163 from China, 1 256 from Europe/North America) were included in the final analysis. The characteristics of Chinese cases included: (1) demographic:the age was (59.6±16.9) years, which was similar with that of European/North American ((59.7±17.4) years, P=0.90), and female accounting for 78.5% (128/163), which was lower than that of European/North American (85.4% (1 073/1 256), P=0.02). (2) Triggers:mental triggers accounted for 48.5% (79/163), physical triggers accounted for 43.6% (71/163), and no triggers accounted for 7.9% (13/163), respectively. Compared with Europe/North America, the ratio of patients with mental triggers was higher in China, while the ratio of patients with physical triggers and no triggers was lower (P<0.05). (3) Symptoms: chest pain (52.8% (86/163)), chest tightness (35.0% (57/163)), shortness of breath (33.1% (54/163)), dizziness (16.0% (26/163)), sweating (15.3% (25/163)), palpitations (12.3% (20/163)), syncope (9.2% (15/163)) abdominal pain/diarrhea (8.6% (14/163)), hypotension (7.4% (12/163)), and fatigue (1.2% (2/163)) were illustrated in sequence. Compared with patients in Europe/North America, the ratio of patients with chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, abdominal pain/diarrhea was higher in Chinese patients, while the ratio of patients with hypotension was lower in Chinese patients (P<0.05). (4) Electrocardiogram: main manifestations were myocardial ischemia symptoms, such as ST-segment elevation (63.8% (104/163)), T wave inversion (46.0% (75/163)), ST-segment depression (8.6% (14/163)). Compared with European/North American, the ratio of patients with ST-segment elevation, T wave inversion, and atrioventricular block was higher in Chinese patients (P<0.05). (5) Echocardiography and imaging:apical dyskinesia (59.5% (97/163)) and apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation (36.2%(59/163)) dominated the echocardiography findings. Compared with European/North American, the ratio of patients with apical dyskinesia, apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation, and mitral regurgitation was higher in Chinese patients, while the ratio of patients with dyskinesia in other parts and left ventricular ejection fraction<50% was lower in Chinese patients (P<0.05). Left ventricular angiography showed 36.2% (59/163) of apical dyskinesia in Chinese patients, which was higher than that reported in European/North American patients, and 38.7% (63/163) of apical/left ventricular bulbar dilation was reported in Chinese patients, which was similar to that reported in European/North American patients. Coronary angiography showed percent of no stenosis or stenosis less than 50% was 87.1% (142/163), which was similar to that reported in European/North American patients (P>0.05). The typical type of TTS accounted for 96.3% (157/163), which was significantly higher than that reported in European/ American patients, while the ratio of basal type and midventricular type was lower (P<0.01). (6) Treatment and prognosis:the applied drugs in China were listed in order as following, β-blockers (41.1% (67/163)), antiplatelet agents (37.4%(61/163)), ACEI/ARB (36.2%(59/163)), anticoagulants (27.0%(44/163)), diuretics (19.6% (32/163)), etc. Compared with Europe/North America, the ratio of antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, statins, diuretics, and nitrates use was higher in China (P<0.05), while the use of oxygen therapy and IABP was similar (P>0.05). The hospital mortality in China was 5.5% (9/163), during 1-year follow-up the recurrence rate was 3.7% (6/163) and the mortality was 0. The prognosis was similar with that in Europe/North America. Conclusions: Compared with TTS cases in Europe/North America, TTS cases in China also occur usually in middle-aged and elderly women, most of whom have mental/physical triggers and typical imaging manifestations, followed by a low hospital mortality rate and recurrence rate.

A Topical Emollient Mitigates the Progression of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: A Randomized, Open-Label Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is common in the elderly. Prior studies suggest a link between chronic inflammation and cognitive dysfunction, while aging-associated epidermal dysfunction has been connected to elevations in circulating cytokines.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed here whether improvements in epidermal function can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment.

METHODS

This randomized, open-label pilot trial was carried out in two cities in northern China. A total of 200 participants aged ≥65 years were randomly assigned to the emollient-treated and untreated groups at 1:1 ratio. Participants in the treated group were treated topically with Atopalm cream® twice-daily from November to the following May each year for three consecutive years, while the untreated subjects served as controls. The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was used to assess the severity of cognitive impairment, while epidermal biophysical properties were measured on the forearms and the shins in parallel.

RESULTS

Over the three-year trial, GDS significantly increased from baseline (p<0.0001) in the controls, while in the treated group, GDS stabilized. While stratum corneum hydration on the forearms did not change significantly in the controls, transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL), significantly increased by the end of the trial compared to baselines in the controls (p<0.0001). On the forearms of the treated group, stratum corneum hydration increased (p<0.0001) while skin surface pH decreased from baseline (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollient can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment. However, the sample size was relatively small, and trials in a larger cohort are needed to validate the present results.

[The effect of HOXC10 gene on biological behaviors of glioma cells and mechanism in tumor microenvironment]

Objective: To study the effects of Homeobox C10 (HOXC10) on biological characteristics such as migration, invasion and proliferation of glioma cancer cells and to explore the role of HOXC10 gene in glioma microenvironment. Methods: The expression level of HOXC10 in high grade glioma (glioblastoma) and low grade glioma and its effect on patient survival were analyzed by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database. Hoxc10-siRNA-1, HOXC10-siRNA-2 and siRNA negative control (NC) were transfected into U251 cells according to the operation instructions of HOXC10-siRNA transfection. 100 ng/ mL recombinant protein chemokine ligand 2 (reCCL2) was added into the transfection group, and was labeled as HOXC10-siRNA-1+ reCCL2 and HOXC10-siRNA-2+ reCCL2 groups. The expressions of HOXC10 mRNA and target protein in each group was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The proliferation ability of cells in each group was detected by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) method. The migration ability of cells was detected by Transwell assay and Nick assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of chemokines in each group was detected by multiple factors. Co-incubation assays were performed to determine the role of HOXC10 and chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in recruiting and polarizing tumor-associated macrophages (M2-type macrophages). Results: The median expression level of HOXC10 in high grade gliomas was 8.51, higher than 1.00 in low grade gliomas (P<0.001) in TCGA database. The median expression level of HOXC10 in high grade gliomas was 0.83, higher than 0.00 in low grade gliomas (P=0.002) in CGGA database. The 5-year survival rate of patients with high HOXC10 expression in TCGA database was 28.2%, lower than 78.7% of those with low HOXC10 expression (P<0.001), and the 5-year survival rate of patients with high HOXC10 expression in CGGA database was 20.3%, lower than 58.0% of those with low HOXC10 expression (P<0.001). The numbers of cell migration in HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2 group were (45±3) and (69±4) respectively, lower than (159±3) in NC group (P<0.05). The cell mobility of HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2 group at 48 hours were (15±2)% and (28±4)% respectively, lower than (80±5)% of NC group (P<0.05). The expressions of vimentin in HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2 group were (141 740.00±34 024.56) and (94 655.00±5 687.97), N-cadherin were (76 810.00±14.14) and (94 254.00±701.45), β-catenin were (75 786.50±789.84) and (107 296.50±9 614.53), lower than (233 768.50±34 114.37), (237 154.50±24 715.50) and (192 449.50±24 178.10) of NC group (P<0.05). The A value of HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2 group were (0.44±0.05) and (0.32±0.02) at 96 hours, lower than 0.92±0.12 of NC group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10 siRNA-2 group were (10.23±1.24)% and (13.81±2.16)%, higher than (4.60±0.07)% of NC group (P<0.05). The expression levels of CCL2 in U251 cells in HOXC10-siRNA-1 and HOXC10-siRNA-2 groups were (271.63±44.27) and (371.66±50.21), lower than (933.93±29.84) in NC group (P<0.05). The expression levels of CCL5 (234.81±5.95 and 232.62±5.72), CXCL10 (544.13±48.14 and 500.87±15.65) and CXCL11 (215.75±15.30 and 176.18±16.49) in HOXC10-siRNA-1 and HOXC10-siRNA-2 groups were higher than those in NC group (9.98±0.71, 470.54±18.84 and 13.55±0.73, respectively, P<0.05). The recruited numbers of CD14(+) THP1 in HOXC10-siRNA-1 and HOXC10-siRNA-2 groups were (159.33±1.15) and (170.67±1.15), respectively, lower than (360.00±7.81) in NC group (P<0.05), while addition of reCCL2 promoted the recruitment of CD14(+) THP1 cells (287.00±3.61 and 280.67±2.31 in HOXC10-siRNA-1+ reCCL2 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2+ reCCL2 group, respectively, P<0.05). The expressions level of M2-type macrophage-related gene TGF-β in HOXC10-siRNA-1 group and HOXC10-siRNA-2 group were (0.30±0.02) and (0.28±0.02), respectively, lower than (1.06±0.10) in NC group (P<0.05). The expressions level of M1-related gene NOS2 in HOXC10-siRNA-1 and HOXC10-siRNA-2 were (11 413.95±1 911.85) and (5 894.00±945.21), respectively, higher than (13.39±4.32) in NC group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The expression of HOXC10 in glioma is high and positively correlated with the poor prognosis of glioma patients. Knockdown of HOXC10 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and metastasis of human glioma U251 cells. HOXC10 may play an immunosuppressive role in glioma microenvironment by promoting the expression of CCL2 and recruiting and polarizing tumor-associated macrophages (M2 macrophages).

Establishment of prediction models for COVID-19 patients in different age groups based on Random Forest algorithm

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a global pandemic. Age is an independent factor in death from the disease, and predictive models to stratify patients according to their mortality risk are needed.

AIM

To compare the laboratory parameters of the younger (≤70) and the elderly (>70) groups, and develop death prediction models for the two groups according to age stratification.

DESIGN

A retrospective, single-center observational study.

METHODS

This study included 437 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, 2020. Epidemiological information, laboratory data and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between elderly patients and younger patients. First, recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to select the optimal subset. Then, two random forest (RF) algorithms models were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients and identify the optimal diagnostic predictors for patients' clinical prognoses.

RESULTS

Comparisons of the laboratory data of the two age groups revealed many different laboratory indicators. RFE was used to select the optimal subset for analysis, from which 11 variables were screened out for the two groups. The RF algorithm were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients based on the best subset, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) of the two groups is 0.874 (95% CI: 0.833-0.915) and 0.842 (95% CI: 0.765-0.920).

CONCLUSION

Two prediction models for COVID-19 were developed in the patients with COVID-19 based on random forest algorithm, which provides a simple tool for the early prediction of COVID-19 mortality.

Huaier Polysaccharide Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Cardiotoxicity by Regulating Ferroptosis

We studied the effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) in doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in mice. The content of HP in Trametes robiniophila Murr medicinal fungus determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method was 85.25%. In the in vitro model, the viability of H9c2 cells was significantly increased after HP treatment compared to the control, while doxorubicin (DOX) decreased this parameter. The inhibitory effect of DOX on cell viability was attenuated after HP treatment. In the in vivo model, the body weight of mice in DOX and DOX+HP groups was significantly decreased compared to the control group. ECG showed significantly elevated ST segment in the DOX group, while in the DOX+HP group, ECG was close to normal. The levels of cardiotoxicity markers cTnI and lactate dehydrogenase in the DOX+HP group were significantly lower than in the DOX group. In the DOX group, the myocardial tissue had obvious structural disorder and interfibrillar vacuoles. In the DOX+HP group, the cardiomyocytes were neatly arranged without interfibrillar vacuoles. The expression of the ferroptosis marker glutathione peroxidase 4 was increased in the DOX+HP group compared to the DOX group. Thus, our study reveals that HP attenuated DOX-induced myocardial injury in mice probably by regulating ferroptosis.

An application research for near-surface repository of strontium-90 sorption kinetic model on mudrocks

In this study,90Sr was used as the test radionuclide to characterize the sorption kinetics and effects of initial 90Sr activity and remaining 90Sr in solid concentration were simulated for a near-surface repository. The study focused on the sorption characteristics of radionuclides in unsaturated groundwater environment (or vadose zone) is the important information for investigating the near-surface disposal of intermediate and low-level radioactive waste (ILLW). Moreover, the 90Sr sorption experiments reached equilibrium within 56 h, which fit to the first order sorption kinetic model, and the remaining 90Sr in mudrock samples showed obvious sorption equilibrium hysteresis, which fit to the second order sorption kinetic model. Before reaching the maximum sorption capacity, the sorption rate constant increases with 90Sr increasing; the distribution coefficient (Kd) of 56 h decreases with the remaining 90Sr decreasing. In addition, it showed that the slow sorption process dominated before the sorption reaches equilibrium. In fact, a reliable safety assessment methodology for on-going near-surface repository required a lot of the radionuclides parameters with local environment including the radionuclides sorption/desorption rate constant and maximum sorption capacity.

Magnonic Unidirectional Spin Hall Magnetoresistance in a Heavy-Metal-Ferromagnetic-Insulator Bilayer

We report the observation of the unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance (USMR), which depends on the current or magnetization direction, in heavy-metal-ferromagnetic-insulator bilayer, Pt-Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12} (YIG). This USMR is apparently not caused by the mechanisms established in metallic bilayer, in which the ferromagnetic layer is required to be electrically conductive. From the magnetic field, current, temperature, and YIG thickness dependent measurements, the USMR is attributed to the asymmetric magnon creation and annihilation induced by the spin-orbit torque. This asymmetry and the resultant USMR are further revealed by the micromagnetic simulations combined with the spin-orbit torque and the spin drift-diffusion model. Our finding exhibits a nonlinear manipulation of magnons with the charge current.

[Value of IgA antiphospholipid antibodies in diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome]

Objective: To examine the prevalence of multiple antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) subtypes in healthy people and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients, and to assess the value of IgA-aPL in the diagnosis of APS. Methods: According to the 2006 Sydney International APS Classification Criteria, a total of 218 APS patients who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital or West China Hospital of Sichuan University from July to December 2019 were enrolled. Among them, 66 were males, and 152 were females, aged (44.5±15.4) years, including 148 primary APS patients and 70 secondary APS patients. Age-and gender-matched controls were collected at the same period at the ratio of 1∶1 with the APS cases. IgA/IgG/IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti-β₂ glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ₂GPI) were detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The differences of indicators between groups were analyzed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of IgA-aPL for APS. Results: The positivity of IgA-aCL and IgA-aβ₂GPI was 20.6% and 15.6% in the APS patients, while in the IgG/IgM-aCL or IgG/IgM-aβ₂GPI negative individuals, the isolated positivity of IgA-aCL and IgA-aβ₂GPI was only 2.3% and 0.9%, respectively. Accordingly, IgA-aCL and IgA-aβ₂GPI isolated positivity could be used to diagnose APS (P=0.216, 1, respectively). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of IgG/IgM-aCL for APS diagnosis was 0.833, which was significantly better than that of IgG-aCL alone (AUC=0.776, P<0.001); while the AUC of IgA/IgG/IgM-aCL was 0.833, which could not further increase the diagnostic value for APS (P=0.287). As for aβ₂GPI, the diagnostic efficacy of combined IgG/IgM (AUC=0.875) or IgA/IgG/IgM (AUC=0.875) antibodies was not superior to IgG-aβ₂GPI used alone (AUC=0.869, both P>0.05). Besides, patients with IgA-aPL were more likely to have heart valve lesions and thrombocytopenia (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the existing serological markers, such as lupus anticoagulant, IgG/IgM subtype of aCL and aβ₂GPI, testing IgA-aCL and IgA-aβ₂GPI cannot further improve the predictive value of APS. However, IgA-aPL is associated with clinical manifestations of APS, including heart valve lesions and thrombocytopenia.

Flurbiprofen axetil protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via regulating miR-30c-5p and SOX9

The modulatory mechanism of flurbiprofen axetil (FPA) by which it relieves cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (CIRI) is still obscure. In the present work, adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pre-treated with FPA before the construction of a rat model of CIRI. Longa's scoring method and dry-wet method were employed to examine the neurological function and brain water content of the rats. MiR-30c-5p, SOX9, AQP4, SOX9, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB expression levels in the brain tissues of the rats were examined by qRT-PCR or Western blot. ELISA was executed to evaluate the IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the serum of rat. SOD and MDA levels in rat brain homogenates were also examined to indicate the oxidative stress. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to examine the pathological changes of the brain tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment was implemented to validate the binding relationship between miR-30c-5p and SOX9. In the present work, compared with the rats with CIRI, FPA pre-treatment attenuated neurological injury, cerebral edema, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cerebral pathological changes in the rat model with CIRI. FPA up-modulated miR-30c-5p expression. SOX9 was a downstream target of miR-30c-5p. In conclusion, FPA ameliorates CIRI through up-modulating miR-30c-5p expression and reducing SOX9 expression.

Phenotypic and genetic correlations of pork myoglobin content with meat colour and other traits in an eight breed-crossed heterogeneous population

Meat colour is one of the most important meat quality traits affecting consumption desire. Genetic improvement for meat colour traits is not so easy because pigs can be phenotyped only after slaughter. Besides the parameters from the optical instrument, other indexes that reflect the material basis of meat colour should be measured accurately and used in the genomic analysis. Myoglobin (Mb) is the main chemical component determining meat colour. However, to what extent the Mb content contributes to meat colour, and whether it can be used as a trait for pig breeding to improve meat colour, and the correlations of Mb content with complex porcine traits are largely unknown. To address these questions, we measured the muscle Mb content in 624 pigs from the 7th generation of a specially designed eight breed-crossed pig heterogeneous population, evaluated its phenotypic and genetic correlations with longissimus thoracis colour score at 24 h after slaughter. More than that, we also systematically phenotyped more than 100 traits on these animals to evaluate the potential correlations between muscle Mb content and economically important traits. Our results showed that the average muscle Mb content in the 624 pigs was 1.00 mg/g, ranging from 0.51 to 2.17 mg/g. We found that higher Mb content usually correlated with favourable meat colour, higher marbling score, less moisture content, and less drip loss. Genetic correlation analysis between muscle Mb content and 101 traits measured in this study shows that Mb content is also significantly correlated with 31 traits, including marbling, shear force, firmness, and juiciness. To our knowledge, this is one of the largest studies about the correlations of muscle Mb content with as many as 100 various traits in a large-scale genetically diversified population. Our results showed that the Mb content could be a selection parameter for the genetic improvement of meat colour. The selection for higher Mb content will also benefit marbling, shear force, firmness, and overall liking but might not affect the growth, carcass, and fat deposition traits.

Aberrant Expression of Circulating MicroRNA Leads to the Dysregulation of Alpha-Synuclein and Other Pathogenic Genes in Parkinson's Disease

A group of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. However, a comprehensive study of the interactions between pathogenic miRNAs and their downstream Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related target genes has not been performed. Here, we identified the miRNA expression profiles in the plasma and circulating exosomes of Parkinson’s disease patients using next-generation RNA sequencing. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses showed that the miRNA target genes were enriched in axon guidance, neurotrophin signaling, cellular senescence, and the Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a group of aberrantly expressed miRNAs were selected and further validated in individual patient plasma, human neural stem cells (NSCs) and a rat model of PD. More importantly, the full scope of the regulatory network between these miRNAs and their PD-related gene targets in human neural stem cells was examined, and the findings revealed a similar but still varied downstream regulatory cascade involving many known PD-associated genes. Additionally, miR-23b-3p was identified as a novel direct regulator of alpha-synuclein, which is possibly the key component in PD. Our current study, for the first time, provides a glimpse into the regulatory network of pathogenic miRNAs and their PD-related gene targets in PD. Moreover, these PD-associated miRNAs may serve as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for PD.

Comparison of modeling accuracy between Radixact®and CyberKnife®Synchrony®respiratory tracking system

Synchrony Respiratory Tracking system adapted from CyberKnife has been introduced in Radixact to compensate the tumor motion caused by respiration. This study aims to compare the modeling accuracy of the Synchrony system between Radixact and CyberKnife. Two Synchrony plans based on fiducial phantoms were created for CyberKnife and Radixact, respectively. Different respiratory motion traces were used to drive a motion platform to move along the superoinferior and left-right direction. The cycle time and the amplitude of target/surrogate motion of one selected motion trace were scaled to investigate the dependence of modeling accuracy on the motion characteristic. The predicted target position, the correlation error, potential difference (Radixact only) and standard error (CyberKnife only) were extracted from raw data or log files of the two systems. The modeling accuracy was evaluated by calculating the root-mean-square (RMS) error between the predicted target positions and the input motion trace. A threshold T95 within which 95% of the potential difference or the standard error lay was defined and evaluated. Except for the motion trace with a small amplitude and a good (linear) correlation between target and surrogate motion, Radixact showed smaller RMS errors than CyberKnife. The RMS error of both systems increased with the motion amplitude and showed a decreasing trend with the increasing cycle time. No correlation was found between the RMS error and the amplitude of surrogate motion. T95 could be a good estimator of modeling accuracy for CyberKnife rather than Radixact. The correlation error defined in Radixact were largely affected by the number of fiducial markers and the setup error. In general, the modeling accuracy of the Radixact Synchrony system is better than that of the CyberKnife Synchrony system under unfavorable conditions.

[Surface modification of titanium implant with hBMP-2/hIGF-1 for promoting biocompatibility and osteogenesis]

OBJECTIVE

To prepare the human bone morphogenetic protein-2(hBMP-2)/human insulin-like growth factor-1(hIGF-1)coating titanium(Ti)and assess its performance as a dental implant material.

METHODS

hBMP-2 and hIGF-1 were coated to the smooth surface of a Ti plate, and its efficacy for promoting bone formation and bone integration was compared with a pristine Ti plate.The surface characteristics of the metal samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and by contact angle measurement.MG63 cells were seeded on the surface of the Ti plates, and MTT assay and alizarin red staining was used to examine the cell proliferation and formation of calcified nodules, respectively.Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)secretion of the cells was examined with ELISA, and cellular expressions of osteocalcin and osteopontin were detected with Western blotting for assessing osteogenesis.

RESULTS

SEM examination showed that the surface of Ti with hBMP-2 and hIGF-1 coating presented with a radial pattern resembling snowflakes.The contact angles of non-coated Ti, hBMP-2-coated Ti, hIGF-1-coated, and hBMP-2/-hIGF-1-coated Ti samples were 83.2°, 54°, 56° and 54°, respectively.Compared with the non-coated Ti plate, the surface-modified Ti samples showed a significantly smaller contact angle (P=0.032, 0.029, and 0.028), indicating a good hydrophilicity of the samples.MTT assay showed that MG63 cells grew well on the surface of the coated Ti plates.The hBMP-2/IGF-1 coating significantly induced cellular secretion of ALP(P=0.021, 0.014)and obviously promoted osteogenesis of MG63 cells (P < 0.05).Western blotting results showed that hBMP-2/IGF-1 coating significantly enhanced the expressions of osteocalcin and osteopontin in the seeded cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

hBMP-2 and hIGF-1 coating of Ti material can promote osteogenesis of the cells seeded on its surface to improve the performance of such Ti material as dental implants.

[Exosomes-based strategies for dental pulp regeneration]

Researches on pulp regeneration based on odontogenic stem cells have made a breakthrough and some results have been applied clinically in recent years. It is demonstrated that exosomes secreted by stem cells play a significant role in tissue regeneration. Compared with stem cells, exosomes exhibit more advantages such as wider sources, more immediate effects, and less immune rejections, which are expected to be exploited in the pulp regeneration by cell-homing. In this review, the conventional dental pulp tissue engineering and exosomes-based dental pulp regeneration method are discussed, the new strategy for dental pulp regeneration by using exosomes is analyzed and proposed.

NMR-based metabolomics approach on optimization of malolactic fermentation of sea buckthorn juice with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

This work investigated the impact of malolactic fermentation on the metabolomic profile of sea buckthorn juice to optimize the fermentation process for flavor modification. Six strains of L. plantarum were used with varied pH of the juice, cell acclimation, and fermentation time. ¹H-NOESY spectra were acquired from fresh and fermented juices with a total of 46 metabolites identified. Less sugars and quinic acid were metabolized at pH 2.7 while oxidation of ascorbic acid was reduced at pH 3.5. l-Malic acid, essential amino acids, and nucleosides were consumed early during fermentation while sugars in general were consumed later in the fermentation. If deacidification is the main target of fermentation, strains that produce less acids and ferment less sugars, shorter fermentation time, and lower starter pH should be used. Higher starter pH and longer fermentation time promote formation of antimicrobial compounds and potentially increase antioxidant stability.

Inhibition of microRNA-346 inhibits myocardial inflammation and apoptosis after myocardial infarction via targeting NFIB

OBJECTIVE

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a sudden cardiovascular event that endangers human life. MicroRNA is considered to be an important participant in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction (MI). This article aim was to study the function and mechanisms of microRNA-346 (miR-346) on myocardium after MI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the role of miR-346 in MI, we established H2O2-induced H9c2 cell injury model and rat MI model. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect miR-346 expression. Western blot was utilized to measure the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α, IL-6 and NFIB. Apoptosis of H9c2 cells was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay was utilized to measure the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in supernatant. Assessment of left ventricular function in rats was performed using echocardiography.

RESULTS

MiR-346 was significantly upregulated in H2O2-treated H9c2 cells and ischemic myocardium. In the H9c2 cell injury model, the expressions of Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6 were greatly increased while Bcl-2 expression was decreased, and the number of TUNEL-positive cells and apoptosis rate were also significantly increased. At the same time, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant were markedly increased. However, after miR-346 expression was suppressed, these results were reversed. The expression of Bcl-2 increased, while the expression of Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased. The contents of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant also decreased significantly. Both the number of TUNEL-positive cells and the apoptosis rate were markedly reduced. After injecting antagomir-346 into the myocardium of rats to silence miR-346, the cardiac function of MI rats was remarkably improved, and the LDH content in the serum of rats also decreased significantly. Using computational predictions tools, Western blotting and Luciferase activity assay, we found that nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) was targeted by miR-346.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of miR-346 was increased in H9c2 cells and ischemic myocardium of MI rats. Silencing miR-346 can significantly inhibit the inflammatory response and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by targeting NFIB.

[Analysis of incidence characteristics of occupational chronic benzene poisoning under two diagnostic criteria]

Objective: To analyze the incidence characteristics of occupational chronic benzene poisoning under two diagnostic criteria. Methods: In March 2020, 126 patients who were divided into the old criteria group (74 cases) and the new criteria group (52 cases) were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, and were diagnosed in our hospital during the period of January 2009 to December 2019. The gender composition, age of onset, years of benzene exposure, industry distribution, work type, benzene concentration in working environment and diagnostic grade of the two groups of patients were analyzed and compared. The follow-up of 22 benzene poisoning observation subjects under the old criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in gender composition, age of onset, years of benzene exposure, industry distribution and work type between the old criteria group and the new criteria group (P>0.05) . In the old criteria group and the new criteria group, 41.9% (31/74) and 17.3% (9/52) of the patients' workplace benzene concentration exceeded the maximum allowable concentration, respectively. The composition of different benzene concentration in the workplace between the two groups showed statistically significant (P<0.05) . In the old criteria group, the proportion of mild poisoning (79.7%, 59/74) was the majority, while in the new criteria group, the proportion of moderate and severe poisoning (51.9%, 27/52) were the majority, and there was statistically significance in the composition ratio of diagnostic grade between the two groups (P<0.05) . Under the old criteria, after folow-up of 22 cases of benzene poisoning observation subjects, we observed that 8 cases (36.4%) progressed to the level of chronic benzene poisoning. Conclusion: The revision of diagnostic criteria for benzene poisoning may affect the composition of diagnosis classification. Based on the rights and interests of workers, formulating more complete diagnostic criteria and system policies will be more conducive to the development of occupational benzene poisoning prevention and control.

[Fat1 inhibits cell proliferation via ERK signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Objective: To clarify the mechanism of Fat1 on the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: KYSE450 cells were transfected with Plko.1-puro-GFP-shRNA-Fat1 plasmid and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to verify the efficiency of Fat1 knockdown. The effects of Fat1 and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitor U0126 on the proliferation of ESCC cells were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Colony formation assay was used to detect the colony formation ability. Cell cycle was detected by live cell imaging. Western blot was used to observe the level of target protein. Mouse xenograft assay was applied to detect the effect of Fat1 knockdown on KYSE450 cell tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of related proteins in tumor sections. Results: The efficiency of Fat1 knockdown was (77.1±6.9)% in Fat1 sh1 group and (77.7±7.1)% in Fat1sh2 group. Compared with the control group, the cell proliferation and the expression of p-ERK1/2 were significantly increased in Fat1 sh1 and Fat1sh2 group (P<0.05). After U0126 treatment, the effect of Fat1 knockdown on the proliferation of KYSE450 cells disappeared, and the expression of p-ERK1/2 in KYSE450 cells decreased to a level similar to that in the control group. The number of cell clones in the control group was (72±8), lower than (155±28) and (193±9) in the Fat1sh1 and Fat1sh2 groups, respectively (P<0.05). In KYSE450 cell, division time was shortened from 1 622±32 min in control group to 1 408±29 min in Fat1 sh1 group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the tumor volume of Fat1 knockdown group increased significantly. The tumor weight of control group and Fat1 knockdown group were (0.224±0.028) g and (1.532±0.196) g, respectively, at 4 weeks after inoculation, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Fat1 inhibits cell proliferation via ERK signaling in ESCC.

Effect of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 regulation of miR-106b expression on proliferation and apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential function of a candidate circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) [human serum albumin (hsa)_circ_RNA0023397] in esophageal cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 in three esophageal cancer cell lines (KYSE-150, ECA109, and TE-1), which was compared with that in normal human esophageal epithelial cell line (HET-1A). The expression plasmid of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 was constructed, and the effect of overexpression of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 on cell proliferation was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay. The effect of overexpression of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 on cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Further bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter gene analysis were carried out to explore the role of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 as a sponge of micro RNAs (miRNAs).

RESULTS

Compared with that in normal human esophageal epithelial cell line HET-1A, the expression of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 was down-regulated in three esophageal cancer cell lines in vitro. Overexpression of hsa_circ_RNA0023397 overtly inhibited KYSE-150 cell proliferation and promoted its apoptosis. Bioinformatics prediction and Luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that hsa_circ_RNA0023397 could bind to miR-160b. MiR-106b participated in hsa_circ_RNA0023397-mediated inhibition of proliferation of esophageal cancer KYSE-150 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Hsa_circ_RNA0023397 is down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells and can act as miR-106b to affect the biological function of esophageal cancer cells.

Initial clinical experience of patient-specific QA of treatment delivery in online adaptive radiotherapy using a 1.5 T MR-Linac

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a commercial 1.5 T MR-Linac by analyzing its patient-specific quality assurance (QA) data collected during one full year of clinical operation.Methods and Materials. The patient-specific QA system consisted of offline delivery QA (DQA) and online calculation-based QA. Offline DQA was based on ArcCHECK-MR combined with an ionization chamber. Online QA was performed using RadCalc that calculated and compared the point dose calculation with the treatment planning system (TPS). A total of 24 patients with 189 treatment fractions were enrolled in this study. Gamma analysis was performed and the threshold that encompassed 95% of QA results (T95) was reported. The plan complexity metric was calculated for each plan and compared with the dose measurements to determine whether any correlation existed.Results. All point dose measurements were within 5% deviation. The mean gamma passing rates of the group data were found to be 96.8 ± 4.0% and 99.6 ± 0.7% with criteria of 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm, respectively. T95 of 87.4% and 98.2% was reported for the overall group with the two passing criteria, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between adaptive treatments with adapt-to-position (ATP) and adapt-to-shape (ATS), whilst the category of pelvis data showed a better passing rate than other sites. Online QA gave a mean deviation of 0.2 ± 2.2%. The plan complexity metric was positively correlated with the mean dose difference whilst the complexity of the ATS cohort had larger variations than the ATP cohort.Conclusions. A patient-specific QA system based on ArcCHECK-MR, solid phantom and ionization chamber has been well established and implemented for validation of treatment delivery of a 1.5 T MR-Linac. Our QA data obtained over one year confirms that good agreement between TPS calculation and treatment delivery was achieved.

[Systemic anti-inflammation is the key for the treat-to-target in severe immune-related skin disorders]

Immune-related skin disorders (inflammatory skin diseases and autoimmune diseases) are important diseases in dermatology. Systemic inflammation is the fundamental cause that makes these diseases difficult to control and easy to relapse. The treatment pattern of rheumatic immune diseases could be used as a reference to reach the treat-to-target (T2T) of severe immune/inflammatory skin disorders, thus to reduce systemic inflammatory damage, to effectively control symptoms in the long term, to improve the quality of life, and to help patients back to normal study/work/life status.

[Progress of researches on symbionts in the management of mosquito-borne infectious diseases]

Mosquitoes are the main vectors of many infectious diseases, including malaria and yellow fever, which seriously threaten human health across the world. In addition to the use of chemical insecticides, genetic control is a new attempt to currently available interventions used for mosquito vector control. In terms of ecological safety, however, symbiotic control as a novel approach has been proposed for mosquito control. Since there are multiple symbiotic microflora inhabiting in a variety of tissues of mosquitoes, including the digestive tract, they may affect the transmission of mosquito-borne infectious diseases through affecting the lifespan, reproductive competence, and vector competence of the host. In this review, the interactions between symbionts in mosquitoes were summarized, and the research progress of mosquito-associated symbionts in the management of mosquitoborne infectious diseases was reviewed.

[Spatiotemporal distribution and related factors of congenital syphilis in Guangdong province from 2005 to 2017: a spatial panel data analysis]

Objective: To explore the spatiotemporal distribution and macro-related factors of congenital syphilis in Guangdong province and provide suggestions and recommendations for prevention. Methods: Yearly reported cases of syphilis and some influencing factor data of Guangdong province were collected from 2005 to 2017. The spatiotemporal distribution of congenital syphilis was described. Meanwhile, the spatial panel data model was constructed to analyze the relationship between the incidence rates of congenital syphilis and related factors. Results: From 2005 to 2017, 13 361 cases of congenital syphilis were reported in Guangdong province. The number of congenital syphilis cases rose to its highest point during 2005-2011. A slow downward trend followed. The peaks of incidence were observed from August to December. The incidence of the non-Pearl River Delta region has experienced a process of rising first and then decreasing. The spatial panel data model results showed that congenital syphilis had significant positive spatial autocorrelation (P<0.001). The incidence of primary and secondary syphilis in women (β=0.822,P<0.001), gross domestic product per capita (β=3.511,P<0.001), net migrate rate (β=0.215,P=0.047) and maternal system management rate(β=0.017,P=0.021) were all positively correlated with the incidence rates of congenital syphilis. Registered population density (β=-1.167,P<0.001) and prenatal examination rate (β=-0.038,P=0.031) was negatively correlated with congenital syphilis. Conclusions: The incidence of congenital syphilis was spatially aggregated in Guangdong province from 2005 to 2017. The intensity of prevention might be strengthened in cities with developed economies and high net migration rates, which have high risks of congenital syphilis. Controlling the incidence of primary and secondary syphilis in women and increasing the prenatal examination rate for pregnant women appears effective prevention measures of congenital syphilis.

[Evaluating the effectiveness of HIV/syphilis joint self-testing in promoting syphilis testing among men who have sex with men]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of HIV/syphilis joint self-testing in promoting syphilis testing among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: In July 2019, the research participants were recruited through the Danlan website (https://www.danlan.org). Participants who met the selection criteria, and were randomly assigned into one of the three study groups (1∶1∶1) including HIV/syphilis joint self-testing group and lottery incentive self-testing group and control group. Self-test reagents were mailed to HIV/syphilis joint self-testing group and lottery incentive self-testing group, and the subjects in control group were encouraged to go to offline locations for testing. One month later, follow-up was conducted to evaluate the differences in the testing rates of syphilis among the three groups. Results: A total of 145 subjects were included in this study, including 48 in control group, 49 in HIV/syphilis joint self-testing group and 48 in lottery incentive self-testing group. During the follow-up period, the self-testing rate of syphilis was 74.4% (32/43) in HIV/syphilis joint self-testing group, 70.0% (28/40) in lottery incentive self-testing group and 36.4% (16/44) in control group. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that the proportions of syphilis testing in HIV/syphilis joint self-testing group and lottery incentive self-testing group were 5.38 (95%CI: 2.06-14.04) times and 4.54 (95% CI: 1.75-11.74) times higher than that in control group during the follow-up period. Conclusions: HIV/syphilis joint self-testing and lottery-incentives-prompted self-testing significantly increased the testing rate of syphilis in MSM, respectively. HIV/syphilis joint self-testing is feasible for promotion.

Effects of supplementation of sea buckthorn press cake on mycelium growth and polysaccharides of Inonotus obliquus in submerged cultivation

AIMS

Investigation of the influence of cultivation time and sea buckthorn press cake (Hippophaë rhamnoides) dosage on mycelium yield of Inonotus obliquus in submerged cultivation and on the yield, monomer composition, and macromolecular properties of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) from culture media and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) extracted from mycelia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Supplementation at 5 g l^-1 combined with cultivation time of 250 h granted highest yield increase in mycelia (by 122%). The supplementation reduced extraction yield and decreased the molecular weight of the main IPS population. The supplementation increased production and molecular weight of EPS. The relative content of arabinose and rhamnose in EPS positively correlated with dosage of the press cake. The press cake supplementation increased the content of galacturonic acid in IPS, but not in EPS.

CONCLUSION

Sea buckthorn press cake is a food industry fibrous side stream with high oil content. It increases the cultivation yield of Inonotus obliquus mycelium and influences the produced polysaccharides.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Mycelium is a resource of bioactive polysaccharides, attracting the interest of nutraceutical companies. Sea buckthorn press cake is a promising supplement for increasing mycelium production. The utilization of this agricultural side stream would therefore favour circular economy.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells repair brachial plexus injury in rabbits through ERK pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on repairing brachial plexus injury in rabbits and their influence on expression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With big-ear rabbits as the objects, the BMSCs were first isolated, and the cluster of differentiation (CD)45- and CD90+ BMSCs were sorted out via flow cytometry. BMSCs were transfected with red fluorescent protein (RFP), and the transfection effect was detected. Then, the big-ear rabbits were subjected to brachial plexus root avulsion injury (BPAI) to establish injury Model group and sham-operation group (Sham group). Later, the BMSCs were transfected with RFP to construct RFP-BMSCs. The RFP-BMSCs (5×106, Treat group) and normal saline (Model group) were intraperitoneally injected, and the recovery rate of wet weight of the upper limb muscle was measured by weighing. The injured nerve tissues were embedded for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and observation of pathological changes. The electrophysiological measurement of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) on the injured side was conducted for the rabbits to be sacrificed immediately using an electromyogram instrument, and the CMAP amplitude and latency were applied to evaluate the recovery of upper limb muscle. Finally, the location of RFP-BMSCs in the nerve tissues was traced by a fluorescence microscope, and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-MAPK) in the injured nerve tissues were determined by means of Western blotting.

RESULTS

Persistently expressed red fluorescence was observed in CD45- and CD90+ BMSCs sorted via flow cytometry under the fluorescence microscope, indicating that the RFP-BMSCs were constructed successfully. Compared with Sham group, Model group had a remarkably decreased recovery rate of wet muscle weight (p<0.05), while Treat group exhibited a notably increased recovery rate of wet muscle weight in comparison with Model group. The CMAP amplitude was reduced markedly (p<0.05), while the CMAP latency was prolonged significantly (p<0.05) in Model group compared with those in Sham group. Moreover, Treat group had distinctly higher CMAP amplitude and evidently shorter CMAP latency than Model group (p<0.05). It was discovered under the fluorescence microscope that RFP-BMSCs were visibly arranged on both sides of nerve fibers in Treat group. The expressions of p-MAPK and p-ERK were raised prominently in Model group in comparison with those in Sham group (p<0.05), and they were lowered apparently in Treat group compared with those in Model group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

BMSCs can repair the impaired brachial plexus neurons and restore their physiological functions, and the protective effect of the BMSCs on the neurons is associated with the mediated MAPK/ERK pathway.