Ingenious Fabrication of Ag-Filled Porous Anodic Alumina Films as Powerful SERS Substrates for Efficient Detection of Biological and Organic Molecules

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been widely used to effectively detect various biological and organic molecules. This detection method needs analytes adsorbed onto a specific metal nanostructure, e.g., Ag-nanoparticles. A substrate containing such a structure (called SERS substrate) is user-friendly for people implementing the adsorption and subsequent SERS detection. Here, we report on powerful SERS substrates based on efficient fabrication of Ag-filled anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films. The films contain many nanopores with small as-grown inter-pore gap of 15 nm. The substrates are created by electrochemically depositing silver into nanopores without an additional pore widening process, which is usually needed for conventional two-step AAO fabrication. The created substrates contain well-separated Ag-nanoparticles with quite a small inter-particle gap and a high number density (2.5 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻²). We use one-step anodization together with omitting additional pore widening to improve the throughput of substrate fabrication. Such substrates provide a low concentration detection limit of 10⁻¹¹ M and high SERS enhancement factor of 1 × 10⁶ for rhodamine 6G (R6G). The effective detection of biological and organic molecules by the substrate is demonstrated with analytes of adenine, glucose, R6G, eosin Y, and methylene blue. These results allow us to take one step further toward the successful commercialization of AAO-based SERS substrates.

Strongly Improving the Sensitivity of Phosphorescence-Based Optical Oxygen Sensors by Exploiting Nano-Porous Substrates

Sensitivity is one of the crucial factors in determining the quality of a fluorescence/phosphorescence-based gas sensor, and is estimated from the measurement of responses (I₀/I, where I₀ and I refer to the measured optical intensity of a sensor in absence and presence of analyte molecules) at various concentrations of analytes. In this work, we demonstrate phosphorescence-based optical oxygen sensors fabricated on highly porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes showing dramatically high response. These sensors exploit the enormous surface area of the AAO to facilitate the effective interaction between the sensing molecules and the analytes. We spin-coat an AAO membrane (200 nm pore diameter) with a platinum-based oxygen sensing porphyrin dye, platinum(II) meso-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin (PtTFPP), to fabricate a sensor exhibiting I₀/I ~400 at 100% oxygen atmosphere. To address the generality of the AAO membrane, we fabricate a separate sensor with another porphyrin dye, platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), which exhibits an even higher I₀/I of ~500. Both of these sensors offer the highest responses as an optical oxygen sensor hitherto reported. SEM and EDS analysis are performed to realize the effect of the increased surface area of the AAO membrane on the enhanced sensitivity.

[Awareness and influencing factors on weight and waist circumference among adult Chinese residents in 2018]

Objective: To understand the awareness of weight and waist circumference and their influencing factors among residents aged ≥18 years in China and provide a reference for the development of relevant prevention and treatment policies and evaluation of intervention effects. Methods: We selected 298 counties (districts) from the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) which participated in the 2018 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance program and included 194 779 permanent residents aged ≥18 years. To obtain the demographic characteristics of the study population, we used a multi-stage stratified whole-group random sampling method, questionnaires, and physical measurements. In this study, 179 045 people who completed the survey and had complete information on weight and waist circumference awareness were used as the study subjects. The weight awareness rate and waist circumference awareness rate were calculated by gender stratification, age, urban-rural, and education level groups. A multi-factor logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors related to weight and waist circumference awareness of residents aged ≥18 years. Results: The weight awareness rate of adult residents in China in 2018 was 45.4% (95%CI: 41.9%-48.9%), higher among men [46.2% (95%CI: 42.5%-49.8%)] than women [44.6% (95%CI: 41.1%-48.2%)], and in urban areas [54.3% (95%CI: 49.3%-59.3%)]. The highest weight awareness rate appeared in residents with low BMI grouping [49.9% (95%CI: 44.3%-55.6%)], and the weight awareness rate in residents with undiagnosed central obesity, hypertension, and diabetes was higher than that of residents with diagnosed diabetes, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The waist circumference awareness rate of adult residents was 11.6% (95%CI: 9.7%-13.4%), higher in women [12.8% (95%CI: 10.8%-14.8%)] than in men [10.3% (95%CI: 8.6%-12.0%)], higher in urban [14.6% (95%CI: 11.7%-17.4%)] than in rural [8.3% (95%CI: 6.5%-10.2%)], and the waist circumference awareness rate was higher among residents with confirmed diabetes than those with undiagnosed diabetes, with statistically significant differences (P=0.020). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The weight and waist circumference awareness rate increased with education level and annual per capita household income. Multi-factor logistic regression analysis suggested that urban, highly educated, high per capita annual household income and health check-up residents may have higher weight and waist circumference awareness rates among adult residents in China. Conclusion: Less than half of the adult residents in China know their weight status, and only about one-tenth know their waist circumference. Rural residents, those with low education levels and low annual per capita household income, and those who are obese need to be given prioritized attention. The relevant government departments should strengthen the popularization of the importance of weight and waist circumference on health and improve the awareness of our residents about their waist circumference and weight.

Lithosepermic Acid Restored the Skin Barrier Functions in the Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Animal Model

(1) Background: Psoriasis is a T helper 1/T helper 17 cells-involved immune-mediated genetic disease. Lithospermic acid, one of the major phenolic acid compounds of Danshen, has antioxidation and anti-inflammation abilities. Due to the inappropriate molecular weight for topical penetration through the stratum corneum, lithospermic acid was loaded into the well-developed microemulsion delivery system for IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis treatment. (2) Methods: BALB/c mice were administered with topical imiquimod to induce psoriasis-like dermatitis. Skin barrier function, disease severity, histology assessment, autophagy-related protein expression, and skin and spleen cytokine expression were evaluated. (3) Results: The morphology, histopathology, and skin barrier function results showed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment ameliorated the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis and restored the skin barrier function. The cytokines array results confirmed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment inhibited the cutaneous T helper-17/Interleukin-23 axis related cytokines cascades. (4) Conclusions: The results implied that lithospermic acid might represent a possible new therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment.

Colorectal cancer concurrent gene signature based on coherent patterns between genomic and transcriptional alterations

Background

The aim of the study was to enhance colorectal cancer prognostication by integrating single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene expression (GE) microarrays for genomic and transcriptional alteration detection; genes with concurrent gains and losses were used to develop a prognostic signature.

Methods

The discovery dataset comprised 32 Taiwanese colorectal cancer patients, of which 31 were assayed for GE and copy number variations (CNVs) with Illumina Human HT-12 BeadChip v4.0 and Omni 25 BeadChip v1.1. Concurrent gains and losses were declared if coherent manners were observed between GE and SNP arrays. Concurrent genes were also identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas Project (TCGA) as the secondary discovery dataset (n = 345).

Results

The “universal” concurrent genes, which were the combination of z-transformed correlation coefficients, contained 4022 genes. Candidate genes were evaluated within each of the 10 public domain microarray datasets, and 1655 (2000 probe sets) were prognostic in at least one study. Consensus across all datasets was used to build a risk predictive model, while distinct relapse-free/overall survival patterns between defined risk groups were observed among four out of five training datasets. The predictive accuracy of recurrence, metastasis, or death was between 61 and 86% (cross-validation area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: 0.548-0.833) from five independent validation studies.

Conclusion

The colorectal cancer concurrent gene signature is prognostic in terms of recurrence, metastasis, or mortality among 1746 patients. Genes with coherent patterns between genomic and transcriptional contexts are more likely to provide prognostication for colorectal cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09627-9.

Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Improvement with Prebiotics: Histological Evaluation of Longish Glucomannan Hydrolysates-Induced Innate T Lymphocyte Activities in Mice

Use of prebiotics is a growing topic in healthcare. A lightweight molecule and water-soluble fiber ingredient, longish glucomannan hydrolysates (LGH), has been developed to improve the intestinal mucosal barrier and confer gut health benefits. This study aims to investigate the implications of continuous LGH intervening in intestinal epithelium integrity and protective immunity against chemical dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Twelve male BALB/c mice were randomly arranged into four groups. The LGH/DSS group had results in bodyweight variance, epithelial cell density, and aberrancy score as good as the LGH group, and both were equivalent to the control group. LGH consumption effectively protects the distal intestinal epithelium by activating innate T lymphocytes. Meanwhile, T-cell subsets in subepithelial interspersion take a bystander role in these microenvironmental alterations. Under this stress, the cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3)⁺ T cells infiltrate the epithelium, while CD4⁺ T cells inversely appear in submucosal large lymphoid aggregates/isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs) in which significant CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T-cell populations agglomerate. Moreover, forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) are observed in these ILFs. Agglomerated CD4⁺ T-cell lineages may have roles with proinflammatory T helper 17 cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells in balancing responses to intraluminal antigens. Collectively, LGH administration may function in immune modulation to protect against DSS-induced inflammation.

Butyrate supplementation regulates expression of chromosome segregation 1‑like protein to reverse the genetic distortion caused by p53 mutations in colorectal cancer

The chromosome segregation 1-like (CSE1L) protein, which regulates cellular mitosis and apoptosis, was previously found to be overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells harboring mutations. Therefore, regulating CSE1L expression may confer chemotherapeutic effects against CRC. The gut microflora can regulate gene expression in colonic cells. In particular, metabolites produced by the gut microflora, including the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, have been shown to reduce CRC risk. Butyrates may exert antioncogenic potential in CRC cells by modulating p53 expression. The present study evaluated the association between CSE1L expression and butyrate treatment from two non-transformed colon cell lines (CCD-18Co and FHC) and six CRC cell lines (LS 174T, HCT116 p53^+/+, HCT116 p53^−/−, Caco-2, SW480 and SW620). Lentiviral knockdown of CSE1L and p53, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (CSE1L, c-Myc and p53), western blotting [CSE1L, p53, cyclin (CCN) A2, CCNB2 and CCND1], wound healing assay (cell migration), flow cytometry (cell cycle analysis) and immunofluorescence staining (CSE1L and tubulin) were adopted to verify the effects of butyrate on CSE1L-expressing CRC cells. The butyrate-producing gut bacteria Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum was administered to mice with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon tumors before the measurement of CSE1L expression. The effects of B. pullicaecorum on CSE1L expression were then assessed by immunohistochemical staining for CSE1L and p53 in tissues from CRC-bearing mice. Non-cancerous colon cells with the R273H p53 mutation or CRC cells haboring p53 mutations were found to exhibit significantly higher CSE1L expression levels. CSE1L knockdown in HCT116 p53^−/− cells resulted in G₁-and G₂/M-phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, in HCT116 p53^−/− cells, CSE1L expression was already high at interphase, increased at prophase, peaked during metaphase before declining at cytokinesis but remained relatively high compared with that in HCT116 expressing wild-type p53. Significantly decreased expression levels of CSE1L were also observed in HCT116 p53^−/− cells that were treated with butyrate for 24 h. In addition, the migration of HCT116 p53^−/− cells was significantly decreased after CSE1L knockdown or butyrate treatment. Tumors with more intense nuclear p53 staining and weaker CSE1L staining were found in mice bearing DMH/DSS-induced CRC that were administered with B. pullicaecorum. Taken together, the results indicated that butyrate can impair CSE1L-induced tumorigenic potential. In conclusion, butyrate-producing microbes, such as B. pullicaecorum, may reverse the genetic distortion caused by p53 mutations in CRC by regulating CSE1L expression levels.

[Relationship between white matter lesions and theresponse of cerebral spinal fluid tap test and clinical features in the patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus]

Objective: To explore the relationship between white matter lesions and clinical features and response of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) tap test in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus(iNPH). Methods: Possible iNPH patients were enrolled from outpatients and inpatients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2014 and 2019. All patients underwent detailed neuropsychological and walking assessments, CSF tap test, as well as head magnetic resonance imaging. The Fazekas score of white matter lesions, the fractional anisotropy (FA)and mean diffusivity (MD) values of regions of interest by means ofdiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were compared between CSF tap test positive and negative response groups. The correlation between DTI parameters and clinical characteristics was analyzed. Results: Forty-three patients (29 male and 14 female, age range: 52-79 years] wererecruited.Compared with the negative group, patients in the positive group tended to have higher Fazekas score of periventricular white matter(U=108.00, P=0.03), higher MD value of the region near anterior horn of left lateral ventricles[(1.14±0.27)×10^-9mm²/s vs (0.85±0.08) ×10^-9mm²/s, P=0.003], lower FA value of the region near anterior horn of the right lateral ventricles[(0.20±0.07)vs(0.27±0.09), P=0.058], and higher MD value near the posterior horn of right lateral ventricle [(1.17±0.34)×10^-9mm²/s vs (0.95±0.01)×10^-9mm²/s, P=0.003]. FA and MD were significantly correlated with motor function, cognitive and functional scores, and iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS) scores(all P<0.05). Conclusions: The white matter lesions might be one of the pathogeneses of lNPH and apathological changewhich can be reversed by CSF drainage. More white matter lesions should not be the contraindication of CSF drainage surgery.

Primary Effusion Lymphoma: A Timely Review on the Association with HIV, HHV8, and EBV

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is defined by the WHO classification as a large B-cell neoplasm without detectable tumor masses. It is universally associated with HHV8, with most cases occurring in the setting of immunodeficiency such as HIV infection, and a poor prognosis. Morphologically, the neoplastic cells range from immunoblastic, plasmablastic, to anaplastic; and phenotypically, most cases express plasma cell but not B-cell markers, i.e., plasmablastic. During the past decade, primary HHV8-negative effusion lymphoma has been reported. Such cases were considered in the WHO classification scheme as effusion-based lymphoma. We performed a systemic review of 167 HHV8-negative effusion lymphomas from the literature and found that only 42% were associated with a fluid overload state, and with low rates of HIV (6%) or EBV (21%) infection. Furthermore, most patients are old (or immunosenescent) with underlying medical conditions/comorbidities, most neoplasms are of B-cell phenotype, and the outcome is more favorable than that of HHV8-positive PEL. These distinctive findings supported our prior proposal of designating these HHV8-negative cases as type II PEL, in contrast to the classic or type I PEL as defined by the WHO. Furthermore, we propose an algorithmic approach for the diagnosis of PEL and its mimickers.

The extended concurrent genes signature for disease-free survival in breast cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Previously we had identified concurrent genes, which highlighted the interplay between copy number variation (CNV) and differential gene expression (GE) for Han Chinese breast cancers. The merit of the approach is to discovery biomarkers not identifiable by conventional GE only data, for which phenotype-correlation or gene variability is the criteria of gene selection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-one comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and 83 GE microarrays were performed, with 29 breast cancers assayed from both platforms. Potential targets were revealed by Genomic Identification of Significant Targets in Cancer (GISTIC) from CGH arrays. Concurrent genes and genes with significant GISTIC scores were used to derive the extended concurrent genes signature, which was consensus from leading edge analysis across all studies and a supervised partial least square (PLS) regression predictive model of disease-free survival was constructed.

RESULTS

There were 1584 concurrent genes from 29 samples with both CGH and GE microarrays. Enriched concurrent genes sets for disease-free survival were identified independently from 83 GE arrays and another one with Han Chinese origin as well as three studies of Western origin. For five studies with disease-free survival follow up, prognostic discrepancy was observed between predicted high-risk and low-risk group patients.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that through parallel analyses of CGH and GE microarrays, the proposed extended concurrent gene expression signature can identify biomarkers with prognostic values.

Deciphering Genetic Alterations of Taiwanese Patients with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma through Targeted Sequencing

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is the 8th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Taiwan, and its incidence is increasing. The development of PAC involves successive accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. Understanding the molecular pathogenesis and heterogeneity of PAC may facilitate personalized treatment for PAC and identify therapeutic agents. We performed tumor-only next-generation sequencing (NGS) with targeted panels to explore the molecular changes underlying PAC patients in Taiwan. The Ion Torrent Oncomine Comprehensive Panel (OCP) was used for PAC metastatic lesions, and more PAC samples were sequenced with the Ion AmpliSeq Cancer Hot Spot (CHP) v2 panel. Five formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) metastatic PAC specimens were successfully assayed with OCP, and KRAS was the most prevalent alteration, which might contraindicate the use of anti-EGFR therapy. One PAC patient harbored a FGFR2 p. C382R mutation, which might benefit from FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. An additional 38 samples assayed with CHP v2 showed 100 hotspot variants, collapsing to 54 COSMID IDs. The most frequently mutated genes were TP53, KRAS, and PDGFRA (29, 23, 10 hotspot variants), impacting 11, 23, and 10 PAC patients. Highly pathogenic variants, including COSM22413 (PDGFRA, FATHMM predicted score: 0.88), COSM520, COSM521, and COSM518 (KRAS, FATHMM predicted score: 0.98), were reported. By using NGS with targeted panels, somatic mutations with therapeutic potential were identified. The combination of clinical and genetic information is useful for decision making and precise selection of targeted medicine.

Supplementation of Probiotic Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum Mediates Anticancer Effect on Bladder Urothelial Cells by Regulating Butyrate-Responsive Molecular Signatures

In bladder cancer, urothelial carcinoma is the most common histologic subtype, accounting for more than 90% of cases. Pathogenic effects due to the dysbiosis of gut microbiota are localized not only in the colon, but also in regulating bladder cancer distally. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut microbial metabolism, is mainly studied in colon diseases. Therefore, the resolution of the anti-cancer effects of butyrate-producing microbes on bladder urothelial cells and knowledge of the butyrate-responsive molecules must have clinical significance. Here, we demonstrate a correlation between urothelial cancer of the bladder and Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum. This butyrate-producing microbe or their metabolite, butyrate, mediated anti-cancer effects on bladder urothelial cells by regulating cell cycle, cell growth, apoptosis, and gene expression. For example, a tumor suppressor against urothelial cancer of the bladder, bladder cancer-associated protein, was induced in butyrate-treated HT1376 cells, a human urinary bladder cancer cell line. In conclusion, urothelial cancer of the bladder is a significant health problem. To improve the health of bladder urothelial cells, supplementation of B. pullicaecorum may be necessary and can further regulate butyrate-responsive molecular signatures.

Co-Occurrence of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Second Primary Malignancy: Correlation with Expression Profiles of Mismatch Repair Protein and Cell Cycle Regulators

Simple Summary

Although the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, improvements in treatment have resulted in more patients being confirmed to have a second primary cancer. However, studies on potential biomarkers for predicting the risk of second primary malignancy are extremely limited. Therefore, our objective was to establish molecular biomarkers for the risk prediction of second primary malignancy using routinely collected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. Our results suggest that the deficient mismatch repair phenotype, the expression of pRb, and the lack of CDK4 or CDK6 are significantly associated with co-occurrence of nonthyroid malignancy. The predictive value of these immunohistochemical profiles for the co-occurrence of nonthyroid malignancy was also assessed. The combined evaluation of a four-biomarker signature model may provide the most important predictive innovation. Our study proposes the first tissue-based screening tool for risk stratification and further active surveillance in patients with thyroid cancer.

Abstract

Some patients with thyroid cancer develop a second primary cancer. Defining the characteristics of patients with double primary cancers (DPCs) is crucial and needs to be followed. In this study, we examine molecular profiles in DPC. We enrolled 71 patients who received thyroid cancer surgery, 26 with single thyroid cancer (STC), and 45 with DPC. A retrograde cohort was used to develop immunohistochemical expressions of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and cell-cycle-related markers from tissue microarrays to produce an equation for predicting the occurrence of DPC. The multivariate logistic model of 67 randomly selected patients (24 with STC and 43 with DPC) identified that the expression of deficient MMR (dMMR) (odds ratio (OR), 10.34; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.17–49.21) and pRb (OR, 62.71; 95% CI, 4.83–814.22) were significantly associated with a higher risk of DPC. In contrast, the expression of CDK4 (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.99) and CDK6 (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.002–0.44) was significantly associated with a lower risk of DPC. Collectively, dMMR, pRb, CDK4, and CDK6 have a sensitivity of 88.9% (95% CI, 75.1–95.8) and a specificity of 69.2% (95% CI, 48.1–84.9) for occurrence of DPC in all 71 patients. This is the first report to demonstrate the molecular differentiation of STC and DPC. Overall, the integral molecular profile performed excellent discrimination and denoted an exponential function to predict the probability of DPC.

[Effect of measurement sites on coronary computed tomography angiography-derived instantaneous wave-free ratio in the diagnosis of coronary stenosis ischemia]

Objective: To explore the influence of measurement sites on the diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) -derived instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR_CT) for coronary stenosis ischemia. Methods: A total of 44 patients, including 27 males and 17 females aged from 44 to 83 (59±90) years, who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the Department of Radiology, Eastern Theater Command General Hospital from February 2009 to May 2018 were retrospectively collected. Based on CCTA images, iFR_CT values at different locations (stenosis, proximal downstream of stenosis, 2 cm downstream of stenosis, 3 cm downstream of stenosis, and 4 cm downstream of stenosis) were calculated through fluid mechanics simulation. With invasive FFR≤0.80 as the reference standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to analyze and evaluate the diagnostic performance of iFR_CT in different sites. Bland-Altman and spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the consistency between iFR_CT and invasive FFR. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and spearman correlation coefficient were used to test the repeatability of iFR_CT. Results: iFR_CT values at the proximal downstream of the stenosis (approximately 1 cm downstream of the stenosis) was superior to other measurement sites in the diagnosis of coronary ischemic specific stenosis. The threshold, area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of iFR_CT at the stenosis were 0.91, 0.87 (95%CI:0.76~0.96), 82% (95%CI:48%~97%), 76% (95%CI:57%~88%) and 77% (95%CI: 63%~87%), respectively. Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean differences between iFR_CT and FFR at the proximal downstream of the stenosis was 0.07 (95%LoA: 0.06~0.09) and Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.53 (P<0.001). At the proximal downstream of the stenosis, the intraobserver ICC of iFR_CT was 0.92 (95%CI: 0.85 ~0.95), the correlation coefficient was 0.85 (P<0.001); the interobserver ICC was 0.84 (95%CI: 0.60~0.94), correlation coefficient was 0.75 (P<0.001), demonstrating good repeatability between iFR_CT and FFR. Conclusion: With the invasive FFR value as reference standard, iFR_CT had a high diagnostic performance in detecting myocardial ischemia and the best measurement site was the proximal downstream of the stenosis.

Resolving Cross-Sensitivity Effect in Fluorescence Quenching for Simultaneously Sensing Oxygen and Ammonia Concentrations by an Optical Dual Gas Sensor

Simultaneous sensing of multiple gases by a single fluorescent-based gas sensor is of utmost importance for practical applications. Such sensing is strongly hindered by cross-sensitivity effects. In this study, we propose a novel analysis method to ameliorate such hindrance. The trial sensor used here was fabricated by coating platinum(II) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtTFPP) and eosin-Y dye molecules on both sides of a filter paper for sensing O₂ and NH₃ gases simultaneously. The fluorescent peak intensities of the dyes can be quenched by the analytes and this phenomenon is used to identify the gas concentrations. Ideally, each dye is only sensitive to one gas species. However, the fluorescent peak related to O₂ sensing is also quenched by NH₃ and vice versa. Such cross-sensitivity strongly hinders gas concentration detection. Therefore, we have studied this cross-sensitivity effect systematically and thus proposed a new analysis method for accurate estimation of gas concentration. Comparing with a traditional method (neglecting cross-sensitivity), this analysis improves O₂-detection error from −11.4% ± 34.3% to 2.0% ± 10.2% in a mixed background of NH₃ and N₂.

[The value of spleen density in predicting prognosis of patients with gastric cancer after curative gastrectomy]

Objective: To investigate the value of spleen density in predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy. Methods: A total of 415 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical resection in the Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, there were 295 males and 120 femles with a median age of 59 years (range 28-83 years). The patients were divided into diffuse decreased spleen density group (DROSD) (spleen density≤43.0 HU, n=118) and non-diffuse decreased spleen density group (N-DROSD) (spleen density>43.0 HU, n=297) according to the density of spleen detected by computed tomography (CT). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the checkpoint of spleen density in predicting the recurrence of the gastric cancer in those patients. The relationship with clinicopathological factors and prognosis in the two groups were further analyzed. Results: The optimal critical value of spleen density for predicting postoperative recurrence of gastric cancer was 43.0 HU, the area under the curve of ROC was 0.608, and the sensitivity and specificity was 84.9% and 40.4%, respectively. Spleen density was related to albumin, hemoglobin, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and tumor diameter in patients with gastric cancer (all P<0.05). The 5-year disease-free survival rate and 5-year disease-specific survival rate of all the patients was 45.5% and 50.1%, respectively. Univariate survival analysis showed that age, NLR, PLR, tumor location, tumor diameter, Lauren classification, TNM stage, nerve invasion, vascular invasion, DROSD and adjuvant chemotherapy were all related to the 5-year disease-free survival rate (all P<0.05); Age, NLR, tumor location, tumor diameter, Lauren classification, TNM stage, nerve invasion, vascular invasion, DROSD and adjuvant chemotherapy were all related to the 5-year disease-specific survival rate (all P<0.05). Multivariate survival analysis showed that high NLR level (HR=1.501, 95%CI: 1.136-1.984), late TNM stage (HR=2.559, 95%CI: 1.850-3.539), DROSD (HR=2.093, 95%CI: 1.571-2.788) and no adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=1.583, 95%CI: 1.204-2.083) were independent risk factor for the 5-year disease-free survival rate (all P<0.05). Late TNM stage (HR=1.938, 95%CI: 1.395-2.692), DROSD (HR=1.566, 95%CI: 1.180-2.078) and no adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=1.336, 95%CI: 1.016-1.758) were independent risk factors for the 5-year disease-free survival rate (all P<0.05). For stage Ⅰ patients, the 5-year disease-free survival rates of DROSD group and N-DROSD group was 78.6% and 83.7%, respectively; and the 5-year disease-specific survival rates was 85.7% and 89.8%, respectively (both P>0.05). For stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients, the 5-year disease-free survival rates of DROSD group and N-DROSD group was 15.4% and 48.8%, respectively, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rates was 17.3% and 54.0%, respectively (all P<0.001). Conclusion: As an imaging evaluation method, spleen density is a new tool, which can be used as a prognostic indicator for gastric cancer patients.

Diagnostic clues for differentiating Merkel cell carcinoma from lymphoma in fine-needle aspiration cytology

Nodal fine needle aspiration (FNA) is usually the first procedure in the work-up of malignancy of unknown primary. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous cancer more common in Caucasians but rare among Asians. It is a diagnostic challenge in evaluating FNA from a metastatic MCC without the knowledge of a current or prior history of skin cancer. We report the case of a Taiwanese male with cervical and axillary masses. The diagnosis of the FNA from the axillary lymph node was lymphoproliferative lesion suspicious for lymphoma. The histopathological evaluation of nodal biopsy revealed a metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma and the subsequent excision of the right palm tumor confirmed MCC. Retrospective review of the FNA and imprint cytology smears of the nodal biopsy showed nuclear molding, Indian filing and rare cytoplasmic pale bodies, but no lymphoglandular bodies. Cytologically metastatic MCC may mimic small round cell tumor including lymphoma, we consider these three cytological features as additional diagnostic clues for metastatic MCC. In this report, we present the cytologic and pathological features of this metastatic MCC and discuss the differential diagnosis of the cytologic mimickers.

Constitutive Cytomorphologic Features of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Using Different Staining Methods

(1) Background: Accurate preoperative identification of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is challenging due to a spectrum of cytomorphologic features. However, there is a scarcity of studies describing the cytomorphologic features as seen on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) smears prepared using different staining methods. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective study on MTC cases with available FNA slides from 13 hospitals distributed across 8 Asia-Pacific countries. The differences in the constitutive cytomorphologic features of MTC with each cytopreparatory method were recorded. A comparative analysis of cytologic characteristics was carried out with appropriate statistical tests. (3) Results: Of a total of 167 MTC samples retrospectively recruited, 148 (88.6%) were interpreted as MTC/suspicious for MTC (S-MTC). The staining methods used were Papanicolaou, hematoxylin-eosin, and Romanowsky stains. Seven out of the eleven cytologic criteria can be readily recognized by all three cytopreparatory methods: high cellularity, cellular pleomorphism, plasmacytoid cells, round cells, dyshesive cells, salt-and-pepper chromatin, and binucleation or multinucleation. An accurate diagnosis was achieved in 125 (84.5%) of the 148 samples whose FNAs exhibited five or more atypical features. Conclusions: The present work is the first study on MTC to compare the morphological differences among the cytologic staining techniques. We investigated the constitutive features and the reliability of diagnostic parameters. A feasible scoring system based upon cytomorphologic data alone is proposed to achieve a high degree of diagnostic accuracy.

[Analysis of 39 children with acute necrotizing encephalopathy]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for death in children with acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. Thirty-nine children with ANE were from PICUs in 4 centers from December 1, 2014 to December 1, 2020. The 4 participating centers were Beijing Children's Hospital, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Hebei Children's Hospital, and Bao'an Maternity & Child Health Hospital. Patients were divided into survival and non-survival groups by the outcome at discharge, and the differences in clinical data between the two groups were compared. Risk factors for death in children with ANE and the odds ratios (OR) were analyzed by univariable Logistic regression. Results: Thirty-nine children with ANE were included. There were 18 males and 21 females. The median onset age was 30 months. The mortality at discharge was 41% (16/39). The onset age of most patients (74%, 29/39) was younger than 4 years old. Influenza virus was the most common precursor infection (80%, 20/25). Patients with shock at PICU admission were more common in the non-survival group (12/16 vs. 17% (4/23), P=0.001). Glasgow coma score (GCS) at PICU admission was significantly lower in the non-survival group than survival group (3 (3, 6) vs. 6 (5, 7), Z=-2.598, P=0.009). The optimal cut-off value was 4. The proportion of patients with GCS ≤ 4 at PICU admission was higher in the non-survival group (10/16 vs. 22% (5/23), P=0.018). ANE severity score (ANE-SS) at PICU admission was significantly higher in the non-survival group (5 (2, 6) vs. 2 (1, 4), Z=-2.436, P=0.015). The proportion of patients with high risk ANE-SS was higher in non-survival group than the survival group (9/16 vs. 22% (5/23), P=0.043). The proportion of application of high-dose methylprednisolone (20 mg/(kg·d)) was significantly higher in survival group than non-survival group (43% (10/23) vs. 1/13, P=0.031). Univariable Logistic regression indicated that risk factors for death in children with ANE were shock (OR=14.250, 95%CI 2.985-68.018, P=0.001), GCS≤4 (OR=6.000, 95%CI 1.456-24.733, P=0.013) and high risk ANE-SS (OR=4.629, 95%CI 1.142-18.752, P=0.032) at PICU admission. Conclusions: ANE usually occurs in children under 4 years old after influenza infection. Shock, GCS≤4 and high risk ANE-SS at PICU admission were risk factors for death in children with ANE. High-dose methylprednisolone may improve the prognosis of children with ANE.

[Immune regulatory effect of tacrolimus in patients with severe aplastic anemia and in murine model]

Objective: To investigate the immunomodulatory effect of tacrolimus in severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Methods: Patients diagnosed with SAA at the Department of Hematology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from June 2015 to January 2018 were enrolled. CD8⁺T cells were sorted by immunomagnetic separation from peripheral blood of SAA patients. MTT method was used to detect the proliferation of CD8⁺T cells. The SAA mouse model was established by total body irradiation (TBI) and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). There were 10 normal controls without pretreatment, 10 rats in TBI group, 15 rats received TBI and DLI. The expression of perforin and granzyme in CD8⁺T cells and the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺cells in peripheral circulation were measured by flow cytometry. The level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in medium supernatant of cultured CD8⁺T cells was tested with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SAA mouse model was established to study the recovery of hemogram and survival time after treatment. Results: A total of 16 SAA patients were enrolled, and there were 10 males and 6 females, with a median age of 35 (22-49) years. Tacrolimus inhibited the proliferation of CD8⁺T cells when IL-2 concentration was 20.0,200.0 and 2 000.0 U/ml (P<0.05). The expression of perforin in CD8⁺T cells of SAA patients treated with tacrolimus was significantly lower than that in blank control group and IL-2 group [(2.25±0.76)%, (6.70±0.82)% vs (9.10±1.90)%,all P<0.05]. The level of IFN-γ in CD8⁺T cells group after applying tacrolimus was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.05). After 10 days of administration, the peripheral blood hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts of SAA mice in tacrolimus group were all higher than those in SAA group (all P<0.05). The expression of perforin in CD8⁺T cells in tacrolimus group was significantly lower than that in SAA group [(18. 39±6.65) vs (29. 99±9.83),P<0.05]. The median survival time of SAA group was 18.6 days, and the 90 day survival rate was 0. The median survival time of tacrolimus group was 44.6 days, and the 90 day survival rate was 80%. The survival time of SAA mice in tacrolimus group was significantly longer than that in SAA group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The immunomodulatory effect of tacrolimus in SAA is similar to CsA. It has an immunosupressive effect on CD8⁺T lymphocyte.

Targeted Sequencing of Taiwanese Breast Cancer with Risk Stratification by the Concurrent Genes Signature: A Feasibility Study

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in Taiwan, while conventional clinical and pathological factors fail to provide full explanation for prognostic heterogeneity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of targeted sequencing combined with concurrent genes signature to identify somatic mutations with clinical significance. The extended concurrent genes signature was based on the coherent patterns between genomic and transcriptional alterations. Targeted sequencing of 61 Taiwanese breast cancers revealed 1036 variants, including 76 pathogenic and 545 likely pathogenic variants based on the ACMG classification. The most frequently mutated genes were NOTCH, BRCA1, AR, ERBB2, FANCA, ATM, and BRCA2 and the most common pathogenic deletions were FGFR1, ATM, and WT1, while BRCA1 (rs1799965), FGFR2 (missense), and BRCA1 (rs1799949) were recurrent pathogenic SNPs. In addition, 38 breast cancers were predicted into 12 high-risk and 26 low-risk cases based on the extended concurrent genes signature, while the pathogenic PIK3CA variant (rs121913279) was significantly mutated between groups. Two deleterious SH3GLB2 mutations were further revealed by multivariate Cox’s regression (hazard ratios: 29.4 and 16.1). In addition, we identified several significantly mutated or pathogenic variants associated with differentially expressed signature genes. The feasibility of targeted sequencing in combination with concurrent genes risk stratification was ascertained. Future study to validate clinical applicability and evaluate potential actionability for Taiwanese breast cancers should be initiated.

[Genomic characterization of food-borne Listeria monocytogenes isolates from Nanshan district of Shenzhen during 2009-2019]

Objective: The study aims to investigate the characteristic baseline information about genetic lineages, drug-resistance genes, virulence genes and evolutionary relationships of food-borne Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) isolates from Nanshan district of Shenzhen. Methods: The whole genomes of 46 Lm isolates during 2009-2019 were extracted and sequenced (Illumina PE-150, 100×). The CLC Genomics Workbench 12.0 was used to assemble and align Lm genomes, analyze their housekeeping genes, drug-resistance genes and virulence genes, and construct a k-mer phylogenetic tree. Results: After assembly, all genomes satisfied analytical conditions (contigs N50>20 kb). The medians of GC content, gene count and gene size were 38.3%, 5 960 and 2 952 608 bp, respectively. Based on the Lm genomic reference database, the local k-mer phylogenetic tree had 14 clusters of which the genetic distance was wide. The 46 Lm isolates were classified as Lineage 1 (21), Lineage 2 (23) and Lineage 3 (2). The most common ST type of Lineage 1 was ST87, followed by ST3, ST59, ST224 and ST429, whereas the major ST types of Lineage 2 included ST8 and ST9, the rest being ST121, ST155, ST199, ST204 and ST321. However, Lineage 3 only had ST299. The part of Lm strains carried five drug-resistance genes, such as fosX (17), tetM (6), dfrG (4), catB3 (1) and mefA (1). Furthermore, all strains possessed nine virulence genes, including flaA, iap, actA, hly, mpl, prfA, plcA, plcB and inlB. Nevertheless, six isolates and three of them respectively carried the mutant inlA and inlJ, and other two isolates lacked inlC. Conclusion: The food-borne Lm isolates from Nanshan district of Shenzhen presented genetic and evolutionary diversity. Noted that the drug-resistant strains, which also owned abundant virulence genes with specific functions, could lead to serious infections, particularly those isolates from raw poultry and Flammulina velutipes. It was implied that the local region was at risk due to Listeriosis by food. This study offered reference for prevention, control and treatment of Lm infection to the Greater Bay Area.