In vitro and in vivo toxic effects and inflammatory responses induced by carboxylated black carbon-lead complex exposure

Black carbon (BC) is a key component of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and it tends to adsorb various pollutants (e.g., heavy metals and organics) during atmospheric transport. This adsorption leads to the complexity and uncertainty of the source and chemical composition of PM_2.5, making the toxicologic effects and health risks induced by PM2.5 difficult to determine. Here, we used carboxylated black carbon (c-BC) and c-BC-lead complexes (c-BC-Pb) to investigate the in vitro and in vivo toxic effects and inflammatory responses. The physicochemical properties of c-BC and c-BC-Pb complexes were characterized by the transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and in ductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectra (ICP-AES). Cytotoxicity in vitro showed that the exposure of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) to low-dose c-BC-Pb particles significantly induced greater toxicity than that of c-BC, suggesting that lead (Pb) might play an important role in induced cytotoxicity after combined exposure to c-BC-Pb particles. The findings were further confirmed by the results in vivo, which indicated that c-BC-Pb particles significantly induced inflammation and lung injury. Based on the results of this experiment, the differences in toxicity can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Pb on the BC particles, which play a synergistic role in vitro and in vivo in the development of toxicity. The c-BC-Pb particles model used in this study may be helpful for the evaluation of cytotoxicity induced by different sources of BC particles or BC-heavy metal complexes and provide a new approach for understanding PM_2.5-induced toxicity and health risks.

A signal-decreased electrochemical immunosensor for the sensitive detection of LAG-3 protein based on a hollow nanobox-MOFs/AuPt alloy

In this work, hollow nanobox metal-organic framework (HNM) nanocomposites were synthesised and utilised for the first time in a signal decreased electrochemical immunosensor for the ultrasensitive quantitative determination of lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) protein, which is a newly discovered biomarker. With the aid of signal materials, namely, SiO₂-tagged anti-LAG-3 antibody (SiO₂-Ab₂) and the biotin-streptavidin system, the sensor can achieve signal amplification. Encapsulation of tin dioxide-functionalised reduced graphene oxide (rGO-SnO₂) and gold and platinum alloys (AuPt alloys) onto the surface of hollow nanobox metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was performed to prepare rGO-SnO₂/hollow nanobox-MOFs/AuPt alloys (rGO-SnO₂/HNMs/AuPt) as the matrix. SiO₂-Ab₂, which is used as the signal-decreased label, can be utilised to enhance the distinction of the electrochemical signal after the specific recognition between antibodies and antigens, owing to its large steric hindrance property. In this sensor, this proposed sandwich immunosensor can achieve a high sensitivity, especially in the presence of low concentrations of the LAG-3 protein. Under optimal conditions, this sandwich-designed immunosensor exhibited a sensitive detection of the LAG-3 protein from concentrations of 0.01 ng mL^-1 to 1 μg mL^-1, with a lower detection limit of 1.1 pg mL^-1 (based on 3σ). We proposed that this ultrasensitive biosensor can be utilised for the detection of the LAG-3 protein in early clinical tumour diagnosis.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluations of some steryl 2-methoxybenzoates as anticancer agents

Using cholesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol as starting materials, a series of 7-subsitituted-ster-3-yl 2-methoxybenzoate analogs were prepared through reacting with 2-methoxybenzoyl chloride and introducing some function groups, such as carbonyl, hydroxyl and various thiosemicarbazones, at 7-position of steroidal nucleus. The structures of these new compounds were characterized by IR, NMR and HRMS. Their antiproliferative activities were evaluated by using several types of cancer cells. Interestingly, the compounds displayed potent antiproliferative activity against CNE-2 (nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines), BEL-7402 (human liver cancer cell lines) and HepG2 (human liver cancer cell lines), suggesting that they have potential to be drug candidates for cancer treatment.

Three Phase-Grating Moiré Neutron Interferometer for Large Interferometer Area Applications

We demonstrate a three phase-grating moiré neutron interferometer in a highly intense neutron beam as a robust candidate for large area interferometry applications and for the characterization of materials. This novel far-field moiré technique allows for broad wavelength acceptance and relaxed requirements related to fabrication and alignment, thus circumventing the main obstacles associated with perfect crystal neutron interferometry. We observed interference fringes with an interferometer length of 4 m and examined the effects of an aluminum 6061 alloy sample on the coherence of the system. Experiments to measure the autocorrelation length of samples and the universal gravitational constant are proposed and discussed.

The impact of nitrogen enrichment on grassland ecosystem stability depends on nitrogen addition level

Increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition may affect plant biodiversity, subsequently altering ecosystem stability. While a few studies have explored how simulated N deposition affects community stability and its underlying mechanisms, the experimental levels of N addition used are usually higher than current and future N deposition rates. Thus, their results could produce highly uncertain predictions of ecosystem function, especially if the responses to N deposition are nonlinear. We conducted a manipulative experiment that simulated elevated atmospheric N deposition with several N addition levels to evaluate the effect of N deposition on ecosystem stability and its underlying mechanisms in a semiarid grassland in northern China. Here we show that N addition altered community diversity, reducing species richness, evenness, diversity and dominance. In addition, we found that N addition at current N deposition levels had no significant impact on community stability. In contrast, N addition at levels from 4.6 to 13.8gNm^-2yr^-1 significantly decreased community stability, although community stability for the 13.8gNm^-2yr^-1 treatment was higher than that for the 4.6gNm^-2yr^-1 treatment. These results indicate that the response of community stability to N enrichment is nonlinear. This nonlinear change in community stability was positively correlated with species asynchrony, species richness, and species diversity as well as the stability of dominant species and the stability of the grass functional group. Our data suggest a need to re-evaluate the mechanisms responsible for the effects of N deposition on natural ecosystem stability across multiple levels of N enrichment and that additional experimentation with gradients of N loads more similar to future atmospheric N deposition rates is needed.

Abstract PD1-15: The landscape of somatic genetic alterations in breast cancers from ATM germline mutation carriers

Introduction:Pathogenic and/or founder germline variants in the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene confer an increased breast cancer (BC) risk. The protein kinase ATM plays a central role inDNA double-strand break-repair and in the activation of downstream targets such as p53 and BRCA1. We sought to define the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations of BCs from patients with pathogenic germline ATM mutations and whether somatic loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of ATM would be present in these cancers.

Methods: 21 BCs from ATM germline mutation carriers were microdissected. Tumor and normal DNA samples were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES, n=12) or massively parallel sequencing targeting all coding regions and selected intronic and regulatory regions of 410 key cancer genes (n=9). Somatic mutations, copy number alterations, cancer cell fractions, large-scale state transitions (LSTs) and mutational signatures were defined using state-of-the-art bioinformatics algorithms. ABSOLUTE and FACETS were employed to assess LOH of the wild-type allele of ATM.

Results: Of the patients included in this study, 71%, 24% and 5% of cases harbored ATM missense (all but one p.V2424G), frame-shift and nonsense germline mutations, respectively. All tumors were ER-positive and four (19%) were HER2-positive. The median age of the patients was 46 years (32–79 years). Our analyses revealed biallelic inactivation of ATM through LOH of the wild-type allele in 16 of 21 cases (76%), and second somatic ATM mutations were not found. The median number of non-synonymous somatic mutations was 38 (range 15-113) and 2 (range 0-8)in tumors subjected to WES and targeted sequencing, respectively. The repertoire of somatic genetic alterations of ATM-associated BCs was found to be heterogeneous, including clonal PIK3CA mutations (24%), GATA3 mutations (19%), FANCI amplifications (19%) and CCND1 amplifications (14%). Importantly, however, no somatic mutations affecting TP53 were found. Analysis of the WES data revealed that 5 (42%) ATM-associated BCs displayed high LST scores, all of which harbored bi-allelic ATM inactivation. In contrast to BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated BCs, which frequently display the mutational signature 3 associated with defective homologous recombination DNA repair, the ATM-associated BCs studied displayed the ageing mutational signature (i.e. signature 1). Comparison of the mutational profiles of the ATM--associated BCs subjected to WES (n=12) with those of BRCA1- (n=11) and BRCA2-associated (n=10) BCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that TP53 was more frequently mutated in BCs from BRCA1 germline mutation carriers (0% vs 72%, P<0.001), while no differences with BRCA2-associated BCs were found.

Conclusion: ATM-associated BCs frequently display bi-allelic ATM inactivation through LOH of the wild-type allele and a subset of these cases displayed high levels of LSTs. These findings suggest that at least in a subset of ATM-associated BCs, biallelic inactivation of ATM rather than a dominant negative effect of the germline mutation may be the mechanism of inactivation of this tumor suppressor gene. The repertoire of somatic genetic alterations of ATM-associated BCs is heterogeneous, with a noticeable lack of TP53 somatic mutations.

Citation Format: Weigelt B, Bi R, Kumar R, James PA, Thorne H, Couch FJ, Eccles DM, Blows F, Geyer FC, Li A, Selenica P, Lim RS, Blecua P, Shen R, Wen H, Robson ME, Reis-Filho JS, Chenevix-Trench G. The landscape of somatic genetic alterations in breast cancers from ATM germline mutation carriers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD1-15.

Integrating In Vitro, Modeling, and In Vivo Approaches to Investigate Warfarin Bioequivalence

We demonstrate the use of modeling and simulation to investigate bioequivalence (BE) concerns raised about generic warfarin products. To test the hypothesis that the loss of isopropyl alcohol and slow dissolution in acidic pH has significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin sodium tablets, we conducted physiologically based pharmacokinetic absorption modeling and simulation using formulation factors or in vitro dissolution profiles as input parameters. Sensitivity analyses indicated that warfarin pharmacokinetics was not sensitive to solubility, particle size, density, or dissolution rate in pH 4.5, but was affected by dissolution rate in pH 6.8 and potency. Virtual BE studies suggested that stressed warfarin sodium tablets with slow dissolution rate in pH 4.5 but having similar dissolution rate in pH 6.8 would be bioequivalent to the unstressed warfarin sodium tablets. A four‐way, crossover, single‐dose BE study in healthy subjects was conducted to test the same hypothesis and confirmed the simulation conclusion.

[Epidemiological analysis of GJB2,SLC26A4,mtRNA,GJB3 in nonsyndromic hearing loss in Kashi in Xinjiang]

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological analysis of the GJB2,SLC26A4,mtRNA and GJB3 gene in nonsyndromic hearing loss in Kashi in Xinjiang.Method:In this study, we analyzed the mutations of GJB2, SLC26A4, mitochondrial mtRNA and GJB3 gene mutations in 629 cases of patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss in Kashi in Xinjiang by using the gene kit. Result:The proportion of GJB2 gene mutation was 60.29%（41/68）, the SLC26A4 and mtRNA were 8.82%（6/68）and 30.88%（21/68）respectively. Conclusion:GJB2 gene, SLC26A4, mtRNA gene are common cause of nonsyndromic hearing loss in Xinjiang.

Identification of early diagnostic antigens in soluble proteins of Trichinella spiralis adult worms by Western blot

Previous studies showed that crude antigens from Trichinella spiralis adult worms (AW) can be recognized by mouse infection sera at 8 days post infection. The aim of this study was to identify the early diagnostic antigenic bands in soluble proteins from T. spiralis AW by Western blot using early infection sera. The affecting factors of adult recovery were firstly observed in this study, and the results showed that the maximum number of adults was collected from small intestine when the female BALB/c mice were orally infected with 4000 ML and sacrificed at 3 days post infection. The results of Western blot analysis showed that seven protein bands (31, 35.1, 39, 40.6, 41.9, 47 and 50.6 kDa) could be recognized by early infection sera as early as at 8-10 days post infection, and were strongly reacted with mouse infection sera at 11-12 days post infection. Our results suggested that the seven protein bands of T. spiralis AW soluble proteins might be the early expressed antigens during the intestinal stage of Trichinella infection and therefore have potential value for the early diagnosis of trichinellosis.

[Systematic review of feasibility, safety and efficacy of ex situ liver resection and autotransplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficiency of ex situ liver resection (ESLR)technique in patients with hepatocaval region involvement.

METHODS

A systematic research of the data bases CNKI, Wan Fang, CQVIP, PubMed, CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, Cochrane, International Clinical Transplantation Registration Platform and Transplant Library was performed. All the current data regarding the feasibility, safety, and oncological efficiency of ESLR was systematically reviewed. Feasibility, conversion to allo-transplantation rate, complication and 90-day mortality were analyzed.

RESULTS

A literature search revealed a total of 46 publications with 191 patients who underwent ex situ liver resection (101 autotransplantation, 90 ante-situm liver resection). The most common indication was hepatocellular carcinoma (49), followed by colorectal liver metastasis (37), hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (33) and cholangiocarcinoma (26). The feasibility rate was 84.5% (CI=76.6%-90.1%), the conversion to allo-transplantation rate was 13.5% (CI=8.5%-21.0%). Overall complication rate was 58.1% (CI=48.5%-67.1%), and complications grade Ⅲa or higher occurred in 43.1% (CI=33.6%-53.1%).90-day mortality was 19.5% (CI=12.7%-28.8%).

CONCLUSION

ESLR and autotransplantation technique is an effective surgical approach for hepatic tumor with hepatocaval region involvement. Strict control of surgical indications, preoperative evaluation and precise surgical technique is essential to success.

Clinical motivation and the surgical safety checklist

Background

Although the surgical safety checklist (SSC) has been adopted worldwide, its efficacy can be diminished by poor clinical motivation. Systematic methods for improving implementation are lacking.

Methods

A multicentre prospective study was conducted in 2015 in four academic/teaching hospitals to investigate changes during revision of the SSC for content, staffing and workflow. All modifications were based on feedback from medical staff. Questionnaires were used to monitor dynamic changes in surgeons', nurses' and anaesthetists' perceptions.

Results

Complete information was obtained from 30 654 operations in which the newly developed SSC system was used. Implementation quality was evaluated in 1852 operations before, and 1822 after the changes. The revised SSC content was simplified from 34 to 22 items. Anaesthetists achieved widespread recommendation as SSC coordinators. Completion rates of all stages reached over 80·0 per cent at all sites (compared with 10·2–59·5 per cent at the sign-out stage in the baseline survey). There was a significant change in doctors who participated (for example, surgeon: from 24·6 to 64·5 per cent at one site). The rates of hasty (15·1–33·7 per cent) or casual (0·4–4·4 per cent) checking decreased to less than 6·0 per cent overall. Perceptions about the SSC were studied from 2211 forms. They improved, with a converging trend among the three different professions, to a uniform 80·0 per cent agreeing on the need for its regular use.

Conclusion

Medical staff members are both the users and owners of the SSC. High-quality SSC implementation can be achieved by clinically motivated adaptation.

[The clinical practice of improvement the "Volume and Quality" of functional liver in autologous liver transplantation for the patients with alveolar echinococcosis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of accurate assessment of "volume and quality" of functional liver in Autologous liver transplantation (ALT) in the treatment of the advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). Methods: The clinical data of 12 patients with advanced HAE who underwent ALT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2015 to July 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The preoperative hepatic functions of 12 patients were 8 Child-Pugh Grade A, 1 Grade B, and 3 Grade C. Three of the patients had moderate or severe jaundice. Three of the patients calculated functional liver graft volume (GV) and standard liver volume (SLV) ratio (GV/SLV) were <30%. After the protection of liver function, anti-infection, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography drainage (PTCD), selective portal vein embolization (PVE), and staging liver resection, liver function Child-Pugh grade of 11 patients was raised to A grade, and the other patient was B grade, meanwhile the bilirubin was reduced to 2 times the normal value. The GV/SLV ratios of 3 patients with low GV/SLV ratio had reached 44.4%, 47.2% and 56.2% respectively. In this study, the GV/SLV ratios of the 12 patients were between 73.2% and 40.8% with an average of 55.6%. Operation time was 11.5-20.5 h, with an average of 12.3 h. Anhepatic phase time was 193-375 min with median 253.5 min. The red blood cell suspension was 0-6 U during the operation. The average hospitalization was 10-42 d, with the average 22.7 d. Total hospital costs were 121 600-434 800 Yuan, with the median cost of 174 400 Yuan. One patient died of septic shock a week after surgery. Conclusion: (1)ALT may provide feasibility for the advanced HAE. (2)Accurate assessment of functional liver "volume and quality" appeared as the key points to the ALT. (3)Precise surgery and individualized treatment could improve and protect the functional liver "volume and quality" .

A Molecular Basis for Innovation in Drug Excipients

Excipients are ubiquitous in drug formulation, ensuring that active ingredient drugs are properly released on dosing, retain their properties over time, and are palatable, among other roles. Despite their crucial roles, surprisingly little is known about their systemic availability and activities on molecular targets. Here we review key excipient properties, introduce a public-accessible database that enumerates and categorizes them, and sketch a strategy for exploring their possible direct actions on molecular targets.

Stereoselectivity of tradinterol's inhibition on proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells induced by acetylcholine through suppressing Ca(2+) signalling

The objective of this study is to investigate whether the inhibition of tradinterol (SPFF) against acetylcholine (ACh)-induced proliferation is mediated by Ca(2+) signaling in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), and whether stereoselectivity of the drug exists. Guinea pig ASMCs were primarily prepared with the method described and treated with ACh combined to SPFF isomers for 24 or 48 hours, respectively. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the proliferation of the guinea pig ASMCs. Ca(2+) fluorescent intensity in the guinea pig ASMCs, expressed with percentage increase in fluorescence when the intensity was determined with varioskan flash or shown with percentage increase in Geo Mean (GM) measured with flow cytometry, was recorded. Images of the intensity were obtained with fluorescent microscope. 2-APB, an (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor) IP3R blocker, and NiCl2, a store-operated channel (SOC) inhibitor, were used to investigate the mechanism of SPFF isomers regulating intracellular Ca(2+) via IP3R on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and/or SOC on plasma membrane. (-)SPFF and (±)SPFF, treated for 48 hours, showed significant inhibition against ACh-induced proliferation. The Ca(2+) elevation induced by ACh was concentration-dependently suppressed by SPFF isomers. (-)SPFF is the most effective but the potency of (±)SPFF is less than that of the former and stronger than that of (+)SPFF based on the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value. No significant additive effect was observed when (-)SPFF/(±)SPFF was used alone and combined with NiCl2/2-APB. As far as (+)SPFF is concerned, no similar phenomenon was observed. (-)SPFF and (±)SPFF but (+)SPFF showed significant inhibition against the percentage increase in fluorescence induced by CaCl2. It is likely that the influence of IP2RSOC-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in ASMCs helps (-)SPFF and (±)SPFF contribute to the suppression of ASMCs proliferation. Stereoselectivity of SPFF isomers may lead to different levels of suppression of ACh-induced intracellular Ca(2+) and ASMCs proliferation. Moreover, cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry was applied to the evaluation of the action in human ASMCs in order to further confirm the anti-proliferative effect of the drugs. It was found that (-)SPFF, (±)SPFF but (+)SPFF suppressed the elevated rate of cell population in Phase S over all the cells stimulated with ACh, when SPFF and its isomers were individually exposed to the cells for 72 hours. These results that demonstrate the different stereoselective activities of SPFF are in consistent with those obtained from the guinea pig ASMCs.

EGFR-targeted mAb therapy modulates autophagy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through NLRX1-TUFM protein complex

EGFR-targeted therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients frequently results in tumor resistance to treatment. Autophagy is an emerging underlying resistance mechanism, however, the molecular autophagy machinery in HNSCC cells and potential biomarkers of patient response to EGFR-targeted therapy remain insufficiently characterized. Here we show that the EGFR blocking with cetuximab leads to varied autophagic responses, which modulate cancer cell susceptibility to EGFR inhibition. Inhibition of autophagy sensitizes HNSCC cells to EGFR blockade. Importantly, we identify a novel signaling hub centering on the NLRX1-TUFM protein complex, promoting autophagic flux. Defects in the expression of either NLRX1 or TUFM result in compromised autophagy when treated with EGFR inhibitors. As a previously undefined autophagy-promoting mechanism, we found that TUFM serves as a novel anchorage site, recruiting Beclin-1 to mitochondria, promoting its polyubiquitination, and interfering with its interaction with Rubicon. This protein complex is also essential for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling induction, possibly as an additional mechanism to promote autophagy. Utilizing tumor specimens from a novel neoadjuvant clinical trial, we show that increased expression of the autophagy adaptor protein, SQSTM1/p62, is associated with poor response to cetuximab therapy. These findings expand our understanding of the components involved in HNSCC autophagy machinery that responds to EGFR inhibitors, and suggest potential combinatorial approaches to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

Micro-CT scouting for transmission electron microscopy of human tissue specimens

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides sub-nanometre-scale details in volumetric samples. Samples such as pathology tissue specimens are often stained with a metal element to enhance contrast, which makes them opaque to optical microscopes. As a result, it can be a lengthy procedure to find the region of interest inside a sample through sectioning. We describe micro-CT scouting for TEM that allows noninvasive identification of regions of interest within a block sample to guide the sectioning step. In a tissue pathology study, a bench-top micro-CT scanner with 10 μm resolution was used to determine the location of patches of the mucous membrane in osmium-stained human nasal scraping samples. Once the regions of interest were located, the sample block was sectioned to expose that location, followed by ultra-thin sectioning and TEM to inspect the internal structure of the cilia of the membrane epithelial cells with nanometre resolution. This method substantially reduced the time and labour of the search process from typically 20 sections for light microscopy to three sections with no added sample preparation.

Ex Vivo Liver Resection and Autotransplantation for End-Stage Alveolar Echinococcosis: A Case Series

The role of autotransplantation in end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is unclear. We aimed to present our 15-case experience and propose selection criteria for autotransplantation. All patients were considered to have unresectable hepatic AE by conventional resection due to critical invasion to retrohepatic vena cava, hepatocaval region along with three hepatic veins, and the tertiary portal and arterial branches. All patients successfully underwent ex vivo extended right hepatectomy and autotransplantation without intraoperative mortality. The median autograft weight was 706 g (380-1000 g); operative time was 15.5 hours (11.5-20.5 hours); and anhepatic time was 283.8 minutes (180-435 min). Postoperative hospital stay was 32.3 days (12-60 days). Postoperative complication Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa or higher occurred in three patients including one death that occurred 12 days after the surgery due to acute liver failure. One patient was lost to follow-up after the sixth month. Thirteen patients were followed for a median of 21.6 months with no relapse. This is the largest reported series of patients with end-stage hepatic AE treated with liver autotransplantation. The technique requires neither organ donor nor postoperative immunosuppressant. The early postoperative mortality was low with acceptable morbidity. Preoperative precise assessment and strict patient selection are of utmost importance.

Human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is known to be endemic in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China; however, there is relatively little data from hospital records or community prevalence studies, and the situation regarding occurrence of human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is unclear. Here we review the available reports about human echinococcosis in the seven prefectures of TAR. In addition, two pilot studies by mass screening using ultrasound (with serology) were undertaken (2006/7) in Dangxiong County of Lhasa Prefecture (north central TAR) and Dingqing County of Changdu Prefecture (eastern TAR). In Dangxiong County a prevalence of 9.9% (55/557) for human CE was obtained but no human AE cases were detected. By contrast, in Dingqing County (N= 232 persons screened), 11 CE cases (4.7%) and 12 AE cases (5.2%) (including one mixed CE and AE case) were diagnosed by ultrasound. Hospital records and published reports indicated that CE cases were recorded in all of seven prefectures in Tibet Autonomous Region, and AE cases in four prefectures. Incidence rates of human CE were estimated to range from 1.9 to 155 per 100,000 across the seven prefectures of TAR, with a regional incidence of 45.1 per 100,000. Incidence of AE was estimated to be between 0.6 and 2.8 cases per 100,000. Overall for TAR, human AE prevalence appeared relatively low; however, the pilot mass screening in Dingqing in eastern TAR indicated that human AE disease is a potential public health problem, possibly similar to that already well described in Tibetan communities bordering TAR in north-west Sichuan and south-west Qinghai provinces.

Rap1 is indispensable for TRF2 function in etoposide-induced DNA damage response in gastric cancer cell line

The telomeric protein TRF2, involving in telomeric and extratelomeric DNA damage response, has been previously reported to facilitate multidrug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells by interfering ATM-dependent DNA damage response induced by anticancer drugs. Rap1 is the TRF2-interacting protein in the shelterin complex. Complex formation between Rap1 and TRF2 is essential for their function in telomere and end protection. Here we focus on the effects of Rap1 on TRF2 function in DNA damage response induced by anticancer drugs. Both Rap1 and TRF2 expression were upregulated in SGC7901 and its MDR variant SGC7901/VCR after etoposide treatment, which was more marked in SGC7901/VCR than in SGC7901. Rap1 silencing by siRNA in SGC7901/VCR partially reversed the etoposide resistance. And Rap1 silencing partially reversed the TRF2-mediated resistance to etoposide in SGC7901. Rap1 silencing did not affect the TRF2 upregulation induced by etoposide, but eliminated the inhibition effect of TRF2 on ATM expression and ATM phosphorylation at serine 1981 (ATM pS1981). Furthermore, phosphorylation of ATM targets, including γH2AX and serine 15 (S15) on p53, were increased in Rap1 silencing cells in response to etoposide. Thus, we confirm that Rap1, interacting with TRF2 in the shelterin complex, also has an important role in TRF2-mediated DNA damage response in gastric cancer cells treated by etoposide.

The production and comparative evaluation of native and recombinant antigens for the fast serodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis with dot immunogold filtration assay

Clinical diagnosis and post-surgery assessment of cystic echinococcosis depend on laboratory serodiagnosis and ultrasound examinations. This study aims to produce the recombinant antigen (rAgB) and compare its diagnostic effect with natural antigens (crude fluid antigen, protoscolex antigen). After rAgB, crude fluid antigen, protoscolex antigen were produced, and the diagnostic accuracy was evaluated with dot immunogold filtration assay (DIGFA) by the sera from the following groups: surgically confirmed cystic echinococcosis patients (n = 113), alveolar echinococcosis patients (n = 46), other parasitic diseases (n = 49), nonparasitic hepatic diseases (n = 63) and healthy people (n = 121). In diagnosing cystic echinococcosis, the sensitivity of recombinant AgB was 77.9% and the specificity was 98.3%. The crude fluid antigen B showed a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 81.0%. The protoscolex antigen had sensitivity of 87.6% and specificity of 90.9%. The recombinant AgB indicates the advantage of no cross-reaction with other parasite diseases or nonparasite hepatic diseases. Recombinant antigen B can improve the specificity but decrease the sensitivity. The combination of native and recombinant antigens will improve the overall performance of serodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis.

Diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin in solid organ transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to define the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in identifying infectious complication in organ transplant recipients.

METHODS

We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane database, and reference lists of relevant articles, with no language restrictions, published from inception through May 2013. We selected original research that reported the diagnostic performance of PCT alone or when compared with other biomarkers to diagnose infectious complication among organ transplant recipients. We summarized test performance characteristics with the use of forest plots, hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves, and bivariate random-effects models.

RESULTS

We found 7 qualifying studies (studying 1226 episodes of suspected infection with 186 confirmed infectious episodes) from 4 countries. The patients were lung, kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients. Bivariate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios for identification of bacterial infections in patients after transplantation were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75%-92%), 81% (95% CI, 72%-88%), 4.41 (95% CI, 2.86-6.81), and 0.18 (95% CI, 0.10-0.33), respectively. Of the 4 studies that reported the experience of liver transplant patients, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios were 90% (95% CI, 75%-97%), 85% (95% CI, 77%-91%), 6.12 (95% CI, 3.79-9.88), and 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04-0.32), respectively. There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

The existing literature suggests reasonable sensitivity and specificity for the PCT test in identifying infection complications among patients undergoing solid organ transplantation. Given the imperfect sensitivity and specificity of the PCT test, medical decisions should be based on both PCT test results and clinical findings.

Association between polymorphisms in ADAM33, CD14, and TLR4 with asthma in the Uygur population in China

We evaluated the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the genes encoding a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 (ADAM33), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the susceptibility of developing specific adult phenotypes of bronchial asthma in a Chinese Uygur population. Five SNPs of ADAM33 (T1, T2, and V4), 3 SNPs of CD14 (-1359G/T, -1145G/A, and -159T/C), and 2 SNPs of TLR4 (-896A/G and -1196C/T) were genotyped in a Chinese Uygur sample of 126 adult asthmatic patients and 126 control subjects. Gene polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The genotyping results were confirmed in a random subgroup of our samples using direct DNA sequencing. The allele frequencies of ADAM33 T1 (TC), T2 (AG), and V4 (GG) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P<0.05). The genotypes T1 (TC+CC), T2 (AG+AA), and V4 (CG+GG) significantly increased the risk of asthma. After adjusting for confounding factors, these associations were stronger and remained significant. The T1 (TC) and V4 (GG) genotypes in the ADAM33 gene were associated with significantly decreased FEV1 levels in patients with asthma. The haplotype frequencies of Hap3 (CAC) and Hap4 (CAG) were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P<0.05). Our results suggest that polymorphisms T1, T2, and V4 in ADAM33 may contribute to the susceptibility to asthma. Specific haplotypes of ADAM33 may contribute to a higher susceptibility to asthma in the Chinese Uygur population.

Humoural immune response and pathological analysis in patients with false immune diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis

The patients with false immune diagnosis of hydatid disease were investigated for the humoural immune response to analyse the possible reasons and mechanism leading to false immune diagnosis. Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with nature-unknown cysts and 30 healthy controls were detected by immunological assays (four hydatid antigen-based immunogold filtration assay and enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay) and ultrasound. Sensitivity of and specificity of immunological assay and ultrasound were calculated, respectively. The serological diagnosis was compared with surgical pathology to screen the patients with false immune diagnosis for the immunoglobulin measurement and pathological analysis. The history and cyst characteristics were also reviewed. The results indicate the immunoglobulin has little influence on false immunodiagnosis. The false-negative immunodiagnosis was caused by the cysts' inactive status while the false positive caused by previous rupture, antigen cross-reaction. The clinical diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis requires a combination of immunodiagnosis and ultrasonography, which is the necessary complementary confirmation.

Percutaneous quadriceps tendon pie-crusting release of extension contracture of the knee

To release extension contracture of the knee, the authors used a minimally invasive technique: percutaneous quadriceps tendon pie-crusting release. Percutaneous pie-crusting release was performed using an 18-gauge needle to puncture the stiff fibrous band of the distal and lateral quadriceps tendon under maximum knee flexion. Quadriceps contracture was gradually released by multiple needle punctures. A knee brace was prescribed for one week and knee flexion exercises were performed on the first postoperative day. This technique was performed in seven post-traumatic stiff knees and five stiff total knee arthroplasties. Mean maximum flexion increased from 37° preoperatively to 50° after arthrolysis and 107(o) after pie-crusting. At a mean follow-up of eight months, mean maximum flexion was 103°. There were no major complications. The technique of quadriceps tendon pie-crusting release is a simple, minimally invasive and effective treatment for knee extension contracture.

Transient crystalline superlattice generated by a photoacoustic transducer

Designing an efficient and simple method for modulating the intensity of x-ray radiation on a picosecond time-scale has the potential to produce ultrafast pulses of hard x-rays. In this work, we generate a tunable transient superlattice, in an otherwise perfect crystal, by photoexciting a metal film on a crystalline substrate. The resulting transient strain has amplitudes approaching 1%, wavevectors greater than [Formula: see text], and lifetimes approaching 1 ns. This method has the potential to generate isolated picosecond x-ray bursts with scattering efficiencies in excess of 10%.

An improved dosage regimen of sertraline hydrochloride in the treatment for premature ejaculation: an 8-week, single-blind, randomized controlled study followed by a 4-week, open-label extension study

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of an improved dosage regimen of sertraline in patients with premature ejaculation (PE) and to examine whether the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) can be used as a measure of treatment response in these patients.

METHODS

A total of 218 PE patients were randomized into control (n = 61) and treatment (n = 157) groups to receive mycelium of cordyceps sinensis C4 and sertraline 50 mg daily for 8 weeks, respectively. Following this blinded stage, sixty-three patients chose to take sertraline 100 mg daily for an additional 4-week period, and 80 other patients continued treatment with sertraline 50 mg. Main outcome measures include intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), PEDT score and Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) score.

RESULTS

At weeks 4 and 8, mean IELT of patients who subsequently chose to take 100 mg of sertraline was significantly lower than that of patients who continued taking 50 mg of sertraline, although the IELT value was comparable between the two groups of patients at baseline. However, with an additional 4-week treatment, the mean IELT increased significantly more in the 100-mg group than in the 50-mg continuation group. Similar results were also obtained in the analyses of the PEDT and CGIC scores. Both regimens were well tolerated, and relapse rate did not differ significantly between the two groups.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that PE patients not responding to an 8-week treatment with sertraline 50 mg can benefit from an additional 4-week treatment with sertraline 100 mg and that the PEDT may be a valid measure of treatment response in PE patients.

The mechanism of ultrafast structural switching in superionic copper (I) sulphide nanocrystals

Superionic materials are multi-component solids with simultaneous characteristics of both a solid and a liquid. Above a critical temperature associated with a structural phase transition, they exhibit liquid-like ionic conductivities and dynamic disorder within a rigid crystalline structure. Broad applications as electrochemical storage materials and resistive switching devices follow from this abrupt change in ionic mobility, but the microscopic pathways and speed limits associated with this switching process are largely unknown. Here we use ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy and scattering techniques to obtain an atomic-level, real-time view of the transition state in copper sulphide nanocrystals. We observe the transformation to occur on a twenty picosecond timescale and show that this is determined by the ionic hopping time.

Alterations of the default mode network in functional dyspepsia patients: a resting-state fmri study

BACKGROUND

Increasing brain imaging studies have emphasized the role of regional brain activity abnormalities in functional dyspepsia (FD) during the resting state. The goal of this study was to investigate the default mode network (DMN) in FD patients and healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was carried out on 49 patients and 39 HCs. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to isolate the DMN in each subject. Group topography of the DMN was compared to study significant alteration in FD. A correlation analysis was then performed in the FD group to investigate the effects of symptom severity and the psychological factors on the DMN.

KEY RESULTS

Significant spatial differences with the DMN in FD patients, compared with HCs, were mainly found in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC), thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus, precuneus, parietal cortex, and temporal pole. Meanwhile, Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) scores were positively correlated with the pACC, and was negative correlated with the OFC. However, both the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were not correlated with any regions of interest showing differences between the FD patients and the HCs.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

These findings suggested that the DMN might indeed undergo dysfunctional changes due to the abnormal persistent activity in FD patients. To a certain extent, the changes in the DMN were related to the FD-related symptom severity.

Th17/Treg imbalance in patients with liver cystic echinococcosis

Echinococcosis is a chronic parasitic infectious disease regulated by T-cell subsets. CD4(+)  CD25(+)  FoxP3 (+)   regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells have been described as two distinct subsets and have the opposite effect on inflammation. Th17/Treg balance controls inflammation and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of immune evasion. To assess whether this balance was broken, we detected Th17/Treg functions in different levels including cell frequencies, related cytokines secretion and key transcription factors in patients with cystic echincoccosis and healthy controls. The results demonstrated that patients with cystic echinococcosis revealed significant increase in peripheral Treg number, related cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β1) and transcription factor (Foxp3) levels and moderate decrease in Th17 number, related cytokines (IL-17 and IL-23) and transcription factor (RORγt) levels as compared with controls. Results indicated that Th17/Treg functional imbalance exists in patients with chronic cystic echinococcosis, suggesting a potential role for Th17/Treg imbalance in the pathogenesis of immune evasion in echinococcosis.

A new look at saponite formation and its implications for early animal records in the Ediacaran of South China

Acanthomorphic acritarch fossils, including some interpreted to be the fossils of the earliest animal embryos, first appear in the lower Doushantuo Formation of the Yangtze Gorges area (YGA). Further, the complete paleontological and geochemical record for the YGA has played a central role in defining the global biological and geochemical backdrop that presaged and witnessed the dawn of diverse animal life. Despite the importance of the YGA in our understanding of Neoproterozoic Earth history, basic aspects about its depositional history remain debated. Foremost among the controversies, extensively studied sections in the YGA were recently tied to deposition in an alkaline lake, casting new but contentious light on the environments of early animal evolution and the broader significance of geochemical records from the YGA. Arguments for a lacustrine setting hinged on the presence of trioctahedral clays (saponite-corrensite). However, this clay type commonly forms in other environments, including the weathering profiles of mafic and ultramafic volcanics. Using a coupled geochemical and sedimentological approach, we argue that the trioctahedral clays in the lower Doushantuo of the YGA are better explained as weathering products from a regional mafic-to-ultramafic hinterland delivered by rivers to a shelf or lagoon in the Yangtze Gorges Basin. These novel provenance relationships for YGA sediments and associated clays are consistent with a marine setting for the early animal records and must factor in our current understanding of the broader geochemical fabric of the Doushantuo Formation.

[Urinary BLCA-4 level is useful to detect upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

Upper urinary tract urothelial cell carcinomas (UUT-UCCs) are rare but usually invasive at diagnosis. Early diagnosis of UUT-UCCs is thus warranted. UUT has the same embryological origin with bladder and BLCA-4 is a highly sensitive and specific marker for bladder cancer. We intend to investigate the viability of BLCA-4 in detecting UUT-UCCs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Urines from 30 UUT-UCC patients, 10 ureteral polyp patients, 20 infected patients with incarcerated ureteral stones, and 30 normal controls were included. BLCA-4 antibody was produced and applied in an indirect ELISA assay.

RESULTS

Urinary BLCA-4 is significantly higher in UUT-UCC group than «Polyp» group (P=0.0017), «Infection» group (P<0.0001), or « Normal» group (P<0.0001). The «Polyp» group is also higher than «Infection» group (P=0.015), or «Normal» group (P=0.0009). ROC curve revealed at cut-off of 5.5×10(-4)A, sensitivity was 93.3% and specificity was 100%. When grouped as ureteral mass vs normal, same cut-off value yielded 93.3% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity. At 2.4×10(-4)A, sensitivity was 56.7% and specificity was 97.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary BLCA-4 is also highly specific in UUT-UCCs detection. For incidentally identified ureteral mass, BLCA-4 can be considered an auxiliary indicator besides biopsy.

Fabrication of 200 nanometer period centimeter area hard x-ray absorption gratings by multilayer deposition

We describe the design and fabrication trials of x-ray absorption gratings of 200 nm period and up to 100:1 depth-to-period ratios for full-field hard x-ray imaging applications. Hard x-ray phase-contrast imaging relies on gratings of ultra-small periods and sufficient depth to achieve high sensitivity. Current grating designs utilize lithographic processes to produce periodic vertical structures, where grating periods below 2.0 μm are difficult due to the extreme aspect ratios of the structures. In our design, multiple bilayers of x-ray transparent and opaque materials are deposited on a staircase substrate, and mostly on the floor surfaces of the steps only. When illuminated by an x-ray beam horizontally, the multilayer stack on each step functions as a micro-grating whose grating period is the thickness of a bilayer. The array of micro-gratings over the length of the staircase works as a single grating over a large area when continuity conditions are met. Since the layers can be nanometers thick and many microns wide, this design allows sub-micron grating periods and sufficient grating depth to modulate hard x-rays. We present the details of the fabrication process and diffraction profiles and contact radiography images showing successful intensity modulation of a 25 keV x-ray beam.

Exosome-mediated shuttling of microRNA-29 regulates HIV Tat and morphine-mediated neuronal dysfunction

Neuronal damage is a hallmark feature of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HANDs). Opiate drug abuse accelerates the incidence and progression of HAND; however, the mechanisms underlying the potentiation of neuropathogenesis by these drugs remain elusive. Opiates such as morphine have been shown to enhance HIV transactivation protein Tat-mediated toxicity in both human neurons and neuroblastoma cells. In the present study, we demonstrate reduced expression of the tropic factor platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B with a concomitant increase in miR-29b in the basal ganglia region of the brains of morphine-dependent simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques compared with the SIV-infected controls. In vitro relevance of these findings was corroborated in cultures of astrocytes exposed to morphine and HIV Tat that led to increased release of miR-29b in exosomes. Subsequent treatment of neuronal SH-SY5Y cell line with exosomes from treated astrocytes resulted in decreased expression of PDGF-B, with a concomitant decrease in viability of neurons. Furthermore, it was shown that PDGF-B was a target for miR-29b as evidenced by the fact that binding of miR-29 to the 3′-untranslated region of PDGF-B mRNA resulted in its translational repression in SH-SY5Y cells. Understanding the regulation of PDGF-B expression may provide insights into the development of potential therapeutic targets for neuronal loss in HIV-1-infected opiate abusers.

Demethylation of the FCER1G promoter leads to FcεRI overexpression on monocytes of patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Overexpression of the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E on atopic monocytes and dendritic cells is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, it remains unclear what is the underlying mechanism of FcεRI deregulation. It has been speculated that epigenetic deregulation may play a role.

METHODS

Global DNA methylation levels of monocytes from 10 AD patients and 10 healthy controls were measured using a global DNA methylation kit. Bisulfite sequencing was performed to determine the methylation status of the FCER1G promoter region. FcεRIγ mRNA and FcεRI protein levels were detected by real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and flow cytometry, respectively. Patch methylation and the demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, were used to determine the functional significance of methylation changes on FcεRI expression.

RESULTS

Monocytes from AD patients show a global hypomethylation, as well as a locus-specific hypomethylation at FCER1G promoter, as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, this hypomethylation of FCER1G is inversely correlated with its expression. Patch methylation in combination with luciferase reporter assay confirmed the direct relationship between methylation and expression. Moreover, treating healthy monocytes with 5-azacytidine caused a reduction in methylation levels and an induction in FcεRIγ transcription and surface expression of FcεRI.

CONCLUSION

Demethylation of specific regulatory elements within the FCER1G locus contributes to FcεRI overexpression on monocytes from patients with AD.