Notch signaling is involved in regulation of LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis through JNK/NF-kB signaling pathway

Notch signaling plays a critical role in the development and function of macrophages. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Notch signaling pathway and macrophage apoptosis after LPS stimulation. In RAW 264.7 cells, the mRNA expression of Jagged1, Hes1, Hes 5 and GM-CSF, and protein expression of NICD1 and GM-CSF were increased after LPS stimulation. Inhibition of Notch signaling by γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT and the suppression of Notch1 expression using siRNA both significantly prevented LPS induced activation of JNK and NF-kB, and simultaneously the expression of GM-CSF was also down regulated significantly. JNK inhibitor SP600125 was used to block the phosphorylation of JNK signaling, Western blot results showed that the activation of NF-kB was blocked and expression of GM-CSF was down-regulated. Finally, flow cytometry analyses showed that the Notch signaling was involved in the regulation of macrophage apoptosis after LPS stimulation. Our study showed that the Notch signaling pathway was activated and involved in the regulation of macrophage apoptosis after LPS stimulation through JNK/ NF-kB signaling regulated GM-CSF expression.

[A new method of measuring leg length discrepancy on radiograph in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty]

Objective: To investigate the reliability of the distance between the tip of the greater trochanter and inter-teardrop line (GT-IT) in evaluating the leg length discrepancy (LLD) in patients underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Patients who underwent THA in Xi'an Honghui Hospital from August 2015 to February 2016 were enrolled in this study.The patients were measured for bilateral hips anterior-posterior (AP) radiograph preoperatively and postoperatively.Four distances measured, included: GT-IT, the tip of lesser trochanter and bi-ischial line (LT-BI); LT-IT and the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial malleolus (ASIS-MM). Magnification factor was considered when calculating absolute values.Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to detect the reliability of the measurement data.Single factor analysis and paired t test were performed to compare data among the methods. Results: The ICC values of the four groups were greater than 0.80, which showed excellent agreement in the measurements.Single factor analysis of variance showed there were no statistically significant differences in the LLDs of the four groups preoperatively and postoperatively (F=0.914, 0.886, both P>0.05). There was no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative LLD between group GT-IT and group ASIS-MM, LT-BI or LT-IT(t=-1.544-1.114, all P>0.05). The LLDs were comparable between group LT-BI, ASIS-MM and LT-IT both preoperatively and postoperatively (t=1.577, 0.976, 1.344, -0.087, all P>0.05). And the LLD in group LT-IT and ASIS-MM were equivalent preoperatively and postoperatively (t=0.130, 1.063, both P>0.05). Bland-Altman plot illustrated high level of agreements between the four methods. Conclusion: Great reliability can be obtained with the GT-IT in evaluating the LLD in patients undergoing THA.

Global land-water nexus: Agricultural land and freshwater use embodied in worldwide supply chains

As agricultural land and freshwater inextricably interrelate and interact with each other, the conventional water and land policy in "silos" should give way to nexus thinking when formulating the land and water management strategies. This study constructs a systems multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model to expound global land-water nexus by simultaneously tracking agricultural land and freshwater use flows along the global supply chains. Furthermore, land productivity and irrigation water requirements of 160 crops in different regions are investigated to reflect the land-water linkage. Results show that developed economies (e.g., USA and Japan) and major large developing economies (e.g., mainland China and India) are the overriding drivers of agricultural land and freshwater use globally. In general, significant net transfers of these two resources are identified from resource-rich and less-developed economies to resource-poor and more-developed economies. For some crops, blue water productivity is inversely related to land productivity, indicating that irrigation water consumption is sometimes at odds with land use. The results could stimulus international cooperation for sustainable land and freshwater management targeting on original suppliers and final consumers along the global supply chains. Moreover, crop-specific land-water linkage could provide insights for trade-off decisions on minimizing the environmental impacts on local land and water resources.

Transluminal attenuation gradient and corrected models in coronary CT angiography for determining stenosis severity: a primary study using dual-source CT

AIM

To compare the incremental value of transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), TAG with corrected contrast opacification (TAG-CCO), and TAG with exclusion of calcified coronary segments (TAG-ExC) in determining the stenosis severity of coronary arteries using coronary angiography (CAG) as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and fifteen patients who underwent computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) and confirmed by coronary angiography (CAG) were included in the retrospective analysis. TAG, TAG-CCO, and TAG-ExC were calculated in 311 major epicardial coronary arteries. Changes in different TAG models were compared with corresponding stenosis severities ascertained by CAG. The diagnostic performances of TAG, TAG-CCO, TAG-ExC, and the TAG/CTCA, TAG-CCO/CTCA, and TAG-ExC/CTCA combinations over CTCA alone in evaluating stenosis severity were then analysed and compared. Furthermore, the incremental value of the TAG and the corrected models in the reclassification of CTCA-evaluated stenosis severity were calculated.

RESULTS

TAG, TAG-CCO, and TAG-ExC decreased gradually with increased stenosis severity (p<0.001 for all TAG models). TAG and TAG-ExC improved the diagnostic performance over CTCA in total vessel evaluation (c statistic= 0.926 versus 0.907, p=0.018; c statistic= 0.922 versus 0.907, p=0.030, respectively), but TAG-CCO did not. Meanwhile, adding TAG to CTCA enabled a significant reclassification in calcified vessels (n=95; net reclassification improvement = 0.143, p=0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

TAG and TAG-ExC improved the diagnostic performance of CTCA in all vessels. Adding TAG to CTCA significantly reclassified the calcified vessels. The additional value of TAG-CCO over CTCA alone in determining the stenosis severity is limited.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization versus hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria: a retrospective case-control study

PROPOSAL

To compare the effectiveness of TACE + RFA with hepatectomy in patients with HCC within Milan criteria.

METHODS

It is a retrospective matched case-control study from January 2006 to December 2010 in a tertiary cancer center. 74 patients with HCC within Milan criteria initially treated with TACE + RFA were identified and compared with 148 matched controls selected from a pool of 782 patients who received hepatectomy. Patients were matched with respect to age, gender, tumor size and number, AFP and liver function test.

RESULTS

The 1, 3, and 5 years overall survival (OS) was 94.6, 75.1 and 55.3%, respectively, in the combination group, and 91.2, 64.4, and 47.7%, respectively, in the hepatectomy group (P = 0.488). The 1, 3, and 5 years disease-free survival (DFS) in the combination group was 87.8, 48.3, and 33.5%, respectively, and 68.9, 49.2, and 40.9%, respectively, in the hepatectomy group (P = 0.619). In subgroups analyses according to the tumor size and number, no significant difference was identified in either OS or DFS for patients with single tumor smaller than 3.0 cm, 3.0-5.0 cm, and multiple tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, ALT, and CLIP score were significant prognostic factors for OS, and ALT and Child-Pugh class were significant prognostic factors for DFS.

CONCLUSION

TACE + RFA is safe and as effective as hepatectomy for patients with HCC within Milan criteria.

Effects of conservation method on condensed tannin content, ruminal degradation, and in vitro intestinal digestion of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.)

In situ and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of forage conservation method on the chemical composition, ruminal degradation, and intestinal digestion of purple prairie clover (PPC), which was conserved as freeze-dried forage (FD), silage (SIL), or hay (Hay). In situ dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and crude protein (CP) degradabilities were determined by incubating the forages in three rumen-cannulated heifers for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. Intestinal DM and CP digestions were estimated by incubating 12 h ruminal in situ residues in a modified three-step in vitro procedure. Ensiling decreased (P < 0.001) extractable condensed tannins (CT) but increased (P < 0.001) protein- and fiber-bound CT compared with FD and Hay. The ruminal disappearance of CP at 8 and 24 h was affected by conservation method (P < 0.001), ranked as SIL > FD > Hay. The effective degradability of DM was lower (P < 0.001) for Hay than for FD and SIL. Ensiling lowered (P < 0.001) whereas haymaking increased (P < 0.001) intestinal digestion of CP compared with the fresh PPC. There were no differences in intestinal DM digestion among the three conserved forages. The results suggest that PPC conserved as Hay may conserve the biological activity of CT via preserving extractable CT more than as SIL, thus having the potential to improve protein utilization in ruminants.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with low-grade albuminuria in Chinese adults (change not displayed)

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low-grade albuminuria was recognized as an early indicator of CVD. Epidemiological studies investigating the association between NAFLD and low-grade albuminuria were limited.

AIM

To determine whether NAFLD is independently associated with the presence of low-grade albuminuria in Chinese adults.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional community-based population study was performed in 8270 Chinese adults aged 40 years or older.

METHODS

A first-voided early morning spot urine sample was obtained for urinary albumin and creatinine measurements. The highest quartile of urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio was defined as low-grade albuminuria, after excluding the participants with micro- or macroalbuminuria. NAFLD was diagnosed by using ultrasonography findings after the exclusion of alcohol abuse and other liver diseases.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low-grade albuminuria was significantly higher in participants with NAFLD than in those without NAFLD (33.6% vs. 21.3% in men and 30.4% vs. 22.8% in women, respectively). Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that NAFLD was significantly associated with increased odds ratio of low-grade albuminuria in men (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.16-1.87) after adjusting for multiple confounders. The significant association was not detected in women.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD was significantly associated with an increased risk of present low-grade albuminuria in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men.

APOE*E2 allele delays age of onset in PSEN1 E280A Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) age of onset (ADAOO) varies greatly between individuals, with unique causal mutations suggesting the role of modifying genetic and environmental interactions. We analyzed ~50 000 common and rare functional genomic variants from 71 individuals of the 'Paisa' pedigree, the world's largest pedigree segregating a severe form of early-onset AD, who were affected carriers of the fully penetrant E280A mutation in the presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene. Affected carriers with ages at the extremes of the ADAOO distribution (30s-70s age range), and linear mixed-effects models were used to build single-locus regression models outlining the ADAOO. We identified the rs7412 (APOE*E2 allele) as a whole exome-wide ADAOO modifier that delays ADAOO by ~12 years (β=11.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.07-15.41, P=6.31 × 10(-8), PFDR=2.48 × 10(-3)). Subsequently, to evaluate comprehensively the APOE (apolipoprotein E) haplotype variants (E1/E2/E3/E4), the markers rs7412 and rs429358 were genotyped in 93 AD affected carriers of the E280A mutation. We found that the APOE*E2 allele, and not APOE*E4, modifies ADAOO in carriers of the E280A mutation (β=8.24, 95% CI: 4.45-12.01, P=3.84 × 10(-5)). Exploratory linear mixed-effects multilocus analysis suggested that other functional variants harbored in genes involved in cell proliferation, protein degradation, apoptotic and immune dysregulation processes (i.e., GPR20, TRIM22, FCRL5, AOAH, PINLYP, IFI16, RC3H1 and DFNA5) might interact with the APOE*E2 allele. Interestingly, suggestive evidence as an ADAOO modifier was found for one of these variants (GPR20) in a set of patients with sporadic AD from the Paisa genetic isolate. This is the first study demonstrating that the APOE*E2 allele modifies the natural history of AD typified by the age of onset in E280A mutation carriers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest analyzed sample of patients with a unique mutation sharing uniform environment. Formal replication of our results in other populations and in other forms of AD will be crucial for prediction, follow-up and presumably developing new therapeutic strategies for patients either at risk or affected by AD.

Increased spontaneous neuronal activity in structurally damaged cortex is correlated with early motor recovery in patients with subcortical infarction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Secondary cortical thinning and volumetric atrophy in the motor-related cortex can inhibit early functional recovery after subcortical infarction. However, the relationship between the spontaneous neuronal activity in these cortices and motor recovery in patients with focal cerebral infarct remains unknown.

METHODS

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI were conducted 1, 4 and 12 weeks after onset in 22 patients with an acute subcortical infarct and in 22 normal subjects. Group differences in cortical thickness and in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in motor-related areas were evaluated, and the relationships between ALFF, cortical thickness changes and changes in the Fugl-Meyer scores of physical performance were further analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients with subcortical infarction, progressively decreasing cortical thickness was found over the observation period ipsilesionally in the primary motor cortex (PMC), supplementary motor cortex (SMC) and precuneus (all P < 0.05). Contralesionally, progressive increases in cortical thickness were detected in SMC and insula (all P < 0.05). Increases in ALFF were observed only in PMC (bilaterally) and only at 12 weeks after stroke (all P < 0.05). The cortical thickness changes in the contralesional SMC (rs = 0.483, P = 0.023) and the ALFF changes in bilateral PMC (ipsilesional, rs = 0.51, P = 0.015; contralesional, rs = 0.463, P = 0.03) were positively correlated with changes in the Fugl-Meyer scores.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that increased spontaneous neuronal activity of the PMC, a region structurally damaged secondarily to ischaemic lesion, may contribute to early motor recovery in patients with subcortical infarction.

Complete mitochondrial genome of a natural triploid crucian carp mutant, Carassius auratus var. pingxiangnensis, and phylogenetic analysis of different ploidies in crucian carp

Carassius auratus var. pingxiangnensis is a natural triploid crucian carp mutant. In order to understand its placement and genetic background at the gene level, the characteristics of mitochondrial DNA sequences and phylogenetic relationship were examined. The results showed that the mitochondrial DNA is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule that is 16,576 bp in length with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a non-coding control region. Mitochondrial genes overlapped by a total of 40 bp in 11 different locations from 1 to 14 bp. The base composition of the C. auratus mitogenome was estimated to be 29.70% A, 26.74% C, 15.35% G, and 28.21% T. The central conserved blocks and the conserved blocks were compared and were similar among C. auratus var. pingxiangnensis and six other cyprinids with different ploidies. The origin of light strand replication was similar to that of other vertebrates; it was 33 bp, but the characteristic sequence motif 5ꞌ-GCCGG-3ꞌ at the base of the stem within tRNA(Cys) was mutated to 5ꞌ-GGCGG- 3ꞌ. Our phylogenetic analysis based on whole mitogenome sequences indicated that C. auratus var. pingxiangnensis was clustered with C. auratus and then sister-grouped with Carassius gibelio. The systemic developmental tree of crucian carp with different chromosome ploidies showed that diploid C. auratus auratus was clustered with triploid C. auratus auratus, sister-grouped with tetraploid C. auratus auratus, and clustered with other diploid, triploid, and tetraploid C. auratus.

A chiral HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of warfarin enantiomers and its major hydroxylation metabolites of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 in human plasma

Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant that requires frequent therapeutic drug monitoring due to a narrow therapeutic window, considerable interindividual variability in drug response, and susceptibility to drug-drug and drug-diet interactions. Enantiomeric separation and quantification of warfarin enantiomers and clinically important major hydroxylation metabolites are essential for drug interaction studies and phenotypic characterization of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, the major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in warfarin metabolism. Here, we describe the development and validation of a chiral high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)-based quantification of R-warfarin, S-warfarin, S-7-hydroxywarfarin (the major CYP2C9 metabolite) and (9R;10S)-10-hydroxywarfarin (the CYP3A4 metabolite) in human plasma. Simple protein precipitation-based extraction showed good recovery of analytes (82.9 - 96.9%). The developed method exhibited satisfactory intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision. The lower limits of detection were 0.25 nM (or ~0.08 ng/mL) for the warfarin enantiomers and 0.1 nM (or ~0.04 ng/mL) for S-7-hydroxywarfarin and (9R;10S)-10-hydroxywarfarin using only 50 µL plasma during extraction. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze plasma samples obtained from a healthy human subject who enrolled in a clinical drug interaction study involving warfarin.