microRNA-29b mediates Th17/Treg imbalance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by targeting IL-22

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways induced mainly by cigarette smoking. In the current study, cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was used to develop an in vitro COPD model using human bronchial epithelium (HBE) cells to expound the possible role of microRNA-29b (miR-29b) in COPD. Firstly, miR-29b and interleukin (IL)-22 expression was assessed in serum of 20 healthy non-smokers, 20 healthy smokers and 20 COPD patients as well as CSE-treated HBE cells. Then, miR-29b and IL-22 expression was altered to evaluate their functions in Th17/Treg ratio. miR-29b inhibited Th17/Treg ratio and levels of IL-22; whereas overexpression of IL-22 reversed these trends. Moreover, rescue experiments found that IL-22 neutralized the repressive effects of miR-29b on Th17/Treg ratio and inflammatory response. Finally, we found that miR-29b blocked the JAK/STAT3 pathway in CSE-treated HBE cells. These data highlighted that miR-29bs modulated Th17/Treg imbalance in CSE-induced experimental COPD through inhibition of IL-22-dependent JAK/STAT3 pathway.

ANXA3 is upregulated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and promotes colon cancer growth

Background

Annexin A3 (ANXA3) is overexpressed in various cancers and is a potential target for cancer treatment. However, clinical implication and biological function of ANXA3 in colon cancer remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and ANXA3, and explore the function of ANXA3 in colon carcinoma.

Methods

Expression levels of HIF-1α and ANXA3 in human colon carcinoma specimens and colon cancer cell lines were detected by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The proliferation of colon cancer cells was examined. Nude mice were used for xenograft tumor model, and HIF-1α siRNA or control adenovirus was injected into the tumor.

Results

HIF-1α and ANXA3 expression levels were higher in colon cancer tissues than their expression levels in normal colon tissues. In addition, HIF-1α and ANXA3 expression increased in colon cancer cells under hypoxic condition. Knockdown of HIF-1α decreased HIF-1α and ANXA3 expression, and inhibited the proliferation and growth of colon cancer cells. In nude mouse model, silencing HIF-1α decreased volume of xenograft tumor and ANXA3 expression.

Conclusions

ANXA3 expression is upregulated by HIF-1α in colon cancer in response to hypoxic stress and contributes to colon tumor growth. ANXA3 may represent a new therapeutic target for colon carcinoma.

PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and tumor infiltrating immune cells in Chinese colorectal cancer patients

e16111

Background: Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed death-1/ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) have been an alternative in cancer treatments. Previous biomarker analysis found that response to anti-PD1/PD-L1 was associated with PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and/or tumor infiltrating immune cells in some cancer types. Explorations of IMblaze370 study demonstrated better survival outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with positive PD-L1 expression compared with those with negative PD-L1 expression in the atezolizumab group. Our study investigated PD-L1 expression profile in Chinese CRC population. Methods: PD-L1 expression on tumor cells or tumor infiltrating immune cells in 816 CRC tumors between January 01, 2017 and December 02, 2019 in 3D Medicines database was assessed by immunohistochemistry assay (SP263 or 22C3). We defined percentage of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells as tumor proportion score (TPS) strong positive ≥50%, moderate positive ≥5% and < 50%, weak positive ≥1% and < 5%, and negative < 1%. Similarly, we defined percentage of PD-L1 expression on infiltrating immune cells as immune proportion score (IPS) strong positive ≥10%, moderate positive ≥5% and < 10%, weakly positive ≥1% and < 5%, and negative < 1%. In addition, MSI status was evaluated with targeted next-generation sequencing covering 100 MSI loci. Results: 12 (1.5%) individuals had TPS as strong positive, 63 (7.7%) as moderate positive, 95 (11.6%) as weak positive and 646 (79.2%) as negative. Meanwhile, TPS of patients were 55 (6.7%) for strong positive, 49 (6.0%) for moderate positive, 34 (4.2%) for weak positive and 678 (83.0%) for negative, respectively. 16.9% in Chinese CRC patients here were defined as positive PD-L1 expression (IPS ≥1%), which is lower than the positive proportion of CRC in IMblaze370 study (39.9% for IPS ≥1%, P < 0.0001). The PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and on tumor infiltrating immune cells showed minimal overlap. In detail, only 29 (3.6%) patients exhibited simultaneously TPS positive (≥1%) and IPS positive (≥1%). Furthermore, IPS was not associated with MSI status (P = 0.9153), while TPS showed an association with MSI-H (P < 0.0001). In detail, 45.5% of MSI-H CRC patients were TPS positive. Conclusions: Chinese CRC patients express PD-L1 with 20.8% TPS positive and 17.0% IPS positive, and TPS positive were related to MSI-H. When studying the connection between the efficacy of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors and PD-L1 expression, TPS and IPS detection would be both considered to engage.

Visual impairment and spectacles ownership among upper secondary school students in northwestern China

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of visual impairment and spectacles ownership among academic and vocational upper secondary school students in rural China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 5583 students from four academic upper secondary schools (AUSSs) and two vocational upper secondary schools (VUSSs) in Mei and Qianyang counties, Baoji Prefecture, Shaanxi Province. In March and April 2016, students underwent assessment of visual acuity (VA) and completed a questionnaire regarding spectacles use and family characteristics. Students with visual impairment (presenting VA ≤6/12 in the better eye) and students needing spectacles (uncorrected VA ≤6/12 in the better eye, which could be improved to >6/12 with refraction) were identified.

RESULTS

Among 5583 students (54% boys, mean age 16.4±1.0 years) in grades 10 and grade 11 attending AUSSs (n=4549) and VUSSs (n=1034), visual impairment was detected in 4026 students. Among the AUSS students, 3425 (75%) needed spectacles; 2551 (75%) had them. Among the VUSS students, 601 (58%) needed spectacles; this proportion was significantly smaller (P=0.004), as was the proportion who had spectacles (n=212, 35%, P<0.001), compared with the AUSS students. Multivariate analysis showed that ownership of spectacles among children who needed them was associated with worse uncorrected VA (P<0.001), male sex (P<0.001), and residence in an urban area (P<0.034). Spectacles ownership was also strongly associated with AUSS education (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

There is a high rate of unmet need in visual care among upper secondary school students. Lack of spectacles ownership among children who needed them was significantly associated with VUSS education.

Prognostic value of ABO blood group in a Chinese population in Northwest China region with curatively resected rectal cancer

A positive association between the ABO blood types and survival has been suggested in several malignancies. However, little is known about the relationship between ABO blood group and survival in rectal cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess the role of the ABO blood types in predicting the prognosis of a Chinese population in Northwest China region with curatively resected rectal cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 1613 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery for rectal cancer between June, 2011 and December, 2016. The relationship between the ABO blood types and overall survival (OS) was analyzed. The median follow-up period of the 1613 rectal cancer patients was 69.6 months with 1427 alive. There was a significance difference of survival among ABO blood groups (P=0.007). The mean overall survival (OS) of the blood type B patients was 70.8 months, O was 64.3, whereas the mean OS of the AB and A blood type patients was significantly lower, 58.4 months and 59.7 months respectively (P=0.007, log-rank test). Compared with patients with A and AB blood types, patients with blood type B and O were more likely to have better survival(P=0.001). A blood groups were associated with significantly decreased overall survival in rectal cancer patients (hazard ratio = 1.263; 95% confidence interval = 0.776-2.054, P =0.010). In order to confirm our above results, we performed the same investigation in an independent cohort from another hospital of 505 Chinese patients and get the similar results. Our study showed that ABO blood group is associated with survival in Northwest Chinese patients with rectal cancer and the blood type B and O were favourable prognostic factors for patients with rectal cancer.

Manipulating topological transformations of polar structures through real-time observation of the dynamic polarization evolution

Topological structures based on controllable ferroelectric or ferromagnetic domain configurations offer the opportunity to develop microelectronic devices such as high-density memories. Despite the increasing experimental and theoretical insights into various domain structures (such as polar spirals, polar wave, polar vortex) over the past decade, manipulating the topological transformations of polar structures and comprehensively understanding its underlying mechanism remains lacking. By conducting an in-situ non-contact bias technique, here we systematically investigate the real-time topological transformations of polar structures in PbTiO₃/SrTiO₃ multilayers at an atomic level. The procedure of vortex pair splitting and the transformation from polar vortex to polar wave and out-of-plane polarization are observed step by step. Furthermore, the redistribution of charge in various topological structures has been demonstrated under an external bias. This provides new insights for the symbiosis of polar and charge and offers an opportunity for a new generation of microelectronic devices.

Direct observation of the dynamic evolution of polar domain structures at atomic level remains challenging. Here, the authors report the observation of real-time topological transformations of polar structures in PbTiO₃/SrTiO₃ multilayers.

Economic Impact of Hospitalizations in US Adults with Sarcopenia

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass with corresponding decline in strength and/or physical function. The economic burden of sarcopenia-associated disability is considerable in the US.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the cost of hospitalizations in US adults with sarcopenia categorized by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective, prevalence based, economic burden study, consisting of 4011 adults aged ≥40 years with and without sarcopenia.

METHODS

Data on prevalence of low lean mass, functional limitations, and hospitalizations were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004); cost of hospitalizations was obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - National Inpatient Sample (2014), and population estimates were obtained from the US Census (2014). Probability and cost of hospitalizations were estimated by multiple logistic regression and negative binomial regression models, respectively.

RESULTS

The total estimated cost of hospitalizations in individuals with sarcopenia was USD $40.4 billion with an average per person cost of USD $260. Within this category, average per person cost was highest for Hispanic women (USD $548) and lowest for Non-Hispanic Black women (USD $25); average per person cost was higher for older adults (≥65 years) (USD $375) than younger adults (40-64 years) (USD $204) with sarcopenia. The total cost of hospitalizations in individuals with sarcopenia (≥65 years) was USD $19.12 billion. Individuals with sarcopenia had greater odds of hospitalization (OR, 1.95; p<.001) compared to those without and had an annual marginal increase in cost of USD $2315.7 per person compared to individuals without sarcopenia.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia places considerable economic burden on the US healthcare system. The ethnic disparity and economic burden associated with sarcopenia warrant further investigation.