[Analysis on prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool in men who have sex with men in Guizhou province]

Objective: To evaluate the prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool and the applicability in MSM in Guizhou province. Methods: MSM were recruited through snowball sampling method. Questionnaire surveys were conducted among the MSM using HIV infection risk assessment tool, and combined with HIV serologic test results, the risk prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool was evaluated. Results: A total of 3 379 MSM were recruited from January 2018 to December 2019 in Guizhou. The HIV infection rate was 3.3%(111/3 379). The mean risk scores of HIV positive and HIV negative MSM were (12.15±3.08) and (12.07±3.07), respectively. The difference in risk score was significant between MSM with different HIV status (t=8.69, P<0.001). According to the principle of decision tree, individual risk scores were divided into following three categories: ≤11.96, 11.97-14.80 and >14.80, the HIV infection rate was 0.8%, 4.3% and 8.6% respectively, suggesting that the higher the individual risk score was, the higher the HIV infection rate was (trend χ²=88.18, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the individual risk score was, the higher the risk of HIV infection was. Compared to the total score ≤11.96, the aOR values at total scores of 11.97-14.80 and >14.80 were 6.34 (95%CI: 3.38-11.88) and 14.07(95%CI: 7.44-26.61), respectively. The risk of HIV infection in Miao ethnic group was higher than that in Han ethnic group (aOR=1.83, 95%CI:1.04-3.21), and the risk of HIV infection in those with education level of primary school and below was higher than that in undergraduates or those with education level of junior college and above (aOR=2.50, 95%CI:1.06-5.88), and the risk of HIV infection was higher in those who had bisexual behaviors than in those who had homosexual behaviors (aOR=1.95, 95%CI:1.19-3.19). The risk of HIV infection was higher in those who had never received HIV testing (aOR=1.53, 95%CI:1.01-2.33). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under ROC (AUC) for HIV infection prediction was 0.751 (95%CI:0.710-0.792, P<0.001). The maximum Youden's index was individual risk score of 12.56, and the sensitivity of the risk assessment tool was 0.838, and its specificity was 0.412. Conclusions: The results of HIV infection risk assessment tool in Guizhou indicated that in MSM the higher the individual risk score, the higher the risk of HIV infection is. The tool can be used to evaluate the risk of HIV infection in MSM, but the specificity should be improved.

MiR-503 Contributes to Glucocorticoid Sensitivity in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia via Targeting WNT3A

Abnormal accumulation of lymphoblasts in the blood and bone marrow is the main characteristic of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Glucocorticoids are effective drugs for ALL, while glucocorticoid resistance is an obstacle to ALL therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the drug resistance and modulate the response of ALL to glucocorticoids. The role of miR-503 in glucocorticoid sensitivity of ALL was investigated in this study. Firstly, T-leukaemic cells were isolated from patients with ALL. The human ALL cell line (CCRF/CEM) was incubated with dexamethasone to establish a glucocorticoid- resistant ALL cell line (CCRF/CEM-R). Data from MTT showed that IC⁵⁰ (50% inhibitory concentration) of dexamethasone in T-leukaemic cells isolated from glucocorticoid-resistant ALL patients or CCRF/CEM-R was increased compared with IC50 in T-leukaemic cells isolated from glucocorticoid- sensitive ALL patients or CCRF/CEM. MiR- 503 was down-regulated in glucocorticoid-resistant leukaemic cells and CCRF/CEM-R. Secondly, overexpression of miR-503 sensitized CCRF/CEM-R to dexamethasone. Moreover, over-expression of miR- 503 also promoted the sensitivity of ALL cells to dexamethasone. Thirdly, miR-503 bound to WNT3A mRNA and negatively regulated the expression of WNT3A. Over-expression of miR-503 reduced protein expression of nuclear β-catenin, and over-expression of WNT3A attenuated the miR-503 overexpression- induced decrease in nuclear β-catenin. Lastly, the over-expression of miR-503-induced increased sensitivity of ALL-resistant cells and CCRF/ CEM-R to dexamethasone was attenuated by overexpression of WNT3A. In conclusion, miR-503 targeted WNT3A mRNA to sensitize ALL cells to glucocorticoids through inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Quantitative material analysis using secondary electron energy spectromicroscopy

This paper demonstrates how secondary electron energy spectroscopy (SEES) performed inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) can be used to map sample atomic number and acquire bulk valence band density of states (DOS) information at low primary beam voltages. The technique uses an electron energy analyser attachment to detect small changes in the shape of the scattered secondary electron (SE) spectrum and extract out fine structure features from it. Close agreement between experimental and theoretical bulk valance band DOS distributions was obtained for six different test samples, where the normalised root mean square deviation ranged from 2.7 to 6.7%. High accuracy levels of this kind do not appear to have been reported before. The results presented in this paper point towards SEES becoming a quantitative material analysis companion tool for low voltage scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) and providing new applications for Scanning Auger Microscopy (SAM) instruments.

[A survey on sexual needs and factors of HIV risky sexual behaviors among elderly men at different ages in two communities of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture]

Objective: To understand sexual needs and factors of risky sexual behaviors among elderly men at different ages in two communities of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture and provide basis for targeted HIV prevention and intervention. Methods: Two communities in the prefecture were selected as study sites. Questionnaire surveys were carried out among elderly men aged 50 and over who visited or consulted in the communities from June to December 2018, and they were tested for HIV and syphilis antibodies. Results: Among 400 elderly men, 209 (52.2%) were 50-64 years old, and 191(47.8%) were above 65 years old. They were mainly Miao people, accounting for 66.3% (265/400), and 235 (58.8%) had an education no more than 6 years. HIV awareness of the two age groups were only 25.8% (54/199) and 26.2% (50/191), respectively. Among those aged 50-64, 142 (68.0%) felt normal sexual desire, and 153 (73.6%) reported penile erections or erections in most cases whenever sex, and 52.9% (110) ejaculated most of the time. HIV prevalence was 1.0% (4/400). Compared with the over 65-year-old group, the proportion of having sex with spouse/stable partners (89.5%, 179/200), proportion of no condom use with their spouse/stable sexual partners during the most recent sex (93.8%, 168/179), proportion of having casual sex (11.0%, 23/209) and commercial sex (3.8%, 8/209) were all higher among 50-64 age group. In comparison to those aged over 65 years old, average monthly income>3 000, and use of sex helper, aged 50-64 (OR=2.70, 95%CI: 1.22-5.95), average monthly income ≤1 000 yuan (OR=2.79, 95%CI: 1.25-6.21), and no use of sex helper (OR=3.78) (95%CI: 1.65-8.67) were related factors of HIV risky sexual behavior last time. Conclusion: Elderly men in the minority prefecture had low HIV awareness. Compared with those≥65 years old, the 50-64 age group had more active sexual behaviors and higher sexual needs. Those from 50-64 age group, with lower economic level and good sexual ability were more likely to have HIV risky sexual behaviors.

First-trimester pre-eclampsia biomarker profiles in Asian population: multicenter cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To (i) evaluate the applicability of the European-derived biomarker multiples of the median (MoM) formulae for risk assessment of preterm pre-eclampsia (PE) in seven Asian populations, spanning the east, southeast and south regions of the continent, (ii) perform quality-assurance (QA) assessment of the biomarker measurements and (iii) establish criteria for prospective ongoing QA assessment of biomarker measurements.

METHODS

This was a prospective, non-intervention, multicenter study in 4023 singleton pregnancies, at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation, in 11 recruiting centers in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Women were screened for preterm PE between December 2016 and June 2018 and gave written informed consent to participate in the study. Maternal and pregnancy characteristics were recorded and mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured in accordance with The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) standardized measurement protocols. MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF were transformed into MoMs using the published FMF formulae, derived from a largely Caucasian population in Europe, which adjust for gestational age and covariates that affect directly the biomarker levels. Variations in biomarker MoM values and their dispersion (SD) and cumulative sum tests over time were evaluated in order to identify systematic deviations in biomarker measurements from the expected distributions.

RESULTS

In the total screened population, the median (95% CI) MoM values of MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF were 0.961 (0.956-0.965), 1.018 (0.996-1.030) and 0.891 (0.861-0.909), respectively. Women in this largely Asian cohort had approximately 4% and 11% lower MAP and PlGF MoM levels, respectively, compared with those expected from normal median formulae, based on a largely Caucasian population, whilst UtA-PI MoM values were similar. UtA-PI and PlGF MoMs were beyond the 0.4 to 2.5 MoM range (truncation limits) in 16 (0.4%) and 256 (6.4%) pregnancies, respectively. QA assessment tools indicated that women in all centers had consistently lower MAP MoM values than expected, but were within 10% of the expected value. UtA-PI MoM values were within 10% of the expected value at all sites except one. Most PlGF MoM values were systematically 10% lower than the expected value, except for those derived from a South Asian population, which were 37% higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to the anthropometric differences in Asian compared with Caucasian women, significant differences in biomarker MoM values for PE screening, particularly MAP and PlGF MoMs, were noted in Asian populations compared with the expected values based on European-derived formulae. If reliable and consistent patient-specific risks for preterm PE are to be reported, adjustment for additional factors or development of Asian-specific formulae for the calculation of biomarker MoMs is required. We have also demonstrated the importance and need for regular quality assessment of biomarker values. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The LEPR K109R and Q223R Might Contribute to the Risk of NAFLD: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Leptin and insulin resistance have been pointed out to play a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increasing genes were shown to be associated with the risk of NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the genetic association between two leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms (Q223R and K109R) and the NAFLD risk.

METHODS

Studies were retrieved and included by using PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library databases, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and EMBASE database. Genetic associations were assessed with pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Five case-control studies with 1711 NAFLD patients and 1732 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. The K109R was significantly associated with NAFLD in allelic model in Southeast Asian subgroup (p=0.01, OR=0.59, 95% CI [0.39- 0.90]), but not in Chinese subgroup (p=0.24, OR=1.10, 95% CI [0.94-1.29]). The Q223R was significantly associated with NAFLD in both allelic and recessive models (allelic model: p<0.001, OR=0.57, 95% CI [0.50-0.65]; recessive model: p=0.001, OR=0.67, 95% CI [0.52-0.85]). However, subgroup analysis showed that the significant association between Q223R and NAFLD in allelic model cannot be found in Southeast Asians subgroup (p=0.07, OR=0.67, 95% CI [0.52-0.85]).

CONCLUSION

LEPR K109R might be a susceptible factor for NAFLD in Southeast Asian population. And LEPR Q223R might be a susceptible factor for NAFLD in Chinese population.

Hidden resilience and adaptive dynamics of the global online hate ecology

Online hate and extremist narratives have been linked to abhorrent real-world events, including a current surge in hate crimes^1-6 and an alarming increase in youth suicides that result from social media vitriol⁷; inciting mass shootings such as the 2019 attack in Christchurch, stabbings and bombings^8-11; recruitment of extremists^12-16, including entrapment and sex-trafficking of girls as fighter brides¹⁷; threats against public figures, including the 2019 verbal attack against an anti-Brexit politician, and hybrid (racist-anti-women-anti-immigrant) hate threats against a US member of the British royal family¹⁸; and renewed anti-western hate in the 2019 post-ISIS landscape associated with support for Osama Bin Laden's son and Al Qaeda. Social media platforms seem to be losing the battle against online hate^19,20 and urgently need new insights. Here we show that the key to understanding the resilience of online hate lies in its global network-of-network dynamics. Interconnected hate clusters form global 'hate highways' that-assisted by collective online adaptations-cross social media platforms, sometimes using 'back doors' even after being banned, as well as jumping between countries, continents and languages. Our mathematical model predicts that policing within a single platform (such as Facebook) can make matters worse, and will eventually generate global 'dark pools' in which online hate will flourish. We observe the current hate network rapidly rewiring and self-repairing at the micro level when attacked, in a way that mimics the formation of covalent bonds in chemistry. This understanding enables us to propose a policy matrix that can help to defeat online hate, classified by the preferred (or legally allowed) granularity of the intervention and top-down versus bottom-up nature. We provide quantitative assessments for the effects of each intervention. This policy matrix also offers a tool for tackling a broader class of illicit online behaviours^21,22 such as financial fraud.

Emergent dynamics of extremes in a population driven by common information sources and new social media algorithms

We quantify how and when extreme subpopulations emerge in a model society despite everyone having the same information and available resources – and show that counterintuitively these extremes will likely be enhanced over time by new social media algorithms designed to reduce division. We verify our analysis mathematically, and show it reproduces (a) the time-dependent behavior observed in controlled experiments on humans, (b) the findings of a recent study of online behavior by Facebook concerning the impact of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ news, (c) the observed temporal emergence of extremes in U.S. House of Representatives voting, and (d) the real-time emergence of a division in national opinion during the ongoing peace process in Colombia. We uncover a novel societal tipping point which is a ‘ghost’ of a nearby saddle-node bifurcation from dynamical systems theory, and which provides a novel policy opportunity for preventing extremes from emerging.

FPR2 enhances colorectal cancer progression by promoting EMT process

Formyl peptide receptor-2 (FPR2) has been shown to promote various tumors, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clearly illuminated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of FPR2 interference on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, pro-angiogenesis of CRC cells, and also the mechanisms involved. Quantitative PCR assays were applied to assess the expression levels of FPR2 in CRC tissues. CRC cell line SW1116 was chosen to perform this study. We knocked down FPR2 gene by sh-RNA. Then, the cell proliferation was assayed by soft agar colony formation assay, the cell migration capacity was checked by wound healing assay, and cell invasion ability was detected by transwell assay. In addition, flow cytometric analysis was used to detect apoptosis, while endothelial tube formation assay was used to evaluate the effects of FPR2 on pro-angiogenesis in vitro. Tumorigenesis experiment in vivo was performed in nude mice. EMT-related proteins were studied by western blotting. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that FPR2 mRNA was highly expressed in the colorectal cancer tissues. SW1116 cells' capacities of proliferation, migration, invasion, anti-apoptosis and pro-angiogenesis were distinctly suppressed after silencing FPR2 in SW1116 by sh-RNA. Suppression FPR2 mRNA in SW1116 cells suppressed tumorigenicity in nude mice. The expression of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug and vimentin was changed after suppressing FPR2. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that FPR2 could promote CRC cells progression in vitro and in vivo that may relate to promoting EMT.