Experimental Evidence of Kinetic Effects in Indirect-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Hohlraums

We present the first experimental evidence supported by simulations of kinetic effects launched in the interpenetration layer between the laser-driven hohlraum plasma bubbles and the corona plasma of the compressed pellet at the Shenguang-III prototype laser facility. Solid plastic capsules were coated with carbon-deuterium layers; as the implosion neutron yield is quenched, DD fusion yield from the corona plasma provides a direct measure of the kinetic effects inside the hohlraum. An anomalous large energy spread of the DD neutron signal (∼282  keV) and anomalous scaling of the neutron yield with the thickness of the carbon-deuterium layers cannot be explained by the hydrodynamic mechanisms. Instead, these results can be attributed to kinetic shocks that arise in the hohlraum-wall-ablator interpenetration region, which result in efficient acceleration of the deuterons (∼28.8  J, 0.45% of the total input laser energy). These studies provide novel insight into the interactions and dynamics of a vacuum hohlraum and near-vacuum hohlraum.

An Explanation for How FGFs Predict Species-Specific Tooth Cusp Patterns

Species-specific cusp patterns result from the iterative formation of enamel knots, the epithelial signaling centers, at the future cusp positions. The expressions of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), especially Fgf4, in the secondary enamel knots in the areas of the future cusp tips are generally used to manifest the appearance of species-specific tooth shapes. However, the mechanism underlying the predictive role of FGFs in species-specific cusp patterns remains obscure. Here, we demonstrated that gerbils, which have a lophodont pattern, exhibit a striped expression pattern of Fgf4, whereas mice, which have a bunodont pattern, have a spotted expression pattern, and these observations verify the predictive role of Fgf4 in species-specific cusp patterns. By manipulating FGFs' signaling in the inner dental epithelium of gerbils, we provide evidence for the intracellular participation of FGF signaling, specifically FGF4 and FGF20, in Rac1- and RhoA-regulated cellular geometry remolding during the determination of different cusp patterns. Our study presents a novel explanation of how different FGF expression patterns produce different cusp patterns and implies that a conserved intracellular FGF-GTPase signaling module might represent an underlying developmental basis for evolutionary changes in cusp patterns.

Romosozumab treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIM

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of romosozumab in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature review was performed of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry, and Web of Science for RCTs. Outcome measures were changes in lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), incidence of fractures and adverse events. Six trials were finally included.

RESULTS

Romosozumab resulted in a significantly lower risk of new vertebral fracture (relative risk (RR) 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.77, p = 0.005, n = 5371), non-vertebral fracture (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.92, p < 0.0001, n = 5635) and hip fracture (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.79, p = 0.0004, n = 5635) compared with other therapies. The BMD was significantly increased at the lumbar spine (weighted mean difference (WMD) 13.33, 95% CI 11.41-15.25, p < 0.00001, n = 198), total hip (WMD 5.09, 95% CI 3.81-6.38, p < 0.00001, n = 184) and femoral neck (WMD 4.70, 95% CI 3.50-5.90, p < 0.00001, n = 175) compared with placebo. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events in patients with romosozumab compared to other therapies (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02).

CONCLUSION

In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who were at high risk for fracture, romosozumab treatment resulted in a significantly lower risk of fracture. Romosozumab 210 mg monthly showed the largest gains in BMD, and was generally well tolerated.

Urban landscape genomics identifies fine-scale gene flow patterns in an avian invasive

Invasive species exert a serious impact on native fauna and flora and have been the target of many eradication and management efforts worldwide. However, a lack of data on population structure and history, exacerbated by the recency of many species introductions, limits the efficiency with which such species can be kept at bay. In this study we generated a novel genome of high assembly quality and genotyped 4735 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers from 78 individuals of an invasive population of the Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus across the island of Singapore. We inferred limited population subdivision at a micro-geographic level, a genetic patch size (~13-14 km) indicative of a pronounced dispersal ability, and barely an increase in effective population size since introduction despite an increase of four to five orders of magnitude in actual population size, suggesting that low population-genetic diversity following a bottleneck has not impeded establishment success. Landscape genomic analyses identified urban features, such as low-rise neighborhoods, that constitute pronounced barriers to gene flow. Based on our data, we consider an approach targeting the complete eradication of Javan Mynas across Singapore to be unfeasible. Instead, a mixed approach of localized mitigation measures taking into account urban geographic features and planning policy may be the most promising avenue to reducing the adverse impacts of this urban pest. Our study demonstrates how genomic methods can directly inform the management and control of invasive species, even in geographically limited datasets with high gene flow rates.

Experimental study on repairing skin defect by tissue-engineered skin substitute compositely constructed by adipose-derived stem cells and fibrin gel

OBJECTIVE

To study the application value of artificial skin substitute compositely constructed by adipose-derived stem cells and fibrin gel in skin defect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were obtained from healthy pure green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice and were proved to have multiple differentiation potentials. They compositely constructed artificial skin substitute in vitro with fibrin gel. 24 SD rats of either gender, with the gestational age of 3-5 weeks, were divided into four groups in the experiment, namely model group (autologous skin flap transplantation), adipose-derived stem cell transplantation group, fibrin gel transplantation group and compound transplantation group, 6 rats for each group. At the skin blood flow (measured by applying laser Doppler rheometer) and survival rate of the flap on 7d and 21d respectively, the materials were transplanted at back skin injury (1 cm×1 cm) to prepare tissue slice for routine HE staining. The conditions of wound healing were observed, and the angiogenesis of flap neovascularization was detected by the immunofluorescent assay.

RESULTS

The skin blood flow, the survival rate of flap and density of neovascularization 7d and 21d after transplantation were significantly higher than those of stem cell group, followed by the model group, with the lowest ones in the fibrin gel group. The differences had statistical significance (p<0.05). The wound healing time of compound group was significantly shorter than that of stem cell group, followed by the model group, with the longest one in the fibrin gel group. The differences had statistical significance (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The artificial skin substitute compositely constructed by adipose-derived stem cells and fibrin gel could significantly shorten healing time and improve the survival rate of the flap in skin defect, with better application value.

Whole-protein alanine-scanning mutagenesis of allostery: A large percentage of a protein can contribute to mechanism

Many studies of allosteric mechanisms use limited numbers of mutations to test whether residues play "key" roles. However, if a large percentage of the protein contributes to allosteric function, mutating any residue would have a high probability of modifying allostery. Thus, a predicted mechanism that is dependent on only a few residues could erroneously appear to be supported. We used whole-protein alanine-scanning mutagenesis to determine which amino acid sidechains of human liver pyruvate kinase (hL-PYK; approved symbol PKLR) contribute to regulation by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-BP; activator) and alanine (inhibitor). Each nonalanine/nonglycine residue of hL-PYK was mutated to alanine to generate 431 mutant proteins. Allosteric functions in active proteins were quantified by following substrate affinity over a concentration range of effectors. Results show that different residues contribute to the two allosteric functions. Only a small fraction of mutated residues perturbed inhibition by alanine. In contrast, a large percentage of mutated residues influenced activation by Fru-1,6-BP; inhibition by alanine is not simply the reverse of activation by Fru-1,6-BP. Moreover, the results show that Fru-1,6-BP activation would be extremely difficult to elucidate using a limited number of mutations. Additionally, this large mutational data set will be useful to train and test computational algorithms aiming to predict allosteric mechanisms.

Exploring the limits of the usefulness of mutagenesis in studies of allosteric mechanisms

The outcome of structure-guided mutational analyses is often used in support of postulated mechanisms of protein allostery. However, the limits of how informative mutations can be in understanding allosteric mechanisms are not completely clear. Here, we report an exercise to evaluate whether mutational data can support a simplistic mechanistic model, developed with minimal data inputs. Due to the lack of a mechanism to explain how alanine allosterically modifies the affinity of human liver pyruvate kinase (approved symbol PKLR) for its substrate, phosphoenolpyruvate, we proposed a speculative allosteric mechanism for this system. Within the allosteric amino-acid-binding site (something in the effector site must, of necessity, contribute to the allosteric mechanism), we implemented multiple mutational strategies: (1) site-directed random mutagenesis at positions that contact bound alanine and (2) mutations to probe specific questions. Despite acknowledged inadequacies used to formulate the speculative mechanism, many mutations modified the allosteric coupling constant (Q_ax ) consistent with that mechanism. The observed support for this speculative mechanism leaves us to ponder the best use of mutational data in structure-function studies of allosteric mechanisms. The mutational databank derived from this exercise has an independent value for training and testing algorithms specific to allostery.

Benchmarking predictions of allostery in liver pyruvate kinase in CAGI4

The Critical Assessment of Genome Interpretation (CAGI) is a global community experiment to objectively assess computational methods for predicting phenotypic impacts of genomic variation. One of the 2015-2016 competitions focused on predicting the influence of mutations on the allosteric regulation of human liver pyruvate kinase. More than 30 different researchers accessed the challenge data. However, only four groups accepted the challenge. Features used for predictions ranged from evolutionary constraints, mutant site locations relative to active and effector binding sites, and computational docking outputs. Despite the range of expertise and strategies used by predictors, the best predictions were marginally greater than random for modified allostery resulting from mutations. In contrast, several groups successfully predicted which mutations severely reduced enzymatic activity. Nonetheless, poor predictions of allostery stands in stark contrast to the impression left by more than 700 PubMed entries identified using the identifiers "computational + allosteric." This contrast highlights a specialized need for new computational tools and utilization of benchmarks that focus on allosteric regulation.

Neutron Generation by Laser-Driven Spherically Convergent Plasma Fusion

We investigate a new laser-driven spherically convergent plasma fusion scheme (SCPF) that can produce thermonuclear neutrons stably and efficiently. In the SCPF scheme, laser beams of nanosecond pulse duration and 10^{14}-10^{15}  W/cm^{2} intensity uniformly irradiate the fuel layer lined inside a spherical hohlraum. The fuel layer is ablated and heated to expand inwards. Eventually, the hot fuel plasmas converge, collide, merge, and stagnate at the central region, converting most of their kinetic energy to internal energy, forming a thermonuclear fusion fireball. With the assumptions of steady ablation and adiabatic expansion, we theoretically predict the neutron yield Y_{n} to be related to the laser energy E_{L}, the hohlraum radius R_{h}, and the pulse duration τ through a scaling law of Y_{n}∝(E_{L}/R_{h}^{1.2}τ^{0.2})^{2.5}. We have done experiments at the ShengGuangIII-prototype facility to demonstrate the principle of the SCPF scheme. Some important implications are discussed.

[Efficacy and safety of tertiary hospital guided and community-driven family self-help cardiac rehabilitation model]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of tertiary hospital guided and community-driven family self-help cardiac rehabilitation model. Methods: This study was a prospective randomized controlled study, 80 patients from Beijing Electrical Power Hospital and Beijing Jingmei Group General Hospital with acute coronary syndrome were included from June to December 2015 and divided into 2 groups. Patients in rehabilitation group (n=52) received tertiary hospital(Peiking University Peoples' Hospital) guided and community-driven family self-help cardiac rehabilitation for 3 months, and patients in control group (n=28) received routine secondary treatment for 3 months. Following parameters including 6 minutes walk distance, score of life quality (evaluated by Short Form-12), score of anxiety (evaluated by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), score of depression (evaluated by Perceived Health Questionnaire-9), self-management competency (evaluated by questionnaire) were collected at baseline and after treatment for 3 months. Results: Compared with control group, 6 minutes walk distance was longer in rehabilitation group((60.2±6.8) meters vs. (24.9±10.5)meters, P<0.01). The difference values between after and before intervention of life quality scores((0.14±3.90)scores vs.(-7.44±5.85)scores, P>0.05), anxiety scores((-0.16±2.12 ) scores vs.(0.70±1.13)scores, P>0.05) and depression scores((-1.17±2.79) scores vs.(0.60±0.36)scores, P>0.05) were similar between the 2 groups. The amplification of patients with regular exercise (50.26% vs. 0, P<0.05), limit sugary foods usually and always (53.22% vs. 3.98%, P<0.05), eat 200-400 g fruits usually and always (78.61 % vs. 0, P<0.05), eat 300-500 g vegetables usually and always (9.74% vs. 0, P<0.05), and answering very confident to questions such as let the physicians know about your diseases (40.17% vs. 5.00%, P<0.05), know how to take medicines (44.52% vs. 5.00%, P<0.05), know how much exercise was right for yourself (26.43% vs.0, P<0.05) were significantly higher in rehabilitation group than in control group. There were no cardiac rehabilitation training related cardiovascular events. Conclusion: Tertiary hospital guided and community-driven family self-help cardiac rehabilitation model is an effective and safe management model of cardiovascular disease in chronic phase, and it is necessary to further expand the study population to verify the efficacy of this model.

Prostaglandin E2 regulates renal function in C57/BL6 mouse with 5/6 nephrectomy

AIMS

To investigate the roles of cyclooxygenases (COX) and their metabolites in C57/BL6 mice with 5/6 nephrectomy, an animal model of chronic renal failure.

MAIN METHODS

C57/BL6 mice were grouped into sham-operated (2K), one kidney removal (1K) and 5/6 nephrectomy groups (5/6Nx). Renal resistive index was measured by ultrasonography. Blood, aortae, renal arteries and renal cortex were collected for measurement of kidney function, assessment of vascular responsiveness, Western blotting, immuohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

KEY FINDINGS

After four weeks, acetylcholine-induced relaxations were blunted in renal arteries of 1K and 5/6Nx mice; indomethacin, a non-selective COX inhibitor, improved the response in 5/6Nx, but not in 1K renal arteries. In 5/6Nx renal arteries, but not in 1K preparations, the protein presence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was decreased, while that of COX-2 and its products [prostacyclin and thromboxane A₂] were increased. The renal resistive index was lower in 5/6Nx mice, suggesting a lower resistance in the renal microvasculature. In the renal cortex of 5/6Nx mice, eNOS protein presence was increased; while the presence of COX-2 was not detectable. The prostaglandin E₂ level was lower in the 5/6Nx cortex than in the other two groups.

SIGNIFICANCE

The early stage of renal mass removal is associated with increased renal arterial constriction and reduced microvascular resistance. The former is due to downregulation of eNOS and upregulation of COX-2, leading to an increased production of prostacyclin and thromboxane A₂. A reduced production of PGE₂ in the renal cortex is important for maintaining normal renal function.

Interfacial rheology of coexisting solid and fluid monolayers

Biologically relevant monolayer and bilayer films often consist of micron-scale high viscosity domains in a continuous low viscosity matrix. Here we show that this morphology can cause the overall monolayer fluidity to vary by orders of magnitude over a limited range of monolayer compositions. Modeling the system as a two-dimensional suspension in analogy with classic three-dimensional suspensions of hard spheres in a liquid solvent explains the rheological data with no adjustable parameters. In monolayers with ordered, highly viscous domains dispersed in a continuous low viscosity matrix, the surface viscosity increases as a power law with the area fraction of viscous domains. Changing the phase of the continuous matrix from a disordered fluid phase to a more ordered, condensed phase dramatically changes the overall monolayer viscosity. Small changes in the domain density and/or continuous matrix composition can alter the monolayer viscosity by orders of magnitude.

[Analysis of the therapeutic effects of different treatment modalities on the outcomes of 87 patients with lung oligometastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different modalities in treatment of lung oligometastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and to identify a more appropriate treatment modality.

METHODS

The clinical data of 87 cases of lung oligometastases from NPC were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 33 patients underwent local small-field irradiation+ /- chemotherapy, 28 underwent whole-lung irradiation+ chemotherapy, and 26 underwent simple chemotherapy. The survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The differences among the modalities were evaluated using the log-rank test. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the influencing factors.

RESULTS

The 3-year lung metastasis survival (LMS) rates of patients with lung metastasis undergoing the three treatment modalities (local small-field irradiation+ /-chemotherapy, whole-lung irradiation+ chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone) were 89.3%, 72.7%, and 72.4%, respectively, showing a significant difference between the groups (P=0.003). Further subgroup analysis showed that the 5-year LMS rate was significantly higher in the local small-field irradiation+ /-chemotherapy group than that in the whole-lung irradiation+ chemotherapy group and chemotherapy alone group (P=0.001). The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the three groups were 57.1%, 25.8% and 3.8%, respectively, showing significant intergroup differences (P=0.002 and P<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that compared with the whole lung irradiation group and the chemotherapy alone group, the local irradiation+ /- chemotherapy is an independent favorable prognostic factor for LMS and PFS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Local radiotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy is the best therapeutic modality for lung oligometastases derived from NPC after radiotherapy, improving the LMS and prolonging the PFS.

[Prognostic factors of patients with T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma: a single-center retrospective study of 182 patients]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impacts of clinical, pathological, and laboratory factors on oncological outcomes of patients with T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

The clinical data, laboratory exam results, and follow-up outcomes of 182 patients with T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma who underwent nephrectomy from 2007 to 2012 in Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively collected. The 5-year cancer-specific survival and 5-year recurrence-free survival of all the patients were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method, and the statistical significance between the survival curves were compared using the Log-rank test. Variables with significant differences in the univariate analysis were subjected to the multivariate analysis by Cox regression model. All the comparisons were conducted using two-tailed test and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 182 patients were included in this study. Of all the 182 patients, 126 were male (69.23%) and 56 were female (30.77%). The mean age was (56.75±12.45) years. The median follow-up time was 48 months (3-99 months). At the end of the follow-up, 50 patients (27.47%) died due to the disease after a median of 29.74 months and 59 patients (32.42%) had tumor recurrence after a median of 22.12 months. The 5-year cancer-specific survival of all patients was 68.30% (95% CI: 60.16%-75.84%); the 5-year recurrence-free survival was 60.70% (95% CI: 53.16%-68.84%). In the univariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, tumor invasion status, Fuhrman grade, serum album, serum cholestenone, anemia, and neutrophils percentage were associated with the cancer-specific survival and Fuhrman grade, serum album and anemia were associated with the recurrence-free survival. Variables with significant differences on univariate analysis were included in Cox multivariate regression analysis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (HR=2.434, 95% CI: 1.243-4.769, P=0.010), hypoalbuminemia (HR=2.188, 95% CI: 1.074-1.074, P=0.031), and anemia (HR=3.320, 95% CI: 1.839-5.991, P<0.001) were independent risk factors significantly associated with cancer-specific survival; and higher Fuhrman grade (HR=2.552, 95% CI: 1.433-4.545, P=0.001), anemia (HR=2.535, 95% CI: 1.497-4.293, P=0.001) were independent factors significantly associated with recurrence-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes mellitus, hypoalbuminemia, and anemia were independent risk factors significantly associated with cancer-specific survival of T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma patients; higher Fuhrman grade and anemia were independent risk factors significantly associated with tumor recurrence of T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma patients.

[Methylation status of RASSF1A gene promoter in upper tract urothelial carcinoma and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) tissues and its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and postoperative recurrence of primary UTUC.

METHODS

In a retrospective design, a total of 687 patients who underwent surgeries for primary UTUC in the urology department of Peking University First Hospital were enrolled. The methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter was analyzed using methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction on tumor specimens.

RESULTS

Aberrant methylation for the RASSF1A gene promoter was detected in 183 (26.6%) DNA samples in total. Aberrant methylation of the RASSF1A gene was strongly associated with tobacco consumption (P=0.044), ipsilateral hydronephrosis (P<0.001 ), tumor location (P<0.001 ), tumor stage (P=0.001), tumor grade (P=0.007), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001) and growth pattern (P=0.013). The methylated RASSF1A gene promoter was an independent risk factor for bladder recurrence (P<0.001, HR=0.471) and contralateral recurrence (P=0.030, HR=0.269) of UTUC after surgery. Hypermethylated RASSF1A was predictive for improved bladder recurrence-free survival (BRFS) (P<0.001) and contralateral recurrence-free survival (CRFS) (P=0.021) in the UTUC patients. Compared with the patients with unmethylated RASSF1A, the patients containing tumors with hypermethylated RASSF1A had tendency toward longer recurrence-free survival time [(114.4±3.9) months vs. (84.0±3.2) months for BRFS, (138.1±1.8) months vs. (132.9±1.9) months for CRFS] and higher estimated cumulative recurrence-free survive rates ( five-year survival rate for example, 79.8%±3.4% vs. 57.4%±2.6% for BRFS, 98.9%±0.8% vs. 93.0%±1.4% for CRFS). Additionally, tumor multifocality (P=0.002, HR=1.538), and ureteroscopy before surgery (P=0.001, HR=1.725) were independent risk factors for bladder recurrence in postoperative UTUC patients.

CONCLUSION

The methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter appears to be a promising epigenomic biomarker for assessing the aggressiveness of UTUC and a predictor predicting the urinary tract recurrence after surgery.

Preoperative ropivacaine with or without tramadol for femoral nerve block in total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

To compare the analgesic effect of preoperative ropivacaine with or without tramadol for femoral nerve block in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

14 men and 46 women aged 59 to 80 years who were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I or II and were scheduled for TKA were randomised to receive preoperative femoral nerve block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine plus tramadol 0 mg (n=15), 50 mg (n=15), or 100 mg (n=15), or no preoperative femoral nerve block (control) [n=15]. Femoral nerve block was performed by a single anaesthesiologist before the standardised combined spinal epidural anaesthesia. Postoperatively, patientcontrolled analgesia was given. The visual analogue score (VAS) for pain at rest and on movement was recorded at 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Passive knee range of motion (ROM) was measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours.

RESULTS

The 4 groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, weight, ASA grade, and operating time. Compared with patients who received no femoral nerve block or ropivacaine alone, those who received femoral nerve block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine plus tramadol 50 mg or 100 mg recorded a lower VAS for pain at rest and on movement at 8 to 72 hours, longer sensory and motor block time, and lower demand, delivery, and total amount of patientcontrolled analgesia. The passive knee ROM at 24 to 72 hours was greater in patients with femoral nerve block than in those without.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative femoral nerve block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine and 100 mg tramadol resulted in the best analgesic effect.

Identification of Natural Infections in Sheep/Goats with HoBi-like Pestiviruses in China

The natural infections of HoBi-like pestiviruses in cattle have been reported in South America, Europe and Asia. In China, although the detections of HoBi-like pestivirus have been reported, the epidemiological investigation was limited. From January 2014 to October 2015, several flocks of sheep/goats in Henan province in central China suffered respiratory diseases which were recovered slowly after antibiotics treatment. To test whether it is the HoBi-like pestivirus caused this symptom, 49 serum samples and 22 nasal swabs were then collected for analysis by serology and RT-PCR. Serological result revealed that prevalence of pestivirus in small ruminants was 12.2% (6/49) in central China. Sequence analysis of partial 5'-UTR nucleotides of pestivirus-positive samples suggested that HoBi-like pestivirus might have circulated in sheep/goats of China for a period and have evolved into new genotype clusters. It is apparent that the study provides the molecular evidence of natural infections in goat/sheep species with HoBi-like pestiviruses in China.

eNOS gene T786C, G894T and 4a4b polymorphisms and male infertility susceptibility: a meta-analysis

The association between polymorphism of eNOS and male infertility in several studies was controversial. To explore a more precise estimation of the association, a meta-analysis of eight case-control studies, including 1,968 cases and 1,539 controls, were selected. The meta-analysis was conducted by calculating the pooled odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Overall, the association between T786C and risk of male infertility was obvious (TC vs. TT: OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.42; CC vs. TT: OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.65-6.87; TC/CC vs. TT: OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.25-1.73; CC vs.

TT/TC

OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.54-6.56; TC vs. TT: OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.27-2.03). However, no overall association was observed between the other two polymorphisms of eNOS (G894T and 4a4b) and male infertility. Stratified analysis showed that significantly strong association between T786C polymorphism and semen quality was present in all three types of male infertility (azoospermia, oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia). In the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, both T786C and 4a4b could influence the risk of male infertility in Asian and Caucasian. Further studies of polymorphisms of eNOS with their biological functions are needed to understand the role in the development of male infertility.

Evaluation of tumour vascular distribution and function using immunohistochemistry and BOLD fMRI with carbogen inhalation

AIM

To evaluate oxygenation changes in rat subcutaneous C6 gliomas using blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combined with non-haemodynamic response function (non-HRF) analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BOLD fMRI were performed during carbogen inhalation in 20 Wistar rats bearing gliomas. Statistical maps of spatial oxygenation changes were computed by a dedicated non-HRF analysis algorithm. Three types of regions of interest (ROIs) were defined: (1) maximum re-oxygenation zone (ROI_max), (2) re-oxygenation zones that were less than the maximum re-oxygenation (ROI_non-max), and (3) zones without significant re-oxygenation (ROI_none). The values of percent BOLD signal change (PSC), percent enhancement (ΔSI), and significant re-oxygenation (T) were extracted from each ROI. Tumours were sectioned for histology using the fMRI scan orientation and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and CD105. The number of microvessels (MVN) in each ROI was counted. Differences and correlations among the values for T, PSC, ΔSI, and MVN were determined.

RESULTS

After carbogen inhalation, the PSC significantly increased in the ROI_max areas (p<0.01) located in the tumour parenchyma. No changes occurred in any of the ROI_none areas (20/20). Some changes occurred in a minority of the ROI_non-max areas (3/60) corresponding to tumour necrosis. MVN and PSC (R=0.59, p=0.01) were significantly correlated in the ROI_max areas. In the ROI_non-max areas, MVN was significantly correlated with PSC (R=0.55, p=0.00) and ΔSI (R=0.37, p=0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Statistical maps obtained via BOLD fMRI with non-HRF analysis can assess the re-oxygenation of gliomas.

The Grooved Rodent Incisor Recapitulates Rudimentary Teeth Characteristics of Ancestral Mammals

It is known from the paleontology studies of eutherian mammals that incisor numbers were reduced during evolution. The evolutionary lost incisors may remain as vestigial structures at embryonic stages. The recapitulation of the incisor patterns among mammalian species will potentially uncover the mechanisms underlying the phenotypic transition of incisors during evolution. Here, we showed that a minute tooth formed in the presumptive groove region of the gerbil upper incisor at the early developmental stages, during which multiple epithelial swellings and Shh transcription domains spatiotemporally appeared in the dental epithelium, suggests the existence of vestigial dental primordia. Interestingly, when we trimmed the surrounding mesenchyme from incisor tooth germs at or before the bud stage prior to ex vivo culture, the explants developed different incisor phenotypes ranging from triplicated incisors, duplicated incisors, to Lagomorpha-like incisors, corresponding to the incisor patterns in the eutherian mammals. These results imply that the phenotypic transition of incisors during evolution, as well as the achievement of ultimate incisors in adults, arose from differential integrations of primordia. However, when the incisor tooth germ was trimmed at the cap stage, a grooved incisor developed similar to the normal condition. Furthermore, the incisor tooth germ developed a small but smooth incisor after the additional removal of the minute tooth and a lateral rudiment. These results suggest that multiple dental primordia integrated before the cap stage, with the labial primordia contributing to the labial face of the functional incisor. The minute tooth that occupied the boundary of the 2 labial primordia might be implicated in the groove formation. This study sheds light on how rudiments incorporate into functional organs and aids the understanding of incisor evolution.

[Methylation status of RASSF1A gene promoter in upper tract urothelial carcinoma and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) tissues and its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and postoperative recurrence of primary UTUC.

METHODS

In a retrospective design, a total of 687 patients who underwent surgeries for primary UTUC in the urology department of Peking University First Hospital were enrolled. The methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter was analyzed using methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction on tumor specimens.

RESULTS

Aberrant methylation for the RASSF1A gene promoter was detected in 183 (26.6%) DNA samples in total. Aberrant methylation of the RASSF1A gene was strongly associated with tobacco consumption (P=0.044), ipsilateral hydronephrosis (P<0.001 ), tumor location (P<0.001 ), tumor stage (P=0.001), tumor grade (P=0.007), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001) and growth pattern (P=0.013). The methylated RASSF1A gene promoter was an independent risk factor for bladder recurrence (P<0.001, HR=0.471) and contralateral recurrence (P=0.030, HR=0.269) of UTUC after surgery. Hypermethylated RASSF1A was predictive for improved bladder recurrence-free survival (BRFS) (P<0.001) and contralateral recurrence-free survival (CRFS) (P=0.021) in the UTUC patients. Compared with the patients with unmethylated RASSF1A, the patients containing tumors with hypermethylated RASSF1A had tendency toward longer recurrence-free survival time [(114.4±3.9) months vs. (84.0±3.2) months for BRFS, (138.1±1.8) months vs. (132.9±1.9) months for CRFS] and higher estimated cumulative recurrence-free survive rates ( five-year survival rate for example, 79.8%±3.4% vs. 57.4%±2.6% for BRFS, 98.9%±0.8% vs. 93.0%±1.4% for CRFS). Additionally, tumor multifocality (P=0.002, HR=1.538), and ureteroscopy before surgery (P=0.001, HR=1.725) were independent risk factors for bladder recurrence in postoperative UTUC patients.

CONCLUSION

The methylation status of the RASSF1A gene promoter appears to be a promising epigenomic biomarker for assessing the aggressiveness of UTUC and a predictor predicting the urinary tract recurrence after surgery.

Highly efficient electro-generation of hydrogen peroxide using NCNT/NF/CNT air diffusion electrode for electro-Fenton degradation of p-nitrophenol

To promote the in situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in electro-Fenton system, a new air diffusion electrode (ADE) was put forward in the present work using N-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NCNT) as the catalyst layer, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the diffusion layer, and nickel foam (NF) as the supporting material, respectively. The catalyst layer in ADE was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then the performances of H2O2 accumulation and p-nitrophenol (p-NP) degradation with the electrode (NCNT/NF/CNT ADE) were investigated. The experimental results showed that H2O2 accumulation on the NCNT/NF/CNT ADE was greatly improved by the presence of N doping, and H2O2 accumulation concentration could reach 307 mg L(-1) after 120 min at the current intensity of 100 mA. Moreover, the NCNT/NF/CNT ADE presented more effective performance on p-NP degradation than the CNT/NF/CNT ADE or the NF ADE. p-NP of initial 50 mg L(-1) could be almost completely removed after 30 min, and the total organic carbon removal efficiency reached 62.61% after 120 min when 0.4 mM Fe(2+) was added into the system. The repeatability test suggested that the stability of the NCNT/NF/CNT ADE was very good.

miR-96 inhibits cardiac hypertrophy by targeting growth factor receptor-bound 2

Increasing evidence has indicated that microRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. However, whether miR-96 is involved in heart diseases, particularly cardiac hypertrophy, remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-96 is a negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy. In primary cardiomyocytes, overexpression of miR-96 inhibited phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and decreased the mRNA expression of cardiac hypertrophy markers such as atrial natriuretic factor and β-myosin heavy chain. Interestingly, we found that growth factor receptor-bound 2 is a direct target of miR-96, which is a negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy. Overexpression of miR-96 in cardiomyocytes led to reduced growth factor receptor-bound 2 expression. More importantly, miR-96 repressed the extracellular-regulated protein kinase signaling pathway by targeting growth factor receptor-bound 2 in cardiomyocytes. Our data demonstrate that miR-96 is a negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and extracellular-regulated protein kinase signaling, thus offering a new therapeutic strategy for cardiac hypertrophy.

Protein-protein interaction network and mechanism analysis of hepatitis C

We predicted potential genes and identified pathways associated with hepatitis C. The gene expression profiles of GSE40184 from blood samples and GSE38597 from liver biopsy samples were downloaded from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were recognized using the Limma Package. The Pearson correlation test was used to construct the co-expression network of DEGs. Gene set enrichment analysis was used to define significant functions and pathways for DEGs. A total of 165 DEGs in blood samples and 523 DEGs in liver biopsy samples were identified. Eight DEGs were common between these samples. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that 165 DEGs in blood samples were significantly enriched regarding the response to protein binding, receptor binding, G-protein coupled receptor binding, cytokine receptor binding, and cytokine activity. The most significant term of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway was the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated that three subnetworks with more nodes and edges were involved in these interactions. We used robust biomarkers that were differentially expressed in hepatitis C and determined their relevance in the biological function, signal pathways, protein-protein interaction network, and co-expression network of hepatitis C.

Distinguishing the interactions in the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate binding site of human liver pyruvate kinase that contribute to allostery

In the study of allosteric proteins, understanding which effector-protein interactions contribute to allosteric activation is important both for designing allosteric drugs and for understanding allosteric mechanisms. The antihyperglycemic target, human liver pyruvate kinase (hL-PYK), binds its allosteric activator, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-BP), such that the 1'-phosphate interacts with side chains of Arg501 and Trp494 and the 6'-phosphate interacts with Thr444, Thr446, Ser449 (i.e., the 444-449 loop), and Ser531. Additionally, backbone atoms from the 527-533 loop interact with a sugar ring hydroxyl and the two effector phosphate moieties. An effector analogue series indicates that only one phosphate on the sugar is required for activation. However, singly phosphorylated sugars, including Fru-1-P and Fru-6-P, bind with a Kix in the range of 0.07-1 mM. The second phosphate of Fru-1,6-BP causes tight effector binding, because this native effector has a Kix of 0.061 μM. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate bind in the 0.07-1 mM range. The contrast with a higher Fru-1,6-BP binding indicates specificity for the fructose sugar conformation. Site-directed random mutagenesis at each residue that contacts bound Fru-1,6-BP showed that a negative charge introduced at position 531 mimics allosteric activation, even in the absence of Fru-1,6-BP. Collectively, analogue and mutagenesis studies are consistent with the 527-533 loop playing a key role in allosteric function. Deletion mutations that shortened the 527-533 loop were expected to prevent formation of hydrogen bonds between backbone atoms on the loop and Fru-1,6-BP. Indeed, Fru-1,6-BP did not activate these loop-shortened mutant proteins. Previous structural comparisons of M1-PYK and M2-PYK indicate that the 527-533 loop makes interactions across a subunit interface when an activator is not present. Mutating the hL-PYK subunit interface interactions among Trp527, Arg528, and Asp499 mimics allosteric activation. Considered with published structures, these results are consistent with (1) the two phosphates of Fru-1,6-BP docking to Arg501/Trp494 and the 444-449 loop, respectively, and (2) the formation of hydrogen bonds among Fru-1,6-BP and backbone atoms of the 527-533 loop pulling this loop away from the subunit interface, which results in breaking of the Trp527-Arg528-Asp499 interactions to elicit an allosteric response.

Mycophenolic acid upregulates miR-142-3P/5P and miR-146a in lupus CD4+T cells

BACKGROUND

Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is a noncompetitive inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, and is now widely used for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dysregulated expression of microRNA has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of SLE. However, it is unexplored whether altering microRNA expression in SLE patients is one of the therapeutic effects of MPA.

OBJECTIVES

This study thus aims to investigate the effect of MPA on microRNAs expression in lupus CD4(+)T cells and its underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

According to our microarray data, 101 upregulated microRNAs and 77 downregulated microRNAs were identified in MPA-treated lupus CD4(+)T cells. Among these microRNAs, miR-142-3p/5p and miR-146a expression was found to be significantly increased in MPA-treated lupus CD4(+)T cells compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, we observed that MPA-treated CD4(+)T cells from patients with SLE showed enriched levels of H4 acetylation in the putative miRNA-142 regulatory region and enhanced levels of H3 acetylation in the putative miRNA-146a regulatory region compared to untreated cells.

CONCLUSION

Data from this study suggest that MPA activates miR-142 and miR-146a expression through histone modification at the promoter region, which may partially explain the pharmacological mechanisms of MPA for SLE.

Gene expression profile of IGF1 and MSTN mRNA and their correlation with carcass traits in different breeds of geese at 70 d of age

1. The expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) and myostatin (MSTN) mRNA in breast and leg muscle was quantified in 70-d-old Taihu and Wanxi geese by using a Multiplex Competitive Fluorescent-PCR method and the correlations between mRNA levels and carcass traits were analysed. 2. IGF1 mRNA expression in breast muscle in Taihu geese was significantly higher than that in Wanxi geese and the MSTN mRNA level in leg muscle in Taihu geese was significantly higher than that in Wanxi geese. 3. There was no significant difference in breast muscle MSTN or leg muscle IGF1 mRNA expression between the two breeds. 4. Within the same breed, the IGF1 mRNA expression in leg muscle of male geese was significantly higher than that in female geese, and MSTN mRNA expression in leg muscle was significantly higher than that in breast muscle. 5. There was no difference in the IGF1 mRNA expression between tissues. 6. There was a positive correlation between IGF1 mRNA and MSTN mRNA and a negative correlation between IGF1 mRNA expression of breast muscle and leg muscle ratio. 7. In Wanxi geese, MSTN mRNA expression in leg muscle was negatively associated with body weight and leg muscle weight.

Analysis of age of onset, pre-existing infections, and features of magnetic resonance imaging results in patients with acute myelitis

The clinical features and potential risk factors of acute myelitis (AM) were investigated. The medical records of patients with AM admitted to our department between January 2004 and December 2011 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis of AM was in line with the diagnostic criteria of the Transverse Myelitus Consortium Working Group. The age of onset, clinical, and imaging features of these patients were analyzed. A total of 64 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study, including 39 males and 25 females. The patients ranged in age from 1 to 80 years, with a mean age of 34 years. Twenty-three patients had symptoms of pre-existing infections. The correlation between spinal cord lesions and spinal lesions was statistically significant (P<0.05). Cervical spinal cord inflammation was the most common. Prodromal infections were more commonly observed in thoracic spinal cord myelitis than in cervical spinal cord myelitis (P<0.05). AM appears to be more likely to occur in male minors. Lesions of the spinal column were partially implicated with the occurrence of myelitis, which suggests that such lesions might be a predisposing factor. Compared to AM of the cervical cord, pre-existing infections appear to be of greater significance for the occurrence of myelitis of the thoracic cord.

Evaluation of bamboo genetic diversity using morphological and SRAP analyses

Bamboo is an important member of the giant grass subfamily Bambusoideae of Poaceae. In this study, 13 bamboo accessions belonging to 5 different genera were subjected to morphological evaluation and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) analysis. Unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was used to construct a dendrogram and to estimate the genetic distances among accessions. On the basis of morphological characteristics, the 13 accessions were distinctly classified into 2 major clusters; 3 varieties, PPYX, PGNK, and PLYY were grouped as cluster A, and 10 accessions were categorized under cluster B. Similarity coefficients ranging from 0.23 to 0.96 indicated abundant genetic variation among bamboo varieties. Approximately 38 SRAP primer combinations generated 186 bands, with 150 bands (80.65%) showing polymorphisms among the 13 accessions. Based on SRAP analysis, 13 bamboo accessions were grouped into 3 major clusters. Five species comprised Cluster I (PASL, PLYY, PTSC, SCNK, and BMAK), which belongs to genus Phyllostachys. Cluster II consisted of 5 varieties, PASL, PLYY, PTSC, SCNK, and BMAK; Cluster III included 3 varieties, PGNK, PLSY, and BMRS. Comparison of the results generated by morphological and SRAP analyses showed that the classification based on SRAP markers was more concordant to the taxonomic results of Gamble than that performed using morphological characters, thus suggesting that SRAP analysis is more efficient in evaluating genetic diversity in bamboos compared to morphological analysis. The SRAP technique serves as an alternative method in assessing genetic diversity within bamboo collections.

Metformin promotes autophagy and apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by downregulating Stat3 signaling

The antidiabetic drug metformin exerts chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects in many types of malignancies. However, the mechanisms responsible for metformin actions appear diverse and may differ in different types of cancer. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms specific for different cancers is important to optimize strategy for metformin treatment in different cancer types. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of metformin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. Metformin selectively inhibited cell growth in ESCC tumor cells but not immortalized noncancerous esophageal epithelial cells. In addition to apoptosis, metformin triggered autophagy. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of autophagy sensitized ESCC cells to metformin-induced apoptotic cell death. Mechanistically, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and its downstream target Bcl-2 was inactivated by metformin treatment. Accordingly, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated Stat3 knockdown enhanced metformin-induced autophagy and apoptosis, and concomitantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of metformin on cell viability. Similarly, the Bcl-2 proto-oncogene, an inhibitor of both apoptosis and autophagy, was repressed by metformin. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 protected cells from metformin-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. In vivo, metformin downregulated Stat3 activity and Bcl-2 expression, induced apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibited tumor growth. Together, inactivation of Stat3-Bcl-2 pathway contributes to metformin-induced growth inhibition of ESCC by facilitating crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy.

Effect of the IkBα mutant gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells on rat chronic pancreatitis

This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhibitors of the NF-kΒ alpha mutant gene (IkBaM) delivery to mensenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on rat chronic pancreatitis (CP). A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 20: Group A was injected with sterile saline solution, Group B was injected with allogenic MSCs, Group C1 was injected with allogenic IkBαM-MSCs cultured in vitro 4 h before CP modeling, Group C2 was injected with allogenic IkBαM-MSCs cultured in vitro during CP modeling, Group C3 was cultured with allogenic IkBαM-MSCs cultured in vitro 4 h after CP modeling, and Group D was injected with rAAV2-MSCs. Cytokine levels of ICAM-1, CTGF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, IL-10, FN, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 were examined. The results indicated that allogenic IκBαM-MSCs could reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increase anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in CP. The allogenic IkBαM-MSCs reduced the activation and promoted the apoptosis of pancreatic stellate cells in the rat model of CP. IkBαM-MSCs influenced the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic stellate cells by regulating the activation of the PPAR, MAPK, mTOR, TGF-β, NOD-like receptor, Notch, WNT, TGF-β1-SMAD-2/3, and P53 signal transduction pathways.