Seasonal Variation of Zooplankton Communities and the Effects of Environmental Factors in the Seawater Near Taishan Nuclear Power Station

In the seawater near Taishan Nuclear Power Station, Zooplankton community composition and abundance, the biomass of major taxa, vertical distribution pattern, together with several environmental factors were investigated to evaluate the variation tendency as the seasons change. The structure characteristics of the zooplankton community were analyzed by Margalef species richness (d), Shannon-wiener species diversity index (H’), Pielou evenness index(J’), zooplankton dominant (Y), and dominant species replacement rate (R). There are 48 species within 11 classes of zooplankton identified, including 32 species of copepods. Zooplankton species richness changed obviously in the four seasons, Spring saw the highest (8010.00 ind.m-3), followed by winter (5100.00 ind.m-3), autumn (1713.75 ind.m-3), and summer (1196.25 ind.m-3). Similar trends were observed for the wet biomass, which was highest in spring (215.90 mg.m-3), followed by winter (181.70 mg.m-3), summer (78.56 mg.m-3), and autumn (24.69 mg.m-3), which gave an annual average of 125.21 mg.m-3. The results indicate that the abundance and biomass in spring were significantly higher than those in other seasons. Altogether 8 dominant species were identified along the whole year: Acrocalanmus gibber, Bestiolina amoyensis, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia danae, Mesocyclops leuckarti, Noctiluca scientillans, Penilla avirostris, and Lucifer penicilliger. The annual average Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef diversity index, Pielou evenness index were 1.75, 1.83, and 0.74, respectively. The effects of environmental factors on the zooplankton community were studied by R and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). According to Pearson correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis, the most important environmental factors influencing the changes of zooplankton species composition, abundance and distribution were water temperature, salinity, and pH in the whole year.

Decreased spatial variation and deterministic processes of bacterial community assembly in the rhizosphere of Phragmites australis across the Middle-Lower Yangtze plain

Comparison of the spatial distribution and assembly processes between bulk and rhizosphere bacterial communities at multiple spatial scales is vital for understanding the generation and maintenance of microbial diversity under the influence of plants. However, biogeographical patterns and the underlying mechanisms of microbial communities in bulk and rhizosphere sediments of aquatic ecosystems remain unclear. Here, we collected 140 bulk and rhizosphere sediment samples of Phragmites australis from 14 lakeshore zones across a 510-km transect in the Middle-Lower Yangtze plain. We performed high-throughput sequencing to investigate the bacterial diversity, composition, spatial distribution and assembly processes of these samples. Bacterial communities in the rhizosphere sediment exhibited higher alpha diversity but lower beta diversity than those in the bulk sediment. Both bulk and rhizosphere sediment bacterial communities had significant distance-decay relationships, but spatial turnover of the rhizosphere sediment bacterial community was strikingly lower than that of bulk sediment. Despite variable selection dominating the assembly processes of bacterial communities in bulk sediment, the rhizosphere of P. australis enhanced the role of dispersal limitation in governing bacterial communities. The relative importance of different ecological processes in determining bacterial assembly presented distinct patterns of increasing or decreasing linearly with an increase of scale. This investigation highlights the convergent selection of the aquatic plant rhizosphere for surrounding bacterial communities and emphasizes the importance of different ecological processes on bacterial community assembly in sediment environments over different scales. Furthermore, we provide a preliminary framework for exploring the scale dependence of microbial community assembly in aquatic ecosystems.

Clonally-Related Composite Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma and Follicular Lymphoma

Introduction/Objective

Composite classic Hodgkin lymphoma and follicular lymphoma (CHLFL), defined as CHL and FL occurring simultaneously at the same site, is rare and poorly understood. While both Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells and FL are thought to be derived from germinal center B-cells, the relationship between CHL and FL when coexistent is unclear. Here, we present two cases of CHLFL and show that the CHL and FL components have a clonal relationship by FISH.

Methods/Case Report

Case #1 is a 50-year-old man with abdominal and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. An excised mesenteric lymph node showed two distinct components diagnostic for FL, grade 1-2 and CHL. Case #2 is a 63-year- old woman with a history of FL with transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Cytogenetic studies showed a complex karyotype with an add(9p), del(10q), and trisomy 16. Post-treatment imaging revealed left axillary adenopathy. An excised axillary lymph node showed CHL with peripheral areas of FL, grade 3A.

Both cases had areas of typical FL with BCL2-positive phenotype and no significant CD30/CD15 expression. HRS cells were CD45/CD20-negative, expressed CD30 (strong), CD15, and PAX5, and were present in a mixed inflammatory background. No EBV RNA was present by in situ hybridization. Interestingly, HRS cells in case #1 expressed both BCL6 and BCL2.

FISH was performed in both cases. Case #1 had a BCL2 rearrangement in 48% of FL nuclei and in 100% of HRS cells. In case #2, targeted probes were used based on prior cytogenetic results. Here, 47% of FL nuclei and 44% of HRS cells had a 16p duplication; additionally, 32% of HRS cells had an unbalanced IGH rearrangement with loss of the IGH variable region, suggesting possible clonal evolution. No rearrangement of BCL2 or BCL6 was present.

An additional 27 CHLFL cases from the literature were reviewed. CHLFL was mostly nodal and occurred in late adulthood in patients with or without a history of FL. It presented at advanced clinical stage, with a 5-year overall survival of 22%. BCL2 expression in HRS cells was common. Bone marrow involvement was 45% (5/11) and consisted of FL exclusively. Five of six tested cases demonstrated BCL2/IGH rearrangement in both FL and HRS cells.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

NA

Conclusion

Composite CHL and FL are often clonally related and may share a common progenitor B-cell origin – likely a germinal center B-cell – from which additional genetic abnormalities are acquired to develop two distinct lymphomas.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of myeloid neoplasms that harbor both a DDX41 germline and an acquired DDX41 genetic alteration

Introduction/Objective

Myeloid neoplasms associated with DDX41 germline genetic alterations are becoming increasingly recognized as a unique subset of hematologic cancer predisposition syndromes. As such, we sought to review their clinicopathologic characteristics.

Methods/Case Report

We searched our next-generation sequencing database for cases with two DDX41 variants; one variant at heterozygous variant allele fraction (VAF) indicating known or putative germline status, and second variant at low VAF consistent with an acquired subclone. We reviewed the clinicopathologic features.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

We identified 18 cases - male:female ratio 2.6:1, average age at presentation, 69 years (range 57-89). The diagnoses included no diagnostic abnormality (3), MDS-MLD (1), MDS-EB1 (1), increased blasts only(5-19%) (7), and AML (6). All had anemia [average hemoglobin (10.2) (range 6.5-12.9 g/dL)], 17/18 with thrombocytopenia [average 87 (range 22-222 K)], 17/18 with neutropenia [average absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (819) (range 90-1800)] and 13/18 with macrocytosis [average (101.5) (range 83.7-114 fL)]. Bone marrow cellularity (corrected for increased blasts >20%) was predominantly hypocellular (11/19) followed by normocellular (5/19). 3/19 cases showed erythroid dysplasia; no cases demonstrated granulocytic dysplasia; 7/19 cases showed megakaryocytic dysplasia. Of non-AML cases, 8/12 cases showed increased blasts [average 10% (range 5-19%)]. Of 4 cases without an increase in blasts, 1 showed MDS, 2 no dysplasia [1 -ANC of 666 and preserved platelets (222); 2- thrombocytopenia with preserved ANC (1800)] and 1 had slight megakaryocytic atypia. 16/17 cases were karyotypically normal. 14/18 of the patients are alive (median follow-up, 48) (8-125 months).

Conclusion

This cohort finds that myeloid neoplasms arising from DDX41 germline predisposition syndrome tend to present in older individuals, have infrequent dysplasia and are associated with a prolonged clinical course despite elevated blast counts at diagnosis. Recognition of these disorders is challenging and DDX41 testing should be included as part of genetic profiling. The presence of a suspected DDX41 germline variant may prompt confirmatory and familial testing, particularly in the event a hematopoietic transplant is a treatment option.

Effects of shading levels on the composition and co-occurrence patterns of bacterioplankton and epibiotic bacterial communities of Cabomba caroliniana

Epibiotic bacterial community colonized on the plant leaf plays important roles in promoting plant growth and nutrient absorption, but is sensitive to environmental changes. As one of the most important environmental factors affecting the growth of plants and photosynthetic microorganisms, light may affect the diversity, composition, and interactions of the epibiotic bacterial community. Submerged plants in the aquatic ecosystem may be more sensitive to light intensity variations compared to the terrestrial plants since they usually receive less light. However, the effects of light on the interactions between the submerged plants and their epibiotic microbial communities remain uncertain. Here we used the 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing to investigate the diversity and composition of the bacterioplankton and epibiotic bacterial communities of the Cabomba caroliniana under four different shading levels. A total of 24 water and leaf samples were collected from the experimental microcosms near Lake Taihu. We found the epibiotic bacterial community possessed a higher diversity than that of the bacterioplankton community, although the alpha diversity of the bacterioplankton community was more susceptible to different levels of shading. SourceTracker analysis revealed that with the increase of shading, the colonization of bacterioplankton to epibiotic bacteria decreased. Network analysis showed that the bacterial community network at 50% shading level had the lowest modularity and highest clustering coefficient compared to the bacterial community networks of other shading levels. Our findings provided new understandings of the effects of different light intensities on the epibiotic bacterial communities of submerged macrophytes.

[Treatment efficiency evaluation of left cardiac sympathetic denervation for patients with inherited arrhythmia by exercise-stress test]

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) in inherited arrhythmia patients with adrenergic activity-induced malignant ventricular arrhythmia, and observe exercise-stress test features before and after LCSD. Methods: This retrospective observational study included catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia(CPVT) and long QT syndromes(LQTS) patients who underwent video-assisted LCSD at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital and Peking University People's Hospital from September 2006 to May 2020. The indications for LCSD surgery were intolerant or refractory to beta-blocker medication. Clinical and exercise-stress tests data of included patients were collected before and 1 month after LCSD. Heart rate, exercise tolerance, atrial and ventricular arrhythmia, QTc interval and predictors for sudden cardiac death were analyzed. Patents were regularly followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after LCSD and then once every year thereafter. Cardiac events and medication adjustment records were collected. Results: Five patients (2 CPVT, 1 LQT1, and 2 LQT2)were included in the study. All patients experienced syncope as first symptom at the median age of 12(10, 16)years, and underwent LCSD at the median age of 21(16, 26)years, Baseline heart rate was similar before and after LCSD ((65.6±6.5) beats/min vs. (68.0±11.1) beats/min, P=0.57); while maximum workload tended to be lower after LCSD ((12.1±2.8) metabolic equivalents (METS) before surgery vs. (10.5±2.4) METS after surgery, P=0.07). Incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmia were significantly reduced post LCSD, and the ventricular arrhythmia score was decreased after LCSD in CPVT patients (4 points before LCSD vs. 3 points after LCSD in case 1;5 points before LCSD vs. 3 points after LCSD in case 2). QTc interval was shortened significantly in three LQTs patients (QTc interval at baseline heart rate: (546.6±72.3) ms before surgery vs. (493±61.1) ms after LCSD, P=0.047; QTc interval at maximal exercise heart rate: (516.3±73.7) ms before surgery vs. (486.7±64.2)ms after LCSD, P=0.035). Additionally, sudden cardiac death risk indicator ΔHRR1 (heart rate decreasing value within the first 1 min during recovery phase) decreased from (51.5±21.1) beats/min before surgery to (32.0±13.9) beats/min after surgery (P=0.035). During a median follow-up of 1(1, 4) year, all five patients were on low dosage of propranolol (37.0±21.7) mg/d. Cardiac events free survival was achieved in four out of 5 patients (80%) after sympathectomy, while 1 case suffered from sudden cardiac death after emotional stress. Conclusion: LCSD surgery can be safely and effectively performed in most hereditary arrhythmia patients with adrenergic activity-induced life-threatening cardiac events. Exercise stress test results show that LCSD could reduce malignant arrhythmias and improve sudden cardiac death risk indicators without decreasing heart rate.

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of brain abscess caused by Nocardia asiatica with a combination of Ziehl-Neelsen staining and metagenomics next-generation sequencing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Early and accurate diagnosis is vital in cerebral nocardiosis, a very rare and infectious disease associated with a high mortality rate. Herein, we report a case that a patient with brain abscess was swiftly diagnosed and successfully treated.

METHODS

We report a case of a 61-year-old woman with a brain abscess caused by Nocardia asiatica, diagnosed by a combination of Ziehl-Neelsen staining and metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS).

RESULTS

A 61-year-old woman with left breast cancer resection, diabetes mellitus and a 7-month discontinuous cough and fever was admitted to our hospital. On the third day of hospitalization, she experienced a sudden loss of consciousness and was diagnosed with a brain abscess and a pathological change in cerebral mass on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Due to the failure of culturing any microorganisms from the pup, the dissected sample from the patient with Ziehl-Neelsen staining tested positive for acid-fast bacilli and was subjected to mNGS. The pathogen was identified as N. asiatica and the patient was treated accordingly with linezolid and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole until complete recovery was confirmed by the follow-up cerebral MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first case report of a brain abscess caused by N. asiatica being swiftly diagnosed by a combination of Ziehl-Neelsen staining and mNGS. This rapid diagnosis allowed us to successfully treat this rare infection.

LncRNA XIST promotes migration of Wilms' tumor cells through modulation of microRNA-193a-5p

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) XIST expression in Wilms' tumor (WT) and to further explore its relationship with clinical features and prognosis of WT patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to examine the expression level of XIST in tumor tissue samples and paracancerous ones collected from 43 patients with renal cell carcinoma, and the interplay between XIST expression and clinical indicators, as well as prognosis of patients was analyzed. Meanwhile, XIST level in the nephroblast cancer cell line was further confirmed by qRT-PCR. In addition, XIST knockdown model was constructed using lentivirus in the WT cell lines, including HFWT and 17-94, and the influence of XIST on WT cell functions was analyzed through transwell assay. Finally, we investigated whether lncRNA XIST plays a role in the progression of WT by modulating microRNA-193a-5p.

RESULTS

In this research, qRT-PCR results revealed a significantly higher expression of lncRNA XIST in tumor tissue specimens of patients with renal cell carcinoma than that in adjacent ones. Compared with patients with low expression of lncRNA XIST, those with high XIST expression had a higher incidence of distant metastasis and a lower overall survival rate. Compared with the negative control group, the metastatic ability of WT cells in the lncRNA XIST knockdown group was markedly weakened. In addition, the results of qPCR showed that mRNA expression of lncRNA XIST and microRNA-193a-5p were negatively correlated in renal cell carcinoma tissue specimens. At the same time, silencing microRNA-193a-5p reversed the reduced metastasis ability of WT cells induced by knockdown of XIST.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA XIST expression is dramatically enhanced in WT tissues and cell lines, which is closely associated with the incidence of distant metastasis and patients' poor prognosis. In addition, we demonstrated that lncRNA XIST may accelerate the malignant progression of WT via inhibiting microRNA-193a-5p.

ORAI3 contributes to hypoxia-inducible factor 1/2α-sensitive colon cell migration

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia is a pivotal initiator of tumor angiogenesis and growth through the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). This study set out to examine the involvement of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in colon cancer and ascertained whether ORAI3 was involved in the pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients and murine models as well as human colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor (CW2) cells were included to examine the levels of ORAI1/3 and HIF-1/2α levels. Calcium imaging was utilized to ascertain the activity of calcium channel. Scratch assay was used to assess the migration capacity of the cells.

RESULTS

Tumors from murine colon cancer xenograft models and patients with colon cancer displayed high ORAI1/3 and HIF-1/2α levels. Hypoxia treatment, mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vitro, increased ORAI1/3 and HIF-1/2α expression as well as store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Of note is that HIF-1/2α silencing decreased SOCE, and HIF-1/2α overexpression facilitated SOCE. Furthermore, ORAI3 rather than ORAI1 expression was inhibited by HIF-1/2α silencing while increased by ML228. Luciferase assay also confirmed that ORAI3 was elevated in the presence of ML228, indicating the linkage between HIF-1/2α and ORAI3. Additionally, colony-forming potential and cell migration capacity were decreased in siHIF-1α and siHIF-2α as well as siORAI3 cells, and the facilitating effect of ML228 on cell migration and colony-forming potential was also decreased in siORAI3 CW-2 cells, which points out the importance of ORAI3 in HIF1/2α pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings allow to conclude that both HIF-1α and HIF-2α facilitate ORAI3 expression, hence enhancing colon cancer progression.

[Analyses of triggers for recurrent cardiac events in 38 patients with symptomatic long QT syndrome]

Objective: To evaluate the main triggers of recurrent cardiac events in patients with symptomatic congenital long QT syndrome (cLQTS). Methods: In this retrospective case analysis study, clinical characteristics were reviewed from 38 patients with recurrent cardiac events after first visit out of 66 symptomatic cLQTS patients. General clinical data such as gender, age, clinical presentation, family history and treatment were collected, auxiliary examination results such as electrocardiogram and gene detection were analyzed. LQTS-related cardiac events were defined as arrhythmogenic syncope, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shock, inappropriate ICD shock, aborted cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death or ventricular tachycardia. Results: A total of 38 patients with recurrent symptoms were enrolled in this study, including 30 females (79%) and 14 children (37%). The average age of onset was (15.6±14.6) years, and the recurrence time was (3.6±3.5) years. Subtype analysis showed that there were 11 cases (29%) of LQT1 (including 2 cases of jervel-Lange Nielson syndrome), 19 cases (50%) of LQT2, 5 cases (13%) of LQT3 and 3 cases (8%) of other rare subtypes (1 LQT5, 1 LQT7 and 1 LQT11) in this patient cohort. LQT1 patients experienced recurrent cardiac event due to drug withdrawal (6 (55%)), specific triggers (exercise and emotional excitement) (4 (36%)) and medication adjustment (1 (9%)). For LQT2 patients, main triggers for cardiac events were drug withdrawal (16 (84%)), specific triggers (shock, sound stimulation, waking up (6 (32%)). One patient (5%) had recurrent syncope after pregnancy. One patient (20%) had inappropriate ICD shock. For LQT3 patients, 4 (80%) patients developed syncope during resting state, and 1 (20%) developed ventricular tachycardia during exercise test. One LQT5 patients experienced syncope and ICD shock under specific triggers (emotional excitement). One LQT11 patient had repeated ICD shocks under specific inducement (fatigue). One LQT7 patient experienced inappropriate ICD shock. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) significantly alleviated the symptoms in 2 children with Jervell-Lange Nielson syndrome (JLNS) post ineffective β-blocker medication. Nadolol succeeded in eliminating cardiac events in one patient with LQT2 post ineffective metoprolol medication. Mexiletine significantly improved symptoms in 2 patients with LQT2 post ineffective β-blocker medication. Conclusions: Medication withdrawal is an important trigger of the recurrence of cardiac events among patients with symptomatic congenital long QT syndrome.

[Current status of the clinical practice and analysis on the ratioanl prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation: Results from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) trial]

Objective: To explore the practice patterns and the related factors of oral antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) treatment in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and to evaluate the compliance of AAD application to atrial fibrillation management guidelines. Methods: From August 2011 to August 2016, medical records from 18 014 patients with AF were analyzed based on data from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry trial. Patients were divided into AAD group (7 788 cases, 43.23%) and non-AAD group (10 226 cases, 56.77%) according to whether AAD was used at baseline or at the time of first use during follow-up. Amiodarone (4 129 cases, 53.02%) and propafenone (3 211 cases, 41.23%) were the mostly prescribed AAD and subgroup analysis was performed accordingly. Medical records were analyzed by random forest regression to evaluate the use of AAD and related factors in patients with AF, and the rationality of AAD was analyzed according to the guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. Result: A total of 18 014 patients were included in this study, of which 60.48% (10 895/18 014) were male patients, 22.65% (4 081/18 014) were elderly patients(≥75 years old), there were 7 788 patients (43.23%) in AAD group, and 10 226 patients(56.77%) in non-AAD group. Compared with the non-AAD group, the elderly patients (≥75 years old, 13.74%(1 070/7 788) vs. 29.44%(3 011/10 226)), persistent AF (28.95% (2 250/7 788) 45.80% (4 683/10 226)), heart failure(8.29% (646/7 788) vs. 21.95% (2 245/10 226)), stroke and (or) TIA(12.15% (946/7 788) vs. 19.95% (2 040/10 226)), renal dysfunction(16.36%(1 274/7 788) vs. 29.37% (3 003/10 226)), and high thromboembolism risk(60.17% (4 748/7 788) vs. 76.40% (7 813/10 226)) were less prevalent in the AAD subgroup (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that patients in tertiary hospitals (OR=3.72, 95%CI 3.17-4.37) were more likely to use AAD, elderly patients (≥75 years old, OR=0.47, 95%CI 0.39-0.55), persistent atrial fibrillation (OR=0.66, 95%CI 0.60-0.72), and patients with heart failure (OR=0.54, 95%CI 0.47-0.63), stroke and (or) TIA (OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.68-0.87), renal dysfunction (OR=0.75, 95%CI 0.59-0.95) and high thromboembolism risk(OR=0.7, 95%CI 0.58-0.84) were more likely not to use AAD(P<0.05). In the AAD group, amiodarone and propafenone were the most commonly used AAD, accounting for 53.02% (4 129/7 788) and 41.23% (3 211/7 788), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (OR=4.57, 95%CI 3.94-5.29) and coronary heart disease (OR=4.14, 95%CI 3.03-5.64), heart failure (OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.48-2.89), non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (OR=4.84, 95%CI 2.41-9.73) were more likely to use amiodarone, and those with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (OR=0.31, 95%CI 0.15-0.65) and low thromboembolism risk (OR=0.78, 95%CI 0.63-0.97) were more likely to use propafenone (P<0.001). The overall incidence of AAD treatment, which was not indicated by the guidelines was 6.5% (480/7 340); 5.1% (212/4 129) in the amiodarone group and 8.3% (268/3 211) in the propafenone group, respectively. Compared with the rational AAD use group, the proportion of irrational drug use was higher in the elderly (≥75 years old) (20.4% (98/480) vs. 12.9% (887/6 860)), patients of high thromboembolism risk (77.1% (379/480) vs. 59.0% (4 047/6 860)), and in non-tertiary hospitals (7.1% (34/480) vs. 3.3% (299/6 860)), but lower in men(50.8% (244/480) vs. 64.5% (4 427/6 860)), P<0.001. Conclusions: The patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who were treated with AAD, were mostly patients with fewer complications, and the patients who were treated with amiodarone were mostly patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, patients were more likely to complicate with organic heart disease. The incidence of AAD that do not comply with the guidelines was low, and it was more common in non-tertiary hospitals and the elder patients with high thromboembolism risk.

Emergency management in fever clinic during the outbreak of COVID-19: an experience from Zhuhai

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health threat. A hospital in Zhuhai adopted several measures in Fever Clinic Management (FCM) to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. FCM has been proved to be effective in preventing nosocomial cross infection. Faced with the emergency, the hospital undertook creative operational steps in relation to the control and spread of COVID-19, with special focuses on physical and administrative layout of buildings, staff training and preventative procedures. The first operational step was to set up triaging stations at all entrances and then complete a standard and qualified fever clinic, which was isolated from the other buildings within our hospital complex. Secondly, the hospital established its human resource reservation for emergency response and the allocation of human resources to ensure strict and standardised training methods through the hospital for all medical staff and ancillary employees. Thirdly, the hospital divided the fever clinic into partitioned areas and adapted a three-level triaging system. The experiences shared in this paper would be of practical help for the facilities that are encountering or will encounter the challenges of COVID-19, i.e. to prevent nosocomial cross infection among patients and physicians.

Association study of SNCA gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia in a Chinese North Han population

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies suggested that the alpha-synapse protein (SNCA) gene and its coding product α-synuclein (α-Syn) may play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The mutation of SNCA can influence the formation of nerve fibers and the function of dopaminergic neurons, and that may be related to addictive behavior, such as alcohol dependence. SNCA may overlap with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease or alcohol dependence associated with the dopamine pathway. The aim was to determine the association between three SNCA SNPs (rs3822086C/T, rs11931074G/T, and rs356219A/G) and schizophrenia in a Chinese North Han population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 878 subjects, with or without schizophrenia, were included in our study. DNA purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification, and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were manipulated to determine genotypes.

RESULTS

Between the schizophrenia group and healthy group, neither the genotype nor allele frequencies of rs3822086C/T, rs11931074G/T, or rs356219A/G differed significantly in either the total sample or the subgroups. In the haplotype analysis, the ATT and GTT haplotype frequencies differed significantly between the patients and controls in the total sample (χ2=6.052, p=0.0139; χ2=4.508, p=0.0337). In the female subgroup, the ATT haplotype frequency differed significantly between the patients and controls (χ2=4.219, p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between SNCA polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the North Han Chinese population, and the ATT haplotype may be a susceptibility factor for schizophrenia.

Brassinosteroids are involved in ethylene-induced Pst DC3000 resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana

Plant immunity is regulated by a huge phytohormone regulation network. Ethylene(ET) and brassinosteroids (BRs) play critical roles in plant response to biotic stress; however, the relationship between BR and ET in plant immunity is unclear. We used chemical treatments, genetic approaches and inoculation experiments to investigate the relationship between ET and BR in plant defense against Pst DC3000 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Foliar applications of ET and BR enhanced plant resistance to Pst DC3000 inoculation, while treatment with brassinazole (BRZ, a specific BR biosynthesis inhibitor) eliminated the ET induced plant resistance to Pst DC3000. Silencing of DWARF 4(DWF4, a key BR biosynthetic gene), BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1, aBR receptor) and BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE 1 (BSK1, downstream of BRI1) also neutralised the ET-induced plant resistance to Pst DC3000. ET can induce callose deposition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation to resistPst DC3000, BRZ-treated and gene-silenced were completely eliminate this response. Our results suggest BR is involved in ET-induced plant resistance, the involvement of ET in plant resistance is possibly by the induction of callose deposition and ROS accumulation, in a BR-dependent manner.

LncRNA LINC00628 overexpression inhibits the growth and invasion through regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in osteosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy, mainly arising from the metaphysic of the long bones of adolescents and young adults. Although osteosarcoma has been studied widely, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Increasing evidence shows that abnormal long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) expression is involved in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to identify the detailed role of LncRNA LINC00628 in osteosarcoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relative mRNA expression level of LINC00628 in adjacent tissues, osteosarcoma tissues with or without metastasis and osteosarcoma cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR. Overall survival curves for two groups defined by high and low expression level of LINC00628 in osteosarcoma patients. The cell proliferation, invasion and migration in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA- NC or lncRNA-LINC00628 were detected. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA- NC or lncRNA-LINC00628 were measured using the Flow cytometry analysis. The relative protein expression level of p-PI3K, p-Akt, P53 and Bcl-2 in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA- NC or lncRNA-LINC00628 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

LINC00628 expression was significantly decreased in osteosarcoma tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Meanwhile, osteosarcoma tissues with metastasis were significantly associated with a low expression level of LINC00628 and the low expression level of LINC00628 has a lower overall survival rate. LINC00628 expression was increased in osteosarcoma cell lines after transfection with lncRNA-LINC00628 and the cell proliferation, invasion and migration in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA-LINC00628 were significantly inhibited. Moreover, the cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase and the apoptosis rate was increased in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA-LINC00628. Mechanistically, the relative protein expression level of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 were significantly increased and the relative expression of P53 was significantly decreased in osteosarcoma cells after transfection with lncRNA-LINC00628.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00628 expression was decreased in osteosarcoma. The overexpression of LINC00628 inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration and promoted cell apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells through the inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This lncRNA may be involved in the development and progression of osteosarcoma.