miR-29a is a potential protective factor for fibrogenesis in gluteal muscle contracture

Circulating miRNAs have been proposed as the effective diagnostic biomarkers for muscular fibrosis-associated diseases. However, circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis of contracture muscles are limited in gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) patients. Here we sought to explore the abnormally expressed miRNAs in plasma and contraction bands of GMC patients. The results showed miR-29a-3p expression in plasma and contraction bands tissue was significantly reduced in GMC patients compared with normal control. Cell viability and levels of proliferation-associated protein cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent-kinase 2 (CDK2) were powerfully inhibited by miR-29a mimics and enhanced by miR-29a inhibitor compared with negative control. Furthermore, miR-29a mimics effectively impeded, while miR-29a inhibitor enhanced the expression of collagen I and collagen III, followed by the secretion of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta3 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary human contraction bands (CB) fibroblasts. The miR-29a-3p negatively regulated the expression of TGF-beta1 through binding to the 3´ UTR region of SERPINH1 (encoding heat shock protein HSP47), but had no effect on Smad2 activity. The miR-29a-3p was inversely correlated with HSP47 in contraction bands tissue from GMC patients. Collectively, miR-29a was notably depressed and regulated cell viability and fibrosis by directly targeting HSP47 in GMC, which suggest that circulating miR-29a might be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and provides a novel therapeutic target for GMC.

HER2 exon 20 insertions in non-small-cell lung cancer are sensitive to the irreversible pan-HER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib

BACKGROUND

Effective targeted therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations remains an unmet need. This study investigated the antitumor effect of an irreversible pan-HER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pyrotinib.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using patient-derived organoids and xenografts established from an HER2-A775_G776YVMA-inserted advanced lung adenocarcinoma patient sample, we investigated the antitumor activity of pyrotinib. Preliminary safety and efficacy of pyrotinib in 15 HER2-mutant NSCLC patients in a phase II clinical trial are also presented.

RESULTS

Pyrotinib showed significant growth inhibition of organoids relative to afatinib in vitro (P = 0.0038). In the PDX model, pyrotinib showed a superior antitumor effect than afatinib (P = 0.0471) and T-DM1 (P = 0.0138). Mice treated with pyrotinib displayed significant tumor burden reduction (mean tumor volume, -52.2%). In contrast, afatinib (25.4%) and T-DM1 (10.9%) showed no obvious reduction. Moreover, pyrotinib showed a robust ability to inhibit pHER2, pERK and pAkt. In the phase II cohort of 15 patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC, pyrotinib 400 mg resulted in a objective response rate of 53.3% and a median progression-free survival of 6.4 months.

CONCLUSION

Pyrotinib showed activity against NSCLC with HER2 exon 20 mutations in both patient-derived organoids and a PDX model. In the clinical trial, pyrotinib showed promising efficacy.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02535507.

Enhanced biodegradation of pyridine using sequencing batch biofilm reactor under intermittent micro-aerobic condition

A sequencing batch biofilm reactor under intermittent micro-aerobic or anaerobic conditions was investigated to remove pyridine at various concentrations from synthetic wastewater. The results showed that over 98% of pyridine (influent concentration ≤200 mg L^-1) was degraded under intermittent micro-aerobic condition, while about 21% of pyridine was removed under anaerobic condition. Additionally, at least 60% of nitrogen located in the pyridine ring was transformed to ammonium. At the same time, the sulphate reduction was obviously inhibited under intermittent micro-aerobic conditions. The microscopic observation showed that abundant microorganisms were attached on the surface or inside of porous biocarriers under intermittent micro-aerobic conditions after a short-term period of operation. High-throughput sequencing analysis demonstrated that Azotobacter, Rhodobacteraceae and Tolumonas were the dominant species in the intermittent micro-aerobic system. The kinetic study at steady period showed that pyridine degradation was fitted well with the pseudo-first-order model (R² > 0.96). The two possible intermediate products were identified and the possible biodegradation pathway of pyridine was proposed under micro-aerobic condition.

[Contrast-enhanced CT and texture analysis of mass-forming pancreatitis and cancer in the pancreatic head]

Objective: To explore the value of contrast-enhanced CT combined with texture analysis in differentiating pancreatic cancer from mass-forming pancreatitis in pancreatic head. Methods: A retrospective study collected 21 patients with pancreatic head mass-forming pancreatitis confirmed by surgery or biopsy and 47 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma confirmed by surgery. The patients visited the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College between January 2014 and December 2017. Gender, age and CT findings were collected. The parenchymal phase was selected for texture analysis. The minimum absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was applied for dimensionality reduction.Two independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U test were used for continuous variables based on the Shapiro-Wilks normality test results. Categorical variables were tested by Chi-square or Fisher test. By multivariable regression analysis, CT findings, CT texture analysis, CT findings combined with texture analysis prediction models were established. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of individual indicators and each prediction model. The Delong test was used to compare the area under the curve (AUC) of each model. Results: The CT findings prediction model consisted of CT value of lesion on pancreatic parenchymal phase and pancreatic duct penetrating sign. The texture analysis prediction model consists of root mean square and low grey level run emphasis_angle135. The AUC of them were not statistically different (Z=0.150,P>0.05). The combined predictive model had the better diagnostic performance (AUC 0.944, sensitivity 83.0%, specificity 95.2%, +LR 17.43, -LR 0.18) than CT sign prediction model (Z=2.008, P<0.05) and texture analysis prediction model(Z=2.236, P<0.05) were significantly different. Conclusions: The CT findings model and the texture analysis model have equivalent diagnostic performance in the differentiation of mass-forming pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The enhanced CT combined with texture analysis model has the best diagnostic efficiency and can further improve the diagnostic ability.

Genome-wide detection of genetic loci and candidate genes for teat number and body conformation traits at birth in Chinese Sushan pigs

Body conformation at birth and teat number are economically important traits in the pig industry, as these traits are usually explored to evaluate the growth and reproductive potential of piglets. To detect genetic loci and candidate genes for these traits, we performed a GWAS on 269 pigs from a recently developed Chinese breed (Sushan) using 38  128 informative SNPs on the Affymetrix Porcine SNP 55K Array. In total, we detected one genome-wide significant (P = 1.31e-6) SNP for teat number on chromosome X and 15 chromosome-wide significant SNPs for teat number, body weight, body length, chest circumference and cannon circumference at birth on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18. The most significant SNP had an additive effect of 0.74 × total teat number, explaining 20% of phenotypic variance. Five significant SNPs resided in the previously reported quantitative trait loci for these traits and seven significant SNPs had a pleiotropic effect on multiple traits. Intriguingly, 12 of the genes nearest to the significant SNPs are functionally related to body conformation and teat number traits, including SPRED2, MKX, TMSB4X and ESR1. GO analysis revealed that candidate genes proximal to the significant SNPs were enriched in the G-protein coupled receptor and steroid hormone-mediated signaling pathway. Our findings shed light on the genetic basis of the measured traits and provide molecular markers especially for the genetic improvement of teat number in Sushan and related pigs.

[Effect of nonoperative periodontal treatment on changes of schneiderian membrane thickness of maxillary sinus in the chronic periodontitis patients using cone-beam CT]

Objective: To analysis the effect of nonoperative periodontal treatment on morphological changes of the schneiderian membrane of maxillary sinus in the chronic periodontitis patients by using oro-maxillaofacial cone-beam CT (CBCT) in order to provide the foundation in the diagnosis and treatment of maxillary sinusitis caused by chronic periodontitis. Methods: Totally 30 chronic periodontitis patients with schneiderian membrane thickening [(40.0±5.6) years old (ranged 26-55 years old), 18 males and 12 females] were randomly recruited in Department of Periodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University from June 2014 to December 2016. All patients were scanned by CBCT. The probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque index (PLI) and bleeding index (BI) of the maxillary first and second premolars and molars were recorded. All patients received systematic nonoperative periodontal treatment. After six months, patients were reviewed, periodontal indexes and CBCT scanning were recorded. The thickness of the schneiderian membrane of maxillary sinus were analyzed by the software of CBCT. The changes of clinical parameters, parameter dimensional values of membrane thickness before and after treatment were statistically compared by t test. Results: In 30 chronic periodontitis patients, there was no statistically significant difference in the dimension and length of the maxillary sinus mucosa between the right and the left (P>0.05). The dimension of the mucosal thickening was positively correlated with PD and CAL values, and the correlation was statistically significant (P<0.05). Totally 58 maxillary sinus showed mucosal thickening. There were 20 mild thickening cases, and the dimension of mucosal thickening 6 months after treatment [(1.1±0.6) mm] was significantly lower than that before treatment [(2.5±0.7) mm] (P<0.05). There were 30 moderate thickening cases and the dimension of mucosal thickening 6 months after treatment [(2.3±0.6) mm] was significantly lower than that before treatment [(5.8±0.5) mm] (P<0.01). There were 8 severe thickening cases and the dimension of mucosal thickening 6 months after treatment [(4.2±0.4) mm] was also significantly lower than that before treatment [(11.2±1.8) mm] (P<0.01). The periodontal indexes of patients with mild, moderate and severe mucosal thickening in maxillary sinus showed statistically significant difference after treatment compared with before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Nonoperative periodontal treatment has a positive therapeutic significance for improving the schneiderian membrane thickening of maxillary sinus.

[Anatomical and finite element analysis of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction within biomechanical insertion]

OBJECTIVE

To provide new concepts of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by anatomical gross observation of ACL tibial insertion and finite element analysis of distribution of ACL mechanical insertion.

METHODS

In the anatomical study, ten fresh adult cadaveric knees were dissected, including 6 males and 4 females, all knees were generally observed through standard medial parapatellar approaches, paying attention to the close anatomical relationship of tibial insertion and anterior horn of lateral meniscus, and ACL was exposed and gradually removed from the inside. The shape of tibial insertion of ACL was observed and recorded, and anterior-posterior diameters and left-right diameters of tibial insertion were measured with vernier caliper. For the study of finite element analysis, three-dimensional thin-layer magnetic resonance imaging of normal knee joint was used to establish knee joint model. Three-dimensional reconstruction software MIMICS and finite element analysis software ANSYS were used to establish knee joint model, subsequently, clinical physical examination Lachman test and pivot-shift test were simulated to observe the force distribution of ACL tibial insertion and femoral insertion.

RESULTS

The ACL tibial mechanical insertion was rather flat and long similar as an arc shape without a clear separation between anterior medial bundle (AMB) and posterolateral bundle (PLB) in gross observation. The dense fibers lies belonged to the medial intercondylar ridge and ended up anterior with the osseous landmark of anterior ridge. Its average anterior-posterior diameter was (13.8±2.0) mm, the average left-right diameter of midsubstance was (5.3±0.6) mm, and the average left-right diameter of anterior margin was (11.5±1.2) mm. The finite element analysis showed that distribution on the femoral side was oval shape mainly below the residents' ridge, while the tibial side was rather flat mainly along the medial intercondylar ridge, which was consistent with the anatomical observation. The biomechanical characteristics of ACL attachments were verified theoretically.

CONCLUSION

Anatomical study and finite element analysis have confirmed the flat arc shape of ACL tibial insertion. The ideal reconstruction technique of ACL should be based on its biomechanical insertion. Based on anatomical study and biomechanical analysis, we have proposed the idea of ACL biomechanical insertion reconstruction (BIR) and established a surgical model with oval femoral tunnel and rounded-rectangle tibial tunnel.

[Clinical study on liver function, virology, serological changes and the safety of drug withdrawal in pregnant women who are chronic HBV carriers during pregnancy and postpartum]

Objective: To observe the changes of liver function, virology and serology and the safety of drug withdrawal in pregnant women who are chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Methods: A prospective clinical cohort was established to enroll pregnant women who are chronic HBV carriers and they were divided into the nucleoside/nucleotide analogs (NAs) intervention group and the non-NAs intervention group according to patients' wishes. Liver function, HBV DNA and HBV serological markers were detected at gestation, postpartum 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 36 weeks and 48 weeks. Results: 351 patients were enrolled, 320 in the NAs intervention group and 31 in the non-NAs intervention group. The proportion of postpartum hepatitis flares in both groups was higher than that in pregnancy (39.4% vs 12.5%, P < 0.001; 38.7% vs 3.2%, P = 0.001). Six weeks postpartum was the peak period of hepatitis flares, and 96.0% (121/126) of the hepatitis flares occurred within 24 weeks postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, there were 6 cases of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 10 times upper limit of normal (ULN) in the NAs intervention group. The rate of the hepatitis flare after drug withdrawal was 16.7% (34/203). Conclusion: Regardless of the presence or absence of NAs intervention, pregnant women who are chronic HBV carriers have a certain proportion of hepatitis flares during pregnancy and postpartum, and the hepatitis flare even have a tendency to be severe. Therefore, drug withdrawal after delivery is not always safe, which requires close observation and classification. At 6 weeks postpartum, the incidence of hepatitis flares was high, and those who meet the treatment indications can get better therapeutic effects if given appropriate treatment. The vast majority (96%) of postpartum hepatitis flares occur within 24 weeks, so it is recommended to follow up to at least 24 weeks postpartum after discontinuation.

[Low-levels of HBsAg quantification at 48-week in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients are the advantageous population for HBsAg clearance]

Objective: To analyze the therapeutic effect on HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients treated with Peg-IFNα-2a combined with NAs to obtain the influencing factors for predicting HBsAg clearance. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the effect of pegylated interferon alpha-2a combined with nucleoside analogues (lamivudine/adefovir dipivoxil) on HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. The treatment course was 96 weeks. Patients were followed up 120 weeks after the treatment. HBsAg clearance at 120 weeks was taken as the objective of the study. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis screened the related factors affecting HBsAg clearance. χ (2) test was used to compare count data. Results: 111 patients were treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a combined with nucleoside analogues, and 107 patients completed the scheduled course of treatment and follow-up. HBsAg clearance rate at120 week was 29.0% (31/107). The influencing factors for analysis were: (1) gender had no effect on HBsAg clearance rate; age and baseline levels of HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase had no significant effect on HBsAg clearance; low baseline level of HBsAg (< 3.023 lgIU/ml) was beneficial to HBsAg clearance. The area under the working characteristic curve of the subjects was 0.746, the positive predictive value was 44.4%, and the negative predictive value was 86.8%. (2) HBsAg quantification or decline in 24 weeks and 48 weeks of treatment had a good predictive effect on HBsAg clearance, and the 48 weeks predicted value was higher than 24 weeks. When the HBsAg quantification was≤2.070 lgIU/ml at 48 weeks, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.931, the positive predictive value was 52.8%, and the negative predictive value was 94.4%. When HBsAg decreased from baseline to≥0.991 lgIU/ml, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.888, the positive predictive value was 50.8%, and the negative predictive value was 97.9%. (3) The analysis of HBsAg subgroup levels at 48 weeks suggested that the "interval analysis" can forecast HBsAg clearance more exactly than "nodal analysis" .The final HBsAg clearance rate of 100 IU/ml < HBsAg≤1 000 IU/ml, 10 IU/ml < HBsAg≤100 IU/ml and HBsAg≤10 IU/ml groups reached 6.7%, 31.8% and 67.7%, respectively. (4) The ALT abnormal group in the course of treatment obtained a higher HBsAg clearance rate (48.0%, 12/25). Conclusion: 96-weeks long-term treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha -alpha-2a combined with nucleoside analogues for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B has a good predictive value for HBsAg clearance at baseline and during treatment. The "interval level" of HBsAg at 48-weeks is more accurate in predicting HBsAg clearance, suggesting that HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with low HBsAg levels at 48-weeks are the advantageous populations with HBsAg clearance. These patients are worthy of prolonged treatment to pursue "clinical cure".

Efficacy and safety of combined androgen blockade with antiandrogen for advanced prostate cancer

Background

Combined androgen blockade (cab) is a promising treatment modality for prostate cancer (pca). In the present meta-analysis, we compared the efficacy and safety of first-line cab using an antiandrogen (aa) with castration monotherapy in patients with advanced pca.

Methods

PubMed, embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials (rcts) published through 12 December 2016. Hazard ratios (hrs) with 95% confidence intervals (cis) were determined for primary outcomes: overall survival (os) and progression-free survival (pfs). Subgroup analyses were performed for Western compared with Eastern patients and use of a nonsteroidal aa (nsaa) compared with a steroidal aa (saa).

Results

Compared with castration monotherapy, cab using an aa was associated with significantly improved os (n = 14; hr: 0.90; 95% ci: 0.84 to 0.97; p = 0.003) and pfs (n = 13; hr: 0.89; 95% ci: 0.80 to 1.00; p = 0.04). No significant difference in os (p = 0.71) and pfs (p = 0.49) was observed between the Western and Eastern patients. Compared with castration monotherapy, cab using a nsaa was associated with significantly improved os (hr: 0.88; 95% ci: 0.82 to 0.95; p = 0.0009) and pfs (hr: 0.85; 95% ci: 0.73 to 0.98; p = 0.007)-a result that was not achieved with cab using a saa. The safety profiles of cab and monotherapy were similar in terms of adverse events, including hot flushes, impotence, and grade 3 or 4 events, with the exception of risk of diarrhea and liver dysfunction or elevation in liver enzymes, which were statistically greater with cab using an aa.

Conclusions

Compared with castration monotherapy, first-line cab therapy with an aa, especially a nsaa, resulted in significantly improved os and pfs, and had an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced pca.

Effects of co-composting of lincomycin mycelia dregs with furfural slag on lincomycin degradation, degradation products, antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial community

This study explored the effects of co-composting of lincomycin mycelia dregs (LMDs) with furfural slag on variations in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the bacterial community. The results showed that more than 99% lincomycin was reduced after composting. Moreover, the total absolute and relative abundance of ARGs increased by 180 and 5 times, respectively. The gene lnuA was detected in the LMDs compost and it was proved to participate in lincomycin biodegradation based on the analysis of Pearson's correlation and the lincomycin degradation byproducts. Redundancy analysis showed the succession of the bacterial community had a greater influence than the environmental parameters (residual lincomycin, C/N, pH and temperature) on the variation of ARGs during composting. Composting was not effective in reducing most of the ARGs and intI1 and thus the LMDs compost is dangerous to the ecological environment.

Effects of co-composting of lincomycin mycelia dregs with furfural slag on lincomycin degradation, maturity and microbial communities

This paper investigated the effect of co-composting of lincomycin mycelia dregs (LMDs) with furfural slag on the degradation of lincomycin, maturity and microbial communities. Results showed that after 66 days composting, the concentration of lincomycin was removed above 99%. The final pH, C/N and germination index (GI) all met the national standards in maturity. Enumeration of total cultivable microbes showed the composting process was not inhibited by the addition of LMDs. Microbial diversity suggested that co-composting was beneficial to increase the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities for LMDs' treatment. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) indicated the bacteria communities were strongly affected by residual lincomycin, with lincomycin reduced greatly, microbial communities of T and CK became similar at the end of composting. The potential bacteria to degrade lincomycin were Anaerococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Lactobacillus. Based on these results, this research indicated that the co-composting was a feasible treatment for LMDs.