Associations of Preoperative Irisin Levels of Paired Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma with Physical Dysfunction and Muscle Wasting Severity in Residents of Surgery Wards

BACKGROUND

Myokine Irisin has been proposed to regulate metabolic homeostasis, which is related to chronic diseases or physical activity. However, whether irisin levels in paired cerebrospinal fruid (CSF), plasma and their ratio of inpatients, could use as biomarkers, and be independently related to the varying physical dysfunction, muscle wasting severity and chronic diseases with varying severe degrees, remain largely elusive.

METHODS

We conducted an observational study to assess the independent associations between irisin levels in paired cerebrospinal fruid (CSF), plasma and their ratio, and the independence in activities of daily life (ADLs), muscle wasting severity and chronic diseases with varying severe degrees among elderly Chinese in-patient subjects.

RESULTS

Among 217 inpatients in surgery wards with a mean age of 68.07 years (±15.94years), 31.3% of women and 68.7% of men were included in the study. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that Log transformed CSF and plasma irisin levels and their ratio were potential associated with age, fat%, muscle wasting time, ADLs, number of multimorbidity, the severity of bone mass loss and anemia. Regression models analysis indicated that CSF and plasma irisin levels and their ratio in inpatient individuals were independently associated with the independence in ADLs. Plasma irisin levels were independently related to the change of muscle wasting use.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, the evaluation of paired plasma and CSF irisin levels, and their ratio in in-patient individuals is intriguing candidates for the susceptibility of the independence in ADLs. Plasma irisin levels were positively associated with indepedence in ADLs, negatively related to muscle wasting severity, and could use as biomarkers for muscle wasting severity.

Identification and characterisation of a novel FT orthologous gene in London plane with a distinct expression response to environmental stimuli compared to PaFT

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a key integrator of environmental signals and internal cues, and codes for florigen-like activity which regulates the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in flowering plants. Unlike annual plants, perennial tree species undergo several years of vegetative growth prior to the transition to the reproductive stage, as characterised by the ability to form flower buds. Thereafter, trees in temperate regions typically display an annual growth cycle involving distinct vegetative growth, flowering and dormancy stages. In London plane (Platanus acerifolia Willd.), a FT-like gene has previously been identified. Here, we report the isolation of a novel FT orthologous gene, PaFTL, and investigate the functions of PaFT and PaFTL through the analysis of expression profiles and transgenic phenotypes. PaFT displayed the highest levels of expression during tree dormancy, and similarly elevated expression levels were seen under conditions of low temperature and short days (LT/SD). In contrast, PaFTL transcripts were up-regulated during the floral transition phase, the early stages of inflorescence development and throughout the main flowering period, whereas expression levels were low and variable during dormancy and in response to LT/SD treatments. Ectopic expression of 35s::PaFTL in tobacco produced a phenotype similar to that with PaFT, namely, advanced floral initiation. Overall, the results suggest that PaFT and PaFTL have both conserved and diverse functions in floral initiation, floral development and dormancy regulation.

Identification of a Good-Prognosis IDH-Mutant-Like Population of Patients with Diffuse Gliomas

BACKGROUND

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation is the initiating event that defines major clinical and prognostic classes of gliomas, but the potential mechanisms have not been well interpreted yet. The main objective of the current study was to better understand the underlying biology of IDH mutant gliomas as captured by gene expression profiles.

METHODS

RNA sequencing data of WHO grade II-IV gliomas from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA, N=325) were used to assess differentially expressed genes between IDH mutant and wild type gliomas and to construct a gene expression-based classifier to detect IDH mutant samples with high sensitivity and specificity. The classifier was validated in independent RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, N=699), and the prognostic value of the classifier was also assessed in the two datasets.

RESULTS

A 58-gene-pair IDH mutation signature was developed by using the top scoring pairs algorithm. In CGGA dataset, 98.5% and 100% IDH mutant samples were also predicted to be mutant by gene expression based IDH status in grade II-III and grade IV gliomas, respectively. In TCGA dataset, the proportions were 99.8% and 100%, respectively. The signature remained to be a prognostic marker in multivariate cox analysis both in CGGA and TCGA datasets.

CONCLUSION

A characteristic gene expression signature is associated with and accurately predicts IDH mutation status. This suggests a common biology between these tumors and adds prognostic and biologic information that is not captured by the mutation status alone. These results may help in population stratification for clinical trials. As RNA-seq is more and more prevalent and cost-effective in glioma molecular diagnosis, this gene signature would provide a precise method to predict IDH mutation status with RNA-seq data.

Insight into the phase evolution of a NiMgAl catalyst from the reduction stage to the post-reaction stage during the dry reforming of methane

A NiMgAl oxide catalyst was characterized and analyzed using in situ synchrotron XRD during the catalyst reduction, DRM reaction, and post-reaction.