The theory of a trapped degenerate mode resonator

Resonance based biosensors are used in the detection of biological molecules for medical diagnostics. Sensing in a liquid environment is very desirable for this application, but presents a significant challenge for resonators based upon conventional technologies. In this paper, the major originality lies in the development and exposition of a fundamental theory enabling design of an original elastic resonant sensor whose modes are engineered to simultaneously possess three separate but complementary dynamical properties: namely, (1) in-plane displacement of the free interface whereby the SH waves are uncoupled from the SV and P waves; (2) intrinsic modal trapping; and finally, (3) cyclic symmetry and modal degeneracy. The modal trapping is due to the physical configuration of the resonator resulting in an imaginary wavenumber for one region of the resonator. The wave will be evanescent in this region and propagating elsewhere. The fundamental principles are elucidated, and analytical techniques are presented that facilitate the efficient design of this unique class of device.

Treatment of a subdural empyema complicated by intracerebral abscess due to Brucella infection

A 55-year-old male presented with fever, stupor, aphasia, and left hemiparesis. A history of head trauma 3 months before was also reported. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed slight contrast enhancement of lesions under the right frontal skull plate and right frontal lobe. Because of deterioration in nutritional status and intracranial hypertension, the patient was prepared for burr hole surgery. A subdural empyema (SDE) recurred after simple drainage. After detection of Brucella species in SDE, craniotomy combined with antibiotic treatment was undertaken. The patient received antibiotic therapy for 6 months (two doses of 2 g ceftriaxone, two doses of 100 mg doxycycline, and 700 mg rifapentine for 6 months) that resulted in complete cure of the infection. Thus, it was speculated that the preexisting subdural hematoma was formed after head trauma, which was followed by a hematogenous infection caused by Brucella species.

Abstract P6-09-23: SETER/PR - A robust 18-gene predictor of sensitivity to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer

Rationale: A robust index for gene expression related to activity of estrogen (ESR1) and progesterone (PGR) receptors could predict sensitivity to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Transcripts correlated with ESR1 and PGR expression in 389 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer samples (Affymetrix U133A microarrays) were ranked for reliability according to their pre-analytical (intratumoral heterogeneity, biopsy type) and analytical reproducibility. Eighteen target and ten reference genes were selected and summarized as the SETER/PR index. The SETER/PR index was evaluated in a different set of 140 biopsies from distant metastases of hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer, and in additional pre-analytical and analytical sample cohorts. Thereafter, SETER/PR was translated to a customized format for application to formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections.

Results: Higher SETER/PR in a metastasis was associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS, 9 vs. 2 months) and overall survival (OS, 50 vs. 19 months) following endocrine therapy in the cohort with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and relapsed disease (n=79), so a cut point was defined in that cohort. SETER/PR was also significantly associated with PFS after adjusting for PR status of the metastasis, presence of visceral metastases, number of previous relapse events, and clinical history of previous sensitivity to endocrine therapy (HR 0.485, 95%CI 0.265 – 0.889, p = 0.019). Technically, SETER/PR was highly reproducible under different pre-analytical and analytical conditions, including host organ contamination. The translated SETER/PR assay used a single 10 µm FFPE tissue section, did not require RNA purification, and represented the microarray results from matched fresh samples with excellent agreement (correlation = 0.980, n = 31).

Conclusion: The SETER/PR index is a new biomarker to predict PFS and OS for patients with HR+/HER2- MBC who receive endocrine therapy. The assay is applicable to FFPE tissue sections from small biopsies of metastases. Additional independent (blinded) validation studies will be necessary to confirm these results.Rationale: A robust index for gene expression related to activity of estrogen (ESR1) and progesterone (PGR) receptors could predict sensitivity to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Transcripts correlated with ESR1 and PGR expression in 389 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer samples (Affymetrix U133A microarrays) were ranked for reliability according to their pre-analytical (intratumoral heterogeneity, biopsy type) and analytical reproducibility. Eighteen target and ten reference genes were selected and summarized as the SETER/PR index. The SETER/PR index was evaluated in a different set of 140 biopsies from distant metastases of hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer, and in additional pre-analytical and analytical sample cohorts. Thereafter, SETER/PR was translated to a customized format for application to formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections.

Results: Higher SETER/PR in a metastasis was associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS, 9 vs. 2 months) and overall survival (OS, 50 vs. 19 months) following endocrine therapy in the cohort with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and relapsed disease (n=79), so a cut point was defined in that cohort. SETER/PR was also significantly associated with PFS after adjusting for PR status of the metastasis, presence of visceral metastases, number of previous relapse events, and clinical history of previous sensitivity to endocrine therapy (HR 0.485, 95%CI 0.265 – 0.889, p = 0.019). Technically, SETER/PR was highly reproducible under different pre-analytical and analytical conditions, including host organ contamination. The translated SETER/PR assay used a single 10 µm FFPE tissue section, did not require RNA purification, and represented the microarray results from matched fresh samples with excellent agreement (correlation = 0.980, n = 31).

Conclusion: The SETER/PR index is a new biomarker to predict PFS and OS for patients with HR+/HER2- MBC who receive endocrine therapy. The assay is applicable to FFPE tissue sections from small biopsies of metastases. Additional independent (blinded) validation studies will be necessary to confirm these results.

Citation Format: Sinn BV, Tsai T-H, Lau R, Fu C, Gould R, Murthy R, King TA, Hatzis C, Kwiatkowski DN, Valero V, Symmans WF. SETER/PR - A robust 18-gene predictor of sensitivity to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-09-23.

Tumor-associated antigens: Tn antigen, sTn antigen, and T antigen

Glycosylation is one of the major posttranslational modifications of proteins. N-glycosylation (Asn-linked) and O-glycosylation (Ser/Thr-linked) are the two main forms. Abnormal O-glycosylation is frequently observed on the surface of tumor cells, and is associated with an adverse outcome and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. O-glycans (Tn, sTn, and T antigen) can be synthesized in the Golgi apparatus with the aid of several glycosyltransferases (such as T-synthase and ST6GalNAc-I) in a suitable environment. The unique molecular chaperone of T-synthase is Cosmc, which helps T-synthase to fold correctly in the endoplasmic reticulum. Dysregulation of these glycosyltransferases, molecular chaperones, or the environment is involved in the dysregulation of O-glycans. Tn, sTn, and T antigen neo- or over-expression occurs in many types of cancer including gastric, colon, breast, lung, esophageal, prostate, and endometrial cancer. This review discusses the major synthetic pathway of O-glycans and the mechanism by which Tn, sTn, and T antigens promote tumor metastasis.

MiR-183 modulates multi-drug resistance in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) cells via miR-183-IDH2/SOCS6-HIF-1α feedback loop

OBJECTIVE

MiR-183 acts as an oncomiR and is usually upregulated in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). This study aims to study the association between miR-183 dysregulation and multi-drug resistance (MDR). Also, how it is dysregulated in HCC cells was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The association between miR-183 and HIF-1α in HCC cell line BEL-7402 and the multidrug-resistant variant BEL-7402/5-fluorouracil (BEL-7402/5-FU) were studied using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The mediators involved in feedback regulation between miR-183 and HIF-1α were further studied. Then, the effect of the miR-183-SOCS6 axis on IC50 of BEL-7402/5-FU cells to 5-FU were investigated by MTT assay.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-183 and HIF-1α are positively correlated in BEL-7402 and BEL-7402/5-FU cells. IDH2 knockdown resulted in significantly increased HIF-1α expression in both BEL-7402 and BEL-7402/5-FU cells. Knockdown of SOCS6 had similar but stronger effect as miR-183 in promoting MRP2, P-gp, p-STAT3 and HIF-1α expression in BEL-7402 cells, while SOCS6 overexpression also showed similar but stronger effect as miR-183 inhibition in reducing MRP2, P-gp, p-STAT3 and HIF-1α levels in BEL-7402/5-FU cells. Both SOCS6 overexpression and miR-183 knockdown significantly increased the sensitivity of BEL-7402/5-FU cells to 5-FU. MiR-183 overexpression partly abrogated the effect of SOCS6 in enhancing 5-FU sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Both HIF-1α-miR-183-IDH2-HIF-1α and HIF-1α-miR-183-SOCS6-p-STAT3-HIF-1α feedback loops are involved in miR-183 upregulation in HCC cells. MiR-183 can modulate MDR of HCC cells at least partly through suppressing SOCS6.

Mutation screening of DUOX2 in Chinese patients with congenital hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common neonatal endocrine disorder in infancy. Dual oxidase 2 gene (DUOX2) mutations have been reported to be one of the leading genetic causes of CH.

AIM

The aim of this study was to screen for DUOX2 gene mutations among CH patients in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and to define the relationships between DUOX2 genotypes and clinical phenotypes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 45 CH patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. All exons of the DUOX2 gene together with their exon-intron boundaries were screened by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

Sequencing analysis of DUOX2 in 45 CH patients revealed ten different variants in thirteen individuals. The variants included five known mutations, namely c.3329G>A (p.R1110Q), c.1588A>T (p.K530X), c.2635G>A (p.E879K), c.2524C>T (p.R842X) and c.4027G>T (p.L1343F), and one novel frame shift variant c.3340delC (p.L1114SfsX56), as well as four novel missense variants c.903G>T (p.W301C), c.2048G>T (p.R683L), c.1736T>C (p.L579P) and c.3413C>A (p.A1138D). The variant p.K530X is highly recurrent in our patient cohort but the clinical phenotypes vary greatly among those carrying this variant. Most patients with monoallelic or biallelic DUOX2 pathogenic variants turned out to be cases of transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH), while three patients with triallelic DUOX2 pathogenic variants were associated with permanent congenital hypothyroidism (PCH).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of DUOX2 pathogenic variants was high (29 %) among patients with CH in Guangxi, China. Monoallelic and biallelic DUOX2 pathogenic variants were mainly associated with TCH, while triallelic DUOX2 pathogenic variants were associated with PCH. Our study expanded the DUOX2 mutation spectrum, and functional studies of the novel mutations need to be conducted in the future.

Searching for New Spin- and Velocity-Dependent Interactions by Spin Relaxation of Polarized ^{3}He Gas

We have constrained possible new interactions which produce nonrelativistic potentials between polarized neutrons and unpolarized matter proportional to ασ[over →]·v[over →] where σ[over →] is the neutron spin and v[over →] is the relative velocity. We use existing data from laboratory measurements on the very long T_{1} and T_{2} spin relaxation times of polarized ^{3}He gas in glass cells. Using the best available measured T_{2} of polarized ^{3}He gas atoms as the polarized source and the Earth as an unpolarized source, we obtain constraints on two new interactions. We present a new experimental upper bound on possible vector-axial-vector (V_{VA}) type interactions for ranges between 1 and 10^{8} m. In combination with previous results, we set the most stringent experiment limits on g_{V}g_{A} ranging from ~μm to ~10^{8} m. We also report what is to our knowledge the first experimental upper limit on the possible torsion fields induced by the Earth on its surface. Dedicated experiments could further improve these bounds by a factor of ~100. Our method of analysis also makes it possible to probe many velocity dependent interactions which depend on the spins of both neutrons and other particles which have never been searched for before experimentally.

Endoplasmic reticulum ribosome-binding protein 1, RRBP1, promotes progression of colorectal cancer and predicts an unfavourable prognosis

BACKGROUND

Ribosome-binding protein 1 (RRBP1) has been implicated in the regulation of unfolded protein response, which is involved in almost every aspect of cancer development. We aimed to explore the significance of RRBP1 in the progression and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

The study population consisted of 856 patients with stage I-III CRC from two hospitals. RRBP1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in colorectal tissues. The correlation of RRBP1 expression and CRC occurrence was assessed in paired cancer-adjacent tissues. Factors contributing to prognosis were evaluated in a training-validation design with univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Colorectal cancer aggressiveness caused by RRBP1 knockdown or overexpression was evaluated in CRC cells.

RESULTS

RRBP1 was aberrantly overexpressed in CRC. Compared with low-RRBP1 patients, high-RRBP1 patients had shorter disease-specific survival in the training (hazard ratio (HR), 2.423; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.531-3.835) and validation cohorts (HR, 3.749; 95% CI, 2.166-6.448) in multivariate Cox analysis. High-RRBP1 independently predicted a shorter disease-free survival (HR, 4.821; 95% CI, 3.220-7.218) in the validation cohort. RRBP1 knockdown reduced the aggressiveness of CRC cells in vitro and inhibited the growth of CRC xenografts in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

High RRBP1 expression facilitates CRC progression and predicts an unfavourable post-operative prognosis.

Induction of COX-2-PGE2 synthesis by activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway contributes to neuronal death triggered by TDP-43-depleted microglia

Neuroinflammation is a striking hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Previous studies have shown the contribution of glial cells such as astrocytes in TDP-43-linked ALS. However, the role of microglia in TDP-43-mediated motor neuron degeneration remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that depletion of TDP-43 in microglia, but not in astrocytes, strikingly upregulates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production through the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling and initiates neurotoxicity. Moreover, we find that administration of celecoxib, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, greatly diminishes the neurotoxicity triggered by TDP-43-depleted microglia. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unrecognized non-cell-autonomous mechanism in TDP-43-mediated neurodegeneration, identifying COX-2-PGE2 as the molecular events of microglia- but not astrocyte-initiated neurotoxicity and identifying celecoxib as a novel potential therapy for TDP-43-linked ALS and possibly other types of ALS.

Detection of carotid artery stenosis: a comparison between 2 unenhanced MRAs and dual-source CTA

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dual-source CTA and black-blood MRA are recently developed techniques for evaluating carotid stenosis. The purpose of this study was to compare dual-source CTA with black-blood MRA and conventional TOF MRA in both detecting carotid stenosis by using DSA as a reference standard and demonstrating plaque morphology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis underwent unenhanced MRA by using black-blood and TOF MRA and dual-source CTA. Source images from unenhanced MRAs and dual-source CTA were reconstructed with MIP or curved planar reconstruction. The degree of carotid artery stenosis was measured, and plaque surface morphology at the stenosis was analyzed and compared among different techniques.

RESULTS

Good correlation was observed for measuring the degree of carotid stenosis among dual-source CTA, black-blood MRA, TOF MRA, and DSA. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting severe stenosis were 100% and 97% with dual-source CTA, 100% and 95% with black-blood MRA, and 79% and 95% with TOF MRA. None of the 3 technologies resulted in stenosis of <50% being overestimated. Plaque surface irregularity or ulceration was more frequently detected with dual-source CTA and black-blood MRA than with TOF MRA and DSA.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study shows that black-blood MRA is a promising technique, comparable with dual-source CTA and DSA, but better than TOF MRA, in the evaluation of carotid stenosis. Unlike dual-source CTA, black-blood MRA requires no intravenous contrast or radiation.

Paradoxical immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with cryptococcal meningitis in China: a 5-year retrospective cohort study

We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalised cryptococcal meningitis (CM) patients at a single centre to evaluate the clinical epidemiological features of paradoxical cryptococcal-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CM-IRIS) in a setting in China. A total of 154 AIDS patients with CM were involved, and 17.5% experienced IRIS at a median of 27 days after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Overall, 3 deaths were directly attributed to IRIS. The occurrences of CM-IRIS were independently associated with the pre-ART CD4+count, pre-C-reactive protein level, and the timing of ART initiation.

Allergens on desktop surfaces in preschools and elementary schools of urban children with asthma

Desktop dust has been studied as a source of food allergen, but not as a source of potential aeroallergen exposure. Thirty-six wiped samples from desktop surfaces were collected from preschools and schools. Samples were analyzed for detectable levels of common aeroallergens including Alternaria, cockroach, dog, dust mite, cat, mouse, and rat allergens by immunoassay. Mouse allergen was the most prevalent, detectable in 97.2% of samples. Cat allergen was detectable in 80.6% of samples, and dog allergen was detectable in 77.8% of samples. Other allergens were not as prevalent. Mouse was the only allergen that was highly correlated with settled floor dust collected from the same rooms (r = 0.721, P < 0.001). This is the first study to detect aeroallergens on desktop surfaces by using moist wipes. Allergens for mouse, cat, and dog were highly detectable in wipes with mouse desktop surface levels correlating with levels in vacuumed floor dust.

Tip-induced C-H activation and oligomerization of thienoanthracenes

The tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) can be used to dehydrogenate freely-diffusing tetrathienoanthracene (TTA) molecules on Cu(111), trapping the molecules into metal-coordinated oligomeric structures. The process proceeds at bias voltages above ~3 V and produces organometallic structures identical to those resulting from the thermally-activated cross-coupling of a halogenated analogue. The process appears to be substrate dependent: no oligomerization was observed on Ag(111) or HOPG. This approach demonstrates the possibility of controlled synthesis and nanoscale patterning of 2D oligomer structures on selected surfaces.

Phase II study of concurrent selective lymph node late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy and pemetrexed and cisplatin for locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed combined with low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) concurrent with late-course accelerated hyperfractionated (LCAF) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with inoperable locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced ESCC (less than or equal to 75 years of age, clinical stages IIB-IVA and Karnofsky performance status ≥70) were enrolled into the study. A target group size of 22 was projected based on the estimation that 2-year overall survival (OS) would increase from 20% to 40%. Patients were treated with pemetrexed, low-dose CDDP and LCAF IMRT concurrently. The main objective of the study was for a 2-year OS, and the secondary objectives were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response, locoregional failure rate, and acute and late toxicities.

RESULTS

25 patients were recruited from October 2008 to July 2011. The median OS was 21 months, with 2- and 5-year OS rates of 44% and 44%, respectively. The median PFS was 18.2 months. The objective response rate was 96% (24/25), with 11 complete responses and 13 partial responses. The locoregional failure rate was 16%. Grades 4 and 5 acute toxicity rates were 8% and 4%, respectively, while no Grade 3 or greater late toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this Phase II study indicated that the therapeutic regimen appears to achieve an excellent response rate and favourable survival for locally advanced ESCC. However, the severe acute side effects should be considered cautiously in further studies.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

To our knowledge, this is the first study that introduced pemetrexed and low-dose CDDP combined with LCAF IMRT to treat locally advanced ESCC. The 5-year OS rate was as high as 44%, which was more favourable than other studies.