Effect of age and parity on maternal diastolic function in middle trimester pregnant women with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and potential link of diastolic function to pre-eclampsia

Background

It has been suggested that maternal cardiac adaptations during pregnancy differ between nulliparous and multipara women and also vary according to the age. Impaired cardiac function precedes pre-eclampsia.

Purpose

To evaluate effect of age and parity on maternal cardiac diastolic function in middle trimester among pregnant women with normal left ventricular ejection fraction as well as correlation between impaired diastolic function and pre-eclampsia.

Methods

Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies carried from 13 weeks to 20 weeks and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% were identified. Diastolic function parameters were assessed using transthoracic echocardiography. Pre-eclampsia was identified from medical records.

Results

376 pregnant women were included (median age: 30 years; median gestational age: 14 weeks; 171 multiparous women). LVEF was 66%. Impaired cardiac diastolic function was seen in 7.8% of pregnant women <35 years compared with 28.6% of those ≥35 years (p=0.000). ROC curve showed women with maternal age over 32 began to have a higher rate of impaired cardiac diastolic function (AUC=0.704, p=0.000, sensitivity=54.5%, specificity=75.3%). There was no difference in diastolic function indices between maternal women grouped by parity. After adjustment for confounders, maternal age can be independent effect factor of Em declined (P<0.05). Em<13cm/s was significantly associated with pre-eclampsia occurrence (HR 8.56; 95% CI: 3.40–21.57) after adjusting for the confounders.

Conclusion

Maternal age is an independent impact factor for diastolic function decline. There is no difference in cardiac diastolic function between nullipara and multipara. Pre-eclampsia occurrence is significantly higher in patients with diastolic function decline at mid-gestation. The utility of risk stratification using diastolic function at mid-gestation may improve the survival outcomes of pregnant women.

Association between Em and PE risk

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

The prokaryotic expression, polyclonal antibody preparation, and subcellular localization of the transmembrane protein NS2A of the duck Tembusu virus

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA arbovirus, belonging to the genus Flavivirus, the family Flaviviridae. As a transmembrane protein, non-structural protein 2A (NS2A) plays an important role in virion assembly, replication complex and antagonizing host immune response. Since NS2A protein contains many hydrophobic amino acids, it is hard to gain the full-length protein of NS2A for prokaryotic expression. Therefore, to make a deep study, prokaryotic expression and polyclonal antibody preparation of truncated DTMUV NS2A was performed. The truncated NS2A gene (178-450 bp) was obtained, and sub-cloned into the prokaryotic vector pGEX-4T-1 (pGEX-4T-1-NS2A178-450bp). Subsequently, the recombinant GST-NS2A60-150aa protein was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) with the induction by 0.3 mmol/l isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) for 6 h at 37°C. The GST-NS2A60-150aa protein was extracted from the gel. The BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified recombinant NS2A protein to prepare polyclonal antibodies against the truncated NS2A protein. The titer of the polyclonal antibodies, determined by ELISA analysis, was 1:128,000. The specificity of the polyclonal antibodies (mPAb-DTMUV-NS2A60-150aa) were verified by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) was performed to explore the subcellular localization of NS2A. NS2A protein was, in the transfected cells, located mainly around nucleus in the endoplasmatic reticulum. Taken together, our study provided a useful tool for the further exploration of the biological functions and molecular mechanism of DTMUV NS2A. Keywords: duck Tembusu virus; non-structural protein 2A; prokaryotic expression; polyclonal antibodies; subcellular location.

Associations between circulating bone-derived hormones lipocalin 2, osteocalcin, and glucose metabolism in acromegaly

PURPOSE

The aim was to examine changes in the bone-derived hormone lipocalin 2 (LCN2) levels in patients with active acromegaly and to investigate the potential roles of LCN2 and osteocalcin in glucose metabolism.

METHODS

We recruited 50 consecutive acromegalic patients. Of those, 39 patients with complete postoperative follow-up data were included. Thirty sex-, age-, and BMI-matched healthy individuals were recruited as normal controls. The pre- and postoperative serum LCN2 and osteocalcin levels were compared. The homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and secretion [β-cell function (HOMA-β)] were calculated.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, acromegalic subjects had lower LCN2 levels (34.15 ± 9.95 vs 57.50 ± 29.75 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and higher osteocalcin levels (55.45 ± 34.02 vs 19.46 ± 6.69 ng/mL, P < 0.01). Acromegalic patients also had elevated HOMA-IR levels, and the HOMA-β and the area under the curve for insulin (AUC INS) levels were slightly but nonsignificantly increased. The serum levels of LCN2 significantly increased after surgery (37.03 ± 9.73 vs 45.15 ± 15.33 ng/mL, P < 0.05), and those of osteocalcin significantly decreased [43.51 (26.73-65.66) vs 24.79 (18.39-32.59) ng/mL, P < 0.01]. Total lean mass was the only positive predictor of LCN2, and elevated serum IGF-I was a positive predictor of osteocalcin. Low LCN2 and elevated serum osteocalcin levels were predictors of the AUC INS, and osteocalcin was a positive predictor of HOMA-β.

CONCLUSION

The bone-derived hormones, osteocalcin and LCN2 changed significantly in active acromegaly, were altered after treatment and served as predictors of β-cell function in acromegaly. This study shows that the bone could be involved in regulating glucose metabolism in acromegaly.

Stabilizing lactate production through repeated batch fermentation of food waste and waste activated sludge

Bio-valorization of organic waste streams, such as food waste and waste activated sludge, to lactic acid (LA) has recently drawn much attention. It offers an opportunity for resource recovery, alleviates environmental issues and potentially turns a profit. In this study, both stable and high LA yield (0.72 ± 0.15 g/g total chemical oxygen demand) and productivity rate (0.53 g/L•h) were obtained through repeated batch fermentation. Moreover, stable solubilization and increase in the critical hydrolase activities were achieved. Depletions of ammonia and phosphorus were correlated with the LA production. The relative abundance of the key LA bacteria genera (i.e., Alkaliphilus, Dysgonomonas, Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium) stabilized in the repeated batch reactor at a higher level (44.5 ± 2.53%) in comparison with the batch reactor (26.2 ± 4.74%). This work show a practical way for the sustainable valorization of organic wastes to LA by applying the repeated batch mode during biological treatment.

Blastulation of a zygote to a hatched blastocyst without any clear cell division: an observational finding in a time-lapse system after in vitro fertilization

PURPOSE

To describe an interesting not previously described morphokinetic finding.

METHODS

Retrospective case report of a couple undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) followed by in vitro fertilization and blastocyst transfer.

RESULTS

We identified a unique finding of blastulation of a fertilized human zygote after conventional in vitro fertilization. The fertilized zygote did not show any clear cytokinesis until approximately 107 h post insemination, when it started dividing into a blastocyst. By 113 h post insemination, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells could be clearly distinguished and the blastocyst was completely hatched by 136 h post insemination.

CONCLUSION

Time-lapse systems offer more detailed observations of embryonic development. Here, we report an atypical development of an embryo that was not described previously. We hope to become an insightful discussion among peers and incentive the publication of such findings in the future.

Genetic variants in the folate metabolic pathway genes predict cutaneous melanoma-specific survival

BACKGROUND

Folate metabolism plays an important role in DNA methylation and nucleic acid synthesis and thus may function as a regulatory factor in cancer development. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cutaneous melanoma-specific survival (CMSS), but no SNPs were found in genes involved in the folate metabolic pathway.

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between SNPs in folate metabolic pathway genes and CMSS.

METHODS

We comprehensively evaluated 2645 (422 genotyped and 2223 imputed) common SNPs in folate metabolic pathway genes from a published GWAS of 858 patients from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and performed the validation in another GWAS of 409 patients from the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, in which 95/858 (11·1%) and 48/409 (11·7%) patients died of cutaneous melanoma, respectively.

RESULTS

We identified two independent SNPs (MTHFD1 rs1950902 G>A and ALPL rs10917006 C>T) to be associated with CMSS in both datasets, and their meta-analysis yielded an allelic hazards ratio of 1·75 (95% confidence interval 1·32-2·32, P = 9·96 × 10^-5 ) and 2·05 (1·39-3·01, P = 2·84 × 10^-4 ), respectively. The genotype-phenotype correlation analyses provided additional support for the biological plausibility of these two variants' roles in tumour progression, suggesting that variation in SNP-related mRNA expression levels is likely to be the mechanism underlying the observed associations with CMSS.

CONCLUSIONS

Two possibly functional genetic variants, MTHFD1 rs1950902 and ALPL rs10917006, were likely to be independently or jointly associated with CMSS, which may add to personalized treatment in the future, once further validated. What is already known about this topic? Existing data show that survival rates vary among patients with melanoma with similar clinical characteristics; therefore, it is necessary to identify additional complementary biomarkers for melanoma-specific prognosis. A hypothesis-driven approach, by pooling the effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a specific biological pathway as genetic risk scores, may provide a prognostic utility, and genetic variants of genes in folate metabolism have been reported to be associated with cancer risk. What does this study add? Two genetic variants in the folate metabolic pathway genes, MTHFD1 rs1950902 and ALPL rs10917006, are significantly associated with cutaneous melanoma-specific survival (CMSS). What is the translational message? The identification of genetic variants will make a risk-prediction model possible for CMSS. The SNPs in the folate metabolic pathway genes, once validated in larger studies, may be useful in the personalized management and treatment of patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Diversity and abundance of comammox bacteria in the sediments of an urban lake

AIMS

Although comammox have been discovered in a variety of ecosystems, there are few studies in urban lakes. This paper attempted to confirm whether this ammonia-oxidizing microbe exists in urban lakes and to determine the factors influencing its existence.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study investigated the diversity and abundance of comammox bacteria in sediments of a typical urban lake in China, and their ecological relationship with other ammonia-oxidizing micro-organisms. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that comammox clade A existed in the sediment of Lake Donghu, and the comammox bacteria co-existed with ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria in the sediment of this lake. The abundances of the ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes for comammox, AOA, AOB and anammox 16S rRNA were 2·43 × 10⁸ , 1·07 × 10⁸ , 3·24 × 10⁷ and 3·21 × 10¹¹ copies per gram dry sediment respectively. Moreover, the amoA gene abundance of comammox was positively correlated with that of AOA and AOB. The redundancy analysis showed that the abundance of the comammox amoA gene was negatively correlated with the concentration of main indicators for nitrogen status in both the sediment and the water column, indicating that eutrophication may inhibit the growth of comammox bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Comammox bacteria play an important ecological role in the nitrogen cycle of urban lake sediments.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results indicated comammox bacteria were widespread in urban lakes and eutrophication may inhibit their growth.

Chloride inputs to the North Saskatchewan River watershed: the role of road salts as a potential driver of salinization downstream of North America's northern most major city (Edmonton, Canada)

Multiple anthropogenic activities are driving the salinization of freshwater environments threatening water resources worldwide. Accordingly, this research will first examine the spatial and temporal variability of major ions (i.e. Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄^2-, CO₃^2-, and HCO₃^-) upstream and downstream of the northernmost major city in North America (Edmonton, Canada). Second, this research will estimate the relative contributions of the major sources of chloride (Cl), the main constituent of road deicers, to the sub-basin around Edmonton. Monthly water quality data was for three sites on the North Saskatchewan River (NSR): Rocky Mountain House (RMH - downstream of the Rocky Mountain headwaters), Devon Bridge (upstream of Edmonton) and Pakan Bridge (downstream of Edmonton). Change ratios investigate the downstream alterations of major ions at Pakan and Devon, relative to RMH. Seasonal Kendall tests examine temporal trends (1987-2017). A mass-balance approach then quantifies the major sources of Cl in the sub-basin of the NSR between Devon and Pakan. Progressing from the Rocky Mountain headwaters (at RMH) to downstream of Edmonton (at Pakan), Cl^- increased by >5.5 times, Na⁺ by 4.8 times and K by 2.7 times. No significant temporal trends for Cl^-, Na⁺ and K⁺ were evident at Devon (upstream of Edmonton), whereas all three significantly increased at Pakan (downstream of Edmonton). Deicers (54%), agriculture (20%), along with waste water treatment plant and industrial effluent (15%) were the largest Cl sources in the NSR Devon-Pakan sub-basin. In total, 77 Gg yr^-1 of Cl (or 6 t km² yr^-1) is added to the Devon-Pakan sub-basin, of which, 43 Gg yr^-1 is retained. Understanding and managing the major drivers of freshwater salinization will be of increasing importance in the 21^st century owing to the potential salinization of freshwater resources in the context of a changing climate.

Training of quantum circuits on a hybrid quantum computer

Generative modeling is a flavor of machine learning with applications ranging from computer vision to chemical design. It is expected to be one of the techniques most suited to take advantage of the additional resources provided by near-term quantum computers. Here, we implement a data-driven quantum circuit training algorithm on the canonical Bars-and-Stripes dataset using a quantum-classical hybrid machine. The training proceeds by running parameterized circuits on a trapped ion quantum computer and feeding the results to a classical optimizer. We apply two separate strategies, Particle Swarm and Bayesian optimization to this task. We show that the convergence of the quantum circuit to the target distribution depends critically on both the quantum hardware and classical optimization strategy. Our study represents the first successful training of a high-dimensional universal quantum circuit and highlights the promise and challenges associated with hybrid learning schemes.

[Clinical and genotypic characteristics of infantile inflammatory bowel disease]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and genotypic characteristics of infantile inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: The age of onset, family history, clinical manifestations, and treatment effect were retrospectively analyzed in 39 infants (male 23 cases, female 16 cases) with IBD who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology in Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2007 to December 2017. Next generation sequencing (NGS) based on target gene panel was used for gene analysis in 17 patients. Results: The median age of onset was 0.5 (0.5, 1.0) month. The most common clinical symptoms included diarrhea (39, 100%), malnutrition (38, 97%), hematochezia (34, 87%), fever (25, 64%), and perianal diseases (24, 61%). Four children had associated family history. Among the 17 patients whose gene was analyzed, 10 were found to have the pathogenic gene variation, within whom 7 had interleukin-10 receptor α subunit (IL-10RA) mutation, 2 had CYBB heterozygous mutation, 1 had interleukin-10 receptor β subunit (IL-10RB) mutation. The therapeutic medicine included mesalazine, steroids, and thalidomide. Eighteen children (46%) reached clinical remission (10 cases) or partial remission (8 cases). Conclusions: The incidence of single gene mutation in infants with IBD is high, with IL-10RA mutation as the most common. Refractory diarrhea and malnutrition may indicate infantile IBD.

Tumor suppressor miR-145-5p sensitizes prolactinoma to bromocriptine by downregulating TPT1

PURPOSE

Prolactinoma is the most commonly seen secretory tumor of pituitary glands, which accounts for approximately up to 40% of total pituitary adenomas. Due to its high drug resistance, dopamine agonist, such as bromocriptine, has limited effect on the treatment of patients with prolactinoma. Recent discoveries have revealed that multiple miRNAs were involved in regulating drug resistance. In this research, we explored the relationship between miR-145-5p expression as well as bromocriptine sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

To study the role of miR-145-5p in drug resistance of prolactinoma, the expression levels of miR-145-5p in bromocriptine-resistant prolactinoma cell line MMQ/BRC and its parental cell line MMQ cells, 24 bromocriptine-resistant as well as eight sensitive clinical samples were measured by qRT-PCR. Moreover, CCK8, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were performed to identify the biological characteristics of MMQ/BRC and MMQ. TPT1 was predicted as a direct target gene of miR-145-5p by bioinformatic methods. In addition, qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression level of TPT1 in clinical specimens and cell lines. Xenograft mouse model was constructed to analyze whether miR-145-5p could reverse bromocriptine resistance in prolactinoma in vivo.

RESULTS

In our study, bromocriptine-resistant prolactinoma clinical samples and cell line had decreased miR-145-5p levels and expressed high levels of TPT1 compared with their sensitive counterparts. Bioinformatic methods and our preliminary dual luciferase reporter assay were utilized to elucidate that TPT1 was a direct target gene of miR-145-5p. Furthermore, introducing miR-145-5p mimic into MMQ cells led to a decrease of IC50 along with upregulation of TPT1; nevertheless, transfecting the corresponding inhibitor into MMQ cells resulted in an upregulation of IC50 as well as reduction of TPT1.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our findings elucidated the role of miR-145-5p as an important regulator of drug resistance in prolactinoma by controlling TPT1, and implicated the potential application of miR-145-5p in cancer therapy as well.

Pharmacological inhibition of β-catenin/BCL9 interaction overcomes resistance to immune checkpoint blockades by modulating Treg cells

The Wnt/β-catenin (β-cat) pathway plays a critical role in cancer. Using hydrocarbon-stapled peptide technologies, we aim to develop potent, selective inhibitors targeting this pathway by disrupting the interaction of β-cat with its coactivators B-cell lymphoma 9 (BCL9) and B-cell lymphoma 9-like (B9L). We identified a set of peptides, including hsBCL9CT-24, that robustly inhibits the activity of β-cat and suppresses cancer cell growth. In animal models, these peptides exhibit potent anti-tumor effects, favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, and minimal toxicities. Markedly, these peptides promote intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T cells by reducing regulatory T cells (Treg) and increasing dendritic cells (DCs), therefore sensitizing cancer cells to PD-1 inhibitors. Given the strong correlation between Treg infiltration and APC mutation in colorectal cancers, it indicates our peptides can reactivate anti-cancer immune response suppressed by the oncogenic Wnt pathway. In summary, we report a promising strategy for cancer therapy by pharmacological inhibition of the Wnt/β-cat signaling.