Pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen-enriched carbon as a polysulfide blocker for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen (16.95 atm%)-enriched carbon was simply prepared as an interlayer constructed in Li–S batteries.

Efficacy and Safety of Generic Dasatinib as a Second-line Treatment for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Hubei Province, China

Dasatinib is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and it could be used as a second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Yinishu, a generic dasatinib made in China, was approved by the China Food and Drug Administration in 2013 and it costs much less than the patented dasatinib SPRYCEL. The present study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of Yinishu as a second-line treatment for CML by comparing the baseline clinical characteristics, rates of adverse events and efficacy between Yinishu and SPRYCEL groups. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the rates of optimal response between Yinishu and SPRYCEL for patients who started second-line treatment because of treatment failure. For patients who started second-line treatment because of intolerance of first-line treatment, their levels of BCR-ABL1/ABL1 on the international scale (BCR-ABL^IS) was maintained very low throughout the course of Yinishu treatment. Drug-related adverse events occurred with the same frequency in these two groups. It was confirmed that Yinishu was effective and safe as a secondline treatment for CML patients. Yinishu may be more suitable for patients who are economically unable to pay for the patented dasatinib SPRYCEL.

Higher male prevalence of chromosomal mosaicism detected by amniocentesis

OBJECTIVE

To present the calculated frequencies, male to female sex-ratio, and modes of ascertainments in different levels of chromosomal mosaicism (CM) detected at amniocentesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This's a 10-years retrospective study between January 2008 and December 2017 and there were 13,752 cases of amniocentesis performed in MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Eight hundred and thirty four cases of CM were collected in this study. We reviewed their types of chromosomal abnormalities of mosaicism, the modes of ascertainment (including: advanced maternal age, abnormal ultrasound findings, abnormal maternal serum screening result, and other reasons), maternal age, gestational age at amniocentesis, fetal gender, and perinatal findings. After amniocentesis, in situ culture was performed and the results of karyotype with CM were divided in to three levels.

RESULTS

In our sample of 13,752 amniocentesis, 834 cases with all levels of CM were collected in this study. Of them, there were 562 cases (4.09%) with level I mosaicism, 207 cases (1.51%) of level II mosaicism, and 65 cases (0.47%) of level III mosaicism (Table 1). In the group of advanced of maternal age (AMA), their calculated frequencies, 4.18% in level I, 1.46% in level II and 0.41% in level III, were very similar to those in total cases (p value = 0.206) without statistical significance. In the group of abnormal ultrasound findings, the calculated frequency was much higher in level III (0.87%), however, there was no statistical significance because of the small numbers of level III. In our cases of amniocentesis, the case numbers of male case (50.20%) is very similar to female (49.80%), and the male to female ratio was 1.01. But, we found more cases of male with CM (444 cases) than female (390 cases). The sex-ratio in different levels' calculated frequencies of CM showed similar in level I, and male prevalence was found in level II and III with statistical significance (p value = 0.022). The male prevalence also revealed in both numerical and structural abnormalities in level II and level III, but no difference in the cases of level I.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our observation showed a novel finding of higher male prevalence of CM in level II and III, and both in numerical and structural abnormalities. It's consistent with the theory of better survival in male embryo after partial self-correction of initial chromosomal aberrations, male-specific selection against chromosomal abnormalities.

A rapidly progressive foot drop caused by the posttraumatic Intraneural ganglion cyst of the deep peroneal nerve

Background

Intraneural ganglion cysts usually arise from the articular branch of the nerve. The relationship between intraneural ganglion cysts and trauma is not clear.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 62-year-old female with a rapidly progressive foot drop caused by a posttraumatic intraneural ganglion cyst of the deep peroneal nerve. We excised the ganglion cyst and performed nerve decompression. After the surgery, the patient had a functional recovery.

Conclusions

The concurrence of an intraneural ganglion cyst and trauma may increase damage to the nerve, although it is difficult to diagnosis before an operation. Early diagnosis and early proactive interventions would likely be associated with a good outcome.

Prenatal diagnosis of a 1.6-Mb 4p16.3 interstitial microdeletion encompassing FGFRL1 and TACC3 associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome facial dysmorphism and short long bones

OBJECTIVE

We present prenatal diagnosis of a 4p16.3 interstitial microdeletion associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate and short long bones on prenatal ultrasound, and we discuss the genotype-phenotype correlation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 32-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 22 weeks of gestation because of bilateral cleft lip and palate and short limbs on prenatal ultrasound. Conventional cytogenetic analysis was performed on cultured amniocytes and parental bloods. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed on the DNAs extracted from uncultured amniocytes, parental bloods and umbilical cord. Metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on cultured amniocytes.

RESULTS

Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XY. The parental karyotypes were normal. aCGH analysis on uncultured amniocytes revealed a 1.66-Mb interstitial microdeletion at 4p16.3 encompassing 23 Online Mendelian Inheritance of in Man (OMIM) genes including FGFRL1 and TACC3. The parents did not have such a deletion. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a malformed fetus was delivered with typical Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) facial appearance and bilateral cleft lip and palate. aCGH analysis of the umbilical cord confirmed the prenatal diagnosis with a result of arr 4p16.3 (72,447-1,742,649) × 1.0 [GRCh37 (hg19)]. Metaphase FISH analysis of cultured amniocytes confirmed a 4p16.3 microdeletion.

CONCLUSION

Haploinsufficiency of FGFRL1 and TACC3 at 4p16.3 can be associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate of WHS facial dysmorphism and short long bones. Prenatal diagnosis of facial cleft with short long bones should raise a suspicion of chromosome microdeletion syndromes.

Prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of mosaicism for a small supernumerary marker chromosome derived from chromosome 21q11.2-q21.1 and a literature review

OBJECTIVE

We present prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of mosaicism for a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 21q11.2-q21.1, and we review the literature of an sSMC(21) with a duplication of 21q11.2-q21.1.

CASE REPORT

A 40-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 17 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XX,+mar [18]/46,XX [4]. The parental karyotypes were normal. Prenatal ultrasound findings were unremarkable. aCGH analysis of cultured amniocytes revealed a 2.855-Mb duplication of 21q11.2-q21.1 encompassing the genes of LIPI, ABCC13 and NRIP1. Metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on cultured amniocytes revealed a result of 47,XX,+mar .ish der(13/21) (D13/21Z1+) [10]. Spectral karyotyping analysis determined the origin of chromosome 21 in the sSMC. A female fetus was delivered with no phenotypic features of Down syndrome and no structural abnormalities. We discuss the genotype-phenotype correlation of LIPI, ABCC13 and NRIP1, and review the literature of an sSMC(21) associated with dup(21)(q11.2q21.1).

CONCLUSION

aCGH is useful for identification of the nature and genetic component of a prenatally detected sSMC.

Optimizing the Extent of Resection and Minimizing the Morbidity in Insular High-Grade Glioma Surgery by High-Field Intraoperative MRI Guidance

AIM

The result of surgical resection for insular high-grade glioma (HGG) is disappointing due to the complex anatomy of insula and aggressive growth of HGG. The use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) was reported to improve the results of glioma surgery. The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of high-field iMRI and functional neuronavigation on the surgical resection of insular HGG.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between July 2010 and July 2014, 51 insular HGG patients underwent operations guided by combined high-field iMRI and functional neuronavigation. Twenty-two insular HGG patients underwent conventional neuronavigation operations were assessed as the control group. Preoperative and postoperative tumor volumetric scan analysis, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and follow-up results were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Residual tumor was detected by the iMRI in 42 patients, and residual tumor of 37 patients was further resected in the iMRI-assisted group. The median extent of resection (EOR) increased significantly from 79% (58%?100%) to [96% (86%? 100%), p < 0.001]. The median EOR of iMRI-assisted group [96% (86%?100%)] was significantly higher than that of conventional neuronavigation group [84% (69%?100%); p=0.031]. Mean residual tumor volume of iMRI-assisted group [0.6 (0.0-5.2) cm3] was significantly smaller than that of conventional neuronavigation group [3.8 (0.0-12.1) cm3; p=0.003]. KPS within 3 days after surgery reduced and KPS at 3 months after surgery improved for both groups. KPS of iMRI-assisted group [90(70-100)] was significantly higher than that of control group [80(60-100); p=0.021] at 3 months after surgery. The median progression-free survival (PFS) of iMRI-assisted group [18(9-42) months] was better than that of control group [15(3-32) months; p=0.010]. The median overall survival (OS) of iMRI-assisted group [28(14-49) months] was better than that of control group [18 (7-38) months; p=0.035].

CONCLUSION

Combined high-field iMRI and functional neuronavigation optimize the extent of resection and minimize the morbidity in insular HGG surgery. Aggressive resection of insular HGG is predictive of improved OS and PFS.

A rare large cutaneous chondroid syringoma involving a toe: A case report

RATIONALE

Chondroid syringoma (CS) occurs mostly on the face and neck, and rarely occurs in the toe. Malignant CS is invasive, grows quickly, and has a high recurrence rate. The presence of a bilobed CS in 1 toe has never been reported in the literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 72-year-old male patient presented with a mass in a third toe of his right foot. The mass had slowly grown in 2 years. He felt mild pain and the mass occupied most of the tip of the toe.

DIAGNOSES

Radiographs showed a large soft-tissue mass in the third toe of his right foot without any bone destruction. Ultrasonogram showed 2 partly fused hypoechoic masses within the lesion. The mass was therefore diagnosed as a benign CS.

INTERVENTIONS

We amputated the toe with the mass under local anesthesia. The postoperative pathohistological examinations confirmed that the lesion was a bipartite CS exhibiting active cellular proliferation.

OUTCOMES

Two years after surgery, there was no tumor recurrence.

LESSONS

CS can also present as multiple adjacent masses. Complete surgical resection and long-term follow-up are essential.

Electrophysiological changes of autonomic cells in left ventricular outflow tract in guinea pigs with iron deficiency anemia complicated with chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the electrophysiological changes of autonomic cells in left ventricular outflow tract in guinea pigs with iron deficiency anemia complicated with chronic heart failure.

METHODS

Guinea pigs model of iron deficiency anemia complicated with chronic heart failure in 10 guinea pigs of the experimental group was made by feeding a low iron diet, pure water and subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol. The control group consisting of 11 guinea pigs was given normal food, normal water and injected with normal saline. The left ventricular outflow tract model specimen was also prepared. The standard microelectrode technique was used to observe electrophysiological changes of autonomic cells in the outflow tract of left ventricular heart failure complicated with iron deficiency anemia in guinea pig model. The indicators of observation were maximal diastolic potential, action potential amplitude, 0 phase maximal depolarization velocity, 4 phase automatic depolarization velocity, repolarization 50% and 90%, and spontaneous discharge frequency.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, 4 phase automatic depolarization velocity, spontaneous discharge frequency and 0 phase maximal depolarization velocity decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and action potential amplitude reduced (P < 0.01) in model group. Moreover, repolarization 50% and 90% increased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

There are electrophysiological abnormalities of the left ventricular outflow tract in guinea pigs with iron deficiency anemia complicated with heart failure.

[Clinicopathologic features and expression of OCT4 protein in testicular diffuse large B cell lymphoma]

Objective: To evaluate the expression of OCT4 and SALL4 in testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and the utility of an immunohistochemical (IHC) panel of OCT4, SALL4 and CD20 in the differential diagnosis of DLBCL and GCT of the testis. Methods: Eighteen cases of testicular DLBCL were selected.IHC method was used to detect the protein expression of CD20, CD3, CD5, CD10, bcl-6, MUM1, Ki-67, bcl-2, c-MYC, OCT4 and SALL4. Results: Among the 18 cases, CD20 and PAX5 were strongly and diffusely expressed in all cases, while CD21, CD3, cyclinD1, SALL4, CD117 and PLAP were all negative. CD5, bcl-2 and c-myc were expressed in 3, 16 and 8 cases, respectively. Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 40%-95%. Bcl-2 and c-MYC were co-expressed in seven cases. Four cases were GCB-DLBCL and the remaining 14 cases were non-GCB-DLBCL, according to Hans algorithm. Nuclear OCT4 expression was present in two cases, which demonstrated moderate expression in >50% of neoplastic cells. Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage, CD5 and OCT4 expression were relevant to prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis further confirmed that clinical stage, CD5 and OCT4 were independent prognostic factors in patients with testicular DLBCL. Conclusions: Care should be exercised in using OCT4 as the sole marker of germ cell differentiation in the testis. The association of OCT4 and CD5, bcl-2 co-expression raises the question of whether OCT4 expression in DLBCL may reflect more aggressive biology.

Molecular characterization, expression analysis and RNAi knock-down of elongation factor 1α and 1γ from Nilaparvata lugens and its yeast-like symbiont

In the present paper, four cDNAs encoding the alpha and gamma subunits of elongation factor 1 (EF-1) were cloned and sequenced from Nilaparvata lugens, named NlEF-1α, NlEF-1γ, and its yeast-like symbiont (YLS), named YsEF-1α and YsEF-1γ, respectively. Comparisons with sequences from other species indicated a greater conservation for EF-1α than for EF-1γ. NlEF-1α has two identical copies. The deduced amino acid sequence homology of NlEF-1α and NlEF-1γ is 96 and 64%, respectively, compared with Homalodisca vitripennis and Locusta migratoria. The deduced amino acid sequence homology of YsEF-1α and YsEF-1γ is 96 and 74%, respectively, compared with Metarhizium anisopliae and Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that the expression level of NlEF-1α and NlEF-1γ mRNA in hemolymph, ovary, fat body and salivary glands were higher than the midgut and leg tissue. YsEF-1α and YsEF-1γ was highly expressed in fat body. The expression level of NlEF-1α was higher than that of NlEF-1γ. Through RNA interference (RNAi) of the two genes, the mortality of nymph reached 92.2% at the 11th day after treatment and the ovarian development was severely hindered. The RT-qPCR analysis verified the correlation between mortality, sterility and the down-regulation of the target genes. The expression and synthesis of vitellogenin (Vg) protein in insects injected with NlEF-1α and NlEF-1γ double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) was significantly lower than control groups. Attempts to knockdown the YsEF-1 genes in the YLS was unsuccessful. However, the phenotype of N. lugens injected with YsEF-1α dsRNA was the same as that injected with NlEF-1α dsRNA, possibly due to the high similarity (up to 71.9%) in the nucleotide sequences between NlEF-1α and YsEF-1α. We demonstrated that partial silencing of NlEF-1α and NlEF-1γ genes caused lethal and sterility effect on N. lugens. NlEF-1γ shares low identity with that of other insects and therefore it could be a potential target for RNAi-based pest management.

Watsonianone A from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Fruit Attenuates Respiratory-Syncytial-Virus-Induced Inflammation In Vitro

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common respiratory pathogens. Immoderate inflammation plays a great role in causing RSV-induced diseases. In the present study, watsonianone A, isolated from the fruit of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk, was found to show a good inhibitory effect on RSV-induced NO production, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 37.2 ± 1.6 μM. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that watsonianone A markedly reduced both mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in RSV-infected RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, watsonianone A inhibited nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation by suppressing IκBα phosphorylation. Further analysis revealed that watsonianone A activated the thioredoxin system and decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which are closely associated with NF-κB activation in RSV-infected cells. These results reveal that watsonianone A can attenuate RSV-induced inflammation via the suppression of ROS-sensitive inflammatory signaling.

[Association between high expression of intrahepatic programmed death-1 and liver inflammation in patients with autoimmune hepatitis]

Objective: To investigate the expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) in liver tissue and its association with liver pathology in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods: A total of 54 AIH patients (38 in the active stage and 16 in the remission stage) were enrolled, and 9 healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group. Immunohistochemistry combined with quantitative image analysis was used to measure the expression of PD-1 in liver tissue. The t-test, rank sum test, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson relation analysis were used for statistical analysis of different types of data. Results: The AIH group had a significantly higher positive rate of PD-1 in liver tissue than the control group (13.57%±6.84% vs 2.22%±0.66%, P < 0.01), and the patients in the active stage of AIH had a significantly higher positive rate of PD-1 in liver tissue than those in the remission stage (16.53%±7.72% vs 6.56%±3.16%, P < 0.01). The positive rate of PD-1 in liver tissue was 6.56%±3.16% in G0 group, 14.33%±5.08% in G1-2 group, and 19.23%±5.41% in G3-4 group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the positive rate of PD-1 between S0, S1-2, and S3-4 groups (P > 0.05). In AIH patients, the positive rate of PD-1 in liver tissue was positively correlated with the levels of total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and IgG (r = 0.665, 0.721, 0.711, and 0.813, all P < 0.01). Conclusion: AIH patients have regulated PD-1 expression in liver tissue, which is closely associated with liver inflammation and is not associated with fibrosis degree, suggesting that PD-1 is involved in the development and progression of inflammation in AIH patients.

[Correlation of clinicopathologic features and driver gene mutation in non-small cell lung cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between mutations of well-known driver genes and clinicopathologic characteristics of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

METHODS

Scorpions amplification refractory mutation system (scorpions ARMS) fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to investigate 205 driver gene mutation status in NSCLC in correlation with clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.

RESULTS

Driver gene mutations were detected in 146 of 205 (71.2%) patients with NSCLC, including 81.7%(138/169) adenocarcinomas, in which mutations of nine genes were found: EGFR (63.3%, 107/169), KRAS (5.9%, 10/169), PIK3CA (4.1%, 7/169), ALK (4.1%, 7/169), ROS1 (3.0%, 5/169), RET (3.6%, 6/169), HER2 (1.8%, 3/169), NRAS (0.6%, 1/169) and BRAF (0.6%, 1/169). The frequencies of driver gene mutations were higher in adenocarcinomas, female patients and non-smokers (P<0.01, P=0.003, P<0.01, respectively). Driver gene mutation status showed no correlation with either the age or the clinical stage (P=0.281, P=0.490, respectively). However, EGFR mutations tended to occur in adenocarcinoma, female, non-smokers, and patients of ≥62 years of age (P<0.01, P<0.01, P=0.002, P=0.012, respectively). The frequency of EGFR mutation was positively correlated with the tumor histology of lepidic, acinar, papillary and micropapillary predominant growth patterns. There was no relationship between EGFR mutation and the clinical stage (P=0.237). The frequency of KRAS mutation was higher in solid predominant and invasive mucinous adenocarcinomas (P=0.015); that of PIK3CA mutation was higher in patients of ≥62 years of age, invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma and fetal adenocarcinoma (P=0.015, P=0.006, respectively). ALK, ROS1 or RET mutation positive NSCLC tended to occur in nonsmokers and have solid predominant tumors and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (P=0.012, P=0.017 respectively). The frequency of EML4-ALK mutation was higher in the early stage patients with solid predominant tumors and invasive mucinous adenocarcinomas (P=0.025, P=0.014, respectively); that of ROS1 rearrangement was higher in invasive mucinous adenocarcinomas (P=0.049). NRAS, BRAF and HER2 gene mutations were infrequent and their clinical significance remained to be elucidated.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between mutations of well-known driver genes and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with NSCLC has diversity, the rate of mutations is higher in non-smoking female patients with adenocarcinoma.

Grandiflodines A and B, two novel diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium grandiflorum

Two novel diterpenoid alkaloids, grandiflodines A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from Delphinium grandiflorum.

Myrtucomvalones A–C, three unusual triketone–sesquiterpene adducts from the leaves of Myrtus communis ‘Variegata’

The first examples of triketone–cubebane adducts (1 and 2) with an unusual skeleton were isolated from Myrtus communis ‘Variegata’.

Cognitive Function After Carotid Endarterectomy: Early Decline and Later Recovery

AIM

To prospectively study neurocognitive performance following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in various follow-up periods, taking into account the potential confounding factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients with carotid artery stenosis received CEA (group A). Thirty-one patients underwent surgery for femoropopliteal occlusive disease served as controls (group B). Neuropsychological testing and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was repeated preoperatively, within 3 days and at 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

No patient had DWI evidence of procedure-related cerebral ischemia. Preoperative baseline scores of groups A and B were not statistically different in mini mental state examination (MMSE) or clock drawing task (CDT) score. MMSE and CDT scores were significantly reduced for patients in group A (p < 0.01) within 3 days after CEA. Differences of MMSE score (p=0.48) and CDT score (p=0.26) between baseline and 3 months after surgery in group A were not statistically significant. No statistically significant change of MMSE score and CDT score in group B was observed at 3 days and 3 months after the surgery. Degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (p=0.029) and duration of ICA clamping (p=0.031) were significantly higher in patients with cognitive impairment immediately after CEA than in those without that.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated cognitive decline for the patients with unilateral carotid stenosis at early stage after CEA and a restorative effect at 3 months after CEA. Postoperative early cognitive impairment might be associated with intraoperative temporary hypoperfusion and postoperative hyperperfusion, not the microembolic event.