Scalable Assembly of Flexible Ultrathin All-in-One Zinc-Ion Batteries with Highly Stretchable, Editable, and Customizable Functions

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered to be a promising candidate for flexible energy storage devices due to their high safety and low cost. However, the scalable assembly of flexible ZIBs is still a challenge. Here, a scalable assembly strategy is developed to fabricate flexible ZIBs with an ultrathin all-in-one structure by combining blade coating with a rolling assembly process. Such a unique all-in-one integrated structure can effectively avoid the relative displacement or detachment between neighboring components to ensure continuous and effective ion- and/or loading-transfer capacity under external deformation, resulting in excellent structural and electrochemical stability. Furthermore, the ultrathin all-in-one ZIBs can be tailored and edited controllably into desired shapes and structures, further extending their editable, stretchable, and shape-customized functions. In addition, the ultrathin all-in-one ZIBs display the ability to integrate with perovskite solar cells to achieve an energy harvesting and storage integrated system. These enlighten a broad area of flexible ZIBs to be compatible with highly flexible and wearable electronics. The scaling-up assembly strategy provides a route to design other ultrathin all-in-one energy storage devices with stretchable, editable, and customizable behaviors.

Phosphodiesterase-2 inhibitor reverses post-traumatic stress induced fear memory deficits and behavioral changes via cAMP/cGMP pathway

Phosphodiesterase 2 is one of the phosphodiesterase (PDEs) family members that regulate cyclic nucleotide (namely cAMP and cGMP) concentrations. The present study determined whether PDE2 inhibition could rescue post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms. Mice were subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) and treated with selective PDE2 inhibitor Bay 60-7550 (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg, i.p.). The behavioral tests such as forced swimming, sucrose preference test, open field, elevated plus maze, and contextual fear paradigm were conducted to determine the effects of Bay 60-7550 on SPS-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior and fear memory deficits. The results suggested that Bay 60-7550 reversed SPS-induced depression- and anxiety-like behavior and fear memory deficits. Moreover, Bay 60-7550 prevented SPS-induced changes in the adrenal gland index, synaptic proteins synaptophysin and PSD95 expression, PKA, PKG, pCREB, and BDNF levels in the hippocampus and amygdala. These effects were completely prevented by PKG inhibitor KT5823. While PKA inhibitor H89 also prevented Bay 60-7550-induced pCREB and BDNF expression, but only partially prevented the effects on PSD95 expression in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that Bay 60-7550 protects mice against PTSD-like stress induced traumatic injury by activation of cGMP- or cAMP-related neuroprotective molecules, such as synaptic proteins, pCREB and BDNF.

Primary pure angiosarcoma of the testis: a vanishingly rare malignancy. Case report and literature review

Background

Primary pure angiosarcoma of the testis is an exceptionally rare testicular malignancy, which is poorly understood. We present the fifth and youngest case in the current medical literature. Additionally, all cases of angiosarcoma of the testicle, both occurring with associated germ cell tumour and without, were compared in an extended tabular format.

Case presentation

A 56-year old man presented with unilateral scrotal pain, swelling and erythema. Ultrasonography revealed two testicular lesions with a high suspicion of malignancy but serum tumour markers were negative. A radical orchidectomy was performed with clear surgical margins. Diagnosis of primary pure angiosarcoma of the testis was confirmed on subsequent histopathology.

Conclusions

Primary pure angiosarcoma is a rare testicular neoplasm. We present the fifth case in the literature. Clinical and radiological features are non-specific. The diagnosis is purely histological, with the pathologist choosing immunohistochemistry based on abnormal morphology. Local invasiveness is variable but metastatic sites are typical for extra-gonadal angiosarcomas. Primary pure testicular angiosarcoma diagnosis confers a relatively better prognosis compared to angiosarcoma arising in the context of a testicular germ cell tumour. While extra-gonadal angiosarcomas are associated with high rates of local recurrence following resection, in all cases of testicular angiosarcoma there were no local recurrences following radical orchidectomy. Surgical resection remains the most effective treatment for both subtypes of testicular angiosarcoma.

[Observation on the efficacy of CT-guided lumbar sympathetic chemical destructive block in the treatment of cold sensation of limbs]

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of CT-guided chemical destructive block of lumbar sympathetic nerve in the treatment of cold sensation of limbs. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, clinical data of 43 patients with cold sensation of limbs treated by lumbar sympathetic chemical destructive block in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University from January 2015 to January 2018 were collected. The changes of heart rate, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), plantar temperature and peripheral perfusion index (PI) of patients were recorded and analyzed before treatment and 5 min after injection of anhydrous ethanol. The patients were followed up at postoperative 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Results: Fourty-three patients underwent bilateral lumbar sympathetic nerve chemical destructive block under the CT-guided, and all patients were punctured to the target successfully. The PI of patients before and after treatment were 1.2±0.6, 7.2±3.0 respectively, which was significantly increased after treatment compared with before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (t=12.386, P<0.05). The plantar temperature of patients before and after treatment respectively were (29.6±1.7)℃, (34.6±1.1)℃, which was significantly increased after treatment compared with before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (t=15.057, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in heart rate, NIBP and SpO(2) between before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Lumbar sympathetic chemical destructive block was clinically effective in 39 patients (90.7%) and ineffective in 4 patients (9.3%). Among the 39 clinically effective patients, the curative effects were excellent in 29 cases and improved in 10 cases. Postoperative recurrence occurred in 10 cases (25.6%). The satisfaction rates of patients at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after operation were 93.0%, 90.7%, 86.0%, 76.7%, 69.7%, 65.1% and 53.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Lumbar sympathetic chemical destructive block is a safe and effective way for the treatment of cold sensation of limbs, which can improve the symptoms of cold sensation of limbs to some extent.

Cerebral Microbleeds Are Associated with Loss of White Matter Integrity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous studies have shown that diffusion tensor imaging suggests a diffuse loss of white matter integrity in people with white matter hyperintensities or lacunes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the presence of cerebral microbleeds and their distribution are related to the integrity of white matter microstructures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprised 982 participants who underwent brain MR imaging to determine microbleed status. The cross-sectional relation between microbleeds and the microstructural integrity of the white matter was assessed by 2 statistical methods: a multilinear regression model based on the average DTI parameters of normal-appearing white matter and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis, a tract-based voxelwise analysis. Fiber tractography was used to spatially describe the microstructural abnormalities along WM tracts containing a cerebral microbleed.

RESULTS

The presence of cerebral microbleeds was associated with lower mean fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, and the association remained when cardiovascular risk factors and cerebral small-vessel disease markers were further adjusted. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis indicated strictly lobar cerebral microbleeds associated with lower fractional anisotropy, higher mean diffusivity, and higher radial diffusivity in the internal capsule and corpus callosum after adjusting other cerebral small-vessel disease markers, while only a few voxels remained associated with deep cerebral microbleeds. Diffusion abnormalities gradients along WM tracts containing a cerebral microbleed were not found in fiber tractography analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral microbleeds are associated with widely distributed changes in white matter, despite their focal appearance on SWI.

[Carcinoembryonic type specific markers and liver cancer immunotherapy]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a chronic inflammation derived from the background of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection, chemical intoxicants, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Cancerous liver cells can express and secrete a variety of relatively specific markers, such as carcinoembryonic type of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), phosphatidylinositol-3 (Glypican-3, GPC-3), Wnt/β-Catenin key molecule of signaling pathway Wnt3a and liver cancer specific GGT-II (HS-GGT), etc. Clinical analysis of carcinoembryonic markers not only contributes to diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, but may also be the target of HCC immunotherapy with a promising prospect of development and application. This article reviews the latest valuable advances in carcinoembryonic type specific molecular markers and liver cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract IA20: Radiotherapy plus cetuximab or cisplatin in human papilloma-virus positive oropharyngeal cancer (NRG 1016): A randomized multicenter noninferiority trial*

Background: Patients with HPV-related oropharynx cancer have high survival when treated with radiotherapy plus cisplatin. Whether replacement of cisplatin with cetuximab can preserve high survival and reduce toxicity is unknown. We performed a randomized trial comparing survival and toxicity in 987 patients enrolled at 182 health care centers in the US and Canada between July 2011 and July 2014.

Methods: Eligibility included histologically confirmed HPV positive carcinoma, clinical stage TI-T2, N2-N3 or T3-T4, N0-N3. Zubrod status 0 or 1. All patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) delivered in 35 fractions to 70 gray over 6 weeks using 6 fractions per week. High-dose cisplatin at 100 mg/m² was given every 3 weeks for 2 cycles in arm A (standard of care) versus arm B loading dose cetuximab plus weekly cetuximab. Patients were stratified by T category, N category, Zubord performance status, and smoking history.

Primary analysis was based on modified intention to treat for all patients meeting eligibility criteria. 849 patients were randomly assigned to radiation plus cetuximab (425) or radiotherapy plus cisplatin (424). Median follow-up is 4.5 years.

Results: Radiotherapy plus cetuximab did not meet the non-inferiority criteria for overall survival. Estimated 5-year overall survival was 78% in the cetuximab group versus 85% in the cisplatin group (p=0.016). Progression-free survival was 67% versus 78% (p=0.0002). Local-regional failure was higher in the cetuximab group, 17% versus 10% (p=0.005). High-grade acute toxicity was similar at 77% for both groups. Late toxicity was also similar.

Conclusions: For HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma, radiotherapy plus cetuximab showed inferior overall survival, progression-free survival, and locoregional control compared with radiation plus cisplatin. This study defines radiation using IMRT plus cisplatin as the standard of care for this population.

*Lancet. Vol 393, p 40-50, January 5, 2019

Citation Format: J.A. Ridge, J. Ringash, M. Yao, D.M. Blakaj, M.A. Razaq, A.D. Colevas, J.J. Beitler, C.U. Jones, N.E. Dunlap, S.A. Seaward, S. Spencer, T.J. Galloway, J.J. Dignam, Q.T. Le, M.L. Gillison, E.M. Sturgis, J. Phan, A.M. Trotti, J. Harris, A. Eisbruch, P.M. Harari, D.J. Adelstein, S.A. Koyfman, B. Burtness. Radiotherapy plus cetuximab or cisplatin in human papilloma-virus positive oropharyngeal cancer (NRG 1016): A randomized multicenter noninferiority trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr IA20.

AB0126 EXPRESSION CHARACTERISTICS OF ADENOSINE DEAMINASES ACTING ON RNA-1 IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH SERUM IFN-Α

Background:

SLE is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by the production of multiple autoantibodies and loss of immunity against autoantigens in various tissues. SLE patients have significantly elevated RNA editing levels and the potential to produce new autoantigens.1ADAR1 is an RNA A-I editing enzyme that converts adenine to hypoxanthine and contributes to SLE pathogenesis.2

Objectives:

Dama demonstrated the upregulation of ADAR1p150 expression in SLE T cells, B cells, PBMCs, and NK cells;3however, the following issues were not reported in detail: 1. specific alterations in ADAR1 expression in PBMCs collected from SLE patients with varying degrees of the disease and its correlation with serum IFN-α levels; 2. association between ADAR1 and clinical indicators; and 3. ADAR1 expression in renal tissue of LN patients. Our study therefore aimed to elucidate the abovementioned points.

Methods:

We used qRT-PCR to determine ADAR1 expression levels in PBMCs and renal tissues of controls and SLE patients. We also conducted immunohistochemical studies to detect positive ADAR1 expression rate in renal cells of controls and LN patients.

Results:

ADAR1 expression was higher in PBMCs of SLE patients than in those of controls and was positively correlated with SLEDAI. When serum IFN-α levels in SLE patients decreased <260.0 pg/mL, ADAR1 expression in PBMCs increased with the increase in IFN-α concentration, and serum IFN-α may regulate ADAR1 level in PBMC in SLE patients, which may require the participation of serum IgG antibody and related immune complex. However, there was no significant difference between the expression in renal tissues in all patients.

Conclusion:

There was a certain correlation between ADAR1 expression and serum IFN-α levels in PBMCs of SLE patients.

References:

[1]Roth SH, Danan-Gotthold M, Ben-Izhak M, et al. Increased RNA Editing May Provide a Source for Autoantigens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Cell Rep2018; 23: 50-57.

[2]Hogg M, Paro S, Keegan LP and O’Connell MA. RNA editing by mammalian ADARs.Adv Genet2011; 73: 87-120.

[3]Laxminarayana D, Khan IU, O’Rourke KS and Giri B. Induction of 150-kDa adenosine deaminase that acts on RNA (ADAR)-1 gene expression in normal T lymphocytes by anti-CD3-epsilon and anti-CD28.Immunology2007; 122: 623-633.

Figure 1.

Analysis of ADAR1 expression levels. a. The ADAR1 expression in PBMCs was higher in SLE patients (n=30) than in healthy controls (n = 30) (p<0.05). b. SLE patients were divided into three groups: NSLE (SLEDAI 0–4, n = 6), LSLE (SLEDAI 5–9, n = 12), and SSLE (SLEDAI ≥10, n = 12) according to SLEDAI score. c. Based on the effect of the disease on the kidneys, the patients were divided into the SLE#group (#:SLE patient group without the kidney involved, n = 17) and LN group (lupus nephritis group, n = 13). d. There was no significant difference observed between the renal tissues of controls (n = 5) and LN patients (n = 10) (p>0.05).

Figure 2.

a. Immunohistochemical image of renal tissues from the two groups (200×). b. There was no significant difference in the ADAR1 cell positive rate between controls (n = 5), LN patients(n = 20), and different pathological subgroups (class III, n = 5; class IV, n = 5; class V, n = 5; class III+IV, n = 5) (p>0.05). c. The positive expression rate of ADAR1 in renal tubular cells was higher than that in glomerular cells both in the two groups (p<0.05).

Figure 3.

a. Correlation between ADAR1 and serum IFN-α levels in PBMCs of SLE patients. b. Correlation between ADAR1p150 and serum IFN-α levels in PBMCs of SLE patients.

Figure 4.

In vitroPBMCs assay. a. Western blot (WB) analysis of ADAR1p150 and ADAR1p110 in PBMCs using different concentrations of IFN-α, combined with 1.5 mg/mL IgG purified from the serum of SLE patients or without it, and cultured for 24 hours. b. The line graph depicts the trend of ADAR1, ADAR1p150, and ADAR1p110 expression with increase in IFN-α concentrationin vitroPBMCs co-cultured with serum IgG from SLE patients.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

THU0243 HSA_CIRC_0123190 FUNCTIONS AS A COMPETITIVE ENDOGENOUS RNA TO REGULATE APLNR EXPRESSION BY SPONGING HSA-MIR-483-3P IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Background:

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Circular RNAs(circRNAs) can act as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to regulate gene transcription, which is involved in mechanism of many diseases, such as, autoimmunity diseases. However, the role of circRNA in lupus nephritis has been rarely reported.

Objectives:

In this study, we aim to investigate the clinical value of circRNAs and explore the mechanism of circRNA involvement in the pathogenesis of LN.

Methods:

Renal tissues from three untreated LN patients and three normal controls (NCs) were used to identify differently expressed circRNAs by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Validated assays were used by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to reveal the clinical value of selected circRNA, miRNA and mRNA. The interactions between circRNA and miRNA, or miRNA and mRNA were further determined by luciferase reporter assay. The degrees of renal fibrosis between the two groups were compared by Masson-trichome staining and immunohistochemistry staining.

Results:

159 circRNAs were significantly dysregulated in LN patients compared with NC group. The expression of hsa_circ_0123190 was significantly decreased in renal tissues of patients with LN (p=0.014), as same as the sequencing results. The area under the ROC curve of hsa_circ_0123190 in renal tissues was 0.820. Bio-informatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay illustrated that hsa_circ_0123190 can act as a sponge for hsa-miR-483-3p which was also validated to interact with APLNR mRNA. APLNR mRNA expression was positively related with chronicity index (CI) of LN (R2=0.452,p=0.033). Finally, the factors of renal fibrosis, especially TGF-β (p=0.018), were more pronounced in the LN group.

Conclusion:

Hsa_circ_0123190 could function as a ceRNA to regulate APLNR expression involved in renal fibrosis by sponging hsa-miR-483-3p in LN

References:

[1]Aljaberi N, Bennett M, Brunner HI, Devarajan P. Proteomic profiling of urine: implications for lupus nephritis. Expert review of proteomics. 2019;16(4):303-13.

[2]Zheng ZH, Zhang LJ, Liu WX, Lei YS, Xing GL, Zhang JJ, et al. Predictors of survival in Chinese patients with lupus nephritis. Lupus. 2012;21(10):1049-56.

[3]Chen LL. The biogenesis and emerging roles of circular RNAs. Nature reviews Molecular cell biology. 2016;17(4):205-11.

[4]Mahmoudi E, Cairns MJ. Circular RNAs are temporospatially regulated throughout development and ageing in the rat. Scientific reports. 2019;9(1):2564.

[5]Liang D, Wilusz JE. Short intronic repeat sequences facilitate circular RNA production. Genes & development. 2014;28(20):2233-47.

[6]Tan WL, Lim BT, Anene-Nzelu CG, Ackers-Johnson M, Dashi A, See K, et al. A landscape of circular RNA expression in the human heart. Cardiovascular research. 2017;113(3):298-309.

[7]Zhao Z, Li X, Jian D, Hao P, Rao L, Li M. Hsa_circ_0054633 in peripheral blood can be used as a diagnostic biomarker of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acta diabetologica. 2017;54(3):237-45.

[8]Ouyang Q, Huang Q, Jiang Z, Zhao J, Shi GP, Yang M. Using plasma circRNA_002453 as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis of lupus nephritis. Molecular immunology. 2018;101(undefined):531-8.

[9]Luan J, Jiao C, Kong W, Fu J, Qu W, Chen Y, et al. CircHLA-C Plays an Important Role in Lupus Nephritis by Sponging miR-150. Molecular therapy Nucleic acids. 2018;10(undefined):245-53.

[10]Kuschnerus K, Straessler ET, Müller MF, Lüscher TF, Landmesser U, Kränkel N. Increased Expression of miR-483-3p Impairs the Vascular Response to Injury in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2019;68(2):349-60.

[11]Huang Z, Wu L and Chen L. Apelin/APJ system: A novel potential therapy target for kidney disease. Journal of cellular physiology. 2018;233(5): 3892-900.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

A longitudinal study on α-synuclein in plasma neuronal exosomes as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease development and progression

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The identification of reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) is urgently needed. Here, we explored the potential use of α-synuclein (α-syn) in plasma neuronal exosomes as a biomarker for early PD diagnosis and disease progression.

METHODS

This study included both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. The subjects included 36 patients with early-stage PD, 17 patients with advanced PD, 20 patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and 21 healthy controls (HCs). α-syn levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. A subgroup of patients with early-stage PD (n = 18) participated in a follow-up examination with repeated blood collection and clinical assessments after an average of 22 months.

RESULTS

The α-syn levels in plasma neuronal exosomes were significantly higher in patients with early-stage PD compared with HCs (P = 0.007). Differences in α-syn levels between patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and HCs did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.08). In addition, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that neuronal exosomal α-syn concentrations were correlated with Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III/(I + II + III) scores, Non-Motor Symptom Questionnaire scores and Sniffin' Sticks 16-item test scores of patients with PD (P < 0.05). After a mean follow-up of 22 months in patients with early-stage PD, a Cox regression analysis adjusted for age and gender showed that longitudinally increased α-syn rather than baseline α-syn levels were associated with higher risk for motor symptom progression in PD (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that α-syn in plasma neuronal exosomes may serve as a biomarker to aid early diagnosis of PD and also as a prognostic marker for PD progression.