POS0114 ABERRANT MONOCYTE SUBSETS IN PATIENTS WITH BEHÇET’S DISEASE

Background:

Behçet’s Disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology[1]. Monocytes closely related to inflammation potentially contribute to BD’s pathogenesis. They are classified into three subsets: classical monocytes (CM), intermediate monocytes (IM) and non-classical monocytes (NCM). Abnormalities of monocyte subsets have been reported in many infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases[2-6], but their implication in BD remains elusive.

Objectives:

To investigate the distribution, phenotypes and functions of monocyte subsets in BD and explore their roles in BD pathogenesis.

Methods:

The frequencies and phenotypes of monocyte subsets in BD and healthy controls (HC) were determined by flow cytometry, and their correlation with clinical parameters was analyzed. Intracellular cytokines and phosphorylated signal proteins [phosphorylated p65(p-p65) and phosphorylated p38(p-p38)] were determined in LPS-activated monocyte subsets by flow cytometry. Monocyte subsets of BD and HC were sorted and co-cultured with naïve CD4 + T cells, and Th1 cell frequencies were measured on day 5.

Results:

A higher IM (9.0±3.6 % vs. 4.5±2.0%, p<0.01) and lower NCM (2.6±1.2% vs. 4.2±2.0%, p<0.01) population in BD patients were noted. BD IM were positively correlated with CRP (r=0.5456, p<0.05), ESR (r=0.4683, p=0.05), and the serum level of TNF-a (r=0.7372, p<0.001) and IL-6(r=0.5013, p<0.05). BD NCM were negatively correlated with CRP (r=0.4822, p<0.05) and the serum level of IgM (r=-0.7830, p<0.001). Moreover, BD IM decreased (12.3±3.8% vs. 5.7±3.6%, p<0.05), while BD NCM increased (2.6±1.3% vs. 3.5±1.5%, p<0.01) after BD patients achieved remission. CD11b and CD64 expression on CM, IM and NCM in BD were enhanced. BD CM promoted TNF-a (61.0±11.4% vs 48.3±9.9%, p<0.05) and IL-6 (7.2±5.4% vs1.9±1.7%, p<0.05) production and facilitated Th1 differentiation. BD IM promoted IL-6 production (6.2±3.8% vs 2.6±1.6%, p<0.05). Furthermore, we demonstrated a higher level of p-p65 (12.8±2.9% vs 3.3±1.1%, p<0.01) in BD CM and increased p-p65 (3.2±0.6% vs 0.01±0.01%, p<0.01) and p-p38 (1.1±0.6% vs 0.03±0.01%, p<0.01) in BD IM.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, our study is the first study on monocyte subsets in BD. Our data highlighted the aberrant populations of IM and CM in BD, potentially implicated in BD pathogenesis.

References:

[1]Ahmet, Gül, Pathogenesis of Behçet’s disease: autoinflammatory features and beyond, Semin. Immunopathol. 37 (2015) 413-418.

[2]G.Fingerle, A.Pforte, B.Passlick, et al.The novel subset of CD14+/CD16+ blood monocytes is expanded in sepsis patients, Blood. 82 (1993) 3170-3176.

[3]M.Moniuszko, A. Bodzenta-Lukaszyk, K. Kowal, et al. Enhanced frequencies of CD14++CD16+, but not CD14+CD16+, peripheral blood monocytes in severe asthmatic patients, Clin. Immunol. 130 (2009) 338-346.

[4]M.D.Sanchez, Y.Garcia, C.Montes,et al.Functional and phenotypic changes in monocytes from patients with tuberculosis are reversed with treatment, Microbes. Infec. 8 (2006) 2492-2500.

[5]S.Koch, T.Kucharzik, J.Heidemann,et al. Investigating the role of proinflammatory CD16+ monocytes in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, Clin. Exp. Immunol. 161 (2010) 332-341.

[6]H. Zhu, F. Hu, X. Sun,et al.CD16(+) Monocyte Subset Was Enriched and Functionally Exacerbated in Driving T-Cell Activation and B-Cell Response in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Front. immunol. 7 (2016) 512.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0639 EXOSOMES DERIVED FROM ENDOTHELIAL CELLS PREVENT OSTEOBLAST APOPTOSIS IN STEROID-INDUCED OSTEONECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD RAT MODEL VIA THE PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2 SIGNAL PATHWAY

Background:

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common disease caused by many trauma factors and un-trauma factors. Among those un-trauma factors, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SNFH) accounted for a large proportion and mainly concentrated in young people. SNFH has been reported as an irreversible disease and associated with the damage of blood vessels and the loss balance of bone homeostasis. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs), one part of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), are immature precursor cells with proliferative potential. The damage of vascular endothelial cells in SNFH has been confirmed by many studies, but the changes of CECs and CEPCs in the peripheral blood of patients with SNFH have not been studied yet.

Objectives:

The objective of the study is to explore the number of CECs and CEPCs in SNFH patients and normal people and then investigate whether EC-secreted exosomes (EC-exos) could prevent the progression of SNFH in rat model and its mechanism of action.

Methods:

We collect peripheral blood of 3 SNFH patients and 3 heathy people and detected the levels of CECs and CEPCs by Flow cytometer. TEM, NTA and western blot was used to characterize the isolated EC-exos. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining with flow cytometric analysis and western blot were used to evaluate MC3T3-E1 cells apoptosis. CCK-8, scratching experiment and transwell were used to evaluate MC3T3-E1 cells viability and migration ability. Micro-CT and morphological staining were used to evaluate the progress of SNFH in rat model.

Results:

Firstly, we found that the number of CECs and CEPCs in the peripheral blood was decreased in SNFH patients than normal people. Then our results indicated that EC-exos could improve the migration, viability and prevent apoptosis of osteoblasts under dexamethasone by activating the PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2 signal pathway in vitro. Finally, our Micro-CT and morphological staining results in SNFH rat model revealed that EC-exos prevented the progression of SNFH.

Conclusion:

EC-exos could enhance the cell viability and migration ability of osteoblasts under dexamethasone and play an anti-apoptosis role against steroids-induced osteoblast apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2 signal pathway. EC-exos prevented the progression of SNFH in rat model.

References:

[1]Zalavras CG, Lieberman JR. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: evaluation and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2014;22(7):455-64.

[2]Microsurgery Department of the Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor A, Group from the O, Bone Defect Branch of the Chinese Association of R, Reconstructive S, Microsurgery, Reconstructive Surgery Group of the Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical A. Chinese Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head in Adults. Orthop Surg. 2017;9(1):3-12.

[3]Mont MA, Jones LC, Hungerford DS. Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head: ten years later. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(5):1117-32.

[4]Yuan HF, Zhang J, Guo CA, Yan ZQ. Clinical outcomes of osteonecrosis of the femoral head after autologous bone marrow stem cell implantation: a meta-analysis of seven case-control studies. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2016;71(2):110-3.

[5]Houdek MT, Wyles CC, Packard BD, Terzic A, Behfar A, Sierra RJ. Decreased Osteogenic Activity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Corticosteroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head. J Arthroplasty. 2016;31(4):893-8.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

AB0363 PERIOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT WITH BIOLOGICS ON SEVERE AORTIC VALVE REGURGITATION CAUSED BY BEHÇET’S SYNDROME: THE EXPERIENCE FROM A SINGLE CENTER

Background:

Cardiovascular involvement in Behçet’s syndrome (BS) is associated with poor prognosis and accounts for the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in BS1, 2. Perioperative management of severe aortic valve regurgitation (AR) caused by BS is critical while challenging. AR caused by BS is associated with a high incidence of severe postoperative complications, especially paravalvular leakage (PVL) due to the fragilities of aortic lesions and tissue inflammation, leading to a significantly increased risk of re-operation and life-threatening conditions3-5. For the perioperative management of patients with AR caused by BS, many patients respond inadequately to the combination therapies of glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressants. Meanwhile, rapid and efficient control of inflammation is critical in preserving cardiac function and surgical management. However, the application of biologics in the perioperative treatment of AR attributable to BS has not yet been evaluated.

Objectives:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of biologics in the perioperative management of severe AR caused by BS.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed twenty patients with severe AR caused by BS and were treated with biologics during the perioperative cardiac surgeries in our center between February 2016 and October 2020.

Results:

Twenty patients with severe AR were enrolled, including 19 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 39.1±8.8 years and median course 8 (IQR, 5.25-10) years. Before biologics administration, 92.9% of the patients who underwent aortic valve replacement surgeries had failed conventional therapy and developed postoperative paravalvular leakage (PVL) at a median interval of 4 months. Biologics was administered during the perioperative period of 22 aortic valve surgeries, including preoperatively with a median interval of 3.5 (IQR, 2.75-4.25) months in 13 cases, or within three-month postoperatively in 9 cases, with background glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressants. After a median follow-up of 21 (IQR, 15-32) months, 11 out of 13 cases (84.6%) preoperatively and 8 out of 9 cases (88.9%) postoperatively treated with biologics were event-free. The BDCAF score improved significantly (7 vs. 0, median, p<0.0001). Significant decrease of ESR (25.0 (IQR, 11-36.25) mm/h vs. 6.5 (IQR, 4-8.8) mm/h, p<0.001), and CRP (20.77 (IQR, 7.19-29.58) mg/L vs. 1.53 (IQR, 0.94-2.92) mg/L, p=0.001) were achieved rapidly and effectively. The dosage of GCs tapered from 40 (IQR, 30-60) mg/d to 10 (IQR, 5-11.25) mg/d, p<0.0001. Immunosuppressants were tapered in number and dosage in 6 (30%) and 20 patients (100%), respectively. No serious adverse event was observed.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that biologics was effective and well-tolerated for the perioperative management of severe and refractory AR caused by BS, which significantly reduced the occurrence of postoperative PVL and had a favorable GCs- and immunosuppressants- sparing effect.

References:

[1]Saadoun D, Wechsler B, Desseaux K, et al. Mortality in Behcet’s disease. Arthritis Rheum 2010; 62: 2806-2812.

[2]Thomas T, Chandan JS, Subramanian A, et al. Epidemiology, morbidity and mortality in Behcet’s disease: a cohort study using The Health Improvement Network (THIN). Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020; 59: 2785-2795.

[3]Ando M, Kosakai Y, Okita Y, et al. Surgical treatment of Behcet’s disease involving aortic regurgitation. Ann Thorac Surg 1999; 68: 2136-2140.

[4]Han JK, Kim HK, Kim YJ, et al. Behcet’s disease as a frequently unrecognized cause of aortic regurgitation: suggestive and misleading echocardiography findings. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2009; 22: 1269-1274.

[5]Guo X, Tian Z, Liu Y, et al. Preoperative immunosuppressive therapy reduces paravalvular leakage after aortic valve surgery in patients with aortic regurgitation attributable to Behcet’s disease. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2016; 34: S26-S33.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

A new predicting model of preeclampsia based on peripheral blood test value

OBJECTIVE

To identify laboratory markers among platelet indices, coagulation parameters, blood lipid parameters, and liver/kidney function variables that can be used to predict preeclampsia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied records of 568 women with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension (GH), or normal term pregnancies hospitalized in the Obstetrics Department of the Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital from September 2014 to September 2018. We divided the patients' records into three groups (216 with preeclampsia, 136 with gestational hypertension, and 216 with normal pregnancies). We conducted retrospective analyses to compare variable measurements between the groups and find correlations. We looked into maternal pre-onset platelet indices, coagulation parameters (thrombin time [TT], fibrinogen [FIB]), biochemical parameters (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoproteins [HDL], alanine transaminase [ALT], serum creatinine [CRE], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], uric acid [UA]), maternal complications, and perinatal outcomes. In addition to our statistical analysis, we trained a back-propagation (BP) neural network to identify the strongest predictors of preeclampsia.

RESULTS

We found significant differences among the groups in terms of values for PLT, MPV, PDW, PLCR, TT, FIB, TG, LDH, BUN, and others. After adjusting for confounding factors in a multivariate ordered logistic regression model, we found that mean values for MPV, BUN, TG, and LDH can independently predict the risk of preeclampsia (the OR values were 1.858, 1.583, 1.104, and 1.020, respectively), the C-index (concordance statistic) was 0.73. Also, our BP neural network derived ALB, MPV, BUN, LDH and TG as the strongest predictors of preeclampsia.

CONCLUSIONS

MPV, TG, LDH, and BUN can help establish the risk for the development of preeclampsia to apply active measures and improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. The BP neural network can be used to study predictive models of preeclampsia.

[Related factors for bile duct infection after surgical treatment of biliary dilatation]

Objective: To analyze the related factors of bile duct infection in patients with biliary dilatation in the short and long term after operation. Methods: The data of the patients with biliary dilatation admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2012 and October 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 121 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 21 males(17.4%) and 100 females(82.6%),with age of (40.5±15.3) years(range: 18 to 80 years). Short-term infection was defined as bile duct infection occured within 30 days after operaion; long-term infection was defined as bile duct infectiion occured 30 days after operation The relationship between bile duct infection and clinicopathologic biliary dilatation features were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: There were 85 (70.2%),1 (0.8%), 32 (26.4%) and 3 (2.5%) patients with Todani type Ⅰ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ and Ⅴ, respectively. The mean follow-up time was (55.2±28.6) months (range: 1 to 101 months). There were 18 and 37 patients had short-term and long-term bile duct infection after surgery,respectively. Postoperative complications occurred in 18 patients and included ascites(n=6),biliary fistula(n=4),pancreatic fistula(n=2),gastroparesis (n=2),pleural effusion(n=1),abdominal infection(n=1),non-healing wound(n=1),and pancreatitis(n=1). Univariate analysis showed that preoperative history of bile duct infection,hilar anastomosis and Todani types were related factors for short-term bile duct infection,and postoperative complication was a related factor for long-term bile duct infection. Multivariate analysis showed that hilar anastomosis(OR=6.228,95%CI: 1.884-20.586,P=0.003) and preoperative history of bile duct infection(OR=3.701,95%CI: 1.137-12.043,P=0.030) were independent related factors for short-term bile duct infection after biliary dilatation operation,and age ≥45 years (OR=2.261,95%CI:1.004-5.093,P=0.049) and postoperative complication (OR=3.131,95%CI:1.094-8.958,P=0.033) were independent related factors for long-term bile duct infection after biliary dilatation operation. Conclusions: Hilar anastomosis and preoperative history of bile duct infection are independent related factors for short-term bile duct infection after biliary dilatation operation,and ≥45 years old and postoperative complication are independent related factors for long-term bile duct infection after biliary dilatation operation.

Curcumin suppresses tumor growth of gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer by regulating lncRNA-MEG3 and PTEN signaling

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies and the efficacy of chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiation is limited in clinical application. Curcumin has been reported to block cancer development by modulating multiple signaling pathways. However, whether curcumin can inhibit gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer through regulation of lncRNA and the involved molecular mechanisms are rarely reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay, clonogenic assay, apoptosis assay, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, xenograft experiment were carried out in the present study.

RESULTS

The results showed that curcumin suppressed gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Curcumin upregulated the expression of lncRNA-MEG3 and PTEN, and MEG3 overexpression could increase the level of PTEN expression, while MEG3 knockdown decreased the level of PTEN expression in gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells. Curcumin treatment failed to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in MEG3 knockdown or PTEN knockdown cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show the antitumor activity of curcumin for potential clinical application in gemcitabine-resistant non-small cell lung cancer treatment.

[Effect of levothyroxine treatment on pregnancy outcomes in euthyroid women with thyroid autoantibody positive: a Meta-analysis]

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the association of levothyroxine treatment with pregnancy outcomes in euthyroid women who are thyroid autoantibody positive. Methods: Medline, Excerpta Medica (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine (CBM), Wanfang data and VIP database were searched from inception until Jan. 28, 2020. All published randomized controlled trials assessing the association of levothyroxine treatment with pregnancy outcomes in euthyroid women with thyroid autoantibody-positive were included. STATA 11.0 and RevMan 5.3 softwares were used to perform this Meta-analysis. Results: A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 2 188 women randomized. Meta-analysis showed that there was no significantly association between miscarriage (OR=0.85, 95%CI: 0.65-1.11, P=0.234) and preterm birth (OR=0.79, 95%CI: 0.54-1.16, P=0.224) with levothyroxine treatment. Conclusions: Levothyroxine therapy could not reduce the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth in euthyroid women with thyroid autoantibody-positive. Therefore, levothyroxine should be used with caution for these pregnant women.

Differences in erythrocyte phospholipid membrane long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the prevalence of fatty acid desaturase genotype among African Americans and European Americans

Numerous studies have reported an association between genetic variants in fatty acid desaturases (FADS1 and FADS2) and plasma or erythrocyte long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels. Increased levels of n-6 PUFAs have been associated with inflammation and several chronic diseases, including diabetes and cancer. We hypothesized that genetic variants of FADS that more efficiently convert precursor n-6 PUFA to arachidonic acid (AA) may explain the higher burden of chronic diseases observed in African Americans. To test this hypothesis, we measured the level of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and genotyped the rs174537 FADS variants associated with higher AA conversion among African American and European American populations. We included data from 1,733 individuals who participated in the Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study, a large colonoscopy-based case-control study. Erythrocyte membrane PUFA percentages were measured using gas chromatography. Generalized linear models were used to estimate association of race and genotype on erythrocyte phospholipid membrane PUFA levels while controlling for self-reported dietary intake. We found that African Americans have higher levels of AA and a higher prevalence of GG allele compared to whites, 81% vs 43%, respectively. Homozygous GG genotype was negatively associated with precursor PUFAs (linoleic [LA], di-homo-γ-linolenic [DGLA]), positively associated with both product PUFA (AA, docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]), product to precursor ratio (AA to DGLA), an indirect measure of FADs efficiency and increased urinary isoprostane F2 (F2-IsoP) and isoprostane F3 (F3-IsoP), markers of oxidative stress. Increased consumption of n-6 PUFA and LA resulting in increased AA and subsequent inflammation may be fueling increased prevalence of chronic diseases especially in African descent.

CT phenotypes in mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: difference before and after the age of 60 years

AIM

To investigate the pulmonary phenotype of mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using quantitative computed tomography CT analysis techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-three patients with stable-phase mild-to-moderate COPD and 78 healthy controls, categorised as those aged <60 (28 and 40 patients, respectively) and ≥60 years (35 and 38, respectively), underwent chest low-dose respiratory dual-phase CT and pulmonary function test. Automatic software was used to measure the proximal airway parameters, and the emphysema and air-trapping indices were recorded. The intergroup differences in each parameter were assessed by one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

At <60 years of age, the mean Pi10WA (Wall area of a hypothetical airway with an internal perimeter of 10 mm) was greater in the mild-to-moderate COPD group than in the healthy control group (17.04 ± 1.63 versus 16.03 ± 1.16 mm²; p=0.004). Mild or moderate air-trapping was observed in the mild-to-moderate COPD group aged <60 years. There was no significant difference in the proximal airway parameters and inspiratory VI_-950 (percent voxels less than -950 HU) between the two groups at age ≥60 years (all p>0.05); however, the expiratory VI_-856 (percent voxels less than -856 HU) and mean lung density expiratory/inspiratory ratio (MLD_E/I) were higher in the mild-to-moderate COPD group than those in the healthy control group (26.02 [30.23] versus 6.45 [11.16]; 0.88 ± 0.05 versus 0.84 ± 0.04; p<0.001 and p=0.024).

CONCLUSION

For patients with mild-to-moderate COPD, the CT phenotype was predominantly the "airway remodelling" type at <60 years of age, and the "air-trapping" type at ≥60 years of age. Thus, pulmonary CT phenotypes of mild-to-moderate COPD patients of different age groups are different.

Enhancement of immune responses by co-administration of bacterial ghosts-mediated Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA vaccines

AIM

Gonorrhoea remains a leading public health burden and the development of vaccine against gonorrhoea becomes more urgent. Here, a novel Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA vaccine delivered by Salmonella enteritidis ghosts was developed and the immune responses of the vaccine candidate were evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Neisseria gonorrhoeae nspA gene was cloned into the pVAX1 vector. The constructed recombinant plasmid pVAX1-nspA was loaded into the lyophilized SE ghosts to produce SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA). Then, the immune responses induced by SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA) alone and co-administrated with SE ghosts (pVAX1-porB) were evaluated in mouse model. Co-administered SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1-porB) could elicited significantly higher levels of specific IgG antibody responses and lymphocyte proliferative responses than the control groups. Furthermore, the group co-administered SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1-porB) had the highest bactericidal antibody titres.

CONCLUSIONS

Co-administration of SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1-porB) elicited significant specific humoral and cellular immune responses.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study demonstrates the potential of co-administration of SE ghosts (pVAX1-nspA) and SE ghosts (pVAX1-porB) as an attractive vaccination regimen for gonorrhoea.

LncRNA DARS-AS1 regulates microRNA-129 to promote malignant progression of thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer, and to further investigate whether it can promote the development of thyroid cancer by regulating microRNA-129.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the level of DARS-AS1 in tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues of 34 thyroid carcinomas. It was also used to analyze the relationship between the expression of DARS-AS1 and the clinical indicators of thyroid cancer and the prognosis of patients. qPCR was used to further verify the expression of DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer cell lines. The DARS-AS1 knockdown model was constructed using lentivirus in thyroid cancer cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell clone formation, and transwell migration assays were performed to evaluate the effects of DARS-AS1 on the biological function of thyroid cancer cells. Finally, the potential mechanism was explored by using recovery experiments and the interplay between DARS-AS1 and microRNA-129 was further studied.

RESULTS

qPCR results revealed that the level of DARS-AS1 in tumor tissues of thyroid cancer patients was remarkably higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with patients with low expression of DARS-AS1, patients with high DARS-AS1 expression had a higher incidence of high tumor stage, distant metastasis, and a lower overall survival rate. Besides, compared with NC group, the proliferation and migration ability of shRNA-AS1 expression knockdown group sh-DARS-AS1 was remarkably decreased. qPCR results indicated that there was a negative correlation between the level of microRNA-129 and DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer tissues. In addition, cell proliferation and migration ability in the microRNA-129 overexpression group were remarkably decreased. The recovery experiment also found that there was a mutual regulation between DARS-AS1 and microRNA-129, which together affected the malignant progression of thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

DARS-AS1 level in tumor tissues of thyroid cancer was remarkably increased and was correlated with the pathological stage, distant metastasis, and poor prognosis of thyroid cancer. Moreover, DARS-AS1 could promote the proliferation and migration capabilities of thyroid cancer cells by modulating microRNA-129.

Air temperature, carbon dioxide, and ammonia assessment inside a commercial cage layer barn with manure-drying tunnels

Understanding the air temperature distribution, ammonia (NH₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in poultry housing systems are crucial to poultry health, welfare, and productivity. In this study, 4 Intelligent Portable Monitoring Units and 7 temperature sensors were installed inside and between the cages and above 2 minimum ventilation fans of a commercial stacked-deck cage laying hen house in the Midwest United States (425,000 laying hens) to continuously monitor the interior environment over a 6-month period. During cold conditions (March 12th–May 22nd), there was a variation noted, with barn center temperatures consistently being highest in the longitudinal and lateral direction (P < 0.001) and the top floor deck warmer than the bottom floor (P < 0.05). During hotter conditions (May 23rd–July 26th), the interior thermal environment was more uniform than during the winter, resulting in a difference only in the longitudinal direction. The daily CO₂ and NH₃ concentrations were 400 to 4,981 ppm and 0 to 42.3 ppm among the 4 sampling locations, respectively. Both CO₂ and NH₃ decreased linearly with increasing outside temperatures. The mean NH₃ and CO₂ concentrations varied with sampling locations and with the outside temperatures (P < 0.001). For CO₂, the minimum ventilation sidewall had lower values than those measured in the barn’s center (P < 0.05) during cold weather, while the barn center and the manure room sidewall consistently measured the highest concentrations during warmer weather (P < 0.05). For NH₃, the tunnel ventilation inlet end consistently had the lowest daily concentrations, whereas the in-cage and manure drying tunnel sidewall locations measured the highest concentrations (P < 0.001). Higher NH₃ and CO₂ concentrations were recorded within the cage than in the cage aisle (P < 0.05). The highest NH₃ concentration of 42 ppm was recorded above the minimum exhaust fan adjacent to the manure drying tunnel, which indicated that higher pressure (back pressure) in the manure drying tunnel allowed air leakage back into the production area through nonoperating sidewall fan shutters.

The Subgingival Microbiome Relationship to Periodontal Disease in Older Women

Understanding of the oral microbiome in relation to periodontal disease in older adults is limited. The composition and diversity of the subgingival microflora and their oligotypes in health and levels of periodontal disease were investigated in this study on older postmenopausal women. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform in 1,206 women aged 53 to 81 y. Presence and severity of periodontal disease were defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology criteria. Composition of the microbiome was determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and the abundance of taxa described by the centered log₂-ratio (CLR) transformed operational taxonomic unit (OTU) values. Differences according to periodontal disease status were determined by analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction. Bacteria oligotypes associated with periodontal disease and health were determined by minimum entropy decomposition and their functions estimated in silico using PICRUSt. Prevalence of none/mild, moderate, and severe periodontal disease was 25.1%, 58.3%, and 16.6%, respectively. Alpha diversity of the microbiome differed significantly across the 3 periodontal disease categories. β-Diversity differed between no/mild and severe periodontal disease, although considerable overlap was noted. Of the 267 bacterial species identified at ≥0.02% abundance, 56 (20.9%) differed significantly in abundance according to periodontal disease status. Significant linear correlations for pocket depth and clinical attachment level with bacterial amounts were observed for several taxa. Of the taxa differing in abundance according to periodontal disease status, 53% had multiple oligotypes appearing to differ between none/mild and severe periodontal disease. Among older women, taxonomic differences in subgingival microbiome composition and diversity were observed in relation to clinical periodontal disease measures. Potential differences in bacterial subspecies (oligotypes) and their function were also identified in periodontal disease compared with health.

FRI0003 ELEVATED HISTONE H4 IN NEUTROPHIL EXTRACELLULAR TRAPS PROMOTES MACROPHAGE ACTIVATION IN BEHÇET’S DISEASE

Background:

Neutrophil-released neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are upregulated and promote autoinflammation and thrombosis in Behçet’s disease (BD), a multi-system inflammatory disease with unknown etiology1,2. However, whether NETs promote macrophage activation in BD remains unclear.

Objectives:

To investigate the potential role of NETs in promoting aberrant macrophage activation in BD.

Methods:

We quantified NETs by measuring dsDNA using ELISA and immunofluorescence. Macrophages were stimulated with BD- and healthy controls (HC)-derived NETs, and IL-8 and TNF-α production were measured by ELISA. NETs-stimulated macrophages were incubated with naive CD4+T cells, and Th1 cell differentiation was examined on day 7 by flow cytometry. Histones H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, S100A8 and neutrophil elastase in NETs were analyzed by western blot. Macrophages were stimulated with anti-Histone 4 antibody-treated NETs, and IL-8 production was measured by ELISA.

Results:

Circulating NETs (2336±534 ng/ml vs. 1472±549 ng/ml,P=0.0008) and neutrophil-derived NETs (909.2±485.2 ng/ml vs. 582.4±199.2 ng/ml,P=0.0108) were significantly higher in BD patients compared with those in HC. BD NETs stimulated macrophages to produce a higher level of IL-8 (17±4 ng/ml vs. 13±4 ng/ml,P=0.0474) and TNF-α (166±61 pg/ml vs. 102±48 pg/ml,P=0.0132) than HC NETs. Moreover, BD NETs promoted macrophages to facilitate Th1 differentiation than HC NETs (33±10% vs. 24±7%,P=0.0398). Western blot analysis revealed more Histone H4 (289076 (144365, 544038) IOD values vs. 42121 (6958, 129625) IOD values,P=0.0286), but not Histones H1, H2A, H2B, H3, S100A8 or neutrophil elastase in BD NETs compared to HC NETs. Importantly, neutralizing Histone H4 abrogated the BD NETs-stimulated IL-8 overproduction by macrophages (9.99±2.07 ng/ml vs. 13.95±2.91 ng/ml,P=0.021).

Conclusion:

BD NETs promoted macrophages activation, which might be mediated by a higher level of Histone H4.

References:

[1]Safi R., Kallas R., Bardawil T., et al. Neutrophils contribute to vasculitis by increased release of neutrophil extracellular traps in Behçet’s disease. J. Dermatol. Sci. 2018;92:143–150.

[2]Le Joncour a, Martos r, Loyau s, et al. Critical role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in patients with Behcet’s disease. Ann Rheum Dis 2019;78:1274–1282.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

FRI0225 THE CLINICAL FEATURES AND OUTCOME OF VENA CAVA INVOLVEMENT IN BEHCET’S DISEASE

Background:

Behcet’s disease (BD) is a systemic disease that can affect vessels of any size and type. However, only limited cases of BD patients with vena cava involvement have been reported.

Objectives:

To investigate the clinical features and outcome of vena cava involvement in BD patients.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of BD patients with vena cava involvement in our institute from August 2001 to October 2019. The treatment and outcome of these patients were also analyzed.

Results:

Fifty BD patients with vena cava involvement were included. The median interval between BD onset and diagnosis of vena cava involvement was 2.8 (range 0-19.4) years. Superior vena cava (SVC) involvement was detected in 22 (44.0%) patients, and 21 patients had typical manifestations of SVC syndrome. Inferior vena cava (IVC) was detected in 35 (70.0%) patients, including 7 patients diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Seven patients had both superior and inferior vena cava involvement. Forty-five (90.0%) patients had venous involvement other than vena cava, including 19 patients with common iliac thrombosis, 12 patients with common femoral vein thrombosis, 11 patients with external iliac vein thrombosis, etc. For the other BD manifestations, oral ulceration was presented in all patients, followed by genital ulceration (35, 70.0%), Erythema nodosum (27, 54.0%) and pathergy reaction (25, 50.0%). Thirteen (26%) patients had eye involvement. Ten (20%) patients had pleural and/or pericardial effusions. Eleven (22.0%) patients had pulmonary thromboembolism, and 4 (8.0%) patients had arterial involvement. Inflammatory markers were significantly elevated in 41 (82.0%) patients when the vena cava involvement developed, the mean ESR was 34.0±29.2mm/hr, and the median CRP level was 19.9(0.2-177.0) mg/L. The mean BDCAF2006 score of all patients was 4.6±1.6. Glucocorticoid was used in 47 (94.0%) patients after vena cava involvement was diagnosed, and cyclophosphamide was the first-choice immunosuppressant. Forty-one (82.0%) patients received anticoagulation treatment. Five patients had received placement of IVC filter, and 3 patients had taken balloon dilation of IVC. With a mean follow up of 4.1±3.8 years, 45 patients (90.0%) achieved clinical improvements, 6 patients (12.0%) had relapse of vascular involvement, 5 patients (10.0%) died. The respective estimated cumulative 1- and 5- years relapse-free rates were 90.9% and 83.1%, and the respective estimated 1- and 5- years survival rates were 95.9% and 90.1%.

Conclusion:

Vena cava involvement is a rare complication in BD patients. The prognosis of these patients is relatively optimistic after proper treatment. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the largest cohort of BD patients with vena cava involvement.

References:

[1]Y. Fei, X. Li, S. Lin et al. Major vascular involvement in Behçet’s disease: a retrospective study of 796 patients. Clinical Rheumatology, 2013, 32 (6): 845–852.

[2]Seyahi E, Caglar E, Ugurlu S et al. An outcome survey of 43 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome due to Behçet’s syndrome followed up at a single, dedicated center. Semin Arthritis Rheum, 2015, 44(5):602-609.

Acknowledgments:

We gratefully thank all the patients who participated in our study.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0531 GOLIMUMAB IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE AND/OR REFRACTORY VASCULO-BEHÇET’S DISEASE: A SINGLE-CENTRE EXPERIENCE IN CHINA

Background:

Vascular involvement is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Behcet’s Disease (BD)1. Surgical treatments are difficult for Vaculo-BD (VBD) patients due to the high risk of serious postoperative complications without effective and promptly perioperative immunotherapy2, 3. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy has been reported as a potential treatment in severe VBD, e.g. infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA). However, only few case reports are available regarding the fully humanized monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, golimumab (GOL), in the management of VBD4.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to report the efficacy and safety of GOL for the treatment of severe and/or refractory VBD.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety profile of patients with severe and/or refractory VBD treated with GOL in our medical center between 2018 to 2020.

Results:

Nine VBD patients (8 male and 1 female) were enrolled, with a mean age and median course of 37±8.6 years and 72 months (range 12 to 300), respectively. Cardiac involvements (severe aortic regurgitation secondary to BD) were presented in 7 patients, including 2 patients with post-operative paravalvular leakage (PVL) after aortic valve replacement surgery. Multiple vascular lesions were documented in the other 2 patients, including one patient with life-threatening multiple pulmonary aneurysms, pulmonary thromboembolism and recurrent deep vein thrombosis, and another patient with abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm and multiple artery stenosis and occlusion. Prior to GOL therapy, all patients experienced disease progression despite high-dose glucocorticoids combined with multiple immunosuppressants. Moreover, seven patients required effective and fast control of inflammation and a decrease of glucocorticoid dose during the perioperative period. They were treated with GOL, 50mg every 4 weeks, in combination with background low-or medium-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, for a median of 6 (range 3-15) months. After a mean duration of follow-up of 10 (range 2-6) months, all patients achieved improvement both in clinical symptoms and serum inflammation markers. The ESR level [4.88±4.94 mm/h vs 31.13±31.78mm/h, P<0.01] and CRP level [1.9 (0.11-3.73)mg/L vs 24.3 (0.4-85.57)mg/L, P<0.01] significantly decreased. The dosage of glucocorticoid[10 (0-15) vs 40 (0-100)mg/d, P<0.01] effectively tapered, indicating a potential steroid-sparing effect. No newly-onset aneurysm and recurrent venous thrombosis were observed. Also, one patient had a marked reduction in size and number of pulmonary aneurysms. No post-operative PVL was observed in the five patients after Bentall operation with a median follow-up of 10 months. One patient with severe aortic regurgitation remained stable and without surgical intervention with the treatment of GOL for 16 months. No severe complication occurred in one patient after underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aorta for 8 months. GOL was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse event was observed.

Conclusion:

Our results suggested that GOL is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with severe and / or refractory VBD. Further controlled studies are warranted to confirm the therapeutic potential of GOL in VBD patients.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

THU0326 TOFACITINIB IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE AND REFRACTORY BEHÇET’S DISEASE: A SINGLE-CENTRE EXPERIENCE IN CHINA

Background:

Small-molecule JAK inhibitors have succeeded in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease1. Tofacitinib is under investigation for various autoimmune diseases2, but its effectiveness on Behçet’s disease(BD) has not been demonstrated.

Objectives:

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Tofacitinib in the treatment of severe and refractory BD.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety profile of Tofacitinib in treating severe and refractory BD patients in our hospital from 2017 to 2020.

Results:

Thirteen BD patients (7 males and 6 females) were enrolled, with a mean age and median course of 40.6±14.7 years and 84 months (60, 132). Vascular/cardiac, gastrointestinal, and articular involvement were presented in 5, 6, and 2 patients, respectively. Three patients had multiple arterial stenosis or occlusion, two presented with aortic root dilation with aortic valve regurgitation, and one experienced perivalvular leakage (PVL). All the six patients with gastrointestinal involvement had multiple episodes of ileocecal and colon ulcers, intestinal bleed, and three had anastomotic ulcers or leaks.

All the patients had received high-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants before tofacitinib therapy, they displayed poor response with evidence of disease progression; furthermore, three patients with gastrointestinal involvement and one patient with polyarthritis had failed anti-TNF antibody treatment. They were then treated with Tofacitinib, 5mg twice daily, with background glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, for a median of 6 months (range 4 to 19).

After a median follow-up of 7 (5, 19) months, the ESR and CRP level decreased significantly (21(8, 50) mm/h vs 8(3, 19.5) mm/h, P<0.01, and 25(5.85, 49.5) mg/L vs 1.89(0.44, 6.65) mg/L, P<0.01, respectively). All patients with vascular/cardiac and articular involvement achieved clinical improvement. Vascular lesions of three patients were radiologically stable, no progressive aneurysm or PVL was observed. Two patients with intestinal ulcers revealed complete mucosal healing; the other three had sustained elevation of ESR and CRP, active mucosal ulcers, recurrent bleeding, or fistula formation. The dose of corticosteroids was tapered in six cases (46.2%), furthermore, the number of immunosuppressants lessened in seven cases. However, two patients had herpes zoster infection during follow up, while being treated with five to six immunosuppressants in addition to Tofacitinib for refractory intestinal ulcers.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that Tofacitinib is effective for the treatment of vascular and articular BD; given the limited data, its therapeutic effect on gastrointestinal BD could not be validated. We have to be cautious of infectious risk for severely immunocompromised patients. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to confirm the therapeutic potential of JAK inhibitors in BD patients.

References:

[1]Banerjee, S., Biehl, A., Gadina, M., Hasni, S. & Schwartz, D. M. JAK–STAT Signaling as a Target for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases: Current and Future Prospects. Drugs 77, 521–546 (2017).

[2]Fragoulis, G. E., Mcinnes, I. B. & Siebert, S. JAK-inhibitors. New players in the field of immune-mediated diseases, beyond rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol. (United Kingdom) 58, i43–i54 (2019).

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

[Analysis of population attributable risk of large for gestational age]

Objective: To examine the association of pre-pregnancy obesity, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with the risk of large for gestational age (LGA), and assess the dynamic changes in population attributable risk percent (PAR%) for having these exposures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect data on pregnant women who received regular health care and delivered in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from January to December in 2011, 2014 and 2017, respectively. Information including baseline characteristics, metabolic indicators during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and pregnancy outcomes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to assess their association with LGA delivery. Adjusted relative risk and prevalence of these factors were used to calculate PAR%and evaluate the comprehensive risk. Results: (1)The number of participants were 11 132, 13 167 and 4 973 in 2011, 2014 and 2017, respectively. Corresponding prevalence of LGA were 15.19% (1 691/11 132), 14.98% (1 973/13 167) and 16.21% (806/4 973). No significant change in the prevalence of LGA was observed across all years investigated (all P>0.05). (2)According to results from multivariate logistic regression model, advanced maternal age, multiparity, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, GWG,GDM and serum triglyceride level≥1.7 mmol/L in the first trimester were associated with high risk of LGA (all P<0.05). Among these factors, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, excessive GWG and multiparity were common risk factors of LGA. GDM was not associated with risk of LGA in 2017 database. (3) Dynamic change of PAR% in these years were notable. PAR% of GWG for LGA decreased (32.6%, 27.2% and 22.2% in 2011, 2014 and 2017, respectively), while PAR% of pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity showed an upward trend (4.2%, 3.3% and 8.4%). In addition, PAR% of multiparity increased as well (3.5%, 6.3% and 15.9%). (4) Further analysis showed that excessive GWG in the first and second trimesters contributed the most (20.2% and 19.0% in 2014 and 2017). Conclusions: Excessive GWG, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity and multiparity are the important risk factors what contribute to LGA. PAR% of excessive GWG for LGA decrease in recent years. However, GWG in the first and second trimesters is a critical factor of LGA. Appropriate weight management in pre-pregnancy, the first or second trimester is the key point to reduce the risk of LGA.

P-Band Induced Self-Organization and Dynamics with Repulsively Driven Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Cavity

We investigate a Bose-Einstein condensate strongly coupled to an optical cavity via a repulsive optical lattice. We detect a stable self-ordered phase in this regime, and show that the atoms order through an antisymmetric coupling to the P band of the lattice, limiting the extent of the phase and changing the geometry of the emergent density modulation. Furthermore, we find a nonequilibrium phase with repeated intense bursts of the intracavity photon number, indicating nontrivial driven-dissipative dynamics.