[Association between perceived built environment attributes and adults' leisure-time physical activity in four cities of China]

Objective: To explore the associations between perceived built environment attributes and adults' leisure-time physical activity in four cities of China. Methods: Multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select adults aged 25 to 64 in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. Data were collected from June 2017 to July 2018. The perception of the urban built environment was assessed by the neighborhood environment walkability scale-abbreviated (NEWS-A), and the physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Generalized linear mixed models were used to explore the relationship between the perceived built environment and leisure-time physical activities. Results: A total of 3 789 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, better access to public services (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.02-1.75) and higher aesthetic quality (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.09-1.73) were positively associated with the possibility of engaging in leisure-time physical activity in the past week. Similarly, these two attributes were positively associated with leisure-time walking. Higher scores on the perception of street connectivity were positively associated with leisure-time walking [exp(β)=1.09, 95%CI: 1.00-1.19]. Higher residential density [exp(β)=1.000 4, 95%CI:1.000 0-1.000 8], better access to physical activity destinations[exp(β)=1.09, 95%CI: 1.00-1.19], and better aesthetics [exp(β)=1.11, 95%CI:1.00-1.22] were associated with higher leisure-time physical activity. Similarly, these three attributes were positively associated with the possibility of meeting the WHO recommendations. Conclusion: Changing some urban built environment attributes may increase leisure-time physical activity.

[Prognostic evaluation of P53 and BCL2 proteins in MYC/BCL2 double expression DLBCL]

Objective: To investigate the strong expression (S+) of P53 and BCL2 proteins in MYC/BCL2 double-expression DLBCL (DEL) and whether they can be used for the prognostic evaluation and stratified diagnosis of DELs. Methods: Tissue microarray were made by filed FFPE blocks of 174 DLBCL cases. The translocation of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 genes were detected by FISH, and the proteins were detected by IHC. Data of clinicopathologic features and follow up of patients were collected and OS (overall survival) and PFS (progression free survival) were analyzed by statistics. Results: Eight double-hit lymphomas (DHLs) were identified in all cases, and 45 DELs were selected from 166 remaining cases, which have no significant difference in OS and PFS compared with non-DEL cases (P=0.668 and P=0.790) . Of 42 DEL-cases with follow up data, 24 cases with P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) are significantly shorter OS and PFS than others (P=0.003 and P=0.000) , in which the cases with P53+/BCL2 (S+) co-expression were the worst prognosis, and P53/BCL2 co-weaker positive DEL cases even have superior OS and PFS than those non-DELs. Although statistics showed that the cases of P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) have a lower OS and PFS in total cases (P=0.063 and P=0.024) , it is not the case when the DEL-cases take out from total cases, that is the cases with P53+ or/and BCL2 (S+) are as similar OS and PFS as others in non-DEL group (P=0.590 and P=0.550) . Conclusion: The strong expression of P53 and BCL2 proteins can be used as indicators of stratified diagnosis and poor prognosis of DEL.

[Research progress of siRNA in reducing serum HBsAg levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B]

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is mainly involved in RNA interference for stopping gene translation by targeting and degrading HBV-transcribed mRNA. Targeting and stability in siRNA can be enhanced via chemical modification, combination use and improved delivery system. Clinical studies have identified JNJ-3989 (ARO-HBV) and ARB-1740 as well-tolerated siRNA drugs, which significantly reduce HBsAg levels. This article expounds the main mechanisms of siRNA in inhibiting HBsAg expression, improving target and stability as well as relevant preclinical and clinical studies.

[Effects of ticagrelor on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the effects of ticagrelor on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 1 073 patients, who were diagnosed as coronary heart disease and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) within 1 year after PCI, were enrolled from September 2017 to September 2019 in Peking University Third Hospital, including 309 patients in ticagrelor group and 764 patients in clopidogrel group. Clinical information, blood test results, echocardiographic parameters, cardiorespiratory fitness related parameters (including peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)), anaerobic threshold VO(2), peak oxygen pulse (VO(2)/HR) and carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent (VE/VCO(2)) slope), coronary lesions and intervention information were obtained. Cardiopulmonary fitness related indexes were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between ticagrelor use and cardiopulmonary fitness related indexes was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Patients who underwent CPET within 1 month after PCI were included in the subgroup analysis. Results: In ticagrelor group, the age was (60.3±10.3) years, and 253(81.9%) cases were male. The age of clopidogrel group was (60.6±10.0) years, and there were 608(79.6%) males. No significant differences were observed in peak VO(2), anaerobic threshold VO(2), and peak VO(2)/HR between the two groups (all P>0.05), but the VE/VCO(2) slope was significantly higher in the ticagrelor group than in the clopidogrel group (30.075 (27.207, 33.603) vs. 28.853 (25.970, 32.336), P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the peak VO(2), anaerobic threshold VO(2) and peak VO(2)/HR were not significantly correlated with the ticagrelor use (all P>0.05), while the VE/VCO(2) slope was independently correlated with ticagrelor use (OR=1.098, 95%CI 1.032-1.168, P=0.003). Subgroup analysis of patients who underwent CPET within 1 month after PCI also indicated that no significant difference were observed in peak VO(2), anaerobic threshold VO(2), peak VO(2)/HR and VE/VCO(2) slope between the two groups (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the peak VO(2), anaerobic threshold VO(2) and peak VO(2)/HR were not significantly correlated with ticagrelor use (all P>0.05), while the VE/VCO(2) slope was significantly correlated with ticagrelor use (OR=1.132, 95%CI 1.030-1.244, P=0.010). Conclusion: Among coronary heart disease patients after PCI, treatment with clopidogrel does not result in significant decrease in exercise endurance as compared with patients treated with ticagrelor.

Expression of Raptor and Rictor and their relationships with angiogenesis in colorectal cancer

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has two subtypes, i.e., mTORC1 and mTORC2, which contain the Raptor and Rictor core molecules, respectively. The effect of Raptor and Rictor on hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, HIF-2α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. In this work, we investigated the correlations among Raptor, Rictor, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and VEGF expression in CRC. We subsequently analyzed the clinicopathological features of patients. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and RT-PCR analyses were performed to detect the expression of Raptor, Rictor, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and VEGF in 120 cases of CRC and 60 cases of normal colorectal mucosa. CD34 was used to label microvascular density (MVD), which was found to be higher in patients with positive Raptor or Rictor than in those with negative Raptor or Rictor. The positive rates of Raptor, Rictor, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and VEGF in CRC were significantly higher than in normal colorectal mucosa. Raptor expression was positively correlated with HIF-1α and VEGF but not with HIF-2α expression. By contrast, Rictor expression was positively correlated with HIF-2α and VEGF but not with HIF-1α expression. Survival analysis further indicated that Raptor, Rictor, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, VEGF and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors in CRC. To conclude, Raptor and Rictor expression was related to the initiation and development of CRC and angiogenesis in different ways. The combined detection of Raptor and Rictor is important for patients with colorectal carcinoma in prognosis and optimal therapy.

[Advances and unmet needs in clinical studies on liver cirrhosis]

Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of a variety of chronic liver diseases. In recent years, a number of clinical studies related to cirrhosis have provided new evidence for natural history of cirrhosis, etiologic treatment and management of complications. The present article evaluates the cirrhosis-related articles in this issue and summarizes the advances of cirrhosis staging, antiviral therapy in patients with decompensated hepatitis C cirrhosis, drug treatment of portal hypertension, terlipressin in the treatment of cirrhotic ascites, and the management of portal vein thrombosis. The unmet needs in cirrhosis-related clinical studies are also discussed.

A scalable photonic computer solving the subset sum problem

The subset sum problem (SSP) is a typical nondeterministic-polynomial-time (NP)-complete problem that is hard to solve efficiently in time with conventional computers. Photons have the unique features of high propagation speed, strong robustness, and low detectable energy level and therefore can be promising candidates to meet the challenge. Here, we present a scalable chip built-in photonic computer to efficiently solve the SSP. We map the problem into a three-dimensional waveguide network through a femtosecond laser direct writing technique. We show that the photons sufficiently dissipate into the networks and search for solutions in parallel. In the case of successive primes, our approach exhibits a dominant superiority in time consumption even compared with supercomputers. Our results confirm the ability of light to realize computations intractable for conventional computers, and suggest the SSP as a good benchmarking platform for the race between photonic and conventional computers on the way toward "photonic supremacy."

Castleman disease in the hepatic-gastric space: A case report

BACKGROUND

Castleman disease, also known as giant lymph node hyperplasia, was first reported in 1956. It is a rare benign proliferative pathological change of the lymph nodes.

CASE SUMMARY

The patient, a 33-year-old woman, had epigastric distension for half a year. Examinations were performed in a local hospital. Computed tomography scan showed round soft tissue nodules, about 5.45 cm in diameter, in the hepatic-gastric space. Endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration was performed on the patient. Rapid on-site evaluation, hematoxylin eosin staining and histopathology of the puncture smear was performed. According to the Diff-Quik staining and hematoxylin eosin staining results of preoperative endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration puncture smears as well as the immunohistochemistry results, Castleman disease was highly suspected. A sufficient preoperative evaluation was made, and a precise surgical plan was developed. Postoperative pathology confirmed Castleman disease.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration can extract internal tissues of the tumor for histological and cytological examinations and provide accurate diagnosis as much as possible. Therefore, a sufficient preoperative evaluation can be made, and a precise surgical plan can be developed.

[Pursuit of anti-hepatitis B virus therapy]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put forward the strategic goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030, and the research and development of new treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is an important part of this. In recent years, functional or clinical cure marked by HBsAg clearance and continuous undetectable HBV DNA has gradually become an ideal treatment endpoint recommended by clinical guidelines at home and abroad. Studies have shown that CHB patients who achieved long-term viral suppression after nucleoside analogues (NAs), adding or switching to interferons may have the potential to improve the clearance rate of HBsAg. However, the HBsAg conversion rate of patients in each treatment group in these studies was still low, and a reasonable combined therapy strategy and suitable patient population need to be further explored. In addition, some new drugs are being developed in pursuit of a CHB cure, though many clinical trials of new drugs are still based from a long-term treatment of NAs. Therefore, NAs antiviral therapy remains the cornerstone at this stage for CHB.

[Expression discordances and clinical values of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 in primary and metastatic breast cancer]

Objective: To investigate the expression discordances of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER-2) and Ki-67 in primary and metastatic breast cancer specimens and explore the clinical significances. Methods: Biopsies of metastatic lesions were performed in 203 patients with breast cancer recurrence and metastasis indicated by physical examination and/or imaging examination. We confirmed pathological properties and assessed the expressions of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 in primary and metastatic lesions, their relationships with prognosis were also analyzed. Results: Biopsy failed in 3 patients, the pathology and immunohistochemitry results of metastatic lesions were not obtained. One person was diagnosed as tuberculosis and another was primary lung cancer. Among the 198 cases of primary and metastatic lesions, the discordance rates of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 were 27.3%, 34.3%, 11.8% and 15.1%, respectively.The expressions of ER, HER-2 and Ki-67 were not significantly different between the primary and metastatic lesions, however, the expressions of PR were more likely to turn negative in the metastases (P<0.001). The disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with ER, PR positive, HER-2 negative and low expression of Ki-67 in metastatic lesion was much longer (P<0.05). Conclusions: The expressions of ER, PR, HER-2 and Ki-67 in metastatic lesions are associated with the prognosis of breast cancer patients.Their expression discordances between primary and metastatic lesions can guide the treatment and evaluate the risks of recurrence and prognosis.

[Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of carcinogenicity or non-carcinogenicityonheavy metalsin Particulate Matter 2.5 in Shenzhen]

Objective: To assess the pollution characteristics and risk assessment of carcinogenicity or non-carcinogenicity on heavy metals in PM(2.5) in Shenzhen. Methods: PM(2.5) samples were collected monthly from the year of 2014 to 2015, and analyzed by seasons. 12 heavy metal elements (Pb, Hg, Mn, Sb, Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Ni, Se, Tl) in PM(2.5) were detected by ICP-MS spectrometry. Health risk assessment was conducted using the recommended United States Environmental Protection Agency (USA EPA) model. Results: The median of PM(2.5) concentration was 45.10 μg/m(3) in Longgang district of Shenzhen. The non-carcinogenecity risks of the metals in PM(2.5) existed in spring, autumn and winter (HQ>1). Three metal elements including As, Mn and Cd have higher HQ levels. The carcinogenecity risk levels in four seasons were winter, autumn, spring and summer, respectively. The carcinogenecity risks in four seasons were between 10(-6) to 10(-4). As, Cr and Cd have higher carcinogenicityrisks. Conclusion: The heavy metals in PM(2.5) have both carcinogenecity risk and non-carcinogenecity risk to residents in Longgang district of Shenzhen, the occupational health management must be continuously strengthened, the further research and the measures for prevention and control should be considered.

[Construction of 3β-HSD gene silencing cell line and its effects on apoptosis induced by DEHP]

Objective: To construct 3β-HSD gene shRNA lentivirus interference vecto, then transfect into human MCF-7 cells, and construct cell line with 3β-HSD gene silencing, finally to study the effects of 3β-HSD on apoptosis induced by di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) . Methods: According to the mRNA sequence of 3β-HSD gene provided by GenBank, three interference sequences were designed and connected to PLVX-shRNA2-puro after annealing. The recombinant lentivirus vector was transfected into 293FT cells, the virus supernatants were collected and infected with MCF-7 cells. After puromycin screening, MCF-7 cells with 3β-HSD gene silencing were constructed. The cells with 3β-HSD gene silencing were identified by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. Then the 3β-HSD gene silencing cells and MCF-7 cells were treated at various doses of DEHP for 24 hours to detect the gene expression and protein expression of apoptosis genes including Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8. Results: The interference sequence of 3β-HSD gene inserted into lentivirus vector PLVX-shRNA2-puro is consistent with the designed sequence. 3β-HSD gene expression level in MCF-7 cells with 3β-HSD gene silencing was 77% lower than than that of control MCF-7 cells. 3β-HSD protein level in MCF-7 cells with 3β-HSD gene silencing was 74% lower than that of control MCF-7 cells. After DEHP treatment in MCF-7 cells with 3β-HSD gene silencing and control MCF-7 cells, qRT-PCR results showed that Bax gene expression levels increased by 28%-54%, Caspase-3 gene increased by 13%-49%, Caspase-8 gene increased by 21%-70% in MCF-7 cells when compared with the control group. Additionally, in the 3β-HSD gene silencing cells, Bax gene expression level decreased by 11%-28%, Caspase-3 gene expression decreased by 12%-23%, Caspase-8 gene expression decreased by 11%-34%, compared with the same treatment group of MCF-7 cells. Western blot results showed that Bax protein expression level increased by 28%-61%, Caspase-3 protein expression level increased by 40%-48%, Caspase-8 protein increased by 31%-84% in MCF-7 cells when compared with the control group. In 3β-HSD gene silencing cells, Bax protein expression level increased by 11%-27%, Caspase-3 protein increased by 21%-40%, Caspase-8 protein increased by 12%-25%, compared with the same treatment group of MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: The stable 3β-HSD gene silencing cell line are successfully constructed in this study. DEHP can induce increased expression of apoptotic gene and protein. Silencing of 3β-HSD gene can inhibit the activation of apoptotic gene by DEHP in a certain degree.

[Performance of Knosp grade for cavernous sinus invasion of Cushing's disease]

Objective: To review the outcomes in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) and to assess the performance of Knosp grade for cavernous sinus invasion (CSI). Methods: Medical records were reviewed for patients with CD undergoing TSS from 1978 to 2017 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Based on whether CSI was observed during surgery, the sensitivity and specificity of Knosp grade for CSI were evaluated. Results: There were 1 061 records of CD reviewed, 83 (7.82%) of which were invasive tumors evaluated by surgery, and 44 (53.0%) of these remained in endocrinological remission at the last follow-up. The sensitivity of Knosp grade for CSI was 47.0%, and the specificity was 91.1%; besides, the positive predictive value was 31.0%, and the negative predictive value was 95.3%. Conclusions: Initial TSS for CD with invasive adenomas is of relatively low remission rate. Knosp grade 0-2 for non-invasive tumors is reliable, while it is doubtful whether or not Knosp grade 3-4 indicates invasive tumor.

Cognitive Frailty and Its Association with Nutrition and Depression in Community-Dwelling Older People

BACKGROUND

Cognitive frailty is a condition where physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) co-exist. It is associated with increased risk of dementia and dependency. Previous studies reported that malnutrition and depression are associated with physical frailty and MCI; however, their relationships with cognitive frailty remained to be explored. The aims of this study were to examine the association of nutrition and depression with cognitive frailty, in comparison to having physical frailty or MCI alone.

METHODS

This study employed a cross-sectional design. Data collection was conducted in the community settings on the older people without dementia. Dependent variables were cognitive frailty, physical frailty, and MCI. The independent variables were depression and nutrition. Multi-nominal regression was employed to examine the relationships between the dependent and independent variables. The associations were adjusted by four known co-variates, including age, gender, education and APOE ε4 carrier status.

RESULTS

A total of 185 participants were recruited from four community centres and one elderly hostel and completed the data collection. Approximately 44.9% of the older people with physical frailty and 82.5% of elderly with MCI belonged to cognitive frailty. Multi-nominal regression models showed that depression is positively associated with cognitive frailty and with physical frailty, but not associated with solely MCI. Nutrition is negatively associated with cognitive frailty, but not associated with physical frailty or MCI alone.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive frailty is associated with malnutrition and depression. Therapeutic interventions managing depression and malnutrition may focus the older people with cognitive frailty to improve efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

[Factors influencing survival of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma after surgical resection]

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with pancreatic cancer after surgical resection with curative intent and analyze factors affecting 2-year and 5-year survival of patients. Methods: A total of 469 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing curative resection were included in the study, and the clinical data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine factors affecting prognosis of these patients. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients who survived for ≤2 years and >2 years as well as ≤5 years and >5 years were compared, respectively. Results: The multivariate analysis showed that lymphovascular invasion (P=0.024), lymph node metastasis (P<0.001), vascular resection (P=0.002), maximum tumor diameter >2 cm (P=0.009), poor differentiation (P<0.001) were negative prognosis factors, but postoperative chemotherapy (P<0.001) was an independent positive prognostic factor. Comparison of the patients who survived for ≤2 years and >2 years showed that lymphovascular invasion (P=0.012), lymph node metastasis (P<0.001), vascular resection (P=0.014), maximum tumor diameter>2 cm (P=0.004), poor differentiation (P<0.001), peri-pancreatic fat invasion (P=0.005), absence of postoperative chemotherapy (P<0.001), advanced tumour, node and metastasis (TNM stage) (P<0.001) were associated with 2-year survival. With regard to 5-year survival, lymph node metastasis (P=0.005), poor differentiation (P=0.014) and TNM stage(P=0.025) were associated with it. Conclusions: Our results suggest that lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, vascular resection, maximum tumor diameter >2 cm, poor differentiation and absence of postoperative chemotherapy were independent negative prognostic factors. Lymph vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, vascular resection, maximum tumor diameter >2 cm, poor differentiation, peri-pancreatic fat invasion, absence of postoperative chemotherapy, advanced TNM stage were associated with 2-year survival, and lymph node metastasis, degree of differentiation and TNM stage are important prognosis factors affecting long-term survival of patients.

A modified method for plasmid extraction from Lactobacillus plantarum contained lysozyme removal step

Plasmids of Lactobacillus plantarum PC518 cannot be effectively extracted by existing methods. It was studied that the effect of lysozyme treatment and removal on plasmid extraction by 7 protocols. The modified method was compared with a commercial kit using L. plantarum PC518, 410, 9L15, and JS193 and Weissella cibaria M2 as the tested strains. The results suggested that the step of lysozyme removal is the key to improve the efficiency of plasmid extraction. The concentrations of plasmid DNA isolated from the 5 tested strains were increased by 10.6, 9.5, 6, 5.6 and 1.5 times respectively compared with the commercial kit.

Correction to: Characterization of bactericidal efficiency, cell selectivity, and mechanism of short interspecific hybrid peptides

Facing rising global antibiotics resistance, physical membrane-damaging antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising antimicrobial agents. Various strategies to design effective hybrid peptides offer many advantages in overcoming the adverse effects of natural AMPs.

Experimental two-dimensional quantum walk on a photonic chip

Quantum walks, in virtue of the coherent superposition and quantum interference, have exponential superiority over their classical counterpart in applications of quantum searching and quantum simulation. The quantum-enhanced power is highly related to the state space of quantum walks, which can be expanded by enlarging the photon number and/or the dimensions of the evolution network, but the former is considerably challenging due to probabilistic generation of single photons and multiplicative loss. We demonstrate a two-dimensional continuous-time quantum walk by using the external geometry of photonic waveguide arrays, rather than the inner degree of freedoms of photons. Using femtosecond laser direct writing, we construct a large-scale three-dimensional structure that forms a two-dimensional lattice with up to 49 × 49 nodes on a photonic chip. We demonstrate spatial two-dimensional quantum walks using heralded single photons and single photon-level imaging. We analyze the quantum transport properties via observing the ballistic evolution pattern and the variance profile, which agree well with simulation results. We further reveal the transient nature that is the unique feature for quantum walks of beyond one dimension. An architecture that allows a quantum walk to freely evolve in all directions and at a large scale, combining with defect and disorder control, may bring up powerful and versatile quantum walk machines for classically intractable problems.

Computational study of aortic hemodynamics for patients with an abnormal aortic valve: The importance of secondary flow at the ascending aorta inlet

Blood flow in the aorta is helical, but most computational studies ignore the presence of secondary flow components at the ascending aorta (AAo) inlet. The aim of this study is to ascertain the importance of inlet boundary conditions (BCs) in computational analysis of flow patterns in the thoracic aorta based on patient-specific images, with a particular focus on patients with an abnormal aortic valve. Two cases were studied: one presenting a severe aortic valve stenosis and the other with a mechanical valve. For both aorta models, three inlet BCs were compared; these included the flat profile and 1D through-plane velocity and 3D phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging derived velocity profiles, with the latter being used for benchmarking. Our results showed that peak and mean velocities at the proximal end of the ascending aorta were underestimated by up to 41% when the secondary flow components were neglected. The results for helical flow descriptors highlighted the strong influence of secondary velocities on the helical flow structure in the AAo. Differences in all wall shear stress (WSS)-derived indices were much more pronounced in the AAo and aortic arch (AA) than in the descending aorta (DAo). Overall, this study demonstrates that using 3D velocity profiles as inlet BC is essential for patient-specific analysis of hemodynamics and WSS in the AAo and AA in the presence of an abnormal aortic valve. However, predicted flow in the DAo is less sensitive to the secondary velocities imposed at the inlet; hence, the 1D through-plane profile could be a sufficient inlet BC for studies focusing on distal regions of the thoracic aorta.

Effects of Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor on the Early Stage of Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cells

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has a wide variety of biological activities. While recent studies have focused on the role of LIF in osteoblast differentiation, the exact role of LIFR during the early stage of osteogenic differentiation remains unclear. We observed that LIFR expression gradually decreased during the early stage of osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. To evaluate how LIFR regulates osteogenic differentiation in greater depth, we transfected hMSCs with LIFR overexpression and siRNA lentiviral plasmids. Cells were divided into four groups: a negative overexpression control group, a LIFR overexpression group, a negative siRNA control group, and a LIFR siRNA group. On different days (0, 3, and 6) of the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was assayed with an ALP staining and activity assay kit. Cells were harvested to assess the mRNA and protein expression of LIF, LIFR, and osteogenesis-related factors (ALP; RUNX2; osteonectin) by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. In addition, culture supernatants were tested for the LIF content by ELISA. Our results showed that overexpression of LIFR significantly suppressed the osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs. In contrast, LIFR siRNA markedly improved this osteoblast differentiation as determined by ALP staining and activity measurements. Moreover, RUNX2, ALP, and ONN expression was also significantly changed by altering LIFR expression. We further analysed the expression of LIF and LIFR, revealing consistent LIF and LIFR trends during the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Together, these results suggested that LIFR may be a novel negative regulator during the early stage of hMSC osteogenic differentiation.

Characterization of bactericidal efficiency, cell selectivity, and mechanism of short interspecific hybrid peptides

Facing rising global antibiotics resistance, physical membrane-damaging antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising antimicrobial agents. Various strategies to design effective hybrid peptides offer many advantages in overcoming the adverse effects of natural AMPs. In this study, hybrid peptides from different species were investigated, and three hybrid antimicrobial peptides, LI, LN, and LC, were designed by combining the typical fragment of human cathelicidin-derived LL37 with either indolicidin, pig nematode cecropin P1 (CP-1) or rat neutrophil peptide-1 (NP-1). In an aqueous solution, all hybrid peptides had an unordered conformation. In simulated membrane conditions, the hybrid peptide LI displayed more β-turn and β-hairpin structures, whereas LN and LC folded into α-helix structures. The three interspecific hybrid peptides LI, LN, and LC exhibited different levels of antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. LI demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity and cell selectivity. The results of the swimming motility indicated that LI repressed bacterial motility in a concentration-dependent method. Endotoxin binding assay demonstrated that hybrid peptide LI conserved the binding ability to LPS (polyanionic lipopolysaccharides) of its parental peptides. Fluorescence assays, flow cytometry, and SEM further revealed that hybrid peptide LI acted through different bacteriostatic mechanisms than LL37 and indolicidin and that LI killed bacterial cells via membrane damage. In summary, this study demonstrated that hybrid peptide LI produced by interspecific hybrid synthesis possessed strong cell selectivity and is a promising therapeutic candidate for drug-resistant bacteria infection.

[Silencing of vacuolar ATPase c subunit ATP6V0C inhibits invasion of prostate cancer cells]

OBJECTIVE

Vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) was found within the membranes and internal organelles of a vast array of eukaryotic cells, and was related to various kinds of highly metastatic tumors. LASS2/TMSG1 gene was a novel tumor metastasis suppressor gene cloned from human prostate cancer cell line PC-3M in 1999 by our laboratory. It was found out that protein encoded by LASS2/TMSG1 could interact with the c subunit of V-ATPase (ATP6V0C). In this study, To use RNA interference to suppress the expression of ATP6V0C and try to further investigate the molecular mechanism of ATP6V0C in tumor metastasis and its relationship with LASS2/TMSG1 gene.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The expression level of ATP6V0C mRNA and protein in high metastatic potential prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3M-1E8 and PC-3M) was significantly higher than that in low metastatic potential prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3M-2B4 and PC-3), the expression level in PC-3M-1E8 being the highest. Follow-up tests selected PC-3M-1E8 cells for gene silencing. The expression and secretion of MMP-2 and the expression of MMP-9 in ATP6V0C siRNA transfected PC-3M-1E8 cells displayed no obvious change, but the activity of secreted MMP-9 was abated noticeably compared with the controls (P<0.05). Extracellular hydrogen ion concentration and V-ATPase activity in interference group were both reduced significantly compared with the controls (P<0.05). The migration and invasion capacity of ATP6V0C siRNA interfered cells in vitro were diminished significantly compared with the controls (P<0.05). Furthermore, a dramatic reduction of LASS2/TMSG1 mRNA and protein level after transfection of siRNA in PC-3M-1E8 cells was discovered (P<0.05). Confocal immunofluorescence showed a vast co-localization of ATP6V0C protein and LASS2/TMSG1 protein in plasma and membrane. The co-localization signals of control group were much stronger than those of interference group.

CONCLUSION

Specific siRNA silencing of ATP6V0C gene inhi-bits the invasion of human prostate cancer cells in vitro by mechanism of inhibiting V-ATPase activity and then reducing the extracellular hydrogen ion concentration, inhibiting MMP-9 activation and affecting ECM degradation and reconstruction. Meanwhile, ATP6V0C and LASS2/TMSG1 have interaction and it is likely that ATP6V0C functions as a feedback regulator of LASS2/TMSG1.

[Serum CXCL-10 level in chronic hepatitis C patients with cryoglobulinemia and its influence on antiviral therapy]

Objective: To investigate the serum CXCL-10 level in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with cryoglobulinemia and its influence on the effect of antiviral therapy. Methods: A total of 50 CHC patients were enrolled in the study. Cryoprecipitation was used to determine the nature of cryoglobulins in serum before treatment, and ELISA was used to measure the serum CXCL-10 level. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype was detected, and serum HCV RNA level was measured at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks of treatment, the end of treatment, and 24 weeks after treatment.. Results: Compared with the cryoglobulin-negative patients, the cryoglobulin-positive patients had significantly higher baseline levels of HCV RNA [(6.28±0.79) log10 copies/ml vs (5.48±1.20) log10 copies/ml, P = 0.009] and CXCL-10 (541.67±224.07 pg/ml vs 394.39±179.71 pg/ml, P = 0.015). After the treatment with pegylated interferon-α-2a and ribavirin, the cryoglobulin-positive patients had a significantly lower proportion of individuals who achieved rapid virological response compared with the cryoglobulin-negative patients (33.3% vs 82.6%, P < 0.001). The cryoglobulin-positive patients had a significantly lower rate of sustained virologic response than the cryoglobulin-negative patients (33.3% vs 78.3%, P = 0.001). Conclusion: The patients with cryoglobulinemia have higher serum levels of HCV RNA and CXCL-10 and poor outcomes compared with those without cryoglobulinemia.