NFAT5 inhibits invasion and promotes apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with osmolality

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most difficult cancer disease for diagnosis and treatment, with a low survival rate and high recurrence rate and mortality. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) is mediated by osmolality and proved to be a carcinogenic gene in some tumor. However in our study we considered NFAT5 as tumor suppressor of HCC. RT-qPCR was performed for NFAT5 expression in tumor tissues. NaCl was applied to make hyperosmotic treatment. We knockdowned and overexpressed NFAT5 to investigate its role in HCC. FCM was used for apoptosis assay. Transwell and scratch assay is proceeded for invasion.NFAT5 is downregulated in HCC tissue and cell lines, besides, upregulated by hyperosmolality. NFAT5 promotes apoptosis by regulating PARP-1,BAX/BCL2 while inhibits invasion through EMT-related protein claudin-1 and fibronectin. Hyperosmolality is also a protective factor for HCC. We considered hyperosmolality exhibited his protective effect by inducing NFAT5.In a word, NFAT5 inhibits invasion and promotes apoptosis in HCC, associated with osmolality.

[Clinical diagnosis and surgical management of 110 cases of facial nerve schwannomas]

Objective: To elucidate the clinical behavior, causes of misdiagnosis, surgical management, and outcomes of facial nerve schwannomas (FNS). Methods: A retrospective review in Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2015 was carried out and evaluated 110 patients with FNS, including 50 males and 60 females, aged 16-67 years old. The appropriate surgical strategy was selected based on each patient's clinical manifestations, facial nerve function, and imaging characteristics. After surgery, patients received follow-up visits to assess their facial nerve functions, with the effect of treatment compared to the reality before surgery. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to distinguish between the pre- and post-operation facial nerve functions in patients who had different facial nerve functions before the operations. Results: 110 cases of FNS mainly presented with facial paralysis, hearing loss, tinnitus, otalgia, dizziness, and facial spasm. 20 of the cases were misdiagnosed as Bell's Palsy, 6 were mistaken for chronic otitis media/cholesteatoma with radical mastoidectomy, 3 were mistaken for Meniere's disease, 1 was misdiagnosed as petrous bone cholesteatoma, and 4 were mistaken for acoustic neuroma. 81.8 % (90/110) of the patients had multiple segments of the facial nerve, including the vertical segment of the facial nerve, accounting for 65.5% (72/110), followed by the labyrinthine/geniculate segment, for 61.8% (68/110), and the horizontal segment, for 55.5% (61/110). The appropriate surgical approaches were chosed based on the sizes and scopes of the tumors evaluated by imaging: transmastoid approach in 73 cases, translabyrinthe approach in 14 cases, middle cranial fossa approach in 13 cases, retrosigmoid approach in 3 cases, transmastoid-middle cranial fossa approach in 3 cases, and transmastoid-neck approach in 4 cases, with all the patients undergoing a total/subtotal resection of the tumor. Eighty-seven patients had their facial nerves reconstructed. Among them, 6 received facial nerve end-to-end anastomosis, 55 received great auricular nerve graft, and 26 were subjected to facial nerve-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis. Because of long histories, facial muscle atrophies, or other reasons, the remaining patients were not received facial nerve reconstruction. The House-Brackmann(H-B) grading scale was used to evaluate the facial nerve function pre- and post-operation. Patients with better facial nerve functions and shorter history of facial paralysis before operation would get relatively better facial nerve function. The before and after operation comparisons revealed that the recovery of the facial nerve functions in patients with H-B Ⅰ-Ⅲ was better than the improvement in patients with H-B Ⅳ-Ⅴ. The difference was statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis H test, H=8.508, P<0.05). Conclusions: The diagnosis of patients with unknown facial paralysis, hearing loss, and tinnitus should take into account the possibility of FNS. CT and other imaging examinations of the temporal bone can avoid misdiagnosis and determine the tumor size and extent of lesions, as well as provide the basis for the choice of the surgical approach. After tumors have been completely resected, facial nerve reconstruction can be performed simultaneously, according to the defect of the nerve.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Electrons

Precision results on cosmic-ray electrons are presented in the energy range from 0.5 GeV to 1.4 TeV based on 28.1×10^{6} electrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. In the entire energy range the electron and positron spectra have distinctly different magnitudes and energy dependences. The electron flux exhibits a significant excess starting from 42.1_{-5.2}^{+5.4}  GeV compared to the lower energy trends, but the nature of this excess is different from the positron flux excess above 25.2±1.8  GeV. Contrary to the positron flux, which has an exponential energy cutoff of 810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV, at the 5σ level the electron flux does not have an energy cutoff below 1.9 TeV. In the entire energy range the electron flux is well described by the sum of two power law components. The different behavior of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is clear evidence that most high energy electrons originate from different sources than high energy positrons.

[Effect of the taurine on striatum tissue cell cycle and apoptosis in manganese exposed rats]

Objective: To elucidate the effect of taurine on neurotoxicity induced by Mn by investigating cell cycle and apoptosis in manganese exposed rats. Methods: 156 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 1 control group, 3 manganese exposure groups (10, 15, and 20 mg/kg respectively) , and 9 intervened groups based on orthogonal design, with 12 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of exposure, all rats were decapitated and striatums were removed, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, the apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, level of Mn was determined. Results: The striatum apoptosis index of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05) . The striatum apoptosis index of the 9 intervened groups were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05) . 150 and 200 mg/kg of taurine could decrease apoptosis index of the group exposed to 10、15、20 mg/kg of Mn (P<0.05) . The striatum Mn content of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . The G0/G1 proportion of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) , the S proportion of the 3 dose groups exposed to Mn were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Mn could cause cell cycle arrest to S, increase level of apoptosis in striatum, to a certain extent, taurine can protect neurons from apoptosis induced by Mn.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Positrons

Precision measurements of cosmic ray positrons are presented up to 1 TeV based on 1.9 million positrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. The positron flux exhibits complex energy dependence. Its distinctive properties are (a) a significant excess starting from 25.2±1.8  GeV compared to the lower-energy, power-law trend, (b) a sharp dropoff above 284_{-64}^{+91}  GeV, (c) in the entire energy range the positron flux is well described by the sum of a term associated with the positrons produced in the collision of cosmic rays, which dominates at low energies, and a new source term of positrons, which dominates at high energies, and (d) a finite energy cutoff of the source term of E_{s}=810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV is established with a significance of more than 4σ. These experimental data on cosmic ray positrons show that, at high energies, they predominantly originate either from dark matter annihilation or from other astrophysical sources.

[Clinical significance of low-dose CT performed for three consecutive years in diagnosis of lung nodules in coal mine workers with 20 working years]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of low-dose CT (LDCT) in coal mine workers with relatively long working years. Methods: A total of 907 coal mine workers with ≥20 working years were enrolled, among whom there were 863 male and 44 female workers with a mean age of 49.5 years. Digital radiography (DR) was performed for these workers in 2013, and LDCT was performed for three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. Results: A total of 32 workers were found to have lung nodules by DR in 2013, while in 2014, 269 workers were found to have non-calcified lung nodules by LDCT, and there was a significant difference in the number of workers with lung nodules (χ(2)=233.73, P<0.005) . There was also a significant difference in the detection rate of nodules between the workers with different working years of dust exposure (χ(2)=6.648, P=0.00) . The male workers had a significantly higher detection rate of nodules than the female workers (χ(2)=5.690, P=0.017) . There was no significant difference in the number of nodules between workers with different types of work (χ(2)=16.985, P=0.05) . There were 443 lung nodules in total, among which 71.56% were solid nodules and 55.75% had a size of ≤4mm; malignant nodules were confirmed by surgery in 6 (0.66%) of the 907 workers after baseline LDCT. LDCT reexamination in 2015 and 2016 found new nodules in 8 workers and enlarged nodules in 3 workers, and there was no significant change in the number of nodules with a size of ≤4 mm. Conclusions: It is necessary to perform high-risk population screening for coal mine workers by LDCT. The follow-up strategies for nodules with a size of ≤4mm are the same as those for negative results; annual reexamination is recommended for nodules with a size of >4-8 mm, and clinical treatment should be considered for nodules with a size of >8 mm.

Initial beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic system on HL-2A tokamak

A beam emission spectroscopy system is being developed and deployed on the HL-2A tokamak to measure local low wavenumber (k _⊥ ρ _i < 1) density fluctuations by measuring the Doppler-shifted emission from a 50 kV deuterium heating neutral beam. High spatial resolution (Δr ≤ 1 cm, Δz ≤ 1.5 cm) measurements are achieved with customized in-vacuum optics. High frequency, high-gain preamplifiers sample the light intensity at a Nyquist frequency of 1 MHz and achieve a high S/N ratio via high optical throughput, low-noise preamplifiers, and high quantum efficiency photodiodes. A first set of 16 detector channels [configured in an 8 (radial) × 2 (poloidal) array] has been installed and tested at HL-2A, covering the radial range r/a = 0.8-1.1. The frequency and wavenumber spectra have been measured under different plasma conditions. Initial measurements have demonstrated the capability of measuring edge plasma density fluctuation spectra and the poloidal flow velocity fields with a high S/N ratio.

Implementation of National Health Reform on China Genitourinary Multidisciplinary Team Consultation Platform

Background and context:: Comprehensive management of multidisciplinary team (MDT) is the most effective mode in genitourinary(GU) cancers. Due to the uneven level in the management of GU cancers in China, top GU MDT services do not meet the medical needs of people. The blooming of “Internet+” mode promotes remote medical services, and is supported by health administrations. Aim: The country wide accessibility of high level medical services, and national health reform, especially in the field of GU cancers, will be addressed by the project. Strategy/Tactics: We developed an Internet platform of MDT management for GU cancers across China: “China GU MDT Consultation Platform (CUMP)”. Led by senior clinical staffs, and based on advanced internet and mobile technologies, CUMP is to meet the needs of clinical practices. With compatibility, universality and practicality, CUMP has the following advantages: unified data management, flexible models, stable and reliable remote video conference system, efficient cooperation, and convenient participation. Program/Policy process: Recruit top GU MDT and experts in China, and make consensus and guidelines of the implementations of MDT in GU cancers; Help other local institutions develop GU MDT and provide services, which are authenticated by the platform; Build a system that a single patient can receive top level GU MDT service locally and remotely, provided by the platform. Outcomes: Since April 2017, CUMP has successfully carried out remote MDT consultations involved 16 medical centers with GU MDT services or individual GU experts across China. As a start, 18 difficult cases were discussed and managed. More than 600 Chinese GU experts from medical institutions at all levels, have registered on CUMP, ready for submitting or accepting MDT service; another 34 top Chinese GU MDT units are on the waiting list to be technically authorized on CUMP. One Chinese consensus on the implementation of GU MDT was released last December. What was learned: The project was relevant to current obstacles in China's health reform by greatly enhancing the accessibility of GU MDT service. The majority of GU cancer patients can receive domestic top-level MDT service in a local institution; this project also helped to provide a great convenience to the development of local MDT service, so as to improve medical qualities, especially in GU cancers in different regions of China. The project made the technology and medical service transcend the boundary of administrative division and institution.

Observation of Complex Time Structures in the Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron Fluxes with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present high-statistics, precision measurements of the detailed time and energy dependence of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux and positron flux over 79 Bartels rotations from May 2011 to May 2017 in the energy range from 1 to 50 GeV. For the first time, the charge-sign dependent modulation during solar maximum has been investigated in detail by leptons alone. Based on 23.5×10^{6} events, we report the observation of short-term structures on the timescale of months coincident in both the electron flux and the positron flux. These structures are not visible in the e^{+}/e^{-} flux ratio. The precision measurements across the solar polarity reversal show that the ratio exhibits a smooth transition over 830±30 days from one value to another. The midpoint of the transition shows an energy dependent delay relative to the reversal and changes by 260±30 days from 1 to 6 GeV.

Precision Measurement of Cosmic-Ray Nitrogen and its Primary and Secondary Components with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precision measurement of the nitrogen flux with rigidity (momentum per unit charge) from 2.2 GV to 3.3 TV based on 2.2×10^{6} events is presented. The detailed rigidity dependence of the nitrogen flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index rapidly hardens at high rigidities and becomes identical to the spectral indices of primary He, C, and O cosmic rays above ∼700  GV. We observed that the nitrogen flux Φ_{N} can be presented as the sum of its primary component Φ_{N}^{P} and secondary component Φ_{N}^{S}, Φ_{N}=Φ_{N}^{P}+Φ_{N}^{S}, and we found Φ_{N} is well described by the weighted sum of the oxygen flux Φ_{O} (primary cosmic rays) and the boron flux Φ_{B} (secondary cosmic rays), with Φ_{N}^{P}=(0.090±0.002)×Φ_{O} and Φ_{N}^{S}=(0.62±0.02)×Φ_{B} over the entire rigidity range. This corresponds to a change of the contribution of the secondary cosmic ray component in the nitrogen flux from 70% at a few GV to <30% above 1 TV.

Observation of Fine Time Structures in the Cosmic Proton and Helium Fluxes with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present the precision measurement from May 2011 to May 2017 (79 Bartels rotations) of the proton fluxes at rigidities from 1 to 60 GV and the helium fluxes from 1.9 to 60 GV based on a total of 1×10^{9} events collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. This measurement is in solar cycle 24, which has the solar maximum in April 2014. We observed that, below 40 GV, the proton flux and the helium flux show nearly identical fine structures in both time and relative amplitude. The amplitudes of the flux structures decrease with increasing rigidity and vanish above 40 GV. The amplitudes of the structures are reduced during the time period, which started one year after solar maximum, when the proton and helium fluxes steadily increase. Above ∼3  GV the p/He flux ratio is time independent. We observed that below ∼3  GV the ratio has a long-term decrease coinciding with the period during which the fluxes start to rise.

[The relationship between core members' individual social capital and performance among HIV/AIDS related community-based organization]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between core members' social capital and performance among HIV/AIDS-related community-based organizations (CBO). Methods: From July to December in 2015, a total of 327 core members from 212 HIV/AIDS-related CBO in 8 provinces were recruited based on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS (e.g., Yunnan, Hunan, and Sichuan are in high epidemic level; Anhui, Hubei, Shandong, and Jilin are in middle epidemic level; and Gansu is in low epidemic level) by multistage stratified cluster sampling and convenient sampling method. A questionnaire was administered in this study, including general demographic information, core members' social capital, individual performance and organizational performance. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between core members' social capital and performance among CBO. Results: Among the 327 individuals, the proportion of male was 201(61.47%). The proportion of core members from grassroots CBO was 66.97% (219/327). Core members from non-grassroots organizations were more likely to publish articles, the OR (95%CI) was 2.58 (1.30-5.14); Social network had a positive impact on the AIDS experts, the OR (95%CI) was 2.41(1.47-3.95); Core members from registered CBO were more likely to secure funding for the organization, the OR (95%CI) was 3.42 (1.65-7.10); Social network and the core members from high endemic areas were significantly correlated with the number of HIV/AIDS patients, the OR (95%CI) were 2.79 (1.27-6.14) and 1.99 (1.21-3.27). Conclusions: We should use the core members' social network to establish relationship and communication with organizations and institutions, ultimately accelerating the growth of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

Observation of New Properties of Secondary Cosmic Rays Lithium, Beryllium, and Boron by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report on the observation of new properties of secondary cosmic rays Li, Be, and B measured in the rigidity (momentum per unit charge) range 1.9 GV to 3.3 TV with a total of 5.4×10^{6} nuclei collected by AMS during the first five years of operation aboard the International Space Station. The Li and B fluxes have an identical rigidity dependence above 7 GV and all three fluxes have an identical rigidity dependence above 30 GV with the Li/Be flux ratio of 2.0±0.1. The three fluxes deviate from a single power law above 200 GV in an identical way. This behavior of secondary cosmic rays has also been observed in the AMS measurement of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O but the rigidity dependences of primary cosmic rays and of secondary cosmic rays are distinctly different. In particular, above 200 GV, the secondary cosmic rays harden more than the primary cosmic rays.

Observation of the Identical Rigidity Dependence of He, C, and O Cosmic Rays at High Rigidities by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report the observation of new properties of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O measured in the rigidity (momentum/charge) range 2 GV to 3 TV with 90×10^{6} helium, 8.4×10^{6} carbon, and 7.0×10^{6} oxygen nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during the first five years of operation. Above 60 GV, these three spectra have identical rigidity dependence. They all deviate from a single power law above 200 GV and harden in an identical way.

DNA methylation and expression of imprinted genes are associated with the viability of different sexual cloned buffaloes

The DNA methylation of imprinted genes is an important way to regulate epigenetic reprogramming of donor cells in somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). However, the effects of sexual distinction on the DNA methylation of imprinted genes in cloned animals have seldom been reported. In this study, we analysed the DNA methylation status of three imprinted genes (Xist, IGF2 and H19) from liveborn cloned buffaloes (L group, three female and three male), stillborn cloned buffaloes (S group, three female and three male) and natural reproduction buffaloes (N group, three female and three male), using bisulphite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BS-PCR). The expression levels of these imprinted genes were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR). The DNA methylation levels of H19 were not significantly different among the groups. However, the Xist in female and IGF2 in male of the S group were found to be significantly hypomethylated in comparison with the same sexual buffaloes in L group and N group (p < .05). Furthermore, the expression levels of Xist, IGF2 and H19 in the stillborn female cloned buffaloes of S group were significantly higher than that of the female buffaloes in the L group and N group (p < .05). The expression levels of IGF2 and H19 in the stillborn male cloned buffaloes in the S group were significantly higher than that of the male buffaloes in the L group and N group (p < .05). These results indicate that Xist may be associated with the viability of female cloned buffaloes, and IGF2 may also be related to the viability of male cloned buffaloes.

The relationship between red cell distribution width and the risk of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis

INTRODUCTION

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is elevated in various inflammatory diseases, but its clinical significance in Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the value of RDW as a risk factor or marker for HSPN in children.

METHODS

This was a case-control study of 105 Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) patients, 120 HSPN patients and 192 healthy controls. The relationship between RDW-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) and the clinical characteristics of HSPN patients was determined by a multiple logistic regression analysis (MVLRA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to compare the diagnostic potential of the RDW-CV, a panel of routine markers and combinations of these indices.

RESULTS

The RDW-CV values were significantly higher in the HSPN group than the HSP group and controls (P < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between RDW-CV and ESR (P = 0.001). A combination of RDW-CV and ESR in a ROC curve showed 80% sensitivity and 84.9% specificity in the HSP patients, and 85.8% sensitivity and 93.8% specificity in the HSPN patients. The MVLRA revealed that RDW-CV (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16-2.48, P = 0.007) was an independent predictor of HSPN.

CONCLUSIONS

The RDW levels were highest in the HPSN group, suggesting that RDW, especially the combination of RDW and ESR, may have value when assessing the risk of HSPN.