A light and hypoxia-activated nanodrug for cascade photodynamic-chemo cancer therapy

Combination therapy provides significantly better outcomes than a single drug treatment and becomes an efficient strategy for cancer therapy at present. Owing to the advantages of improved drug bioavailability, decreased side effects, and drug codelivery properties, polymeric carrier-based nanodrugs show great application potential in combination therapy. In this study, a pH-responsive block polymer consisting of polyethylene glycol (mPEG) and poly(asparagyl diisopropylethylenediamine-co-phenylalanine) (P(Asp(DIP)-co-Phe)) is synthesized for drug delivery. The polymer self-assembles into nanovesicles and simultaneously encapsulates the hydrophilic hypoxia-activated prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ) and the hydrophobic photosensitizer dihydrogen porphin (chlorin e6, Ce6). The formed nanodrug can be triggered by near infrared irradiation to induce photodynamic therapy (PDT), resulting in a hypoxic tumor environment to activate the prodrug TPZ to achieve efficient chemotherapy. The cascade synergistic therapeutic effect is evaluated both in vitro and in vivo in a breast cancer mice model. This study reveals a potential strategy for efficient cancer therapy by using Ce6 and TPZ co-encapsulated nanovesicles.

Application of remote online learning in oral histopathology teaching in China

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the application of remote learning and virtual microscopy in oral histopathology teaching, a unique experience in China. The oral histopathology teaching in Nanjing Medical University has been extraordinary.

Material and Methods

98 third-year dental students of Grade 2016 took oral histopathology theoretical course face-to-face in 2019 (Traditional group). The 94 participants of Grade 2017 took online oral histopathology course using digital methods(E-Learning platform and Virtual Simulation Experiment Teaching Center for Dentistry) in 2020. During the practical laboratory sessions, the students in both Traditional group and Online group observed the same glass slides for morphological learning. A questionnaire survey explored students' attitudes towards the remote online learning. Results: The mean Theory test scores of the Online group (80.93±12.15) were significantly higher than those of the Traditional group (73.65±8.46) (P < 0.01). The mean total scores of the Online group (82.94±10.76) were significantly higher than those of the Traditional group (77.25±7.55) (P < 0.01). The percentage of high total test score (test score > 85) of the Online group (54%) was also significantly higher than that of the Traditional group (15%) (P< 0.01). Furthermore, both remote learning and virtual microscopy courses were well accepted by students according to the questionnaire.

Conclusions

This study found that remote learning and virtual technology have a positive impact on oral histopathology. The findings reveal that the application of remote online learning has enhanced oral histopathology teaching in China.

Key words:Oral histopathology, dental undergraduate students, virtual microscopy, remote online learning, questionnaire.

Association between periodontal disease and prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by bacterial infection which may lead to various systematic diseases. Recently, increasing studies have explored the correlation of periodontal disease with the risk of prostate cancer. However, the findings were inconsistent. Hence, this study aims to investigate the association between periodontal disease and the risk of prostate cancer by a meta-analysis.

Material and Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched for publications up to July 17, 2020. Cohort and case-control studies evaluating the risk of prostate cancer in patients with periodontal disease were included. A fixed or random-effect model was used to calculate the summary relative risk (RR) along with 95% confidence interval (CI). All analyses were conducted using Stata 12.0 software.

Results

Seven studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled estimates showed that periodontal disease was significantly associated with the risk of prostate cancer (RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.07-1.27; P = 0.001). Findings of sensitivity analyses proved that the overall results were robust.

Conclusions

Periodontal disease may be considered as a potential risk factor for prostate cancer. Although it’s a possibility, males should be more aware of their oral health and implement effective measures to prevent and treat periodontal disease.

Key words:Periodontal disease, periodontitis, prostate cancer, meta-analysis

[Expression of nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase in gastric cancer and its biological and clinicopathological significance]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase (NNMT) in gastric cancer (GC) and explore its biological and clinicopathological significance.

OBJECTIVE

We screened the candidate genes associated with the classification and prognosis of gastric cancer by analyzing GEO, Oncomine and TCGA datasets. The molecular pathways and protein interaction network involving these candidate genes were analyzed using STRING, GSEA, David and Cytoscape software. The expressions of the candidate genes in 28 pairs of gastric cancer and adjacent tissues were detected with qRTPCR, and CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, wound healing assay and Transwell assay were carried out to analyze the effects of modulation of NNMT expression on proliferation, invasion and migration of different gastric cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVE

NNMT was highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and was negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. Pathway analysis showed that the high expression of NNMT was associated with adhesion-related pathway molecules such as extracellular matrix receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and cytokine receptors, while its low expression was associated with base mismatch repair and riboflavin metabolism. Protein interaction analysis showed that NNMT interacted with 16 differentially expressed proteins such as AURKA and was co-expressed with TAGLN, PTRF, AKAP12 and IGF2BP2. In clinical tissue specimens, qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of NNMT mRNA was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). In gastric cancer cell lines, overexpression of NNMT was found to significantly promote cell proliferation, invasion and migration, while NNMT knockdown produced obvious inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, invasion and migration.

OBJECTIVE

NNMT is highly expressed in gastric cancer and negatively correlated with the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The high expression of NNMT promotes the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells, suggesting the potential of NNMT as prognostic marker of gastric cancer.

[A multicenter prospective randomized controlled clinical study of 5-fluorouracil in different mass concentrations combined with triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of 5-fluorouracil in different mass concentrations combined with triamcinolone in the treatment of keloids. Methods: From March 2018 to March 2019, 29 patients with 31 keloids receipted in the Department of Plastic Surgery of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 11 patients with 20 keloids receipted in the Department of Dermatology of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area Hospital, and 9 patients with 9 keloids receipted in the Fuzhou Heisey-Dea Aesthetic Clinic were included in this prospectively randomized control study, with 27 males and 22 females, aged (30±9) years. According to the random number table, the keloids were divided into low mass concentration group (19 keloids, 17 patients), medium mass concentration group (21 keloids, 19 patients), and high mass concentration group (20 keloids, 17 patients). Then 5-fluorouracil at mass concentrations of 0.5, 5.0, and 12.5 mg/mL combined with triamcinolone acetonide were injected respectively, once every 4 weeks, for a total of 3 times. Before the first treatment and in 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance of keloids was evaluated by Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and pain and pruritus of keloids were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Then the score differences before and after the treatment were calculated. In 6 months after the last treatment, the patients' efficacy satisfaction was evaluated by efficacy satisfaction rating scale. Adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded. In the follow-up of one year after the last treatment, the recurrence rates of keloids were counted. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, paired sample t test, least significant difference t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, or Fisher's exact probability test. Results: Before the first treatment, the appearance VSS scores of appearance of keloids in the three groups were similar (F=0.039, P>0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (t=2.267, 4.086, P<0.05 or P<0.01). In 3 months after the last treatment, the appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group, medium mass concentration group, and high mass concentration group were significantly decreased compared with those before the first treatment (t=18.222, 44.272, 22.523, P<0.01). The differences of appearance VSS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (t=-4.096, -6.357, P<0.01), and the differences of appearance VSS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in high mass concentration group (t=-2.368, P<0.05). Before the first treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in the three groups were similar (χ²=0.149, P>0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (Z=2.191, 4.386, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in high mass concentration group (Z=2.276, P<0.05). In 3 months after the last treatment, the pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group were significantly decreased compared with those before the first treatment (Z=-3.904, -3.844, P<0.01). The differences of pain and pruritus VAS scores of keloids in low mass concentration group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in medium mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (Z=-4.265, -6.104, P<0.01). In 6 months after the last treatment, the efficacy satisfaction scores of the corresponding patients of keloids were (88±8) points in high mass concentration group, which were significantly higher than (76±8) points in medium mass concentration group and (60±8) points in low mass concentration group (t=-3.820, -6.675, P<0.01), and the efficacy satisfaction scores of the corresponding patients of keloids in medium mass concentration group were significantly higher than those in high mass concentration group (t=-2.984, P<0.05). There was only statistically significant difference in pain within the 3 groups (P<0.01). In the follow-up of one year after the last treatment, the recurrence rate of keloids in high mass concentration group was significantly lower than that in low mass concentration group (χ²=8.313, P<0.01), and the recurrence rate of keloids in medium mass concentration group was similar to the recurrence rates in low mass concentration group and high mass concentration group (P>0.05). Conclusions: After treating keloids with high mass concentration of 5-fluorouracil combined with triamcinolone acetonide, the symptoms were significantly improved, the efficacy satisfaction of patients was increased, with no obvious adverse reactions but long lasting efficacy. Their overall effects are better than treatment using medium and low mass concentrations of 5-fluorouracil, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Use of Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict the Understandability of Health Education Materials: Development and Evaluation Study

BACKGROUND

Improving the understandability of health information can significantly increase the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of health education programs for vulnerable populations. There is a pressing need to develop clinically informed computerized tools to enable rapid, reliable assessment of the linguistic understandability of specialized health and medical education resources. This paper fills a critical gap in current patient-oriented health resource development, which requires reliable and accurate evaluation instruments to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of health education resource evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to translate internationally endorsed clinical guidelines to machine learning algorithms to facilitate the evaluation of the understandability of health resources for international students at Australian universities.

METHODS

Based on international patient health resource assessment guidelines, we developed machine learning algorithms to predict the linguistic understandability of health texts for Australian college students (aged 25-30 years) from non-English speaking backgrounds. We compared extreme gradient boosting, random forest, neural networks, and C5.0 decision tree for automated health information understandability evaluation. The 5 machine learning models achieved statistically better results compared to the baseline logistic regression model. We also evaluated the impact of each linguistic feature on the performance of each of the 5 models.

RESULTS

We found that information evidentness, relevance to educational purposes, and logical sequence were consistently more important than numeracy skills and medical knowledge when assessing the linguistic understandability of health education resources for international tertiary students with adequate English skills (International English Language Testing System mean score 6.5) and high health literacy (mean 16.5 in the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-English test). Our results challenge the traditional views that lack of medical knowledge and numerical skills constituted the barriers to the understanding of health educational materials.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine learning algorithms were developed to predict health information understandability for international college students aged 25-30 years. Thirteen natural language features and 5 evaluation dimensions were identified and compared in terms of their impact on the performance of the models. Health information understandability varies according to the demographic profiles of the target readers, and for international tertiary students, improving health information evidentness, relevance, and logic is critical.

Dietary Inflammatory Index in relation to bone mineral density, osteoporosis risk and fracture risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Our systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that pro-inflammatory diets, as measured by higher Dietary Inflammatory Index scores, are significantly associated with lower BMD of lumbar spine and total hip as well as elevated risk of osteoporosis and fractures. These findings may contribute to the development of public health strategies.

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory Index (DII) is a method to assess the inflammatory potential of diets; it has been reported to be associated with several diseases. However, the relation between DII and bone health remains controversial for the inconsistent findings from previous studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the underlying relationships between DII and bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis risk, and fracture risk.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science for all relevant epidemiological studies published up to May 1, 2020. Fixed-effects model or random-effects model was employed to pool the study-specific effect sizes (ESs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Eleven studies with a total of 127,769 participants were included. We found that continuous DII was negatively associated with BMD of lumbar spine (odds ratios [OR]: 0.990; 95% CI: 0.984, 0.995) and total hip (OR: 0.995; 95% CI: 0.990, 0.999), but not femoral neck (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.994, 1.002). Moreover, the highest category of DII displayed significantly associations to increased risk of osteoporosis (ES: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.48) and fractures (ES: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.59) compared with the lowest category of DII, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicated that diets with high pro-inflammatory components might increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures and lower BMD of lumbar spine and total hip. More prospective studies involving populations of diverse ages and genders are expected to further verify the universality of the results.

The relationship between intestinal flora changes and osteoporosis in rats with inflammatory bowel disease and the improvement effect of probiotics

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the changes in intestinal flora and the occurrence of osteoporosis in rats with inflammatory bowel disease and the improvement effect of probiotics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 Sprague Dawley (SD) model rats with colitis were selected as research objects. All rats were randomly divided into two groups, including: bowel disease group and osteoporosis group, with 50 rats in each group. Stool samples were collected from all rats, and Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli and Bifidobacteria were cultured and counted. The relationship between the occurrence of related osteoporosis and intestinal flora was analyzed as well. Thereafter, the rats in osteoporosis group were randomly divided into two subgroups, namely, control group (n=25) and observation group (n=25). Observation group was treated with probiotics by gastrogavage, while the control group was treated with the same volume of physiological saline. Next, the changes in serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteoprotegerin ligand [receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)], procollagen type I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), bone mineral density (BMD), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), calcium concentration (Ca), and inflammatory cytokine levels were compared between the two groups after intervention.

RESULTS

Osteoporosis group had significantly more Escherichia coli and notably fewer Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria than bowel disease group (p<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the occurrence of osteoporosis in rats with inflammatory bowel disease was negatively correlated with the count of Escherichia coli, whereas was positively related to the counts of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria (p<0.05). Moreover, the levels of serum OPG, PICP, TRACP, and Ca in observation group were remarkably higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). However, the levels of serum RANKL, BALP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) were markedly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoporosis in rats with inflammatory bowel disease has a negative association with the count of Escherichia coli, and a positive correlation with the counts of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. In addition, treatment with probiotics can effectively alleviate osteoporosis symptoms in rats with inflammatory bowel disease by influencing the level of corresponding cytokines.

[Ocular toxicity induced by tamoxifen: an overview]

By reviewing the recent articles regarding the ocular side effect of tamoxifen when treating breast cancer and glioma, this article summarized the incidence and the potential mechanism of the side effects of tamoxifen, and the specific ocular toxicity including keratopathy, cataract, retinopathy, optic neuropathy. This review would provide guidance for clinical ophthalmologists to early identify and appropriately manage tamoxifen induced ocular diseases. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 232-236).

Remarkable promotion in particle dispersion and electron transfer capacity of sulfidated nano zerovalent iron by coating alginate polymer

Alginate has been widely employed to increase the performance of nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI)-based materials for site remediation. Yet, the effects of alginate on reactivity of sulfidated nZVI (an efficient reductant material) towards contaminants have been understood poorly. In this study, we have developed a one-step synthesis of alginate-coated sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI@alginate) under air atmosphere and evaluated the reactivity of S-nZVI@alginate towards tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) debromination. Surface analysis shows that S-nZVI has been successfully coated by alginate through the interaction of OH and COO^- groups of alginate with Fe species. The coating of alginate increases particle stability and dispersion under various conditions and facilitates FeS precipitation on the particle surface. Reactivity experiments show that the coating of alginate significantly enhances TBBPA debromination by S-nZVI. The optimized alginate to Fe weight ratio of S-nZVI@alginate is 0.06, with ~3-fold greater TBBPA debromination rate than S-nZVI. S-nZVI@alginate can completely debrominate TBBPA into bisphenol A via a four-sequential step debromination pathway while S-nZVI not. Its superior reactivity may be attributed to that the formation of alginate-Fe complex can lower the redox potential of Fe species to accelerate electron transfer on the particle surface. The TBBPA debromination rate by S-nZVI@alginate is initially enhanced followed by a decrease with an increase in TBBPA concentration, while it can increase 3.3-, 8.9- and 5.6-fold by increasing S-nZVI@alginate dosage, decreasing pH and adding co-contaminant Cd²⁺, respectively. S-nZVI@alginate has greater performance in aging and reusability tests than S-nZVI, and achieves rapid TBBPA removal from wastewater, which may be due to the role of alginate on inhibiting surface oxidation of Fe and S species. Taken together, these results suggest that S-nZVI@alginate provides better reactivity, longevity and reusability than S-nZVI, having the great potential for application into site remediation.

The reaction of amorphous iron sulfide with Mo(VI) under different pH conditions

Iron sulfide (FeS) is an important scavenger for hexavalent molybdate (Mo(VI)) in an anoxic environment; it plays a crucial role in the mobilization and transformation of Mo(VI), although the underlying reaction mechanisms between Mo(VI) and FeS remain unclear. This study investigates the Mo(VI) reaction kinetics with the amorphous FeS over a pH range 5.0-9.0 and Mo's chemical form on the FeS surface. It is found that the Mo(VI) reaction kinetics with FeS follow a pseudo first-order model, and the reaction rate constant (k_obs) increases with a decrease in the pH value. The k_obs at pH 5.0 is 0.027 min^-1, which is about 38 times higher than that at pH 9.0. The rapid Mo(VI) removal under acidic conditions is due to quick Mo(VI) transformation into stable MoS₂ and thiomolybdate (Mo^VO_xS_y). The amount of MoS₂ formed on the surface of FeS increases with a decrease in the pH value. Under neutral and alkaline conditions, Mo(VI) is not transformed into MoS₂ by FeS because the precipitation of iron oxy-hydroxide passivates the active sites of FeS. The study also investigates the effect of the initial dosage of FeS (20-200 mg L^-1) and Mo(VI) (10-50 mg L^-1) on the reaction kinetics of Mo(VI) with FeS. The results provides important information on the environmental fate of Mo(VI) in the anoxic environment containing amorphous FeS.

Enhanced tetrabromobisphenol A debromination by nanoscale zero valent iron particles sulfidated with S0 dissolved in ethanol

Modification of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) with reducing sulfur compounds has proven to improve the reactivity of nZVI towards recalcitrant halogenated organic contaminants. In this study, we develop a novel method for the preparation of sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) with S0 (a low cost and available reducing sulfur agent) dissolved in ethanol under mild conditions and apply it for the transformation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a potential persistent organic pollutant. Surface analysis shows that S0 dissolved in ethanol has been successfully doped into nZVI via a reaction with Fe0 to form a relatively homogeneous layer of FeS/FeS2 on the nZVI surface. The H2 production test and the electrochemical analysis show that the FeS/FeS2 layer not only slows the H2 evolution reaction but also enhances the electron transfer. Debromination kinetics indicate that the resulting S-nZVI with a S/Fe ratio of 0.015-0.05 possesses higher debromination activity for TBBPA and its debromination products (i.e., tri-BBPA, di-BBPA, mono-BBPA and BPA) in comparison with nZVI. Among them, S-nZVI at a S/Fe of 0.025 (S-nZVIS-0.025) has the greatest debromination rate constant (kobs) of 1.19 ± 0.071 h-1 for TBBPA. It debrominates TBBPA at a faster rate than other conventional S-nZVI made from Na2S and Na2S2O4 and has been successfully applied in the treatment of TBBPA-spiked environmental water samples (including river water, groundwater, and tap water). The results suggest that the modification of nZVI with S0 dissolved in ethanol is a simple, safe, inexpensive, and effective sulfidation technique, which can be applied for the large-scale production of S-nZVI for treating contaminated water.

Functions of a C-type lectin with a single carbohydrate-recognition domain in the innate immunity and movement of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

C-type lectins (CTLs) are a superfamily of proteins found in almost all vertebrates and invertebrates. They play an important role in innate immune defences, development and epidermal structure. Here, a CTL with one carbohydrate-recognition domain containing a highly conserved Gln-Pro-Asp (QPD) motif was identified in Tribolium castaneum and given the name TcCTL5. Spatiotemporal analyses showed that Tcctl5 was highly expressed in the late pupa stage and mainly existed in the central nervous system and haemolymph. The transcript level of Tcctl5 was prominently induced after bacterial infection. Recombinant TcCTL5 proteins (rTcCTL5) were found to bind to lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and tested bacteria and induce microbial agglutination in the presence of Ca²⁺ . Interestingly, when Tcctl5 was knocked down, the transcript level of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) (attacin1, defensins3, coleoptericin1 and cecropins3) was prominently downregulated after induction with Gram-negative Escherichia coli. More interestingly, Tcctl5 was knocked down, leading to increased mortality and loss of locomotor activity, which exhibited less travel distances among early adults. These results demonstrate that Tcctl5 plays an important role in the innate immune reaction and the movement of T. castaneum. Thus, it may represent an alternative molecular target for pest control and thus reduce the use of pesticides in agricultural production.

Enhanced molybdenum(VI) removal using sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron: kinetics and influencing factors

The overall goal of this study is to investigate the effect of sulfidated nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) on the removal of hexavalent molybdate (MoO₄^2-) under different aquatic chemistry conditions. Surface analysis suggests that Mo(VI) is removed mainly by adsorption and co-precipitation onto the surface of S-nZVI and a small amount of Mo(VI) can be reduced to Mo(V) species. The results of batch tests show that Mo(VI) removal by S-nZVI are well described with the pseudo-second-order adsorption model. The removal rate increases with a decrease in solution pH (4.0-9.0) and is significantly affected by the S/Fe ratio of S-nZVI, with the optimal S/Fe ratio being 0.5. The presence of anions WO₄^2- or CrO₄^2- can reduce the Mo(VI) removal, which is likely because they compete for adsorption sites on the solid surfaces. The divalent cations Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ also inhibit the removal of Mo(VI) whereas Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ enhance it. After being aged for 35 d in water, S-nZVI still exhibits high reactivity towards Mo(VI) removal (57.39%). The study demonstrates that S-nZVI can be used as an environmentally friendly material for effectively removing Mo(VI) from contaminated water.

Reductive degradation of chlorinated organophosphate esters by nanoscale zerovalent iron/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide composites: Reactivity, mechanism and new pathways

Chlorinated organophosphate esters (Cl-OPEs), e.g., tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), are widely used as additive flame retardants in commercial and building products. They have potential persistent organic pollutant properties and are frequently detected in various waters, especially in wastewaters. Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI)-based method is an efficient reductive technology for treating waters polluted by halogenated organic pollutants (HOCs). Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is a ubiquitous surfactant in wastewaters and can favorably affect the interaction between HOCs and nZVI. However, its effect on the Cl-OPEs removal by nZVI-based materials still remains unknown. Herein, the adsorption and degradation efficiencies of Cl-OPEs by nZVI and sulfidated nZVI (S-nZVI) in the presence or absence of CTAB were quantified based on the decreasing concentrations of Cl-OPEs in reaction systems. Our results showed that TDCPP and TCPP were adsorbed onto the nZVI or S-nZVI surface and subsequently degraded. In contrast, TCEP was just adsorbed onto the particle surface without further degradation. The addition of CTAB significantly enhanced the hydrophobic adsorption between Cl-OPEs and nZVI or S-nZVI, leading to increased degradation of Cl-OPEs (especially TCEP). CTAB adsorption isotherms indicated that S-nZVI had a higher adsorption capacity for CTAB than nZVI. The S-nZVI/CTAB composite exhibited a better performance than nZVI/CTAB composite. When S-nZVI was combined with 100.0 mg L^-1 CTAB, 100% of TDCPP, TCPP and TCEP was degraded within 3 hours, 5 and 14 days, respectively. As the concentration of CTAB was increased up to 335.0 mg L^-1, TCEP could be completely degraded within 3 days by S-nZVI. Five degradation products of TCEP were identified, of which O,O-di-(2-chloroethyl) O-ethyl phosphate (DCEEP) and ethane were reported for the first time. We propose that TCEP is dechlorinated by nZVI or S-nZVI through the electron attack at the ethyl-chlorine group to form bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, DCEEP, chloride, ethene and ethane, representing previously unknown degradation pathways.

[Peripapillary and macular vessel density in eyes with different phases of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of vessel density in the optic disc and macular area of patients with different phases of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and their correlation with visual function. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital between June 2019 and September 2019. TAO patients and healthy volunteers were included in the study. Patients with a clinical activity score greater than or equal to 3 points were categorized as active TAO. Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) patients with a course less than 6 months were categorized as acute phase of DON, and those more than 6 months were in the chronic group. Healthy volunteers were in the control group. Each group included 12 subjects, with right eyes for analysis. There were 6 males and 6 females in each group. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including best corrected visual acuity and visual field examination for the mean defect (MD). Best corrected visual acuity was subsequently converted to logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC). Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to the peripapillary and macular vessel density. The differences in the vessel densities in the optic disc and macular area between groups and their correlation with different factors were analyzed. Analysis of variance, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman coefficient were conducted for statistical analysis. Results: There was no significant difference in age among the four groups (P>0.05). The logMAR of the acute DON group was 0.1 (0.0, 0.2), worse than the control group, which was 0.0 (0.0, 0.0) (U=114.000, P<0.05). The overall vessel densities of the optic disc in acute DON and chronic DON were significantly lower than the control group (54.70%±2.31% and 54.31%±3.65% vs. 57.54%±2.17%; t=3.104, 2.636; both P<0.05). The overall superficial vessel densities of the macular area in active TAO, acute DON and chronic DON were significantly lower than the control group (46.07%±3.06% and 42.26%±5.05% and 45.63%±3.87% vs. 49.34%±3.08%), and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.614, 4.147, 2.603; all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the size of the foveal avascular zone or the density of deep blood vessels in the macular area among the four groups (all P>0.05). In the active TAO period, there was no correlation between the MD value, RNFL thickness, GCC thickness and the vessel densities of the optic disc and macular area (all P>0.05). The vascular density of the whole layer of the optic disc in acute DON was negatively correlated with the MD value (r=-0.591, P<0.05) and positively correlated with the RNFL thickness and GCC thickness (r=0.595, 0.693; both P<0.05). In chronic DON, the overall capillary density of the optic disc was negatively correlated with the MD value (r=-0.673, P<0.05); the superficial overall blood vessel density of the macular area was positively correlated with the thickness of RNFL and GCC (r=0.732, 0.712;both P<0.01). Conclusions: In active TAO, only the blood supply to the superficial layer of the macular area is decreased. In the acute and chronic phases of DON, the blood supply to the superficial layer of the macular area and the optic disc is both reduced; the smaller the blood vessel density, the more severe the visual field defect, and the thinner the RNFL and GCC. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56:824-831).

MNX1-AS1 accelerates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in osteosarcoma cells by activating MNX1 as a functional oncogene

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether MNX1-AS1 can accelerate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of osteosarcoma cells via activating MNX1.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression pattern of MNX1-AS1 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines was examined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, the cytoplasmic and nuclear levels of MNX1-AS1 in osteosarcoma cells were also determined. The regulatory effects of MNX1-AS1 on viability, clonality, migratory, and invasive abilities of the osteosarcoma cells were evaluated. The relative levels of MNX1 and EMT-related genes influenced by MNX1-AS1 were detected. The methylation ability in the promoter of the osteosarcoma cells transfected with si-MNX1-AS1 or MNX1-AS1 vector was determined by the whole genome bisulfite sequencing.

RESULTS

MNX1-AS1 was upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, which was mainly expressed in the nucleus. The knockdown of MNX1-AS1 markedly attenuated viability, clonality, migratory, and the invasive abilities of the osteosarcoma cells. Besides, the transfection of si-MNX1-AS1 in U2OS and MG63 cells downregulated MNX1 and Snail, and upregulated E-cadherin. The methylation ability increased after the knockdown of MNX1-AS1, while the overexpression of MNX1-AS1 obtained the opposite trends.

CONCLUSIONS

MNX1-AS1 mediates EMT of the osteosarcoma cells via activating MNX1, thereafter accelerating the progression of the osteosarcoma.

[Progress of ocular motor and structures in multiple sclerosis patients]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of central nervous system, which often affects ocular region and causes structural and functional changes of eyes. Therefore, there have been plenty of researches on the alteration of motor and structures of eyes by MS. This paper reviews and summarizes the progress of MS-related changes of ocular motor, cornea, structure and blood flow of retina, and optic nerve, and may provide a new insight for related clinical researches. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 711-715).

MiR-96-5p promotes the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma through down-regulating CCDC67

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to play an important regulatory role in various biological behaviors of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the specific role and function of miR-96-5p in PTC remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect the expression of miR-96-5p in PTC, and to explore its exact function.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The relative expression level of miR-96-5p in PTC tissues and cell lines was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). MiR-96-5p mimics or inhibitors were then constructed and transfected into cells to upregulate or downregulate miR-96-5p expression. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and colony formation assay were employed to evaluate the proliferation of PTC cells. Meanwhile, transwell assay was employed to detect the invasion and metastasis of PTC cells. In addition, the underlying mechanism of miR-96-5p was identified by Luciferase reporter gene assay and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-96-5p in PTC tissues and PTC-derived cell lines was significantly higher than that of normal controls. The overexpression of miR-96-5p remarkably promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of PTC cells. However, knockdown of miR-96-5p significantly decreased cell growth and metastasis. CCDC67 was verified as a target gene of miR-96-5p in PTC. Further experiments demonstrated that the restoration of CCDC67 could significantly reduce the carcinogenic function of miR-96-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-96-5p was remarkably upregulated in PTC tumor tissues and cells. In addition, it promoted cell growth, invasion, and migration via repressing CCDC67 expression.

A theoretical strategy for pressure-driven ferroelectric transition associated with critical behavior and magnetoelectric coupling in organic multiferroics

In organic multiferroics, the charge or spin coupled to the lattice induces lattice symmetry breaking, which is responsible for the ferroelectric (FE) transition. We propose a quantum spin model to describe the ferroelectricity of organic multiferroics, in which the pressure-driven spin-lattice coupling is controlled both by a jump function and a pressure power function. The T-p phase diagram shows different scaling relationships at low and high pressure regions, respectively, which is in accordance with the experimental observation. It is found that the pressure can not only enhance the FE polarization, but also enhance the transition temperature T_c as well as the electrocaloric effect (ECE). The electrocaloric critical scaling laws are proposed to verify the order and universality of the FE transition based on the Banerjee and Franco's criteria. In addition, we propose a temperature mediated mechanism within an isentropic process based on the ECE combined with the pyromagnetic effect, together with multiple physically (magnetic field and pressure jointly) controlled means, to enhance the magnetoelectric coupling around room-temperature, which will provide thermodynamic and quantum controlled means for realizing multi-state logic memory.

[Prevalence and risk factors of pterygium in Han and Yugur populations in Gansu Province, China]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of pterygium in Han and Yugur populations aged 40-79 years in Gansu Province, China. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A multistage cluster sampling method with urbanization level-based stratification was employed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors of pterygium. Results: A total of 4 193 people (1 840 males, 2 353 females; 3 035 Hans, 1 158 Yugurs) aged over 40 in Gansu Province were included in the study. Among them, 391 patients (9.3%) were found to have pterygium. The prevalence of pterygium adjusted for age and sex was 9.3%. The prevalence rates of Han and Yugur participants were 8.8% (267 patients) and 10.7% (124 patients), respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (χ²=3.629, P=0.057). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk factors of pterygium included age (OR=3.66, 95%CI: 2.26-5.92), length of residence in the countryside (OR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.41-3.38), and education level (OR=0.49, 95%CI: 0.29-0.83). In the Han group, the risk factors of pterygium were age (OR=3.84, 95%CI: 2.18-6.78) and length of rural residence (OR=2.02, 95%CI: 1.23-3.33), and a higher level of education (OR=0.36, 95%CI: 0.20-0.66) was a protective factor. Older age (OR=3.11, 95%CI: 1.13-8.59) and rural residential length ratio (OR=3.28, 95%CI: 1.09-9.88) were risk factors for pterygium in Yugur population. Conclusions: The overall prevalence of pterygium in Han and Yugur populations aged over 40 in Gansu Province, China was 9.3%, with no significant difference between the two nationalities. Older age and rural residency increased the incidence of pterygium, and a higher education level was a protective factor for pterygium.(Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56:600-607).

[Study of reactive oxygen species and adiponectin for chronic HBV infection combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases]

Objective: To investigate the application value of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adiponectin (ADPN) in the judgment of liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A total of 159 cases with NAFLD (21 cases), chronic hepatitis B virus infection (57 cases), and chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with NAFLD (81 cases) were collected between June 2016 to December 2018, and the visited patients diagnosis were confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver. ROS and ADPN level retained in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological examination of liver tissue was used as the gold standard to discuss the diagnostic value of the serum in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with NAFLD for the occurrence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. One-way analysis of variance was used for the comparison among multiple groups, and LSD-t test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. Measurement data for non-normal distributions were expressed as M (P25, P75). Comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis H test. Chi-square test was used to compare the count data between groups. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman correlation analysis. Histopathological grouping of liver tissue was used as the gold standard, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the regression formula. Results: (1) In patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with NAFLD, the levels of ROS in the non-hepatic steatosis group and the mild hepatic steatosis group were significantly lower than those in the moderate and severe hepatic steatosis group, while the ADPN level in the non-hepatic steatosis group was significantly higher than liver steatosis group, P < 0.05. (2) The results of correlation analysis showed that ROS was significantly correlated with NAS score, change in the degree of fatty liver and lobular inflammation (all P < 0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between ADPN and the change in the degree of fatty liver (P < 0.05). (3) Logistic regression analysis results showed that the diagnostic formula for chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was 0.02 × controlled attenuation index + 0.584 × white blood cells/10(9) + 0.587 × ROS-10.982. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the subject was = 0.896. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were 97.1%, 71.2%, 64.2%, and 97.9%. Conclusion: ADPN and ROS have certain reference value in differentiating the change in the degree of fatty liver and inflammation in chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with NAFLD and the diagnostic formula has higher application value in the diagnosis and exclusion of chronic hepatitis B virus infection combined with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.