A survey on parasites in wild rodents in Xiji County, a northwestern part of China

Rodents act as an indicator for evaluation of environment contaminations and public health risks caused by parasites. A survey of parasites in wild rodents was conducted in 14 villages in Xijin County, where alveolar echinococcosis by Echinococcus multilocularis is epidemic. In total, 72 rodents including 25 mice, 16 Citellus dauricus (Daurian ground squirrel), 12 squirrels and 19 mole rat (Myospalax fontanieri) were captured. Infections (2.8%) of Taenia taeniaeformis, which is transmitted mainly between mice and cats, were found in mice in Wangping (WP) and Miaoping (MP) villages, but other cestodes' infections were not observed. WP and MP isolates were principally similar in morphology but, unlike WP isolate, MP isolate had no hooks on the scolex. Using 18S rRNA as a biomarker, the phylogenetic analysis showed that WP and MP isolates grouped together with European and Asian isolates and formed a separate cluster. These results highlights the prevalence of T. taeniaeformis in cats or/and dogs and a risk of opportunistic infections in human populations.

Cobalt-zinc nitride on nitrogen doped carbon black nanohybrids as a non-noble metal electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Bimetallic nitrides are now being considered as one of the emerging advanced functional materials due to their characteristic features and remarkable physicochemical properties. Herein, we report a new crystalline bimetallic nitride (Co₃ZnN) that belongs to the cubic crystal phase, which was successfully synthesized through direct nitridation of metallic salts as precursors. Co₃ZnN nanoparticles were then supported on nitrogen-doped XC-72 carbon black (N-CB), and this typical Co₃ZnN/N-CB nanohybrid discovered can serve as an efficient non-noble metal electrocatalyst with a 4e^- reaction pathway for ORR, and demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic performance with high activity and stability.

Abstract P1-07-13: The mutation detection and a high throughput screening of driver mutations in PI3K/AKT pathway based on next generation sequencing

Background

The deregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is essential to malignant cellular processes of breast cancer, including proliferation, apoptosis, and drug response. Oncogenic activating somatic mutations in the PI3K/AKT pathway are pervasive. However, it remains difficult to discriminate between driver and passenger mutations. This study was conducted to identify the landscape of genetic mutations in the PI3K/AKT pathway using Amplicon Sequencing in a Chinese population. Notably, we developed a Gateway-based mutation barcoding (GaMB) library which enables a high-throughput mutation-phenotype screen for specific vulnerable mutations that contribute to the cancer development and drug resistance.

Method

We collected 149 breast cancer specimens in a Chinese population and performed Ion Torrent Amplicon Sequencing for the key genes in PI3K/AKT pathway: PIK3CA, PIK3R1, AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, PTEN, PDK1, and the canonical tumor suppressor gene TP53, at 1000× coverage. Next, we established a high-throughput GaMB library that contained all of the PIK3CA mutations, either newly identified in Chinese population or reported in TCGA and COSMIC database, and tagged each mutations with a specific barcode. We then applied this library to functional screening processes using proliferation and drug response selection (doxorubicin or BKM-120) assays through which we screened the functional mutations with specific characteristics. The genomic DNA of the pooled surviving cells from the library, as well as the original cells before the screenings, was extracted and used for PCR amplification of the barcode regions, and then detected using Illumina Miseq sequencing to analyze the functional mutations. We then validated the cellular 2D- & 3D- proliferation abilities and the status of PI3K/AKT pathway activation in presence of identified mutations, respectively.

Result

Mutations in the PIK3CA (44%), PIK3R1 (37%), AKT3 (15%) and PTEN (12%) genes were the most prevalent. Mutations in PIK3CA were present in 65 samples (43.6%) which is similar to that reported in TCGA database. PIK3R1 (37%) was found significantly mutated, with a novel recurrent mutation, N595S, being identified in 24 patients. Similarly, AKT1 (10.1%), AKT2 (10.1%), and AKT3 (14.8%) mutations were present at a higher frequency in our population than has been reported in the TCGA and COSMIC database.

In the PIK3CA-GaMB library, our highest-ranking mutations included the previously validated deleterious mutations H1047R and E545K and several mutations of uncertain significance, including E39K, G1049R, N345I, N345K, M1043V, and H1047T. In the validation assays, we found a high phenotype-consistency of these identified mutations using these functional validation techniques. The breast cancer cells harboring identified mutations exhibit a relatively higher proliferation ability and tolerance to chemotherapy and pathway inhibitors.

Conclusion

This study identified the landscape of genetic mutations in the PI3K/AKT pathway using Amplicon Sequencing in a Chinese population. A novel developed GaMB screening platform may allow the rapid identification of significant mutations that dominate breast cancer development and drug responses during treatment.

Citation Format: Chen L, Yang L, Yao L, Hu X, Shao Z. The mutation detection and a high throughput screening of driver mutations in PI3K/AKT pathway based on next generation sequencing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-13.

Abstract P2-08-09: Progression-free survival results in postmenopausal Asian women: Subgroup analysis from a phase 3 randomized trial of fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (FALCON)

BACKGROUND

Fulvestrant is a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) with no known agonist effects. In the open-label Phase 2 FIRST study, fulvestrant 500 mg suggested improved efficacy as first-line treatment vs anastrozole in patients with hormone receptor-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (LA/MBC). The Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter FALCON trial (NCT01602380) compared fulvestrant 500 mg with anastrozole 1 mg in patients with hormone receptor-positive LA/MBC who had not received prior hormonal therapy. The primary endpoint of the study, progression-free survival (PFS) assessed via RECIST 1.1, surgery/radiotherapy for disease worsening, or death (any cause), was met, as shown by a statistically significant improvement in PFS for fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole. This analysis evaluated PFS in the Asian patient subgroup, which included all randomized patients from centers in China, Japan, and Taiwan.

METHODS

Eligible patients had ER and/or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer, WHO performance status 0–2, and ≥1 measurable/non-measurable lesion(s). Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive fulvestrant 500 mg (IM on Days 0, 14, 28, and each 28 days thereafter) or anastrozole 1 mg daily, and were stratified according to LA or MBC; prior or no prior treatment with chemotherapy for LA/MBC; and measurable or non-measurable disease. The consistency of effect across patient subgroups was assessed via hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals using a log-rank test.

RESULTS

In total, 462 patients were randomized (n=230 fulvestrant 500 mg; n=232 anastrozole). The Asian subgroup comprised 67 patients (n=34 fulvestrant 500 mg; n=33 anastrozole). PFS outcomes for the Asian and non-Asian subgroups are presented (Table). The most commonly reported adverse event (AE) was arthralgia (18.2% vs 12.1% of patients with fulvestrant 500 mg and anastrozole, respectively). The rate of AEs leading to discontinuation of treatment was 3.0% and 3.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a preliminary assessment of 67 patients, the treatment effect in the Asian patient subgroup from the FALCON trial appears to be broadly consistent with the non-Asian population.

PFS in Asian and non-Asian patient subgroupsGeographic regionNumber of patients (%) with event Hazard ratio (95% CI) Fulvestrant 500 mg n=230Anastrozole n=232 Asia19/34 (55.9%)22/33 (66.7%)0.81 (0.44, 1.50)Non-Asia124/196 (63.3%)144/199 (72.4%)0.79 (0.62, 1.01)

Citation Format: Shao Z, Ellis MJ, Robertson JFR, Grinsted LM, Fazal M, Noguchi S. Progression-free survival results in postmenopausal Asian women: Subgroup analysis from a phase 3 randomized trial of fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (FALCON) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-09.

Abstract P3-04-14: Zoledronic acid sensitized breast cancer cells to fulvestrant via ERK/FOXO3a/HIF-1 α inhibition through nuclear FOXO3a translocation

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

Abstract P2-08-02: Progression-free survival results in patient subgroups from a Phase 3 randomized trial of fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (FALCON)

BACKGROUND

Improved efficacy was suggested for fulvestrant 500 mg, a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), vs anastrozole as first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (LA/MBC) in the open-label Phase 2 FIRST trial. The Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter FALCON trial (NCT01602380) compared fulvestrant 500 mg with anastrozole 1 mg in patients with hormone receptor-positive LA/MBC who had not received prior hormonal therapy. The primary endpoint of the study was met, such that there was a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) for fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole. We present an analysis of PFS for pre-specified patient subgroups in the FALCON trial.

METHODS

Eligible patients had ER and/or progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive breast cancer, WHO performance status 0–2 and ≥1 measurable/non-measurable lesion(s). Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive fulvestrant 500 mg (IM on Days 0, 14, 28, and each 28 days thereafter) or anastrozole 1 mg daily. The primary endpoint was PFS, assessed via RECIST 1.1, surgery/radiotherapy for disease worsening, or death (any cause). PFS was evaluated in patient subgroups defined by pre-specified baseline covariates. The consistency of effect across patient subgroups was assessed via hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals using a log-rank test.

RESULTS

Overall, 462 patients were randomized to treatment: 230 received fulvestrant 500 mg and 232 received anastrozole. PFS outcomes in each patient subgroup are presented in the Table.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of patient subgroups from the FALCON trial suggests that treatment effects were largely consistent across the subgroups analyzed with some possible exceptions (e.g. patients with visceral vs non-visceral disease). Further work is ongoing to understand the possible treatment effect in these subgroups.

PFS in pre-specified patient subgroupsSubgroup Number of patients (%) with event Hazard ratio (95% CI)  Fulvestrant 500 mg n=230 Anastrozole n=232 Breast cancer type   Locally advanced11/28 (39.3%)14/32 (43.8%)0.79 (0.36, 1.73)Metastatic132/202 (65.3%)152/200 (76.0%)0.78 (0.62, 0.99)Prior chemotherapy for LA/MBC   Yes31/36 (86.1%)33/43 (76.7%)1.08 (0.66, 1.77)No112/194 (57.7%)133/189 (70.4%)0.75 (0.59, 0.97)Geographic regiona   US/Canada16/25 (64.0%)19/24 (79.2%)0.66 (0.34, 1.30)Non-US/Canada127/205 (62.0%)147/208 (70.7%)0.81 (0.64, 1.03)Measurable disease   Yes124/193 (64.2%)143/196 (73.0%)0.76 (0.60, 0.97)No19/37 (51.4%)23/36 (63.9%)0.99 (0.53, 1.82)ER-positive and PgR-positive   Yes103/175 (58.9%)127/179 (70.9%)0.73 (0.56, 0.94)No40/55 (72.7%)39/53 (73.6%)1.04 (0.67, 1.62)Bisphosphonate use at baseline   Yes44/61 (72.1%)53/62 (85.5%)0.69 (0.46, 1.03)No99/169 (58.6%)113/170 (66.5%)0.82 (0.63, 1.07)Visceral disease   Yes92/135 (68.1%)87/119 (73.1%)0.99 (0.74, 1.33)No51/95 (53.7%)79/113 (69.9%)0.59 (0.42, 0.84)ªData for Asia/non-Asia subgroups are presented in a separate abstract

Citation Format: Robertson JFR, Noguchi S, Shao Z, Grinsted LM, Fazal M, Ellis MJ. Progression-free survival results in patient subgroups from a Phase 3 randomized trial of fulvestrant 500 mg vs anastrozole for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (FALCON) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-02.

Abstract P3-11-06: Development and application of whole processing management for patients with breast carcinoma: A novel management strategy for breast health

The reformation on the management strategy of patients led by medical institutions could show the real value of medical services and match the needs of both patients and physicians. A novel patient management strategy, the whole processing management mode, was developed in Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Based on the online tools, the e follow-up Wechat public platform, the department provides several humanistic medical services in every aspects of breast health management, such as education, screening and diagnosis, multi-disciplinary comprehensive treatment and follow-up, including the remote medical reports reading. After the application of the novel patient management mode, regular appointments before seeing doctors, triage on-demand are realized. Between Jun-2015 and March-2016, a total of 7,668 person-time patients made the reservation for chemotherapy and over two thousand patients made the reservation for endocrine therapy prescription through the online approach. The total volume of out-patient clinic was 169,246 person-time in 2015, gained a 26.8% increase compared with in 2014. However, the queuing time for consultation was deceased by 28.8% in 2015. The doctor-patient relationship is extended online and the follow-up rate is improved. Between Jun-2015 and December-2015, a total of 823 patients online submitted the medical reports during follow-up period, among those, four patients were found disease relapse or metastasis and were call back to the hospital for further treatment. The novel mode may promote the cooperation among the multi-disciplinary comprehensive treatment teams, realize the hierarchical medical system among the department, and provide guarantee for the clinical and basic research based on the principle of precision medicine.

Citation Format: Chen J, Yu K, Liu G, Shao Z, Wu J. Development and application of whole processing management for patients with breast carcinoma: A novel management strategy for breast health [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-11-06.

Abstract P6-01-16: The phosphorylation-specific association of STMN1 with GRP78 promotes breast cancer metastasis

This abstract was not presented at the symposium.

Abstract P2-05-37: In-situ hybridization of microRNA and support vector machines–based prognostic classifiers for breast cancer

Purpose: We plan to use a tissue microarray-based microRNA(miRNA) detection by in situ hybridization with LNA probe and support vector machine on base of data mining to construct the Prognostic model for breast cancer and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods: Combining the BreastMark miRNA database and papers published, we chose candidate miRNAs. Then a tissue microarray-based miRNA detection in situ hybridization with LNA probe was used to detect miRNA expression in 445 breast cancer tissue. Univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier identified independent prognostic factors, 445 patients was divided into the training set and validation set (70% VS 30%) by software R(version 3.2.3), then support vector machine on base of data mining was used to construct the Prognostic model for breast cancer and triple negative breast cancer via software R and predict.svm(e1071).

Results: 15 miRNAs were detected from 445 breast cancer tissue and univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier identified significant prognostic miRNAs: miR-361-5p, miR-301a, miR-223, miR-421, miR-454, miR-493 were the independent prognostic factors for DFS. By using data mining technique, we combined clinical factors(stage, tumor size, lymphnode status, molecular subtype) and miRNAs mentioned above to establish the personalized predictive mathematical models SVM-BC and SVM-TNBC.

In the training set and validation set of SVM-BC model, the AUC value of ROC curve for DFS were 0.86,0.83. The total accuracy,sensitivity,specificity of SVM-BC model for DFS were 94%,73%,99% and 84%,57%,92% in the training set and validation set. The SVM-BC model can divide breast cancer patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, and 5-year survival rates for low-risk patients were higher than that for high-risk patients(96.8% VS 39.3%, p<0.001).

In the training set and validation set of SVM-TNBC model, the AUC value of ROC curve for DFS were 0.84,0.86. The total accuracy,sensitivity,specificity of SVM-TNBC model for DFS were 90%,71%,97% and 84%,55%,94% in the training set and validation set. The SVM-TNBC model can divide breast cancer patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, and 5-year survival rates for low-risk patients were higher than that for high-risk patients(93.9 % VS 23.5%, p <0.001).

Conclusion: The Prognostic model basing of tissue microarray-based miRNA detection in situ hybridization with LNA probe and support vector machine for prognosis can effectively predict the prognosis of breast cancer and TNBC.

Citation Format: Cao Z, Yao L, Hu X, Zhang Z, Shao Z. In-situ hybridization of microRNA and support vector machines–based prognostic classifiers for breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-37.

Characterization of transient noise in Advanced LIGO relevant to gravitational wave signal GW150914

On September 14, 2015, a gravitational wave signal from a coalescing black hole binary system was observed by the Advanced LIGO detectors. This paper describes the transient noise backgrounds used to determine the significance of the event (designated GW150914) and presents the results of investigations into potential correlated or uncorrelated sources of transient noise in the detectors around the time of the event. The detectors were operating nominally at the time of GW150914. We have ruled out environmental influences and non-Gaussian instrument noise at either LIGO detector as the cause of the observed gravitational wave signal.

Properties of the Binary Black Hole Merger GW150914

On September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a gravitational-wave transient (GW150914); we characterize the properties of the source and its parameters. The data around the time of the event were analyzed coherently across the LIGO network using a suite of accurate waveform models that describe gravitational waves from a compact binary system in general relativity. GW150914 was produced by a nearly equal mass binary black hole of masses 36_{-4}^{+5}M_{⊙} and 29_{-4}^{+4}M_{⊙}; for each parameter we report the median value and the range of the 90% credible interval. The dimensionless spin magnitude of the more massive black hole is bound to be <0.7 (at 90% probability). The luminosity distance to the source is 410_{-180}^{+160}  Mpc, corresponding to a redshift 0.09_{-0.04}^{+0.03} assuming standard cosmology. The source location is constrained to an annulus section of 610  deg^{2}, primarily in the southern hemisphere. The binary merges into a black hole of mass 62_{-4}^{+4}M_{⊙} and spin 0.67_{-0.07}^{+0.05}. This black hole is significantly more massive than any other inferred from electromagnetic observations in the stellar-mass regime.

GW150914: First results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with Advanced LIGO

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed the binary black hole merger GW150914. We report the results of a matched-filter search using relativistic models of compact-object binaries that recovered GW150914 as the most significant event during the coincident observations between the two LIGO detectors from September 12 to October 20, 2015. GW150914 was observed with a matched filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1 σ.

GW150914: First results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with Advanced LIGO

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed the binary black hole merger GW150914. We report the results of a matched-filter search using relativistic models of compact-object binaries that recovered GW150914 as the most significant event during the coincident observations between the two LIGO detectors from September 12 to October 20, 2015. GW150914 was observed with a matched filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1 σ.

Tests of General Relativity with GW150914

The LIGO detection of GW150914 provides an unprecedented opportunity to study the two-body motion of a compact-object binary in the large-velocity, highly nonlinear regime, and to witness the final merger of the binary and the excitation of uniquely relativistic modes of the gravitational field. We carry out several investigations to determine whether GW150914 is consistent with a binary black-hole merger in general relativity. We find that the final remnant's mass and spin, as determined from the low-frequency (inspiral) and high-frequency (postinspiral) phases of the signal, are mutually consistent with the binary black-hole solution in general relativity. Furthermore, the data following the peak of GW150914 are consistent with the least-damped quasinormal mode inferred from the mass and spin of the remnant black hole. By using waveform models that allow for parametrized general-relativity violations during the inspiral and merger phases, we perform quantitative tests on the gravitational-wave phase in the dynamical regime and we determine the first empirical bounds on several high-order post-Newtonian coefficients. We constrain the graviton Compton wavelength, assuming that gravitons are dispersed in vacuum in the same way as particles with mass, obtaining a 90%-confidence lower bound of 10^{13}  km. In conclusion, within our statistical uncertainties, we find no evidence for violations of general relativity in the genuinely strong-field regime of gravity.

IL-4 administration exerts preventive effects via suppression of underlying inflammation and TNF-α-induced apoptosis in steroid-induced osteonecrosis

Macrophages play an important role during the development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis. Interleukin (IL)-4 administration helped reduce the infiltration of M1 phenotypic macrophages and maintain the activation of M2 phenotypic macrophages, resulting in restriction of inflammation and decrease in osteocyte apoptosis. The results indicated the therapeutic potential of IL-4 in prevention of steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

INTRODUCTION

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis (ON) is a debilitating disease characterized by the activation and infiltration of macrophages into the necrotic site. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IL-4 administration on macrophage polarization and the involved signaling pathways.

METHODS

Fifty-six BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups, group M (model group) and group MI (treatment group), each containing 28 mice. ON model was induced by the injection of methylprednisolone (MPS). The mice in group MI received intra-abdominal injections of 2 μg/100 g/day of rIL-4 for five consecutive days, following the administration of MPS. Osteonecrosis was verified by histopathological staining. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was analyzed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. The infiltration of M1/M2 macrophages was examined by the expression of specific makers of F4/80, CD11c, and CD206 protein. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the apoptotic signal molecules such as STAT1 and caspase-3 were examined.

RESULTS

Histopathological observations indicated that IL-4 administration reduced the incidence of ON and the accumulation of osteoclasts. IL-4 administration inhibited the expression of TNF-α and reduced the infiltration of M1 phenotypic macrophages and maintained relatively high level of M2 phenotypic macrophages. Additionally, TUNEL assay suggested that IL-4 intervention could reduce the number of apoptotic cells in the necrotic zone. The anti-apoptotic mechanisms were related to STAT1 phosphorylation and the activation of caspase-3.

CONCLUSIONS

Il-4 administration could alleviate steroid associated ON in mice by inhibiting the inflammatory response, the infiltration of M1 phenotypic macrophages, and suppressing TNF-a-induced osteocytic apoptosis by inhibiting the STAT1-caspase-3 signal pathway.

Hematogones: a sensitive prognostic factor for Chinese adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

Hematogones (hgs) are normal B-lymphocyte precursors that increase in some hematologic diseases. Many studies indicate that hgs might be a favourable prognostic factor. We thus considered it important to determine whether hgs are also a prognostic factor for Chinese adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (aml) and whether the hg-positive and hg-negative groups show any serologic or phenotypic differences.

METHODS

Chinese adult aml patients (n = 177) who were all initially hg-negative underwent standard chemotherapy and were thereafter divided into hg-positive and hg-negative groups according to hg levels in bone marrow during their first remission.

RESULTS

The follow-up study confirmed that survival duration (both leukemia-free and overall) was significantly greater in the hg-positive group than in the hg-negative group and was accompanied by a lower relapse rate. A retrospective study of patient characteristics at the time of first diagnosis revealed some differences between the hg-positive and the hg-negative groups, including elevations in white blood cells, lactate dehydrogenase, and β2-microglobulin in the hg-negative group. Retrospective phenotypic analysis revealed a significantly lower proportion of abnormal chromosome karyotype and CD34 expression in hg-positive patients. Finally, we evaluated whether additional intensive chemotherapy after standard chemotherapy could further increase hgs.

CONCLUSIONS

The present work verified the validity of hgs as a prognostic factor for Chinese adult patients with aml. Compared with hg-negative patients, hg-positive patients not only experienced longer survival and a lower relapse rate, but they also had some serologic and phenotypic characteristics that are all considered indicators of better outcome. Additional intensive chemotherapy could further increase the level of hgs, which might imply better clinical results.

GW150914: Implications for the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from Binary Black Holes

The LIGO detection of the gravitational wave transient GW150914, from the inspiral and merger of two black holes with masses ≳30M_{⊙}, suggests a population of binary black holes with relatively high mass. This observation implies that the stochastic gravitational-wave background from binary black holes, created from the incoherent superposition of all the merging binaries in the Universe, could be higher than previously expected. Using the properties of GW150914, we estimate the energy density of such a background from binary black holes. In the most sensitive part of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo band for stochastic backgrounds (near 25 Hz), we predict Ω_{GW}(f=25  Hz)=1.1_{-0.9}^{+2.7}×10^{-9} with 90% confidence. This prediction is robustly demonstrated for a variety of formation scenarios with different parameters. The differences between models are small compared to the statistical uncertainty arising from the currently poorly constrained local coalescence rate. We conclude that this background is potentially measurable by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors operating at their projected final sensitivity.

Epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs based on a community cohort study

The coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs is an atypical serological pattern in HBV infection. There is no epidemiological characteristics of this serological pattern in the community and there is controversy over the molecular mechanisms underlying this pattern. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the carriers with HBsAg and anti-HBs in a longitudinal community cohort study. The prevalence of this atypical serological pattern was 2.93% (122/4169) in HBsAg-positive populations. The prevalence progressively increased with age from 40 to 70 years old. The rate of HBeAg positive and detectable HBV DNA were both significantly higher in carriers with this pattern than in carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti-HBs negative (26/122 verse 598/4047, P = 0.046; 86/122 verse 275/529,P < 0.001). After 1 year of follow-up, 85.19% of the carriers still had coexistence HBsAg and anti-HBs, 14.81% of the carriers lost their anti-HBs. Viral sequencing showed that carriers with coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs had higher numbers of residue changes within the S gene than carriers who were HBsAg positive but anti-HBs negative (2.42 verse 1.33 changes per 100 residues, P < 0.05). Hence, the coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs is a unique serological pattern which may be associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcome and may be related to HBsAg immune variants which have genotypic heterogeneity.

GW150914: The Advanced LIGO Detectors in the Era of First Discoveries

Following a major upgrade, the two advanced detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) held their first observation run between September 2015 and January 2016. With a strain sensitivity of 10^{-23}/sqrt[Hz] at 100 Hz, the product of observable volume and measurement time exceeded that of all previous runs within the first 16 days of coincident observation. On September 14, 2015, the Advanced LIGO detectors observed a transient gravitational-wave signal determined to be the coalescence of two black holes [B. P. Abbott et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016)], launching the era of gravitational-wave astronomy. The event, GW150914, was observed with a combined signal-to-noise ratio of 24 in coincidence by the two detectors. Here, we present the main features of the detectors that enabled this observation. At full sensitivity, the Advanced LIGO detectors are designed to deliver another factor of 3 improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio for binary black hole systems similar in mass to GW150914.

Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160)  Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

Prospects for Observing and Localizing Gravitational-Wave Transients with Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

We present a possible observing scenario for the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detectors over the next decade, with the intention of providing information to the astronomy community to facilitate planning for multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves. We determine the expected sensitivity of the network to transient gravitational-wave signals, and study the capability of the network to determine the sky location of the source. We report our findings for gravitational-wave transients, with particular focus on gravitational-wave signals from the inspiral of binary neutron-star systems, which are considered the most promising for multi-messenger astronomy. The ability to localize the sources of the detected signals depends on the geographical distribution of the detectors and their relative sensitivity, and 90% credible regions can be as large as thousands of square degrees when only two sensitive detectors are operational. Determining the sky position of a significant fraction of detected signals to areas of 5 deg2 to 20 deg2 will require at least three detectors of sensitivity within a factor of ∼ 2 of each other and with a broad frequency bandwidth. Should the third LIGO detector be relocated to India as expected, a significant fraction of gravitational-wave signals will be localized to a few square degrees by gravitational-wave observations alone.

Individual design of the anterolateral thigh flap for functional reconstruction after hemiglossectomy: experience with 238 patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate tongue function in patients with oral cancer treated surgically and reconstructed with anterolateral thigh free flaps (ALTFs). Patients (N=238) underwent primary reconstruction after hemiglossectomy between September 2012 and October 2014. Patients were divided into two groups according to the flap design: 'individual design' (ABC flap) and 'common design'. Patients were followed postoperatively and assessed after 6 months for the following functional outcomes: speech, deglutition, tongue mobility, and donor site morbidity. Intelligibility and deglutition were each scored by an independent investigator. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 software. No differences in mean speech intelligibility scores were observed between the two groups (good: P=0.908; acceptable: P=0.881). However, the ABC flap offered recovery advantages for swallowing capacity compared to the common design flap (MTF classification good: P=0.028; acceptable: P=0.001). The individualized ABC flap not only provides volume but also preserves mobility, speech intelligibility, and swallowing capacity. ALTFs require further improvement for the individualized functional reconstruction of the tongue after hemiglossectomy, but this work lays the foundation for these improvements.