Lactobacillus plantarum DP189 Reduces α-SYN Aggravation in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease Mice via Regulating Oxidative Damage, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota Disorder

This study aimed to evaluate the attenuating effect of Lactobacillus plantarum DP189 on α-synuclein (α-SYN) aggregates in the substantia nigra (SN) of Parkinson's disease (PD) mice via 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced. Our results indicated that L. plantarum DP189 increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Moreover, L. plantarum DP189 reduced the α-SYN accumulation in SN. Mechanistically, L. plantarum DP189 activated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2)/ARE and PGC-1α pathways and suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, fecal analysis showed that L. plantarum DP189 reshaped the gut microbiota in PD mice by reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria (Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria) and increased the abundance of probiotics (Lactobacillus and Prevotella). Our results suggested that L. plantarum DP189 could delay the neurodegeneration caused by the accumulation of α-SYN in the SN of PD mice via suppressing oxidative stress, repressing proinflammatory response, and modulating gut microbiota.

Construction of an exosome-functionalized graphene oxide based composite bionic smart drug delivery system and its anticancer activity

Graphene oxide has covalently modified by chito oligosaccharides andγ-polyglutamic acid to form GO-CO-γ-PGA, which exhibits excellent performance as a drug delivery carrier, but this carrier did not have the ability to actively target. In this study, the targeting property of breast cancer tumor cell exosomes was exploited to give GO-CO-γ-PGA the ability to target breast tumor cells (MDA-MB-231), and the drug mitoxantrone (MIT) was loaded to finally form EXO-GO-CO-γ-PGA-MIT with an encapsulation efficiency of 73.02%. The pH response of EXO-GO-CO-γ-PGA showed a maximum cumulative release rate of 56.59% (pH 5.0, 120 h) and 6.73% (pH 7.4, 120 h) for MIT at different pH conditions.In vitrocellular assays showed that EXO-GO-CO-γ-PGA-MIT was more potent in killing MDA-MB-231 cells due to its targeting ability and had a significantly higher pro-apoptotic capacity compared to GO-CO-γ-PGA-MIT. The results showed that this bionic nano-intelligent drug delivery system has good drug slow release function and it can increase the local drug concentration of tumor and enhance the pro-apoptotic ability of MIT, so this newly synthesized bionic drug delivery carriers (EXO-GO-CO-γ-PGA-MIT) has potential application in breast cancer treatment.

ASB17 Facilitates the Burst of LPS-Induced Inflammation Through Maintaining TRAF6 Stability

ASB17, a member of the ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containing protein (ASB) family, has been supposed to act as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Actually, little is known about its biological function. In this study, we found that ASB17 knocking-out impaired the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines CCL2 and IL-6 in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), indicating an inflammation-promoting role of this gene. We reveal that ASB17 promotes LPS-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal activation through interacting with TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) which is a crucial adaptor protein downstream of toll-like receptors (TLR). ASB17 via its aa177-250 segment interacts with the Zn finger domain of TRAF6. The interaction of ASB17 stabilizes TRAF6 protein through inhibiting K48-linked TRAF6 polyubiquitination. Therefore, we suggest that ASB17 facilitates LPS-induced NF-κB activation by maintaining TRAF6 protein stability. The inflammation enhancer role of ASB17 is recognized here, which provides new understanding of the activation process of inflammation and immune response.

Deep Learning-Based Morphological Classification of Endoplasmic Reticulum Under Stress

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) is a condition that is defined by abnormal accumulation of unfolded proteins. It plays an important role in maintaining cellular protein, lipid, and ion homeostasis. By triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) under ER stress, cells restore homeostasis or undergo apoptosis. Chronic ER stress is implicated in many human diseases. Despite extensive studies on related signaling mechanisms, reliable image biomarkers for ER stress remain lacking. To address this deficiency, we have validated a morphological image biomarker for ER stress and have developed a deep learning-based assay to enable automated detection and analysis of this marker for screening studies. Specifically, ER under stress exhibits abnormal morphological patterns that feature ring-shaped structures called whorls (WHs). Using a highly specific chemical probe for unfolded and aggregated proteins, we find that formation of ER whorls is specifically associated with the accumulation of the unfolded and aggregated proteins. This confirms that ER whorls can be used as an image biomarker for ER stress. To this end, we have developed ER-WHs-Analyzer, a deep learning-based image analysis assay that automatically recognizes and localizes ER whorls similarly as human experts. It does not require laborious manual annotation of ER whorls for training of deep learning models. Importantly, it reliably classifies different patterns of ER whorls induced by different ER stress drugs. Overall, our study provides mechanistic insights into morphological patterns of ER under stress as well as an image biomarker assay for screening studies to dissect related disease mechanisms and to accelerate related drug discoveries. It demonstrates the effectiveness of deep learning in recognizing and understanding complex morphological phenotypes of ER.

X-box Binding Protein 1: An Adaptor in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS), the formation of fibrofatty lesions in the vessel wall, is the primary cause of heart disease and stroke and is closely associated with aging. Disrupted metabolic homeostasis is a primary feature of AS and leads to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which is an abnormal accumulation of unfolded proteins. By orchestrating signaling cascades of the unfolded protein response (UPR), ER stress functions as a double-edged sword in AS, where adaptive UPR triggers synthetic metabolic processes to restore homeostasis, whereas the maladaptive response programs the cell to the apoptotic pathway. However, little is known regarding their precise coordination. Herein, an advanced understanding of the role of UPR in the pathological process of AS is reviewed. In particular, we focused on a critical mediator of the UPR, X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), and its important role in balancing adaptive and maladaptive responses. The XBP1 mRNA is processed from the unspliced isoform (XBP1u) to the spliced isoform of XBP1 (XBP1s). Compared with XBP1u, XBP1s predominantly functions downstream of inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α) and transcript genes involved in protein quality control, inflammation, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and calcification, which are critical for the pathogenesis of AS. Thus, the IRE1α/XBP1 axis is a promising pharmaceutical candidate against AS.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in China

BACKGROUND

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a refractory and rare disease. Because of its extremely low incidence, little is known about its clinical features. In this retrospective study, we aim to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with CPT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of children with CPT identified by the radiological review. Investigations of CPT included general conditions, the characteristics of CPT, treatment methods, and surgical complications.

RESULTS

We collected 514 CPT cases from March 1999 to March 2020 in our hospital, such as 317 (61.67%) boys, 197 (38.33%) girls; 330 (62.86%) in Crawford IV; 510 (97.14%) in mid and distal 1/3 tibia; 481 (93.58%) in less than 3 years at onset age; 297 (57.78%) in less than 3 years at the first outpatient visit. The most common post-operative complication was ankle valgus (101, 39.60%), followed by limb length discrepancy (91, 35.69%), refracture (38, 14.90%), osteomyelitis (15, 5.88%), and removal of internal fixation (10, 3.93%).

CONCLUSIONS

CPT with a higher incidence of Crawford IV frequently occurs in boys and the middle or distal part of the tibia; most patients have the onset age and first outpatient visit before 3 years; the major surgical complications are ankle valgus and limb length discrepancy.

Perovskite materials: from single crystals to radiation detection

Pb- and Bi-based perovskite materials have high potential for detecting ionizing radiation but an enhanced research effort is needed to achieve large-size, high-performance single crystals at a competitive cost to accelerate this development.

Are Children Suffering From Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia Associated With Decreased Bone Strength?

BACKGROUND

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a rare and difficult-to-treat congenital disease in neonates. Our previous study found that exosomes derived from serum of children with CPT inhibit bone formation. In this study, we used ultrasound bone densitometry to detect the bone strength differences between hospitalized children with CPT and with non-metabolic diseases to determine the bone strength of children with CPT.

METHODS

A total of 37 children with CPT with a mean age of 3.14 ± 1.81 years and 40 hospitalized children with a mean age of 3.32 ± 2.66 years with supracondylar fracture of the humerus and without a bone metabolic disease (control group) were recruited in our hospital. The ultrasonic bone densitometer was used to examine the bilateral calcaneus of the subjects. We collected the broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), quantitative ultrasound index (QUI), bone strength index (STI) and bone mineral density estimation (BMDe) values. Multivariable regression was used to examine the associations between quantitative ultrasound measurement differences and age, body mass index (BMI), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and CPT Crawford type. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to estimate intra- and inter-rater agreements.

RESULTS

74 calcaneus scans were taken from CPT patients (23 boys and 14 girls) and 80 calcaneus scans were taken from the control (24 boys and 16 girls). The CPT patients exhibited significantly lower SOS (1,368.75 ± 136.78 m/s), STI (7.2319 ± 38.6525), QUI (8.2532 ± 56.1720), and BMDe (-0.0241 ± 0.3552 g/cm³) than the control (SOS: 1,416.02 ± 66.15 m/s, STI: 7.96 ± 16.884, QUI: 28.8299 ± 25.461, BMDe: 0.0180 ± 0.1610 g/cm³). Multiple regression revealed that SOS, STI and QUI were statistically significant and negatively correlated with CPT Crawford classification.

CONCLUSIONS

We found the incidence of decreased bone strength in CPT group was higher than that in the non-bone metabolic disease group. This phenomenon was not related to NF1 but related to CPT Crawford classification, which suggested that the higher the grade of the CPT Crawford classification, the lower the bone strength and the higher the risk of fracture.

TRPM7 Elicits Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Lens Epithelial Cells through the TGF-β/Smad Pathways

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the development of cataract. This study aimed to explore the effects of TRPM7 on the proliferation and differentiation of human lens epithelial cells. TRPM7 was over-expressed in LECs treated with TGF-β2. Down-regulation of TRPM7 attenuated the increase in cell viability and cell proliferation induced by TGF-β2. The LEC migration induced by TGF-β2 was also repressed by down-regulation of TRPM7. Epithelial-specific protein E-cadherin was up-regulated through knock-down of TRPM7. EMT-specific proteins, α-SMA, fibronectin and vimentin, were down-regulated through knockdown of TRPM7. Moreover, phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 was also prevented by inhibition of TRPM7. Therefore, TRPM7 elicited LEC proliferation and EMT through enhancing activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathways, implying a new therapeutic target for cataract.

Efficient hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene over core–shell Ni/Al2O3@SOD and Mo/Al2O3 composite catalysts

A DBT HDS reaction scheme based on different composite catalysts (Ni/Al2O3@SOD–Mo/Al2O3 and Ni/Al2O3–Mo/Al2O3) is proposed.

Investigating the Influences of Random-Region Length on Aptamer Selection Efficiency Based on Capillary Electrophoresis-SELEX and High-Throughput Sequencing

For aptamer selection, the random-region length of an ssDNA library was generally taken in a relatively arbitrary fashion, which may lead to failure for unsuitable target binding. Herein, we coupled high-efficiency capillary electrophoresis (CE)-SELEX and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to investigate the influences of random-region length. First, one round of selection against programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was performed using ssDNA libraries with random-region lengths of 15, 30, 40, and 60 nt, respectively. A good correlation was observed between candidates' random-region lengths and dissociation constant (K_d), in which the longer sequences presented higher affinity, and the picked Seq 60-1 after one round notably presented a similar affinity toward a reported aptamer through eight rounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation suggested, for PD-L1, the long sequence could supply more noncovalent bonds including hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions to form a stable protein/aptamer complex. Besides, four other proteins with selective binding performances validated the importance of random-region length. To further investigate how random-region length affects the selection efficiency, a mixed library with random-region lengths ranging from 10 to 50 nt was employed for six rounds of selection against Piezo2. Sequence variations were tracked by HTS, showing the preferential evolution and PCR uncertainty with even higher impact were the main causes. This study suggested random-region length plays a crucial factor, and a mixed library with different random-region sequences can be a worthy choice for increasing the speed of high-affinity aptamer selection. Moreover, the PCR process should be given particular attention in aptamer selection.

Aptamer functionalized DNA hydrogels: Design, applications and kinetics

DNA hydrogels have received considerable attention in various promising applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, controlled biodegradability, adjustable mechanical properties, stability against proteases, self-healing ability, and stimuli responsiveness. To obtain the specific molecular recognition capability, aptamers and many other functional motifs are utilized. Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA selected through SELEX to bind with specific target with high affinity and specificity. With advantages of broad range of targets, good stability, easy modification, and low cost, aptamer functionalized DNA hydrogels become popular in a wide range of promising applications. In this review, the recent progress on aptamer functionalized DNA hydrogels including general design principles, applications and kinetics has been summarized. Finally, the current challenges and prospects are discussed.

Insight into Regioselective Control in Aerobic Oxidative C-H/C-H Coupling for C3-Arylation of Benzothiophenes: Toward Structurally Nontraditional OLED Materials

The installation of (benzo)thiophene-containing biaryls via coupling reactions has become a staple in designing photoelectric materials. Undeniably, C-H/C-H cross-coupling reactions between two (hetero)aromatics would be a shortcut toward these structural fragments. While more reliable cross-coupling technologies are well-established to provide C2-arylated (benzo)thiophenes, efficient methods that arylate the C3-position remain underdeveloped. Herein we provide insight into the factors that determine regioselectivity switching for these cross-coupling reactions. X-ray crystallographic analysis gives solid evidence for the key roles of triflate in regioselective dearomatization and acetate in base-assisted anti-β-deprotonated rearomatization. The first isolation and X-ray characterization of a medium-sized dearomatized cyclometalated adduct involving both substrates provide extra insight into aerobic oxidative Ar-H/Ar-H cross-coupling reactions. The mechanistic breakthrough incubates the first example, enabling C-H/C-H-type C3-arylation of benzothiophenes. Finally, this chemistry is used to design blue-emitting thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with a helicene conformation that exhibit a high maximum external quantum efficiency of 25.4% in OLED.

Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates irradiation-induced intestinal injury by activation of FXR-FGF15 signaling in intestinal epithelia

Abdominal irradiation (IR) may destroy the intestinal mucosal barrier, leading to severe intestinal infection and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes. The role of intestinal microbiota in the development of IR-induced intestinal injury remains largely unknown. Herein, we reported that abdominal IR altered the composition of the microbiota and reduced the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiome. Alterations of bacteria, in particular reduction of Lactobacillus, played a critical role in IR-induced intestinal injury. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from normal mice or administration of Lactobacillus plantarum to intestinal microbiota-eliminated mice substantially reduced IR-induced intestinal damage and prevented mice from IR-induced death. We further characterized that L. plantarum activated the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) - fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and hence promoted DNA-damage repair. Application of GW4064, an activator of FXR, to microbiota eliminated mice markedly mitigated IR-induced intestinal damage, reduced intestinal epithelial cell death and promoted the survival of IR mice. In contrast, suppression of FXR with Gly-β-MCA, a bile acid and an intestine-selective and high-affinity FXR inhibitor, abrogated L. Plantarum-mediated protection on the ileum of IR mice. Taken together, our findings not only provide new insights into the role of intestinal flora in radiation-induced intestinal injury but also shed new light on the application of probiotics for the protection of radiation-damaged individuals.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of SETD5-containing NCoR-HDAC3 complex determines enhancer activation for adipogenesis

Enhancer activation is essential for cell-type specific gene expression during cellular differentiation, however, how enhancers transition from a hypoacetylated "primed" state to a hyperacetylated-active state is incompletely understood. Here, we show SET domain-containing 5 (SETD5) forms a complex with NCoR-HDAC3 co-repressor that prevents histone acetylation of enhancers for two master adipogenic regulatory genes Cebpa and Pparg early during adipogenesis. The loss of SETD5 from the complex is followed by enhancer hyperacetylation. SETD5 protein levels were transiently increased and rapidly degraded prior to enhancer activation providing a mechanism for the loss of SETD5 during the transition. We show that induction of the CDC20 co-activator of the ubiquitin ligase leads to APC/C mediated degradation of SETD5 during the transition and this operates as a molecular switch that facilitates adipogenesis.

[Related factors for hyperkalemia and its recurrence in maintenance hemodialysis patients]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hyperkalemia and recurrent hyperkalemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and identify the related factors. Methods: The general information and clinical data of maintenance hemodialysis patients in the hemodialysis center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January to December 2020 were collected. According to the level of serum potassium, the patients were divided into normokalemia group and hyperkalemia group. Patients in the hyperkalemia group were further divided into single hyperkalemia group and recurrent hyperkalemia group according to the number of occurrences of hyperkalemia. Then, the prevalence of different serum potassium abnormalities and the related factors were explored. Results: Among the 352 patients included in the final analysis, 129 cases (36.6%) were in the normokalemia group [mean age: (62±15) years, 99 males] and 223 cases (63.4%) were in the hyperkalemia group [mean age: (60±14) years, 153 males]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, compared with the normokalemia group, night-time dialysis (OR=4.012, 95%CI: 1.519-10.601, P=0.005), concurrent diabetes (OR=1.947, 95%CI: 1.148-3.304, P=0.013) and the number of serum potassium tested before hemodialysis (OR=1.561, 95%CI:1.292-1.885, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for hyperkalemia. Among 223 patients with hyperkalemia, 78 cases (35.0%) were in single hyperkalemia group and 145 cases (65.0%) were in recurrent hyperkalemia group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, serum calcium (OR=21.885, 95%CI: 3.740-128.077, P=0.001), peak value of serum potassium before hemodialysis (OR=63.157, 95%CI: 25.265-157.876, P<0.001) and the number of serum potassium tested before hemodialysis (OR=1.814, 95%CI: 1.378-2.388, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for the recurrence of hyperkalemia. Conclusions: The prevalence of hyperkalemia is high in maintenance hemodialysis patients, especially in those with diabetes or night-time dialysis. It is necessary to monitor serum potassium regularly. In addition, high serum calcium and peak value of serum potassium before hemodialysis are related factors for recurrent hyperkalemia.

Lactobacillus plantarum DP189 prevents cognitive dysfunction in D-galactose/AlCl3 induced mouse model of Alzheimer's disease via modulating gut microbiota and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Probiotic intervention has beneficial effects on host brain function and behavior via regulating microbiota-gut-brain axis; however, the underlying mechanism is not yet understood. Herein, we investigated that the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum DP189 (DP189) administration in preventing cognitive dysfunction and pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in D-galactose (D-gal) and AlCl₃-induced AD model mice. After L. plantarum DP189 intervention for 10 weeks, we assessed cognitive behavior, neurotransmitter expression, histological changes, microbial communities, and the mechanisms underlying the disease in AD model mice. The results showed that L. plantarum DP189 intervention prevented cognitive dysfunction by behavioral test. Increased levels of serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid positively affected the pathological processes by ameliorating neuronal damage, beta-amyloid deposition, and tau pathology. L. plantarum DP189 intervention simultaneously modulated the gut microbial communities to alleviate gut dysbiosis. Moreover, L. plantarum DP189 inhibited tau hyperphosphorylation by regulating the PI3 K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway. These findings indicated that L. plantarum DP189 intervention is a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent the onset and development of AD.

[Exploration and practice of periodontal specialist training system]

The standardized training of specialist doctors is an important part of medical education after graduation and it is the only way to train clinicians to diagnose and treat the specialist diseases independently by using a standardized and high-quality way. The prevalence of periodontal disease and the proportion of patienets with severe and advanced periodontitis in our country are high and the diagnosis and treatment process for the periodontal disease are complicated. There is an urgent need to expand the team of periodontal specialists capable of the specialized treatment. The training of periodontal specialists in our country has just started. The present article summarizes the exploration and practice of periodontal specialist training in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology in the past five years, including the establishment of training bases, formulation of clear training goals, strict implementation of training rules, strengthening of process quality control to ensure the trainees could reach the expected standard of periodontal specialist after training. Through the summary of the previous stage practice, the authors hope to explore and establish a periodontal specialist training system in line with our country's national conditions and further to promote and accelerate the pace of nationwide periodontal specialist training system.

Corynebacterium glutamicum Mycoredoxin 3 protects against multiple oxidative stresses and displays thioredoxin-like activity

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) and thioredoxins (Trxs) play a critical role in resistance to oxidative conditions. However, physiological and biochemical roles of Mycoredoxin 3 (Mrx3) that shared a high amino acid sequence similarity to Grxs remain unknown in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Here we showed that mrx3 deletion strains of C. glutamicum was involved in the protection against oxidative stress. Recombinant Mrx3 not only catalytically reduced the disulfide bonds in ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), insulin and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitro-benzoicacid) (DTNB), but also reduced the mixed disulphides between mycothiol (MSH) and substrate, which was exclusively linked to the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) electron transfer pathway by a dithiol mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the conserved Cys17 and Cys20 in Mrx3 were necessary to maintain its activity. The mrx3 deletion mutant showed decreased resistance to various stress, and these sensitive phenotypes were almost fully restored in the complementary strain. The physiological roles of Mrx3 in resistance to various stress were further supported by the induced expression of mrx3 under various stress conditions, directly under the control of the stress-responsive extracytoplasmic function-sigma (ECF-σ) factor SigH. Thus, we presented the first evidence that Mrx3 protected against various oxidative stresses by acting as a disulfide oxidoreductase behaving like Trx.

Biomimetic synthesis of a novel O2-regeneration nanosystem for enhanced starvation/chemo-therapy

Glucose oxidase-mediated starvation therapy that effectively cuts off energy supply holds great promise in cancer treatment. However, high glutathione (GSH) contents and anoxic conditions severely reduce therapy efficiency and cannot fully kill cancer cells. Herein, to resolve the above problem, this study constructed a biomimetic nanosystem based on nanreproo-MnO₂with porous craspedia globose-like structure and high specific surface area, and it was further modified with dopamine and folic acid to guarantee good biocompatibility and selectivity toward cancer cells. This nanosystem responsively degraded and reacted with GSH and acid to regenerate O₂, which significantly increased intracellular O₂levels, accelerated glucose consumption, and improved starvation therapy efficiency. Moreover, anticancer drug of camptothecin was further loaded, and notably enhanced cancer growth inhibition was obtained at very low drug concentrations. Most importantly, this novel therapy could unprecedentedly inhibit cancer cell migration to a very low ratio of 19%, and detailed cell apoptosis analyses revealed late stage apoptosis contributed most to the good therapeutic effect. This work reported a new train of thought to improve starvation therapy in biomedicine, and provided a new strategy to design targeted nanocarrier to delivery mixed drugs to overcome the restriction of starvation therapy and develop new therapy patterns.

Homonymous visual field defect and retinal thinning after occipital stroke

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is the most common cause of homonymous visual field defects (VFD). About half of the stroke patients recover from VFD. However, relationship between VFD and retinal changes remains elusive.

PURPOSE

To investigate the association between occurrence of VFD, changes of macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and its axon retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) detected with optical coherence tomography (OCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study consists of retrospective review of medical records and follow-up examinations. Patients with acute occipital stroke were registered. VFD was identified with confrontation and/or perimetry tests at the onset. At follow-up, the patients were examined with visual field tests and OCT measurements.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. At onset, 26 patients (72%) had VFD. At follow-up >1 year after stroke, 13 patients (36%) had remaining VFD: 5 had homonymous hemianopia, 5 had homonymous quadrantanopia, and 3 had homonymous scotomas. Average thickness of GCIPL and RNFL were significantly reduced in each eye in patients with VFD compared to non-VFD (NVFD) (p < .01 for all comparisons). Thickness of superior and inferior RNFL quadrants was significantly reduced in VFD compared to NVFD (p < .01 for both). Among these 13 patients, 4 had characteristic homonymous quadrant-GCIPL thinning, 2 had characteristic homonymous hemi-GCIPL thinning, and 7 had diffuse GCIPL thinning.

CONCLUSION

GCIPL and RNFL thinning were observed in the patients with VFD. GCIPL thinning appears in two forms: atypical diffuse thinning, or homonymous hemi-GCIPL thinning. Examining GCIPL and RNFL provides easy and reliable objective measures and is therefore proposed to be of predictive value on visual function.

A novel 31bp deletion within the CDKL5 gene is significantly associated with growth traits in Dezhou donkey

The discovery of molecular markers which associate with livestock economic traits is of great significance for livestock breeding. Selective analysis has found a potential correlation between CDKL5 and growth traits, but there is still a lack of experimental proof. In this study, a 31-bp deletion (g.176595_176626delATGTCACATGTGGTACTGCCATGTGGAATTT) of CDKL5 gene was found by sequencing. The 31-bp indel was then genotyped in 380 individuals of Dezhou donkeys by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and there were three genotypes in this population. After the association analysis between growth traits and genotypes, it was found that this 31-bp indel polymorphism was significantly associated with the chest circumference of Dezhou donkeys (p < 0.05), and body length, chest depth and rump width (p < 0.01). In addition, all individuals with DD genotype were better than those with other genotypes in growth traits. This study revealed that a newly identified polymorphic locus in the CDKL5 gene is related to growth traits, which provides a molecular marker for genetic improvement of Dezhou donkey and may lay a solid foundation for the breeding of Dezhou donkey.

The detection of SAS1B in serum provides clues for early diagnosis of thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of thyroid cancer is rising globally. Most patients progress slowly, but some patients develop lymph node and distant metastasis earlier, and their prognosis is poor. Therefore, early diagnosis and warning of malignancy are very meaningful for such patients. SAS1B gene is a newly discovered protein expressed on the surface of mature egg cells and has metalloendopeptidase activity. We aimed at exploring whether SAS1B is involved in the occurrence of thyroid cancer, and at providing evidence for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of thyroid cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, a rabbit anti-human SAS1B polyclonal antibody was prepared by gene recombination technology. The indirect ELISA method was used to detect the SAS1B protein expression in the serum of 69 patients with thyroid cancer and 55 normal controls, and the relevant pathological factors were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and PCR technology were used to investigate the expression levels of SAS1B protein and mRNA in 30 thyroid cancer tissues and 23 control thyroid tissues.

RESULTS

The titer of SAS1B recombinant antibody was 1:51200. The expression of SAS1B in the serum of patients with thyroid cancer was higher than that in the normal control group (p<0.01). The antibody had a good sensitivity in serum detection of cancer patients (p=0.008<0.01), the linear regression analysis result was that the expression of SAS1B gene was related to tumor envelope invasion and lymph node metastasis (p=0.003<0.01, p=0.003<0.01), and it was irrelevant to the patient's gender, age, tumor mass size, number of cancer foci, pathological stage, etc. (p>0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that SAS1B protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and membrane of thyroid cancer cells. The expression intensity in thyroid cancer tissues was higher than that in control tissues (p<0.05), but it was not expressed in normal thyroid tissues. Antibodies showed a good sensitivity that was used to detect thyroid cancer tissues (p=0.000<0.01). The results of ordinary PCR detection using thyroid cancer tissue and control thyroid tissue showed that the amplification products of the three domains (N-terminal, C-terminal and catalytic domain) of the SAS1B gene showed high expression in thyroid cancer tissue. q-PCR results showed that the expression of SAS1B gene in thyroid cancer and control thyroid tissue was higher than that in control group (p<0.05), and the genes of Aurora A and BARD1 related to centrosome replication and DNA replication forks protection during the proliferation were highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissue. The study results suggested that SAS1B was involved in the carcinogenesis of thyroid cancer. The Hum_mPLoc.2.0 software, PSORT Ⅱ software and UniProt software were used to predict that SAS1B protein had secretory protein properties.

CONCLUSIONS

The above data indicate that the SAS1B gene is closely related to the process of thyroid cancer and can serve as a good tumor marker that can be used for early diagnosis and early warning of thyroid malignancy.

Impacts of manufacture processes and geographical regions on the microbial profile of traditional Chinese cheeses

The microbiota of cheese plays a critical role in determining its organoleptic and other physicochemical properties. Thus, assessing the composition of the cheese microbiota community would help promote the growth of desirable taxa and ultimately to optimize flavor, quality and safety. Here we measured microbial diversity, microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids, and free amino acids in two traditional cheese-making strategies, Rushan and Rubing, processed in parallel from Lijiang, Eryuan, and Dengchuan of Yunnan province, China. We found distinct microbiota composition, and microbial diversity and richness in both Rushan and Rubing across all three regions, which were proportional to the scale of the cities where the cheeses were sampled. Furthermore, we found positive associations of Streptococcus and Acinetobacter with butyric acid, Phe and Tyr, which were negatively correlated with Lactococcus. For the first time, we provide evidence that environmental microbial contamination in cheese can be correlated with the manufacturing procedures and geographical regions. This should be paid more attention in upcoming cheese microbiota studies.

Advancing biological super-resolution microscopy through deep learning: a brief review

Biological super-resolution microscopy is a new generation of imaging techniques that overcome the ~200 nm diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy in spatial resolution. By providing novel spatial or spatiotemporal information on biological processes at nanometer resolution with molecular specificity, it plays an increasingly important role in biomedical sciences. However, its technical constraints also require trade-offs to balance its spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and light exposure of samples. Recently, deep learning has achieved breakthrough performance in many image processing and computer vision tasks. It has also shown great promise in pushing the performance envelope of biological super-resolution microscopy. In this brief review, we survey recent advances in using deep learning to enhance the performance of biological super-resolution microscopy, focusing primarily on computational reconstruction of super-resolution images. Related key technical challenges are discussed. Despite the challenges, deep learning is expected to play an important role in the development of biological super-resolution microscopy. We conclude with an outlook into the future of this new research area.

Application of the "telescopic rod" in a combined surgical technique for the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children

Background

The current surgical treatment of choice is the combination surgical technique, involving tibial intramedullary fixation to maintain the mechanical axis and mechanical stability of tibial pseudarthrosis. In traditional combined surgery, the Williams rod is often used. Long-term intramedullary fixation of the foot and ankle will affect the ankle joint function of children. The intramedullary rod is relatively shorter due to the growth of the distal tibia. In addition, there are some complications such as epiphyseal bone bridge and high-arched foot. The use of a telescopic intramedullary rod may avoid these complications.

Purposes

To investigate the initial effect of the “telescopic rod” in a combined surgical technique for the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children.

Methods

A retrospective study including 15 patients with Crawford type IV CPT who were treated using a combined surgical technique and the telescopic rod from January 2017 to May 2018. The average age at the time of surgery was 43.3 months (16–126 months). Of the 15 patients, 7 had proximal tibia dysplasia and 12 exhibited neurofibromatosis type 1. The combined surgical technique using the telescopic rod included the excision of pseudarthrosis, intramedullary rod insertion, installation of Ilizarov’s fixator, tibia-fibular cross union, and wrapping autogenic iliac bone graft. The incidence of refracture, ankle valgus, tibial valgus, and limb length discrepancy (LLD) in patients were investigated.

Results

All patients achieved primary union with an average follow-up time of 37.3 months (26–42 months). The mean primary union time was 4.5 months (4.0–5.6 months). Nine cases showed LLD (60%), with an average limb length of 1.1 cm (0.5–2.0 cm). Ankle valgus, proximal tibial valgus, telescopic rod displacement, and epiphyseal plate tethering occurred in 1 case (6.6%) (18°), 3 cases (20%) (10°, 5°, and 6°, respectively), 6 cases (40%), and 2 cases (13%), respectively. There were no refractures during the follow-up periods.

Conclusion

Although there are complications such as intramedullary rod displacement while using the telescopic rod in a combined surgery, the primary healing rate of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children is high.

The APC10 subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome orchestrates NLRP3 inflammasome activation during the cell cycle

The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a crucial role in the innate immune response. During cell division, NLRP3 inflammasome activation must be strictly controlled. In this study, we discover that the anaphase-promoting complex subunit 10 (APC10), a substrate recognition protein of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), is a critical mediator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. During interphase, APC10 interacts with NLRP3 to promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation, whereas during mitosis, APC10 disassociates from the NLRP3 inflammasome to repress inflammatory responses. This study reveals a distinct mechanism by which APC10 serves as a switch for NLRP3 inflammasome activation during the cell cycle.

Unusual magnetization process and magnetocaloric effect in α-CoV2O6driven by pulsed magnetic fields

In low-dimensional Ising spin systems, an interesting observation is the presence of step magnetization at low temperatures. Here we combine both DC and pulsed magnetic fields to study the 1/3 magnetization plateau and multiple steps in the Ising spin-chain material α-CoV₂O₆. Magnetization in pulsed fields is quite different from that in DC fields, showing multiple steps in an intermediate range of 4.2-6 K, inverted hysteresis below 4.2 K and asymmetric magnetization in negative fields below 11 K. We demonstrate that these unusual behaviors in magnetization are caused by the spin dynamics and the anomalous magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in α-CoV₂O₆, i.e., abrupt changes of sample temperature in adiabatic conditions. We successfully separate the influence between the intrinsic slow spin dynamics and the quasi-extrinsic temperature change. From the MCE, we find that some irreversible behavior is originated from the slow spin dynamics. Two different slow dynamics associated with the metastable steps are observed: one is sensitive to the slow field sweep rate at the order of ∼mT s^-1and weakly depends on temperature, while the other responds to the rapid field sweep rate of ∼kT s^-1and dominates at lowest temperature. We also distinguish that the metastable transition atH₄is the first order and crucial for the ferrimagnetic to ferromagnetic transition. This study is useful to the understanding of multistep magnetization in α-CoV₂O₆and sheds light on recent experimental findings of related compounds.

Iridium(III)-Catalyzed Diarylation/Annulation of Benzoic Acids: Facile Access to Multi-Aryl Spirobifluorenes as Pure Hydrocarbon Hosts for High-Performance OLEDs

Herein disclosed is the first example of diarylation/annulation of benzoic acids via an iridium catalyst system. This protocol provides a step-economic and highly efficient pathway to 1-aryl, 1,3-diaryl, 1,7-diaryl and 1,3,7-triaryl spirobifluorenes from readily available starting materials. The applications of multi-aryl spirobifluorenes as pure hydrocarbon (PHC) hosts for red, green, and blue (RGB) phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) were explored. Due to high triplet energies, 1,3-diaryl spirobifluorenes exhibit the potential as the host material of blue PhOLEDs. 1,7-Diaryl spirobifluorene can serve as the host of green PhOLEDs. 1,3,7-Triaryl spirobifluorene is a high-performance host for red PhOLEDs, which exhibits a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 27.3 %. This work not only exemplifies the great potential of multi-aryl spirobifluorenes as PHC hosts, but also offers a new approach for the synthesis of these PHC hosts.

Cataract prevalence following a nationwide policy to shorten wait time for cataract surgery

Background

Cataract is an age-related eye disease. Visual impairment from cataract can be restored by cataract surgery. In 2004 the Canadian federal government invested in a multibillion dollar wait time strategy to shorten the wait time for cataract surgery, a government-insured health service in all Canadian jurisdictions. We assessed if this nationwide policy reduced the number of Canadians waiting for cataract surgery as more individuals with cataract were free of cataract following the rapidly conducted surgery.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study we analyzed data from randomly selected individuals aged ≥ 45 years responding to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) in 2000/2001, 2003, 2005, and the CCHS Healthy Aging in 2008/2009. Information on cataract was obtained from self-reported questionnaire. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of cataract was calculated for comparisons.

Results

Cataract was reported by 0.93 million Canadians in 2000/2001, 0.99 million in 2003, 1.10 million in 2005, and 1.34 million in 2008/2009. This corresponds to an age- and sex-standardized prevalence of 8.9% in 2000/2001, 9.0% in 2003, 9.5% in 2005, and 10.2% (P <0.05) in 2008/2009. The increase in age- and sex-standardized prevalence was greater in individuals without secondary school graduation than those with secondary school graduation or higher (4.3% versus 1.3%, P < 0.05) and was seen in all Canadian provinces. The largest increase was documented in a province (Saskatchewan, from 9.8% in 2000/2001 to 12.6% in 2008/2009, P < 0.05) with the longest median wait times for cataract surgery (118 days in 2008) and the lowest number of ophthalmologists per 100 000 population (1.96 versus 3.35 national average).

Conclusions

The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of cataract increased 4‒5 years after the multibil- lion-dollar wait time strategy was launched in 2004. A lower threshold to diagnose cataract may be one potential reason for this finding. Further research is needed to understand the true reasons for the increase.

[Etiologies and treatments of the deficiency of gingival papilla]

Gingival papilla deficiency may cause dental plaque stagnation and food impaction, and may also affect the appearance and pronunciation when occurs in the upper anterior teeth. It has become a common concern of patients and doctors. The aetiological factors of gingival papilla deficiency were complex. Various surgical or non-surgical treatments have been reported. This paper reviews and analyzes the current research progress on the factors and treatment methods of gingival papilla deficiency in domestic and foreign studies, summarizes the factors associated with the gingival papilla deficiency and summarizes the corresponding treatment strategy, so as to provide reference for clinical and research works.

Association of serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels with risk of pediatric fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The association between the risk of fractures and suboptimal vitamin D (Vit-D) status remains controversial in children. This meta-analysis suggested that serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels were lower in pediatric cases with fractures. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)Vit-D) levels less than 50 nmol/L were associated with increased fracture risk in children.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to assess the association between serum 25(OH)Vit-D and the risk of fractures in children, and to explore the sources of heterogeneity and investigate their impact on results.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted for observational studies comparing serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels between fracture and non-fracture pediatric cases. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Analysis on 17 case-control and 6 cross-sectional studies (2929 fracture cases and 5000 controls) suggested that 25(OH)Vit-D was lower in fracture cases than in controls (pooled mean difference (MD) = - 3.51 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 5.60 to - 1.42) with a heterogeneity (I²) of 73.9%. The sensitivity analysis which merged the case-control studies that had a NOS score ≥ 4 showed a pooled MD of - 4.35 nmol/L (95% CI: - 6.64 to - 2.06) with a heterogeneity (I²) of 35.9%. Pooled odds ratio of fracture in subjects with 25(OH)Vit-D ≤ 50 nmol/L compared to subjects with 25(OH)Vit-D > 50 nmol/L was 1.29 (95% CI: 1.10 to 1.53; I² < 1%).

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that serum 25(OH)Vit-D levels were lower in pediatric patients with fractures. 25(OH)Vit-D ≤ 50 nmol/L was associated with increased fracture risk in children.

A six years longitudinal cohort study on the changes in bone density and bone quality up to peak bone mass in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with and without 2 years of Calcium and Vit-D supplementation

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with osteopenia which could persist into adulthood affecting attainment of Peak Bone Mass thus resulting in osteoporosis in late adulthood. We previously reported a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial(the Cal study) showing significant bone health improvement with 2-year calcium(Ca)+Vit-D supplementation for AIS girls. This study addressed the important issue whether bone health improvement from the initial 2-year Ca+Vit-D supplementation could persist as subjects approached towards Peak Bone Mass at 6-year ie after 4-year of supplement discontinuation. This was an extension of the Cal study on AIS girls (11-14 years old, mean age=12.9 years, Tanner stage<IV) with femoral neck aBMD Z-score<0 and Cobb angle≥15∘. 330 subjects were randomized to Group1(placebo), Group2(600mgCa+400-IU-Vit-D3/day) or Group3(600mgCa+800-IU-Vit-D3/day) for 2-year supplementation after which supplementation was stopped. Investigations at baseline, 2-year and 6-year included High-resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography(HR-pQCT) at distal radius and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DXA) at both hips. 270(81.8%) subjects completed 2-year supplementation when changes in left femoral neck aBMD, trabecular vBMD, Trabecular BV/TV, Trabecular Number and Trabecular Separation indicated significant bone health improvement with Ca+Vit-D supplementation(p<0.05). At 6-year(mean age=19.2 years), no between-group difference on bone parameters was noted except increase in Cortical Thickness being greater only in Group3 than in Group1. After 4-year supplement discontinuation, the treatment effect from the initial 2-year supplementation mostly dissipated indicating the need of continued supplementation in AIS girls to sustain therapeutic improvement on bone health as subjects approach towards Peak Bone Mass.

A methyl-shield strategy enables efficient blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence hosts for high-performance fluorescent OLEDs

Here, we report a novel methyl-shield strategy to design ideal TADF hosts for the improvement of the performance of TSF-OLEDs. The methyl group on the xanthone acceptor acts like a shield to protect the luminance center from close intermolecular hydrogen bonding with adjacent molecules, thus alleviating exciton quenching, and meanwhile the small size of the methyl group almost does not disturb the π-π stacking between acceptors, thus maintaining fast electron-transport pathways. dMeACRXTO having two methyl shields is exploited as the host to achieve a record-high EQE of 32.3%, which represents the first report of an EQE above 30% in TSF-OLEDs.

LncRNA SNHG1 attenuates neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury by regulating CDK4 level

OBJECTIVE

Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most intractable complications of spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aims to explore the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG1 in influencing SCI-induced NP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After establishment of the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model in rats, spinal tissues were extracted. SNHG1 level in rat spinal tissues was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The role of SNHG1 in the development of NP was explored by assessing paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) in model rats. The interaction between SNHG1 and CDK4 was explored by Luciferase assay and RIP (RNA-Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qRT-PCR were conducted to determine inflammatory factor levels in rat spinal tissues.

RESULTS

SNHG1 was upregulated in rats undergoing SNL. Knockdown of SNHG1 alleviated the development of NP and overexpression of SNHG1 was capable of inducing NP symptoms in uninjured rats. SNHG1 induced NP by directly regulating CDK4 level.

CONCLUSIONS

SNHG1 is a novel target in the treatment of NP associated with neuroinflammation.

Effect of Antibacterial Root Canal Sealer on Persistent Apical Periodontitis

The infection of Enterococcus faecalis and its interacting microorganisms in the root canal could cause persistent apical periodontitis (AP). Antibacterial root canal sealer has favorable prospects to inhibit biofilms. The purpose of this study was to investigated the antibacterial effect of root canal sealer containing dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) on persistent AP in beagle dogs for the first time. Persistent AP was established by a two-step infection with Enterococcus faecalis and multi-bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomycesnaeslundii, Streptococcus gordonii). Root canal sealer containing DMADDM (0%, 1.25%, 2.5%) was used to complete root canal filling. The volume of lesions and inflammatory grade in the apical area were evaluated by cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Both Enterococcus-faecalis- and multi-bacteria-induced persistent AP caused severe apical destruction, and there were no significant differences in pathogenicity between them. DMADDM-modified sealer significantly reduced the volume of periapical lesion and inflammatory grade compared with the control group, among them, the therapeutic effect of the 2.5% group was better than the 1.25% group. In addition, E.faecalis-induced reinfection was more sensitive to the 2.5% group than multi-bacteria reinfection. This study shows that root canal sealer containing DMADDM had a remarkable therapeutic effect on persistent AP, especially on E. faecalis-induced reinfection.

AB0198 EFFICACY AND SAFETY AFTER TRANSITION FROM REFERENCE ADALIMUMAB TO CT-P17 (ADALIMUMAB BIOSIMILAR: 100 MG/ML) IN COMPARISON WITH THE MAINTAINED TREATMENT (CT-P17 OR REFERENCE ADALIMUMAB) IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE-TO-SEVERE ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: 1-YEAR RESULT

Background:

Therapeutic equivalence of CT-P17 to reference adalimumab (ref-adalimumab) has been shown in patients with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through primary 24-week results [1]. Here, efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and immunogenicity results up to 52-week, including transition data from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17 are presented.

Objectives:

To evaluate efficacy, PK, safety and immunogenicity when switched from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17 compared to maintaining CT-P17 or ref-adalimumab.

Methods:

In this study, 648 moderate-to-severe active RA patients despite methotrexate treatment were randomized (1:1) to either CT-P17 or ref-adalimumab and treated with doses of 40 mg every 2 weeks up to Week 24. Prior to dosing at Week 26, 608 patients were randomized again to either maintaining their treatments or being switched from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17. Efficacy, PK, safety, and immunogenicity were assessed up to Week 52.

Results:

After the second randomization, 303 patients continued with CT-P17, 153 patients continued with ref-adalimumab and 151 patients switched from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17 treatments, up to Week 48. Demographics and baseline characteristics were similar among the 3 groups. Sustained and comparable efficacy in terms of ACR20/50/70 response rates was achieved not only in the maintenance groups (CT-P17 or ref-adalimumab) but also in the switched from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17 group up to Week 52 (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

ACR 20/50/70 Response Rates up to 1 YearAbbreviation: ref-adalimumab, reference adalimumab.Note. There were patients who could not visit the study site due to COVID-19 pandemic and were counted as nonresponder for ACR response at Week 52.

In terms of PK, mean trough serum concentration (Ctrough) were maintained after Week 24 in all 3 groups. The observed mean Ctrough were within the reported therapeutic ranges of ref-adalimumab trough levels in RA patients (5-8 μg/mL).

The safety profile after transition was comparable among the 3 groups (Table 1). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was neutropenia. Similar proportions of patients in all 3 groups experienced at least 1 TEAE: injection site reactions, hypersensitivity/allergic reactions and infections. One malignancy (basal cell carcinoma; unrelated) was reported in the ref-adalimumab maintenance group. Safety data accumulated over 1 year also showed comparable results among the 3 groups. Anti-drug antibody (ADA) and neutralizing antibody (NAb) results were similar among the 3 groups. At Week 52, the proportions of patients who had ADA/NAbs were 28.4%/24.8% patients in CT-P17 maintenance, 27.0%/24.3% patients in ref-adalimumab maintenance and 28.3%/26.3% patients in switched to CT-P17 groups.

Conclusion:

Single transition from ref-adalimumab to CT-P17 was efficacious and safe without increase in immunogenicity. Also, efficacy, PK, safety and immunogenicity profiles were comparable between CT-P17 and ref-adalimumab up to Week 52.

References:

[1]J Kay et al, 2020. Poster Presented at ACR Convergence 2020.

Table 1.

Overview of TEAEs from Weeks 26 to 52 (Safety Population – second random subset)

Patients, n (%)Second RandomizationCT-P17 Maintenance(N=303)Ref-ada Maintenance(N=152)Switched to CT-P17 (N=152)≥1 TEAE121 (39.9)69 (45.4)73 (48.0)≥1 TESAE6 (2.0)3 (2.0)5 (3.3)≥1 TEAE leading to study drug discontinuation3 (1.0)2 (1.3)5 (3.3)≥1 TEAE classified as hypersensitivity/allergic reactions2 (0.7)1 (0.7)0 (0)≥1 TEAE classified as injection site reactions1 (0.3)4 (2.6)1 (0.7)≥1 TEAE classified as infection54 (17.8)41 (27.0)28 (18.4)≥1 TEAE classified as malignancy0 (0)1 (0.7)0 (0)

Abbreviations: Ref-ada, reference adalimumab; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event; TESAE, treatment-emergent serious adverse event.

Disclosure of Interests:

Daniel Furst Speakers bureau: CME, Consultant of: Amgen, Corbus, Galapagos, Horizon, Kadmon, Pfizer, Talaris, Grant/research support from: Corbus, CSL Behring, Galapagos, Gilead, GSK, Horizon, Kadmon, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche/Genetech, Talaris, Edward Keystone Speakers bureau: Amgen, AbbVie, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Janssen Inc., Merck, Novartis, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celltrion Inc., Myriad Autoimmune, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc, Gilead, Janssen Inc., Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz, Sanofi-Genzyme, Samsung Bioepis, Grant/research support from: Amgen, Merck, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, PuraPharm, Jonathan Kay Consultant of: AbbVie, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Celltrion Healthcare Co. Ltd., Jubilant Radiopharma, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc., Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz Inc., Scipher Medicine, UCB, Inc., Grant/research support from: Paid to the University of Massachusetts Medical School: Gilead Sciences Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Pfizer Inc., Janusz Jaworski: None declared, Rafal Wojciechowski: None declared, Piotr Wiland Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis, Sandoz, Consultant of: Eli Lilly, Novartis, Sandoz, Anna Dudek: None declared, Marek Krogulec: None declared, Sławomir Jeka Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Teva, MSD, Abbvie, Sandoz, Egis, Medac, Consultant of: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Teva, MSD, Abbvie, Sandoz, Egis, Medac, Agnieszka Zielinska: None declared, Jakub Trefler: None declared, Katarzyna Bartnicka-Masłowska: None declared, Magdalena Krajewska-Wlodarczyk Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche, Piotr Klimiuk: None declared, Sang Joon Lee Employee of: Celltrion, Inc., Sung Hyun Kim Employee of: Celltrion, Inc., YunJu Bae Employee of: Celltrion, Inc., GoEun Yang Employee of: Celltrion, Inc., JaeKyoung Yoo Employee of: Celltrion, Inc., TaeKyung Kim Employee of: Celltrion, Inc.

MiR-138-5p predicts negative prognosis and exhibits suppressive activities in hepatocellular carcinoma HCC by targeting FOXC1

OBJECTIVE

Accumulating evidence verified that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the development of several cancers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The levels of miR-138-5p and forkhead box c1 (FOXC1) were examined using quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, migration, and Transwell invasion assays were conducted to examine the impact of miR-138-5p on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The protein expression of FOXC1 was detected using Western blotting assay. The tumor growth of HCC cell in vivo was analyzed using transplanted tumor model. The expressions of FOXC1 and Ki67 in vivo were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay.

RESULTS

We testified that miR-138-5p was down-expressed in HCC and the low level of miR-138-5p was related to the poor clinical outcome of patient with HCC. Moreover, miR-138-5p repressed the growth and metastatic phenotypes of HCC cells. Consistent with the results in vitro investigations, we revealed that miR-138-5p served as a suppressive miRNA in the growth of HCC cell in vivo. By using the luciferase assay and immunoblotting, we validated that FOXC1 was a potential downstream gene of miR-138-5p. Finally, our results showed that re-expression of FOXC1 rescued the growth and metastatic-related traits of HCC cell inhibited by miR-138-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, our observations imply that miR-138-5p restrains the aggressive phenotypes of HCC cell via modulating FOXC1.

BaZiBuShen alleviates altered testicular morphology and spermatogenesis and modulates Sirt6/P53 and Sirt6/NF-κB pathways in aging mice induced by D-galactose and NaNO2

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sperm infertility and testicular atrophy are symptoms associated with aging. BaZiBuShen formula (BZBS), a patented Chinese herbal prescription composed of Semen Cuscutae, Fructus Lycii, Epimedii Folium, Fructus Schisandrae Sphenantherae, Fructus Cnidii, Fructus Rosae Laevigatae, Semen Allii Tuberosi., Radix Morindae Officinalis, Herba Cistanches, Fructus Rubi, Radix Rehmanniae Recens, Radix Cyathulae, Radix Ginseng, Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum, Hippocampus, and Fuctus Toosendan, has been used as a kidney-tonifying and anti-aging drug as well as for the treatment of impotence and male infertility in traditional Chinese medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed at investigating whether BZBS preserves sperm and testes morphology in aging mice, and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BZBS was orally administered to aging mice induced by D-galactose (D-gal) and NaNO2 for 65 days. Sperm quality and testes pathophysiological alterations were examined by a Semen Analysis System, hematoxylin-eosin staining, transmission electron microscopy, and mitochondrial complex IV activity. In addition, serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSSG), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by ELISA. The expressions of P450 aromatase (CYP19), sirtuin 6 (Sirt6), P53, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-p65, and phospho-NF-κB-p65 (NF-κB-pp65) in the testes were examined by western blot and/or immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

Sustained exposure to D-gal/NaNO2 caused a deterioration of sperm quality and testes morphology in this rapid aging mouse model. BZBS treatment curtailed these alterations. These beneficial effects were associated with increased serum levels of TAC, GSH/GSSG, T, E2, and FSH, and decreased levels of MDA, TNF-α, and 8-OH-dG. BZBS treatment also downregulated the expressions of P53, iNOS, and NF-κB-pp65, as well as upregulated the expressions of Sirt6 and CYP19 in aging testes.

CONCLUSIONS

BZBS preserves testicular morphology and spermatogenesis possibly via inhibition of oxidative stress and the modulation of the Sirt6/P53 and Sirt6/NF-κB signaling pathways. The results shed light on the beneficial effect of BZBS on sperm quality and fertility in aging males.

Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and ablation performance of C/C-SiC composites containing ZrSi2-Si

Low-temperature reactive melt infiltration (LRMI) is advantageous for the fabrication of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). However, residual metal in CMCs prepared by LRMI deteriorates the high-temperature properties. In this study, C/C–SiC composites containing ZrSi₂–Si were prepared using LRMI at 1400 °C, and the effect of heat treatment at 1400 °C for 10, 20, or 30 h on the microstructure and ablation properties of the composites fabricated using three different ternary alloys (e.g., Zr_0.047B_0.0378Si_0.9152, Zr_0.0724B_0.0366Si_0.891, and Zr_0.1B_0.05Si_0.85) was investigated. The results show that the residual Si in the composites can be decreased by volatilisation and the reaction between Si and C during heat treatment, resulting in a decrease in the density and an increase in the SiC content. The ablation rates of the composites after heat treatment for 20 h were lower than those of the samples after heat treatment for 30 and 10 h. Among the three alloys, the composites prepared using Zr_0.0724B_0.0366Si_0.891 demonstrated the best ablation performance. Their linear and mass ablation rates at 1911 °C were −0.11 μm s⁻¹ and 1.82 μg s⁻¹, respectively.

C/C–SiC composites containing ZrSi₂–Si were prepared using low-temperature reactive melt infiltration (LRMI) at 1400 °C, and the thermal chemical ablation of the composites was examined.

Effects of Cryopreservation on Acrosin Activity and DNA Damage of Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) Semen

BACKGROUND

Cryopreservation of sturgeon sperm can be successful, but there can be a decrease in sperm viability and the reasons are not clear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate variations in the acrosin activity and the DNA integrity of Acipenser gueldenstaedtii semen during cryopreservation at -196ºC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fish semen samples were randomly divided into three groups: [1] fresh control; [2] native semen diluted 1:1 with 23.4 mM sucrose + 0.25 mM KCl + 30 mM Tris (pH 8.0) and the addition of 10% methanol as cryoprotectant; and [3] semen without any diluents or cryoprotectants. Acrosin activity and DNA damage (COMET assay) were assessed.

RESULTS

The average acrosin activity fell to 61% and 27% of the control for cryoprotected and non-cryoprotected semen after cryopreservation. The differences among the three groups were significant (P<0.05). We also observed that various indexes of DNA damage (L-tail; tail DNA, tail momentum, olive tail momentum) were higher in semen that had been frozen.

CONCLUSION

Although cryopreservation of semen induces decreased acrosin activity and increased DNA damage, cryoprotectants can protect the semen during cryopreservation.