Loss of miR-29a impairs decidualization of endometrial stromal cells by TET3 mediated demethylation of Col1A1 promoter

A conceptual framework for understanding abnormal endometrial decidualization, with considerable significance for the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal decidualization-related changes in non-receptive endometrium in implantation failure during early pregnancy is very important. Here, we found the expression levels of miR-29a in endometrial tissues were associated with the menstrual phases and pregnancy outcome. Inhibition of miR-29a led to decreased decidualization of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in vitro, whereas Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) and its potential demethylation target, the collagen type I alpha 1 chain (Col1A1), were restored. The binding capacity of TET3 to the Col1A1 promoter could be enhanced by the inhibition of miR-29a. Finally, deletion of TET3 rescued the inhibitory effect of the miR-29a antagomir on the proliferation of decidualized ESCs in vitro and embryo implantation in vivo. Thus, loss of miR-29a causes implantation failure because of the limitation of ESCs decidualization-related changes in non-receptive endometrium during early pregnancy.

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Loss of miR-29a inhibits decidualization of ESCs

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TET3 demethylates the Col1A1 promoter

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Loss of miR-29a enhances the binding capacity of TET3 to the Col1A1 promoter

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Loss of miR-29a suppresses embryo implantation during early pregnancy in mice

The prognostic values of serum markers in hepatocellular carcinoma after invasive therapies based on real-world data

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancy with poor prognosis, and the mortality rate remains high. More than 70% of HCC patients have recurrence within 5 years after treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic values of serum markers with retrospective data.

METHODS

We applied real-world data (RWD) to analyze the prognostic values of six serum markers for HCC patients after treatment, including α-fetoprotein (AFP), α-fetoprotein-L3 (AFP-L3), Golgi protein73 (GP73), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), and total bilirubin (TBil). A total of 268 cases were enrolled to analyze recurrence-free survival (RFS), and 104 cases were used to analyze overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that patients with higher AFP and AFP-L3 had shorter RFS (p = 0.016 and 0.004), while higher GP73, ALT, and TBil experienced longer RFS (p = 0.000, 0.020, and 0.019). Patients with high-level GP73, ALT, TBil, and low-level ALB had significantly higher mortality rate (p=0.035, 0.008, 0.010, and 0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed that GP73 (HR = 1.548, p = 0.001) and ALT (HR = 1.316, p = 0.046) were identified as independent prognostic factors for RFS, ALB (HR = 0.127, p = 0.007), and ALT (HR = 0.237, p = 0.01) were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS. Subgroups analysis showed that GP73 had better prognostic values than other serum markers in early-stage HCC (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that AFP, AFP-L3, and GP73 can be used as prognostic indicators for predicting the recurrence of HCC, while liver function tests have better survival prediction values. GP73 can act as a promising prognostic marker for early-stage HCC.

Multiharmonic Correlations of Different Flow Amplitudes in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV

The event-by-event correlations between three flow amplitudes are measured for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions, using higher-order symmetric cumulants. We find that different three-harmonic correlations develop during the collective evolution of the medium when compared to correlations that exist in the initial state. These new results cannot be interpreted in terms of previous lower-order flow measurements since contributions from two-harmonic correlations are explicitly removed in the new observables. A comparison to Monte Carlo simulations provides new and independent constraints for the initial conditions and system properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions.

Practice patterns of pediatric total body irradiation techniques: A Children's Oncology Group survey

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine current practice patterns in pediatric total body irradiation (TBI) techniques among xxx member institutions.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between Nov 2019 and Feb 2020 a questionnaire, containing 52 questions related to the technical aspects of TBI was sent to medical physicists at 152 xxx institutions. The questions were designed to obtain technical information on commonly used TBI treatment techniques. Another set of 9 questions related to the clinical management of patients undergoing TBI was sent to 152 xxx member radiation oncologists at the same institutions.

RESULTS

Twelve institutions were excluded because TBI was not performed in their institutions. A total of 88 physicists from 88 institutions (63% response rate) and 96 radiation oncologists from 96 institutions responded (69% response rate). The AP/PA technique was the most common (49 institutions - 56%); 44 institutions (50%) used the lateral technique and 14 institutions (16%) used volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)/Tomotherapy. Mid-plane dose rates of 6-15 cGy/min were most commonly used. The most common specification for lung dose was the mid lung dose for both AP/PA (71%) and lateral (63%) techniques. All physician responders agreed with the need to refine current TBI techniques and 79% supported the investigation of new TBI techniques to further lower the lung dose.

CONCLUSION

There is no consistency in the practice patterns, methods for dose measurement and reporting of TBI doses among xxx institutions. The lack of a standardization precludes meaningful correlation between TBI doses and clinical outcomes including disease control and normal tissue toxicity. The xxx radiation oncology discipline is currently undertaking several steps to standardize the practice and dose reporting of pediatric TBI using detailed questionnaires and phantom-based credentialing for all xxx centers.

Soft-Dielectron Excess in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A measurement of dielectron production in proton-proton (pp) collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, recorded with the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC, is presented in this Letter. The data set was recorded with a reduced magnetic solenoid field. This enables the investigation of a kinematic domain at low dielectron (ee) invariant mass m_{ee} and pair transverse momentum p_{T,ee} that was previously inaccessible at the LHC. The cross section for dielectron production is studied as a function of m_{ee}, p_{T,ee}, and event multiplicity dN_{ch}/dη. The expected dielectron rate from hadron decays, called hadronic cocktail, utilizes a parametrization of the measured η/π^{0} ratio in pp and proton-nucleus collisions, assuming that this ratio shows no strong dependence on collision energy at low transverse momentum. Comparison of the measured dielectron yield to the hadronic cocktail at 0.15<m_{ee}<0.6  GeV/c^{2} and for p_{T,ee}<0.4  GeV/c indicates an enhancement of soft dielectrons, reminiscent of the "anomalous" soft-photon and soft-dilepton excess in hadron-hadron collisions reported by several experiments under different experimental conditions. The enhancement factor over the hadronic cocktail amounts to 1.61±0.13(stat)±0.17(syst,data)±0.34(syst,cocktail) in the ALICE acceptance. Acceptance-corrected excess spectra in m_{ee} and p_{T,ee} are extracted and compared with calculations of dielectron production from hadronic bremsstrahlung and thermal radiation within a hadronic many-body approach.

TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis and alleviates cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent age-related disorder due to cartilage degradation. Previous studies have identified aberrant chondrocyte homeostasis under extracellular stress as a key pathological mechanism behind cartilage degradation in OA. TDP-43, a DNA/RNA-binding protein has been demonstrated to participate in processing many extracellular stress responses; however, understanding of the role of TDP-43 in OA is limited. This study aims to investigate the role of TDP-43 in chondrocyte homeostasis and cartilage degradation in OA.

METHODS

The role of TDP-43 during degradation of cartilage is examined by experimental posttraumatic OA animal models and human cartilage specimens. Cartilage degradation is assessed by histological analysis, qPCR, and Western blot. The molecular mechanisms are investigated in vitro using human primary chondrocytes.

RESULTS

TDP-43 decreases significantly in degenerated cartilage. TDP-43 concentration is positively correlated with IL-1β concentration in synovial fluid derived from OA patients (Pearson r = 0.95, CI (95%) [0.80, 0.99], P < 0.0001). Intra-articular injection of recombinant TDP-43 significantly alleviates cartilage degradation and subchondral bone remodeling in vivo. In vitro mechanistic analyses show that TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis under oxidative stress through regulating stress granule dynamics via G3BP1.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis under oxidative stress and alleviates cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis, identifying TDP-43 as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of knee OA.

Exploring the Protective Effect of ShenQi Compound on Skeletal Muscle in Diabetic Macrovasculopathy Mice

OBJECTIVE

ShenQi compound (SQC) is a traditional herbal formula, which has been used to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and complications for years. The aim of this study was to explore the preventive and protective effects of SQC recipe on the skeletal muscle of diabetic macrovasculopathy mice, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical use of this formula.

METHODS

We evaluated the effect of SQC in a diabetic vasculopathy mouse model by detecting a series of blood indicators (blood glucose, lipids and insulin) and performing histological observations. Meanwhile, we explored the molecular mechanism of SQC treatment on skeletal muscle by genome expression profiles.

RESULTS

The results indicated that SQC could effectively improve blood glucose, serum lipids (total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)) and insulin (INS) levels in diabetic vasculopathy mice, as well as alleviating skeletal muscle tissue damage for diabetic macrovasculopathy. Meanwhile, compared with rosiglitazone, SQC showed a better effect on blood glucose fluctuation. Moreover, the gene microarray analysis indicated that SQC might improve T2DM by affecting biological functions related to cell death and cell adhesion. Moreover, 7 genes (Celsr2, Rilpl1, Dlx6as, 2010004M13Rik, Anapc13, Gm6097, Ddx39b) might be potential therapeutic targets of SQC.

CONCLUSION

All these results indicate that SQC is an effective preventive and protective drug for skeletal muscle in diabetic macrovasculopathy, and could alleviate skeletal muscle tissue damage through affecting biological functions related to cell death and cell adhesion.

AB0288 SAFETY OF BELIMUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: YEAR 2 FOLLOW-UP OF A LARGE PHASE 4, RANDOMISED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Background:

Belimumab (BEL), a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), is approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical studies have yielded varying incidence rates of mortality and adverse events of special interest, such as malignancies, thereby necessitating large-scale, long-term assessment following BEL exposure.

Objectives:

To assess all-cause mortality and new primary malignancies during post-treatment Year 2 follow-up in adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE who received intravenous (IV) BEL or placebo (PBO), plus standard therapy in the 52-week double-blind treatment period of the ongoing BASE trial.1

Methods:

This was a post-treatment follow-up of the Phase 4, double-blind study (BASE1; GSK Study BEL115467; NCT01705977), which randomised 4019 adults with active SLE and receiving standard therapy to BEL (10 mg/kg IV) or PBO on Days 0, 14, 28, and monthly thereafter until Week 48. All patients (including those who discontinued BEL before the end-of-treatment phase) were contacted by phone annually (+/-30-day time window). Rates of mortality and new primary malignancy are summarised for Year 2 follow-up, presented by the treatment received during the 52-week double-blind treatment period (Year 1).

Results:

Baseline patient characteristics and disease activity collected at the start of the study, evaluated in patients with Year 2 follow-up were similar to the overall Year 1 study population. Cumulatively by Year 2 follow-up, 10.7% and 9.5% of patients had been exposed to commercial BEL in the BEL and PBO groups, respectively. Cumulative follow-up adjusted mortality and malignancy rates (per 100 patient years) were lower in the BEL vs PBO Year 1 treatment group (Table 1).

Conclusion:

Year 2 follow-up results of BASE, the largest clinical trial of SLE to date,1 provide continued support for the BEL safety profile. No new BEL safety concerns were identified in patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE receiving standard therapy.

Funding: GSK

References:

[1]Sheikh SZ, et al. Lancet Rheum. 2020 (ePub ahead of print) doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30355-6

Table 1.

Year 2 post-treatment* follow-up mortality and new primary malignancy rates by study treatment during Year 1

BELPBOTotalYear 1 as-treated populationN=2002N=2001N=4003Year 1 deaths, n (%)13 (0.65)22 (1.10)35 (0.87)Year 1 new primary malignancies, n (%)9 (0.45)10 (0.50)19 (0.47)Year 2 (as-treated in Year 1) populationN=1681N=1666N=3347Year 2 deaths by MedDRA SOC, n (%)9 (0.54)21 (1.26)30 (0.90)Cardiac disorders2 (0.12)6 (0.36)8 (0.24)Infections and infestations4 (0.24)2 (0.12)6 (0.18)Uncoded1 (0.06)3 (0.18)4 (0.12)General disorders/administration site conditions1 (0.06)2 (0.12)3 (0.09)Gastrointestinal disorders1 (0.06)1 (0.06)2 (0.06)Neoplasms02 (0.12)2 (0.06)Other05 (0.30)†5 (0.15)Cumulative deaths by Year 2 follow-up, n (%)22 (1.10)43 (2.15)65 (1.62)Incidence rate per 100 patient years0.601.180.89Year 2 new primary malignancies by MedDRA SOC, n (%)3 (0.18)4 (0.24)7 (0.21)Neoplasms2 (0.12)4 (0.24)6 (0.18)Hepatobiliary disorders1 (0.06)01 (0.03)Cumulative malignancies by Year 2 follow-up, n (%)12 (0.60)14 (0.70)26 (0.65)Patient incidence rate per 100 patient years0.340.400.37

*Patients in the post-treatment follow-up period are no longer receiving study treatment; †1 event/patient: blood/lymphatic system, musculoskeletal/connective tissue, nervous system, psychiatric, and renal/urinary disorders.

MedDRA, Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities; SOC, system organ class.

Acknowledgements:

Medical writing assistance was provided by Katalin Bartus, PhD, Fishawack Indicia Ltd., UK, part of Fishawack Health, and was funded by GSK.

Disclosure of Interests:

Saira Sheikh Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Morton Scheinberg Consultant of: GSK, Pfizer, Alnylam, AbbVie, PTC Therapeutics, James Cheng-Chung Wei Consultant of: TSH Biopharm, AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Chugai, Eisai, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and UCB pharma, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Sun and UCB, Dana Tegzová: None declared, William Stohl Consultant of: GSK, Grant/research support from: GSK, Pfizer, Gilead, Tamara Mucenic Speakers bureau: Novartis, Janssen, BMS, AbbVie, Pfizer, Roche, Grant/research support from: GSK, Janssen, Roche, Eli Lilly, Gilead, UCB, Raj Punwaney Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Regina Kurrasch Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Julia Harris Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Saima Muzaffar Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Sofia Fernandes Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Norma Lynn Fox Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Andrew Liu Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, Holly Quasny Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK, David Roth Shareholder of: GSK, Employee of: GSK

Application of contrast-enhanced dual-energy spectral CT for differentiating borderline from malignant epithelial ovarian tumours

AIM

To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT) in differentiating borderline epithelial ovarian tumours (BEOTs) from malignant epithelial ovarian tumours (MEOTs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty patients who underwent pelvic contrast-enhanced spectral CT were divided into two groups for analysis based on the tumour types confirmed at histopathological examination (26 BEOTs and 34 MEOTs). The regions of interest (ROIs) were selected on solid tumour components to measure attenuation values on monochromatic image sets (40-140 keV) in all imaging phases and tumour iodine concentrations (IC) on material decomposition images. Differences in the attenuation value between the unenhanced and contrast-enhanced phases (enhancement degree) and between energy strengths (slope k, k = [attenuation at 40 keV- attenuation at 140 keV]/100) were calculated. All measurements between the two groups were compared with independent t-test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of using combined parameters in two-phase contrast-enhanced images.

RESULTS

In the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP), the BEOTs had significantly lower enhancement than MEOTs from 40 to 100 keV (p<0.05). The k values and IC values both showed significant differences in the AP and VP (p<0.05). Combining parameters in two contrast-enhanced phases provided 80.8% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity in differentiating MEOTs from BEOTs with an AUC of 0.844.

CONCLUSION

Dual-energy spectral CT provides a multiparametric approach in differentiating BEOTs from MEOTs with the best diagnostic efficacy using combined parameters in the AP and VP images.

The portrayal of people with dwarfism in Chinese art

Dwarfism has been depicted in various Chinese art forms including literature, sculpture, and painting. This article examines several representative Chinese works of art from different ages of Chinese history, in order to glimpse the living situations of people with dwarfism, their professions and social status, as well as the social attitude toward them in China. We highlight "" (Shan Hai Jing, translated as the Classic of Mountains and Seas), a remarkable collection of myths and illustrations which documented the existence of dwarf communities where the residents were capable of producing high-quality grains. Representations from sculptures and paintings frequently captured the images of individuals with dwarfism in royal courts, which showed their remarkable performance skills and social ability. There are also works of art associating dwarfism with rituals. In addition to portraying ordinary individuals with humble social status, there was one particular individual with dwarfism named Yan Zi () who was highly regarded as a figure of wisdom. Throughout the long Chinese history, dwarfism had been portrayed in art as either positive, neutral or derogatory, which reflected the fact that people with dwarfism, while short in stature, are usually intellectually normal, generally skillful, and often talented, in short, like the general population.

Frontal plane knee alignment mediates the effect of frontal plane rearfoot motion on knee joint load distribution during walking in people with medial knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the nature of differences in the relationship between frontal plane rearfoot kinematics and knee adduction moment (KAM) magnitudes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study resulting from a combination of overground walking biomechanics data obtained from participants with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis at two separate sites. Statistical models were created to examine the relationship between minimum frontal plane rearfoot angle (negative values = eversion) and different measures of the KAM, including examination of confounding, mediation, and effect modification from knee pain, radiographic disease severity, static rearfoot alignment, and frontal plane knee angle.

RESULTS

Bivariable relationships between minimum frontal plane rearfoot angle and the KAM showed consistent negative correlations (r = -0.411 to -0.447), indicating higher KAM magnitudes associated with the rearfoot in a more everted position during stance. However, the nature of this relationship appears to be mainly influenced by frontal plane knee kinematics. Specifically, frontal plane knee angle during gait was found to completely mediate the relationship between minimum frontal plane rearfoot angle and the KAM, and was also an effect modifier in this relationship. No other variable significantly altered the relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

While there does appear to be a moderate relationship between frontal plane rearfoot angle and the KAM, any differences in the magnitude of this relationship can likely be explained through an examination of frontal plane knee angle during walking. This finding suggests that interventions derived distal to the knee should account for the effect of frontal plane knee angle to have the desired effect on the KAM.

Elliptic Flow of Electrons from Beauty-Hadron Decays in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The elliptic flow of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity (|y|<0.8) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The azimuthal distribution of the particles produced in the collisions can be parametrized with a Fourier expansion, in which the second harmonic coefficient represents the elliptic flow, v_{2}. The v_{2} coefficient of electrons from beauty hadron decays is measured for the first time in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) range 1.3-6  GeV/c in the centrality class 30%-50%. The measurement of electrons from beauty-hadron decays exploits their larger mean proper decay length cτ≈500  μm compared to that of charm hadrons and most of the other background sources. The v_{2} of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity is found to be positive with a significance of 3.75  σ. The results provide insights into the degree of thermalization of beauty quarks in the medium. A model assuming full thermalization of beauty quarks is strongly disfavored by the measurement at high p_{T}, but is in agreement with the results at low p_{T}. Transport models including substantial interactions of beauty quarks with an expanding strongly interacting medium describe the measurement within uncertainties.

The Prophylactic Use of Tirofiban versus Oral Antiplatelet Medications in Stent-Assisted Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The protocol for optimal antiplatelet therapy to prevent thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with cerebral aneurysms using an endovascular approach is not clear.

PURPOSE

Our study analyzed the safety and efficacy of prophylactic tirofiban administration compared with oral antiplatelet drug therapy.

DATA SOURCES

We used the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library data bases.

STUDY SELECTION

Our study consisted of all case series with >5 patients that reported treatment-related outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular procedures pretreated with tirofiban or oral antiplatelet drug therapy.

DATA ANALYSIS

Random effects or fixed effects meta-analysis was used to pool the cumulative rate of complications, perioperative mortality, and good clinical outcomes.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Fifteen studies with 1981 patients were registered. Thromboembolic complications were significantly lower in the tirofiban group (3.6%; 95% CI, 1.9%-5.8%) compared with the dual-antiplatelet therapy group (8.5%, 95% CI, 4.5%-13%; P = .04). Pretreatment with tirofiban did not remarkably increase the rate of hemorrhagic complications (3.5%; 95% CI, 1.8%-5.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (5.1%; 95% CI, 2.6%-8.5%; P = .371). There was a trend toward lower perioperative mortality with tirofiban (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.2%-1.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.7%-2.0%; P = .412). There was no significant difference in the safety and efficacy between the tirofiban bolus plus drip and drip alone.

LIMITATIONS

The limitations are selection and publication biases.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic therapy with tirofiban resulted in significantly lower rates of thromboembolic complications with no increase in hemorrhagic events or mortality than the prophylactic use of dual-antiplatelet therapy.