[Airway inflammation and small airway wall remodeling in neutrophilic asthma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the distribution of airway inflammation phenotype in patients with bronchial asthma (asthma), and to analyze clinical characteristics, inflammatory cytokines, pulmonary small vessels remodeling and small airway wall remodeling in patients with neutrophilic asthma.

METHODS

Sixty-three patients with asthma were enrolled from January 2015 to December 2015 in Peking University Third Hospital. Clinical data including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), asthma control test (ACT) were recorded. All the patients underwent sputum induction. The cellular composition of the sputum was evaluatedand the concentration of active MMP-9 in the sputum tested. Blood routine tests were done and the concentration of IgE, periostin, and TGF-beta1 levels were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Small airway wall remodeling was measured in computed tomography (CT) scans, as the luminal diameter, luminal area, wall thickness and wall area % adjusted by body surface area (BSA) at the end of the 6th generation airway, in which the inner diameter was less than 2 mm. Small vascular alterations were measured by cross-sectional area (CSA), and the total vessel CSA < 5 mm² was calculated using imaging software.

RESULTS

The distributions of airway inflammatory phenotypes of the asthmatic patients were as follows: neutrophilic asthma (34.9%, 22/63), eosinophilic asthma (34.9%, 22/63), mixed granulocytic asthma (23.8%, 15/63), and paucigranulocytic asthma (6.3%, 4/63). The neutrophilic subtype patients had a significantly higher active MMP-9 level in sputum compared with the eosinophilic phenotypepatuents, as 179.1 (74.3, 395.5) vs. 50.5 (9.7, 225.8), P<0.05. Sputum neutrophil count was negatively correlated with FEV1%pred (r=-0.304,P<0.05), and positively correlated with active MMP-9 level in sputum (r=-0.304, P<0.05), and positive correlation trend with airway wall thickness (r=0.533, P=0.06). There was a significantly negative correlation of active MMP-9 level in sputum with FEV1%pred (r=-0.281, P<0.05), in positive correlation with small airway wall area (%)(r=0.612, P<0.05), and inpositive correlation trend with airway wall thickness (r=0.612, P=0.06). Neutrophils count in peripheral blood was positively correlated with neutrophil counts in sputum.

CONCLUSION

Neutrophil count in airway is related to lung function in asthmatic patients. Neutrophils may accelerate small airway wall remodeling through the release of active MMP-9. Neutrophil count in peripheral blood is related to neutrophils count in sputum, which may be used as a substitute for evaluating inflammatory phenotype.

Pentraxin 3 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma in non-neutropenic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis

OBJECTIVES

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) contributes to resistance to Aspergillus infections. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of PTX3 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma in non-neutropenic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis.

METHODS

BALF (n = 211) and plasma samples (n = 307) were collected from patients initially suspected of having pulmonary aspergillosis. Among these, 112 cases (51 BALF samples and 89 plasma samples) were proven to be pulmonary aspergillosis. These cases were classified as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), subacute invasive aspergillosis (SAIA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). The remaining cases were non-aspergillosis controls and were diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), lung cancer and pulmonary cryptococcosis. Plasma samples from healthy controls (n = 30) were also collected.

RESULTS

The median (interquartile range, IQR) BALF PTX3 for aspergillosis cases was significantly higher than for non-aspergillosis cases: 6.97 (2.91-13.51) ng/mL versus 1.26 (0.76-1.76) ng/mL. When the PTX3 threshold was set at 1.9 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity of BALF PTX3 for aspergillosis were 86.3% (95%CI 83.8-88.4%) and 82.5% (95%CI 79.7-85.0%), respectively. The median (IQR) plasma PTX3 for aspergillosis cases was significantly higher than for non-aspergillosis cases and healthy controls: 7.10 (3.36-9.53) ng/mL versus 1.57 (0.86-2.35) ng/mL versus 1.10 (0.49-1.51) ng/mL. With a PTX3 threshold of 2.3 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 79.8% (95%CI 70.1-81.2%) and 72.1% (95%CI 69.5-74.5%) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BALF and plasma PTX3 may be biomarkers for differentiating aspergillosis from other conditions such as CAP, lung cancer, and pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-neutropenic patients.

Plants send small RNAs in extracellular vesicles to fungal pathogen to silence virulence genes

Some pathogens and pests deliver small RNAs (sRNAs) into host cells to suppress host immunity. Conversely, hosts also transfer sRNAs into pathogens and pests to inhibit their virulence. Although sRNA trafficking has been observed in a wide variety of interactions, how sRNAs are transferred, especially from hosts to pathogens and pests, is still unknown. Here, we show that host Arabidopsis cells secrete exosome-like extracellular vesicles to deliver sRNAs into fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea These sRNA-containing vesicles accumulate at the infection sites and are taken up by the fungal cells. Transferred host sRNAs induce silencing of fungal genes critical for pathogenicity. Thus, Arabidopsis has adapted exosome-mediated cross-kingdom RNA interference as part of its immune responses during the evolutionary arms race with the pathogen.

The effect of energy restriction on fatty acid profiles of longissimus dorsi and tissue adipose depots in sheep

Sheep production systems in northwest China depend mostly on natural grasslands. Seasonal growth and maturity fluctuations can cause periodical restrictions in food quality and quantity. These fluctuations, in turn, result in variability in fat deposition and fatty acid profiles in different fat depots. Consequently, the study objective was to compare fat deposition, intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage and fatty acid profiles of the longissimus dorsi (LD), kidney fat (KF), tail fat (TF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) in lambs under ME restrictions similar to seasonal changes observed in the natural grasslands of northwest China. Nineteen male Dorper × Small Tailed Han lambs were assigned to 2 treatments, a control (CON) fed at 1.0 MJ / W × d and restricted (RES) by restricting ME sequentially every 30 d (0.56 MJ / W × d, 0.84 / W × d, 1.0 MJ / W × d, 0.84 MJ / W × d, 0.56 MJ / W × d, 0.28 MJ / W × d). All lambs were harvested at the end of the 180 d experimental period. Compared to CON fed lambs, restricting ME resulted in lesser IMF, fat deposition indexes ( < 0.05) except testicular and heart fat and greater ( < 0.05) SFA in LD, KF, and TF depots. The RES fed lambs had greater ( < 0.05) -3 PUFA, eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n3), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3, EPA), and trans-linolelaidic acid (C18:2n6t) in LD muscle. The conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) content was greater in the SF depots of the CON fed lambs compared to the RES fed lambs. Fatty acid ratios (unsaturated fatty acid; USFA:SFA, MUFA:SFA, PUFA:SFA), and percentage USFA in RES fed lambs were lesser in muscle and adipose tissue compared to CON fed lambs ( < 0.05), except SF depots. In RES fed lambs, EFA were less ( < 0.05) in LD and KF depots and the ratios of functional fatty acids were lesser in LD and some adipose tissues ( < 0.05), including lesser n-6:n-3 in KF and SF ( < 0.05) depots, lesser USFA, SFA, MUFA, SFA in LD, KF, and TF ( < 0.05) depots, and lesser PUFA and SFA in LD and TF ( < 0.05) depots. Results from this research demonstrate that sequential energy restriction, as might be experience during seasonal forage quality and quantity changes in natural grasslands, result in lesser intramuscular fat with associated lesser quality, as well as, changes in fatty acid composition in different fat depots, which has implications for both meat quality and animal physiological functions.

Cross-kingdom RNA trafficking and environmental RNAi-nature's blueprint for modern crop protection strategies

In plants, small RNA (sRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is critical for regulating host immunity against bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, and pests. Similarly, sRNAs from pathogens and pests also play an important role in modulating their virulence. Strikingly, recent evidence supports that some sRNAs can travel between interacting organisms and induce gene silencing in the counter party, a mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNAi. Exploiting this new knowledge, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) by transgenic expression of pathogen gene-targeting double-stranded (ds)RNA has the potential to become an important disease-control method. To circumvent transgenic approaches, direct application of dsRNAs or sRNAs (environmental RNAi) onto host plants or post-harvest products leads to silencing of the target microbe/pest gene (referred to spray-induced gene silencing, SIGS) and confers efficient disease control. This review summarizes the current understanding of cross-kingdom RNA trafficking and environmental RNAi and how these findings can be developed into novel effective strategies to fight diseases caused by microbial pathogens and pests.

[Analysis of correlative factors of serum leptin levels in asthmatic patients]

Objective: To analysis the correlative factors that probably affect serum leptin levels in asthmatic patients. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with asthma and 29 health controls who were admitted into outpatient clinic of Peking University Third Hospital from April 2014 to December 2015 were consecutively enrolled in our study prospectively. Serum leptin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sex, body mass index (BMI), onset age of asthma, allergen detection test, induced sputum cell count and classification, lung function test and asthma control level were recorded. Asthmatic patients were further divided into groups according to these factors and serum leptin levels were compared among groups. Results: Serum leptin levels were not different between asthmatic patients and health controls [(15.0±10.4) vs (15.2±11.7) μg/L, P=0.939]. Female asthmatic patients had significantly higher serum leptin levels than male [(18.2±10.7) vs (7.9±4.8) μg/L, P<0.001]. Asthmatic patients with obesity had significantly higher serum leptin levels than asthmatic patients with overweight, with normal BMI, with underweight and health controls [(29.7±10.8) vs (17.1±11.1), (11.8±7.7), (9.1±0.96), (15.2±11.7) μg/L, all P<0.01]. Serum leptin level was positively related to percentage of induced sputum eosinophil in female asthmatic patients (r=0.331, P=0.032). Onset age of asthma, positive allergen detection, airflow limitation or asthma control level did not affect serum leptin level. Conclusion: Sex and BMI are important factors affecting serum leptin levels in patients with asthma.

Body Surface Laplacian Mapping of Bioelectrical Activity

A method is described to process and interpret multi-channel bioelectrical signals. The bioelectrical signals were recorded noninvasively over the body surface of human subjects at 120 sites. The body surface Laplacian maps were then constructed from the multi-channel bioelectrical potential measurement. The method was evaluated by means of computer simulations, and applied to imaging cardiac electrical activity. The present investigation suggests body surface Laplacian mapping provides an important means in interpreting bioelectrical signals.

A Comparison of Body Surface Laplacian and Potential Maps During Paced Ventricular Activation

The objective of this study is to evaluate the spatial resolution of body surface Laplacian maps (BSLMs) in localizing ventricular electrical activity by means of computer simulation. A 3-D computer heart-torso model was used to simulate cardiac electrical activity and the body surface maps. A two-site pacing protocol was used to generate two simultaneously activated myocardial events on the anterior epicardial wall and the anterior endocardial wall. Following the pacing, the BSLMs and the body surface potential maps (BSPMs) were calculated and compared with the known activation pattern. As a result, the BSLMs showed superior resolution than the BSPMs for localized initial ventricular activity. In summary, the present study suggests that body surface Laplacian mapping may provide a useful methodology for the clinical diagnosis of cardiac electrical abnormalities.

Cortical Potential Imaging of Brain Electrical Activity by Means of Parametric Projection Filter

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore suitable spatial filters for inverse estimation of cortical potentials from the scalp electroencephalogram. The effect of incorporating noise covariance into inverse procedures was examined by computer simulations and tested in human experiment.

Methods: The parametric projection filter, which allows inverse estimation with the presence of information on the noise, was applied to an inhomogeneous three-concentric-sphere model under various noise conditions in order to estimate the cortical potentials from the scalp potentials. The method for determining the optimum regularization parameter, which can be applied for parametric inverse techniques, is also discussed.

Results: Human visual evoked potential experiment was carried out to examine the performance of the proposed restoration method. The parametric projection filter gave more localized inverse solution of cortical potential distribution than the truncated SVD and Tikhonov regularization.

Conclusion: The present simulation results suggest that incorporation of information on the noise covariance allows better estimation of cortical potentials, than inverse solutions without knowledge about the noise covariance, when the correlation between the signal and noise is low.

A Network Inversion Technique for Estimating Equivalent Dipole Description of Visual Evoked Potential

For the activation study of the brain, dipole localization from the scalp potential is one of the most promising techniques to realize a reasonable temporal resolution which cannot be realized in functional MR and PET. The goal of our study is to estimate inversely the electrical brain activity in the form of several dipoles from the scalp potential, using a network inversion technique. As a basic approach, we have inversely estimated several dipoles from the potential distribution on a spherical surface, in the homogeneous sphere model.

In the training phase, by expanding the neural network input dimensions being redundant, the network can easily learn the forward mapping. In the inversion phase, the space of the expanded-network-input-vector can be narrowed by introducing a penalty term. Additionally, a consensus term was used to force several dipoles to have a similar orientation. We estimate that this is applicable to the localization of several dipoles that reflect the actual brain activity, especially in the visual evoked potentials.

Combined rTMS and virtual reality brain-computer interface training for motor recovery after stroke

OBJECTIVE

Combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with brain-computer interface (BCI) training can address motor impairment after stroke by down-regulating exaggerated inhibition from the contralesional hemisphere and encouraging ipsilesional activation. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of combined rTMS  +  BCI, compared to sham rTMS  +  BCI, on motor recovery after stroke in subjects with lasting motor paresis.

APPROACH

Three stroke subjects approximately one year post-stroke participated in three weeks of combined rTMS (real or sham) and BCI, followed by three weeks of BCI alone. Behavioral and electrophysiological differences were evaluated at baseline, after three weeks, and after six weeks of treatment.

MAIN RESULTS

Motor improvements were observed in both real rTMS  +  BCI and sham groups, but only the former showed significant alterations in inter-hemispheric inhibition in the desired direction and increased relative ipsilesional cortical activation from fMRI. In addition, significant improvements in BCI performance over time and adequate control of the virtual reality BCI paradigm were observed only in the former group.

SIGNIFICANCE

When combined, the results highlight the feasibility and efficacy of combined rTMS  +  BCI for motor recovery, demonstrated by increased ipsilesional motor activity and improvements in behavioral function for the real rTMS  +  BCI condition in particular. Our findings also demonstrate the utility of BCI training alone, as shown by behavioral improvements for the sham rTMS  +  BCI condition. This study is the first to evaluate combined rTMS and BCI training for motor rehabilitation and provides a foundation for continued work to evaluate the potential of both rTMS and virtual reality BCI training for motor recovery after stroke.

Cortical Dipole Imaging of Movement-related Potentials by Means of Parametric Inverse Filters Incorporating with Signal and Noise Covariance

Objective : The objective of this study is to explore suitable spatial filters for inverse estimation of cortical equivalent dipole layer imaging from the scalp electroencephalogram. We utilize cortical dipole source imaging to locate the possible generators of scalpmeasured movement-related potentials (MRPs) in human.

Methods : The effects of incorporating signal and noise covariance into inverse procedures were examined by computer simulations and experimental study. The parametric projection filter (PPF) and parametric Weiner filter (PWF) were applied to an inhomogeneous threesphere head model under various noise conditions.

Results : The present simulation results suggest that the PWF incorporating signal information provides better cortical dipole layer imaging results than the PPF and Tikhonov regularization under the condition of moderate and high correlation between signal and noise distributions. On the other hand, the PPF has better performance than other inverse filters under the condition of low correlation between signal and noise distributions. The proposed methods were applied to self-paced MRPs in order to identify the anatomic substrate locations of neural generators. The dipole layer distributions estimated by means of PPF are well-localized as compared with blurred scalp potential maps and dipole layer distribution estimated by Tikhonov regularization. The proposed methods demonstrated that the contralateral premotor cortex was preponderantly activated in relation to movement performance.

Conclusions : In cortical dipole source imaging, the PWF has better performance especiallywhen the correlation between the signal and noise is high. The proposed inverse method was applicable to human experiments of MRPs if the signal and noise covariances were obtained.

Environment-stimulated nanocarriers enabling multi-active sites for high drug encapsulation as an “on demand” drug release system

Limited active sites in polyesters hinder fabrication of multifunctional biodegradable nanocarriers for successful clinical applications.

[Early detection of the cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapy drug through two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography combined with high-sensitive cardiac troponin T]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(2D-STE) combined with high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in early detection of the cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapy drug. Methods: Seventy-five non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who received the CHOP regimen were recruited in this study. Conventional echocardiography and 2D-STE were performed on these patients before chemotherapy, the second day after the third course of chemotherapy (during chemotherapy) and the second day after the last course of chemotherapy (after chemotherapy). The parameters included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (LS), global circumferential strain (CS) and global radial strain (RS). The serum hs-cTNT levels were tested simultaneously. Results: Three cycles of CHOP were completed in 30 patients and 6-8 cycles of CHOP were completed in 45 patients. The LVEF of 75 patients before, during and after chemotherapy was (63.8±2.6)%, (63.8±2.8)% and (64.0±3.3)%, respectively, without significant difference (P=0.91). However, the LS of 75 patients before, during and after chemotherapy was (-18.5±1.7)%, (-16.5±1.9)% and (-16.0±1.6)%, respectively. The CS was (-20.9±2.9)%, (-19.3±3.5)% and (-19.2±3.2)%, respectively. The RS was (39.2±6.4)%, (35.3±5.2)% and (35.0±6.2)%, respectively. The hs-cTnT was (0.001 0±0.002 0)ng/ml, (0.006 3±0.008 9)ng/ml and (0.007 3±0.003 8)ng/ml, respectively. The LS, CS and RS were significantly decreased while hs-cTnT was significantly increased during chemotherapy when compared to those before chemotherapy (all of P<0.01). Alternatively, the LS, CS, RS and hs-cTnT after chemotherapy were marginally different from those during chemotherapy (all of P>0.05). Moreover, T(LS-SD), T(CS-SD) and T(RS-SD) showed no significant difference before, during and after chemotherapy (all of P>0.05). The reduction of LS was positively associated with the enhancement of hs-cTnT after chemotherapy (r=0.60, P<0.01). Conclusion: 2D-STE combined with hs-cTnT can effectively and precisely detect the occult cardiotoxicity induced by anthracycline.

[Reversed halo sign: chest CT findings in 5 patients and cause analysis]

Objective: To describe diseases that may present with the reversed halo sign (RHS) on high-resolution CT, and therefore to improve the recognition of this thoracic radiological feature. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the HRCT scans and medical records of 5 patients who presented with RHS on chest CT from Peking University Third Hospital. With "reversed halo sign, fairy ring, atoll sign" as the Chinese and English keywords, 420 cases from the literatures were also reviewed through PubMed, Wanfang and CNKI databases until August 2015. Results: The 5 patients were all males, aging 19-55 years. The diagnosis of the diseases included cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (patient 1), pulmonary tuberculosis (patient 2), pulmonary infarction (patient 3), pulmonary edema (patient 4) and mycoplasma pneumonia (patient 5). Literature review showed that RHS was observed in 206 cases of infectious pulmonary diseases and 219 cases of noninfectious pulmonary diseases. Invasive fungal infection (including 59 cases of mucormycosis and 27 aspergillosis) and pulmonary tuberculosis (79 cases) predominated in infectious pulmonary diseases. However, in non-infectious pulmonary diseases, RHS was most frequently observed in organizing pneumonia (66%), sarcoidosis, lung cancer, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary edema and other interstitial lung diseases. There were some differences in the morphologic findings of RHS among invasive fungal infection, pulmonary tuberculosis and organizing pneumonia. In addition, our patient with mycoplasma pneumonia was the first case reported to present with RHS on HRCT. Conclusions: Although a wide spectrum of pulmonary diseases may present with RHS on chest CT, this sign is still a characteristic thoracic radiological feature, which is more commonly found in organizing pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis and invasive fungal infection, and is helpful in differential diagnosis.

Enhanced photosynthesis endows seedling growth vigour contributing to the competitive dominance of weedy rice over cultivated rice

BACKGROUND

Weedy rice, as one of the worst paddy field weeds worldwide, bears vigorous seedlings and dominantly competes with cultivated rice causing serious crop yield losses. To elucidate the causes of its stronger seedling vigour endowing its dominant competition with cultivated rice, comparative studies on seedling growth characteristics were conducted among six weedy rice biotypes and the two indica and japonica cultivars Shanyou-63 (SY-63) and Zhendao-8 (ZD-8), respectively, in the greenhouse.

RESULTS

Weedy rice emerged 2 to 3 days earlier, rapidly grew 1.3-1.7 cm taller daily, produced more secondary adventitious roots and greater aboveground fresh biomass than cultivated rice. Moreover, weedy rice exhibited greater photosynthetic pigment content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic parameters. An enhanced overall photosynthetic activity in weedy rices was attributed to the combined action of a larger antenna, more active reaction centres and higher quantum yield for electron transfer beyond Q_A .

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced photosynthesis of weedy rice at the seedling stage should be the main factor for leading to strong competitive dominance over cultivated rice. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.