Calculation of the Hadronic Vacuum Polarization Contribution to the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment

We present a first-principles lattice QCD+QED calculation at physical pion mass of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment. The total contribution of up, down, strange, and charm quarks including QED and strong isospin breaking effects is a_{μ}^{HVP LO}=715.4(18.7)×10^{-10}. By supplementing lattice data for very short and long distances with R-ratio data, we significantly improve the precision to a_{μ}^{HVP LO}=692.5(2.7)×10^{-10}. This is the currently most precise determination of a_{μ}^{HVP LO}.

[Analysis of the influential factors of late diagnosis among newly identified HIV/AIDS cases in Anhui Province, 2011-2015]

Objective: To analyze the base situation and influential factors of late diagnosis among newly identified HIV/AIDS cases in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2015. Methods: Database information of the newly identified HIV/AIDS cases in Anhui Province from 2011 to 2015 were downloaded from the National HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Information System of China's disease prevention and control information system. To analyze the data including basic information, sample source, route of HIV transmission, population mobility, venereal disease, death and first CD4 count; and the number of 7 073 cases were classified according to late diagnosis and non-late diagnosis criteria. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influential factors of HIV late diagnosis. Results: A total of 7 073 newly identified HIV/AIDS cases were analyzed, and the mean age was (38.5±15.0) years. The proportion of late diagnosis in all counted cases was 41.7% (2 949/7 073); from 2011 to 2015, the proportions of late diagnosis were 59.7% (485/812), 46.5% (531/1 141), 42.7% (587/1 376), 36.1% (609/1 686), and 35.8% (737/2 058), respectively. Compared with the 0 to 19 years group, the 40 to 59 years group and over 60 years old group have higher risk of late diagnosis (OR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.94-3.71; OR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.53-3.10, respectively). Compared with the high education group, the illiterate and primary school education group have higher risk of late diagnosis (OR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.36-2.22; OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.34-2.01, respectively). Compared with other sample sources, medical institutions have higher risk of late diagnosis (OR=2.64, 95%CI: 2.28-3.05). Compared with migrant population, the resident population have higher risk of late diagnosis (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.53-2.11). Conclusion: The proportion of late diagnosis among newly identified HIV/AIDS cases in Anhui province was relatively high from 2011 to 2015. The main risk factors of late diagnosis included cases reported by medical institutions, resident population, over 40 years old age group and low education level.

Abstract 82: Epigenetic reader ZMYND8 bridges BRD4 and hypoxia-inducible factors to mediate breast cancer progression and metastasis

Metastatic breast cancer has high rates of relapse and mortality. The absence of definitive prognostic biomarker and effective therapeutic target is the major obstacle to end this aggressive disease. Epigenetic dysregulation plays a crucial role in breast cancer metastasis. However, the mechanism by which epigenetic dysregulation stimulates the hypoxia-mediated breast cancer progression and metastasis remains unknown.

Based on luciferase reporter assays and analysis of expression changes of 720 epigenetic genes in three microarray datasets, we identified epigenetic reader ZMYND8 as a novel hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) target gene. Human breast cancer tissue microarray data indicated that ZMYND8 is highly expressed in invasive breast tumors and this overexpression is significantly correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with breast cancer. ZMYND8 depletion dramatically attenuates the tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells in colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro, and suppresses breast tumor growth and metastasis in mice. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we performed co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR assays and found that ZMYND8 interacts with HIF complex and acetyl lysine 16 of histone H3 at the hypoxia inducible elements (HREs) to provoke the expression of HIF target genes LOX, AGR2, AQP1 and VEGFA. ZMYND8 controls breast cancer growth and metastasis through HIF in mice. We further found that p300 binds and acetylates ZMYND8 in breast cancer cells. Acetylated ZMYND8 interacts with and recruits BRD4 to the HREs to stimulate RNA polymerase II phosphorylation, thereby promoting transcriptional elongation of HIF target genes. ZMYND8 acetylation is necessary and sufficient for breast tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in mice. Together, p300-ZMYND8-BRD4-HIF axis is critical for breast cancer progression and metastasis.

In summary, ZMYND8 represents a positive feedback mechanism that amplifies HIF-mediated breast cancer progression and metastasis, and provides a potential epigenetic target for the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Citation Format: Yan Chen, Bo Zhang, Lei Bao, Lai Jin, Mingming Yang, Yan Peng, Jennifer Wang, Chenliang Wang, Xuan Zou, Yingfei Wang, Weibo Luo. Epigenetic reader ZMYND8 bridges BRD4 and hypoxia-inducible factors to mediate breast cancer progression and metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 82.

[Blood manganese levels among pregnant women and the associated factors in three counties of northern China]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the levels of blood manganese concentration in pregnant women in 1st and 2nd trimester and the associated factors in three counties of northern China.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional investigation in three counties of northern China in 2010. Two hundred and seventy three pregnant women whose gestational age was less than 28 weeks were recruited, their demographic characteristics and information on exposure to indoor air pollution from coal combustion and dietary during one month before pregnancy till the date of investigation were collected with questionnaires by face-to-face interview, their fasting venous whole blood samples were collected with vacuum blood collection tube containing heparin lithium at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in the three counties. Their blood manganese concentrations were measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Nonparametric tests were used to compare the concentrations among the groups and multivariate unconditional Logistic regression model was used to adjust the confounding factors.

RESULTS

The geometric mean of blood manganese of the women was 16.78 (95%CI: 16.14-17.45) μg/L, and the median (interquartile range) was 16.59 (13.68-20.44) μg/L. According to the reference range of general healthy adult female's manganese concentration in the whole blood 3.39-20.67 μg/L, the proportion of manganese concentration lower than normal, normal, higher than normal were 0%, 76.6% and 23.4%, respectively. Medians of blood manganese concentrations among the women in Yushe, Dai and Xianghe were 17.51 (13.96-22.04), 16.92 (13.78-21.45) and 15.43 (12.25-17.56) μg/L, respectively (P<0.05), and multivariate analysis found that the risk of higher than normal in Yushe County was 6.15 (95%CI: 1.21-31.35) times the risk in Xianghe county. Blood manganese concentrations were higher in women who were farmers, had lower income per month, and consumed more vinegar and less peppers, pork, beef and mutton during the month before investigation (all P<0.05), the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) between these factors and high blood manganese concentration were not statistically significant No statistical associations were found between blood manganese levels and indoor air pollution from coal combustion for both of crude odds ratrio (COR) and AOR (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The blood manganese concentration among pregnant women in the three counties is similar to the women in some other studies abroad and quite different from the findings of several domestic researches. The risk of blood manganese concentration higher than normal in Yushe county was higher than Xianghe county. The relationships between high manganese concentration and exposure to indoor air pollution from coal combustion or dietary need further research in the future.

[Clinical study of hydrogen-rich saline in the treatment of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis]

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of nasal lavage with hydrogen-rich saline in the treatment of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.Method:Twenty patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis were treated with normal saline and hydrogen-rich saline lavage the nasal cavity. The study was randomized doubl-blind self-control study. The symptoms and signs score, treatment index and total effective rate were evaluated before and after treatment, and the nasal conjunctivitis related quality of life questionnaire (BQLQ) was used to evaluate the life quality of patients.Result:There were significant differences of the symptoms, signs scores, the treatment index, the total efficiency and BQLQ between the two kinds of lavage fluid used for patients before and after treatment(P<0.05). No significant adverse reactions occurred during follow-up.Conclusion:Hydrogen-enriched saline is safe and effective for allergic rhinitis.

The directional and non-directional associations of periodontitis with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

This systematic review aimed to assess the current evidence on the directional and non-directional associations of periodontitis with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Electronic search for observational studies on the association of periodontitis with CKD was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Open GREY and Cochrane library up to June 5, 2017. Two reviewers conducted study selection, data collection and assessment of methodological quality using the original and modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included, which clearly defined periodontitis and CKD or reported acceptable clinical parameters of these 2 diseases in adults. Meta-analysis was employed to estimate the pooled odds ratio on the non-directional association and the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for the directional association. Among 2530 potential eligible articles, 47 were finally included. Most of them investigated a non-directional association of periodontitis with CKD, including 7 case-control studies and 38 cross-sectional studies; 24 studies had statistical analysis on the non-directional association and 75% of them reported significant results, which were supported further by the meta-analysis (random: odds ratio = 2.12, P < .001; χ²  = 25.74, I²  = 88.3%). None of the studies focused on the directional association of CKD (as the exposure) with periodontitis (as the outcome), whereas 2 retrospective cohort studies explored a directional association of periodontitis (as the exposure) with CKD (as the outcome) (random: IRR=2.10, P > .05; fixed: IRR=1.76, P < .05; χ²  = 4.65, I²  = 78.3%). Overall, the high heterogeneity of studies limits the significance of these results. There is substantial evidence on the non-directional association of periodontitis with CKD, while there are limited studies on the directional association. Well-designed prospective studies with longer follow-ups in representative communities are needed to clarify the directional association and enhance the quality of the evidence on this topic.

ZMYND8 acetylation mediates HIF-dependent breast cancer progression and metastasis

Altered epigenetic reprogramming contributes to breast cancer progression and metastasis. How the epigenetic reader mediates breast cancer progression remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that the epigenetic reader zinc finger MYND-type containing 8 (ZMYND8) is induced by HIF-1 and HIF-2 in breast cancer cells and also upregulated in human breast tumors, and is correlated with poor survival of patients with breast cancer. Genetic deletion of ZMYND8 decreases breast cancer cell colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and inhibits breast tumor growth and metastasis to the lungs in mice. The ZMYND8's oncogenic effect in breast cancer requires HIF-1 and HIF-2. We further showed that ZMYND8 interacts with HIF-1α and HIF-2α and enhances elongation of the global HIF-induced oncogenic genes by increasing recruitment of BRD4 and subsequent release of paused RNA polymerase II in breast cancer cells. ZMYND8 acetylation at lysines 1007 and 1034 by p300 is required for HIF activation and breast cancer progression and metastasis. These findings uncover a primary epigenetic mechanism of HIF activation and HIF-mediated breast cancer progression, and discover a possible molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Fatty Acid/Phospholipid Blended Membranes: A Potential Intermediate State in Protocellular Evolution

Prior to the evolution of membrane proteins, intrinsic membrane stability and permeability to polar solutes are essential features of a primitive cell membrane. These features are difficult to achieve simultaneously in model protocells made of either pure fatty acid or phospholipid membranes, raising the intriguing question of how the transition from fatty acid to phospholipid membranes might have occurred while continuously supporting encapsulated reactions required for genomic replication. Here, the properties of a blended membrane system composed of both oleic acid (OA), a monoacyl fatty acid, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), a diacyl phospholipid are described. This hybrid vesicle system exhibits high stability to divalent cations (Mg2+ ), while simultaneously maintaining its permeability to small charged molecules such as nucleotides and divalent ions such as Mg2+ . This combination of features facilitates key reactions expected to occur during a transition from primitive to modern cells, including nonenzymatic RNA replication, and is also compatible with highly evolved functions such as the ribosomal translation of a protein. The observations support the hypothesis that the early transition from fatty acid to phospholipid membranes could be accomplished through intermediate states in which membranes are composed of amphiphile mixtures, and do not require protein transporters.

Incidence, Survival, and Risk Factors for Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Not Otherwise Specified and Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Recurrent Genetic Abnormalities: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database, 2001-2013

BACKGROUND/AIM

As the knowledgebase of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has grown, classification systems have moved to incorporate these new findings.

METHODS

We assessed 32,941 patients with AML whose records are contained in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

RESULTS

Half of all patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2013 did not have a World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Acute promyelocytic leukemia and acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis were associated with the longest leukemia-specific survival (110 and 115 months, respectively), and AML with minimal differentiation and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with the shortest (30 and 28 months, respectively). For patients in the WHO groups AML not otherwise specified (AML-NOS) and AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities (AML-RGA), the risk of death was greater for older patients and less for married patients. Black patients with any type of AML-NOS also had a higher risk of death. Patients whose case of AML did not receive a WHO classification were older and this group had a higher risk of death when compared to patients with a WHO type of AML-NOS.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the divergent outcomes of patients with AML and the importance of using the WHO classification system and demographic factors to gauge their prognosis.

Abstract P4-04-10: Molecular features of dormancy in ER+ breast cancers

Background:Late recurrence (emergence from dormancy) is characteristic of ER+ breast cancers. Despite adjuvant endocrine therapy, many breast cancers recur decades after their initial diagnosis and treatment. Why this occurs is poorly understood.

Methods: We studied 2 independent datasets of endocrine treated, ER+ breast cancers with up to 20 years follow-up. The 1st comprised matched samples from the primary tumor pretreatment at diagnosis and the first recurrence after or during adjuvant endocrine therapy (all FFPE). The 2nd dataset comprised pretreatment biopsies only (all snap frozen). For both datasets, high quality RNA was amplified, labelled, and subjected to transcriptome analysis using the Affymetrix technology (U133 Plus 2.0). Low quality data were identified using 'simpleaffy' and 'ffpe', and removed; all tools were from the R package unless otherwise noted. Remaining data were normalized using 'frma'. Genes differentially expressed between early (≤3 years) and late (≥ 5 years) were selected using limma. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and PCA explored the structure of the data.

A similar molecular analysis was done on the 2nd dataset. A classification scheme that robustly separated early from late recurrences was validated in an independent public dataset of comparable patients, array platform, and frozen tissues. We also explored features in pretreatment samples that predetermined response duration.

Results: Genes that separated pretreatment specimens by recurrence time did not separate posttreatment specimens. Specimens did not cluster in patient pairs or by site of recurrence.

8245 genes were differentially expressed between early and late recurrences in the FFPE samples, while 2400 genes were significantly different in the same comparison in the frozen samples. Initial pathway analysis was done on each dataset independently using IPA (Ingenuity® Systems, www.ingenuity.com). 70 canonical pathways were identified in common between the two datasets (pretreatment). We then looked for genes regulated in both datasets (ignores FFPE and frozen tissue as source). There were 279 genes in common that differentially regulated in the same direction (upregulated; downregulated). IPA analysis of these genes identified 49 canonical pathways. We also explored the differentially expressed gene sets using 'GSEA' (www.software.broadinstitute.org/gsea/index.jsp). Pathways consistently associated with early vs. late recurrence include integrin signaling, the unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, actin-based motility, and estrogen biosynthesis.

Conclusion: Analysis of pretreatment tumors can predict early recurrences from those that will remain dormant and recur much later. Recurrent tumors exhibit a remodeled molecular landscape that likely reflects the effects of treatments and/or a recreation of a niche with potentially common features at the site of recurrence. Changes in molecular signaling associated with duration of recurrence are consistent with our experimental model studies in vitro implicating UPR signaling as a major integrator of response to endocrine therapy and duration of survival. Additional data sets are being arrayed and more detailed molecular signaling studies are in progress.

Citation Format: Clarke R, Dixon MJ, Jin L, Turnbull A, Hu R, Zwart A, Wang Y, Xuan J, Sengupta S, Renshaw L, Sims A, Liu MC. Molecular features of dormancy in ER+ breast cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-04-10.

[Effectiveness and safety of anti-fibrinolytic therapy in on-pump CABG]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of anti-fibrinolytic therapy in on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Two hundred and eleven patients receiving on-pump CABG in Fuwai Hospital were recruited and randomized into treatment group (group T) and control group (group C) between October 2014 and February 2017. Tranexamic acid was given with a 10 mg/kg loading dose and 10 mg·kg(-1)·h(-1) infusion dose to group T and equal volume of saline was given to group C throughout the surgery. Postoperative drainage, allogeneic transfusion, complications, adverse events and mortality were recorded. Results: Patients of group T had less postoperative drainage [860 (670, 1 190)ml vs 985 (783, 1 365)ml], decreased red blood cell [2 (0, 8)U vs 6 (2, 10)U] and fresh frozen plasma [1 (0, 3) U vs 2 (0, 3)U] transfusion volume, lower fresh frozen plasma transfusion rate (53.33% vs 70.75%) than patients of group C (all P<0.05). No statistically significant differences existed in the rate of postoperative complications, adverse events and death between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Tranexamic acid has definite anti-fibrinolytic effect, which can significantly reduce postoperative bleeding and allogeneic transfusion while no severe side effects were observed.

[Clinical pathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes of 19 relapsed pediatric B-cell lymphoma]

Objective: To review the clinical-pathology characteristics of 19 relapsed pediatric mature B cell lymphoma and to find the risk factors for recurrence and the feasible treatment after relapse. Method: Data of 212 pediatric B cell lymphomas cases in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2006 to June 2015 were collected retrospectively. All the patients were treated according to the B cell lymphoma regimen of Beijing Children's Hospital. During the study period, 19 of 212 cases were relapsed; the clinio-pathological characteristics of relapsed patients before treatment and after relapse were analyzed retrospectively, the treatment outcomes after relapse were summarized and the patients were followed-up. Result: Nineteen of 212 cases had relapsed disease, for these relapsed patients: the median age at initial diagnosis was 5.5 years old, the median level of uric acid was 384(range, 121-713)μmol/L, the median level of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) was 1 323(range, 146-6 370)U/L. Among 19 relapsed patients, 10 had local relapse and 9 had multiple relapses; 17 were Burkitt's lymphoma and 2 were diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Staging: 2 cases were stageⅡ, 3 cases were stage Ⅲ and 14 cases were stage Ⅳ. Risk group: 6 cases were group B and 13 cases were group C. Nine cases had bone marrow involvement and 10 cases had central nervous system(CNS) involvement. Acute tumor lysis syndrome was seen in 6 cases during the early treatment and 13 cases had delayed treatment. Treatment after relapse: 10 cases received further treatment after relapse (rituximab + 1-4 courses high intensity second-line chemotherapy), 3 cases received autologous stem cell transplantation. There was no chemotherapy or infection related death, 3 cases achieved complete remission (CR). For all the 212 patients, the median follow-up time was 47 (range, 1-131)months and the 5-year event free survival(EFS)rate was (89.4±0.2)%. For the 19 relapse cases, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was (21.1±0.1)%, CR rate after relapse was 30%, patients died of the progression of the primary disease, no treatment related death occurred. Univariate analyses showed that bulky disease, stage Ⅳ, maxillofacial and CNS involvement, LDH>1 000 U/L, delay treatment, day 7 evaluation shrink <25%, residual diseases after 3 months treatment are relapse risk factors (all P<0.01). Conclusion: Patients relapse during the treatment or at the early stage after the end of all chemotherapy have poor prognosis. So far there is no effective method for early relapse patients; the late relapse patients had the possibility of CR if they are sensitive to salvage treatment. In conclusion, to improve the outcome, the key point is to reduce the relapse.

[Detection and clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with colorectal carcinoma]

Objective: To detect circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients with colorectal carcinoma and to evaluate the relationship among CTC, clinic-pathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 109 patients with colorectal carcinoma in Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from April 2014 to October 2016. There were 60 male and 49 female patients, aging from 33 to 86 years with a mean age of (65±10) years.CTC were detected using density-gradient centrifugation and immunofluorescence staining. χ(2) test, Fisher exact test and rank-sum test were used to analyze the relation between positive rate of CTC and clinical characteristic, respectively. The correlation analysis of CTC and common tumor markers was detected by χ(2) test and Spearman test. The overall survival of patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional hazard model. Results: CTC were found in 71 of the 109 patients with colorectal carcinoma. The presence of CTC was significantly correlated with N stage (Z=4.422, P=0.035) and M stage (χ(2)=4.424, P=0.049). However, CTC was not significantly correlated with age, sex, tumor location, tumor size, differentiation, T stage, Ki-67 and TNM stage (P>0.05). Meanwhile, there was significant correlation between CTC and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) (χ(2)=4.897, P=0.027; r=0.212, P=0.027) indicated by χ(2) test and Spearman correlations analysis. The positive rate of CTC was higher than that of CEA (χ(2)=15.45, P=0.000). Survival analysis suggested that positive CTC was poor for overall survival in colorectal cancer with adjusted HR as 3.023(95%CI: 1.330 to 6.872, P=0.008). Conclusions: CTC is helpful to early diagnosis tumor recurrence and metastasis. Hence, combined multiple tumor markers, including the CTC as common indicators of tumor diagnosis, relapse and metastasis could effectively improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Effect of Empagliflozin on Tacrolimus-Induced Pancreas Islet Dysfunction and Renal Injury

An inhibitor of sodium glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT-2) is recommended in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) but its use is still undetermined in tacrolimus (TAC)-induced DM. We evaluated the effect of empagliflozin (Em) on TAC-induced pancreatic islet dysfunction and renal injury in an experimental model of TAC-induced DM and in vitro. TAC induced a twofold increase in SGLT-2 expression, while Em decreased SGLT-2 expression and further increased urinary glucose excretion compared to the TAC group. Em reduced hyperglycemia and increased plasma insulin level, pancreatic islet size, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion compared to the TAC group. In kidney, Em alleviated TAC-induced renal dysfunction and decreased albumin excretion and histological injury compared with the TAC group. Increased oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death by TAC was remarkably decreased with Em in serum and pancreatic and renal tissues. In in vitro study, TAC decreased cell viability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in both insulin-secreting beta-cell derived (INS-1) and human kidney-2 (HK-2) cell lines. Addition of Em increased cell viability and decreased ROS production in HK-2 but not in INS-1 cell lines. This suggests that Em is effective in controlling TAC-induced hyperglycemia and has direct protective effect on TAC-induced renal injury.

Tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance driven by magnetic phase transition

The independent control of two magnetic electrodes and spin-coherent transport in magnetic tunnel junctions are strictly required for tunneling magnetoresistance, while junctions with only one ferromagnetic electrode exhibit tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance dependent on the anisotropic density of states with no room temperature performance so far. Here, we report an alternative approach to obtaining tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance in α′-FeRh-based junctions driven by the magnetic phase transition of α′-FeRh and resultantly large variation of the density of states in the vicinity of MgO tunneling barrier, referred to as phase transition tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance. The junctions with only one α′-FeRh magnetic electrode show a magnetoresistance ratio up to 20% at room temperature. Both the polarity and magnitude of the phase transition tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance can be modulated by interfacial engineering at the α′-FeRh/MgO interface. Besides the fundamental significance, our finding might add a different dimension to magnetic random access memory and antiferromagnet spintronics.

Tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance is promising for next generation memory devices but limited by the low efficiency and functioning temperature. Here the authors achieved 20% tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance at room temperature in magnetic tunnel junctions with one α′-FeRh magnetic electrode.

Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain with one pair of [Formula: see text]-symmetric defects

The topologically nontrivial edge states induce [Formula: see text] transition in Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chain with one pair of gain and loss at boundaries. In this study, we investigated a pair of [Formula: see text]-symmetric defects located inside the SSH chain, in particular, the defects locations are at the chain centre. The [Formula: see text] symmetry breaking of the bound states leads to the [Formula: see text] transition, the [Formula: see text]-symmetric phases and the localized states were studied. In the broken [Formula: see text]-symmetric phase, all energy levels break simultaneously in topologically trivial phase; however, two edge states in topologically nontrivial phase are free from the influence of the [Formula: see text]-symmetric defects. We discovered [Formula: see text]-symmetric bound states induced by the [Formula: see text]-symmetric local defects at the SSH chain centre. The [Formula: see text]-symmetric bound states significantly increase the [Formula: see text] transition threshold and coalesce to the topologically protected zero mode with vanishing probabilities on every other site of the left-half chain and the right-half chain, respectively.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide regulates ephrin/Eph signalling in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts

Objective

EphrinA2‐EphA2 and ephrinB2‐EphB4 critically engage in bidirectional signalling to modulate alveolar bone remodelling. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis on ephrin/Eph signalling in periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs).

Material and Methods

The primary cultured PDLFs were incubated in the absence (as a control) or presence of P. gingivalisLPS at 0.001‐10 μg/mL for 24 hours. The PDLFs were then stimulated with P. gingivalisLPS at the optimal concentration (0.1 μg/mL) for different periods (6‐48 hours). The expression of ephrinA2, ephrinB2, EphA2 and EphB4 was assessed by quantitative reverse‐transcription real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The osteoblastic markers alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and Runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and the osteoclastogenesis‐related factors receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin were also evaluated.

Results

The ephrinA2 and EphA2 expression was upregulated and EphB4 expression was downregulated by stimulation of P. gingivalisLPS. EphrinA2 mRNA expression in the PDLFs was significantly upregulated from 12 to 48 hours (P<.05), whereas EphA2 exhibited no change for the first 24 hours, after which there was a significant increase at 48 hours (P<.05). EphB4 exhibited lower mRNA expression at 12 and 24 hours than did the control (P<.05), but the change was insignificant at 48 hours. In contrast, the expression of ephrinB2 remained unchanged. The expressions of ephrinA2, EphA2, ephrinB2 and EphB4 at the protein level showed a similar pattern to that at the mRNA level. The expression of Runx2 and osteocalcin significantly decreased, whereas that of RANKL/osteoprotegerin increased.

Conclusion

The present study suggest that P. gingivalisLPS would contribute to a dysregulation of bone remodelling, whereby ephrinA2/EphA2 expression is stimulated and EphB4 expression is inhibited.

Xanthophylls increased HDLC level and nuclear factor PPARγ, RXRγ and RARα expression in hens and chicks

This study was designed to investigate effects of xanthophylls on serum lipid profile (triglyceride, TG; cholesterol, CHO; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDLC; and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDLC) and nuclear factor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ; PPAR gamma coactivator 1 alpha, PGC1α; retinoid X receptor gamma, RXRγ; and retinoic acid receptor alpha, RARα) gene expression of breeding hens and chicks. In experiment 1, 432 hens were divided into three groups and fed diets supplemented with 0 (as control group), 20 or 40 mg/kg xanthophylls. Blood was sampled at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of trial. Liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were sampled at 35 days of trial. Results showed that serum HDLC level of hens was increased after dietary 40 mg/kg xanthophyll addition for 21, 28 and 35 days, while serum TG, CHO and LDLC were not affected. Xanthophyll addition also increased PPARγ expression in jejunum, RXRγ expression in duodenum and jejunum, and RARα expression in liver and duodenum. Experiment 2 was a 2 × 2 factorial design. Male chicks hatched from 0 or 40 mg/kg xanthophyll diet of hens were fed diet containing either 0 or 40 mg/kg xanthophylls. Liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were sampled at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days after hatching. Blood samples were also collected at 21 days. Results showed that in ovo xanthophylls elevated PPARγ in duodenum and jejunum, and RXRγ and RARα in liver of chicks mainly within 1 week after hatching, while dietary xanthophylls increased serum HDLC level and PPARγ and RXRγ in liver from 2 weeks onwards. In conclusion, our research suggested xanthophylls can regulate serum lipid profile and nuclear factor expression in hens and chicks.

Curcumin alleviates lumbar radiculopathy by reducing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and nociceptive factors

Current non-surgical treatments for lumbar radiculopathy [e.g. epidural steroids and Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists] are neither effective nor safe. As a non-toxic natural product, curcumin possesses an exceptional anti-inflammatory profile. We hypothesised that curcumin alleviates lumbar radiculopathy by attenuating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and nociceptive factors. In a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) culture, curcumin effectively inhibited TNF-α-induced neuroinflammation, in a dose-dependent manner, as shown by mRNA and protein expression of IL-6 and COX-2. Such effects might be mediated via protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. Also, a similar effect in combating TNF-α-induced neuroinflammation was observed in isolated primary neurons. In addition, curcumin protected neurons from TNF-α-triggered excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular apoptosis and, accordingly, promoted mRNA expression of the anti-oxidative enzymes haem oxygenase-1, catalase and superoxide dismutase-2. Intriguingly, electronic von Frey test suggested that intraperitoneal injection of curcumin significantly abolished ipsilateral hyperalgesia secondary to disc herniation in mice, for up to 2 weeks post-surgery. Such in vivo pain alleviation could be attributed to the suppression, observed in DRG explant culture, of TNF-α-elicited neuropeptides, such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide. Surprisingly, micro-computed tomography (μCT) data suggested that curcumin treatment could promote disc height recovery following disc herniation. Alcian blue/picrosirius red staining confirmed that systemic curcumin administration promoted regeneration of extracellular matrix proteins, visualised by presence of abundant newly-formed collagen and proteoglycan content in herniated disc. Our study provided pre-clinical evidence for expediting this natural, non-toxic pleiotropic agent to become a new and safe clinical treatment of radiculopathy.

Effect of Tempol on the prevention of irradiation-induced mucositis in miniature pigs

OBJECTIVE

The goals of this study were to (i) establish a useful miniature pig (minipig) model for irradiation-induced oral mucositis and (ii) evaluate the effect of Tempol to prevent its development.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Minipigs were irradiated with 6 Gy for five consecutive days targeting the entire oral cavity. To prevent radiation damage, minipigs were treated with 30 mg kg^-1 Tempol 10 min before irradiation (n = 4), while the radiation-alone group was similarly injected with saline (n = 4). Lesions were graded using an oral mucositis score and visual inspection every 3 days, and biopsy of multiple sites was performed at day 18. Weight and chest and abdominal circumferences were measured every 3 days.

RESULTS

Lesions began about 12 days after the first irradiation fraction and healed about 30 days after irradiation. Epithelial thickness was calculated on the lingual and buccal mucosa on the 18th day after the first irradiation fraction. Tempol provided modest protection from ulceration after irradiation using this treatment strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study established a useful large animal model for irradiation-induced oral mucositis and showed modest beneficial effects of Tempol in limiting tissue damage. The latter finding may be potentially valuable in preventing oral mucositis in patients receiving irradiation for head and neck cancers.

[Treatment of hemangioma of larynx by injecting bleomycin with a modified laryngeal micro-injector under the suspension laryngoscope and operating microscope]

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of treating laryngeal hemangioma by injecting bleomycin with self-made laryngeal microinjector under the suspension laryngoscope and operating microscope.Method:Thirteen patients with hemangioma of larynx(diameters of tumors range from 1.2-3.8 cm) were admitted and treated by injecting bleomycin with a modified laryngeal micro-injector under the suspension laryngoscope and operating microscope from January 2012 to September 2016. According to the tumor size, 4.5-7.5 mg bleomycin was injected and the patients received treatment every four weeks until there were no evident tumor residues. Result:Four of the 13 patients were cured after the first injection, 6 were cured after the second injection, and 3 cured after the third injection. All cases were followed up without recurrence. Conclusion:Bleomycin injection with a modified laryngeal micro injector under the suspension laryngoscope and operating microscope is proved to be a effective measure with the advantage of precise, minimal- invasive, and efficient therapeutic effect in treatment of laryngeal hemangioma.

CAMK2γ in intestinal epithelial cells modulates colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis via enhancing STAT3 activation

Inflammation is one of the major risk factors for cancer. Here, we show that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gamma (CAMK2γ) in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) modulates inflammatory signals and promotes colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in mice. We have identified CAMK2γ as a downstream target of colitis-induced WNT5a signaling. Furthermore, we have shown that CAMK2γ protects against intestine tissue injury by increasing IEC survival and proliferation. CAMK2γ knockout mice displayed reduced CAC. Furthermore, we used bone marrow transplantation to reveal that CAMK2γ in IECs, but not immune cells, was crucial for its effect on CAC. Consistently, transgenic over-expression of CAMK2γ in IECs accelerated CAC development. Mechanistically, CAMK2γ in IECs enhanced epithelial STAT3 activation to promote survival and proliferation of colonic epithelial cells during CAC development. These results thus identify a new molecular mechanism mediated by CAMK2γ in IECs during CAC development, thereby providing a potential new therapeutic target for CAC.

Oral Health Care Guidelines, Training, and Resources among Stroke Care Providers

During a stroke, the mouth tends to become an unhealthy place and may give rise to various life-threatening conditions. To this end, there have been repeated calls to incorporate oral hygiene guidelines and practices for hospitalized stroke patients to prevent aspiration pneumonia and improve patients' oral health. The objective of the study was to determine health care providers' practices of oral health care among patients hospitalized after an occurrence of stroke and to determine health care providers' background and work environment effect on these practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted among stroke care providers in 13 public hospitals in Malaysia. The questionnaires distributed were self-administered, where nursing staff provided details of their oral health care practices for stroke patients. Information on the background of health care providers and work environment was also collected. Overall, a total of 780 responses from the registered nurses were obtained. Almost half of the respondents (48.1%) reported that they recommended toothbrushing twice or more per day to stroke patients. Two-thirds (64.7%) reported that they performed daily mouthwashing on their patient, while less than half (38.8%) reported daily oral hygiene assistance. Result of the analysis revealed that oral hygiene practices were significantly associated with having working wards ( P < 0.05), level of qualification ( P < 0.05), having oral health care guidelines ( P < 0.001), specific resources ( P < 0.05), and attending previous training in oral care ( P < 0.001). Provision of oral hygiene practices for hospitalized stroke patients is important. A lack of oral health care guidelines, support from dental professionals, specific resources, training, and assistance in daily oral care for patients is evident and detrimental to oral hygiene practices. The current findings have significant implications for new initiatives to support health care providers, particularly the registered nurses performing oral health care for hospitalized stroke patients. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study may provide a basis of information for improving the delivery of oral health care to stroke patients. Enhancement in the training and improvement in the existing guidelines and resources is pivotal for the provision of better oral health care for the potential benefits to these patients, including their improved quality of life and disease prevention.

Abstract P3-04-12: Both spliced and unspliced XBP1 regulates breast cancer cell fate response to antiestrogen via NFkappaB signaling

Unfolded protein response (UPR), a stress-induced survival mechanism, may be used by cancer cells to avoid cell death. Antiestrogen therapy, widely applied in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, induces endoplasmic reticulum stress (EnR stress) that leads to activation of each of the three arms of the UPR. One critical prosurvival activator that is regulated by two arms of the UPR is the transcription factor X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1). XBP1 exists in two isoforms, the transcriptionally inactive unspliced XBP1(U) and the spliced, active XBP1(S). Overexpression of XBP1(S) confers estrogen independence and antiestrogen resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells and XBP1(S) expression correlates with poor clinical responsiveness to Tamoxifen in ER+ breast tumors. However, the underlying signaling mechanisms regulated by XBP1, which may mediate its effects on antiestrogen resistance, are unknown. We show that depletion of endogenous XBP-1 by siRNA increases apoptosis, decreases autophagy, requires down-regulation of p65/RelA, a component of the pro-survival NFκB complex. Using novel spliced and non-spliceable forms of XBP1, we show that XBP1(U) and XBP1(S) both regulate NFκB activity via ERα signaling in breast cancer cells. XBP1(S), but not XBP1(U), also can regulate p65/RelA expression independent of ERα. Antiestrogen resistance as conferred by XBP1 overexpression in MCF-7 cells requires the activation of NFκB signaling; inhibition of NFκB signaling by either the small molecule NFκB inhibitor Parthenolide or p65/RelA siRNA sensitizes XBP1 overexpressing cells to Tamoxifen. The activation of XBP1 and the downstream NFκB signaling is likely to contribute to the TMEM33 overepxression induced apoptosis, as both NFκB signaling and XBP1(S) are elevated in TMEM33 overexpressed MCF7 cells. Thus, we have identified a critical regulatory link between the UPR/XBP1 pathway and pro-survival NFκB signaling that is a major contributor to endocrine responsiveness in ER positive breast cancer.

Citation Format: Clarke R, Hu R, Warri A, Jin L, Zwart A, Riggins R, Fang H-b. Both spliced and unspliced XBP1 regulates breast cancer cell fate response to antiestrogen via NFkappaB signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-04-12.

A retrospective analysis of ovarian stimulation with letrozole in women undergoing artificial insemination by donor

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical pregnancy rate in women undergoing letrozole ovarian stimulation and artificial insemination by donor (AID). Between 2012 and 2015, 130 natural cycles, 939 letrozole cycles and 130 letrozole plus gonadotrophin cycles were conducted. Letrozole cycles were divided into three groups according to LH concentration on the day of HCG administration (LH <10 mIU/ml and follicle size ≥18 cm; LH ≤10 to <20 mIU/ml; and LH ≥20 mIU/ml). Pregnancy rates were 17.3%, 22.4% and 26.8%, respectively (P = 0.012). In women given 10 mIU/ml LH or more, logistic regression identified oestradiol (OR 1.002, 95% CI, 1.000 to 1.004, P = 0.029) and leading follicle size (OR 0.861, 95% CI, 0.772 to 0.960, P = 0.007) as significant predictive factors of pregnancy rate; the higher the oestradiol and the smaller the follicles, the better the pregnancy rate. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the letrozole plus gonadotrophin group than the letrozole group (P = 0.04). Better pregnancy rates can be achieved if LH surge occurs before HCG administration, especially with higher oestradiol and lower follicle size; treatment with letrozole plus gonadotrophin was significantly more effective than letrozole alone in AID.

Using chiral ionic liquid additives to enhance asymmetric induction in a Diels–Alder reaction

A bis-oxazoline ligand has been complexed using Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) trifluoromethanesulfonate and a range of chiral ionic liquid (CIL) additives based on natural products were used as a co-catalyst for a Diels–Alder reaction.

Effect of Propionibacterium freudenreichii in diets containing rapeseed or flaxseed oil on in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production and fatty acid biohydrogenation

The objectives of the present study were to determine the effect of inoculating Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii ATCC 8262 (1 × 109 colony-forming units per vial) in a barley silage-based diet supplemented with flaxseed oil or rapeseed oil (60 g/kg DM), on in vitro proportions and yield of volatile fatty acids, methane production and fatty acid (FA) biohydrogenation. Total volatile fatty acid production (mM) and proportions of individual FAs were not affected (P ≥ 0.10) by P. freudenreichii. Similarly, propionibacteria had little impact on FA biohydrogenation, resulting only in an increased accumulation (P < 0.01) of C18:1 cis-15 (g/kg total FA) at 6 h of incubation, compared with the control (CON). Compared with the CON, an increased (P < 0.01) accumulation of vaccenic acid was observed at 48 h in all oil-containing treatments, regardless of the oil type. Similarly, the apparent biohydrogenation of flaxseed oil resulted in an increased (P ≤ 0.04) accumulation of conjugated linoleic acid cis-9, trans-11, compared with all other treatments. Additionally, flaxseed oil produced a greater (P ≤ 0.01) accumulation of beneficial biohydrogenation intermediates (C18:2 trans-11, cis-15; C18:1 cis-15 and vaccenic acid), reflecting its ability to produce a more desirable FA profile than that of rapeseed oil or CON. The inability of P. freudenreichii subsp. shermanii ATCC 8262 to alter ruminal fermentation in a manner that lowered methane production, along with only minor effects on FA profiles through biohydrogenation, suggests that the biological activity of this strain was not realised under in vitro batch-culture conditions.

Rotatable Offner imaging system for ellipsometric measurement

To realize high spatial resolution imaging ellipsometric measurement with large field of view, we developed a rotatable Offner system with unit magnification. When the conventional Offner imaging system is tilted relative to the sample plane for the ellipsometric measurement, only a small region of plane is in focus. The rotatable Offner system developed here renders the entire object in focus through all rotations. The performance of the prototype of the Offner system and imaging ellipsometer is tested by generating maps of the ellipsometric parameters Δ and Ψ for samples such as a silicon wafer and a resolution target made of chromium film evaporated on a glass substrate.

Effects of dynamic diffraction conditions on magnetic parameter determination in a double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 using electron energy-loss magnetic chiral dichroism

Electron energy-loss magnetic chiral dichroism (EMCD) spectroscopy, which is similar to the well-established X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy (XMCD), can determine the quantitative magnetic parameters of materials with high spatial resolution. One of the major obstacles in quantitative analysis using the EMCD technique is the relatively poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), compared to XMCD. Here, in the example of a double perovskite Sr₂FeMoO₆, we predicted the optimal dynamical diffraction conditions such as sample thickness, crystallographic orientation and detection aperture position by theoretical simulations. By using the optimized conditions, we showed that the SNR of experimental EMCD spectra can be significantly improved and the error of quantitative magnetic parameter determined by EMCD technique can be remarkably lowered. Our results demonstrate that, with enhanced SNR, the EMCD technique can be a unique tool to understand the structure-property relationship of magnetic materials particularly in the high-density magnetic recording and spintronic devices by quantitatively determining magnetic structure and properties at the nanometer scale.

[Characteristics of HBV transmission in families with HBsAg-positive fathers and familial clustering of HBV infection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission among family members in families with familial clustering of HBV infection and poor outcomes, as well as the prevalence and distribution characteristics of HBsAg in offspring with different parental HBsAg status.

METHODS

The general information of each member in families with poor outcomes were collected from 2007 to 2010, and serological test was performed to analyze the prevalence and distribution of HBsAg in family members. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze and compare the sex of offspring and the prevalence of HBsAg in them in 266 nuclear families with different paternal and maternal HBsAg status.

RESULTS

The positive rates of HBsAg in parents, siblings, children, and spouses of the probands were 20%, 88.2%, 76.8%, and 9.5%, respectively. The nuclear families with HBsAg-positive fathers and HBsAg-negative mothers had a significantly increased proportion of male offspring (male/female ratio = 2.02) compared with those with HBsAg-positive mothers and HBsAg-negative fathers (1.22) or those with HBsAg-negative fathers and mothers (0.96). In addition, in the nuclear families with HBsAg-positive fathers and HBsAg-negative mothers, the male offspring had a significantly higher HBsAg positive rate than female offspring (37.4% vs 13.8%), while in those with HBsAg-positive mothers and HBsAg-negative fathers or those with HBsAg-negative fathers and mothers, HBsAg positive rate showed no significant difference between male and female offspring.

CONCLUSION

In families with familial clustering of HBV infection and poor outcomes, mother-to-child transmission is still the major route of HBV transmission, but father-to-child transmission also plays a role in HBV transmission in this special population. Positive HBsAg in fathers is associated with the increased proportion of male offspring, and father-to-son transmission of HBV is higher than father-to-daughter transmission.

Effects of conservation method on condensed tannin content, ruminal degradation, and in vitro intestinal digestion of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.)

In situ and in vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of forage conservation method on the chemical composition, ruminal degradation, and intestinal digestion of purple prairie clover (PPC), which was conserved as freeze-dried forage (FD), silage (SIL), or hay (Hay). In situ dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and crude protein (CP) degradabilities were determined by incubating the forages in three rumen-cannulated heifers for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. Intestinal DM and CP digestions were estimated by incubating 12 h ruminal in situ residues in a modified three-step in vitro procedure. Ensiling decreased (P < 0.001) extractable condensed tannins (CT) but increased (P < 0.001) protein- and fiber-bound CT compared with FD and Hay. The ruminal disappearance of CP at 8 and 24 h was affected by conservation method (P < 0.001), ranked as SIL > FD > Hay. The effective degradability of DM was lower (P < 0.001) for Hay than for FD and SIL. Ensiling lowered (P < 0.001) whereas haymaking increased (P < 0.001) intestinal digestion of CP compared with the fresh PPC. There were no differences in intestinal DM digestion among the three conserved forages. The results suggest that PPC conserved as Hay may conserve the biological activity of CT via preserving extractable CT more than as SIL, thus having the potential to improve protein utilization in ruminants.