0959 Associations Between Sleep and Academic Performance in Typically Developing Adolescent Girls

Introduction

Healthy sleep promotes cognitive functioning and is associated with better academic performance, whereas insufficient, poor, and inconsistent sleep schedules are associated with poor school performance. Several studies have identified gender differences in the timing, duration, and quality of sleep in adolescence, with adolescent girls having poorer sleep compared to adolescent boys, yet research shows that girls outperform boys academically. This could be because sleep might not affect all subjects similarly and previous studies regarding sleep and academic performance combined both genders. The goal of the present study was to determine which aspects of academic performance are specifically associated with short or poor sleep in typically developing adolescents girls.

Methods

80 adolescent girls aged 12-17 years participated in the study. Sleep was assessed in the home environment for five consecutive weeknights using actigraphy. Academic performance was assessed using report card grades.

Results

Hierarchical regression analyses adjusted for age, pubertal status, and socioeconomic status revealed that longer average sleep time was significantly associated with higher grades in mathematics. No significant associations were found between sleep variables and grades in other subjects.

Conclusion

Longer average weekday sleep duration is associated with better mathematics grades in typically developing adolescent girls.

Support

NSERC grant to Reut Gruber

0773 Why Did Pandemrix Trigger Narcolepsy? A Structural Approach

Introduction

The 2009 Pandemrix influenza A pH1N1 vaccine has been linked to an increased number of Narcolepsy type I onsets in children across Europe whereas administration of a very similar adjuvanted vaccine, Arepanrix, had little effects in Canada. One possible explanation for the difference may be vaccine composition differences that could modify peptide binding to narcolepsy associated HLA-DQ0602 allele, as viral extracts for these two vaccines used distinct processes in different factories. Other explanations may involve differences in vaccination timing in relation to the pandemic H1N1 infection wave, or other environmental factors. We have previously compared the amino acid sequence of the Hemagglutinin (HA) component of the Pandemrix and the 2010 Arepanrix vaccine, finding possible contributors, but excluding most of these after DQ0602-tetramer analysis of T cell reactivity in narcolepsy versus controls.

Methods

Mass spectrometric characterization of multiple additional batches of Pandemrix and Arepanrix used during 2009 influenza pandemic vaccination campaign was performed.

Results

In addition to confirming previously published results such as increased deamidation of hemagglutinin (HA) (146N>D) in Pandemrix (p=2.1e-9), we identified novel differences, including a significant 2-fold post-translation deamidation increase in 277N in Arepanrix versus Pandemrix (p=0.032), together with increased 2-fold glycosylation in the 286-323 positions in Arepanrix (p=0.00036). The 277 N to D/isoD substitution is located in pocket 1 of the binding core of a strong binder NAGSGIIIS, (< 10% rank) for HLA-DQ0602 allele and abolishes epitope binding. The increased glycosylation in Arepanrix occurs in the immediate flanking area of the same 277N epitope and could also reduce DQ0602 presentation of the same epitope through differential binding and/or proteolysis of HA in this region of the molecules. As CD4 T cells recognizing this epitope have been reported to be significantly increased in narcolepsy versus DQ0602 controls, with possible mimicry with homologous hypocretin sequence.

Conclusion

These changes could explain why Arepanrix was less narcolepsy inducing. Confirmatory studies, as well as studies of all novel changes observed, are ongoing, but this is a promising result.

Support

Wake Up Narcolepsy

LncRNA-MALAT1 is a promising biomarker for prognostic evaluation of tongue squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

MALAT1 is recognized as an oncogenic lncRNA in various malignancies. Here, the authors aim to explore the association of MALAT1 expression and prognostic implication in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODS

The tongue tissues of 128 tongue SCC cases satisfying strict follow-up criteria and 28 normal cases were subjected to qRT-PCR assay for monitoring MALAT1 expression. Chi-square test was applied to explore the correlation between MALAT1 expression and clinicopathological features of tongue SCC. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate survival rates. Cox proportional hazard analysis was adopted to analyze the relationship between prognostic factors and patient survival.

RESULTS

The expression of MALAT1 was upregulated in tongue SCC, compared to normal tongue tissues. The expression level of MALAT1 was correlated to differentiation and stage of tongue SCC, and high MALAT1 expression was associated with low disease-free survival and overall survival rates. Moreover, advanced tongue SCC patients with high MALAT1 level had lower disease-free survival and decreased overall survival rate than patients with low MALAT1 level. These results revealed that MALAT1 overexpression can be considered as a significant prognostic factor to independently predict the disease-free survival and overall survival rate of tongue SCC.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression level of MALAT1 is closely related with progression of tongue SCC. Furthermore, MALAT1 can serve as an independent biomarker for prognostic evaluation of tongue SCC.

Sex modulates the apolipoprotein E ε4 effect on white matter and cortical functional connectivity in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recent studies from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative show that, in the USA, 75% of patients with Alzheimer's disease are female. To date, there have rarely been any attempts to analyze data by sex or gender, which limits the potential for discovering the effects of sex or gender on disease. Little evidence is available regarding the effect of gender and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 on white matter (WM) connection from the functional perspective due to the lack of appropriate techniques for detecting blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals in WM.

METHODS

We took advantage of a new framework known as functional tensor imaging to investigate the effect of sex and APOEε4 on WM cortical functional connectivity throughout the brain.

RESULTS

In a group of female patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, we found a significantly reduced functional connectivity in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule, left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, bilateral temporopolar area and right somatosensory association cortex in APOEε4 carriers in contrast to non-carriers. We also found a significant APOEε4 by sex interaction effect on the right somatosensory association cortex, left temporopolar area and left superior temporal gyrus. The clinical Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was significantly negatively associated with the right somatosensory association cortex with APOEε4 by sex interaction in males.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that increased APOE-related risk in women may be associated with decreased activity in both gray matter and WM in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment compared with men. The finding suggests accounting for sex differences in neuroimaging biomarkers, diagnostics and treatment strategy.

APOB Genotypes and CDH13 Haplotypes in the Cholesterol-Related Pathway Genes Predict Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Survival

BACKGROUND

Several oncogenic signals are involved in the synthesis, metabolism, transportation, and modulation of cholesterol. However, the roles of genetic variants of the cholesterol pathway genes in cancer survival remain unclear.

METHODS

We investigated associations between 26,781 common SNPs in 209 genes of the cholesterol pathway and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival by utilizing genotyping data from two published genome-wide association studies. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and expression quantitative trait loci analyses to identify survival-associated SNPs and their correlations with the corresponding mRNA expression, respectively. We also used the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and bioinformatics functional prediction to further evaluate the identified independent SNPs.

RESULTS

We found five independent SNPs (APOB rs1801701C>T; CDH13 rs35859010 C>T, rs1833970 T>A, rs254315 T>C, and rs425904 T>C) to be significantly associated with NSCLC survival in both discovery and replication datasets. When the unfavorable genotype (APOB rs1801701CC) and haplotypes (CDH13 rs35859010-rs1833970-rs254315-rs425904 C-A-T-C and T-T-T-T) were combined into a genetic score as the number of unfavorable genotypes/haplotypes (NUGH) in the multivariate analysis, an increased NUGH was associated with worse survival (P _trend < 0.0001). In addition, both APOB rs1801701T<C and CDH13 rs425904C<T were correlated with mRNA expression of the genes in normal lung tissues from the genotype-tissue expression project.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic variants of APOB and CDH13 in the cholesterol pathway were associated with NSCLC survival, possibly by affecting their gene expression.

IMPACT

Genetic variants of APOB and CDH13 in the cholesterol pathway may provide new scientific insights into NSCLC prognosis.

Size-Dependent Effects of Suspended Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles on the Cellular Fate of Mouse Neural Stem Cells

PURPOSE

In this study, we aim to explore the effects of graphene oxide (GO), a derivative of graphene, nanoparticles of four different sizes on the cellular fate of mouse neural stem cells (mNSCs).

METHODS

GO NPs were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron micrography (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectra analysis. The cytotoxic effects of the GO NPs of different sizes on the mNSCs were determined using CCK-8 assay, Annexin V-APC/ 7-AAD staining and EdU staining assays. We investigated the biological and the mechanisms of GO NPs on cells using immunofluorescence analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

RESULTS

The average hydrodynamic sizes of the GO NPs were 417 nm, 663 nm, 1047 nm, and 4651 nm, with a thickness of approximately 22.5 nm, 17.7 nm, 22.4 nm, and 13.4 nm, respectively. GO NPs of all sizes showed low cytotoxicity at a concentration of 20 μg/mL on the mNSCs. Immunostaining demonstrated that treatment with GO NPs, especially the 663 nm ones, enhanced the self-renewal ability of mNSCs in the absence of EGF and bFGF. Under differentiation medium conditions that are free of mitogenic factors, all the GO NPs, particularly the 4651 nm ones, increased the expression level of Tuj1 and GFAP. With regards to the migration ability, we found that 417 nm GO-NP-treated mNSCs migrated over a longer distance than the control group obviously. In addition, higher expression of Rap1, Vinculin and Paxillin was observed in the GO NP-treated groups compared to the control group. mRNA-Sequence analysis and Western blotting results suggested that the 4651 nm GO NPs triggered positive neuronal differentiation through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by the downregulating of TRPC2.

CONCLUSION

GO NPs play an important role in the applications of inducing self-renewal and differentiation of mNSC, and are promising in the future for further studies.

Independent Validation of Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prognostic Scores Incorporating Epigenetic and Transcriptional Biomarkers With Gene-Gene Interactions and Main Effects

Background

DNA methylation and gene expression are promising biomarkers of various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Besides the main effects of biomarkers, the progression of complex diseases is also influenced by gene-gene (G×G) interactions.

Research Question

Would screening the functional capacity of biomarkers on the basis of main effects or interactions, using multiomics data, improve the accuracy of cancer prognosis?

Study Design and Methods

Biomarker screening and model validation were used to construct and validate a prognostic prediction model. NSCLC prognosis-associated biomarkers were identified on the basis of either their main effects or interactions with two types of omics data. A prognostic score incorporating epigenetic and transcriptional biomarkers, as well as clinical information, was independently validated.

Results

Twenty-six pairs of biomarkers with G×G interactions and two biomarkers with main effects were significantly associated with NSCLC survival. Compared with a model using clinical information only, the accuracy of the epigenetic and transcriptional biomarker-based prognostic model, measured by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), increased by 35.38% (95% CI, 27.09%-42.17%; P = 5.10 × 10^–17) and 34.85% (95% CI, 26.33%-41.87%; P = 2.52 × 10^–18) for 3- and 5-year survival, respectively, which exhibited a superior predictive ability for NSCLC survival (AUC_{3 year}, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.83-0.93]; and AUC_{5 year}, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.83-0.93]) in an independent Cancer Genome Atlas population. G×G interactions contributed a 65.2% and 91.3% increase in prediction accuracy for 3- and 5-year survival, respectively.

Interpretation

The integration of epigenetic and transcriptional biomarkers with main effects and G×G interactions significantly improves the accuracy of prognostic prediction of early-stage NSCLC survival.

[Study on the characteristics of major birth defects in 1.69 million cases of fetus in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]

Objective: Tracking the information on 1.69 million fetal cases across Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) so as to study the occurrences of total and major birth defects in order to evaluate the ability on related prevention and control programs in Guangxi. Methods: Using the self-developed "Gui Women's System" to establish a database of 1.69 million fetal cases in Guangxi and to analyze the distribution of time, space and population, as well as the outcomes of pregnancy, using the big data. Results: During the 29 months of observation, the overall live birth rate was 99.25%, with stillbirth rate during pregnancy as 0.44%, stillbirth rate during birth as 0.02%, and the 0-6 days mortality rate as 0.14%. The total detection rate on birth defects was 197.63/10 000; the incidence rate was 103.04/10 000, the birth rate was 102.55/10 000. The overall discovery rate of major birth defects was 48.33/10 000, with the incidence rate as 783 000, the birth rate as 0.58/10 000. The discovery rates of major birth defects in 14 cities were between 35 and 68/10 000, and the birth rate dropped significantly to less than 1.00 in 10 000. Nationalities showed that the number of pregnant women with birth defects more than 50 000 would include Hui (9.68/10 000), Yao (9.57/10 000), and Jing (9.37/10 000). With the increasing age of gestation, number of birth defects, incidence of major birth defects also increased. Ninety-five percent of the major birth defects were found within <28 weeks and with the top 5 kinds of major birth defects as complicated congenital heart disease (9.11/10 000), alpha thalassemia (8.36/10 000), and 21-trisomy syndrome (7.85/10 000), beta thalassemia (5.32/10 000) and fetal edema syndrome (4.92/10 000). The top 5 major birth defects appeared as complicated congenital heart disease (9.11/10 000), alpha thalassemia (8.36/10 000), and 21-trisomy syndrome (7.85/10 000), beta thalassemia (5.32/10 000) and fetal edema syndrome (4.92/10 000). Conclusion: Programs leading to increase the rate on discovery of major birth defects were fundamental in effectively reducing the major birth defects.

[Interpretation of "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Infection by the National Health Commission (Trial Version 5)"]

the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China publish the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection (trial version 5) .With the awareness and understanding of the disease, the guidelines have been revised for recognize, treat, and prevent diseases. Then, what are the contents of the fifth edition of the guide issued updated compared to the fourth edition, now, learn together.

Activation of CB2R with AM1241 ameliorates neurodegeneration via the Xist/miR-133b-3p/Pitx3 axis

Activation of cannabinoid receptor type II (CB2R) by AM1241 has been demonstrated to protect dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) animals. However, the specific mechanisms of the action of the CB2R agonist AM1241 for PD treatment have not been characterized. Wild-type (WT), CB1R knockout (CB1-KO), and CB2R knockout (CB2-KO) mice were exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 1 week to obtain a PD mouse model. The therapeutic effects of AM1241 were evaluated in each group. Behavioral tests, analysis of neurotransmitters, and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that AM1241 ameliorated PD in WT animals and CB1-KO animals. However, AM1241 did not ameliorate PD symptoms in CB2-KO mice. RNA-seq analysis identified the lncRNA Xist as an important regulator of the protective actions of AM1241. Specifically, AM1241 allowed WT and CB1-KO animals treated with MPTP to maintain normal expression of Xist, which affected the expression of miR-133b-3p and Pitx3. In vitro, overexpression of Xist or AM1241 protected neuronal cells from death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and increased Pitx3 expression. The CB2 receptor agonist AM1241 alleviated PD via regulation of the Xist/miR-133b-3p/Pitx3 axis, and revealed a new approach for PD treatment.

MiR-129 is involved in the occurrence of uterine fibroid through inhibiting TET1

OBJECTIVE

To detect the expressions of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-129 and its target gene in uterine fibroid tissues and to investigate the role of miR-129 in the occurrence of uterine fibroid.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expressions of miR-129 and its target gene ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) were detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Dual-luciferase reporter gene and Western blotting were used to verify the regulatory relation between miR-129 and target gene. The effects of miR-129 on the proliferation, apoptosis, cycle and extracellular matrix (ECM) of uterine fibroid cells were investigated via transfection with miR-129 mimics and TET1 small-interfering RNA (siRNA).

RESULTS

MiR-129 was lowly expressed in uterine fibroid. The expression of miR-129 was regulated by sex hormones. The highly expressed miR-129 promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation through reducing the low expression of TET1. At the same time, miR-129 affected the accumulation of ECM.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of miR-129 in uterine fibroid is lower, and the proliferation capacity of tumor cells is enhanced, thus promoting the occurrence and development of uterine fibroid.

shinyBN: an online application for interactive Bayesian network inference and visualization

BACKGROUND

High-throughput technologies have brought tremendous changes to biological domains, and the resulting high-dimensional data has also posed enormous challenges to computational science. A Bayesian network is a probabilistic graphical model represented by a directed acyclic graph, which provides concise semantics to describe the relationship between entities and has an independence assumption that is suitable for sparse omics data. Bayesian networks have been broadly used in biomedical research fields, including disease risk assessment and prognostic prediction. However, the inference and visualization of Bayesian networks are unfriendly to the users lacking programming skills.

RESULTS

We developed an R/Shiny application, shinyBN, which is an online graphical user interface to facilitate the inference and visualization of Bayesian networks. shinyBN supports multiple types of input and provides flexible settings for network rendering and inference. For output, users can download network plots, prediction results and external validation results in publication-ready high-resolution figures.

CONCLUSION

Our user-friendly application (shinyBN) provides users with an easy method for Bayesian network modeling, inference and visualization via mouse clicks. shinyBN can be used in the R environment or online and is compatible with three major operating systems, including Windows, Linux and Mac OS. shinyBN is deployed at https://jiajin.shinyapps.io/shinyBN/. Source codes and the manual are freely available at https://github.com/JiajinChen/shinyBN.

Composite super-moiré lattices in double-aligned graphene heterostructures

When two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystals are brought into close proximity to form a van der Waals heterostructure, neighbouring crystals may influence each other's properties. Of particular interest is when the two crystals closely match and a moiré pattern forms, resulting in modified electronic and excitonic spectra, crystal reconstruction, and more. Thus, moiré patterns are a viable tool for controlling the properties of 2D materials. However, the difference in periodicity of the two crystals limits the reconstruction and, thus, is a barrier to the low-energy regime. Here, we present a route to spectrum reconstruction at all energies. By using graphene which is aligned to two hexagonal boron nitride layers, one can make electrons scatter in the differential moiré pattern which results in spectral changes at arbitrarily low energies. Further, we demonstrate that the strength of this potential relies crucially on the atomic reconstruction of graphene within the differential moiré super cell.

Identification of urinary hsa_circ _0137439 as potential biomarker and tumor regulator of bladder cancer

Cell-free circular RNAs (circRNAs) stably and abundantly exist in body fluids. In this study we aimed to investigate the potential of urinary cell-free circRNAs as a novel class of noninvasive disease biomarkers for diagnosis of bladder cancer. Differentially expressed circRNAs from 10 normal and 10 bladder cancer urine samples were firstly detected by microarray. Hsa_circ_0137439 was then screened and validated in 30 normal and 116 bladder cancer samples. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of hsa_circ_0137439. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the significance of hsa_circ_0137439 in the prognosis of bladder cancer. We found that hsa_circ_0137439 was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer samples. Moreover, increased expression of hsa_circ_0137439 was correlated with higher tumor stage, higher tumor grade, higher lymph node status, and history of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Also, urinary cell-free hsa_circ_0137439 could not only differentiate bladder cancer from normal controls but also distinguish MIBC from non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Additionally, hsa_circ_0137439 in urine supernatant could serve as an independent prognostic predicator of recurrence-free survival and overall survival for patients with bladder cancer. Cell assays showed that hsa_circ_0137439 knockdown contributed to the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration via hsa_circ_0137439/miR-142-5p/ MTDH axis. In conclusion, urinary cell-free hsa_circ_0137439 could be a promising biomarker for tumor diagnosis and prognostic assessment of bladder cancer patients.

Layered double hydroxide eliminate embryotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drug through BMP-SMAD signaling pathway

Recent studies indicate that exogenous chemotherapy agents can cross the placenta barrier and cause fetal toxicity, while there exists barely alternative therapy for pregnant cancer patients. Here, we show a robust protective effect of layered double hydroxide (LDH) against etoposide (VP16) induced in vitro mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) toxicity and in vivo embryo developmental disorders. The nano-composite system (L-V) abrogated the original VP16 generated mitochondrial mediated mESCs toxicity totally, surprisingly maintained the pluripotency without leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and prevented the down-regulation of ectoderm marker expression during spontaneous embryoid bodies differentiation. Fetal growth retardation, the related placenta and skeletal structural abnormalities and long-term toxicity in the offspring were generated when pregnant mice exposed to VP16, while these detrimental effects were abolished when substituted with L-V. The different uterine drug accumulation of VP16 and L-V contributed to partly cause for the functional variation. And further transcriptome analysis confirmed developmental related BMP4-SMAD6 signaling pathway is of crucial importance. Our study revealed the devastating effects of VP16 on embryonic development and the toxicity-relieve method using nano-carrier system, which will provide important guidance for clinical application of LDH as alternative therapeutic system with minimal side effects for pregnant women diagnosed with cancer.

Antimicrobial stewardship intervention: optimizing antibiotic treatment in hospitalized patients with reported antibiotic allergy

BACKGROUND

Reported antibiotic allergy in hospitalized patients seems to be related to more adverse events, the use of reserve antibiotics and longer hospitalization. Most patients reporting an antibiotic allergy can be de-labelled; as such, an antimicrobial stewardship intervention was set up.

AIM

To determine the impact of reported antibiotic allergy on the antibiotic treatment of hospitalized patients, and prevent unnecessary deviation from the preferred antibiotic treatment by a proactive antimicrobial stewardship intervention.

METHODS

Hospitalized patients reporting an antibiotic allergy were included in an intervention study at a teaching hospital in the Netherlands between March and May 2019. Physicians received training and were provided with a recommendation in the electronic medical record in case the preferred antibiotic treatment was unnecessarily avoided due to the allergy label and the patient was eligible for a drug challenge.

FINDINGS

In total, 492 patients reporting an antibiotic allergy were identified, accounting for 558 hospital admissions. In 93 cases, the antibiotic allergy label interfered with the preferred antibiotic treatment. Sixty-eight of these patients were eligible for a drug challenge, and 42 patients were challenged. In 40 (95%) of these patients, no allergic reaction was observed, and the preferred antibiotic treatment was given. Two (5%) patients developed a non-severe skin reaction after a drug challenge and continued an alternative antibiotic regimen.

CONCLUSION

This antimicrobial stewardship intervention can be used to provide patients with reported antibiotic allergy labels with the preferred antibiotic treatment, and to de-label them after uneventful re-exposure to the antibiotic agent.

P6449Circulating long noncoding RNA expression signature as a novel biomarker for myocardial fibrosis

Background

Cardiac fibrosis (CF) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), predisposing to contractile dysfunction, myocardial stiffness and life-threatening arrhythmias. Early detection and intervention of myocardial fibrosis, therefore, can delay or prevent the progression of HF. Current diagnostic and treatment options for CF, however, are very limited.

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that circulating lncRNA expression signature can be a sensitive biomarker to diagnose and correlate with the extent of CF in human heart.

Methods

Plasma RNA samples from healthy control (n=23) and from patients with diffuse myocardial fibrosis documented by cardiac magnetic resonance (T1 mapping technique, n=16) were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNASeq), followed by differential expression, gene ontology/pathway and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Results

RNASeq revealed that 439 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the plasma from patients with CF, compared to that from controls. Gene ontology analyses showed significant enrichment of these CF-linked genes in cytoskeleton organization, innate immune response, and MAPK-Erk signaling, cellular processes known to contribute to the development of CF. Further analyses showed that 84 plasma lncRNAs were dysregulated in patients with CF; 5 of the lncRNAs (ENSGehz746.10420265401.1, ENSGehz746.10420229124.6, ENSGehz746.10420281376.1, ENSGehz746.10420273275.1 and ENSGehz746.10420179818.13) showed concordant changes with their cis-mRNA (UBB, VIM, BCL2L1, PPP3R1 and PCBP1). Hierarchical clustering analyses demonstrated that the expression signature of plasma lncRNAs could distinguish patients with CF from control patients (classification accuracy 87%). The expression levels of plasma lncRNAs ENSGehz746.10420258017.1 and ENSGehz746.10420265401.1, in particular, were markedly downregulated in patients with myocardial fibrosis. ROC curve analyses showed that low expression levels of ENSGehz746.10420258017.1 and ENSGehz746.10420265401.1 were highly sensitive and specific to detect the presence of CF in human heart (AUC 0.9 for both lncRNAs, Figure).

LncRNA Predicts Cardiac Fibrosis

Conclusions

The present study revealed a circulating transcriptome signature that reflects the pathogenesis of CF. The expression profiles of circulating lncRNAs discriminated between patients with and without interstitial myocardial fibrosis. LncRNAs ENSGehz746.10420258017.1 and ENSGehz746.10420265401.1, in particular, are novel biomarkers with potential to facilitate clinical diagnosis of myocardial fibrosis.

[rmIL-33-stimulated nuocytes promote allergic inflammation in mouse model of allergic rhinitis]

Objective:The study aimed to investigate the role of nuocytes in allergic rhinitis （AR） murine models. Method:After intranasal administration of recombinant （rm） interleukin （IL）-33 in BALB/c mice, nuocytes were sorted and purified from the mouse nasal-associated lymphoid tissue （NALT）. Then, we examined the response of nuocytes to rmIL-33 in vitro. After a murine model of AR was established using ovalbumin, we adoptively transferred the cultured NALT-derived nuocytes to mice models, and determined allergic responses in them. Result:rmIL-33 expanded nuocytes in NALT of mice compared with AR mice （t=3.66, P<0.01）, and increased production of IL-13 from these cells in vitro in comparison with unstimulated nuocytes （t=19.90, P<0.000 1）. After adoptive transfer of nuocytes, sneezing （t=9.89, P<0.000 1） ,numbers of eosinophils（t=8.17, P<0.000 1）, concentrations of IL-13 （t=40.47, P<0.000 1） and IL-33 （t=19.89, P<0.000 1） in nasal lavage fluid were all enhanced when compared with AR mice. Conclusion:Nuocytes promote allergic inflammation in a murine model of AR.

[Ratio of transfer cesarean section after trial of labor and maternal-fetal adverse outcomes based on Robson classifications]

Objective: To investigate the ratio of transfer cesarean section after trial of labor and maternal-fetal outcomes based on Robson classifications. Methods: The delivery data by cesarean section in Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2015 (gestational age ≥28 weeks and newborn birth weight >1 000 g) were retrospectively collected. The ratio of transfer cesarean section after trial of labor and maternal-fetal adverse outcomes were analyzed by weighted adverse outcome score in different Robson classifications. Results: (1) The highest ratio of transfer cesarean section after trial of labor was classification 9 (all abnormal lies, including previous cesarean section and breech were excluded) reached 47.31% (431/911) , followed by classification 2 (nulliparous women with a single cephalic pregnancy, ≥37 weeks gestation who had labour induced) accounted for 44.90%(409/911). (2)The tops of weighted adverse outcome score of transfer cesarean section after trial of labor were classification 10 (single cephalic pregnancy at <37 weeks gestation, including women with previous cesarean delivery) 24.55, classification 5 (single cephalic pregnancy multiparous women, with at least one previous cesarean delivery, ≥37weeks gestation) 3.64. Conclusion: Carefully evaluating the delivery mode and emphasizing the intrapartum management in nulliparous women with a single cephalic pregnancy, at ≥37 weeks gestation who had labour induced and trial of labor after cesarean section is essential to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in transfer cesarean section after trial of labor.

[Effects of n-hexane on learning and memory and the expressions of nerve growth factor mRNA and nerve growth factor receptor mRNA of brain tissue in mice exposed to N-hexane]

Objective: To Effects of n-hexane on learning and memory and the expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) mRNA of brain tissue in mice exposed to N-hexane. Methods: 40 Kunming mice were randomly divided into low-dose group, meddle-dose group, high-dose dose group and control group, with 10 mice in each group. All the groups were orally exposed to n-hexane in different doses: low-dose group with 43.5 mg/kg, middle-dose group with 86.5 mg/kg and high-dose group with 173.0 mg/kg, 1 time per day for 20 d. After the poisoning, the Y-arm test and the expressions of NGF mRNA and NGFR mRNA and the concentrations of NGF and NGFR in the brain tissues of each group were measured. Results: In the first Y-arm test, there existed a significant difference in correct reaction rate generally in all groups (P<0.05), and correct reaction rate in the middle-dose group and the high-dose group were low significantly compared with that in the control group(P<0.05). In the second Y-arm test, there existed a significant differences in total electric shock time and correct reaction rate generally in all groups (P<0.01), and the total electric shock time prolonged significantly and the correct response rate decreased significantly in 3 dose groups compared with those of the control group(P<0.05). The expression levels of NGF mRNA in brain tissues of low, meddle and high dose-groups were 0.81±0.66, 0.67±0.37 and 0.69±0.26, and the expression levels of NGFR mRNA were 1.22±0.42, 1.98±0.84 and 2.01±2.01, respectively. Compared with the control group, the expressions of NGF mRNA in the 3 dose groups decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the expression of NGFR mRNA in middle-and high-dose groups increased significantly (P<0.05). The concentrations of NGF in brain tissues of low,meddle and high dose-groups were 39.97±7.24 ng/L, 39.26±7.88 ng/L,31.70±8.21 ng/L,and the concentrations of NGFR were 17.37±6.82 ng/L,21.37±7.16 ng/L, 22.46±7.70 ng/L, respectively. Compared with the control group, the concentrations of NGF in high-dose groups decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the concentrations of NGFR in middle-and high-dose groups increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: N-hexane exposure can result in decrease of learning and memory in mice, which may be related to abnormal expression of NGF mRNA and NGFR mRNA in brain tissue.

Tetramethylpyrazine supplementation reduced Salmonella Typhimurium load and inflammatory response in broilers

The present study tested whether tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) supplementation could influence the growth performance, Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) load, inflammasomes, cytokines, and chemokines in broilers. Treatments were a 2 × 2 factorial design, including negative control (NC), S. Typhimurium challenge (SC), and NC/SC + TMP (150 mg/kg of diet). The trial lasted for 28 D, and S. Typhimurium subclinical challenge was occurred on day 8. The results showed that S. Typhimurium challenge worsened (P < 0.05) growth performance, S. Typhimurium load in intestinal digesta and visceral tissues, intestinal inflammatory responses, and permeability compared to the NC treatment. TMP supplementation increased (P < 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency by 4.3 to 12.0%, but decreased (P < 0.05) S. Typhimurium load by 5.4 to 45.8%, inflammasomes (caspase-1/3/9, gasdermin A/E, and nod-like receptor protein 3) by 25.0 to 59.0%, chemokines (C-C motif ligand 2 and C-X-C motif 10) by 40.2 to 47.2%, intestinal permeability by 28.2% compared to the SC treatment. The TMP also reduced inflammatory response by influencing tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β/4/6. Factorial analysis indicated that TMP and SC were interactive (P < 0.05) on most parameters due to the more pronounced TMP effect in S. Typhimurium challenge groups. It is concluded that TMP can promote growth and mitigate S. Typhimurium infection by reducing the S. Typhimurium load and inflammatory response in broilers.

Trans-omics biomarker model improves prognostic prediction accuracy for early-stage lung adenocarcinoma

Limited studies have focused on developing prognostic models with trans-omics biomarkers for early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We performed integrative analysis of clinical information, DNA methylation, and gene expression data using 825 early-stage LUAD patients from 5 cohorts. Ranger algorithm was used to screen prognosis-associated biomarkers, which were confirmed with a validation phase. Clinical and biomarker information was fused using an iCluster plus algorithm, which significantly distinguished patients into high- and low-mortality risk groups (Pdiscovery = 0.01 and Pvalidation = 2.71×10-3). Further, potential functional DNA methylation-gene expression-overall survival pathways were evaluated by causal mediation analysis. The effect of DNA methylation level on LUAD survival was significantly mediated through gene expression level. By adding DNA methylation and gene expression biomarkers to a model of only clinical data, the AUCs of the trans-omics model improved by 18.3% (to 87.2%) and 16.4% (to 85.3%) in discovery and validation phases, respectively. Further, concordance index of the nomogram was 0.81 and 0.77 in discovery and validation phases, respectively. Based on systematic review of published literatures, our model was superior to all existing models for early-stage LUAD. In summary, our trans-omics model may help physicians accurately identify patients with high mortality risk.

Pool boiling of HFO-1336mzz(Z) on a reentrant cavity surface

This paper quantifies the pool boiling performance of R1336mzz(Z) on a flattened, horizontal Turbo-ESP surface for air-conditioning and industrial heat recovery applications for heat fluxes between roughly 10 kWm-2 and 120 kWm-2. The R1336mzz(Z) pool boiling curve was measured for three saturation temperatures and exhibited the best performance with respect to saturation temperature near the middle saturation temperature of 298.1 K. The study showed that the boiling performance of R1336mzz(Z) on the Turbo-ESP did not differ statistically from that of R123 for heat fluxes between 13 kWm-2 and 59 kWm-2. For heat fluxes larger than 59 kWm-2, the R123 boiling heat flux was up to 5% larger than the heat flux for R1336mzz(Z). A pool boiling model was modified to include a convective term and was used to predict boiling heat transfer for the test refrigerants on the Turbo-ESP surface, mostly, to within ±0.5 K.

Dispersal and genetic differentiation of Syntrichia caninervis populations across different desert regions in China

The moss Syntrichia caninervis is widely distributed in cool temperate and cold deserts where environmental pressures create a dependence on asexual reproduction (fragment reproduction). However, when compared to sporophyte-producing mosses, there is a lack of evidence to support the capacity of drought-tolerant mosses that predominantly fragment and produce protonema to disperse over long distances. We used 20 microsatellite loci to study genetic variation and structure in six populations (five natural populations and one population from a regeneration site) in three contrasting and widely separated regions of China. The genetic diversity and expected heterozygosity were lower in populations from the Tengger Desert than in populations from the other regions. Using PCoA, UPGMA and Structure analysis, the genetic grouping divided the three regions into three distinct groups. This may indicate that in regions where S. caninervis reproduces predominantly asexually, propagules are spread mainly by short-distance dispersal. The genetic diversity of the population from the regeneration site in the Tengger Desert was slightly higher than that of the nearby, naturally occurring population, and included some input from the Pamir Plateau almost 2,300 km to the west, suggesting long-distance dispersal of S. caninervis propagules across the region. Predominantly asexually reproducing populations of S. caninervis are mainly dependent on short-distance dispersal. Long-distance dispersal of S. caninervis propagules across the region is difficult. Establishment of populations with dominant asexual reproduction will eventually result in genetic differentiation.

SIPA1L3 methylation modifies the benefit of smoking cessation on lung adenocarcinoma survival: an epigenomic-smoking interaction analysis

Smoking cessation prolongs survival and decreases mortality of patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, epigenetic alterations of some genes are associated with survival. However, potential interactions between smoking cessation and epigenetics have not been assessed. Here, we conducted an epigenome‐wide interaction analysis between DNA methylation and smoking cessation on NSCLC survival. We used a two‐stage study design to identify DNA methylation–smoking cessation interactions that affect overall survival for early‐stage NSCLC. The discovery phase contained NSCLC patients from Harvard, Spain, Norway, and Sweden. A histology‐stratified Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, clinical stage, and study center was used to test DNA methylation–smoking cessation interaction terms. Interactions with false discovery rate‐q ≤ 0.05 were further confirmed in a validation phase using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Histology‐specific interactions were identified by stratification analysis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. We identified one CpG probe (cg02268510_SIPA1L3) that significantly and exclusively modified the effect of smoking cessation on survival in LUAD patients [hazard ratio (HR)_interaction = 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.16; P = 4.30 × 10^–7]. Further, the effect of smoking cessation on early‐stage LUAD survival varied across patients with different methylation levels of cg02268510_SIPA1L3. Smoking cessation only benefited LUAD patients with low methylation (HR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34–0.82; P = 4.61 × 10^–3) rather than medium or high methylation (HR = 1.21; 95% CI: 0.86–1.70; P = 0.266) of cg02268510_SIPA1L3. Moreover, there was an antagonistic interaction between elevated methylation of cg02268510_SIPA1L3 and smoking cessation (HR_interaction = 2.1835; 95% CI: 1.27–3.74; P = 4.46 × 10⁻³). In summary, smoking cessation benefited survival of LUAD patients with low methylation at cg02268510_SIPA1L3. The results have implications for not only smoking cessation after diagnosis, but also possible methylation‐specific drug targeting.

Evaluation of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging in Sub-acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison with Rehabilitation Treatment Effect

Stroke is a serious worldwide medical condition that causes neurological function disability. Diffusional kurtosis imaging, which measures the non-Gaussianity of water diffusion, has been demonstrated to be a sensitive biomarker in many neuro-pathologies. This study explores the relationship between neural function recovery and transformation of the ischemic lesion and/or corticospinal tract during the sub-acute phase after stroke by using diffusional kurtosis imaging. We performed a prospective study of function recovery and K metrics of 43 patients with sub-acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory. The effect of rehabilitation treatment was evaluated using both the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and modified Barthel index score at post-treatment compared with admission, and patients were allocated to two groups: good and poor rehabilitation effect (GRE and PRE). Metrics of diffusional kurtosis imaging within ischemic lesion and along the corticospinal tract were acquired, respectively. All three relative axial diffusional kurtoses (rKas) along the corticospinal tract in the GRE group ( n = 21) were significantly larger than those of the PRE group ( n = 22), including rKa in the posterior limb of internal capsule, rKa in the cerebral peduncle, and rKa in the basal part of the pons ( p = 0.014, 0.005, and 0.021, respectively). This multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging study showed that diffusional kurtosis imaging has the potential to complement existing stroke imaging techniques and revealed its own advantages in elucidating the possible biophysical mechanism of functional restoration underlying ischemic stroke.

[The influence of different thyroid stimulating hormone cut-offs to diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism during the first trimester of pregnancy]

Objective: To analyze the influence of different thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) cut-offs to diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in the first trimester of gestation. Methods: A total of 896 pregnant women were enrolled in Peking University International Hospital between October 2016 and March 2018. Among them, 421 pregnant women with single fetus who were conformed to the criteria of National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB), without adverse pregnancy outcomes and obstetric complications, were selected to establish their self-sequential longitudinal reference ranges of thyroid function. Then, SCH was diagnosed in the first trimester, using different TSH cutoffs, such as the upper limit of the first trimester-specific reference range, 4.0 mU/L recommended by the 2017 Guidelines of American Thyroid Association (ATA), 5.17 mU/L (Roche reagent) recommended by 2012 Guidelines of Chinese Society of Endocrinology and Chinese Society of Perinatal Medicine, and 2.5 mU/L recommended by 2011 Guidelines of ATA, respectively. Results: The TSH reference range was 0.12-4.16 mU/L in the first trimester. Using TSH>4.16, 4.0, 5.17 and 2.5 mU/L to diagnose SCH in the first trimester, the prevalence rates were 4.35% (39/896), 5.92% (53/896), 1.56% (14/896) and 20.87% (187/896), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence rates of SCH using the TSH upper reference limit of 4.0 mU/L and 4.16 mU/L (P=0.134). When TSH was defined as>4.0 mU/L to diagnose SCH, the sensitivity, specificity and Youden index was 97.4%, 98.2%, and 0.956, respectively. Conclusions: The TSH upper reference limit of 4.0 mU/L recommended by 2017 Guidelines of ATA can be used as a cut-off to diagnose SCH in first trimester for the areas without trimester-specific reference ranges for TSH in China.

EGLN2 DNA methylation and expression interact with HIF1A to affect survival of early-stage NSCLC

Hypoxia occurs frequently in human cancers and promotes stabilization and activation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). HIF-1α is specific for the hypoxia response, and its degradation mediated by three enzymes EGLN1, EGLN2 and EGLN3. Although EGLNs expression has been found to be related to prognosis of many cancers, few studies examined DNA methylation in EGLNs and its relationship to prognosis of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed EGLNs DNA methylation data from tumor tissue samples of 1,230 early-stage NSCLC patients, as well as gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The sliding windows sequential forward feature selection method and weighted random forest were used to screen out the candidate CpG probes in lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinomas patients, respectively, in both discovery and validation phases. Then Cox regression was performed to evaluate the association between DNA methylation and overall survival. Among the 34 CpG probes in EGLNs, DNA methylation at cg25923056EGLN2 was identified to be significantly associated with LUAD survival (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.03, P = 9.90 × 10-5), and correlated with EGLN2 expression (r = - 0.36, P = 1.52 × 10-11). Meanwhile, EGLN2 expression was negatively correlated with HIF1A expression in tumor tissues (r = - 0.30, P = 4.78 × 10-8) and significantly (P = 0.037) interacted with HIF1A expression on overall survival. Therefore, DNA methylation of EGLN2- HIF1A is a potential marker for LUAD prognosis and these genes are potential treatment targets for further development of HIF-1α inhibitors in lung cancer therapy.