Smoke aerosols dispersion and transport from the 2013 New South Wales (Australia) bushfires

Environmental monitoring and modelling, especially in the regional context, has seen significant progress with the widely usage of satellite measurement in conjunction with local meteorological and air quality monitoring to understand the atmospheric dispersion and transport of air pollutants. This paper studies the application of these data and modelling tools to understand the environment effects of a major bushfire period in the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in 2013. The bushfires have caused high pollution episodes at many sites in the greater Sydney metropolitan areas. The potential long-range transport of aerosols produced by bushfires to other region and states has been seen by regulators as a major concern. Using data and images collected from satellites, in addition to the results obtained from different simulations carried out using HYSPLIT trajectory model and a regional meteorological model called Conformal Cubic Atmospheric Model (CCAM), we were able to identify at least 2 days on which the smoke aerosols from bush fires in NSW has been transported at high altitude to the northern state of Queensland and the Coral Sea. As a result, widespread high particle concentration in South East Queensland including the Brisbane area, as measured by nearly all the air quality monitoring stations in this region, occurred on the day when the smoke aerosols intruded to lower altitude as indicated by the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) Lidar measurements on the CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) satellite. The use of meteorological or air quality modelling to connect the ground-based measurements with satellite observations as shown in this study is useful to understand the pollutant transport due to bushfires and its impact on regional air quality.

Overexpression of EPS8L3 promotes cell proliferation by inhibiting the transactivity of FOXO1 in HCC

The homology of epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate 8 (EPS8), EPS8L3, is elevated significantly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cell lines compared with the normal liver tissues and cell lines. The MTT and colony formation assays demonstrated that overexpressing EPS8L3 enhances, while silencing reduces the proliferation of HCC cells. Further experiments illustrated that overexpressing EPS8L3 promotes the expression of p-AKT, Cyclin D1, but inhibits the transcriptional activity of FOXO1. Besides, colony formation assay demonstrated that AKT inhibitor suppresses the effect of EPS8L3 on proliferation in EPS8L3-overexpressing cells, whereas AKT restores the proliferation of EPS8L3-silenced cells, suggesting that EPS8L3 might promote proliferation by hyperactivating the AKT signaling pathway and subsequently inhibiting the FOXO1 transcriptional activity. Our results provide new view between EPS8L3 and progression of human HCC, suggesting that EPS8L3 may be a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Change in the posterior airway after mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: a retrospective study

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO) has been shown to lead to considerable improvement in obstruction of the posterior airway space in patients with ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and our objective was to find out if we could confirm these findings. Seventeen patients had spiral computed tomographic (CT) scans before and after DO. After treatment, the overall posterior airway space was enlarged in all three sections of the airway (oropharyngeal, glossopharyngeal, and laryngeal). We then compared rates of change in the airway among the sections using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional assessments, and found that the rate of change in 3-dimensional assessment of volume was significantly higher than that in the 2-dimensional (62% compared with 34%). We also found that the higher 3-dimensional rate of change came from changes in the oropharyngeal and glossopharyngeal sections, while there was no significant difference between the 2- and 3-dimensional rates of change in the laryngeal section. Because the laryngeal section had the most robust enlargement after DO in both the overall area of the posterior airway space (increased by 54%) and volume (increased by 73%), we concluded that 3-dimensional assessments were more sensitive to smaller changes in the airway space during the operation. This suggests that 3-dimensional assessments are preferable in the prediction and evaluation of the effects of DO on the posterior airway space.

Arthrinium species associated with bamboo and reed plants in China

Arthrinium species are presently recognised based on a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. In the present study fresh Arthrinium specimens from bamboo and reed plants were collected in China. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses were subsequently performed for species identification. From the results obtained two new species, Arthrinium gaoyouense and A. qinlingense are proposed, and three known species, Arthrinium arundinis, A. paraphaeospermum and A. yunnanum are identified based on morphological characteristics from the host and published DNA sequence data.

Safety and efficacy of telbivudine in late pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus: A multicenter prospective cohort study

Infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) occurs in ~10% of infants of HBV-infected mothers with positive hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) after immunoprophylaxis. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of telbivudine used during late pregnancy for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV. We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study in 5 hospitals from 2012 to 2014, which enrolled HBV-infected singleton pregnant women with positive HBeAg. By their choice, women were divided into therapy (telbivudine 600 mg/day, from gestation 28-32 weeks to 3-4 weeks postpartum) and control (no antiviral agent) groups. Infants received passive-active immunoprophylaxis and follow-up at the age of 7-14 months. Totally, 328 pregnant women were included: 149 in the telbivudine group and 179 in the control group. Baseline HBV DNA levels were similar in the 2 groups (7.43 vs 7.37 log₁₀ IU/mL, P = .711). At delivery, HBV DNA levels in the telbivudine and control groups were 3.80 and 7.26 log₁₀ IU/mL, respectively (P < .0001). Of the infants, 128 (85.9%) in the telbivudine group and 156 (87.2%) in the control group were followed up. No infant in the telbivudine group had chronic infection, while 2 (1.28%) infants in the control group did (P = .503). Three (2.34%) infants in the telbivudine group, but none in the control group, had severe congenital or developmental abnormalities (P = .090). The data indicate that telbivudine may block perinatal HBV transmission. However, larger studies are required to clarify whether anti-HBV therapy in pregnancy is associated with severe adverse effects in the foetuses and infants.

[The study of nomogram based on Ishak inflammation score for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between Ishak inflammation score and the clinicopathological characteristics and recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection, and then set up a recurrence nomogram for HCC. Methods: A total of 326 patients with HCC after curative resection from January 2006 to December 2009 were studied retrospectively as training cohort and 110 HCC patients after surgery from January 2010 to December 2012 were used as validation cohort.Clinical follow-up data and peritumoral Ishak inflammation score in training cohort were used to set up a nomogram predicting recurrence of HCC, which was verified by validation cohort. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to analyzed accuracy of model prediction. Results: According to Ishak inflammation score, patients were divided into four subgroups: Grade Ⅰ(1-4 scores), Grade Ⅱ(5-8 scores), Grade Ⅲ (9-12 scores) and Grade Ⅳ(13-18 scores). Ishak inflammation score were associated with aspartate transaminase(median 36.0 U/L, P=0.011), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(median 54.5 U/L, P=0.005), HBV-DNA load(20.5%>10(6) copies/ml, P=0.015) and microvascular invasion(26.7% positive, P=0.021). Multivariate analysis showed that Ishak inflammation score(P=0.007), HBV-DNA load(P<0.01), tumor size(P=0.001) and microvascular invasion(P=0.001) were related with the recurrence of HCC patients.These four risk factors were incorporated into the nomogram.Calibration curves of the nomogram had good agreement between prediction and observation in the probability of recurrence.Both C-indexes and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that this nomogram had better predictive abilities than those of the AJCC and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage systems.These results were verified by the validation cohort. Conclusion: A nomogram based on Ishak inflammation score could accurately predict the recurrence of HCC and contribute to HCC relapse surveillance after curative hepatectomy.

[Expression and significance of interleukin-35 in lesion tissue of oral lichen planus patients]

Objective: To investigate the expression of Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBi3) and interleukin-12p35 (IL-12p35) in two subunits of interleukin-35 (IL-35) in oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions, and to explore the role of IL-35 played in the formation and development of OLP lesions. Methods: Totally 41 samples of OLP lesions and 15 samples of normal tissues were collected from patients of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from October 2010 to December 2016. The expression levels of EBi3 mRNA and IL-12p35 mRNA in the samples were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and the distribution and expression of protein EBi3 and IL-12p35 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The potential relationship between IL-35 and clinicopathological features of OLP was analyzed. Results: The expression [M(Q(25), Q(75))] of EBi3 [3.38 (1.63, 11.25)] and IL-12p35 mRNA [6.39 (2.55, 14.30)] in OLP lesion tissues were significantly higher than those in normal control group [1.41 (0.33, 3.16), 2.47 (1.10, 5.14)] (Z=-2.806, P=0.005; Z=-2.276, P=0.023), respectively. The positive expression rates of EBi3 and IL-12p35 were 66% (27/41) and 39% (16/41), respectively, were significantly higher in OLP lesion tissues comparing with that in normal oral mucosa tissues [0%(0/15)] (P<0.05). The relative expressions of EBi3 and IL-12p35 were positively correlated (r=0.404, P=0.009). A significant correlation was found between EBi3 protein over expression and the degeneration of base cells in OLP lesions (χ(2)=9.172, P=0.010). The positive expression rate of IL-12p35 protein in erosive type lesions was higher than that in non-erosive type lesions (χ(2)=7.220, P=0.007). The positive expression rate of IL-35 protein in OLP lesions [34% (14/41)] was higher than that in normal control group (χ(2)=6.829, P=0.009). The expression rate of IL-35 in erosive type lesions (10/20) was significantly higher than that in eruption type lesions (4/21) (χ(2)=4.364, P=0.037). Conclusions: The expression of IL-35 in OLP localized lesions was up-regulated, suggesting that IL-35 might play an important role in OLP lesion formation.

Drought prediction and sustainable development of the ecological environment

In the 1990s ecological early warning research began with the aim of elucidating the effect of drought in dry regions of the world. Drought has been a prevalent natural disaster, ravaging the Yun'nan province of China for over 5 years since 2009. Due to the extensive range, depth and devastating losses, the drought has reached a once-in-a-century severity. Yun'nan province suffered particularly badly from the drought, which took its toll on both the ecological environment and the sustainable economic development of the province. We chose to study Pu'er city in Yun'nun province for this research, and analysed the drought traits of Pu'er city utilizing geographic information technology. We applied the Mann-Kendall test for trend, linear tendency estimation and percentage of precipitation anomalies, as well as using combinations of monthly data searches of meteorological reports from 1980-2010. The results showed that except for a small rise in spring precipitation, the overall rainfall of Pu'er city showed a decreasing trend. The results of this study can provide an adequate and reliable theoretical basis and technological methods for use in government decision making, and promote research into early warning ecology.

Aspirin Blocks Orthodontic Relapse via Inhibition of CD4+ T Lymphocytes

Immunologic response plays an important role in orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and relapse. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, affect immune cells and clinical orthodontic treatment. However, the mechanisms by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regulate immune cells to affect orthodontic relapse are unclear. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped as relapse and relapse + aspirin for 10 d after 14 d of OTM. Silicone impressions of the rats’ maxillary dentitions were obtained to record the distance of OTM at the indicated time point. CD4+ T lymphocytes in spleen were examined by flow cytometry. Serum levels of type 1 T-helper (Th1) cell–associated cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of aspirin on CD4+ T and Th1 cells were also analyzed in vitro. Aspirin treatment significantly reduced the relapse rate. More interestingly, injection of CD25 neutralizing antibody basiliximab or TNF-α inhibitor etanercept can significantly reduce the relapse rate as well. Correspondingly, aspirin treatment significantly accelerated the decrease of orthodontic force–induced secretion of TNF-α and IFN-γ in serum and the expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in periodontal ligament during relapse. Furthermore, aspirin treatment in vitro significantly repressed the differentiation of CD4+ T and Th1 cells. Overall, results indicated that aspirin treatment can block orthodontic relapse by regulating Th1 cells.

MicroRNA miR-590-5p inhibits breast cancer cell stemness and metastasis by targeting SOX2

OBJECTIVE

SOX2 (Sry-related high-mobility box SOX-2) is a transcription factor, which is essential for maintaining the cancer cell stemness. However, the role of microRNAs targeting  SOX2 in cancer cell stemness remains unclear. We examined the effect of miR-590-5p, which targeted  SOX2, on the breast cancer cell stemness and metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We predicted and screened microRNA targeting SOX2, and further investigated the regulatory role of miR-590-5p on the level of SOX2 with Western blot, luciferase reporting assay and qRT-PCR analysis. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the effect of miR-590-5p on the breast cancer stem cell population with ALDEFLUOR Assay. We inoculated the breast cancer cells transfected with or without miR-590-5p to NOD/SCID mice to detect the tumorigenicity in vivo. Finally, forty-nine pairs of breast cancer samples and adjacent noncancerous tissues were obtained, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with SOX2 antibody and qRT-PCR assay were used to quantify the expression of miR-590-5p in breast cancer samples.

RESULTS

miR-590-5p significantly downregulated the SOX2 protein expression, and inhibition of miR-590-5p increased SOX2 expression. The luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-590-5p decreased the SOX2 3'UTR (3' untranslated region) reporter activity but not the luciferase activity of the mutant reporter, in which the binding sites for miR-590-5p were mutated. ALDEFLUOR Assay showed that miR-590-5p significantly decreased breast cancer stem cells population. NOD/SCID nude mice experiments indicated that miR-590-5p significantly inhibited tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells. IHC assay and qRT-PCR suggested that miR-590-5p expression was downregulated in breast cancer patients, and negatively correlated with SOX2.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-590-5p inhibited breast cancer cell stemness through targeting SOX2. Our study indicated that miR-590-5p might be a useful strategy for breast cancer treatment.

[The clinical characteristics of macrophage activation syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method: The clinical data of 15 patients with SLE-induced MAS diagnosed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2011 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Fourteen patients were female. The average age was 28.07. When MAS occurred, the average duration of SLE was 20.47 months, and the average SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was 18.4. All 15 patients developed fever, hematocytopenia and impaired liver function in the course of MAS, while patients with splenomegaly, coagulation disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms were 11, 14 and 8, respectively. All 15 patients presented leukocpenia and thrombocytopenia. Hypofibrinogenemia, elevated ferritin and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow were respectively observed in 7, 11 and 12 patients. Glucocorticoids were used in all patients, among whom eight received pulse methylprednisolone therapy. Thirteen patients were treated with immunosuppressants, including cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide and mycophemolate mofetil. Complete remission was achieved in 14 patients. One patient died of MAS. Conclusions: In patients with SLE, MAS was most commonly seen in young females with short SLE duration and active disease. Fever, splenomegaly, hematocytopenia, coagulation disorders and liver damage are the most remarkable clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis and intensive therapy are the key parts to improve clinical outcome.