[Application of the moving epidemic method in the development of epidemic thresholds and tiered warning alert approachs for influenza prevention in Beijing]

Objective: To calculate both the epidemic and intensity thresholds for different levels in Beijing and to establish a tiered alert system in the 2018-2019 influenza season as well as to evaluate the performance of calculated thresholds. Method: Weekly count of influenza-like illness and percentage of influenza-like illness (ILI%) of the last five influenza seasons were modeled by 'moving epidemic method' (MEM) to calculate the influenza epidemic and intensity thresholds at different levels. A cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the performance. Indicators of Matthew correlation coefficient, Youden's index, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: For weekly count of influenza-like illness, data showed that the epidemic threshold for 2018-2019 influenza season was 12 984 and the medium, high and very high intensity thresholds were 22 503, 37 589, 47 157, respectively. Matthew correlation coefficient of the epidemic threshold was 62% and youden's index as 60% , sensitivity as 69%, specificity as 91%. Data on weekly ILI%, the epidemic threshold for 2018-2019 influenza season was 1.66%, with medium, high and very high intensity thresholds as 2.46%, 3.84% and 4.66%, respectively. The overall Matthew correlation coefficient of the epidemic threshold was 59%, with 54% for the Youden's index, sensitivity as 60% and specificity as 94%. Conclusions: MEM produced a good specific signal for detecting the influenza epidemics and the accuracy of the method was acceptable. The early warning performance regarding the application of weekly count on influenza-like illness was slightly better than ILI%. This method could be applied in the practical influenza epidemic alert "work in Beijing" .

Cosmetic approach selection in parotidectomy for benign parotid gland tumour according to its location

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and aesthetic results when comparing two cosmetic approaches that were employed in parotidectomy according to the tumour location with the traditional Blair approach.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary Referral Centre.

PATIENTS

Seventy-six patients were included in the study.

RESULTS

The degree of satisfaction with the cosmetic incision approach was significantly higher than that with the traditional Blair approach. The incidence of transient facial paralysis and salivary fistula were not statistically significant when compared with those in the traditional incision in 6-month follow-up post-operatively.

DISCUSSION

Conventional parotidectomy using the traditional Blair incision (or its modification) usually leaves a visible scar in this region, which can have major adverse impacts on the social or psychological well-being of an individual. To achieve better aesthetic results, according to the location of the benign parotid tumour, two formal cosmetic approach incisions could be performed in parotidectomy, which was superior to the traditional Blair incision. The authors propose that these two cosmetic approaches for parotidectomy can be both technically feasible and safe.

KLF8 promotes cancer stem cell-like phenotypes in osteosarcoma through miR-429-SOX2 signaling

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) regulates critical gene transcription associated with different types of cancer. A novel paradigm in tumor biology suggests that the initiation and progression of osteosarcoma (OS) are driven by osteosarcoma stem cell-like cells (OSCs), but the role and underlying mechanisms of KLF8 in OSCs are poorly elucidated. In this study, an obviously increased level of KLF8 is shown in 9 out of 10 primary OS tissues and is associated with the poor progression-free interval. Significantly, KLF8 expression in CD133+ OSCs is higher than that in CD133- counterparts. By knocking down KLF8 in CD133+ OSCs, we show that si-KLF8-OSCs can hardly form compact spheres. In the meantime, infection with si-KLF8 in CD133+ OSCs results in the downregulation of OCT4 and SOX2; increased adriamycin (ADM) sensitivity; and decreased tumorigenic potential in vivo. Mechanisms study demonstrates that KLF8 directly binds the miR-429 promoter region and regulates its expression transcriptionally. Furthermore, we indicate that miR-429 directly targets SOX2 to mediate cancer stem cell-like features in CD133+ OSCs. In the clinic, miR-429 levels are negatively associated with KLF8 levels in OS, suggesting that an elevated KLF8/miR-429 ratio may have clinical value as a predictive biomarker. In conclusion, targeting the KLF8-miR-429-SOX2 signaling pathway may provide an effective therapeutic approach to suppress the initiation and progression of OS.

Effects of nalmefene hydrochloride on TLR4 signaling pathway in rats with lung ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of nalmefene hydrochloride on TLR4 signaling pathway in rats with lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Altogether 64 pure inbred male SD rats were divided into groups A, B, C, and D according to the principle of body weight similarity, with 24 rats in each group. Four groups of rats were respectively twisted on the left testis to establish unilateral testicular torsion rats. Group A was the control group, treated with normal saline, group B was the nalmefene hydrochloride high-dose group, treated with 20 μg/kg of nalmefene hydrochloride, group C was the nalmefene hydrochloride low-dose group, treated with 10 μg/kg of nalmefene hydrochloride, and group D was the sham operation group. Lung tissue was collected 60 h later. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, CD14, and NF-κB protein, qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression level, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors IL-17, IL-6, and ICAM-1.

RESULTS

The expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, CD14, NF-κB protein, mRNA, IL-17, IL-6, and ICAM-1 in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B, C, and D (p<0.05), while were significantly lower in group D than in groups B and C (p<0.05), and were significantly lower in group B than in group C (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nalmefene hydrochloride can effectively inhibit the signal pathway of TLR4, and can effectively reduce the injury caused by lung ischemia-reperfusion. The large dose is closely related to the good effect, which is worthy of promotion.

Molecular dynamics discovery of an extraordinary ionic migration mechanism in dislocation-containing TlBr crystals

MD simulation of dislocation migration under an electrical field.

Characterization of in vivo autophagy during avian spermatogenesis1

Spermatogenesis is a complex cellular process that includes many subcellular events that are essential for the production of healthy spermatozoa. Autophagy is a physiological process that plays a significant role in the process of spermatogenesis; however, autophagy during avian spermatogenesis has not yet been reported. In the current study, we characterized in vivo autophagy throughout the process of domestic fowl spermatogenesis. Autophagy-specific markers, including microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), sequestosome 1 (p62), and autophagy-related 7 (Atg7), were used to confirm the occurrence of autophagy in testicular germ cells. The protein expression of Atg7, LC3, and p62 in domestic fowl testes was confirmed by Western blotting. The immunohistochemical staining indicated a strong localization of LC3 and Atg7 within spermiogenic cells (intermediate and late spermatids) and primary spermatocytes. However, poorly expressed in cells (spermatogonia) that were located near the basement membrane. The immunofluorescence staining results showed the opposite tendency for LC3 and p62. LC3 was more strongly localized within the elongated spermatids, while p62 was strongly localized within the early spermatids. Moreover, the ultrastructural components of autophagy were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Well-developed autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies were found to be prominent in primary spermatocytes (zygotene and pachytene) and spermiogenic cells. Furthermore, other vesicular structures, such as early endosomes and amphisomes, were also observed during spermatogenesis. The above findings collectively suggest that autophagy is active during spermatogenesis and that the level of autophagy increases from the basal to the luminal regions of the seminiferous tubules of domestic fowl testes. We propose that autophagic pathways may be involved in multiple functions to sustain spermatogenesis.

Monitoring of optical emissions in laser cladding of 316L stainless steel

Laser cladding is so complex that small disturbances may cause defects. Developing on-line monitoring technology for laser cladding is thus a priority task. Compared with expensive spectrometers and high-speed cameras, an economical optical sensing system based on two different photodiodes was established to optimize laser parameters and help monitor abnormal working conditions. In order to find optimal parameters, a series of experiments was carried out under different operating parameters such as laser power, scanning speed, and powder feeding rate. A practical rule is summarized to optimize process parameters by analyzing the time domain characteristics of the optical signal. Several experiments under different working conditions were performed to detect abnormal working conditions. Not only can an abnormal situation be recognized, but its type can also be distinguished by analyzing optical signals in the time and frequency domains. The optical sensing system provides a better understanding and accurate evaluation of laser cladding.

LncRNATCF7 up-regulates DNMT1 mediated by HPV-18 E6 and regulates biological behavior of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting miR-155

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to study the mechanism of lncRNATCF7 upregulating DNMT1 mediated by HPV-18 E6 and regulating the biological behavior of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting miR-155.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

HPV-16 E6 enhanced DNMT1 expression in cervical cancer cells, which was detected by Western blotting. The expression of miR-155 in cervical cancer was detected by qPCR, the interaction between TCF-7 and miR-155 by Dual-luciferase reporter gene. The changes in invasion ability of cervical cancer cells and the effect of miR-155 on the invasion ability of cervical cancer cells after inhibiting TCF-7 were detected by the transwell invasion assay, while changes in migration ability of cervical cancer cells and the effect of miR-155 on migration ability of cervical cancer cells after inhibiting TCF-7 were observed by the scratch assay. The effect of inhibiting TCF-7 on the tumor size and volume of cervical cancer was detected by the subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice.

RESULTS

E6 expression was significantly inhibited by E6 siRNA. The knockdown of endogenous HPV-16 E6 markedly inhibited the expression of DNMT1; TCF-7 specifically bound to the 3' UTR of miR-155; inhibition of TCF-7 can inhibit invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells; enhanced miR-155 after the inhibition of TCF-7 can promote the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells; compared with NC group, the tumor volume and weight of TCF-7-siRNA group tumor-bearing was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

TCF-7 plays an important role in the development of cervical cancer. TCF-7 can target miR-155 to regulate the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells.

[Multi locus sequence typing and antibiotic susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae in rural residents in villages with pig-breeding farms in Shandong province]

Objective: To analyze the antimicrobial resistance and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) results of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli in rural residents in villages with pig breeding farms in a county of Shandong province. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed with agar dilution method by using 360 ESBLs-producing E. coli strains from fresh stool samples of rural residents in villages with pig breeding farms in a county of Shandong. PCR was conducted to amplify the CTX-M, TEM, SHV genes and capillary electrophoresis was used to screen positive strains in July, 2016. MLST was performed for molecular typing analysis, and eBURST v3.0 software was used for cluster analysis. Results: Among 360 strains of ESBLs-producing E. coli, the resistance rates to cefotaxime, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and florfenicol were 100.0% (360/360), 82.2% (296/360), 81.1% (292/360) and 80.3% (289/360), respectively. The positive rate of CTX-M gene was 99.2% (357/360), in which the positive rate of CTX-M-9 was 35.6% (128/360) and the positive rate of CTX-M-1 was 24.4% (88/360). The positive rate of TEM gene was 26.9% (97/360). A total of 132 STs were identified through MLST. The predominant ST was ST10, accounting for 12.5% (45/360). Cluster analysis showed that CC10 was the most important clone group, including 39 ST clones, involving 148 strains (41.1%). Conclusions: The drug resistances of ESBLs-producing E. coli to cefotaxime, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and flurfenicol are serious in this rural area. There is a small-scale clustering of CC10 and transmission mode from animals to humans might exist.

[Role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ischemic rats underwent cardiac shock waves therapy]

Objective: To investigate the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ischemic rats underwent cardiac shock therapy. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats weighing 220-250 g were used to establish a heart failure model by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Rat models were defined by echocardiographic assessment at 4 weeks post operation and heart failure rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,namely heart failure group (HF group, 9 cases),heart failure+cardiac shock waves therapy group (HF+CSWT group, 9 cases),heart failure+inhibitor(HF+LY294002 group, 9 cases),heart failure+cardiac shock waves therapy group+inhibitor (HF+CSWT+LY294002 group, 9 cases),and another 9 sham-operated SD rats served as control group (sham group, 9 cases). At 8 weeks postoperation, echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function in each group,myocardial infarct size was measured by TTC staining,the apoptotic index of rats cardiomyocytes were detected by TUNEL method,the myocardial mRNA expression of apoptosis-related factor was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, the protein expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and apoptosis-related pathways were detected by Western blot. Results: (1) Eight weeks after operation, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD) were significantly lower in HF+CSWT group than in HF group (all P<0.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular shortening rate (LVFS) were significantly higher in HF+CSWT group than in HF group (all P<0.05),LVEF was significantly lower in the HF+ CSWT+ LY294002 group than in HF+ CSWT group (P<0.05). (2) Myocardial infarct size was significantly lower in the HF+ CSWT group than in HF group ((5.57 ± 0.51)% vs. (25.56 ± 0.56)%, P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group than in HF+CSWT group ((12.90±2.34)% vs. (5.57±0.51)%,P<0.05). (3) The cardiomyocyte apoptotic index was significantly lower in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group ((30.25±6.12)% vs. (53.85±9.89)%,P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group than in the HF+CSWT group ((46.12±3.42)% vs.(30.25±6.12)%,P<0.05). (4) The myocardial mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was significantly higher, while myocardial mRNA Bax and Caspase-3 expression were significantly lower in HF+CSWT group than in HF group and HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05). (5) The expression levels of p-Akt, Bcl-2 and pro-Caspase-3 in myocardial tissue were significantly higher in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group and HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05), which were significantly lower in the HF+LY294002 group than in the HF and HF+CSWT+LY294002 groups (all P<0.05). Myocardial Bax protein expression was significantly lower in the HF+CSWT group than in the HF group and the HF+CSWT+LY294002 group (all P<0.05), which was significantly higher in the HF+LY294002 group than in the HF group (P<0.05). Conclusion: CSWT improves cardiac function and inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in this rat HF model.

Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 ¹/₂ years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

One-Stop Management with Perfusion for Transfer Patients with Stroke due to a Large-Vessel Occlusion: Feasibility and Effects on In-Hospital Times

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In-hospital time delays lead to a relevant deterioration of neurologic outcomes in patients with stroke with large-vessel occlusions. At the moment, CT perfusion is relevant in the triage of late-window patients with stroke. We conducted this study to determine whether one-stop management with perfusion is feasible and leads to a reduction of in-hospital times.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this observational study, we report the first 15 consecutive transfer patients with stroke with externally confirmed large-vessel occlusions who underwent flat panel detector CT perfusion and thrombectomy in the same room. Preinterventional imaging consisted of noncontrast flat panel detector CT and flat panel detector CT perfusion, acquired with a biplane angiography system. The flat panel detector CT perfusion was used to reconstruct a flat panel detector CT angiography to confirm the large-vessel occlusions. After confirmation of the large-vessel occlusion, the patient underwent mechanical thrombectomy. We recorded time metrics and safety parameters prospectively and compared them with those of transfer patients whom we treated before the introduction of one-stop management with perfusion.

RESULTS

Fifteen transfer patients underwent flat panel detector CT perfusion and were treated with mechanical thrombectomy from June 2017 to January 2019. The median time from symptom onset to admission was 241 minutes. Median door-to-groin time was 24 minutes. Compared with 23 transfer patients imaged with multidetector CT, it was reduced significantly (24 minutes; 95% CI, 19-37 minutes, versus 53 minutes; 95% CI, 44-66 minutes; P < .001). Safety parameters were comparable between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small series, one-stop management with perfusion led to a significant reduction of in-hospital times compared with our previous workflow.

The midgut V-ATPase subunit A gene is associated with toxicity to crystal 2Aa and crystal 1Ca-expressing transgenic rice in Chilo suppressalis

Insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are toxic to a diverse range of insects. Transgenic rice expressing Cry1A, Cry2A and Cry1C toxins have been developed that are lethal to Chilo suppressalis, a devastating insect pest of rice in China. Identifying the mechanisms underlying the interactions of Cry toxins with susceptible hosts will improve both our understanding of Cry protein toxicology and long-term efficacy of Bt crops. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that V-ATPase subunit A contributes to the action of Cry1Ab/1Ac, Cry2Aa and Cry1Ca toxins in C. suppressalis. The full-length V-ATPase subunit A transcript was initially cloned from the C. suppressalis larval midgut and then used to generate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-producing bacteria. Toxicity assays using transgenic rice lines TT51 (Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac fusion genes), T2A-1 (Cry2Aa), and T1C-19 (Cry1Ca) in conjunction with V-ATPase subunit A dsRNA-treated C. suppressalis larvae revealed significantly reduced larval susceptibility to T2A-1 and T1C-19 transgenic rice, but not to TT51 rice. These results suggest that the V-ATPase subunit A plays a crucial role in mediating Cry2Aa and Cry1Ca toxicity in C. suppressalis. These findings will have significant implications on the development of future resistance management tools.