Terebratulide brachiopod shell biomineralization by mantle epithelial cells

To understand mineral transport pathways for shell secretion and to assess differences in cellular activity during mineralization, we imaged with TEM and FE-SEM ultrastructural characteristics of outer mantle epithelium (OME) cells. Imaging was carried out on Magellania venosa shells embedded/etched, chemically fixed/decalcified and high-pressure frozen/freeze-substituted samples from the commissure, central shell portions and from puncta. Imaging results are complemented with morphometric evaluations of volume fractions of membrane-bound organelles. At the commissure the OME consists of several layers of cells. These cells form oblique extensions that, in cross-section, are round below the primary layer and flat underneath fibres. At the commissure the OME is multi-cell layered, in central shell regions it is single-cell layered. When actively secreting shell carbonate extrapallial space is lacking, because OME cells are in direct contact with the calcite of the forming fibres. Upon termination of secretion, OME cells attach via apical hemidesmosomes to extracellular matrix membranes that line the proximal surface of fibres. At the commissure volume fractions for vesicles, mitochondria and lysosomes are higher relative to single-cell layered regions, whereas for endoplasmic-reticulum and Golgi apparatus there is no difference. FE-SEM, TEM imaging reveals the lack of extrapallial space between OME cells and developing fibres. In addition, there is no indication for an amorphous precursor within fibres when these are in active secretion mode. Accordingly, our results do not support transport of minerals by vesicles from cells to sites of mineralization, rather by transfer of carbonate ions via transport mechanisms associated with OME cell membranes.

Pressure tuning of iron-based superconductor Ca10(Pt3As8) ((Fe0.95Pt0.05)2As2)5

Systematic high pressure transport measurements were performed on underdoped Ca₁₀(Pt₃As₈)((Fe_0.95Pt_0.05)₂As₂)₅ single crystal sample. At ambient pressure, the sample shows a metallic behavior at high temperatures and then increases with further decreasing temperature. The resistivity dip, which is associated with metal to semiconductor transition is monotonically suppressed by increasing pressure. In contrast, the superconducting transition temperature [Formula: see text] first increases with pressure and then decreases with further increasing pressure. Magnetization measurements, which gives the bulk [Formula: see text], show the same trend as the one obtained from resistivity measurements. An upward curvature is observed in the temperature dependence of the upper critical field [Formula: see text], which suggests the multiband nature of the superconductivity. The constructed temperature-pressure (T-P) phase diagram is very similar to the reported temperature-doping (T  -  x) phase diagram, suggesting the similar role played by pressure and chemical doping.

The clinical significance of perineural invasion in patients with de novo metastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The clinical value of perineural invasion (PNI) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) is widely explored. However, its role in metastatic PCa (mPCa) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to investigate the clinical significance of PNI in patients with mPCa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of 515 mPCa patients between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively studied. PNI and its intensity were identified by prostate biopsy. The prognostic value of PNI was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

Perineural invasion was detected in 170/515 (33.0%) cases. Among them 73/170 (42.9%) and 97/170 (57.1%) harbored unifocal PNI (uni-PNI) and multifocal PNI (multi-PNI), respectively. Compared to patients without PNI, those with PNI had statistically shorter castration-resistant PCa-free survival (CFS) and numerically shorter overall survival (OS) (mCFS: 15.4- vs. 18.5-Mo, p = 0.015; mOS: 63.8- vs. 71.4-Mo, p = 0.108). Patients harboring multi-PNI were associated with poorer clinical outcomes than those with uni-PNI (mCFS: 12.4- vs. 18.0-Mo, p = 0.040; mOS: 39.7-Mo vs. NR, p = 0.018) or those without PNI (mCFS: 12.4- vs. 18.5-Mo, p = 0.002; mOS: 39.7- vs. 71.4-Mo, p = 0.002). Totally, neither uni-PNI nor multi-PNI was an independent risk factor impacting survival outcomes in multivariate analyses. While remarkably, for patients with favorable/intermediate-risk mPCa, multi-PNI was an independent adverse prognosticator for both CFS and OS (CFS: HR: 1.705, 95% CI: 1.029-2.825, p = 0.038; OS: HR: 3.294, 95% CI: 1.464-7.413, p = 0.004).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study filled the blank of the clinical significance of PNI in mPCa. We found that multi-PNI could distinguish men with relatively poor prognosis from patients initially regarded as with favorable survival outcomes by other prognosticators, and thus, avoid disease underestimation in this group of patients. Our finding would help physicians have a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity of mPCa and make better individualized therapeutic strategy.

Resveratrol-Induced White Adipose Tissue Browning in Obese Mice by Remodeling Fecal Microbiota

Promoting the browning of white fat may be a potential means of combating obesity. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol (RES) on the body weight and browning of white fat in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and the potential associated mechanism in vivo. Eight-week-old male mice were randomized to receive different treatments: (1), chow without any additional treatment (chow); (2), chow plus 0.4% resveratrol (chow-RES); (3), HFD without any additional treatment (HFD); and (4), HFD plus 0.4% resveratrol (HFD-RES). After 4 weeks of feeding, additional 8-week-old male recipient mice were randomly allocated to the following 4 treatments: (5), HFD and received feces from chow-fed mice; (6), HFD and received feces from chow-RES-fed mice; (7), HFD and received feces from HFD-fed mice; and (8), HFD and received feces from HFD-RES-fed mice. RES treatment significantly inhibited increases in fat accumulation, promoted the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) and alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis in HFD-fed mice. Subsequent analyses showed that the gut microbiota remodeling induced by resveratrol had a positive role in WAT browning, and sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) signaling appears to be a key component of this process. Overall, the results show that RES may serve as a potential intervention to reduce obesity by alleviating dysbiosis of the gut microbiota.

Hysteroscopic tissue removal systems for the treatment of intrauterine pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of mechanical tissue removal systems is more frequently implemented as the first line approach for the treatment of intrauterine pathology. Scientific evidence is provided that their use is easier and faster than the conventional resectoscope. It is necessary to objectively evaluate the results on tissue removal systems for the treatment of endometrial pathology as the reports in the literature are still conflicting.

OBJECTIVE

To review and compare mechanical hysteroscopic tissue removal systems (Truclear®, Myosure® or IBS®) versus conventional bipolar and monopolar resectoscopy for the treatment of polyp and myoma removal. Operation time, completeness of tissue removal, complication rate, fluid deficit, tolerability and learning curve were evaluated.

METHODS

Electronic databases PubMed; Medline and Web of Science were searched for papers published from 1st January 2010 to 1st May 2019 using terms: ("hysteroscopic" or "hysteroscopy" or "hysteroscopic surgery") and ("myoma" or "polyps"). Studies were included if they were retrospective, observational and prospective randomized clinical controlled trials if they investigated the techniques between the tissue removal systems (Truclear®, Myosure® or IBS®) and conventional resectoscopy for the treatment of intrauterine pathology. Data were extracted from the included studies by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed by Rev Man 5 software (Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK). Results: Overall, 498 patients were analysed from five studies in which there was no difference in age and size of pathology treated either by the hysteroscopic tissue removal systems and the conventional resectoscope. Hysteroscopic tissue removal systems showed a significantly higher success rate of complete endometrial pathology removal (P=0.002) and a significantly shorter operation time for polyp removal (P<0.0001) compared to conventional resectoscopy. No significant differences, in terms of complications rate, were found (P=0.09). The fluid deficit was significantly higher in the tissue removal system group, compared to conventional resectoscopy (P=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Hysteroscopic tissue removal systems showed a major advantage in successful removal of the pathology and total operation time. It is likely that the tissue removal systems are more accessible and have a lower complication profile including perforation, via falsa and bleeding due to its specific action mechanism and shorter operation time but higher-quality trials will be required to confirm this hypothesis.

Droplet Imbibition into Paper Coating Layer: Pore-Network Modeling Simulation

Liquid penetration into thin porous media such as paper is often simulated using continuum-scale single-phase Darcy's law. The underlying assumption was that a sharp invasion front percolates through the layer. To explore this ambiguous assumption and to understand the controlling pore-scale mechanisms, we have developed a dynamic pore-network model to simulate imbibition of a wetting phase from a droplet into a paper coating layer. The realistic pore structures are obtained using the FIB-SEM imaging of the coating material with a minimum resolution of 3.5 nm. Pore network was extracted from FIB-SEM images using Avizo software. Data of extracted pore network are used for statistically generating pore network. Droplet sizes are chosen in the range of those applicable in inkjet printing. Our simulations show no sharp invasion front exists and there is the presence of residual non-wetting phase. In addition, penetration of different sizes of droplets of different material properties into the pore network with different pore body and pore throat sizes are performed. We have found an approximately linear decrease in droplet volume with time. This contradicts the expected t -behavior in vertical imbibition that is obtained using macroscopic single-phase Darcy's law. With increase in flow rate, transition of imbibition invasion front from percolation-like pattern to a more sharper one with less trapping of non-wetting phase is also reported. Our simulations suggest that the single-phase Darcy's law does not adequately describe liquid penetration into materials such as paper coating layer. Instead Richards equation would be a better choice.

Cortistatin inhibits arterial calcification in rats via GSK3β/β-catenin and protein kinase C signalling but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase signalling

AIM

Cortistatin (CST) is a newly discovered endogenous active peptide that exerts protective effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the relationship between CST and aortic calcification and the underlying mechanism remain obscure. Therefore, we investigated effects of CST on aortic calcification and its signalling pathways.

METHODS

Calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured using the o-cresolphthalein colorimetric method and ALP assay kit respectively. Protein expression of smooth muscle (SM)-ɑ-actin, osteocalcin (OCN), β-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), p-GSK3β, protein kinase C (PKC), p-PKC, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p-JNK was determined using Western blotting.

RESULTS

In aorta from a rat vitamin D3 calcification model, CST abrogated calcium deposition and pathological damage, decreased the protein expression of OCN and β-catenin and increased SM-ɑ-actin expression. In a rat cultured vascular smooth muscular cell (VSMC) calcification model induced by β-glycerophosphate (β-GP), CST inhibited the increase in ALP activity, calcium content and OCN protein and the decrease in SM-α-actin expression. CST also inhibited the β-GP-induced increase in p-GSK3β and β-catenin protein (both P < .05). The inhibitory effects of CST on ALP activity, calcium deposition and β-catenin protein were abolished by pretreatment with lithium chloride, a GSK3β inhibitor. CST promoted the protein expression of p-PKC by 68.5% (P < .01), but not p-JNK. The ability of CST to attenuate β-GP-induced increase in ALP activity, calcium content and OCN expression in the VSMC model was abolished by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Go6976.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CST inhibits aortic calcification and osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs likely via the GSK3β/β-catenin and PKC signalling pathways, but not JNK signalling pathway.

Bacteriocin biosynthesis contributes to the anti-inflammatory capacities of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum

Plantaricin EF (PlnEF) is a class IIb bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum. We compared L. plantarum NCIMB8826 and LM0419, a plnEFI deletion mutant of that strain lacking plnEF and the gene for the cognate immunity protein plnI, in a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) induced mouse model of acute inflammatory bowel disease. Mice fed either L. plantarum NCIMB8826 or LM0419 were not protected against TNBS according to either disease activity or histology (Ameho) scores. Mice consuming NCIMB8826 exhibited intermediate (non-significant) levels of colonic tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) that ranged between the TNBS-treated animals and healthy controls. By comparison, TNF-α and IL-6 quantities were elevated in mice given L. plantarum LM0419 and equivalent to mice given TNBS alone. Both strains survived digestive tract transit in equal numbers and did not result in global changes to the bacterial composition in the intestine according to 16S rRNA gene sequencing either prior to or after TNBS administration. Examination of intestinal taxa showed that mice consuming wild-type L. plantarum, but not LM0419 contained lower proportions of Mucispirillum (Deferribacteres phylum) in the faeces prior to TNBS administration and Parabacteroides (Bacteroidetes phylum) in the caecum after disease induction. Parabacteroides also positively correlated with disease activity and histology scores. These findings suggest a role for PlnEFI production by L. plantarum in benefiting digestive tract health.

Integrative analyses reveal biological pathways and key genes in psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a complex disease influenced by both genetic and environmental factors with abnormal gene expression in lesional skin. However, no studies are available on genome-scale gene expression of psoriatic lesions in the Chinese population. In addition, systematic studies on the biological pathways, pathogenicity and interaction networks of psoriasis-related genes with abnormal expression profiles require further investigation.

OBJECTIVES

To further explore the associated pathways in psoriasis by functional analysis and to identify the key genes by gene pathogenicity analysis.

METHODS

We performed RNA sequencing on 60 skin biopsy samples from patients with psoriasis and healthy controls to identify the primary differentially expressed genes in psoriatic lesional skin. We retrieved all reported psoriasis-associated genes and performed integrative analyses covering gene expression profiling, pathway analysis, gene pathogenicities and protein-protein interaction networks.

RESULTS

We found that internal and external stimuli may activate immunoinflammatory responses to promote the development of psoriasis. Pathways associated with infectious diseases and cancers were identified by functional and pathway analyses. The gene pathogenicity analysis revealed five key genes in psoriasis: PPARD, GATA3, TIMP3, WNT5A and PTTG1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analyses showed that genes contributed to the pathogenesis of psoriasis by activating risk pathways with components abnormality in expression. We identified five potentially pathogenic genes for psoriasis that may serve as important biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment.

HCV viraemia associates with NK cell activation and dysfunction in antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV/HCV-co-infected subjects

The impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels on immune status in chronically HCV mono-infected when compared to HIV/HCV co-infected on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains poorly understood. A total of 78 African American subjects HCV viraemic/naïve to HCV treatment (33 HCV genotype 1 mono-infected, 45 ART-treated HIV/HCV genotype 1 co-infected) were studied. Clinical and liver enzyme measurements were performed. Whole blood was analysed for immune subset changes by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were used for same-day constitutive and in vitro Interferon (IFN)-α-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) phosphorylation, K562 target cell lysis and K562 target cell recognition-mediated IFN-γ production. Statistical analysis was performed using R (2.5.1) or JMP Pro 11. While both groups did not differ in the level of liver enzymes, HIV/HCV had higher T-cell activation/exhaustion, and constitutive STAT-1 phosphorylation compared to HCV. In contrast, CD4⁺ FoxP3⁺ CD25⁺ frequency, IFN-αR expression on NK cells, as well as constitutive and IFN-α-induced direct cytotoxicity were lower in HIV/HCV. Linear regression models further supported these results. Finally, increase in HCV viral load and CD4⁺ T-cell count had an opposite effect between the two groups on NK cell activity and T-cell activation, respectively. HCV viral load in ART-treated HIV/HCV co-infection was associated with greater immune activation/exhaustion and NK dysfunction than HCV viral load alone in HCV mono-infection. The more pronounced immune modulation noted in ART-treated HIV-co-infected/untreated HCV viraemic subjects may impact HCV disease progression and/or response to immunotherapy.