Angiographic characteristics in Moyamoya disease with the p.R4810K variant: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The p.R4810K variant was identified as a strong susceptibility in patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD). The aim of this study was to investigate the angiographic characteristics in MMD with the p.R4810K variant.

METHODS

Angiographic characteristics were compared between patients with wild-type p.R4810K variant (GG) and patients with heterozygous p.R4810K variant (GA) after 1:1 propensity score matching, including Suzuki stage, collateral circulation and external carotid artery (ECA) collateral. Collateral circulation was graded with scores ranging from 0 to 12: posterior collateral circulation from the posterior cerebral artery to the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery was scored from 0 to 6; anterior collateral circulation was scored as 6 to 0 corresponding to Suzuki stages 0 to 6.

RESULTS

A total of 489 patients were screened; 133 pairs were obtained after 1:1 propensity score matching. Compared with the patients in the GA group, unilateral MMD was more frequent in the GG group (P = 0.026). Hemispheres in the GA group (86/266) had more posterior cerebral artery involvement than hemispheres in the GG group (48/266) (P < 0.001). Hemispheres in the GA group had a lower grade in collateral circulation than hemispheres in the GG group (P = 0.011), but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (53.4% vs. 39.8%, P = 0.002). Superficial temporal artery and occipital artery collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in the GA group had lower grades in collateral circulation than patients in the GG group, but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group.

Whole Genome Sequence of Xylella fastidiosa ATCC 35879T and Detection of Genome Rearrangements Within Subsp. fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is a Gram-negative and nutritionally fastidious bacterial pathogen causing Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine and other plant diseases. X. fastidiosa strain ATCC 35879^T which originated from Florida is the designated type strain for the species and for subsp. fastidiosa. In bacterial taxonomy, type strains preserve the characters of the original descriptions. Whole genome sequence of a type strain not only provides a standard reference for bacterial taxonomy, but also facilitates research in other fields such as population diversity and genome evolution. In this study, the whole genome sequence of strain ATCC 35879^T was determined using PacBio RSII format. The ATCC 35879^T genome has a circular chromosome of 2,565,504 bp with 2,904 predicted protein coding genes and 55 RNA genes, and a circular plasmid of 41,753 bp. The chromosomal sequence of strain ATCC 35879^T was compared to that of X. fastidosa subsp. fastidiosa strain M23 from California which causes both PD and almond leaf scorch disease. Genome rearrangements involving a ~ 1,200 K bp region were detected. Genome annotations showed clusters of phage-related genes around the rearrangement junctions, suggesting the likely involvement of phage activities. This is the first report on genome structure variations within strains of X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa.

[The consideration about safety data analysis and expression in instructions of vaccine clinic trials]

The safety of prophylactic vaccine is one of the key points both in clinical trials and evaluation. Based on the review practice of vaccine registration clinical trials in recent years, we summarized the common problems in safety analysis and report and accordingly puts forward a series of thoughts and suggestions, including discussing the role of statistics in safety analysis, putting forward the framework of safety analysis and report involved analysis content, analysis index and analysis dimension, in which attention is paid to the severity analysis; emphasizing the initiative analysis on risk signal and encouraging the evidence-based initiative safety evaluation. At the same time, this paper discusses the basic principles of the presentation of safety data in the package inserts, as well as the comprehensive consideration of the safety data of each phase of the trial and different subjects. It can be used for reference by sponsor to promote vaccine clinical research and evaluation in China.

Disorderless Quasi-localization of Polar Gases in One-Dimensional Lattices

One-dimensional polar gases in deep optical lattices present a severely constrained dynamics due to the interplay between dipolar interactions, energy conservation, and finite bandwidth. The appearance of dynamically bound nearest-neighbor dimers enhances the role of the 1/r^{3} dipolar tail, resulting in the absence of external disorder, in quasi-localization via dimer clustering for very low densities and moderate dipole strengths. Furthermore, even weak dipoles allow for the formation of self-bound superfluid lattice droplets with a finite doping of mobile, but confined, holons. Our results, which can be extrapolated to other power-law interactions, are directly relevant for current and future lattice experiments with magnetic atoms and polar molecules.

Controllable synthesis of peapod-like TiO2@GO@C electrospun nanofiber membranes with enhanced mechanical properties and photocatalytic degradation abilities towards methylene blue

Electrospun peapod-like TiO₂@GO@C nanofiber membranes enhance their photocatalytic properties for the improved crystallinity of TiO₂ and carrier transport, and simultaneously improve their mechanical properties.

[Analysis on influence of the self-confidence, motivation and authoritative advice factors on the use of child restraint]

Objective: To establish the model of the self-confidence, motivation and authoritative advice factors influencing the use of child restraint and use structural equation model to test it to provide scientific basis for promoting the advocacy of use of child restraint. Methods: Using multi-stage cluster random sampling method, 9 112 parents from the family with one or more private cars and 0-6 years old children in Shanghai and Shenzhen were investigated about the use of child restraint. A theoretical model of the self-confidence, motivation and authoritative advice factors influencing the use of child restraint was constructed. The theoretical model was validated and quantitatively analyzed by structural equation model. Results: The overall model accords with the expected theoretical model, and the goodness of model fit was fine. The indicators had met the standard. RMSEA=0.03, CFI=0.97. The standardization coefficients of each route showed statistical significance (P<0.05). The standardization coefficients of the influence of authoritative suggestions and motives on self-confidence were 0.45 and 0.30 respectively, and the standardization coefficients of the influence of self-confidence on the use of child restraint was 0.40. The standardization coefficient of the influence of authoritative suggestions on motivation was 0.61. Conclusions: In the advocacy of the use of child restraint, we should attach importance to the use of recommendations from experts and organizations with professional authority, good credibility and public welfare. We should take the status of children's road traffic safety and the mechanism of the role of child restraint as one of the key points of propaganda.

[Road traffic injury happened on the way to school, among primary and secondary school students in Mengzi city, Honghe prefecture, Yunnan province in 2018]

Objective: To understand the current situation of road traffic injuries among primary and secondary school students in Mengzi city. Methods: Using the cluster random sampling method, more than 9 000 primary and secondary school students from 20 primary and secondary schools in Mengzi city, were randomly sampled. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the occurrence of road traffic injuries in school students. Results: A total of 9 197 students were surveyed, including 150 from road traffic injuries. The incidence rates of road traffic injuries was 1.63% among students in Mengzi city and 2.85% among junior high school students, with the high incidence in May. The leading places of injuries were village roads (38.00%), city roads (33.33%) and district roads (12.67%), respectively. 26.67% of the traffic injuries occurred on the way to or from schools, with riding on electric bicycle (52.00%) as the major cause and contusion/abrasion (75.33%) appeared as the major signs. Both lower and upper limbs plus multiple parts were accounting for 45.51%, 22.16% and 16.17%, respectively of all the injuries. 70.67% of all the cases with road traffic injuries in children, recovered after treatment. Children with road traffic injuries would stay in the hospital for up to 90 days but spent less than 30 000 Yuan. Conclusion: The incidence of road traffic injuries among students in Mengzi city seemed relatively high, with junior high school students reached the highest. Riding electric bicycle appeared as the leading cause for traffic injuries in children in Mengzi city of Yunnan province.

[Occurrence of injuries among left-behind children from 27 poor rural areas in 12 provinces of China, 2016]

Objective: To understand the injuries among 16 459 left-behind children from 27 poor rural areas in 12 provinces of China, 2016. Methods: Data were collected from the survey of 'Health Service Needs Assessment' (HSNA) program on left-behind children, from poor rural areas in the middle and western parts of China. Factors including causes, types, locations, related activities, ways of treatment and outcomes among left-behind children with injuries in 2016, were described and analyzed by gender and age groups. Results: In 2016, per-person and person-time incidence rates of injuries were 8.88% and 11.21%, among the 16 459 left-behind children from 27 poor rural areas in 12 provinces of China, both higher in boys, than in girls. Most injuries were unintentional with its proportion higher in older children. The main types of injuries were seen as falls, blunt and sharp injuries, with burns and animal injuries more common in younger children. Injuries among left-behind children mainly took place at home, kindergarten/school, and on the highways/streets/roads, during playing. Most common ways of treatment would include at the emergency settings, self-treated, with older children more likely to treat by themselves. Most injuries were cured. Conclusions: In programs on prevention and control of injuries targeting the left-behind children in poor rural areas, special attention should be given to older boys, on falls and blunt/sharp injuries, at home or kindergarten/school. Education programs should pinpoint on self-rescue skills and guidance on kids by the parents, with behavioral norms and social support included. Related comprehensive prevention and control mechanism should be developed in families, schools and communities, with medical resources and insurance mechanism explored to serve these population and districts, including those left-behind children.

[Disease burden on falls among 0-19 years old population in China, in 1990 and 2017]

Objective: To analyze and compare the disease burden of falls in Chinese population aged 0-19, in 1990 and 2017. Methods: Indicators including number of deaths, mortality rates, years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted of life years (DALY), on falls, were gathered from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 and used to describe the disease burden and corresponding parameters on falls, between 1990 and 2017, in China. Results: In 2017, number of death, YLLs, YLDs, DALYs caused by falls were 5 321, 0.43 million person years, 0.14 million person years and 0.57 million person years respectively, among aged 0-19 group. Rates on standardized mortality, YLLs, YLDs and DALYs on falls were 1.76/100 000, 141.49/100 000, 46.99/100 000, and 188.48/100 000, respectively. The burden of falls decreased with the increase of age. Compared with 1990, disease burden of falls decreased in all age groups, both in male and female, with more seen in the lower age groups. Compared with 1990, the number of deaths, rates on YLLs, YLDs and DALYs caused by falls decreased by 65.08%, 46.63%, 47.38% and 36.33% respectively, in 2017. However, the YLDs rate increased by 73.31% between 1990 and 2017. The ratio of YLLs to DALYs decreased from 90.84% in 1990 to 75.07% in 2017, with a proportion as 17.36%. Conclusion: Compared with 1990, although the disease burden of falls among aged 0-19 group showed a decreasing trend, falls still caused serious disease burden for the aged 0-19 group. Research that targeting prevention on falls, should be continued.

[Economic evaluation on strategy for preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B in Zhejiang Province]

Objective: To evaluate the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of current strategy for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B virus. Methods: A decision tree model with the Markov process was developed and simulated over the lifetime of a birth cohort in Zhejiang Province in 2016. The current PMTCT strategy was compared with universal vaccination and non-vaccination. Costs were assessed from social perspective. Benefits were the savings from reduced costs associated with disease and effectiveness were measured by quality-adjusted of life-years (QALY) gained. The net present value (NPV), cost-benefit ratio (BCR) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. Univariate and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) were performed to assess parameter uncertainties. The parameters of costs and utilities value of hepatitis B-related disease came from the results of the field survey, which were obtained by face-to-face questionnaire survey combined with inpatient medical records, including eight county and municipal hospitals in Jinhua, Jiaxing and Taizhou. A total of 626 outpatients and 523 inpatient patients were investigated. The annual total costs of infection was calculated by combining the costs of outpatient and inpatient. Results: The PMTCT strategy showed a net-gain as 38 323.78 CNY per person, with BCR as 21.10, which was higher than 36 357.80 CNY per person and 13.58 respectively of universal vaccination. Compared with universal vaccination, the PMTCT strategy would save 2 787.07 CNY per additional QALY gained for every person, indicating that PMTCT would be cost-saving. The most important parameters that could affect BCR and ICER were the vaccine coverage rate and costs of hepatitis B related diseases respectively. The PSA showed the PMTCT strategy was preferable as it would gain more QALY and save costs. Conclusions: The PMTCT strategy appeared as highly cost-beneficial and highly cost-effective. High vaccination rate was a key factor of high economic value.

One-Dimensional Quasicrystals with Power-Law Hopping

One-dimensional quasiperiodic systems with power-law hopping, 1/r^{a}, differ from both the standard Aubry-André (AA) model and from power-law systems with uncorrelated disorder. Whereas in the AA model all single-particle states undergo a transition from ergodic to localized at a critical quasidisorder strength, short-range power-law hops with a>1 can result in mobility edges. We find that there is no localization for long-range hops with a≤1, in contrast to the case of uncorrelated disorder. Systems with long-range hops rather present ergodic-to-multifractal edges and a phase transition from ergodic to multifractal (extended but nonergodic) states. Both mobility and ergodic-to-multifractal edges may be clearly revealed in experiments on expansion dynamics.

The characteristics of internet-based venue sex-seeking and mobility among money boys in Tianjin, China

OBJECTIVES

Internet-based venue sex-seeking is prevalent among money boys (MBs), as is a high degree of mobility, which is crucial for HIV transmission in key populations with high risks of HIV infection. However, correlation studies in MBs are scarce because of the secretive nature of this hard-to-reach subpopulation. We conducted this project to explore the characteristics of MBs.

METHODS

This survey was conducted from December 2014 to June 2015 in Tianjin; a total of 330 MBs were recruited by convenience sampling. Demographic and behavioural data were collected for analysis.

RESULTS

Among the investigated MBs, 38 (11.52%) were HIV positive, 147 (44.55%) reported using internet-based venues to seek sexual partners and 257 (77.88%) had travelled to two or more destinations in the past 6 months. Compared with non-internet-based venue-using MBs, internet-based venue-using MBs were more likely to have part-time employment as MBs, to have a longer duration of working in the sex trade, to engage in finger intercourse and to present a history of substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections. However, internet-based venue-using MBs were less likely to exhibit consistent condom usage and undergo HIV testing. Origin of residence data showed that most MBs were from northern China, with Tianjin, Beijing and Shanghai as the main travel destinations. Mobile MBs were characterized as a group who were fully engaged in the sex trade and frequently took part in sexual activities but had a weak sense of self-protection.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet-based venue sex-seeking and mobility are prevalent in MBs. Renewed efforts in internet-based health promotion and school-based primary health examination programmes may benefit more mobile and/or internet-based venue sex-seeking MBs.

A comparison between high-intensity focused ultrasound and surgical treatment for the management of abdominal wall endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic outcomes of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and surgical treatment for abdominal wall endometriosis.

DESIGN

A retrospective study.

SETTING

Gynaecological department of a teaching hospital in China.

POPULATION

Patients with abdominal wall endometriosis.

METHODS

Among the 51 patients, 23 patients were treated with ultrasound-guided HIFU and 28 patients with surgery. Pain relief and the size change of the nodule after each management were evaluated 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, respectively. The hospital stay and blood loss were also compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Difference between HIFU and surgical treatment for abdominal wall endometriosis.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in the pain relief in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, respectively. The hospital stay was clearly shorter in the HIFU group than in the surgery group. Change in nodules was more remarkable in the group treated with surgery; no palpable nodules existed in most patients in the surgery group. HIFU had more advantages over surgery, such as no blood loss, no new scar, no anaesthesia and lower pain score immediately after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our results, it appears that either HIFU or surgery is safe and effective in treating patients with AWE in short-term. Compared with surgery, HIFU treatment for AWE has the advantages of shorter hospital stay, no blood loss, no new scar, no anaesthesia and a lower immediate pain score.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Either HIFU or surgical treatment is safe and effective in treating patients with AWE. HIFU has the advantages of a less invasive procedure and shorter hospital stay.

[Current status and change trend of violence against children in China from 2006 to 2015, an analysis on data from National Injury Surveillance System]

Objective: To understand the current status and change trend of violence against children in China and provide evidence for the risk factor and intervention priority identifications and intervention strategy development. Methods: The data of National Injury Surveillance System (NISS) from 2006 to 2015 were used to analyze the change in outpatient visit due to violence against children, injury cases'demographic characteristics, incidence of injury and clinical outcomes of injury cases. Results: A total of 44 319 injury cases caused by violence against children were reported through NISS during this period. The proportion of violence related child injury cases in total child injury cases decreased year by year. In child violence cases reported in 2015, boys accounted for 81.31%, the boy to girl ratio was 2.22∶1. Violence related injuries caused by blunt strike accounted for 65.69%. The incidences of child violence were low in February and during July-August and 48.87% of violence related injuries occurred in schools and public places, bruise accounted for 63.52%. The main injured body part caused by child violence was head (51.18%), and most violence caused injuries (82.66%) were mild, while 83.21% of the injury cases went home after treatment. Conclusions: Violence against children should not be ignored. Male students of middle/high schools are at high risk. Schools are the places where violence against children is prone to occur. Health and safety education should be strengthened to prevent the occurrence of campus violence and improve the child's awareness of self-protection and reduce the incidence of serious violence.

Prophage Diversity of 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' Strains in California

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a highly destructive citrus disease and is associated with a nonculturable bacterium, 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. 'Ca. L. asiaticus' in the United States was first found in Florida in 2005 and is now endemic there. In California, 'Ca. L. asiaticus' was first detected in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles County in 2012 and has now been detected in multiple urban locations in southern California. Knowledge of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strain diversity in California is important for HLB management. In this study, genomic diversity among 10 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains from six California locations were analyzed using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) (Illumina MiSeq and HiSeq) approach. Draft genome sequences of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains were assembled. Sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and nrdB confirmed 'Ca. L. asiaticus' identity. Prophages were detected in all 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains. The California 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains formed four prophage typing groups (PTGs): PTG1, with type 1 prophage only (strains from Anaheim, San Gabriel, and Riverside); PTG2, with type 2 prophage only (strains from Hacienda Heights); PTG1-3, with both type 1 and 3 prophages (a strain from Cerritos); and PTG1-2, with both type 1 and type 2 prophages (a strain from La Habra). Analyses of the terL sequence showed that all California 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains were not introduced from Florida but likely from locations in Asia. Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements were found in all 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains, yet, a jumping-out event was detected in the 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strain from Cerritos. Altogether, this study demonstrated that the NGS approach focusing on prophage variation was sensitive and effective in revealing diversity of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' strains in California.

Abstract P6-17-39: BAT8001, a potent anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate with a novel stable linker for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer

Overexpression of HER2 occurs in approximately 20% of breast cancers and is associated with shortened survival. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), an anti-HER2 ADC, has shown efficacy in HER2-positive breast cancer patients and was approved by the FDA and EMA for advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. However T-DM1 causes grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in up to 14.5% of patients as its major toxicity. The thrombocytopenia is likely caused by one of T-DM1's catabolites and payload, DM1, indicating T-DM1's linker can be cleaved. Here we adopted a novel noncleavable linker and created an anti-HER2 ADC, BAT8001, which is expected be efficacious in HER2-positive breast cancer and have a better side effect profile relative to T-DM1 due to the stability of BAT8001's noncleavable linker. BAT8001 is internalized in HER2-positive cancer cells. It inhibits proliferation of HER2-positive tumor cells with IC50s of ˜0.1 nM, similar to the potency of T-DM1. BAT8001 also induces apoptosis in HER2-positive cancer cells. In both cell-line and patient-derived mouse xenograft (PDX) models, BAT8001 demonstrates strong inhibition activity on tumor growth. For example, in a cell-line model of breast cancer (BT474), BAT8001 demonstrates potent activity with complete responses in all animals tested at the 15mg/kg dose level. Pharmacokinetics studies in monkey reveals BAT8001 has similar Cmax, AUC, and t1/2 as T-DM1. The major catabolite of BAT8001 is the Cys-linker-payload containing product. No free payload is observed. This compares favorably with T-DM1 where free DM1, T-DM1's payload, is one of the major catabolites. In a multiple dose toxicity study, BAT8001 had a NOAEL of 15 mg/kg versus 10 mg/kg for T-DM1. BAT8001 exhibits similar potency to T-DM1 on inhibiting HER2-positive cell proliferation and tumor growth, yet demonstrates better multiple dose toxicity than T-DM1. The improved toxicity profile of BAT8001 suggests that the novel noncleavable linker utilized in BAT8001 is more stable than the linker utilized in T-DM1. BAT8001 is very efficacious in cell-line xenograft models of breast cancer. The preclinical profile of BAT8001 warrants further development for the treatment of breast cancer and other HER2-positive cancers.

Citation Format: Tang W, Deng X, Ou Z, Gan J, Dong Q, Tan B, Lu L, Chen B, Bao C, Li S, Thomas B, Yu J-C. BAT8001, a potent anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate with a novel stable linker for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-17-39.

Mechanisms of endogenous repair failure during intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is frequently associated with Low back pain (LBP), which can severely reduce the quality of human life and cause enormous economic loss. However, there is a lack of long-lasting and effective therapies for IVD degeneration at present. Recently, stem cell based tissue engineering techniques have provided novel and promising treatment for the repair of degenerative IVDs. Numerous studies showed that stem/progenitor cells exist naturally in IVDs and could migrate from their niche to the IVD to maintain the quantity of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Unfortunately, these endogenous repair processes cannot prevent IVD degeneration as effectively as expected. Therefore, theoretical basis for regeneration of the NP in situ can be obtained from studying the mechanisms of endogenous repair failure during IVD degeneration. Although there have been few researches to study the mechanism of cell death and migration of stem/progenitor cells in IVD so far, studies demonstrated that the major inducing factors (compression and hypoxia) of IVD degeneration could decrease the number of NP cells by regulating apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis, and the particular chemokines and their receptors played a vital role in the migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These studies provide a clue for revealing the mechanisms of endogenous repair failure during IVD degeneration. This article reviewed the current research situation and progress of the mechanisms through which IVD stem/progenitor cells failed to repair IVD tissues during IVD degeneration. Such studies provide an innovative research direction for endogenous repair and a new potential treatment strategy for IVD degeneration.