[Equol and its enantiomers inhibited urethane-induced lung cancer in mice]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects and mechanisms of equol and its enantiomers on urethane-induced lung cancer in mice.

METHODS

A total of 120 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: lung cancer tumor control group (CG), genistein control group (GCG), low dose racemic equol group (LEG), high dose racemic equol group (HEG), low dose R-equol group (LRE), high dose R-equol group (HRE), low dose S-equol group (LSE) and high dose S-equol group (HSE). Urethane was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 4 weeks to induce lung cancer and then the mice were fed for 4 months. The body weight and food intake of each group were measured and recorded weekly. After the mice were sacrificed, the blood, livers and lungs of the mice were collected. The incidence of lung cancer in each group was recorded. The concentration of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxygunosine (8-OHdG) were detected by the corresponding kits. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) in the livers. Between-group differences in body weight and food intake of the mice were compared using repeated measures ANOVA, and ANOVA for the differences between non-repeated measurements, with post hoc analysis using Tukey's method if there were between-group differences. Comparisons of categorical data were performed by chi-square test, and if there were differences between the groups, the Bonferroni method was used for pairwise comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 49 in the 120 mice developed lung cancer. The overall incidence of lung cancer was 40.8%. Compared with the control group, the incidence of lung cancers in each experimental group was lower, and the difference was statistically significant. The incidence of lung cancer in the high-dose experimental group was significantly lower than that in the low-dose experimental group. However, the incidence of lung cancer was similar in the three equol groups and the genistein group at the same dose. Compared with the control group, the high-dose experimental group had higher serum SOD concentration, lower MDA and 8-OHdG concentrations, and the differences were statistically significant. Western blotting analysis showed that the expression levels of Nrf2 protein in the experimental groups were higher than those in the control group except the low-dose racemic equol group, and the Nrf2 protein expression level in the high-dose equol groups was higher than that in the low-dose equol groups.

CONCLUSION

Racemic equol and its enantiomers mayinhibit lung carcinogenesis through antioxidant effects.

Treatment-related adverse events as predictive biomarkers of efficacy in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors treated with surufatinib: results from two phase III studies

Background

No validated biomarkers currently exist for predicting the efficacy outcomes in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) treated with antiangiogenic therapy. We aimed to evaluate the association between treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and efficacy outcomes of surufatinib in patients with advanced NET.

Patients and methods

We included patients with NET treated with surufatinib in two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trials (SANET-p and SANET-ep) in this study. The main exposure was the presence of any of the TRAEs including hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage in the first 4 weeks of surufatinib treatment. The primary outcome of the study was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). PFS outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated by using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. Blinded independent image review committee (BIIRC) assessments and 4-week landmark analysis were also performed as supportive evaluations.

Results

During the study period, a total of 242 patients treated with surufatinib were included in the analysis, and 164 (68%) patients had at least one of hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage in the first 4 weeks of treatment. The presence of TRAEs in the first 4 weeks was associated with prolonged median PFS [11.1 versus 9.2 months; HR 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.97; P = 0.036]. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the presence of TRAEs was also significantly associated with longer PFS (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.97; P = 0.035). Similar results were obtained in the BIIRC assessments and 4-week landmark analysis.

Conclusions

Treatment-related hypertension, proteinuria, and hemorrhage could be potential biomarkers to predict antitumor efficacy of surufatinib in patients with advanced NET. Future prospective studies are needed to validate the findings.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT02589821; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02589821 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02588170; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02588170

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Treatment-related hypertension, proteinuria, or hemorrhage is associated with longer survival in NETs.

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The association is confirmed by the BIIRC assessments and 4-week landmark analysis.

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TRAEs can be biomarkers to predict antitumor efficacy in patients with NET.

Sodium MRI at 7T for Early Response Evaluation of Intracranial Tumors following Stereotactic Radiotherapy Using the CyberKnife

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Conventionally, early treatment response to stereotactic radiotherapy in intracranial tumors is often determined by structural MR imaging. Tissue sodium concentration is altered by cellular integrity and energy status in cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of sodium MR imaging at 7T for the preliminary evaluation of radiotherapeutic efficacy for intracranial tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected from 16 patients (12 men and 4 women, 24-75 years of age) with 22 intracranial tumors who were treated with stereotactic radiation therapy using CyberKnife at our institution between December 1, 2016, and August 15, 2019. Sodium MR imaging was performed at 7T before and 48 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after CyberKnife radiation therapy. Tissue sodium concentration (TSC) was calculated and analyzed based on manually labeled regions of tumors.

RESULTS

Ultra-high-field sodium MR imaging clearly showed the intratumoral signal, which is significantly higher than that of normal tissue (t = 5.250, P <.001)., but the edema zone has some influence. The average TSC ratios of tumor to CSF in the 22 tumors, contralateral normal tissues, edema zones, frontal cortex, and frontal white matter were 0.66 (range, 0.23-1.5), 0.30 (range, 0.15-0.43), 0.58 (range, 0.25-1.21), 0.25 (range, 0.17-0.42), and 0.30 (range, 0.19-0.49), respectively. A total of 12 tumors in 8 patients were scanned at 48 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment. The average TSC at 48 hours after treatment was 0.06 higher than that before treatment and began to decrease at 1 week. The TSC ratios of 10 continued to decline and 2 tumors increased at 1 month, respectively. Tumor volume decreased by 2.4%-99% after 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in the TSC can be quantified by sodium MR imaging at 7T and used to detect radiobiologic alterations in intracranial tumors at early time points after CyberKnife radiation therapy.

From Green Super Rice to green agriculture: Reaping the promise of functional genomics research

Producing sufficient food with finite resources to feed the growing global population while having a smaller impact on the environment has always been a great challenge. Here, we review the concept and practices of Green Super Rice (GSR) that have led to a paradigm shift in goals for crop genetic improvement and models of food production for promoting sustainable agriculture. The momentous achievements and global deliveries of GSR have been fueled by the integration of abundant genetic resources, functional gene discoveries, and innovative breeding techniques with precise gene and whole-genome selection and efficient agronomic management to promote resource-saving, environmentally friendly crop production systems. We also provide perspectives on new horizons in genomic breeding technologies geared toward delivering green and nutritious crop varieties to further enhance the development of green agriculture and better nourish the world population.

The effects of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment on health-related quality of life of patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer: Results from a phase 3 randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the effects of adding tislelizumab to first-line standard-of- care chemotherapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients in this open-label, multicenter, phase 3 RATIONALE 307 trial were randomized to one of the three arms: tislelizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (Arm A), tislelizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel (Arm B), or paclitaxel plus carboplatin (Arm C). HRQoL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13-item module (QLQ-LC13). Mean score change from baseline at Weeks 6 and 12 in the QLQ-C30's global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL), fatigue, and physical functioning scores and QLQ-LC13 lung cancer specific subscales were examined. Time to deterioration was estimated for the GHS/QoL score.

RESULTS

A total of 355 sq-NSCLC patients received at least one dose of study drug and completed at least one HRQoL assessment. The GHS/QoL scores improved in Arms A and B relative to Arm C at Weeks 6 and 12. Arms A and B also experienced a reduction in most lung cancer-specific symptoms relative to Arm C. Time to deterioration of GHS/QoL was not reached by any of the three arms.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of tislelizumab to platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with improvements in sq-NSCLC patients' HRQoL, especially in GHS/QoL and most importantly in lung cancer-specific symptoms including coughing, dyspnea, and hemoptysis.

Molecular Breeding of a Novel PTGMS Line of WDR for Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Blast Using Pi9, Pi5, and Pi54 Genes

BACKGROUND

The two-line method based on the photoperiod and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) lines is more cost-effective, simple, and efficient than the three-line system based on cytoplasmic male-sterility. Blast and drought are the most prevalent biotic and abiotic stress factors hampering rice production. Molecular techniques demonstrate higher efficacy in the pyramiding of disease resistance genes, providing green performance under the background of water-saving and drought-resistance rice.

RESULTS

This study employed molecular marker-assisted selection, conventional hybridization, and high-intensity stress screening to integrate three broad-spectrum blast resistance genes Pi9, Pi5, and Pi54 into Huhan 1S. Subsequently, a novel water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR) PTGMS line Huhan 74S was developed. The drought resistance of the new PTGMS line Huhan 74S was comparable to that of Huhan 1S. Pathogenicity assays involving the inoculation of 14 blast prevalent isolates in the glasshouse showed that the blast resistance frequency of Huhan 74S was 85.7%. Further evaluation under natural blast epidemic field conditions showed that Huhan 74S and its hybrids were resistant to leaf and neck blast. The critical temperature point of fertility-sterility alteration of Huhan 74S was 23 °C daily mean temperature. The complete male sterility under natural growth conditions in 2017 at Shanghai lasted for 67 days. Also, both the agronomic and grain quality traits met the requirement for two-line hybrid rice production.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the newly bred PTGMS line Huhan 74S can be used to breed high-yielding, good-quality, disease-resistant two-line hybrid water-saving and drought-resistance rice (WDR), hence promoting sustainable rice production in China.

The analysis of osteosarcopenia as a risk factor for fractures, mortality, and falls

Osteosarcopenia is defined as the concomitant occurrence of sarcopenia and osteoporosis/osteopenia. This study aimed to clarify whether osteosarcopenia implies a greater risk of fractures, mortality, and falls and to draw attention to osteosarcopenia.

INTRODUCTION

Osteosarcopenia, which is characterized by the co-existence of osteoporosis/osteopenia and sarcopenia, is one of the most challenging geriatric syndromes. However, the association between osteosarcopenia and the risk of falls, fractures, disability, and mortality is controversial.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from their inception to March 18, 2021, for cohort studies on the relationship between osteosarcopenia and fractures, falls, and mortality. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. A pooled analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using fixed or random-effects models.

RESULTS

Eight cohort studies including 19,836 participants showed that osteosarcopenia significantly increased the risk of fracture (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.83-3.30, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.006, I² = 63.0%), three cohort studies involving 2601 participants indicated that osteosarcopenia significantly increased the risk of mortality (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.23-2.26, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.214, I² = 35.2%), and three cohort studies involving 3144 participants indicated that osteosarcopenia significantly increased the risk of falls (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28-2.04, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.219, I² = 34.1%). No publication bias existed among the studies regarding the association between osteosarcopenia and fractures. The findings were robust according to the subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

This pooled analysis demonstrated that osteosarcopenia significantly increased the risk of fractures, falls, and mortality, thus highlighting its relevance in daily life. Therefore, we suggest that elderly persons should be aware of the risks associated with osteosarcopenia.

[Epidemiological investigation on an imported cutaneous anthrax case in Shanghai]

Objective: To discuss the challenges and problems of the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases in Shanghai as a megacities. Methods: An imported case of cutaneous anthrax occurred in Shanghai on May 30, 2019. Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention conducted an epidemiological investigation and treatment of the cases; after this case, the data of patients with cutaneous anthrax were collected, and an epidemiological study was conducted. Meanwhile, the wound and blood samples of the patient were collected for laboratory testing. Results: Of the seven wound samples of the patient, 6 were positive for the Bacillus anthracis nucleic acid test, and the double serological test results showed a 4-fold increase in the titer of anthrax antibodies. Shanghai CDC conducted an epidemiological investigation of the confirmed cases and observed its contacts. After treatment, the patients recovered, and no other issues appeared among the 19 contacts. Conclusions: Shanghai must strengthen the training of clinicians on emerging infectious diseases to achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of imported infectious diseases and reduce the incidence, spread, and death of the diseases. At the same time, multi-department joint prevention and control are needed to prevent and control secondary cases.

[Levels of human milk oligosaccharides in breast milk of mothers delivering preterm infants of different gestational ages and their effects on early growth and development]

Objective: To investigate the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) levels in breast milk of mothers delivering preterm infants and their effects on the early growth and development of infants. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, full-term and preterm newborns whose parents decided to breastfeed were recruited from Peking University Third Hospital between December 1, 2017 and November 30, 2018. The preterm infants were divided based on their gestational ages into extremely preterm (<28 weeks), very preterm (28-31⁺⁶ weeks) and moderate to late preterm (32-36⁺⁶ weeks) groups. Breast milk was collected from mothers at 7, 14, 28 and 120d postpartum. 368 breast milk samples were collected from 125 mothers in this study, including 54 mothers of full-term infants, 23 mothers of moderate to late preterm infants, 39 mothers of very preterm infants, and 9 mothers of extremely preterm infants. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to determine the concentration of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL), 3-fucosyllactose (3FL), 3'-sialyllactose (3'SL), A-tetrasaccharide (P1), lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), lacto-N-fucopentaose Ⅱ (LNFP-Ⅱ) and lacto-N-fucopentaose Ⅴ (LNFP-Ⅴ). Secretor status of mothers was defined as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL) concentration in colostrum and transitional milk greater than 200 μg/mL. Weight gain and the occurrence of allergic diseases of infants were collected at 120 d(4 months) postpartum. The chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison of categorical data between groups; Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for comparison of continuous data between groups. Nemenyi test was used for multiple comparison. Results: 79.2% (99/125) of the mothers were secretor. There were no statistical differences between groups in the secretor status of mothers (χ²=1.31,P>0.05). The total concentration of HMOs peaked at 1-2 weeks postpartum. Compared to the preterm milk, the HMOs from the term milk was trending downwards at an earlier time. In the breast milk of secretor mothers on 28 d, total concentration of HMOs significant differed among the three groups of preterm milk and the term milk, with the median value of 4 587.09,4 615.25,5 277.44,5 476.03 μg/mL, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis χ²=8.1234,P=0.044). When analyzed by the median weight gain of the infants (low vs high weight gain) at 4 months postpartum, 2'FL was significantly lower in the high weight gain group at 7 d (1 818.04 μg/mL vs 2 181.67 μg/mL, W=1 386,P=0.018), while LNT & LNnT were significantly higher (1 182.36 μg/mL vs 1 053.62 μg/mL, W=816,P=0.044). The level of 3FL at 120 d was significantly affected by presence of allergic disease in infants, breast milk from mothers of infants with allergic disease had lower 3FL than those from mothers of infants without allergic disease (256.17 μg/mL vs 286.18 μg/mL, W=564,P=0.026). Conclusions: The overall profiles of HMOs in breast milk of mothers delivering preterm infants was basically the same as that of mothers delivering term infants; individual HMOs play a role in weight gain and the development of allergic diseases in preterm infants, but the mechanism is unclear and needs further study.

Exosomal circ_0004136 enhances the progression of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia depending on the regulation of miR-570-3p/TSPAN3 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the progression of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although circ_0004136 has been found to play a crucial role in AML, our understanding of its molecular mechanism remains very limited. The levels of circ_0004136, miR-570-3p and tetraspanin 3 (TSPAN3) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR or western blot. Cell viability, migration, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis were detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell and flow cytometry assays. Targeted relationships among circ_0004136, miR-570-3p and TSPAN3 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Our data showed that circ_0004136 could be transmitted by exosomes, and exosomal circ_0004136 was highly expressed in AML serum and cells. Circ_0004136 was unusually stable and mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Circ_0004136 knockdown mediated by exosomes hampered AML cell viability, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, circ_0004136 worked as a sponge of miR-570-3p and TSPAN3 was a functional target of miR-370-3p in AML cells. The suppression of circ_0004136 knockdown mediated by exosomes on AML cell malignant progression was reversed by miR-570-3p downregulation, and the increased miR-570-3p expression hindered the progression of aggressive AML by downregulating TSPAN3. Furthermore, circ_0004136 worked as a miR-570-3p sponge to modulate TSPAN3 expression. Our findings identified a novel regulatory mechanism in which exosome-mediated circ_0004136 knockdown restrained AML cell malignant progression at least partly through targeting the miR-570-3p/TSPAN3 axis, highlighting a novel therapeutic strategy for AML management.