Time-resolved FRET and NMR analyses reveal selective binding of peptides containing the LC3-interacting region to ATG8 family proteins

Selective autophagy sequesters cytoplasmic cargo for lysosomal degradation via the binding of autophagy receptors to Atg8 (autophagy-related 8) family proteins on the autophagic membrane. The sole yeast Atg8 gene has six mAtg8 (mammalian Atg8) homologs, including the MAP1LC3 (microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3) family and the GABA receptor-associated proteins. Selective autophagy receptors interact with two conserved hydrophobic pockets (termed the W-site and L-site) of mATG8 proteins through a linear motif called the LC3-interacting region (LIR) with the general composition (W/F/Y)XX(I/L/V). To address a lack in our knowledge regarding LIR peptide specificity toward each mATG8 homolog, here we used competitive time-resolved FRET to sensitively and quantitatively characterize the interactions between LIRs and mAtg8. We report that 14 representative LIR-containing peptides display differential binding affinities toward the mAtg8 proteins and identified the LIR domain peptide of TP53INP1 as exhibiting high affinity for all six mATG8 proteins. Using peptide truncation studies, we found that both N- and C-terminal acidic residues, as well as the C-terminal Cys residue of the TP53INP1 LIR peptide, are required for its high-affinity binding to LC3A and LC3B, whereas binding to the GABARAP subfamily proteins was facilitated by residues either N-terminal or C-terminal to the core motif. Finally, we used NMR chemical shift perturbation analysis to gain molecular insights into these findings. Collectively, our results may aid in the development of molecules that selectively disrupt specific mATG8-LIR interactions to dissect the biological roles of the six mATG8 homologs for potential therapeutic applications.

Positively Charged Tags Impede Protein Mobility in Cells as Quantified by 19F NMR

Proteins are often tagged for visualization or delivery in the "sea" of other macromolecules in cells but how tags affect protein mobility remains poorly understood. Here, we employ in-cell ¹⁹F NMR to quantify the mobility of proteins with charged tags in Escherichia coli cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes. We find that the transient charge-charge interactions between the tag and cellular components affect protein mobility. More specifically, positively charged tags impede protein mobility.

[A preliminary evaluation and discussion on the value of the medical content of book 'Zhu Bing Ⅰ', a medical bamboo compilation excavated from a Han dynasty tomb in Laoguanshan]

The compilation of medical bamboo slips, which are excavated from a Han dynasty tomb in Laoguanshan(Mount. Laoguan), has two manuscripts: 'Zhu Bing Ⅰ(cases study Ⅰ)'and 'Zhu Bing Ⅱ(cases study Ⅱ)'. 'Zhu Bing Ⅰ'mainly discussed the pathogenic factor "wind" and "wind diseases" . It also analyzed the features of pathogenic factor "wind" . It classified the "wind diseases" into 17 kinds from 4 point views, and documented the symptoms of 17 kinds of "wind disease" . It was first time that its most ideas were documented in traditional Chinese medicine literatures.

The applied anatomy and clinical significance of the proximal, V1 segment of vertebral artery

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to probe the morphological features of the proximal segment (V1) of vertebral artery (VA) in a sample of Chinese cadavers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The origin, course and outer diameter at origin of the pre-vertebral part of the VAs were evaluated in 119 adult cadavers.

RESULTS

It was found that 94.12% of the VAs originated from the subclavian arteries, bilaterally. The variant origins were present in 5.88% of the cadavers and all originated directly from the arch of the aorta. All the variations were observed on the left side of male cadavers. The average outer diameters at origin of the normal and variation groups were 4.35 ± 1.00 mm and 4.82 ± ± 1.42 mm, respectively, p = 0.035. In the normal group, but not in the variation group, the average diameter in the males was significantly larger than that in the females (4.50 ± 0.99 mm, 3.92 ± 0.92 mm, respectively, p = 0.000). In addition, only 5 cadavers in the normal group had hypoplastic VAs (4.20%, 4 males, 3 right-sided). Vertebral artery dominance (VAD) was present in 91 (69 males) out of 112 cadavers and more common on the left (n = 48). In addition, 3 cadavers satisfied conditions for coexistence of VAD and vertebral artery hypoplasia. All 7 cadavers in the variation group exhibited VAD, which was more common on the right side (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The morphologic variations and frequencies described above have implications for the early prevention, abnormal anatomy detection, accurate diagnosis, safe surgery and endovascular treatment of cardiovascular and neurological disease.

Effects of neratinib on health-related quality of life in women with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer: longitudinal analyses from the randomized phase III ExteNET trial

BACKGROUND

We report longitudinal health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) data from the international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III ExteNET study, which demonstrated an invasive disease-free survival benefit of extended adjuvant therapy with neratinib over placebo in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive early-stage breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Women (N  = 2840) with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who had completed trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy were randomly assigned to neratinib 240  mg/day or placebo for 12  months. HRQoL was an exploratory end point. Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) and EuroQol 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires at baseline and months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Changes from baseline were compared using analysis of covariance with no imputation for missing values. Sensitivity analyses used alternative methods. Changes in HRQoL scores were regarded as clinically meaningful if they exceeded previously reported important differences (IDs).

RESULTS

Of the 2840 patients (intention-to-treat population), 2407 patients were evaluable for FACT-B (neratinib, N  = 1171; placebo, N  = 1236) and 2427 patients for EQ-5D (neratinib, N  = 1186; placebo, N  = 1241). Questionnaire completion rates exceeded 85%. Neratinib was associated with a decrease in global HRQoL scores at month 1 compared with placebo (adjusted mean differences: FACT-B total, -2.9 points; EQ-5D index, -0.02), after which between-group differences diminished at later time-points. Except for the FACT-B physical well-being (PWB) subscale at month 1; all between-group differences were less than reported IDs. The FACT-B breast cancer-specific subscale showed small improvements with neratinib at months 3-9, but all were less than IDs. Sensitivity analyses exploring missing data did not change the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Extended adjuvant neratinib was associated with a transient, reversible decrease in HRQoL during the first month of treatment, possibly linked to treatment-related diarrhea. With the exception of the PWB subscale at month 1, all neratinib-related HRQoL changes did not reach clinically meaningful thresholds. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00878709.

[Clinical manifestations and risk factors of poor prognosis of Acinetobacter baumannii intracranial infection]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with intracranial Acinetobacter baumannii infection. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data of patients who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University between January 2011 and December 2017, and whose cerebral spinal fluid samples were positive for Acinetobacter baumannii and who were clinically demonstrated as intracranial infection during hospitalization was performed. Risk factors for poor prognosis were analyzed using single factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 50 patients were included, with poor prognosis rate of 58% (29/50).92% of patients had history of craniotomy or operation of site adjacent to brain.Major type of intracranial infection was purulent meningitis.Fever rate was 100%.Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii accounted for 89.01%. Sensitivity to meropenem was only 9.09%.Shock, multi-drug resistant bacteria and no intrathecal injection were risk factors for poor prognosis of patient.Multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed "no intrathecal injection" was independent risk factor for poor prognosis of patients with intracranial Acinetobacter baumannii infection. Conclusions: Acinetobacter baumannii that induced intracranial infection is mostly highly drug-resistant bacterium, with high risk of post-infection poor prognosis.Clinically, it is essential to take proper peri-operative measures and early identify occurrence of intracranial infection.Reasonable application of anti-infection drug and external ventricle drainage, especially intrathecal injection of aminoglycosides, can be promoted as a kind of safe and effective means.

[The Occupational and Procreation Health of Road Sweeping Female Sanitation Workers in a District of a City]

Objective: To investigate occupational and procreation health of roadsweeping female sanitation workers in a city district. Methods: Using cross-sectional survey methods, all 303 the road sweeping female sanitation workers of one company were selected and interviewed face to face with questionnaires in june 2017. Data were analysed by SPSS22.0 statistical software. Results: The total prevalence of reproduction tract infection was 21.47%. The prevalence of uterine fibroids was 6.38%, and menstruation abnormal rate was 25.17%. The sanitation worker of menstruation abnormal rate was 31.03%, which were exposed low temperature, automobile exhaust and air contaminant at the same time, or else was 19.61%. There were statistical significance between them. (χ(2)=5.161, P<0.05) The sanitation worker of menstruation abnormal rate was 28.81%, which were not satisfied with women/s rights protection, or else was 11.67%. There were statistical significance between them. (χ(2)=7.435, P<0.01) . Conclusion: Female sanitation workers in the city district were exposed to many occupational hazards. The status of procreation health among road sweeping female sanitation workers in the city district is not optimistic. Occupational health protection and laborers's rights protection should be emphasized to improve health status of female sanitation workers.

[Fujian Tulou Family Cohort Study: study design and characteristics of participants and pedigrees in baseline investigation]

Objective: To describe the study design, the characteristics of participants as well as the pedigrees included in the baseline survey of Fujian Tulou Family Cohort Study. Methods: Fujian Tulou Family Cohort Study was a prospective open cohort study with a biological sample bank. A baseline survey was conducted in Tulou areas of Nanjing county in Fujian province from 2015 to 2018, including questionnaire survey, physical and biochemical indicators examinations, and blood sample collection in adults aged ≥18 years. In addition, family relationship of the participants was also recorded. The pedigree information of the juveniles under 18 years old were also collected. Results: The baseline survey included 2 727 individuals in two clans, of whom 2 373 (87.0%) were adults, and 2 126 participants completed questionnaires, physical examinations and biochemical tests. The average age of the 2 126 participants was (57.9±13.3) years, with 39.4% being males. The current smoking rates in male and female participants were 41.2% and 2.1%, respectively. The corresponding rates of current alcohol consumption were 19.0% and 2.6%. For common chronic diseases, the prevalence rates were 51.3% for hypertension, 9.7% for diabetes and 26.7% for hyperlipemia according to the self-reported disease diagnoses, health examination results and biochemical examination results in class Ⅱ or Ⅲ hospitals. Based on the family relationship information and genealogical data, 710 pedigrees were finally identified, consisting of 5 087 family members. The numbers of five, four, three, and two generations pedigrees were 3, 88, 238 and 381, respectively. The pairs of the first to the fifth degree relatives were 12 039, 2 662, 1 511, 202 and 31, respectively. Conclusion: The establishment of Fujian Tulou Family Cohort provides valuable resources for exploring the genetic risk factors, environmental risk factors and gene-environment interactions contributing to the risk of common chronic diseases.

Moderating Effects of Forgiveness on Relationship Between Empathy and Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

CONTEXT

Health-related quality of life (QOL) is a recommended clinical tool to assess hemodialysis patients and a primary end point to observe the effectiveness of overall disease management. Empathy is associated with positive outcomes such as pain relief and reduced anxiety and distress. Numerous studies have tested the relationships among empathy, forgiveness, and QOL; however, a mechanism of forgiveness has not been fully explored in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVES

To test the relationship among empathy and health-related QOL and confirm the moderating effects of forgiveness on relationship between empathy and health-related QOL among hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

In a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from September to December 2017, 457 hemodialysis patients from five hospitals filled out the Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C, Kidney Disease Questionnaire, and general information. The data were analyzed using SPSS, and structural equation modeling was used to address the relationships among empathy, forgiveness, and health-related QOL.

RESULTS

Empathy was significantly positively associated with health-related QOL. The proposed model had a good fit to the data. Forgiveness was found to play a partial mediating role between empathy and health-related QOL.

CONCLUSION

The results imply that empathy significantly directly and indirectly influences health-related QOL. Empathy among hemodialysis patients should be monitored and effectively managed to improve positive effects on their health-related QOL. Nurses should consider implementing empathy interventions with an emphasis on building forgiveness strategies to help hemodialysis patients improve their health-related QOL.

[Research advance of microRNA in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis]

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common disease of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, manifested as nasal-sinus mucosal chronic inflammation. However, the pathogenesis of CRS is not clear. There are studies found that microRNA (miRNA) involved in CRS gene regulation. In this review, we summarize the expression of miRNAs in CRS, with the in-depth study of the role of miRNAs in CRS, and will further elucidate the pathogenesis of CRS.

Free electrons excited SPASER

Surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (SPASER) is discovered and used for realizing lasers at nanometer scale. The conventional gain media that are applied in SPASER are solid materials, such as organic dye or semiconductor, which limits the frequency range of SPASER. The free electrons could be considered as a kind of gain medium for emitting radiation. Here, we investigate theoretically the SPASER, which is excited by free electrons. We also demonstrate the tunable, deep-ultraviolet, and ultracompact laser numerically by having free electrons interact with surface plasmon polariton mode supported on metal surface. The output power density could reach about 30 W/μm² and the wavelength in deep ultraviolet could be widely tuned by varying the electron energy. This work offers a way of realizing integrated free electron laser in the ultraviolet frequency region.

[An analysis of the evaluation results of symptom checklist 90 for occupational females in different industries]

Objective: To evaluate the mental health of occupational females in different industries. Methods: We investigated the psychologic status of Chinese occupational females using symptom checklist 90. And statistical software was applied to analyze results of symptom checklist 90. Results: There were 41, 166 effec-tive questionnaires. The number of positive questionnaires was 14 361, and the positive rate was 34.89%. The positive rate of obsessive-compulsive factor was 24.07%. The positive rate of somatization factor was 16.12%. The positive rate of depression was 15.50%. The median positive item number was 20 (IQR: 34) , and the median split of positive symptoms was 2.11 (IQR: 0.37) . There were differences in the positive rate of SCL-90 scale among different age groups, different regions and different industries, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The positive rate of SCL-90 for the occupational females was 34.89%. The top three factors of the high-est positive SCL-90 were obsessive-compulsive symptoms, somatization and depression. Conclusion: There were differences in the psychological status of occupational females for different regions, different ages and different occupations.

[Effect of serum growth hormone releasing hormone levels on cognitive function in patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the effect of GHRH on the cognitive function of OSAHS patients by detecting the serum GHRH levels and assessing their cognitive function in patients with OSAHS. Methods: A total of 70 moderate-severe OSAHS patientsand 32 adults with snoring from October 2013 to May 2017 were enrolled for overnight polysomnography(PSG) and cognitive function assessment. Blood samples were taken at the next morning and serum GHRH levels were measured by ELISA. Results: There was no significant difference between OSAHS group (318.73±186.66)pg/ml and control group (291.48±147.36)pg/ml. Compared with control group, the serum GHRH levels were significantly increased in OSAHS patients without cognitive impairment (370.31±197.33)pg/ml, and evidently decreased in those with cognitive impairment (193.63±70.97)pg/ml (both P<0.05). The cognitive function of OSAHS patients was influenced by serum GHRH levels (OR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.24-0.73), body mass index (OR=2.23, 95%CI: 1.03-4.79), and daily sleepiness score (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.04-3.09). Conclusion: Serum GHRH levels in patients with moderate-severe OSAHS may play a protective role in patients' cognitive function.

[Prevalence of reproductive system diseases among female workers in a city and related occupational influencing factors: an analysis of 9944 cases]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of reproductive system diseases among female workers in a city and related occupational influencing factors. Methods: From June to September, 2016, a cross-sectional survey was used to select 9 944 female workers from six districts of Beijing and then a face-to-face questionnaire survey was performed. Univariate analysis using chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the risk factors for reproductive system diseases. Results: The age of 9944 female workers ranged from 18 to 65 years (mean 35.53±9.52 years) , and among them, 7 351 (73.92%) were married. The overall prevalence rate of reproductive system diseases among these 9944 female workers during the past three months was 28.29%, and the prevalence rates of hyperplasia of mammary glands, vaginitis, and hysteromyoma were 15.54%, 11.25%, and 6.77%, respectively. After adjustment for age, marital status, education level, and annual family income, the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that frequent overtime work (odds ratio[OR]=1.119, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.070-1.343) , frequent night shifts (OR=1.198, 95%CI: 1.054-1.361) , standing for a long time (OR=1.197, 95%CI: 1.063-1.347) , sitting for a long time (OR=1.327, 95%CI: 1.191-1.479) , heavy workload (OR=1.429, 95%CI: 1.262-1.615) , exposure to lead (OR=1.696, 95%CI: 1.307-2.201) , exposure to mercury (OR=1.452, 95%CI: 1.086-1.940) , and exposure to ionizing radiation (OR=1.679, 95%CI: 1.424-1.980) were associated with reproductive system diseases. Conclusion: The prevalence of reproductive system diseases among female workers in Beijing is not optimistic. Reproductive system diseases are associated with frequent overtime work, frequent night shifts, standing for a long time, sitting for a long time, heavy workload, and exposure to lead, mercury, and ionizing radiation.

[A meta-analysis of Symptom Checklist-90 assessment results in Chinese nurses]

Objective: To investigate the application of Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) in Chinese nurses. Methods: We performed a literature search for articles in Chinese on the mental health of nurses investigated using the SCL-90 that were published from January 2007 to December 2016. A total of 129 articles were included, involving 178 groups of valid samples as well as 36316 subjects in 27 provinces or cities in China. The metafor package of R 3.2.1 software and Excel were used for meta-analysis and data statistics. Results: Heterogeneity was identified for the nine factors included in the literature data (Q test: P<0.05; I(2) test >40%) , so a random effects model was used. For all factors except interpersonal relationship factor, the 95% confidence intervals of the pooled effect sizes did not include 0. For all factors except interpersonal relationship factor (Egger test: P<0.05) , no significant asymmetry or incompleteness appeared in the funnel plots. The fail-safe number of each factor was much larger than 5k+10. The merger scores and mean values of nine factors were higher than the national norm. Conclusion: The SCL-90 is widely used in the study of mental status of Chinese nurses, but the SCL-90 norm for nurses is lacking.

Millimeter-wave system-on-chip advancement for fusion plasma diagnostics

Recent advances in radio-frequency system-on-chip technology have provided mm-wave fusion plasma diagnostics with the capability to overcome major challenges such as space inefficiency, inflexible installation, sensitivity, susceptibility to EMI, and prohibitively high cost of conventional discrete component assemblies as higher imaging resolution and data accuracy are achieved by increasing the number of channels. Nowadays, shrinking transistor gate lengths on fabrication techniques have enabled hundreds of GHz operation, which is suitable for millimeter-wave diagnostics on current and future tokamaks. The Davis Millimeter Wave Research Center (DMRC) has successfully developed V-band (55-75 GHz) transmitter and receiver chips for Microwave Imaging Reflectometer (MIR) instruments. The transmitter can illuminate 8 different frequencies simultaneously within 55-75 GHz. Moreover, the receiver has the capability to amplify the reflected signal (>30 dB) while offering 10-30× reduction in noise temperature compared to current MIR instruments. Plasma diagnostics requires ultra-wideband (more than 20 GHz) operation which is approximately nine times wider bandwidth than the recent commercial impetus for communication systems. Current efforts are underway for gallium-arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuit receiver chips at W-band (75-110 GHz) and F-band (90-140 GHz) permitting measurements at higher toroidal magnetic fields.

Liquid crystal polymer receiver modules for electron cyclotron emission imaging on the DIII-D tokamak

A new generation of millimeter-wave heterodyne imaging receiver arrays has been developed and demonstrated on the DIII-D electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system. Improved circuit integration, improved noise performance, and enhanced shielding from out-of-band emission are made possible by using advanced liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrates and monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) receiver chips. This array exhibits ∼15 dB additional gain and >30× reduction in noise temperature compared to previous generation ECEI arrays. Each LCP horn-waveguide module houses a 3 × 3 mm GaAs MMIC receiver chip, which consists of a low noise millimeter-wave preamplifier, balanced mixer, and IF amplifier together with a local oscillator multiplier chain driven at ∼12 GHz. A proof-of-principle partial LCP instrument with 5 poloidal channels was installed on DIII-D in 2017, with a full proof-of-principle system (20 poloidal × 8 radial channels) installed and commissioned in early 2018. The enhanced shielding of the LCP modules is seen to greatly reduce the sensitivity of ECEI signals to out-of-band microwave noise which has plagued previous ECEI studies on DIII-D. The LCP ECEI system is expected to be a valuable diagnostic tool for pedestal region measurements, focusing particularly on electron temperature evolution during edge localized mode bursting.